Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo, and Amman May 24-27, 2021. Secretary Blinken is undertaking this trip at the request of President Biden. He will first travel to Jerusalem, where he will meet with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, and other senior Israeli officials. In Ramallah, he will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, and other senior officials from the Palestinian Authority. Secretary Blinken will then travel to Cairo to meet with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. The Secretary will conclude his trip with a stop in Amman to meet with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The United States has engaged in intensive diplomacy to bring an end to the hostilities in Gaza. Secretary Blinken is traveling to the region to discuss essential follow-up efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and reduce risks of further conflict over the coming months. For any questions, please email NEA-Press@state.gov and follow us on Twitter @StateDept_NEA.
https://www.state.gov/secretary-blinkens-travel-to-jerusalem-ramallah-cairo-and-amman/
Moment Elephants at Israeli zoo huddle together to shield calf from Hamas rockets
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9611925/Amazing-moment-herd-elephants-Israeli-zoo-huddled-shield-calf-Hamas-rockets.html
Blind, disabled veteran Kevin Ne Se Shores, Native American, was recruited by an RNC strategist to run a third-party bid against #MN07 Rep. Collin Peterson (D) last year in an attempt to siphon votes from Democratic candidates.
https://www.fox9.com/news/grassroots-or-astroturf-congressional-candidate-says-he-was-tricked-into-running-by-rnc-strategist
Biden doubling FEMA funds for extreme weather preparations
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/24/fact-sheet-biden-administration-invests-1-billion-to-protect-communities-families-and-businesses-before-disaster-strikes/
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/24/fact-sheet-biden-administration-invests-1-billion-to-protect-communities-families-and-businesses-before-disaster-strikes/
FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Invests $1 Billion To Protect Communities, Families, and Businesses Before Disaster Strikes
May 24, 2021 • Statements and Releases
Funding Builds on Efforts to Enhance Climate Change Resilience as President Biden Visits FEMA Ahead of Hurricane Season
Today, President Biden will meet with members of his homeland security and climate teams at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. to receive an update on preparations for the 2021 hurricane season. In advance of the President's visit, the Administration is announcing it will direct $1 billion for communities, states, and Tribal governments into pre-disaster mitigation resources to prepare for extreme weather events and other disasters, and the Administration is announcing the development of next generation climate data systems at NASA to help understand and track how climate change is impacting communities.
In 2020, the United States experienced a record year for extreme weather, including an unprecedented 30 named storms in the Atlantic Basin. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is anticipating another above-normal hurricane season this year.
The costs of extreme weather events, in lives and economic damage, have been staggering. Last year alone, communities across the United States suffered through 22 separate weather and climate-related disasters with loses exceeding $1 billion each, shattering previous records, at a cumulative price tag of nearly $100 billion. This year has already wrought devastation, as unusual winter storms crossed Texas and the south.
On May 20th, NOAA released its 2021 Atlantic hurricane season outlook. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. Additionally, forecasters expect a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms, of which six to 10 could became hurricanes.
https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-predicts-another-active-atlantic-hurricane-season
As climate change threatens to bring more extreme events like increased floods, sea level rise, and intensifying droughts and wildfires, it is our responsibility to better prepare and support communities, families, and businesses before disaster – not just after. This includes investing in climate research to improve our understanding of these extreme weather events and our decision making on climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation. It also means ensuring that communities have the resources they need to build resilience prior to these crises.
President Biden has elevated the importance of climate resilience on the global stage and prioritized resilience in his investment agenda, including in the American Jobs Plan and the FY22 discretionary request.
Today, the Administration is announcing it will:
- Provide $1 billion for communities through FEMA's Pre-Disaster Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. FEMA will provide $1 billion in 2021 for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, a portion of which will be targeted to disadvantaged communities. BRIC supports states, local communities, tribes, and territories in undertaking pre-disaster hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. This level of funding level is double the amount provided last year. The program seeks to categorically shift the federal focus from reactive disaster spending and toward research-supported, proactive investment in community resilience so that when the next hurricane, flood, or wildfire comes, communities are better prepared.
- Develop and launch a new NASA mission concept for an Earth System Observatory. As the number of extreme weather events increases due to climate change, the ability to forecast and monitor natural disasters is integral for the nation's preparation, mitigation, and resilience. NASA's Earth System Observatory will be a new architecture of advanced spaceborne Earth observation systems, providing the world with an unprecedented understanding of the critical interactions between Earth's atmosphere, land, ocean, and ice processes. These processes determine how the changing climate will play out at regional and local levels, on near and long-term time scales.
CONTINUE A WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Today's action builds on the whole-of-government approach President Biden is taking to climate resilience. Resilience is a key focus area of the National Climate Task Force as they drive a number of actions to strengthen the resilience of our infrastructure, forests, coastal areas, oceans, range lands, and farm lands to drought, wildfire, heatwaves, and other climate impacts.
Examples of actions to date across the federal government include:
- Issuing an Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk. Last week, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk that will help the American people better understand how climate change can impact their financial security. It will strengthen the U.S. financial system and it will inform concrete decisions that the federal government can take to mitigate the risks of climate change. With so much at stake, this Executive Order ensures that the right rules are in place to properly analyze and mitigate these risks. That includes disclosing these risks to the public, and empowering the American people to make informed financial decisions.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/20/executive-order-on-climate-related-financial-risk/
- Developing agency climate adaptation and resilience plans. The Administration has taken significant steps to revitalize Federal climate adaptation and resilience by initiating the development of Agency Climate Action Plans as required by Executive Order 14008. The Plans, which are being developed by 36 agencies, broadened the scope of relevant climate adaptation and resilience experts to include acquisitions and finance professionals and focus on integrating climate information in the management of procurement, real property, public lands and water, and financial programs for climate informed decisions.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/
- Setting a responsible flood risk standard for the federal government. Through his Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk, President Biden reinstated the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard to improve the resilience of American communities and federal assets against the impacts of flood damage, which is predicted to increase over time due to the effects of climate change. The Standard requires federal agencies to consider current and future flood risk when taxpayer dollars are used to build or rebuild in floodplains. Implementing guidelines offer a toolkit of flexible and practical options to implement these protections.
- Investing in resilience through the American Jobs Plan and the FY22 budget. Resilience and adaptation are critical priorities for President Biden and his administration. Americans around the country have been feeling the effect of climate change and underinvestment in resilience. Investments to make our infrastructure more resilient are a key piece of the American Jobs Plan and the President's FY 2022 Discretionary Request. In addition to supporting the goal that every dollar spent on rebuilding our infrastructure during the Biden administration will be used to prevent, reduce and withstand the impacts of the climate crisis – the American Jobs Plan calls for $50 billion in dedicated resilience investments. The President's FY22 Discretionary Request also includes significant budget increases to enable incorporation of climate impacts into disaster planning and projects to ensure that the Nation is rebuilding smarter and safer for the future.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FY2022-Discretionary-Request.pdf
- Integrating resilience into the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. The White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) was established by President Biden's Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad to fulfill his and Vice President Harris's commitment to confronting longstanding environmental injustices and ensure that historically marginalized and polluted, overburdened communities have greater input on federal policies and decisions. The WHEJAC members are to provide advice and recommendations to the Environmental Justice Interagency Council and the Chair of CEQ on a whole-of-government approach to environmental justice, including, but not limited to, climate change mitigation, resilience, and disaster management.
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/white-house-environmental-justice-advisory-council
- Establishing an Interagency Working Group to better prepare and respond to drought. The National Climate Task Force, as part of its whole-of-government consideration of climate issues, established an Interagency Working Group to address worsening drought conditions in the West and to support farmers, ranchers, Tribes, and communities impacted by ongoing water shortages. The Working Group is co-chaired by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture and will build upon existing resources to help coordinate across the federal government, working in partnership with state, local, and Tribal governments to address the needs of communities suffering from drought-related impacts. DOI and USDA have already announced more than $25 million to assist farmers, ranchers and communities in the Klamath Basin to help them in the face of a severe drought.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/21/readout-of-the-third-national-climate-task-force-meeting/
- Increasing investments in forest restoration to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire. Climate change is increasing the severity and frequency of wildfire seasons, which are transforming our Nation's forests at an unprecedented rate, and destroying homes and businesses. The Biden-Harris Administration's discretionary budget request provides nearly $1.7 billion for high-priority hazardous fuels and forest resilience projects at a scope and scale to meet the challenge we face, an increase of $476 million over the 2021 enacted level. This funding supports the Administration's science-based approach to vegetation management at the Forest Service and DOI to protect watersheds, wildlife habitat, and the wildland-urban interface.
