Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined Senate colleagues to demand the Trump Administration stop its illegal slashing of student visas.
After learning federal agencies have been revoking student visas and terminating Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records across the country in violation of existing laws and policies that protect students’ status, the senators demanded the Trump Administration fully reverse its actions after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began to reinstate these visas.
“[S]tudents across the country—who by all accounts appear to have followed all of the applicable laws and agency guidance—have reported visa revocations with no clear explanation as to the basis to terminate status,” the senators wrote in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons.
“Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has completed at least 4,736 total terminations of student visa holders’ Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records. By DHS’s own admission, the statute and regulations do not provide SEVP the authority to terminate nonimmigrant status by terminating a SEVIS record. Your decision to reverse such terminations is therefore prudent and required by law,” the senators wrote.
The lawmakers also noted that current laws, regulations, and agency guidance require notice to be provided when a student’s status is being terminated or revoked. “Students who have entered through our legal immigration system and followed the law remain unsure of what, if any, steps they may take to maintain their status and safeguard themselves from immigration enforcement,” the senators wrote. “While we are relieved that ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations, we now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws, regulations, and agency guidance. Finally, we understand that you are contemplating additional actions to end student status. Any such changes must be consistent with applicable statutes, including requirements for notice with respect to changes that would deprive a student of their status and ability to live and study in the United States and place them at risk of detention.”
The letter was led by Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Michael Bennett, D-Colo., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Coons, D-Del., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., Brian Schatz, D-Hawai’i, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mark Warner, D-Va., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) introduced the Partner with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Act. This bipartisan bill would enhance cooperation with key partners in technology and scientific research, while combating the rising influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
“Communist China is using illegal practices to gain an unfair advantage in the tech world,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Now is the time to stand together with our allies and partners across the globe to counter these aggressive tactics. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will make our country more secure and spur job-creating technology innovations here at home.”
The Partner with ASEAN, CERN, and PIFAct amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to expand diplomatic privileges and immunities to these three international organizations. It provides the legal authorities to streamline the movement of people and materials between these organizations and the U.S., deepening U.S. ties with Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and a key scientific research partner.
You can find the full text of the legislationhere.
Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to stand up to the Chinese government’s aggression. She introduced the PASS Act to ban individuals and entities controlled by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing agricultural land and businesses located near U.S. military installations or sensitive sites and the Strengthening Exports Against China Act, which would incentivize economic growth by eliminating barriers for American businesses competing directly with China in emerging industries like artificial intelligence and semiconductors. She’s also introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets, which are critical components of cell phones, computers, defense systems, and electric vehicles, but are almost exclusively made in China.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Help Hoover Dam Act to allow the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to access about $50 million in unused, long-stranded funds for Hoover Dam operations, maintenance, and improvement projects. Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) are original co-sponsors of this legislation.
“The Hoover Dam is a monument to the idea that America can and will invest in infrastructure that improves the lives of its people,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The dam and its powerplant serve residents across Nevada, Arizona, and California. It’s past time we cut the red tape, unlock the $50 million in unused funds to improve and maintain the dam, and save taxpayer dollars.”
“The Help Hoover Dam Act will cut through federal red tape and free tens of millions of dollars in long-stranded funding for Hoover Dam improvement projects. This is government efficiency,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “Our bill is about keeping energy prices from going up, protecting our natural resources, and saving taxpayers money.”
“Drought on the Colorado River has had a dramatic impact on Hoover Dam customers, reducing generation by roughly 40 percent compared to pre-drought generation levels. The Help Hoover Dam Act would give the Bureau of Reclamation the congressional authority necessary to make beneficial use of stranded funds in order to pay for critical operation, maintenance, and replacement projects at Hoover Dam. This legislation is urgently needed to help not-for-profit, community-owned utilities served by Hoover Dam to continue to serve their communities during this difficult time,” said Desmarie Waterhouse, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Communications & General Counsel, American Public Power Association.
“The Help Hoover Dam Act is urgently needed to ensure adequate funding for operation, maintenance and replacement projects at Hoover dam and mitigate cost impacts on consumers. The dam provides clean and affordable energy to many southwestern rural communities and is critical to maintaining grid reliability in the western United States. We appreciate Senator Cortez Masto and Congresswoman Susie Lee’s efforts to ensure that electric cooperatives and other not-for-profit utilities can continue to rely on Hoover Dam to meet the energy needs of their communities,” said Louis Finkel, Senior Vice President for Government Relations, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
“The Help Hoover Dam Act is of critical importance to Nevada. Hoover Dam is an icon of the American West, facing unprecedented challenges due to extreme drought. This bill will preserve power generation at a time when the Western United States needs reliable and cost-effective energy resources,” said Eric Witkoski, Executive Director of the Colorado River Commission of Nevada.
Tens of millions of dollars in the Colorado River Dam Fund have been inaccessible for decades due to bureaucracy, federal red tape, and government inefficiency. 40 million people depend on the Colorado River for water and 1.3 million people in Nevada, Arizona, and California depend on the Hoover Dam for electricity. The Help Hoover Dam Act will support the dam and its powerplant by:
Investing $50 million in unused funds in the Hoover Dam — helping save taxpayer dollars, protect Western water and other natural resources, and strengthening a key source of Nevada’s energy.
Giving Reclamation clear authority to partner with Hoover hydropower contractors in recovering and utilizing these stranded funds for authorized activities — including operations, maintenance, capital improvements, and clean-up actions — at Hoover Dam and lands connected to the dam.
The Help Hoover Dam Act is endorsed by the American Public Power Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Colorado River Commission of Nevada, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the Irrigation and Electrical Districts Association of Arizona, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and others. Representatives Mark Amodei (R-Nev.-02), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.-04), and Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.-06) are co-leading this legislation in the House of Representatives.
Senator Cortez Masto has been a leader in the Senate working to combat drought and protect water infrastructure. She fought to deliver $4 billion to combat drought in the states bordering the Colorado River in the Inflation Reduction Act and she helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will continue to make a historic amount of funding available for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements across the country over the next five years. Cortez Masto also passed into law a $450 million competitive grant program for large-scale water recycling projects across the Western U.S.
SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Marty, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Kidnapping. The sentencing took place on April 25, 2025.
Ellery Zephier, age 39, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200, and restitution in the amount of $22,260.
Zephier was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. Following his trial in January, he was found guilty. The conviction stemmed from incidents between July 20-25, 2024, when Zephier kidnapped and held a woman against her will in his home in Marty and assaulted her resulting in the infliction of serious bodily injury.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Petersen and Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Zephier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
MIAMI – On April 30, Denzil Olajuwon Stewart, 30, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, for selling 276.7 grams of pure methamphetamine.
On Dec. 28, 2023, law enforcement officers observed Stewart drive away from his Vero Beach home in a white Porsche SUV, arrive at another residence about 30 minutes away, and sell what they later discovered was 276.7 grams of pure methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was packaged in a plastic shopping bag, which bore Stewart’s fingerprints.
A jury found Stewart guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual, and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA, Miami Field Division, and Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers made the announcement.
DEA Port Saint Lucie and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Hudock and Michael Porter prosecuted it.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-14058.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
05.01.25
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today pressed the nominee to serve as deputy secretary of the Department of Commerce, Mr. Paul Dabbar, on concerns about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) ability to complete fisheries stock surveys in Alaska if staffing and approved funding from the department are not prioritized. Sen. Sullivan noted in the committee hearing that conducting surveys is one of the Commerce Department’s core responsibilities with regard to fisheries, and surveys are needed in order for Alaskans to harvest in various fisheries across the state. Sen. Sullivan also demanded that Dabbar and Commerce officials work promptly with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to sign the pending maintenance contract for the Kodiak, Alaska-based NOAA research vessel, Oscar Dyson, which conducts these critically important surveys.
“When you don’t do stock assessment surveys, you know what happens? My fishermen can’t fish,” said Sen. Sullivan. “All they need is a survey and it’s not happening. I have a whole list and I’m going to mention them here. I hope to hell someone from Commerce is watching. Okay? Because if you’re not doing surveys, that’s the basic stuff you’re supposed to do at NOAA, then my guys can’t fish. They don’t want subsidies. They just want to fish.”
Fishing and seafood processing employ more Alaskans than any other industry and are vital to the economic well-being of dozens of coastal communities throughout the state. Roughly two-thirds of all seafood harvested in America comes from Alaska’s waters.
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Below is a transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s exchange with Mr. Dabbar.
SEN. SULLIVAN: I think we’re off to a good start, certainly on fisheries. We have this “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential” executive order from President Trump on day one. This includes fisheries, LNG, all kinds of great things in Alaska. Then, just a couple days ago, the “Restoring America’s Seafood Competitiveness” EO. So we’re off to a good start. I want to commend the President, Secretary Lutnick, and their team. But I am concerned, to Senator Cantwell’s point—and this is a big issue—that we’re not having the staffing to do the two things that Commerce has to do for fisheries. American fisheries, unlike CHIPS and Science—a quarter of $1 trillion in subsidies—my guys don’t get subsidized at all. The federal government has to do two things: They need to do robust surveys to inform accurate stock assessments, and they need to do timely promulgation of regulations to open fisheries. That’s it. When the federal government doesn’t do that, you screw the hard-working fishermen of Alaska and America. Just think of “Deadliest Catch.” They do have to compete with Russia and China. To be honest, right now, it’s starting not to look good. I’m starting to get really upset, because when you got—Biden was horrible on the surveys. Horrible. We threw a ton of money at NOAA and the guy did climate change and all this BS. He didn’t do the blocking and tackling of NOAA, which is stock assessment surveys. You guys came in: “Hey, we’re not going to be like Biden.” But you’re not…I’m getting really worried that you guys aren’t doing this either. When you don’t do stock assessment surveys, you know what happens? My fishermen can’t fish. They don’t get $240 billion in subsidies. All they need is a survey and it’s not happening. I got a whole list and I’m going to mention them here. And I hope to hell someone from Commerce is watching. Okay? Because if you’re not doing surveys, that’s the basic stuff you’re supposed to do at NOAA. Then my guys can’t fish. They don’t want subsidies and they just want to fish. Can I get your commitment—and I hope to hell someone from NOAA’s watching this. I got a whole list of surveys right now that looks like you’re not going to complete. So what happens? My fishermen don’t fish. That is wrong. Can I get your commitment—and I hope to hell someone from NOAA and Commerce is watching this right now—get on with the surveys. Can I get your commitment? You can tell I’m a little rattled about this.
