Source: United States Senator for Ohio Rob Portman
June 3, 2021|Press Releases
WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in Georgia as the final stop of their bipartisan congressional delegation in Eastern Europe. They met with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, members of Parliament, and members of civil society to discuss how the U.S. can support Georgia in its vision for democracy by implementing the April 19th agreement. They also visited the Administrative Boundary Line of the Russian-occupied Georgian territory of South Ossetia.
“Today, I was heartened by the productive, bipartisan meetings Senator Shaheen and I had in Georgia with Prime Minister Garbashvili, Foreign Minister Zalkaliani, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan, members of Parliament, and members of civil society, in which we discussed ways to bolster democracy in Georgia. I encouraged the Georgian leaders to continue to implement and make progress on the April 19th Agreement, electoral and judicial reforms,”said Portman. “I strongly support full NATO membership for Georgia – their commitment to free and democratic values are in line with NATO’s and it is time to fulfill the promise made in the 2008 Bucharest Agreement.”
Earlier in the week, the senators, along with Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), met with Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Lithuania and discussed the Lukashenka regime’s increasing human rights abuses against political opposition, including the recent hijacking of a civilian airliner to unlawfully arrest and detain journalist Raman Pratasevich. They also stopped in Ukraine and met with members of civil society, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and other representatives of the Ukrainian government to discuss how to advance anti-corruption efforts and empower a free, independent media.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
06.06.21
TAIPEI, TAIWAN—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, along with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a combat veteran who served in the Reserve forces for 23 years and a member of SASC, and Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, traveled to Taipei to underscore U.S. support for Taiwan, including on combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. The delegation highlighted the fact that the U.S. will donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan as part of President Joe Biden’s plan to provide vaccines to America’s global partners in need.
“Over twenty-five years ago, I was deployed as part of a U.S. Marine Corps amphibious task force to the Taiwan Strait during a very challenging and critical time for Taiwan’s democracy,” said Sen. Sullivan. “America’s presence then was in response to Chinese provocations on the eve of the presidential election in Taiwan and it demonstrated American commitment and resolve. Today’s bipartisan Senate delegation visit to Taiwan is yet another demonstration of that continued commitment to our friends and partners in this critical area of the world, as well as a reminder of how the United States’ presence over the past several decades has been instrumental in the development of security, prosperity and democracy throughout the Indo-Pacific region. It is also a demonstration that, in spite of a global pandemic emanating from China—characterized by a lack of transparency and lack of international cooperation from the Chinese Communist Party—the United States, by contrast, is committed to working in a constructive and open manner with our friends, allies and partners to bring healing and relief with effective vaccines that benefit our own citizens, as well as others throughout the world. I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Duckworth and Coons, as well as the elected leaders and citizens of Taiwan, for their continued commitment to the advancement of security, democracy and health and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region.”
“For over a year, we’ve seen that COVID-19 strikes without regard to national borders—and we know we won’t be able to truly end the COVID-19 pandemic at home without ending it everywhere,” said Sen. Duckworth. “After several weeks of conversations between each of us and White House officials, I’m pleased to help announce that Taiwan will be receiving 750,000 doses of the vaccine as part of the first tranche of doses. This contribution from the United States also reflects our gratitude for Taiwan’s efforts to send PPE and other supplies to America in the early days of the pandemic. I will continue working to support the people of Taiwan and make sure they get what they need to reach the other side of this pandemic.”
“Since taking office, President Biden has demonstrated his commitment to vaccinating all Americans. We have made dramatic progress, vaccinating more than 170 million Americans and securing an abundant supply for our population. Given the risk posed by new variants, no one is safe from this virus until the world is safe. It’s critical that we scale up U.S. contributions of our highly effective vaccines to international partners that need them to keep COVID-19 from spreading unchecked, prevent new variants from emerging that could once again put our population at risk, and bolster our global economic recovery,” said Sen. Coons. “I am proud to work with the Biden Administration and Senators Duckworth and Sullivan to announce this allocation of vaccines to our friends in Taiwan and demonstrate the United States’ commitment to ending COVID-19 once and for all.”
During their visit, the senators met with President Tsai Ing-wen, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, and Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng. Throughout these meetings, the senators sought to better understand Taiwan’s needs regarding the COVID-19 pandemic so they could carry messages back to Washington. In addition to the pandemic, the senators discussed the economic and security partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan. They noted there is much the two nations can do together to advance their shared prosperity, security and values.
On June 3, the Biden administration announced its framework for sharing at least 80 million U.S. vaccine doses globally by the end of June, and the plan for the first 25 million doses. Taiwan is included in first tranche of donations.
Click here for a high resolution photo of the delegation visit.
Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) issued the following statement on the For the People Act:
“While I am disappointed by Senator Manchin’s announcement, I will not give up the fight for voting rights reform. The For the People Act includes many broadly popular provisions that both Democrats and Republicans across the country support, including setting basic national standards to make sure all Americans can vote in the way that works best for them. This fight is not over, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to get critical voting, ethics, and campaign finance reforms passed in the Senate.”
Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., with U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., and Michael Guest, R-Miss., have sent President Biden a letter opposing his recent budget request for the U.S. Navy, which would reduce the number of ships in the fleet and cut a destroyer from the Navy’s procurement plan for Fiscal Year 2022.
“We were deeply troubled by the shipbuilding portion of the Navy’s recently released budget request for Fiscal Year 2022, which reduced the number of planned ships from 12 to just eight. This sends the exact wrong message to our global competitors—particularly China, which now boasts the world’s largest Navy fleet and is continuing to build modern warships at a breakneck pace,” the members wrote.
In 2018, the Navy embarked on a five-year contract to procure a minimum of 10 Arleigh Burke-class DDG-51 Flight III destroyers, which are built in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Bath, Maine. The President’s budget request would procure only one destroyer, down from the planned rate of two. The lawmakers emphasized that this would have adverse consequences to both the shipbuilding industry and its thousands of employees.
“There is simply no shortcut to building the naval fleet that America needs. We urge you to intervene by restoring a second destroyer to the budget request and prioritizing reaching a 355-ship fleet,” the lawmakers concluded.
We were deeply troubled by the shipbuilding portion of the Navy’s recently released budget request for Fiscal Year 2022,whichreduced the number of planned ships from 12 to just eight.Thissends the exact wrong message to our global competitors-particularly China, which now boasts the world’s largest Navy fleet and is continuing to build modem warships at a breakneck pace.
Inyour address to Congress last month, you declared,“We’re in competition with China and other countries to win the 21st century. We’re at a great inflection point in history… We have to compete more strenuously than we have.” Seapower is the most relevant currency in the Western Pacific. Losing more Navy power relative to China would result in the loss of our ability to deter Chinese aggression against our regional partners and Beijing’s disregard for maritime rule of law.
The most alarming aspect of the Navy’s budget request is the planned reduction from two to a single Arleigh Burke-class DDG-51 Flight ID destroyer. The DDG-51 class is by far the most successful warship program in modern history, with an unmatched ability to project power at sea. Other recent shipbuilding programs have been plagued by cost overruns,productiondelays,and immature technology,yet production of Arleigh Burke destroyers remains reliable andefficient.Recognizingthis, the Navy in 2018 enteredintoa five year multiyear contract that authorized procurement of a minimum of10 destroyers. Our nation’s shrinking shipbuilding industry relies on consistent orders to establish predictable,serial production rates. Removing a destroyer from the planned FY 2022 build rate would have adverse consequences to both the industry anditsmany thousands of employees.
Congress stands committed to building a Navy that can deter aggression and, when necessary, fight and win wars.Since 2017,it has been ”the policy of the United States to have available,as soon as practicable, not fewer than 355 battle force ships (Public Law 115-91, Section 1025).“Unfortunately, the Navy is still struggling to reach 300 battle forceshipseven as China surges past 360. This is a visible manifestation of the eroding competitive gap between the United States and China.
There is simply no shortcut to building the naval fleet that America needs.We urge you to intervene by restoring a second destroyer to the budget request and prioritizing reaching a 355-ship fleet.
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) last night attended the Bluefield Ridge Runners’ Opening Game where she threw out the first pitch. Since the news broke that West Virginia was in jeopardy of losing all four minor league affiliates, Senator Capito has worked together with each affiliate, community and civic leaders, Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB), and other state and local officials to ensure baseball remains in West Virginia. At last night’s game, Senator Capito was joined by community leaders, as well as senior executives from the MLB, the Appalachian League, and USA Baseball. The Bluefield Ridge Runners were formerly known as the Bluefield Blue Jays.
“Baseball is such an important aspect to the culture and community of our state, making last night’s return to Bluefield all the more special,” Senator Capito said. “Cities like Bluefield have so much to offer, and the addition of the Ridge Runners adds to the rich baseball tradition in southern West Virginia. I’m honored to play a role in continuing America’s pastime in Mercer County, and look forward to many Ridge Runners victories for years to come.”
BACKGROUND:
In October 2019, Baseball America first reported that a potential contraction of Minor League Baseball affiliates was being considered. The New York Times subsequently published a list a few weeks later indicating three of West Virginia’s four affiliates were on the cut list, and there was no guarantee for the fourth. This meant that Morgantown, Charleston, Bluefield, and Princeton would be the home of empty ballparks and local communities would be left without baseball for the 2021 season.
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Attorney Carl Schnee, a longtime community leader and one-time candidate for attorney general in Delaware.