- Launching a resilience focused task force at the Department of the Interior. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland announced a new Climate Task Force at DOI that will develop a strategy to reduce climate pollution; improve and increase adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change; address current and historic environmental injustice; protect public health; and conserve DOI managed lands. Its mission will include supporting the development and use of the best available science to evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions and associated climate change impacts of Federal land uses as well as opportunities to increase carbon sequestration; to predict the effects of climate change on public lands and land uses; and to assess and adopt measures to increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of public lands.
https://www.doi.gov/news/secretary-haaland-establishes-climate-task-force-strengthens-scientific-integrity
- Launching a new approach to climate change adaptation and resilience at the Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced the launch of the DHS Climate Change Action Group, a coordinating body comprised of the Department's senior leadership that will drive urgent action to address the climate crisis and will report directly to the Secretary. DHS also recently published a public Request for Information on how FEMA can ensure its programs advance equity and increase resilience for all – especially among those who are disproportionately at risk from the impacts of climate change.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/04/22/secretary-mayorkas-announces-new-dhs-commitments-address-climate-crisis-leaders
- Utilizing a Climate Assessment Tool to Analyze Climate Vulnerabilities at the Department of Defense. Climate change has been identified by the Department of Defense (DoD) as a critical national security threat and threat multiplier. As a result, DoD has undertaken assessments of the impacts that the climate crisis has on American military instillations. The DoD announced a plan to complete climate exposure assessments on all major U.S. installations within 12 months and all major installations outside the continental U.S. within 24 months using the Defense Climate Assessment Tool (DCAT). The DCAT helps identify the climate hazards to which DoD installations are most exposed, which is the first step in addressing the potential physical harm, security impacts, and degradation in readiness resulting from global climate change.
https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2581027/dod-announces-installation-climate-exposure-assessments-plan-through-the-defens/#:~:text=In%20conjunction%20with%20President%20Biden%27s,the%20Defense%20Climate%20Assessment%20Tool.
- Tracking the indicators of climate change at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For the first time in four years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has updated and relaunched its Climate Change Indicators. This comprehensive resource presents compelling and clear evidence of changes to our climate reflected in rising temperatures, increased ocean acidity, sea level rise, and changing river flooding, droughts, heat waves, and wildfires, among other indicators. The long-overdue update to this crucial scientific resource shows that climate change has become even more evident, stronger, and extreme, and underscores the urgency for action on the climate crisis.
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-relaunches-climate-indicators-website-showing-how-climate-change-impacting-peoples
- Releasing new U.S. Climate Normals at the NOAA. NOAA recently released the U.S. Climate Normals, a large suite of data products that provide information about typical climate conditions for thousands of locations across the United States. Normals act both as a ruler to compare today's weather and tomorrow's forecast, and as a predictor of conditions in the near future. These data products assist agencies and State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, communities, and businesses in preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
https://www.noaa.gov/news/new-us-climate-normals-are-here-what-do-they-tell-us-about-climate-change
- Investing in grid and community resilience at the Department of Energy. The Department of Energy is investing in grid resilience and energy resilience, including microgrid strategies, through research under the Grid Modernization Initiative. In partnership with the National Laboratories, the Department is developing a set of comprehensive energy resilience metrics and modeling capabilities to mitigate climate impacts to our energy infrastructure. The Department is also investing in projects that improve community resilience by deploying energy storage and microgrid technologies. In addition, for communities across the West, the Department is working with the Western Area Power Administration and Bonneville Power Administration to aggressively forecast, model and mitigate the potential impacts of severe climate-change-related droughts and fires on electricity systems.
https://www.energy.gov/gmi/grid-modernization-initiative
- Building climate and resilience considerations into transportation discretionary grants at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The U.S. Department of Transportation is incorporating climate and resilience criteria into over $2 billion in discretionary grant programs, including the RAISE, INFRA, and Port Infrastructure Development grant programs. This will promote transportation investments that are future-proofed against extreme weather events. In addition, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has also issued new guidance for planning and design for highways in coastal areas.
https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants
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In Historic Move, USDA to Begin Loan Payments to Socially Disadvantaged Borrowers under American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005
https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/05/21/historic-move-usda-begin-loan-payments-socially-disadvantaged
Statement by President Joe Biden on Secretary of State Antony Blinken's Visit to the Middle East
May 24, 2021 • Statements and Releases
Following up on our quiet, intensive diplomacy to bring about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, I have asked my Secretary of State, Tony Blinken, to travel to the Middle East this week. During his trip, Secretary Blinken will meet with Israeli leaders about our ironclad commitment to Israel's security. He will continue our Administration's efforts to rebuild ties to, and support for, the Palestinian people and leaders, after years of neglect. And he will engage other key partners in the region, including on the coordinated international effort to ensure immediate assistance reaches Gaza in a way that benefits the people there and not Hamas, and on reducing the risk of further conflict in the coming months.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/24/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-secretary-of-state-antony-blinkens-visit-to-the-middle-east/
Oh you mean we don't need more inexperienced 19/20 year olds in a complicated offensive scheme that functions around a generational talent? Wouldn't have guessed.
https://twitter.com/drewshiller/status/1396892940702785537
I'll say the quiet part out loud; it's time for "progressives" to start condemning anti-semitism and violent attacks on Jewish people with the same intention and vigor demonstrated in other areas of activism. The silence has been deafening.
https://twitter.com/RepDeanPhillips/status/1396847735643549696
Throwback: Phillips was part of a meeting with Rep. Ilhan Omar and others in the wake of Omar's comments in 2019 which were characterized by some as antisemitic. Phillips asked Omar to apologize — which reportedly torpedoed the meeting. https://jewishinsider.com/2021/03/andy-levin-michigan-antisemitism-judaism/
During the campaign, Biden got some of his news from Apple News — which was preloaded on his iPhone. He loved the human interest stories, like "World's largest moth" and "Japanese woman is 119 years old," and would regale aides w tidbits.
https://washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-daily-routine-gatorade/2021/05/23/b6f608c2-b40e-11eb-a3b5-f994536fe84a_story.html
President Biden held his second phone call with Egypt's President el-Sisi. Beyond touching base on the Gaza situation, today's call included other issues of critical importance to the Egyptians: namely, the bitter dispute with Ethiopia control of over the Nile and Libya. Egypt Played Central Role in Israeli-Palestinian Cease-Fire.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/egypt-played-central-role-in-israeli-palestinian-cease-fire-11621639476
https://www.wsj.com/articles/fragile-israel-hamas-cease-fire-holds-as-tensions-remain-high-11621589571?mod=article_inline
National Guard to depart Capitol nearly 5 months after Jan. 6 riot
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/24/national-guard-depart-capitol-riot-490580
The horrific rise in anti-Semitic attacks against the Jewish community is reprehensible. Acts of hatred have no place in our society. We must stand together and reject hate and bigotry in all its forms.
https://twitter.com/SecondGentleman/status/1396931247914508289
She had no chance, she votes alongside Republicans most of the time, no Democrats support her, and Asian-Americans in Florida are 99% pro-Trumpers: Rep. Stephanie Murphy won't run for U.S. Senate, a decision that was sealed after fellow Florida Congresswoman Val Demings recently signaled she will likely challenge incumbent Marco Rubio.
https://politico.com/news/2021/05/24/stephanie-murphy-marco-rubio-senate-490563
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan is briefing members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee tonight on the current state of U.S.-Russia relations, per advisory that just went out
https://twitter.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1396828311200927744
An obscure security unit tasked with protecting the Commerce Department's officials and facilities has evolved into something more akin to a counterintelligence operation that collected information on hundreds of people inside and outside the department. The Investigations and Threat Management Service (ITMS) covertly searched employees' offices at night, ran broad keyword searches of their emails trying to surface signs of foreign influence and scoured Americans' social media for critical comments about the census, according to documents and interviews with five former investigators.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2021/05/24/commerce-department-monitoring-itms/
For the first time since June 2020, the U.S. reported fewer than 30,000 new daily Covid-19 cases. Nearly 50% of Americans have received at least one vaccine dose, but the vaccination rate varies widely by region.
https://www.americanoversight.org/covid-19-oversight-news-emergent-biosolutions-hydroxychloroquine-communications-and-the-pandemic-in-nursing-homes
Does this have even the vaguest significance? Honest question.
https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/1396932348814450690
While NYC is totally ending online schooling in the fall, the situation in Los Angeles is, as ever, not quite so simple
https://wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-schools-will-be-fully-in-person-in-fall-no-remote-learning-11621870843
Carlos Carrasco (torn right hamstring) won't return to the Mets until "late June, maybe early July," according to Mets general manager Zack Scott's best estimate.
https://twitter.com/AnthonyDiComo/status/1396927632386756620
Conforto and McNeil have "significant hamstring strains" and will be out until late June, Zack Scott said
https://twitter.com/AlbaneseLaura/status/1396928422677463044
The window to correct serious structural flaws and imbalances in our system is very small. This requires Democrats to find the spine to make arguments outside their comfort zone, and act on them. If not, that window could slam shut.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/24/dc-statehood-constitutional-letter/
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/24/readout-of-president-joseph-r-biden-jr-call-with-president-abdel-fattah-al-sisi-of-egypt-2/
Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of Egypt
May 24, 2021 • Statements and Releases
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of Egypt. President Biden thanked Egypt for its successful diplomacy and coordination with the United States to end the recent hostilities in Israel and Gaza and ensure violence does not reoccur. The two leaders consulted on the urgent need to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need in Gaza and to support rebuilding efforts in a manner that benefits the people there and not Hamas. President Biden said he has asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken to visit the region for follow up on these urgent needs. Regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, President Biden acknowledged Egypt's concerns about access to Nile River waters and underscored the U.S. interest in achieving a diplomatic resolution that meets the legitimate needs of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. The two leaders also discussed their commitment to upholding Libyan plans for national elections in December and the removal of all foreign military and irregular forces from Libya. They also affirmed their support for the Iraqi government's efforts to strengthen Iraq's full sovereignty and independence. President Biden underscored the importance of a constructive dialogue on human rights in Egypt. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a strong and productive U.S.-Egypt partnership.
