Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) reintroduced the bipartisan Advancing Frequent and Tailored Education to Rebuild Safe Communities and Help Orchestrate Opportunities and Learning (AFTER SCHOOL) Act. This bill would create and support after school programs focused on reducing violent crime.
“Providing young Nevadans in at-risk neighborhoods with after school activities not only enriches their lives, but also reduces crime,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Unfortunately, many communities across the Silver State don’t have the resources they need to fund these programs. This bipartisan legislation fills that gap.”
A recent study found a 28 to 35 percent reduction of total arrests and a 45 to 50 percent reduction in violent crime by youth participating in specific after school programs, as well as a 21 percent reduction in recidivism. The AFTER SCHOOL Act would establish a grant program through the Department of Justice to help schools and non-profits establish, maintain, and strengthen these after school programs that are so effective. School districts and non-profits in counties with a juvenile offense rate higher than 10 percent would be eligible to receive funds through the non-competitive grant.
You can find the full bill text here.
Senator Cortez Masto has delivered critical support to students and schools across Nevada. She helped secure nearly $12 million in funding for the Communities in Schools (CIS) program, which works with local partner organizations to provide eligible students and their families with essential services, including mental health care and access to high-quality afterschool and leadership programs. She has also secured $950,000 to help Clark County School District better support students recovering from substance abuse and mental health struggles. Cortez Masto’s provision to increase the number of mental health professionals in schools was included in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
May 02, 2025
CHICAGO— U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined small business owners in Lincoln Park to discuss the impacts of President Trump’s tariffs.
“The Trump Tariffs are already driving up costs for manufacturers, disrupting our supply chains, and inspiring retaliatory tariffs, which will hurt small businesses like Lori’s Shoes, Art Effect, and Lost Soul Found, as well as their customers,” said Durbin. “President Trump has doubled down on these tariffs with nothing to show for it. Our small businesses here in Chicago are terrified to fail or be forced to lay off employees as they face the brunt of this trade war.”
“The premise that the tariffs are making America rich, and the origin pays for the import tariff, is unequivocally false. A tariff is a tax on American businesses and American consumers. To set the record straight – the importer of record, in this case Lori’s Shoes, is 100% financially responsible for these tariffs on our imports,” said Matt Andre, Footwear Buyer, Lori’s Shoes.
“The uncertainty of the future of small business in the United States and the livelihood of manufacturers is hanging on these tariffs. As a small business owner, we rely on these imports. I worry that come Christmastime, we’ll have empty shelves and empty storefronts in our community,” said Esther Fishman, Owner, Art Effect.
“As a city retailer, I know how much we all love strolling down a vibrant street, popping into unique shops, and discovering something unexpected—it’s part of what makes urban life feel alive. But that experience is under real threat. Tariffs, rising costs, and economic uncertainty are making it harder for small businesses to survive, and if we’re not careful, the rich variety we cherish could be replaced by empty storefronts and sameness,” said Suzanne D’Addario Brouder, Owner, Lost Soul Found.
In the wake of Trump’s tariff standoff, manufacturers have laid off thousands of workers, and foreign countries have retaliated by slapping their own tariffs on U.S. agricultural and manufactured goods. Current tariffs could result in up to 15,000 job cuts in the Chicago area and a $3 billion drop in its gross domestic product.
Durbin spoke on the Senate floor about the impact President Trump’s tariffs will have on small businesses, manufacturers, consumers, and workers in Illinois, which received $127 billion of imports from China, Canada, and Mexico in 2023. Durbin also joined fellow U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture member U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 17 of their colleagues in a letter to ask U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer for information on how the Trump Administration’s tariffs will impact farmers across the nation.
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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
May 02, 2025
The proposal continues President Trump’s petulant, destructive efforts to slash critical public health funding and foreign aid assistance
CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on President Trump’s abysmal budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 that cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by nearly half:
“It’s no surprise that President Trump proposed a federal budget that reflects his true priority – funding tax breaks for billionaires by betraying hard-working Americans and gutting the basic programs that keep us healthy and safe. He is eviscerating funding for school districts that serve low-income students, rental and utility bill assistance, and child care programs, while decimating medical research that cancer and Alzheimer’s patients rely on. What about this ‘makes America great again?’
“But Congress ultimately holds the power of the purse. I will fight tooth and nail to restore lifesaving funding for our federal research agencies like NIH and advocate for the foreign aid our allies need. I hope that my Republican colleagues will find the courage to stand up for their constituents and fund these critical programs, rather than bow to President Trump and his band of billionaires.”
President Trump’s proposed budget:
Entirely eliminates the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which helps low-income households pay critical energy bills.
Delivers an $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — including by eliminating some institutes altogether – severely hampering research and development that lead to breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and countless other conditions.
Slashes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) budget by over $3.5 billion, while entirely eliminating critical programs preventing youth smoking, suicide, childhood lead poisoning, and cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Guts the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) by $1.7 billion, worsening access to medical, dental, and behavioral health care for rural communities, pregnant women, and children.
Cuts the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s (SAMHSA) budget by over $1 billion, imperiling patient access to critical treatments in the midst of an opioid epidemic, and slashing funding for youth mental health services.
Cuts the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by $674 million, undermining the key Agency charged with ensuring access to health insurance coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Delivers the first-ever $1 trillion Pentagon topline—funneling billions into wasteful nuclear weapons modernization and a so-called “Golden Dome” missile shield that represents a dangerous escalation in nuclear brinkmanship.
Reduces the Internal Revenue Service budget by $2.5 billion below FY2025 levels. This would be a 20 percent cut to the IRS budget, which has been frozen at $12.3 billion since FY2023.
Cuts $4.5 billion from Title 1 and K-12 funding by reducing Department of Education staff that handle Title 1 funds and consolidates 18 competitive and formula grant programs into a $2 billion formula grant, giving States more discretion with Title 1 funds.
$27 billion in cuts to the State Rental Assistance Block Grant, which provides for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Public Housing, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Housing for the Elderly, and Housing for Persons with Disabilities.
Cuts $3.3 billion from the Community Development Block Grant, which provides funds for local governments to pursue affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization services.
$770 million cut to the Community Services Block Grant, which provide for basic needs support and poverty alleviation in local communities facing economic need.
Guts U.S. diplomacy and global engagement with an 83 percent cut to the State Department and International Affairs budget. This includes a drastic reduction in foreign aid, slashing over $20 billion from programs that support global health, humanitarian relief, and democracy promotion.
Cuts $15 billion in IIJA clean energy grants.
Cuts $1.5 billion from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is tasked with monitoring, predicting, and forecasting the weather and climate.
Nearly $1 billion in cuts to Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) programs that support tribal operations.
Cuts $3.5 billion in basic assistance to refugees like housing, food, clothing, access to basic services; cuts another $2.6 billion in humane services to migrants that provide shelter, access to community services, and education—including to migrant farmworkers’ children.
Eliminates the EPA’s Environmental Justice Program.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) voted to advance the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s budget reconciliation proposal that provides historic funding for the U.S. Coast Guard, invests in our nation’s air traffic control system, and reduces federal spending through the rescission of Biden-era programs. Rep. Mann released the following statement after the markup.
“Kansans in the Big First District sent me to Washington, D.C. to help President Trump reduce wasteful spending, make America safe again, and protect our way of life in rural America,”said Rep. Mann. “Our reconciliation proposal delivers on the mandate given to our Republican majorities, empowers the U.S. Coast Guard to relentlessly defend our national security by slowing human and drug trafficking across our nation’s waters, invests in modernization for our nation’s air traffic control systems, cuts wasteful spending on Green New Deal pet projects that benefit no one but far left activists, and reduces the federal deficit by nearly $10 billion. I was proud to support these historic investments that advance President Trump’s agenda to put America first and usher in a golden age of American greatness. I look forward to completing the next stage of the budget reconciliation process to deliver the one big, beautiful bill American families deserve.”
The House Transportation & Infrastructure budget reconciliation proposal:
Invests more than $21 billion in U.S. Coast Guard missions to stop illegal drugs and migrants from crossing U.S. maritime borders
Appropriates $12.5 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration for the modernization of air traffic control technology and infrastructure
Rescinds unobligated funds and eliminates Biden-era programs estimated to cost over $4 billion
Fixes Highway Trust Fund inequities by ensuring electric vehicle and hybrid users pay a user fee into the Highway Trust Fund
The House Transportation & Infrastructure budget reconciliation proposal will now go to the House Rules Committee for further consideration.
