ExportNZ welcomes news of the United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill passing into law last night, saying it marks the next step forward in seeing the Agreement between New Zealand and UAE provide a boost to exporters.
Executive Director Joshua Tan says recent engagements with exporters nationwide proves there is plenty of interest from businesses to explore opportunities in the UAE.
“The UAE is a fast-moving, high-value market with demand for exactly the kinds of quality, sustainable, and trusted products and services New Zealand is known for.
“We not only see opportunities for exporting products and services to the UAE, but also fostering investment opportunities in New Zealand. We are excited about the potential for growth in the New Zealand-Emirati economic relationship.
“ExportNZ acknowledges the hard work of our government officials and the Minister for Trade & Investment for moving quickly to conclude and pass this high-quality agreement. We look forward to notification of when the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement will come into force for exporters to begin leveraging.”
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
Ahu Charitable Trust (Pukerua Bay Hub) was crowned supreme Porirua winners at the 2025 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards last night.
The event, held at Pātaka Art + Museum, highlighted outstanding volunteers and organisations making a difference in Porirua with their dedication and passion.
Category winners were:
Education and Child/Youth Development – 41 (City of Porirua) Squadron Air Training Corp (runner-up Holy Family Parish Youth Ministry)
Health and Wellbeing – Foundation for Equity and Research NZ (runner-up Waitangirua Market)
Arts and Culture – Ahu Charitable Trust (Pukerua Bay Hub) (runner-up Malaga Sā)
Sport and Leisure – Plimmerton Boating Club (runner-up Porirua City Aquatics Learn to Swim programme)
Heritage and Environment – Whitireia Park Restoration Group (runner-up Tū Matau Ora)
Rising Star – Heavy Hitterz (runner-up O Le Nu’u Trust)
Supreme Award – Ahu Charitable Trust (Pukerua Bay Hub)
Ahu Charitable Trust (Pukerua Bay Hub) was established in 2017 by locals wanting to bring the community together to share skills and build resilience. Last winter, their innovative ‘Pop-Up Parlour’ transformed St Marks Church into a central hub with 48 diverse events held over a five-week period.
Porirua City Council’s General Manager Community & Partnerships, Reuben Friend, said the awards are a chance to show off how diverse groups are making our a better place for us to live.
“Everyone nominated demonstrates their love for Porirua and its people through their ongoing commitment – they show innovation, effectiveness, perseverance, impact and activity within our communities,” he said.
Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said the airport was proud to celebrate the outstanding work of community groups in Porirua over the previous 12 months.
“These groups deserve recognition for the amazing and selfless work they do in the community. Congratulations to all nominees and winners, and best of luck for the Regional Community Awards finals later this year.”
Federated Farmers Statement: Greenpeace vandals must lose charitable status
Federated Farmers is renewing its call for Greenpeace to be stripped of its charitable status immediately, following the extreme activist group’s latest illegal publicity stunt.
“Greenpeace need to be held accountable for their repeated illegal activity and the spread of harmful misinformation,” Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick says.
“How can they be recognised as a charity when they’re breaking all kinds of laws trespassing on private property, vandalising public property, and intimidating the community?
“Last night’s vandalism of the world-famous trout statue in Gore reinforces why these activists need to lose their status as a charity. I think it’s a total abuse of charitable status.”
Herrick says Greenpeace’s vandalism of the statue and welcome sign is a shameless attempt to divide the small rural community and spread anti-farming propaganda.
“These activists are total cowards who are slinking around in the shadows vandalising property under the cover of darkness,” Herrick says.
“There’s a reason they’ve done this at night. They knew it was dodgy behaviour – and that they’d never get away with it in Gore during daylight hours.
“We’re a tight-knit community down here in Southland. Farming plays a huge role in not only our local economy, but in our social fabric too.
“There’s no way we’re going to put up with this nonsense. Greenpeace should hang their heads in shame.”
In April, Federated Farmers called for the Government to immediately strip Greenpeace of its charitable status after the group’s illegal occupation of Port Taranaki.
Charitable status in New Zealand is intended to support organisations that advance public benefit through education, relief of poverty, and other recognised charitable purposes.
Under the Charities Act, organisations must operate for the public good and not primarily serve political or advocacy purposes.
Herrick says he sees Greenpeace’s ongoing illegal activity as clear evidence that it no longer meets these criteria for charitable status.
“There are plenty of amazing, honest charities doing fantastic work out there – but Greenpeace is not one of them.
“It’s become little more than an extreme activist group that’s disrupting legitimate businesses and spreading harmful misinformation – repeatedly and deliberately.”
Federated Farmers lodged a formal complaint with Charities Services in April, requesting a formal inquiry into Greenpeace’s conduct and eligibility for charitable status.
A copy was also sent to Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Hon Louise Upston and Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Brooke van Velden.
The complaint focuses on Greenpeace’s repeated involvement in premeditated unlawful protest activity.
That includes the 2024 protest at Fonterra’s Te Rapa dairy factory where seven individuals were arrested, and last year’s occupation of Straterra’s Wellington office, where five were arrested during a staged lockdown.
“We urge Charities Services to act decisively on our existing complaint and strip Greenpeace of its charitable status quickly,” Herrick says.
“I can’t see any way they meet the requirements for registration under the Charities Act 2005.
“Hardworking Kiwi taxpayers should not be forced to subsidise their illegal attacks and extremist political agendas through tax breaks for their donors.
“Law-breaking groups cannot hide behind charitable privileges while threatening livelihoods with misinformation about farming.”
Herrick says it’s not just Greenpeace that needs to be held accountable for how it’s operating as a charity.
“I think Charities Services and the Government need to be held accountable too and answer some tough, but fair, questions about how this rort of the rules is being allowed to continue.
“There is absolutely no way Greenpeace should be allowed to constantly break the law and still be recognised as a charity.”
United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) Commanding General, General Ronald P. Clark, met this week with New Zealand Chief of Army, Major General Rose King, to reaffirm the strong and enduring military relationship between the two nations and advance efforts to bolster security cooperation, readiness, and interoperability across the Indo-Pacific region.
Over the course of the senior leaders’ and their delegations meeting in Wellington, as well as a visit to the NZ Army’s training and cultural home in Waiouru, the deepening defence relationship was reflected between both countries, rooted in shared democratic values and more than a century of military cooperation dating back to the First World War.
“Our armies have stood side by side in every major conflict of the past century,” said General Clark. “Today, that legacy continues as we build the integrated landpower network required to meet today’s challenges and preserve peace in the Indo-Pacific.”
Their meeting underscored not only the historical depth of the US–New Zealand Army partnership, but also the shared commitment to preparing their forces for the challenges of a rapidly evolving regional security environment.
“New Zealand values its close and enduring relationship with the US Army,” said Major General Rose King. “Our cooperation is not just historical – it’s operational, forward-looking, and grounded in trust. Together, we are preparing our forces to meet shared challenges across the region with agility, adaptability and purpose.”
Discussions focused on building further interoperability, advancing combined readiness initiatives, and the US Army’s recent transformation efforts. The leaders emphasised the critical role both armies play in shaping a free and open Indo-Pacific, especially as the region faces evolving threats and strategic competition.
The meeting occurred as both nations’ armies participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia, where close to 700 New Zealand Defence Force troops trained alongside US, Australian, and other allied forces. The exercise demonstrated growing interoperability across air, land, maritime, cyber, and space domains.
Major General King highlighted New Zealand’s commitment to maintaining a modern, combat-ready force capable of deploying globally and regionally. The New Zealand Army – 4,200 active and 2,000 reserve soldiers strong – regularly integrates seamlessly with allied partners across combined missions and operations, supports United Nations peacekeeping operations and delivers humanitarian assistance across the Pacific when called upon.
“We know that we can’t contribute mass and scale, but we pride ourselves on the quality of our soldiers and our leaders, who regularly deploy to, and add significant value to multinational deployments and operations,” Major General King said. “To that end, it’s been great to be able to share some insight with General Clark and his team around how we go about training our people.”
As part of its publicly announced modernisation efforts through the New Zealand Government’s Defence Capability Plan, the New Zealand Army is pursuing upgrades to its Javelin anti-tank missile system, investing in a Network Enabled Army to improve its digital communications and command-and-control interoperability, and planning the replacement of aging vehicle fleets to enhance mobility and sustainment in the field.
“New Zealand is a stalwart partner in the Pacific,” said General Clark. “Whether in exercises like Talisman Sabre or standing shoulder to shoulder in peacekeeping operations, our soldiers share trust built on action, not just words.”
This sentiment was echoed by Major General King, who emphasised the operational value of combined training and the practical steps both armies are taking to improve regional preparedness.
“Participating in Talisman Sabre alongside US and Australian forces showcases our commitment to operational readiness and deepening interoperability,” said Major General King. “These exercises strengthen our collective capability to respond quickly and effectively in the region—whether in conflict, crisis, or humanitarian need.”
Both generals acknowledged the strategic importance of the Pacific Islands region and affirmed their role in promoting regional security, development, and sovereignty.
This visit underscored the enduring strength of the US–New Zealand partnership – one forged in the trenches of the First World War, battle-tested in the Pacific during the Second World War, and reaffirmed today through shared purpose and mutual respect.
United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) Commanding General, General Ronald P. Clark, met this week with New Zealand Chief of Army, Major General Rose King, to reaffirm the strong and enduring military relationship between the two nations and advance efforts to bolster security cooperation, readiness, and interoperability across the Indo-Pacific region.
Over the course of the senior leaders’ and their delegations meeting in Wellington, as well as a visit to the NZ Army’s training and cultural home in Waiouru, the deepening defence relationship was reflected between both countries, rooted in shared democratic values and more than a century of military cooperation dating back to the First World War.
