As Antisemitism Surges Worldwide, Rosen and Lankford Lead Over Half of the U.S. Senate in Re-Launching the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK), co-founders and co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, led a group of 56 Senators – representing over half the Senate – in announcing the re-launch of the Task Force. First launched in 2019, the collaboration is the first of its kind in the United States Senate, serving as a corollary to the House of Representative’s Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism.

“As antisemitism surges in the United States and around the world, we must do all that we can to put a stop to these hateful actions. In recent weeks, we’ve seen attacks on Jewish communities and Jewish-owned places of business and foreign leaders who have invoked antisemitic conspiracies. With studies showing that a majority of young Americans lack basic knowledge about the Holocaust, we have a duty to act now,” said Senator Rosen. “As Members of Congress, our responsibility to our neighbors, our friends, our community, and our children is to work together in a bipartisan way to prevent antisemitism before it starts, and to call it out when it happens. We are proud to re-launch this bipartisan Task Force once again with a total of 56 United States Senators – equally divided by party – as we continue to combat antisemitism by educating and empowering our communities.”

“Antisemitism remains a significant threat to our Jewish friends and neighbors. Senator Rosen and I and our fellow Task Force members are taking action. Antisemitism cannot continue to escalate, as we’ve seen in recent months and years both here and abroad,” said Senator Lankford. “I hope to welcome even more of our colleagues into the Task Force to call out instances of antisemitism where we see them, so when we say, ‘never again,’ we can demonstrate that we mean it.”

BACKGROUND: In 2019, Senators Rosen and Lankford launched the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism. Last Congress, the Task Force had 38 Members.

The Task Force now includes 56 Senators, with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans: Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), James Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tim Scott (R-SC), Todd Young (R-IN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Thune (R-SD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN).

Last month, Senators Rosen and Lankford introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning recent antisemitic incidents in the United States and around the world. The Senators’ resolution also calls on leaders to denounce antisemitism and take specific steps to address and prevent it. The resolution is now co-sponsored by 68 Senators – evenly divided by party – representing more than two-thirds of the U.S. Senate.

Senator Rosen holds the distinction of being the third female Jewish Senator in U.S. history, as well as the first former synagogue president to serve in the United States Senate.

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Hagerty Joins Colleagues in Urging the Biden Administration To Uphold U.S. Law and Not Reopen Palestinian Diplomatic Missions

Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

Hagerty Joins Colleagues in Urging the Biden Administration To Uphold U.S. Law and Not Reopen Palestinian Diplomatic Missions

Hagerty Joins Colleagues in Urging the Biden Administration To Uphold U.S. Law and Not Reopen Palestinian Diplomatic Missions

WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) today joined a group of Republican colleagues, led by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), in pressing the Biden Administration to adhere to U.S. law and refrain from reopening the Mission of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem for the Palestinians.

In their letter to President Joe Biden, the Senator’s wrote, “while we are committed to working with you on constructive ways to engage with the Palestinian people, we oppose any efforts by your administration to provide rewards and incentives to the Palestinian leadership or Hamas for their abhorrent support of violence and terrorism, their efforts to press the ICC to illegitimately investigate Israel, and other efforts to circumvent direct negotiations with Israel.”

Hagerty just returned from a CODEL to Israel where he met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, and many Israeli Defense Force (IDF) commanders and troops.

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Mr. President: 

We write with regard to your administration’s reported plans relating to U.S. diplomatic relations with the Palestinians. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent announcement that the U.S. will move to reopen the Consulate General in Jerusalem that oversaw relations with the Palestinians as well as reports that your administration plans to re-open the Mission of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington, D.C. are deeply concerning. It is particularly misguided at a time when the Palestinian Authority (PA), led by Mahmoud Abbas along with the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hamas, incited and supported recent violent riots, rock throwing, and other terror attacks in Jerusalem. This was escalated by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad firing more than 4,000 rockets that rained down terror on Israeli civilians. We urge you to adhere to U.S. law and ensure both of these diplomatic missions remain closed.

