Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)
Rep. Balint Announces South Burlington $700,000 Award from Environmental Protection Agency for Bartlett Bay Wastewater Facility Improvements
South Burlington, VT, June 24, 2025
Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) is proud to announce that the City of South Burlington will receive an award of $700,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the Bartlett Bay wastewater facility. Rep. Balint secured this funding, alongside fourteen other community projects, through the FY2024 appropriations bill.
“By funding improvement projects that will lower costs, ensure safe water, and reduce our carbon footprint, this kind of investment will make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of Vermonters. I’m proud to get this funding over the finish line and to do the real work that will mean cleaner and safer communities for Vermont,” said Rep. Balint.
The funding will be used to reduce the overall carbon footprint as part of the current upgrade of the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) in South Burlington. The facility was last upgraded over 20 years ago and will undergo a refurbishment over the next 1-3 years. This funding will be used to replace existing conventional, fossil-fuel powered systems with efficient heat pump units which can reduce the system’s carbon footprint by 25%. In addition, modern heat pumps can reduce electricity used for heating by approximately 50% compared to electric resistance heating. An energy efficient system will help keep wastewater rates low for rate payers, reduce the plant’s carbon footprint, and support a clean energy future.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)
Rep. Balint Announces South Burlington $700,000 Award from Environmental Protection Agency for Bartlett Bay Wastewater Facility Improvements
South Burlington, VT, June 24, 2025
Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) is proud to announce that the City of South Burlington will receive an award of $700,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the Bartlett Bay wastewater facility. Rep. Balint secured this funding, alongside fourteen other community projects, through the FY2024 appropriations bill.
“By funding improvement projects that will lower costs, ensure safe water, and reduce our carbon footprint, this kind of investment will make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of Vermonters. I’m proud to get this funding over the finish line and to do the real work that will mean cleaner and safer communities for Vermont,” said Rep. Balint.
The funding will be used to reduce the overall carbon footprint as part of the current upgrade of the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) in South Burlington. The facility was last upgraded over 20 years ago and will undergo a refurbishment over the next 1-3 years. This funding will be used to replace existing conventional, fossil-fuel powered systems with efficient heat pump units which can reduce the system’s carbon footprint by 25%. In addition, modern heat pumps can reduce electricity used for heating by approximately 50% compared to electric resistance heating. An energy efficient system will help keep wastewater rates low for rate payers, reduce the plant’s carbon footprint, and support a clean energy future.
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
Warnock, Colleagues Lead Effort to Create Increased Pathways to Legal Permanent Residency for Families Fleeing Turmoil
The SECURE Act provides long-term stability for temporary protected status (TPS) and deferred enforced departure (DED) recipients by giving them the ability to apply for legal permanent residency
The SECURE Act comes as the Trump administration continues to levy attacks against TPS and DED individuals
There are more than 41,000 TPS holders in Georgia
Senator Reverend Warnock: “All people no matter where they were born deserve just as much respect and compassion as we’d show to anyone else”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Senate Democrats introduced the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act. The legislation would create a pathway for TPS and DED recipients by giving them the ability to apply for legal permanent residency. “As a pastor I believe every human being has dignity,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “All people no matter where they are born deserve just as much respect and compassion as we’d show anyone else. I’ll continue to be an advocate for the immigrant community in Georgia, and I won’t stop fighting in Washington for the policies we need to ensure all of our loved ones, friends, and neighbors can live full lives free from fear of persecution and deportation.”
TPS is a temporary, legal immigration status granted to individuals who are endangered by conditions in their home country resulting from extraordinary events such as ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or epidemic. TPS status is granted for set periods ranging from six to 18 months, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to extend a country’s status on a recurring basis. Recent estimates found there are approximately 41,000 people with TPS in Georgia.
Deferred enforced departure (DED) is a temporary and discretionary administrative stay of removal granted to foreign citizens from designated countries. Unlike TPS, a DED designation emanates from the President’s constitutional powers to conduct foreign relations and has no statutory basis.
Since coming to the Senate, Senator Warnock has been a vocal proponent of fixing the nation’s immigration system through comprehensive immigration reform, and a strong supporter of Georgia’s vibrant immigrant communities. To that end, Senator Warnock has advocated for legislation to provide a legal pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and has supported measures to strengthen funding for border security and fentanyl screening.
In addition to Senators Warnock and Van Hollen, the legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ) Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
Families in Princeton will now have access to 80 new child care spaces at the Riverside Learning Centre.
“Access to more high-quality, affordable child care spaces will make a real difference for the women, and working and single parents in the Princeton community,” said Rohini Arora, parliamentary secretary for child care. “We know that having access to high-quality, affordable child care allows parents, especially women, to stay in the workforce or return to school, directly helping families and the local economy thrive, while their children are growing and learning.”
The Province partnered with School District 58 (Nicola-Similkameen) on this project, which was supported by more than $10.2 million from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund. This fund is jointly supported by provincial investments and federal funding under the 2021-22 to 2030-31 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. British Columbia and the federal government signed an extension to the agreement for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
This child care centre will provide a total of 122 child care spaces, including 42 existing spaces and 80 new spaces. This includes 24 spaces for infant-toddlers, 50 spaces for children 2.5 years old to kindergarten, and 48 spaces for school-age care. These new child care spaces bring the total number of child care spaces funded through the ChildCareBC space-creation programs in Princeton and surrounding areas to 206.
“As a district, we are exceptionally grateful the ministry has invested in rural British Columbia to provide a state-of-the-art child care centre in Princeton,” said Courtney Lawrance, superintendent of schools, SD58 (Nicola-Similkameen). “Children truly are our future and a solid foundation of early learning supports the long-term vitality of the community. We dreamed big with the vision for the project and with this opening, our dream has come true.”
Since 2018, ChildCareBC’s space-creation programs have helped fund more than 40,900 new licensed child care spaces in B.C. and 24,900 of those are now open. Expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care spaces is part of the Province’s ChildCareBC plan.
Learn More:
For information about ChildCareBC, visit: https://www.gov.bc.ca/childcare/newspacesfund
For information about the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, visit: https://www.gov.bc.ca/childcare/newspacesfund
For information about how to connect to services and help save money, visit the BC Benefits Connector: https://gov.bc.ca/BCBenefitsConnector
30 Local Leaders Join Two New Energy to Communities (E2C) Peer-Learning Cohorts on Electricity Load Growth and Utility Engagement
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is excited to announce the 30 local participants across 25 states, territories, and Tribes selected for two new Energy to Communities (E2C) peer-learning cohorts, managed on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
These cohorts will bring together local leaders, energy experts, and community organizations to tackle critical challenges related to electricity load growth, grid impacts, and electric utility partnerships. From July to December, the 15 participants in each cohort will convene monthly to learn from energy experts—and each other—about best practices, strategies, and tools for addressing these energy topics.
The “Navigating Electricity Load Growth and Associated Utility Grid Impacts” cohort will focus on strategies for adapting to increasing electricity demand driven by emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and data centers. Participants will explore how grid infrastructure can evolve to meet new economic opportunities while maintaining reliability and resilience.
The “Engaging With Electric Utilities for Successful Local Partnerships” cohort will equip local leaders with knowledge on electric utility regulation, core functions, and business models. Participants will gain insights into collaborative approaches for working effectively with electric utilities, fostering innovation, and advancing policies that support local energy needs.
Participants from more than 200 communities have already participated in E2C peer-learning cohorts for educational resources, case studies, analysis and modeling tools, templates, trainings, and facilitated collaboration.
Learn more about E2C’s three different technical assistance offerings, and apply for short-term expert match support today.
“These peer-learning cohorts represent an exciting opportunity for communities to deepen their understanding of the evolving energy landscape while building strong partnerships to navigate these challenges,” said Jenny Sumner, the E2C program lead at NREL. “We look forward to facilitating these cohorts and providing participants with the tools and expertise needed to shape their energy futures.”
The cohort topics and participants in the July 2025 cycle are:
Navigating Electricity Load Growth and Associated Utility Grid Impacts
Bennett, Colorado
Blaine County, Idaho
Cherokee Nation (Tahlequah, Oklahoma)
Chester, Pennsylvania
Columbus Municipal Division of Power, Ohio
Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise Inc. (EDGE), Nebraska
Engaging With Electric Utilities for Successful Local Partnerships
Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
Blaine County, Idaho
Boston, Massachusetts
Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, Vermont
Delray Beach, Florida
Douglas County, Kansas
Greater Portland Council of Governments, Maine
Johnstown, Colorado
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Lucas County, Ohio, with Toledo, Ohio
Missoula, Montana
Sedona, Arizona
Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments, Alabama
Washoe County, Nevada
Windsor, Colorado
Peer-learning cohorts are one of three technical assistance offerings from the E2C program, ranging from short-term technical assistance to address near-term energy challenges to more in-depth technical partnerships that support communities in developing abundant, reliable, affordable, and secure energy systems.
E2C is funded by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with support from Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
NEWARK, N.J. — Following an ICE Homeland Security Investigations Newark investigation, six people were charged for conspiring to transport stolen property derived from burglarized consignment shops across multiple states.
The subjects were charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to sell and receive stolen property that had crossed state lines. Marco Honesty, 28, Richard Francis, 35, Dominique Hayes, 29, Deandre Dudley, 32, Ilon Coles-Melson, 21, and Marcus Gallmon, 21, residents of Washington, D.C. and Maryland, were charged at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark.
“Our law enforcement partnerships across the East Coast in this investigation led to the successful apprehension of six suspects and dismantled an interstate burglary ring behind a string of consignment store thefts across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania Maryland and Delaware,” said ICE HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “The criminals hoping to line their own pockets by selling millions of dollars in stolen merchandise will now face the consequences of their illicit schemes.”
According to the investigation, the defendants are part of a commercial burglary ring that committed at least 18 burglaries in multiple states between March 2024 and November 2024, including in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. On several dates, the defendants broke into the consignment shops in the middle of the night using sledgehammers and other objects, stole dozens of designer handbags and other items from each shop, and transported the stolen goods across state lines.
HSI Newark led the investigation with the assistance of HSI Baltimore, HSI Malta, HSI Washington D.C. and HSI Wilmington. Many law enforcement partners from five states also supported the investigation.
HSI Newark’s law enforcement partners in New Jersey who assisted in the investigation include the New Jersey State Police, Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, Cape May Police Department, Cherry Hill Police Department, Colts Neck Police Department, Englewood Police Department, Haddonfield Police Department, Livingston Police Department, Manalapan Police Department, Margate Police Department, Millburn Police Department, Montclair Police Department, Roxbury Township Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Tenafly Police Department, Warren Police Department, and Watchung Police Department for their assistance.
New York partners include Guilderland Police Department, North Castle Police Department and Saratoga Springs Police Department. Pennsylvania partners include Philadelphia Police Department. Delaware partners include Delaware State Police. Maryland partners include Prince George’s County Police Department and Baltimore County Police Department.
