Repeat violent and sexual offenders are officially on notice Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.
“Tougher penalties are now in place as the Three Strikes law comes into force today and the message is clear. If you commit serious violent or sexual offences, expect to face increasingly severe consequences. New Zealanders have had enough – they want safer streets, safer homes, and a justice system that puts victims first,” Mrs McKee says.
The Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Act 2024 restores the regime scrapped under the previous government and is a central pillar in the Coalition’s drive to restore law and order and protect the public.
Under the Act:
Offenders convicted of any of 42 serious violent or sexual offences – including new crimes like strangulation and suffocation – will face escalating penalties with each conviction.
First strike: A formal warning.
Second strike: No parole.
Third strike: Maximum sentence without parole.
For example, someone convicted of murder at second or third strike will face a minimum of 17 or 20 years behind bars with no early release.
The Act provides for some judicial discretion to prevent manifestly unjust outcomes. It also sets out principles and guidance to help the courts apply the law and allows a limited benefit for guilty pleas to spare victims further trauma and reduce court delays.
“Importantly, previous strike warnings still count if they meet the new sentencing threshold – ensuring serious repeat offenders can’t escape accountability. The Ministry of Justice has published guidance to help affected individuals, and their lawyers check for active strikes,” Mrs McKee says.
Statistics Minister Dr Shane Reti has today announced a major new direction for Stats NZ, replacing the traditional paper-based census and increasing the frequency and quality of economic data to underpin the Government’s growth agenda. From 2030, New Zealand will move away from a traditional nationwide census and adopt a new approach using administrative data, supported by a smaller annual survey and targeted data collection. “This approach will save time and money while delivering more timely insights into New Zealand’s population,” says Dr Reti. “Relying solely on a nationwide census day is no longer financially viable. In 2013, the census cost $104 million. In 2023, costs had risen astronomically to $325 million and the next was expected to come in at $400 million over five years. “Despite the unsustainable and escalating costs, successive censuses have been beset with issues or failed to meet expectations. “By leveraging data already collected by government agencies, we can produce key census statistics every year, better informing decisions that affect people’s lives.” While administrative data will form the backbone of the new approach, surveys will continue to verify data quality and fill gaps. Stats NZ will work closely with communities to ensure smaller population groups are accurately represented. The Government will also invest $16.5 million to deliver a monthly Consumers Price Index (CPI) from 2027, bringing New Zealand into line with other advanced economies. This will provide more timely inflation data to help the Government and Reserve Bank respond quickly to cost-of-living pressures. “Inflation affects interest rates, benefit adjustments, and household budgets. Timely data helps ensure Kiwis are better supported in a fast-changing environment,” says Dr Reti. Funding is also being allocated to align Stats NZ’s reporting with updated international macroeconomic standards. These reflect shifts such as the growth of the digital economy and will ensure New Zealand is measuring what matters in today’s world. “Modern, internationally aligned statistics will support trade and investment, helping drive economic growth and job creation,” says Dr Reti. Dr Reti says these changes reflect a broader reset for Stats NZ. “Some outputs have not met the standard expected of a world-class statistics agency. We’re getting back to basics – measuring what matters. Our goal is a modern, efficient, and reliable data system that delivers the insights New Zealand needs now and into the future.” Note to editors:Administrative (admin) data is information collected by government agencies during their everyday operations — like tax records, education enrolments, or health data. Admin data is already used regularly to produce some statistics, like population estimates and statistics about international migration, household income, and child poverty. It has also been used in the two most recent censuses to support the information gathered through surveying. Examples of admin data and their sources include:• ACC injury claims (ACC)• student loan and allowances (Inland Revenue, Ministry of Social Development) • tax and income (Inland Revenue)• births, deaths, and marriages (Department of Internal Affairs)• education data (Ministry of Education).
Modernising New Zealand’s data system – media release
18 June 2025
Wide-ranging improvements to the data system will modernise and future-proof how New Zealand’s economic and population statistics are produced.
Minister of Statistics Hon Dr Shane Reti announced today sweeping changes that will see Stats NZ moving in a bold, future-focused direction to provide more timely and relevant data.
“People’s information needs are changing and today’s announcements ensure we keep delivering data that improves lives today and for generations to come,” Acting Stats NZ Chief Executive and Government Statistician Mary Craig said.
The changes include moving to an admin-data-first census and publishing a monthly consumers price index (CPI), as well as a programme of work to meet new international standards for macroeconomic statistics.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast led a letter to President Trump in support of the administration’s diplomatic efforts to advance peace and responsible development across the African Great Lakes region and encouraged further engagement aimed at bolstering economic stability and growth.
Chairman Mast, who was joined by fellow House Foreign Affairs Committee Republican, Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04), commended Secretary Marco Rubio’s and Senior Advisor Massad Boulos’ leadership in the recent signing of the Declaration of Principles between the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“This agreement demonstrates that regional leaders are prepared to translate dialogue into concrete action, and is a sign that American leadership, when resolute and strategic, create conditions for lasting peace,” the lawmakers wrote.
Additionally, the lawmakers underscored that security and peace in the region “must be paired with meaningful economic stability and growth,” adding that access to reliable electric power and basic infrastructure will facilitate the gains the Trump administration is accomplishing.
“Few efforts illustrate this objective more clearly than the Ruzizi III hydropower project — a project that will deliver electricity to more than 30 million people across the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. The project would provide needed support to the region and build genuine political and economic cooperation between the three governments—offering a diplomatic and economic dividend that is in America’s national interest.,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers encouraged further engagement by the administration to further bolster success in the region through:
Continued high-level engagement with the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) and national ministries to ensure the final administrative steps—such as the signing of the tri-national Establishment Agreement of the “Community Enterprise of the Great Lakes.”
Coordination with all stakeholders to amplify diplomatic pressure in the region to usher an end to the conflict and advance the Ruzizi III project to financial close in 2025 considering most of the funding for the project has been committed by the World Bank Group and other Western allies to the U.S (EU, UK government). The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation may also wish to participate.
“By pairing robust diplomacy with smart infrastructure alignment, the United States can advance regional peace, American interests, and human dignity,” the lawmakers wrote.
Source: US Whitehouse
class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On this day 250 years ago, a fearless band of American patriots stood their ground against the mightiest military power of the age at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Outmanned, outgunned, and underestimated, these ordinary men exemplified extraordinary courage and sent a thundering message to Britain and the entire world that the American people would never waver in their fight for freedom.
A new revolutionary spirit had been awakened in the American Colonies following the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. In the weeks that followed, thousands of Colonial militiamen from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island — exhausted and fed up with the escalating tyranny of the British Crown — left behind their homes, farms, and families to rally to the cause of independence. By June, they had assembled around Boston — the center of British power in New England — to contain nearly 5,000 Redcoats, protect nearby towns, and prevent British forces from moving beyond the city.
After learning of British plans to seize the Charlestown peninsula to the north of Boston, Colonial leaders acted swiftly. On the night of June 16, 1775, over 1,000 American militiamen, led by Colonel William Prescott, marched to Charlestown and constructed fortifications atop Breed’s Hill — ready to defend their homeland at any cost necessary. The next day, on June 17, nearly 2,200 Redcoats arrived, initiating a direct attack to drive the Americans off the hill. Significantly outnumbered and low on ammunition, Colonel Prescott gave the famous order to his fellow soldiers: “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” When the moment came and the British advanced, the Patriots held firm. Wave after wave, the Redcoats charged, only to be driven back as the colonists inflicted massive casualties and held their ground with unshakable grit and resolve.
After two failed assaults, the Redcoats launched a third charge up the hill. The patriots, nearly out of ammunition, met the British in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Though ultimately forced to retreat, the colonists inflicted staggering losses. More than 1,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded, compared to 450 Americans. Charlestown was left in ruins, but the American spirit stood taller than ever. Though the British claimed the ground that history would remember as Bunker Hill, it was the patriots who claimed the victory of morale — etched not in territory but in valor — proving that the cause of freedom, once awakened, is an unstoppable force.
Today, we celebrate the courage, determination, and selflessness of the patriots who fought at Bunker Hill. They sent a message to Britain and the entire world that the Americans would not be ruled by fear and that a free people, united in purpose, is the most powerful force on Earth. The spirit of Bunker Hill lives on in every soldier who defends this land, in every citizen who loves their country, and in every patriot who believes that America’s best days are still ahead.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 17, 2025, as a day in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Current Timeline
Senator Marshall’s Proposed Biennial Timeline
Senator Marshall’s Proposed Biennial Timeline for Presidential Transition Years
First Monday in February: President submits budget.
On or before the first day of session: President submits budget.
First Monday in February: President submits budget.
February 15: CBO submits report to Budget Committees.
One week after the President’s budget recommendations: CBO submits report to Budget Committees.
February 15: CBO submits report to Budget Committees.
Not later than 6 weeks after President submits budget: Committees submit vies and estimates to Budget Committee.
February 1: Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.
March 15: Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committee.
April 1: Senate Budget Committee reports concurrent resolution on the budget.
February 15: Senate Budget Committee reports concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.
April 1: Senate Budget Committee reports concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.
April 15: Congress completes action on concurrent resolution.
March 15: Congress completes action on concurrent biennial resolution.
April 15: Congress completes action on concurrent biennial resolution.
May 15: Annual appropriations bills may be considered in the House.
March 16: Biennial appropriations bills may be considered in the House.
April 16: Biennial appropriations bills may be considered in the House.
June 10: House Appropriations Committee reports last annual appropriation bill.
April 10: House Appropriations Committee reports last biennial appropriation bill.
May 10: House Appropriations Committee reports last biennial appropriation bill.
