Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. They exchanged views regarding efforts to fight climate change and the protection of biodiversity.
The Secretary-General and the President also discussed bilateral relations between Guyana and Venezuela, the situation in Haiti and the Middle East.
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
President Lai addresses 2024 Concordia Annual Summit
2024-09-25
On the morning of September 25 (afternoon of September 24 EDT), President Lai Ching-te addressed the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit via video at the invitation of the New York-based non-profit organization Concordia, speaking on Taiwan’s key priorities in the current international security environment and vision for the future.
In his remarks, President Lai said that democracy around the world is facing serious threats, citing as examples Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s intensifying military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas. The president indicated that through its use of gray-zone tactics such as economic coercion and cognitive warfare, China poses serious threats to global peace and stability. He said that China often uses lawfare and distorts history to expand its power, an example being its distortion of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758. The president thanked the United States and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) for taking concrete actions to oppose China’s misinterpretations.
President Lai reiterated that democratic Taiwan and authoritarian China are not subordinate to each other, and that we will maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait by promoting our Four Pillars of Peace action plan. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and other democratic nations will jointly support the democratic umbrella and counter authoritarian aggression as we navigate a new era in global democratic development. President Lai expressed that a stronger Taiwan is better able to promote democracy, peace, and prosperity around the world, and that we welcome more countries to join in support of democratic Taiwan and a stronger democracy worldwide.
A transcript of President Lai’s speech follows:
I want to begin by thanking Concordia for the opportunity to address the Annual Summit. Since my inauguration in May, I have been sharing Taiwan’s roadmap for development at various international venues. I’m honored to speak on our key priorities in the current international security environment, as well as our vision for the future.
Our goal is to make Taiwan stronger, because a stronger Taiwan is better able to promote democracy, peace, and prosperity around the world.
Our sincere hope is for Taiwan and other democratic nations to jointly support the democratic umbrella and counter authoritarian aggression as we navigate a new era in global democratic development, echoing the theme of this summit.
Democracy around the world is facing serious threats. We have seen the growth of authoritarianism and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has exceeded two years. And we have seen China intensifying its military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas. Through its use of gray-zone tactics such as economic coercion and cognitive warfare, China poses serious threats to global peace and stability.
China often uses lawfare and distorts history to expand its power. I want to emphasize that democratic Taiwan and authoritarian China are not subordinate to each other. This is a fact with a long-established, global consensus. Regardless of that, China has distorted UNGA Resolution 2758 in support of its “one China principle,” falsely claiming that Taiwan is a part of the People’s Republic of China and that we have no right to participate in the UN system and other international fora.
I would like to thank the US and IPAC for taking concrete actions to oppose China’s misinterpretations. We welcome more countries to join in support of democratic Taiwan and a stronger democracy worldwide.
China’s threat to Taiwan is a threat to the entire international community. China doesn’t just want to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. It intends to change the rules-based international order and achieve international hegemony.
In this situation, our top priority is to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait by promoting our Four Pillars of Peace action plan.
First, we will strengthen our national defense. We will strengthen our capabilities and show our resolve for self-defense.
Second, we will build economic security. We will continue to reduce economic dependence on China. We also aim to sign trade agreements with other democratic countries, participate more in the regional economy, and mutually enhance our economic resilience.
Third, we will strengthen our partnerships with democratic countries. Taiwan will continue to cooperate with like-minded partners on “democracy chips.” We will also strengthen cooperation with other countries in national defense so that the democratic community can demonstrate the strength of deterrence and achieve our goal of peace.
The final pillar is stable and principled cross-strait leadership. Taiwan will neither yield nor provoke, and will maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. We will remain committed to safeguarding regional peace and stability.
The road ahead may be difficult, but as long as we follow it together, I am confident that we can further strengthen democracy and sustain peace. Together, let’s forge ahead on the path to greater prosperity. Thank you.
Concordia organizes its annual summit outside the UN headquarters during each year’s General Debate of the UNGA, inviting world leaders and top private sector representatives to seek solutions to global and regional challenges that are highly valued by the UN community. Among those who addressed this year’s summit were President Santiago Peña Palacios of the Republic of Paraguay, President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic, Prime Minister Philip Davis of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, former Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom, former President Iván Duque of the Republic of Colombia, former President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of the Republic of Croatia, US Senators Bill Cassidy and Chris Coons, US House Representative Chrissy Houlahan, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly Clements, Governor of New York State Kathy Hochul, President of Eurasia Group Ian Bremmer, and President of The Rockefeller Foundation Rajiv J. Shah.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Today U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) held a press conference with House lawmakers and victims of nuclear contamination across America – including those from the St. Louis and St. Charles, Mo., areas – to push the House to pass their Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) in an effort to provide justice and compensation for those who have been harmed by the federal government’s decades of negligence.
“The wait has been too long, and it has been too cruel, and there is no need to wait any longer,” said Senator Hawley. “The Senate is proof that we can pass this bill. We passed it with nearly 70 votes, and we have the votes in the House. We have the votes. We’ve counted them, we have them. We have a majority; we could pass it on suspension. This could pass in the House. We need the House to put this bill on the floor.”
Watch the full press conference by clicking here or on the image above.
Background
Senator Hawley has been the leading voice in the fight to secure just compensation for radiation victims in Missouri—and across the nation.
In March, the Senate passed—for the second time—Senator Hawley’s legislation to reauthorize and expand RECA by a strong bipartisan vote of 69-30.
Days before that vote, he sent a letter to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers General Scott Spellmon and Colonel Andy Pannier, blasting the Corps for its deliberate concealment of cleanup efforts in the St. Louis area after new disturbing reports detail more radioactive contamination in residents’ homes.
Senator Hawley brought Dawn Chapman—co-founder of the grassroots advocacy group “Just Moms” in St. Louis and longtime advocate for victims of nuclear contamination in the region—as his guest to the 2024 State of the Union address.
In February, Senator Hawley sent a letter to his Republican colleagues in the Senate, urging them to reauthorize RECA.
Following its first Senate passage in July of 2023, Senator Hawley’s RECA reauthorization was later stripped from that year’s NDAA by congressional leadership.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Senator McConnell advocated for this funding in the annual government funding bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Maysville Community and Technical College will receive $1,004,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The federal grant will be used to build out a welding training facility on its Montgomery County campus in Mount Sterling, Kentucky.
Senator McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, contacted the EDA in support of Maysville Community and Technical College’s competitive federal grant application and advocated for EDA funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill.
“Today’s federal grant announcement is welcome news. I hear constantly about the challenges Kentucky employers face finding workers to fill open jobs across the Commonwealth. Maysville Community and Technical College’s new facility will go a long way in training Kentuckians with the hands-on skills they need to get to work in their communities,” said Senator McConnell. “I was proud to bring home today’s federal grant, and I’m thrilled to see these funds invest in the future of Kentucky’s workforce.”
“I am proud of the EDA’s investment in the Maysville Community and Technical College’s Mount Sterling/Montgomery County campus, and I appreciate Senator McConnell’s support in helping us secure this federal funding. This critical project not only enhances our facilities but also strengthens our capacity to meet the growing demands of the welding industry,” said Dr. Laura McCullough, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maysville Community and Technical College. “By fostering workforce development and empowering our students with high-demand skills, we are laying the foundation for new business growth, attracting private investment, and driving long-term economic vitality in the region. Together, we are building a stronger future for our community.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
In today’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) made the case for his legislation, the Time to Choose Act, which would restrict consulting firms like McKinsey & Company from receiving government contracts while, at the same time, advising U.S. adversaries like China.
“Why are [U.S. consulting firms] getting taxpayer money, advising our military, and, simultaneously, advising the Chinese military?” Senator Hawley asked incredulously.
[embedded content]
Senator Hawley also pushed back against Bryan Riley, Director of the National Taxpayers Union’s Free Trade Initiative, and his comparison of American soybean farmers to U.S. consulting firms advising the Chinese Communist Party.
“I come from a state where our number one agricultural product is soybeans,” Senator Hawley explained. “We are a state of soybeans farmers, and—I can tell you—I think they would take great offense to you comparing them to a consulting firm that is taking a billion dollars in money from the United States military while simultaneously advising the Chinese military on how to harm the United States.”
He continued, asking, “Are you saying that soybean farmers harm the security interests of the United States?”
Background
The Time to Choose Act passed the HSGAC this past May by an overwhelming bipartisan margin. Senator Hawley originally brought forth the bill in 2022 and reintroduced it earlier this year. HSGAC Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are cosponsors.
The legislation would prohibit the Department of Defense (DOD) and other federal agencies from contracting with consulting firms like McKinsey that are also doing business with the Chinese government or its affiliates.