“Our armies have stood side by side in every major conflict of the past century,” said General Clark. “Today, that legacy continues as we build the integrated landpower network required to meet today’s challenges and preserve peace in the Indo-Pacific.”
Their meeting underscored not only the historical depth of the US–New Zealand Army partnership, but also the shared commitment to preparing their forces for the challenges of a rapidly evolving regional security environment.
“New Zealand values its close and enduring relationship with the US Army,” said Major General Rose King. “Our cooperation is not just historical – it’s operational, forward-looking, and grounded in trust. Together, we are preparing our forces to meet shared challenges across the region with agility, adaptability and purpose.”
Discussions focused on building further interoperability, advancing combined readiness initiatives, and the US Army’s recent transformation efforts. The leaders emphasised the critical role both armies play in shaping a free and open Indo-Pacific, especially as the region faces evolving threats and strategic competition.
The meeting occurred as both nations’ armies participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia, where close to 700 New Zealand Defence Force troops trained alongside US, Australian, and other allied forces. The exercise demonstrated growing interoperability across air, land, maritime, cyber, and space domains.
Major General King highlighted New Zealand’s commitment to maintaining a modern, combat-ready force capable of deploying globally and regionally. The New Zealand Army – 4,200 active and 2,000 reserve soldiers strong – regularly integrates seamlessly with allied partners across combined missions and operations, supports United Nations peacekeeping operations and delivers humanitarian assistance across the Pacific when called upon.
“We know that we can’t contribute mass and scale, but we pride ourselves on the quality of our soldiers and our leaders, who regularly deploy to, and add significant value to multinational deployments and operations,” Major General King said. “To that end, it’s been great to be able to share some insight with General Clark and his team around how we go about training our people.”
As part of its publicly announced modernisation efforts through the New Zealand Government’s Defence Capability Plan, the New Zealand Army is pursuing upgrades to its Javelin anti-tank missile system, investing in a Network Enabled Army to improve its digital communications and command-and-control interoperability, and planning the replacement of aging vehicle fleets to enhance mobility and sustainment in the field.
“New Zealand is a stalwart partner in the Pacific,” said General Clark. “Whether in exercises like Talisman Sabre or standing shoulder to shoulder in peacekeeping operations, our soldiers share trust built on action, not just words.”
This sentiment was echoed by Major General King, who emphasised the operational value of combined training and the practical steps both armies are taking to improve regional preparedness.
“Participating in Talisman Sabre alongside US and Australian forces showcases our commitment to operational readiness and deepening interoperability,” said Major General King. “These exercises strengthen our collective capability to respond quickly and effectively in the region—whether in conflict, crisis, or humanitarian need.”
Both generals acknowledged the strategic importance of the Pacific Islands region and affirmed their role in promoting regional security, development, and sovereignty.
This visit underscored the enduring strength of the US–New Zealand partnership – one forged in the trenches of the First World War, battle-tested in the Pacific during the Second World War, and reaffirmed today through shared purpose and mutual respect.
Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation
23rd July 2025
Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and Alan Dillon, Minister of State for Small Business, Retail and Employment, have today announced the opening of the consultation period inviting submissions from stakeholders on the status of occupations on the employment permits Occupations Lists. The Lists are used to administer Ireland’s employment permits policy. They consist of the Ineligible Occupations List – occupations for which there is an adequate supply of labour and skills with Ireland and the EEA, and for which an employment permit will not be issued, and the Critical Skills Occupations List – occupations in short supply in Ireland and across the EEA.
The last review of the occupations lists took place in 2023, and resulted in 11 additional roles being placed on the Critical Skills Occupations List, and 32 roles being made eligible for a General Employment Permit.
Minister Burke said:
“I am delighted to launch this next review of the eligible occupations for employment permits. At a time of full employment, with over 2.81 million people at work, and with 90,000 new jobs created in the last year, it is vital that we continue to have a strong and flexible employment permits system to allow non-EEA nationals to fill the skill and labour gaps we cannot access in Ireland or Europe and to ensure our economy remains competitive.
“As demonstrated by the changes made to the employment permit system over the last year, the system is responsive to the needs of the sectors and industries it serves. This full review will allow us to ensure the system remains up-to-date in a way that serves both workers and employers.”
Minister Dillon added:
“Our economic migration policy accommodates the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps in the domestic economy in the short to medium term. These workers are a vital part of the Irish economy. My Department’s reviews of the system promote an integrated approach to address these labour market deficiencies in the longer term and ensure we can continue to meet our labour needs.
“Where employers or stakeholders are facing challenges in recruiting a specific occupation and believe it should be eligible for an employment permit, or believe a certain occupation should move onto the critical skills list, now is their opportunity to share this feedback.
“With the consultation running over the summer period, there is plenty of time for interested employers and sectors who use the employment permits system to provide their feedback. Employer’s observations are vital in helping inform the department on how the list system is operating and where it can be improved.”
The submission process is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide additional information and potentially different perspectives on the nature and extent of skill shortages.
Submissions will be accepted through the online consultation form made available on the Department’s website and will be open from 23 July to 19 September.
Notes for Editor
Background
The Employment Permits System
The Irish State’s general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of Ireland, the European Union and other EEA states. Policy in relation to applications for employment permits remains focused on facilitating the recruitment from outside the EEA of highly skilled personnel, where the requisite skills cannot be met by normal recruitment or by training. Employment permit policy is part of the response to addressing skills deficits which exist and are likely to continue into the medium term, but it is not intended over the longer term to act as a substitute for meeting the challenge of up-skilling the State’s resident workforce, with an emphasis on the process of lifelong learning, and on maximising the potential of EEA nationals to fill our skills deficits.
The Occupations Lists
The Employment Permits system is designed to attract highly skilled workers from outside the EEA to Ireland, to meet skills demand in the economy where those skills can’t be accessed through the resident labour force. For the purposes of the employment permits system, occupations fall into three categories:
Occupations listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List are highly skilled professional roles that are in high demand and are not always available in the resident labour force. Occupations on this list are eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) and include roles such as medicine, ICT, sciences, finance and business. Special “fast-track” conditions attach to this permit type including the eligibility to apply to the Department of Justice for family members to accompany the permit holder immediately; and after two years may apply to the Department of Justice for permission to work without the requirement for an employment permit.
Ineligible occupations are those with evidence suggesting there are sufficient Irish/EEA workers to fill such vacancies. Employment permits are not granted for these occupations.
Every other job in the labour market, where an employer cannot find a worker, is eligible for an employment permit. For General Employment Permits, Seasonal Employment Permits and Contract for Services Employment Permits the employer is required to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test. If no-one suitable applies for the job, the employer is free to apply for an employment permit. Occupations such as these may be skills of a more general nature and are typically eligible for a General Employment Permit (GEP). This permit type is renewable and after five years the applicant may apply to the Department of Justice for long term residency permission.
The Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists Review
It is vital that the employment permits scheme is responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to review the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists periodically, in accordance with the changing needs of the labour market.
The review process utilises research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and other experts in the labour market, including the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) at SOLAS. The Department also invites submissions from industry representatives, other Government Departments and any other stakeholders who might have a case to make, via a periodic open consultation on the Department’s website. The Department also seeks the observations of the Inter-Departmental Group which oversees the review process.
An occupation may be considered for inclusion on the critical skills occupation list or removal from the ineligible lists provided that:
shortage exists across the occupation, despite attempts by industry to train and there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work;
development opportunities for Irish/EEA nationals are not undermined;
genuine skills shortage exists and that it is not a recruitment or retention problem; and
the Government education, training, employment and economic development policies are supported.
Submission process
As part of this review process, submissions are sought from employers, representative bodies, Government Departments, Agencies, and other interested parties relating to occupations currently included on or absent from the lists.
The submission process is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide additional information and potentially different perspectives on the nature and extent of skill shortages. Stakeholder submissions are a vital source of information, helping inform the Department’s final assessment of the status of occupations.
July 22 2025 – UK government borrowing came in higher than forecast in June, a setback for Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves that has markets jittery and households bracing for tax hikes.
“Gilt yields climbed on the news—and so should awareness among individuals with UK assets. The time to protect your wealth is now,” says Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group.
In a sharp warning, he responds to today’s ONS data showing public sector borrowing reached £20.7bn last month—£3.5bn more than expected and the highest June figure outside of the pandemic era.
“This borrowing shock is the flashing red light on the dashboard. The UK is headed toward a fiscal squeeze, and the Chancellor has limited room to manoeuvre. That makes tax rises not just likely—but, in our view, inevitable.”
The increase in borrowing was driven by higher interest payments on inflation-linked debt and ballooning public spending, which has outpaced gains in tax revenues.
The data raises questions about how the government can stick to its fiscal rules without turning to new or increased taxes.
“Markets are already reacting. Gilts dropped and yields jumped, which is a clear signal that investors expect tougher measures ahead. And that usually means taxes—stealth or otherwise—will be deployed to stabilise the books.”
With debt interest payments nearly doubling year-on-year in June and pressure mounting from backbench MPs for wealth and tourist taxes, Nigel Green says the direction of travel is now unambiguous.
“The political noise is getting louder. Whether it’s capital gains, pension reliefs, property, or new forms of wealth taxation, something has to give.
“The Chancellor has ruled out reopening departmental budgets, which narrows the options dramatically.”
He warned that investors, business owners, and anyone with UK assets should not wait to react after the Autumn Budget.
“By the time tax policy changes are announced, it’s often too late to respond effectively. The smart move is to plan proactively—now. When fiscal gaps this size appear, governments act fast, and retrospectively.”
With borrowing at £57.8bn already this financial year and the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasting a potential £30bn hole in public finances by year-end, the deVere CEO says the government’s fiscal hand is being forced.
