Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Sen. Rick Scott: Biden’s Budget is a Disaster for Florida Families & Pro-Life Protections

Source: United States Senator Rick Scott (Florida)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, ahead of next week’s hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget on President Biden’s massively reckless $6 TRILLION budget proposal, Senator Rick Scott issued the following statement highlighting the failures of his proposal, its attack on pro-life protections and its consequences for Florida families. The president’s proposed budget, which projects dismal economic growth showing it will do nothing to boost the economy, would take the United States to its highest sustained levels of federal spending since World War II and is on top of the $7.1 trillion in new spending he has proposed in his first five months in office.

 

Senator Rick Scott said, “President Biden is all in for big government, big debt and higher taxes. Biden campaigned on moderate policies and no tax hikes on working families, but apparently has decided he’d rather be liked by AOC and Bernie Sanders than protect American families. Biden’s budget includes 30 tax increases costing families and businesses nearly $3 TRILLION over the next decade. That’s on top of the already rising cost of living Floridians are dealing with thanks to Biden’s inflation crisis. Even worse, his own budget shows that his plans would do almost nothing to spur economic growth.

 

“Biden’s budget also strips pro-life protections that for decades have prohibited taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. By leaving the Hyde Amendment out of his proposal, Biden hopes to force Florida taxpayers to fund the widespread destruction of life. It’s a disgusting abandonment of federal policy, which has had bipartisan support for 45 years. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget, I’ll be using next week’s committee hearing to demand answers from the Biden Administration on its obscene attacks on Florida families and how its reckless spending will worsen America’s growing $30 TRILLION debt crisis that is driving up inflation.”

 

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Cassidy Announces June 17 as National Seersucker Day

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

06.07.21

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), announced National Seersucker Day will be held this year on Thursday, June 17.

“Proud to share the unique, American tradition of seersucker, a New Orleans invention and fun summer staple,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I encourage all to participate in the celebration of National Seersucker Day and look forward to continuing this tradition alongside my colleague Senator Feinstein.”

“Every summer the Senate recognizes National Seersucker Day, a decades-long tradition. I’m happy to once again join Senator Cassidy in leading our colleagues in this bipartisan celebration of American culture and Senate history,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

Seersucker suits were popularized by a New Orleans businessman in the early 1900s. Former U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) brought Seersucker Thursday to Congress in 1996. After the tradition went unobserved in 2012 and 2013, Dr. Cassidy revived National Seersucker Day in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 and has continued the tradition in the Senate with the help of Senator Feinstein.

Cassidy invites Americans from all over our great nation to don their warm weather finest on this National Seersucker Day. All senators are invited for an official photograph at the Ohio Clock in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, June 17, at 12:30 p.m. ET.

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Independent Watchdog Finds Trump Administration’s Unjustified CFPB Reshuffling Undermined Enforcement of Fair Lending Laws

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

June 07, 2021

GAO Report

Washington, DC – United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, made the following statement regarding findings from a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) oversight and enforcement of fair lending laws under the Trump administration. The GAO report follows a request made by Senators Warren and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). 

The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), and other fair lending laws were designed to curtail discriminatory lending practices, but the reorganization by CFPB leaders during the Trump administration raised broader questions about  the ability and willingness of Trump-appointed CFPB leadership to protect consumers from discrimination. When Acting Director Mulvaney took over in 2017, he stripped the fair lending office of its supervisory and enforcement powers.

“When Mick Mulvaney took over as Acting Director of the CFPB, he brought in his own team of political hacks, gutted the Bureau’s fair lending office, and stripped Bureau attorneys of enforcement power, preventing the agency from being able to do its job. It is critical that under its new leadership, the CFPB prioritizes the enforcement of fair lending laws and obtains restitution for consumers harmed by discriminatory lending practices” Senator Warren said. 

During the Trump administration, Senator Warren conducted vigorous oversight of the banking and financial sectors and the efforts to weaken the CFPB:

  • In November 2019, Senators Warren and Brown raised alarm in a letter to CFPB amid reports of gender discrimination by Goldman Sachs and the new Apple card.
  • In June 2019, Senator Warren asked regulators about discrimination built into automated lending decisions that resulted in Latinx and African-American borrowers being charged higher interest rates.
  • In August 2019, Senator Warren, along with Representatives Raja Kristhnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Katie Porter (D-Calif.), pressed the CFPB for information about a proposal that would indefinitely exempt financial technology companies from complying with consumer protection and anti-discrimination laws.
  • At a March 2019 Senate Banking Committee hearing, Senator Warren criticized then-Director Kraninger for the sharp decline in enforcement actions and a significant drop in compensation to consumers.
  • Senator Warren raised concerns and called for the removal of Trump administration official Eric Blankenstein, who has a history of racist writings and whose views disqualified him from overseeing the enforcement of lending discrimination law while at the CFPB. She also called on the CFPB to fire Paul Watkins, the former director of CFPB’s Office of Innovation who previously represented an anti-LGBTQ hate group.
  • In February 2018, Senators Warren, Brown, and Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) wrote to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mulvaney about his decision to relocate the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity and to strip it of its statutorily mandated supervisory and enforcement powers while he ran the CFPB.
  • In January 2018, Senator Warren and Congresswoman Waters sent a letter to former Acting CFPB Director Leandra English and former OMB Director Mulvaney, questioning Mulvaney’s actions that benefited payday and installment lenders and raising concerns about Mulvaney’s close ties to the payday loan industry.
  • In May 2018, Senator Warren joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in sending a letter to Mark Bialek, Inspector General of the Federal Reserve System, urging him to investigate Mulvaney’s actions at the CFPB after reports surfaced that Mulvaney has taken numerous actions to benefit payday lenders.

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Sens. Sullivan, King, Cortez Masto, Schatz & Murkowski Introduce Visit America Act

Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

06.07.21

Bill would initiate a federal strategy for the struggling U.S. tourism & travel industry

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Angus King (I-Maine), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) recently introduced S. 1974, the Visit America Act, which would formally authorize the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and create an assistant secretary position within the Department of Commerce focused on bolstering America’s travel and tourism industry and coordinating a strategy across multiple federal agencies by establishing annual goals and recommendations. The legislation would also require the development and implementation of a recovery strategy to assist the travel and tourism industry to quickly recover from the COVID–19 pandemic. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic ravaged all aspects of the tourism and hospitality industry, a crucial sector that supports our economy and thousands of good-paying jobs in Alaska,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Fortunately, against great odds, we were able to salvage a portion of Alaska’s crucial 2021 summer cruise ship season. We want to build on that success with a thorough federal strategy to rebuild U.S. tourism at a time when Americans and travelers around the world are eager to get out of lockdowns and see this great country again. I’m glad to launch the Visit America Act with my colleagues to better position the travel industry for a strong rebound with ambitious visitation goals, requirements for a whole-of-government recovery strategy, and a high-level tourism official in the federal government for the first time ever.”

“Each year, millions of visitors flock to Vacationland for a taste of The Way Life Should Be, as families are just a day’s drive or a quick flight away from sites that deliver lifelong memories without straining household budgets,” said Sen. King, chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee. “From our picturesque coastline to our lush forests and awe-inspiring mountains, there is something for everyone in Maine – which is why many small businesses throughout Maine have built their business models around the busy summer season. However, the coronavirus pandemic’s effects showed us just how vulnerable these businesses are to sudden shifts in consumer demand. In order to support the tourism industry and speed our economic recovery from the pandemic, we need to redouble our work to boost this vital part of our national economy. This legislation will unite a variety of government efforts under one federal office and one leader, strengthening our efforts to help the tourism industry grow and thrive.”

“Las Vegas is a world-class travel destination, as are so many of Nevada’s stunning landscapes,” said Sen. Cortez Masto. “I’m co-leading on the bipartisan Visit America Act to make sure our government is doing everything it can to revitalize our country’s tourism and travel industry in the wake of the pandemic. I’ll continue to work in the Senate to strengthen Nevada’s vibrant hospitality industry and support its many important workers.” 

The United States is the only member of the G20 international economic forum that does not have a high-ranking official focused on the tourism sector. Most G20 nations have a minister or secretary at the cabinet level.

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Feinstein: Model Legislation Will Help States Enact Extreme Risk Protection Orders

Source: United States Senator for California – Dianne Feinstein

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the Justice Department published model legislation to help states enact extreme risk protection order laws:

“The Justice Department’s model legislation will help states enact extreme risk protection order laws that allow family members and law enforcement to petition a court to temporarily remove guns from dangerous individuals.

“California has shown that these laws work. Last year, guns were temporarily removed from the hands of nearly 1,300 individuals who could have used them to harm themselves or others.

“Patterned after the Extreme Risk Protect Act, the department’s model legislation is an important step but we must still pass the broader bill. Our bill authorizes funding to implement these laws, including assistance for police training, developing court and law enforcement protocols and raising public awareness.

“Extreme risk protection orders save lives. Hopefully this model legislation will encourage more states to put these commonsense measures in place.”