June 15: Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation (if required by the budget resolution)
April 30: House of Representatives completes action on biennial appropriation bills.
May 30: House of Representatives completes action on biennial appropriation bills.
June 30: House completes action on annual appropriations bills
June 1: Senate completes action on biennial appropriations bills.
July 1: Senate completes action on biennial appropriations bills.
October 1: Fiscal year begins
October 1: Biennium begins
October 1: Fiscal year begins
Second Session
Second Session
On or before the first day of session: President submits budget review.
On or before the first day of session: President submits budget review.
One week after the President’s budget review: CBO submits report to Budget Committees.
One week after the President’s budget review: CBO submits report to Budget Committees.
June 1: Congress completes action on bills and resolutions authorizing new budget authority for the succeeding biennium.
June 1: Congress completes action on bills and resolutions authorizing new budget authority for the succeeding biennium.
Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
Hickenlooper: “Their lavish tax bill gives more to the top earners while taking away from the Americans with the least.”
Republicans’ national budget will increase prices for Coloradans, gut critical services, and balloon the national debt to bankroll tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor to call out the Republicans’ reckless budget proposal that would kick 16 million families and their children off their health insurance, sell our public lands, and add trillions to the national debt in order to pay for lavish tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
“We can’t borrow millions, we can’t borrow billions, we can’t borrow trillions just to hand out tax cuts to the top when working families are struggling to be able to afford everyday goods. It doesn’t add up. It never has. It never will,” Hickenlooper said.
“I’ve managed budgets before – back when I started Colorado’s first brewpub, then as mayor of Denver and as governor of Colorado,” he continued. “… I can definitely say this bill that we’re looking at is the opposite of ‘fiscal responsibility.’ It’s fiscal madness.”
Hickenlooper has voted against their disastrous budget twice on the Senate floor and will vote against it again when the final bill comes to the Senate floor. In April, he led a group of Western senators to introduce an amendment to the budget to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and introduced other amendments to prevent cuts to Medicaid and clean energy tax credits.
Hickenlooper is focused on building public pressure against the Republicans’ extreme proposal and recently called out their latest effort to sell off three million acres of public lands to bankroll the Republicans’ lavish tax cuts.
To download a full video of Hickenlooper’s speech, click HERE. A full transcript of his remarks is available below.
“Mr. President,
“This month, my fellow colleagues in the Senate, the Republican Senate members, are working to pass a budget proposal that I feel can best be described as dangerous.
“Their plans are going to dramatically reduce – even gut – services like Medicaid and SNAP, getting food to hungry, low-income workers. It will strip health care away from most likely more than 16 million Americans and threaten millions of seniors living in nursing homes. All this is focused really on just trying to get larger tax breaks to very wealthy people who don’t really – in most cases – don’t really want them, or the largest corporations.
“This lavish, and I think lavish is the only word that describes it fairly, this lavish tax bill gives more to the top earners while taking away from the Americans with the least.
“But, it really doesn’t have to be that way. If the Republicans could focus on extending tax cuts for working families, rather than the wealthiest, they could – in and of that one effort, that one initiative – they could avoid ripping away health care from more than 15 or 16 million Americans and gutting our much needed investments in fighting climate change and to make sure that we have lower energy prices.
“Instead, they’re going full steam ahead with really what is a god-awful bill.
“I want to focus today on another dangerous part of this plan: how it explodes our national debt and really risks our economic future.
“Many proponents of the bill love to hem and haw about being financially responsible.
“But, like a few people in here, I’ve managed budgets before – back when I started Colorado’s first brewpub, then as mayor of Denver and as governor of Colorado. So, I know something about fiscal responsibility – and it’s not partisan. At its best, fiscal responsibility should be bipartisan.
“I can definitely say this bill that we’re looking at is the opposite of ‘fiscal responsibility.’
“It’s fiscal madness.
“This is a massive spending bill that’s going to create the largest national debt in American history.
“And you don’t have to take words for it: you can look at the numbers.
“The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the House Republican plan, so this is the plan coming over from the House, would add $2.7 trillion – that’s trillion with a T – $2.7 trillion dollars to the deficit over the next decade.
“The Penn Wharton Model, which includes something like North of $500 billion dollars in the additional interest payment from that accumulated debt over year, after year, after year – over those 10 years – suggests it would add up not just to $2.7 trillion but more like $3.2 or $3.3 trillion over ten years.
“The bill our Senate colleagues are putting together makes many of the same mistakes. And I think by most measures that a small business person would look at, it’s reckless.
“Bottom line is more American tax dollars would go towards tax cuts for again, at least in Colorado, the people I’ve talked to aren’t asking for, aren’t seeking, these tax cuts.
“And they, you know under this tax plan that came over – is coming over to us right now – those tax cuts for the very wealthy are coming instead of expanding access to health care, or building roads, or improving our schools.
“And more tax dollars would go to paying off the massive debt – paying the interest on the massive debt – than all of our defense spending combined. It will become more than 25% of our federal budget, just to pay interest on the debt.
“Now, if that sounds like a bad idea to you, it’s because it is – and the markets agree.
“Moody’s, the last major credit rating agency to maintain the US at its highest-level rating – designated a safe place to invest your money – just downgraded our credit rating.
“It’s the first time that’s happened, and it shook investors that Moody would downgrade our credit rating.
“Investors aren’t confident that the U.S. will be able to pay its debts. And that’s, at least in terms of Moody’s, has never happened before. And it’s really just going to lead to more trouble.
“Those investors who buy those ten-year bonds and help pay for our national debt, are demanding higher returns because they view it as a riskier investment. They need a higher return if they’re going to hold U.S. debt, which forces – since you’ve got to attract that investment, it means you’ve got to offer higher interest rates which means you’ve got higher borrowing costs.
“And that means that Coloradans, and Americans, are going to pay higher interest rates when they want to buy a house, or expand their business, or if they want to pay off their credit cards.
“They’re going to have to pay more because the interest rates are going to be higher.
“Now, Americans are already plenty concerned about rising prices, for good reason. This whole system could lead to the dreaded ‘stagflation’.
“This could all become a one-two punch to working families – all the while the wealthiest families end up being better off.
“We don’t need to do this. We can certainly grow our economy, we can help working families, and we can cut the deficit.
“We were able to balance the budget all eight years I was mayor of Denver, all eight years I was governor, and still grow our investments in our roads, in our education system, in our health care system.
“We also did this with the Inflation Reduction Act, which would reduce the deficit by over $175 billion over the next ten years and has already dramatically lowered a number of prescription drug costs, it has expanded health care access, and, in the process, created hundreds of thousands of good jobs.
“The Republican budget, I think, does the opposite.
“We also can’t forget that this budget comes in the midst of the Trump administration’s efforts around tariffs.
“What our good friend, the senator from Washington, was just talking about when she described the consequences of Smoot-Hawley. And how those tariffs – just at 20% – led to a global slowdown in the overall economy.
“We all know that these tariff-taxes are really not so hidden taxes on the American people. They raise prices on everything from groceries to kitchen appliances.
“Now none of this is a growth strategy. It really is a recipe for recession at the best, stagflation at the worst.
“We can’t borrow millions, we can’t borrow billions, we can’t borrow trillions just to hand out tax cuts to the top when working families are struggling to be able to afford everyday goods.
“It doesn’t add up. It never has. It never will.
“Now there are issues that may be partisan, but being financially responsible doesn’t need to be one of them. Neither should good, strong economies. Neither should economic fairness. Neither should protecting working families.
“They really don’t have to do it this way.
“Now, I’m always game to roll up my sleeves and dig into the balance sheet, but we haven’t seen from the other side that they’re willing to negotiate – or really invest in the long-term economic growth.
“I’d suggest that we write a budget that reflects our values and puts tax cuts toward working families first.
“A budget that strengthens the middle class. One that keeps our economy strong and will keep it growing for generations to come.
“This bill is not any of that.
“I urge my Republican colleagues – in the House and the Senate – not to temporarily put a pass on their values and to support this, again I think truly reckless fiscal bill.
“I hope that we can come together and negotiate a better bill that does more economic growth and puts a far, far lesser penalty on the working people of America.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, is leading bipartisan legislation alongside U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Congressman Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), and Congressman Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) to support the mental health of servicemembers as they transition into civilian life.
The Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act is named to honor the memory of two Marines who died by suicide, including Iowan Cpl. Adam Lambert.
“Servicemembers put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and America owes them a debt of gratitude,” said Ernst. “We will never forget the life of Cpl. Adam Lambert. This bill honors his memory by fully supporting veterans in their transition into civilian life and providing them access to the highest quality of mental health care.”
“America is the land of the free and home of the brave because of people like Cpl. Adam Lambert. A proud Marine from Iowa, Adam raised his hand to serve our country,”?said Nunn. “Unfortunately, too often the transition back to civilian life is more difficult than it should be. In honor of Adam’s memory, I’m grateful to work with Adam’s parents to make the transition easier for America’s veterans by improving mental health services.”
Specifically, the bill amends the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to cover counseling for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain, sleep disorders, suicidal ideation, potential effects of the loss of community and support systems experienced by a member separating from the armed forces, and other mental health conditions associated with service in the armed forces.
The bill also strengthens treatment options and resources to address substance abuse, including alcohol, prescription drug, and opioid abuse.
Click here to view the bill.
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
DOVER – Today, Delaware’s elected leaders released a joint statement on the political violence in Minnesota:
“We are all horrified by the shooting of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, Sen. John Hoffman, and their spouses in what appears to have been a despicable and politically motivated attack. We are all praying today for the victims of these attacks, for all of Minnesota, and for our democracy.