“There’s no free money left. We’re past the era of cheap borrowing and blank-cheque economics. Markets want discipline. Voters want services. That tension will be resolved through taxation.”
“Those with investment portfolios, property, pensions or inheritances tied to the UK need to assess their exposure and consider future-proofing strategies. This is smart wealth management.”
Despite the political pledge to avoid day-to-day borrowing, the numbers tell a different story. The Treasury is borrowing more, not less, and paying more for it, not less.
“Inflation-linked bonds and rising rates have made it brutally expensive to finance the national debt. That’s going to reshape the economic agenda—and likely your personal finances with it.”
The chief executive called on clients and individuals to get ahead of potential tax changes now, while options remain open and planning is still effective.
“Tax hikes can be disguised, delayed, or dressed up as reform—but they’re still tax hikes. We expect movement on capital gains, inheritance tax, and pension rules in particular, and we believe it would be reckless to assume otherwise.”
He concludes: “We’re urging those with UK ties—whether you live in Britain, invest here, or hold assets here—to speak to advisors urgently.
“Mitigating tax exposure takes time, insight, and action. This isn’t about headlines, it’s about protecting what you’ve built.”
About deVere Group:
deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients. It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)
Washington, DC – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed out of markup H.R. 4490, the Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations (PARTNER) Act.
U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40), chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, helped introduce H.R. 4490. Included in the bill are the PARTNER with ASEAN Act and Pacific Partnership Act, which Rep. Kim helped work on to elevate U.S. cooperation with our Indo-Pacific allies.
“When the United States shows up as the partner of choice for our Indo-Pacific allies and partners, we win,” said Congresswoman Kim. “The PARTNER Act sends a clear and needed message that the United States will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends, including our Indo-Pacific partners, from the Philippines to Palau, to promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
Klobuchar Opening Remarks at Spotlight Forum on the Consumer Product Safety Commission
WATCH KLOBUCHAR’S FULL REMARKS HERE
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) gave the following remarks at a spotlight forum she hosted titled “Buyers Beware: Attacks on Nation’s Product Safety Watchdog Threaten Americans’ Safety.”
Testifying at the forum was Don Mays, Product Safety Expert; Jonathan Midgett, PhD, Former CPSC Consumer Ombudsman; Austin Schlick, Former CPSC General Counsel and Executive Director; R. David Pittle, Former CPSC Commissioner; Alan Korn, Executive Director of Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation; Trista Hamsmith, founder of Reese’s Purpose; and Brett Horn, founder of Charlie’s House.
Senator Klobuchar: Well, thank you so much, Senator Blumenthal. I’m really impressed by this group, that knows a lot about what they’re talking about, and we need to hear from you today.
I think I’ve always figured, and maybe this is from my days as a prosecutor, but the first responsibility of government is to protect the people of America, and not only from foreign and domestic threats, but also from … unsafe products.
For over 50 years, the CPSC Commissioners have done just that, working on a bipartisan basis to ensure Americans feel confident about the safety and the reliability of their products. Last year alone, the CPSC negotiated the recall of 153 million unsafe items and conducted more than 4,100 in-depth investigations.
I have grown to value the CPSC through various administrations. My first experience was the toy issue. A little boy in Minnesota, Mom, bought some Reebok tennis shoes, and there was a charm in there as a little gift, and he swallowed it, and he didn’t die, actually, by choking, he died over a period of days because there was lead in the toy, and it went into his system. And from there, I got to as a brand new Senator, work on the Consumer Product Safety bill that was passed with a really strong vote, and we saved a whole lot of lives, and that was during the Bush administration.
Then you move forward, and the work that we’ve all done together on everything from Ikea dressers to airbags to, really, finally, for me, a little girl named Abbey Taylor who died by just going into a kiddie swimming pool. And I worked then, along with several others, to pass the Virginia Graeme Baker Act, which made very clear that you have to have safe pool drains. That bill was then implemented by someone; you can’t just pass a bill and say, “Hey, we did it,” and that was the CPSC, which engaged in education efforts around the country. And maybe one of my favorite moments as a Senator was a few years back when we had the Commissioners before us in the Commerce Committee, and I asked if there had been any deaths since then, 10 years had passed, and they said “not one,” and we were literally having a handful of kids die every year or get maimed because of these pool drains, and I think that’s just such a great example of the work that goes on.
So I’ve always seen this as bipartisan; the work we’ve done, it was one of the most interesting things and positive things we did on the Commerce Committee. And I’m very concerned to partisan up this CPSC, whose mission is just about a far away from partisanship as you can get, makes no sense, and so I’m so glad that we are, Senator Blumenthal, thank you, and that we are going to hear from all of you today about why we need a strong CPSC and that we shouldn’t be making it partisan. Thank you.
Klobuchar has long been a leader in consumer protection.
In 2023, Klobuchar’s legislation to protect children from furniture tip-over injuries was signed into law. The STURDY Act strengthens furniture safety standards to prevent children from being injured by fatal furniture tip-overs. Each year, nearly 10,000 children go to the emergency room (ER) as a result of furniture tip-over injuries.
Klobuchar also spearheaded regulating lead in consumer products as a part of the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which set stringent standards for levels of lead in children’s toys.
In 2007, Klobuchar’s legislation, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, was signed into law. The law mandated that all public pools install safe drain covers preventing suction entrapment, established a voluntary grant program for states to promote pool and spa safety, and created a national public education campaign to raise awareness about drowning prevention.
Video is available HERE.
Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led her colleagues in a letter to Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Andrew N. Ferguson, urging him to reissue and finalize its Negative Option Rule (known as “click-to-cancel”) that would make it easier for consumers to unsubscribe from subscriptions.
“We write regarding the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) rulemaking to revise its Negative Option Rule to make it as easy for consumers to cancel a subscription as it was to sign up, frequently referred to as ‘click-to-cancel,’” wrote the Senators. “A review of more than 16,000 comments from the public made clear what should be obvious: Businesses should not be allowed to trap consumers in costly subscriptions by making it difficult to unsubscribe—costing consumers valuable time and money while stifling competition.”
“The FTC’s vital click-to-cancel rule was set to go into effect on July 14, 2025,” the Senators continued. “Yet, as you are aware, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the rule on procedural grounds. We urge the FTC to cure any perceived procedural defect and reissue the rule as quickly as possible to ensure consumers are protected from predatory subscription traps.”
The letter was also signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), , Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Jeff Merkey (D-OR).
The full text of the letter is availablehereand below:
Dear Chair Ferguson:
We write regarding the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) rulemaking to revise its Negative Option Rule to make it as easy for consumers to cancel a subscription as it was to sign up, frequently referred to as “click-to-cancel.” A review of more than 16,000 comments from the public made clear what should be obvious: Businesses should not be allowed to trap consumers in costly subscriptions by making it difficult to unsubscribe—costing consumers valuable time and money while stifling competition. The FTC’s vital click-to-cancel rule was set to go into effect on July 14, 2025. Yet, as you are aware, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the rule on procedural grounds. We urge the FTC to cure any perceived procedural defect and reissue the rule as quickly as possible to ensure consumers are protected from predatory subscription traps.
Putting this commonsense consumer protection in place is vital to foster competition, innovation, and fairness. In today’s digital economy, more and more of what consumers purchase are offered as fee-for-service subscription programs, whether it be for video and music streaming services, ecommerce membership programs, gaming subscriptions, meal kit delivery services, cloud storage, home security monitoring, magazine or news subscriptions, fitness memberships, and many others. While these services are valued by many consumers, the costs for subscription services often add up to far more than consumers think, and it is often difficult for consumers to navigate the complicated process of cancelling those subscriptions. Other firms that allow consumers to subscribe to a service with the click of a button require consumers to talk to a customer service agent or jump through other hoops just to unsubscribe, even though many such businesses tell consumers they can cancel at any time. These practices have no countervailing benefit or redeeming justification. They just make life difficult and expensive.
These unfair practices also deter competition and stifle innovation. Subscription traps make it more difficult for consumers to switch providers, even if the alternative offers better, cheaper, or more innovative services. Allowing these practices incentivizes firms to spend time and resources locking consumers into their subscriptions rather than working to retain them with lower prices and better products. It also creates barriers to entry for innovative startups to break into markets because it is difficult for them to win consumers locked into competing subscriptions they cannot easily escape.
We urge the FTC to take all the steps necessary to reissue and finalize the Negative Option Rule so that consumers can cancel subscriptions quickly and easily.
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
NEWARK, N.J. – This afternoon, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement:
“Attaching a profit motive to imprisonment is a moral failing and wholly inconsistent with our obligation to guarantee just and fair outcomes for all detained people. Today’s decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals allows private prisons to profit from immigrant detention contracts, hindering the state legislature’s power to protect New Jerseyans from predatory, greedy, and abusive private prison companies. This decision perpetuates a perverse incentive to fill beds that put corporate profits over human costs and undermines the will of New Jerseyans whose democratically-elected officials passed this legislation. Our communities deserve better, and it is in these moments that we must continue to fight for our neighbors and advocate for an end to for-profit detention.”
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today met with Dylan Collins, a Vermonter and video journalist for the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency, who was attacked and wounded by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) while reporting in Southern Lebanon. Representatives for Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-At Large) also attended the meeting.
The Vermont Congressional Delegation released the following statement of support for Mr. Collins:
“For two years, we have sought accountability for Dylan Collins, a Vermonter who was wounded in a targeted attack on international journalists in southern Lebanon by Israeli Defense Forces. A Reuters journalist was killed instantly, AFP’s Christina Assi suffered catastrophic injuries, including losing her right leg, and Mr. Collins and four others were wounded by shrapnel. Multiple credible independent investigations indicate that the attack by Israeli soldiers was a deliberate targeting of individuals who were clearly identified as journalists.