Honesty appeared in Newark federal court June 13 and was detained. Hayes appeared in Newark federal court May 22 and was detained. Coles-Melson appeared n Newark federal court April 11 and was detained. Gallmon, Dudley and Francis also appeared in court earlier this year but were later released on a $100,000 unsecured bond. The charge of conspiracy to sell or receive stolen property carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of up to a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of money involved in the offense, whichever is greater.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim, or has information about the theft group or burglaries, is asked to call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or call a local field office.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
ATLANTA (June 24, 2025) — Last Friday, Sen. RaShaun Kemp (D–Atlanta) hosted a Father’s Day celebration at the Georgia State Capitol to honor fathers from across the state for their unwavering commitment to family and community.
The event featured opening remarks from former State Representative Erica (Thomas) Adeyemi, followed by a presentation from Sen. Kemp, who introduced a resolution recognizing exceptional fathers and the lasting impact of fatherhood in Georgia.
“This event holds personal significance for me,” said Sen. Kemp. “I didn’t grow up with my father in my life, and I only met him for the first time at age 37. Since then, he has been a blessing, showing up with open arms and a full heart. Through that experience, I was reminded of the power of grace, intention and presence.
That’s why I believe it’s time we expand the way we talk about fatherhood. Too often, Father’s Day is framed solely around absence. But there is another story — one of fathers who are deeply present, who nurture and lead, who help shape not only their own children but the communities around them.
With this resolution, we recognize those fathers and the lasting legacy they create through their everyday actions. Let this not be a one-day celebration, but a continued commitment to uplifting the value of fatherhood throughout our state. I look forward to making this an annual tradition here at our state capitol.”
# # # #
Sen. RaShaun Kemp represents the 38th Senate District, which includes a portion of Fulton County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0105 or by email atrashaun.kemp@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out toSenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
oday, on the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling, which ended the constitutional right to an abortion in the United States, Governor Hochul authored an op-ed in Empire Report reaffirming her commitment to keeping abortion safe and accessible in New York. Since taking office, Governor Hochul has made nation-leading investments in expanding reproductive freedom rights for New Yorkers including: increasing funding to support abortion care providers, passing historic legislation protecting both patients and New York doctors and today announced nearly $25 million to organizations in New York that support abortion care. Text of the op-ed can be viewed online and is available below:
Three years ago today was the last day that every woman in the United States had a constitutionally-protected right to access abortion.
With the stroke of a pen the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and our nation erupted in grief, anger and fear. This was a right that my mother’s generation fought for – a right we expected would be here to stay for my daughter and granddaughters’ generations.
Over the past three years, anti-choice politicians have done everything in their power to restrict reproductive freedom. Nineteen states have passed total or near-total abortion bans, and women have literally died because they couldn’t get the care they needed.
But here’s the thing about New Yorkers: when you try to take away our rights, we fight like hell to protect our people. New York will always stand as a safe harbor for women who need abortion care.
So what did New York do when they tried to strip away our freedoms? We got to work.
Immediately following the leaked release of the Dobbs decision, we invested a nation-leading $35 million to support abortion providers statewide. This funding is helping New York doctors address financial challenges and make much-needed investments in security. And in 2022, I signed New York’s “Shield Law” to protect the rights of patients and prevent other states from prosecuting New York’s doctors.
This year, we went a step further by offering additional protections for those prescribing abortion medication via telemedicine by protecting their personal information.
These issues aren’t hypothetical. Consider this: a warrant was issued in Louisiana to arrest a New York-based doctor who, for decades, performed her duties as a health care provider. She assisted women exercising control of their own bodies and helped them access the basic health care they needed. Because of our “Shield Law,” we protected that New York doctor.
Even as other states continue to target, harass and scare doctors and patients, we’ll continue to stand up for what’s right. In this year’s budget, we’ve invested over $60 million to protect New Yorkers’ right to reproductive health care and the brave providers who ensure care is provided to those who need it most. Today, I’m proud to announce nearly $25 million in State grants from the New York State Abortion Access Program, which will go directly to organizations in New York that support abortion care.
People across the nation look to us for leadership. My promise to them – and to all New Yorkers – is that we will continue to stand as a safe harbor for anyone who needs abortion care.
And to anyone who dares threaten these fundamental freedoms, my message is simple: Not here. Not now. Not ever.
Joint stakeout by Climate, Peace and Security Group on Libya, led by Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, and accompanied by Security Council Members including Denmark, Ecuador, France, Greece, Guyana, Malta, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, the United Kingdom.
Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) in releasing principles to guide the Committee’s consideration of market structure legislation.
“America desperately needs digital asset legislation that promotes responsible innovation and protects consumers,” said Lummis. “While the European Union and Singapore have established clear regulations, the U.S. continues to sit on the sidelines while the digital asset industry seeks greener pastures. That changes today. I am partnering with Chairman Scott to provide principles for market structure legislation to finally draw the line between a security and a commodity and ensure the U.S. remains at the helm of global financial advancement.”
“Since taking over as Chairman, I’ve led a new approach to digital assets regulation, and we’ve delivered results for the industry and the American people,” said Scott. “We have more work to do, and I look forward to building on the success of the GENIUS Act and advancing market structure legislation here in the Senate. These principles will serve as an important baseline for negotiations on this bill, and I’m hopeful my colleagues will put politics aside and provide long-overdue clarity for digital asset regulation.”
The market structure principles state:
Legislation Should Clearly Define the Legal Status of Digital Assets
A clear, economically rational line distinguishing digital asset securities from digital asset commodities should be fixed in statute, contemplating existing law and providing predictability, enhanced legal precision, and much-needed regulatory certainty.
Jurisdiction Should Be Clearly Allocated Among Regulators
The authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) should be clearly allocated in statute, preventing either from emerging as an all-encompassing regulator.
The SEC’s authority should extend to, for example, initial fundraising transactions, disclosures and transactions in tokenized securities; and
The CFTC should be granted new spot authority focused on market conduct, which should not extend to digital assets that are securities.
Legislation should acknowledge that not all distributed ledger technology should be regulated by the SEC and CFTC.
Legislation should recognize the different risks and benefits between centralized firms, decentralized finance protocols, and non-custodial software platforms.
For similar reasons, self-custody of digital assets should be explicitly preserved.
Likewise, the use of distributed ledger technology and smart contracts for other, non-financial purposes, such as to manage health data, should fall outside the jurisdiction of the SEC and CFTC.
SEC and CFTC Regulation Should be Modernized to Foster Innovation
Federal securities and commodities laws should be modernized to account for the unique nature of digital assets and distributed ledger technology.
A new SEC exemption for certain digital asset fundraising should be included in legislation.
The SEC should revisit its burdensome registration requirements for digital asset issuers, and instead provide a clear, appropriately tailored pathway to compliance for good faith, innovative actors.
Clear, pro-innovation principles regarding the trading of digital assets on the secondary market should be established.
These principles should consider whether digital asset securities may be traded alongside digital asset commodities, and whether traditional securities or commodities should be traded alongside digital asset securities or commodities, respectively.
Legislation, as well as SEC and CFTC rules, should not apply principles designed for centralized firms to decentralized protocols.
Tokenization should be recognized as an evolution of financial infrastructure that enhances efficiency, transparency, and liquidity, rather than a fundamental change to the nature of the underlying asset.
Regulation Should Protect Those Who Purchase or Trade Digital Assets
Centralized digital asset intermediaries should be subject to innovation-friendly registration and risk management requirements similar to that of other centralized intermediaries today.
Requirements could include illicit finance compliance, clear and right-sized capital, custody and segregation requirements, and appropriate enforcement authority.
Legislation should also ensure that customer funds are protected during bankruptcy.
Illicit Finance Measures Should Be Targeted and Pro-Innovation
A small, common-sense package of measures directed at preventing money laundering and sanctions evasion with digital assets should be included.
Potential provisions can and should be targeted and pro-innovation. This could include requiring the adoption of examination standards and clarifying that the Bank Secrecy Act and International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) extends to entities abroad with U.S. touchpoints.
Reforms should also consider the ways digital assets and distributed ledger technology can improve transparency, efficiency, and the detection of illicit activity, including money laundering.
Federal Financial Regulators Should Welcome Responsible Innovation
Federal financial regulators should take common-sense steps to respond to responsible innovation, including potentially through increased use of no-action guidance, sandboxes, safe harbors, coordination, and appropriate application requirements.
Federal financial regulators should provide clear guidance affirming that many crypto-related activities are permissible for banks and other financial institutions, provided they do not threaten the safety and soundness of the institution.
Clear guidance will also improve and better enforcement by establishing well-defined rules and expectations, fostering accountability, and enabling consistent application of regulations, leading to better understanding and compliance.
For complete market structure principles, click here.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, June 24 (Xinhua) — China is acting as a “peace broker” in the Ukrainian crisis and is making efforts to facilitate peace talks, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in a written interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia on Monday.
“Since the comprehensive escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, China has been acting as a ‘peace broker’ and has been making consistent efforts to end the fighting and facilitate peace talks,” he said.
The Chinese ambassador stressed that China’s position on the Ukrainian issue is consistent and clear: the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be observed, reasonable security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and all efforts for a peaceful settlement deserve support. “This is the authoritative position and fundamental principle of the Chinese side on the Ukrainian issue,” the ambassador explained, adding that China welcomes and supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace, and will continue to take an objective and fair position, promote consensus building and create conditions for resolving the crisis.
According to Zhang Hanhui, Li Hui, the special representative of the PRC government for Eurasian affairs, has already conducted four rounds of “shuttle diplomacy,” covering four continents – Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. He visited both the parties to the conflict – Russia and Ukraine – and key European countries, including France and Germany. In addition, deep exchanges of views were held with countries of the Global South, such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa. “These efforts have received wide approval and high praise from the international community, including Russia,” the diplomat noted.
In addition, in 2024, China and Brazil jointly established the Friends of Peace platform through the UN to seek ways to peacefully resolve the Ukrainian crisis, and several meetings have already been held. According to the ambassador, this group has become an important mechanism through which the countries of the Global South express their position on the Ukrainian issue and which reflects the common desire of the international community for a ceasefire and peace. “In its work, the group invariably adheres to an impartial, objective and open position, and is always ready to listen to the views and positions of all parties to the conflict, including Russia. The group adheres to the principle of consensus and focuses on promoting all actions that contribute to a political settlement and the restoration of peace,” the ambassador added.
At the same time, Zhang Hanhui confirmed that China did not participate in the discussions on sending peacekeeping forces to the conflict zone. “The Chinese side believes that three basic principles must be observed when sending peacekeeping forces: consent of the parties to the conflict, impartiality, and non-use of force except in self-defense. At present, there are serious disagreements between the parties concerned on the issue of post-war peacekeeping, there is no sign of an end to hostilities, and the number of casualties continues to rise,” the diplomat noted, adding that China calls on all parties to continue efforts to reduce tensions, create favorable conditions for dialogue, and open a “window” of opportunity for peace.
The Chinese ambassador acknowledged that the causes of the Ukrainian crisis are complex. He recalled the Chinese proverb that “a meter-thick layer of ice does not form in a day,” so “melting” it also takes time. “The end point of any conflict is the negotiating table. The Chinese side welcomes the holding of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul and hopes that all parties can reach a fair, sustainable, binding and mutually acceptable peace agreement through dialogue and negotiations,” he said.