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For more information on Rep. Mann visit www.mann.house.gov
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) voted to overturn five Biden-era regulations, including two California rules that ban the manufacturing of gas-emitting vehicles and implement an electric vehicle mandate. The U.S. House of Representatives also reversed a waiver for California that would create unnecessary barriers for operating heavy-duty trucks. Rep. Mann celebrated the passage of the Congressional Review Acts, saying:
“America needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy, not a one-size-fits-California mandate,” said Rep. Mann. “President Biden implemented eleventh-hour, Green New Deal rules that would devastate rural communities and drive up costs for American families. Kansas families, manufacturers, and energy producers need more freedom and fewer regulations. I was proud to support House Republicans’ CRAs that roll back these burdensome regulations and ensure far-left state governments don’t dictate energy policies for places like the Big First and the entire country.”
The House Transportation & Infrastructure budget reconciliation proposal:
H.J.Res.60 reverses a rule from the National Park Service that imposes new restrictions on motor vehicle use within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
H.J. Res.78 reverses a rule from the Fish and Wildlife Service designating the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt as an endangered species.
H.J.Res.87 reverses a rule from the EPA granting California waivers mandating truck makers sell zero-emission trucks.
H.J.Res.88 reverses a rule from the EPA granting California a waiver to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
H.J.Res.89 reverses a rule from the EPA granting California a waiver to implement nitrogen oxide engine emission standards, which create unworkable standards for heavy-duty on-road engines.
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For more information on Rep. Mann visit www.mann.house.gov
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)
SHARON, PA — During an awards ceremony today in Sharon, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District. This year’s winner is Jeffrey Deniker from Mercer Area High School. The ceremony was held at Hope Center for Arts & Technology (HOPECAT) in Sharon.
“Our office received so many wonderful submissions from students throughout the 16th Congressional District this year. I want to congratulate this year’s winners for their outstanding achievements. I also want to thank the teachers and parents who helped to make this year’s competition possible. We have so many talented students here in Western Pennsylvania,” Rep. Kelly said.
The winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition are:
1st place: Jeffrey Deniker, Mercer Area High School
2nd place: Makenzi Emick, Franklin Area High School
3rd place: Anna Logue, Hickory High School
Honorable Mention: Damir Trawick, Hickory High School
BACKGROUND
The Congressional Art Competition is an annual bipartisan tradition where high school students from across the nation compete to display their artwork in the United States Capitol. The artwork for the winning student from each Congressional district will be displayed in the Cannon House Office Building Tunnel at the U.S. Capitol complex for 11 months.
The Congressional Art Competition is an annual contest sponsored by the Congressional Institute to encourage and foster arts and culture among high school students. Each year, House Members may honor one high school student from their districts by selecting a piece of artwork for inclusion in an exhibit at the U.S. Capitol. Millions of visitors to the U.S. Capitol view this exhibit each year.
Learn more about the Congressional Art Competition here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)
May 02, 2025
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding reports that the Trump Administration has effectively halted the National Climate Assessment (NCA), a congressionally mandated report on the impacts of climate change on the United States:
“The president can attempt to change the laws of the United States, but he cannot change the laws of physics. Climate change is real. It is impacting our health, economy, and national security. It is fueling extreme wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, and flooding, bringing home insurance markets around the country to the brink of collapse. Pretending otherwise isn’t just foolish, it’s dangerous and puts American lives at risk.
“To effectively stop the work of the National Climate Assessment is to strip federal, state, and local governments of the insights necessary to implement targeted solutions that mitigate the climate crisis. The NCA provides an essential, comprehensive look at how climate change affects American communities, economies, and ecosystems. Gutting the NCA also harms US national security, limiting information available to the Department of Defense as to how climate change impacts military readiness, infrastructure, supply chain, and global stability.
“Cutting the nation’s premier tool for understanding the current and future impacts of a changing climate is like smashing the radar on a ship navigating into a growing storm—reckless, disorienting, and leaving everyone on board to navigate blind. This is among the most damaging actions the Trump Administration has taken against climate science to date.”
The NCA is a congressionally mandated report under the Global Change Research Act, issued every four years. It’s coordinated by NASA and draws on contributions from 14 federal agencies and hundreds of academic, economic, and scientific experts. It provides:
High-resolution, county-level climate projections
Physical climate risk data essential to real estate, financial, and infrastructure planning
Sector-specific and economic impact assessments across a wide range of modeled futures
Unlike the IPCC reports, which consider the global impacts of climate change, the NCA offers the most granular and policy-relevant science specific to the U.S.. Without it, policymakers lose a foundational tool for climate adaptation, planning, and economic risk assessment.
On April 9th, 2025, the administration defunded the NCA and gutted the NASA team supporting it. This week, reports indicate the Trump Administration has dismissed all remaining non-governmental volunteers, putting the 2028 report in jeopardy.
Office of the Governor — Travel Release — Gov. Green to Travel to California
Posted on May 2, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases
STATE OF HAWAIʻI KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR KE KIAʻĀINA
GOVERNOR GREEN TO TRAVEL TO CALIFORNIA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2025
HONOLULU ̶ Governor Josh Green, M.D., will travel to California on Friday, May 2, to attend the annual Milken Institute Global Conference. Governor Green was invited to participate in the conference, where influential thinkers will engage in critical discussions regarding public health, community resilience, disaster preparedness, and global leadership. Governor Green will return to Hawai‘i on Thursday, May 8.
Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke will serve as acting Governor from the afternoon of May 2 until midday on May 8.
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Media Contacts: Erika Engle Press Secretary Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i Office: 808-586-0120 Email: [email protected]
Makana McClellan Director of Communications Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi Cell: 808-265-0083 Email: [email protected]
What you need to know: As part of the California Jobs First initiative, the state is awarding $30.5 million in tax credits to seven companies committed to creating new jobs and investing over $2.1 billion across key industries like clean energy, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and consumer goods.
SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) awarded $30.5 million in California Competes Tax Credit (CalCompetes) awards to seven companies, supporting the creation of new jobs and spurring more than $2.1 billion in new private investment across the state.
“California is where innovation meets opportunity — and these investments prove it. From clean energy to advanced manufacturing, these companies are creating good-paying jobs and driving billions in private investment. We’re building a stronger, bottom-up economy that works for all Californians.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
The awardees represent a diverse range of sectors critical to California’s future:
Element Resources is investing $1.85 billion in a hydrogen fuel manufacturing facility in Lancaster.
Fuse Energy Technologies is bringing fusion energy R&D to San Leandro and the East Bay, with a $152 million in investment.
Legendary Foods will expand food manufacturing across Bell and Santa Monica, with over $70 million in investment.
Ariat International is expanding its San Leandro headquarters and design operations, investing $19 million.
Marine Terminals Corporation will invest $8 million to expand port operations in Port Hueneme, supporting logistics and supply chain infrastructure.
Cloacina will manufacture wastewater treatment equipment in Arroyo Grande, with a $3.9 million investment.
Rural Power Systems will scale water pump manufacturing in Davis, investing $9.15 million.
“These awards reflect the incredible diversity and strength of California’s economy,” said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of GO-Biz. “Whether it’s rural communities or urban innovation hubs, companies across the state are choosing to grow here because of our unmatched talent, infrastructure and vision for the future.”
Since 2013, California Competes has awarded tax credits to more than 1,200 businesses, creating nearly 160,000 jobs, and resulting in more than $50 billion of private investment across the state.
Over the past five years, CalCompetes has invested in companies such as Pacific Steel to construct the first steel mill in California in more than 50 years in Kern County; Relativity Space to expand their ability to manufacture 3D-printed rockets to carry satellites into space; AES to expand solar energy and battery storage operations across the state; and many more.
See Full Award Details Here
California Jobs First: A bold plan, realized locally
In February, Governor Newsom released the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint – a new economic vision for California’s future. The Blueprint, which is being implemented by the nine state agencies on the California Jobs First Council, outlines key initiatives to support regional growth, invest in 21st century job training, create an attractive environment for job creators and strengthen California’s innovation economy – all to help increase access to good-paying jobs for Californians.
California’s economic leadership
With a nation-leading GDP and more Fortune 500 companies than any other state, California’s economy remains a global powerhouse driven by diversity, creativity and opportunity.
4th Largest Economy in the World: California’s $4.1 trillion GDP recently surpassed Japan.
#1 in the Nation: Leads the U.S. in Fortune 500 companies, new business starts, venture capital access, manufacturing output, high-tech industries and agriculture.
