Source: United States Air Force
The 2024 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference, hosted by the Air and Space Forces Association, offered DAF senior leaders an opportunity to share their views on modernization and readiness in response to emerging security threats, while reaffirming the DAF’s commitment to reoptimization.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced legislation to protect consumers from predatory payday lending practices.
The Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic (SAFE) Lending Act of 2024 would safeguard consumers as predatory payday lenders have continued to flourish online despite laws passed by many states to stop abusive lending. Internet lenders hide behind layers of anonymously registered websites and “lead generators” to evade enforcement and can empty consumers’ bank accounts before they have a chance to assert their rights.
“Payday lenders take advantage of working families, struggling to pay medical bills or rent, by trapping them in a seemingly endless cycle of debt,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. “I’m proud to lead this legislation with Congresswoman Bonamici that would protect consumers across the country by closing loopholes, increasing transparency, and putting an end to these predatory lending practices. Congress has a responsibly to protect hardworking people from bad actors, and that’s exactly what we will accomplish with our SAFE Lending Act.”
“Predatory payday lenders rob hard-working individuals and families of their resources at a time when they are financially vulnerable,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “The SAFE Lending Act would finally put an end to the unscrupulous practices payday lenders use to trap consumers in an unending cycle of debt.”
“Predatory payday lenders trap hardworking Americans in an inescapable vortex of debt,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “Before we kicked payday lenders out of Oregon, they preyed on families in my blue-collar neighborhood. We need strong consumer protections to break this cycle of endless debt for families across America.”
The SAFE Lending Act is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Main Street Alliance, U.S. PIRG, and UnidosUS. It would:
1. Give Consumers Control of Their Own Bank Accounts
2. Allow Consumers to Regain Control of their Money and Increase Transparency
3. Ban Lead Generators and Anonymous Payday Lending
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on access to capital on Tribal lands and directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to promulgate rules to implement this legislation.
A one-page summary of the SAFE Lending Act can be found here. The full text of the legislation can be found here.
In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA) and Katie Porter (D-CA).
The Senate, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Tina Smith (D-MN).
Issues: Jobs, Labor, & the Economy
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for California – Laphonza Butler
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in introducing a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that every patient has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care, regardless of where they live. The introduction comes as new reporting from ProPublica makes plain that Republican abortion bans are preventing women from receiving lifesaving emergency health care and resulting in preventable deaths.
Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade over two years ago, nearly two dozen US states led by Republicans have passed, banned, or severely restricted access to abortion. These strict laws have created confusion around the treatment doctors can provide even when a pregnant patient’s life is in danger, as physicians fear that they may lose their medical license, be sued, or even charged with a felony if they perform life-saving emergency care. Despite the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act’s (EMTALA) requirements that Medicare-participating hospitals treat and stabilize pregnant patients in need of emergency medical care, women are being turned away from emergency rooms following the Dobbs decision.
In Moyle v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court had the opportunity to reaffirm that federal law requires pregnant patients to have access to life-saving emergency care in every state, but instead, the Court sent the case back to the lower courts, effectively punting on the issue. Senator Butler was one of 258 Congressional Democrats who filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to clarify that hospitals must provide abortion care as emergency stabilizing care in order to save a patient’s life. While the litigation continues in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the health and lives of women remain at risk as uncertainty around emergency abortion care persists.
In addition to Senators Butler, Murray, Rosen, Baldwin, and Wyden the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bennet (D-Colo.), Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Booker (D-N.J.), Cantwell (D-Wash.), Cardin (D-Md.), Carper (D-Del.), Casey (D-Pa.), Coons (D-Del.), Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Duckworth (D-Ill.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Fetterman (D-Pa.), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Hassan (D-N.H.), Heinrich (D-N.M.), Helmy (D-N.J.), Hirono (D-Hawaii), Kaine (D-Va.), King (I-Maine), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Merkley (D-Ore.), Padilla (D-Calif.), Peters (D-Mich.), Reed (D-R.I.), Sanders (I-Vt.), Schatz (D-Hawaii), Shaheen (D-N.H.), Smith (D-Minn.), Stabenow (D-Mich.), Van Hollen (D-Md.), Warner (D-Va.), Warnock (D-Ga.), Warren (D-Mass.), Welch (D-Vt.), Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
The resolution is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Reproductive Freedom For All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Power to Decide, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Guttmacher Institute, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, All* Above All, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, National Council of Jewish Women, and National Partnership for Women and Families.
Last week, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio-13) and Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.-11) introduced the House companion to today’s Senate resolution.
The full text of the resolution can be read HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Katherine Clark (5th District of Massachusetts)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22), DWC Vice Chairs Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-3) and Veronica Escobar (TX-18), DWC Communications Co-Chair Shontel Brown (OH-11), DWC Pro-Choice Caucus Liaison Judy Chu (CA-28), and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-2) to announce the “Commitment to America’s Women,” a platform reaffirming Democrats’ commitment to safeguarding reproductive freedom, lowering costs, strengthening economic security, and opposing MAGA Republicans’ continued attacks on women and girls. Below is a transcript of her remarks:
“So grateful to all my colleagues for being here and to Chair Frankel for your leadership of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. In the face of a politics-first MAGA Majority, the DWC has been a force for women’s freedom, for their dignity and prosperity.
“I am proud to stand with my colleagues in making a solemn commitment to American women. We will not back down from this fight. We will not allow extremists to prioritize their ideology over your wellbeing. We will always defend your basic rights.
“Our country faces a choice between two radically different visions for the future of our daughters and our granddaughters. You’ve heard what that means for reproductive freedom. You’ve heard about the need to lower costs. Because this is also about economic opportunity. The ability to have a job, to pursue a career, and raise a family. The ability not just to get by but get ahead. Let’s look at early education.
“Women know the cost of child care is painfully — outrageously — high. We know it pushes 4 out of 10 families into debt. Trump thinks that child care is — quote — ‘not that expensive.’
“We want to lower those costs and open more classrooms in more neighborhoods. Trump wants to eliminate Head Start. It’s all written down in Project 2025. We want to pay early educators a fair wage. Trump proposes to cut school funding in half, fire teachers, and shut down the Department of Education.
“That’s the stark difference between our two plans. Democrats are ready to move our country forward and build a future worthy of our children. A future where every family can afford to give their child a great start.
“So, let’s reject the extremism and build that better future. It’s my pleasure to yield to a leader who’s been helping us get there. My friend from the land of enchantment, New Mexico, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández.”
Photos of the event can be found HERE, the full event can be viewed HERE
# # #
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Location: Nunavut
Date: 2024-09-20
Time: 15:30 ET
Nunavut RCMP has been advised that on September 25, 2024, between the hours of 3:00 a.m and 9:00 a.m (Eastern Standard Time) emergency lines will not be available due to network upgrades.
As such, 1111 will not be available in the following communities:
• Igloolik;
• Iqaluit;
• Pangnirtung;
• Gjoa Haven;
• Sanirajak (Hall Beach);
• Pond Inlet;
• Arviat;
• Chesterfield Inlet;
• Grise Fiord;
• Kimmirut;
• Qikiqtarjuaq;
• Naujaat (Repulse Bay);
• Whale Cove.
Please keep in mind that additional communities not identified may also be affected.
RCMP request that residents of these communities contact their local RCMP detachment at 0123, during this time for assistance.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
In Case You Missed It, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) delivered remarks at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) 47th Annual Awards Gala as celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month kick off across the United States. Cortez Masto celebrated the Latino community’s immeasurable contributions to our country and discussed Congressional Democrats’ fight to continue delivering for all American families.
