Nominees will be vital in making the small business economy great again.
WASHINGTON – Today, under Chair Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) leadership, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship advanced the nominations of William Briggs to serve as Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Casey Mulligan to serve as Chief Counsel for Advocacy.
During their nomination hearing, Chair Ernst touted the pair of nominees and the vital role they will play in executing Administrator Kelly Loeffler’s bold new vision for the SBA.
“Administrator Loeffler has been working hard to return the agency to its core mission of serving Main Street,” said Chair Ernst. “From getting bureaucrats back to work to tracking down COVID fraudsters and strengthening key programs, the work is just beginning. Mr. Briggs and Dr. Mulligan will continue to restore strong leadership at the SBA and make the small business economy great again!”
Ernst has led the charge on many of the reforms the Trump SBA is carrying out including:
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), David Scott (D-GA), and Nikema Williams (D-GA), members of the House Financial Services Committee, led 50 House Democrats in sending aletterto Travis Hill, the Acting Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), opposing the Trump Administration’s effort to undermine the agency’s critical role of ensuring financial stability and protecting consumers from financial harm.
The letter follows ongoing reports that the Trump Administration and Elon Musk are planning to move forward with a proposed merger of the FDIC with other key banking regulators, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Reserve’s supervisory division. In recent weeks, the Administration fired hundreds of bank examiners, failed to put forward Acting Director Hill’s nomination to officially lead the agency before the U.S. Senate, and reportedly asked the Treasury Department to draft recommendations streamlining the role of other banking regulators to exert more control over them.
“Since the Great Depression, the FDIC has played a vital role in supporting the wellbeing of American families and the economy, promoting stability and confidence in the banking system and guaranteeing that hard-earned deposits are protected,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Having been in Congress during the 2008 financial crisis, I’ve seen the horrible consequences that follow reckless deregulation and inadequate oversight of America’s financial system. While I pray to never see such an economic collapse again, the Trump Administration’s efforts to put special interests over the interests of everyday Americans by gutting the FDIC and those responsible for ensuring our financial system is sound leave me properly petrified. It’s imperative that the Acting FDIC Chair protect the mission and integrity of the independent agency before another tragedy occurs.”
“The notion that the President would consider merging or consolidating the FDIC is an outrageous, reckless, and profoundly irresponsible attack on the financial security of millions of Americans,” said Congressman David Scott. “The FDIC has been the backbone of our banking system for nearly a century, ensuring that depositors’ money is safe and protected against bank failures. To dismantle the institution by firing the very people tasked with overseeing bank soundness and safety, is to invite chaos, economic instability, and financial ruin for working families and small businesses across Georgia and the nation. Acting Chair Travis Hill must immediately rebuff any attempt to blunt or politicize the mission of the FDIC, oppose the mass layoff of key examiners and reaffirm his commitment to the agency’s independence.”
“Once again, President Trump is showing his laughable ignorance of our financial system,” said Congresswoman Williams. “The FDIC’s independence is essential to protecting confidence and stability in our banking system. Chairman Hill’s willingness to entertain consolidating the FDIC with other banking regulators, while it is already understaffed, is a direct threat to that stability. Dismantling this agency is another thinly veiled attempt to attack working families, many who look like my constituents in Atlanta, and a deliberate attempt to widen the racial wealth gap.”
“The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), representing the employees at FDIC, OCC and CFPB, is grateful for Representatives Scott, Cleaver, Williams and others for their letter to Acting Chair Hill. The current Administration is playing reckless games with the bank deposits of hard-working Americans. Firing hundreds of experienced bank examiners puts every American’s bank accounts at risk.” Doreen Greenwald, National President, National Treasury Employees Union.
“It is gravely misguided and dangerous to undermine the independence of the FDIC which has tirelessly and capably protected depositors and the economy for almost a century. People rely on the FDIC seal of approval and communities across the country rely on the FDIC to preserve the safety and soundness of local banks.” Patrick Woodall, Managing Director of Policy, Americans for Financial Reform.
The letter was endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform (AFR), the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and Public Citizen.
The letter was cosigned by Representatives Becca Balint (D-VT), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Shontel Brown (D-OH), André Carson (D-IN), Troy Carter (D-LA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA), Herbert Conaway (D-NJ), Danny Davis (D-IL), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Al Green (D-TX), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), George Latimer (D-NY), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).
The official letter from lawmakers is availablehere.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.
Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353 April 2, 2025
Cotton, Colleagues: Allow Fish Farmers to Protect Ponds from Predatory Birds
Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today reintroduced the Cormorant Relief Act, legislation that would fully restore the ability of catfish farmers and other aquaculture producers to cull predatory double-crested cormorant populations. The legislation would restore U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations to allow producers to fight the cormorants, which threaten the livelihoods of aquaculture operations in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and other states.
Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) are cosponsoring the legislation. Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi-04) is leading companion legislation in the House.
“Double-crested cormorants pose a significant threat to Arkansas’s fish farmers, but unnecessary regulation currently prevents them from taking additional steps to protect their ponds. Our bill would once again give fish farmers the ability to adequately defend their fish populations from the birds that are eating into their bottom line,” said Senator Cotton.
“Every year, Alabama’s catfish farmers battle predatory double-crested cormorants in addition to the high input costs and overreaching regulations experienced by our entire agriculture industry. This commonsense bill allows our aquaculture producers the ability to better manage these cormorants that cause millions of dollars of losses year after year. Catfish is a vital part of our state’s economy, and I will always support our hardworking farmers and processors,” said Senator Britt.
“Mississippi catfish producers battle every day just to break even, something that is made harder because of the vast flocks of cormorants feasting at their ponds. The immediate losses due to bird predation, combined with subsequent losses due to disease, cost the aquaculture industry millions of dollars annually. It is essential that we allow producers to do more to protect their crops from bird predation, which is what this legislation will accomplish,” said Senator Hyde-Smith.
“Alabama is the number two state in American catfish production, raising one-third of the world’s catfish,” said Senator Tuberville. “As a former catfish restaurant owner, I know firsthand how critical catfish are to our economy. America’s catfish farmers should be able to protect their livelihoods against these invasive birds without fear of repercussions from the federal government. It is important that we put our American catfish farmers first!”
“Cormorant overpopulation is hurting fish populations and threatening industries that depend on healthy fisheries,” Congressman Ezell said. “This bipartisan bill gives Mississippians the ability to manage these predatory birds and keep our aquaculture industry protected. Protecting our fisheries is key to supporting local economies and farmers, and I’m proud to work with those leading this effort.”
Text of the legislation may be found here.
This legislation is supported by the National Aquaculture Association and the Catfish Farmers of America.
Background:
The double-crested cormorant is a large water bird that feeds primarily on fish, consuming approximately a pound of fish per day. The cormorant population in North America has been increasing for decades as they have no natural predators and a growing prey base. As a result, these birds cause millions of dollars in losses across the aquaculture industry each year.
From 1998 to 2016, an Aquaculture Depredation Order existed allowing aquaculture producers to take double-crested cormorants committing or about to commit depredation of aquaculture stocks. However, a lawsuit brought against the Fish and Wildlife Service challenged the Aquaculture Depredation Order renewal and in 2016 the order was vacated. Currently, aquaculture facilities must pursue individual depredation permits, which impose constraints on farmers and prevent them from adequately protecting their fish against this avian predator.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
Welch slams Trump’s trade war on the Senate Floor: “These tariffs will be a dagger in the heart of the Vermont economy.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance and Senate Agriculture Committees, voted to end President Trump’s reckless tariffs on Canadian imports—a tax on Vermont businesses and manufactures, farmers, and families. The vote comes on the same day President Trump imposed new global tariffs, throwing the economy into chaos.
“These tariffs on Canada are terrible for Vermont’s economy, arbitrary, and frankly—really stupid. President Trump’s trade war has raised prices for working families across the country and eroded trust between our neighbor and best ally in trade. I voted to end these reckless tariffs and reassert Congress’s power over trade policy,” said Senator Peter Welch after the vote.
Before voting, Senator Welch took to the Senate Floor to denounce President Trump’s announcement of new, blanket tariffs, which will devastate Vermont and the global economy. The Senator’s remarks followed a press conference earlier today where Senator Welch described President Trump’s trade policy as “Totally bad. Totally wrong. Doomed.”
“I want to talk about how these tariffs will be a dagger in the heart of the Vermont economy. The question for this institution is will we, as the United States Senate, accept the responsibility that each and every one of us, as Senators, has to stand up for the independent authority and responsibility of this institution?” asked Senator Welch from the Senate Floor.
“…What I’m seeing is a lawless rampage on the part of the Executive, being accommodated by an appeasing Congress, not standing up for its authority in many different areas…A couple decades ago this Congress gave, and delegated, some authority to the President in a national emergency to impose tariffs. That authority was given with the expectation, and rightly so in a mutually respectful civil society, that a President would use it for the intended purpose and with restraint. Whether it was Republican or Democrat…” Welch continued. “What President Trump has done is run roughshod over that, showing no restraint and using that delegation of authority, not for a national emergency, but for whatever his latest policy idea is and whatever leverage he wants to extract. We cannot allow that to happen and maintain the separation of powers that is so fundamental to the long-term well-being of our country. Senator Kaine is absolutely right. This is not a partisan question, it’s an institutional question: Do we see our role—do we see our responsibility—for maintaining that system of checks and balances? I do. That’s the heart of this matter.”
In his remarks from the Senate Floor, Senator Welch shared the concerns of impacted Vermonters, including farmers, food banks, manufactures, construction companies and homebuilders, maple sugar makers, and more.
Watch his full remarks here:
Earlier today, Senator Welch joined Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) to slam the Administration’s trade war:
“Nobody supports tariffs economically. Economists have looked at this and they don’t work, and they do a lot of hurt…. We have an affordability crisis in this country. Working families are struggling to pay their bills. And just in Vermont—to make it very concrete—we get a lot of our electricity from Canada. We get a lot of our gasoline—on the northern part of Vermont—from Canada. We get our home heating fuel from Canada. And those bills for folks are going to go up immediately,” Senator Welch said.
“Canada is our friend. It’s not China. And along the border, where we have decades and decades of mutual respect, that’s starting to change—into distrust. And a confident country treats its allies with respect, and these tariffs are going to do direct and immediate economic harm to everyday Vermont families and farmers, maple sugar producers. But it’s also going to start eroding the trust that is the benefit of good relations over time…Totally bad. Totally wrong. Doomed. And the only question is: How much pain will he inflict on everyday Vermonters before he comes to his senses and withdraws this tariff policy?” Senator Welch concluded.