Zhang Hanhui pointed out that following the direct talks in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine reached agreements on issues such as prisoner exchange, which created favorable conditions for establishing peace and was an important step forward. As the Chinese ambassador emphasized, China calls on the parties to the conflict to demonstrate a desire for negotiations, and also hopes that the parties concerned can provide favorable external conditions for the negotiation process, jointly support the trend towards peaceful negotiations, and ultimately come to a political settlement.
According to the diplomat, China hopes that peace and stability will be restored on the European continent as soon as possible, and is ready to continue to make constructive contributions to this. “Regardless of how the situation develops, China will always stand on the side of peace, on the side of dialogue, and on the right side of history. We will continue to make efforts to resolve the crisis and end the fighting, maintain contact with all parties, and contribute Chinese wisdom and strength to promoting a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis,” Zhang Hanhui assured. –0–
Construction will begin this summer for the new ferry terminal in downtown Victoria, following the awarding of a design-build contract to Pomerleau Inc.
Early work will begin by the end of June with major construction of the new landmark terminal to begin later in the summer. Once complete, the new terminal will provide a more comfortable and seamless experience for those travelling to and from downtown Victoria by ferry.
“The new Belleville terminal will provide a smoother and more secure travel experience for tourists coming to Victoria and the south Island, supporting local jobs, businesses and our region’s economy,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “A modern ferry terminal has been a goal of the community and all levels of government for over two decades. This major milestone brings us another step closer to offering improved ferry services and more convenient travel for decades to come.”
Construction of the new facility will involve demolishing existing Clipper terminal infrastructure and building a new pre-clearance terminal building with modern border-security standards. It also includes replacing aging wharf facilities and building a new commercial goods processing facility.
“As an international gateway for goods, services and tourism, enhancing safety, security and trade between Vancouver Island and Washington state is integral to Canada’s economy,” said Will Greaves, MP for Victoria. “Our government looks forward to the construction of the pre-clearance terminal and commercial goods processing facility, which will strengthen our commitment to a sustainable economy and support local tourism in Greater Victoria.”
The new pre-clearance terminal will comply with the Canada-U.S. Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement, and will make travel faster and easier by allowing passengers to complete the customs and immigration process in Victoria prior to disembarking in the U.S.
Through competitive request-for-qualifications and request-for-proposal processes, Pomerleau Inc. was awarded a $304-million design-build contract. The overall project cost has increased from the $331 million budget that was approved in 2024, due to complex geotechnical and seismic conditions, site constraints and significant soil contamination that will require extensive remediation. Other factors include inflation and safeguarding against economic uncertainty related to tariffs on steel and other products. The federal government has confirmed it will increase its contribution to more than $45 million for the project. The new cost of the project is $416 million.
The Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project is taking place within the territories of the lək̓wəŋən (Lekwungen) people, represented by the Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation. The project team is working collaboratively and respectfully with both Nations.
The project is expected to be completed in 2028.
Quotes:
Marianne Alto, mayor of Victoria –
“I’m excited we are embarking on the next phase of the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project. This bold step forward underscores Victoria’s shared commitment to developing innovative and sustainable infrastructure and lays the foundation for improved travel for residents and visitors for years to come.”
Bruce Williams, CEO, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce –
“The chamber has been an outspoken proponent for modernizing Belleville terminal for decades, and we’re happy to see the project meet new milestones along its way to completion. With so much uncertainty affecting the economy, we support this project as an important investment in the future of Greater Victoria and as a confirmation of the value the Clipper and Coho bring to our region.”
Paul Nursey, CEO, Destination Greater Victoria –
“With 30 years of dedicated advocacy for Belleville terminal’s redevelopment, our organization, as the region’s tourism board, values the steady progress being made. We recognize the importance of this project and are encouraged by the federal government’s increased investment. Clear dates and timelines remain a priority for our members, and we look forward to the significant benefits this project will bring to Greater Victoria’s visitor economy once complete.”
Quick Facts:
Phase 1 of the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project is complete.
Key upgrades completed during Phase 1 include:
the expansion and reconfiguration of the Steamship wharf;
renovations and an expansion to the Steamship building; and,
enhancements to the Black Ball building and property to ensure Clipper, Black Ball Ferry Line, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Canadian Border Services Agency can continue operating during Phase 2 construction.
These improvements were designed to ensure uninterrupted ferry service between Vancouver Island and Washington state during the next stage of construction.
Learn More:
Visit the Belleville project website for the latest updates: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/bellevilleterminal
Saskatchewan residents are now able to check the water quality at local beaches.
Starting this week, the Ministry of Health will begin posting the results of the Healthy Beaches program, which reports on the water quality at select recreational beaches across the province. Accurate information about water quality can provide protection to beachgoers who want a safe and enjoyable experience.
“Saskatchewan beaches are an important part of summer recreation for residents,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “The Healthy Beaches program provides valuable safety information, and we encourage residents and visitors to check the status of the beach they are visiting before they head out.”
Water samples are collected and analyzed from June through August at various Saskatchewan public beaches including Regina Beach, Echo Lake and Pike Lake. Sampling is conducted to determine whether water quality meets the Canadian Recreational Water Guidelines. Water sampling began June 23 and results will be available later this week.
Results will be available on the Healthy Beaches Public Map. If water quality falls below acceptable safety standards advisories will be issued.
“The Healthy Beaches program is essential to public health,” Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said. “This will help people make decisions about their in-water activities when visiting provincial lakes.”
The public is encouraged to check the Healthy Beaches webpage before making summer plans and adhere to advisories. Residents are asked to report any concerns about water quality to their local Public Health Inspection office.
It is also important that residents follow notifications posted at the beach as closures can happen evenings or weekend and may not be immediately reflected on the website.
For more information about the Healthy Beaches program, including water quality reports and safety tips, visit: www.saskatchewan.ca/healthy-beaches.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Media Relations Health Regina Phone: 306-787-4083 Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca
June 24, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, will make his inaugural visit to Latvia from June 25 to 26, 2025. During his trip, he will participate in a flower laying ceremony ahead of his first bilateral meeting with Andris Sprūds, Defence Minister of Latvia. Minister McGuinty will also personally thank Canadian Armed Forces members deployed in the country for their service.
The Minister will attend the Transfer of Command Authority ceremony for the Canadian-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization Multinational Brigade in Latvia, where he will deliver remarks. Following the ceremony, Minister McGuinty will hold an audio-only callback with media.
Minister McGuinty’s visit underscores Canada’s steadfast dedication to NATO and its commitment to supporting deterrence and defence efforts in the region.
Media Callback Details:
Date: June 26, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. EEST
Registration: Media are requested to pre-register by emailing mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca. Further information will be provided upon registration.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to President Trump ordering the U.S. military to conduct military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the President’s decision to order the U.S. military to strike Iran’s nuclear sites. The President did not seek authorization from Congress or demonstrate that Iran posed an immediate threat to the security of the United States. Furthermore, the President failed to provide clear objectives for these actions and there are no guarantees that it will eliminate the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon or how long it might set their program back.
“Engaging in direct conflict places U.S. service members and military sites in the Middle East squarely in the crosshairs of Iran and its many proxies. Tonight’s actions could further escalate tensions, destabilize the region, and drag the United States into an avoidable war.
“The way to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to protect American service members is through diplomacy and negotiation, not entering into direct conflict. The path that the President has chosen risks unleashing a wider war in the region that is both incredibly unpredictable and treacherous and that threatens the safety and security of the United States, Israel, and ultimately the world.”
The research, led by the Université de Toulouse and partners, highlights how coastal erosion and shoreline movement vary significantly with time and with latitude. By analyzing waterline positions—where land meets ocean—between 1997 and 2022, scientists found that in the Pacific Northwest, seasonal waterline movements often exceed 25 meters, while shifts in Southern California and farther south rarely top 10 meters.
The driving forces behind these changes also vary by region. Wave power is the dominant force in the northern parts of the coast, while farther south, sea-level fluctuations and southern hemisphere swell become important. This reflects a transition in how wave climate affects coastal processes from north to south.
“This paper is the synthesis of [lead author Marcan Graffin’s] many separate efforts, from developing satellite shoreline-detection algorithms, to generating large-scale data sets, and then analyzing them alongside climate data. We’ve learned a great deal about the nuances of shoreline variability on the U.S. West Coast from Marcan’s work,” said USGS Research Oceanographer Dr. Sean Vitousek, a co-author of the study.
In addition, the study examines the outsized influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the recurring climate pattern that swings between warm (El Niño) and cool (La Niña) phases in the Pacific Ocean, on shoreline positions. During El Niño years, intense storm tracks shift southward, boosting wave energy and accelerating erosion from Southern California to Baja California Sur. La Niña events, on the other hand, are associated with smaller winter waves and mild shoreline accretion across the subregion.
However, farther north—from Northern California through the Pacific Northwest—the impacts of ENSO are less predictable. There, shoreline response depends on a complex blend of storm path changes, wave-energy intensity, and local geography.
These patterns help explain why some coastlines erode dramatically during strong El Niño winters while others seem to hold steady, demonstrating how regional climate signals interact with local coastal dynamics.
The study is one of the first to examine shoreline changes along such a large, diverse stretch of coast using a consistent satellite-derived dataset. The 25-year archive of shoreline imagery allowed researchers to tease out both seasonal and interannual trends—critical for anticipating how coastlines will respond to future climate extremes.
Read the study, Waterline responses to climate forcing along the North American West Coast, in Nature Communications: Earth & Environment.
This article was featured in the Summer 2025 IAM Journal and was written by IAM Communications Representative Bill Harkum.
The gavels used at the 2024 International Convention in New York City symbolize the diverse crafts and skills of our membership. Four unique gavels were produced by four proud lodges within the Eastern Territory.
The IAM Ritual used at union meetings tells us that by tradition, two raps of the gavel are a call to order for the gathered members. Three raps of the gavel require the members to stand and be silent. One rap of the gavel means members take their seats and maintain order.
THREE RAPS OF THE FIRST GAVEL
One gavel was made by Local S6 members in Maine, home to Bath Tron Works and members who build ships for the U.S. Navy. Derek Bozeman of IAM Local S6 collaborated with Jeremy Tripp, a member of Bath Maine Draftsmen Association Local 3999, collaborated to produce a gavel out scrap ship material and stainless steel. The result is an impressively balanced and weigh ted gavel that looks like materials representing the yard of this ship building facility.
Tripp said “we were able to incorporate a lot of the identity of the yard, the shipyard, into it.”
The shine of the stainless steel against an inlaid TAM brass coin and a brass outline of a Navy ship as a crown piece above the hammerhead shows the skill and creativity to turn a simple tool into a showpiece.
“The pride, execution and talent that went into this gavel speaks for itself when you see it,” said IAM District 4 Business Representative Chris Wiers.