A third generation Nevadan, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is the first and only Latina in the U.S. Senate and the highest ranking Hispanic Senator in the Democratic Caucus. She passed a bipartisan resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month in the Senate. She helped create a new series of commemorative circulating coins highlighting remarkable American women trailblazers in the U.S.—including Latinas like Celia Cruz, Nina Otero-Warren, and Jovita Idar. And she’s leading the charge in the Senate to build the National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall.
Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery.
I want to thank CHCI Chair Representative Adriano Espaillat, CHCI’s President and CEO Marco Davis, and all the CHCI staff for inviting me and putting such a great event together.
Looking out at this crowd, I feel so much pride in our Latino community and how much it’s grown.
When my grandfather, a baker from Chihuahua, Mexico, came to Nevada to pursue the American Dream, the Latino community was pretty small.
As my father grew up and became a larger part of the community, he started regularly getting together with a key group of Latinos in Southern Nevada to discuss how to promote Latino businesses, education, and workers.
That was 40-50 years ago. Today, Latinos make up one third of the population in Nevada! It’s incredible.
The Latino community is growing throughout this country. But we all know we continue to face challenges to our success.
That’s why the CHC is working together with the Biden-Harris administration to lower costs for Latino families, create clean energy jobs that will help us address the climate crisis, build more homes that working Latinos can afford, and ensure our small businesses have the resources they need to thrive.
Latino families deserve every opportunity – just look at how much we’ve contributed to this country! The 2024 report on U.S. Latino GDP was just released, and from 2019 to 2022, the Latino GDP in the United States grew faster than the GDP of any of the world’s top 10 economies – including China and India!
And yet, we still have a huge pay gap in this country. Imagine how much it would help Latino families if we close that gap.
It’s our goal as the CHC to close that gap by ensuring every Latino across this country has a seat at the table.
And what better way to continue to promote who we are than by celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month?
This is our time to share our achievements as Latinos, our culture, our food – to share who we are with this country we love so much.
And our stories deserve to be told! That’s why we’re working to build a The Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall here in Washington! And it’s why we passed a bill out of Congress to put Latinas like Celia Cruz, Jovita Idar, and Nina Otero-Warren on American quarters!
But the CHC is just getting started.
We will continue to stand with Latinos across this country as we fight to restore a woman’s right to choose, bring down prices at the grocery store, expand affordable housing, and create a pathway to citizenship for our Dreamers and their families.
Together, we will keep working to ensure future generations of Latinos can live, work, and thrive in this country.
Thank you!
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Murray is the Chair of the full Senate Appropriations Committee and the subcommittee that funds the Department of Energy, and has made investments in clean energy and American manufacturing and innovation a top funding priority for the federal government
ICYMI FROM AUGUST 2023: Senator Murray Discusses New Clean Energy Jobs and Opportunities at Big Bend Community College’s Workforce Training Center in Moses Lake
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Energy & Water Development Appropriations subcommittee, announced $200 million in federal funding to help Moses Lake’s Group 14 build a new facility to produce silane. Silane gas is critical for the development and manufacturing of new energy storage devices and advanced batteries. The proposed facility would produce silane in Moses Lake at a significantly reduced capital and energy requirement from the conventional process and be capable of directly feeding silane to multiple silicon anode powder manufacturers via pipeline or container, alleviating a critical bottleneck for the industry.
“For America to continue building a stronger, cleaner economy and leading the world in new technologies, we have to strengthen our supply chains and invest in bringing the industries that are powering the future to states like Washington—and that’s exactly what this funding from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will do,” said Senator Murray. “This investment isn’t just bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to Moses Lake, it is bringing hundreds of jobs to Moses Lake and helping our country ramp up production of a key resource that is necessary to make batteries. The new Group14 facility in Washington state will reduce America’s dependence on countries like China for silane gas and provide a crucial foundation to build even more domestic manufacturing of other products for years to come. We are building a stronger clean energy economy while creating good-paying union jobs in our rural communities—this is a win for Moses Lake, for union workers, our future, and our entire economy.”
By manufacturing and delivering large commercial volumes of transformational silicon-based anode material named SCC55 , Group14 is seeking to support the global transition from fossil fuels to a green energy future with a net zero-carbon economy.
However, manufacturing large commercial volumes of silicon-based anode materials in the U.S. requires commensurately large-scale commercial access to silane gas. The objective of this project is to install, commission, and operate a U.S.-based silane manufacturing plant.
While the largest source of silane today is China, Group14 and other silicon battery companies must strategically source this critical raw material domestically to support EV-scale battery production and reduce foreign battery supply chain dependence. Approximately 80% of the largest available source of silane produced in the U.S. is controlled by a single company and earmarked for solar polysilicon. Additional domestic silane capacity is required to develop the silicon battery industry.
The proposed project will create more than 300 jobs to construct the plant and retain 150 employees to commission, ramp up, and sustain production. Group14 will be meeting quarterly with the Washington Building Trades to collaborate on ensuring there is a skilled workforce to complete the project on time and on budget. In addition, Group14 will use its Project Advisory Council and Youth Advisory Council for local residents to provide feedback on the project and address issues early on in the project. Group14 anticipates that it will provide funding to help support workforce development in the local community.
As Appropriations Chair, Senator Murray is supporting key investments to ensure the federal government can deliver grants and loans to develop a diversified portfolio of projects that help deliver a durable and secure battery manufacturing supply chain for the American people. In the Fiscal Year 2025 Senate energy bill Murray authored and passed out of committee, she secured $17.74 billion for the Department of Energy’s non-defense programs, a $296 million increase over Fiscal Year 2024. That funding includes key investments to boost renewable energy and strengthen our energy grid. Murray is currently working to pass this bill into law before the end of the year.
Murray visited Moses Lake just last year to tour Big Bend Community College’s Workforce Training Center and hold a roundtable discussion on how new clean energy investments are bringing career opportunities to communities like Moses Lake while helping tackle the climate crisis. Murray’s visit came shortly after Group14 broke ground on their battery materials manufacturing facility in Moses Lake—with a boost from climate incentives Murray secured in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King announced that six Maine police departments have been awarded a total of $2,075,000 through the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant programs. The various programs overseen by the COPS office support numerous initiatives for local police departments, including improved hiring practices, school violence prevention, community policing development, and mental health wellness for law enforcement officers and their families.
“Law enforcement officers willingly place themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities. It is our responsibility to equip them with the resources they need,” said Senators Collins and King. “This important funding will help improve community policing across the State of Maine, enhance school safety, and provide essential mental health support for law enforcement officers.”
The COPS grant funding awarded to Maine law enforcement agencies falls into four distinct categories:
These grants are part of a broader national effort by the DOJ’s COPS office to combat opioid and methamphetamine distribution, prepare for active shooter situations, and support technical assistance and hiring programs for law enforcement agencies.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
Legislation that would make it easier to clean up abandoned mines is one step closer to the president’s desk.
The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week.
The legislation received unanimous support in the U.S. Senate earlier this year, but still needs to pass the full House before it can make it to the president’s desk.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Maryland Chris Van Hollen
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $627,785.49 in federal funding to support firefighters and first responders across Western Maryland. The funding will enhance emergency response capabilities through equipment and facility upgrades, ensuring better protection for the public and the volunteer firefighters. These awards come after the lawmakers previously announced $838,000 last month for Western Maryland fire departments and emergency response agencies.
“Western Maryland residents have always been able to count on their firefighters and first responders when emergencies arise. This federal funding will help ensure local fire departments have the resources they need to continue keeping our communities safe,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“Firefighters are beacons of their communities, providing life-saving care in our scariest moments. They have our back, and Team Maryland has theirs. We will continue to fight for funding that protects our protectors,” said Senator Cardin.