View the livestream here:
Background on S.J.Res. 37 and the Trade War:
The bipartisan joint resolution of disapproval, cosponsored by Welch and led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), would terminate President Trump’s February 1st emergency declaration used to launch the trade war with Canada and eliminate the tariffs on Canadian imports. President Trump’s order cites the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), an unprecedented use of IEEPA in its nearly half-century history.
Senator Welch has blasted Trump’s tariffs and trade war and shared stories from constituents about how President Trump’s economic policies have impacted their businesses, farms, and communities. Recently, Senator Welch hosted a roundtable in Newport with Vermont and Canadian business leaders to discuss President Trump’s Trade War. He has also held events in St. Albans and virtually to hear directly from impacted Vermonters.
Canada is the largest trading partner for 34 U.S. states, including Vermont. In 2024 alone, trade with Canada accounted for 35% of Vermont’s exports, 67% of imports, and 56% of its total trade. One in four businesses in Vermont relies on trade with Canada.
In many cases, Vermont manufacturers buy imports from Canada to manufacture products. Tariffs on Canada threaten business closures and job layoffs, higher homebuilding costs, increased grain costs for farmers, and more expensive equipment for maple producers—among other costs that will get passed on to working families.
A new poll from AP-NORC found that a majority of voters—60%—disapprove of the president’s handling of trade negotiations, and 58% disapprove of his handling of the economy.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democrats across the country, as well as health care providers and advocates, are highlighting the negative impacts that face seniors, children, and working parents if the House Republican budget becomes law. Republicans’ budget sets up billions of dollars of cuts to Medicaid in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and large corporations.
“House Republicans are using their majority to serve their wealthy donors at the expense of working families, children, and seniors,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “The budget Republicans passed in February could cut Medicaid by as much as $880 billion, which would weaken a critical healthcare lifeline that over a million Minnesotans rely on.”
“Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans—about one quarter of our state—rely on Medicaid,” said Congresswoman McCollum in a statement following a vote on the budget in February. “A cut of this magnitude would have severe consequences for our entire population. Here in the Fourth District, 54,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. 172,000 rely on Medicaid for healthcare access, including nearly 90,000 children on CHIP. The health and well-being of our communities are under attack by this Republican majority. I will continue to oppose all Republican efforts to take away food, healthcare, and basic government services that Minnesotans rely on.”
To highlight the importance of Medicaid to East Metro residents and Minnesotans living in every corner of the state, Congresswoman McCollum called upon leaders in healthcare, homecare, labor unions, and disability advocacy to share how Medicaid cuts would impact their work and harm Minnesotans who rely on Medical Assistance.
“Cutting federal Medicaid funding will have a significant impact on Minnesota children with complex medical conditions and disabilities,” said Barbara Joers, President and CEO of Gillette Children’s Hospital. “These children often rely on Medicaid for access to necessary healthcare services, therapies, medications, medical equipment, and home-based care. Cuts to Medicaid would result in reduced coverage, limited access to specialists, longer wait times for services, and decreased quality of care for these at-risk populations.”
Congresswoman McCollum visited President Joers at Gillette Children’s on Tuesday morning for a discussion on how Medicaid cuts could impact patients.
Click here to watch.
“Medicaid plays a crucial role in ensuring that every child has access to the quality healthcare they need,” said Dr. Marc Gorelick, President and CEO of Children’s Minnesota. “At Children’s Minnesota, we see firsthand the profound impact of Medicaid. Nearly half of the patients we serve rely on Medicaid, which helps set up kids for a lifetime of success by providing access to essential preventative care, such as check-ups and vaccines, and effective treatment for chronic conditions. This proactive approach prevents more serious health issues that ultimately cost society more in the long run. Cutting Medicaid threatens access to these essential services for the kids and families we serve. An investment in Medicaid is an investment in our children, and ultimately an investment in a healthier future for all.”
“Many older adults and people with disabilities count on support through the Medicaid program when they’re unable to receive life-sustaining supports elsewhere,” said Kathy Messerli, Executive Director, MN Home Care Association (MHCA). “Chronic underfunding of these essential home and community-based services has already led to the closure of agencies in Minnesota and resulted in worse and at times no access to care for people who need it. Further cuts will lead to more Minnesotans without access to care or turning to safety net hospitals, which shifts the government costs to a more expensive setting.”
Medicaid is a lifeline for Minnesotans with disabilities. Sumer Spika, a mother and home care worker from St. Paul with SEIU Healthcare MN & IA, shared what Medicaid cuts would mean to thousands of families like hers.
“As a mother and a longtime home care worker who provided support for a wonderful young woman named Jayla for over a decade, when I think of potential cuts I think, ‘what would Jayla do without Medicaid?’ If there was no funding, it would mean there would be no care for her and no access to equipment that allowed her to live her life,” said Spika. “Medicaid meant not just a person to help with her care, it meant things like hearing aids and fire alarms that have flashing lights because she can’t hear. It meant getting care for a heart disorder. It means a lifeline and coverage for millions of people. The thought of cutting even one penny to give tax breaks for billionaires is so offensive I can’t believe it is even being considered.”
“Medicaid allows people with disabilities to work, participate in community activities, volunteer and do everything other people often take for granted,” said Linda Wolford, M.S., Government Relations Director at the Minnesota Council on Disability. “Also, the direct care workers who provide care to people with disabilities contribute to the economy as Medicaid funding provides them with jobs. The unemployment rate would also likely increase if Medicaid payments are reduced or cut off as there are thousands of people who work in the service delivery system for people with disabilities and seniors.”
MINNESOTA MEDICAID SNAPSHOT:
1,184,597 Minnesotans are enrolled in Minnesota’s Medicaid program, known as Medical Assistance
33% of births in Minnesota are covered by Medicaid
1 in 3 Minnesota children are covered by Medicaid
5 in 9 nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid
1 in 3 working age adults are covered by Medicaid
In MN-04, the 172,477 people on Medicaid are at risk of losing their health care under Republican budget. This includes 89,871 children under the age of 19 and 14,000 seniors over 65 in MN-04.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democrats across the country, as well as health care providers and advocates, are highlighting the negative impacts that face seniors, children, and working parents if the House Republican budget becomes law. Republicans’ budget sets up billions of dollars of cuts to Medicaid in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and large corporations.
“House Republicans are using their majority to serve their wealthy donors at the expense of working families, children, and seniors,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “The budget Republicans passed in February could cut Medicaid by as much as $880 billion, which would weaken a critical healthcare lifeline that over a million Minnesotans rely on.”
“Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans—about one quarter of our state—rely on Medicaid,” said Congresswoman McCollum in a
statement
following a vote on the budget in February. “A cut of this magnitude would have severe consequences for our entire population. Here in
To highlight the importance of Medicaid to East Metro residents and Minnesotans living in every corner of the state, Congresswoman McCollum called upon leaders in healthcare, homecare, labor unions, and disability advocacy to share how Medicaid cuts would impact their work and harm Minnesotans who rely on Medical Assistance.
“Cutting federal Medicaid funding will have a significant impact on Minnesota children with complex medical conditions and disabilities,” said Barbara Joers, President and CEO of Gillette Children’s Hospital. “These children often rely on Medicaid for access to necessary healthcare services, therapies, medications, medical equipment, and home-based care. Cuts to Medicaid would result in reduced coverage, limited access to specialists, longer wait times for services, and decreased quality of care for these at-risk populations.”
Congresswoman McCollum visited President Joers at Gillette Children’s on Tuesday morning for a discussion on how Medicaid cuts could impact patients.
Click here to watch.
“Medicaid plays a crucial role in ensuring that every child has access to the quality healthcare they need,” said Dr. Marc Gorelick, President and CEO of Children’s Minnesota. “At Children’s Minnesota, we see firsthand the profound impact of Medicaid. Nearly half of the patients we serve rely on Medicaid, which helps set up kids for a lifetime of success by providing access to essential preventative care, such as check-ups and vaccines, and effective treatment for chronic conditions. This proactive approach prevents more serious health issues that ultimately cost society more in the long run. Cutting Medicaid threatens access to these essential services for the kids and families we serve. An investment in Medicaid is an investment in our children, and ultimately an investment in a healthier future for all.”
“Many older adults and people with disabilities count on support through the Medicaid program when they’re unable to receive life-sustaining supports elsewhere,” said Kathy Messerli, Executive Director, MN Home Care Association (MHCA). “Chronic underfunding of these essential home and community-based services has already led to the closure of agencies in Minnesota and resulted in worse and at times no access to care for people who need it. Further cuts will lead to more Minnesotans without access to care or turning to safety net hospitals, which shifts the government costs to a more expensive setting.”
Medicaid is a lifeline for Minnesotans with disabilities. Sumer Spika, a mother and home care worker from St. Paul with SEIU Healthcare MN & IA, shared what Medicaid cuts would mean to thousands of families like hers.
“As a mother and a longtime home care worker who provided support for a wonderful young woman named Jayla for over a decade, when I think of potential cuts I think, ‘what would Jayla do without Medicaid?’ If there was no funding, it would mean there would be no care for her and no access to equipment that allowed her to live her life,” said Spika. “Medicaid meant not just a person to help with her care, it meant things like hearing aids and fire alarms that have flashing lights because she can’t hear. It meant getting care for a heart disorder. It means a lifeline and coverage for millions of people. The thought of cutting even one penny to give tax breaks for billionaires is so offensive I can’t believe it is even being considered.”
“Medicaid allows people with disabilities to work, participate in community activities, volunteer and do everything other people often take for granted,” said Linda Wolford, M.S., Government Relations Director at the Minnesota Council on Disability. “Also, the direct care workers who provide care to people with disabilities contribute to the economy as Medicaid funding provides them with jobs. The unemployment rate would also likely increase if Medicaid payments are reduced or cut off as there are thousands of people who work in the service delivery system for people with disabilities and seniors.”
MINNESOTA MEDICAID SNAPSHOT:
1,184,597 Minnesotans are enrolled in Minnesota’s Medicaid program, known as Medical Assistance
33% of births in Minnesota are covered by Medicaid
1 in 3 Minnesota children are covered by Medicaid
5 in 9 nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid
1 in 3 working age adults are covered by Medicaid
In MN-04, the 172,477 people on Medicaid are at risk of losing their health care under Republican budget. This includes 89,871 children under the age of 19 and 14,000 seniors over 65 in MN-04.
