Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today questioned witnesses during a hearing about the impacts the enhanced Child Tax Credit (CTC) has on families, the accessibility of the child tax credit for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and Social Security Number (SSN) filers, and the economic benefits families and the economy will receive with critical investments made in child care by the federal government.

“I’m proud to have voted for the American Rescue Plan, which provided a historic increase to the Child Tax Credit. By boosting the credit to $3600 for infants and toddlers, and $3000 for children, and paying those credits on a monthly basis, child poverty decreased by 30 percent in 2021. In the same year, food insecurity decreased by 24 percent — the equivalent to 2 million fewer children going hungry,” said Sen. Menendez. “For parents with a newborn at home and a toddler in daycare, that was $600 a month that helped pay for diapers, for baby formula, for childcare, and for children between six and 17 years of age, the $250 monthly payment went towards new clothes, maybe a laptop for school, the money needed to join an extracurricular activity. Unfortunately, this critical lifeline ended for hardworking families across the nation at the end of 2021.”

[embedded content]

Sen. Menendez asked Melissa Lester, a mother of two from Galloway, Ohio, to explain how the enhanced CTC impacted her and her family’s day to day life, and the changes they’ve experienced since its expiration. Ms. Lester stated that the enhanced CTC helped cover the cost of basic needs items such as clothes, shoes and sometimes extracurricular activities. She explained that since the expiration and the birth of her second child, expenses have doubled and less help has been received causing her and her family to run through their savings.

“Child care is about being able to be free to go to work, we talked about the ability to work, child care is a big part of that as well as formation of the child,” said Sen. Menendez. “The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is I think critical in making child care more accessible for working- and middle-class families. The American Rescue Plan took the long overdue step in boosting the credit from $3,000 to $8,000, but that was only temporary.”

Sen. Menendez voted in support of the America Rescue Plan (ARP) which temporarily expanded the CTC for 2021 by increasing the total amount of the CTC to $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17, and to $3,600 per child ages 0-5. This expansion made the CTC fully refundable for the lowest income families, raised the maximum age from 16 to 17, and reduced child poverty by almost 30 percent, lifting 3.7 million children out of poverty in 2021.

The Senator also questioned Amy Matsui, Senior Counsel for National Women’s Law, about the economic benefits families and the economy in the U.S. stand to gain if critical investments in child care were made by the federal government. Ms. Matsui stated that child care is important to keeping women in the paid workforce, supporting families and childcare workers. She added that the restoration of the enhanced CTC, along with the robust systemic investments in child care to make the system stronger and support providers, child care workers, and families overall, would make it easier for parents to go to work, make the workforce more stable for employers, and therefore boost our economic growth overall.

The Senator asked if ITIN taxpayers should be able to use the CTC to keep a portion of the potential taxes owed and use that money on their children just like filers with a Social Security Number (SSN).

“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 added $1.5 trillion to the annual deficit over ten years. It didn’t supercharge the economy or job creation as promised, but instead simply lined the pockets of corporations and wealthy individuals,” said Sen. Menendez. “But one of the cruelest provisions in the law was excluding the Child Tax Credit for certain taxpaying families because of their immigration status.”

The Senator concluded by stating, “Mr. Chairman, we are talking about families who are paying taxes to the federal government, and we will never be able to fully solve the issue of child poverty until ITIN filers also have the ability to access this essential tax credit.”

Sen. Menendez has long been a strong advocate for paid family leave, and has fought tooth and nail over the years, especially during the pandemic, to address inequities that have disproportionately affected women and people of color. Throughout the years, he has supported efforts to create a national paid leave policy. In May, Sens. Menendez and Booker cosponsored the introduction of U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro’s (D-Conn.-03) Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act which creates a permanent, national paid family and medical leave program to ensure every worker, no matter the size of their employer or if they are self-employed or part-time, has access to paid leave for every serious medical event, especially for new parents and older Americans who are more likely to have health issues or caregiving obligations for older relatives.

In July 2022, the Senator led a group of colleagues calling on the agency to extend the filing deadline for filers with individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) impacted by massive processing delays and who were, as a result, unable to file for the enhanced child tax credit (CTC). In May 2020, Sen. Menendez joined Sen. Cory Booker and their Democratic Senate colleagues in calling for the expansion of the earned income and child tax credits, which they expanded for a year under the American Rescue Plan – helping lift women and children out of poverty during that time. Both continue to advocate for the permanent extension of these benefits.