“We have demanded answers from both the Biden and Trump Administrations. The United States government has a responsibility to investigate and obtain accountability for an attack on an American citizen. This Administration has yet to recognize this obligation to Mr. Collins. Our delegation will continue to seek accountability for this shocking misuse of lethal force through legislation, including restrictions on taxpayer-funded weapons for Israel.”
Independent investigations conducted by Reuters, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Agence France-Presse (AFP), and others have concluded that the IDF’s October 2023 attack on international journalists, including Dylan Collins, in southern Lebanon was targeted and deliberate.
Nine American citizens, including Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, have been killed by IDF forces or settlers since 2022. The killings have been met by a lack of accountability from the Israeli government and a pattern of indifference by the U.S. government. These failures have contributed to an unacceptable culture of impunity when it comes to ensuring accountability for the deaths of Americans, journalists, and tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
Reports by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have revealed that at least 186journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanonsince the conflict began on October 7, 2024, making it the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992.
Cutting-edge personalised treatments, made while you wait, will deliver specialised care to patients more quickly
New regulations effective today will make it faster and easier for cutting-edge cancer treatments and personalised gene therapies to be made right where patients are treated.
Patients will receive faster access to life-saving, personalised treatments made at their hospital, clinic or near their homes instead of waiting weeks for therapies manufactured hundreds of miles away, under new UK legislation that comes into force today (23 July).
This world first regulations, introduced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), allows breakthrough personalised medicines to be prepared in small or individual batches – bringing care closer to the patient.
A cancer patient could now have their immune cells collected, modified to fight their specific cancer, and returned within days rather than months. A child with a rare genetic disorder could receive a freshly prepared therapy with only minutes of shelf life, made and given on the spot.
The change will cut waiting times where every hour counts, help free up NHS beds, and improve access to innovative therapies that were previously out of reach.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“This world-first legislation is a game-changer for patients. Cancer treatments tailored in days, not months. Life-saving therapies made at your bedside, not hundreds of miles away.
“Our Plan for Change promised to build an NHS fit for the future. Today we’re delivering on that pledge by bringing cutting-edge care directly to patients when they need it most.
“We are turning around our NHS with waiting lists at their lowest for two years – this type of therapy means patients can be treated and return home more quickly.”
Science Minister Lord Vallance said:
“This world-first framework gives the NHS and innovators a clear, safe way to bring advanced treatments from the lab to the patient’s bedside. It’s a powerful example of how smart regulation can help more patients benefit from the best of British science.
“We’re determined to clear the path for more health innovation of this sort. Our recently-published Life Sciences Sector Plan sets out our clear vision to do just that – with a view to unlocking growth, investment, and delivering a stronger, prevention-focused healthcare system.”
MHRA Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon said:
“Patients will now receive highly personalised treatments more quickly and nearer to their bedside, with the same rigorous standards as all medicines.
“This is especially important where every hour matters, or where a treatment is so specific it simply can’t be made in advance.
“It’s a landmark moment that opens the door to a future where highly personalised treatment – made for one person, in one place, at one time – becomes part of routine care.
“The UK is leading the world in this next generation of medical innovation, and as the UK regulator for medicines and medical devices, we’re determined to play our role in providing the supportive regulatory framework to help our health partners and medicines innovators bring can bring these new treatments to patients.”
From months to days
Until now, personalised treatments such as CAR-T cancer therapy had to be sent to specialised manufacturing facilities often far away, causing long delays. In some cases, patients became too unwell to receive the therapy in time, or the medicine’s short shelf life meant it couldn’t be delivered at all.
Hospitals were only able to offer these treatments through complicated, one-off arrangements, creating uncertainty for patients and doctors about whether treatment could go ahead.
From today, hospitals, ambulances and local care settings in the UK have a pathway to carry out the final manufacturing steps for these personalised or time-sensitive treatments on-site, using clear, regulated protocols. This mirrors how chemotherapy or antibiotics are prepared locally, but with the same strict safeguards for more advanced therapies. A central control site will provide detailed instructions and oversight, while hospitals complete the process closer to the patient.
Supporting care closer to home
The legislation also supports the use of mobile manufacturing units – offering a safer alternative for patients too unwell to travel, or whose weakened immune systems mean hospital visits carry extra risk.
This change enables care to be delivered where it’s most appropriate, including community settings or even at home, supporting the NHS ambition, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan for England, to expand ‘hospital at home’ models such as virtual wards.
Backed by law – and leading the world
The legislation, known as The Human Medicines (Amendment) (Modular Manufacture and Point of Care) Regulations 2025, makes the UK the first country in the world to introduce a dedicated legal framework for medicines made at the point of care.
Following strong support during the public consultation, the framework covers a broad range of innovative products, including cell and gene therapies, tissue-engineered treatments, 3D printed products, blood products, and medicinal gases.
To support implementation, the MHRA published detailed guidance earlier this year and has worked closely with other UK regulators, the NHS, industry, academics and healthcare professionals to ensure clarity around how the legislation applies in practice. Today, the MHRA has added information on how to apply for a decentralised manufacture designation. Companies can also access MHRA scientific advice at any stage of development.
The move strengthens the UK’s leadership in safe, decentralised manufacturing and is expected to boost research, trials and patient access to cutting-edge treatments. The MHRA is also working internationally to support similar changes in other countries, recently being centrally involved in the first global workshop on point-of-care manufacturing, through the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA).
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Chief Executive Matthew Durdy said:
“This change demonstrates how the MHRA is leading in the UK’s commitment to being at the forefront of modern healthcare, innovation and regulation. The MHRA has recognised that some practices are better with more flexibility, and that in a technology enabled world which allows better training, information and communication, flexibility can be enabled without compromising safety.
“This is not just a step forward for innovative medicines such as cell and gene therapies, it is a step towards enabling truly personalised medicine. We applaud this change introduced by the MHRA and look forward to a future where more patients can receive therapeutics tailored to their needs, quickly, cost-effectively and sustainably.”
NHS England National Director for Specialised Commissioning John Stewart said:
“The NHS in England was the first health system in Europe to adopt personalised cancer medicines and has since built a strong track record as an early leader in the use of potentially curative gene therapies.
“The advanced treatments of today, will become the everyday healthcare of tomorrow, and forward-thinking regulatory changes like this will help enable the NHS to evolve patient care to deliver complex treatments to more people, in more places.”
Products manufactured at the point of care are eligible for support through the MHRA ILAP pathway, which is in place to accelerate time to market and facilitate patient access.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.
When people provide personal information to an agency, they trust that their information will be used only for legitimate purposes. However, there are cases where employees misuse this information, breaching both the organisation’s code of conduct and the Privacy Act.
Our office saw one such case where an enforcement officer collected contact details of an individual who was lawfully being questioned. The officer copied this information into their personal phone and made unsolicited calls and messages of a bullying, sexual preference and harassment nature. The individual was left highly distressed by this behaviour which prompted them to place a complaint with the agency concerned.
The agency undertook appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the affected individual and reported the incident as a notifiable privacy breach to OPC. The agency conducted an internal investigation and undertook to prevent future incidents of this nature by updating its internal policies and procedures. While dealing with the agency that reported this incident, valuable insights came light that are relevant to all agencies, and especially those undertaking an enforcement role in our society.
Breach of the Privacy Act
Using personal information collected by an agency for personal reasons, especially in a harassing or inappropriate manner, raises concerns under the Privacy Act 2020.
Our office considered the agency’s actions breached principle 10 of the Privacy Act 2020.
Principle 10 states agencies must not use personal information for purposes other than for which it was collected. There are certain situations when an exception to principle 10 applies – but using an individual’s contact details to ask inappropriate questions while being in a position of power is not one of them. The agency had an obligation to ensure the information collected from the individual was only used for lawful enforcement purposes. As the enforcement officer collected the contact details while carrying out work for the agency, the agency was ultimately responsible for their actions.
In this situation, the officer took advantage of their position of power being in an enforcement role, making it harder for the affected person to stand up for their rights. That power imbalance makes it especially critical for agencies working in this space to make extra effort to ensure staff understand and follow all code of conduct and privacy policy requirements.
Agencies must take proactive steps to prevent such incidents, including:
Limiting employee access to customer data based on job necessity
Having regular training on data privacy and privacy laws and ethical conduct
Establishing confidential channels for people and employees to report misuse of personal information
Ensuring internal policies align with the Privacy Act 2020 and taking immediate steps when breaches of this nature happen.
And most importantly, having assurance checks in place as standard practice to ensure these requirements are met by staff.
We do note, most enforcement agencies have strict data handling policies and codes of conduct that prohibit employees accessing or using the personal information they collect for anything other than their lawful purposes. We recommend agencies ensure employees are aware of the policies through ongoing training and communication.
What people can do when facing this type of situation
Enforcement officers are in a position of authority. The inherent power imbalance between enforcement officers and individuals can lead to situations where officers entrusted with authority may abuse their position. This is why individuals have privacy rights around interactions they might have with enforcement agencies.
It is important individuals understand their rights; you can find guidance about privacy rights here. Individuals should query behaviour if it is perceived to be outside the scope of the interaction e.g., an enforcement officer should not ask personal questions about whether you are dating someone or your sexual preference, which is what happened in this case.
Below are some tips you could consider:
Ask questions – agencies are required to take steps when collecting your personal information, including why they are collecting it and whether you must share it with them. If you are unsure, you should ask the agency to clarify why they need information from you.
Limit information sharing – only provide the necessary details required for the lawful activity and be cautious about where the personal information is stored
Monitor communications – if an employee contacts you inappropriately, keep records of the messages as evidence
Seek legal advice if you are concerned an agency has acted inappropriately or unlawfully.
Report misuse – immediately notify the agency concerned of the misbehaviour, if necessary, report the incident to OPC.