In 2018, the Trump Administration, in accordance with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (P.L.104-45), officially opened the U.S. Embassy in Israel’s capital of Jerusalem and in 2019, merged the U.S. diplomatic mission to the Palestinians in Jerusalem with the Consul General’s official residence into the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. This facilitated U.S. policy to rightfully reflect the reality that Jerusalem is Israel’s united and historic capital, and became formally compliant with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. Re-opening this diplomatic mission to the Palestinians in Israel’s capital would wrongly indicate that the U.S. supports dividing the capital city of our close ally and would only reward the Palestinian leadership’s continued hostility toward Israel. This hostility has included the spreading of false propaganda that contributed to the recent violence in Jerusalem, supporting an illegitimate International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation against Israel for non-existent war crimes, and incentivizing and rewarding terrorism through paying terrorists and their families. We understand the need to have direct engagement with Palestinian leadership but we oppose granting the Palestinians a diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital city, which is undisputed under U.S. law.

We are also concerned with reports that your administration is considering reopening the PLO Mission in Washington D.C. Furthermore, your administration must uphold U.S. law that seeks to hold the PLO and PA accountable to financial claims against them in U.S. courts by American victims of Palestinian terrorism. We urge you to ensure that that there is no type of evasion or undermining of the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act of 2019 (PSJVTA, § 903 of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, P.L. 116-94). This bipartisan law deems any reestablishment of an office on American soil by the PLO or PA as consent to jurisdiction in U.S. courts in cases by American families for heinous PLO/PA-sponsored terror attacks. These families seek justice and compensation for victims of Palestinian terrorist activities incited by hateful rhetoric and abhorrent policies and practices, including the “pay-for-slay” programs sponsored by the Palestinian Authority and the PLO. Allowing the reopening of the PLO mission in Washington, D.C. without requiring the PA and PLO to answer for these claims would be a betrayal of American families who are seeking their day in court.  

While we are committed to working with you on constructive ways to engage with the Palestinian people, we oppose any efforts by your administration to provide rewards and incentives to the Palestinian leadership or Hamas for their abhorrent support of violence and terrorism, their efforts to press the ICC to illegitimately investigate Israel, and other efforts to circumvent direct negotiations with Israel. As long as the Palestinian Authority and Iranian-backed Hamas, or other Palestinian terrorist groups, are not held accountable for their actions, the Palestinian people will continue to suffer and there will be no prospects for a long term and peaceful solution between Israelis and Palestinians.  

We urge your administration to reconsider these actions and to work with Congress to craft policies that support our ally, Israel, and assist the Palestinian people. 

Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Sincerely,

Lankford Questions Colonial Pipeline CEO Following Ransomware Cyber Attack

Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

06.08.21

CLICK HERE to watch Lankford’s Q&A on YouTube.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing entitled, “Threats to Critical Infrastructure: Examining the Colonial Pipeline Cyber Attack.”

Lankford’s questions to Mr. Joseph Blount, Jr., the President and Chief Executive Officer of Colonial Pipeline, focused on the lessons learned by Colonial Pipeline after the cyber-attack in early May and how other companies can apply their experience to be prepared for and prevent cyber-attacks. Lankford noted that in one of his first actions as President, the Biden Administration has halted the Keystone Pipeline and that Canadian and American producers now have to try to find trains or trucks to meet our energy needs. President Biden also signaled he would not move forward with sanctions on those involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would transport natural gas from Russia to Germany and threaten the energy security of the US and our European allies.

Last month, Lankford participated in a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing in which he asked about cyber security readiness in the wake of ongoing threats from ransomware and other cyber-attacks, including the attack on the Colonial pipeline. The hearing focused on the late-2020 Russian attack on the SolarWinds Orion cyber supply chain that, over time, was determined to have impacted numerous federal agency networks.

Excerpts

On the nature of the attack on the Colonial Pipeline

Lankford: I want to ask a couple of things here. You had to do a physical inspection and a cyber-inspection of this pipeline or just going through the digital portion of it. Did y’all have a physical inspection as well?

Blount: In the early hours of May 7th, we did not know exactly what we had. We had the ransomware, but again, we’re always concerned about the security of the pipeline. And you may have read in the press—and it’s a factual statement—we drove over 29,000 miles of the pipeline, and again remember it’s only a 5,500 mile pipeline. So we had constant ground surveillance…Again, we didn’t know that it was just a cyber-attack. We had to make sure that it wasn’t potentially an attack on our physical structure as well.

