Spectator NZ

11.19.21

Sweeping bill to help families and address climate crisis heads to Senate

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today cheered passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Build Back Better Act. Democrats’ signature legislation will make a historic investment in working American families and tackle the climate crisis.

“Today’s action by the House is an important milestone for Democrats’ historic Build Back Better legislation. From here, the Senate will continue to fine tune the bill in consultation with the House so that we can swiftly arrive at a final agreement that every member of our caucus supports,” said Whitehouse.

The Build Back Better Act now heads to the Senate. The legislation includes the nation’s largest-ever investment in tackling climate change and suite of programs to grow the middle class and create opportunity for working families. Major provisions include an extension of the expanded Child Tax Credit; investments to make child care, education, and housing more affordable and accessible; and cost-lowering measures for prescription drugs and health care.

The legislation would be paid for by requiring large corporations and the very wealthy to pay a fairer share. No one making less than $400,000 would see a tax increase.

11.19.21

Washington, DC – Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statement today regarding the next nominee to chair the Federal Reserve:

“Jerome Powell refuses to recognize climate change as an urgent and systemic economic threat. During his tenure, Chair Powell first ignored climate change and then resisted calls for the Fed to use its tools to fight it, arguing that climate change ‘is really an issue that is assigned to lots of other government agencies, not so much the Fed.’ At a hearing earlier this year, he said: ‘we are not and we don’t seek to be climate policymakers.’

“The economic fallout from climate change is already underway. Rising temperatures and sea levels are making hurricanes, droughts, and other weather events more severe, frequent, and destructive. These events are destroying homes, roads and bridges, and other physical and financial assets. As FreddieMac warns, ‘rising sea levels and spreading flood plains […] appear likely to destroy billions of dollars in property and to displace millions of people. The economic losses and social disruption […] are likely to be greater in total than those experienced in the housing crisis and Great Recession.’

“Climate is not a long-term challenge for the Fed; it demands action now. Climate effects exacerbate supply chain struggles and commodity price volatility. Many large financial actors have large exposures to assets that threaten to plunge in value due to climate change or the transition to a low-carbon economy. Institutions unprepared for this transition stand to lose billions, threatening their balance sheets and the stability of our financial system. Price stability, the safety and soundness of our financial system, and millions of jobs and businesses – all of which are squarely in the Fed’s mandate – are at stake.

“President Biden must appoint a Fed Chair who will ensure the Fed is fulfilling its mandate to safeguard our financial system and shares the Administration’s view that fighting climate change is the responsibility of every policymaker. That person is not Jerome Powell.”

11.19.21

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed Democrats’ reckless $1.75 trillion tax-and-spending spree, which he has consistently opposed.

“This reckless tax-and-spending spree is going to further ignite inflation and torch Americans’ savings. It is more focused on cementing their unpopular agenda than helping American families,” said Dr. Cassidy. “It is a Bad Bad Bad bill.”

The massive spending package is already facing opposition from moderate Democrats in the Senate, which puts the likelihood of Senate passage in doubt. One Senate Democrat vote against the bill would sink it.

Cassidy will vote against Democrats’ Build Back Better Act if a vote is held in the Senate. 

Some of the terrible provisions included in the tax and spending spree include:

• Adding $367 billion to the national deficit
• Giving $300 billion in SALT tax deductions, benefiting the wealthy
• Granting mass amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants despite the recent decision by the Senate Parliamentarian that this violates reconciliation rules.
• Does not include the Hyde Amendment, allowing taxpayer dollars to be used to fund on demand abortions.
• Perpetuating labor shortages by eliminating work requirements to receive welfare benefits for able bodied adults – at a time when there are over 10.4 million job openings.
• Expanding Obamacare subsidies through 2025, overwhelmingly benefiting wealthier Americans and subsidizing people who already have insurance.
• Unnecessarily expanding Medicare benefits at a time when the program is going broke, ultimately harming choices for our seniors.
• Adding $800 billion in tax hikes on American employers, hurting American competitiveness.
• Adding $400 billion in small business tax hikes
• Impeding and bans domestic energy and mineral production, increasing our dependencies on resources supplied by OPEC, Russia, and China.
• Raising taxes on natural gas, raising the costs of nearly everything.

###

Friday, November 19, 2021

---

---

DETROIT, MI – U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Gary Peters (MI) and U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) today announced that $10 million in federal funding will be awarded to develop the New Center Intermodal Facility in Detroit. This grant – which will be awarded to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) – will help develop a new intermodal facility with access to passenger rail, intercity buses, and transit services. This new facility will serve as a regional transportation hub, accommodate growing ridership and improve connections for passengers.

“Many people in Michigan rely on public transportation to get to the places they need to be,” said Senator Stabenow. “A new hub will better connect travelers by bus or rail, making travel more efficient for Southeast Michigan families and businesses.”