“Political violence has no place in America. It is not just a threat to the public servants who are targeted—it is an attack on free speech itself and an act of intimidation against the public. Each of us—irrespective of good faith differences in party, ideology, or policy—stands unequivocally for nonviolence, for free speech, and for the unalienable rights of those with whom we disagree.
“Our nation has spent 249 years building a community of peace, of law, and of freedom; we all must stand together to defend that inheritance.”
Sen. Chris Coons Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester Rep. Sarah McBride Gov. Matt Meyer Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay Attorney General Kathy Jennings
State Treasurer Colleen Davis State Auditor Lydia York Commissioner Trinidad Navarro President Pro Tempore David Sokola Sen. Majority Leader Bryan Townsend Sen. Majority Whip Elizabeth Lockman Sen. Minority Leader Gerald Hocker Sen. Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown House Maj. Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris House Maj. Whip Ed Osienski House Minority Leader Tim Dukes House Minority Whip Jeff Spiegelman
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
Lawmakers Call for Company to Obtain Customers’ Consent Before Including Their Data in Bankruptcy Sale
Text of Letter
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), along with Congressmen Eli Crane (R-AZ), Dave Min (D-CA), and Eric Burlison (R-MO) sent a letter to 23andMe demanding they ensure that no individual’s data—identified or de-identified—will be retained, transferred, or sold without their affirmative consent prior to any bankruptcy sale. Last week, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Pressley slammed 23andMe for exploiting people’s DNA and demanded the company protect their private information.
“Genetic data is among the most intimate and sensitive personal information to exist, and 23andMe has proven inadequate in fulfilling its responsibility to protect it,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to 23andMe Co-Founder Anne Wojcicki and interim CEO Joe Selsavage. “People deserve and require a clear choice about how their data will be handled going forward.”
In her June 10 testimony before the House Oversight Committee, Ms. Wojcicki shared that “a threat actor had gained access to a limited number of individual 23andMe accounts” in October 2023. In reality, nearly seven million people—roughly half of 23andMe’s customers—had their personal and genetic data exposed in a major data breach.
“This is not a ‘limited’ incident, but a systemic failure of data protections and accountability,” the lawmakers continued. “Now, this same data is at the heart of ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. The mass confusion and fear this has caused—including the crashing of 23andMe’s website as nearly two million users rushed to delete their accounts—has undermined trust in the company’s ability to handle this information.”
The lawmakers requested that 23andMe provide additional details on their ability and willingness to contact each of their 15 million customers—prior to any sale—and obtain their explicit consent to opt-in to having their data included in any transaction.
Last week, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley slammed 23andMe for exploiting people’s DNA and private information following a severe data breach and bankruptcy, and demanded 23andMe require the explicit, informed consent of each of their customers before including their data in any bankruptcy sale. Full video of her hearing question line is available here.
SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed June 13 in San Diego alleging that 13 Guatemalan nationals are part of a Guatemala-based cocaine trafficking organization operating out of La Mesilla and Democracia, Huehuetenango, Guatemala, which is on the Guatemala-Mexico border. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The indictment was returned on May 31, 2019. Among the individuals charged are Baldemar Calderon-Carrillo, aka “Don Valde,” and his son, Walfre Donaldo Calderon-Calderon, aka “El Teniente Jr.”
On June 13, special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Diego received information that Calderon-Carrillo, the lead defendant in the indictment, had been killed during a June 8 shootout with Mexican authorities. U.S. agents continue to obtain information confirming the details of Calderon-Carrillo’s death. Video of the incident was posted on various news outlets and on social media showing Mexican law enforcement in a shootout with members of a drug trafficking organization.
In January 2023, one of Calderon-Carrillo’s sons, Edgar Yovani Calderon-Calderon, aka “Panon,” who is charged in the same indictment, was arrested in Paris, France. Edgar Yovani Calderon-Calderon was extradited to the United States from France in March 2024 and pleaded guilty in February to international cocaine distribution conspiracy charges.
As part of his plea agreement, Calderon-Calderon admitted that since at least 2017, up to and including May 31, 2019, he conspired with others to distribute cocaine in Guatemala and elsewhere, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe the cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States.
Calderon-Calderon admitted that he participated in the distribution of large quantities of cocaine in Guatemala on behalf of a drug trafficking organization based in La Mesilla, Huehuetenango, Guatemala. From Huehuetenango, the cocaine was transported to co-conspirators operating near the Guatemala-Mexico border, into Mexico, and ultimately smuggled into the United States. As part of his plea agreement, Calderon-Calderon admitted that the conspiracy involved at least 550 kilograms of cocaine. On May 30, Calderon-Calderon was sentenced to 87 months in prison.
The remaining defendants charged in the indictment are fugitives.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mokhtari.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and French authorities provided substantial assistance to secure the arrest and extradition of Edgar Yovani Calderon-Calderon.
ADVISORY – LANCASTER – Governor Shapiro to Visit Farnam Street East Apartment Building in Lancaster to Highlight Historic Investments in Affordable Housing, PHARE Awards
Governor Josh Shapiro will visit the Lancaster City Housing Authority’sbEast apartment building to spotlight his Administration’s work to expand access to affordable housing and the latest investments through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund. Last week, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) announced $73 million through PHARE to support 387 housing initiatives statewide – including $300,000 for renovations at Lancaster’s Farnum Street East, a 169-unit public housing complex for seniors and disabled individuals.
Governor Shapiro’s 2024-25 bipartisan budget nearly doubled Pennsylvania’s commitment to affordable housing by raising the PHARE cap to $100 million annually by 2027. Building on that progress, the Governor’s 2025-26 budget proposal invests an additional $10 million in PHARE and includes the largest overall housing investment in Pennsylvania history and includes $50 million for a new statewide housing repair fund, $10 million to support first-time homebuyers, and targeted eviction sealing reform.
WHO: Governor Josh Shapiro Robin Weissmann, PHFA Executive Director and CEO Barbara J. Ellis Wilson, Lancaster City Housing Authority Executive Director Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El
WHERE: Lancaster City Housing Authority – Farnum Street East Community Room 33 East Farnum Street Lancaster, PA 17602
WHEN: Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM
LIVE STREAM: pacast.com/live/gov governor.pa.gov/live/
RSVP: Press who are interested in attending should RSVP with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team to ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov.
Sacramento, California – El Gobernador Gavin Newsomescribió recientemente un artículo de opiniónsobre los peligros del autoritarismo del Presidente Trump, así como la solución que reside en el poder de cada ciudadano de exigir a sus elegidos que rindan cuentas ante la Constitución que han jurado respetar.
Mientras que elrechazo del estado a la federalización de la Guardia Nacionalde California se debate en la corte, los californianos no necesitan que se les recuerde los peligros de la extralimitación de Trump. Los oficiales de la Guardia Nacional que aún se encuentran en Los Ángeles están entrenados para combate en el extranjero, no para la aplicación de la ley nacional. Las redadas intensificadas de ICE se dirigen indiscriminadamente a las comunidades inmigrantes de todo el estado, priorizando el interés en cumplir con cuotas arbitrarias de arrestos sobre el enfoque en arrestando a personas con antecedentes penales o condenas.
Si cualquiera de nosotros puede ser secuestrado de las calles sin orden judicial, basándose únicamente en sospechas o el color de la piel, entonces ninguno de nosotros está a salvo.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Lea el artículo de opinión en espanol:
La democracia en una encrucijada
Por el Gobernador Gavin Newsom
Durante las últimas dos semanas, agentes federales han realizado redadas grandes en lugares de trabajo en el sur de California. Saltando de camionetas sin identificación, deteniendo indiscriminadamente a personas en la calle y persiguiéndolas por los campos agrícolas. Una mujer, con nueve meses de embarazo, fue arrestada en Los Ángeles; tuvo que serhospitalizada tras ser liberada. Una familia con tres hijos, incluyendo uno de tres años, estuvodetenida durante dos días en el sótano de una oficinasin suficiente comida ni agua.
Varias personas detenidas en las redadas fuerondeportadas el mismo día de su arresto, generando cuestionamientos sobre el debido proceso. Ciudadanos estadounidenses han sido acosados y detenidos. Y sabemos que ICE está deteniendo cada vez más a miles de personas sin otros cargos o condenas penales: el número de arrestados sin otros cargos o condenas penales aumentó de aproximadamente 860 en enero a 7,800 este mes – unaumento de más del 800%. Mientras tanto, el número de arrestados y detenidosconcargos o condenas penales aumentó a una tasa mucho menor del 91%. Trump miente al decir que se centra en “lo peor de lo peor.”
California no es ajena a la aplicación de la ley migratoria, pero lo que estamos viendo es una peligrosa estrategia ante los medios por parte de una administración que cree en la crueldad y la intimidación. En lugar de centrarse en los inmigrantes indocumentados con antecedentes penales graves y en la seguridad fronteriza —una estrategia que ambos partidos han apoyado desde hace tiempo— la administración de Trump está impulsando deportaciones masivas, dirigidas a familias inmigrantes trabajadoras, sin importar sus orígenes o el riesgo que corren, para cumplir con sus cuotas.
En respuesta, los californianos salieron a las calles la semana pasada, decenas de miles solo el sábado pasado, para protestar contra las acciones de su gobierno: El ejercer su derecho constitucional a la libertad de expresión y de reunión.
California, cuna del movimiento por la libertad de expresión, no es ajena a este tipo de manifestaciones. Nuestros cuerpos policiales están bien capacitados para brindar seguridad, garantizar el orden e intervenir cuando sea necesario. El fin de semana pasado, las autoridades estatales y locales desplegaron fuerzas policiales, incluyendo a la Patrulla de Carreteras de California, el Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles y el departamento del sheriff. Aunque hubo incidentes de violencia y daños a la propiedad, los agentes del orden público estatales y locales restablecieron y mantuvieron el orden.