On the importance of pipelines and the need to be prepared for an attack

Lankford: So I said to several people that I’ve talked to in the last month, when we saw suddenly gas lines appearing and a pipeline go down at this point, that everyone learned the importance of pipelines. If I rewind two months before that, all the conversation was about slowing down the permitting new pipelines, maybe we’re not going to do pipelines at all, make it harder to be able to do maintenance on federal lands on pipelines. Two months ago, the conversation was, well maybe we need fewer pipelines, and maybe we need to make this harder to be able to develop new pipelines. Obviously Keystone Pipeline was in the news to say, ‘We’re just not going to do that at all.’ And so products coming out of Canada, and out of Montana are just going to find trucks and trains to be able to get there. I’m not going to ask you this same question because that’s not going to be fair to you, but I’ve told a lot of folks, what we watched happen with the sudden shutdown of a pipeline is the ghost of Christmas future for the entire country if we don’t continue to maintain our pipelines, increase capacity of pipelines, if we don’t continue to expand and have a duplication of pipelines in spots to be able to make sure we have redundancy for this. Pipelines are essential to America, and the two and a half million miles of pipelines we have scattered around the country, we lose track of how incredibly important they are.

So I’m grateful that your company’s had such a good reputation. This is terrible to be a victim of a ransomware attack. And there’s something that you have that every CEO in America would like to hear, and that is, what are the lessons learned on cyber issues that you’ve already identified. Obviously, your team’s taken on, the number one’s already come out: looking for legacy entries into your system that don’t have two-factor authentication on it. What else has been identified that you need to be able to take on and to pass on to others?

Blount: Again, I think the most important thing is to not be complacent about what you have because of the pace of change on the outside from the criminal side, and then secondary to that, and equally as important is the ability to have an emergency response process in place. If we had not been trained for the last 57 years to respond to any threat, whatever that threat is. It’s an extension cord on the ground that hasn’t been taped down that someone might trip over and hurt themselves. If we hadn’t been trained like that and our employees hadn’t been trained by that, who knows how many days it would have taken to bring the asset back online? We know the importance of the asset. We’re dedicated to the American public as a result of all the training we’ve done through the years to make sure that we have the fuel that we need.

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Rubio, Merkley Introduce Resolution Remembering Tiananmen Square Massacre

Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced a bipartisan resolution remembering the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests and their violent suppression. The resolution also condemns the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese Government’s ongoing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 

Last week, Rubio issued a statement on the anniversary of the Chinese government and Communist Party’s violent crackdown against protestors in Tiananmen Square and the CCP’s ongoing efforts to erase the events of June 4th from memory.

The full text of the resolution is here

Rubio is a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

 

Shelby Reviews Air Force and Space Force Budget Requests

Source: United States Senator for Alabama Richard Shelby

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its subcommittee on defense, today questioned top officials regarding the budget request for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force during a defense subcommittee hearing.  During the hearing, The Honorable John P. Roth, Acting Air Force Secretary; General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Air Force Chief of Staff; and General John W. Raymond, Chief of Space Operations testified about the President’s funding justification for the military service branches and to provide an update on challenges they face.

Senator Shelby’s remarks, as prepared, are as follows:

“Thank you Mr. Chairman.  Secretary Roth, General Brown, and General Raymond, welcome.

“Thank you for being here today to present your budget for fiscal year 2022, and to provide this committee with an update on the challenges that you face.

“Our nation expects that our military is ready and capable to deter our adversaries and defend the homeland.

“Not only do our adversaries pose new and increasing threats that erode our traditional technological advantages, but the age of some of our most important weapon systems require that we make investments today.

“We must continue to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent, while at the same time developing hypersonic weapons and ensuring that our aircraft can meet the challenges posed by China and Russia.

“I am also interested to hear more from you about how this budget request recognizes the contributions of the Space Force, and the growing importance of operations in space.

“The National Security Space Launch program has been a good investment of taxpayer dollars, and I encourage the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community to continue to use the Space Force launch enterprise for National Security Space Launch-class missions.

“Given that the overall funding request for the Department of Defense does not keep pace with inflation, I am concerned that we are sending the wrong message to both our allies and our adversaries.

“I look forward to hearing how your fiscal year 2022 budget request balances all of these important priorities, thank you.”

 

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Luján, Eshoo Call on President Biden to Create National Institute of Rural Health to Address Longstanding Rural Health Disparities

Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

Luján, Eshoo Call on President Biden to Create National Institute of Rural Health to Address Longstanding Rural Health Disparities

Washington, D.C. – As rural America continues to grapple with high numbers of COVID-19 related deaths, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) called on President Joe Biden to create a National Institute of Rural Health (NIRH). In a letter to the President, Luján and Eshoo argue that a comprehensive, coordinated rural health strategy across federal agencies can better address longstanding disparities and improve health outcomes for rural Americans.

“Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, rural Americans were more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke than their urban counterparts. A recent CDC study found that children in rural areas with mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders face more community and family challenges than children in urban areas with the same disorders. With about 15% of all Americans living in rural areas, more needs to be done to address the structural barriers they face when trying to live healthy and prosperous lives,” wrote the Members of Congress. “There is no question the federal government has committed significant resources and consideration to address rural health, but its segmented and siloed approach has not yielded the results that reflect the effort. We have a historic opportunity to better leverage our commitment by creating a centralized NIRH to better serve rural Americans.”

Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

Dear President Biden,

Today in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic, the unique burdens rural communities have endured as a result of long standing systemic, health and social inequities are at the forefront. As you continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge you to consider an innovative approach to address rural health disparities by establishing a National Institute for Rural Health (NIRH) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) that convenes federal leaders across sectors to create a holistic approach to improving the health outcomes and quality of life for the 46 million Americans living in rural communities. The mission of NIRH will be to create “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being for one and all and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, rural Americans were more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke than their urban counterparts. A recent CDC study found that children in rural areas with mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders face more community and family challenges than children in urban areas with the same disorders. With about 15% of all Americans living in rural areas, more needs to be done to address the structural barriers they face when trying to live healthy and prosperous lives.

There is no question the federal government has committed significant resources and consideration to address rural health, but its segmented and siloed approach has not yielded the results that reflect the effort. We have a historic opportunity to better leverage our commitment by creating a centralized NIRH to better serve rural Americans. Currently, there are hundreds of programs that are available to rural communities for economic and rural development across 13 departments, 10 agencies, and 50 subagencies. These programs must be coordinated and streamlined through a NIRH to assemble the expertise, eliminate redundancies, and identify gaps to build a strategic plan.

We ask that you convene rural program leaders across disciplines to identify partnerships and build the infrastructure between leaders to create a delivery model for rural research and programming. Once these delivery models have been developed, we request that these models are shared with state, regional, Native, and local community leaders for their input and consultation. With that input, a comprehensive action plan should be generated and operationalized so that USDA and HHS can implement it.

The NIRH should identify and assess all rural-focused programs within the federal government, as well as other civic, educational, philanthropic/not-for-profit entities and business/labor organizations that are working in rural-focused domains, including health, health care, environment, agriculture and primary industry, community/economic development, and technology. NIRH has the potential to enhance and transform existing federal programs, partner with innovative state, county, municipal, private sector, and civic initiatives, and serve as a focus for relevant research and programming to benefit rural peoples and communities. It can serve as an advocate for the health of rural Americans and serve as a clearinghouse for rural-specific research and programming throughout the federal government, as well as the leading voice for America’s rural populations through research, leadership, education, and service.

Rural America represents a rich cultural diversity but also faces unique challenges in reaching the full height of its potential. Geographic distance from specialty care, more economic inequality, and long-standing structural barriers to full wellness are all challenges we must face head-on in the 21st Century. In overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, we have an opportunity to integrate and maximize rural health resources. Creating the National Institutes for Rural Health is our chance to bring innovative solutions to rural America and increase opportunity for one and all.

Boozman Praises Air Force’s Commitment to Arkansas

Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) commended Air Force leaders for selecting Fort Smith as home for the Foreign Military Sales F-35 Squadron and the Singapore Air Force F-16 Squadron.

“Secretary Roth we appreciated your phone call last week regarding the basing of the F-35s and the Singapore Air Force F-16s. That was good news,” Boozman said during a Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “It’s good for the area, but that really is the best decision for the country.”

Last week the Air Force announced the selection of Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith to host the future F-35 fighter planes and Singapore F-16 Squadron. The decision came on the heels of the announcement that the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base was selected as the new home of the Air National Guard’s C-130J Super Hercules training program. 

Boozman is a co-chairman of the Senate Air Force Caucus where he actively works with Members of Congress and Air Force leaders to ensure the U.S. has the resources and tools to maintain air superiority.

Bennet Statement on Regina Rodriguez’s Confirmation to Serve on U.S. District Court

Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Regina Rodriguez to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado by a bipartisan vote of 72-28: 

“Throughout her distinguished career, Regina Rodriguez has demonstrated a deep commitment to service, justice, and the rule of law. Her overwhelmingly bipartisan confirmation signifies that she will make an exceptional judge,” said Bennet. “Today, Regina made history as the first Asian-American to serve on the U.S. District Court in Colorado. Her seat on the court will make it more reflective of and responsive to the people it serves, and I have no doubt that Regina will serve the people of Colorado with integrity.”