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April 2, 2025
Albany, NY
“Since the start of the Trump administration, the constant threat of tariffs has caused nothing but chaos and uncertainty. Tariffs are estimated to cost Americans upwards of $6,500, 401(k)s are plummeting and businesses that rely on tourism are feeling the negative impacts of the loss of our Canadian visitors from Niagara Falls to Montauk Point.
“Don’t be fooled, this so-called ‘Liberation Day’ is nothing but a reckless tax on hard working New Yorkers that is hurting small businesses, driving up costs for families and alienating our long standing global partnerships. This is not how you grow an economy, it’s how you tank one.”
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April 2, 2025
Albany, NY
“Today, Donald Trump enacted the largest tax hike in American history, skyrocketed New Yorkers’ costs by over $6,000 per year, and sent Wall Street into a full blown panic.
“Trump’s tariff proposal isn’t ‘liberating.’ It’s destructive and devastating for the millions of Americans already struggling to make ends meet.
“Here in New York, I’m doing everything in my power to bring down costs and grow our economy. The White House needs to work with us, not against us.”
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Having the freedom to choose your own health care provider is something many Americans take for granted. But the Supreme Court is weighing whether people who rely on Medicaid for their health insurance have that right, and if they do – is it enforceable by law?
“There’s a right, and the right is the right to choose your doctor,” said Justice Elena Kagan on April 2, 2025, during oral arguments on the case. John J. Bursch, the Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer who is representing South Carolina Director of Health and Human Services Eunice Medina, countered that none of the words in the underlying statute had what he called a “rights-creating pedigree.”
The case started with Julie Edwards, who is enrolled in Medicaid and lives in South Carolina. After she struggled to get contraceptive services, she was able to receive care from a Planned Parenthood South Atlantic clinic in Columbia, South Carolina.
Planned Parenthood and Edwards sued South Carolina, claiming that the state was violating the federal Medicare and Medicaid Act, which Congress passed in 1965, by not letting Edwards obtain care from the provider of her choice.
A ‘free-choice-of-provider’ requirement
Medicaid operates as a partnership between the federal government and the states. Congress passed the law that led to its creation based on its power under the Constitution’s spending clause, which allows Congress to subject federal funds to certain requirements.
Two years later, due to concerns that states were restricting which providers Medicaid recipients could choose, Congress added a “free-choice-of-provider” requirement to the program. It states that people enrolled in Medicaid “may obtain such assistance from any institution, agency, community pharmacy, or person, qualified to perform the service or services required.”
This provision is at the core of this case. At issue is whether a civil rights statute provides a right for Medicaid beneficiaries to sue a state when their federal rights have been violated. Known as Section 1983, it was enacted in 1871.
Bursch, backed by the Trump administration, argued before the court that the absence of words like “right” in the Medicaid provision that requires states to provide a free choice of provider means that neither Edwards nor Planned Parenthood has the authority to file a lawsuit to enforce this aspect of the Medicaid statute.
Nicole A. Saharsky, Planned Parenthood’s lawyer, argued that the creation of a right shouldn’t depend on “some kind of magic words test.” Instead, she said it was clear that the Medicaid statute created “a right to choose their own doctor” because “it’s mandatory” that the state provide this option to everyone with health insurance through Medicaid.
She also emphasized that Congress wanted to protect “an intensely personal right” to be able “to choose your doctor, the person that you see when you’re at your most vulnerable, facing … some of the most significant … challenges to your life and your health.”
Restricting Medicaid funds
Through a federal law known as the Hyde Amendment, Medicaid cannot reimburse health care providers for the cost of abortions, with a few exceptions: when a patient’s life is at risk or her pregnancy is due to rape or incest. Some states do cover abortion when their laws allow it, without using any federal funds.
McMaster explained that he removed “abortion clinics,” including Planned Parenthood, from the South Carolina Medicaid Program because he didn’t want state funds to indirectly subsidize abortions.
South Carolina “decided that Planned Parenthood was unqualified for many reasons, chiefly because they’re the nation’s largest abortion provider,” Bursch told the Supreme Court.
And the Supreme Court has long recognized that Section 1983 protects an individual’s ability to sue when their rights under a federal statute have been violated.
The court’s decision in the Medina case on whether Medicaid patients can choose their own health care provider could have consequences far beyond South Carolina. Arkansas, Missouri and Texas have already barred Planned Parenthood from getting reimbursed by Medicaid for any kind of health care. More states could follow suit.
In addition, given Planned Parenthood’s role in providing expansive contraceptive care, disqualifying it from Medicaid could harm access to health care and increase the already-high unintended pregnancy rate in America.
The ramifications, likewise, could extend beyond the finances of Planned Parenthood.
If the court rules in South Carolina’s favor, states could also try to exclude providers based on other characteristics, such as whether their employees belong to unions or if they provide their patients with gender-affirming care, further restricting patients’ choices.
Or, as Kagan observed, states could go the opposite direction and exclude providers that don’t provide abortions and so forth. What’s really at stake, she said, is whether a patient is “entitled to see” the provider they choose regardless of what their state happens to “think about contraception or abortion or gender transition treatment.”
If the Supreme Court rules that Edwards does have a right to get health care at a Planned Parenthood clinic, the controversy would not be over. The lower courts would then have to decide whether South Carolina appropriately removed Planned Parenthood from Medicaid as an “unqualified provider.”
And if the Supreme Court rules in favor of South Carolina, then Planned Parenthood could still sue South Carolina over its decision to find them to be unqualified.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 02, 2025
Warren, Schumer, Hirono Open Investigation into DOGE’s AI Chatbot Plan to Replace Education Department Call Centers
This comes as Senator Warren launches Save Our Schools campaign
“Given DOGE’s record of prioritizing chaos over competence, there is little reason to believe that DOGE’s AI chatbot would genuinely serve the needs of borrowers and families.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) proposed plan to replace the Department of Education’s (ED or the Department) federal student aid call centers with generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots.
“DOGE’s proposal threatens to misinform borrowers and families, lead to data privacy breaches, and pose conflicts of interest arising from Elon Musk’s financial stake in AI development,” wrote the senators.
Given that generative AI chatbots, such as Chat-GPT and Gemini, are known to “hallucinate” convincing but factually incorrect information, the senators raised concerns that a generative AI student aid chatbot could provide inaccurate information that, among other problems, could lead borrowers to enroll in a student loan repayment plan that is inappropriate for their financial situation, mislead students about their Pell Grant eligibility, or provide incorrect advice on how to interpret colleges’ financial aid offers or misinform families on how to fill out the FAFSA.
According to the senators, DOGE’s proposal also raises concerns regarding the privacy of students, families, and borrowers. Experts warn that if sensitive data is not properly safeguarded, generative AI chatbots could inadvertently leak personal data during interactions with users or even leave that data vulnerable to cybercriminals. The AI chatbot’s conversations with users would constitute yet another stream of government data that Mr. Musk could use to gain a competitive advantage for xAI.
“Given DOGE’s record of prioritizing chaos over competence, there is little reason to believe that DOGE’s AI chatbot would genuinely serve the needs of borrowers and families,” wrote the senators.
The senators demand a response from Secretary McMahon regarding their concerns by April 15, 2025. This letter comes on the same day that Senator Warren launches her Save Our Schools campaign to fight back against the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and highlight the consequences for every student and public school in America.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement on Senate Republicans’ budget:
“This budget is totally irresponsible—it will damage our economy and hurt kids and seniors. President Trump and Senate Republicans are forcing a reckless budget that will cut the services and programs Americans rely on to finance over $4 trillion of tax cuts for Elon Musk and their billionaire friends.”
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
Senator Reverend Warnock Issues Statement on Potential Harm President Trump’s Reckless Tariffs Will put on Price of Groceries, Everyday Goods
Today, President Trump announced the rollout of a sweeping set of tariffs that will raise the cost of everyday goods for ordinary Georgians
The tariffs willincrease costs on many consumer purchases, including cars and groceries, and risk the loss of Georgia manufacturing jobs
Today’s announcement will directly harm Georgia’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors
Senator Reverend Warnock is the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness
Senator Reverend Warnock: “Today’s tariffs announcement won’t make Georgians’ lives easier or more affordable, but instead will make life more expensive”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), ranking member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, issued the following statement after President Trump rolled out a sweeping set of tariffs that raise the prices of everyday goods, like groceries.
“I was sent to the Senate to advocate on behalf of Georgians from across the state, to help bring down their everyday costs,to fight to protect their jobs, and to help more people afford things like a car and a home.”
“Today’s tariffs announcement won’t make Georgians’ lives easier or more affordable, but instead will make life more expensive.”
“The chaos of these tariffs will raise the prices of cars, groceries, housing, and so much more, allwhile putting American farmers, the backbone of our state’s economy, in the middle of an international trade war that will only lead to reduced access to foreign markets and even shuttered farms.”
“Tariffs can be a good tool to protect American jobs and force other nations to play by the rules. But when they are imposed in such an unpredictable, chaotic, and sweeping manner, it is the average American who will bear the brunt in the fallout of these actions.”
“I will continue to fight back on any actions that put Georgia and American families in overwhelmingly burdensome financial situations. These tariffs won’t help anybody and will wreck our economy.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)
WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Democrats released the following joint statement in response to President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs against Canada and Mexico that went into effect today:
“President Trump is threatening our economy with these damaging, unnecessary tariffs. He is on the verge of sparking several trade wars that will be fought on multiple fronts, including against some of our closest friends and allies, upending the international trading system the United States worked to create.
“The consequences will be devastating – costs will increase on everything from gas to groceries, making it even harder for American families to make ends meet. At the same time, that he’s raising prices at the supermarket, President Trump is jeopardizing hundreds of thousands of American jobs. President Trump is starting a trade war and American families are caught in the cross-fire.
“Americans simply cannot afford to be caught in endless trade wars. Democrats on the Trade Subcommittee are united in rejecting these irresponsible tariffs designed to increase revenue for more tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. We also call on our Republican colleagues to work with us to reassert Congress’ role in setting strategic, stable trade policies and to invest in the American economy, instead of abdicating their responsibilities to President Trump and Elon Musk.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)
WASHINGTON – House Ways and Means Committee members Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Congressman Mike Carey (R-Ohio), along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), today reintroduced the Credit for Caring Act, a bipartisan bill that would create a new tax credit of up to $5,000 for working family caregivers.