Employees who engage in this type of behaviour can face consequences
Misuse of personal information by employees is a serious breach of privacy that can result in legal, professional and reputational consequences. Employees engaging in this type of behaviour create risk to the agency they work for but also can face professional damage and harm their own career prospects, making it difficult to secure future employment.
Sending inappropriate messages to an individual in your employment capacity can be considered harassment. It could also result in criminal prosecution, civil litigation, or complaints to regulatory authorities. It can also lead to termination of employment, as it breaks trust and exposes the organisation to legal risk.
Conclusion
OPC expects organisations to have strict privacy and information policies outlining how personal information is collected, used, stored and disclosed. These policies are critical for ensuring transparency, as well as for informing individuals about their rights regarding their personal information and how agencies handle it. Privacy is a fundamental right and violating it has a real-world repercussion.
A finance business received a phone call from a person claiming to be an existing customer. They knew the name, date of birth and address of the customer and were able to mislead customer centre staff at the finance business. They obtained further personal information about the customer, accessed their account, and made changes to their password settings.
The customer noticed their account had been changed and contacted the finance business, which took steps to protect the customer’s account by applying warning notes on the account. Yet the other person was able to bypass these protections multiple times, make further changes to the customer’s information and used their account for unauthorised transactions.
The customer repeatedly said someone was accessing their account, and both using and making changes to their personal information. The finance business did not identify these concerns as privacy issues and only focussed on the fraud aspect of the customer’s concerns.
The affected customer raised a complaint with OPC.
Relevant privacy concerns
This matter raised several concerns under the Privacy Act 2020:
Principle 5 states agencies must ensure there are safeguards in place that are reasonable in the circumstances to prevent loss, misuse or disclosure of personal information.
Principle 8 states that agencies must check before using or disclosing personal information that it is accurate, up to date, complete, relevant and not misleading.
Principle 11 states that an organisation may generally only disclose personal information for the purpose for which it was originally collected. Sometimes other reasons for disclosure are allowed, such as disclosure, where an individual has consented to their information being shared or disclosure is necessary to prevent a serious threat to a person’s safety.
Section 114 requires agencies to notify the Privacy Commissioner as soon as practicable after becoming aware of a notifiable privacy breach.
Our complaint investigation
We investigated the complaint and formed a preliminary view that the finance business had breached principles 5, 8, and 11. On that basis, we worked with the complainant and the finance business to resolve the issue, with the finance business taking steps to protect the complainant’s account and agreed to financial compensation for the emotional harm caused by the breach.
Although the specific complaint was resolved, we had wider concerns about the finance business’s privacy practices and so the matter was referred to our Compliance and Enforcement Team for review.
Compliance review into the privacy breach
On reviewing the matter, we identified that the finance business’s actions amounted to a notifiable privacy breach. As the agency had failed to report it to OPC, the requirements of the Privacy Act were not met.
We raised concerns about the limited customer verification steps to confirm the customer. This deficiency allowed the individual to obtain more details about the customer’s account and make several changes to the initial settings.
We also identified a failure to follow internal procedures by staff to verify the additional security placed on the customer’s account. This failure led to missing multiple times the additional password and warning notes that were place on that account.
A lack of understanding the overlap between fraud incidents and privacy breach incidents as well as unclear privacy incident management plans led the finance business to miss its statutory obligation for reporting this privacy breach incident to OPC. They were of the belief that because the individual already had details of the customer obtained elsewhere it was not a privacy matter and as the unauthorised transactions were reimbursed there was no harm caused to the customer.
In this case, the unauthorised access to sensitive financial information created a high likelihood of harm for the customer, not only financial but also emotional harm due to the significant stress the customer experienced after seeing their account was bypassed multiple times. We determined the finance business breached the Privacy Act.
Compliance response
We considered our compliance options for the breaches of the Privacy Act using our Compliance and Enforcement Regulatory Action Framework.
In this case, the finance business engaged productively with both OPC and the affected individual. We took into consideration its willingness to learn and acknowledgement that it failed to comply with the Privacy Act. They immediately took steps to improve its processes in relation to customer verification checks as well as conducting privacy training for all staff.
We instructed the finance business to meet its statutory obligation and notify the privacy breach incident to OPC as well as review its privacy breach management plans and share the reviewed documents with OPC.
Conclusion
Fraud is a growing problem in the finance industry, and it raises significant privacy concerns, primarily due to the sensitive nature of financial information and the potential for privacy breaches. These breaches can compromise customer information, leading to financial loss, reputational damage, emotional harm, stress, anxiety and violation of privacy.
Finance businesses such as banks and lending institutions are common targets for fraud and often hold large volumes of sensitive personal information. In some cases, staff may inadvertently disclose personal information in response to fraudulent requests, potentially breaching the Privacy Act.
This incident highlights the importance of robust identity verification in high-risk sectors and compliance with statutory obligations under the Privacy Act.
Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
WASHINGTON – Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement applauding the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for entering into a 20-year lease agreement with McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., the location of the PHMSA National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Safety (the Center). McNeese was chosen as the Center’s site earlier this year. The lease will start on August 1, 2025.
“LNG production is one of the most critical ways our nation can unleash our energy dominance and protect our national security, and Louisiana is leading the way. I’m proud to see the U.S. Department of Transportation take this major step forward in building our National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety in Lake Charles. This Center will be a game changer for our region and be the tip of the spear for LNG innovation, operations, and safety in the U.S.,” said Kennedy.
“Louisiana is at the heart of America’s growing LNG revolution. There is no better place to locate our Center of Excellence to ensure we safely transport this critical energy source,” saidU.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
The Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 required PHMSA to establish that the National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety improve the federal government’s LNG facility expertise, serve as an information repository on best practices for LNG facilities, and facilitate collaboration among LNG stakeholders.
“We are excited to reach another important milestone in the construction of the Center, which will be a hub for advancing U.S. LNG safety,” said PHMSA Acting Administrator Ben Kochman.
“We are thrilled to finalize the long-term lease with PHMSA for a location on our McNeese campus. This project has been in the works for over two years, and it would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Senator Kennedy and his staff, our partners in Washington, D.C., and our colleagues at the University of Louisiana. We believe having PHMSA right here in Lake Charles—working alongside us—will serve as a powerful catalyst for securing the future of our region’s vital industries,” said Dr. Wade Rousse, President, McNeese State University.
Kennedy has long fought for the National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety and its presence in southwest Louisiana.
In 2020, Kennedy inserted a provision into the PIPES Act requiring the Center to be located in Louisiana. The PIPES Act, including Kennedy’s addition, became law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
In May 2024, Kennedy questioned then-Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg during the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD Appropriations). In response to Kennedy’s questions, Buttigieg confirmed that the Center would be located in Lake Charles, La.
During a May 2025 THUD Appropriations hearing, Kennedy questioned Secretary Duffy and confirmed that McNeese State University would be the site of the new Center. McNeese State University is the first undergraduate institution in the U.S. to offer a certificate program in the LNG Business and already hosts its own LNG Center of Excellence.
PHMSA and other federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Energy, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, have worked together to ensure the Center is focused on its mission of making the U.S. the leader in LNG operations.
Additional information about the National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety is available on PHMSA’s website.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
An observational study published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care looks at GLP-1 drugs vs metformin and the risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes.
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation, Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and one in three people born today will go onto to develop the condition. So, it’s exciting to see more research which shows how drugs currently being used for diabetes and weight loss – which are relatively cheap and easy to use – may also reduce the risk of dementia.
“This study found that GLP1RAs may significantly reduce some people’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and more so than those taking a second diabetes drug called metformin.
“However, they’re not a silver bullet in the fight against dementia and this study had several limitations that mean we mustn’t rush to conclusions about the effectiveness of these drugs – clinical trials will tell us more.
“These treatments didn’t reduce people’s risk of developing other types of dementia, such as vascular dementia, and there was a significant difference in risk reduction depending on patients’ ethnicity, with White patients much more likely to have a reduced risk than other racial groups.
“The study was retrospective, meaning we don’t know participants’ long-term outcomes and how many went on to develop dementia beyond the lifespan of the study. We need more dedicated research to understand whether these drugs could be used to tackle dementia while also finding therapies that benefit people from all backgrounds.
“We’re not at the finish line by any means, but we’re heading in the right direction.”
Dr Sheona Scales, Director of Research, Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Research shows that nearly half (45 %) of dementia cases are linked to 14 risk factors, including type 2 diabetes. Recent studies suggest that some commonly prescribed diabetes medicines could help reduce the risk of dementia, but it’s still unclear which treatments are most effective. This new study adds to a growing body of evidence that GLP-1 medicines may play a role in lowering dementia risk.
“This is the first major study to compare the effect of two common diabetes treatments — GLP-1 medicines and metformin — on dementia risk, using health records from more than 174,000 people. The findings suggest that people with type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1 medicines had a lower risk of developing dementia than those taking metformin.
“Using real health records helps us understand how these medicines might work in everyday life — not just in clinical trials. And the findings suggest a lower dementia risk in those taking GLP-1 medicines, but the study cannot tell us how these medicines affect the underlying biology that causes dementia. People with type 2 diabetes often have other health conditions, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, which are also linked to dementia — so it’s hard to untangle what role these factors might have had on dementia risk in this study.
“The two-year follow-up period may also be too short to tell what longer-term benefits these medicines may have on the brain. To build on the findings, we will need longer studies and clinical trials to look in detail at how different medicines may affect the brain and risk of developing dementia, in people with and without diabetes.
“Anyone who has concerns or questions about their diabetes medications, brain health or dementia risk should speak to their GP.”
Prof Patrick Kehoe, Gestetner Professor of Translational Dementia Research and Director of the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research, University of Bristol, said:
“This retrospective observational study gives more credence to the growing narrative about Alzheimer’s disease, as opposed to Vascular dementias, having a strong insulin resistance component, which happens in ageing but is thought to be more pronounced in Alzheimer’s disease.