“Detroit has made important strides in its economic recovery – but it’s critical that we build on successes, including by making transportation easier and more efficient,” said Senator Peters, a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. “Completing a transportation hub in New Center will bring more commerce into the City and make it easier to reach communities. I was proud to support this critical effort to improve the way Michiganders travel and I’ll continue working at the federal level to support Detroit’s economic growth.”

“Metro Detroiters have been vocal about the need for more accessible transit options and transportation equity, and it’s fantastic that funding is on the way to build toward these goals,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “This new transportation hub will connect our region, grow our economy, and advance racial and social justice.”

 

“Replacing outdated stations and improving the traveler experience in Detroit has been a long-term goal for MDOT,” State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba said. “A functional, new passenger rail and intercity bus station is an important gateway to a vibrant city and provides vital access to the national transportation network.”  

The project will relocate intercity bus services to the Amtrak station site which offers easy access to three different transit services. The site will also have space to accommodate taxis, bikeshare, scooters and parking. The funding announced today will come from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program.

More information on the RAISE Grant Program can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/about.

###

11.19.21

House-Passed Build Back Better Bill Includes Key Cantwell Priorities

Senator Cantwell will fight to ensure Affordable Housing Credit, Support for Local News, Salmon Restoration remain in final package as bill heads to Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement regarding the passage of the Build Back Better (BBB) bill by the House of Representatives today. The bill contains several programs written and championed by Senator Cantwell, including an expansion of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), portions of the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, and funding to restore and protect salmon. 

“The Build Back Better Act will invest $11.7 billion to increase the desperately-needed supply of affordable housing, including 27,000 units in Washington state. It boosts home care services so families can keep their loved ones at home instead of going to nursing homes. And it’s the most comprehensive effort to address climate change in history, including robust new incentives to electrify trucks, buses, and the rest of our transportation system, which is the largest source of carbon pollution in Washington state. I applaud the House on passing the bill. Now the Senate needs to do its job,” said Senator Cantwell.

The Build Back Better bill passed by the House includes the following Cantwell priorities: 