“Caring for both of my parents after they were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s has given me a personal understanding of the emotional, physical, and financial challenges families face when caring for a loved one,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Family caregivers – two-thirds of whom are women – often juggle work, family responsibilities, and the time and financial demands of caregiving. The Credit for Caring Act will ease some of these challenges by providing much-needed financial relief through a tax credit for home care and adult day care.”
“We know that families want to support their loved ones through illness, disability and aging in place. The Credit for Caring Act offers relief to caregivers, allowing them to prioritize their loved ones and worry less about the effects on their family budget,” said Congressman Carey. “This tax credit would offset costs American families have to bear to care for their loved ones and provides flexibility to care for them in the way that works best for their family’s situation. I hope my colleagues join me in the effort to pass it.”
“The Credit for Caring Act is a great tool to help ease the financial burden caregivers face, and I am proud to join with my colleagues in reintroducing this bill that aims to accomplish that,” said Senator Capito. “Like so many Americans, I helped care for both of my parents as they battled Alzheimer’s at the end of their lives, and therefore, I understand the emotional and physical toll it can take on individuals and families. By passing this bill, we can help caregivers focus more on their loved ones and less on how much it will cost them.”
“Family caregivers play a critical role in the lives of their loved ones, often at a significant financial cost to themselves. They have to balance jobs and family responsibilities, and still make ends meet at the end of the month,” said Senator Bennet. “Congress should make things a little easier for them. Our bipartisan bill will help ease the financial burden that many caregivers face in Colorado and across the country, and I’m grateful for the support of my colleagues in both chambers of Congress.”
“America’s family caregivers put family first, helping their parents, spouses and others stay at home,” said Nancy LeaMond, executive vice President and chief advocacy and engagement officer, AARP. “They spend thousands of dollars every year on this care, while juggling work and family responsibilities. We urge Congress to put money back into the pockets of hardworking family caregivers by passing the Credit for Caring tax credit.”
“This crucial legislation offers much-needed financial relief for the invaluable contributions of family caregivers, who often sacrifice their own financial stability to care for loved ones, while juggling work and caregiving responsibilities,” said Jenny Carlson, state director, AARP. “This act also represents a significant step towards supporting our aging population and ensuring that families can continue to provide high-quality care at home. It also benefits employers by reducing the financial strain on employees who balance work and caregiving responsibilities, leading to a more productive and engaged workforce. We urge Congress to pass this vital legislation, which will have a profound impact on the well-being of families, the economy, and the overall health of our communities.”
“AMAC Action, the advocacy affiliate of the Association of Mature American Citizens – with over 2 million members nationwide, proudly supports the Credit for Caring Act because family caregivers are the foundation of our nation’s long-term care system. Millions of Americans selflessly provide care for their loved ones, often at great personal and financial sacrifice. This legislation is a commonsense solution that provides much-needed relief to those who shoulder this responsibility. By easing the financial burden on caregivers, we can help ensure seniors receive the care they need while preserving their independence and dignity,” said Andy Mangione, senior vice president, AMAC Action.
“With over 11 million Americans caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s, our nation must take action to help with the staggering financial toll of caregiving,” said Robert Egge, president, AIM and chief public policy officer, Alzheimer’s Association. “Thank you to Rep. Carey and the other lead sponsors for introducing the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, which will provide real help to family caregivers across the nation. We look forward to working with you to ensure this critical legislation is signed into law.”
BACKGROUND
Caregiving is time-consuming, physically taxing, and it can also be expensive. Currently, family caregivers spend over $7,200 a year, on average, on out-of-pocket on caregiving expenses.
The Credit for Caring Act is supported by a number of groups, including AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, Home Care Association of America, AMAC Action, Family Business Coalition and American Seniors Housing Association.
The Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the eight months ended 28 February 2025 were released by the Treasury today. The February results are reported against forecasts based on theHalf Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2024 (HYEFU 2024), published on 17 December 2024, and the results for the same period for the previous year.
The majority of the key fiscal indicators for the eight months ended 28 February 2025 were better than forecast. The Government’s main operating indicator, the operating balance before gains and losses excluding ACC (OBEGALx), showed a deficit of $5.0 billion. This was $1.6 billion smaller than forecast largely due to higher than forecast core Crown tax revenue and lower than forecast core Crown expenditure. Net core Crown debt was $0.8 billion lower than forecast at $181.0 billion, or 42.4% of GDP.
Core Crown tax revenue, at $79.9 billion, was $0.9 billion (1.1%) higher than forecast with the largest variance relating to GST being $0.6 billion (3.1%) above forecast.
Core Crown expenses, at $92.2 billion, were $0.6 billion (0.6%) below forecast. This variance is mostly timing in nature and was spread across a range of agencies.
The OBEGALx was a deficit of $5.0 billion, $1.6 billion less than the forecast deficit. When including the revenue and expenses of ACC, the OBEGAL deficit was $6.6 billion, $1.4 billion less than the forecast deficit.
The operating balance deficit of $0.8 billion was $2.6 billion lower than the forecast deficit. This reflected both the favourable OBEGAL result and net favourable valuation movements. Net losses on non-financial instruments were $1.6 billion less than forecast (largely owing to a $0.4 billion net actuarial gain on ACC’s outstanding claims liability compared to a forecast net loss of $1.0 billion). This favourable result was partly offset by net gains on financial instruments being $0.7 billion lower than forecast, driven by New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZS Fund)’s investment portfolio and the impact of movements in NZD since forecasts were prepared.
The core Crown residual cash deficit of $5.0 billion was in line with forecast. While the net core Crown operating cash outflows were higher than forecast by $0.3 billion, they were offset by net core Crown capital cash outflows by the same amount.
Net core Crown debt at $181.0 billion (42.4% of GDP) was $0.8 billion lower than forecast. With the core Crown residual cash deficit in line with forecast, factors not impacting residual cash have improved net core Crown debt. Of these, the most significant was foreign exchange movements since the HYEFU 2024 forecast which have resulted in $0.6 billion of net gains improving net core Crown debt without impacting the core Crown residual cash indicator.
Gross debt at $208.8 billion (48.9% of GDP) was $8.2 billion higher than forecast, largely owing to higher than forecast unsettled trades, derivatives in loss and the issuances of Euro Commercial Paper driven by short-term cash requirements. However, this increase in gross debt was broadly offset by a corresponding increase in financial assets, therefore this has not flowed through to the net core Crown debt measure or to net worth.
Net worth at $187.6 billion (43.9% of GDP) was $3.1 billion higher than forecast largely reflecting the year-to-date operating balance result.
Year to date
Full Year
February
2025
Actual1
$m
February
2025
HYEFU 2024
Forecast1
$m
Variance2
HYEFU 2024
$m
Variance
HYEFU 2024
%
June
2025
HYEFU 2024
Forecast3
$m
Core Crown tax revenue
79,928
79,025
903
1.1
120,623
Core Crown revenue
88,467
87,608
859
1.0
134,038
Core Crown expenses
92,226
92,826
600
0.6
144,638
Core Crown residual cash
(5,021)
(5,022)
1
–
(16,610)
Net core Crown debt4
180,982
181,799
817
0.4
192,810
as a percentage of GDP
42.4%
42.6%
45.1%
Gross debt
208,776
200,574
(8,202)
(4.1)
206,558
as a percentage of GDP
48.9%
47.0%
48.3%
OBEGAL excluding ACC (OBEGALx)
(5,023)
(6,619)
1,596
24.1
(12,868)
OBEGAL
(6,580)
(8,013)
1,433
17.9
(17,317)
Operating balance (excluding minority interests)
(827)
(3,439)
2,612
76.0
(10,161)
Net worth
187,563
184,445
3,118
1.7
177,492
as a percentage of GDP
43.9%
43.2%
41.5%
Using the most recently published GDP (for the year ended 31 December 2024) of $426,925 million (Source: Stats NZ). Favourable variances against forecast have a positive sign and unfavourable variances against forecast have a negative sign. Using HYEFU 2024 forecast GDP for the year ending 30 June 2025 of $427,252 million (Source: The Treasury). Net core Crown debt excludes the NZS Fund and core Crown advances. Net core Crown debt may fluctuate during the year largely reflecting the timing of tax receipts.
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging seven defendants for their roles in a narcotics conspiracy. Named in the indictment and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and fentanyl are:
Winnie Taru Woods a/k/a Ru, 50, of Buffalo
Sharron McCullough a/k/a Black, 34, of Brooklyn, NY
Marlon Holt, Jr. a/k/a Scooter a/k/a Professor, 51, of Buffalo
Norman Patillo, 44, of Houston, Texas
Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr., 50, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago
Ian Dyer, 25, of Austin, Texas
Shannell Gosine, 27, of Baytown, Texas
In addition, defendants Woods, McCullough, and Holt are also charged with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between April 2023, and February 2025, the defendants conspired to sell cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. During the conspiracy, defendants Winnie Taru Woods and Sharron McCullough would purchase bulk quantities of narcotics from cartels in Mexico for later resale by others in Buffalo, New York City, and elsewhere. Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr. was one of their sources of supply in Mexico. Defendants Holt, Patillo, Dyer, and Shannell Gosine, took numerous trips to and from Texas, New York, and other cities, transporting the narcotics and bulk currency. On May 7, 2024, Holt, while traveling back from Texas, was stopped by the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office and arrested after being found in possession of nine kilograms of cocaine and 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in his trunk.
The defendants have all been arraigned. Defendants Woods, McCullough, Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr. and Patillo were detained. Defendants Holt, Dyer, and Shannell Gosine were released on conditions.
“This case falls within the parameters of Operation Take Back America,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “The Operation Take Back America initiative focuses resources on the elimination of cartels, such as the ones allegedly involved in this case, in an effort to protect our communities from the members of these criminal organizations.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan stated, “As alleged, the defendants conspired with Mexican cartels to traffic deadly narcotics into the U.S., across the country and into our New York communities. The unified strength and versatility of the U.S. federal law enforcement system, together with our state partners, has once again stopped an allegedly dangerous drug trafficking organization in its tracks. Securing the homeland from dangers posed by foreign organizations and threats is among HSI’s top priorities. We are relentlessly prepared to confront bad actors seeking financial gain by whatever means necessary.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino, New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office, the 23rd Judicial Taskforce, Tennessee, as well as Homeland Security Investigations in NY, and Houston and Austin, Texas.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Headline: Streamlining everyday tasks in education with Microsoft 365 Copilot
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Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
***TODAY: Senate to vote on a resolution to reverse Trump’s tariffs on Canada—Trump’s trade war with Canada, which has resulted in severe, 25 percent retaliatory tariffs on nearly all goods, is already seriously hurting WA businesses and agriculture industry***
Washington state is one of the most trade-dependent states in the U.S., with 40 percent of WA jobs tied to international commerce
Senator Murray: “Trump’s refusal to accept basic economic realities or listen to the desperate pleas of American businesses, farmers, and families who can’t afford his costly tariffs is risking serious economic catastrophe and pushing our country toward a Republican recession.”