“But, as the authors acknowledge, it would need a formal trial to prove. There are some other considerations to note from this study. Most of the GLP-1 drugs studied in this group, of which there are several, remain largely under patent protection. This means they are more expensive and therefore not as widely available in some countries, such as those with public health care systems – compared to insurance-funded healthcare provision. So there is a possibility the favourable findings for this group of drugs may relate to the people who take them having some additional socioeconomic advantages, including diet, greater or more frequent access to exercise, and maybe higher or longer levels of education, that have also offered some other forms of protection.
“A properly designed blinded randomised clinical trial could help address and counter these potential sources of bias, allowing a better head-to-head comparison. Such a trial would also enable the monitoring of drug side effects, which is also important. However, such robust research would be prohibitively costly and time-consuming, particularly when some of the GLP-1 drugs are already off patent or soon to be, making them less attractive to investigate in the commercial sector, and so it would fall to ever-tightening publicly-funded schemes, such as UKRI or Research Charities in the UK to fund them.
“It may be the case that over time, as more GLP-1 drugs fall off patent and become available in cheaper forms, doctors will prescribe more of them because they have more choice and additional evidence might have become available. They are fortunate to have several choices to treat the diabetes which would be the more immediate concern. Further evidence of benefit may emerge in a way similar to what seems to have happened when there was a huge and successful effort to improve the detection and treatment of high blood pressure, in other words hypertension, and so with the increased levels of prescribing those drugs it possibly provided some protection as well as some slowing. Accordingly, reduced rates of dementia were observed, as reported in a similar observational study reported in 2016.
“In the absence of clear findings in relation to these drugs, people still have some choices. Continued efforts to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, as well as body weight, will help not only to lessen the effects of diabetes but also improve cardiovascular health, all of which can do no harm to quality of life – and may offer additional protection against dementia.”
Dr Martin Whyte, Associate Professor in Metabolic Medicine, University of Surrey, said:
“Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is known to increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Two of the most commonly prescribed medications for T2D are metformin and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 drugs), which are primarily used to control blood sugar. However, GLP-1 drugs are known to have additional effects beyond glucose lowering, including actions on inflammation and the central nervous system.
“There has been growing interest in whether GLP-1 drugs might help reduce the risk of dementia. The REWIND trial, which tested dulaglutide (a GLP-1 drug) versus placebo in people with T2D, reported a 14% reduction in the risk of significant cognitive decline, although it was not specifically designed to assess dementia risk.
“In a new observational study by Sun and colleagues, based on routinely collected healthcare data, GLP-1 use was associated with a 10% lower risk of developing dementia (of all types) compared to metformin use. Since GLP-1 receptors are present throughout the brain, it is possible that the effect is direct; or it may be indirect—for example, via reductions in systemic inflammation or metabolic risk factors.
“However, this was an observational study, which means it is subject to bias and confounding. Notably, the authors did not provide detailed information about the characteristics of patients in each group, either before or after statistical matching, and treatment duration for either GLP-1 drugs or metformin was not reported. These limitations make it difficult to draw firm conclusions, but the findings add to the growing interest in the potential cognitive benefits of GLP-1 drugs. A number of prospective randomised controlled trials are ongoing, to examine whether GLP-1 drugs can reduce the risk of dementia.”
Dr Craig Beall, Senior Lecturer, University of Exeter, said:
“It is important to note that people with diabetes have a 60% increased risk of dementia. Earlier separate studies using health records have shown that both metformin and GLP-1RAs are associated with reduced dementia risk. This study puts the two drugs head-to-head and shows that GLP-1RAs seem to be associated with a superior risk reduction for dementia.”
“However, whether these drugs only reduce the diabetes related dementia risk is not yet clear. Whether people without diabetes could benefit is still unknown. What we need to determine this are randomised control trials and there are three large randomised control trials currently running. In these trials people without diabetes but with mild cognitive impairment, are given metformin or GLP-1RAs, and metformin in Alzheimer’s disease trial and EVOKE and EVOKE+ trials. Results are not expected until 2026. These studies will give the best evidence of whether these two drugs can slow progression or prevent full blown dementia from becoming established.”
Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Group Leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, and Past President of the British Neuroscience Association said:
“This study adds to a series of recent papers indicating GLP-1 receptor agonists likely protect people with diabetes from developing dementia. Lin and colleagues looked at medical records from over 170,000 people with diabetes, half of whom were treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists and half treated with metformin, and the GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment was associated with 10% lower risk of dementia than metformin over a four year follow up time. As the authors point out, this type of study cannot prove that the GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment directly lowered dementia risk. The study also has limitations of relatively short follow up time of 4 years and the types of dementia diagnosed rely on physician diagnosis and were not confirmed with brain scans or other biomarkers, meaning the data on which types of dementia were prevented are not very robust. Overall, this study and many others coming out recently indicate GLP-1 receptor agonists likely lower dementia risk in people with diabetes. Further work is needed including randomised clinical trials to confirm these drugs are protective in people with type 2 diabetes and whether these drugs will be protective in people who do not have type 2 diabetes.”
‘Evaluating GLP-1 receptor agonists versus metformin as first-line therapy for reducing dementia risk in type 2 diabetes’ byMingyang Sunet al.was published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care at 23:30 UK time on Tuesday 22nd July.
DOI:doi:10.1136/ bmjdrc-2025-004902
Declared interests
Prof Patrick Kehoe: No interests to declare.
Dr Martin Whyte: “I am a site PI at King’s College Hospital for the FOCUS study which is examining the effect of semaglutide on retinopathy. I am not a grant holder for this.”
Dr Craig Beall: CB has previously collaborated with Rigel Pharmacuticals Inc. (CA, USA) on a JDRF/Breakthrough T1D-funded research project.
CB is currently studying the effects of both drug types brain cells, in the context of diabetes.
Prof Tara Spires-Jones: I have no conflicts with this study but have received payments for consulting, scientific talks, or collaborative research over the past 10 years from AbbVie, Sanofi, Merck, Scottish Brain Sciences, Jay Therapeutics, Cognition Therapeutics, Ono, and Eisai. I am also Charity trustee for the British Neuroscience Association and the Guarantors of Brain and serve as scientific advisor to several charities and non-profit institutions.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rutherford (4th District of Florida)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05) released the following statement on the House passage of President Trump’s rescissions package:
“The House just passed legislation to slash over $9 BILLION in waste, fraud, and abuse AND end taxpayer funding for NPR, PBS, and USAID. Americans’ hard-earned money shouldn’t be used to bankroll leftist propaganda and organizations that act contrary to U.S. interests at home and abroad. That’s why I was proud to vote YES on President Trump’s rescissions package today to cut overseas and domestic spending to help get our country back on track.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons expressing serious concern about large scale immigration raids conducted across multiple counties in California during the week of July 8-12:
“According to multiple reports, ICE agents conducted large-scale, coordinated raids—many targeting agricultural sites—resulting in the detention of hundreds of individuals, most of whom are long-time community members and workers, including U.S. citizens. These operations appear to have involved aggressive tactics, including warrantless intrusions, racial profiling, and denial of access to counsel. Such actions raise significant constitutional, legal, and humanitarian concerns,” wrote the lawmakers.
In their letter, the Members requested detailed information about the enforcement operations in question, including how many individuals were detained and are being held, and whether ICE is adhering to humanitarian and legal detention standards.
The lawmakers also requested information on how ICE will adhere to the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by a federal judge in Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem, which bans ICE officials from detaining individuals based on their appearance or ethnicity; speaking Spanish or speaking English with an accent; their presence at a particular location; or the work they do.
The TRO further requires ICE to only detain individuals based on a reasonable suspicion that they are in violation of immigration law — a reasonable suspicion not based on any of the factors listed above — and to provide adequate access to legal assistance to individuals who are detained.
“My district, which encompasses most of Ventura County, was recently the site of one of the largest ICE operations in the country, resulting in more than 360 detentions in a single day. The troubling way these raids have been carried out throughout California raises serious concerns about the tactics used by federal agents and their disregard for due process and the rule of law,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “This is not about public safety — it’s about instilling fear. These actions lack transparency, accountability, and basic respect for the legal rights of every person in this country. My Democratic colleagues and I are continuing to work to hold this administration accountable and to ensure that our immigration policies reflect our values and our commitment to justice.”
“The Trump administration’s zeal to reach a million deportations in a year — a meaningless, arbitrary number — is pushing ICE agents to trample basic constitutional and human rights,” said Congressman Espaillat. “It’s also putting the federal government at odds with the social and economic well-being of our communities. The Trump administration needlessly changed the rules of the game overnight and everyone is paying the price, starting with the irreplaceable skilled laborers who grow our food.”
“The Trump administration is using immigration enforcement as a political weapon, targeting working families to score political points,” said Congressman Carbajal. “This is not how you keep people safe. In fact, this kind of chaos only makes communities more insecure. I’ll continue working with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to push back on ICE and the Trump administration’s cruel and inhumane immigration enforcement tactics.”
The full letter can be found here and below:
The Honorable Kristi Noem Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE Washington, DC 20528-0525
Mr. Todd M. Lyons Acting Director U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 500 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20536-5010
Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,
We write to express serious concern regarding the recent series of enforcement actions reportedly carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across multiple counties in California, including Ventura, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Kern, among others, during the week of July 8–12, 2025.
According to multiple reports, ICE agents conducted large-scale, coordinated raids—many targeting agricultural sites—resulting in the detention of hundreds of individuals, most of whom are long-time community members and workers, including U.S. citizens. These operations appear to have involved aggressive tactics, including warrantless intrusions, racial profiling, and denial of access to counsel. Such actions raise significant constitutional, legal, and humanitarian concerns.
