Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), a Senior Member of the Senate Banking Committee, and U.S. Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.-05), Senior Member of the House Financial Services Committee, reintroduced the Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act of 2023. The bicameral legislation originally introduced in 2017 would require public companies to annually disclose the gender, race, ethnicity and veteran status of their board directors, nominees, and senior executive officers. 

“For far too long, corporate America has failed to meet their goal of achieving greater racial, ethnic, and gender diversity at all levels, especially in its upper echelons of leadership. Without greater diversity in top corporate positions, the U.S. will be at a disadvantage in our efforts to outcompete other leading economies,” said Sen. Menendez. “This bill will ensure corporate America is more transparent about their diversity and inclusion efforts, while highlighting the need for further accountability for public companies. It’s time corporate boardrooms mirror the rich diversity of our nation.”

“Diversity must be a core principle for businesses to achieve lasting success,” said Rep. Meeks. “Corporate C-suites and boardrooms should reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of our country. Shareholders and employees have a right to know whether corporations recognize diversity as a core value, especially considering the competitive advantage it affords the U.S. in the broader global economy. If diversity can’t be accurately reported, it can’t be improved. This legislation provides clear definitions and guidelines to advance equity and inclusion in corporate America.”

In addition to the disclosures related to diversity status, the bill would also provide information about a firm’s strategic plans to promote diversity amongst their board or executives. The legislation also mandates that the SEC establish a Diversity Advisory Group to carry out a study to promote diversity for issuers and report to congress on the progress. 

The legislation is also supported by the following organizations: American Bankers Association, Financial Services Forum, ICSC, Investment Company Institute (ICI), Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), NAHREP, NAREIT, National Urban League, SIFMA, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“Latinos are the least represented ethnic demographic in the board rooms and c-suites of America’s largest corporations, which is why NAHREP has specifically advocated for diversity and inclusion efforts in the financial sector,” said Gary Acosta, Co-Founder & CEO, NAHREP. “The data clearly shows that having diverse leaders at the most senior levels of the corporate ladder creates an environment where companies accomplish more, especially for underserved populations. Hiring, promoting and recognizing the contributions of Hispanic professionals is not only good for the individuals affected, it is in the best interests of the industry and the country. NAHREP recognizes Senator Menendez and Congressman Meeks for their leadership in introducing this bill and looks forward to its passage.”

“Diversity is important to good corporate governance, and the Chamber is pleased to again support Senator Menendez’s and Mr. Meeks’ Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act, which will encourage gender, racial, and ethnic diversity on corporate boards,” said Tom Quaadman, Executive Vice President, Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud the historically strong congressional support for this legislation and look forward to this bill being considered and signed into law.” 

“Organizations function most efficiently and successfully when they reflect the rich diversity of the communities they serve,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “Policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion among corporate leadership are significant drivers of business performance. By incentivizing companies to seek a mix of perspectives, experiences, and knowledge among their leadership teams, the Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act will help build a more resilient, innovative, and profitable business community. We applaud Congressman Meeks and Senator Menendez for re-introducing this important piece of legislation.” 

Joining Sen. Menendez in supporting this bill are Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

Last Congress, the House passed the Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act of 2022.

For a copy of the legislative text click HERE.

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Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today led a bipartisan effort urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to work with other federal agencies, automakers, broadcasters, and public safety officials to address interference and engineering issues that are leading some automakers to eliminate AM radio from new vehicles, and electric vehicles (EVs) in particular, and to encourage the continued availability of AM radio in new vehicles.

“During disasters, extreme weather events, and emergencies, AM radio has proven itself to be a crucial source of news and information for affected communities. While mobile phones are ubiquitous and many Americans receive emergency alerts via Wireless Emergency Alerts, disaster events often knock out electricity and fixed and mobile broadband networks,” wrote the senators to FEMA Administrator Criswell and other federal agency officials. “In contrast, the propagation characteristics of AM broadcast signals are particularly well-suited for broadcasting critical information over long distances, allowing people with AM radios to continue to receive critical, and possibly life-saving, information.”