Bennet and U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) recommended Rodriguez for the U.S. District Court seat in February. In addition to her legal background, Rodriguez was a founding member of Latinas First Foundation, served on the Board of Directors for the Family Star Montessori, and was a Founding Board Member of Colorado Youth at Risk.  

Rodriguez is the daughter of a Mexican American father and a Japanese American mother. Rodriguez’s historic confirmation makes her the first federal district court judge in the District of Colorado of Asian-American descent. 

Earlier today, Bennet spoke on the Senate floor to support her nomination to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado ahead of her confirmation vote. 

Watch Bennet’s floor speech HERE

Sens. Coons, Daines lead bipartisan bill to boost federal investment in American R&D and a highly skilled workforce

Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced legislation to provide expanded tax support for American companies that invest in the research and development of new products and technologies.

“There is bipartisan agreement that now is the time for a generational investment in American competitiveness and a skilled workforce that will win the next century,” said Senator Coons. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the incredible benefits of innovative technologies, such those used to rapidly develop safe and effective vaccines, but also presents an opportunity to rebuild our economy to provide more good, high-paying jobs. The FORWARD Act is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that provides tax support to cutting-edge startups and business. This bill supports President Biden’s vision for our nation’s economic recovery and growth.”

“In order to remain globally competitive and win the race against China, we need to invest in American science and innovation,” said Senator Daines. “Expanding the R&D tax credit to make it more accessible for small businesses across the country and to incentivize American manufacturing will help us do just that.”

“As our economy reopens, we need to create new, good-paying jobs and get Nevadans back to work,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “That means making it easier for companies doing cutting-edge research and development to hire and train new workers, which we can achieve through this bipartisan legislation. I’m working in the Senate to help us achieve a robust recovery, and that means investing in Nevada’s innovative economy and the workers that depend on it.”

“The private sector is helping America emerge from the pandemic and prepare for future emergencies,” said Senator Young. “Government should create an environment which enables our small businesses to conduct research and development activity that spurs innovation and job creation right here in the U.S.”

“We must ensure that American companies remain at the forefront of innovation, especially as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill will help create jobs by expanding critical R&D tax incentives for startups and small businesses. I will keep working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to strengthen support for innovative American businesses.”

The United States spends far less supporting R&D than international competitors. This places American businesses at a disadvantage, undermining the U.S. economy and leaving the country ill-prepared for crises like COVID-19. In 2015, Congress passed legislation authored by Senators Coons and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) to make the R&D tax credit permanent and to expand access to the credit for more startups and small businesses. These changes addressed urgent problems, but – as the COVID-19 crisis continues to make clear – further steps are needed. 

The Furthering Our Recovery With American Research and Development, or FORWARD, Act:

  • Expands access to the research and development tax credit for new small- and medium-sized businesses. Firms with up to $20 million in gross receipts will be eligible to use the credit to reduce their payroll tax obligation during a span of 8 years—up from current thresholds of $5 million and 5 years. A new de minimis threshold delays the start of the 8-year window until gross receipts exceed $25,000.
  • Strengthens the economy by incentivizing American manufacturing. The R&D credit is increased for companies that generate the majority of their gross receipts from manufacturing their products in the United States.
  • Targets specific activities that enhance economic productivity by spreading knowledge and work opportunities to the U.S. workforce. The full R&D credit is expanded to cover R&D-related worker training costs. For R&D performed in collaboration with industry consortia, academic institutions, federal laboratories, and other entities, the credit rate is increased by one quarter (to 25% and 17.5% for the Regular Research and Alternative Simplified Credits, respectively).
  • Activates the R&D credit by providing outreach, education, and training for businesses with limited accounting expertise, to be provided by the Small Business Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.

The bill text is available here. A one-pager on the bill is available here.

The FORWARD Act is supported by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Third Way, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Intelligent Manufacturing Systems International, the Delaware Small Business Development Center, the Association for Manufacturing Technology, the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities, Cover & Rossiter, the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, the State Science and Technology Institute, the University City Science Center, AlliantGroup, the Small Business Investor Alliance, and Advanced Manufacturing International.

“As the United States continues the work to recover from the global pandemic and grow as a leader in advanced manufacturing worldwide, it is critical that we have right tax policies in place to allow for the continued success of our domestic manufacturing sector, including the R&D and workforce infrastructure necessary to jump start the U.S. manufacturing economy,” said Thomas Costabile, P.E., Executive Director and CEO of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. “This Act will create more opportunities for these small businesses to engage and grow by allowing small manufacturers an expanded R&D tax credit. Further, this Act will encourage the manufacturing sector to evolve and expand by making it easier for manufacturers and start-ups to invest in workforce development initiatives that are so critical to supporting world-class industrial research.”