Quienes se volvieron violentos y destructivos, vandalizando propiedad, intentando atacar a agentes de policía, fueron detenidos y serán procesados con todo el rigor de la ley. No toleramos la conducta delictiva.
Pero sabemos que el Presidente Trump no se opone a la anarquía ni a la violencia, siempre que le sirvan. Su supuesta preocupación por los hombres y las mujeres uniformados no se basa en su lealtad a este país y su gente, sino a él y a su causa. ¿Qué más pruebas necesitamos que el 6 de enero y sus perdones para los involucrados, incluyendo a quienes agredieron violentamente a agentes de policía ese día?
Por lo tanto, no es de extrañar que, sin ninguna solicitud ni mi petición, haya requisado ilegalmente a 4,000 miembros de la Guardia Nacional de nuestro estado para desplegarlos en nuestras calles. Hace tan solo cinco años, el propioPresidente Trump declaró: “Tenemos que seguir las leyes… no podemos llamar a la Guardia Nacional, a menos que nos lo solicite un gobernador.”
Luego, en un momento oportuno que agravó aún más la situación, desplegó a más de 700 miembros de la Infantería de Marina estadounidense. Son hombres y mujeres entrenados en combate en el extranjero, no en la aplicación de la ley nacional. Honramos su servicio y su valentía. Perono queremos que nuestras calles sean militarizadaspor nuestras propias Fuerzas Armadas. Con este acto, el Presidente Trump ha traicionado anuestros soldados, al pueblo estadounidense y a nuestras tradiciones fundamentales; se les ordena a los soldados que vigilen a las mismas comunidades estadounidenses que juraron proteger en guerras extranjeras.
El despliegue de soldados federales en Los Ángeles no protege a nuestras comunidades, las traumatiza. Los jóvenes tienen miedo de asistir a sus propias graduaciones. La gente tiene miedo de ir a trabajar. Están arrestando a lavaplatos, jardineros y costureras. No son delincuentes, son familias; esto no es seguridad pública, es tiranía.
California seguirá luchando por todas nuestras comunidades, incluyendo en las cortes. El Presidente lo sabe, por eso nos ataca con tanta agresividad. Hemos presentado 26 demandas contra la administración de Trump y ya hemosconseguido una orden judicial federalque denuncia la toma ilegal de la Guardia Nacional de California y la militarización de Los Ángeles por parte de Trump.
Esto aún está lejos de terminar.
Los regímenes autoritarios empiezan por atacar a los más vulnerables.Pero no se detienen ahí. Trump y sus leales se nutren de la división porque les permite consolidar el poder y ejercer un control aún mayor. Si cualquiera de nosotros puede ser secuestrado de las calles sin orden judicial, basándose únicamente en sospechas o el color de la piel, entonces ninguno de nosotros está a salvo.
Nos encontramos en un momento peligroso. Tenemos a un actual Presidente que cree no estar sujeto a ninguna ley, ni siquiera a nuestra Constitución. En poco más de 140 días, ha despedido a los organismos de control del gobierno que podrían exigirle responsabilidades por corrupción y fraude. Ha declarado una guerra contra la cultura, la historia, la ciencia; contra el conocimiento mismo. Las bases de datos, literalmente desapareciendo, los archivos invadidos y a las universidades se les dice qué pueden enseñar. Elpoderjudicialy elestado de derechoestán bajo asalto. Los periodistas y las organizaciones de noticias son un blanco de ataques.
Esto va mucho más allá de Los Ángeles. Va más allá de California. Se trata de todos nosotros, se trata de usted.
Cuando Donald Trump ejerció su autoridad absoluta para comandar a la Guardia Nacional, hizo que esa orden se aplicara a todos los estados de esta nación. California puede ser la primera, pero no será la última. Otros estados son los siguientes. La democracia es lo que sigue.
Su administración hamaltratado y esposado al Senador estadounidense Alex Padillapor hacerle una pregunta a la Secretaria de Seguridad Nacional. Por hacer su trabajo. Elalcalde de Newark Ras Barakafuearrestadomientras acompañaba a congresistas a inspeccionar un centro federal de detención migratoria. La representante LaMonica McIverha sido acusada formalmenteen relación con el mismo incidente.
Nuestro sistema democrático se creó en oposición directa a la monarquía y se diseñó para fortalecer la libertad individual y la autonomía, para que nunca más estemos sometidos a un rey. Es esa idea, ese valor sagrado, lo que está siendo destruido.
Pero nuestra mayor fortaleza siempre ha sido el pueblo. Es hora de que todos nos levantemos.
El Juez Brandeis lo expresó mejor: “En una democracia, el cargo político más importante es el del ciudadano.” No el del presidente ni el del gobernador. Pero son ustedes, el pueblo, quienes son más importantes. Es su voz la que debe alzarse con más fuerza.
Muchos de ustedes sienten profunda ansiedad, estrés y miedo. Pero ustedes son el antídoto contra ese miedo y esa ansiedad. Lo que más desea Donald Trump es su lealtad, su silencio.
No se rindan ante él. No dejen que gane. Si nos mantenemos unidos, como vecinos, como comunidades, como estados, triunfaremos.
Extracto y expandido del discurso del Gobernador Newsom “La democracia en una encrucijada” del 10 de junio.
Read the Op-Ed in English here.
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Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that three organizations in Maine will receive a total of $1,373,395 through the Fiscal Year 2025 AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) and the Senior Companion Program (SCP). The funding will support the work of 149 older volunteers across the State of Maine who provide aid, companionship, and guidance to seniors, young people, and children.
“These grants will help older Mainers remain active and engaged in their communities while providing critical support to some of the most vulnerable people in our state,” said Senator Collins. “Whether it’s mentoring and providing guidance to students or helping older adults continue to live independently, foster grandparents and senior companions make a real difference in the lives of those they serve.”
The funding is allocated as follows:
The Opportunity Alliance (South Portland)
$583,373 Foster Grandparent Program award to support 65 volunteers.
Penquis CAP (Bangor)
$399,717 Foster Grandparent Program award to support 44 volunteers
University of Maine System (Orono)
$390,305 Senior Companion Program award to support 40 volunteers
According to AmeriCorps, the FGP engages volunteers age 55 and over to serve in communities as role models, mentors, and friends to children. The SCP engages volunteers to provide assistance and companionship primarily to elderly individuals—and also to people with disabilities—who have difficulty with daily living tasks.
Senator Collins is a longstanding member of the National Service Congressional Caucus and has cosponsored legislation to exclude the AmeriCorps Education Award from federal income tax. In recognition of her strong support for AmeriCorps, Senator Collins received the Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award in 2023. She joined a bipartisan group in introducing legislation to expand national service programs significantly to help the country recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
06.17.25
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Representatives Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and James Moylan (R-GU) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act. This legislation provides resources for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collaborate with local and tribal entities to research and monitor ocean acidification.
“The impacts of ocean acidification on our coastal communities cannot be understated, particularly on our blue economy,” said Senator Murkowski, Co-Chair of the Senate Oceans Caucus. “This legislation takes a holistic approach to understanding ocean acidification, encouraging experts from every walk of life to work together and ensure that our oceans stay healthy.”
“The oceans are in trouble. Ocean acidification caused by carbon pollution is harming marine ecosystems and coastal industries like aquaculture,” said Senator Whitehouse, Co-Chair of the Senate Oceans Caucus. “Our bipartisan legislation will assist in monitoring changes to the oceans and help us better understand how to protect Rhode Island’s blue economy from acidifying waters.”
“We’re seeing the effects of ocean acidification in real time—from threatening lobster populations in the Gulf of Maine to eroding coral reefs in tropical waters. We now know that parts of our oceans have reached dangerous acidification levels earlier than expected, threatening entire ecosystems.” said Congresswoman Pingree, ranking member of the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee. “Coastal communities like those in Maine are on the frontlines of this crisis, and our bipartisan Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act ensures they won’t face it alone. This bill gives coastal communities the science, tools, and support they need to build resilience and protect ocean industries that support millions of jobs. I was proud that my colleagues in the House passed this crucial bill last Congress, it’s long past time Congress sends this bill to the President’s desk.”
“As an island territory in the heart of the Pacific, Guam is on the front lines of climate and oceanic change. Ocean acidification threatens not just our marine ecosystems, but also our cultural traditions, local fisheries, and food security,” said Congressman Moylan. “This legislation is about giving coastal communities like ours the tools and partnerships we need to understand and respond to these growing challenges. I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to ensure a healthier ocean for future generations.”
This legislation would direct NOAA to collaborate with and support state, local, and tribal entities that are conducting or have completed ocean acidification vulnerability assessments. The bill strengthens partnerships between NOAA and a wide range of stakeholders involved in ocean acidification research, such as indigenous groups, coastal communities, state and local resource managers, fishery management councils and commissions, and the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). The Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act passed the House in the 118th Congress.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
PM meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 17 June 2025
The Prime Minister met President Zelenskyy of Ukraine at the G7 Summit this afternoon.
The Prime Minister met President Zelenskyy of Ukraine at the G7 Summit this afternoon.
Their meeting followed an extensive session with wider partners, focused on maintaining momentum to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
The Prime Minister and President agreed to drive forward the next stage of military support – adding that a strong Ukraine is essential to guarantee peace in the long term. They agreed to convene the next Coalition of the Willing meeting in the coming weeks.