DABBAR: Yes, Senator, and I know that I’ve read your proposed bill, the latest one, and also how understanding research of, for example, salmon in Alaska, where some things are going well strong, and some things are weaker, and why. So I’m certainly committed on that also.
SULLIVAN: I just need your commitment to get the staffing and money to do the surveys. That’s it. If we’re failing on this, this is not good. Let me ask one final question. This relates. There’s a contract we’re trying to get the Secretary to sign, like right now. It’s for the Oscar Dyson. It’s a NOAA survey vessel homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. It’s coming up for its contract. It needs to be signed this week. Again, I hope Commerce people are watching. Okay? Just sign the contract so we can do the surveys from the Oscar Dyson. That’s a NOAA survey vessel ship. If that’s not signed in the next couple of days, that vessel won’t be able to do surveys. Again, this is blocking and tackling to take care of our fishermen, which is in the President’s EOs. But we’ve got to be able to support them with science. Can I get your commitment on that and maybe have someone get to the Secretary and sign this contract on the Oscar Dyson like today?
DABBAR: I’ll follow up, and there are people behind me watching, listening to you. I’m certain.
SULLIVAN: It’s really, really important. Thank you.
Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution backed by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) designating April as Financial Literacy Month. Boozman joined Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) in leading the measure to raise awareness for access to resources that can help Americans of all ages develop and maintain healthy financial habits while underscoring the importance of financial education and empowerment.
“When Americans have the tools and knowledge to better manage their finances, they are empowered to chart a path to financial stability,” said Boozman. “I am pleased to support this commonsense, bipartisan effort to help hardworking people of all ages make positive money management choices.”
“Financial literacy is critical to achieving financial independence and the American Dream,” said Scott. “Unfortunately, many Americans growing up like I did lack basic financial education, which is why I’ve made it my mission to make programs and resources on this important topic more accessible. Designating April 2025 as Financial Literacy Month builds on our efforts to ensure all Americans can access the tools necessary to secure their financial future.”
“From managing a household budget to making major purchases to laying the foundation for a secure retirement, financial literacy is a lifelong endeavor. Unfortunately, too many Americans lack the basic financial literacy skills needed to make informed decisions,” said Reed. “This has impacts on families, communities, and future generations. Raising awareness about the resources available to improve financial literacy is the first step on the path to a financially secure future. I’m pleased our Senate colleagues are coming together on a bipartisan basis to recognize financial Literacy Month.”
In addition to Boozman, Scott and Reed, the resolution was also cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jim Risch (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Jim Banks (R-IN), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH).
Click here for text of the resolution.
The Government is taking action to better support unpaid and informal carers, Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Penny Simmonds says. Every morning across New Zealand, unpaid carers are helping loved ones get ready for the day — preparing meals, arranging medication, assisting with transport, and offering vital support, all while juggling jobs, study, and family life. “Each day, around 500,000 unpaid carers provide essential support for New Zealanders with disabilities, illnesses, injuries, or addictions,” Ms Simmonds says. “It’s critical work that often leads to better outcomes than clinical or residential care — and it eases the burden on our health and social services. “But it’s tough work. Many carers are balancing these responsibilities with little formal recognition or support. They deserve better, and that’s exactly what this new Action Plan aims to deliver.” Government agencies already provide targeted assistance for carers, including financial support, respite subsidies, and practical help. The Action Plan will build on this foundation and ensure carers’ needs are better understood and addressed. The Ministry of Social Development is leading development of the Plan, working closely with the Carers Alliance, relevant government agencies, and a new Carers Advisory Group. “The Advisory Group will include around 10 experienced members who reflect the breadth of the carer community — from young carers to those supporting disabled or older people,” Ms Simmonds says. “There will also be opportunities for unpaid carers themselves to share their experiences and shape the plan.” An interagency working group will oversee the development, with the final Action Plan expected by the end of the year. “A lot has changed since the last Action Plan expired at the end of 2023. It’s time to listen again and deliver a plan that genuinely supports the people who care for our communities every day,” Ms Simmonds says.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – According to the Economic Policy Institute, the gulf in pay between CEOs and average workers is 290 to 1. In an effort to ensure that hardworking U.S. taxpayers are not forced to subsidize lavish executive compensation packages while making a fraction of CEO pay, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today reintroduced legislation that would finally fully close a major loophole in corporate tax law.
The Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act (S. 1576) would put an end to a special tax break for huge executive bonuses by preventing publicly traded corporations from deducting the cost of any multimillion-dollar pay package paid to executives from their corporate tax bills.
Under section 162(m) of the tax code, publicly traded corporations cannot deduct more than $1 million in compensation paid to their top executives. But section 162(m) does not cover compensation paid to all public company employees, and corporations have long exploited this loophole to claim tax deductions for executive compensation packages that far exceed $1 million. As publicly traded corporations offer lucrative compensation deals to increasing numbers of executives and not just those at the very top of the organization, U.S. taxpayers are shouldering the cost.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have signed laws based on earlier versions of this legislation in order to curtail the abuse of this deduction. This includes ensuring that performance-based compensation is actually counted as compensation under section 162(m) and increasing the number of highly paid executives who are subject to section 162(m). Partially tightening the law in these ways has saved taxpayers billions of dollars. However, the full loophole has still not been closed, and taxpayers continue to subsidize extravagant compensation.
The Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act would address the remaining gaps by applying section 162(m) restrictions to all employees of publicly traded corporations so that all compensation is subject to a deductibility cap of $1 million per employee. The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation has estimated that closing this loophole would save taxpayers nearly $80 billion over ten years. In other words, taxpayers are currently paying around $8 billion each year to subsidize exorbitant executive pay packages.
“Corporations shouldn’t be able to get out of paying their fair share of taxes by lavishing executives with jumbo bonuses at the expense of taxpayers, workers, and shareholders. Taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidizing millionaire compensation and it’s way past time for this loophole to be fully closed,” said Senator Reed. “Companies are free to pay their executives as much as they want. But it is unfair to force hardworking American taxpayers to foot the bill for multimillion-dollar bonuses. The Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act puts an end to this give-away and will restore fairness to the tax code and ensure corporations, not taxpayers, are the ones who pay for multimillion dollar bonuses. Success and capitalism are not at issue here. What’s at issue is a broken system that has taxpayers subsidizing multimillion dollar executive bonuses while those same taxpayers are struggling with rising costs.”
The Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
The bill is supported by Public Citizen, Americans for Financial Reform, the AFL-CIO, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, MIT Professor and Nobel Prize Winner Simon Johnson, Take On Wall Street, Americans for Tax Fairness, and the Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project.
“This is a timely and important proposal, addressing a basic issue of fairness in the American economy,” said MIT Professor and Nobel Prize Winner Simon Johnson.
“It’s high time our tax code stopped rewarding large corporations for giving their executives extravagant pay packages. We applaud Senator Reed and Representative Doggett for introducing legislation to finally close a senseless loophole that subsidizes outrageous executive pay,” said Natalia Renta, Associate Director of Corporate Governance and Power at Americans for Financial Reform.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to help more Rhode Islanders reduce their home energy costs, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced that Rhode Island is getting an additional $2.6 million through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), after the Trump Administration finally released the remaining $400 million in LIHEAP aid this week to states nationwide.
Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, helped provide a nationwide total of $4.1 billion for LIHEAP in FY 2025.
LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment and energy crisis assistance to pay for gas, electric, and other methods customers use to heat their homes.
This latest allocation brings Rhode Island’s FY 2025 appropriation for LIHEAP up to $26.6 million so far this year.
Last October, the Biden Administration released ninety percent of LIHEAP funds to states to give states time to properly plan and deploy these funds through the end of the fiscal year, which runs through September of 2025. This included an allocation of $534,784 in LIHEAP funds that Senator Reed helped include through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“This latest infusion of federal LIHEAP funding will provide overdue support to families in need and help them cope with high energy costs. In addition to easing the strain on household budgets, the release of LIHEAP funds also helps local small businesses that supply home heating fuel to customers with fixed or limited incomes,” said Senator Reed.
LIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources.
Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year, including over 28,200 Rhode Island households.
The average LIHEAP benefit covering about $500 in winter home heating costs for Rhode Islanders.
Rhode Islanders wishing to apply for LIHEAP may click here to reach the Rhode Island Department of Human Services website to get more information and links to an online application.
Senator Reed noted that while the release of these federal funds to states is good news, he remains deeply concerned about the Trump Administration decimating the LIHEAP staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the impact that could have on the federal government’s ability to effectively manage the program and assist states with LIHEAP going forward. Reed says he has no doubt that President Trump will once again try to eliminate LIHEAP altogether but vowed to work on a bipartisan basis to include LIHEAP funding in future Appropriations laws, just as he successfully did during the first Trump Administration.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) welcomed the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examining the use of beneficial ownership information in law enforcement or Inspectors General investigations to detect fraud and misconduct in government programs.
Grassley and Whitehouse requested the report last Congress as part of their ongoing bipartisan work to improve government accountability and transparency, combat illicit finance and bolster the U.S.’s anti-corruption efforts.