“Science and engineering-based innovation are critical for addressing a wide array of American challenges, including climate change and U.S. competitiveness,” said Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). “But the main federal incentive for private sector research – the R&D tax credit – needs both modernization and expansion. The FORWARD Act does just that, and if passed would spur more American innovation, job creation and competitiveness.”

Additional quotes from endorsing organizations are available here.

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In bipartisan visit to South Korea, Sens. Coons, Duckworth, Sullivan reaffirm U.S.-ROK alliance

Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, for a bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) to South Korea, where they discussed shared interests and future areas of cooperation with a broad range of high-level officials. While in the region, the senators also visited Taipei to announce the donation of 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan as part of President Biden’s plan to provide vaccines to our global partners in need. Senator Coons also met with senior Taiwan government officials including the President, Foreign Minister, and Minister of National Defense. Photos from the CODEL can be found here.

“I was pleased to join Senators Duckworth and Sullivan in Seoul to reaffirm our bipartisan, long-standing, and enduring commitment to the Republic of Korea. The U.S.-ROK alliance remains a linchpin for security, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” said Senator Coons. “I was grateful for the opportunity to engage in a series of meetings with a broad range of ROK and U.S. Embassy officials, during which we discussed our deep bilateral ties and Korea’s important and growing role in the region and global affairs. We welcomed the recent announcements of Korean investment in the United States, focused on critical technologies that will drive the future, and discussed further strengthening our partnership in research, development, and innovation. The Koreans expressed appreciation for the Biden administration’s delivery of over one million vaccine doses, and we talked about ways in which Korea and the United States can work together to manufacture more vaccines for the rest of East Asia. The alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea remains strong because of our shared values, and I look forward to working with the Biden administration and my colleagues in the Senate to partner with the ROK to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. I was also pleased to join with my colleagues to visit Taipei and announce the provision of 750,000 vaccines to Taiwan. It remains important that we support our friends, partners, and allies in the region and throughout the world during this critical time.”

“Our visit to South Korea provided me the opportunity to engage in substantive conversations about the bilateral relations between our nations and participate in discussions about how we can continue our partnership—both militarily and economically—into the future,” said Senator Duckworth. “Following up on President Biden and President Moon’s highly successful summit in May, this CODEL cemented the strong alliance between the U.S. and South Korea, the linchpin of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific. I was proud to lead this delegation and was honored to help announce that Taiwan will be receiving 750,000 doses of the vaccine as part of the first tranche of donations from the United States. I look forward to working together with our partners in the region on issues of shared importance.”

“This bipartisan congressional delegation visit to the Republic of Korea, the first of its kind since the onset of the pandemic, underscores the fact that the alliance between our two nations is the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Senator Sullivan. “The U.S.-Korean alliance dates back to the Korean War when our soldiers fought side by side to defeat North Korean communist aggression. I respect so much how, even to this day, the Republic of Korea’s elected leaders and citizens continue to express their appreciation for the sacrifice of tens of thousands of American servicemen who have helped make the country free and prosperous. I want to thank my co-lead on this trip, Senator Duckworth, and Senator Coons for joining me in sending a resounding, bipartisan message of mutual support between our two countries and to America’s friends and adversaries in the Indo-Pacific and throughout the world.”

In South Korea, Duckworth, Coons and Sullivan:

  • Met with high-level officials, including the Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, Minister of National Defense Suh Wook and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Sung-wook to discuss areas of shared interest and mutual cooperation;
  • Were briefed by General Robert B. Abrams, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea;
  • Spoke with U.S. Charge d’Affaires Rob Rapson and U.S. Embassy personnel in Seoul;
  • Held a substantive meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly Park Byung-Seug about a variety of topics, including advocating for the ratification of the cost-sharing agreement, and met with two other members of the National Assembly: Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Dr. Jin Park and National Assembly of the Republic of Korea National Defense Committee Chairman Min Hong-cheol;
  • Met with Green Climate Fund Executive Director Yannick Gelmarec;
  • Discussed ways to partner on manufacturing and respecting intellectual property with officials from Samsung;
  • Celebrated South Korean business leaders’ recent announcement to bring billions of dollars in investment to the U.S. and discussed future areas of collaboration and partnership with officials from SK Holdings Co Ltd.

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