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/legislation/2021/05/24/bill-signed-h-r-1318/
Bill Signed: H.R. 1318
May 24, 2021 • Legislation
On Monday, May 24, 2021, the President signed into law:
H.R. 1318, the "Alaska Tourism Restoration Act," which temporarily allows foreign-flagged cruise ships to sail directly from Washington State to Alaska without having to dock in Canada first until either the date on which Canada lifts restrictions prohibiting cruise ships from docking in its waters due to the COVID-19 pandemic or March 31, 2022.
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The UK has made antimicrobial resistance and backing models to develop new antibiotics a key priority for G7 finance ministers. Antimicrobial resistance may sound dry and boring but think if antibiotics stopped working and then read this | The U.K. wants to encourage drugmakers to develop new antibiotics amid fears that Covid-19 is obscuring the march of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which it views as a "silent pandemic," the person said. Drug-resistance already kills hundreds of thousands of people each year and risks undermining health systems worldwide. Overuse of older, cheaper antibiotics has led to the emergence of new drug-resistant strains of bacteria that can cause severe damage, particularly in hospitalized patients, and threaten to spread more widely in the community. Their continued widespread use in animals to promote growth and retard disease has also been linked to the emergence of resistant strains in humans. New antibiotic drugs cost an estimated 1 billion pounds ($1.4 billion) to develop yet health providers are unwilling to pay high prices, a combination that means they are frequently over-prescribed and unprofitable. Large pharmaceutical companies have all but abandoned antibacterial research, despite some recent industry-led efforts. While 11 new antibiotics have been approved since 2017, the majority are derivatives of existing classes, the World Health Organization said in a 2020 report, and new treatments are "urgently needed." Antibiotics add an average of 20 years to life expectancy around the world, experts say. If they stop working everything from simple surgery to cancer research and efforts to defeat common illnesses would become more complicated, costly and often impossible. | Worldwide, some 700,000 people each year as a result of drug-resistant diseases and infections, a number that could rise to 10 million every year by 2050, according to the 2020 WHO report. That would make AMR one of the leading causes of death in the world, surpassing cancer.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-24/u-k-pitches-radical-investment-plans-to-fight-killer-bacteria
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-13/superbugs-win-another-round-as-big-pharma-leaves-antibiotics
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240021303
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/reports/thenhsif/what-if-antibiotics-stopped-working/
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.html
The next time Olivia Rodrigo drives alone past your street, it could be in a different district. The 2020 Census was not so good 4 California — both LA County, where Rodrigo now lives, and Riverside County in #CA50 where she grew up, could see big shifts
https://businessinsider.com/olivia-rodrigo-californias-congressional-district-could-be-reshaped-2021-5
Former WH Counsel Don McGahn to testify before the House Judiciary Committee next week behind closed doors on Trump's efforts to obstruct the Mueller probe, ending a two-year legal battle over his testimony.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/24/us/politics/donald-mcgahn-judiciary-testimony.html
[Satire] Tony La Russa calls on MLB to suspend Yankees Tyler Wade after Wade convinced the White Sox skipper Sunday that relievers had a 3 inning minimum and not 3 batters: "Thought I would ask the kid what the rule was and he lied to me," La Russa said. "That's bush league honestly."
https://twitter.com/nyporchsport/status/1396854935594184707
For the first time, humpback whales were heard singing in waters off New York. The songs are otherworldly.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/24/nyregion/nyc-whale-sighting.html
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1396877416199512066
Congratulations to Clarkson for not quite being good enough to be a starter: Utah's Jordan Clarkson has been named NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
https://twitter.com/thesteinline/status/1396972680822366209
Court-side view after Chris Paul's "dirty" play against LeBron James, shows LeBron grabbing his shoulder, getting up, falling to one knee and then limping off the court. After Chris Paul tugged on LeBron James' shoulder on a box-out, LeBron James collapsed to the floor and stayed there while Cameron Payne and Montrezl Harrell got into a scuffle. LeBron James then got back up, held his shoulder as he walked to the sideline, fell to one knee, got back up and then acquired a seemingly out-of-no-where limp.
https://streamable.com/fv8ksf
U.S. citizens currently overseas whose passports expired on or after January 1, 2020, may be able to use their expired U.S. passport for direct return travel to the United States until December 31, 2021.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/24/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-diversion-of-ryanair-flight-and-arrest-of-journalist-in-belarus/
Statement by President Joe Biden on Diversion of Ryanair Flight and Arrest of Journalist in Belarus
May 24, 2021 • Statements and Releases
Belarus's forced diversion of a commercial Ryanair flight, traveling between two member states of the European Union, and subsequent removal and arrest of Raman Pratasevich, a Belarusian journalist traveling abroad, are a direct affront to international norms. The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms both the diversion of the plane and the subsequent removal and arrest of Mr. Pratasevich. This outrageous incident and the video Mr. Pratasevich appears to have made under duress are shameful assaults on both political dissent and the freedom of the press. The United States joins countries around the world in calling for his release, as well as for the release of the hundreds of political prisoners who are being unjustly detained by the Lukashenka regime.
I join the many calls for an international investigation to ascertain the complete facts of the case. I welcome the news that the European Union has called for targeted economic sanctions and other measures, and have asked my team to develop appropriate options to hold accountable those responsible, in close coordination with the European Union, other allies and partners, and international organizations.
For months, the Belarusian people have made their voices heard—demanding democracy, respect for human rights, and the preservation of fundamental freedoms. I applaud the courage and determination of Belarusians fighting for basic rights, including journalists like Raman Pratasevich and opposition leaders like Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her husband, Syarhey Tsikhanouski. The United States will continue to stand with the people of Belarus in their struggle.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/24/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-diversion-of-ryanair-flight-and-arrest-of-journalist-in-belarus/
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We have a 3 billion euro economic and investment package ready to go for Belarus, when it becomes democratic.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1396878494882275337
https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1396878494882275337
The Milwaukee Bucks scored 46 points in the 1st quarter vs the Miami Heat
https://www.espn.com/nba/game?gameId=401327878
"I just made my own personal decision that I'm not getting vaccinated because I've already had the disease and I have natural immunity. But abortion and birth control are murder and must be banned, and lgbtq is criminality and must be banned" -- Sen. Rand Paul
In another blow for the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. warned citizens against traveling to Japan, which has seen an increase in coronavirus cases. The declaration is unlikely to affect the decision to send U.S. athletes to the Games.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/24/world/asia/us-travel-warning-japan.html
It's the mobilization, the impunity, the scale, the sheer misogyny and the violence that's so shocking this time around... It's terrifying and we're definitely questioning our future here."
https://jta.org/2021/05/24/global/british-jews-fear-antisemitism-has-risen-to-unprecedented-heights-after-gaza-protests
There's More New Evidence January 6th Was Armed And Organized | Jan 6th was an attempted coup with coordination between high level Republican officials and paramilitary organizations.
https://theuprising.info/p/theres-more-new-evidence-january
The recent spike in antisemitic attacks against Jews around the country and the world is horrific, heartbreaking & demands action. Antisemitism cannot be tolerated. We must come together as Americans to condemn and combat this appalling bigotry and hatred.
https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1396839009666707458
The White House has ousted several members of a prestigious arts commission in the nation's capital, the latest move in the Biden administration's purge of Trump-era appointees from government agencies and boards | The seven-member Commission of Fine Arts -- an independent federal agency tasked with advising the President, Congress and government agencies on "matters of design and aesthetics" in the nation's capital, according to the commission's website -- consisted entirely of commissioners appointed by Trump. On Monday, four members -- including the chairman -- were instructed to resign from their positions by the end of the day. Monday's shakeup at CFA comes as the Biden administration has also grappled with how to handle dozens of Trump-era appointees. Recently the Environmental Protection Agency announced its decision to remove Trump-appointed advisers from two important scientific panels. Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also dismissed hundreds of members of 42 Pentagon advisory boards, including controversial late appointments by the Trump administration of former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie, Trump's deputy campaign manager.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/25/politics/white-house-arts-commission/index.html
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/25/fact-sheet-biden-administration-opens-pacific-coast-to-new-jobs-and-clean-energy-production-with-offshore-wind-development/
FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Opens Pacific Coast to New Jobs and Clean Energy Production with Offshore Wind Development
May 25, 2021 • Statements and Releases
White House Marshals Departments of the Interior, Defense, and Energy to Advance California Offshore Areas for Wind Energy Development and Good-Paying, Union Jobs
Today, the White House convened National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, and Under Secretary for Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl to announce an effort to advance areas for offshore wind off the northern and central coasts of California – opening up the Pacific Coast to its first commercial scale offshore clean energy projects. This significant milestone is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's goal to create thousands of good-paying, union jobs through the deployment of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030. These initial areas for offshore wind development in the Pacific Ocean could bring up to 4.6 GW of clean energy to the grid, enough to power 1.6 million American homes.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/29/fact-sheet-biden-administration-jumpstarts-offshore-wind-energy-projects-to-create-jobs/
More specifically, the Department of the Interior, in coordination with the Department of Defense, has identified an area ("the Morro Bay 399 Area") that will support three gigawatts of offshore wind on roughly 399 square miles off California's central coast region, northwest of Morro Bay. The Department of the Interior is also advancing the Humboldt Call Area as a potential Wind Energy Area, located off northern California. These identified areas will enable the build out of a significant new domestic clean energy resource for years to come.