 
### 

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Right to Contraception Act would protect statutory right to contraception as Supreme Court threatens to roll back fundamental rights in the wake of Dobbs decision

Ninety percent of Americans support access to all forms of birth control; bill backed by more than half of the Senate Democratic caucus

Bill Text (PDF) | Press Conference (VIDEO)

Washington (June 14, 2023) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06) today announced the reintroduction of the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would codify and strengthen the right to contraception, which the Supreme Court first recognized more than half a century ago in its Griswold v. Connecticut decision. Enshrining the right to contraception into federal law would reverse steps already taken by Republicans in states across the country to restrict access to contraceptives and ensure that any future attempt by the far-right majority on the Supreme Court to overturn Griswold would not endanger access to this essential health care. 

The lawmakers first introduced the legislation last July in the wake of Justice Clarence Thomas’s concurring opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization — which overturned Roe v. Wade and overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. In his concurring opinion, Justice Thomas urged the Court to “reconsider” its substantive due process precedents, including Griswold.

“The right to contraception is the right to essential health care, yet extremist judges and radical Republicans continue to threaten access for millions of Americans. We cannot stand by as extremists continue to undo decades of precedent and progress,” said Senator Markey. “Extremist Republicans need to get out of the waiting room and start representing what the vast majority of Americans want: to let health care providers and patients make decisions about what is best for themselves. Contraception access shouldn’t be controversial, and Congress must use this moment to demonstrate clearly that we will act to protect people’s health. I will continue to fight to guarantee the right to contraception into law so that not even the radical-right majority on the Supreme Court can strip it away.” 

“Birth control is key to ensuring that women are in control of their own health, bodies, and futures. The Right to Contraception Act safeguards Americans’ ability to obtain this essential reproductive health care, without political interference,” said Congresswoman Kathy Manning. “Last year, this critical legislation passed the House with bipartisan support and ninety percent of Americans agree: Americans should have the right to access all forms of FDA-approved birth control. I’m proud to lead this legislation and I will continue fighting to ensure that extreme state legislatures and radical justices cannot strip Americans of their access to birth control.”

“Nearly a year after the Supreme Court’s devastating decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Republicans continue to obsess over controlling women’s bodies, further restricting reproductive health care and threatening access to contraception,” said Senator Hirono. “The right to contraception is a fundamental right, central to one’s privacy and well-being. I am proud to reintroduce this bill, which will help protect access to contraception and the ability of every individual to make decisions about their bodies and their futures.”

“The Supreme Court throwing out Roe v. Wade was so much more than a right-wing attack on the right to abortion—it was also an attack on every American’s right to access to birth control, plan B and other contraception in order to further control women’s bodies,” said Senator Duckworth. “I refuse to let my daughters grow up in a world with fewer rights than I had. It is as important as ever that the Senate acts to codify the right to contraception into law so that every American in every state—regardless of their skin color, zip code or income—has equal access to basic, necessary healthcare and I’m proud to join Senators Markey and Hirono in this effort to do just that.”

“Millions of people use contraception and have been for decades, and the vast majority of Americans support the right to birth control,” said Senator Murray. “But, as we saw all too clearly with Republicans’ relentless fight to overturn Roe, far-right Republicans just don’t care if they are ignoring the clear majority of Americans. They don’t care if women want to make their own decisions about their bodies, their families, and their futures. And they don’t care how long an established right has been on the books—they will still fight to overturn it. We cannot meet this moment with empty words—we have to take meaningful legislative action. That’s why the Right to Contraception Act is so important.”

Although nine out of 10 American adults support access to all forms of birth control, several states restrict access to contraceptives by eliminating public funding for it, defining abortion broadly enough to include contraception, and allowing health care providers to deny service related to contraception on the basis of their own beliefs. Attacks on health care, especially reproductive health care, fall hardest on Black, Brown, Indigenous and immigrant communities, as well as LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, low-income people, and those living in rural and underserved areas.