They also discussed ramping up the economic pressure on Putin, with the Prime Minister updating the President on the new sanctions announced by the United Kingdom today.
They agreed there should be no place to hide for those who fund Putin’s war machine.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Over 500,000 homes to be built through new National Housing Bank
£16bn of new public investment will help build over 500,000 new homes, unlocking over £53bn of private investment, as part of the government’s Plan for Change
Hundreds of thousands of extra homes will be delivered thanks to a bold new government-backed ‘housing bank’ that will unlock billions in private sector investment to turbocharge housebuilding.
The National Housing Bank, a subsidiary of Homes England, will be publicly owned and backed with £16 billion of financial capacity, on top of £6bn of existing finance to be allocated this Parliament, in order to accelerate housebuilding and leverage in £53 billion of additional private investment, creating jobs and delivering over 500,000 new homes.
The trailblazing approach will see Homes England, the national housing and regeneration agency, able to issue government guarantees directly and have greater autonomy and flexibility to make the long-term investments that are needed to reform the housing market and deliver strong returns.
With long-term, flexible capital, the National Housing Bank will be able to act as a consistent partner to the private sector, bringing the stability and certainty that housing developers and investors need to make delivery happen. It will also support SMEs with new lending products and enable developers to unlock large, complex sites through infrastructure finance.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner:
“We‘re turning the tide on the housing crisis we inherited – whether that’s fixing our broken planning system, investing £39 billion to deliver more social and affordable homes, or now creating a National Housing Bank to lever in vital investment.
“This government is delivering reform and investing in Britain’s renewal through our Plan for Change. Our foot is firmly on the accelerator when it comes to making sure a generation is no longer locked out of homeownership – or ensuring children don’t have to grow up in unsuitable temporary accommodation, and instead have the safe and secure home they deserve.”
The Bank will deploy some of the £2.5 billion in low-interest loans announced at the Spending Review to support build social and affordable homes.
It builds on £39 billion investment announced at the Spending Review for a new 10-year Affordable Homes Programme, which is the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation, supporting our Plan for Change milestone to build 1.5 million homes.
This comes ahead of the government’s 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy to be published tomorrow. The strategy will set out a £725 billion plan to rebuild the UK over the coming decade, bringing together for the first time economic, social and housing infrastructure.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:
“Our Spending Review last week delivered the biggest cash injection into social and affordable housing in 50 years as we progress on our promise to build 1.5 million homes.
“As part of our Plan for Change, the new National Housing Bank will unlock £53 billion of additional private investment—giving more working people the security of home ownership and investing in Britain’s renewal.”
Because we reformed our fiscal rules, we can invest through government-backed institutions, like the new National Housing Bank, to attract private investment and make sure money flows into projects that deliver real benefits for working people and communities.
The Bank will help unlock a wide range of sites, including larger ones which struggle to get up front lending given their risk and complexity, using a mixture of equity investment, loans and guarantees to leverage global institutional capital into UK housing, reducing risk at the early stages of development.
It will also support SME lending by establishing additional lending alliances with private sector partners and leverage in additional capital and expertise, including providing revolving credit facilities to help SMEs to grow and build out their housing pipeline more quickly. This follows proposals previously announced to bolster the capabilities of SME developers, which provide local jobs and train construction apprentices, by streamlining and simplifying overly complex planning rules.
Homes England Chair Pat Ritchie said:
“Establishing the National Housing Bank, as a part of Homes England, builds on the Agency’s expertise at providing a wide range of finance to partners and places to unlock the delivery of new housing and mixed-use schemes.
“The National Housing Bank also responds to calls from the housing sector, mayors and local leaders to increase the scale of available public and private finance for housing and regeneration, provide a broader range of flexible debt, equity and guarantee products, and enable more timely decision making.”
The government will also work with the Mayor of London to establish a City Hall Developer Investment Fund, and support housing regeneration around London Euston, to help deliver London’s ambition to build around 80,000 homes per year. In Greater Manchester, the Housing Investment Loan Fund will be extended to deliver thousands of new homes over the next ten years.
A programme of investment including £5 billion grant funding for infrastructure and land from the new National Housing Delivery Fund will complement capital investment from the National Housing Bank. This package will drive growth and transform places, boosting housing supply on otherwise unviable large and complex sites, and support land assembly, remediation and up-front infrastructure delivery such as utilities and schools.
Paul Rickard, Chief Executive Officer, Pocket Living:
“The creation of this National Housing Bank, alongside the recent spending review and other policy announcements, is a huge boost for housing delivery. We particularly welcome the recognition of the importance of SME developers with one of the banks focus’ being new funding options for SMEs and the freedom for the public and private sector to innovate together to deliver more homes. We have been working closely with government to ensure that the SME sector has capacity, certainty, and flexibility and we are delighted this is now being delivered.”
Stephen Teagle, CEO, Partnerships & Regeneration, Vistry Group:
“This announcement underlines the government’s commitment to use all the tools available to drive delivery and tackle the housing crisis head-on.
“Establishing the new National Housing Bank as a subsidiary of Homes England will help bring schemes forward at pace, ensure alignment with other programmes and gain traction with developers and investors keen to leverage investment and drive delivery. It recognises that long-term place making and long-term investment go hand in hand. Paired with last week’s measures this is further evidence of a government with an innovative and clear-sighted focus on addressing the years of under supply of new homes to build vibrant communities for the future.
“Through Vistry’s unique partnerships model, we look forward to continue working with Homes England and all our partners to maximise the benefits of this new initiative.”
Phil Mayall, Managing Director, Muse Places:
“Today’s announcement is hugely exciting for the regeneration and housing sector. Muse has long advocated the need for a longer-term, partnership approach to the delivery of housing in areas of most need and the new National Housing Bank achieves this at scale. We very much look forward to working in partnership with the Bank and the Government to deliver at pace.”
Charlie Nunn, Group Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group:
“A new National Housing Bank as part of Homes England is a powerful commitment towards building essential housing across the UK, at pace and at scale. As the MADE partnership between Lloyds Banking Group and Homes England demonstrates, by providing greater certainty and risk-sharing for developers, SME housebuilders, regional and local authorities, while strengthening public-private partnerships for institutional investors, we can accelerate the flow of private finance and deliver more homes in the places they’re needed most.”
Greg Reed, CEO, Places for People:
“The catalytic combination of a generationally significant affordable programme and the creation of a National Housing Bank is truly game changing for the provision of social housing in this country.”
Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation:
“The National Housing Bank is another welcome, innovative initiative from the government and a clear statement of intent on fixing the housing crisis. Alongside the ambitious new Affordable Homes Programme and the long-term certainty provided by the new rent settlement announced at the Spending Review, the £2.5bn low-cost loans for social housing providers will bolster our sector’s capacity to get building. We will continue to work with the government to deliver the truly affordable homes so many people across the country need.”
Notes to editors:
· The Bank will be publicly owned and designated as a Public Financial Institution (PuFin) to make a long-term return for government aligned with the requirements set out in the 2025 Financial Transaction Control Framework. It will give the housing sector the certainty, flexibility and the capacity to deliver at scale, and will work with mayors and local leaders to back housing projects that meets regional priorities.
The National Housing Bank will:
Provide a wider range of debt, equity and guarantee products that support SMEs to accelerate their housebuilding and grow their businesses more rapidly.
Expand the use of lending alliances with the private sector, which significantly increases access to finance for housebuilders.
Support the unlocking of large and complex sites to increase confidence and boost housing supply through the provision of infrastructure finance and guarantees.
Work with Mayors and local leaders to develop integrated packages of financial support to deliver their housing and regeneration priorities, alongside wider land and grant funding.
Provide the low-interest loans announced at the Spending Review to support the delivery of more social and affordable homes – recognising their importance in tackling the housing crisis.
The £16bn is additional to MHCLG’s existing financial guarantee programme, with £6bn of existing finance to be allocated this Parliament. will have greater freedoms and flexibilities to make long-term investments to tackle the housing crisis.
The new National Housing Bank will be a publicly owned subsidiary of Homes England, designated as a Public Financial Institution (PuFin) that is aligned with the requirements set out in the 2025 Financial Transaction Control Framework.
Following this announcement MHCLG and Homes England will work with the Greater London Authority, and established Mayoral Strategic Authorities, to agree how to support them to deliver on regional housing priorities.
As part of this, MHCLG and Homes England may agree that some of this £16bn allocation for the National Housing Bank will be devolved to the GLA or Mayoral Strategic Authorities – and would therefore be delivered outside the remit of the Bank, but with the same targets and objectives
The National Housing Bank is a permanent institution which will deliver debt, equity and guarantees. In many cases CDEL grant will also be a critical part of the capital stack to deliver large scale, complex and transformational housing regeneration and infrastructure projects.
To support this, alongside these financial products MHCLG will provide c.£5bn CDEL grant to invest across the country. This CDEL grant will sit alongside the financial products delivered by the National Housing Bank to ensure large, transformative and otherwise unviable projects nationwide can be delivered.
Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
With a growing strategic partnership, Prime Minister Carney emphasized the immense potential for increased co-operation. The leaders discussed opportunities for Canada to deepen trade, commerce, and investment with Brazil.
Prime Minister Carney underscored the shared values between Canada and Brazil, including protecting the environment and building stronger economies in partnership with Indigenous Peoples.
The leaders discussed shared priorities, such as fortifying critical mineral supply chains, combatting wildfires, resuming trade negotiations, and building clean growth, particularly with Canada hosting the 2025 G7 Presidency and Brazil hosting COP30 later this year.