“My responsibility on the House Appropriations Committee is to fight for and secure the funding Marylanders deserve,” said Congressman David Trone. “I’m proud Team Maryland is able to further support the firefighters and first responders keeping our communities safe.”
The federal grants have been awarded as follows:
The awards are provided through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program with funds from FY2023 annual appropriations, that the lawmakers fought to secure. The lawmakers additionally worked to reauthorize the AFG program through FY2028 within the Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023 which passed Congress and was signed into law earlier this year.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-9)
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4790, the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act, introduced by Congressman Bill Huizenga. The bill includes a beneficial provision authored by Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), H.R. 4653, the Protecting U.S. Business Sovereignty Act.
Rep. Meuser’s legislation specifically targets foreign overreach by addressing the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), requiring the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to study how this EU directive harms U.S. businesses.
CSDDD imposes politically motivated environmental and social mandates on U.S. businesses operating in European markets, threatening U.S. economic sovereignty, and harming our economy. Any U.S. business that does $100 million in revenue in the EU is captured and forced to comply or face heavy penalties.
“Let me be clear—Republicans are not against ESG as an investment choice,” said Congressman Meuser. “If individual investors want to prioritize environmental, social, or governance factors, that’s their freedom. What we oppose is when these ideological views are mandated—when investors and businesses are forced to comply with burdensome regulations that prioritize political ideology over profitability.”
Congressman Meuser’s legislation prioritizes economic growth, limits regulatory overreach, and safeguards the freedom of choice for American investors. Congressman Meuser urges the Senate to swiftly pass this important legislation to ensure American businesses and investors are protected from harmful, unnecessary mandates.
Text of H.R. 4653, the Protecting U.S. Business Sovereignty Act, can be found here.
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Source: United States Attorneys General 6
Department Secures Agreement with Lawrence, Wisconsin, to Resolve Voting Rights Lawsuit
The Justice Department announced today that is has filed a complaint against the Town of Thornapple, Wisconsin, and the State of Wisconsin for violations of Section 301 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which requires polling places to be equipped with at least one voting machine that is accessible to voters with disabilities during federal elections. The department also secured an agreement with the Town of Lawrence, Wisconsin, to resolve its complaint alleging HAVA violations.
“Our democracy works when voters with disabilities have the right to vote on the same terms as any other voter,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “By failing to offer accessible voting systems, Thornapple and Lawrence shirked their responsibilities under the Help America Vote Act to provide equal access to the ballot for all voters. We must ensure that all Wisconsin towns, and indeed all jurisdictions throughout our country, fulfill their duty to guarantee all voters equal access to the ballot. We commend Lawrence for working with the Justice Department to swiftly remedy this violation by taking simple action to ensure that federal elections are accessible to all eligible voters.”
“Ensuring equal voting access to all citizens, including those voters with disabilities, is a priority of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin. “We’re pleased that the representatives of the Town of Lawrence agreed to remedy the violations of federal law, and we will continue to work to protect and vindicate the voting rights of voters with disabilities in Wisconsin.”
Congress passed HAVA in 2002 in part to make in-person voting more accessible for voters with disabilities. Among other things, Section 301 of HAVA requires that each polling place used for federal elections provide at least one voting system that provides voters with disabilities the same opportunity for access and participation as other voters are provided, including the same opportunity to cast ballots privately and independently.
The complaint alleges that Thornapple and Lawrence violated HAVA by deliberately failing to make accessible voting machines available to voters in certain 2024 federal elections. Specifically, the department alleges that Thornapple violated Section 301 of HAVA by failing to make available at least one accessible voting machine during Wisconsin’s April 2 and Aug. 13 federal primary elections. It also alleges that Lawrence failed to provide an accessible voting machine during the April federal primary election. Both the Thornapple and Lawrence Town Boards voted in 2023 to stop using the accessible voting machines the towns had previously used. Thornapple has neither revisited nor reversed that decision. Lawrence reversed its decision on Sept. 9 as part of its agreement with the department. The complaint alleges that the State of Wisconsin did not ensure that every polling place within the state was accessible to voters with disabilities, as required by federal law.
Under the department’s agreement with Lawrence, which is subject to court approval and was filed in conjunction with the complaint, Lawrence will make an accessible voting machine available at every polling place operated by the town in subsequent federal elections and will train its election and municipal staff on the operation of such equipment. The proposed consent decree resolves claims only against Lawrence; litigation against Thornapple and the state will proceed.
The department also filed a motion for immediate injunctive relief against the Town of Thornapple to remedy the violations of HAVA. Among other things, the department’s motion requests an order requiring Thornapple to ensure that, during the Nov. 5 federal general election, every Thornapple polling place has at least one accessible voting machine.
More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about HAVA and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)
Washington DC – Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Joe Wilson (SC-02), and Brad Schneider (IL-10) announced the introduction Thursday of the BIRD Energy and U.S.-Israel Energy Center Reauthorization Act of 2024. This bipartisan legislation expands upon the U.S.-Israel energy cooperation program, increasing funding and extending the program through 2034 to advance clean energy technologies, improve energy security, and foster economic innovation in both nations.
The BIRD Energy program has consistently demonstrated its success, supporting 49 projects with a combined investment of more than $38 million. These initiatives have driven advancements in clean energy technologies and fostered strong U.S.-Israel collaboration.
“By renewing and expanding this vital partnership, we can leverage our combined resources to tackle the most pressing energy challenges of today, while supporting clean energy innovation and job creation in both the U.S. and Israel,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “This legislation will drive advancements in energy storage, cybersecurity for energy infrastructure, renewable energy, and more.”
“The BIRD Energy partnership allows both the U.S. and Israel to develop the next generation of clean energy technology. This initiative not only strengthens our economic ties but also accelerates innovation, which is the key to protecting our environment while growing our economy,” said Rep. Carter. “Together, we can create a reliable, affordable clean energy sector, and reauthorizing the BIRD program is a critical step in getting us there.”
“Reauthorizing the BIRD Energy program is an important demonstration of the strong partnership with our ally Israel, making lasting investments in the future of clean energy. By collaborating on cutting-edge technologies, we can enhance our energy security, create good-paying jobs, and contribute to the global fight against climate change,” said Rep. Schneider. “The success of this program proves that when nations come together with a shared goal, we can make meaningful strides toward a cleaner, safer, and more prosperous future.”
“I am grateful to cosponsor this important bipartisan bill that will further critical U.S.-Israel cooperation on the energies of the future like hydrogen and fusion as well as the technologies to modernize and protect our energy infrastructure. U.S.-Israel energy cooperation brings together the best of both nations’ capabilities to advance our joint energy goals,” said Rep. Wilson “It is imperative that we deepen and expand our cooperation with our valued ally Israel across all sectors to ensure we can meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
The BIRD Energy program has sparked partnerships between Israel and U.S. companies resulting in the development of innovative flexible solar panels for wireless electronics. Another collaboration led to solar energy production systems that operate over water reservoirs.
By focusing on innovative solutions like solar energy, smart grid systems, and energy efficiency, BIRD Energy has significantly enhanced both countries’ energy security while contributing to global progress in the clean energy sector.
The U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation program, established in 2009, has supported the commercialization of clean energy technologies and played a key role in improving both countries’ energy competitiveness. Read the entire bill here.
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US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced three Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) grants he secured totaling $5,416,000 to strengthen maternal and newborn care, improving outcomes for mothers and babies in rural New Mexico, and to expand mental health care and substance use disorder treatment in Gallup and Carlsbad.