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

Specifically, the Right to Contraception Act would uphold access to contraception by:

1. Guaranteeing the legal right for individuals to get and use contraception and for health care providers to provide contraceptives, contraception, and information, referrals, and services related to contraception;
2. Prohibiting the federal government or any state from administering, implementing, or enforcing any law, rule, regulation, standard or other provision that would prohibit or restrict the sale, provision, or use of contraception; and,
3. Allowing the Department of Justice (DOJ), providers, and individuals harmed by restrictions on contraception access made unlawful under the legislation, to go to court to enforce these rights.

More than half of the Senate Democratic caucus backs the Right to Contraception Act, including Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

In the House, the bill is supported by 127 members.

The Right to Contraception Act is endorsed by Advocates for Youth, AIDS United, American Atheists, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Americans for Contraception, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Catholics for Choice, Center for American Progress, Center for Biological Diversity, CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers, Coalition to Expand Contraceptive Access, Contraceptive Access Initiative, Equality California, Girls Inc., Hadassah, House Pro-Choice Caucus, Ibis Reproductive Health, Interfaith Alliance, Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health, Minority Veterans of America, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Coalition of STD Directors, National Council of Jewish Women , National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Health Law Program, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, People For the American Way, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Population Connection Action Fund, Power to Decide, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Reproductive Health Access Project, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Collaborative, and Upstream USA.

“The National Women’s Health Network applauds Senators Markey, Hirono, and Duckworth as well as Representative Manning for their work to safeguard the right to contraception and bodily autonomy. The Right to Contraception Act establishes a federal right to contraception and related information to empower individuals to make safe, and well-informed decisions about their reproductive health. The Network looks forward to working with Congress to pass this bill, as well as other important legislation that seeks to expand access to reproductive health care,” said Denise Hyater Lindenmuth, Executive Director at National Women’s Health Network.

“At a time when opponents are doubling down on their efforts to restrict access to birth control, we need proactive legislation like the Right to Contraception to ensure that all people can easily access this care from providers they trust free from political or legal interference,” said Clare Coleman, President and CEO of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association. “We commend Senator Markey, Senator Hirono, and Senator Duckworth and Representative Manning for their commitment and leadership on this important issue and look forward to working to advance the Right to Contraception Act in both chambers.”

“Access to contraception is a critical component of reproductive health care and must be safeguarded,” said Naomi Adler, CEO of Hadassah. “In fact, limitations and restrictions on contraception can lead to serious health challenges. We thank Representative Manning and Senator Markey for introducing the Right to Contraception Act to ensure women and families across the country have a right to obtain and use contraception.”

“For almost 60 years, people across the country have relied on the constitutional right to contraception to protect their health and plan their families and futures. But now, the right to contraception faces new threats by extremist, anti-reproductive health lawmakers and judges who want to roll back progress in our country. We need the Right to Contraception Act, which is a critical piece of protecting the right to contraception and ensuring that everyone can access birth control when they need it. We thank Senators Markey, Hirono and Duckworth and Representative Manning for reintroducing this important piece of legislation,” said Gretchen Borchelt, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights at the National Women’s Law Center.

“The mounting attacks on birth control make clear that the anti-abortion movement’s agenda has never been limited to banning abortion. There’s no time to waste: We must act now to protect it. We are so grateful to Senators Markey, Hirono, and Duckworth, as well as Representatives Manning, Jacobs, Williams, and Craig for their leadership, and we look forward to continued collaboration to send this bill to President Biden’s desk,” said Mini Timmaraju, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

“As a practicing OBGYN, I see firsthand that the right to birth control is essential for the well-being of my patients, their families and their communities. Roughly 19 million women in need of publicly funded family planning currently live in contraceptive deserts — counties where they lack reasonable access to a health center offering the full range of contraceptive methods. We urge Congress to pass the Right to Contraception Act so that every person has the power to decide their reproductive future,” said Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, CEO of Power to Decide.

“Catholics for Choice applauds the introduction of the Right to Contraception Act because we believe that the ability of each person to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions is a fundamental right, a matter of basic human dignity, and an advancement of the Catholic social justice imperative to care for the marginalized,” said Jamie L. Manson, M.Div., President of Catholics for Choice. “Birth control is a lifeline that allows people to plan and provide for their families, manage health conditions, achieve their educational and employment goals, and thrive in their communities. This is why, despite the Catholic hierarchy’s obstinate opposition to contraception, 98% of the sexually active women in their pews have used it. We thank Senators Markey, Hirono, and Duckworth and Representatives Manning, Jacobs, Williams, and Craig for introducing the Right to Contraception Act and we call on Congress to pass it without delay to ensure equitable access to birth control across the country.”