Background:

Senator Feinstein and Representative Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) last month reintroduced the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, a bill to help states enact laws that allow family members and law enforcement to acquire temporary court orders to have guns removed from dangerous individuals. Only 19 states and the District of Columbia currently have extreme risk protection order laws.

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Feinstein, Cassidy Announce June 17 as National Seersucker Day

Source: United States Senator for California – Dianne Feinstein

Washington–Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), announced National Seersucker Day will be held this year on Thursday, June 17.

“Every summer the Senate recognizes National Seersucker Day, a decades-long tradition. I’m happy to once again join Senator Cassidy in leading our colleagues in this bipartisan celebration of American culture and Senate history,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein.

“Proud to share the unique, American tradition of seersucker, a New Orleans invention and fun summer staple,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I encourage all to participate in the celebration of National Seersucker Day and look forward to continuing this tradition alongside my colleague Senator Feinstein.”

Former U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.) brought Seersucker Thursday to Congress in 1996. After the tradition went unobserved in 2012 and 2013, Senator Feinstein and Dr. Cassidy revived National Seersucker Day in 2014.

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Sen. Moran Statement on President Biden’s FY2022 Budget

Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced the Presidential budget for FY2022:

“Four months into this administration, President Biden has already laid out plans for $7.1 trillion of new spending over the next couple of years. It is no surprise that his FY2022 budget proposal calls for the highest level of federal spending since World War II. As our national debt nears $30 trillion and the economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, a budget that will raise taxes, cause prices to skyrocket and saddle future generations with burdensome levels of debt should be unthinkable.

“I will evaluate the details of the President’s budget and will work with my Senate colleagues to craft a federal budget that supports jobs and American competitiveness while maintaining responsible fiscal boundaries. We cannot spend our way to economic prosperity. Our families and their economic futures are best served by keeping costs low, making certain parents are able to return to work and reining in our national debt.”   

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WITH NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION AMONG FINALIST LOCATIONS FOR NEW AF ACTIVE-DUTY SQUADRON, SCHUMER CALLS SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE NOMINEE F. KENDALL DIRECTLY TO REQUEST A VISIT AND IMMEDIATELY CHOOSE NFARS UPON CONFIRMATION

Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

06.07.21

NFARS Is Revealed To Be A Finalist Contender For Recapitalization Of Air Force Reserve Command Air Refueling Mission; Among 6 Locations Being Considered 

Senator, In Direct Call To Air Force Secretary Nominee Last Month, Pushed For Official Visit And Final Selection; Touted Experienced 914th Air Refueling Wing 

Schumer: New KC-46A Refueling Tankers Would Bring New Jobs & Funding, Helping NFARS & Niagara County Take Off

Following a direct phone call last month to Secretary of the Air Force nominee Frank Kendall, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS) is among 6 finalist locations being considered as a base for the Air Force’s new KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers. In his call with Secretary of the Air Force nominee Kendall, Schumer pushed for Mr. Kendall to visit NFARS as soon as he is confirmed and before final selection. Schumer touted the experience of the 914th Air Refueling Wing and said final selection would bring state-of-the-art Air Force equipment to NFARS, more than $100 million in investment, and about 175 new job opportunities to Niagara County.

“Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is the perfect location for the Air Force’s new refueling tankers and deserves to be selected,” said Senator Schumer. “NFARS has continuously delivered for New York over the last 50 years as a reserve base and is already home to the “Lucky Third” 914th Air Refueling Wing. The existing infrastructure at this first-rate facility, combined with the phenomenal service members of the 914th, ensure that NFARS would be more than capable of hosting a new active-duty squadron. I stressed this to Air Force Secretary nominee Kendall in my call last month, and will continue to do everything in my power to bring the new 46A Pegasus to NFARS to create new jobs at the base and ensure that our troops have a reliable fuel source when training to protect our health and freedom.”

NFARS is being considered to host the new 46A Pegasus, along with 5 other locations across the U.S.: Beale Air Force Base in California, March Air Reserve Base in California, Grissom Air Reserve Base in Indiana, Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Field in Maryland. Final selection would bring about $100 million in investment to the base.

Schumer has long fought for greater federal investment into NFARS. Last year, the senator fought to prevent President Trump from redirecting funding meant for NFARS, to the Southern border wall. The senator also explained that last year he helped bring the KC-135 tanker fleet back to NFARS after the departure of the C-130 mission. Schumer said that previously, NFARS had been flying aging C-130 tactical airlifters. The USAF eventually upgraded NFARS’s mission to the KC-135 aircraft after Schumer’s push. Schumer has visited NFARS in the past, including in 2017, and he worked with Air Force and National Guard officials to secure funding for a new training facility, building on the structures already in place at NFARS. Also in 2017, Schumer announced that the base would receive eight KC-135 aircraft, which brought nearly $25 million in investment, jobs and increased flight hours. Additionally, in last year’s appropriations bill Schumer secured critical language that recognizes the need for federal investment at NFARS in its bid to extend the taxiway to accommodate the air refueling mission of the Air Force Reserve.