THREE RAPS OF THE NEXT GAVEL
The next gavel is from Local 175 in York, a home of Harley-Davidson motorcycles manufacturing. Using scrap steel, three members of the lodge fashioned a Harley handlebar and throttle into a gavel, and a Harley gas tank into a strike plate.
“The theme was, ‘We make the eagle fly,”‘ said Sam Santiago, one of the Local 175 craftsmen to do the intricate work by hand.
William Anthony IV is the member who artistically trimmed, bent, and hand painted the steel to look like bird feathers. Scott Karaschak produced the handle bar and motorcycle throttle body used in the gavel itself.
“I am in total awe of what our members did at local 175, from the beginning to the finished product,” said TAM District 98 Assistant Directing Business Representative Kermit Forbes Jr.
THREE RAPS OF THE NEXT GAVEL
The next gavel is made by a member of Local 1943 at Cleveland-Cliffs in Middletown, Ohio. This factory is the largest producer of flat-rolled steel in North America, much of which is used in automobile production.
Michael Wilhelm is a maintenance technician, responsible for attending to and fixing the machinery within this steel mill, for over a decade. He’s known for always staying busy, and finding projects to work on, regardless of the rest cycles in the plan. Wilhelm made all the parts and components of this gavel by band.
The gavel is made from flat stainless steel and some brass. It features a rotating center coil, driven by a step down motor that Wilhelm had to specially tweak to appear to be levitating inside the hammer head. It has a micro furnace with burner boxes at the corners, and a blower motor to move the air from the furnace.
“Mike is a real go-getter. No idle time, always working,” said Local 1943 President and Directing Business Representative Shawn Coffey. “I knew it would be a success and he would knock it out of the park.”
THREE RAPS OF THE NEXT GAVEL
The final gavel was made by IAM Local 4 member John Wible at the Winpisinger Center in Hollywood, Md. It is the only gavel for this convention made from wood, and the craftsmanship is just as intricate as its steel siblings used at the International Convention.
Wible is a full time maintenance technician at the Winpisinger Center. When not at work he is a life member and volunteer firefighter at this local fire department. “We are so proud of every gavel that’s being made. It showcases the talent our members have, the creativity that our members have,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. ‘The gavel is very, very important to our process, and anybody who has the honor to swing that gavel, needs to respect that gavel, and respect our members, and always do what’s right for our members.”
All four gavels are now on dis play at IAM Headquarters.
One rap of the gavel so that all can be seated.
Watch Video Here
The post International Convention Gavels appeared first on IAM Union.
UConn, consistently one of the top ten most sustainable universities in the United States, will be getting even better at upholding sustainable practices with the help of seven student-led projects this year.
These innovative projects are funded by the Environmental and Social Sustainability Grants (ESSG) Program through the Office of Sustainability. Creative student-faculty teams applied for funding to support campus programs that enhance environmental and social sustainability while engaging students and community members. Applicants shared ideas spanning education, research, authentic community engagement, and campus operations. This is the fourth round of ESSG funding since 2021, which has helped launch the Swap Shop (now Thrift Den), a composting privy at Spring Valley Student Farm, and efforts to combat food insecurity via hydroponic farming.
“The ESSG program is just one of the Office of Sustainability’s growing suite of experiential learning programs available to all UConn students. In alignment with UConn’s strategic goals, we are excited to be able to award these funds to empower students to take action on addressing real-world challenges that impact the wellness of people and the planet. Faculty and staff mentors play an instrumental role in ensuring the success of these projects and we’re also incredibly grateful for their support,” said Patrick McKee, Director of the Office of Sustainability.
Seven projects were awarded funds due to their interdisciplinary nature and ability to advance sustainability and equity.
Harnessing Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a key piece in fertilizing crops and producing food. This project aims to explore sustainable, easy ways of getting phosphorus out of wastewater to make it easier, cheaper, and less climate-intensive for farmers to grow food in underprivileged areas.
Student: Brenny Alcantara ’27 (CLAS)
Staff Mentor: Katie Milardo, Associate Director, Energy & Water Conservation
The Grove of Generosity: Sustainable Food Forest for Students
A food forest to create community for people, plants and wildlife on the Storrs campus. Using native plants, this project will provide habitat, food for all, and space to make connections between people and nature.
Students: Olivia Ballaro ’26 (CAHNR), Ella May ’27 (CAHNR), Howard Truax ’26 (CAHNR)
Faculty Mentor: Phoebe Godfrey, Professor in Residence, Sociology
Sustainability Practicum: Designing a UConn Hartford Service-Learning Course
This project will create materials for a UConn Hartford geography service-learning course titled “Sustainability Practicum,” designed to develop student leaders of environmental & social sustainability in collaboration with & in service of Keney Park Sustainability Project, a nonprofit developing sustainable community-based food systems in urban North Hartford.
Students: Thomas Bonitz, Ph.D. Candidate in Geography
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carol Atkinson-Palombo, Professor in Geography
Project Racoon
Project Raccoon is a student-led initiative that collects redeemable bottles and cans to reduce waste, increase recycling, and fund student scholarships. With this grant, the program will expand to over 50+ bins and engage more volunteers.
Student: Abigail Koval ’26 (BUS), Anny Zheng ’26 (COE), Jennifer Weng ’26 (COE), Virginia Weng ’26 (COE)
Staff Mentor: Cody Ryan, Innovation Zone Supervisor
Seeds2Sustain: Hartford & Stamford Campuses
Seeds2Sustain is a program designed to help students address food insecurity on a personal level by using hydroponics. Over 9 weeks, students are taught about the evolution of food production, food insecurity, hydroponics, nutrition, cooking and more to gain a solid foundation of knowledge.
Faculty Mentor: Johnathan Moore, Executive Director, Digital Frontiers Initiative, Director of OPIM Innovate Labs
Disasters in Society: Working Towards Resilient & Sustainable Futures through Experiential Learning & Service
This project captures Asheville’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, highlighting student engagement and hands-on learning in disaster resilience. Through storytelling and service, they aim to expand access to fieldwork and promote support for sustainability-focused education.
Students: Lisel Nee ’26 (COE), Melia Marshall, MPP Candidate, Daniel Kraemer, Ph.D. Candidate in Geography, Brandon Soto, Masters of Energy and Environmental Management Candidate
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carol Atkinson-Palombo, Professor in Geography
Sustainable Dairy Wastewater Treatment Using Microalgae at UConn
This project addresses the challenge of dairy wastewater from the UConn barns, which can be a significant source of pollution if not properly managed. By using microalgae to treat wastewater, we can convert it into a sustainable biomass that can be used as poultry feed. This approach not only helps clean and recycle wastewater but also aligns with circular bioeconomy principles, turning waste into valuable resources. This initiative advances UConn’s environmental goals and contributes to a more sustainable campus ecosystem.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Yu Lei, Professor in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Dr. Yongku Cho, Associate Professor in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Over $37,000 will be awarded in total to support these student-lead projects.
Thomas Bonitz, a grantee pursuing a Ph.D. in Geography says, “As an aspiring educator, I am thrilled to work on designing a “sustainability practicum” course for the UConn Hartford campus. There is obvious educational and community value getting students out of the traditional classroom setting to learn from and contribute to real-world efforts to practice sustainability.” His project exemplifies UConn’s dedication to promoting student success and providing service to Connecticut communities.
“I look forward to moving onto the next stage for my Harnessing Phosphorus project and being able to work with more resources. I’ve been working on this project independently since my first semester at UConn, so receiving this grant and finding support from new mentors is a reminder of how far I’ve come. It’s great to see the University also believes in my project’s potential,” shares Brenny Alcantara ’27 (CLAS) who will be working on ways to make fertilizer more accessible, less likely to cause algae blooms, and decrease the carbon footprint of a critical agricultural ingredient.
Students will present their project findings and impacts this fall at the Climate Change Cafe poster symposium in December.
For more details on the Environmental and Social Sustainability Small Grants Program, please visit: https://sustainability.uconn.edu/environmental-social-sustainability-small-grants-program/
“Congratulation to Dr. Damion Grasso on his election as President of the Society of Clinical Psychology,” shares Department of Psychiatry Professor and Chair Dr. David C. Steffens. “There is little doubt that his term as President will be successful.”
The Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12 of the American Psychological Association) is the professional home of clinical and health service psychologists.
Grasso, an elected fellow of the Division 12 of the APA, has always had a strong, longstanding commitment to the Society of Clinical Psychology. Since graduate school he served as a campus representative for the Society. Over time, he took on several leadership roles – most recently as Secretary on the Board and co-chair of the Committee on Science and Practice. As the Committee’s co-chair, Grasso has played an instrumental role in advancing SCP’s efforts to evaluate and inventory empirically supported psychological treatments (ESTs).
As President, Grasso plans to prioritize these efforts by expanding SCP’s capacity to engage and inform the public with resources designed to promote ESTs, establish an informed consumer-base, and caution against the growing trend for non-efficacious and potentially harmful approaches.
SCP’s mission is to promote the integration of clinical psychological science and practice in education, research, application, advocacy, and public policy. Also, the Society seeks to engage students and clinical and health service psychologists at any stage of their career in support of this mission.
“I am honored to serve as the president-elect of the Society of Clinical Psychology. Since graduate school, the Society has been my professional home, connecting me with mentors and pioneers in our field I wouldn’t have otherwise come to know. This community has truly helped shape my career,” says Grasso. “My intent is to pay it forward and grow our community of students and early career professionals so that we can support the next generation of clinical psychologists – especially during these challenging times.”
Grasso serves UConn Health, Connecticut’s only public academic medical center, caring for patients as a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn School of Medicine with a secondary appointment in its Department of Pediatrics.
Additionally, his research broadly focuses on understanding biobehavioral mechanisms involved in trauma- and stress-related disorders in children and effective strategies for assessing and treating trauma-related impairment. He co-leads the UConn Health Family Adversity and Resilience Research (FARR) Program and provides evidence-based psychotherapy interventions for treating trauma-related disorders in the UConn Health Psychological Trauma Clinic.
Grasso graduated from Skidmore College with his undergraduate degree in psychology, earned his master’s degree in general psychology at Wesleyan University, completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Delaware, and his clinical internship was performed at the Medical University of South Carolina.
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. and EDMONTON, Alberta, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, sonnen, a global leader in energy storage and virtual power plant (VPP) technology, launched its first VPP in Canada at Blatchford Lands, a master planned community designed for net-zero living and a reduced environmental footprint. Landmark Homes, a recognized leader in sustainable and innovative home construction and the builder behind Blatchford Lands, collaborated with sonnen, along with utility provider EPCOR, electric retail provider Solartility and the University of Alberta. Together, these energy leaders developed the VPP that can be considered the vanguard of a newly decentralized and digitalized clean energy system for the future of Canada.
With this inaugural VPP launch into Canada, sonnen once again sets the standard for innovation in solar powered battery storage systems deployed across master planned communities as a virtual power plant. The Blatchford Lands VPP is the first of its kind on scope and scale for Canada. As a primer for broad adoption throughout the EPCOR service territory, this project constitutes the beginning of renewable energy and grid coordination’s evolution. sonnen, with its partners, is providing the community and its residents with emergency back-up power, daily management of peak energy use and demand response, among other grid services, for the overall management of the electric grid.