“Americans for Contraception applauds Senator Markey and Representative Manning for standing up for the American peoples’ freedoms and rights to contraception and stopping the GOP’s efforts to take them away,” said Heather Carter, Board Member at Americans for Contraception and Former Arizona GOP State Senate Health Chairman. “We cannot sit by and wait for far-right justices on the bench to undo decades of precedent and progress by letting Americans’ right to contraception suffer a similar fate as previous longstanding basic rights. Congress MUST codify the right to contraception by passing Markey and Manning’s ‘Right to Contraception Act’ before it’s too late!​​”

Senator Markey is committed to reaffirming, codifying, and expanding the right to reproductive freedom. In February, Senator Markey brought Kate Dineen, who was forced to travel across state lines for an abortion, to the State of the Union, underscoring the importance of codifying abortion rights into law and ensuring that people can make their own reproductive choices with their health care provider throughout their pregnancy, without any legal restrictions or economic or geographic barriers. Last July, Senator Markey sought unanimous consent to pass the Right to Contraception Act, but an anti-choice Republican blocked it in the Senate.

###

Source: United States Senator for South Dakota John Thune

Click here to watch the video.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the Republican-led efforts to overturn some of the Biden administration’s egregious policies through the Congressional Review Act, a tool that can be used to check overreaching executive branch regulatory power. Thune noted that this year alone, nine resolutions of disapproval of Biden administration regulations have all passed with bipartisan support.
Thune’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):
“Mr. President, when it comes to what’s happening in Washington, D.C., it’s often the legislation Congress is considering that gets the lion’s share of the attention.
 
“But just as significant are the regulations being put out by the executive branch.
 
“Regulations may not seem as significant as legislation, but they can have just as far-reaching an effect as any law, and can radically shift federal policy.
 
“And a look at a presidential administration’s regulations can tell you a lot about that administration’s approach to government.
 
“Over the past two-plus years, the Biden administration has built a record of regulation that reflects its big-government, big-spending priorities.
 
“Take the president’s student loan giveaway, which, if the ‘forgiveness’ portion is not overturned by the Supreme Court, is set to cost taxpayers nearly $1 trillion in all over the next decade.
 
“Or take his overreaching Waters of the United States rule, which, if enforced, would give the federal government sweeping jurisdiction over most water features on private property, including things like irrigation ditches, ephemeral streams, and even prairie potholes.
 
“The ability to create regulations gives a presidential administration a lot of power – and the ability to do a lot of damage.
 
“Checks do exist on the regulatory power, however.
 
“And one check is provided by the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to pass resolutions of disapproval that repeal the regulations in question.
 
“Now, the president still has to sign the resolution for it to go into effect, or else two-thirds majorities in both houses of Congress have to override his veto.
 
“But the tool can be used to check excessive use of regulatory power.
 
“And Senate Republicans have been making regular use of the Congressional Review Act this Congress to attempt to address some egregious Biden administration regulations.
 
“We’ve passed nine resolutions of disapproval of Biden administration actions so far this year, every single one of which has been bipartisan – which goes to show just how extreme the actions in question are.
 
“I mentioned Senator Capito’s resolution to overturn the administration’s Waters of the United States rule – an Obama-era relic resurrected by the Biden Environmental Protection Agency.
 
“As I mentioned, if enforced, this rule would give the federal government jurisdiction over a vast number of water features on private property, including things like irrigation ditches and even prairie potholes.
 
“Farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners could see parts of their land rendered useless for months while the federal government determines what restrictions to impose.
 
“Landowners could also be faced with huge compliance costs – and the value of their land could plummet.
 
“I say ‘if enforced,’ Mr. President.
 
“While nine Democrats in the House and five in the Senate joined Republicans to pass a resolution disapproving the president’s WOTUS rule, the president vetoed the resolution.
 
“But in a victory for landowners, the Supreme Court recently ruled to clarify and limit the federal government’s reach under the Clean Water Act, which effectively overturns the president’s WOTUS rule.
 
“I also mentioned the president’s student loan giveaway.
 