According to Nielsen, radio continues to play a vital role in our society. For example, 47 million people in the U.S. listen to AM radio every week. In times of emergency, such as natural disasters and extreme weather events, Americans turn to trusted, reliable, and local sources—such as AM radio—for news and information.

“The resiliency and range of AM broadcast signals have long-made it a reliable platform for local communities, rural areas, and non-English broadcasters, and a dependable tool for public safety officials to communicate life-saving messages during emergency events,” wrote the senators. “This is why FEMA’s National Public Warning System relies primarily on AM broadcasters to deliver alerts and emergency transmissions, and why the agency has invested a great deal of resources to ensure AM broadcast stations can withstand extreme weather events and remain operational during blackouts.  Recently, seven bipartisan former FEMA Administrators wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg warning that removing the capability to receive AM broadcast signals from automobiles would harm the efficacy of the NPWS and could undermine public safety.”

The senators highlighted how interference issues between EVs and AM signals are resolvable. However, several automakers are no longer offering AM radio as a standard feature in EVs, and some are phasing it out of new vehicles entirely.

“This is occurring as the Biden Administration has set a goal for EVs to comprise half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2030, and the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed regulations that could result in EVs making up 67 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2032,” added the senators. “These targets should not conflict with ensuring that drivers and passengers continue to have access to potentially life-saving information during power outages and internet blackouts.”

“We urge you to collaborate with government stakeholders at the Federal Communication Commission; the Department of Transportation; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and state, local, and Tribal governments that rely on AM radio for emergency alerts, as well as automakers, broadcasters, and first responders and public safety officials to ensure that the NPWS continues to be resilient, reliable, and accessible in all automobiles during emergencies,” concluded the senators.

Last month, Sen. Menendez joined Sen. Markey and several other colleagues in introducing the AM for Every Vehicle Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would direct federal regulators, including the Secretary of Transportation, to issue a rule requiring automobiles manufactured or imported into the country to include devices, installed as standard equipment, that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations.

Joining Sens. Menendez, Cruz, and Markey in signing the letter are Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

Find a copy of the letter HERE and below.

Dear Administrator Criswell,

We write to you with concerns regarding the availability of AM radio in new vehicles, and the impact that this lack of access could have on public safety and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). An increasing number of vehicles are being manufactured without the ability to receive AM broadcast signals.¹ Without access to AM broadcast signals, drivers and passengers may be unable to receive crucial emergency broadcasts or alerts through the EAS. We urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to work closely with other federal agencies, automakers, broadcasters, and public safety officials to address interference and engineering issues that are leading some automakers to eliminate the availability of AM radio in electric vehicles (EVs), and encourage the continued availability of AM radio in new vehicles. We also request you to provide an update regarding your ongoing and planned efforts to address this issue to promote public safety and safeguard the National Public Warning System (NPWS).

Americans have access to a diverse range of sources for news, information, and entertainment. However, Nielsen reports that radio continues to play a vital role in our society.² For example, 47 million people in the U.S. listen to AM radio every week.³ In times of emergency, such as natural disasters and extreme weather events, Americans turn to trusted, reliable, and local sources—such as AM radio—for news and information.