As a prototype, the Blatchford Lands VPP begins with 100 sonnen batteries deployed throughout the master planned community, representing nearly a half a megawatt (MW) of power and over two megawatt hours (MWh) of storage capacity that will support the Canadian energy grid. Following this initial deployment, sonnen plans to launch VPPs throughout Alberta and into other Canadian regions, with potential to reach over 3,000 individual sites, providing more than18 MW of energy and 60 MWHs of grid support over the next 3 years.
“What has been achieved at Blatchford Lands is extremely special, and even beyond many of the VPP market designs in America,” said Blake Richetta, Chairman and CEO of sonnen Inc. USA. “sonnen proudly stands behind our Canadian colleagues and customers, as our sister market, and as the closest of friends to the American people.”
sonnen, Solartility and the University of Alberta envision this highly innovative master planned community VPP project to become a replicable model for communities across the province and throughout Canada. This model can also be replicated in select U.S. markets, like Texas, where sonnen recently announced a Virtual Power Plant Power Purchase Agreement (VPA) and launched behind-the-meter, battery-enabled VPPs.
“Canada has developed into a rich and innovative VPP market thanks to the pioneering efforts and support from great partners,” said Geoff Ferrell, Senior Vice President – Global C&I and VPP Project Business of sonnen Inc. USA. “The coming together of builders like Landmark Homes, the utility EPCOR, retail providers like Solartility, and academics like those at the University of Alberta, are working together to build this innovative VPP program at Blatchford Lands and beyond.”
With awards from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), the Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), among others, Blatchford Lands has been recognized for its commitment to sustainability and innovative community planning. Residents can enjoy diverse housing options equipped with renewable energy sources for heating and cooling—all in a centrally located neighborhood that once served as Edmonton’s municipal airport, now reimagined as a model for sustainable urban development.
Blatchford Lands is the latest sonnen VPP to launch at a master planned community, following wildly successful deployments at Soleil Lofts and Soleil Tech Park in Utah, Pearl Homes’ nationally renowned Hunters Point in Cortez Florida, and Mandalay Homes in Arizona, among other projects.
ABOUT sonnen sonnen is a global leader in smart energy storage systems for residential use and a pioneer in residential battery-based virtual power plants. The sonnen VPP is recognized as a model for the decentralized, digitalized, and decarbonized energy system of the future. As one of the most experienced and rapidly growing VPP energy storage companies worldwide, sonnen has earned numerous international awards for its technological achievements. The sonnenCommunity, a network of visionaries worldwide, utilizes sonnen’s products and services to promote clean and affordable energy for all. With offices in Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, and the USA, sonnen is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell. Learn more at: https://sonnenusa.com
Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa as the geopolitical and economic landscape in the region shifts. In Senegal, the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation has entered a key partnership in the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, Karpowership, a company providing electricity via floating power plants, now supplies energy to eight African countries. But Turkey’s not stopping there. As part of its soft power strategy, it is also winning hearts and minds through education and culture while deepening trade and security ties.
Historian Issouf Binaté, who has studied Turkey’s growing presence in west Africa, breaks down how Ankara is positioning itself as an alternative to both former colonial powers and newer global players competing for influence on the continent.
What drives Turkey’s growing influence in west Africa?
Turkey’s foreign policy in west Africa leans on two main pillars.
The other is more grassroots, led by non-state actors such as religious foundations and NGOs.
These groups laid the groundwork for Turkey’s African expansion long before Ankara officially stepped in.
A key player in Turkey’s earlier outreach was the Gülen movement, named after preacher Fethullah Gülen (1941–2024). The Gülen movement pioneered Turkey’s soft power approach with “Turkish schools”, starting with the Yavuz Sultan Selim and Yavuz Selim-Bosphore high schools in Dakar in 1997.
Also at the end of the 1990s a network composed of Turkish business leaders and social activists under the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists, which claimed over 100,000 member companies, expanded Turkey’s influence across Africa. At that time, Turkey had only three diplomatic representations for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
The more recent contact with Africa comes at a time when western hegemony faces growing criticism from a new generation of Africans engaged in decolonial movements. Gülen-affiliated institutions now number 113, alongside religious and secular schools run by other groups like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi. Since the 2016 political rift between Gülen and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, these schools were gradually transferred to Maarif Foundation, Turkey’s state-run overseas education arm.
Back in 2003, Turkey had only 12 diplomatic missions across Africa. Today, that number has grown to 44, bolstered by Turkish religious foundations (like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi), NGOs, and entrepreneurs who have filled the gap left by the Gülen movement.
Another powerful player in Turkey’s Africa strategy is Turkish Airlines, now one of the top carriers on the continent. It is now flying to 62 airports in 41 African countries.
What role do west African students trained in Turkey play?
By investing in education, Turkey didn’t just open its doors to African students. It also planted the seeds for a long-term influence strategy. These students, and more broadly young African migrants trained in Turkey, are now among the key messengers of “Turkishness” back home.
In doing so, Ankara is following a familiar path once used by colonial powers. They used student mobility as a powerful tool for their diplomacy.
Then, in the 1990s, Turkey continued this effort through a scholarship programme for African students, supported by the Islamic Development Bank. During this period, Turkey launched the Büyük Öğrenci Projesi (Great Student Project), which provided scholarships to international students.
Starting in 2012, this programme was re-branded as YTB (Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı, or Directorate for Turks Abroad and Related Communities). It introduced reforms, including a digital application process for scholarships via an app on the YTB website. This shift caused a dramatic spike in interest. Applications soared from 10,000 to 155,000 between 2012 and 2020.
For non-scholarship students, Turkey simplified visa processes, reduced tuition fees, and offered other incentives. These measures contributed to a significant increase in the number of applicants to study in Turkey. As the number of universities in Turkey jumped from 76 to 193 between 2003 and 2015, the country became increasingly attractive.
By 2017, Turkey had become the 13th most popular destination for students from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Campus France (a platform that supports international students studying in France). By 2019, there were an estimated 61,000 African students studying in Turkey.
Now, nearly three decades into this strategy, many of these former students are stepping into new roles. They are taking over from Turkish entrepreneurs in fostering socioeconomic ties with Africa. They also act as bridges, promoting Turkish universities and supporting visitors in areas like medical and industrial tourism.
In Istanbul, some run cargo companies – some of them informal – that ship goods to Africa. Others are working to formalise these ventures and build long-term economic bridges. Groups like Bizim Afrika, a network of African Turkish-speakers, and the Federation of African Students in Turkey (founded in 2019), are playing key roles in shaping this next chapter of Turkey–Africa relations.
How is Turkey’s strategy in west Africa different from that of China or France?
In substance, Turkey’s strategy isn’t so different from that of France or China. It also carries traces of colonial thinking, even though its approach leans more on religious soft power like building mosques across Africa. Unlike France, which used force in its colonial past, Turkey is trying to gain influence through other means. It uses familiar tools: embassies, schools, cinema, security services, and development agencies.
While access to Europe, the US and Canada has become more difficult due to stricter visa rules, Turkey has opened its doors. It eased visa procedures for African business people, expanded its universities, and promoted medical tourism.
Turkey has become a hub for several sectors. It’s a major centre for nose surgery (rhinoplasty), hair transplants, and textiles. Its textile industry now supplies traders at Makola Market in Accra, Adjamé’s Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Grand Marché in Bamako.
Turkey’s presence in Africa is now visible in several symbolic ways. You can see it in Maarif schools, murals at Abidjan airport, the “Le Istanbul” restaurant in Niamey’s government district, or the National Mosque in Accra, modelled after Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.
Turkey’s engagement is a work in progress. But its outreach to Africa is already yielding results. Trade volume reached US$40.7 billion in 2022. The return of the first waves of African students trained in Turkey has shifted the dynamic. Cooperation no longer relies solely on Turkish business people and social entrepreneurs.
Even though African elites often speak English, French or Arabic, new voices are emerging. Young people trained in Turkey are beginning to find their place. Many work in import-export, construction, and even Islamic religious leadership. This trend points to promising prospects for long-term ties.
For Turkey, Africa represents a continent with major economic opportunities. Becoming a trusted partner is now a key goal. On the diplomatic level, Turkey gained observer status at the African Union in 2005 and has hosted Turkey-Africa summits in Istanbul since 2008.
This growing involvement suggests that Turkey’s role in Africa is likely to last. It will depend on the continent’s market needs, especially at a time when many African countries are rethinking their relationships with traditional western powers and international institutions.
Issouf Binaté does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa as the geopolitical and economic landscape in the region shifts. In Senegal, the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation has entered a key partnership in the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, Karpowership, a company providing electricity via floating power plants, now supplies energy to eight African countries. But Turkey’s not stopping there. As part of its soft power strategy, it is also winning hearts and minds through education and culture while deepening trade and security ties.
Historian Issouf Binaté, who has studied Turkey’s growing presence in west Africa, breaks down how Ankara is positioning itself as an alternative to both former colonial powers and newer global players competing for influence on the continent.
What drives Turkey’s growing influence in west Africa?
Turkey’s foreign policy in west Africa leans on two main pillars.
The other is more grassroots, led by non-state actors such as religious foundations and NGOs.
These groups laid the groundwork for Turkey’s African expansion long before Ankara officially stepped in.
A key player in Turkey’s earlier outreach was the Gülen movement, named after preacher Fethullah Gülen (1941–2024). The Gülen movement pioneered Turkey’s soft power approach with “Turkish schools”, starting with the Yavuz Sultan Selim and Yavuz Selim-Bosphore high schools in Dakar in 1997.
Also at the end of the 1990s a network composed of Turkish business leaders and social activists under the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists, which claimed over 100,000 member companies, expanded Turkey’s influence across Africa. At that time, Turkey had only three diplomatic representations for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
The more recent contact with Africa comes at a time when western hegemony faces growing criticism from a new generation of Africans engaged in decolonial movements. Gülen-affiliated institutions now number 113, alongside religious and secular schools run by other groups like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi. Since the 2016 political rift between Gülen and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, these schools were gradually transferred to Maarif Foundation, Turkey’s state-run overseas education arm.
Back in 2003, Turkey had only 12 diplomatic missions across Africa. Today, that number has grown to 44, bolstered by Turkish religious foundations (like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi), NGOs, and entrepreneurs who have filled the gap left by the Gülen movement.
Another powerful player in Turkey’s Africa strategy is Turkish Airlines, now one of the top carriers on the continent. It is now flying to 62 airports in 41 African countries.
What role do west African students trained in Turkey play?
By investing in education, Turkey didn’t just open its doors to African students. It also planted the seeds for a long-term influence strategy. These students, and more broadly young African migrants trained in Turkey, are now among the key messengers of “Turkishness” back home.
In doing so, Ankara is following a familiar path once used by colonial powers. They used student mobility as a powerful tool for their diplomacy.
Then, in the 1990s, Turkey continued this effort through a scholarship programme for African students, supported by the Islamic Development Bank. During this period, Turkey launched the Büyük Öğrenci Projesi (Great Student Project), which provided scholarships to international students.