Because the Defense Department engages in significant testing, training, and operations off the coast of California that are essential to national security, the Defense Department played a critical role in identifying these new areas for offshore wind development. The Department of the Interior acknowledges the critical nature of current and future military testing, training, and operations and that the operational integrity thereof is a national security imperative. It will work closely with the Department of Defense to ensure long-term protection of military testing, training, and operations while pursuing new domestic clean energy resources.
Because the outer continental shelf falls away much more quickly into much deeper waters in the Pacific than it does in the Atlantic Ocean, new floating offshore wind technology will be deployed in offshore California waters. Notably, and as a further demonstration of the Biden administration's whole-of-government approach to clean energy development, the. Department of Energy, through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and ARPA-E, has invested more than $100 million in researching, developing, and demonstrating floating offshore wind technology. These investments have helped position the United States as a leader in the emerging global floating offshore wind market.
Today's announcement comes after the Biden Administration announced a set of bold actions to catalyze offshore wind energy as part of the President's commitment to building new American infrastructure and a clean energy future that creates good-paying, union jobs. And, it follows the Administration's approval of the first major offshore wind project in U.S waters advancing the construction and operation of the Vineyard Wind project in Massachusetts.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/29/fact-sheet-biden-administration-jumpstarts-offshore-wind-energy-projects-to-create-jobs/
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-approves-first-major-offshore-wind-project-us-waters
Administration leaders shared their perspective on today's announcement and collaboration:
National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy: "Today's announcement again demonstrates that by taking a whole-of-government approach, the U.S. can smartly develop our nation's world-class offshore wind energy resources, deploy new technologies that our government has helped to advance, and create thousands of good-paying, union jobs – all in the service of combating the climate crisis. I salute the Departments of the Interior, Defense, and Energy, and our partners in California, for all they have done to make this possible."
California Governor Gavin Newsom: "Developing offshore wind to produce clean, renewable energy could be a game changer to achieving California's clean energy goals and addressing climate change – all while bolstering the economy and creating new jobs. This historic announcement, which could provide clean power for up to 1.6 million homes over the next decade, represents the innovative approach we need for a clean energy economy that protects the coasts, fisheries, marine life, and Tribal, and cultural resources we value so much as Californians."
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland: "I believe that a clean energy future is within our grasp in the United States, but it will take all of us and the best-available science to make it happen. Today's announcement reflects months of active engagement and dedication between partners who are committed to advancing a clean energy future. The offshore wind industry has the potential to create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs across the nation, while combating the negative effects of climate change. Interior is proud to be part of an all-of-government approach toward the Biden-Harris Administration's ambitious renewable energy goals."
Under Secretary for Defense Policy Dr. Colin Kahl: "Tacking the climate crisis is a national security imperative and the Defense Department is proud to have played a role in this important effort. The Defense Department is committed to working across the U.S. government to find solutions that support renewable energy in a manner compatible with t essential military operations. Throughout this effort, the Defense Department has worked tirelessly with the White House, the Department of the Interior, and the State of California to find solutions that enable offshore wind development while ensuring long-term protection for testing, training, and operations critical to our military readiness. The Defense Department applauds this step and looks forward to continued coordination to address the climate crisis."
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/25/president-biden-announces-his-intent-to-appoint-members-to-the-commission-on-fine-arts/
President Biden Announces His Intent to Appoint Members to the Commission on Fine Arts
May 25, 2021 • Statements and Releases
Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint four new members to the Commission on Fine Arts:
Peter Cook, Principal, HGA Architects
Peter Cook is a Principal at HGA Architects. Among Cook's high-profile projects are the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture, Watha T. Daniel / Shaw Neighborhood Library, Embassy of South Africa, and Saint Elizabeth's East Gateway Pavilion. Cook is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Washington, D.C. Chapter and the National Organization of Minority Architects. He holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, and a Bachelor of Arts in Visual & Environmental Studies from Harvard University.
Hazel Ruth Edwards, Professor and Chair, Howard University Department of Architecture in the College of Engineering and Architecture
Dr. Hazel Ruth Edwards has been Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture, College of Engineering and Architecture at Howard University since July 2016. Appointed in 2016, Edwards is the first female to chair the department since architecture education began at Howard in 1911. Her unique career has combined place-based research with planning and urban design practice and teaching. She is a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and was elected to their College of Fellows (FAICP) in 2018.
Justin Garrett Moore, Inaugural Program Officer, Humanities in Place, Andrew Mellon Foundation
Justin Garrett Moore is a transdisciplinary designer and urbanist. He recently took a job at the Andrew Mellon Foundation as the Inaugural Program Officer of the Humanities in Place program. Moore previously served as Executive Director of the City of New York Public Design Commission. He is a member of the American Planning Association's AICP Commission, the Urban Design Forum, and the Black urbanist collective BlackSpace. Justin is an adjunct faculty member at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and the Yale School of Architecture.
Billie Tsien, Partner, Todd Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Billie Tsien is an architect and a founding partner with Tod Williams of the New York City-based studio Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners. Their work is committed to reflecting the values of non-profit, cultural and academic institutions through an architecture that is serene and enduring. Currently serving as President of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she is also a member of the National Academy of Design, American Academy in Rome, and the American Philosophical Society. Maintaining an active academic career as the Charles Gwathmey Professor in Practice at Yale University, she is steadfast in her mission to create a better world through architecture and to contribute to supporting a broader and more diverse cultural landscape.
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Biden Administration Strikes Deal To Bring Offshore Wind To California
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/25/1000210550/biden-administration-strikes-deal-to-bring-offshore-wind-to-california
Wisconsin Republicans quickly kill Medicaid expansion
https://apnews.com/article/1ab60e341674584c3059511d35ec7c21
NOOOOOOOOOO: Indictment against former Trump advisor Bannon is dismissed
https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-indictments-government-and-politics-c6f174f3297c4aa080109ae2ec21c6bd
Manhattan's district attorney has convened the grand jury that is expected to decide whether to indict Trump, other executives at his company or the business itself should prosecutors present the panel with criminal charges.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-investigation-grand-jury/2021/05/25/5f47911c-bcca-11eb-83e3-0ca705a96ba4_story.html
Dollar General has as many stores as Walmart and McDonald's combined. How did they get that big? By systematically exploiting their employees.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1397293801077714950
We shouldn't have to walk on eggshells around police officers, the same people that are supposed to protect and serve. We are looked at as thugs, animals, and criminals, all because of the color of our skin.
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/1397310872842821633
She should have been at The People's House today....: Darnella Frazier, the brave young woman who filmed the murder of George Floyd, deserves peace and healing. In addition to the trauma of watching a black man be murdered by police, she has had to deal with trolls, bullies and ignorant people harassing her online. It took unbelievable courage for her to stand there and bear witness to such an awful tragedy. We all have our roles to play in the revolution against white supremacy. Darnella played an important one and should be uplifted, not shamed. Something broke. This country will never be the same. And in the midst of our rage and pain, we cannot let this young black woman become a casualty.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/peace-and-healing-for-darnella
President Biden has arrived at Chandler Funeral Home in Wilmington. He's paying his respects to the family of Norma Long, who worked in his Senate office for more than three decades
https://twitter.com/justinsink/status/1397319996016058370
The U.S. is distributing stimulus aid to victims of domestic abuse, who faced even greater hardship in the pandemic.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/24/us/domestic-violence-aid.html
New York Knicks All-Star Julius Randle has won the NBA 2020-21 Most Improved Player of the Year award
https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1397318201869062144
Democrats want to redraw Illinois Supreme Court districts for first time in almost 60 years in effort to maintain majority
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-supreme-court-redistricting-20210525-5bdeyxbx3ffs7j3bllrkzuku7a-story.html
RHP Noah Syndergaard was removed from tonight's game with St. Lucie after 1.0 inning for precautionary reasons due to right elbow soreness.