Major Trade Powerhouse: Over $675 billion in two-way trade, making California the largest importer among U.S. states and a key driver of job creation.
Manufacturing Hub: Home to 36,000+ manufacturing firms, employing over 1.1 million workers, with strengths in aerospace, electronics, and zero-emission vehicles.
AI & Innovation Leader: California hosts 32 of the world’s top 50 AI companies and produces 25% of global AI patents and conference papers.
Recent news
May 1, 2025
News LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm…
May 1, 2025
News What you need to know: For the second year in a row, California’s Department of Finance released data showing the Golden State’s population grew. In 2024, the state added more than 100,000 residents. SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that…
May 1, 2025
News What you need to know: House Republicans used an illegal tactic to attempt to overrule California’s clean cars and trucks program that has decreased smog and protected Californians’ health. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today…
LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day. The events were hosted by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, which the First Partner co-chairs alongside NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, and provided families with interactive ways to explore the connection between movement, mindfulness, and overall health.
Concurrent Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day events were hosted by community organizations in Sacramento County, Stanislaus County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Fresno County.
“Our mental health is as essential to our overall well-being as our physical health, and the two are deeply connected. Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day is a reminder to all Californians that even the simplest of daily movement and mindfulness practices will make a meaningful difference in one’s long- term health, guiding kids towards establishing healthy habits at the earliest of ages.”
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco: “We are grateful for the support for the well-being of our students, which is especially important as they recover from the Eaton Fire. When students feel healthy, supported, and valued, they can learn and succeed.”
Jennifer Hall Lee, PUSD Board of Education President: “We’ve created caring, inclusive spaces where students can feel safe again and heal after the Eaton Fire. Supporting the whole child is how we can help them move forward with hope.”
Jenny Obiaya, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula: “At Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, our wraparound services for youth include many opportunities for free sports and physical fitness activities, as well as free mental health services. That’s why we are so proud to host this important event as part of Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day. Our students had so much fun celebrating alongside and learning from leaders like First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Brandi Chastain, an iconic World Cup and Olympic soccer star.”
The First Partner kicked off the day at Eliot Arts Magnet Academy, which suffered significant damage in the Eaton Fire and is co-locating at McKinley School in Pasadena. More than 600 students from both schools gathered in the auditorium for a fun-filled morning of yoga, meditation, dancing, and drumboxing.
Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day continued in East Palo Alto where the First Partner teamed up with Olympic and World Cup Champion Brandi Chastain at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. More than 250 kids Zumba danced and played pickleball and soccer, and participated in mindfulness activities such as crafts, cooking, and yoga.
Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind was launched in 2023 by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, the California Department of Health Care Services, and the California Department of Public Health. Learn more at www.moveyourbodycalmyourmind.org.
Photos of the Pasadena event available here. Additional photos available upon request.
Recent news
May 2, 2025
News What you need to know: As part of the California Jobs First initiative, the state is awarding $30.5 million in tax credits to seven companies committed to creating new jobs and investing over $2.1 billion across key industries like clean energy, advanced…
May 1, 2025
News What you need to know: For the second year in a row, California’s Department of Finance released data showing the Golden State’s population grew. In 2024, the state added more than 100,000 residents. SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that…
May 1, 2025
News What you need to know: House Republicans used an illegal tactic to attempt to overrule California’s clean cars and trucks program that has decreased smog and protected Californians’ health. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today…
May 1, 2025
LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day. The events were hosted by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, which the First Partner co-chairs alongside NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, and provided families with interactive ways to explore the connection between movement, mindfulness, and overall health.
Concurrent Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day events were hosted by community organizations in Sacramento County, Stanislaus County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Fresno County.
“Our mental health is as essential to our overall well-being as our physical health, and the two are deeply connected. Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day is a reminder to all Californians that even the simplest of daily movement and mindfulness practices will make a meaningful difference in one’s long- term health, guiding kids towards establishing healthy habits at the earliest of ages.”
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom
LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day. The events were hosted by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, which the First Partner co-chairs alongside NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, and provided families with interactive ways to explore the connection between movement, mindfulness, and overall health.
Concurrent Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day events were hosted by community organizations in Sacramento County, Stanislaus County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Fresno County.
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What they’re saying:
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, original author of the Mental Health Services Act: “Twenty years ago, I never could have dreamed that we would have the strong leadership we have today, committing billions and making courageous policy changes that question the conventional wisdom on mental health. Now, with the passage of Proposition 1. California is delivering on decades old promises to help people living with brain-based illnesses, to live better lives, to live independently and to live with dignity in our communities. This is a historic moment and the hard work is ahead of us.“
Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), author of Senate Bill 326: “Today marks a day of hope for thousands of Californians who are struggling with mental illness – many of whom are living unhoused. I am tremendously grateful to my fellow Californian’s for passing this important measure. And I am very appreciative of this Governor’s leadership to transform our behavioral health care system!”
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), author of Assembly Bill 531: “This started as an audacious proposal to address the root cause of homelessness and today, Californians can be proud to know that they did the right thing by passing Proposition 1. Now, it’s time for all of us to get to work, and make sure these reforms are implemented and that we see results.”
Bigger picture: Transforming the Mental Health Services Act into the Behavioral Health Services Act and building more community mental health treatment sites and supportive housing is the last main pillar of Governor Newsom’s Mental Health Movement – pulling together significant recent reforms like 988 crisis line, CalHOPE, CARE Court, conservatorship reform, CalAIM behavioral health expansion (including mobile crisis care and telehealth), Medi-Cal expansion to all low-income Californians, Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (including expanding services in schools and on-line), Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative, Veterans Mental Health Initiative, Behavioral Health Community Infrastructure Program, Behavioral Health Bridge Housing, Health Care Workforce for All and more.
More details on next step here
Recent news
May 2, 2025
News What you need to know: As part of the California Jobs First initiative, the state is awarding $30.5 million in tax credits to seven companies committed to creating new jobs and investing over $2.1 billion across key industries like clean energy, advanced…
May 1, 2025
News What you need to know: For the second year in a row, California’s Department of Finance released data showing the Golden State’s population grew. In 2024, the state added more than 100,000 residents. SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that…
May 1, 2025
News What you need to know: House Republicans used an illegal tactic to attempt to overrule California’s clean cars and trucks program that has decreased smog and protected Californians’ health. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today…
GRAND RAPIDS – Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Birge today announced that a federal jury convicted Eduardo Lopez-Escarrega of Aggravated Felon Reentry. Lopez-Escarrega is a citizen of Mexico without authorization to be in the United States. He has prior convictions for dealing cocaine in Indiana and for previously re-entering the country without authorization after having been convicted of an aggravated felony. He took this latest case to trial to no avail. Lopez-Escarrega now faces another term in prison, after which he will again be removed from this country. Sentencing is scheduled for July 29 in Lansing.
“Lopez-Escarrega is a clear threat to the safety of our communities, not only through his repeated violation of our immigration laws but also his felony drug conviction for dealing cocaine,” said ICE ERO Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch. “I’d like to commend the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, the ICE Grand Rapids and ICE Chicago officers as well as the prosecutors who all worked tirelessly to secure justice in this case.”
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald Daniels and Timothy VerHey.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Louisville Field Division hosted a joint press conference to showcase recent efforts to combat the trafficking of firearms to Mexico. ATF was also joined by the IRS, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Louisville Metro Police Department and Jeffersontown Police Department.
“ATF is on the frontline in the fight against gun-related violence associated with organized gangs and drug trafficking organizations,” said ATF Louisville Field Division Special Agent in Charge John Nokes. “These crimes present a grave threat to public safety, and our law enforcement partnerships are critical as we work together to stop firearms trafficking by criminal groups.”
In response to the growing threat posed by Transnational Criminal Organizations and the administration’s emphasis on combating them, ATF has been working swiftly and diligently with partners to effectively combat the flow of illegal firearms trafficked to Mexico.
Over the past four years, Cartels have infiltrated the United States through the southern border and are operating within our communities. These Cartels have established and expanded their networks throughout the United States to carry out their illicit activities such as, fentanyl trafficking and human smuggling.
Cartels rely on specific firearms to facilitate, expand and protect their criminal enterprise, including large caliber and/or belt fed rifles such as, the Ohio Ordinance M2 .50 caliber, FN M240 7.6mm, FN M249 5.56, and the Barrett M82 .50 semi-automatic rifle.