“For decades, criminals, cartels and foreign terrorists have used shell companies to steal taxpayer dollars, launder their ill-gotten gains and endanger American lives with lethal drugs and violent crime. Last Congress, Senator Whitehouse and I uncovered just one aspect of these systemic weaknesses in lax Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registration,” Grassley said. “In order to fight this pervasive form of fraud, and support President Trump’s agenda of cutting waste, fraud and abuse, Inspectors General must know who the true owners of U.S. corporations are. FinCEN ought to swiftly implement GAO’s recommendations and provide Inspectors General access to the company registry of beneficial owners.”
“America is engaged in a clash of civilizations, between rule of law and international corruption and kleptocracy. Senator Grassley and I worked for years to pass the Corporate Transparency Act to support law enforcement’s ability to go after fraudsters, cartels, and criminals, who routinely use shell companies to stash dirty money in plain sight,” Whitehouse said. “This timely GAO report details how company ownership reporting betters our government’s approach to cracking down on fraudsters stealing government money and benefits at the expense of honest small businesses and taxpayers.”
Findings:
The GAO report found that some private companies competing for government contracts or applying for federal benefits perpetrated fraud against the government through obscuring their ownership information. The report recommends that the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) work with Inspectors General to facilitate the use of beneficial ownership information to bolster fraud detection, anti-corruption and illicit finance risk.
The report describes how shell company schemes result in significant financial losses and threaten our national security and public safety, including the theft of $93 million from Medicare to the transfer of sensitive military technology to foreign countries. About 85 percent of Inspectors General reported that beneficial ownership information could help prevent and investigate fraud in the government.
Background:
Grassley and Whitehouse were the original sponsors of the TITLE Act, the precursor to the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The CTA was designed to play an important role in protecting national security and public safety by providing law enforcement and national security officials with the names of the true owners (“beneficial ownership information”) of U.S. corporations and other legal entities. This information aids the government’s efforts to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, sanctions evasion, proliferation financing, tax evasion and other forms of illicit finance carried out through shell and front companies.
The CTA was the culmination of more than a decade of painstaking bipartisan congressional deliberation. The measure passed as part of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act and was supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including national security experts, law enforcement, anti-corruption groups, human rights organizations, faith communities, financial institutions, real estate organizations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, labor unions and the first Trump Administration.
Read the full report HERE.
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office brought federal firearms charges against 24 defendants in the month of April —more than twice the monthly average since January 2021— and bringing the total number of firearms prosecutions under the Make D.C. Safe Again initiative to 42 since its inception, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged 24 defendants with federal firearms offenses. This marks the highest number of case adoptions since before January 2021. The surge has taken more dangerous offenders off the streets. Examples of these cases include:
Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating these cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on the International Day of the Midwife (5 May 2025)
When bombs fall or floods wash away roads and homes, where services are severed and infrastructure has collapsed, midwives are often the first responders and the last line of defence. They often travel across even the most remote and dangerous terrain to ensure essential services that save lives and safeguard health and human rights.
In humanitarian settings, women are twice as likely to die in childbirth. Deploying midwives as part of every humanitarian and national disaster response is a life-saving and cost-effective way to reduce preventable maternal deaths.
Midwives can provide 90 per cent of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services, including family planning. They also support survivors of gender-based violence, which skyrockets during crises.
Midwives often put themselves at enormous risk when they venture out to provide care to women and girls in hard to reach homes and communities in crisis settings.
Yet, midwifery is still not always recognized as the vital health profession it is. Chronic underinvestment in midwifery has translated to inadequate training, a lack of infrastructure and supplies, and low salaries – barriers that are present in times of stability and only grow worse in times of crisis.
Recent severe funding cuts to humanitarian assistance threaten to widen these gaps, with tragic impacts on women and girls in some of the world’s most challenging places. Already, midwives are reporting rising death rates among women and newborns in conflict zones and fragile contexts – an ominous sign in settings where over 60 per cent of global maternal deaths are reported.
We know that midwives could avert two thirds of maternal and newborn deaths, while delivering vast economic and social benefits – from lower healthcare costs to more productive workforces. Women and entire societies would be both less vulnerable to crisis and more equipped to recover from it.
On this International Day of the Midwife, we call on governments and donors to join UNFPA and partners in the Midwifery Accelerator initiative, which aims to increase financial and programmatic investments in midwives – and the systems that support them – before more lives are lost.
Midwives save lives. Let us work together to end the global shortage of nearly 1 million midwives and to ensure that we can end preventable maternal deaths once and for all.
TORONTO, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. (CSE: RWB) (“RWB” or the “Company”) today announced the successful completion of a series of transactions designed to significantly reduce potential shareholder dilution, lower debt carrying costs, continue to refocus operations on profitable growth initiatives, and facilitate the filing of its financial statements through the filing of a Management Cease Trade Order (“MCTO”).
Successful Completion of Debt Restructuring
The Company’s Board of Directors and Executive Management, in collaboration with a majority of its strategic lenders, successfully completed a comprehensive restructuring of approximately C$145 million of issued and outstanding debt, as part of a larger debt renewal program, through the entering into of various debenture and note amending agreements with such lenders with all applicable amended terms effective as of the respective renewal dates.
The restructuring of the aforementioned debt accomplished the following:
Eliminated the potential dilution of 198 million common shares1, representing 42.1% of the issued and outstanding common shares, through the removal of debenture conversion rights.
Extended maturity dates for restructured debt to November 2026 (C$33 million) with the balance of the restructured debt ($112 million) extended through to September 2027.
Deferred all cash interest and principal payments for the restructured debt until their new respective maturity dates.
Achieved principal reductions of $5 million and annualized interest expense savings of $2.5 million associated with the restructured debt.
Full financial statement disclosure regarding the debt renewal and applicable restructuring will be included in the Company’s interim financial statements for the first quarter ending March 31, 2025, expected to be filed on or before May 30, 2025, as of the date of this release.
Granting of Management Cease Trade Order
Due to unforeseen delays in completing its fiscal year-end audit, the Company advises that it has not been able to file its audited annual financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis, and related CEO and CFO certifications for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (collectively, the “Annual Filings”) by the prescribed deadline of April 30, 2025, as required under National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“NI 51-102”).
The delay is primarily the result of the expanded scope of audit procedures required to address the complexity of certain transactions and the restatement of comparative financial information for prior periods. The restatement was initiated following comments received during a review conducted by the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB) of the Company’s auditor.
The Company is working diligently with its auditor and other advisors to complete the audit as soon as possible and currently expects to file the Annual Filings on or before May 30, 2025. The Company will issue a news release announcing the completion of the Annual Filings once they have been filed.
The British Columbia Securities Commission has granted an MCTO under National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders (“NP 12-203”). Pursuant to the MCTO, the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chief Financial Officer of the Company may not trade in securities of the Company until such time as the Annual Filings have been filed and the MCTO has been revoked. The MCTO does not affect the ability of the general investing public to trade in the Company’s common shares.
The Company intends to comply with the provisions of the alternative information guidelines as set out in NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports by way of news release until the Annual Filings are filed. These updates will include information regarding the progress of the Annual Filings and any material changes to the Company’s business, if any.
About Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.
Red White & Bloom Brands is a multi-jurisdictional cannabis operator and house of premium brands operating in the United States, Canada and select international jurisdictions. The Company is predominantly focusing its investments on major U.S. markets, including California, Florida, Missouri, Michigan, and Ohio in addition to Canadian and international markets.
Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. Investor and Media Relations Edoardo Mattei, CFO IR@RedWhiteBloom.com 947-225-0503 Visit us on the web: https://www.redwhitebloom.com/.
Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain information contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often identified by the use of words such as “plans,” “expects,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” or variations of such words and phrases, including the negative forms thereof, as well as terms such as “pro forma” and “scheduled,” and similar expressions that refer to future events or outcomes.
Forward-looking statements in this release, including, without limitation, statements relating to the pursuit of profitable growth initiatives, anticipated timing, review, completion, and filing of the Company’s first quarter financial statements, the Annual Filings, the Company’s ongoing operations, and the expected duration of the MCTO, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information contained herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.
THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.
1 Calculated in accordance with the applicable conversion price defined within the restructured debentures
Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
Washington, D.C. — This week, Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) took to the Senate floor to highlight the completion of President Trump’s first 100 “transformational” days back in office. In the remarks, Senator Lummis discusses how President Trump has revitalized American energy independence, cut wasteful government spending, supported innovative digital asset policies, protected female sports, and restored America’s rightful leadership position around the world.
Watch and listen to Senator Lummis’ remarks here.
A transcript of Senator Lummis’ remarks is below:
——–
“Mr. President – Today, President Trump completes his first 100 days of his return to the White House. And it’s been nothing short of transformational.
“Under President Trump and Vice President Vance’s leadership, we are witnessing the rapid implementation of campaign promises that are already reshaping America’s policy landscape.
“When I go home to Wyoming each weekend, people approach me everywhere – from restaurants to the feed store – eager to discuss the positive changes happening in Washington. The overwhelming sentiment is enthusiasm for what President Trump is accomplishing for everyday Americans.
“For example, on day one, President Trump, restored the dignity of men and women as biologically distinct sexes. It is hard to believe he had to do that, but indeed he did. One of the administration’s first major actions was signing an executive order directing federal agencies to recognize biological sex in athletic competition. The left spent the past four years gaslighting Americans and making the failed argument that biological males should now be competing in women’s sports in the name of “fairness.” Within a few weeks of taking office, President Trump tackled this issue and made it clear that this administration won’t support the left’s attacks on female athletes.
“I believe this is the women’s rights issue of our time, and I’m grateful for President Trump’s leadership. For some people my age we spent so many years trying to exercise our rights under Title IX and other rights to recognize women’s rights only to have them swept under the rug and disregarded by the left, requiring that women not only compete against men but have them in their locker rooms in what were uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe circumstances. President Trump recognized this and thankfully he has put that issue to rest for a while.