Watch Senator Hawley’s full remarks here, or click on the image above.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
WATCH: Padilla Denounces SCOTUS Presidential Immunity Ruling During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WATCH: Padilla warns immunity decision contradicts fundamental democratic principles and basic accountabilityWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC), joined a hearing titled “‘When the President Does It, that Means It’s Not Illegal’: The Supreme Court’s Unprecedented Immunity Decision,” to question witnesses on the Supreme Court’s dangerous ruling in Trump v. United States that now grants former presidents — including Donald Trump — criminal immunity for a wide range of activities taken while in office.
Padilla sharply rebuked the decision, underscoring the Supreme Court’s upending of centuries of history and tradition that presidents can be held accountable for crimes committed while in office. He criticized the Court for inventing a new form of presidential criminal immunity and for declining to designate a single action that Donald Trump took in the lead-up to the January 6th riot at the Capitol as “unofficial.”
Padilla asked Professor Mary B. McCord, Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law School, about dangerous potential scenarios that could exploit this immunity ruling, including a president ordering the Department of Justice to stop investigating their family for criminal conduct or directing the military to attack a political rival.
Key Excerpts:
PADILLA: Let’s be clear, the court’s decision to effectively let Trump off the hook has already caused devastating harm for our country, especially to voters and election workers. Trump has essentially been given a pass for weaponizing the Department of Justice to bully states into drumming up false election fraud charges for his attempts to pressure Vice President Pence into helping him steal the election and for inciting a violent mob to storm the Capitol on January 6.
[…]
PADILLA: I want to ask a few simple yes or no questions about hypothetical, but not farfetched scenarios. If a future President were to order the Department of Justice to cease investigating their spouse, their child, or themselves for alleged criminal conduct, would that be an official act?
PROFESSOR MCCORD: It would appear that under the court’s ruling, yes, that would be immune. Actually, even more than official act as core constitutional powers.
PADILLA: Because the president directs the executive branch. Scenario number two: if a future President were to direct the Armed Services to attack the home of a political rival, would that be an official act?
MCCORD: I think that is one of the questions the court leaves open for us, if…
PADILLA: The fact that it’s not a clear ‘no’ is the problem because the President is the Commander in Chief. Look, Mr. Chair, I can go on and on with example after example that should alarm us and the American people. But I will conclude by just acknowledging this: It’s particularly auspicious that this committee is meeting today to examine this wildly consequential and wildly unprecedented decision, 235 years to the day since the Supreme Court was established by an act of Congress. So in closing, I’ll just echo Justice Sotomayor’s powerful words. Every president in our history has governed with the understanding shared by the American people that they could be held accountable for crimes committed while in office. And with that no longer the case, I share her fear for our democracy, and I stand firmly with the spirit of her dissent.
Video footage of Senator Padilla’s full remarks is available here.
The Supreme Court issued a misguided 6-3 decision in July that “the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.”
The ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decision have already harmed voters and election workers. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s election integrity unit recently led targeted raids of several Latino voting rights organizers, officials, and candidates on the basis of unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud. In Florida, law enforcement has targeted individuals who signed a petition for a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights. Across the country, there has been a surge in abusive public records requests aimed at election offices.
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision, Senator Padilla criticized the ruling and traveled with President Biden to Austin, Texas as the President announced three proposed reforms to restore trust in, and accountability for, our judiciary, including a constitutional amendment making clear that no President is above the law or immune from criminal prosecution. Padilla also joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 32 of his Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing the No Kings Act, which would reaffirm that Presidents and Vice Presidents do not have immunity for actions that violate federal criminal law and clarify that Congress, not the Supreme Court, determines to whom federal criminal laws may be applied.
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: FEMA Releases New Resources to Help Communities Prioritize Inflation Reduction Act Projects, Implement Low-Carbon and Net-Zero Energy Solutions to Promote National Resilience
FEMA Releases New Resources to Help Communities Prioritize Inflation Reduction Act Projects, Implement Low-Carbon and Net-Zero Energy Solutions to Promote National Resilience
WASHINGTON — During Climate Week NYC, FEMA held the Climate Resilient Infrastructure: Building a More Sustainable Future Summit with public, private and academic partners to discuss and examine resilient infrastructure challenges and innovative solutions to address the impacts of climate change.
During the event, the agency released new resource documents to provide comprehensive guidance on how communities can incorporate low-carbon and net-zero energy practices into FEMA-funded projects. These efforts support the agency’s strategic goal of leading the whole community in climate resilience.
“Investing in local infrastructure means putting aside money today to secure a brighter, more resilient tomorrow. Yet, many state, local, territorial governments and Tribal Nations lack the resources, time or expertise to identify financing mechanisms to invest in climate resilience,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “This new report serves as a critical resource to help communities invest in climate resilience, by identifying examples of how partnerships with the private sector can help break the cycle of response, recovery—rinse and repeat.”
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act allows FEMA to provide financial assistance for costs associated with low-carbon construction materials and incentives that encourage low-carbon and net-zero energy projects. Signed by President Joseph R. Biden in 2022, the act marked a historic commitment to build a new clean energy economy and tackle the climate crisis.
It is crucial for communities to build infrastructure that is not only resilient but also sustainable. FEMA released three new resources. These include: 1) the Low-Carbon and Net-Zero Energy Overview for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Assistance; 2) the FEMA Fact Sheet on Low-Carbon Materials Projects, and 3) FEMA Fact Sheet on Net-Zero Energy Projects.
FEMA may fund costs associated with low-carbon materials, even when the costs are higher than those for conventional materials, to help cut carbon pollution and build back cleaner and more resilient. These clean, climate-resilient considerations apply to five FEMA grant programs. These programs include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, HMGP Post Fire, Pre-Disaster Mitigation, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Public Assistance.
For more information, please visit FEMA.gov.
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Source: United States Navy
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with Commander of the Brazilian Navy Adm. Marcos Sampaio Olsen for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference (IANC), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today.
The two leaders discussed strengthening their naval partnership through increased interoperability and applauded their 200 years of bilateral diplomatic relations celebrated this year, which they said is an opportunity to chart a course for an even brighter future, highlighting the profound impact the U.S. – Brazil relationship has had on their countries and their people.
Franchetti thanked Olsen for hosting IANC, the Brazilian Navy’s leadership in the region and South Atlantic as a major non-NATO ally, and their collaboration with partners in the area. She also commended their participation in UNITAS LXV and Southern Seas 2024, as well as their command of the multi-national Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 151 from January to September this year.
The Heads of Navy spoke about their shared values of democracy and their shared commitment to upholding the rules-based international order in the Red Sea and around the world to protect global commerce. They also talked about Franchetti’s recently released strategic guidance – the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy – and the role of robotic and autonomous systems in future conflict and in supporting maritime domain awareness across the Joint and Combined force.
Franchetti noted that the U.S. continues to closely partner with Brazil and remains committed to maintaining a relationship founded upon shared strategic interests and looks forward to future opportunities to integrate, train and operate together.
MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –
Source: Prime Minister of Canada – in French
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan on the margins of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Prime Minister Trudeau and His Majesty King Abdullah II discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the urgent need for de-escalation between Israel and Hezbollah to avoid further loss of civilian life.
The leaders discussed the instability in the West Bank and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Prime Minister thanked the King for his leadership in improving access to humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza. He underscored Canada’s commitment to continue supporting these efforts. Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated Canada’s longstanding support for a two-state solution and a path to lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
Prime Minister Trudeau and His Majesty King Abdullah II highlighted the special partnership between Canada and Jordan and agreed to remain in close contact as the situation evolves.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) led 41 bicameral Republican colleagues in a letter urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to work with Congress to root out abuses in their administration’s unaccompanied migrant children program and stop the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s cover-up of the crisis.
The lawmakers are urging Biden and Harris to “make changes to [their] policies and procedures” in order to “end this public safety crisis.” They are specifically calling on the Biden-Harris administration to enhance information-sharing with law enforcement and Congress, fully cooperate with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) child exploitation investigation and thoroughly respond to all congressional oversight requests.
“[The Biden-Harris HHS] must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people,” the lawmakers concluded.
More than 500,000 unaccompanied migrant children have crossed the southwest border under the Biden-Harris administration, while cartel trafficking activity surged an estimated 2,500 percent. Amid this crisis, the lawmakers note the Biden-Harris administration limited background checks for sponsors of unaccompanied children, cut back on familial DNA testing at the border and decreased information sharing with law enforcement.
Joining Risch, Crapo, and Grassley on the letter are U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and 15 members of the House of Representatives.
Read the full letter here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL)
WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) is leading an initiative to demand much-needed answers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regarding its implementation of Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting, following the recent detrimental decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which discontinued the State of Florida’s 404 permitting authority.