“The ‘forgiveness’ part of the president’s student loan giveaway would cost taxpayers somewhere in the neighborhood of half a trillion dollars over the next decade.
 
“And the president’s legal authority to unilaterally forgive student debt is extremely dubious.
 
“Not to mention how unfair it is to ask the many Americans who worked hard to pay off their loans – or who never pursued college in the first place – to take on the burden of student debt for individuals who took out loans for college or graduate school, and agreed to pay them back. 
 
“With Senator Cassidy’s leadership in the Senate, Republicans in the House and Senate– joined by a handful of Democrats – passed a resolution disapproving of the administration’s student loan forgiveness overreach.
 
“But the president vetoed it.
 
“However, the president’s ‘forgiveness’ plan could still be overruled by the Supreme Court, which is set to release its decision on two student loan forgiveness cases as soon as this week.
 
“Mr. President, another terrible Biden administration regulation that Republicans, through Senator Braun’s efforts, have attempted to check is the president’s rule that allows pension plan fiduciaries – the individuals who manage Americans’ retirement accounts – to consider so-called environmental, social, and governance factors and not just the rate of return when investing their customers’ money.
 
“In other words, the individuals who manage $11.7 trillion of Americans’ retirement are no longer required to make investment decisions based solely on maximizing return.
 
“Instead, they will now be allowed to opt for a less valuable investment if they prefer its environmental profile.
 
“House and Senate Republicans passed a resolution disapproving of this rule.
 
“But unfortunately the president vetoed it, meaning that for now retirees may have to accept that environmental goals can come ahead of giving them a secure retirement.
 
“But it was important to bring attention to this regulation – one of a number of radical environmental regulations from the Biden administration.
 
“Mr. President, Senate Republicans have also passed resolutions from Senators Mullin and Marshall addressing Biden administration overuse of the Endangered Species Act.
 
“A resolution from Senator Lummis addressing the administration’s expansive new definition of critical habitat, which could have major negative consequences for landowners and businesses.
 
“A resolution from Senator Fischer disapproving of an EPA rule on truck emissions that could drive some smaller trucking companies out of business entirely.
 
“And more.
 
“And we have more resolutions of disapproval in the pipeline.
 
“Mr. President, while unfortunately President Biden has predictably vetoed attempts to check his administration’s aggressive use of federal power, we have had some successes.
 
“When Senator Capito announced her intention to challenge a Federal Highway Administration memo discouraging states from pursuing highway expansion projects and prioritizing funding for projects that reduce emissions, the Federal Highway Administration withdrew the memo and issued a revised version without the problematic language, a win for infrastructure investments in rural areas.
 
“And, as I mentioned, while the president vetoed the resolution disapproving of his overreaching Waters of the United States rule, the Supreme Court’s recent decision effectively overturning this regulation is a win for farmers, ranchers, and other landowners – and for common sense.
 
“And while it wasn’t a Biden administration regulation, Senator Hagerty led a successful charge in the Senate to overturn Washington, D.C.’s, crime bill weakening penalties for a number of crimes.
 
“Congress, of course, has the legal authority to block D.C. ordinances thanks to federal legislation rooted in the Constitution, which gives Congress legislative jurisdiction over the seat of the U.S. government – namely, Washington, D.C.
 
“And Republicans’ effort to overturn D.C.’s dangerous new crime bill ultimately persuaded the president to change his mind and sign the resolution of disapproval.
 
“Mr. President, as we move forward, Republicans will continue to use the Congressional Review Act to push back against overreaching regulations from the Biden administration.
 
“We may not always be successful, but at the very least we can highlight the true cost of the Biden administration’s regulations – and the burdens they place on our economy and on hardworking Americans.
 
“Mr. President, I yield the floor.”

Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Caroline Tabler or James Arnold (202) 224-2353
June 14, 2023

Cotton, Colleagues: EPA’s Proposed Emission Standards Rule Increases Costs for Americans

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan detailing how the agency’s recent proposed federal emission standards will limit choices and increase costs for Americans when buying vehicles. The letter also notes that the rules would make the U.S. more dependent on China for critical minerals and asks the administrator to respond to these concerns.

Co-signing the letterare Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), and Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska).

Full text of the letter may be found here and below. 

June 14, 2023

Dear Administrator Regan: 

We write regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent proposed rule on federal emission standards.