Starting in 2012, this programme was re-branded as YTB (Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı, or Directorate for Turks Abroad and Related Communities). It introduced reforms, including a digital application process for scholarships via an app on the YTB website. This shift caused a dramatic spike in interest. Applications soared from 10,000 to 155,000 between 2012 and 2020.
For non-scholarship students, Turkey simplified visa processes, reduced tuition fees, and offered other incentives. These measures contributed to a significant increase in the number of applicants to study in Turkey. As the number of universities in Turkey jumped from 76 to 193 between 2003 and 2015, the country became increasingly attractive.
By 2017, Turkey had become the 13th most popular destination for students from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Campus France (a platform that supports international students studying in France). By 2019, there were an estimated 61,000 African students studying in Turkey.
Now, nearly three decades into this strategy, many of these former students are stepping into new roles. They are taking over from Turkish entrepreneurs in fostering socioeconomic ties with Africa. They also act as bridges, promoting Turkish universities and supporting visitors in areas like medical and industrial tourism.
In Istanbul, some run cargo companies – some of them informal – that ship goods to Africa. Others are working to formalise these ventures and build long-term economic bridges. Groups like Bizim Afrika, a network of African Turkish-speakers, and the Federation of African Students in Turkey (founded in 2019), are playing key roles in shaping this next chapter of Turkey–Africa relations.
How is Turkey’s strategy in west Africa different from that of China or France?
In substance, Turkey’s strategy isn’t so different from that of France or China. It also carries traces of colonial thinking, even though its approach leans more on religious soft power like building mosques across Africa. Unlike France, which used force in its colonial past, Turkey is trying to gain influence through other means. It uses familiar tools: embassies, schools, cinema, security services, and development agencies.
While access to Europe, the US and Canada has become more difficult due to stricter visa rules, Turkey has opened its doors. It eased visa procedures for African business people, expanded its universities, and promoted medical tourism.
Turkey has become a hub for several sectors. It’s a major centre for nose surgery (rhinoplasty), hair transplants, and textiles. Its textile industry now supplies traders at Makola Market in Accra, Adjamé’s Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Grand Marché in Bamako.
Turkey’s presence in Africa is now visible in several symbolic ways. You can see it in Maarif schools, murals at Abidjan airport, the “Le Istanbul” restaurant in Niamey’s government district, or the National Mosque in Accra, modelled after Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.
Turkey’s engagement is a work in progress. But its outreach to Africa is already yielding results. Trade volume reached US$40.7 billion in 2022. The return of the first waves of African students trained in Turkey has shifted the dynamic. Cooperation no longer relies solely on Turkish business people and social entrepreneurs.
Even though African elites often speak English, French or Arabic, new voices are emerging. Young people trained in Turkey are beginning to find their place. Many work in import-export, construction, and even Islamic religious leadership. This trend points to promising prospects for long-term ties.
For Turkey, Africa represents a continent with major economic opportunities. Becoming a trusted partner is now a key goal. On the diplomatic level, Turkey gained observer status at the African Union in 2005 and has hosted Turkey-Africa summits in Istanbul since 2008.
This growing involvement suggests that Turkey’s role in Africa is likely to last. It will depend on the continent’s market needs, especially at a time when many African countries are rethinking their relationships with traditional western powers and international institutions.
Issouf Binaté does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))
Washington, D.C. ─ Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led the Florida Democratic delegation in urging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to reverse recent staffing cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) as Florida enters hurricane season.
Due to the Trump-era DOGE initiative, NOAA has laid off approximately 20% of its workforce—including 9% of the NWS staff. These sweeping reductions come at a dangerous time, undermining the ability of meteorologists to monitor and respond to severe weather. The cuts have resulted in delayed weather balloon launches, critical staffing shortages at Gulf Coast NWS offices, and the elimination of overnight shifts—jeopardizing the timely delivery of life-saving storm tracking data.
“These sudden firings at NOAA and NWS directly endanger the health and safety of my constituents and all Floridians,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20). “Florida is one of the most hurricane-prone states in the nation. Our families, emergency responders, and local governments rely on NOAA and NWS for accurate, real-time information. Slashing these agencies just as storm season begins is both reckless and dangerous. I’m proud to stand with my Florida colleagues in demanding these job cuts be reversed immediately.”
“The Trump Administration’s cruel, short-sighted decision to push out NOAA’s critical weather forecasters, data scientists, and storm modelers – just weeks before hurricane season – shows a callous disregard for the safety of all Floridians,” said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). “These are the very experts whose work guides local officials, emergency managers, and families on when to evacuate, when to seek shelter, and how to protect their homes and businesses. Cutting them loose is not just short-sighted, it’s dangerous.”
“The beginning of Hurricane season always stirs a rush into the hearts of South Floridians, especially many of the coastal communities I represent,” said Congresswoman Fredrica Wilson (FL-24). “The firings at the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are nothing short of outrageous and reckless—especially for South Florida, which sits on the frontlines of hurricane season year after year. When a storm is brewing, families across our region turn to these centers and services for real-time updates, life-saving alerts, and clear guidance on how to stay safe. Who does this administration expect residents to turn to in these moments of crisis if we allow the very institutions that safeguard us to be gutted? These firings only weaken our emergency response, undermine public safety, and leave Florida more vulnerable at the exact moment we should be strengthening our defenses.”
“We are deeply alarmed by the recent workforce cuts at NOAA and the National Weather Service under the DOGE initiative,” said Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09). “These reductions pose an unacceptable risk to hurricane preparedness and emergency response efforts in Florida. With our state facing increasingly severe and frequent storms, we cannot afford to weaken our frontline defense. All cuts to NOAA and NWS must be immediately reversed, and hiring freezes lifted to ensure Florida communities remain protected and informed.”
“When I was Director of Emergency Management in Florida, I saw firsthand the critical role that NOAA and the National Weather Service play preparing for hurricanes and other disasters,” said Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23). “Putting these agencies at risk puts public safety at risk. That’s why I introduced bipartisan legislation to fill critical vacancies at NOAA and the NWS, and it’s why I’m proud to join my Florida colleagues pushing to lift hiring freezes and restore all cuts at the agencies. With hurricane season already here, Florida can’t afford for NOAA and the National Weather Service to be anything but fully equipped with what they need.”
“Hurricane season already is dangerous and anxiety-inducing enough without Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts undermining the resources and specialists we rely on to keep Floridians safe,” said Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14). “Gutting NOAA and NWS, cutting forecasters and grounding hurricane hunters leaves our communities vulnerable and uninformed while storms grow more frequent, more severe and more costly. Sec. Lutnick rightfully acknowledged the Trump Administration’s grave error in haphazardly firing essential NOAA and NWS workers. However, much more must be done to lower the risks and costs of the climate crisis and the extreme events tied to it. Firing essential problem-solvers and public servants ends up costing Floridians more.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))
Washington, D.C. ─ Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led the Florida Democratic delegation in urging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to reverse recent staffing cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) as Florida enters hurricane season.
Due to the Trump-era DOGE initiative, NOAA has laid off approximately 20% of its workforce—including 9% of the NWS staff. These sweeping reductions come at a dangerous time, undermining the ability of meteorologists to monitor and respond to severe weather. The cuts have resulted in delayed weather balloon launches, critical staffing shortages at Gulf Coast NWS offices, and the elimination of overnight shifts—jeopardizing the timely delivery of life-saving storm tracking data.
“These sudden firings at NOAA and NWS directly endanger the health and safety of my constituents and all Floridians,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20). “Florida is one of the most hurricane-prone states in the nation. Our families, emergency responders, and local governments rely on NOAA and NWS for accurate, real-time information. Slashing these agencies just as storm season begins is both reckless and dangerous. I’m proud to stand with my Florida colleagues in demanding these job cuts be reversed immediately.”
“The Trump Administration’s cruel, short-sighted decision to push out NOAA’s critical weather forecasters, data scientists, and storm modelers – just weeks before hurricane season – shows a callous disregard for the safety of all Floridians,” said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). “These are the very experts whose work guides local officials, emergency managers, and families on when to evacuate, when to seek shelter, and how to protect their homes and businesses. Cutting them loose is not just short-sighted, it’s dangerous.”
“The beginning of Hurricane season always stirs a rush into the hearts of South Floridians, especially many of the coastal communities I represent,” said Congresswoman Fredrica Wilson (FL-24). “The firings at the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are nothing short of outrageous and reckless—especially for South Florida, which sits on the frontlines of hurricane season year after year. When a storm is brewing, families across our region turn to these centers and services for real-time updates, life-saving alerts, and clear guidance on how to stay safe. Who does this administration expect residents to turn to in these moments of crisis if we allow the very institutions that safeguard us to be gutted? These firings only weaken our emergency response, undermine public safety, and leave Florida more vulnerable at the exact moment we should be strengthening our defenses.”
“We are deeply alarmed by the recent workforce cuts at NOAA and the National Weather Service under the DOGE initiative,” said Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09). “These reductions pose an unacceptable risk to hurricane preparedness and emergency response efforts in Florida. With our state facing increasingly severe and frequent storms, we cannot afford to weaken our frontline defense. All cuts to NOAA and NWS must be immediately reversed, and hiring freezes lifted to ensure Florida communities remain protected and informed.”
“When I was Director of Emergency Management in Florida, I saw firsthand the critical role that NOAA and the National Weather Service play preparing for hurricanes and other disasters,” said Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23). “Putting these agencies at risk puts public safety at risk. That’s why I introduced bipartisan legislation to fill critical vacancies at NOAA and the NWS, and it’s why I’m proud to join my Florida colleagues pushing to lift hiring freezes and restore all cuts at the agencies. With hurricane season already here, Florida can’t afford for NOAA and the National Weather Service to be anything but fully equipped with what they need.”
“Hurricane season already is dangerous and anxiety-inducing enough without Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts undermining the resources and specialists we rely on to keep Floridians safe,” said Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14). “Gutting NOAA and NWS, cutting forecasters and grounding hurricane hunters leaves our communities vulnerable and uninformed while storms grow more frequent, more severe and more costly. Sec. Lutnick rightfully acknowledged the Trump Administration’s grave error in haphazardly firing essential NOAA and NWS workers. However, much more must be done to lower the risks and costs of the climate crisis and the extreme events tied to it. Firing essential problem-solvers and public servants ends up costing Floridians more.”
Source: US Whitehouse
THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL DELIVERS FOR THE AMERICAN WORKER: The One Big Beautiful Bill delivers the largest tax cut for working- and middle-class Americans in history. Put simply, President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill will unleash our economy and deliver a Blue-Collar BOOM.
Bigger Paychecks: Hardworking Americans and families will see an average increase in take-home pay of OVER $10,000 per year.
Historic Tax Relief for Workers: 15% tax cut for Americans earning between $30,000 and $80,000 per year.
No Taxes on Overtime or Tips: Saves overtime and tipped workers nearly $2,000 annually.
Historic Tax Breaks for Seniors: Introduces unprecedented financial relief for seniors.