For example, when Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, AM broadcasters continued to provide storm coverage and news reports even after the storm knocked out power, mobile phone, and internet service to much of the island. Similarly, AM broadcasters played a key role keeping the public informed in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey inundated Houston, Texas and surrounding areas with record rainfall, leading to severe flooding. The Columbia Journalism Review explained:

One lesson from the 2017 hurricane season, the most expensive in history, was to show the valuable role AM radio plays as a nexus for coordinated news reporting during a disaster event. WKJB wasn’t the only station to continue broadcasting through Hurricane Maria. In San Juan, WKAQ-AM stayed on the air, pausing momentarily when the wind ripped away part of the roof. And on the US mainland, AM radio stations provided real-time news coverage of the hurricanes that struck Texas, in August 2017, and Florida, in September.⁴

During disasters, extreme weather events, and emergencies, AM radio has proven itself to be a crucial source of news and information for affected communities. While mobile phones are ubiquitous and many Americans receive emergency alerts via Wireless Emergency Alerts, disaster events often knock out electricity and fixed and mobile broadband networks. In contrast, the propagation characteristics of AM broadcast signals are particularly well-suited for broadcasting critical information over long distances, allowing people with AM radios to continue to receive critical, and possibly life-saving, information.

The resiliency and range of AM broadcast signals have long-made it a reliable platform for local communities, rural areas, and non-English broadcasters, and a dependable tool for public safety officials to communicate life-saving messages during emergency events. This is why FEMA’s National Public Warning System relies primarily on AM broadcasters to deliver alerts and emergency transmissions, and why the agency has invested a great deal of resources to ensure AM broadcast stations can withstand extreme weather events and remain operational during blackouts.⁵ Recently, seven bipartisan former FEMA Administrators wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg warning that removing the capability to receive AM broadcast signals from automobiles would harm the efficacy of the NPWS and could undermine public safety.⁶ 

The public safety benefits of AM broadcasts are clear. Additionally, interference issues between EVs and AM signals are resolvable.⁷ However, several automakers are no longer offering AM radio as a standard feature in EVs, and some are phasing it out of new vehicles entirely.⁸ This is occurring as the Biden Administration has set a goal for EVs to comprise half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2030⁹, and the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed regulations that could result in EVs making up 67 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2032.¹⁰ These targets should not conflict with ensuring that drivers and passengers continue to have access to potentially life-saving information during power outages and internet blackouts.

We urge you to collaborate with government stakeholders at the Federal Communication Commission; the Department of Transportation; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and state, local, and Tribal governments that rely on AM radio for emergency alerts, as well as automakers, broadcasters, and first responders and public safety officials to ensure that the NPWS continues to be resilient, reliable, and accessible in all automobiles during emergencies. We therefore request that you provide us with an update by June 30, 2023 regarding any ongoing and planned collaboration with federal agencies and other stakeholders on efforts to address any engineering issues to ensure that new vehicles can receive AM broadcast signals, and to promote public safety and safeguard the NPWS.

Sincerely,

cc:       The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel, Chair, Federal Communications Commission;

            The Honorable Pete Buttigieg, Secretary, United States Department of Transportation;

The Honorable Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D., Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Source: United States Senator for South Dakota Mike Rounds

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Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper applauded the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) announcement of $45.5 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 56 Colorado counties. Each year, DOI collects more than $26.3 billion in revenue from commercial activities on public lands, a portion of which is shared with states and counties. Last year, Bennet and Hickenlooper urged the Senate to fully fund the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for fiscal year 2023.

“PILT payments help rural communities across Colorado hire police officers and firefighters, and fund maintenance for roads, bridges, and other essential infrastructure,” said Bennet. “These investments don’t only help Coloradans – they also benefit the millions of Americans that visit our public lands every year. That’s why I’ll keep pushing to give our local governments more sustained and predictable funding through this program.”

“Colorado public lands draw visitors from all over the world, but local counties miss out on tax revenue generated on these lands,” said Hickenlooper. “PILT ensures a portion of this money goes directly back to our communities, supporting essential public services and funding school districts, firefighters, and police.”

PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by the Department’s bureaus, including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service, as well as the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

06.15.23

Cantwell Statement on SCOTUS Decision in Haaland v. Brackeen

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in the case of Haaland v. Brackeen.

“The Supreme Court made the right decision today in recognizing the authority of Congress to pass the Indian Child Welfare Act.  I will continue to protect the rights of our Native communities in the state of Washington and throughout the country,” Sen. Cantwell said.