• Affordable Housing Tax Credit: Senator Cantwell successfully pushed to include $11.7 billion to expand the Housing Credit in the Build Back Better reconciliation package. The Housing Credit expansion is expected to provide more than 27,000 units of affordable housing and support more than 41,500 jobs in Washington state. Nationwide, it would provide an additional 812,000 units and support over 1.2 million jobs. 
• Local News: Cantwell helped secure $1.7 billion to support local newspapers, broadcasters and online media through tax credits to incentivize hiring and retaining journalists in the reconciliation bill. These provisions were based on the Cantwell-authored Local Journalism Sustainability Act introduced in July. 
• Salmon Habitat Restoration Grants: The bill includes $1 billion for grants for Pacific salmon habitat restoration. This is the single largest investment in salmon habitat recovery funding in history. In Washington state alone, there is a backlog of more than $4 billion dollars in salmon habitat restoration projects.?  
• Restoring Habitat and Bolstering Coastal Resilience: There is $6 billion in new funding included in the bill that will support grant programs for habitat restoration and coastal resilience administered by NOAA. In Washington state, these funds will be used to restore coastal salmon habitat, construct living shorelines, fund community planning and resilience to help communities protect infrastructure impacted by climate change. This level of investment is crucial as the impact of climate change on coastal habitats such as eel grass, shellfish beds, rivers, and coasts is devastating salmon populations. 
• Rebuilding Salmon Hatcheries: The bill includes $400 million for a new NOAA program to boost salmon returns in state and Tribal hatcheries. These projects will expand existing hatcheries to increase salmon production, as well as construction new hatcheries. The science is clear: one of the top threats to Southern resident orcas is their ability to find their favorite prey, Chinook salmon. This funding will support orca recovery and access to prey, consistent with recommendations from the Orca Task Force. These hatcheries will also help protect fishing access for Tribal, commercial and recreational fishers and reduce fishing pressure on wild stocks. The bill also provides $19.6 million to further increase hatchery production by investing in Tribal salmon hatcheries through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.?  
• Better Salmon Science and Stock Assessments: There is $500 million included for NOAA to boost fishery science by expanding stock assessments and fisheries research. This funding will help scientists finally identify the cause of salmon die offs at sea—which continue to be a mystery. These fish counts will help scientists understand how climate change affects salmon survival from warm water blobs to harmful algal blooms and ocean acidification. The funding also supports cutting edge tools to help fishermen monitor and reduce the accidental harvest of salmon. 
• FTC Privacy Bureau: The bill includes $500 million over 8 years to establish a new privacy and data security bureau at the Federal Trade Commission. This would also fund the hiring of appropriate technical staff and lawyers.   
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): The bill includes $300 million in grants for a sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and a low-emission aviation technology program. Eligible recipients would receive awards to blend, produce, store, or transport SAFs, or develop, demonstrate, or apply low-emissions aviation technologies. These provisions are based on an SAF grant proposal authored and promoted by Senator Cantwell. This is complemented by $225 million for sustainable aviation research at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
• Port Infrastructure Grants: The bill includes $600 million in competitive grants for ports to support infrastructure investments to improve supply chain resiliency, port efficiency and help reduce port congestion. 
• Supply Chain Resiliency: The bill includes $5 billion for a Supply Chain Resiliency Fund to map supply chains and make strategic investments in key sectors such as aerospace. The Washington State Department of Commerce advocated for this funding to help local manufacturers get the working capital needed to build inventory and modernize equipment.   
• Combatting Climate Change: This bill makes the largest investment in clean energy and measures to address climate change in American history. Over half a trillion dollars, around a third of the funding for the entire bill, is dedicated to accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels which will enable the United States to meet its science-based targets of reducing greenhouse gases by half by 2030, all while creating good-paying jobs, growing domestic industries, and advancing environmental justice. Those include robust long-term tax credits for renewable energy and energy storage technologies, new incentives to electrify America’s transportation system, and fees on methane pollution. NASA and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology will also receive $125 million to improve our response to wildfires, one of the devastating effects on ongoing climate change.
• Weather Science: There is $500 million included for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This will fund new weather models and science research on new emerging weather patterns. Also included are funds for climate science and research grants for universities to advance our knowledge on the causes and impacts of extreme weather, as well as the impacts of climate change on marine species and habitat. New weather radars, wildfire smoke sensors and ocean buoys will also be funded. There is also $200 million to fund additional supercomputing processing power necessary for advanced weather and climate models, research, accurate predictions, and timely forecasting. 
• Broadband: The bill includes $300 million for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to support affordable broadband in urban and suburban communities through two programs. 
• High Speed Rail: The bill includes $10 billion for high-speed rail, with $1 billion set aside for planning projects like the Cascadia Ultra High-Speed Rail project in Washington state. 
• National Science Foundation: The bill includes $3.5 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF), including $1.8 billion for a new technology directorate, which will invest in research areas like artificial intelligence and quantum information science. The University of Washington, Washington State University, and other Washington universities will be highly competitive for these funds.  
• Promoting Diversity in STEM Education: The bill includes $300 million to upgrade research infrastructure and improve research capacity at minority-serving institutions, including Tribal Colleges and Universities. These funds will help to educate a diverse STEM workforce. Historically Black colleges and universities have graduated 40 percent of all Black engineers and Hispanic-serving institutions enroll more than half of all Hispanic undergraduates.  
• Manufacturing Extension Partnership: The bill includes $260 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program to help local manufacturers adopt best practices, build and train the workforce, identify and resolve supply chain gaps, and scout for new customers and suppliers.   
• Minority Business Development Agency: The bill includes $1.6 billion in funding for the Minority Business Development Agency. The aim of this federal agency is to promote the growth and competitiveness of minority-owned businesses by providing access to capital, contracts and market opportunities. 
• Care Programs for Older Americans: The bill includes $1.2 billion to support older Americans, caregivers and caregiving services including home and community-based services, nutrition programs, culturally appropriate care, and research. 

The Build Back Better bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. 

The full text of the House-passed Build Back Better bill is available HERE. 

More information on the combined benefits to salmon from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Build Back Better can be found HERE. 

### 

November 19, 2021

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan released the below statement following House passage of a major economic package that will complement the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed earlier this month: 

“While we have details left to finalize through the Senate process, the House-passed economic package includes important provisions that would help lower costs for Granite Staters and get people back to work.  

“The package would put money back in people’s pockets by taking the most significant step in nearly two decades to lower prescription drug costs, as well as by continuing tax cuts for parents through the Child Tax Credit, lowering health insurance premiums, and expanding access to paid leave. It would enable more people to get back to work and support families by investing in workforce training programs, higher education, child care, and high-quality home and community-based care for seniors and individuals with disabilities. And it takes decisive action to combat climate change.

“I am also encouraged that this bill includes a bipartisan amendment that I authored to double the R&D tax credit for startups and small businesses, which would help New Hampshire small businesses keep creating good jobs and help our innovation economy thrive.

“This economic package, combined with our bipartisan infrastructure bill, would help get people back to work and lay the foundation for America’s future economic strength.

“These priorities are paid for by ensuring that billionaires and the largest corporations can no longer avoid paying their taxes, and without raising taxes for families making less than $400,000 a year. Though we still have work to do on this legislation, we have the opportunity now to reduce costs and improve the lives of Granite Staters while strengthening the future of our economy, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to reach consensus.”

###

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) delivered the oath of office to Dr. Gupta, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Senator Manchin also gave remarks at Dr. Gupta’s swearing in ceremony. In September, Senator Manchin introduced Dr. Gupta during his nomination hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.