These enforcement actions also target individuals who are essential to local and state economies. The immigrant workers detained during these raids are overwhelmingly hard-working individuals who contribute daily to California’s agricultural industry and food supply chain. Many have lived in the United States for decades, raising families and building deep ties in their communities. Targeting these essential workers not only harms families but disrupts vital economic sectors that depend on their labor and dedication.
In light of these events, and in view of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued on July 11, 2025, in Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem, we respectfully request the following detailed information about these enforcement operations:
How many individuals were detained during ICE operations in California from July 8 to July 12, 2025?
Where are those individuals currently being held? Please provide facility names and addresses.
Are individuals in your custody being provided with reliable access to basic needs? Please include when they are being provided water, food, sanitation, and hygiene.
What was the legal basis for the initial stops, arrests, and detentions, particularly in light of the court’s prohibition on reliance upon race, ethnicity, language, or occupation as justification?
Were administrative warrants obtained and presented prior to entering any private areas, including worker housing or vehicles? Please include a copy of the warrant.
Did ICE coordinate or communicate with any local or state law enforcement agencies during the planning or execution of these operations? If so, please detail the nature and scope of that cooperation.
How will ICE adjust its operational practices in California in light of the court’s TRO, which restricts stops lacking individualized suspicion and mandates access to legal counsel?
We also request confirmation that individuals currently detained, as a result of these raids, are being granted regular and confidential access to legal representation, in accordance with the court’s ruling.
Furthermore, we want to reiterate that Members of Congress have both the constitutional authority and the responsibility to conduct oversight of federal agencies, including ICE. This includes the right to observe enforcement operations and inspect detention facilities without prior notice, as affirmed by federal law and agency policy. Any attempt to obstruct congressional access during enforcement activities or to withhold information from elected representatives will be regarded as a serious violation of that duty and rights.
These raids have caused widespread fear and disruption across communities, and they raise deeply troubling questions about ICE’s commitment to due process and constitutional norms. As Members of Congress, we will be closely monitoring any future enforcement actions to ensure they comply with federal court orders, respect individual rights, and uphold the rule of law.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We respectfully request a response by July 25, 2025.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)
WASHINGTON, DC –Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany’s (WI-07) Wabeno Economic Development Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. H.R. 3937 will expedite the conveyance of 14 acres of land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest to Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix for fair market value.
After years of not making progress with the U.S. Forest Service, Tony—the owner of Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix—turned to Congressman Tiffany’s office for help. His business is running out of nearby aggregate materials like stone, sand, and gravel, and they will exhaust supply in approximately 2 years. The adjacent parcel is critical for the business’s future and ability to stay in operation.
“This conveyance will deliver long-term economic growth and protect local jobs for the people of Wabeno and Forest County,”said Congressman Tiffany.“It will ensure Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix stays open and continues serving the community for years to come.”
Background:
Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix has been serving the community for 25 years and currently employs 17 people. The company provides concrete for both contractors and homeowners across a 50-mile radius. Projects include large-scale work for the Forest County Potawatomi Community, local fire and rescue stations, town shops and offices, agricultural projects for local farmers, and residential construction and remodeling.
Tony first began working with the Forest Service on this land exchange more than eight years ago. However, the agency made it clear the project was not a priority and lacked the resources to complete it. With much of Forest County under federal ownership as part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, there is limited private land available for small business expansion.
This legislation is supported by the Wabeno Area Chamber of Commerce, the Forest County Economic Development Partnership, and the Town of Wabeno. Tom Tallier, Forest County Board Supervisor for District 8, offered key testimony in favor of the bill last year.
You can view Rep. Tiffany’s comments on the House floor here, and Rep. Debbie Dingell’s (MI-06) floor statement of support here. You can read the full text of the bill here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)
WASHINGTON, DC –Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany’s (WI-07) Wabeno Economic Development Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. H.R. 3937 will expedite the conveyance of 14 acres of land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest to Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix for fair market value.
After years of not making progress with the U.S. Forest Service, Tony—the owner of Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix—turned to Congressman Tiffany’s office for help. His business is running out of nearby aggregate materials like stone, sand, and gravel, and they will exhaust supply in approximately 2 years. The adjacent parcel is critical for the business’s future and ability to stay in operation.
“This conveyance will deliver long-term economic growth and protect local jobs for the people of Wabeno and Forest County,”said Congressman Tiffany.“It will ensure Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix stays open and continues serving the community for years to come.”
Background:
Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix has been serving the community for 25 years and currently employs 17 people. The company provides concrete for both contractors and homeowners across a 50-mile radius. Projects include large-scale work for the Forest County Potawatomi Community, local fire and rescue stations, town shops and offices, agricultural projects for local farmers, and residential construction and remodeling.
Tony first began working with the Forest Service on this land exchange more than eight years ago. However, the agency made it clear the project was not a priority and lacked the resources to complete it. With much of Forest County under federal ownership as part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, there is limited private land available for small business expansion.
This legislation is supported by the Wabeno Area Chamber of Commerce, the Forest County Economic Development Partnership, and the Town of Wabeno. Tom Tallier, Forest County Board Supervisor for District 8, offered key testimony in favor of the bill last year.
You can view Rep. Tiffany’s comments on the House floor here, and Rep. Debbie Dingell’s (MI-06) floor statement of support here. You can read the full text of the bill here.
On 1 July 2025, the general transfer balance cap (TBC) was indexed, increasing from $1.9 million to $2 million. This increase impacts members with a personal TBC. Members who started a pension before 1 July 2025 and haven’t previously reached or exceeded their personal cap are eligible for a proportional increase, based on their highest ever transfer balance and the amount of unused cap space.
Members starting a pension for the first time on or after 1 July 2025 are entitled to a personal TBC of $2 million.
Display of updated transfer balance caps
Updated personal transfer balance caps are now available and members can view their updated personal TBC in ATO online services.
Looking for the latest news for Super funds? You can stay up to date by visiting our Super funds newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly Super funds newsletter and CRT alerts.
Jacarandas are a favourite street tree in Australia, but also one of the major culprits for drain blockages due to their aggressive root systems that spread many metres.
Researchers at the University of South Australia are calling for a major shift in how cities manage tree root intrusions into household sewer systems that cost millions of dollars in repair bills each year.
A new study by UniSA’s Sustainable Infrastructure and Resource Management (SIRM) team reveals that current maintenance strategies are falling short, resulting in repeated pipe blockages, environmental contamination, and mounting damage bills.
Instead, the engineering researchers propose a smarter, preventative approach using predictive analytics to identify high-risk areas before damage occurs.
In a new paper published in Sustainability, the UniSA team reviewed global literature and maintenance practices, concluding that removing tree roots using mechanical and chemical measures is not the best solution. Roots can grow back, and the damage is costly to fix.
In Adelaide alone, SA Water reported more than 30,000 cases of tree root intrusion in 2020, accounting for nearly 60% of all sewer failures. Each year, the utility spends approximately $5 million on repair works and maintenance caused by blocked sewer pipes.
Tree root intrusions are a global headache, costing countries millions of dollars each year. Worldwide, remediation options include mechanical and chemical techniques to clear pipe systems and control root growth, as well as proactive approaches such as planting trees well clear of pipes.
But the traditional responses are only temporary fixes, according to UniSA Water Science and Engineering Professor Chris Chow, a senior author on the paper.
“Tree roots are the most common cause of pipe failures in many cities around the world,” Prof Chow says.
“The challenge is that cutting roots or applying chemicals are not permanent solutions. The chemicals can contaminate the soil, and the roots often grow back more aggressively.”
Instead, his team is advocating for a predictive approach, analysing key risk factors – such as pipe age, material, diameter, soil type, tree species and climate conditions – so that water utilities can model where tree root problems are most likely to occur.
“It’s essentially an early warning system,” says lead author Oliver Yang, a Master of Research graduate at UniSA.
“We can map out high-risk zones and guide smarter planting choices, better pipe materials and targeted maintenance,” Yang says.
While predictive models already exist for pipe failures based on material or age, few incorporate environmental or vegetation factors. This gap is significant, the researchers say, given the complex interactions between roots, soil, moisture and infrastructure.
Fast growing species such as eucalyptus, poplars, willows, jacarandas and desert ash are particularly aggressive, with root systems that can spread many metres in search of water – especially in dry or compacted soils.
Trees such as hackberry, varnish or lacquer species, brush box, willow myrtle and kurrajong trees are less intrusive and better choices for street planting.
“Globally, cities are spending millions each year fixing the same problems over and over,” says Yang. “With the right data and modelling, we can address this, saving money, protecting infrastructure and still enjoying the benefits of urban greenery.”
The researchers are calling for more region-specific studies and the development of locally-calibrated predictive tools that incorporate tree, pipe, soil and environmental factors.
Around 50 young women from across the state recently took part in the ‘Girls on Fire’ program at CFA’s training ground at Bangholme, aimed at engaging more women in the emergency services sector.
The program offers women aged 14 to 19 the opportunity to participate in an action-packed day of interactive fire and emergency service simulations.
Guided by experienced emergency personnel, participants build confidence and leadership skills in a safe, inclusive space, by trying new things, and discovering how they can support their communities during a crisis.
Over the course of the action-packed day, CFA ran the teens through the Breathing Apparatus and Thermal Imaging Cameras used for search and rescue, along with live fire demonstrations on the gas pad.
Participants also explored radio communications using the Edithvale Mobile Command Vehicle and its crew, giving them deeper insight into CFA operations.
The event brought together representatives from CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria, Victoria State Emergency Service, Forest Fire Management Victoria, Ambulance Victoria, and Emergency Management Victoria to support the activities.
Shandelle Ross, a volunteer with Keysborough Fire Brigade and one of the trained CFA mentors, said the event was an incredible opportunity for the participants.