The Donalds initiative has received the support of the entirety of the Florida House Republican Delegation including Representatives Michael Waltz (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), María Salazar (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
Read the full text of the letter HERE or below:
Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon
Chief of Engineers and Commanding General
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
441 G Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20314-1000
Dear Lieutenant General Spellmon:
We write today as Members of Congress from the Florida Delegation seeking answers relating to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permitting process. On February 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia revoked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) designation of the State of Florida—which has been in place for the last three years—to process CWA 404 permits for the purpose of “[regulating] the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands.” As a result of the court’s decision, USACE regained stewardship of Section 404 permitting in Florida, and has assumed new and pending applications from Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)—however, USACE appears unprepared and untransparent regarding the approval or denial of these applications. We have concerns that the recent court’s decision has negatively impacted the economies of Florida and its industries, and provides no greater protection of wildlife or the environment. Therefore, we request a staff-level briefing to understand how USACE is processing Section 404 permit applications after the February 15th, 2024 court decision.
USACE’s assumption of the Florida 404 program immediately created intense regulatory delays among industries and other applicants trapped in the bureaucratic backlog.4 The delays in issuances of permits not only cost tens of millions of dollars in the near term, but also impacts other infrastructure downstream such as commercial spaces, housing, charter schools, and roadways. Thus, USACE’s reluctance to readily approve or deny 404 permit application burdens the growth of the Sunshine State and the prosperity of its people because projects are located in most Florida counties.
Since assuming the 404 permitting program in 2020, FDEP trained approximately 300 additional staff and certified wetland evaluators to formally review 404 applications. While USACE contends they have the appropriate resources to handle the change of permitting under the 404 program, we are unsure about this contention. USACE expressed they are “ready to accept permit applications,” however, it is the impression of our offices that the USACE uses their own, distinct 404 permitting process compared to the process utilized by FDEP. The February 15th, 2024 court order requires a USACE-specific application, meaning the whole application process restarts from scratch. We question how USACE will be able to restart and lessen the backlog of “well over 1,000 applications” including those applications previously situated on the state’s desk.
The fiscal year 2024 budget provided for 132 full time staff positions, however, as of April 2024 USACE totaled 126 staff members. This is a modest increase from the fiscal year 2020 USACE budget which provided for approximately 103 staff positions. Thus, we seek to understand how 132 staff positions could process the same workload in which FDEP hired an additional 300 trained and certified staff members to complete.
Additionally, FDEP’s 404 program had Florida-specifications for applicants “at least as stringent as federal permitting.” We question how USACE is more equipped than FDEP to process 404 applications, since FDEP provided an additional layer of expertise by requiring the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission’s approval on 404 requests—a feature not required by the USACE or the EPA.
The Chief Regulator of the USACE Jacksonville District also noted the additional workload will require the assistance from the South Atlantic Division and the USACE’s headquarters. This would require staff with no knowledge of Florida to issue or deny permits that solely implicate Florida and its resources. In fact, the EPA previously stated that “state and tribal regulators are generally more familiar with local aquatic resources, issues, and needs . . . An efficient state ran program can help reduce delays and save money for applicants.”
FDEP provided a transparent process by which to obtain information and permit applications via the Oculus portal. This portal, no longer used due to the assumption of duties by USACE, provided real-time and readily available information to potential applicants. As an additional layer of transparency, Florida’s sunshine laws allowed for stakeholders to gather all information necessary for applications. Thus, we request information on how USACE will keep the 404-process transparent and easily accessible to applicants and industry participants that seek permits.
Finally, we request the formal definition used by USACE in determining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and its relationship to state 404 permitting moving forward. Due to USACE assuming authority over state 404 permitting, applicants must now ask whether their projects will impact the WOTUS as modified by Sackett v. EPA. Previously, under Florida’s permitting authority, applicants were able to select the state’s wetland designation. Florida’s wetland line in the 404 program is more expansive than the current WOTUS interpretation. Because of the lack of current guidance on how Sackett modifies WOTUS, these determinations are being made on a case-by-case basis until clarity is provided by USACE and, ultimately, the EPA. Florida still provides other state wetlands permits under state waters, however, now there is additional confusion for applicants who affect assumable WOTUS. We require further understanding of USACE’s interpretation and implementation of WOTUS as applied to state 404 permits, and how lack of clarity impacts applicants.
Considering the above concerns, we ask that USACE provide information on its efforts to timely issue permits, provide transparency, and address the challenges created by the D.C. District Court order from February 2024.
To assist the undersigned Members of Congress’ concerns on this matter, please make arrangements to schedule a staff level briefing no later than October 4th, 2024. This briefing should include information about any ongoing audits or preparations of USACE in handling current or future section 404 permitting in Florida, as assumed by USACE. To schedule the briefing, please contact the office of Congressman Byron Donalds at 202-225-2536.
Sincerely,
Byron Donalds (R-FL) Member of Congress
Michael Waltz (R-FL) Member of Congress
Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) Member of Congress
Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) Member of Congress
Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Member of Congress
Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) Member of Congress
Scott Franklin (R-FL) Member of Congress
Daniel Webster (R-FL) Member of Congress
Aaron Bean (R-FL) Member of Congress
Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) Member of Congress
Brian Mast (R-FL) Member of Congress
María Salazar (R-FL) Member of Congress
Greg Steube (R-FL) Member of Congress
Kat Cammack (R-FL) Member of Congress
John Rutherford (R-FL) Member of Congress
Cory Mills (R-FL) Member of Congress
Bill Posey (R-FL) Member of Congress
Laurel Lee (R-FL) Member of Congress
Neal Dunn (R-FL) Member of Congress
Matt Gaetz (R-FL) Member of Congress
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Rubio, Colleagues to Biden-Harris Officials: Individuals Tied to Cuban Regime Are Not Welcome
Sep 24, 2024 | Press Releases
Under U.S. law, any individual who has been, or is affiliated with a Communist Party is deemed inadmissible for entry into our nation. However, under the Biden-Harris Administration’s mass immigration program, it’s been reported that individuals tied to the illegitimate Cuban regime have entered the U.S. and are now residing here.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) led colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas calling for a review of the procedures for making determinations on entry and promptly removing those Cuban regime members from our country.
“The United States must ensure that former Cuban regime members involved in the oppression of innocent Cuban citizens or the transnational persecution of Cuban-Americans are not welcome into our country. Additionally, applicants who have been found to have similar troubling backgrounds, and links after arrival, should not be allowed to continue to remain in the United States… We urge the administration to publicly communicate the vetting procedures and standards by which these immigration decisions are made, in order to ensure the utmost transparency and accountability.”
Joining Rubio were U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) as well as U.S. Representatives Carlos Giménez (R-FL) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL).
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Secretary Blinken and Secretary Mayorkas:
We write with serious concern about the Biden-Harris Administration’s decision to grant parole to Cuban Revolutionary Air Force Colonel Luis Raúl González-Pardo Rodríguez. As you are no doubt aware, González-Pardo is notoriously linked to the international incident of February 24, 1996, when two planes belonging to the humanitarian organization, Brothers to the Rescue, were unconscionably shot down by Cuban MiG-29 fighter jets under orders of Raul Castro. This incident tragically resulted in the deaths of four innocent Cuban-American pilots.
More disturbingly, this negligent oversight comes in the wake of another ill-considered decision to admit former high-ranking Cuban Communist Party regime member Manuel Menendez Castellanos, implicated in acts of oppression against the Cuban people. Taken together, these outcomes, among others, erode confidence in the competence of the administration to recognize threats to the United States and ensure those who have done us harm are not able to enter the United States.
We call on the Biden-Harris Administration to immediately review and revise the procedures used by U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State for making determinations on whom it grants entry, whether it be humanitarian parole or immigrant/nonimmigrant visas. The current process, by virtue of the unacceptable results annotated above, has demonstrated its woeful inadequateness to properly vet applicants and to protect U.S. national security.
The United States must ensure that former Cuban regime members involved in the oppression of innocent Cuban citizens or the transnational persecution of Cuban-Americans are not welcome into our country. Additionally, applicants who have been found to have similar troubling backgrounds, and links after arrival, should not be allowed to continue to remain in the United States. We also urge the administration to publicly communicate the vetting procedures and standards by which these immigration decisions are made, in order to ensure the utmost transparency and accountability. Sincerely,
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Rubio, Colleagues to Biden-Harris Officials: Individuals Tied to Cuban Regime Are Not Welcome
Sep 24, 2024 | Press Releases
Under U.S. law, any individual who has been, or is affiliated with a Communist Party is deemed inadmissible for entry into our nation. However, under the Biden-Harris Administration’s mass immigration program, it’s been reported that individuals tied to the…
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Rubio Applauds House Passage of USCIRF
Sep 24, 2024 | Press Releases
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, is a bipartisan commission that monitors and reports on international religious freedom. The commission’s authorization is currently…
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Rubio, Scott Support Florida Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration
Sep 23, 2024 | Press Releases
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, soon to be Hurricane Helene, is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major hurricane later this week. The storm will bring strong winds, heavy rain, severe storm surge, flooding, and hazardous seas to Florida’s impacted areas….
