Spectator NZ

Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin

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Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Pat Toomey

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) joined CNBC’s Squawk Box this morning to discuss Democrats’ $4.6 trillion tax-and-spend bill and the nomination of Professor Saule Omarova, President Biden’s nominee for top banking regulator.
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On Democrats’ $4.6 trillion tax-and-spend spree:
“This is radical stuff. Let’s be honest. This is transformative by design. It’s intended to be. And, that is just wildly out of step with the Democrats’ majority. They didn’t get a mandate to transform America. Joe Biden’s mandate was to return to normal, [and] to be a reasonable person and to bring both sides together. But, then, he has governed from the very far radical left, and this bill is part of it.”
“The Wharton School says this is $4.6 trillion of spending, and . . .  it’s mostly about expanding the welfare state to the middle class. [Democrats have] got all kinds of new programs—some don’t even have any income limitation and those that do it is extremely high. This kind of total transformation of the relationship between middle income Americans and the federal government is not what people were voting on in last election.”
“The American people are not on board on this, so we are continue to drive the message about how damaging this would be, how much this would cost, how much it would add to inflation, to our deficits, the tax increase. And, this is part of the political process: Have this debate.”
On the nomination of Professor Saule Omarova to serve as top banking regulator:
“Let’s be honest: Her policy positions are socialist positions. She has advocated for the abolition of banking, and to have the Fed replace all retail banking. She’s advocated for price controls across the economy established by the Fed . . . She’s advocated that the Fed directly allocate credit throughout the economy—not private banks. She’s carried on about how badly the private players allocate capital and resources and why the Federal government has to replace that and needs to play an activist role on the part of regulators. And here she’s nominated to be the top regulator of America’s banks. It’s just shocking.”
 

Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

WASHINGTON, DC — In Case You Missed It: Today, Cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer Editorial Board applauded Senator Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) work with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to advance Ms. Bridget Meehan Brennan, Mr. Charles Esque Fleming, and Judge David Augustin Ruiz, three diverse, qualified nominees for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and Ms. Marisa Darden, who would be the first African American woman to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Senators Brown and Portman recommended these nominees through a bipartisan judicial commission and praised their distinct career achievements. On Wednesday, Brown introduced the three U.S. District Court nominees at their Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing.

“In the current toxic political environment where everything seems to be seen through a partisan lens, the unwavering solidarity [Senators] Portman and Brown have shown in supporting and advancing these nominations reveals the depth of their commitment to diversity. Together, they aim to ensure that the federal judiciary and federal law enforcement, in Cleveland and federally, more fairly represent the diversity of our nation. It’s about time,” wrote the Editorial Board for Cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer.

Senator Brown has worked throughout his time in the Senate to increase diversity in the justice system in Ohio, including the recommendation of Judge Benita Pearson to serve  in the Northern District, and the recommendation of both Carter Stewart and Ken Parker to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District.

Read more about the Northern District judicial nominees HERE.

Read the Cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer’s full editorial article HERE or below:

EDITORIAL: Confirm Cleveland nominees for a more diverse federal bench, U.S. Attorney’s Office: editorial 

By: Editorial Board 

November 19, 2021

President Joe Biden struck a blow for diversity with four recent nominations: his Sept. 30 nominations of a trio of pathbeaking judges to the U.S. District Court bench for the Northern District of Ohio in Cleveland, and his recent nomination of Marisa Darden for U.S. Attorney for the Northern District. Darden, if confirmed, would be the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. attorney in Ohio.

Contributing significantly toward the confirmation of all four is that both of Ohio’s senators — Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Rob Portman — stand foursquare together behind their nominations, and recommended them jointly to Biden.

In the current toxic political environment where everything seems to be seen through a partisan lens, the unwavering solidarity Portman and Brown have shown in supporting and advancing these nominations reveals the depth of their commitment to diversity. Together, they aim to ensure that the federal judiciary and federal law enforcement, in Cleveland and federally, more fairly represent the diversity of our nation. It’s about time.

In a March guest column on cleveland.com, Ronald Adrine, the highly respected, retired longtime Cleveland Municipal Court administrative judge, urged Sen. Brown to prevail on Biden to prioritize diversity in forthcoming judicial and prosecutorial nominations for Cleveland. A more diverse local federal bench was especially important, Adrine noted, because U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver, the Northern District’s only Black male judge, then planned to take senior status (and has since done so). Also serving on the local federal bench is U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson, a Black woman.

[…]

Click here to read the full editorial column.

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Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative has awarded a $203,000 grant to the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board. Funding will be used to hire a Peer Workforce Developer to recruit and guide individuals in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) toward job training and reentry into the workforce, with a focus on preparing those in recovery for high demand entry-level jobs.

“This new award will direct investments to workers in recovery in Steubenville and throughout Jefferson County,” said Brown. “This investment not only promotes economic development but it will also help those in recovery from substance abuse by providing them the tools and resources they need to reenter the workforce.”

In addition to the $203,000 grant from ARC, local funds will provide $87,000 to bring the total funding amount to $290,000.

ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government with the mission to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian region. 

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Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative has awarded a $500,000 grant to Ohio University for the Integrating Recovery Supports at Appalachian Innovation Gateways project. This project aims to promote a series of paths for people in substance use disorder (SUD) recovery to acquire skills, reenter the workforce, and obtain employment.

“This new award will direct investments to workers in recovery throughout the Athens community,” said Brown. “This investment not only promotes economic development but it will also help those in recovery from substance abuse by providing them the tools and resources they need to reenter the workforce.”