“President Trump is also delivering on his promise to unleash American energy dominance. A few weeks ago, I joined President Trump and some of my colleagues at the White House for his signing of an executive order that starts to reverse the Biden and Obama administrations’ anti-coal agenda. For energy states like Wyoming, the official lifting of the unconstitutional coal moratorium represents a significant economic opportunity for western states.
“By removing unnecessary restrictions on energy extraction, the administration has signaled its commitment to blue-collar jobs, cheaper energy for American families, and a new era of energy dominance. Joe Biden and his administration did not care about the impact of their regulations on working-class people; the Trump administration does care, and they are continuing to take actions that will help Americans and our amazing energy communities. Wyoming exports 12 times more energy than it consumes and much of that is in the form of hydrocarbons. Each and every year for years after the Clean Air Act passed, we were producing more energy and producing cleaner air. These things can happen simultaneously and it’s because of yankee ingenuity, it’s because we know how to do things better, all the time. We don’t have to accept the status quo when it comes to energy dominance. They were certain things in the Biden Administration that forced something called “environmental justice” an absolutely trumped up, dreamed up, idea that we can’t have clean energy and abundant energy at the same time. That’s a totally wrong-headed approach to what has always been a great American tradition of ingenuity and entrepreneurs who can take a problem and solve it. There is such a thing as clean air that can be produced from coal and natural gas, in particular. I am proud that my state is part of that, I am proud that President Trump recognizes it and that he has taken steps to restore our statutory ability to produce both clean air and abundant hydrocarbon energy simultaneously.
“Perhaps the most dramatic turnaround has been at the southern border. Where the Biden administration created chaos, President Trump, has restored order. Through multiple executive actions – signing the Laken Riley Act, ending “catch-and-release,” reimplementing “remain in Mexico,” and more—we’ve seen border encounters plummet from nearly 380,000 in February and March last year to just 22,000 plus a few during the same period this year.
“The people of Wyoming are grateful to have a president who cares about securing our border and deporting those who are not here legally. Especially those from gangs that are causing unsafe communities, horrible crimes perpetuated on the American people, all unnecessarily if we’d only followed the laws that were in existence and the statutes that were in existence all along. Those laws that President Biden ignored and that President Trump is following and implementing.
“For decades, America’s leaders have failed our country when it comes to fiscal responsibility. We in this very chamber are partly responsible for that.
“Our $36 trillion national debt represents a real and present threat to America’s future. We all know it’s unsustainable and yet after COVID, we never went back to pre-covid spending levels. We have kept spending at post-covid highs, even though the money spent during the COVID years is no longer necessary in our now more growing and robust post-covid economy. Most taxpayers don’t realize their hard-earned dollars primarily service this massive debt through interest payments rather than funding national defense and essential services. That’s why I strongly support President Trump’s creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It was done through a provision in Obamacare and it’s subsequent ability to gain efficiencies through efforts that computers can assist us with. Nobody knows better how to do it than people who have voluntarily participated through their expertise and ability to identify waste, fraud, and abuse using the Department of Government Efficiency and their remarkable skills with computers to ferret out waste, fraud, and abuse.
“Elon Musk and the DOGE team have already identified a huge number of wasteful and abusive expenditures that don’t benefit American families. All of us should be proud, in both parties, that the rhetoric that we used over the years that we are going to pay for things by ferreting out waste, fraud, and abuse and then after elected don’t even try to find waste, fraud, and abuse has finally come to an end. Elon Musk and his team have found true waste, fraud, and abuse in government and is identifying it so cabinet secretaries can deal with it in their respective agencies. That is exactly the kind of fiscal discipline that we value in Wyoming, that we all should value as Americans.
“After years of the Biden administration’s unbridled hostility toward digital assets and cryptocurrency, President Trump is fulfilling his promise to lead the most pro-digital asset administration in history. And I could not be more proud. We know that we are moving into a digital future, a digital economy. It is something that we should embrace, it’s something that we can include into a new modern 21st century economy. It is not something to fear. But it is something that cries for consumer protections and our incredible ability that we have as agencies to disclose matters that should be disclosed to investors and to allow innovation where it makes our ability to do business internationally faster, cheaper, and more responsible through the ledgers of blockchain incredible abilities to send money all over the world fast and inexpensively. This helps regular everyday Americans avoid the tremendous friction that’s in the banking system that costs taxpayers money and it costs taxpayers time and allows us to do business all over the world in a much less expensive and robust way, what a blessing to have an administration that sees the future in this way, that understands the innovation that is at our fingertips that we can use to go forward in a true 21st century digital economy. I am particularly pleased with President Trump’s support for my Strategic Bitcoin Reserve initiative, which will address our national debt while securing America’s position as the global leader in financial innovation. As Bitcoin comes into more usage, it’s use makes the whole system more secure, more robust, and more capable of serving our needs all over the world. We should be the global leader of this fantastic new ledger-based asset that is in a digital format that is going to be transformative of everyday economy and puts the everyday American, in fact, the everyday worker all over the world in control of their own money. What a wonderful blessing for hardworking people all over the world to have this great new technology and to have America lead the way in implementing this wonderful, wonderful innovation.
“Here in the Senate, we have confirmed 54 of President Trump’s cabinet and sub-cabinet nominees. It has required some long hours, many in the middle of the night must to our consternation, but our work is far from complete.
“The Democrats’ agenda threatens to impose crushing tax increases on hardworking Wyoming families and our local small businesses. If the tax cuts that were implemented under President Trump’s first administration allow to expire, it will create the largest tax increase in history at a time when businesses need the innovation that allows our economy to grow. That can come from a robust and fair tax system. This is something that I look forward to assisting my colleagues in this body to implement in a permanent form and using our current standard practices.
“Following years of punishing inflation under the Biden administration, our communities and working families cannot shoulder any additional financial strain. Keeping our tax code as is and making it permanent is yet another way of implementing advantages to local working economies. It also just delights me that President Trump identified just real working Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, who are living paycheck to paycheck, and tried to identify ways to tax advantage their lives. For example, no tax on tips, no tax on social security, no tax on overtime hours, these are things for regular, everyday working people. Some people alleged that President Trump is trying to help his billionaire buddies, I’m not seeing that at all. I’m seeing a President that really gets the everyday working American and wants to make sure that as they live paycheck to paycheck and try to plan for their families that there is some relief in store with regard to his proposals for taxes.
“These first 100 days of President Trump’s return to office represent just the opening chapter of America’s Golden Era. Already, his administration has made remarkable progress – securing our southern border, revitalizing American energy independence, cutting wasteful government spending, supporting innovative digital asset policies, and restoring America’s rightful leadership position globally. We know even today that as countries are renegotiating their trade policies and tariff policies with us that there is a newfound desire to find a level playing field, reciprocal trade agreements that allow for some of our products to go into their economies in ways that acknowledge that the United States has been globally at a trade disadvantage, and to try and repair some of those long practices where the United States was participating in free trade and other countries were not. It’s time to make it all fair trade. And I applaud President Trump’s desires to do that and hopefully soon, so that we can get some of the turmoil associated with these important changes to our economy behind us and restore stability in our economy in our everyday lives.
“I anticipate the next 100 days will bring equally significant achievements, and I feel deeply privileged to work alongside this administration, and this president. I served fourteen years in the Wyoming legislature all with Democrat governors. I have served twelve years in Congress all with Democrat presidents. This is the first time in my entire life that I have legislatively served with a president of my own party. It’s refreshing. It’s delightful. And it’s even on occasion, fun. I feel so privileged to be here with a Republican president who is delivering meaningful results to the people of Wyoming and our great nation.
“Mr. Chairman – I yield back the floor. Thank you!”
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led a bipartisan resolution to designate May 2025 as Renewable Fuels Month in America. Ricketts is a longtime champion of renewable fuels.
“Renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel are a win for Nebraska and a win for America,” said SenatorRicketts. “They save consumers money, support Nebraska agriculture, protect our environment, and promote American energy independence. I appreciate the bipartisan support for this resolution and call on all Americans to choose renewable fuels.”
“I’ve always been a proud supporter of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel,” said Senator Fischer. “Not only do they expand markets for Nebraska’s farmers and lower prices at the pump for consumers, but they play a vital role in achieving America’s energy independence. I want to thank Senator Ricketts for leading the charge on this important resolution in the U.S. Senate.”
“With President Trump back in the White House, America is set to become energy dominant, and biofuels will make up an important part of that equation. Our resolution recognizes the power of renewable fuels and outlines the great advantages they bring to the table, including boosting the domestic market for farmers and adding jobs and economic vitality in the Heartland. With Iowa continuing to lead the nation in renewable fuels, our resolution also recognizes the importance of rural communities and thanks the hard-working men and women who get these products to market,”said SenatorGrassley.
“Renewable fuels are an important part of American energy, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in designating this month as Renewable Fuels Month,”said Senator Marshall. “By supporting homegrown energy sources like ethanol and biodiesel, we are creating stronger markets for Kansas farmers, cleaner air for our communities, and a more secure future for our state and nation.”
“Renewable fuels bolster our domestic energy production and move America towards energy independence,”said Senator Ernst. “I’m proud to support this resolution to designate May as ‘Renewable Fuels Month’ and continue to advocate for producers who deliver our homegrown, Iowa fuel to consumers and drive down prices at the pump.”
“Iowa’s biofuel industry is a national leader because we trust our farmers and fuel producers to drive energy innovation,” said Rep. Nunn, who leads companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Recognizing May as Renewable Fuels Month highlights how renewable biofuels are powering America’s energy growth, strengthening our energy independence, and fueling a stronger future for Iowa’s farmers and families.”