“A longtime leader in the legal community, Carl Schnee was deeply committed to Delaware, to justice under the law, and to his wife Doris and their grown children. I always enjoyed Carl’s kind introductions and tough questions when I would appear as a guest speaker for his class at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. He leaves an indelible mark and extraordinary legacy of service to numerous organizations in Delaware, from the Criminal Justice Council and Prison Mentorship Program to the Children’s Advocacy Center and the YMCA. Carl was a kind soul, brilliant, and had a dry, quick wit. He made a lasting impression on many people who will fondly remember and celebrate him for years to come.”
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
Senators Urge Leaders of USDA, HUD, FCC To Collaborate, Identify And Support Communities In Need
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today led a group of 20 senators in calling on the leaders of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to share data to identify communities without high-speed internet access and work together to improve broadband connectivity.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more apparent that affordable and reliable broadband is critical to accessing education, health care, and other essential services. Yet millions of households remain unconnected either because broadband infrastructure has not been built to their homes or the price of broadband services is out of reach for them. We need a collaborative, cross-government approach to addressing this gap. Accordingly, we write to request that your agencies share data on existing Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve broadband connectivity, and that you collaborate with each other to better promote the Lifeline universal service program,” the senators wrote in a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, and FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
In a letter to the agency leaders, the senators also called on them to collaborate and find ways to ensure families in need also have information on accessing Lifeline, an existing federal phone and internet service program.
“We urge HUD and USDA to use their resources to help promote the Lifeline program through existing outreach to public housing agencies and schools. HUD, USDA and the FCC should also collaborate on what additional information they could share with each other to make enrollment in the Lifeline program easier,” the senators continued.
In addition to Schatz, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
The full text of the letter follows and is available here.
Dear Secretary Fudge, Secretary Vilsack, and Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel:
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more apparent that affordable and reliable broadband is critical to accessing education, health care, and other essential services. Yet millions of households remain unconnected either because broadband infrastructure has not been built to their homes or the price of broadband services is out of reach for them. We need a collaborative, cross-government approach to addressing this gap. Accordingly, we write to request that your agencies share data on existing Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve broadband connectivity, and that you collaborate with each other to better promote the Lifeline universal service program.
HUD and USDA currently collect data that may be valuable in identifying neighborhoods where broadband is and is not available, or affordable for, low-income Americans. For example, HUD has important data on the locations of federally-assisted housing communities, and USDA has location information for communities that are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Rural Rental Housing programs. As we focus on closing the connectivity gap, your agencies should work together to determine how USDA and HUD data could help target resources to increase broadband connectivity to low-income families residing in federally-assisted housing communities that don’t already have it, including whether this data could be incorporated in the FCC’s broadband maps required by the Broadband DATA Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-130). Accordingly, please identify data that your agencies collect that could guide resource allocation for expanding broadband connectivity in low-income communities. Please also indicate whether and how such data can be shared with the FCC to complement its broadband mapping tool.
HUD and USDA could also help inform low-income families about the FCC’s Lifeline program. As you may know, the Lifeline program offers a monthly benefit of $9.25 towards phone or internet services for eligible subscribers, and this amount goes up to $34.25 for those living on Tribal or Native lands. The Lifeline enrollment process uses participation in HUD and USDA programs to determine eligibility, and so many of the same people who receive HUD and USDA support are eligible for Lifeline.
Unfortunately, the Lifeline program is always undersubscribed, due in part, to lack of awareness about the benefits. Accordingly, we urge HUD and USDA to use their resources to help promote the Lifeline program through existing outreach to public housing agencies and schools. HUD, USDA, and the FCC should also collaborate on what additional information they could share with each other to make enrollment in the Lifeline program easier.
As you work on these coordination efforts, please identify any obstacles that you may face in sharing HUD and USDA data to increase broadband connectivity to the millions of unconnected low-income families residing in federally-assisted housing and participation in the Lifeline program. Thank you for your continued efforts to close the digital divide and we look forward to working with you to make broadband service accessible to all Americans.
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
As Members of Senate, House Appropriations Committees, Schatz And Case Secured $19.7 Million For East-West Center Last Year
HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on President Biden’s budget proposal, which includes $19.7 million for the East-West Center. The proposal reflects the funding level Schatz and Case secured last year and is the first time a presidential budget request for the Center has been increased since President Obama’s 2010 proposal.
“We’ve worked hard to not just maintain funding for the East-West Center, but increase it,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I am pleased to see that the president recognizes the increasingly important role the Center plays in strengthening our national security and improving regional cooperation. Ultimately, Congress holds the purse strings, so I look forward to working with the president as we move our budget and appropriations process forward this year.”