Heinrich secured these three grants in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
“Every New Mexican should be able to access affordable, high-quality health care, in their home communities,” said Heinrich. “These investments will help ensure that more mothers and their newborns can access the health care they need closer to home, and more folks can access the mental health care and substance use treatment when and where they need it.”
Heinrich fought for and secured $3,900,000 for the University of New Mexico’s Neonatal Opiate Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) Project to improve prenatal, delivery, and post birth care for babies and mothers in rural New Mexico. Currently, there is a crisis in rural maternity care in New Mexico. By supporting rural providers, families can access maternity care closer to home – improving outcomes for families and babies in rural New Mexico.
Additionally, Heinrich fought for and secured $516,000 for Gallup Community Health to expand its mental health services to include onsite behavioral health and substance use disorder counseling and case management.
Heinrich also fought for and secured $1,000,000 for Carlsbad Lifehouse to develop a certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic in Southeastern New Mexico.
This is the latest example of Heinrich’s longtime work to provide New Mexicans better access to mental health care and substance use disorder treatment.
Heinrich negotiated and passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included a provision that paved the way for New Mexico to be added to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program. This program provides states with funding to expand access to mental health care and substance use services. In the FY23 Appropriations Bills, Heinrich also secured a $450,000 Congressionally Directed Spending grant for Family and Youth Innovations Plus (FYI+) in Las Cruces to become the first CCBHC in New Mexico, which was instrumental in helping New Mexico eventually qualify for the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program.
Find an extensive list of Heinrich’s actions to improve access to mental health care in New Mexico here.
Source: US State of California
A Southern California man pleaded guilty yesterday to preparing and filing false tax returns for his clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, starting in 2013, Salvador Gonzalez, of Corona, operated Grace’s Lighthouse Resource Center Inc., a return-preparation business. Since then, Gonzalez has prepared or assisted in the preparation of more than 11,000 tax returns that requested refunds from the IRS totaling more than $38 million.
Consistently, Gonzalez directed his clients to create a phony corporation and to title their homes, cars and other assets in the name of the corporation. Gonzalez then referred those clients to an associate to prepare these sham corporation’s tax returns. The associate would provide the clients with a blank spreadsheet and request that they input their business expenses into that spreadsheet. At Gonzalez’s direction, the clients would include personal expenses, such as their mortgage payments, car payments and utility bills, and then provide the spreadsheet to the associate. The associate would, in turn, use the spreadsheet to prepare the business tax returns, which inevitably would show a loss.
Gonzalez then prepared the clients’ individual income tax returns, which incorporated the fraudulent business losses and offset their income. To further reduce the clients’ taxes owed to the IRS, Gonzalez also fabricated deductions on the personal returns such as unreimbursed employee expenses, cash contributions to charity and medical and dental expenses. As a result of Gonzalez’s fraudulent return-preparation practices, his clients paid less taxes than they owed.
Gonzalez profited from his return-preparation business. Before 2019, he typically charged clients a flat fee of $500 per tax return. In 2019, he started charging clients 1% of their gross income as a fee for his services.
Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 7 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns to which he has pleaded guilty. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and any other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Lauren K. Pope of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli A. Alcaraz for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03)
Recently, I spoke with a resident from right here in Missouri who had fallen victim to a scam that seemed like something out of a thriller but, unfortunately, is becoming all too common. She shared a story about “Anna,” someone she believed she knew everything about—a person who had carefully built a genuine connection over time. “I had zero doubt that Anna was who she said she was. I knew everything about her, and I was certain she cared about me,” she explained. But that trust was shattered when the truth came out: it was all a carefully orchestrated scam.
Sadly, this isn’t an isolated case. Many Missourians, or someone they know, have come dangerously close to being deceived. Whether it’s clicking a link that looks like it’s from your local bank or engaging with someone posing as a friend in need, we’re all just a moment away from falling into a scammer’s trap. These criminals are constantly evolving, using more sophisticated and deceptive tactics every day. Their goal is simple: steal your hard-earned money and personal information.
Scammers are targeting Missourians through a variety of schemes—fake investments, fraudulent purchases, crypto, phony charities, and more. They’ve mastered the art of making their texts, phone calls, and online interactions appear legitimate, luring people into their web. Research shows that most scam victims don’t report these crimes. While property theft or vandalism is often reported to law enforcement, less than 30% of scam victims take that step. This underreporting is concerning because these scams are on the rise, and their financial and emotional toll can be just as devastating.
Even here in Missouri, the anxiety over being scammed is growing. Over half of Americans say they frequently or occasionally worry about being tricked into sending money or sharing financial details. Even if you think you’re safe, nearly 20% of people admit to worrying occasionally, and with scammers becoming bolder, those numbers are likely to rise. These schemes leave deep scars—not only financially but emotionally. They prey on your trust, emotions, and the desire to improve your financial future, making them hard to detect until it’s too late.
This week, my colleagues and I in Congress addressed this pressing issue during a hearing titled, “Protecting Americans’ Savings: Examining the Economics of the Multi-Billion Dollar Romance Confidence Scam Industry.” My top priority is combating these increasingly sophisticated criminals and the risks they pose to Missouri’s families and the nation’s financial security. While our U.S. financial system has safeguards to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, scam victims are still being manipulated into unknowingly wiring large sums to foreign accounts. Scammers often coach their victims to bypass safeguards in the banking system like suspicious activity reports and finding ways around the system. It’s time to put an end to this chaos.
I urge everyone to stay vigilant and protect yourself from falling victim. Don’t trust unsolicited messages or emails, especially if they request personal information or money. Verify any financial opportunities with trusted professionals or secure sources. Be cautious of anyone who tries to build a quick, deep connection, especially if they bring up investments or money.
If you are ever targeted by a scam, report it to ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. It’s one of the most powerful tools we have in fighting back against these criminals and protecting our community from their traps.
CONTACT US: I encourage you to visit my official website or call my offices in Jefferson City (573-635-7232) or Cottleville (636-327-7055) with your questions and concerns. If you want even greater access to what I am working on, please visit my YouTube site, Facebook page, and keep up-to-date with Twitter and Instagram.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced the Women Involuntary Separated Earnings Remittance (WISER) Act to rectify a wrong perpetuated against women servicemembers from 1951 to 1976. Specifically, this bill establishes a process for upgrades to military records and discharges for women who were wrongfully and involuntarily separated due to parenthood and/or pregnancy, provides a one-time payment to eligible veterans, and expands U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care eligibility to these veterans.
“Despite their great sacrifice and commitment to defending our nation, women veterans have faced a long history of systemic inequities both in the military and within the VA,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “As the founder and former chair of the Women Veterans Task Force, my goal has been to identify disparities in access to care and benefits for women veterans, and where necessary, introduce, advocate for, and pass legislation that rectifies past injustices. The unfair practice of discharging women from the military because they became pregnant or became a mother was not only wrong but it perpetuated a harmful cycle of gender prejudice.
“My bill, the WISER Act, corrects this wrong, and it also provides recompense for this transgression and often overlooked attack on women servicemembers. This bill is a critical step forward in not only rectifying the impact of this discriminatory practice and restoring fairness for these women veterans, but it brings true equity closer to the two million women who have served our nation in uniform.”
Background on the WISER Act
In June 1948, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was enacted, which formally authorized the appointment and enlistment of women in the regular components of the U.S. Armed Forces. Three years later, Executive Order 10240 changed everything for women with family obligations.