“Nebraska’s farmers, ranchers, and producers help power America with clean, homegrown energy that strengthens our economy and communities,” said Dawn Caldwell, Executive Director of Renewable Fuels Nebraska. “Renewable Fuels Nebraska is thrilled to celebrate them this Renewable Fuels Month, and we’re deeply grateful for Senator Ricketts’ steadfast leadership in both Lincoln and Washington, D.C. on behalf of our state and our industry. His resolution shines a well-deserved spotlight on the men and women who fuel the Good Life and beyond.”
Co-sponsors of the bill include U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Jerry Moran (R-KS).
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, again urged the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, otherwise known as the E3, to trigger the snapback of U.S. sanctions on Iran. In February, Ricketts introducedbicameral legislation calling for snapback sanctions. Ricketts made the following comments:
“There’s been a recent United Nations report confirming that Iran now possesses enough 60% enriched uranium to produce six nuclear warheads. This escalates the threat beyond the US and Israel, posing a direct risk to our allies across the Middle East and Europe,” said Ricketts. “This enrichment defies U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which originally codified the JCPOA. I applaud President Trump’s decisive move to reimpose maximum pressure on Iran, as well as entering into negotiations with Iran on a nuclear deal. However, the credibility and strength of these talks hinge on the United States entering with room with maximum leverage – entering the room with maximum leverage. That’s why I’ve introduced a resolution, backed by 18 of my colleagues, urging the E3 to trigger the snapback of U.N. sanctions before the October deadline.”
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Watch the videoHERE
Ricketts made the comments in a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The hearing considered the nominations of Charles Kushner, to be U.S. Ambassador to France, Leah Campos, to be U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Edward Walsh, to be U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, and Joseph Popolo, to be U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands.
TRANSCRIPT:
Senator Ricketts: “First of all, thank you to all of our nominees here for your willingness to serve our great nation.
“And I want to especially thank your families because they will serve alongside you and make it possible for you to be able to serve our country.
“So thank you very much to the families who are willing to sacrifice, along with our nominees here.
“Mr. Kushner, I’m going to start with you because again, we’ve talked about how important the relationship with France is.
“And you know, there’s been a recent United Nations report confirmed that Iran now possesses enough 60% enriched uranium to produce six nuclear warheads.
“This escalates the threat beyond the US and Israel, posing a direct risk to our allies across the Middle East and Europe.
“This enrichment defies UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which originally codified in JCPoA.
“I applaud President Trump’s decisive move to reimpose maximum pressure on Iran, as well as entering into negotiations with Iran on a nuclear deal.
“However, the credibility and strength of these talks hinge on the United States entering with room with maximum leverage, entering the room with maximum leverage.
“That’s why I’ve introduced a resolution, backed by 18 of my colleagues, urging the E3 to trigger the snapback of UN sanctions before the October deadline.
“The French have supported the snapback of sanctions, but have stated that it’s contingent on reaching a nuclear deal.
“Mr. Kushner, do you believe that restoring UN sanctions would give President Trump a stronger hand in confronting the Iranian regime?
Mr. Charles Kushner: “Without a doubt it would.
“And why the French have not used that snapback to date is a mystery to me, because I would think that they would have used it. I
“’m not sure if they don’t have the will or the desire or whatever it may be, but I will be pushing that because I think that should be exercised and it expires within months.
“So the fact that they have that that right and have not used it is a shame.
“I think we should be standing up and really lobbying very, very hard for them to exercise it.
“And I think maximum sanctions is there’s very I think President Trump really has this issue and it’s not it’s either going to be negotiated, no nuclear, or it’s going to have to be an alternative of military.
“And I think President Trump has made that clear.
“So I think maximum protection, maximum leverage on the Iranians. I think France and America are totally in total agreement on that.
Senator Ricketts: “Well, Mr. Kushner, that really heartens me to hear you say that because I agree with you 100%.
“You know, during the first Trump administration, we saw that because of those sanctions, the Trump administration was able to bring Iranian foreign reserves down from $122.5 billion to under $14 billion.
“And that cut off their ability to be able to fund the terrorism that we see around the world and continue to put pressure on the way the Trump administration has is important.
“You know, my colleague here Mr. McCormick, was talking about the Indo-Pacific, and that has emerged an area of key threat from communist China.
“And he mentioned he talked a little bit about France’s role there as well.
“It’s home to 1.6 million French citizens live across its seven overseas territories and over 9,000,000km² of French exclusive economic zone.
“Recognizing this, France became the first European country to adopt an Indo-Pacific strategy in 2019, and through the strategy, France participated in the freedom of navigation exercises that we’re talking about through the Taiwan Strait.
“But, you know, we’ve seen communist China being incredibly aggressive with their illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive practices in especially relating to our allies like the Philippines and Taiwan as well.
“I authored the Bolster Act to encourage European engagement in support of Taiwan security with one of the largest militaries in Europe and naval forces as well extending their presence to this reason, France could really play a great role.
“Can you talk about how can you work with France to get them to better support Taiwan and the relationship there, given its leadership, you know, France’s leadership in the Indo-Pacific?
Mr. Charles Kushner: “I think France recognizes the same thing that America recognizes, what a what a threat China is to the world.
“I don’t think there’s daylight between them in terms of assessing what them as their capability and their infiltration and stealing technology and all the other things and devaluing currency and robbing us on trade.
“So I think France and America are very aligned.
“It’s just that France has to step up to be more aggressive, like America is now stepping up to be more aggressive.
“And I see it as my job as a future ambassador to meet with the officials and apply that pressure, knowing that they should be more in step lock with the American policy.
“So I’m all for your proposal, and I’m all for supporting it.
Senator Ricketts: “Great. Well, thank you.
Mr. Charles Kushner: “Thank you very much for being a cheerleader for it.
Senator Ricketts: “Right. Great. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Kushner.
“And again, I hope that once you’re confirmed as ambassador, that you’ll work with whoever is in leadership in France, whether it’s President Macron or somebody else, to remember that even though we certainly respect France as a having their own policies and you know, and wanting to have the independence from the United States that they deserve as a sovereign nation, that we work better together as a team, and that especially when we’re confronting Communist China, this is the single biggest threat that we face internationally.
“But it’s not just a threat to the United States, it’s a threat to France and all the other freedom-loving countries in the world.
“Because XI Jinping is a dictator who’s who’s bent on world domination.
“And you know, for France to go a separate way from the United States would undermine our collective security.
“So I hope you’ll, you’ll emphasize that when you get there.
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) wrote to the commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) General Randall Reed to follow up on their concerns that as USTRANSCOM continues to implement the Global Household Goods Contract, GHC, to streamline its relocation process, military families are experiencing delays and confusion related to the contract transition, and the remedies available to them.
“We appreciate actions taken so far that are aimed at blunting the impacts of the GHC transition to our servicemembers and their families, which have included holding some household goods shipments in the legacy system, as well as increasing USTRANSCOM’s oversight of the HomeSafe Alliance contract performance,” wrote the senators. “We are concerned, however, that the ongoing challenges with the contract transition and the large anticipated volume of moves in the coming months will continue to result in servicemember move disruptions and delays in their moves.”
In the letter, the senators highlighted the importance of communicating with service members about their rights during the relocation process.
The senators continued, “You are also likely aware that the challenges with the implementation of GHC has generated a significant amount of online discussion surrounding military moves. To help prevent confusion or misinformation regarding moves, USTRANSCOM and service Transportation Offices must increase their communication with transferring servicemembers and their families, as the Army did in January to explain changes in personally procured moves. I encourage you to take additional steps to ensure servicemember understanding of their options, rights, and remedies during this transfer season.”
The senators also noted the impact of President Trump’s staffing cuts and hiring freezes at the Department of Defense, and requested a detailed assessment of how these moves are impacting USTRANSCOM’s operations.
The senators concluded, “To better assess the impacts of these haphazard cuts, please provide me a report detailing the staffing structure at USTRANSCOM that supports servicemember household good moves, including the number of billets for civilian and military personnel who support the GHC transition and manage the HomeSafe Alliance contract, the number of vacancies in those billets in AY23, AY24, AY25 to date, specifically identifying any new vacancies since January 20, 2025. We are requesting the same data from each of the military branches to better assess the impacts of Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Noem’s personnel management choices on servicemembers and their families to ensure that they are managing this important issue with the urgency it demands.”
A copy of the letter is available here and below:
Dear General Reed:
We write in appreciation of our servicemembers and their families, and in continuation of my effort to support them and work with U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) on the implementation of the Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) with HomeSafe Alliance. We appreciate the continued focus from your team on remedying GHC implementation challenges, in keeping with USTRANSCOM’s commitments to our military community as they enter the permanent change of station (PCS) peak season. We will continue to monitor this PCS season and your efforts to ensure our military, and you, have what you need to undergo this transformation with minimal impact to those we serve.
We appreciate actions taken so far that are aimed at blunting the impacts of the GHC transition to our servicemembers and their families, which have included holding some household goods shipments in the legacy system, as well as increasing USTRANSCOM’s oversight of the HomeSafe Alliance contract performance. We are concerned, however, that the ongoing challenges with the contract transition and the large anticipated volume of moves in the coming months will continue to result in servicemember move disruptions and delays in their moves. We understand that HomeSafe Alliance is required to compensate servicemembers for some of the costs they incur because of these delays.
You are also likely aware that the challenges with the implementation of GHC has generated a significant amount of online discussion surrounding military moves. To help prevent confusion or misinformation regarding moves, USTRANSCOM and service Transportation Offices must increase their communication with transferring servicemembers and their families, as the Army did in January to explain changes in personally procured moves. We encourage you to take additional steps to ensure servicemember understanding of their options, rights, and remedies during this transfer season.