Prime Minister Carney and President Lula agreed to remain in close contact.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)
Congressmen Mike Ezell (R-MS04) and Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA02) introduced H.R. 3842, the Strengthening American Maritime Dominance (SAMDA) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at bolstering investment in American cargo ports and revitalizing domestic manufacturing jobs.
The Strengthening American Maritime Dominance (SAMDA) Act will enhance federal support for owners or those who lease American-flagged vessels to invest in critical infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports—essential gateways for the nation’s commerce—and ensure that investments directly benefit American workers and manufacturers. The expansion of the Capital Construction Fund will allow for the investment into cargo handling equipment, whether it’s land-based equipment, marine terminals, port landside infrastructure, or more related to the lifting and or movement of cargo.
“Strong ports mean a strong economy,”Ezell said.“This bill is about smart investment—making sure our ports have the modern infrastructure they need to move goods efficiently, support American manufacturing, and protect thousands of jobs. Mississippi’s Gulf Coast depends on reliable, well-equipped port facilities not only for trade but for the livelihood of our communities. I’m proud to work across the aisle with Congressman Carter to deliver real results for our workers, our economy, and our national security, while helping build the backbone of American industry and keeping our supply chains secure.”
“This legislation allows our ports, the economic engine of Louisiana, to upgrade their facilities with American-made infrastructure, strengthening our economy and national security. This will give our maritime businesses and workers the necessary resources to expand their operations and prosper. I want to thank my colleague Mike Ezell for leading this bipartisan effort with me,”Carter said.
The legislation is designed to:
Increase targeted investment in infrastructure at cargo ports across the U.S.,
Prioritize funding for projects that support American manufacturing and job creation,
Enhance the competitiveness of U.S. ports in global trade,
Improve supply chain efficiency and resilience,
Ensure stability and growth of the U.S. marine merchant fleet.
Ezell emphasized that the bill will help communities like those along the Mississippi Gulf Coast attract new business and grow the industrial workforce.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on Senate Republicans’ reconciliation bill text:
“Senate Republicans unveiled their reconciliation bill – and it’s even more extreme than the House version. It would make the largest cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act in history, ripping health care away from Americans, forcing rural hospitals to close, and abandoning the providers who care for our communities.
“In New Mexico, more than 800,000 people – including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and families – rely on Medicaid. This bill would kick millions of Americans off their coverage just to give handouts to the wealthiest individuals and corporate interests.
“Most people on Medicaid already work or care for loved ones. If Senate Republicans were serious about improving the program, they’d work with Senate Democrats to strengthen it. I’ll fight this bill every step of the way to protect New Mexicans who can’t afford to lose their care.”
Last week, Senator Luján joined Senate Finance Committee Democrats at a press conference to announce the HCBS Relief Act and a series of additional proposals to invest in the Medicaid program and boost federal anti-fraud initiatives.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on Senate Republicans’ reconciliation bill text:
“Senate Republicans unveiled their reconciliation bill – and it’s even more extreme than the House version. It would make the largest cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act in history, ripping health care away from Americans, forcing rural hospitals to close, and abandoning the providers who care for our communities.
“In New Mexico, more than 800,000 people – including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and families – rely on Medicaid. This bill would kick millions of Americans off their coverage just to give handouts to the wealthiest individuals and corporate interests.
“Most people on Medicaid already work or care for loved ones. If Senate Republicans were serious about improving the program, they’d work with Senate Democrats to strengthen it. I’ll fight this bill every step of the way to protect New Mexicans who can’t afford to lose their care.”
Last week, Senator Luján joined Senate Finance Committee Democrats at a press conference to announce the HCBS Relief Act and a series of additional proposals to invest in the Medicaid program and boost federal anti-fraud initiatives.
Statement of the Co-Chairs of the United Nations High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution — France and Saudi Arabia — and of the Co-Chairs of its Working Groups – Qatar, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Norway, Senegal, Spain, Türkiye, United Kingdom, the European Union, and the League of Arab States:
We express our deep concern over the recent developments and continued escalation in the region, which has regrettably necessitated the decision to suspend the United Nations High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. These events are a stark reminder of the fragility of the current situation and the urgent need to restore calm, uphold international norms, and reinvigorate diplomacy.
In light of these circumstances, we reaffirm our full commitment to the objectives of the Conference and to continuing its work without interruption. The Roundtables, to be convened shortly, will proceed as an integral part of the Conference process. Building on the contributions of the Working Groups, they will serve to consolidate clear and coordinated commitments and reaffirm the collective resolve to implement the two-State solution.
The Co-Chairs will announce the convening of the high-level segment at the soonest possible opportunity, in line with their commitment to continuing the work and objectives of the Conference.
Now more than ever, the situation compels us to double our efforts to call for upholding international law, respecting the sovereignty of states, and advancing peace, liberty, and dignity for all peoples of the region. We remain resolute in our shared determination to support all efforts to bring an end to the war in Gaza, achieve a just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question through the implementation of the two-State solution, and ensure stability and security for all countries in the region.
There are 57 wildfires currently burning across Alberta in the Forest Protection Area, and three mutual aid fires.
22 are classified as out of control, nine are being held and 26 are under control.
There have been nine new wildfires since yesterday.
Since Jan. 1, there have been 567 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area, burning more than 660,000 hectares.
More than 1,500 Alberta firefighters, contract firefighters and imported firefighters are currently battling wildfires across the province.
Resources currently being used include heavy equipment, air tankers, helicopters and night vision helicopters.
Alberta has imported firefighters and aircraft from Yukon, British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Australia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii and the United States Forest Service.
Information about wildfires can be found by visiting the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
Orders and alerts
Updates on evacuation orders are available on www.alberta.ca/emergency.
On June 17, Dene Tha’ First Nation lifted its evacuation order for the community of Chateh, allowing all residents to return home. Residents of Chateh must remain prepared to evacuate again if conditions change.
On June 16, the Town of Swan Hills lifted its evacuation alert.
On June 13, the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 lifted its evacuation order, allowing all residents to return home. An evacuation alert remains in place for everyone north of Township Road 710 to 740, east of the provincial border with British Columbia to Range Road 132.
On June 13, Saddle Hills County updated its evacuation order, which now includes everyone located between Township Road 794 and Highway 680 (Township Road 802), and Range Road 95 and Highway 725, as well as the Crown Land north of Township Road 800 and south of the Blueberry Mountain Grazing Reserve. The surrounding areas remain on evacuation alert.
On June 13, Lac La Biche County lifted its evacuation alert for southern Winefred Lake and Grist Lake.
The Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council’s evacuation orders for Loon Lake 235, Peerless Lake and Trout Lake remain in effect.
Registration centre at 10451 170 Street, Edmonton.
The Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17’s evacuation order for Red Earth Creek remains in effect.
Reception centre at the Baytex Energy Centre, 9810 73 Avenue, Peace River.
The Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17’s evacuation order for Chipewyan Lake also remains in effect.
Reception centre at Lakeview Sports Centre, 102 Opportunity Drive, Wabasca-Desmarais.
Residents of the following additional areas must also remain prepared to evacuate if necessary:
Hamlet of Marten Beach – Municipal District of Slave River
Hawk Hills area – County of Northern Lights
Alberta Emergency Alerts are issued by local authorities and are updated at their discretion. For the best source of information on the status of evacuation orders and alerts, residents are encouraged to follow their local authorities’ preferred communication channels for updates.
People living in Alberta are encouraged to download the Alberta Emergency Alert mobile app, which immediately pushes all alerts out to subscribers.
Fire bans
A fire ban is in effect for the High Level Forest Area as well as parts of the Fort McMurray and Calgary forest areas.
Under this ban, all outdoor wood fires, barbecue charcoal briquettes, fireworks and exploding targets are prohibited, and existing fire permits are suspended.
Please confirm advisories, restrictions or bans for your area at alberta.ca/fire-bans.
Fire bans outside the Forest Protection Area are the responsibility of municipalities and counties.
Everyone has a role to play in wildfire prevention. Follow all fire bans and restrictions to avoid new fire starts. If you see smoke or flames in the forest, call 310-FIRE to report it.
Applying FireSmart principles to homes and property can mitigate the risk of wildfire damage. Removing flammable materials and vegetation around the property and preventing embers from accumulating can help protect your home from wildfires. To learn more, visit FireSmart Alberta.
Air quality
Visit Wildfire Smoke Information for air quality monitoring information to make informed decisions about outdoor activities to protect your health. While wildfire smoke is affecting air quality in parts of Alberta, the presence of smoke does not necessarily mean there is fire near your community. Find information about the status of active wildfires and wildfire updates at Alberta Wildfire.
Roads and highways
Highway 686 between Red Earth Creek and Trout Lake is currently closed due to a wildfire.
Highway 671/Kelly Lake Road at the Alberta/British Columbia border to Range Road 130, southwest of Hythe, is now open.
511 Alberta is the best source of real time information as conditions change on our highways. Follow on X (formerly known as Twitter) @511alberta.
Alberta highways that are affected by the wildfires will open and close frequently depending on safety and weather conditions. Be patient and respect the staff at the closure/detour sites – they are there with your safety in mind.
Health
As of June 16, following the end of the community’s four-hour evacuation order, Alberta Health Services is actively working to restore acute care services at Swan Hills Healthcare Centre.
For information about wildfire resources, including mental health, visit Wildfire Resources | Alberta Health Services.
Education
Six schools are currently closed in response to community evacuations:
Dene Tha’ Community School, in Chateh
Kateri School, in Trout Lake
Elizabeth Quintal School, in Peerless Lake
Clarence Jaycox School, in Loon Lake
Red Earth Creek School, in Red Earth Creek
Chipewyan Lake School, in Chipewyan Lake
Swan Hills School, in Swan Hills, reopened on Monday, June 9.