Specifically, from 1951 to 1976, many women servicemembers were involuntarily separated from the military due to motherhood, living with a stepchild for more than 30 days per year, becoming pregnant, adopting a child, and/or gaining custody of a child. These women were not afforded separation benefits and lost their ability to earn an income and to continue serving our country in uniform. In 1976, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that Executive Order 10240 was unconstitutional and the corresponding policy was rescinded. However, there was no action to make the affected women whole.
To begin to right this wrong, I authored language (Section 530) acknowledging this discriminatory policy was wrong. The language was included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. While this resolution was a step forward, now is the time for Congress to act on that sentiment.
The WISER Act would establish a process for discharge upgrades for those who were wrongfully and involuntarily separated and provide a one time payment to eligible veterans, as well as expand VA health care eligibility for these veterans.
This bill is endorsed by Minority Veterans of America (MVA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and American Veterans (AMVETS).
Read the full text of the bill here.
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Issues: 118th Congress, Veterans’ Affairs, Women Veterans Task Force
Source: US State of California
Anderson Lee Aldrich, 24, formerly of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to 55 concurrent life sentences to run consecutive to 190 years in prison after pleading guilty to 74 hate crimes and firearms charges related to the Nov. 19, 2022, mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQIA+ establishment in Colorado Springs.
According to the plea agreement, Aldrich admitted to murdering five people, injuring 19, and attempting to murder 26 more in a willful, deliberate, malicious, and premediated attack at Club Q. According to the plea, Aldrich entered Club Q armed with a loaded, privately manufactured assault weapon and began firing. Aldrich continued firing until subdued by patrons of the Club. As part of the plea, Aldrich admitted that this attack was in part motivated because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of any person.
“Fueled by hate, the defendant targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community at a place that represented belonging, safety, and acceptance – stealing five people from their loved ones, injuring 19 others, and striking fear across the country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that the Justice Department is committed to protecting the right of every person in this country to live free from the fear that they will be targeted by hate-fueled violence or discrimination based on who they are or who they love. I am grateful to every agent, prosecutor, and staff member across the Department – from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, to the Civil Rights Division, the ATF, and FBI – for their work on this case. The Justice Department will never stop working to defend the safety and civil rights of all people in our country.”
“The 2022 mass shooting at Club Q is one of the most violent crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community in history,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI and our partners have worked tirelessly towards this sentencing, but the true heroes are the patrons of the Club who selflessly acted to subdue the defendant. This Pride Month and every month, the FBI stands with the survivors, victims, and families of homophobic violence and hate.”
“ATF will not rest until perpetrators like this defendant are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “I hope today’s life sentence brings at least some peace to the victims and survivors of this senseless, horrific tragedy. That this sentence should come during Pride month reinforces how far we have left to go before all communities, including all LGBTQIA+ communities, are safe here. It also shows how far ATF and all our partners will go to ensure hatred does not win.”
“The defendant’s mass shooting and heinous targeting of Club Q is one of the most devastating assaults on the LGBTQIA+ community in our nation’s history. This sentence cannot reclaim the lives lost or undo the harms inflicted. But we hope that it provides the survivors, the victims’ families, and their communities a small measure of justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our message today should be loud and clear. No one should have to fear for their life or their safety because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. The Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who perpetrate hate-fueled, bias-driven attacks.”
“Hate has no place in our country and no place in Colorado” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch for the District of Colorado. “I hope that today’s sentence demonstrates to the victims and those connected to this horrific event that we do not tolerate these heinous acts of violence.”
The FBI Denver Field Office, Colorado Springs Police Department, and ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alison Connaughty and Bryan Fields for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Source: United States Navy
Good evening, everyone! Wow – what a fantastic video highlighting out Navy in action!
It is an honor to be here with such a distinguished group of leaders, members of Congress, Industry partners, Department of the Navy civilians, Flag and General Officers, MCPONs lots of MCPONs, veterans, and our servicemen and women – here to celebrate our Navy – and most importantly, our people – tonight.
Let me start by saying thank you very much to Admiral John Nowell and to the Navy Memorial team for putting together this spectacular event year after year. And thank you for bringing to life our Navy story and the stories of all our Sailors and all the people in the sea services day in and day out at the Navy Memorial, which is the home to one of the largest maps in the world, the “Granite Sea,” where you already heard that I danced with many veterans from the Armed Forces Retirement Home, and I had a really good time thanks to them and the Navy Band.
If you haven’t seen the “Granite Sea” or been to the Navy Memorial, I encourage you to do so. The Granite Sea,” it’s a map and it really show the sheer size, the expansiveness and the interconnectedness of the world’s oceans. And the sheer responsibility we have to keep them free and open for all.
Tonight, we are here to celebrate the contributions of Sailors, past and present and let me say right upfront there is a lot to celebrate. After visiting our Navy team around the world and then just watching them again in that video I am filled with pride. I could not be more proud of our active and Reserve Sailors, our civilians, our Navy – Marine Corps team that is out there executing our Navy’s mission every single day – operating far forward, from seabed to space to deter aggression, to promote our Nation’s prosperity and security, and provide options to our Nation’s decision makers.
So, tonight, it is both an honor and a privilege for me to be here to recognize the bold and daring actions of our Sailors the ones you just saw in the video from Carrier Strike Group TWO. There are Sailors from – the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower the aircraft carrier – Carrier Air Wing 3 and its nine squadrons. We have The Philippine Sea a guided missile cruiser. Destroyers from Destroyer Squadron Twenty Two – the Gravely, the Mason, the Laboon, and USS Carney. USS Florida, a guided missile submarine. All joined by a full complement of logistics ships run by our amazing civilian mariners – USNS Supply, Kanawha, and Alan Shepard – who did their part to deliver fuel, supplies, munitions, other goods, and of course mail to sustain our people and our Fleet at sea. How about a big round of applause for all those Sailors out there.
Every one of them played a critical role in what I like to call a “Deployment of Firsts”: The first shoot down of an anti-ship ballistic missile; the first SM-6 engagement. the first air-to-air engagement of a hostile Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; and, the first employment of a hellfire against naval surface threats in combat.
And while I could go on and on and on about their contested straits transits and the number of threats intercepted, but I instead want to tell you about the story of this amazing team as I saw it.
For nine months our incredible Sailors prevailed operating inside an adversary Weapons Engagement Zone with an intensity not seen since WWII. They were saving lives, preventing the escalation of conflict, escorting merchants, ensuring the free flow of commerce, defending and working alongside our Allies and partners, and standing up for the values that we all hold so dear.
For nine months, they demonstrated to the American people that naval power is – and will continue to be – an essential element of our nation’s security.
And for nine months, these Sailors proved to our adversaries that we are truly the world’s preeminent fighting force and that no other Navy can train, deploy and sustain such a lethal, combat force at the scale and the tempo that we do.
These Sailors are truly America’s Warfighting Navy.
And again, I could not be more excited to recognize some of those courageous IKE Strike Group Sailors here with us tonight teammates please stand. Please join me in giving them a round of applause.
The story of the IKE Strike Group and the story of these warfighters is one of many stories across America’s Warfighting Navy it’s a Navy that works around the globe and around the clock. And tonight, thousands more of our Navy Sailors, our Marines, our Coast Guardsmen and actually all of our servicepeople are operating far forward at risk in multiple weapons engagement zones around the world.
From the Eastern Mediterranean to the Indo-Pacific, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, and everywhere in between our Sailors are standing the watch in every domain ready to preserve the peace, to respond in crisis, and if necessary, win decisively in war.
So, as we recognize the outstanding achievements of these Sailors here tonight, of our Lone Sailor Award recipients I ask that we also take a moment to reflect on all of our Sailors, our Marines, our service members, and their families. They serve everyday with Honor, Courage, and Commitment and it is because of their selfless service to our Nation that we can be here tonight to enjoy this wonderful evening.