Finally, in April of 2018, he visited NFARS and called for greater investment in the base. Specifically, Schumer announced a major push to secure nearly $50 million worth of long-overdue upgrades for NFARS. During the visit, Schumer highlighted specific projects that are desperately needed, including upgrades to the main security gate, expansion of the existing runway to better accommodate the base’s new KC-135 mission, and create new state-of-the-art facilities for civil engineering and the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. On September 27, 2018, Schumer met with Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson in-person to advocate for the infrastructure improvements at NFARS. The infrastructure improvements would be part of the investment made into NFARS if selected as the final location to host the tankers announced today.

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SCHUMER, IN PERSONAL CALL TO SOUTHWEST CEO, URGES SOUTHWEST AIRLINES TO LAUNCH SERVICE IN SYRACUSE; WITH HANCOCK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AS THE ONLY MAJOR UPSTATE AIRPORT WITHOUT SOUTHWEST SERVICE, SCHUMER SAYS AIRPORT IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED AND READY FOR TAKE OFF

Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

06.04.21

Schumer’s Long-Haul Fight For More Affordable Flights To Upstate NY Began By Bringing Southwest To Albany, Rochester & Buffalo, And The Airline Has Never Looked Back; On Call With CEO, Senator Says The Time Is Right To Make A Bold Investment In Upstate Air Service Yet Again 

As Post-Pandemic Recovery Enters Full Swing, Southwest Has Chance To Once More Boost Profits And Benefit From Upstate’s Takeoff By Establishing A Presence At Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport, The Only Major Upstate Airport It Does Not Yet Serve 

Schumer to Southwest: Help Central NY And Your Bottom Line Soar

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, in a personal call yesterday with CEO Gary Kelly, urged Southwest Airlines to expand and enhance its presence in Upstate New York by establishing service out of Syracuse Hancock Airport for the first time. Schumer highlighted his long history of working with Southwest and other airlines to bring service to Upstate New York, the success of those routes, and the widely predicted post-pandemic economic boom as proof that establishing service for Syracuse Hancock would be a win-win. Hancock is currently the only major Upstate airport that Southwest does not serve. Central New York residents have been known to drive to Albany, Rochester or Buffalo to take advantage of Southwest’s low fares. Schumer said this additional option would boost competition, availability of low-cost flights, and connectivity for travelers and businesses in Central New York.

“I’ve always strived to bring affordable air service to Upstate New York because it can lift our local economies and connect our state with the rest of the world,” said Senator Schumer. “Like all of us, airlines have spent the last year buckled down. Now we and they are roaring back, and there’s no better way for Southwest to profit from the recovery than by building upon its strong brand Upstate. Starting new flights from Syracuse will position Southwest perfectly for post-pandemic success.”

Schumer has long fought to bring affordable air service to Upstate New York. In fact, Senator Schumer’s first major victory on that front came when he successfully advocated for Southwest to start flights from Albany. Southwest’s profitable decision led many other carriers to begin servicing airports across the state that previously were not considered viable. Since then, Schumer has fought to bring new airlines and routes to Upstate New York cities, including JetBlue to Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse and Rochester. Recently, Schumer successfully pushed JetBlue to establish service to Boston from Syracuse. Lastly, Schumer secured nearly $934 million for New York airports during the pandemic, including more than $29 million to Hancock airport.

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Hoeven Announces New Regional Director in Bismarck

Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

06.07.21

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today announced that Clare Carlson has joined his U.S. Senate office in Bismarck as regional director for south-central North Dakota.

Carlson most recently served as North Dakota State Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, a role he held for more than 11 years across two separate terms. He also worked as the Deputy Director for North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance, in Hoeven’s office during his time as Governor and in the offices of U.S. Senator Mark Andrews and North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer. Carlson also served in the North Dakota House of Representatives during the 53rd General Assembly.

“After a long history of serving North Dakotans across a variety of roles and administrations, we’re excited to have Clare join our office,” said Hoeven. “His depth of experience and familiarity with issues important to our state and communities will help ensure he serves the Bismarck region well.”

Carlson will be working from Hoeven’s office at 220 East Rosser Avenue, Room 312 in Bismarck and can be reached at 701-250-4618 or clare_carlson@hoeven.senate.gov. 

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