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s reckless and sweeping new tariffs, which are expected to go into effect later today and will raise costs, and severely harm Washington state businesses, agriculture, and our overall economy. A recent analysis found that Trump’s tariffs could raise costs on the average American household by $5,200 a year—and these price hikes on working families are coming at the very same time that Republicans are forcing through Congress massive new tax cuts for billionaires.
The Senate will also vote today on a resolution from Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would reverse Trump’s tariffs on Canada by nullifying the emergency declaration issued by President Trump that underpins them. The resolution requires a simple majority to pass in the Senate and would also need to be brought up and passed in the Republican-controlled House in order to go into effect.
“Trump’s ham-fisted, utterly pointless tariffs are a tax that families in Washington state will pay on nearly everything they buy—whether at the grocery store, the car dealership, or your neighborhood coffee shop.
“We have all the data in the world that tells us exactly how these tariffs will hurt American businesses and push up prices—that’s not an opinion, it’s a fact. Trump and his cabinet are choosing to ignore the mountains of evidence we have that tariffs do not work and push ahead because they simply don’t care. They don’t care if small businesses have to close their doors, if farmers lose access to markets, or if prices go up—because it won’t affect Trump and his cabinet full of billionaires.
“Trump’s trade war is an especially deep cut to farmers, fishers, and producers in Washington state—I’ve talked to so many who are absolutely furious that Trump is putting their livelihoods at risk because he cannot seem to grasp the basic fact that they actually rely on international markets to sell their goods. Trump doesn’t have a clue—and businesses in Washington state are already paying the price for his ignorance.
“Today I will vote for Senator Kaine’s resolution to reverse Trump’s disastrous tariffs on Washington state’s largest trading partner, Canada—Trump’s trade war has already forced businesses in Washington state who rely on imported materials and business from Canada to lay off employees and close their doors, and is upending supply chains across the Pacific Northwest.
“Trump’s refusal to accept basic economic realities or listen to the desperate pleas of American businesses, farmers, and families who can’t afford his costly tariffs is risking serious economic catastrophe and pushing our country toward a Republican recession.”
Washington state has one of the most trade-dependent economies of any state in the country, with 40 percent of jobs tied to international commerce and approximately $60 billion in annual exports. Washington is the top U.S. producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries—all of which risk losing vital export markets due to retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada. Additionally, more than 12,000 small and medium-sized companies in Washington state export goods and will struggle to absorb the impact of retaliatory tariffs. Trump’s tariffs during his first term were extremely costly for Washington state—as one example, India imposed a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples, causing Washington apple shipments to India to fall by 99 percent and growers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Murray, Heinrich, and colleagues: “Dissolving contracts, cancelling grants and loans, and reneging on loan guarantees without any intention to execute the laws is not only illegal, but is harmful to the public and energy consumers. Your indiscriminate cancellations of spending will increase energy prices, make our grid less secure, and stop energy innovation”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, led 25 Democratic senators in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Christopher Wright demanding that he uphold his commitment to honor existing legal agreements and deliver funds passed into law by Congress.
The letter comes on the heels of recent reports that the Department of Energy is creating a “hit list” of awards, projects, and contracts—many of which have already began construction—it is considering canceling, which would break existing agreements and lead to job losses and reductions in the growth of new energy resources.
The senators detailed their serious concerns about the reports, telling Secretary Wright: “You assured us during your confirmation hearing that you believe that legal agreements should be honored (including managing the financial commitments you have inherited) and that you will follow the law.”
The senators added: “Indiscriminately canceling program funding and executed contracts, and refusing to execute on the funding directives Congress enacted, neither honors existing agreements nor is consistent with the spending laws that have appropriated funding for specific purposes.”
“Dissolving contracts, cancelling grants and loans, and reneging on loan guarantees without any intention to execute the laws is not only illegal, but is harmful to the public and energy consumers. Your indiscriminate cancellations of spending will increase energy prices, make our grid less secure, and stop energy innovation,” the senators continued. “If the Department has a policy disagreement and does not want to spend money on programs Congress has funded, the lawful response is to ask Congress to rescind that funding. The decision ultimately rests with Congress, not with the President, the Department of Energy, or the Department of Government Efficiency.”
The senators concluded the letter by demanding a detailed list and briefing that identifies which grants, loans, or loan guarantees Secretary Wright believes should be rescinded and why he thinks they should be rescinded.
The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
We are deeply troubled by recent news reports that the Department of Energy (Department) is creating a “hit list of clean energy projects” to “wipe out” for being inconsistent with the President’s priorities. This list reportedly includes hydrogen hubs and carbon capture, critical mineral, and battery storage projects that have already received grant and loan funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and annual appropriations bills.
You assured us during your confirmation hearing that you believe that legal agreements should be honored (including managing the financial commitments you have inherited) and that you will follow the law. Indiscriminately canceling program funding and executed contracts, and refusing to execute on the funding directives Congress enacted, neither honors existing agreements nor is consistent with the spending laws that have appropriated funding for specific purposes.
Our Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse and exclusive power to appropriate funds. Once a law is properly enacted, the Constitution requires the President to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” The President cannot substitute his policy preferences for requirements in law, and that includes refusing to spend funds Congress requires the President to spend.
In this instance, where Congress has authorized and appropriated funds for programs that support clean energy projects, the Department must faithfully execute the law and expend the funds for the purposes provided. For example, programs authorized that have received federal appropriations under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have requirements on timing of expended funds, purposes, and contractual expectations. An internal Office of Management and Budget guidance document cannot hide the Department’s obligation to follow the enacted law.
Dissolving contracts, cancelling grants and loans, and reneging on loan guarantees without any intention to execute the laws is not only illegal, but is harmful to the public and energy consumers. Your indiscriminate cancellations of spending will increase energy prices, make our grid less secure, and stop energy innovation. If the Department has a policy disagreement and does not want to spend money on programs Congress has funded, the lawful response is to ask Congress to rescind that funding. The decision ultimately rests with Congress, not with the President, the Department of Energy, or the Department of Government Efficiency. Please provide us a detailed list and briefing that identifies which grants, loans, or loan guarantees you believe should be rescinded and why you think they should be rescinded.
Headline: Business responds to US reciprocal tariff plan
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Speaking on behalf of more than 45 million companies in over 170 countries, ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said:
“What we’ve seen today represents a watershed moment in American trade policy that poses severe downside risks to the global economy. To put this in historical context, effective US tariff rates now stand at a level not seen since the 1930s — and cover a significantly higher proportion of American GDP than the infamous Smoot-Hawley Act.
“This is, without doubt, a shock to the global trading system but it need not result in a systemic crisis. The US is an economic superpower but only accounts for 13% of global imports. How other nations respond to the new duties will ultimately determine the scale and depth of any economic fallout from “Liberation Day”. We continue to encourage governments to place an emphasis on negotiation and de-escalation to the greatest extent possible — tariff retaliation is a lose-lose game.
“We are immediately concerned by the potential impact of the severe tariffs imposed on a range of emerging economies — an approach which risks further damaging the development prospects of countries already facing worsening terms of trade.
“Businesses across our network will be seeking urgent clarification from the relevant US authorities on how new country-level tariffs will be applied in practice — including on how they interact with sector-specific duties and rules of origin requirements. Given the almost immediate entry into force of the new measures, there is a clear risk of costly supply chain disruptions and customs backlogs absent of express guidance being provided in a timely manner.
“From a broader perspective, it’s clear that the measures announced today present a fundamental challenge to the rules-based governance of trade. In addition to responding bilaterally to the US administration, we also need to see governments taking action to safeguard the multilateral system — and set the foundations for its eventual revitalisation.
“Predictability and certainty are fundamental to cross-border commerce. We fully appreciate the US administration’s desire to secure a level playing field for international trade but remain deeply sceptical that a tariff escalation of this scale can deliver on that goal — multilateral solutions will ultimately be needed to resolve longstanding inefficiencies and inequities in the global trading system.”
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Amid Sky-High Grocery Prices, Trump Is Denying Food To Hungry Families
New York Food Banks Receive Tens Of MillionsOf Dollars’ Worth Of Food Through Now Slashed Federal Programs
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference slamming the Trump administration’s massive cuts to funding for food banks.
Last month, President Trump slashed $1 billion in federal funding used to purchase food for food banks and other organizations that provide meals, like schools and child care centers. Now, he is canceling another $500 million in already approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). New York receives roughly $30 million through TEFAP each year in regular funding; this supplemental money would have funded additional food purchases at New York’s regional food banks and their partner soup kitchens and food pantries.
Senator Gillibrand was joined by CEO of Hunger Free America Joel Berg.
“Seventy-two days into Trump’s presidency, grocery prices are still sky-high, with no sign of improvement on the horizon,” said Senator Gillibrand. “And as hungry families turn to food banks and soup kitchens for help, Trump is now slashing the funding they rely on. It’s outrageous. Programs like TEFAP have overwhelming bipartisan support. They help serve every community – rural, urban, Democratic, Republican – in every state in times of need. They are not an extraneous expense; they are an investment in healthy kids, healthy families, and healthy futures. I am calling on the Trump administration to provide answers on what plans – if any – it has to keep Americans from going hungry after these cuts, and I will be doing everything in my power to reverse them.”
The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program is availablehereor below.
Dear Secretary Rollins:
We write regarding the reported cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in previously approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy. If true, this major shift in a program utilized by emergency food providers in every state in the nation will have a significant and damaging impact upon millions of people who depend upon this program for critical food assistance.
In addition, this program consists of purchases of U.S. commodities at a time when America’s growers and producers are struggling due to tariffs, proposed tariffs, animal disease and many other challenges.
According to recent statistics, nearly one in every seven Americans have faced food insecurity. Many of these households turn to community and emergency relief organizations such as food banks and food pantries to help them obtain sufficient nutrition. In 2023 alone, 50 million Americans turned to emergency food providers, according to a report from Feeding America, America’s largest network of food banks. While food banks rely on a variety of sources (including private) to obtain food for distribution through their networks, federally purchased commodities are a key part of how they provide nutritious meals to Americans.