Under President Trump’s and Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, ATF has prevented nearly 9,700 firearms from falling into the hands of dangerous criminals or terrorist. In Fiscal Year to Date 2025, ATF initiated 15,825 violent crime cases and seized 18,286 firearms, 13,031 firearms parts and accessories, 1,161,501 rounds of ammunition and 13,304 assorted explosives.
ATF is the only federal law enforcement agency whose mission is to reduce violent crime. While our mission is clear and concise, it is also immense and dangerous. And, as a small agency with just about 5,000 employees, we can only succeed with our local, state, and federal partners. These partnerships, including the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), other government agencies, state and local law enforcement, help to stem the flow of illegal firearms being trafficked to Mexico.
ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating firearms, fires and crimes of arson. More information on ATF can be found atwww.atf.gov
Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)
RELEASE: Senator Mullin Leads Capitol Tour for Durant Area Chamber of Commerce and Oklahoma Electric Cooperative
Washington, D.C. –On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) led a special evening tour of the U.S. Capitol for nearly 50 visiting Oklahomans from the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative. Throughout the tour, Senator Mullin took questions and detailed many of the most historic sites in the building, including the Speaker’s Balcony, Old Supreme Court Chamber, the Crypt, and of course, the Capitol Rotunda. Photos from the tour are below.
“Serving Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate is one of the great honors of my life. It’s extremely humbling to work in the United States Capitol, and it’s always a blessing to walk through our country’s rich history with Oklahomans visiting Washington. As always, I am grateful to the people of Oklahoma for sending me here to fight for them and I enjoy showing them around their nation’s capital any chance I get,” said Senator Mullin.
Planning a trip to Washington, D.C.? Senator Mullin’s office is glad to help Oklahomans set up tours of the United States Capitol and The White House. The Washington office can also provide information for many D.C. monuments, museums, memorials, and other attractions. Please fill out a tour request form here: https://www.mullin.senate.gov/services/tour-requests/.
Need help with a federal agency? Senator Mullin’s office may be able to assist. Learn more and get in touch by filling out a casework form on Senator Mullin’s website here: https://www.mullin.senate.gov/services/help-with-a-federal-agency/.
Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)
ICYMI: Mullin Joins CNN on Mike Waltz’ UN Nomination, Champions President Trump’s National Security Team
“The President is doing exactly what he said. He made promises in the campaign. He’s kept his promises. He’s putting America back on track where they need to go, and this cabinet is the one that’s helping to deliver those promises for the people.”
Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper to discuss the recent promotion of President Trump’s National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz. The Senator congratulated Waltz on his nomination to Ambassador to the United Nations and noted his willingness to keep serving this country says a lot about his character and lifetime of service. Additionally, he pointed out media bias against the cabinet and referenced strong U.S. military recruitment numbers as evidence of America’s confidence in the Commander in Chief, President Trump, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Sen. Mullin’s interview can be found here.
On Waltz’ nomination to the Ambassador to the United Nations:
“The fact that he’s going from an appointed position to a cabinet position, will tell you how much he wanted to keep Mike around.”
On the confidence in President Trump and his defense team:
“The President and Secretary Hegseth, they work every day together, and they are making a difference. You see that in retention. You see that in recruiting numbers. Inside the DOD, we’re hitting retention numbers that we haven’t seen in years, and we’re seeing recruiting numbers pass anything that ever came into the Biden administration.”
On the media bias surrounding the president’s cabinet:
“One thing this cabinet is use to is heat. The media reports, what 100% of the news on Pete Hegseth is negative? 97% on the President is negative. I think 89% negative news on Bobby Kennedy. And I would say that would probably run parallel with Mike Waltz too. So, the negative press that the media and the bias media is going to give them, it doesn’t work. It doesn’t affect their job. You see what they’re doing. They’re doing a great job. The President is doing exactly what he said. He made promises in the campaign. He’s kept his promises. He’s putting America back on track where they need to go, and this cabinet is the one that’s helping to deliver those promises for the people.”
Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)
Mullin, Bice Host Live Telephone Town Hall Marking President Trump’s First 100 Days
Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Representative Stephanie Bice (OK-05) hosted a live telephone town hall event for Oklahomans marking President Trump’s first 100 days of his second term in office. During the call, Mullin and Bice provided quick legislative updates before opening the phones to take questions from constituents.
“This week’s telephone town hall event was an easy and convenient way for thousands of Oklahomans to receive a timely update on our work in Washington and speak with us directly about the issues that matter most to them,” said Senator Mullin. “We discussed many of the victories from President Trump’s first 100-days, including on border security, the economy, DOGE, and more. It’s vital for Oklahomans to have a voice as we continue to advance legislative priorities for the second Trump administration, and I appreciated everyone who took the time to join our important conversation.”
If you missed the live event, the full telephone town hall is available for audio playback on Facebook HERE.
Around the world, journalists are being silenced, jailed, and disappeared – simply for doing their jobs. From Guatemala to the USA, Russia to Pakistan, governments are increasingly resorting to authoritarian practices, weaponizing vague laws, judicial systems, and brute force to suppress press freedom.
These attacks on the press are not isolated incidents; they are often at the core of deliberate strategies to dismantle the very foundations of human rights. The erosion of press freedom is a warning sign – one that signals a broader slide toward authoritarianism.
On World Press Freedom Day, we shed light on the state of press freedom around the world, spotlight some worrying trends and explain some of the recent developments that are putting journalists in jeopardy.
President Donald Trump was asked during a press conference on April 30, 2025, about the possible impact of his tariff policies and trade war with China.
Trump answered that American children should prepare to make sacrifices at Christmas.
“Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know,” he said, “and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”
The New York Times reported that Trump appeared to be telling kids they would have to manage with fewer toys this year for the sake of his economic agenda.
This was not the first − or last − time Trump said something that left many Americans with mouths open and heads shaking.
Hours after his Marie Antoinette moment, Trump, whose first 100 days back in office have been characterized as chaotic anddamaging to democracy, was asked during a phone interview at a town-hall broadcast on NewsNation what the biggest mistake he’d made thus far in his second presidency.
The audience, representing a cross section of Americans, burst out laughing.
Trump’s gaffes aren’t just part of his presidency; gaffes are part of the storied tradition of the American presidency. Some of those comments have clung to presidents and even affected history.
Here are examples from each president over the past 50 years or so of statements that at least some of them were embarrassed by or came to regret. Each was made when the president was serving in the White House. The quotes are organized chronologically.
Donald Trump auditions for Grinch-who-stole-Christmas role.
Richard Nixon is a law-abiding guy
On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, in the midst of the Watergate scandal that would end his presidency, defended himself against charges of corruption.
“People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook,” Nixon said. “Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”
Instead of quelling the scandal, as Nixon hoped, his words produced the opposite reaction. He resigned from the presidency nine months later in August 1974.
During one of his televised debates against Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter, Ford inexplicably claimed the Soviet Union did not control Eastern Europe.
“There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,” Ford said, “and there never will be under a Ford administration.”
To which the moderator, New York Times editor May Frankel, said, “I’m sorry, what?”
Ford’s remark was so outrageously incorrect that it may have contributed to his defeat in the tight presidential election.
Gerald Ford says it’s really a Warm, not Cold, War.
Jimmy Carter gets advice from his teen
Carter defeated Ford and was elected in 1976. He ran for reelection against Republican nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980. During one of their debates, Carter said he sought the advice of his 13-year-old daughter, Amy, on what was the most important issue facing America.
“She said she thought it was nuclear weaponry,” Carter said, “and the control of nuclear arms.”
Carter tried to show that arms control was a subject that had great resonance to even 13-year-olds. Instead, it left viewers puzzled why he had inserted his daughter into the debate. A wire service story at the time summarized the response by saying that reporters covering the debate winced and others groaned.
Before a speech on Aug. 11, 1984, Reagan joked during a sound check, “I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”
Clinton’s presidency was dogged with accusations of unethical behavior and extramarital affairs. Clinton, in testimony before a grand jury investigating his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, was asked whether he was lying when he told aides that “there’s nothing going on” between him and Lewinsky.
“It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” Clinton responded. “If the − if he − if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not − that is one thing.”
Slate magazine said that this response may have been the “defining moment” of his presidency and, in doing so, captured his contribution to semantics. As Time magazine pointed out,
“Until then, America hadn’t been sure there was more than one definition of ‘is.’”
George W. Bush’s shame
George W. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush, succeeded Clinton in the White House. Americans learned that Bush had more in common with his father than just the same last name.