https://twitter.com/Mets/status/1397334378611621891
Marjorie Taylor Greene deletes retweet calling Kevin McCarthy a "feckless c**t" and "moron"
https://www.newsweek.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-deletes-retweet-calling-kevin-mccarthy-feckless-ct-moron-1594840
One of the top astronomical happenings of 2021 will unfold in the early morning sky on Wednesday as the Earth, moon and sun align perfectly to create a total lunar eclipse. This will be the first event of its kind since 2019, when stargazers braved the cold wintry weather on the night of Jan. 20, to witness the moon turn red over North America.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/moon-to-turn-red-wednesday-total-lunar-eclipse/950118
A century ago, a prosperous Black neighborhood in Tulsa, Okla., perished at the hands of a violent white mob.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/24/us/tulsa-race-massacre.html
Here's video of MTG attacking Holocaust comparisons in 2019: "And I think it's an embarrassment to our country, that we actually have a congresswoman that would do such a thing." Democrats had compared border facilities to concentration camps at the time.
https://cnn.com/2021/05/25/politics/kfile-mtg-holocaust-comparisons-2019/index.html
Kristen Clarke becomes first Black woman to head DOJ's Civil Rights Division
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/kristen-clarke-becomes-first-black-woman-head-doj-s-civil-n1268581
Arizona Republicans pass a measure to strip Democrat Katie Hobbs, the current sec. of state, of her ability to defend election lawsuits; the bill would put the state AG, currently a Republican, in charge of defending all lawsuits through Jan. 2, 2023.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/arizona-republicans-introduce-bill-strip-powers-democratic-secretary-state-n1268558
If you condemn all Israeli Jews, you are condemning almost half the world's Jews. If you don't give a damn what happens to Israel's Jews in the name of "freeing Palestine," you don't give a damn about what happens to almost half the world's Jews. I get the feeling a lot of people who are tweeting about American Jews and Israel lack some basic demographic knowledge, so here it is. There are about 15 million Jews in the world (versus almost 2 BILLION Muslims). About 7 million live in Israel. Another 7 million (with liberal definition) live in the U.S. Thanks to being murdered, enslaved, expelled, Farhuded, Communized, pogromed, and so on, almost half the world's jews wound up in Israel, from almost every country on earth. Not a single country on earth other than Israel has consistently welcomed Jewish immigration, including the United States. No one would have saved Ethiopian Jews, or Yemen's Jews, or other endangered communities but Israel. Few countries have wanted more Jews. Even fewer would want African and other dark-skinned Jews. Basically none. So when you tweet out that Israel is not all Jews, and not all Jews are Israel, that's true. Obviously, Israeli Jews themselves don't all agree with the Israel government and a few are even hostile to the concept of Israel. HOWEVER, when you act like it's some kind of weird tribal conspiracy that disapora Jews have connections to Israel and don't take kindly to libels, falsehood, genocidal rhetoric and so on, keep in mind: Almost half the world's Jews (and growing) live in Israel; Most American Jews have friends and relatives in Israel; no other has been willing to take in Jews when they needed refuge. Most of us know that the US was largely closed before the Holocaust. You probably didn't know that after the Holocaust, the US was also mostly closed to Jews. So when you blithely talk about freeing Palestine from the river to the sea, or blithely talk about a one-state solution without realistic proposal of how the Jewish population will be protected, whether you are non-Jewish or just an ignorant Jew, you are threatening almost half the world's Jews; you are threatening American Jews' friends and relatives; you are threatening the one open refuge Jewish people have had after centuries of oppression; and you are threatening the future of Judaism, Jewish culture, and the Jewish people. You don't give a damn? Then why should we listen to you?
Rich Hill vs KC: 8IP 2ER 6H 0BB 13K | Rich Hill is the first 41+ year old pitcher with multiple 10-strikeout games in a season since Randy Johnson had 3 in 2008
Despite the loss, Kawhi Leonard ends the game with 41/5/4 on 21 shots, in a duel with Luka Doncic who puts up 39/6/7 on 29 shots.
The Clippers paid Luke Kennard 64 million to DNP's in the first two games of the playoffs.
The Clippers have lost 5 straight playoff games since Sept 11, 2020
Clippers blowing a 3-1 lead with 2 17pt lead blown last year vs Clippers potential swept after intentionally tanking to 4th this year, which will hurt more?
The Clippers were done last season and this season because they do not play with joy, excitement, enthusiasm, camaraderie, etc
The Louvre will have a female president for the first time in its 228-year history. Laurence des Cars, who is currently president of the Musée d'Orsay, will take over the job — one of the most important in the art world — in September.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/arts/design/louvre-laurence-des-cars.html
William Shakespeare, the man with a famous name who inspired headline writers across Britain last year when he became the second person in the country to receive a coronavirus-19 vaccine, has died after suffering a stroke, his family said in a statement. He was 81. Since Mr. Shakespeare was vaccinated on Dec. 8 at University Hospital, Coventry, in central England, 57 percent of Britain's population has received at least one dose of a coronavirus-19 vaccine, one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. In a statement released through the hospital where Mr. Shakespeare was vaccinated, his wife of 53 years, Joy, said he had been grateful for becoming one of the first people to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. "It was something he was hugely proud of," she said. "He loved seeing the media coverage and the positive difference he was able to make to the lives of so many." "He often talked to people about it and would always encourage everyone to get their vaccine whenever he could," she said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/world/europe/william-shakespeare-covid-vaccine.html
99% of Asian-Americans are ultra-conservative, Republican, ultra pro-Trump, hardline racist, antisemitic, mysognist, anti-environment, anti-lgbtq, anti-abortion, anti-social-spending, nasty, hateful pieces of shit, hence the reason they are being attacked in the US.
Shell ordered to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 in landmark ruling
https://news.sky.com/story/shell-ordered-to-reduce-emissions-by-45-by-2030-in-landmark-ruling-12317324
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-26/shell-loses-climate-case-that-may-set-precedent-for-oil-industry
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $110 million in new economic assistance to Palestinians during a visit to Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, including $5.5 million in immediate relief to Gaza. Including commitments made in April, "we are in the process of providing $360 million in urgent support to the Palestinian people," Blinken said. | Schmale, the U.N. official, cast doubt on the practical ability of the U.S. and other governments to partner with the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. "The Palestinian Authority has no credible or functional presence" in Gaza, Schmale said. The authority is based in the West Bank and "if you want to get things done in Gaza to scale" — without routing the money through Hamas — "the only avenue is UNRWA," he said. The Trump administration ceased UNRWA funding in 2018, but Biden has reinstated $150 million in annual funding to the U.N. agency — once again becoming its biggest donor — which provides emergency food and health care to nearly 2 million Gazans and basic education to around 500,000 children. | Saudi Arabia cut funding from $160 million to $28.9 million, while Qatari assistance dropped from $51.5 million to $8 million. The United Arab Emirates — which recognized Israel for the first time in signing the Abraham Accords — made the most severe cut: from $51.8 million to just $1 million, preferring to deliver in-kind assistance through organizations such as the Emirates Red Crescent. U.N. officials said they believe that some aid from Middle Eastern governments had been rerouted from UNRWA to Hamas.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/25/blinken-gaza-funding-490824
Governors in nearly every state have collectively signed 243 bills over the past year meant to change policing in the the U.S., a landmark moment following the national reckoning on race touched off by George Floyd's murder. Maryland, Virginia and Washington are among the states that enacted laws banning chokeholds, limiting no-knock warrants and increasing transparency around disciplinary records for law enforcement. Some states, like Arkansas, Massachusetts and Colorado, passed measures requiring law enforcement to intervene when another officer is using excessive force. Leaders in statehouses say they're proud of the work they've done. "States are the right place to get this done because the vast majority of law enforcement report to the states. It should be this way," New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf, who helped lead passage of a law making New Mexico the second state to ensure law enforcement officers and other state officials can be held liable in civil lawsuits for egregious conduct. | But as Congress continues to debate already-weakened police reform legislation on Capitol Hill — earning a rebuke Tuesday from a lawyer representing Floyd's family — advocates for police reform say that both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are failing to achieve real change. They say the fundamental transformation of policing that was envisioned a year ago, as millions of protesters spilled into the streets to demand justice for Floyd, is not even close to being realized. Instead, activists say, statehouses are focused on changing policing practices rather than seriously confronting difficult issues like reducing the size of law enforcement budgets, the top demand from police reform advocates. Some states leveraged the national attention on law enforcement to protect police officers, like in Georgia, where the statehouse approved a bill last year creating an officer "bill of rights." And now, the "defund the police" movement is facing a new threat: State laws that prevent local governments from redirecting law enforcement funds to social services programs.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/26/states-policing-bills-490850
Kawhi is putting up 34PPG on 65% TS in this series, shame to be wasting that. Kawhi has 41 and PG has 28 and they can't win. Also the starters have the team in a 12 point hole all the time so they need changing.