Due to this reported change, a number of us have heard that trucks delivering American-grown foods may not arrive. These trucks represent hundreds of thousands of nutritious meals containing poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. If confirmed, the cancellation of this previously announced funding also comes on top of the cancellation of Local Food for School Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program funding, which also helps farmers deliver nutritious foods to schools and food banks. These cuts will deprive Americans of food assistance, emergency food providers of necessary support to carry out their work, and American farmers of vital domestic markets.
To help us understand USDA’s actions and their impact on communities around the country, we ask that you answer the following questions.
1. Has USDA cancelled previously approved purchases of food provided through TEFAP? If so, what level of funding has been cancelled thus far and when will state agencies be notified of any cancelled TEFAP purchases?
2. Does USDA plan to cancel additional purchases of food provided through TEFAP?
3. Has USDA paused any TEFAP food orders or purchases? If so, what is the current status of those orders or purchases? Does USDA intend to un-pause these funds?
4. Please provide information on what types of funding, by commodity, have been cancelled and the financial impact of those cancellations on producers such as pork, chicken, turkey and dairy farmers.
5. Is the funding announced on October 1, 2024 and detailed in the implementation memo that the Food and Nutrition Service sent to state agencies on December 2 rescinded?
6. Does USDA intend to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds in Fiscal Year 2025 for future purchases that will be distributed through TEFAP?
We ask for a prompt response to these questions by the end of the week.
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced a bill to establish a nonprofit foundation that would support the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) by bolstering public-private collaboration on U.S. technological innovation and competitiveness. This bill was initially introduced in the 118th Congress. Representatives Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness (EPIC) Act would establish a foundation to help NIST achieve its goal of promoting U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness in science and technology. Congress has established similar foundations to support the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other federal agencies. In Delaware, NIST supports the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), a public-private partnership on the University of Delaware’s campus focused on advancing biopharmaceutical production and developing Delaware’s workforce for the future.
“America’s economic strength depends on technological leadership, and NIST has long been an engine of innovation for our country,” said Senator Coons. “The EPIC Act reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a nonprofit foundation that will mobilize resources to support U.S. leadership on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotech, and quantum computing. With strong bipartisan support across both chambers, this legislation represents a critical investment in America’s technological future.”
“Maintaining and encouraging research and development in the U.S. is critical to winning the technological race against China and other adversaries,” said Senator Young. “Our bipartisan legislation will support these efforts by establishing an independent foundation to identify and foster innovative public-private partnerships across the country and strengthen the American economy.”
“Whether it’s AI or quantum computing, the United States is pushing the boundaries of technological innovation on all fronts,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “There are no second chances with technologies this powerful; NIST needs every tool at its disposal to ensure responsible R&D from the start.”
“Our nation’s technological innovation is what keeps us globally competitive,” saidSenator Fischer. “To stay ahead of our rapidly advancing adversaries, we must invest in emerging technologies and the metrics that underpin them. The EPIC Act is an effective, bipartisan way to help us generate more resources to do so without additional taxpayer costs.”
“Now more than ever, our federal science agencies need every tool to drive U.S. technology leadership,” said Representative Stevens. “The reintroduction of the EPIC Act ensures that NIST—a vital agency in emerging technology, standards, and manufacturing—has the resources to secure American leadership in the mid-21st century. By establishing the Foundation for Standards and Metrology, this bill will accelerate technology commercialization, strengthen international collaborations, and support NIST’s world-class workforce. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this bipartisan, bicameral bill and unleash American innovation.”
“It is vital that America maintains its position as the world leader in science and technology,” said Representative Obernolte. “The creation of the Foundation for Standards and Metrology will assist in ensuring industry, non-profits, and academia receive the resources that they need to establish cutting-edge standards that enhances the economic security and prosperity of the U.S., which is why I’m proud to be a Republican co-lead on this critical legislation.”
Specifically, the EPIC Act would establish a nonprofit Foundation for Standards and Metrology, enabling NIST to:
Mobilize private and philanthropic funding to support critical scientific and technical initiatives.
Collaborate more closely with the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education.
Train the emerging technology workforce of the future and retain top talent at the institute.
The EPIC Act is endorsed by four former directors of NIST, as well as SEMI Americas, the Semiconductor Industry Association, NIST Coalition, SPIE, SeedAI, Institute for Progress, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Center for AI Policy, Telecommunications Industry Association, Institute for AI Policy and Strategy, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Colorado Boulder, Americans for Responsible Innovation, Chainguard, CJW Quantum Consulting, American Physical Society, ACT | The App Association, CivAI, SandboxAQ, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Google, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, SC Quantum, Software Information Industry Association, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 5 Lakes Institute, and the APA Services, Inc.
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) released the text of the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Resolution, which provides a $1.5 trillion instruction to the Senate Finance Committee on a current policy baseline.
“The 2017 Trump tax cuts powered a booming economy, made the United States more competitive, and allowed working families to save more of their hard-earned dollars,” said Crapo. “This budget resolution unlocks the process to permanently extend proven, pro-growth tax policy, ensure Americans can keep more of their hard-earned money, provide additional tax relief to those who need it most, and take long-overdue steps toward getting our fiscal house in order.”
READ: FY 2025 Budget Resolution will Deliver Permanent Tax Relief, Spur Economic Growth and Restore Fiscal Order
Just-passed legislation is expected to put up to 250,000 more building products on shelves this year alone – giving Kiwis building and renovating their homes more choice to fit their budgets, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.“Making it easier and more affordable to build in New Zealand is a central pillar in this Government’s Going for Growth plan to get the economy back on track. “That’s why we have made changes to the Building Act to reduce barriers for using high-quality building products imported from overseas. “The status quo is unacceptable. Construction costs have risen a staggering 40 percent since 2019, spurred on by a lack of competition in the building system. Bringing hundreds of thousands of new options into the market will put downward pressure on prices. “Builders and designers have long called for this change, so they can get the best deals on goods and materials countries like Australia are already benefiting from. “We expect that from July, more than 12,000 essential products – including plasterboard, cladding, and insulation – will be cleared for use through cited standards in the new Building Product Specifications pathway. Building Consent Authorities must accept them, so long as the products are used as intended. “Increasing options on the market is critically important for improving supply chain resilience. Giving our tradespeople alternatives to turn to during product shortages will allow projects to continue without delays. “Local manufacturers will also benefit from being able to test their products against internationally accepted standards, opening the door to valuable export markets. “Work is already underway to establish robust regulations for recognising new products and standards, ensuring only top-quality materials enter the market. This includes targeted consultation with industry leaders and local government.”Note to editors:
Under the new system:
The Minister for Building and Construction will be able to issue a notice that recognises groups of overseas product standards and standards certification schemes for use in New Zealand. A new building product specifications pathway will be introduced to streamline the process of citing international product standards that can be used with acceptable solutions or verification methods to establish compliance with the building code. Building Consent Authorities will be required to accept building products and methods that have been certified by an overseas product certification scheme and recognised by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill responds to recommendations from the Commerce Commission’s 2022 market study into residential building supplies, which highlighted issues with the current lack of competition for the supply and acquisition of building products.
Toi te kupu, toi te mana, toi tū te reo. Talented appointees to prominent reo Māori entities will help grow accessibility to the language and culture in homes and communities, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “Beloved shows from the past like Hōmai Te Pakipaki, popular celebrations like Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and inspiring national events like Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga attract large diverse audiences to reo Māori me ngā tikanga. Stories about Māori told in a uniquely Māori will continue to support language learners and fluent speakers alike as we move to an increasingly digital mediascape. “The appointments I’m announcing today include leaders in governance, business, broadcasting, and language revitalisation.” The entities and appointments are: Te Mātāwai
Penetaui Kleskovic is General Manager of Te Aupōuri and Councillor of Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward. In addition to his te reo expertise, his three-year appointment will bring valuable insights to the board in asset growth and community engagement.
Te Mangai Pāho
Erana Reedy will be appointed for three years. She has 40 years of experience in broadcasting, producing te reo Māori content across radio, television, and online platforms as well as being Chief Operating Officer of Radio Ngāti Porou and Deputy Chair of Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori. Tamalene Painting will be reappointed for three years. She has strong te reo Māori capability, financial skills, and extensive experience in broadcasting and production management.
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
Professor Rawinia Higgins. With extensive experience in language revitalisation, governance, and policy development, with a strong academic background and leadership experience. This 18-month reappointment as Chair will provide valuable continuity of leadership at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. Te Haumihiata Mason appointed for three years. Linguist, translator, and educator with a lifelong commitment to te reo Māori revitalisation.
Whakaata Māori
Jamie Tuuta has extensive governance experience with a strong strategic focus. This 18-month reappointment as Chair will provide strong leadership on strategic priorities. Tiwana Tibble has been reappointed for three years. He has expertise in financial management, governance, and a background in Māori economic authorities, commercial accountancy and sector governance. Holly Bennett has been appointed for three years. Her strong governance and business expertise will bring valuable insights.
“These entities fulfil a wide range of roles, from preserving cultural practices and archival material to engaging with communities, so their leadership reflects the depth of expertise needed to advance te reo Māori revitalisation,” Mr Potaka says. “This kaupapa is at the heart of many homes and communities across the country so I especially want to acknowledge and thank all the outgoing members for their valuable contributions.” Te whakapakari i te whai wāhitanga ki te reo Māori Toi te kupu, toi te mana, toi tū te reo. Kia atamai ngā kopounga ki ngā hinonga reo Māori whakarae e āwhina ki te whakatipu i te whai wāhitanga ki te reo Māori me ōna tikanga ki ngā kāinga me ngā hapori, e kī ana te Minita Whanaketanga Māori a Tama Potaka. Ko ngā whakaaturanga whakaipoipo nō ngā rā o mua pēnā i te Homai te Pakipaki, ngā whakatairanga e aroha nuitia ana e te iwi, pēnā i Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, tatū atu ki te ihi, te wehi, te mana o ngā taumāhekeheke ā-motu pēnā i Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga, katoa ēnei he mea tō mai i ngā mata tini, mata kanorau anō hoki ki te reo Māori me ōna tikanga. Ko ngā kōrero pūrākau mō te Māori Māori ake nei te āhua e tautoko tonu i ngā ākonga reo Māori tatū atu ki te hunga matatau i a tātou e tahuri ake ana ki tētahi ao pāpāho e matihiko haere, e matihiko haere nei. “Ko ētahi o ngā kopounga e pānuitia ake ana e au i te rangi nei he kaiarataki i te mana ārahi, te pakihi, te pāpāho, me te whakarauoratanga reo.” E whai ake nei ko ngā hinonga me ngā kopounga: Te Mātāwai
Ko Penetaui Kleskovic – he Pou Whakahaere Whānui o Te Aupōuri, he Kaikaunihera hoki o Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward. I tua atu i tōna tohungatanga ki te reo Māori, aua atu ngā hua e puta mai ki te poari i ana mātau ki te whakatipu rawa me te honohono ki te hapori.