Made-in-America Tax Breaks: Interest deduction for loans on new American-made vehicles.
Large Standard Deduction: Keeps the doubled standard deduction used by 91% of taxpayers, ensuring taxpayers keep more of their money with a simpler tax break.
Provides Historic Relief for Working Families
Bolsters Child Tax Credit: Increases and makes permanent the child tax credit, supporting over 40 million families.
Supports Working Families: Expands childcare access and makes the paid leave tax credit permanent.
Establishes Trump Investment Accounts for Newborns: Creates savings accounts to secure financial futures for every American child from birth.
Improves Housing Affordability: Expands the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to incentivize the construction of affordable homes for American families.
Supports Family Farms: Raises death tax exemption, Increasing the amount family farms can inherit without paying taxes—protecting two million family farms from excessive taxation.
Empowers School Choices: Enhances 529 savings accounts to make education affordable and empower American families and students to choose the education that best fits their needs.
Drives Economic Growth Through America First Tax Policies
Incentivizes Made-in-America Manufacturing: Full expensing for new factories and improvements to unleash domestic production.
Expands Opportunity Zones: Permanently renews program, unlocking $100B+ for rural and distressed communities.
Boosts American Businesses: The bill delivers full 100% expensing for new factories, equipment, and machinery.
Puts Main Street Over Wall Street
Promotes Growth: Helps small businesses keep more money by making permanent—and enhancing—the small business tax deduction, making it easier to grow and hire.
Doubles Small Business Expensing: Raises the limit for small businesses to immediately deduct up to $2.5 million in equipment and property costs, helping them hire more workers and expand.
President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill lowers tax rates to keep more money in Americans’ pockets—PREVENTING THE LARGEST TAX HIKE IN HISTORY.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Issouf Binaté, enseignant-chercheur, Université Alassane Ouattara de Bouaké
Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa as the geopolitical and economic landscape in the region shifts. In Senegal, the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation has entered a key partnership in the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, Karpowership, a company providing electricity via floating power plants, now supplies energy to eight African countries. But Turkey’s not stopping there. As part of its soft power strategy, it is also winning hearts and minds through education and culture while deepening trade and security ties.
Historian Issouf Binaté, who has studied Turkey’s growing presence in west Africa, breaks down how Ankara is positioning itself as an alternative to both former colonial powers and newer global players competing for influence on the continent.
What drives Turkey’s growing influence in west Africa?
Turkey’s foreign policy in west Africa leans on two main pillars.
The other is more grassroots, led by non-state actors such as religious foundations and NGOs.
These groups laid the groundwork for Turkey’s African expansion long before Ankara officially stepped in.
A key player in Turkey’s earlier outreach was the Gülen movement, named after preacher Fethullah Gülen (1941–2024). The Gülen movement pioneered Turkey’s soft power approach with “Turkish schools”, starting with the Yavuz Sultan Selim and Yavuz Selim-Bosphore high schools in Dakar in 1997.
Also at the end of the 1990s a network composed of Turkish business leaders and social activists under the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists, which claimed over 100,000 member companies, expanded Turkey’s influence across Africa. At that time, Turkey had only three diplomatic representations for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
The more recent contact with Africa comes at a time when western hegemony faces growing criticism from a new generation of Africans engaged in decolonial movements. Gülen-affiliated institutions now number 113, alongside religious and secular schools run by other groups like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi. Since the 2016 political rift between Gülen and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, these schools were gradually transferred to Maarif Foundation, Turkey’s state-run overseas education arm.
Back in 2003, Turkey had only 12 diplomatic missions across Africa. Today, that number has grown to 44, bolstered by Turkish religious foundations (like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi), NGOs, and entrepreneurs who have filled the gap left by the Gülen movement.
Another powerful player in Turkey’s Africa strategy is Turkish Airlines, now one of the top carriers on the continent. It is now flying to 62 airports in 41 African countries.
What role do west African students trained in Turkey play?
By investing in education, Turkey didn’t just open its doors to African students. It also planted the seeds for a long-term influence strategy. These students, and more broadly young African migrants trained in Turkey, are now among the key messengers of “Turkishness” back home.
In doing so, Ankara is following a familiar path once used by colonial powers. They used student mobility as a powerful tool for their diplomacy.
Then, in the 1990s, Turkey continued this effort through a scholarship programme for African students, supported by the Islamic Development Bank. During this period, Turkey launched the Büyük Öğrenci Projesi (Great Student Project), which provided scholarships to international students.
Starting in 2012, this programme was re-branded as YTB (Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı, or Directorate for Turks Abroad and Related Communities). It introduced reforms, including a digital application process for scholarships via an app on the YTB website. This shift caused a dramatic spike in interest. Applications soared from 10,000 to 155,000 between 2012 and 2020.
For non-scholarship students, Turkey simplified visa processes, reduced tuition fees, and offered other incentives. These measures contributed to a significant increase in the number of applicants to study in Turkey. As the number of universities in Turkey jumped from 76 to 193 between 2003 and 2015, the country became increasingly attractive.
By 2017, Turkey had become the 13th most popular destination for students from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Campus France (a platform that supports international students studying in France). By 2019, there were an estimated 61,000 African students studying in Turkey.
Now, nearly three decades into this strategy, many of these former students are stepping into new roles. They are taking over from Turkish entrepreneurs in fostering socioeconomic ties with Africa. They also act as bridges, promoting Turkish universities and supporting visitors in areas like medical and industrial tourism.
In Istanbul, some run cargo companies – some of them informal – that ship goods to Africa. Others are working to formalise these ventures and build long-term economic bridges. Groups like Bizim Afrika, a network of African Turkish-speakers, and the Federation of African Students in Turkey (founded in 2019), are playing key roles in shaping this next chapter of Turkey–Africa relations.
How is Turkey’s strategy in west Africa different from that of China or France?
In substance, Turkey’s strategy isn’t so different from that of France or China. It also carries traces of colonial thinking, even though its approach leans more on religious soft power like building mosques across Africa. Unlike France, which used force in its colonial past, Turkey is trying to gain influence through other means. It uses familiar tools: embassies, schools, cinema, security services, and development agencies.
While access to Europe, the US and Canada has become more difficult due to stricter visa rules, Turkey has opened its doors. It eased visa procedures for African business people, expanded its universities, and promoted medical tourism.
Turkey has become a hub for several sectors. It’s a major centre for nose surgery (rhinoplasty), hair transplants, and textiles. Its textile industry now supplies traders at Makola Market in Accra, Adjamé’s Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Grand Marché in Bamako.
Turkey’s presence in Africa is now visible in several symbolic ways. You can see it in Maarif schools, murals at Abidjan airport, the “Le Istanbul” restaurant in Niamey’s government district, or the National Mosque in Accra, modelled after Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.
The.Amuzujoe
Turkey’s engagement is a work in progress. But its outreach to Africa is already yielding results. Trade volume reached US$40.7 billion in 2022. The return of the first waves of African students trained in Turkey has shifted the dynamic. Cooperation no longer relies solely on Turkish business people and social entrepreneurs.
Even though African elites often speak English, French or Arabic, new voices are emerging. Young people trained in Turkey are beginning to find their place. Many work in import-export, construction, and even Islamic religious leadership. This trend points to promising prospects for long-term ties.
For Turkey, Africa represents a continent with major economic opportunities. Becoming a trusted partner is now a key goal. On the diplomatic level, Turkey gained observer status at the African Union in 2005 and has hosted Turkey-Africa summits in Istanbul since 2008.
This growing involvement suggests that Turkey’s role in Africa is likely to last. It will depend on the continent’s market needs, especially at a time when many African countries are rethinking their relationships with traditional western powers and international institutions.
– Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa – what’s behind its bid for soft power – https://theconversation.com/turkey-is-stepping-up-its-influence-in-west-africa-whats-behind-its-bid-for-soft-power-256929
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, released the following statement on the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling.
“Three years ago today, the Supreme Court took the unprecedented step of stripping Americans of a constitutional right it had previously guaranteed, ending nearly 50 years of legal precedent by dismantling Roe v. Wade.
“Just last month, under the orders of Donald Trump, House Republicans voted to defund Planned Parenthood. The Big Ugly Bill he’s trying to force through Congress would block Medicaid reimbursements to its health centers and ban abortion coverage on ACA plans—moves that would create chaos in the insurance market. These policies would devastate access to care for over one million Medicaid recipients who rely on Planned Parenthood each year, slashing access to maternity care, birth control, cancer screenings, and more.
“This is only the latest attack. Over the past three years, 20 states have enacted abortion bans, leaving millions of people without access to essential care. And we’ve seen patients forced to travel hundreds of miles across state lines, facing delays and uncertainty. In my home state of Colorado—a critical haven for care in the Mountain West—we’ve seen one of the largest increases in out-of-state patients in the country. Our clinics are strained, providers are overwhelmed, and our constituents are facing longer wait times for basic reproductive care.
“As Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, I refuse to let this extremist vision go unchallenged. I’m proud to lead the fight in Congress to restore the protections of Roe through the Women’s Health Protection Act—a landmark bill that would ensure the right to abortion nationwide, regardless of your ZIP code.
“I stand with the majority of Americans who believe health care decisions should be made by patients and their doctors, not politicians, not judges, and not a radical minority trying to impose their beliefs on the rest of us. We will not stop until every person—no matter who they are or where they live—has the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)
DENVER, CO — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after Donald Trump announced that the United States carried out military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
“Donald Trump’s unauthorized strike against Iran is an act of war that requires Congressional approval. He did not come to Congress to explain his reasons for bombing a sovereign nation and to seek authorization for these strikes. These reckless actions are going to put the lives of American servicemembers and American citizens at risk.
“Additionally, these unconstitutional strikes threaten to expand conflict and further destabilize an already vulnerable region. The United States must now put its full diplomatic strength behind finding a peaceful resolution to this conflict. I am cosponsoring the war powers resolution in the House, and the administration must brief Congress as soon as possible.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
June 24, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Norma Torres led three amendments during the Appropriations Committee Markup of the FY2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Bill, offering critical amendments to safeguard tens of millions of Americans’ personal information from DOGE and protect the public servants who work to ensure the safety and supply of infant formula and address the ongoing threat of bird flu from the indiscriminate and lawless firings implemented by the Trump Administration and DOGE.
“I voted against this bill, which, like so much of what the Trump Administration and Republicans have been pushing, throws families and children under the bus, and in this case, our farmers and agricultural communities, too. The bill recklessly cuts vital programs that support our farmers and help hardworking families put food on the table, all under the hypocritical reasoning of “responsible spending” as Republicans push for trillions in tax breaks to billionaires,” said Congresswoman Torres. “But Republicans also rejected three amendments I led that aimed to improve the bill, from protecting Americans’ privacy from DOGE, protecting those who work tirelessly to ensure infant formula that many mothers rely on is safe, and ensuring the Trump Administration and DOGE can’t recklessly fire these critical public servants.”
The House Republican FY26 Agriculture-FDA Appropriations bill cuts overall funding by more than $1 billion, underfunding programs that support farmers and ranchers, lower costs for consumers, and help families put food on the table.