Thank you very much.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
Bill extends the wildly successful Every Kid Outdoors Program that Heinrich helped to establish in 2019 to provide all American fourth graders and their families free national park access
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced their bipartisan Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act to provide free access to national parks and other public lands to all American fourth grade students and their families, through 2031.
“As a father and a former outdoor educator, I know firsthand how much of a difference getting outside can make for our kids,” said Heinrich. “I’m so proud of the doors we have opened to our public lands for fourth graders and their families since we passed my Every Kid Outdoors Act into law five years ago. Now, we can double down on this successful program, turning our national parks and other public lands into outdoor classrooms with endless opportunities for children to learn and families to make new memories.”
“Introducing young Americans to our national parks inspires an appreciation for the lands and resources that help define our country. I’m proud to support this legislation that allows the next generation to discover our national treasures and explore the outdoors,”said Boozman.
Starting in 2015, the U.S. Department of the Interior has offered fourth graders and their families free entrance to all federally managed public lands. Heinrich led the original bipartisan effort in Congress, alongside then-U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) to codify the Every Kid Outdoors program into law. Heinrich and Alexander’s Every Kid Outdoors Act passed in 2019 as part of the larger John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.
The authorization under Heinrich’s original legislation is currently scheduled to expire in 2026. Heinrich and Boozman’s Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act would extend the authorization for the program through 2031.
Full text of the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act can be found HERE.
The Every Kid Outdoors program has been wildly successful at encouraging tens of thousands of children and their families to explore America’s public lands, waters, and historic sites, including national parks – more than 2,000 sites in all. In 2023, Every Kid Outdoors vouchers helped create free admission for 11,805 visits to New Mexico public lands, including 879 visits to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 295 visits to Bandelier National Monument, and 396 visits to White Sands National Park.
Support for the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act:
The Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act has garnered widespread support, including endorsements from The Wilderness Society, the Sierra Club, and the Outdoor Alliance for Kids.
“Over the past nine years, hundreds of thousands of children have been able to enjoy our public lands with the support of the Every Kid Outdoors program. This program has helped to introduce and facilitate outdoors adventures and experiences to these children and their families during a critical formative period in their lives. The Outdoors Alliance for Kids is eager to see this program continue to benefit families and communities for generations to come,” said Julia Hurwit, Campaign Manager for Outdoors Alliance for Kids.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
The Summit of the Future (22-23 September 2024) is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including to the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Charter, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.
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Strengthening of the United Nations system – Item 123: Summit of the Future
09:00 to 10:00: Opening segment
– Adoption of the outcome document entitled “A Pact for the Future”, agreed in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations, to which the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations would be annexed if intergovernmentally agreed
– Opening statements
President of the General Assembly
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Youth representatives: Ms. Monica Malith; Mr. Ghanim Mohammed Al Muftah; Ms. Niria Alicia Garcia
President, Republic of Namibia
Chancellor, Federal Republic of Germany
10:00 to 15:00: Plenary segment
The Summit of the Future is a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.
Effective global cooperation is increasingly critical to our survival but difficult to achieve in an atmosphere of mistrust, using outdated structures that no longer reflect today’s political and economic realities.
World leaders will convene at the United Nations to adopt the Pact for the Future, which will include a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations as annexes.
Website: https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future
Programme: https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future/programme
Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory
NREL researchers have identified strategies to blend more biomass-based diesel fuel into petroleum diesel. Photo from National Biodiesel Board, NREL
Barriers that are currently preventing the use of greater percentages of biomass-based diesel fuel blended into petroleum diesel have been identified, along with strategies to overcome them, according to researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The bio-derived diesel fuel in use today is blended into petroleum diesel at a relatively low percentage, typically from 5% to 20%. An NREL team investigated the performance of much higher blends of biodiesel into both renewable diesel and petroleum diesel. They specifically examined blends of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%. A switch to using higher percentages of biomass-based diesel fuels would reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by the transportation sector. Biodiesel is an oxygenate made from fats, oils, and greases. Renewable diesel is made from the same feedstocks but processed to be a hydrocarbon chemically similar to petroleum diesel.
“It’s amazing to me, but there are thousands of papers published every year on biodiesel, and almost nobody looks at blends over 20%,” said NREL Senior Research Fellow Robert McCormick, corresponding author of the newly published research paper “Properties That Potentially Limit High-Level Blends of Biomass-Based Diesel Fuel,” which appears in the journal Energy & Fuels. “This research addresses a major data gap about biodiesel blends, both because it looks at high-level blends and because it looks at blends with renewable diesel as well as petroleum diesel. Biodiesel blends with renewable diesel are 100% renewable.”
The paper was coauthored by researchers Gina Fioroni, Nimal Naser, and Jon Luecke, all also from NREL.
The researchers examined biodiesel produced from soybean oil, which is the most common feedstock used in the United States to make the fuel. They pointed out that a detailed understanding about the properties of biodiesel blended at levels above 20% is lacking.
Heavy-duty long-haul trucks and off-road equipment, marine shipping, and commercial aircraft are expected to continue requiring liquid fuels even as electrification of smaller vehicles ramps up. These fuels will need to be low-net greenhouse gas emissions—such as biodiesel and renewable diesel—and compatible with existing engines. The use of biodiesel and renewable diesel is forecast to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions from 40% to 86% compared to petroleum diesel, depending upon the feedstock used.
McCormick said with a biodiesel blend greater than about 50%, “you start to have property differences with petroleum that that could be problematic.” At less than 50%, the differences do not pose much of a challenge.
Challenges with biodiesel blends greater than 50% can be mitigated, however. For example, diesel fuels must be reformulated in winter months to ensure that the cloud point—the temperature where wax begins to form—is below the expected ambient temperature. Wax can cause fuel filter clogging such that the engine cannot operate. Biodiesel cloud point can be as low as 20°F but for soy biodiesel is around 32°F, making the use of 100% biodiesel problematic in areas with colder winters.
“This issue can be managed by reducing the blend level or by blending the biodiesel into different hydrocarbon blendstocks with a lower cloud point during the winter months—as is commonly done today for B20 [a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel],” McCormick said. “A similar strategy could be used to mitigate the high boiling point of biodiesel, which is near the top of the diesel boiling range.”
A hydrocarbon blendstock with a lower boiling point, such as kerosene, could be used for biodiesel blends over 50%, alleviating challenges in cold starting the engine, accumulation of fuel in the engine lubricant, and potentially failure of emission control catalysts to “light-off” or achieve high enough temperature.
The research, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, also examined other fuel properties such as density, oxidation stability, and water content to determine whether these might limit the blending of biodiesel. Oxidation stability, for example, may be reduced as more biodiesel is blended, but the problem can be overcome by using higher levels of antioxidant additives.
Significant future research is needed to address the challenges of high level biodiesel blends, particularly on how they impact diesel engine emission control systems. The NREL paper serves as a research road map for addressing these challenges.
Learn more about NREL’s sustainable transportation and mobility research. Sign up for NREL’s quarterly transportation and mobility research newsletter, Sustainable Mobility Matters, to stay current on the latest news.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, applauded the Senate passage of a bipartisan resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month – which is celebrated from September 15 through October 15. Led by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), the Senate passed the resolution on Wednesday.