“CFA is grateful for the chance to be part of a program that uplifts young girls from across Victoria,” she said.
“To see the smiles on their faces as they tried new things was heartwarming, and we hope to see them return as the next generation of emergency service volunteers and workers.”
CFA was invited by Girls on Fire to deliver fire-based activities for the day, coordinated by Southeast Region Volunteer Sustainability Team member Olivia Duffy and District 8 Brigade Administration Support Officer Megan Angel, with support from volunteers across the district.
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/22/2025 07:00 PM EDT
07/22/2025 06:43 PM EDT
ALAMEDA, Calif. —T he crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) returned to their Alameda home port Wednesday following a 20,000-nautical-mile, 121-day deployment patrolling the Bering Sea. Munro departed Alameda mid-March and operated throughout the Bering Sea during a months-long Alaska Patrol in support of the Coast Guard’s Arctic District.
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/22/2025 07:00 PM EDT
07/22/2025 06:43 PM EDT
ALAMEDA, Calif. —T he crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) returned to their Alameda home port Wednesday following a 20,000-nautical-mile, 121-day deployment patrolling the Bering Sea. Munro departed Alameda mid-March and operated throughout the Bering Sea during a months-long Alaska Patrol in support of the Coast Guard’s Arctic District.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) announced the Trump Administration is fulfilling his request for disaster relief aid following multiple rounds of severe weather and tornadoes this past May. President Trump personally called Senator Marshall to share that he was allocating $6.7 million in public assistance for the affected communities.
“This past May, several of our communities experienced devastating EF3 tornadoes, causing widespread destruction. Entire towns were leveled and significant damage was sustained to Interstate 70, public infrastructure, and private property,” said Senator Marshall. “I am very grateful to President Trump and his administration for quickly fulfilling our request to provide the much-needed assistance to our Kansas communities.”
The following Kansas counties will be eligible for public assistance: Bourbon, Cheyenne, Edwards, Gove, Kiowa, Logan, Pratt, Reno, Scott, Sheridan, and Stafford.
Senator Marshall led a letter in June asking for this public assistance.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) sat down with Fox News Digital to discuss the nearly 30 bipartisan bills he has proposed for his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) legislative package. Senator Marshall is the chairman of the MAHA Caucus.
Read the full article HERE or below:
GOP Senator Reveals the ‘Dirty’ Secret to Trump’s Make America Healthy Again Movement
Alex Miller
Fox News Digital
July 18, 2025
For one lawmaker, the path to making Americans healthier starts in the dirt.
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., has styled himself as an early adopter of the Make America Healthy Again movement, a political slogan born on the 2024 campaign trail that has since seen major companies tweak their products to nix artificial additives.
But Marshall sees the initiative, commonly known as MAHA, as one that can start sooner than switching the oil in deep friers or swapping out high-fructose corn syrup for cane sugar in soda.
He has his own four pillars of MAHA, which include dialing up efficiency in agriculture; healthier, more nutrient-rich food; affordable access to primary care healthcare; and addressing mental health challenges among young people.
But it all starts below the surface with soil health.
“Soil is a dirty topic, you know, pun intended,” Marshall told Fox News Digital in an interview.
MAHA diehards and farmers are, at a surface level, at odds with one another, he said. For example, returning to an entirely organic food production process devoid of fertilizers would create healthier food, but also crank up the costs on consumers and strain farmland.
Earlier in the week, Marshall held a roundtable with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to try and bridge that gap.
“Soil health seems to be the common ground,” he said. “So healthy soil meets healthy food meets healthy people. Rather than MAHA telling these farmers what you can and can’t do, we wanted to say, ‘What’s our goal here?’ If we have the same goals, then we’re going to figure this out. Well, the goal is healthy soil.”
Getting those two in a room together, along with experts on regenerative agriculture, which is a more holistic approach to farming that targets soil health by restoring and enhancing ecosystems, is just a part of his plan.
He also intends to drop a massive package of bills that is divided up into categories that echo his four pillars, including legislation geared toward health care, mental health, nutrition and agriculture.
Among the nearly 30 bills and amendments in the package is one Marshall is particularly keen to see codified. The Plant Biostimulant Act would spur usage of organisms that can be placed into the soil and that latch onto the roots of plants that absorb nitrates and more water, he said.
The bill ties in directly with his passion for regenerative agriculture, which uses fewer fertilizers, water and other status-quo farming techniques to produce healthier foods on more sustainable farmland, which, in turn, would yield a cheaper, more nutritious diet for Americans.
“It’s growing more with less,” he said.
Among the various, bipartisan pieces of legislation from both chambers are bills that would push mobile cancer screenings with grant funding, add mental health warnings for kids scrolling through social media, require more transparency in food ingredients, expansion of employer healthcare coverage for chronic diseases, and measures that would allow bleeding edge soil health technology and processes to be considered conservation practices and eligible for Farm Bill funding, among others.
Most bills need to get 60 votes to pass in the Senate, Marshall noted, and that led to a desire to incorporate as many bipartisan measures in the package as possible. It’s also a topic that, in spite of the political polarization in Washington, “unites us, rather than divides us.”
Still, with President Donald Trump in office, he sees the chance for the measures to pass as a kind of now or never moment.
“We’re seeing a time in our lives where the incidence of cancer, the age of cancer, is growing younger and younger, the age of Alzheimer’s onset is growing younger and younger, and we believe it’s an inflammatory reaction to the food that we’re eating that leads to all that,” he said.
“We think heart disease, hypertension, is really an inflammatory reaction… to the food we’re eating and the constantly high sugar levels in our blood system,” he continued. “So absolutely, I think, seize the moment. This is it.”
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today submitted a Statement for the Congressional Record excoriating President Trump for withdrawing from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In his statement, Senator Welch called the withdrawal from UNESCO ill-conceived, and warned this move will allow the Chinese government to expand its influence in the United Nations.
Read Senator Welch’s Statement for the Congressional Record below:
“Mr. President, of all the uninformed, ill-conceived, and self-inflicted errors of this Administration, the just-announced decision to withdraw from UNESCO stands out.
“The justification given by the State Department spokeswoman was a recitation of outdated, vague, and inaccurate criticisms of an organization that has seen dramatic reforms over the past seven years under the outstanding leadership of Director General Audrey Azoulay. Since her initial appointment in 2017, Director General Azoulay has made numerous trips to Washington to meet with leaders in the Congress and the Administration. I have heard consistently positive reactions to her leadership of UNESCO by Republicans and Democrats alike, including regarding UNESCO’s efforts to address antisemitism.
“Given Director General Azoulay’s success in focusing UNESCO on its mission of promoting international cooperation and peace in a manner consistent with democratic values and human rights and dignity, one can only conclude that the Administration officials behind this short-sighted decision never bothered to do their homework. Or they were guided purely by Project 2025’s mindless opposition to multilateralism, regardless of the facts. As far as I am aware they did not bother to consult anyone in Congress, including those who have regularly engaged with Director General Azoulay and her professional staff.
“Mr. President, most Republicans and Democrats have long recognized that it is far better for the United States to be in the room, rather than remain outside and cede our influence to those who don’t share our interests or values. The Chinese Government is looking for any opportunity to expand its influence in the United Nations, and UNESCO is no exception. We rejoined UNESCO in 2023 after a five-year absence, and now we are withdrawing again. It sends a terrible message that the United States can no longer be counted on. It is a message the Chinese will applaud.”
Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Introduces Legislation to Codify President Trump’s Executive Order on Showerheads
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) introduced the Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing (SHOWER) Act, a bill to codify President Trump’s clear and consistent definition of “showerhead” and put an end to the federal government’s overregulation of household water fixtures.
Under the 2016 Trump Administration, the Department of Energy (DOE) rightly clarified that each nozzle in a multi-head shower system could be treated as a separate showerhead, each allowed to flow at up to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM), consistent with the original intent of the 1992 Energy Policy Act.
But in 2021, the Biden Administration reversed course, reinstating a burdensome interpretation that limited the combined flow of all nozzles in a system to 2.5 GPM—effectively reducing water pressure and restricting consumer choice. That rule was widely criticized as overreach and emblematic of a broader regulatory agenda targeting everyday household appliances.
President Trump issued an Executive Order in April of 2025 directing DOE to eliminate the Biden-era rule, and DOE followed through in May by repealing the restrictive definition entirely. The SHOWER Act now ensures this rollback is enshrined in law and cannot be reversed by future administrations.
Specifically, the bill:
Codifies the definition of “showerhead” using the ASME A112.18.1–2018 industry standard.
Clarifies that each individual nozzle in a multi-nozzle unit may operate independently at up to 2.5 GPM.
Excludes safety showerheads used for emergency purposes.
Directs the DOE to revise existing regulations within 180 days to reflect the updated statutory definition.
Prevents future reinterpretations that would restrict water flow and limit consumer options.
“Washington bureaucrats have gone too far in dictating what happens in Americans’ own homes,” said Congressman Fry. “The SHOWER Act is a smart fix that reaffirms each shower nozzle is just that—its own showerhead—and should be treated accordingly under the law. This is about defending consumer choice, pushing back on regulatory overreach, and standing up for commonsense policy.”
“For far too long federal regulations and red tape have limited consumer choice and forced Americans to live with limited water pressure,” said Chairman Guthrie. “Low pressure showers waste time and increase water usage. By codifying how different nozzles are categorized, the SHOWER Act offers a commonsense fix that will allow households to choose what meets their needs, not what Washington mandates. Thank you to Representative Fry for leading this legislation and for your work to deliver results for consumers across the country.”
Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
Congressman Fry serves on both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. To stay up to date with Congressman Fry and his work for the Seventh District, follow his official Facebook, Instagram, and X pages and visit his website at fry.house.gov.