In addition to the $500,000 grant from ARC, local funds will provide $125,142 to bring the total funding amount to $625,142.

ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government with the mission to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian region. 

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Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded a $500,000 grant to Culture Works (Arts and Culture Alliance of the Miami Valley), to provide subgranting opportunities for local agencies in the arts and cultural sector in the Dayton region. These funds were made possible through the American Rescue Plan, which Brown helped write and pass.

“These local arts and cultural organizations play an important role in our communities and our understanding of the world, and the industry was hit particularly hard during this pandemic. Thanks to the funds allocated in the American Rescue Plan, these institutions will be able to continue supporting their workforce and providing a vital service to communities,” said Brown.

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Visit arts.gov to learn more. 

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Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded a $500,000 grant to the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, to provide subgranting opportunities for local agencies in the arts and cultural sector and individual artists in Northwest Ohio. These funds were made possible through the American Rescue Plan, which Brown helped write and pass.

“These local arts and cultural organizations play an important role in our communities and our understanding of the world, and the industry was hit particularly hard during this pandemic. Thanks to the funds allocated in the American Rescue Plan, these institutions will be able to continue supporting their workforce and providing a vital service to communities,” said Brown.

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Visit arts.gov to learn more. 

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Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Washington (November 19, 2021) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, filed five amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would advance President Joe Biden’s past support for a “no first use” of nuclear weapons policy, commit to nuclear diplomacy, and retire Donald Trump’s two new types of nuclear weapons capabilities. Ahead of the release of the 2021 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) and the President’s fiscal year 2023 budget early next year, these amendments propose a series of smart cuts to U.S. nuclear weapons programs and a vision for a 21^st century global freeze movement to reduce growing reliance on nuclear weapons. 

 

“The United States has a moral responsibility to make the world safe from nuclear weapons,” said Senator Markey. “As Congress debates Defense Department spending, our budgets must reflect our values. It’s time to bolster climate funding, not our nuclear arsenal. President Biden should stick to his own instincts in reducing nuclear weapons risks, not follow the recklessness of the military industrial complex that was a cheerleader of the Cold War arms race and endless wars in the Middle East. By adopting these amendments, the United States can adopt a safer nuclear weapons policy that saves taxpayer money and reduces one of the existential threats to the planet.”  

 

Senator Markey’s proposed nuclear weapon NDAA FY 2022 amendments include:

 

• An amendment, based on Senator Markey and Congressman Ro Khanna’s (CA-17) Investing in Cures Before Missiles (ICBM) Act that would limit funds for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent pending a certification and conclusion of an independent study by the National Academy of Sciences. The Pentagon is reportedly undertaking an independent review that will address the feasibility of extending the existing Minuteman III ICBM until 2050 or later. 

 

• An amendment, based on Senator Markey and Congressman Ted Lieu’s (CA-33) Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, that would restrict the use of nuclear weapons by prohibiting the President of the United States from launching a nuclear first strike absent a declaration of war by Congress.

 

 

• An amendment, based on Senator Markey and Chairman Jim McGovern’s (MA-02), Hastening Arms Limitation Talks (HALT) Act, that would establish a vision for a 21^st century nuclear freeze movement. The amendment would help reduce and eliminate threats posed by nuclear weapons to the United States through a series of negotiating steps and establishing the prohibition on conducting a nuclear explosives test.

 

• An amendment, that requires the Departments of Defense and State to brief Congress on the 2021 NPR to ensure that there is a diverse array of civil society organizations, experts, and consultants involved in its formulation. Senator Markey, along with his fellow co-chairs of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, have advocated that President Biden take a direct role in reducing the role and number of U.S. nuclear weapons.

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Washington (November 19, 2021) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today reintroduced the Flu Vaccine Act, legislation to conduct or support comprehensive research for the creation of a universal influenza vaccine or prevention that protects against multiple strains of the flu virus and offers longer-lasting protection. The legislation calls for a total investment of $1 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for this research. Senator Markey and his colleagues were able to secure $540 million in appropriations over the past three years for universal flu vaccine research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within NIH, including $200 million in fiscal year 2020.

 

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep the nation, America’s scientists and clinicians remain at the epicenter of health and disease research and innovation. It is up to the United States to not only lead the world in improving the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but to also enhance our response to the flu,” said Senator Markey. “We are on the brink of a flu-free future and the Flu Vaccine Act can play an indispensable role in reaching that vision for our world. I am pleased we were able to secure $220 million in last year’s spending package for this research, however our work here is not done.”

 

“With the creation of the COVID-19 vaccines, we have seen firsthand the benefits of providing scientists with the resources they need to study and create vaccines,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “We must approach the universal flu vaccine with the same attention and focus. Influenza is responsible for between 12,000 and 52,000 deaths annually in the United States, up to 650,000 globally. This impact and deadly toll is staggering considering we have had annual vaccines for decades. The Flu Vaccine Act would fix this problem by investing in the creation of a universal flu vaccine—saving lives by taking the guesswork out of the equation. Since September 2018, as Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I am proud that the Congress has provided $540 million in dedicated funding for universal flu vaccine research, and we must not stop until a universal flu vaccine or preventative is discovered and approved. More than 100 years after the Spanish influenza killed tens of millions across the globe—including my own grandfather—we can and we must do better.”

 

 

Senators co-sponsoring the Flu Vaccine Act include Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).

 

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