President Joe Biden's upcoming budget request will propose growing Cyber Mission Force force over the next two years, as the new administration reels from a series of cyberattacks. Biden wants to increase the size of the CMF — a cadre of roughly 6,200 personnel culled from the military branches and divided into 133 teams — by about 600 people, or 10 percent. The exact composition of the proposed teams remains unclear.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/26/biden-budget-military-cyber-force-490965
Activist Wins Exxon Board Seats After Questioning Oil Giant's Climate Strategy. Shareholders vote to replace at least 2 board members with new directors seen as more focused on climate change. Upstart investor Engine No. 1's victory in one of the most expensive proxy fights ever is an unprecedented setback for Exxon and its CEO, Darren Woods.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/activist-wins-exxon-board-seats-after-questioning-oil-giants-climate-strategy-11622050087
Victims of ransomware should contact law enforcement immediately! We have prepared a guide with some tips on how to respond if you're hit with ransomware:
https://secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2020-12/Preparing%20for%20a%20Cyber%20Incident%20-%20A%20Guide%20to%20Ransomware%20v%201.0.pdf
On Wednesday, May 26, 2021, the President signed into law:
H.R. 941, the "Timely ReAuthorization of Necessary Stem-cell Programs Lends Access to Needed Therapies Act of 2021 or the TRANSPLANT Act of 2021," which reauthorizes stem cell programs.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/26/bill-signed-h-r-941/
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/26/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan-will-produce-preserve-and-retrofit-more-than-2-million-affordable-housing-units-and-create-good-paying-jobs/
FACT SHEET: The American Jobs Plan Will Produce, Preserve, and Retrofit More Than 2 Million Affordable Housing Units and Create Good-Paying Jobs
May 26, 2021 • Statements and Releases
Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of millions of Americans will struggle to access affordable, safe, energy efficient, and resilient housing. Across the country, 11 million families pay more than half their income on rent, 3 million families with children under six reside in homes with lead paint, thousands of working families are displaced every year as a result of extreme weather fueled by climate change, and millions of families cannot afford to purchase their own homes. These challenges are even more severe in low-income communities and communities of color, many of which have been segregated, excluded, and neglected for generations.
The Biden-Harris Administration is proposing a bold investment in America's housing infrastructure and make housing more affordable for working and middle-class families. The American Jobs Plan pairs $213 billion in direct funding with more than $100 billion in new and expanded tax credits with bipartisan support to build and modernize housing across the country. Together with new incentives for zoning reform, these investments will produce, preserve, and retrofit more than two million affordable and sustainable places to live in more – and higher opportunity – communities. This includes more than 500,000 new and rehabilitated homes for low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners.
Along the way, these investments would create and sustain hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs – the majority of which won't require a college degree – with a free and fair choice to join a union and bargain collectively. As President Biden has said, we need a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild our economy and ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to share in its prosperity. These investments will ensure local community members, including workers of color, can fill these jobs, and they will provide employment and economic opportunities for residents of assisted housing. Stable, affordable housing serves as the foundation on which working families build their lives and invest in their children's future. The American Jobs Plan would:
- Create good, middle-class jobs for local community members. The housing investments in the American Jobs Plan will create tens of thousands of good jobs, with a free and fair choice to join a union, for workers around the country as they build, upgrade, and retrofit homes in their communities. Employers will be required to pay workers prevailing wages; enter into project labor, community workforce, and local hire agreements; and use workers from registered apprenticeships and other labor or labor-management training programs. Employers receiving funding would also be required to remain neutral when their employees seek to organize a union and bargain collectively and may not require their employees to agree to mandatory individual arbitration. And, the American Jobs Plan includes $10 billion to provide federal enforcement agencies with the tools they need to ensure employers are providing workers with good jobs – including jobs with fair and equal pay, safe and healthy workplaces, and workplaces free from racial, gender, and other forms of discrimination and harassment.
- Expand access to federal subsidies that will enable the construction or rehabilitation of more than 1 million affordable rental housing units. In addition to expanding LIHTC, President Biden's American Jobs Plan would bolster funding for successful housing subsidy programs that pair with LIHTC to produce and preserve housing that is affordable for very- and extremely-low income renters. This includes a $35 billion investment in the HOME Investment Partnerships program, $45 billion for the Housing Trust Fund, and $12 billion for the Capital Magnet Fund. The President is also proposing authorizing $2 billion in new project-based rental assistance agreements for the first time in more than 20 years to help even more working families access affordable housing. Together, these investments will produce, preserve, and retrofit more than a million affordable, rental housing units in big cities and small towns across the country.
- Build and rehabilitate more than 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income homebuyers and homeowners. Across the country, millions of homes sit empty and in poor condition with values too low to support new construction or substantial renovation. To address this problem, the American Jobs Plan proposes creating a new federal tax credit, based on the innovative, bipartisan Neighborhood Homes Investment Act. The tax credit will make homeownership and wealth-building possible for low- and moderate-income families by encouraging the construction and rehabilitation of homes in and for underserved communities.
- Expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Financing the construction or rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low-income households is challenging. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) reduces financing barriers by offering federal income tax credits to private investors in exchange for equity investments in affordable rental housing. As the federal government's primary tool for financing affordable housing, LIHTC currently produces an estimated 100,000 units per year. President Biden's plan will build on this success by proposing to invest an additional $55 billion in tax credits, enabling the creation of tens of thousands more units each year, including more units in high opportunity neighborhoods.
- Expand access to federal subsidies that will enable the construction or rehabilitation of more than 1 million affordable rental housing units. In addition to expanding LIHTC, President Biden's American Jobs Plan would bolster funding for successful housing subsidy programs that pair with LIHTC to produce and preserve housing that is affordable for very- and extremely-low income renters. This includes a $35 billion investment in the HOME Investment Partnerships program, $45 billion for the Housing Trust Fund, and $12 billion for the Capital Magnet Fund. The President is also proposing authorizing $2 billion in new project-based rental assistance agreements for the first time in more than 20 years to help even more working families access affordable housing. Together, these investments will produce, preserve, and retrofit more than a million affordable, rental housing units in big cities and small towns across the country.
- Address longstanding public housing capital needs. Nearly two million people across the country live in public housing—families with children, older Americans, and people with disabilities. Like roads, schools, and power grids, public housing is critical infrastructure that directly impacts the health and viability of our communities. Yet nearly half of the nearly 1 million units of public housing are over 50 years old and many contain lead paint, mold, and other health hazards. The American Jobs Plan calls for a transformative investment of $40 billion to rehabilitate and preserve public housing, addressing residents' critical health and safety concerns. This is not just a safety issue but a racial justice issue, as approximately three in four public housing residents are people of color.
- Remove lead-based paint from homes. Over three million homes with children under six years of age have lead-based paint hazards, including more than 1 million low-income households. The American Jobs Plan proposes a $3 billion investment to fund the inspection and removal of lead-based paint from 175,000 housing units.
- Incentivize the removal of exclusionary zoning and harmful land use policies. For decades, exclusionary zoning laws – like minimum lot sizes, mandatory parking requirements, and prohibitions on multifamily housing – have inflated housing and construction costs and locked families out of areas with more opportunities. President Biden's plan seeks to help jurisdictions reduce barriers to producing affordable housing and expand housing choices for people with low or moderate incomes. The American Jobs Plan will create a $5 billion incentive program that awards flexible and attractive funding to jurisdictions that take concrete steps to reduce barriers to affordable housing production.
- Support and sustain homeownership and renting opportunities in rural America. Rural communities face unique housing needs that are not always fulfilled by traditional federal housing programs. The American Jobs Plan proposes investing $2 billion to build and rehabilitate housing across rural America. This includes additional Section 502 loans that would enable thousands of low-income individuals in federally declared disaster areas to use funds for new construction of single-family homes. The plan would also provide new resources through Section 504 to enable existing low-income rural homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes. And, this proposal would support the construction and rehabilitation of thousands of multifamily units, including units that would provide affordable, sustainable housing to farmworkers and their families.
- Develop and operate affordable housing for older Americans. More than half of renters over the age of 65 are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing expenses. The American Jobs Plan would invest $2 billion in HUD's Section 202 program, increasing the supply of affordable housing with supportive services for very low-income older Americans.
- Meet tribal communities' housing needs. Tribal communities face outsized housing shortages and a dire need for infrastructure. The American Jobs Plan will invest $2 billion to expand the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing, build supportive infrastructure, and spur green, climate resilient community development in Indian Country.
- Create more climate-resilient communities. Every year, thousands of American families are displaced in the wake of extreme weather events fueled by climate change. The Biden-Harris Administration has proposed a more than $2 billion investment for a new Community Development Block Grant Program for resilience activities in communities vulnerable to climate change. HUD would target funding to low- and moderate-income areas with increased risk from climate related disasters.
- Make housing more energy efficient and resilient for millions of families. Millions of single-family and multifamily housing were built decades ago and are less energy efficient and resilient than modern technologies and practices allow. The American Jobs Plan would seek to address this problem through a historic investment in building upgrades. This includes an $17.5 billion investment in the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance program and $500 million in grants and low-interest loans to help renovate multifamily homes. The American Jobs Plan also proposes a new, $10 billion consumer electrification rebate program modeled on the bipartisan HOPE for HOMES Act. And, the American Jobs Plan would extend and expand existing home efficiency tax credits for working families. These investments will make housing more energy and water efficient and more resilient to extreme weather events, creating jobs, improving public health, and saving families money along the way.