Finally, we are concerned that recent reports of staffing cuts and hiring freezes at the Department of Defense and military services may negatively impact servicemember moves as the military heads into peak transfer season. The firings of probationary employees and other federal employees, many of whom are military spouses or veterans, have exacerbated the disruptions caused by preexisting vacancies and create new disruptions across the federal government. This heedless hobbling of complex government functions house outsized negative impacts on customer service and customer experience. To better assess the impacts of these haphazard cuts, please provide me a report detailing the staffing structure at USTRANSCOM that supports servicemember household good moves, including the number of billets for civilian and military personnel who support the GHC transition and manage the HomeSafe Alliance contract, the number of vacancies in those billets in AY23, AY24, AY25 to date, specifically identifying any new vacancies since January 20, 2025. We are requesting the same data from each of the military branches to better assess the impacts of Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Noem’s personnel management choices on servicemembers and their families to ensure that they are managing this important issue with the urgency it demands.
We request this response by May 16, 2025. We appreciate your attention and look forward to continuing to work closely with you on this matter. Thank you for your time and consideration. should be placed.
Join ChildFund for a special session on New Zealand’s aid in the Pacific.
Pacific community leaders from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu are visiting New Zealand to talk about their projects funded by the New Zealand public and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Aid is under attack.
They will be joined by geo-political experts for a frank discussion – what’s working, what’s not, and how do we navigate the volatile geo-politics in our region.
Sharon Inone– National Geographic Society’sExplorer of the Year.CEO of Greenergy Pacific, a community organisation leading development and climate projects in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. Sharon came home after working at the United Nations in New York, because she ‘wanted to get things done faster’ and bring clean water to the island where she grew up.
Teima Onorio– Country Director of ChildFund Kiribati. Leads water and food security projects in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, plus projects to up-skill young people. Teima works closely with the Kiribati government.
Robert Oliver– Global Executive Director and host ofPacific Island Food Revolution. Robert’s ‘Masterchef’ type TV show promoted healthy local food, and has helped lower rates of non-communicable-diseases in the Pacific. Robert’s new TV projects will focus on supply chains and markets for Pacific food.
Joanna Bourke– CEO ofPacific Cooperation Foundation, an organisation that amplifies Pacific voices, and builds partnerships between government, business, and communities. With a background in tourism, international trade, and Pacific development, Joanna brings business and community together, both in New Zealand and the Pacific.
Josie Pagani– CEO ofChildFundwith more than 25 years’ experience in development and politics. Also, a geo-political media commentator with a fortnightly column in the Post.
BNZ is offering targeted support for customers affected by severe weather events in Canterbury and Wellington.
Available immediately, the support includes package includes:
Ability to review home lending facilities on a case-by-case basis.
Access to temporary personal overdrafts to support customers who require access to funds urgently while they await insurance pay-outs. Standard interest rates and credit criteria applies.
Access to temporary overdrafts of up to $10,000 with no application fee for Small Business customers. Standard interest rates and credit criteria applies.
Access to temporary overdrafts for Agri, Business, and Commercial customers up to $100,000, with no application fee. Standard interest rates and credit criteria applies.
“We understand that some of our customers may be facing unexpected challenges to their homes, businesses and communities and we are offering practical support to help relieve some of the pressure during this time, so people can focus on the clean-up and recovery,” says BNZ Executive Customer Products and Services Karna Luke.
“We also have a range of other options available, especially for customers who are facing hardship, so I encourage people to get in touch so we can see how we can help.”
To discuss support options, business and agribusiness customers should reach out to their BNZ Partner. Small business owners can call 0800 BNZSME, while personal banking customers can access support through BNZ’s digital platforms or by calling 0800 ASKBNZ.
BNZ PremierCare Insurance customers who need assistance can call IAG NZ on 0800 248 888 or submit an online claim https://iagnz.custhelp.com/app/bnz
Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, and Chris Coons (D-DE) and Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-CA) and Scott Peters (D-CA) reintroduced the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will restore patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields while also resolving legitimate concerns over the patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system. It also affirms the basic principle that the patent system is central to promoting technology-based innovation.
“Clear, reliable, and predictable patent rights are imperative to enable investments in the broad array of innovative technologies that are critical to the economic and global competitiveness of the United States, and to ensuring the national security of our great country,” said Senator Tillis. “Unfortunately, a series of Supreme Court decisions have rendered patent eligibility law unclear, unreliable, and unpredictable, resulting in U.S. inventors being unable to obtain patents in areas where our economic peers offer patent protection. This is particularly concerning in the economically critical areas of biotechnology and artificial intelligence. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, while addressing inappropriate judicially created eligibility limitations by creating clear rules for what is eligible. We cannot allow foreign adversaries like China to overtake us in key areas of technology innovation due to the current state of patent eligibility law. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders on this important matter. Passing patent eligibility reform is one of my top legislative priorities.”
“When American innovators know their ideas are eligible for patent protection, they take the risks that push us into the future – whether that’s the next medical test or the latest AI technology,” said Senator Coons. “PERA restores clarity to the law on what can be patented and what cannot – guidance that federal courts have been requesting for years and that the Supreme Court has refused to provide. Congress must step up to provide America’s inventors with the stable legal foundation they need to produce the cutting-edge technologies that power our economy.”
“American innovators have been at a disadvantage in recent years because of the U.S. patent system,” said Representative Kevin Kiley. “Convoluted Supreme Court rulings and tests on subject matter eligibility have made it increasingly difficult for inventors to receive patents, leading to foreign companies overtaking our own. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bi-partisan Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will dramatically reverse this trend, and unleash a tide of economic growth and job creation here at home.”
“For more than two centuries, a U.S. patent has guaranteed inventions will be protected from theft, helping the U.S. become the innovation capital of the world. San Diego, in particular, is the proud home of a thriving life sciences and technology ecosystem that has benefited from these protections,” said Representative Peters. “Over the last 15 years, however, several Supreme Court decisions have created confusion about what exactly is eligible for a patent. Innovators, consumers, and even the judges who adjudicate patent law have called on Congress to provide clarity on what can be patented. I look forward to working with Congressman Kiley, Senator Coons, and Senator Tillis to advance our Patent Eligibility Restoration Act and protect American innovation.”
“Congress has not made substantive changes to what subject matter is patentable in the United States since the Patent Act of 1793, making it difficult for courts, inventors, and the public to understand how 21st-century technologies fit within an 18th Century patent statute,” said Andrei Iancu, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2018 to 2021. “I commend Congress for advancing PERA in order to finally modernize our patent laws and promote U.S. global leadership in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and other modern technologies.”
“PERA provides the clarity needed to unlock the full potential of cutting-edge technologies and solidify U.S. leadership in scientific and technological breakthroughs,” said David Kappos, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2009 to 2013. “We cannot allow legal uncertainty to stall the next wave of American innovation.”
“Patent Eligibility is an important issue for cancer patients – both for life-saving, early diagnosis and for promising new treatments. PERA will provide the certainty needed to enable innovative breakthroughs to reach patients. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute applauds Congress for introducing and advancing this important bill – the patients are waiting.” – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
“Passing PERA is essential if the US is to catch up to Europe and Asia, especially China,” said Judge Paul Michel (retired). “They make eligible for patenting many classes of inventions held ineligible here. The very uncertainty of the zone of eligibility is itself an obstacle to companies getting the investments they need to compete both domestically and globally. Only Congress can fix this chaotic mess because the courts are trapped in their own harmful precedents.”
“In my former court, which hears patent cases on appeal, concurring and dissenting opinions in patent eligibly cases have proliferated,” said Judge Kathleen O’Malley (retired). “Veteran jurists have described the state of affairs as ‘incoherent,’ ‘unclear,’ ‘fraught,’ and ‘inconsistent.’ The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act would return clarity to patent eligibly law and encourage continued innovation in key emerging technologies – technologies that are central to the United States remaining the world’s innovation leader.”
“NCLifeSci thanks Senator Tillis for reintroducing the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025, which restores the confidence in our nation’s patent laws by bringing much needed clarity to Section 101 of the Patent Act. Confidence that the life sciences industry needs to robustly invest in the future of medicine. For too long, fields like diagnostics, precision medicine, cell and gene therapy, RNA medicine, and digital health have been threatened by unclear and uncertain patent-eligibility standards that put America’s innovators at a disadvantage, and that discourage local investment. Through this legislation, our members – which include leading innovators who operate cutting-edge gene therapy manufacturing facilities here in North Carolina and research potential treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s and cancer —will be able to continue to take the bold risks and make the high levels of investment necessary to take fields like these to their next level, with the confidence that our patent laws will continue to hold up through future waves of technological progress.” – NC Life Sciences Organization
“The Innovation Alliance applauds Senators Tillis and Coons and Representatives Kiley and Peters for sponsoring the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will provide much needed predictability and clarity to the hopelessly confused law of patent eligibility. The Supreme Court has provided no workable framework to guide patent owners or the courts, and it has repeatedly refused to clarify the law, rejecting requests by the Federal Circuit and others to do so time and again. Investment dollars are flowing out of the United States as a result, jeopardizing the future of America’s innovation economy. It is past time for Congress to act.” – The Innovation Alliance
“This bipartisan and much-needed bill would strike a decade of judicial tinkering that has needlessly turned the question of patent eligibility into a confusing mess and harmed the U.S. versus our economic competitors. While the U.S. has spent a decade holding back innovations in areas such as fintech, diagnostic solutions and medical devices trying to figure out whether they are ‘abstract’ or not, our competitors are moving forward and protecting these inventions. PERA would be particularly beneficial to American startups and innovators by providing the clarity needed to attract investment for new ventures in essential areas such as medical devices, diagnostics, manufacturing and a whole new range of advancements powered by software.”- Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs
“AUTM – the association representing technology transfer professionals – thanks Senators Tillis and Coons and others for their leadership in introducing PERA. This legislation is crucially needed to address the ambiguities that the courts have created about what is, and what is not, patent eligible. At a time when the U.S. is competing for innovation leadership, its patent system needs to clearly delineate this process so that it can move forward on numerous discoveries that otherwise would wither on the vine.” – AUTM
“The reintroduction of the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) marks a pivotal move toward restoring clarity and consistency in U.S. patent law. By providing clear statutory guidelines, PERA offers inventors, entrepreneurs, and research institutions the certainty needed to innovate confidently. We commend Senator Tillis and Senator Coons for their leadership on this critical issue and remain committed to collaborating with Congress to support a patent system that fosters transparency and predictability.” – American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
“The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform applauds Congress for reintroducing PERA. This legislation represents a significant step forward in clarifying patent eligibility while maintaining necessary standards on what is ultimately patentable. 21C applauds these efforts as they will make sure that the United States remains the most attractive place in the world to invest, invent, and grow.” – The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform (21C)
The following organizations support the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act: Innovation Alliance, C4IP, AUTM, AIPLA, IEEE-USA, USIJ, MDMA, BIO, NCLifeSci, Adeia, Nokia, Sisvel, Conservatives for Property Rights, Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund, U.S. Business & Industry Council, Center for a Free Economy, Center for Individual Freedom, American Policy Center, Less Government, 60 Plus Association, American Association of Senior Citizens, Frontiers of Freedom, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, Center for American Principles, Prosperity for Us Foundation, Market Institute, Inventors Defense Alliance, Lauder Partners, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Heritage Action, 21C, Netlist, and FICPI.