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ICYMI: Rubio, Clement Present Plan to Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses
Sep 23, 2024 | Press Releases
Congress Can Protect Jews on College Campuses U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Paul Clement September 23, 2024 Wall Street Journal The ancient poison of antisemitism has infected American higher education…. Campus antisemitism isn’t restricted to…widely publicized…
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ICYMI: Rubio Joins Face the Nation
Sep 22, 2024 | Press Releases
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Face the Nation to discuss foreign election interference, threats to President Donald Trump’s life, the impact of illegal mass migration on communities across America, and more. See below for highlights and watch the full…
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Rubio, Colleagues to Garland: Tren De Aragua Continues to Terrorize Our Nation
Sep 20, 2024 | Press Releases
Tren de Aragua, a criminal Venezuelan transnational organization known for committing major international crimes such as human trafficking, drug-trafficking, arms trafficking, and money laundering, continues to terrorize communities across our nation. Following calls…
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Source: United States Navy
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with Argentine Chief of Navy General Staff Vice Adm. Carlos María Allievi for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 23.
The two leaders discussed opportunities to strengthen their naval partnership and their shared commitment to maritime security. Franchetti also congratulated Allievi for the Argentine Navy’s robust participation in UNITAS LXV and Southern Seas 2024 and discussed future opportunities to exercise together.
During their meeting Franchetti noted that Argentina will greatly enhance regional and bilateral partnerships and maritime security as a new member of the multi-national naval partnership Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and noted how the CMF enables participants to build their shared knowledge.
The two leaders also discussed Argentia’s recent fleet modernization efforts and Franchetti encouraged their participation in future Hybrid Fleet Campaigns – a learning campaign aimed at operationalizing new capabilities – led by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.
Franchetti stressed the U.S. and Argentina enjoy a strong partnership and share positive military-to-military ties based on shared values and interests.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Photo courtesy of the National Religious Broadcasters association.
On September 19, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) spoke to the National Religious Broadcasters association on the importance of faith-based messaging.
See a lightly edited transcript below.
You’re going to hear a lot from people about politics and issues today, and I’m more than happy to talk about that. Who am I to warn you against being hyper-political? It’s what I do for a living. And when I was a state legislator, we used to beg people to be interested in politics. But now, it’s the only thing people want to talk about. There’s no space in our life into which politics hasn’t intruded.
The laws we pass are important. People have legitimate concerns about where the country is headed. There are laws that are making it harder for people of faith to participate in the public square. But I try to remind people around me and in my life, many of whom have become consumed by politics, of a couple things. The first thing I try to remind them of is that we cannot make politics and government our god.
Sometimes I hear people of the Christian faith say, “My God, things are so terrible!” But of all the faiths on this planet, the one that knows how the movie ends is ours. And it ends in tribulation. It ends in difficulties. That’s what was promised. Of course, in every generation, Christians are like: “I know it’s all going to happen, and I can’t wait for Jesus to come back, but not now! Not while I’m here! I just want to skip to the end!” But we have to hold true to what is ultimate.
Governments rise and fall. Nations come and go. But for 2,000 years, the one constant in the lives of people of the Christian faith has been our belief that we’re going to live in a new heaven and a new earth, and that it’s going to be as it was originally intended to be before man’s fall. That doesn’t mean we don’t pay attention to the issues of our time. It doesn’t ask us to be hermits. It doesn’t ask us to isolate ourselves. It certainly calls for us to actively live out our faith. But I also don’t think we can let that lead us into anxiety.
In that, I’m reminded of the early Church. The reason why early Christianity spread is not because they conquered with an army. It isn’t because they had more money or more power. In fact, they had none. It’s because the Romans kept doing horrible things to these people, and yet they would go to their deaths singing songs, full of joy, and being kind to their oppressors. Eventually, a bunch of pagans said, “I want the joy those people have.”
They said: “We’ve tried everything. We’ve worshiped all these gods. We’ve forgotten all the gods we worshiped. We’ve sacrificed. We’ve done this, we’ve done that. I want the happiness that these Christians have. What is this secret that they have that the rest of us can’t seem to achieve, despite everything we’ve tried?” It was the power of that example, more than anything else, that allowed the Spirit to work in the world.
The second thing I try to remind people of is that America is not a government. Oftentimes, when people discuss the state of America, they’re actually discussing the state of our politics or the sake of our government. And what we forget is that America is not a government. America is a nation. And what is a nation? At its most basic level, a nation is made up of this: families living in communities.
The most important house in this country is not the White House. It is your house. It’s the first school. It’s the first government. And it’s where we acquire values. Do you realize that everything that tastes good and feels good is bad for you? Why don’t leafy greens taste like ice cream? Why is the stuff that’s good for you, you have to put stuff on it to make it palatable? I think the same is true when it comes to human nature.
Despite all the advancements and our fancy technology, human nature is the same today as it was 5,000 years ago, which is why when we read the Old Testament, those stories seem like they could’ve been written yesterday. We may dress differently, we may use different devices, we may advance scientifically, we may travel to the stars, but human nature is unchanged. That is why history repeats itself. And human nature needs to be controlled. Left to our own nature, left to do whatever we want, we would not live in a good world.
Where do you learn what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong, both collectively and individually? Something has to inform you that murder is evil, because murder is legal in the animal kingdom. It happens there all the time. But humanity has decided that murder is wrong, enslaving someone is wrong, physically abusing someone is wrong, denying the right to speak freely is wrong, denying the right to worship freely is wrong. Where do these ideas come from? They don’t come from human advancements, because human nature hasn’t changed. They come from a system of values.
In this, particularly because I am a Christian, I believe our faith system is an extraordinary asset to the country. You don’t have to convert. You have the right to believe anything you want. But from a practical point of view, why would we ever want to constrain or oppress a system of belief that says: “Treat others the way you want to be treated. Love your enemy. Forgive them. Take care of the widow and the hungry.”
The concept of the widow today is lost on people. If you were a widow 2,000 years ago, you were in big trouble. There was no welfare system. There were no food stamps. There were none of these programs out there. You were on your own, by yourself, with no one to help you, unless you had children to take care of you.
To me, Christianity is a system that teaches you not just to help the widow, but to have compassion for the less fortunate, to serve those in need selflessly, not selfishly. Why do we not want that to infuse our culture and society? Even if, ultimately, you don’t believe in the inspirations for those things, why would you not want something like that to be protected and vibrant under our laws? I think any country would be stronger with that.
And it explains a lot of our history. To this day, Americans feed more people, clothe more people, house more people all over the world than almost all the other countries of the world combined. If there’s a landslide somewhere today, if there’s a flood, an earthquake, or a volcanic eruption, I guarantee you that some faith-based organization in America will be one of the first to respond. And then you add to that foreign aid. (Although that has become controversial lately, and we have to address our own needs as well.)
Why is that? Because there are other wealthy countries that have no tradition of giving whatsoever. To me, the answer is our faith system. When you have instilled in the values of your country to help the less fortunate, it doesn’t mean to help the less fortunate only in your county, your city, your state, or your country. It means we see someone suffering somewhere, and we feel compelled to do something about it. And I’m not talking about just rich people. I’m talking about people that give $50 a month.
Where does that come from? That comes from a system of values grounded in a faith system. It is a national imperative for our country. Not to mention the importance of family and the importance of parenting. Children are not a burden. We should never be a nation that feels that a human life is a burden instead of a blessing. When people talk about things that way, we have to think about what a reflection it is on our society and culture.
What I’m saying is, we can pass a lot of laws, and we can elect great people, but many of the problems we are confronting as a nation go well beyond the government. Government can tell you what’s legal. It cannot tell you what’s right or wrong. Government can punish and reward. It cannot teach people to do good instead of bad, or to care for one another, or to live in community. That’s why I believe the most important thing that the government can do is to rebuild our families so they can live in dignity.
There are things the government can do to help. I think it’s hard to have strong families and strong communities without dignified work. There are great things that the free enterprise system has created, more things than all the other economic systems man has tried. But we have to prioritize dignified work. Man was meant to work. Work is actually a form of worship. In fact, it’s one of the first commandments that mankind received. No matter what the job is, whether you’re a senator or anything else, your work is a way of worshiping your Creator.