“During Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the remarkable accomplishments and contributions of Hispanics and Latinos in shaping the economic, social, and cultural landscape of our state and the nation. In New Mexico, Hispanic heritage is as much about lifting up leaders like Senator Dennis Chávez and educator Dolores Gonzáles as it is about our way of life — from the food eaten and the art created, to the close familial ties, to the way querencia infuses our approach to public lands,” said Heinrich. “This month and every month, I remain committed to celebrating Hispanic heritage and addressing the issues that matter most to all New Mexicans, expanding opportunities for a brighter future.”
“Hispanic Heritage Month offers us a chance to recognize and celebrate the profound impact of Hispanic Americans in New Mexico and across the nation. As the first Hispanic to represent New Mexico in the U.S. Senate in more than 40 years, I feel deeply blessed to come from such a strong and resilient community. New Mexico, with the largest percentage of Hispanics of any state in the country, has long contributed to the fabric of America,” said Luján.
The full text of the resolution is available HERE.
This month, Heinrich and Luján also introduced a resolution to designate the week starting on September 9, 2024 as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, and celebrate the vast contributions of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI)— including New Mexico’s 24 HSIs.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
The opening ceremony will serve to both energize attendees, and tee-up several important themes and considerations for the rest of the day.
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Welcome
Opening Remarks: António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Special Message
Civil Society Perspectives
Youth Rapporteur
Segment on Declaration for Future Generations
Special session: Declaration on Future Generations Panel
Closing Remarks
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Action Day 2 will consist of a full-day of programming focused on multistakeholder partnership and action – paving a way towards a next chapter of multilateralism that is more inclusive and networked. The Saturday sessions will focus on three priority themes – digital and technology, peace and security, and sustainable development and financing. These sessions will be coordinated by relevant UN entities, including UNDP, DESA, ITU, the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Technology, DPPA, DPO, ODA, and OCT. In addition to the three themes, there will also be a dedicated focus throughout the day on future generations.
Action Days website: https://summitofthefutureun.org/action-days
Source: US State of California
Sue Mi Terry Provided South Korean Intelligence Officers Access, Information and Advocacy in Exchange for Luxury Goods and Funding
Note: View the indictment here.
Sue Mi Terry, 54, of New York, New York, was arrested yesterday and presented on criminal charges related to offenses under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
According to court documents, after leaving U.S. government service and for more than a decade, Terry worked as an agent of the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK), commonly known as South Korea, without registering as a foreign agent with the Attorney General, as required by law. As covertly directed by ROK government officials, Terry publicly advocated ROK policy positions, disclosed non-public U.S. government information to ROK intelligence officers and enabled ROK officials to gain access to U.S. government officials. In exchange for these actions, ROK intelligence officers provided Terry with luxury goods, expensive dinners and more than $37,000 in funding for a public policy program focusing on Korean affairs that Terry controlled.
From in or about 2001 to in or about 2011, Terry served in a series of positions in the U.S. government, including as an analyst on East Asian issues for the Central Intelligence Agency, as the Director for Korea, Japan and Oceanic Affairs for the White House National Security Council and as the Deputy National Intelligence Officer for East Asia at the National Intelligence Council. Since leaving government service in or about 2011, Terry has worked at academic institutions and think tanks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Terry has made media appearances, published articles and hosted conferences as a policy expert specializing in, among other things, South Korea, North Korea and various regional issues impacting Asia. Terry has also testified before Congress on at least three occasions regarding the U.S. government’s policy toward Korea.
As she admitted in a voluntary interview with the FBI in 2023, Terry served as a valuable “source” of information for the ROK National Intelligence Service (ROK NIS), the primary intelligence agency for the ROK. For example, in or about June 2022, Terry participated in a private, off-the-record group meeting with a U.S. Secretary level official regarding the U.S. Government’s policy toward North Korea. Immediately after the meeting, Terry’s primary ROK NIS point of contact, or handler, picked up Terry in a car with ROK Embassy diplomatic plates. While in the car, Terry passed her handler detailed handwritten notes of her meeting, which were written on the letterhead of a think tank where Terry had recently worked. Terry’s handler then photographed the notes while still sitting in the car with Terry.
Weeks later, at the request of her ROK NIS handler, Terry hosted a happy hour for Congressional staff. Although the happy hour was ostensibly on behalf of the think tank where Terry worked, the ROK NIS paid for it with Terry’s knowledge. Terry’s handler attended the event and posed as a diplomat, mingling with Congressional staff without disclosing that he was, in fact, an ROK intelligence officer.
ROK government rewarded Terry for her services. For example, Terry’s ROK NIS handlers gifted her a $2,950 Bottega Veneta handbag and a $3,450 Louis Vuitton handbag, both of which Terry selected during shopping trips with her handlers. One of Terry’s ROK NIS handlers also gifted her a $2,845 Dolce & Gabbana coat. In addition to luxury goods, Terry’s ROK NIS handlers provided her expensive meals, including at Michelin-starred restaurants. Terry’s ROK NIS handlers also deposited approximately $37,000 into an unrestricted “gift” account that Terry controlled at the think tank where she worked. In addition, ROK government officials paid Terry to write articles in both the U.S. and Korean press conveying positions and phrases dictated by the ROK government.
Terry is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate FARA and one count of failure to register under FARA. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York and Executive Assistant Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement.
The FBI’s Counterintelligence Division and New York Field Office are investigating the case with assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle A. Wirshba, Alexander Li and Sam Adelsberg for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher M. Rigali of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee
The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –
September 20, 2024
Congressman Cartwright’s minions got caught running an ad about Rob Bresnahan that was so misleading that the ad was pulled off the air.
“Do-nothing Congressman Cartwright and his minions have nothing else to run on except lies and distortions about Rob Bresnahan. None of Cartwright’s desperate lies will hide the fact that Rob has worked to grow a successful business that provides 150 good-paying union jobs to the people of Pennsylvania.” — NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella
Read more from Broad & Libertyhere or see excerpts below.
Pelosi-allied PAC hits Bresnahan with another unfounded claim, stops ad
Broad and Liberty
Bradley Vasoli
September 20, 2024
House Majority PAC (HMP), the political outfit that recently mischaracterized northeastern Pennsylvania congressional candidate Rob Bresnahan’s (R) abortion stance, just ran another inaccurate advertisement.
The new ad was so misleading about Bresnahan, currently running in the 8th Congressional District against Democrat incumbent Matt Cartwright, that Bresnahan was able to get the ad canceled from airing.
The video depicts several costumed, prop-toting narrators taking turns bemoaning what they see as the Republican’s professional shortcomings. One young man holding a skateboard says, “Rob Bresnahan was handed the keys to his family fortune as a teenager.” Then a twenty-something male in a matte cap and gown complains, “Most of us get diplomas; Bresnahan was given a company.”
But no evidence suggests anyone gave Exeter-based Kuharchik Construction to Bresnahan. Yes, Bresnahan’s grandfather started the electrical contracting firm and Bresnahan became its CFO when he was nineteen. Nevertheless, long before the candidate launched his congressional bid, he attested to buying the entity from his grandparents after graduating college.
In a March 2022 appearance on the On the Stacks podcast, Bresnahan recalled purchasing the company only after meeting his grandmother’s condition that he receive “a four-year college degree from an approved university of her choosing.” He graduated from the University of Scranton in 2012 and, according to his attorney’s missive to TV broadcasters, bought the family business at a fair-market rate. He was no longer “a teenager” like the ad said he was.
“In fact, he purchased a debt-laden business and turned it into a successful operation, something HMP certainly doesn’t want viewers to know,” lawyer Jessica Johnson of the Holtzman Vogel firm wrote to station executives. “This advertisement is, at best, ignorant, and, at worst, intentionally deceitful. Regardless, it cannot be permitted to continue to air on your stations or elsewhere. With so much at stake this election, voters at the very least deserve to be told the truth about their candidates.”