“There’s an old saying in Tennessee − I know it’s in Texas,” Bush said, “probably in Tennessee, that says, fool me once, shame on − shame on you. Fool me − you can’t get fooled again.”
Barack Obama strikes out
Barack Obama, like Reagan, was known for his sense of humor. And like Reagan, Obama learned that not everything was a joking matter.
While appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno in 2009, Obama said he had improved his bowling by practicing at the White House bowling alley. He told Leno he had bowled a pedestrian score of 129, provoking a sarcastic response from Leno.
During a television debate on June 27, 2024, CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Biden why voters should trust him to solve the immigration crisis. Biden said he changed a law that allowed Trump and his administration to separate immigrant families and put children in cages.
Biden’s train of thought then jumped the tracks.
“And I’m going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the − the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden said.
Chris Lamb does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)
Washington, D.C. –Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after Georgia-Pacificannouncedthe closure of the Emporia facility due to the current economic downturn:
“Today, 554 employees went to work at the Georgia-Pacific Emporia Plywood mill only to receive word that they are laid off, some effective immediately. Georgia-Pacific’s decision to close its Emporia facility by July 1st leaves these workers, their families, and the community devastated, their futures uncertain.
“My heart goes out to every family who now faces increased anxiety and potential hardship because of these layoffs, and I encourage impacted families to reach out to my office for help navigating resources they may need during this time. My office remains in contact with Georgia-Pacific and local officials to ensure the impacted employees receive access to job placement resources and support agencies.”
Rep. McClellan’s Brunswick Office 100 Athletic Field Road Lawrenceville, VA 23868 Phone: (804) 486-1840 10am – 4:30pm — every Thursday, or by appointment Mailing Address: P.O. Box 211 Lawrenceville, VA 23868
Washington, D.C. – 5/2/25… Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), and U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced the Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act, legislation to make sure that people don’t go hungry if criminals and frauds steal their essential benefits. The bill would allow state SNAP agencies to reimburse SNAP recipients for benefits stolen through skimming or other methods.
“Skimming” is a form of fraud that uses illegal devices attached to card processing machines to collect individuals’ data. Skimming scams directly copy card and personal identification number (PIN) information from EBT cardholders and then use this stolen data to access EBT accounts and spend SNAP and cash benefits. Thousands of Americans have lost millions of dollars in benefits since mid-2022 due to this scam.
The current legislation allows replacement of benefits stolen between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024. It also limits replacement to either 1) the full amount stolen or 2) two months of benefits, whichever is less. The Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act would permanently extend this provision to ensure state agencies continue to replace benefits, as well as lift the cap on repayment to ensure the replacement is for the full amount stolen. States are currently not permitted to use federal funds to replace stolen benefits after Congress allowed the authority to lapse late last year.
“No family in America should go hungry because criminals are stealing their SNAP benefits through skimming,” said Congressman Lawler. “This bipartisan bill will give states the tools needed to make victims whole and ensures tax dollars support hardworking families, not thieves. I’m proud to work with Senators Fetterman and Gillibrand to introduce this common-sense solution.”
“SNAP is a critical lifeline for millions of Pennsylvanians. It is despicable that thieves are targeting hungry families, literally taking food from a baby’s mouth,” said Senator John Fetterman.“We can’t let vulnerable children go hungry because of these criminals. I’m committed to doing everything in my power to protect and extend SNAP benefits. We need to make sure American families get fed – this bill is a critical step in doing just that.”
“SNAP is a lifeline for thousands of New Yorkers. Stealing these benefits from hungry families is unconscionable,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. “That’s why I have fought to help over nearly 85,000 New Yorkers recover more than $39.9 million in SNAP benefits. However, beneficiaries in Queens and communities across the country continue to be targeted by scammers looking to steal their benefits. Since 2022, Congress has made sure that victims of this crime don’t go hungry. However, late last year, Congress failed to extend this provision. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral bill to ensure that no one who relies on SNAP to put food on the table goes hungry because their benefits were stolen by bad faith actors.”
Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.
Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
05.02.25
Senator Marks Milestone as State Now Participating in Larger Effort to Build a First-Class Federal Cemetery for Veterans
BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today joined the signing of Senate Bill 2265, legislation which provides $3 million in state funding for the development of a Veterans Memorial Center at the Fargo National Cemetery (FNC). The bill was sponsored by Senators Scott Meyer, Randy Burckhard, Kathy Hogan, Larry Luick and Ron Sorvaag and Representative Austen Schauer. The funds will become available once the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides final approval of the project plan and authorizes construction to begin, priorities which Hoeven continues working to advance at the federal level.
At the signing ceremony with Governor Kelly Armstrong, the bill’s sponsors and members of the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard, Hoeven outlined how:
The state is now participating in larger, long-term efforts to build a first-class federal veterans cemetery, on par with the state-run North Dakota Veterans Cemetery (NDVC) in Mandan.
Hoeven stressed that this federal-state-local partnership is a proven model, which has helped provide $9 million in federal funding for improvements at the NDVC.
Today’s milestone builds upon his efforts on the Senate Veterans Affairs and Military Construction Appropriations Committee to:
Secure the original site for establishing the FNC.
Expand the cemetery’s footprint from 5 to 35 acres.
Provide initial enhancements to the cemetery’s infrastructure to better support burials and improve comfort for visitors and volunteers.
The legislation bolsters the working group and community plan he worked to establish for building a facility at the FNC that incorporates local input and adequately addresses the needs of veterans, their families and volunteers.
“With this $3 million, the state is now joining in our effort to form an innovative partnership with the federal government and the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard. That’s how we will provide an outstanding federal cemetery that is worthy of our veterans, just as we did for the state-run North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Our thanks go to Senators Meyer, Burckhard, Hogan, Luick and Sorvaag and Representative Schauer for shepherding this bill through the state legislature, and we appreciate the support of Governor Armstrong,” said Senator Hoeven. “We continue working to secure key support from the administration to keep this project moving forward. Ultimately, this is about providing the kind of facilities our veterans and their families have earned and properly honoring their service to our nation.”
“As the son of a Vietnam veteran, it was the honor of my legislative career to secure funding for upgrades at the Fargo National Cemetery,” said Senator Meyer. “Senator Hoeven’s invaluable leadership brought all parties to the table, and I’m proud that the state of North Dakota did their part to commemorate our veterans.”
“”The passage of SB 2265 sends an important message to veterans and their families: We care. We care about you while serving. We care about you when you leave the military, and ultimately, we care for you when your times comes to end,” said Representative Schauer. “Our goal is to bring the Fargo National Cemetery to the same high standard as the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan. That is a high bar, but attainable when we work together to achieve it.”
Developing the Veterans Memorial Center
Under the community plan developed by the Hoeven-led working group, the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard may develop and donate a commemorative work, such as a memorial center, to the VA National Cemetery Administration (NCA). Hoeven advanced this option with the VA to save the project time and cost, while reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
The Fargo Memorial Honor Guard was officially named as the 501(c)(3) responsible for building the center in October, utilizing the Impact Foundation to provide financial oversight for the project. Hoeven continues making the case to the VA for the Honor Guard’s proffer and working to ensure approval of the project’s conceptual design. The senator also secured commitments from VA Secretary Doug Collins and Sam Brown, the nominee to be VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs (USMA), to work with him on building the Veterans Memorial Center, which will include the following amenities:
Gathering area to be used by family and friends of the deceased veteran prior to or following the interment.
Gallery to showcase the lives and service of our veterans.
Offices for VA staff.
Breakroom for the Honor Guard members.
Indoor restrooms.
Garage to accommodate a hearse.
Parking lot.
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Judiciary Committee’s Intellectual Property Subcommittee, and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, reintroduced the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA). This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will restore patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields while also resolving legitimate concerns over the patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system. It also affirms the basic principle that the patent system is central to promoting technology-based innovation.
Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“When American innovators know their ideas are eligible for patent protection, they take the risks that push us into the future – whether that’s the next medical test or the latest AI technology,” said Senator Coons. “PERA restores clarity to the law on what can be patented and what cannot – guidance that federal courts have been requesting for years and that the Supreme Court has refused to provide. Congress must step up to provide America’s inventors with the stable legal foundation they need to produce the cutting-edge technologies that power our economy.”