But the most important thing the government can do is protect the institutions that are the fiber of the nation: the family, the community, and the faith, which instill values that make us stronger as a result. In many ways, that is the mission that you’re called to. Your mission is to bring Christians news and information in a manner that’s consistent with their values and hopefully inspires them to live up to those values. From a government perspective, our job is to ensure that your right in this country to do that remains unencumbered.
Our own founding documents say our rights come not from the government, but from our Creator. Our country was founded on the belief that our rights are not what I decide they are because the people of Florida elected me, but what God has given us. My job is to protect those rights, not to decide what they are, or to decide which ones apply and which ones do not.
The role of religious broadcasting has a very important mission. It has a spiritual component to it, but it actually has a very strong civil component to it. I think it calls people to live out their faith. At a time when so much of the news and information that people are consuming is actually speaking to the worst of humanity, bringing out the worst in them, the ability to bring out the best in them is really a critical national treasure, one that we have to protect.
I don’t know how to operationalize this in terms of the laws. Oftentimes, good outcomes depend on the law we don’t pass, or something we keep from happening, which would impinge on your ability to fulfill what I think is a critical mission for our country. That mission is to ensure that we have strong families, strong communities, and children raised with the values that allow them to be productive, but also to be good citizens, and to always work for the common good.
Source: United States Navy
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with Commander of the Colombian Navy Vice Adm. Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 23.
The two leaders discussed ways to continue to strengthen their long-standing naval partnership and expand collaboration to promote regional security and stability to support the rules-based international order.
Franchetti said she was very grateful for the Colombian Navy’s role as a regional leader, demonstrated through their participation in exercises such as UNITAS LXV and partnership during Southern Seas 2024. The Heads of Navy said they look forward to future opportunities to exercise together.
During their meeting they also talked about the Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative and how it strengthens their interoperability and their shared commitment to countering illicit maritime operations.
Source: United States Navy
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met Chief of the Chilean Navy Adm. Juan Andrés De La Maza for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today.
The two leaders discussed opportunities for further collaboration and cooperation as they continue to build maritime capacity in the Pacific, to include increased opportunities for Professional Exchange Program officers.
Franchetti also congratulated De La Maza for the Chilean Navy’s leadership in major bilateral and multinational training events including serving as Deputy Commander of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 as well as host for UNITAS LXV, and the launch of their new icebreaker, “Almirante Viel”.
During their discussion, Franchetti, expressed appreciation for Chile’s regional leadership, for their support of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Strike Group during Southern Seas 2024, and discussed future opportunities for multilateral exercises in the coming years.
Franchetti regarded that Chile remains one the most strategic allies in Latin America and plays a key role in ensuring a Western Hemisphere that is democratic, prosperous and secure.
Source: United States Navy
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with Vice Adm. Angus Topshee, Commander, Royal Canadian Navy for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today.
The two leaders discussed opportunities to strengthen their naval partnership and operations in the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific and expressed their shared commitment to continental security, and to working in collaboration with regional and international Allies and partners to uphold the rules-based international order.
During their meeting Franchetti applauded Topshee for the Canadian Navy’s Arctic shipbuilding program and its expanded capabilities in Anti-submarine warfare, and reinforced the importance of multilateral cooperation with Arctic countries.
The leaders also discussed Franchetti’s recently released strategic guidance – the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy – and how the changing character of war requires maritime officers to think, act, and operate differently. They stressed the need to operationally integrate the use of robotic and autonomous systems for missions such as maritime domain awareness, and the role of Information Warfare domain in command-and-control centers.
The Heads of Navy shared their initiatives to recruit and retain talent and said they look forward to future opportunities for their navies to train, exercise and operate together.
Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated Canada’s condemnation of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, including its horrific targeting of civilians and energy infrastructure. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to continue providing military, financial, humanitarian, development, and other assistance to Ukraine as it fights to preserve its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.
The two leaders discussed countering Russian misinformation and disinformation, and President Zelenskyy’s diplomatic efforts toward peace, including through Ukraine’s Peace Formula. They committed to continue building on the success of the recent Summit on Peace in Ukraine, and the Prime Minister underlined ongoing contributions to these efforts. This includes Canada’s co-leadership, with Ukraine, of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, and the meeting of foreign ministers on the human dimension of Russia’s war against Ukraine, to be hosted by Canada in October.
Prime Minister Trudeau and President Zelenskyy reaffirmed their intention to remain in close and regular contact.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02) issued the following statement following the House passage of S.612, the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act (LTRA), the Senate companion bill of his bill H.R. 1274, which reauthorizes program funding through September 30, 2034. The bill will now move to the President’s desk.
“It is our responsibility to keep the environment around beautiful Lake Tahoe in quality shape for future generations to enjoy,” said Rep. Mark Amodei. “The reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act will continue to provide the resources and oversight to do just that. I was proud to lead the effort in the House and am grateful to Senator Cortez Masto for her bicameral partnership in securing this sufficient funding which properly lays out program strategies to restore healthy water conditions, reduce wildfire threats and extract invasive species threatening the Lake Tahoe Basin and its surrounding community.”
“The Lake Tahoe Region is grateful to Congress for their leadership in passing this critical piece of legislation to continue the collaborative work to protect and restore Lake Tahoe,” said Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Julie Regan. “Extending the federal investment in the EIP will leverage millions of dollars in state and local funding to implement the top priority projects for the lake and our communities.”
Background:
In 2023, Rep. Mark Amodei reintroduced the LTRA Reauthorization, originally introduced in 2021, along with the support of cosponsors Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03), Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Rep. John Garamendi (CA-08).
This bipartisan legislation extends $415 million in funding through September 30, 2034. By building on previous success, this reauthorization provides sufficient funding to environmental projects that restore healthy water levels, mitigate the risk of wildfires, control invasive species, and maintain quality environmental standards in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Due to the significance of the situation, companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA).
With the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act set to expire on September 30, 2024, the House diligently worked to pass the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act in this Congress which reauthorizes the $415 million in funding through September 2034.
Read my press release on the reintroduction of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act here.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced two bipartisan, bicameral bills that would allow family caregivers to better save for retirement. These bills—the Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act and the Catching Up Family Caregivers Act—would help address the financial challenges faced by individuals who leave the workforce to care for loved ones, often sacrificing their own long-term financial security. Companion bills were introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswomen Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07).
“Family caregivers provide critical support to their loved ones, yet many are forced to step away from work, significantly inhibiting their ability to save for retirement,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan bills would give these individuals a better opportunity to build a secure financial future and help ensure they are not penalized for the vital care they provide.”
“Family members often make tremendous sacrifices to leave the workforce and care for their aging relatives, and as a result, they miss out on key years of saving for their own golden years,” said Senator Warner. “We need to make it easier for those folks to continue their essential care work while also securing their own financial futures. I’m proud to introduce bills that would give these family caregivers the flexibility to continue contributing to retirement accounts so it’s easier for more people to care for aging relatives without obstructing their own ability to retire with dignity.”
“Caregiving is one of the most important jobs, but our current policies penalize selfless Americans who look after their loved ones,” said Representative Salazar. “I’m proud to co-lead the Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act and the Catching Up Family Caregivers Act, which will reward caregivers with new opportunities to secure a dignified retirement.”
“Caregivers do some of the most important but underappreciated work in our country,” said Representative Pettersen. “Caregivers do everything from cooking meals, administering medications, paying bills, and driving their loved ones to frequent medical appointments. Caregivers often take a significant financial hit when they take time out of the workforce to prioritize their loved ones and many struggle with their own financial security and ability to save in the long term. These two pieces of legislation make it easier for caregivers to save for retirement, ensuring they can take care of their own financial health while caring for their family.”
“Caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia too often takes a devastating toll on caregivers, with many experiencing substantial emotional, financial and physical difficulties,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Association Chief Public Policy Officer and AIM president. “These two bipartisan bills will support our nation’s dementia caregivers by improving access to retirement resources that can help offset some of the financial challenges faced by families impacted by this disease. Thank you to Sens. Collins and Warner for introducing these bills and for your dedication to the Alzheimer’s community.”
“Edward Jones is grateful for Senator Collins’ leadership in introducing the Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act and Catching-up Family Caregivers Act,” said Dr. Lamell McMorris, Principal and Head of Policy, Regulatory & Government Relations for Edward Jones. “We know through our experience, that caregivers make significant sacrifices in providing care to loved ones, which can impact their personal financial security and retirement readiness. We believe that this bipartisan legislation will provide savings opportunities to improve the financial futures of millions of Americans and their families.”