Incidentally, the ad’s comment that “most of us get diplomas” also doesn’t jibe with local reality; no county in the district has a majority college-graduation rate for adults aged 25-64. Post-secondary degree-holders comprise 43 percent of that demographic in Lackawanna, 38 percent in Pike, 38 percent in Luzerne, 37 percent in Monroe and 31 percent in Wayne. Bresnahan, at any rate, has a diploma, despite the video insinuating that he doesn’t.
This isn’t the first time HMP put an erroneous anti-Bresnahan spot on the airwaves. In late summer, the PAC released a TV ad stating the candidate wanted to “pass a national abortion ban [with] no exceptions,” something he went on record opposing on August 14. HMP didn’t answer a request for comment before Broad + Liberty published that story nor did the committee respond to an inquiry about the newer ad depicting Kuharchik’s ownership transfer as a gift.
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Read more here.
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
President Biden convenes his Cabinet to discuss a range of Administration priorities. First Lady Jill Biden joins at the top of the meeting to provide an update on the progress of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
The White House
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced a resolution slamming the Biden-Harris administration’s botched rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024-2025 school year. The resolution condemns the problematic rollout, calls for the Department of Education (ED) to identify and fix any issues for this year and asks leaders to testify before congressional committees regarding the rollout.
FAFSA historically has opened applications on October 1 of the year prior to the start of the academic school year. For the academic year of 2024-2025, the applications opened three months later in December. ED subsequently did not start sending FAFSA data to universities until March. Because of this delay, many students did not receive their financial aid awards until after May 1, 2024, the date that many institutions require students to commit to attending for the fall semester.
For the academic year of 2025-2026, ED has already announced that the applications will again be delayed until December of this year.
“Higher education has been a key in many Americans’ path to their American Dream. Unfortunately, the futures of thousands of Americans are being delayed under the Biden-Harris administration as a result of their extreme policies,” said Senator Scott. “The Biden-Harris administration’s student loan giveaway has pushed FAFSA out of focus and added yet another obstacle for lower-income and minority students to reach their dreams. Unlocking access to a better future tends to start with access to education. I am glad to be on the front lines fighting for the interest of American students and families and taking the necessary steps to right the wrongs of this administration for next year.”
“Students and parents must be able to make an informed decision about where they’re attending college before the decision deadline,” said Senator Rounds. “A big piece of this decision is considering how much college will cost them and knowing how much aid they’ll get to help. It’s unacceptable that the Department of Education’s botched FAFSA rollout has hurt America’s students and institutions of higher education. My colleagues and I strongly condemn this massive failure and call on the Department of Education to take necessary steps to fix the FAFSA for this next school year.”
Senators Scott and Rounds were joined on this resolution by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
Click HERE for the full resolution.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) led 11 of their senate colleagues in introducing the Protect Our Presidents Act, which will enhance the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) protection for presidential nominees to the same level currently provided to a sitting U.S. president.
“Over the past three months, we’ve seen two assassination attempts on a presidential candidate; it is clear action needs to be taken,” said Senator Tim Scott. “I am glad to join the efforts to beef up protections for presidential candidates at a time when reckless, inflammatory rhetoric is inciting acts of violence. This commonsense legislation needs to be taken up immediately.”
“Over the course of just 65 days, two deranged individuals have tried to kill President Donald Trump, and one was able to shoot him in the head. It is unthinkable that this could happen in America today, and it demands the immediate action of Congress. Today, I am leading 12 of my Republican colleagues to introduce the Protect Our Presidents Act which mandates that the USSS provide the same level of protective services to presidential nominees that it affords to sitting presidents. President Trump has great officers and agents working around the clock to keep him safe, but it’s clear that the vile rhetoric on the left toward President Trump has made him a target and more resources are required to ensure the safety of him and his family. I urge Senate Democrats to join Republicans to quickly pass this bill that will support the protection of President Trump and all future presidential nominees,” said Senator Rick Scott.
“The past two assassination attempts on President Trump have been alarming. It is clear safeguards are needed to ensure presidential nominees are safe from violence. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill to provide additional protection to presidential nominees,” said Senator Rubio.
“The two attempts on President Trump’s life and the failures of the U.S. Secret Service have put the threat of assassination at the forefront of Americans’ concerns. With the Protect Our Presidents Act, will ensure American Presidents and presidential candidates receive the highest level of security. We cannot let our guard down,” said Senator Risch.
“After two assassination attempts and very real threats directed at President Trump, it is long past time that all nominees receive the highest level of presidential protection. If we cannot keep all candidates safe, our entire system of government will be in peril. That’s why I’m proud to join Senator Rick Scott’s effort to protect candidates for the highest office in the land,” said Senator Budd.
Senator Barrasso wrote, “Our nation has witnessed two horrifying assassination attempts on President Trump. We were merely inches away from a catastrophic event that would have changed the course of our history. This cannot happen again. The Protect Our Presidents Act will ensure all presidential nominees receive the same level of protection provided to the president. This will give law enforcement the resources they need to keep President Trump and all of the candidates safe.”
“Ideas we do not align with and policies we do not agree with are not threats to democracy. Allowing would-be assassins the opportunity to shoot a former president in the ear or to get within firing range to attempt to do so again within the span of just a few short weeks is. President Trump should have the same level of protective service he had while President, and so should all future presidential nominees from any party. This should not be political,” said Senator Crapo.
“In two months, there have been two unprecedented assassination attempts on President Trump’s life. Enough is enough, the current level of Secret Service protection around President Trump is insufficient. It is clear to every American that the threats to President Trump have reached a level that warrants additional security. That’s why we are demanding that President Trump receive the same amount of security resources as the President and Vice President,” said Senator Marshall.
“The two confirmed assassination attempts against former President Trump have made it abundantly clear that we need to shore up protection details for presidential candidates. What President Trump and his family have gone through in the last 65 days is unimaginable. No presidential candidate should fear for their safety or the wellbeing of their family. I am partnering with Senator Rick Scott to ensure President Trump and all future presidential nominees have the protection they need so they can focus on promoting their respective platforms, not fearing for their safety,” said Senator Lummis.
Senators Tim Scott and Rick Scott are joined in introducing the legislation by Senators Roger Marshall, Jim Risch, James Lankford, Marco Rubio, Josh Hawley, Ted Budd, Mike Crapo, John Barrasso, Cynthia Lummis, Ted Cruz, and Mike Braun.
Specifically, the Protect Our Presidents Act would:
Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
That’s what union organizing and solidarity means: Even when we aren’t able to achieve our ultimate goal—even when we face something really tough—we stand together.
The Local 1622 (Austintown, Ohio) strike that began against T&W Stamping in March has ended with Boilermakers returning to work Sept. 3. After more than five months on the picket line, the workers received guaranteed yearly raises, along with weekly incentives, but no retroactive compensation.
“The members of L-1622 are grateful for the support of their community, Boilermakers from across the U.S. and Canada, other unions and so many people who reached out in solidarity and with supplies, gift cards and financial donations,” said Don Hamric, Executive Director-ISO. “This was a stressful time for them, and even as they stood together on the picket line, it meant a lot to know so many people were standing with them.
“That’s what union organizing and solidarity means: Even when we aren’t able to achieve our ultimate goal—even when we face something really tough—we stand together.”
L-1622 had been attempting to renegotiate a contract since November 2023, after the previous contract expired. The Boilermakers went on strike after filing unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against T&W, protesting illegal actions by their employer.
Read a past article with more details about the cause of strike.