“The President’s budget proposal is a validation of the key role the East-West Center has played, is playing and will play in not just the Indo-Pacific region but the world,” said Congressman Case, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Our allies, partners and friends around the globe are clear that they look even more in these times to the United States to engage, stabilize and lead. The Center is one of our key institutions in doing so toward bolstering our commitments to diplomacy, development and democracy.”
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has selected the University of Hawai‘i to lead the agency’s new Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (CIMAR), which includes a five-year commitment of up $210 million.
“UH is a recognized leader on climate and marine science in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “NOAA’s investment in UH will help us better forecast natural hazards like hurricanes, king tides, and tsunami; protect the health of our oceans and fisheries in the face of climate change; and maintain the U.S. leadership role in ocean and earth science in the region.”
According to NOAA, the newly-established CIMAR’s mission will be to conduct research, understand, and predict environmental changes in the Indo-Pacific region in order to better conserve and manage the coastal and marine resources in the Hawaiian Islands and U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands.
CIMAR will conduct research under eight different themes: ecological forecasting, ecosystem monitoring, ecosystem-based management, protection and restoration of resources, oceanographic monitoring and forecasting, climate science and impacts, air-sea interactions, and tsunami and other long-period ocean waves.
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
Modeled After NTSB, New National Disaster Safety Board Will Improve Resiliency, Response Following Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) reintroduced The Disaster Learning and Life Saving Act. The bipartisan legislation will create a new permanent and independent board to study the underlying causes of disaster related fatalities and property damage nationwide. The National Disaster Safety Board (NDSB) will make recommendations to all levels of government on how to improve the resiliency of communities across the country.
“With climate change causing more frequent and severe natural disasters, we need more data to make sure our communities are resilient and prepared to respond to the next crisis,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill creates a new independent board to investigate major natural disasters and gives policymakers and the public a full accounting of what happened and what should happen next.”
“I was just in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes, and it is clear, lessons have been learned from past hurricanes efforts that could help, but they have not been implemented. I proposed, with Senator Schatz, a Natural Disaster Safety Board to memorialize these lessons so that in future storms, wherever they may be, recovery of life and community is faster and better,” said Senator Cassidy.
Currently, policymakers rely on a patchwork of studies, after-action reports, audits, and media reports to understand the impacts of natural disasters, which are inconsistent and vulnerable to political pressure.
The NDSB is modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an existing organization that investigates plane crashes, major railroad accidents, and commercial highway accidents. The NTSB is tasked with studying the underlying causes that may lead to similar accidents in the future – and its reviews and recommendations are considered to be a gold standard internationally. The NTSB has saved lives: the rate of air travel fatalities has decreased more than 99 percent since 1960. The NDSB would apply the best principles of the NTSB to natural disasters.
Similar to the NTSB, the NDSB would be independent. Its seven members will be chosen for their experience in emergency management, public health, engineering, social and behavioral sciences, and experience working at the state and local level and with vulnerable communities.
Low-income communities, communities of color, the elderly, and people with disabilities all suffer disproportionately in natural disasters. The NDSB includes a special office to focus on disaster impacts to these communities and will ensure that recommendations are made to protect them moving forward.
Rather than assigning blame, NDSB reviews and recommendations will seek to offer policymakers a path forward to build more resilient communities.
The NDSB will work collaboratively with affected state and local governments, ensuring they have the opportunity to comment on reports and recommendations before publication. The NDSB will also offer technical assistance to support jurisdictions implementing its resiliency recommendations.
Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Katie Porter (D-Calif.).
“The NDSB is needed now in order to build a more resilient nation. Resiliency should be part of our National Security Plan. This new proposed board would enable our federal government to learn from major disasters, and recommend policies to help us better prepare, respond, and recover,” said LTG Russel L. Honoré USA (Ret.).
“I am pleased to continue lending my support to Senators Schatz and Cassidy as they reintroduce this important legislation. Emergency managers are often called to assist communities on their worst day. It is always a question of when, not if, we will be called on again; so we must continuously improve. The National Disaster Safety Board (NDSB) is designed to help us do just that — build upon successes while highlighting where there is room for improvement in a way that will transform professional emergency management and those we serve,” said Brock Long, former FEMA Administrator (2017-2019).
As a former FEMA Administrator, I support the creation of the National Disaster Safety Board. Current review of disasters too often focus on individual performance failures rather than system failures. We fail to learn from the current response reviews and repeat many of these observed failures in the next event. A National Board that can review all levels of Government to learn what worked and what we should do differently before the next disaster will be key to building a resilient Nation against all hazards,” said Craig Fugate, former FEMA Administrator (2009-2017).
The Disaster Learning and Life Saving Act is supported by Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, American Society of Civil Engineers, Enterprise Community Partners, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the Association of State Floodplain Managers.