On April 12^th, 2023, the EPA announced a new proposed rule on federal emissions standards for light-duty vehicles, the “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty Vehicles.” The proposed rule would require nearly two-thirds of new passenger vehicles sold in the United States to be completely electric by 2033, limiting choices and increasing costs for Americans.

At the end of 2022, the average price of an electric vehicle was $61,488 and this rule would worsen than exorbitant price tag by putting further pressure on overextended energy supply chains.

Like many other supposedly pro-environment proposals, this rule would also enrich the People’s Republic of China at the expense of Americans. It takes a decade to receive proper permitting to mine the minerals needed for the vehicles mandated by this rule, so American automakers would be forced to rely more on China, which processes 85 percent of the world’s rare earth minerals. American companies, like Ford, are already dependent on Chinese battery technology, and this rule would exacerbate the problem. 

Please answer the following questions as soon as possible, but in any case, no later than May 31, 2023.

1. What is EPA’s plan to ensure that this rule does not make our critical mineral supply chain more dependent on Chinese producers?

2. What is EPA’s plan with the Department of Energy to ensure our electric grid is stable and secure despite increased demand on the grid as a result of this rule?

3. How much would this proposed rule increase costs on the average customer? What is the EPA’s plan to decrease overall cost of electric vehicles?

Sincerely,

###

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

06.14.23

Cantwell, Murray, Announce More than $76 Million in Grant Funding and Loans for High-Speed Internet Access Across Washington State from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Announcement includes historic funding for companies in Jefferson, Lewis, Klickitat, and Snohomish Counties to connect residents to high-speed internet

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that Washington state will receive more than $76 million in grant and loan funding to connect thousands of rural residents, farmers, and business owners across the state to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.

The funding—which was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law the senators helped pass—is part of a total of $714 million in grants and loans announced by USDA for projects connecting more people to high-speed internet in 19 states across the country.

“Affordable and accessible high-speed internet is critical for rural Washingtonians to grow their businesses and obtain a high-quality education. In some rural areas of Lewis, Jefferson, Snohomish and Klickitat counties, only about half the residents have broadband, which puts them at a disadvantage in our 21^st Century economy. These federal ReConnect grants will help deploy high-speed internet to connect farms, businesses, schools, and the thousands of families living in rural Washington who need affordable and reliable internet access,” said Sen. Cantwell.

“High speed internet is not a luxury—it’s a necessity, and in today’s world, internet access is nearly as critical as running water or electricity,” said Sen. Murray. “It’s so important that we make sure students and workers, especially in rural and underserved communities, have the tools and the access they need to get online and participate fully in our economy and society. I fought to include funding to expand broadband infrastructure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included my Digital Equity Act—and I’ll keep working to make sure these dollars get to where they need to go to make a real difference across our state.”

“High-speed internet is a key to prosperity for people who live and work in rural communities,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can ensure that rural communities have access to the internet connectivity needed to continue to expand the economy from the bottom up and middle out and to make sure rural America remains a place of opportunity to live, work, and raise a family.”

In total, USDA announced funding for four entities across Washington state:

• $9,202,232 in grant funding and a $4,601,116 loan for Public Utility District No. 1 of Jefferson County in Port Townsend, WA to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit 1,295 people, 33 businesses and six farms in Jefferson County in Washington.
• $24,200,086 in grant funding for Public Utility District 1 of Lewis County in Chehalis, WA be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit 2,863 people, 119 businesses, 487 farms and four educational facilities in Lewis County in Washington.
• $18,088,212 in grant funding and a $18,088,212 loan for Home Telephone Company, Inc. in Klickitat County to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises and hybrid-fiber-coax network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit 4,183 people, 138 businesses, 74 farms and seven educational facilities in Klickitat County in Washington. Home Telephone Company will support customers’ transition to its new service offering by crediting the difference between the new service rate and the customer’s existing service rate for a full 12-month transition period, as well as offering free installation of FTTP technology to all residential customers in the service area. This project will serve socially vulnerable communities in Klickitat County.
• A $2,980,652 loan for the Hat Island Telephone Company in Langley, WA to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit 93 people, six businesses and one farm in Snohomish County in Washington.

###

 

 

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

---

---

Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Sheldon Whitehouse

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

---

---