Te Māngai Pāho
Kua kopounga a Erana Reedy mō te toru tau. E whai wheako ana ia i tana 40 tau i te ao pāpāho, e whakaputa ana i te ihirangi reo Māori huri noa i te reo irirangi, te pouaka whakaata, me ngā aratuku tuihono tae atu ki te tūranga o te Tumuaki o Te Reo Irirangi o Ngāti Porou me te Toihau Tuarua o Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori. Kua kopounga anō a Tamalene Painting mō te toru tau. Ko ōna pūkenga he tino matatau ki te reo Māori, ki te taha pūtea, ka mutu, he whānui ōna wheako i ngā mahi whakahaere i te pāpāho me te whakanao.
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
Te Ahorangi Rawinia Higgins. Aua atu te wā e ruku ana ia i ngā mahi o te whakarauora reo, o te mana ārahi kaupapa, oti rā, o te whakawhanake kaupapahere, he tautōhito nō te ao mātauranga, he manu taupunga tātaki tangata. E whaihua tēnei kopounga anō mō te 18 marama ki te tūranga a te Toihau ki te ukiuki o te mana whakahaere ki Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. Kua kopounga mai a Te Haumihiata Mason mō te toru tau. He tohunga wetereo, he kaiwhakamāori, he kaiwhakaako ngākau nui mō te hemo tonu atu ki te whakarauoratanga o te reo Māori.
Whakaata Māori
He tautōhito a Jamie Tuuta ki te mana ārahi kaupapa me te aronga rautaki nui. Mā tēnei kopounga anō mō te 18 marama ki te tūranga a te Toihau e whakarite he kaha te mana whakahaere mō te taha ki ngā whakaarotau rautaki. Kua kopounga anō a Tiwana Tibble mō te toru tau. He mātanga ia i te mahi whakahaere pūtea, mana ārahi kaupapa, kua haere mai hoki ia i te ao o ngā mana ōhanga Māori, te mahi tiaki pūtea arumoni me te mana ārahi rāngai. Kua kopounga a Holly Bennett mō te toru tau. E hia nei ngā hua e puta mai ai i tana mātau ki te mahi mana ārahi kaupapa me te pakihi.
“He whānui ngā tūranga e kawea ana e ēnei hinonga, mai i te penapena o ngā tikanga ahurea me ngā rawa pūranga tae atu ki te hononga atu ki ngā hapori, nō reira e whakaataria ana e tā rātou mana whakahaere te hōhonu o te tohungatanga e tika ana ki te kōkiri whakamua i te whakarauoratanga o te reo Māori,” e kī ana a Minita Potaka. “I ngā tini kāinga, hapori hoki huri noa i te motu, kāore i tua atu, kāore i tua mai i tēnei kaupapa, nō reira, kāore e ārikarika te mihi me te maioha atu ki ngā kaiwhiri tahito me ā rātou takoha puiaki ki te kaupapa.”
Associate Health Minister David Seymour is welcoming Cabinet’s decision to enable medicines to be approved in less than 30 days if the product has approval from two recognised overseas jurisdictions. This change is included in the Medicines Amendment Bill (the Bill), which amends the Medicines Act 1981. The pathway will be in operation by early 2026. The policy will start with Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore and Switzerland, as recognised countries. These are the main countries Medsafe currently recognises. “Faster access to medicines has always been a priority of mine. For many New Zealanders, pharmaceuticals are life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely,” Mr Seymour says. “This change will increase access to medicines for Kiwis by introducing a streamlined verification pathway for medicines. People will access new treatments more quickly. This is committed to in the ACT-National and National-NZ First coalition agreements. “Cabinet has agreed to give the responsible Minister powers to regulate the Rule of Two. That means I will be outlining the proposed regulatory pathway for industry and the public to feedback on via the Select Committee process. This system should be as straightforward as possible to allow New Zealanders the greatest level of access to innovative medicine possible. “New cars are acceptable for the New Zealand market if they meet at least one of several foreign standards. We can apply the same principle to medicines, if other jurisdictions have already done the work and can ensure the products’ safety, we don’t need to delay patient’s access by doing the exact same tests,” Mr Seymour says. “This is a common-sense efficiency that costs nothing. It helps Kiwis in need. It can shave months off the approval process. A perfect example of this was with a treatment for asthma which could have been approved by the end of 2022 under this pathway, but was not approved until 16 months later in May 2024. “This Government is making medicines access a priority because it leads to better patient outcomes. So far, we have:
Changed Pharmac’s process so it can assess a funding application at the same time as Medsafe is assessing the application for regulatory approval Allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, and a $604 million uplift to give Pharmac the financial support it needs to carry out its functions – negotiating the best deals for medicine for New Zealanders Made patient voice a crucial consideration in Pharmac’s funding decisions Put pseudoephedrine back on the shelves of pharmacies
“We’re committed to ensuring that the regulatory system for pharmaceuticals is not unreasonably holding back access. It will lead to more Kiwis being able to access the medicines they need to live a fulfilling life.” Notes to editors: Draft criteria for regulatory pathway rules will likely relate to ensuring that:
manufacturing sites associated with product have evidence of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance which is valid to Medsafe’s satisfaction, if a product is a generic or biosimilar prescription medicine, the innovator or reference product is identical to that approved for New Zealand.
Did you know that you’re legally required to keep certain records for your not-for-profit (NFP)? All organisations including NFPs are required to keep accurate and complete records of all transactions relating to their tax and superannuation affairs. Generally, for tax purposes, you must keep your records in an accessible form (either printed or electronic) for 5 years.
Records that you are required to keep include:
governing documents
financial reports
tax invoices
documentation relating to grants
registrations and certificates.
A good record keeping system will help you run your NFP successfully and help you manage your tax and super obligations.
If your NFP is endorsed as a deductible gift recipient (DGR), you must keep records that explain all transactions and other acts relevant to your organisation’s status as a DGR. This requirement applies to both endorsed DGRs and listed by name DGRs.
If you want to learn more about effective record keeping to keep your NFP on track, take our online Record keepingExternal Link course. This free course will give you the opportunity to dive deeper into the records you need to maintain and ask questions relevant to your NFP. NFPs share many tax obligations with small businesses, and the Small Business online learning platform is a valuable resource to help you avoid common mistakes and understand the tax and super obligations of your NFP better.
If your NFP needs more information phone our NFP Advice Service on 1300 130 248, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm AEST.
Keep up to date
Read more articles in the Not-for-profit newsroom and, if you haven’t already, subscribeExternal Link to our free monthly newsletter Not-for-profit news to be alerted when we publish new articles.
For updates throughout the month, Assistant Commissioner Jennifer Moltisanti regularly shares blog posts and updates on her LinkedInExternal Link profile. And you can check out our online platform ATO CommunityExternal Link to find answers to your tax and super questions.
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Experts Say Trump Tariffs Could ThrowU.S. Into a Recession, Increase Annual Costs By Thousands for New Mexico Families
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on President Trump’s announcement to impose additional tariffs on global trading partners:
“President Trump’s sweeping tariffs are a tax on hardworking New Mexicans. From the cost of groceries, to the price at the pump, to buying a car or building a home, these new tariffs will make daily life more expensive for many New Mexico families and businesses.
“While President Trump should be focused on lowering prices for Americans, he is instigating a trade war and making everyday Americans the casualties. President Trump – who has said that he doesn’t care if costs go up – is creating economic uncertainty, shrinking life savings, putting New Mexico jobs at risk, and driving up costs for working families.
“These tariffs are new and drastic tax increases on New Mexicans and the American people. President Trump is recklessly threatening the American economy – all while working to give the wealthiest few another tax handout and blowing up the national debt.”
What People Are Saying:
Chamber of Commerce: “[T]he imposition of tariffs … will only raise prices for American families and upend supply chains.”
National Association of Manufacturers: “Ultimately, manufacturers will bear the brunt of these tariffs, undermining our ability to sell our products at a competitive price and putting American jobs at risk.”
United Steelworkers: “Our union calls on President Trump to reverse course on Canadian tariffs so that we can focus on trade solutions that will serve working families for the long-term.”
International Association of Machinists: “The 25% tariffs on Canadian goods imported to the U.S., will result in job losses, increased prices, and a variety of other negative impacts.”
National Association of Home Builders: “Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices.”
American Farm Bureau: “farmers and rural communities will bear the brunt of retaliation. … Tariffs that increase fertilizer prices threaten to deliver another blow to the finances of farm families.”
National Farmers Union: “We are already facing significant economic uncertainty, and these actions only add to the strain. … Without a clear plan, family farmers will once again be left to bear the burden of decisions beyond their control, and eventually, so will consumers.”
Retail Industry Leaders Association: “Stacking tariffs on household goods will also raise costs on American families.”
Food Industry Association: “New tariffs will also drive up the cost of doing business and food prices at a time consumers are extremely concerned about prices.”
National Consumers League: “these tariffs could hurt everyday Americans. … Higher prices on basic goods would make life harder for families across the country, all as a result of these ill-conceived trade policies.”
American Automakers: “Our American automakers, who invested billions in the U.S. to meet these requirements, should not have their competitiveness undermined by tariffs that will raise the cost of building vehicles in the United States and stymie investment in the American workforce.”
PURSUING RECIPROCITY TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY AND RESTORE NATIONAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY: Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that foreign trade and economic practices have created a national emergency, and his order imposes responsive tariffs to strengthen the international economic position of the United States and protect American workers.
Large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits have led to the hollowing out of our manufacturing base; resulted in a lack of incentive to increase advanced domestic manufacturing capacity; undermined critical supply chains; and rendered our defense-industrial base dependent on foreign adversaries.
President Trump is invoking his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to address the national emergency posed by the large and persistent trade deficit that is driven by the absence of reciprocity in our trade relationships and other harmful policies like currency manipulation and exorbitant value-added taxes (VAT) perpetuated by other countries.
Using his IEEPA authority, President Trump will impose a 10% tariff on all countries.
This will take effect April 5, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
President Trump will impose an individualized reciprocal higher tariff on the countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits. All other countries will continue to be subject to the original 10% tariff baseline.