Parents and guardians should reach out to local school authorities for the most current information on impacts to schooling.
All impacted school authorities had plans in place to ensure displaced students have access to educational programming.
Child care
One child-care centre is currently closed in response to community evacuations:
Opportunity Childcare, in Red Earth Creek
Licensed child-care programs are required to notify Child Care Connect if they close unexpectedly.
Parents and guardians should reach out to their child-care provider for information on closures.
Justice and Court Services
The Chateh and Red Earth Creek courthouses are closed until further notice due to evacuations. Visit the Alberta Courts website for the most current information regarding court scheduling.
Related information
Active emergency updates
Alberta Emergency Alerts
Download the Alberta Emergency Alerts app
Download the Alberta Wildfire app
How to prepare for an emergency
Wildfire smoke information
Emergency evacuation payments
Free admission to provincial museums and historic sites
People travelling under the new Highway 17-Old Yale Road overpass in Surrey can now see the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project’s first Indigenous art installation.
Traffic moved onto the new overpass in early June 2025 as part of the larger project to replace the aging Pattullo Bridge. Indigenous art is being integrated onto and around the new infrastructure in recognition of First Nations’ deep historical and current connections to the area.
The artwork, a design embossed into the concrete retaining wall on the northeast side of the overpass, was created by Kwantlen First Nation artist q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ, Phyllis Atkins. The design depicts sturgeon and eulachon, two species of fish in the Fraser River of great significance to First Nations.
The project overlaps with the boundaries of two former reserves: Musqueam Indian Reserve No. 1 and Kwantlen Indian Reserve No. 8. Both were located in qiqéyt, an important village site for First Nations within the project area.
A First Nations cultural recognition program is using artwork, storytelling, language and signage as an opportunity for education, acknowledgment and celebration of the culture, history and continued stewardship of the project area’s lands and waters.
As part of the cultural recognition program, Musqueam Indian Band and Kwantlen First Nation are bestowing the people of British Columbia a name for the new bridge in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language. More details about the name will be shared in the coming months.
Learn More:
To learn more about Pattullo Bridge replacement First Nations cultural recognition program, visit: https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/fn-artprogram
To learn more about Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project, visit: https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/
A backgrounder follows.
First Nations cultural recognition:
The Fraser River and its shorelines have been actively used by First Nations since time immemorial for fishing, harvesting and other important activities.
First Nations artists are exploring themes of kinship-based trade, transportation and inter-generational connection through their artwork.
These themes will feature strongly in artwork visible on the new bridge structure and approaches in New Westminster and Surrey.
The work of Kwantlen artist q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ, Phyllis Atkins is inspired by her life-long connection to the stɑl’əw̓ (Fraser River).
The artwork is dedicated to her friend, Garrett Martindale, who worked with q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ on white sturgeon acoustic telemetry studies.
Highway 17-Old Yale Road overpass and Bridge Road in Surrey:
Traffic fully shifted onto the new Highway 17 overpass on June 2, 2025, allowing traffic to continue uninterrupted above Old Yale Road.
The overpass will also accommodate a direct off-ramp from the new bridge to westbound Highway 17.
Construction of the new off-ramp is ongoing.
Bridge Road will become a two-way road with a new multi-use path connecting to the bridge.
The embossed design is visible from Old Yale Road and Bridge Road.
Senator Graham has asked CBO to answer questions regarding the use of sequestration (the cancellation of budgetary resources) in accordance with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (S-PAYGO).
Under S-PAYGO the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) maintains 5- and 10-year scorecards that it updates to include estimated cumulative changes in revenues and outlays that are generated by newly enacted legislation.
If, at the end of a session of Congress, either scorecard indicates a net increase in the deficit for the budget year, OMB must order a sequestration to eliminate the overage (any current-year effects are combined with those for the budget year). The balance used to determine the amount sequestered is not the projected increase in the deficit for a particular year. Rather, OMB’s 5- and 10-year scorecards identify the average annual effects of a piece of legislation over those periods and assign the average to each year in the period. Before an average is calculated, any current-year effects are combined with those for the budget year.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “Governor Hochul is making a historic investment in SUNY Downstate and Central Brooklyn, which will create a state-of-the-art, modern teaching hospital for generations of Brooklynites. This more than $1 billion investment, as part of a reasonable, scalable, and fiscally responsible plan, will ensure SUNY Downstate’s hospital moves forward and maintains all essential inpatient and outpatient services, as it expands to continue serving the needs of the community.”
The advisory board’s task was to consider recommendations to establish a reasonable, scalable and fiscally responsible plan for the financial health, viability, and sustainability of SUNY Downstate within a range of available funds. Over the course of their deliberations, the advisory board:
Held four public hearings (one more than statutorily required) on January 22, February 27, March 13, and April 28, with two in Community Board #9 and two in Community Board #17
Met with numerous community stakeholders including the SUNY Downstate Medical School Department Chairs, the Brooklyn for Downstate advocacy group (twice), the leadership at SUNY Downstate, and other regional health care providers
Carefully reviewed analysis of the community health needs (including the Brooklyn for Downstate data needs analysis and recommendations for the future of SUNY Downstate, the Community Health Needs Assessment 2022 prepared by the NYC Health & Hospitals, and the New York State Department of Health’s Study of Healthcare System Inequities and Perinatal Access in Brooklyn report), Downstate Hospital’s financials, and the condition of Downstate Hospital’s physical plant
Engaged a team of consultants to provide expert analysis, infrastructure assessment, financial modeling, architectural and engineering scenarios, and coordination to independently assess the reasonableness of the financial modeling and identify options to reduce the ongoing operating deficit.
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University President Dr. Wayne J. Riley said, “This plan represents an extraordinary investment in SUNY Downstate’s teaching hospital–University Hospital at Downstate–and a brighter future for our patients, students, faculty, and staff. I thank Governor Hochul, the Brooklyn legislative delegation, the SUNY Board of Trustees, Chancellor King, the faculty and staff of SUNY Downstate, and the faith leaders, labor organizations, and other community stakeholders who have worked together to envision a strong and achievable future for SUNY Downstate.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Governor Hochul has committed significant resources to ensure that SUNY Downstate can do more for the health and wellbeing of the Brooklyn community. We are grateful to the Governor, the Downstate Community Advisory Board, including SUNY Chancellor John King, as well as to Senior Vice Chancellor for Health and Hospital Affairs Valerie Grey, and all those who provided comments during this comprehensive review.”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald said, “This historic investment will transform the landscape of accessible, affordable health care services at SUNY Downstate Hospital for years to come. As a vital community hospital, SUNY Downstate has consistently led efforts to address health disparities and emerging health care needs of the New Yorkers it serves. With Governor Hochul’s investment and the support and collaboration of SUNY and the community, this investment will bring about sustainable improvements that will modernize the facility, ensuring the hospital has the capacity to deliver quality health care for years to come.”
SUNY Downstate Chair of the Department of Community and Family Health Dr. Enitza George, M.D., MBA, MSAI. said, “After six months of working with the DCAB members, I believe these recommendations truly reflect our commitment to listening to the community. We carefully considered what’s needed and balanced it with what’s possible given the current funding. I’m genuinely excited about what’s next—for Brooklyn as a whole and for Downstate in particular.”
“Every New Yorker deserves access to innovative, high-quality care. This historic $1 billion investment into SUNY Downstate’s hospital will contribute to modernization and infrastructure efforts that will lead to a brighter future for this community.”
Governor Kathy Hochul
SUNY Downstate Community Advisory Board Member Pastor Louis Hilton Straker Jr. said, “Reinvesting in Downstate will not only mean improved care, it will also mean a sense of safety and dignity for Central Brooklynites. Over the last year, we’ve seen how different voices and perspectives can enter a room and come together to deliver for our communities. Let Downstate serve as a sign of hope on what we can do when New Yorkers stand by each other and insist on solutions.”
SUNY Downstate Community Advisory Board Member Dr. Lesly Kernisant said, “In my decades of caring for Brooklyn patients, a simple fact is clear: modern facilities and comprehensive services lead to improved care. This investment in SUNY Downstate’s future–which includes vital support for maternal health care–marks an important moment in the collective effort to reduce health disparities and secure a better future for our community.”
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “Securing this historic $1 billion investment in SUNY Downstate is a major victory for Brooklyn. It preserves critical services, modernizes the hospital, and reaffirms our commitment to equitable, high-quality care. SUNY Downstate is not only a vital healthcare provider, but a lifeline and anchor in Brooklyn. I’m proud that the Senate Majority worked closely with Governor Hochul to deliver the funding needed to fully revitalize this essential institution, and I applaud Senator Myrie and all my Brooklyn colleagues whose tireless advocacy made this moment possible.”
Senator Kevin Parker said, “This historic investment demonstrates the impact of government that truly listens to the people it serves. SUNY Downstate’s inpatient and outpatient services are not just critical—they are life-saving resources for thousands of Brooklyn residents. Preserving these essential programs while committing to their modernization and expansion is a bold affirmation of our community’s right to accessible, high-quality care. It reflects a deep and overdue investment in the health, dignity, and future of Central Brooklyn. I applaud Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, and the entire Brooklyn delegation for their leadership in securing this transformative win.”
Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said, “This historic investment in SUNY Downstate is not only a commitment to health equity but a powerful example of what happens when government truly listens to the community,” said Senator Roxanne J. Persaud. “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership and the tireless work of the Community Advisory Board, we now have a fiscally responsible plan to modernize Downstate Hospital and ensure it remains a pillar of care, education, and opportunity in Central Brooklyn for generations to come.”