Background:
Unfortunately, due to a series of Supreme Court decisions, patent eligibility law in the United States has become confused, constricted, and unclear in recent years. This has resulted in a wide range of well-documented negative impacts – inconsistent case decisions, uncertainty in innovation and investment communities, and unpredictable business outcomes.
As of 2021, all 12 then-sitting judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit lamented the state of the law. Witnesses and stakeholders from a wide array of industries, fields, interest groups, and academia have testified and submitted comments confirming the uncertainty and detailing the detrimental effects of patent eligibility confusion in the United States. There is now widespread bipartisan agreement in Congress and across all recent Administrations that reforms are necessary to restore the United States to a position of global strength and leadership in key areas of technology and innovation, such as medical diagnostics, biotechnology, personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, 5G, and blockchain.
The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act achieves this critical goal by restoring patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields, while also resolving legitimate concerns over patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system, which is a system aimed at promoting technology-based innovation. As a general approach, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, but eliminates the overly malleable set of current judicial exceptions – replacing them with five specific, defined statutory exclusions. By eliminating and replacing the current judicial exceptions, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act provides predictable patent eligibility for important computer-implemented technological developments and medical advances, creating a solid bedrock for America’s innovation future.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
The public consultation for Auckland Council’s Annual Plan 2025/2026 shows most Aucklanders want Government to enact legislative change to enable a bed night visitor levy. The consultation summary shows 60% of individuals, 58% of organisations, and 13 out of 14 Māori entities support a bed night visitor levy. Many of those who supported the proposal indicated a desire for public event funding, for visitor contribution to infrastructure, and for reducing local resident costs, and the view that it’s common overseas.
The public feedback is consistent with the findings of a poll commissioned by the mayor’s office in August last year which found that 64% of Aucklanders support a bed night levy of 2.5%.
The poll was conducted by Curia Market Research between 25-29 August 2024 and has a sample size of 2,000 Aucklanders. The results are weighted to reflect the regional population in terms of gender, age, and ward.
“Despite the Government’s sheepishness towards a bed night levy, a clear majority of Aucklanders want it. They want visitors to contribute to the funding of the activities and services they use. It shouldn’t impact hoteliers’ profit margins but rather add to their bottom line. I think that’s fair, and common in many world-class destinations.”
“Equally if the industry wants more events here, they need to do their bit to support these events happening. Ratepayers climbing out of a recession should not be burdened with these costs,” says Mayor Brown.
He says Government would be wise to listen to the feedback.
“Aucklanders are enjoying a better relationship with Wellington because I’m making sure they realise the powerhouse that we are. I’m telling the government to be wise and do the obvious and easy thing here.”
Submissions also showed a majority support for the overall direction of the council’s annual plan. Of individuals, 72% support all or most of the overall plan. Of organisations, 81% and 11 out of 13 Māori entities support all or most of the overall plan.
“This tells me that we’re on track with delivering what we said we would in the LTP. We are investing in every area we said we would while keeping rates as low as possible. In fact, the lowest for any metropolitan city in NZ.”
Mayor Brown says the annual plan is a small but crucial step in moving Auckland in a progressive direction.
“My vision is for Auckland to lead New Zealand on a path to prosperity. That means lifting productivity and real incomes so that every New Zealander – not just Aucklanders – can enjoy a higher standard of living.
“As the powerhouse of our national economy, and our gateway to the world, Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest asset. But the council is just one player and that’s why it is important for all Aucklanders to participate in this conversation,” Mayor Brown says.
I’m pleased to see we had the second largest number of submissions for an Annual Plan, we have high engagement and that’s good.”
The final Mayor’s Proposal for the Annual Plan 2025/2026 will be available in the coming weeks. The council’s Budget Committee and Governing Body will then make final decisions at the end of May.
Attorney General James joins Trees New York, NYCHA, and tenants to plant trees at Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn.
The Trees for NYCHA project was made possible by funds from three OAG settlements with polluters, including:
$663,738 from a 2007 Clean Air Act settlement with American Electric Power Service Corporation;
$59,500 from a 2023 settlement with Reliant Transportation over unlawful bus idling; and
$26,762 from a 2022 settlement with Verizon over practices contributing to the spread of Legionnaires’ disease.
The project has a total of four elements: tree plantings, workforce development, tree stewardship, and youth environmental education.
Tree Planting: 340 trees are being planted across NYCHA properties, and 59 additional trees are being planted in adjacent communities near NYCHA campuses.
Workforce Development: In partnership with Green City Force, the project has trained young adults from low-income communities in environmental and green job skills.
Tree Stewardship: Volunteers have been trained to care for the new trees, ensuring the sustainability of the expanded canopy.
Youth Engagement: Public school students near NYCHA campuses have participated in hands-on environmental education and tree care activities, linking ecology to academic enrichment.
NYCHA is the largest Public Housing Authority in the nation, housing one in 17 New Yorkers. NYCHA is also the second largest owner of open space in the city, owning over 2,400 acres and supporting approximately 1,000 acres of tree canopy. In New York City, there is generally less tree canopy cover in areas with lower-income housing and higher proportions of people of color. In neighborhoods with clusters of NYCHA developments, these developments are often the primary source of canopy cover in the neighborhood. In recent years, resource constraints and climate-driven damage have led to canopy loss. Trees for NYCHA has helped reverse this trend while empowering residents as partners in environmental restoration.
The OAG would like to thank NYCHA and Trees New York for their partnership and collaboration.
This project was handled for the Office of the Attorney General by Policy Advisor Peter C. Washburn of the Environmental Protection Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Lemuel M. Srolovic. The Environmental Protection Bureau is part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Office: 504-671-2020 After Hours: 618-225-9008 Eighth District online newsroom
Port conditions change based on weather forecasts, and current port conditions can be viewed on the following Coast Guard homeport webpages:
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WASHINGTON – Timothy Eugene Taylor, 36, a previously convicted felon from the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 72-months in prison for being in illegal possession of a semiautomatic pistol and distribution quantities of PCP.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Taylor pleaded guilty on Oct. 1, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon and unlawful possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP). In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss ordered Taylor to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on August 11, 2023, members of the MPD’s Seventh District Crime Suppression Team were patrolling in a marked vehicle along the 300 block of Livingston Terrace, SE. The area is known to be a high-crime area, where crimes with firearms and gunshots are routinely reported. As the officers were driving, they passed Taylor and another male standing on the 4300 block of 3rd St., SE. Taylor was wearing a black satchel across his torso. One of the officers noticed a distinct L-shaped bulge protruding from the satchel.
The officers made a U-turn to talk with him. As they pulled up, the officers noticed that Taylor had moved the satchel and turned his body to obscure their view of the bag. Officers asked Taylor if he had a gun and if he would fold his bag in half. Taylor replied, “No, I live right here” and pointed to a nearby house. Officers exited their marked car to get a better look at the satchel. Taylor immediately fled into the building. Officers followed, found Taylor standing in front of an apartment door, and cuffed him. An officer opened the satchel and found a loaded Smith and Wesson M&P 9 2.0 9mm, semiautomatic pistol with 21 rounds loaded in its extended magazine. The officer also recovered from the satchel three vials of liquid phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP. The quantity of PCP was indicative of distribution rather than personal use.
Taylor has a previous felony conviction for illegal possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the MPD’s Seventh District Crime Suppression Team and the ATF. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand.
PLANO, Texas –A Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
Willy Armando Ramirez-Garcia, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 320 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on May 1, 2025.
According to information presented in court, from January 2021 to May 2021, Ramirez-Garcia was illegally in the United States, but operated as the leader of a methamphetamine trafficking organization in Texas. The group was responsible for smuggling liquid methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico by using bladders hidden within diesel tanks of commercial tractor trailers. The liquid methamphetamine would be transported to the North Texas area where it was then converted into crystal methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was stored at a stash house in Dallas where it would be retrieved by couriers for distribution in kilogram quantities.
In January 2021, the investigation revealed that the drug trafficking organization included a local narcotics broker, Rosa Velasco De Ballin, her source of supply, Ivan Dejesus Suastes-Cruz, and other co-conspirators, operating from a stash house in Dallas, and a ranch in Kemp, where the methamphetamine was “cooked.” Angel Rodriguez-Campuzano was identified as a distributor working for Suastes-Cruz. It was also determined that Suastes-Cruz and co-conspirators, Juan Fuentez and German Zapata, worked at the direction of Ramirez-Garcia. They assisted in transporting and distributing the methamphetamine, finding buyers, and obtaining properties to store and manufacture the methamphetamine. As a result, a search warrant was obtained for the stash house in Dallas, where approximately 40 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 25 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine were found. The ranch in Kemp was also searched and a meth conversion lab was discovered. In all, agents seized 66 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 25 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine. For their involvement, these co-defendants were previously sentenced to the following terms of imprisonment: De Ballin – 168 months; Rodriguez-Campuzano-295 months; Suastes-Cruz – 240 months; Fuentez – 300 months; and Zapata – 270 months.