On Aug. 19, 2022, Sen. Cantwell joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of 87 members of Congress in filing an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court defending the constitutionality of the ICWA in the case of Haaland v. Brackeen. On Dec. 13, 2019, Sen. Cantwell joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers in filing an amicus brief supporting the constitutionality of the ICWA in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 

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Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senate Committee on Armed Services Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS), and 17 republican colleagues sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging a public accounting of his administration’s assessment of the Chinese spy balloon that traversed our nation earlier this year. The senators expressed their frustration with the Biden Administration’s failure to confront China’s brazen threats to America’s security and sovereignty.  

Rubio and Wicker have led several joint-efforts directed at the Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence, and The White House to receive a more accurate picture of decision-making related to the spy balloon, including letters in both March and February.

Joining Rubio and Wicker were Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), as well as all Republican members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, including Jim Risch (R-ID), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), Michael Rounds (R-SD), and Jerry Moran (R-KS), as well as all Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, including Deb Fischer (R-NE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). 

• “While four months have passed since a Chinese surveillance balloon was allowed to fly across the United States, your administration has yet to provide the American people a full accounting of how this spy platform was allowed to traverse across sovereign U.S. territory, what the balloon carried, and what it collected during its mission. Your administration has also not taken appropriate steps to hold the PRC accountable for this flagrant violation of U.S. sovereignty. As such, we urge you to immediately direct all relevant administration officials to release information, as appropriate, to the American public regarding the Chinese spy balloon.” 

The full text of the letter is below. 

Dear Mr. President: 

We write to express our deep concern with the lack of transparency from your administration over the information it has collected regarding the surveillance platform that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) deployed over our country. 

In your State of the Union address this year, you promised the American people that you would protect the United States from the PRC’s threats to our sovereignty. While four months have passed since a Chinese surveillance balloon was allowed to fly across the United States, your administration has yet to provide the American people a full accounting of how this spy platform was allowed to traverse across sovereign U.S. territory, what the balloon carried, and what it collected during its mission. Your administration has also not taken appropriate steps to hold the PRC accountable for this flagrant violation of U.S. sovereignty. As such, we urge you to immediately direct all relevant administration officials to release information, as appropriate, to the American public regarding the Chinese spy balloon. 

The People’s Republic of China, under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, has only increased its brazen threats to our national security. In addition to deploying a spy platform into U.S. territory, the PRC has conducted dangerous maneuvers against U.S. aircrafts in the South China Sea and U.S. ships navigating international waters, and continues to support Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, harass American companies operating in China, commit egregious human rights violations, all while threatening a free and democratic Taiwan.  

We note with grave concern how, in a recent report in The New York Times, officials in your administration acknowledged that a May 2023 PRC malware attack against Guam was “part of a vast Chinese intelligence collection effort that spans cyberspace, outer space and, as Americans discovered with the balloon incident, the lower atmosphere.” It is time that your administration fully exposes Beijing’s efforts to collect intelligence against the United States and the threats posed by such activities. 

As such, we urge you to release, to the American people, all appropriate information that the United States has collected regarding the Chinese spy balloon. In particular, we note that the Financial Times reported last April that “China is refusing to let U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visit Beijing over concerns that the FBI will release the results of an investigation into the downed suspected Chinese spy balloon.” We therefore call on you to stand up to Beijing’s efforts to coerce the United States into silence on the PRC’s violation of U.S. sovereignty and to release the FBI’s findings on the PRC’s spy balloon immediately. 

Furthermore, we encourage you to review all options to firmly respond to, and deter, the PRC’s significant violations that threaten American national security and interests.  Beijing continues to test U.S. resolve and tarnish U.S. credibility—we must respond with strength, or risk further aggression from America’s adversaries.  

Thank you for your attention to this timely matter. We look forward to your reply.

Sincerely, 

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

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Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

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