“Clear, reliable, and predictable patent rights are imperative to enable investments in the broad array of innovative technologies that are critical to the economic and global competitiveness of the United States, and to ensuring the national security of our great country,” said Senator Tillis. “Unfortunately, a series of Supreme Court decisions have rendered patent eligibility law unclear, unreliable, and unpredictable, resulting in U.S. inventors being unable to obtain patents in areas where our economic peers offer patent protection. This is particularly concerning in the economically critical areas of biotechnology and artificial intelligence. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, while addressing inappropriate judicially created eligibility limitations by creating clear rules for what is eligible. We cannot allow foreign adversaries like China to overtake us in key areas of technology innovation due to the current state of patent eligibility law. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders on this important matter. Passing patent eligibility reform is one of my top legislative priorities.”
“American innovators have been at a disadvantage in recent years because of the U.S. patent system,” said Representative Kevin Kiley. “Convoluted Supreme Court rulings and tests on subject matter eligibility have made it increasingly difficult for inventors to receive patents, leading to foreign companies overtaking our own. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bi-partisan Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will dramatically reverse this trend, and unleash a tide of economic growth and job creation here at home.”
“For more than two centuries, a U.S. patent has guaranteed inventions will be protected from theft, helping the U.S. become the innovation capital of the world. San Diego, in particular, is the proud home of a thriving life sciences and technology ecosystem that has benefited from these protections,” said Representative Peters. “Over the last 15 years, however, several Supreme Court decisions have created confusion about what exactly is eligible for a patent. Innovators, consumers, and even the judges who adjudicate patent law have called on Congress to provide clarity on what can be patented. I look forward to working with Congressman Kiley, Senator Coons, and Senator Tillis to advance our Patent Eligibility Restoration Act and protect American innovation.”
Due to a series of Supreme Court decisions, patent eligibility law in the United States has become confused, constricted, and unclear in recent years. This has resulted in a wide range of well-documented negative impacts – inconsistent case decisions, uncertainty in innovation and investment communities, and unpredictable business outcomes.
In 2021, all 12 then-sitting judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit lamented the state of the law. Witnesses and stakeholders from a wide array of industries, fields, interest groups, and academia have testified and submitted comments confirming the uncertainty and detailing the detrimental effects of patent eligibility confusion in the United States. There is now widespread bipartisan agreement in Congress and across all recent administrations that reforms are necessary to restore the United States to a position of global strength and leadership in key areas of technology and innovation, such as medical diagnostics, biotechnology, personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, and 5G technology.
The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act achieves this critical goal by restoring patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields, while also resolving legitimate concerns over patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system, which is a system aimed at promoting technology-based innovation. As a general approach, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, but eliminates the overly malleable set of current judicial exceptions – replacing them with five specific and clear statutory exclusions. By eliminating and replacing the current judicial exceptions, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act provides predictable patent eligibility for important computer-implemented technological developments and medical advances, creating a solid bedrock for America’s innovation future.
The following organizations support the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act: Innovation Alliance, C4IP, AUTM, AIPLA, IEEE-USA, USIJ, MDMA, BIO, NCLifeSci, Adeia, Nokia, Sisvel, Conservatives for Property Rights, Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund, U.S. Business & Industry Council, Center for a Free Economy, Center for Individual Freedom, American Policy Center, Less Government, 60 Plus Association, American Association of Senior Citizens, Frontiers of Freedom, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, Center for American Principles, Prosperity for Us Foundation, Market Institute, Inventors Defense Alliance, Lauder Partners, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Heritage Action, 21C, Netlist, and FICPI.
“Congress has not made substantive changes to what subject matter is patentable in the United States since the Patent Act of 1793, making it difficult for courts, inventors, and the public to understand how 21st-century technologies fit within an 18th Century patent statute,” said Andrei Iancu, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2018 to 2021. “I commend Congress for advancing PERA in order to finally modernize our patent laws and promote U.S. global leadership in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and other modern technologies.”
“PERA provides the clarity needed to unlock the full potential of cutting-edge technologies and solidify U.S. leadership in scientific and technological breakthroughs,” said David Kappos, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2009 to 2013. “We cannot allow legal uncertainty to stall the next wave of American innovation.”
“Patent Eligibility is an important issue for cancer patients – both for life-saving, early diagnosis and for promising new treatments. PERA will provide the certainty needed to enable innovative breakthroughs to reach patients. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute applauds Congress for introducing and advancing this important bill – the patients are waiting,” said the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
“Passing PERA is essential if the US is to catch up to Europe and Asia, especially China,” said Judge Paul Michel (retired). “They make eligible for patenting many classes of inventions held ineligible here. The very uncertainty of the zone of eligibility is itself an obstacle to companies getting the investments they need to compete both domestically and globally. Only Congress can fix this chaotic mess because the courts are trapped in their own harmful precedents.”
“In my former court, which hears patent cases on appeal, concurring and dissenting opinions in patent eligibly cases have proliferated,” said Judge Kathleen O’Malley (retired). “Veteran jurists have described the state of affairs as ‘incoherent,’ ‘unclear,’ ‘fraught,’ and ‘inconsistent.’ The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act would return clarity to patent eligibly law and encourage continued innovation in key emerging technologies – technologies that are central to the United States remaining the world’s innovation leader.”
“NCLifeSci thanks Senator Tillis for reintroducing the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025, which restores the confidence in our nation’s patent laws by bringing much needed clarity to Section 101 of the Patent Act. Confidence that the life sciences industry needs to robustly invest in the future of medicine. For too long, fields like diagnostics, precision medicine, cell and gene therapy, RNA medicine, and digital health have been threatened by unclear and uncertain patent-eligibility standards that put America’s innovators at a disadvantage, and that discourage local investment. Through this legislation, our members – which include leading innovators who operate cutting-edge gene therapy manufacturing facilities here in North Carolina and research potential treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s and cancer —will be able to continue to take the bold risks and make the high levels of investment necessary to take fields like these to their next level, with the confidence that our patent laws will continue to hold up through future waves of technological progress,” said the NC Life Sciences Organization.
“The Innovation Alliance applauds Senators Tillis and Coons and Representatives Kiley and Peters for sponsoring the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will provide much needed predictability and clarity to the hopelessly confused law of patent eligibility. The Supreme Court has provided no workable framework to guide patent owners or the courts, and it has repeatedly refused to clarify the law, rejecting requests by the Federal Circuit and others to do so time and again. Investment dollars are flowing out of the United States as a result, jeopardizing the future of America’s innovation economy. It is past time for Congress to act,” said the Innovation Alliance.
“This bipartisan and much-needed bill would strike a decade of judicial tinkering that has needlessly turned the question of patent eligibility into a confusing mess and harmed the U.S. versus our economic competitors. While the U.S. has spent a decade holding back innovations in areas such as fintech, diagnostic solutions and medical devices trying to figure out whether they are ‘abstract’ or not, our competitors are moving forward and protecting these inventions. PERA would be particularly beneficial to American startups and innovators by providing the clarity needed to attract investment for new ventures in essential areas such as medical devices, diagnostics, manufacturing and a whole new range of advancements powered by software,” said the Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs.
“AUTM – the association representing technology transfer professionals – thanks Senators Tillis and Coons and others for their leadership in introducing PERA. This legislation is crucially needed to address the ambiguities that the courts have created about what is, and what is not, patent eligible. At a time when the U.S. is competing for innovation leadership, its patent system needs to clearly delineate this process so that it can move forward on numerous discoveries that otherwise would wither on the vine,” said AUTM.
“The reintroduction of the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) marks a pivotal move toward restoring clarity and consistency in U.S. patent law. By providing clear statutory guidelines, PERA offers inventors, entrepreneurs, and research institutions the certainty needed to innovate confidently. We commend Senator Tillis and Senator Coons for their leadership on this critical issue and remain committed to collaborating with Congress to support a patent system that fosters transparency and predictability,” said the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).
“The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform applauds Congress for reintroducing PERA. This legislation represents a significant step forward in clarifying patent eligibility while maintaining necessary standards on what is ultimately patentable. 21C applauds these efforts as they will make sure that the United States remains the most attractive place in the world to invest, invent, and grow,” said the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform (21C).
The text of the bill is available here.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations has entered into a formal agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Trade Regulatory Audit to establish a full-time presence with HSI Tampa investigators to identify, interdict, and investigate the ever-evolving trade threats that pose a risk to the economy and citizens of the United States.
The in-residence partnership between HSI Tampa and TRA better positions trade enforcement resources and also enables more effective enforcement of the President’s Executive Orders and focus on international trade, Customs revenue, and economic security. This partnership initiative, which began development in October 2023, demonstrates both agencies’ renewed dedication to ensuring lawful international trade and pursuing violators who seek to harm America’s economy. This initiative was formalized through a memorandum of understanding that established permanent TRA representation within the HSI Tampa field office, enabling frontline personnel to combat illegal trade practices more effectively.