“Business leaders and HR professionals are responsible for designing and implementing benefit plans that meet the needs of their team members. However, too often, caregiver support is not considered. People are living longer, and workers are caring for both children and elderly parents simultaneously. If we intend to lead with empathy, providing employees with the opportunity to care for ill, injured, or aging loved ones must be a priority,” said Emily M. Dickens, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Affairs, SHRM. “That is why we are honored to support the Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act and the Catching Up Family Caregivers Act. SHRM is pleased to see the bipartisan progress in Congress being made to help employees reconstitute their retirement nest egg after a period of intensive caregiving.”
“Family caregivers often pause their careers and retirement savings to provide essential care for loved ones, a service vital to both families and the economy. However, this time away from paid work can result in reduced income and benefits, potentially leading to future financial difficulties, particularly in retirement,” said Jason Resendez, CEO & President of the National Alliance for Caregiving. “If enacted, the Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act and the Catching Up Family Caregivers Act would represent progress towards acknowledging and addressing the economic sacrifices too many family caregivers make.”
Women often take time away from careers to care for their families, resulting in a significant loss to their retirement savings. According to the Center for American Progress, an average 26-year-old female making $60,000 a year who leaves the workforce for five years to care for her children will lose close to one million dollars over her lifetime due to lost retirement assets and wage growth. A recent study from the Edward Jones Grassroots Taskforce found that 64 percent of women say their caregiving duties have negatively impacted their ability to save towards their long-term financial goals. Those taking care of an aging parent often face similar repercussions to being a family caregiver. In 2020, AARP found that three in ten caregivers have stopped contributing to their savings. Therefore, these proposals would allow those who dedicate at least 500 hours to family caregiving and are unemployed or severely underemployed the ability to contribute to their retirement now and later.
The Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act would allow family caregivers to contribute up to $7,000 annually to a Roth IRA, even if their income falls below that threshold. Current law caps contributions at the lower of $7,000 or yearly income, limiting caregivers’ ability to save for retirement when their earnings are reduced due to caregiving responsibilities. By eliminating this income cap for family caregivers, the bill would help to ensure that they can continue to save for retirement despite their reduced wages.
The Catching Up Family Caregivers Act would allow family caregivers to make catch-up contributions to employer-sponsored retirement plans, an option typically reserved for those over age 50. For every year they are out of the workforce, caregivers could be eligible for an additional year of catch-up contributions, up to a maximum of five years. This provision would help caregivers who miss critical savings years get back on track with their retirement planning.
Both pieces of legislation are supported by the Alzheimer’s Association, the Edward Jones Grassroots Task Force, the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), the Insured Retirement Institute, and the National Alliance for Caregiving.
The complete text of the Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act can be read here.
The complete text of the Catching Up Family Caregivers Act can be read here.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
09.24.24
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today applauded the efforts of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) and many others for their efforts at the 69th International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Lima, Peru to renew Alaska’s subsistence whaling quota for six more years. The measure passed yesterday by consensus.
“Today, we celebrate the preservation of subsistence whaling, a cultural practice our Alaska whalers have sustainably conducted for thousands of years,” said Sen. Sullivan. “This quota renewal is the result of hard work from the AEWC, represented in Peru by Chairman John Hopson Jr., Vice Chair Crawford Patkotak, and North Slope Borough Mayor Josiah Patkotak, and many others. Prior to the IWC meeting, John, Crawford, Josiah, other members of the AEWC and I met with senior executive branch officials and more than 20 different embassy representatives in the Capitol. This event was a pivotal opportunity to educate our global partners and our own federal government about our whalers’ priorities. Alaska and America couldn’t ask for better ambassadors than our whaling captains. I want to thank everyone involved who made this success happen, including a dedicated member of my staff, Mary Eileen Manning, who attended the Commission meeting in Peru, the U.S. Commissioner, and the entire U.S. delegation to the IWC. Congratulations to all of our whaling communities throughout the North Slope and the Bering Straits region!”
The 2024 renewal built upon the successful 2018 renewal, when the U.S. delegation secured a streamlined quota renewal commitment.
Background:
As the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing Subcommittee—which has jurisdiction over our nation’s oceans, fisheries, and marine mammals, including whales—Senator Sullivan has relentlessly championed the efforts of Alaska Native whalers to continue the subsistence harvest of whales.
In September 2024, the Alaska delegation sent a letter to embassies of IWC member countries, again reiterating the importance of subsistence whaling.
In the lead up to the 2024 IWC meeting in Peru, Senator Sullivan hosted representatives from the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, the North Slope Borough, and the Biden administration in a strategy meeting to educate global partners and the federal government about Alaska whalers’ priorities.
Following the July 2024 meeting in Washington D.C., Senator Sullivan hosted a reception in the Capitol on the significance of subsistence whaling to the cultures and livelihoods of thousands of Alaska Native people. Speakers at the reception included Sen. Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), North Slope Borough Mayor Josiah Patkotak, AEWC Vice Chairman Crawford Patkotak, AEWC Chairman John Hopson, Jr., AEWC Secretary Herbert Kinneeveauk III, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Director Janet Coit, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mahlet Mesfin.
In September 2018 at the 67th IWC meeting in Brazil, the AEWC secured a renewal of its subsistence whaling quota for seven more years and, for the first time, the automatic renewal of its whaling quota as long as harvests remain sustainable. The measure passed by a vote of 58 to 7.
In the lead up to the 2018 IWC meeting in Brazil, Sen. Sullivan kept in close communication with senior leadership at the U.S. State Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and sent his legislative director to the IWC meetings in Brazil to serve on the U.S. delegation.
In August 2018, the Alaska delegation sent a letter to embassies of IWC member countries, reiterating their commitment to subsistence whaling.
In July 2018, Senator Sullivan convened a strategy meeting in the Capitol with AEWC, the State Department, and NOAA to ensure continued coordination and foster direct high-level engagement. Afterward, Sen. Sullivan led a reception, hosted by the Alaska congressional delegation, for ambassadors and diplomatic officials of IWC member embassies.
In April 2018, Senator Sullivan, alongside Senator Murkowski, introduced and passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee the Whaling Convention Amendments Act of 2018—which authorized the Secretary of Commerce to preserve the bowhead whale subsistence harvest and Alaska Native food security under U.S. law if the IWC had failed to act on the bowhead whale quota during their meetings in Brazil.
Subsistence Whaling and IWC Background:
Worldwide whale stocks are managed through the International Whaling Commission, a group of 88 countries that have ratified the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. The Whaling Convention Act of 1949 is the relevant U.S. implementing legislation.
The convention allows for the harvest of certain whale species for nations that certify either a cultural or subsistence need for their aboriginal population. Russia, Denmark (for Greenland), the United States, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are those nations who currently practice Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling (ASW).
The subsistence harvest in Alaska is sustainable and non-commercial. The IWC has consistently certified that the biological status of Alaska’s bowheads is sustainable.
Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The leaders highlighted the close relationship between Canada and the European Union (EU) and the importance of continued collaboration on shared priorities, including economic security, sustainable development, and global stability.
The Prime Minister and the President discussed the need to take action on climate change, carbon pricing, and industrial decarbonization. They emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in driving innovation and accelerating investments for a clean energy transition.
The leaders exchanged views on pressing geopolitical issues. They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unjustifiable war of aggression, and emphasized the importance of promoting lasting peace and security in the Middle East.
They also underscored their support for Haiti, highlighting the pivotal steps that have been taken toward restoring peace and stability in the country. Prime Minister Trudeau noted the need for additional support for the UN-authorized Multinational Security Support mission to ensure its success.
Prime Minister Trudeau and President von der Leyen looked forward to continue strengthening the strong partnership between Canada and the EU, including in the context of Canada’s G7 Presidency next year. The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.
MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –
Source: Prime Minister of Canada – in French
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the margins of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated Canada’s condemnation of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, including its horrific targeting of civilians and energy infrastructure. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to continue providing military, financial, humanitarian, development and other support to Ukraine in its fight to preserve its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
The two leaders discussed ways to combat Russian misinformation and disinformation, as well as President Zelenskyy’s diplomatic efforts to promote peace, including through the Ukraine Peace Plan. They committed to building on the successes of the recent Ukraine Peace Summit, and the Prime Minister highlighted ongoing contributions in this regard, including Canada’s co-chairing of the International Coalition for the Repatriation of Ukrainian Children, and Canada’s meeting of foreign ministers on the human dimension of Russia’s war on Ukraine in October.
Prime Minister Trudeau and President Zelenskyy reaffirmed their intention to remain in close and regular contact.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)
(Washington, D.C.) — On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, questioned SEC Chairman Gensler in a Financial Services Committee Hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission.”
You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s questions here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
“The issues plaguing American producers are directly linked to the harmful policies.”
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke on the Senate floor about the how the Biden administration’s inflationary policies are hurting American farmers. He stressed the importance of passing a Farm Bill that puts American farmers first.
Read Senator Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.
“Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the dire state of our American farm economy and our farmers. American farmers and producers are the backbone of our nation’s agriculture economy and food security.
Despite their critical role in our lives to feed, clothe, and fuel not only the United States, but the entire world, our farmers are struggling to survive—and that’s an understatement. The current state of the agriculture economy is bleak and on the verge of collapse. We have problems all over the world. We have problems in our country. There’s nothing more important. Nothing more important that we should be addressing than our food supply here in this country.
Costs for farmers are rising. Commodity prices are falling. Our farmers cannot break even—much less, make a profit. According to the USDA, net farm income this year is projected to decline 4.4% from 2023 […]. That is a disaster. This follows a shocking—listen to this—a shocking 19.5% decline in 2022.
Not one business in this country can survive with this kind of decline. And our farmers and our farms are no different. This means producer’s income has plummeted 23% in just two years. 23%. These figures represent over $40 billion in lost revenue for America’s hardworking producers. This is the largest two-year decline ever in our farm income, ever in the history of this country.
Right now, our row croppers, especially, are facing considerable financial hardship. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, row croppers had a $27.7 billion decline in cash receipts since last year. In Alabama, my state, our producers are yielding bumper crops of cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, and yet they can’t profit due to [the] rising cost of production. Our catfish producers are in the same boat. Rising input costs and falling fish prices are threatening to put them out of business. A multitude of factors that producers have no control over are impacting their bottom lines.
And I wanna talk about one of them. This miraculous, this ‘world saving’ Inflation Reduction Act that we passed a few years ago, was supposed to ‘save our economy.’ It was supposed to save a lot of workers. You know what it’s done to our farmers? It’s almost put us out of business. The Inflation Reduction Act started a tax credit for imports and exports.
Unfortunately, all the tax credits are going to people, and countries, and farmers from overseas—Brazil and China. [The tax credit] is supposed to go to our farmers, [but] no it’s not gonna do that. For some reason, this Administration [has] given all the tax credits to the farmers from other countries, and our farmers are struggling.
The Biden administration has control, has total control, over our farm economy, but you hadn’t heard a peep out of them, not one peep about our farmers. And this is a disastrous year coming up. And right now, we are harvesting our crops and they’re bumper crops. The issues plaguing American producers are directly linked to the harmful policies, as I just said, from the Biden-Harris administration.
This includes the lack of domestic energy production, skyrocketing inflation, which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, and endless environmental hurdles. Let me say something about conservation and all the things that happen in our environment. There’s nobody, and I mean nobody on the face of the earth, that takes care and is more conscious of environmental problems than our farmers, because they make a living off our land. But we’re putting so many regulations on them. We’re closing our farms down and running them overseas, and we’re gonna have a national security threat because all of our food is gonna come from foreign countries.
Farmers are experiencing rising high costs of labor [and an] increase [in the] price of feeds, fertilizer, and pesticides. And I’m not going to sugarcoat it. America’s agriculture producers are facing a very tough road ahead. And it’s something nobody, the media, this building, […] The House of Representatives—nobody’s even talking about. Folks, if we can’t eat. If we don’t have food to eat, we’re done.
Many farmers fear that their farm loans this year will not be renewed. They have to have farm loans to put a crop in the ground. They fear cash flow is drying up and interest rates continuing to rise create an uncertain future for farming operations. Although Congress only has a few legislative days left to act, we must stop adding fuel to the Biden-Harris administration’s fire. We’ve got to quit adding fuel. We’ve got to help the farmers.
We need to pass a Farm Bill that helps our farmers. Democrats are [in] control of that. […] A farm bill is for five years. […] Five years ago, the Farm Bill was $870 billion for [a] five-year period. It runs in a five-year period. So, this past year, we’re supposed to be working on a Farm Bill. I’m on the Ag Committee. We go by the control of the Democratic Party. Our Democratic Chairwoman has decided we won’t do a Farm Bill this year.
We’re just throwing farmers underneath the bus. They need help. You would think by looking at everything going on, that my colleagues on the Left would rather our food come from other countries, take over our farmland, control it, and do something else with it.
Producers need a strong safety net—we’ve got to have a safety net for our farmers. Considering no farmer’s risks are the same, we cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach. Remember, we have a Farm Bill that covers livestock, hogs, row croppers, forest, fish. There’s a lot of things involved.
Farmers across the country have fluctuating levels of risk impacted by land and equipment costs, access to irrigation, and variable input requirements. Southern row croppers rely heavily, heavily upon Title I Commodity Programs in the Farm Bill, particularly the Price Loss [Coverage] program and the Agricultural Risk [Coverage] program. Yet Midwest producers heavily utilize crop insurance.
Where there may be an overlap across regions among these programs, we must fix the entire farm safety net, not just parts of it. Take the reference prices and commodity programs, for example. Reference prices are how much prices are in their commodity sells for. Our farmers […] are today operating on 2012 reference prices, 2012. Fourteen years later, the costs of production are 22-31% higher today than they were at that time a decade ago—making current reference prices completely inadequate for our farmers.
We don’t have time to waste. Our farmers are facing an uphill battle to remain in business. […] The American people going to the grocery store are gonna find out pretty quick what it is to be hungry if we don’t wake up and smell the roses.
Even if a Farm Bill is passed today, producers wouldn’t receive any commodity program support from this Farm Bill until 2026. Game, set, match before 2026 for our farmers in this country.
That’s help our farmers need now to survive, not two years late. Senate Republicans stand ready to act on a solid bipartisan bill the House Agriculture Committee passed earlier this year. Yet, Senate Democrats and the Biden administration refused, they refused, to come to the table to find practical, bipartisan solutions to the many problems our farmers are facing today.
‘Let’s don’t worry about our farmers. Let’s worry about Ukraine. Let’s worry about people overseas. Eight hundred bases we have around the world. Let’s don’t worry about eating. We can without eating.’ That’s what this Administration’s saying.
This forces us to look to supplemental appropriation packages to help our producers, if we’re not gonna do a Farm Bill, to renew their farm loans and plan for next year’s crops. If they don’t get help this year, we’re gonna have huge problems. They won’t be pocketing this money. If we come up with some money to help the farmers get along, they’ll just be planting another crop.
Without immediate action to assist producers, our nation’s agriculture industry may never, ever, make it back from the damage that we’re doing to them today. America has lost—listen to this—America has lost 150,000 farms and 25,000 farmers in our country over the last few years. What? 150,000 farms closed up. Why? They can’t make a profit. You’ve owned a farm for 100 years, you and your family. But you get to the point where you say, ‘you know, I’m not passing something down to our kids that really wanna farm, we’re not gonna put them in harm’s way. We’re gonna sell. We’re gonna get out of the business. And we’re gonna let somebody else worry about it. Let’s let the Federal Government worry about it.’ […]
We can’t afford any more losses to our farms. Our farmers are hurting. They’re hurting real bad. But have you heard anybody talk about it, no.
You’re gonna hear a lot of people complaining about it and there’s gonna be an uproar in the next few years when prices double and triple as what they are today because we’re not gonna have any food. And it’s gonna come from Brazil, it’s gonna come from China, it’s gonna come from Vietnam.
We are doing severe damage to the farmers across this country and nobody cares. I’ll continue to be the voice of our Southern agriculture producers in the Senate and ensure that we have a seat at the table on this Farm Bill upcoming. But as I just said a while ago, [even] if we do a Farm Bill today, we’re gonna lose at least half of our farmers in this country this year, this year if they don’t get some help.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
Source: China State Council Information Office
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (at the podium and on the screens) delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) began on Tuesday amid growing calls for more international cooperation to address challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while tackling the fallout from ongoing conflicts and global health crises.
The session saw world leaders heading to New York to deliver their statements as they took part in high-level discussions on the existential threat of sea-level rise, accelerating progress in combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, and driving forward the United Nation’s long-term goal of achieving global nuclear disarmament with a plenary meeting marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
President of the 79th session of the UNGA, Philemon Yang, told the opening ceremony that “the General Debate remains one of the world’s most inclusive, representative and authoritative platforms for global reflection and collective action. This year, the urgency of our task cannot be overstated.”
He noted that countries are falling behind in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With just five years to go, less than 18 percent have been met. Meanwhile, the climate crisis is “no longer a distant threat” but “here now, ravaging ecosystems and dismantling the livelihoods of entire communities.”
Yang also addressed the various conflicts raging from the Middle East to Ukraine, and from Haiti to South Sudan. “I call for an immediate ceasefire in all these conflict settings,” he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the General Debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly, saying that the current state of the world is unsustainable, but working together can find solutions.
“That requires us to make sure the mechanisms of international problem-solving actually solve problems,” he said. “It is time for a just peace based on the UN Charter, international law and UN resolutions.”