For example, the Republican bill underfunds the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which helps pregnant mothers and babies not only access free healthy foods, but also receive breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and connects mothers with resources like medical, dental, and mental healthcare. On top of this, the bill included an additional 10% cut on WIC benefits for fruits and vegetables, making it harder for women and children to have access to healthy, nutritious foods. The bill also cuts rural wastewater funding, even though many communities in California struggle with water issues.
Congresswoman Torres led three amendments to help improve the bill that Republicans rejected:
No Sharing Personal Information with DOGE: This amendment prohibits agencies from sharing personally identifiable information with DOGE. It protects the privacy of tens of millions of Americans by preventing USDA, FDA, and other covered agencies from providing sensitive data to DOGE, safeguarding families’ personal information from unnecessary exposure.
No Infant Formula Employee Firings: This amendment prohibits the firing of employees who work to ensure the safety and supply of infant formula. Congresswoman Torres is committed to protecting the dedicated public servants at the FDA who work tirelessly to maintain a safe, reliable supply of infant formula for families and babies nationwide.
No Bird Flu Employee Firings: This amendment protects employees working on bird flu (also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza or HPAI) issues by prohibiting their dismissal. Bird flu continues to threaten poultry, livestock, and frontline workers, and these employees play a crucial role in addressing this ongoing threat. As of June 20, 38 of the 70 human cases in America have occurred in California.
“These amendments reflect my commitment to protecting families’ privacy, ensuring the safety of mothers and babies, and defending our communities against bird flu. We must prioritize funding for programs that prevent families from going hungry, safeguard our food supply, and invest in our communities — not fund tax breaks for billionaires.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
Pressley Repro Caucus, Dem. Leadership toHold a Presser Todayto Mark Three Years Since the Disastrous Dobbs Decision
Pressley Convening Leaders, Fighting for Reproductive Freedom, and Uplifting Abortion Storytellers
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, issued the following statement marking the third anniversary of the devastating Dobbs decision that dismantled the right to abortion care in America. Later today, Rep. Pressley will join House Democratic Leadership for a press conference to mark the somber anniversary and renew her calls for comprehensive legislation to protect abortion and expand access to reproductive healthcare.
Congresswoman Pressley will spend the week convening leaders and impacted families, renewing her calls for comprehensive legislation to protect and restore abortion care in America, and uplifting the experiences of people impacted by cruel abortion bans and denials of essential medical care.
“Three years ago today, the Supreme Court denied us our bodily autonomy and ripped away the fundamental right to abortion care in this country. Since that cruel decision, we have witnessed devastating and deadly consequences for patients across the nation. Abortion bans are denying families basic medical care. The Black maternal health crisis has worsened drastically. Republicans’ attacks on our basic reproductive freedom are a risk to every person who calls this country home and have disproportionately impacted our Black, brown, immigrant, disabled, and LGBTQ+ communities.
“Now, we face a hostile Administration doubling down on ripping away essential healthcare. Trump and Republicans are pushing their Big, Ugly Bill—cruel legislation that would destroy Medicaid as we know it, defund Planned Parenthood health centers, ban abortion coverage in private insurance plans on the ACA marketplace, and put essential care further out of reach for millions.
“This unjust and worsening status quo is not an inevitability. Today, we recommit not only to protecting and defending reproductive healthcare, but to advancing an affirmative vision for a just America where abortion justice is realized and everyone—no matter their zip code, income, or immigration status—can access the care they need with dignity in their own community. That means stopping Republicans’ reconciliation bill in its tracks, and advancing, comprehensive policies like my Abortion Justice Act, the Women’s Health Protection Act, and the EACH Act to protect and expand abortion access and affirm our fundamental rights.”
“As we mark this somber anniversary, I look forward to partnering with Co-Chair DeGette and our colleagues of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus to affirm our commitment to using every tool we have to protect and restore access to abortion care, center impacted families, and continue building the more just America our constituents demand and deserve.”
Yesterday, Rep. Pressley and Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts President Dominique Lee for a press conference in solidarity with Planned Parenthood as they collectively fight to stop Republicans’ latest attack on reproductive freedom in the GOP’s Big, Ugly Bill.
Today, Congresswoman Pressley will meet with abortion storytellers from Massachusetts, join the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and House Democratic Leadership for a press conference marking the somber Dobbs Anniversary, and join members of the Tri-Caucus for a bicameral convening with abortion storytellers led by Rep. Jennifer McClellan and the Reproductive Freedom Caucus.
On Wednesday, June 25, Congresswoman Pressley will participate in a Freedom for All panel discussion, and join the Reproductive Freedom Caucus for a virtual roundtable on how we can legislate to protect abortion care as the necessary essential healthcare that it is.
On Thursday, June 26, Congresswoman Pressley, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and the Democratic Women’s Caucus will lead a shadow hearing on reproductive healthcare in America.
Media interested in covering any of the events above can emailPressley.Press@mail.house.gov.
Congresswoman Pressley has been outspoken in demanding justice for Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old pregnant mother who was declared brain dead in February and was forced to remain on life support due to Georgia’s abortion ban. Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned floor speech in which she underscored that Adriana’s case is far too common in the unjust history of denying Black women their dignity, humanity, and right to bodily autonomy – and that GOP abortion bans such as Georgia’s deepen this pain and bar critical healthcare freedom. Last week, Rep. Pressley issued a statement after Adriana’s infant son Chance was delivered via emergency Cesarean section and Adriana was taken off life support.
Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has fought persistently to protect fundamental reproductive and sexual healthcare rights.
On the first anniversary of the Dobbs decision, Rep. Pressley introduced the Abortion Justice Act, sweeping, intersectional legislation to address access to abortion care and put forth a comprehensive vision of a just America where abortion care is readily available—without stigma, shame or systemic barriers—for all who seek it, regardless of zip code, immigration status, income, or background.
Rep. Pressley is a lead co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), bicameral federal legislation to guarantee equal access to abortion care, everywhere.
Rep. Pressley is also a lead co-sponsor of the EACH Act, bold legislation to repeal the Hyde Amendment and help guarantee abortion coverage—regardless of how a patient gets their health insurance.
Shortly before the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Rep. Pressley led a group of her Black women colleagues in writing to President Biden urging him to declare a public health emergency amid the unprecedented threats to abortion rights nationwide.
Rep. Pressley condemned the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade., and implored the Senate to protect abortion rights and slammed the white supremacist roots of anti-abortion efforts.
In October 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on Josseli Barnica, who died on Sept. 3, 2021 after being denied emergency abortion care in Texas as she suffered a miscarriage.
In September 2024, in a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee Hearing, Rep. Pressley highlighted the harmful and deadly impact of abortion bans in America to date, and outlined in detail the shameful circumstances under which Amber Nicole Thurman died after being denied necessary abortion care in Georgia.
In June 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Idaho v. United States; Moyle v. United States – the case about whether emergency abortion care is included under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).
In May 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on a Louisiana bill that would classify medication abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled substances.
In April 2024, at a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley played “Fact or Fiction” with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf to emphasize the safety and efficacy of medication abortion drug mifepristone.
In August 2023, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Fifth Circuit Court decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA.
In July 2023, Rep. Pressley, alongside Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Cori Bush (MO-01), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation to help people with disabilities—who face discrimination and extra barriers when seeking care—get better access to reproductive healthcare and the informed care they need to control their own reproductive lives.
In July 2023, Rep. Pressley applauded the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of over-the-counter birth control.
In May 2023, Rep. Pressley applauded the FDA Advisory Committee’s unanimous, 17-0 vote to recommend the approval of the first-ever application for over-the-counter birth control. She and Senator Murray also held a press conference applauding the decision and urging the FDA to approval over-the-counter birth control without delay.
In May 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Ami Bera, MD (CA-06) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), reintroduced their bicameral Affordability is Access Act to ensure that once the FDA determines an over-the-counter birth control option to be safe, insurers fully cover over-the-counter birth control without any fees or out-of-pocket costs.
In April 2023, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Texas court ruling on mifepristone, and discussed the Texas case in a recent floor speech in which she affirmed medication abortion as routine medical care and access to mifepristone as essential. She later joined Governor Maura Healey, Senator Elizabth Warren (D-MA), and local leaders in announcing action to protect Mifepristone in Massachusetts.
In March 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Reps. Schakowsky, Lee, DeGette, Torres and Strickland, reintroduced the Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act harmful and discriminatory Helms Amendment and expand abortion access globally.
In March 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Hirono led their colleagues in reintroducing a bicameral congressional resolution honoring abortion providers and clinic staff.
In March 2023, Rep. Pressley delivered a speech in which she discussed the pending court case in Texas, which aims to restrict access to medication abortion across the entire nation. In her remarks, Rep. Pressley affirmed medication abortion as routine medical care, and accessibility to the abortion pill mifepristone as essential.
In September 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Supreme Court’s inaction on SB-8, Texas’ restrictive abortion law. Later that month, she participated in a House Oversight Committee hearing to examine the threat posed by abortion bans and underscored the urgency of the Senate passing the Women’s Health Protection Act.
In April 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Congresswomen Barbara Lee (CA-13), Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), led a group of 131 Democratic members in reintroducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act or the EACH Act, which would repeal the Hyde Amendment and ensure that all people, regardless of income, insurance or zip code, can make personal reproductive healthcare decisions without interference from politicians. She re-Introduced the legislation In January 2023.
Rep. Pressley has led calls in Congress for the FDA to remove medically unnecessary restrictions on the medication abortion drug mifepristone, and applauded the FDA’s action in January 2023 to allow retail pharmacies to dispense abortion medication pills.
As Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus’s Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, Congresswoman Pressley has led the fight to repeal the Hyde Amendments from annual Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bills and in July 2020 published a Medium post on the importance of doing so. She applauded the removal of the Hyde Amendment in President Biden’s FY2022 budget.
In May 2020, she led more than 155 Members of Congress in calling on House Democratic leadership to ensure that any future COVID-19 relief packages rejected Republican efforts to use the public health crisis to diminish abortion access.
In August 2021, Rep. Pressley, Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, and Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Diana DeGette and Barbara Lee led more than 70 of their House Democratic colleagues in introducing a resolution in support of equitable, science-based policies governing access to medication abortion care.
In January 2023, Rep. Pressley introduced a resolution to condemn all forms of political violence in the U.S., regardless of its target or intent. That same day, she delivered a powerful speech on the House floor slamming Republicans’ harmful, misleading anti-abortion resolution.
In September 2022, Rep. Pressley hosted U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra at the Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester for a convening on their work to address the Black maternal health crisis and the criminalization of abortion care in states across the nation following the harmful U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health.
In May 2019, she led more than 100 colleagues in introducing H.Con.Res.40, a resolution reaffirming the House of Representative’s support for Roe v. Wade.
In June 2019, Rep. Pressley introduced H.R. 3296, the Affordability is Access Act, to make oral contraception available without a prescription.
In September 2016, as a member of the Boston City Council, Pressley championed a resolution calling on Congress and President Obama to repeal the Hyde Amendment and reinstate insurance coverage for abortion services.