Senator Zellnor Myrie said, “Last year, Central Brooklyn fought back against a proposal that would have closed SUNY Downstate and sent its patients elsewhere for care. Instead, we secured a commitment to invest in Downstate’s future, modernizing its facilities and preserving its services. I am grateful to the Advisory Board members for their work, to the community for demanding world-class healthcare, and to the Governor and SUNY Chancellor for committing to implement these recommendations. Downstate has been there for Central Brooklyn in our hour of need, and we will always work to protect and strengthen Downstate.”
Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “For decades, marginalized communities have been forced to accept crumbling infrastructure and underfunded care. This $1 Billion investment in SUNY Downstate is a people-powered win, driven by community voices, labor, and public health advocates fighting for what we deserve: high-quality, publicly funded care that puts patients and workers first. Thank you to the Governor for her work with the Advisory Board and her commitment to increasing funding for healthcare access with our state legislature. We look forward to seeing shovels in the ground.”
Assemblymember Maritza Davila said, “I commend Governor Hochul for this historic $1 billion investment in SUNY Downstate Hospital. This commitment ensures that Brooklyn retains access to critical inpatient and outpatient services while advancing health equity through long-overdue infrastructure upgrades. As teaching hospital that provides staffing for hospitals all over Brooklyn and beyond, it is vital to keep SUNY Downstate as a full-service hospital.”
Embedded Flickr Album
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said, “SUNY Downstate was founded 165 years ago, and served as a vital healthcare institution and safety-net hospital, helping over 300,000 Brooklynites annually, regardless of their ability to pay. In recent years, our borough’s only academic medical center kept trying to provide innovative, high-quality-care for all, while its 19th century infrastructure crumbled; putting the Downstate Hospital in serious peril; while leaving our most vulnerable constituents with next-to-nothing for healthcare. Gov. Hochul took decisive action, when other leaders swept this problem under the rug, and worked with the Brooklyn Delegation and our communities to deliver a one billion-dollar solution ensuring a bright future for SUNY Downstate and the Brooklynites who depend on it. Thank you to the Advisory Board for providing a blueprint to revitalize SUNY Downstate into a world-class, state-of-the-art health center that will truly save the lives of Brooklynites today and for decades to come.”
Assemblymember Jo Ann Simon said, “The historic $1 billion investment in SUNY Downstate ensures what the community has long fought for: a full-service state hospital that meets the needs of the people it serves. I’m proud that community leaders, along with the Downstate Advisory Board and Governor Hochul, shaped a plan that centers around patient care, preserves vital services, and invests in health equity. This is a critical step forward, and we will continue working to ensure that the voices of patients, workers, and neighbors remain at the forefront.”
Assemblymember Latrice Walker said, “The release of the Downstate Community Advisory Board’s proposal for the reinvestment of more than $1 billion is a victory for the entire Central Brooklyn community, including the constituents of my district who rely on SUNY Downstate Hospital. I’d like to thank all the people who have fought so hard to get us to this point. That includes advocates, lawmakers, union leaders, and members of the faith and medical communities. And, of course, we would not be at this critical juncture without the leadership of Gov. Kathy Hochul and SUNY Chancellor John King. The proposal, which follows months of community input, retains kidney transplant and maternity services – which are priorities for my community, as we battle high rates of diabetes and fight for better Black maternal health outcomes. I look forward to the modernization of the emergency department, infrastructure upgrades and many other improvements stemming from the proposal. We have collectively struck a decisive blow in the ongoing effort to combat health disparities in Brooklyn communities of color. The quality of one’s care should not be determined by zip code.”
Assemblymember Jamie Williams said, “I’m glad to see the governor securing an additional $1 billion for SUNY Downstate’s Hospital. This critical investment will allow for much-needed infrastructure repairs and upgrades, and support for the wide variety of programs SUNY Downstate offers patients throughout New York City. I applaud the governor and look forward to seeing the benefits this investment in our healthcare system will have on our communities.”
Assemblymember Robert Carroll said, “I was proud to join my colleagues in voting to invest in SUNY Downstate in the State’s budget and commend Governor Hochul for the commitment of $1 billion in total as recommended by the SUNY Downstate Advisory Board. With this investment we are ensuring the modernization and sustainability of this institution, which is vital to the health and wellbeing of Brooklyn’s diverse communities and an important center for medical education and research.”
Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman said, “This $1 billion investment in SUNY Downstate will help close longstanding health equity gaps, preserve critical medical services, and strengthen a trusted institution that trains the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Assemblymember Stefani L. Zinerman (56th District). “Central Brooklyn owes a debt of gratitude to the unions, healthcare workers, clergy, and community leaders who fought tirelessly for a plan that will serve our families for generations to come.”
Assemblymember Brian Cunningham said, “This is what it looks like when government shows up for neighborhoods too often left behind. This $1 billion reinvestment in SUNY Downstate reflects the power of advocacy, partnership, and persistence. I am proud to have stood alongside Governor Hochul and the community to help deliver the resources this hospital has needed for far too long.”
Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman said, “For decades, SUNY Downstate’s University Hospital has served as a lifeline—providing critical care, training for our next generation of healthcare professionals, and anchoring the wellbeing of communities that have historically been underserved, but this historic investment will shift the trajectory for healthcare in our state, in unprecedented ways. With this investment, we are making a bold commitment in people and in the future of our public health system, while providing access that transcends zipcodes. Thank you to Governor Hochul for working with us to secure an allocation of over $1 billion to support significant infrastructure improvements and the overall modernization of this institution that we have advocated for, for much time.
New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis said, “I wholeheartedly applaud Governor Hochul for this historic and transformative $1 billion investment in SUNY Downstate Medical Center—a bold commitment that demonstrates extraordinary leadership and responsiveness to the urgent needs of Central Brooklyn residents. Knowing that this funding will restore full inpatient and outpatient care over 200 beds is a massive achievement in our fight to save this institution. As our community continues to advocate for a transformative and responsive investment, I am proud that our concerns were heard to bring modernized facilities and high-quality services to the working-class families of Central Brooklyn. Governor Hochul listened to the needs of our neighborhoods and I look forward to the strengthening of this essential institution.”
New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse said, “This $1 billion investment and the restoration of 225 beds are crucial steps in ensuring Downstate stays open and continues to serve our community. I am deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and unwavering commitment to preserving this essential healthcare institution in Central Brooklyn. By implementing the majority of the Downstate Community Advisory Board’s recommendations, we are listening to those who know best and ensuring a brighter, healthier future for all who rely on Downstate.”
Bishop Orlando Findlayter said, “We’ve seen private hospitals across the city close or limit services in recent years, which has been a rising threat to the healthcare of New Yorkers in underserved communities. But thanks to leadership from the Governor and our local community, Downstate will ensure the long-term commitment of all existing inpatient and outpatient services, and will serve as a beacon of care and community.”
To review the Executive Summary Slides click here. For more information please visit downstateadvisoryboard.org/.
Today, the Department of Justice filed a Statement of Interest in support of the City of Huntington Beach which wishes to cooperate with federal immigration authorities but is prevented from doing so by an unconstitutional California law. On January 7, 2025, the City of Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach City Council, Police Chief, and Sherrif, sued the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, and California Attorney General Robert Bonta over the unconstitutional “California Values Act” (CVA).
“California’s existing state law is designed to interfere with local jurisdictions that want to carry out immigration enforcement,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “As this week’s violence in Los Angeles demonstrates, the safe administration of immigration enforcement is both paramount and under threat – laws that undermine immigration enforcement at great risk to agents and citizens must not stand.”
California’s CVA violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution by prohibiting and obstructing federal immigration authorities from cooperating with local law enforcement authorities to carry out federal immigration law. Congress has specifically authorized the use of detainer requests which permit CBP and ICE to work with local law enforcement agencies. Contrary to law, the CVA prohibits local law enforcement agencies from honoring ICE detainer requests or from arresting, detaining, or holding individuals in custody based on civil immigration warrants.
This is the latest Statement of Interest the Department of Justice has filed challenging state interference with immigration enforcement.
Today, the Department of Justice filed a Statement of Interest in support of the City of Huntington Beach which wishes to cooperate with federal immigration authorities but is prevented from doing so by an unconstitutional California law. On January 7, 2025, the City of Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach City Council, Police Chief, and Sherrif, sued the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, and California Attorney General Robert Bonta over the unconstitutional “California Values Act” (CVA).
“California’s existing state law is designed to interfere with local jurisdictions that want to carry out immigration enforcement,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “As this week’s violence in Los Angeles demonstrates, the safe administration of immigration enforcement is both paramount and under threat – laws that undermine immigration enforcement at great risk to agents and citizens must not stand.”
California’s CVA violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution by prohibiting and obstructing federal immigration authorities from cooperating with local law enforcement authorities to carry out federal immigration law. Congress has specifically authorized the use of detainer requests which permit CBP and ICE to work with local law enforcement agencies. Contrary to law, the CVA prohibits local law enforcement agencies from honoring ICE detainer requests or from arresting, detaining, or holding individuals in custody based on civil immigration warrants.
This is the latest Statement of Interest the Department of Justice has filed challenging state interference with immigration enforcement.
The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, met today with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, in the margins of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis. The meeting focused on the UN80 initiative to reform the United Nations system and enhance its efficiency, as well as on Italy’s role within the Organisation, with particular reference to the UNIFIL mission and Italy’s co-presidency, together with Ethiopia, of the next Food Systems Summit to be held in Addis Ababa on 28-29 July.
President Meloni also shared with the Secretary-General the need to continue working to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, to stop the fighting and allow humanitarian aid to enter the Strip.