- Build affordable housing and supportive infrastructure in small towns all across America. Many of America's small towns face shortages of affordable housing for households experiencing poverty and for lower-wage workers. The American Jobs Plan would devote $250 million towards a new Main Street Revitalization Program that would provide grants to communities for renovating their downtown business districts and adding units of affordable housing while, retaining the area's traditional and historic character.
- Revitalize the physical assets that build community connectedness and spark innovation. Across the country, too many low-income communities and communities of color have suffered from years of disinvestment. The American Jobs Plan proposes investing $10 billion to support community-led redevelopment projects that create innovative shared amenities, spark new economic activity, provide services, build community wealth, and strengthen social cohesion. The proposed Community Revitalization Fund would support a wide range of transformational places to work and gather, including but not limited to: upgrading access to natural areas, restoring vacant buildings to provide low-cost space for services and community entrepreneurs, and removing toxic waste and building new parks, greenways, and community gardens.
________________________________________
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/26/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-the-investigation-into-the-origins-of-covid-19/
Statement by President Joe Biden on the Investigation into the Origins of COVID-19
May 26, 2021 • Statements and Releases
Back in early 2020, when COVID-19 emerged, I called for the CDC to get access to China to learn about the virus so we could fight it more effectively. The failure to get our inspectors on the ground in those early months will always hamper any investigation into the origin of COVID-19.
Nevertheless, shortly after I became President, in March, I had my National Security Advisor task the Intelligence Community to prepare a report on their most up-to-date analysis of the origins of COVID-19, including whether it emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident. I received that report earlier this month, and asked for additional follow-up. As of today, the U.S. Intelligence Community has "coalesced around two likely scenarios" but has not reached a definitive conclusion on this question. Here is their current position: "while two elements in the IC leans toward the former scenario and one leans more toward the latter – each with low or moderate confidence – the majority of elements do not believe there is sufficient information to assess one to be more likely than the other."
I have now asked the Intelligence Community to redouble their efforts to collect and analyze information that could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion, and to report back to me in 90 days. As part of that report, I have asked for areas of further inquiry that may be required, including specific questions for China. I have also asked that this effort include work by our National Labs and other agencies of our government to augment the Intelligence Community's efforts. And I have asked the Intelligence Community to keep Congress fully apprised of its work.
The United States will also keep working with like-minded partners around the world to press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence.
________________________________________
More Americans who survived the pandemic have been killed by a uniquely American epidemic. Gun Violence. At least 8 people have been killed by a gunman in San Jose at a public transit rail yard today.
Democrats back growing calls for Congress to probe lab leak theory
https://politico.com/news/2021/05/26/democrats-covid-lab-leak-theory-490951
Kudos to the Biden admin for announcing an expanded U.S. government investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, exploring both possible theories. Now, they must follow through. It's an urgent national security and public health issue.
Exchange between Sen. Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) and @jpmorgan CEO Jamie Dimon on overdraft fees: "Mr. Dimon, you're the star of the overdraft show." Full video here: https://c-span.org/video/?512039-1/us-bank-ceos-testify-senate-banking-committee
https://www.salon.com/2021/05/26/elizabeth-warren-and-jamie-dimon-face-off-in-heated-senate-hearing/
The Mexican government said Tuesday that a private building project is destroying part of the outskirts of the pre-Hispanic ruin site of Teotihuacán, just north of Mexico City. The Culture Department said it has repeatedly issued stop-work orders since March but the building crews have ignored them. The department estimated at least 25 ancient structures on the site are threatened, and it has filed a criminal complaint against those responsible. | "Teotihuacán is an emblematic site declared as World Heritage by the UNESCO, that represents the highest expression of the identity of the people of Mexico," the U.N. council said in a statement.
https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-mexico-business-science-0b4cfb8a8759d5cc3333c82f714baba7
Bashar Assad set to cement rule over war-torn Syria in election dismissed by U.S. as "neither free nor fair"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/syria-presidential-election-bashar-assad-civil-war-us-says-not-free-or-fair/
Mother and partner of fallen Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick request meetings with all Republican senators, urging them to back Jan. 6 commission
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mother-and-partner-of-fallen-capitol-police-officer-brian-sicknick-request-meetings-with-all-republican-senators-urging-them-to-back-jan-6-commission/2021/05/26/c8109f28-be3b-11eb-b26e-53663e6be6ff_story.html
A group of archaeologists discovered this 3,300 year old claw of the now-extinct bird,"Moa", with flesh and muscles still attached to it.
https://twitter.com/ArtifactsHub/status/1396999856850305024/photo/1
Suspected Islamists kill 22 with knives, machetes in eastern Congo
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/suspected-islamists-kill-22-with-knives-machetes-eastern-congo-2021-05-26/
Jill and I extend our warmest wishes to Buddhists in the United States and around the world as they celebrate Vesak, a day honoring the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. The ceremonial lighting of a lamp, the symbol of this holiday that has been celebrated for over 2,500 years, reminds us of Buddhism's teachings of compassion, humility, and selflessness that endure today. On this day, we also commemorate the many contributions of Buddhists in America who enrich our communities and our country as we all work together toward brighter days ahead.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/26/statement-by-president-biden-on-vesak/
Mickey Callaway has been placed on @MLB's ineligible list through at least the 2022 season, Commissioner Rob Manfred just announced. MLB had investigated harassment allegations against Callaway.
https://twitter.com/castrovince/status/1397644118743031808
The plan to turn coal country into a rare earth powerhouse. With plans for a Made-in-America renewable energy transformation, Biden administration ramps up efforts to extract rare earth minerals from coal waste.
https://grist.org/technology/the-plan-to-turn-coal-country-into-a-rare-earth-powerhouse/
Broker fees are back. New York State has issued new guidance on whether those hefty fees are allowed under the rent protection laws from 2019. After lawsuits challenging it, New York State says brokers can collect fees and will not be disciplined for doing so.
https://twitter.com/matthewhaag/status/1397569659289968642
Carlos Rodon v. STL today: 6.0IP, 1H, 1R, 0BB, 10K
________________________________________
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/26/a-proclamation-on-honoring-the-victims-of-the-tragedy-in-san-jose-california/
A Proclamation on Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in San Jose, California
May 26, 2021 • Presidential Actions
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on May 26, 2021, in San Jose, California, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, May 30, 2021. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of May, in the year of our L-rd two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
________________________________________
San Jose mass shooting: Ex-girlfriend of suspect Samuel Cassidy alleged rape and violent, alcohol-fueled 'mood swings' | The Valley Transportation Authority employee suspected of fatally shooting eight coworkers Wednesday morning before turning the gun on himself told an ex-girlfriend on Valentine's Day 2009 that he was breaking up with her unless she engaged in anal sex with him, according to court records obtained by The Chronicle. | Police said Cassidy, named as the suspected shooter in several published reports, came to the transit agency's maintenance yard in San Jose before 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning and shot to death eight coworkers, while wounding several others, before killing himself. Authorities have linked him to two fires that broke out before the shooting — one at his house less than 10 miles away.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/San-Jose-mass-shooting-Ex-girlfriend-of-suspect-16205562.php
Sheriff's spokesman Deputy Russell Davis said the attack also resulted in "multiple major injuries." He did not know the type of weapon used. He said the victims included VTA employees. Authorities did not release any of the victims' names. "These folks were heroes during COVID-19. The buses never stopped running, VTA didn't stop running. They just kept at work, and now we're really calling on them to be heroes a second time to survive such a terrible, terrible tragedy," Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said it was his understanding the shooting happened inside the VTA building during a morning meeting. Victims' grief-stricken families sat huddled together, holding hands and crying, after learning they had lost a loved one, Rosen told reporters, describing the scene inside a county building. "They're just sitting and holding hands and crying," Rosen said. "It's terrible. It's awful. It's raw. People are learning they lost their husband, their son, their brother." He said about 100 people were inside the family reunification center.
https://www.kcra.com/article/santa-clara-county-active-shooter-investigation/36544040
Corey Kluber will be out at least two months with the shoulder strain, Aaron Boone says. General rule is one week of build-up for each week missed. So four weeks (at least) down, four weeks up. Looking at close to August for a potential return for Kluber.
https://twitter.com/lindseyadler/status/1397665149121667077
Dusty Baker was asked his impressions of Bauer and what makes him so difficult to hit. Baker replied "I don't know. I've never seen the dude pitch" despite Bauer making a start against Baker's Reds team in 2012 and another against his Nationals team in 2016.