This will take effect April 9, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
These tariffs will remain in effect until such a time as President Trump determines that the threat posed by the trade deficit and underlying nonreciprocal treatment is satisfied, resolved, or mitigated.
Today’s IEEPA Order also contains modification authority, allowing President Trump to increase the tariff if trading partners retaliate or decrease the tariffs if trading partners take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements and align with the United States on economic and national security matters.
Some goods will not be subject to the Reciprocal Tariff. These include: (1) articles subject to 50 USC 1702(b); (2) steel/aluminum articles and autos/auto parts already subject to Section 232 tariffs; (3) copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber articles; (4) all articles that may become subject to future Section 232 tariffs; (5) bullion; and (6) energy and other certain minerals that are not available in the United States.
For Canada and Mexico, the existing fentanyl/migration IEEPA orders remain in effect, and are unaffected by this order. This means USMCA compliant goods will continue to see a 0% tariff, non-USMCA compliant goods will see a 25% tariff, and non-USMCA compliant energy and potash will see a 10% tariff. In the event the existing fentanyl/migration IEEPA orders are terminated, USMCA compliant goods would continue to receive preferential treatment, while non-USMCA compliant goods would be subject to a 12% reciprocal tariff.
TAKING BACK OUR ECONOMIC SOVEREIGNTY: President Trump refuses to let the United States be taken advantage of and believes that tariffs are necessary to ensure fair trade, protect American workers, and reduce the trade deficit—this is an emergency.
He is the first President in modern history to stand strong for hardworking Americans by asking other countries to follow the golden rule on trade: Treat us like we treat you.
Pernicious economic policies and practices of our trading partners undermine our ability to produce essential goods for the public and the military, threatening national security.
U.S. companies, according to internal estimates, pay over $200 billion per year in value-added taxes (VAT) to foreign governments—a “double-whammy” on U.S. companies who pay the tax at the European border, while European companies don’t pay tax to the United States on the income from their exports to the U.S.
The annual cost to the U.S. economy of counterfeit goods, pirated software, and theft of trade secrets is between $225 billion and $600 billion. Counterfeit products not only pose a significant risk to U.S. competitiveness, but also threaten the security, health, and safety of Americans, with the global trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals estimated at $4.4 billion and linked to the distribution of deadly fentanyl-laced drugs.
This imbalance has fueled a large and persistent trade deficit in both industrial and agricultural goods, led to offshoring of our manufacturing base, empowered non-market economies like China, and hurt America’s middle class and small towns.
President Biden squandered the agricultural trade surplus inherited from President Trump’s first term, turning it into a projected all-time high deficit of $49 billion.
The current global trading order allows those using unfair trade practices to get ahead, while those playing by the rules get left behind.
In 2024, our trade deficit in goods exceeded $1.2 trillion—an unsustainable crisis ignored by prior leadership.
“Made in America” is not just a tagline—it’s an economic and national security priority of this Administration. The President’s reciprocal trade agenda means better-paying American jobs making beautiful American-made cars, appliances, and other goods.
These tariffs seek to address the injustices of global trade, re-shore manufacturing, and drive economic growth for the American people.
Reciprocal trade is America First trade because it increases our competitive edge, protects our sovereignty, and strengthens our national and economic security.
These tariffs adjust for the unfairness of ongoing international trade practices, balance our chronic goods trade deficit, provide an incentive for re-shoring production to the United States, and provide our foreign trading partners with an opportunity to rebalance their trade relationships with the United States.
REPRIORITIZING U.S. MANUFACTURING: President Trump recognizes that increasing domestic manufacturing is critical to U.S. national security.
In 2023, U.S. manufacturing output as a share of global manufacturing output was 17.4%, down from 28.4% in 2001.
The decline in manufacturing output has reduced U.S. manufacturing capacity.
The need to maintain a resilient domestic manufacturing capacity is particularly acute in advanced sectors like autos, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, technology products, machine tools, and basic and fabricated metals, where loss of capacity could permanently weaken U.S. competitiveness.
U.S. stockpiles of military goods are too low to be compatible with U.S. national defense interests.
If the U.S. wishes to maintain an effective security umbrella to defend its citizens and homeland, as well as allies and partners, it needs to have a large upstream manufacturing and goods-producing ecosystem.
This includes developing new manufacturing technologies in critical sectors like bio-manufacturing, batteries, and microelectronics to support defense needs.
Increased reliance on foreign producers for goods has left the U.S. supply chain vulnerable to geopolitical disruption and supply shocks.
This vulnerability was exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later with Houthi attacks on Middle East shipping.
From 1997 to 2024, the U.S. lost around 5 million manufacturing jobs and experienced one of the largest drops in manufacturing employment in history.
ADDRESSING TRADE IMBALANCES: President Trump is working to level the playing field for American businesses and workers by confronting the unfair tariff disparities and non-tariff barriers imposed by other countries.
For generations, countries have taken advantage of the United States, tariffing us at higher rates. For example:
The United States imposes a 2.5% tariff on passenger vehicle imports (with internal combustion engines), while the European Union (10%) and India (70%) impose much higher duties on the same product.
For networking switches and routers, the United States imposes a 0% tariff, but India (10-20%) levies higher rates.
Brazil (18%) and Indonesia (30%) impose a higher tariff on ethanol than does the United States (2.5%).
For rice in the husk, the U.S. imposes a tariff of 2.7%, while India (80%), Malaysia (40%), and Turkey (31%) impose higher rates.
Apples enter the United States duty-free, but not so in Turkey (60.3%) and India (50%).
The United States has one of the lowest simple average most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff rates in the world at 3.3%, while many of our key trading partners like Brazil (11.2%), China (7.5%), the European Union (5%), India (17%), and Vietnam (9.4%) have simple average MFN tariff rates that are significantly higher.
Similarly, non-tariff barriers—meant to limit the quantity of imports/exports and protect domestic industries—also deprive U.S. manufacturers of reciprocal access to markets around the world. For example:
China’s non-market policies and practices have given China global dominance in key manufacturing industries, decimating U.S. industry. Between 2001 and 2018, these practices contributed to the loss of 3.7 million U.S. jobs due to the growth of the U.S.-China trade deficit, displacing workers and undermining American competitiveness while threatening U.S. economic and national security by increasing our reliance on foreign-controlled supply chains for critical industries as well as everyday goods.
India imposes their own uniquely burdensome and/or duplicative testing and certification requirements in sectors such as chemicals, telecom products, and medical devices that make it difficult or costly for American companies to sell their products in India. If these barriers were removed, it is estimated that U.S. exports would increase by at least $5.3 billion annually.
Countries including China, Germany, Japan, and South Korea have pursued policies that suppress the domestic consumption power of their own citizens to artificially boost the competitiveness of their export products. Such policies include regressive tax systems, low or unenforced penalties for environmental degradation, and policies intended to suppress worker wages relative to productivity.
Certain countries, like Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Vietnam, restrict or prohibit the importation of remanufactured goods, restricting market access for U.S. exporters while also stifling efforts to promote sustainability by discouraging trade in like-new and resource-efficient products. If these barriers were removed, it is estimated that U.S. exports would increase by at least $18 billion annually.
The UK maintains non-science-based standards that severely restrict U.S. exports of safe, high-quality beef and poultry products.
Indonesia maintains local content requirements across a broad range of sectors, complex import licensing regimes, and, starting this year, will require natural resource firms to onshore all export revenue for transactions worth $250,000 or more.
Argentina has banned imports of U.S. live cattle since 2002 due to unsubstantiated concerns regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The United States has a $223 million trade deficit with Argentina in beef and beef products.
For decades, South Africa has imposed animal health restrictions that are not scientifically justified on U.S. pork products, permitting a very limited list of U.S. pork exports to enter South Africa. South Africa also heavily restricts U.S. poultry exports through high tariffs, anti-dumping duties, and unjustified animal health restrictions. These barriers have contributed to a 78% decline in U.S. poultry exports to South Africa, from $89 million in 2019 to $19 million 2024.
U.S. automakers face a variety of non-tariff barriers that impede access to the Japanese and Korean automotive markets, including non-acceptance of certain U.S. standards, duplicative testing and certification requirements, and transparency issues. Due to these non-reciprocal practices, the U.S. automotive industry loses out on an additional $13.5 billion in annual exports to Japan and access to a larger import market share in Korea—all while the U.S. trade deficit with Korea more than tripled from 2019 to 2024.
Monetary tariffs and non-monetary tariffs are two distinct types of trade barriers that governments use to regulate imports and exports. President Trump is countering both through reciprocal tariffs to protect American workers and industries from these unfair practices.
THE GOLDEN RULE FOR OUR GOLDEN AGE: Today’s action simply asks other countries to treat us like we treat them. It’s the Golden Rule for Our Golden Age.
Access to the American market is a privilege, not a right.
The United States will no longer put itself last on matters of international trade in exchange for empty promises.
Reciprocal tariffs are a big part of why Americans voted for President Trump—it was a cornerstone of his campaign from the start.
Everyone knew he’d push for them once he got back in office; it’s exactly what he promised, and it’s a key reason he won the election.
These tariffs are central to President Trump’s plan to reverse the economic damage left by President Biden and put America on a path to a new golden age.
This builds on his broader economic agenda of energy competitiveness, tax cuts, no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security benefits, and deregulation to boost American prosperity.
TARIFFS WORK: Studies have repeatedly shown that tariffs can be an effective tool for reducing or eliminating threats that impair U.S. national security and achieving economic and strategic objectives.
A 2024 study on the effects of President Trump’s tariffs in his first term found that they “strengthened the U.S. economy” and “led to significant reshoring” in industries like manufacturing and steel production.
A 2023 report by the U.S. International Trade Commission that analyzed the effects of Section 232 and 301 tariffs on more than $300 billion of U.S. imports found that the tariffs reduced imports from China and effectively stimulated more U.S. production of the tariffed goods, with very minor effects on prices.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, the tariffs implemented by President Trump during his first term “clearly show[ed] no correlation with inflation” and only had a temporary effect on overall price levels.
An analysis from the Atlantic Council found that “tariffs would create new incentives for US consumers to buy US-made products.”
Former Biden Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen affirmed last year that tariffs do not raise prices: “I don’t believe that American consumers will see any meaningful increase in the prices that they face.”
A 2024 economic analysis found that a global tariff of 10% would grow the economy by $728 billion, create 2.8 million jobs, and increase real household incomes by 5.7%.
