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.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Stuff in the news...or not...
On July 9, 2015, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) to introduce the Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act of 2015, a bill to ensure that legal marijuana businesses can access banking services. The operative word here is "legal".
A section of the Senate Bill 1732 (introduced by Senator John Thune on Friday), the Vehicle Safety Bill, which is to be rolled into the transportation bill, will allow rental companies to rent recalled vehicles to consumers. Now, I don't know about you, but if it's unsafe for consumers to own, wouldn't it be unsafe for consumers to drive?
Senator Sherrod Brown (D - OH) cosponsored legislation to protect Ohio communities by taking unsafe oil trains off the tracks and giving first responders in local communities the resources they need should accidents occur. The Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2015 would build on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new regulations – finalized in May – to tighten safety standards on new and existing railcars, and update handling methods of hazardous and other materials throughout Ohio.
Last June, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled that the D.C. NFL team name violates a provision of patent law banning “disparaging” registrations. Affirming that decision on July 8, 2015, Judge Lee ruled the standard for proving “disparagement” was met and cancelation of the team’s trademark was not a violation of the First Amendment.
Why did Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Katherine Archuleta resign after two recent data breaches that affected close to 25 million individuals. It doesn't make sense, unless she had something to do with it that we are not hearing about on the news.
A section of the Senate Bill 1732 (introduced by Senator John Thune on Friday), the Vehicle Safety Bill, which is to be rolled into the transportation bill, will allow rental companies to rent recalled vehicles to consumers. Now, I don't know about you, but if it's unsafe for consumers to own, wouldn't it be unsafe for consumers to drive?
Senator Sherrod Brown (D - OH) cosponsored legislation to protect Ohio communities by taking unsafe oil trains off the tracks and giving first responders in local communities the resources they need should accidents occur. The Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2015 would build on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new regulations – finalized in May – to tighten safety standards on new and existing railcars, and update handling methods of hazardous and other materials throughout Ohio.
Last June, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled that the D.C. NFL team name violates a provision of patent law banning “disparaging” registrations. Affirming that decision on July 8, 2015, Judge Lee ruled the standard for proving “disparagement” was met and cancelation of the team’s trademark was not a violation of the First Amendment.
Why did Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Katherine Archuleta resign after two recent data breaches that affected close to 25 million individuals. It doesn't make sense, unless she had something to do with it that we are not hearing about on the news.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Happy Independence Day from Lou Barletta (R-PA, 11th)
Lou Barletta
Washington, D.C.
It is hard to fathom the bravery exhibited by the American colonists when they put their names on the Declaration of Independence, formally announcing their separation from the British Empire. Their defiance in the face of the mightiest military in the world struck a blow for liberty that resonates to this day. Today, 239 years later, we still treasure the benefits of their heroism, as well as the sacrifices made by countless other Americans who fought, and died, so that we may remain free.
Our founding document recognizes the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But as Benjamin Franklin observed, we are only guaranteed the right to pursue happiness – you have to catch it yourself. Each day I thank God that we live in a country where we all have the opportunity to do just that.
On this Independence Day, I hope all Pennsylvanians and Americans take time to reflect on the greatness of the American experiment. While spending time with family and friends, let us all thank Providence for the blessings we enjoy as citizens of the greatest, most free nation the world has ever known.
Washington, D.C.
It is hard to fathom the bravery exhibited by the American colonists when they put their names on the Declaration of Independence, formally announcing their separation from the British Empire. Their defiance in the face of the mightiest military in the world struck a blow for liberty that resonates to this day. Today, 239 years later, we still treasure the benefits of their heroism, as well as the sacrifices made by countless other Americans who fought, and died, so that we may remain free.
Our founding document recognizes the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But as Benjamin Franklin observed, we are only guaranteed the right to pursue happiness – you have to catch it yourself. Each day I thank God that we live in a country where we all have the opportunity to do just that.
On this Independence Day, I hope all Pennsylvanians and Americans take time to reflect on the greatness of the American experiment. While spending time with family and friends, let us all thank Providence for the blessings we enjoy as citizens of the greatest, most free nation the world has ever known.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Just what Florida needs — a new cockroach
A scientist named Marc C. Minno was organizing some files in his office last month when something odd fell out of a folder. He peered down at the floor and saw it was a small cockroach, maybe half an inch long.
At this point, most Floridians would have either squished the bug with a shoe or run screaming from the room. Not Minno. He has written several books on butterflies and moths. Bugs don't bug him.
The cockroach he saw on his office floor at the Suwannee River Water Management District in Live Oak didn't look like any of the other cockroaches he'd seen before. In describing it later, he used a word you don't normally hear associated with cockroaches:
Pretty.
Read more about this at the Tampa Bay Times by clicking HERE
At this point, most Floridians would have either squished the bug with a shoe or run screaming from the room. Not Minno. He has written several books on butterflies and moths. Bugs don't bug him.
The cockroach he saw on his office floor at the Suwannee River Water Management District in Live Oak didn't look like any of the other cockroaches he'd seen before. In describing it later, he used a word you don't normally hear associated with cockroaches:
Pretty.
Read more about this at the Tampa Bay Times by clicking HERE
Thursday, July 2, 2015
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