The agenda
The 79th session of the UNGA opened on Sept. 10, and the first day of the high-level General Debate falls on Tuesday. The 79th session marks a crucial milestone in the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 SDGs, according to a UN press release.
While the overall state of SDGs globally remains of grave concern, the SDG Moment event on Tuesday demonstrates that dramatic progress is still possible between now and 2030. It will do so by highlighting inspiring examples of progress across the world and the role of just and inclusive transitions in accelerating SDG progress.
World leaders gathered to engage in the annual high-level general debate under the theme “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.” Heads of state and government and ministers will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.
On Wednesday, the High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise will convene global leaders, experts and stakeholders to address the urgent and escalating threat of rising sea levels. This meeting will focus on building common understanding, mobilizing political leadership and promoting multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration and international cooperation towards the objective of “addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise.”
Participants will work towards developing comprehensive solutions and actionable commitments to combat sea-level rise, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future including for small island developing states and low-lying coastal areas, according to the United Nations.
On Thursday, the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) presents an opportunity for countries and stakeholders to renew efforts and accelerate progress in combating the growing threat of AMR. This meeting will serve as the foundation for executing policies and ensuring accountability for strengthening health systems against AMR.
“Building on the momentum of previous declarations and commitments, participants will focus on enhancing international cooperation, promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials, and advancing the development of new treatments to safeguard global health,” said the United Nations.
Also on Thursday, a high-level meeting will be held for International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
On Monday, the United Nations just concluded the highly anticipated two-day Summit of the Future, which underscored the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation to address pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while tackling the impacts of ongoing conflicts and global health crises.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis applauded a $290 millioncommitment from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fund the Fourth Parallel Runway project at the Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) Airport.
“This investment will not only enhance Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s capacity to meet future air traffic demand but also will provide a better experience for both pilots and passengers,” said Senator Tillis. “I am proud to have worked with airport officials and local leaders to secure this critical funding to expand the airport, allowing them to meet growing passenger needs.”
The 10,000-foot-long by 150-foot-wide runway, is positioned west of Runway 18C/36C. The construction also includes north and south end-around taxiways, which will allow aircraft arriving on the existing western runway to bypass the new runway and the center runway. This enhancement will notably reduce aircraft operating time, fuel consumption, and emissions, while also decreasing long wait times for passengers. CLT has the highest share of connecting passengers at any airport in the U.S.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Langworthy announced that New York State’s Major Disaster Declaration was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the extreme weather during August 8-10 in Allegany, Steuben, Broome, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Ontario, St. Lawrence, and Yates Counties.
“Seeing the damage up close in some of the hardest hit areas, it became clear how essential federal assistance was for these communities to recover, and I was proud to be a vocal advocate for the Southern Tier throughout this process,” said Congressman Langworthy. “With homes, businesses, and key infrastructure severely impacted, this Major Disaster Declaration will allow people to rebuild their lives. Now that this assistance is in place, we can focus on helping our neighbors get back on their feet after such a devastating storm.”
Immediately following the flooding, Congressman Langworthy toured the Steuben County areas that were hardest hit, including Canisteo, Jasper-Troupsburg High School, Greenwood, Woodhull, and the Jasper sewage plant.
Congressman Langworthy also penned a letter to President Joe Biden urging the swift approval of New York State’s Major Disaster Declaration request following the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Debby in August 2024. Congressman Langworthy’s letter comes after New York State completed damage assessments and submitted its request.
In his letter, Congressman Langworthy highlighted the severe damage to major roadways, including state Route 417 and county Route 36, that have left residents cut off and businesses unable to operate. The Congressman also emphasized the need for additional Individual Assistance to ensure that residents can rebuild their homes.
Read the full letter here.
Source: Save The Children
SYDNEY, 25 Sept 2024 – Over six in 10 children with access to the internet interact with “unknown others” daily despite concerns about online grooming, according to new research released by Save the Children and Western Sydney University that highlighted children’s demands for better online protection.
The research team held in-depth consultations with about 600 children and young people aged 8 to 18 from Australia, Finland, the Philippines, Cambodia, Colombia, Kenya, and South Africa, who shared their views and experiences of facing inappropriate requests online for personal information or images.
The report, ‘Protecting Children from Online Grooming’, was written by the Young & Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University, and funded by the global child online safety investment vehicle Safe Online as part of the Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of online grooming and child sexual and financial exploitation have reached an all-time high [1], with an 82% rise in online grooming crimes against children reported in that period [2]. Online grooming practices have also transformed, with the fastest growing form of online grooming targeting young men for financial extortion [3].
The report revealed children were more inclined to connect with strangers – or “unknown others” – online as they matured and became more social, motivated by a desire for friendship, fun and play, followed by a wish to stay informed about trends and events, and to connect over shared interests.
The findings also showed that while children across all cultures and age groups were more suspicious of people they didn’t know online than people they knew in person, most (66%) of the study participants still interacted with “unknown others” daily online.
Children in high-income settings were twice as likely to use privacy settings to protect themselves from unwanted contacts, compared to children from some low-income settings, but the potential to derive financial benefits was an incentive for children in middle-income countries to connect with strangers online, potentially compromising their safety.
While children have come up with numerous ways to protect themselves, they are calling for widespread, accessible and targeted online safety education for themselves and their caregivers. In the discussions the children also made concrete suggestions about how technology platforms and governments can implement changes that will keep them safer online.
Sonisay*, a girl aged 11-12 from rural Cambodia, said:
“Adults should know that children interact with strangers, monitor them, and read their chats.”
Angel* aged 15-17 from a city in the Philippines said:
“Adults need to know about the children of today who are highly computer-savvy… To be able to support and protect the children, adults need to understand that children are comfortable with using the internet which pushes to interact with strangers.”
Charlie* aged 14 from Australia emphasised the need to start online safety education earlier:
“Having young children educated about the safety of technology and the dangers … adults only start this education for older kids on social media when the problem can be on video games played by young kids.”
Children reported that it was very difficult to ascertain the intentions of strangers online. Children were also particularly worried about being asked for personal information or nude pictures, being drawn into inappropriate sexually-oriented exchanges, or exposure to criminal activities.
The report found that children want and need better online protection, with children primarily using intuition and background checks rather than seeking help from trusted adults to manage their online interactions with people they don’t know.
The data also showed that children distinguish people they know well both online and in person from those they only know online, with 86% approaching the latter with caution. Yet despite this wariness, children were still three times more likely to ignore or decline an inappropriate or unwanted request than they are to report or block it.
Steve Miller, Save the Children’s Global Director of Child Protection, said:
“Children deserve to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment – both online and offline. As the digital landscape evolves, so do the challenges and threats, including the threat of online grooming and exploitation. We need to foster a digital environment that is not only safe but also enriching, allowing children to explore, learn, and grow without fear. Policymakers need to listen to the voices and experiences of children when developing policies that protect them.”
Professor Amanda Third, Co-Director of the Young and Resilient Research Centre, Western Sydney University, said:
“Keeping children safe from online grooming requires a whole-of-community approach. Governments, NGOs, technology platforms, teachers, parents, caregivers, and children themselves all have an important role to play. However, to most effectively address this issue it is crucial that we listen to the views and experiences of children and young people and engage them as active partners in the research and policy design process. Children and young people are finding their own ways to tackle this issue and devise solutions but they are also calling on us to help equip them and their caregivers with the skills and knowledge needed to be able to safely navigate these rapidly evolving digital environments.”
Save the Children has launched a major global effort to support digital inclusion and empower the next generation of resilient digital citizens. Save the Children’s Safe Digital Childhood initiative is includes partnering with schools, communities and tech leaders to break down barriers to digital inclusion by making sure the children with the fewest resources can access devices and connectivity; offering targeted digital literacy and citizenship programs; helping technology industry partners embed child-centric safeguards into their platforms; and empowering children to advocate for their rights in the digital world.
The Young & Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University is an Australian-based, international research centre that unites young people with researchers, practitioners, innovators, and policymakers to explore the role of technology in children’s and young people’s lives and how it can be used to improve individual and community resilience across generations.
Safe Online is the only global investment vehicle dedicated to keeping children safe in the digital world. Through investing in innovation and bringing key actors together, Safe Online helps shape a digital world that is safe and empowering for all children and young people, everywhere. The Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund, which funded the research, is a groundbreaking collaboration fuelling actionable research and bringing together the tech industry with academia and civil society in a bold alliance to end online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
*Names have been changed to protect identities
[1] WeProtect Global Threat Assessment Data 2023
[2] NSPCC. (2023, August 15). 82% rise in online grooming crimes against children in the last 5 years.
[3] WeProtect’s Global Threat Assessment Data 2023