“This collaborative partnership and a shared commitment to safeguarding our nation’s economic integrity, HSI Tampa and TRA are standing united against trade threats that jeopardize the livelihoods of American workers and the stability of our economy,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “Through this force multiplying collaboration, we will leverage our combined strengths to protect our borders and uphold the rule of law in the ever-evolving landscape of international trade.”
The HSI and TRA partnership initiative was an enhancement to the longstanding Trade Enforcement Coordination Center framework to co-locate HSI and CBP subject matter experts and resources in aligned trade enforcement units. The TECC framework was designed to enhance the enforcement of trade laws and the protection of American businesses against unfair trade practices. Established to coordinate efforts among various federal agencies, TECC aims to streamline the enforcement of trade regulations, combat illegal trade practices, and support U.S. workers and industry. Its focus includes addressing criminals who circumvent the U.S. revenue collocation process in violation of U.S. law. The TECC seeks to fortify the U.S. economy against unfair competition and ensure compliance with international trade rules. It is part of broader efforts to promote fair trade and protect American businesses and jobs.
“Because of this strong relationship between Tampa HSI and TRA that allows us to work closely together—sharing information, aligning knowledge, and building mutual trust—we can deliver the disruption needed to counteract sophisticated financial and trade crimes,” said Executive Director Anibal Marrero, Trade Regulatory Audit, CBP Office of Trade.
This unique partnership will seek to leverage the unique authorities and capabilities of HSI Tampa and TRA to form a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team to identify, interdict, and investigate ever evolving trade threats that pose a risk to the economy and citizens of the United States. This partnership will enable HSI and TRA to conduct complex investigations into violations of antidumping, countervailing duty evasion, in-bond diversion, textile fraud, public health and safety concerns, and other schemes designed to exploit and circumvent the customs laws of the United States through the illicit movement of goods into, or out of, the United States.
The three locations identified to be the first candidates for the initiative were HSI field offices located in Tampa, Florida, San Diego, California, and Tucson, Arizona. Special Agent in Charge John Condon and his team spearheaded this initiative and hit the ground running with this force multiplying plan.
Company Name: Williams Farms Repack LLC Brand Name:
Brand Name(s) H&C Farms Label
Product Description:
Product Description Tomatoes
Company Announcement LODGE, SC – May 2, 2025 – Williams Farms Repack LLC is recalling Tomatoes sizes; 4×5 2 layer, 60ct 2layer, 3ct trays in the Williams Farms Repack label, and 5×6 25lb, 6×6 25lb H&C Farms Label, due to a potential contamination of Salmonella. Salmonella an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. On April 29, 2025, the firm was notified via telephone by Southeast Tomato Distributors that tomatoes supplied from H&C Farms may be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date. Products affected are:
PRODUCT
SIZE
UPC
LOT CODE
Tomatoes
5×6 25lb
N/A
R4467
Tomatoes
6×6 25lb
N/A
R4467, R4470
Tomatoes
Combo 25lb
N/A
R4467
Tomatoes
4×4 2layer
N/A
R4467
Tomatoes
4×5 2layer
N/A
R4467
Tomatoes
60ct 2layer
N/A
R4467
Tomatoes
60ct 18lb loose
N/A
R4467, R4470
Tomatoes
XL 18lb Loose
N/A
R4467
Tomatoes
3ct trays
0 33383 65504 8
R4467
The products were distributed between 4/23/2025 to 4/28/2025. These products were packaged and sold to wholesalers and distributors located in the states of: Georgia, North Carolina & South Carolina. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to not consume the products and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or they may discard the product. Consumers with questions may contact Jason Breland at 843-866-7707 or 843-599-5154 Monday–Friday 8:00 am–5:00 pm EST. This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.
Company Contact Information
Consumers: Jason Breland 843-866-7707 or 843-599-5154
The Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft is pictured backing away from the International Space Station shortly after undocking on April 19, 2025. Three hours later, the spacecraft landed in Kazakhstan, returning astronaut Don Pettit and cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner to Earth. While aboard the International Space Station, Pettit conducted hundreds of hours of scientific investigations, including research to enhance on-orbit metal 3D printing capabilities, advance water sanitization technologies, explore plant growth under varying water conditions, and investigate fire behavior in microgravity, all contributing to future space missions. Image credit: NASA/Jonny Kim
Headline: Damaged Vehicle Assistance Available for Kentucky Survivors of April Storms
Damaged Vehicle Assistance Available for Kentucky Survivors of April Storms
FRANKFORT, Ky
– In the aftermath of the April severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides, some Kentuckians are grappling with storm-damaged vehicles
If your insurance doesn’t cover all your storm-related vehicle damage, FEMA may be able to provide financial assistance to help fill the gap
The first step is to file a claim with your insurance company if you have a comprehensive policy
This type of policy usually covers storm-related damage to a vehicle
Apply with FEMA even if you have insurance
FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled
To be eligible for FEMA assistance, applicants must meet the following conditions:The vehicle was damaged during the April storms within the disaster-designated area of Kentucky, which includes Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford counties
The applicant can provide proof of ownership of the vehicle with valid registration and title
The vehicle was in compliance with Kentucky’s registration and insurance requirements at the time of the disaster
The applicant has no other usable vehicle
Applicants with more than one storm-damaged vehicle, must write a statement explaining why the household needs more than one working vehicle
The statement should include the number of vehicles and an insurance settlement or statement for each vehicle
How To Apply for FEMA AssistanceSurvivors in the Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford counties who have disaster-caused damage or loss from the April storm can apply for federal disaster assistance under the major disaster declaration DR-4864 in several ways:Online at DisasterAssistance
gov
Visit any Disaster Recovery Center
To find a center close to you, visit fema
gov/DRC, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Example: “DRC 29169”)
Use the FEMA mobile app
FEMA works with every household on a case-by-case basis
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
It is open 7 a
m
to 10 p
m
Eastern Time
Help is available in many languages
If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service
The deadline to apply under DR-4864-KY is June 25
For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www
The Trump-Vance Administration released toplines of the President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026 on Friday. The budget accelerates human space exploration of the Moon and Mars with a fiscally responsible portfolio of missions. “This proposal includes investments to simultaneously pursue exploration of the Moon and Mars while still prioritizing critical science and technology research,” said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. “I appreciate the President’s continued support for NASA’s mission and look forward to working closely with the administration and Congress to ensure we continue making progress toward achieving the impossible.”
Increased commitment to human space exploration in pursuit of exploration of both the Moon and Mars. By allocating more than $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs, the budget ensures America’s human space exploration efforts remain unparalleled, innovative, and efficient. Refocus science and space technology resources to efficiently execute high priority research. Consistent with the administration’s priority of returning to the Moon before China and putting an American on Mars, the budget will advance priority science and research missions and projects, ending financially unsustainable programs including Mars Sample Return. It emphasizes investments in transformative space technologies while responsibly shifting projects better suited for private sector leadership. Transition the Artemis campaign to a more sustainable, cost-effective approach to lunar exploration. The SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion capsule will be retired after Artemis III, paving the way for more cost-effective, next-generation commercial systems that will support subsequent NASA lunar missions. The budget also ends the Gateway Program, with the opportunity to repurpose already produced components for use in other missions. International partners will be invited to join these renewed efforts, expanding opportunities for meaningful collaboration on the Moon and Mars. Continue the process of transitioning the International Space Station to commercial replacements in 2030, focusing onboard research on efforts critical to the exploration of the Moon and Mars. The budget reflects the upcoming transition to a more cost-effective, open commercial approach to human activities in low Earth orbit by reducing the space station’s crew size and onboard research, preparing for the safe decommissioning of the station and its replacement by commercial space stations. Work to minimize duplication of efforts and most efficiently steward the allocation of American taxpayer dollars. This budget ensures NASA’s topline enables a financially sustainable trajectory to complete groundbreaking research and execute the agency’s bold mission. Focus NASA’s resources on its core mission of space exploration. This budget ends climate-focused “green aviation” spending while protecting the development of technologies with air traffic control and other U.S. government and commercial applications, producing savings. This budget also will ensure continued elimination any funding toward misaligned DEIA initiatives, instead designating that money to missions capable of advancing NASA’s core mission. NASA will continue to inspire the next generation of explorers through exciting, ambitious space missions that demonstrate American leadership in space.
