More stuff in the news...

Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act, which would provide critical financial incentives to encourage investment in offshore wind energy. This legislation would create an investment tax credit that is redeemable for the first 3,000 megawatts of offshore wind facilities placed into service, amounting to approximately 600 wind turbines.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the National Security Working Group, sent a letter to Secretaries Kerry and Lew pressing the Administration for more action to counter the financial networks that support ISIS. He urged Treasury to designate and levy new sanction on ISIS ‘middlemen’ who facilitate illicit smuggling of oil, antiquities, and other goods. Casey also urged the Administration to consider designating ISIS as a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), which could provide the Administration additional authorities in the effort to cut off the flow of money to ISIS. Despite operating largely outside the formal banking sector, reports including a 2015 analysis by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), indicate that ISIS may be accessing banks near territory it controls. Additionally the Assad regime may be allowing Syrian banks in ISIS-controlled territory to continue business as usual. In his letter Casey also asked for an update on the progress the Iraqi government has made in preventing ISIS from accessing bank branches that are connected to the country’s financial system.

Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.), the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced the ACCESS (Access to Court Challenges for Exempt Status Seekers) Act, which would allow groups seeking 501(c)(4) status or other tax-exempt status to take the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to Tax Court if the IRS fails to act on an application for more than nine months.

The U.S. Senate resumes consideration of major education reform legislation that got a boost Wednesday with unanimous approval of an amendment sponsored by U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) to allow the use of federal funds to improve and modernize school libraries.

U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, on which she serves, has approved funding for a number of initiatives that would empower women across the globe. The funding was directed as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 State, Foreign Operations & Related Programs Appropriations bill which must now be considered by the full Senate. At Senator Collins’ request, the bill includes $1.7 billion for gender programs and combatting gender-based violence. This funding supports Department of State and USAID efforts to promote gender equality as a component of their democracy and development work. For the fourth year in a row, the bill also includes $50 million to promote women’s political leadership including participation in political parties, elections, and leadership positions in local and national governments.

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) offered an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization that will encourage greater college access for low-income students by allowing them to earn college credits in high school. By providing students the opportunity to simultaneously pursue a high school diploma while earning college credits tuition-free, early college high schools and dual and concurrent enrollment programs improve secondary and postsecondary outcomes for students.

U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, applauded funding for his bold, bipartisan initiative to end modern slavery that was included in the Senate Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The End Modern Slavery Initiative will create a powerful effort in concert with the private sector and foreign governments to help eliminate modern slavery around the globe.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) appeared on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom to discuss the ongoing Iran nuclear negotiations. “This idea that we would release these sanctions and the arms embargo and give them more money, more weapons … seems crazy,” he said.