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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, and Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.
Members of “No Budget” Allegedly Distributed Cocaine and Fentanyl Across Long Island, Perpetrated the March 2023 Killing of a Bay Shore Man and Shooting of a Potential Witness
Earlier today, at the federal court in Central Islip, an indictment was unsealed charging five members and associates of a Long Island-based drug trafficking organization known as “No Budget” with conspiring to distribute cocaine and fentanyl since 2017. Nicholas Andrade, Julian Hutchins, Prince Jones, Jose Lopez, and Ryan O’Malley engaged in a years’ long drug trafficking operation transporting fentanyl and 137 kilograms of cocaine across the country for distribution primarily in Long Island and Queens, New York. Andrade, the leader of the organization, is also charged for his role in the March 9, 2023 murder of Jose Manuel Sosa in Bay Shore and the March 10, 2023 shooting in Queens of a potential witness to the murder. The four defendants arrested today in New York were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Steven I. Locke who ordered them detained pending trial. Hutchins was arrested in Florida and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date. If convicted of the charges, the defendants face up to life in prison.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged, the defendants participated in the large-scale distribution of deadly narcotics across Long Island and committed crimes of extreme violence to maintain their drug business,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “My Office and our law enforcement partners will continue working tirelessly to eradicate the scourge of fentanyl and drug-related violence on Long Island and the related harm these dangerous drugs pose to our communities.”
Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, New York City Police Department, New York State Police, Queens District Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for their work on the case.
“The indictment against these individuals who ran a drug trafficking organization known as “No Budget” spared no cost at using violence to run their illicit drug distribution of cocaine and fentanyl,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Tarentino. “Thanks to the hard work and determination of the DEA and our law enforcement partners, we were able to remove 137 kilos of cocaine destined for the streets of Long Island. The DEA remains committed to protecting our communities”
As alleged in court filings, since 2017, the defendants carried out the large scale trafficking and distribution of fentanyl and cocaine on Long Island and maintained a series of stash houses in Queens and on Long Island. Throughout the investigation, phone records and surveillance regularly captured the defendants meeting with one another and exchanging duffle bags, luggage, or other bags in manners consistent with narcotics trafficking. As a result of court-authorized searches, law enforcement recovered dozens of kilogram wrappers with cocaine residue, kilogram presses used to reshape narcotics, packaging materials, and quantities of fentanyl and cocaine. On April 27, 2025, law enforcement intercepted a truck travelling from California to New York containing a shipment of 137 kilograms of cocaine destined for No Budget’s distribution operation. In total, the investigation revealed that the defendants were responsible for the distribution of over 235 kilograms of cocaine and 20 kilograms of fentanyl.
In addition to Andrade’s narcotics operation, he directed several violent crimes, including the March 2023 murder of Sosa and the subsequent attempted murder of a potential witness to the murder. Sosa’s murder was precipitated by a dispute that had escalated over the preceding months between Andrade, Sosa, and another Long Island based drug dealer. In early March 2023, Andrade and others planned to rob Sosa’s residence. However, on March 9, 2023, Andrade directed other members of No Budget to kill Sosa. Later that day, when Sosa was alone in his driveway, the shooter exited a borrowed Audi and shot Sosa multiple times, killing him. The shooter and getaway driver sped away and the two met up with Andrade.
The next day, in an effort to cover up No Budget’s involvement in Sosa’s murder, Andrade and the shooter developed a plan to lure John Doe-1—the owner of the Audi used in the murder—to a location in Queens and kill him. When John Doe-1 arrived at the location, acting at Andrade’s direction, the shooter had a brief conversation with John Doe-1 in the Audi, and upon exiting the Audi, turned and fired into the vehicle, striking John Doe-1 in the head. John Doe-1 sustained serious injuries but ultimately survived his wounds.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys James R. Simmons and Michael R. Maffei are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
NICHOLAS ANDRADE Age: 37 White Plains, New York
JULIAN HUTCHINS Age: 43 White Plains, New York
PRINCE JONES Age: 36 Mineola, New York
JOSE LOPEZ Age: 43 Elmont, New York
RYAN OMALLEY Age: 34 Port Jefferson Station, New York
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A California man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for enticing a 12-year-old minor from Prince William County to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
Cash Taylor Dalton, 30, of Morro Bay, California, pleaded guilty on Jan. 16, 2025, to enticement of a minor. According to court documents, FBI agents began investigating Dalton after the victim’s parents discovered communications on their daughter’s cellphone between her and Dalton. The investigation revealed that Dalton and the victim had been communicating for approximately three months, and that he sent her sexually explicit images of himself and graphic sexual messages via text and email, including directing her to engage in sexual activity. In November 2024, FBI agents searched Dalton’s home and recovered evidence of Dalton’s communications with the victim, as well as with three other minors who were under the age of 16.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra Serano for the Eastern District of Virginia Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1: 24-CR-227.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Todd Young (R-IN), and colleagues introduced the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to increase affordable housing for families and workers by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. The bill also helps build nearly 1.6 million new affordable homes over the next decade.
“Doing something to help someone buy a home is consistent with President Trump’s goal of helping working families,” said Dr. Cassidy. “No one should be priced out of a roof over their heads.”
“Affordable housing is needed in Indiana and across the country. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act will leverage private sector investment to increase the stock of affordable housing in both urban and rural communities. As a result, this will help to tackle the housing affordability crisis head-on to help Hoosier families, expand our workforce, and strengthen our communities,” said Senator Young.
Cassidy and Young were joined by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in introducing the legislation. It is endorsed by the ACTION Campaign and the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition.
“Ensuring access to affordable housing is a critical component in helping Tennessee continue to grow and prosper,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act strengthens the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, an important tool that helps to drive private sector investment in affordable housing for all Americans, including our nation’s veterans and seniors.”
Background
Currently, nearly one-in-four renters, over 11 million families, spend more than half of their household income on rent, cutting into other essential expenses like childcare, medication, groceries, and transportation. At the same time, over 600,000 Americans are experiencing homelessness on any given day, an increase over pre-COVID levels.
The Housing Credit has built or restored more than 4 million affordable housing units, nearly 90 percent of all federally funded affordable housing since its creation. Roughly nine million American households have benefited from the credit, and the economic activity that it generated has supported 6.6 million jobs and spurred more than $746 billion in wages.
More specifically, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would:
Increase the number of credits available to states by 50 percent for the next two years and make the temporary 12.5 percent increase secured in 2018 permanent, which has already helped build more than 59,000 additional affordable housing units nationwide.
Stabilize financing for workforce housing projects built using private activity bonds by decreasing the amount of private activity bonds needed to secure Housing Credit funding. As a result, projects would have to carry less debt, and more projects would be eligible to receive funding.
Improve the Housing Credit program to better serve veterans, victims of domestic violence, formerly homeless students, Native American communities, and rural Americans.
The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19).
The global energy landscape is steadily moving toward cleaner sources, with a gradual decline in fossil fuel dependence. The share of fossil fuels in the world’s energy mix has declined from 82% in 2022 to 81.5% in 2023, indicating a gradual shift. This transition is driven by the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming. Against this backdrop, biofuels are emerging as a low-carbon alternative in transportation, with their share in total liquid fuel demand expected to grow to 6.4% in 2030, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence report, “Biofuels,” evaluates the role of oil and gas companies in the biofuels theme. It benchmarks the efforts of oil majors, such as TotalEnergies, BP, Shell, and ExxonMobil, in the biofuels value chain. It also identifies the key developments influencing this theme and provides an outlook for renewable fuels – an emerging category of biofuels.
Ravindra Puranik, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The oil and gas industry—including producers, contractors—are relatively new entrants in the biofuels space. Despite this, they are making notable movements in the competitive landscape for renewable fuels, such as renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Prominent refiner Neste is leading the renewable fuels segment, particularly renewable diesel with four active refineries around the world.”
Despite their clean energy profile, biofuels face significant challenges related to production costs and competition with fossil fuels. Processing advanced biomass sources, such as agricultural and forestry waste, remains expensive, limiting large-scale viability. However, refiners like Neste, Valero, and Marathon Petroleum are making strategic investments to scale biofuel production and lower costs. Technological innovations in refining are also critical in improving biofuel affordability and availability.
Puranik continues: “Although biofuels contribute towards energy security while reducing emissions, their adoption remains nascent and restricted to certain markets globally. As a result, companies are cautious while pledging investments for new facilities, and even halting project development, as was seen in the case of Shell’s upcoming facility in Rotterdam.”
Global renewable refinery capacity is experiencing significant growth, with 15 new facilities under construction in 2025 while two already operational this year. By 2030, an additional 218 facilities are expected to come online, expanding global capacity from 9,340 million gallons per year (mmgy) in 2024 to a projected 32,618 mmgy. The US currently accounts for 51% share in global renewable fuel production, driven by policy incentives, but the recent political shifts, including Trump’s attempts to repeal parts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), create uncertainty.
Puranik concludes: “Policy approaches vary widely around the world. While the European Union (EU) enforce strict mandates, such as the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative requiring a minimum of 2% SAF blending by 2025, some of the other regions lack such clear policies, leading to disparities in biofuel adoption and investment. The commitment of a nation to achieve interim net-zero objectives, availability of biomass, and affordability of petroleum fuels are critical factors influencing policy support for biofuels.”