NASA will coordinate closely with its partners to execute these priorities and investments as efficiently and effectively as possible. Building on the President’s promise to increase efficiency this budget pioneers a focused, innovative, and fiscally-responsible path to America’s next great era of human space exploration. Learn more about the President’s budget request for NASA:
Headline: Homeland Security Announces Disbursement of over $5 Million in Grant Payments to South Dakota to Support Disaster Relief and Antiterrorism
ASHINGTON – Today, under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the Department of Homeland Security has distributed more than $5
3 million in grand funding to the State of South Dakota to support disaster relief funding, antiterrorism efforts, and other key security imperatives
These grant payments were resumed as DHS is undertaking a thorough review of all its spending to fulfill President Trump’s mandate to maximize efficiency, transparency, and save taxpayer dollars
After determining that these grants are essential to helping South Dakota protect Americans from natural disasters and terrorism, Secretary Noem authorized their disbursement
“I am pleased to announce that the people of South Dakota will be getting the support they need to rebuild from disasters and protect themselves from human threats like terrorism,” said Secretary Kristi Noem
“This is what the federal government should be doing: supporting states while they take the lead in providing for their own security
President Trump gave us a mandate to maximize efficiency and make sure that all taxpayer dollars are used for the mission at hand
That is exactly what we are going to do
” The grant money will help the people of South Dakota recover from last year’s severe storms and flooding by rebuilding infrastructure, removing debris, repairing roads and culvers, supplying backup generators, repairing utility lines, and more
Living up to, and maintaining, the standard of excellence associated with NASA is what drives Robert Williams at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. A native of Gulfport, Mississippi, Williams said he has had the opportunity to work with and be mentored by “some truly exceptional” engineers, some with careers reaching back to the Apollo era. “I cannot overstate the vast amount of practical knowledge and experience we have at NASA Stennis,” Williams said. “We know how to get things done, and if we do not know, I can guarantee we will figure it out.” Williams is a senior mechanical design engineer and the structures subject matter expert for the NASA Stennis Engineering and Test Directorate. He provides technical oversight related to engineering mechanics and machine design by reviewing analysis and design packages from NASA Stennis contractors and NASA engineers for ongoing projects. Williams also supports projects by performing analysis and creating detailed models, drawings, and system level designs, mostly at the versatile four-stand E Test Complex, where NASA Stennis has 12 active test cells capable of various component, engine, and stage test activities to support the agency and commercial companies. In support of NASA’s Artemis campaign of returning astronauts to the Moon, Williams also has reviewed structural and pipe stress analysis for the exploration upper stage project that will test a new SLS (Space Launch System) rocket stage to fly on future Artemis missions. He performed similar review work for Green Run testing of the SLS core stage at NASA Stennis ahead of the successful launch of the Artemis I uncrewed mission around the Moon. Overall, Williams has been a part of projects on every test stand throughout more than eight years with NASA and five years as a contractor. He has been tasked with solving challenging problems, both individually and as a part of teams. There were times when he was not sure if he or the team would be able to solve the problem or address it effectively, but each time, the NASA Stennis team found a way. “Over the span of my career, I have yet to be in a situation where the challenge was not met,” he said. The opportunity to work with “pretty much all the major space companies in some capacity” is most interesting to Williams. “The best thing is that being a small organization within a relatively small center, there are always opportunities to develop new skills and capabilities to help fill a need or gap,” he said. No matter the task, Williams looks forward to supporting space innovation while living up to, and maintaining, the standard of excellence associated with NASA for the benefit of all.
A beautiful but skewed spiral galaxy dazzles in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image. The galaxy, called Arp 184 or NGC 1961, sits about 190 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Camelopardalis (The Giraffe). The name Arp 184 comes from the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies compiled by astronomer Halton Arp in 1966. It holds 338 galaxies that are oddly shaped and tend to be neither entirely elliptical nor entirely spiral-shaped. Many of the galaxies are in the process of interacting with other galaxies, while others are dwarf galaxies without well-defined structures. Arp 184 earned its spot in the catalog thanks to its single broad, star-speckled spiral arm that appears to stretch toward us. The galaxy’s far side sports a few wisps of gas and stars, but it lacks a similarly impressive spiral arm. This Hubble image combines data from three Snapshot observing programs, which are short observations that slotted into time gaps between other proposals. One of the three programs targeted Arp 184 for its peculiar appearance. This program surveyed galaxies listed in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies as well as A Catalogue of Southern Peculiar Galaxies and Associations, a similar catalog compiled by Halton Arp and Barry Madore. The remaining two Snapshot programs looked at the aftermath of fleeting astronomical events like supernovae and tidal disruption events — like when a supermassive black hole rips a star apart after it wanders too closely. Since Arp 184 hosted four known supernovae in the past three decades, it is a rich target for a supernova hunt.
Media Contact: Claire Andreoli (claire.andreoli@nasa.gov)NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Four Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in the United States have been charged for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that illegally brought aliens across the Canadian border to the United States for profit.
Edgar Sanchez-Solis, 23, unlawfully residing in Kansas City, Kansas; Ignacio Diaz-Perez, 35, unlawfully residing in Oakwood, Georgia; Samuel Diaz-Perez, 26, unlawfully residing in Dublin, Ohio; and Salvador Diaz-Diaz, 32, unlawfully residing in Columbus, Ohio, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States and 25 counts of bringing aliens illegally to the United States for profit. The defendants were arrested at multiple locations throughout the United States and are currently detained. Ignacio Diaz-Perez and Salvador Diaz-Diaz had been previously removed from the United States.
“As alleged, these defendants illegally entered this country and then sought to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week to the United States from Mexico, Central America, and South America through the Canadian border,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants instructed smuggled aliens to make testimonial videos touting the enterprise’s services. In reality, the defendants imperiled their human cargo and innocent American lives when they repeatedly engaged in life-threatening conduct, including multiple high-speed getaways from law enforcement.”
“This case demonstrates our relentless efforts to secure our northern border against the criminal organizations profiting from human smuggling and other illegal activities,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York. “We are grateful for our partnership with Joint Task Force Alpha as we work to dismantle these transnational criminal organizations and make our North Country communities safer.”
According to court documents, the four defendants were part of an alien smuggling organization that has been operating for the last two years in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The four defendants, in exchange for money, conspired with others to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week from Mexico, Central America, and South America through Canada, into northern New York, including Franklin and Clinton Counties, as alleged in court documents. The aliens or their family members paid thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States. The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly facilitated the illegal travel of the aliens from Mexico to Canada and then across the northern border, where they were picked up and driven farther into the United States.
On multiple occasions members of the alien smuggling organization led local and federal law enforcement officers on high-speed vehicle chases along the U.S. northern border, creating a grave public safety risk, according to court documents. For example, in April 2023, smugglers allegedly fled the Burke Border Patrol Station’s sector at a high rate of speed after setting off a border sensor. Border Patrol successfully stopped the vehicle and apprehended the smugglers, who were transporting seven adult aliens and three minors. In another incident, in May 2023, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office used a tire deflation device to stop a van carrying aliens after it allegedly failed to yield to both federal and state law enforcement. The smugglers and aliens allegedly fled on foot after the vehicle was disabled. As additionally alleged, in August 2023, a vehicle carrying aliens that was fleeing from Border Patrol drove into Plattsburgh, New York, where it drove erratically, passed vehicles in a congested traffic area, ran a red light, and struck a motorist at an intersection. The driver and six illegal aliens fled the accident scene on foot but eventually were apprehended.
“These individuals acted in blatant disregard of our nation’s laws, allegedly smuggling hundreds of aliens into the United States for thousands of dollars each,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo. “They’re alleged to have repeatedly put the public at risk through dangerous vehicle chases with law enforcement further demonstrating their contempt for the law and safety of others. We work every day with our partners in the U.S. Border Patrol and are proud to support the security of our borders and uphold public safety in our communities.”
“These charges are a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the United States Border Patrol and its partner agencies,” said Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector. “The days of catch-and-release are over, and the reality is clear; if you attempt to enter the United States illegally, if you attempt to smuggle or traffic human beings, you will be apprehended and you will face severe consequences.”
The investigation and arrests of the defendants were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 330 U.S. convictions; more than 275 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Mr. Galeotti expressed his gratitude to Joint Task Force Alpha, which is focused on combatting human smuggling organizations, and its partners in this case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and HSI. HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station led U.S. investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Jenna Reed of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