https://twitter.com/chandler_rome/status/1397671156438634497
Luke Voit has a Grade 2 oblique strain and will be placed on the injured list
https://www.twitter.com/BryanHoch/status/1397662131579928576
Cities Reverse Defunding the Police Amid Rising Crime | An increase in crime, new funds from the economic revival and federal stimulus dollars spur cities to rethink cuts
https://www.wsj.com/articles/cities-reverse-defunding-the-police-amid-rising-crime-11622066307
President Joe Biden is expected to announce he is nominating former senior State Department official Nicholas Burns to serve as his ambassador to China and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to be his ambassador to India
https://apnews.com/article/ca-state-wire-health-coronavirus-pandemic-government-and-politics-79b24c83b56483b46696b12511acfa25
Howard University is renaming its College of Fine Arts after one of its most acclaimed alums: actor Chadwick Boseman.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/howard-university-chadwick-boseman-fine-arts/2021/05/26/c3782970-bd75-11eb-9c90-731aff7d9a0d_story.html
GOOD: Facebook will no longer remove posts claiming Covid-19 was man-made, as support mounts for probes into the virus' origins & the Wuhan lab-leak theory
https://politico.com/news/2021/05/26/facebook-ban-covid-man-made-491053 t
________________________________________
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/26/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-the-crisis-in-ethiopia/
Statement by President Joe Biden on the Crisis in Ethiopia
May 26, 2021 • Statements and Releases
I am deeply concerned by the escalating violence and the hardening of regional and ethnic divisions in multiple parts of Ethiopia. The large-scale human rights abuses taking place in Tigray, including widespread sexual violence, are unacceptable and must end. Families of every background and ethnic heritage deserve to live in peace and security in their country. Political wounds cannot be healed through force of arms. Belligerents in the Tigray region should declare and adhere to a ceasefire, and Eritrean and Amhara forces should withdraw. Earlier this week, the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs warned that Ethiopia could experience its first famine since the 1980s because of this protracted conflict. All parties, in particular the Ethiopian and Eritrean forces, must allow immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access to the region in order to prevent widespread famine.
The United States urges Ethiopia's leaders and institutions to promote reconciliation, human rights, and respect for pluralism. Doing so will preserve the unity and territorial integrity of the state, and ensure the protection of the Ethiopian people and the delivery of urgently needed assistance. The Government of Ethiopia and other stakeholders across the political spectrum should commit to an inclusive dialogue. Working together, the people of Ethiopia can build a shared vision for the country's political future and lay the foundation for sustainable and equitable economic growth and prosperity.
The United States is committed to helping Ethiopia address these challenges, building on the longstanding ties between our two nations and working with the African Union, United Nations, and other international partners. U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeff Feltman is leading a renewed U.S. diplomatic effort to help peacefully resolve the interlinked conflicts across the region, including a resolution of the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam that meets the needs of all parties. Special Envoy Feltman will return to the region next week and keep me apprised of his progress. America's diplomacy will reflect our values: defending freedom, upholding universal rights, respecting the rule of law, and treating every person with dignity.
________________________________________
Yesterday, we made history: Kristen Clarke was confirmed with at — with — as the first woman and first woman of color to lead the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice. And Chiquita Brooks-LaSure became the first Black person to be confirmed as Administrator for the Centers for Medical — Medicare and Medicaid Services. Kristen's career was launched in the office that she now leads. She personally prosecuted crimes based on hatred and bigotry, human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. She has served at two of the nation's oldest civil rights organizations, where she worked on everything from voting rights to equal education and employment. At the Department of Justice, she will continue advancing civil rights progress, including on police reform. Chiquita is a lifelong public servant who has worked at OMB, on Capitol Hill, at HHS, and at CMS where she helped implement the Affordable Care Act. Chiquita brings a wealth of knowledge to CMS, where she will work to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, bring down healthcare costs for American families, and advance health equity in communities across the country. The President was proud to nominate Kristen and Chiquita for these positions, thanks the Senate for their bipartisan confirmation, and is honored to have them serve in these key leadership positions.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/05/26/press-briefing-by-principal-deputy-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-may-26-2021/
As you all know, President Biden believes affordable, safe housing is the foundation upon which families build their lives. And he knows that stable housing will remain out of reach for tens of millions of Americans even after COVID-19 pandemic and economic crises come to an end. Across the country, there is a 300,000-unit gap in annual housing supply, 11 million families pay more than half their income on rent, 3 million families with children under six reside in homes with lead paint, and thousands of working families are displaced every year as a result of extreme weather fueled by climate change. These changes are even more severe in low-income communities and communities of color, which have been segregated, excluded, and neglected for generations. Investing in housing is an essential part of President Biden's strategy to grow strong, healthy communities in every ZIP Code. So, today, the administration is releasing two new factsheets highlighting some of the key housing elements of the American Jobs Plan. The President's plan proposes a bold $213 billion investment in America's housing infrastructure through a number of federal programs and proposals with bipartisan support. This investment is paired with expansion of bipartisan tax credits and incentives to lower barriers to affordable housing in more — and higher-opportunity — places across the country. Together, our estimates suggest this will enable the construction and modernization of more than 2 million affordable and sustainable places to live. Along the way, these investments will create and sustain hundreds of thousands of good-paying union jobs, and provide employment and economic opportunities for residents of assisted housing.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/05/26/press-briefing-by-principal-deputy-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-may-26-2021/
Back in early 2020, the President called for the CDC to get access to China to learn about the virus so we could fight it more effectively. Getting to bottom of the origin is this — of this pandemic will help us understand how to prepare for the next pandemic and the next one. As we have done throughout our COVID response, we have been committed to a whole-of-government effort to ensure we're doing everything to both understand and end this pandemic and to prevent future pandemics. That is why the President is asking the U- — the U.S. intelligence community, in cooperation with other elements of our government, to redouble efforts to collect and analyze information that could bring the world closer to a definitive conclusion on the origin of the virus, and deliver a report to him, again, in 90 days. It will be another whole-of-government aff- — effort, as I mentioned, including work by our National Labs and other agencies. Importantly, we will continue to — pushing for a stronger, multilateral investigation into the origins of the virus in China. And we will continue to press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation with the needed access to get to the bottom of a virus that's taken more than 3 million lives across the globe and, critically, to share information and lessons that will help us all prevent future pandemics.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/05/26/press-briefing-by-principal-deputy-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-may-26-2021/
Q Hey, Karine. First, on that last bit about the calls for China to cooperate with these international investigations: What are the consequences for China if it does not — if it continues its current posture, which has not been to allow for a free and independent — independ- — investigations into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, right now, we're just going to focus on the President's announcement on the 90-day investigation — a more deeper investigation to really look at the core of how did we get here — right? — with this pandemic, and where — the origins, clearly, of COVID-19. And once we get to that — once we get to that conclusion, we'll have more to share.
Q So — but, in terms of, you know, cooperating with the WHO investigations, there's nothing new from the White House in terms of encouraging China or penalties for China if it does not, sort of, cooperate with the investigation going forward?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I'm not going to prejudge or, you know, make any preannouncements at this time. We're going to go with the 90-day investigation and see where it takes us from there.
Q Then, on that 90-day investigation, is White House committing to making the results of that investigation public?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, we'll have more to share after the 90 days.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/05/26/press-briefing-by-principal-deputy-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-may-26-2021/
Q And then just one quick one on infrastructure: Republicans have talked about repurposing COVID money as a potential payfor here. Does the administration think that's feasible? Is that something the President is willing to consider?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. So, Phil, as you know, we have not seen the counterproposal yet. We'll look forward to reviewing that. It seems like tomorrow that might happen. But, you know, the President has been clear that his line in the sand, as I just said, is raising taxes on Americans making more [less] than $400,000 a year. But we should also be clear that there are simply not hundreds of billions of dollars in COVID-relief funds available to rep- — repurpose. As of the end of March, about 95 percent of the $3 trillion in pre-Rescue Plan COVID relief funding has either been obligated or is for PPP, unemployment insurance, or nutria- — nutrition assistance, where the money is going out as planned to specific businesses and people. Of the remaining 5 percent, the largest categories of unobligated balances are in the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund, funding for rural hospitals and healthcare providers, and disaster loans for small businesses. So, turning to the American Rescue Plan, the legislation is working exactly as needed, delivering relief to family businesses and communities to bridge our economy, to end the pandemic, and in- — and into a strong recovery, which is what we're working towards.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/05/26/press-briefing-by-principal-deputy-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-may-26-2021/
Pipeline Companies Will Have To Report Cyberattacks To The Government
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/26/1000400943/homeland-security-expected-to-issue-1st-cybersecurity-regs-for-pipelines
Deportations drop as Biden administration reconsiders future of ICE
https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/deportations-drop-as-biden-administration-reconsiders-future-of-ice
Why it matters that the Wisconsin Republicans rejected Medicaid expansion — Biden thought he'd come up with a Medicaid expansion offer that states couldn't refuse. Republicans still don't care
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/why-it-matters-wisconsin-gop-rejected-medicaid-expansion-n1268604
Knicks fans let Trae know he's currently public enemy #1
https://streamable.com/5pukjp
Eric Carle, the artist and author of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," a tale that has charmed generations of children and parents alike, died on Sunday at 91. He wrote and illustrated more than 70 books for young children.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/books/eric-carle-dead.html
France suspects Russia was behind an attempt to pay high-profile health and science bloggers to sow public doubts about the safety of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
https://wallstreetjournal-ny-app.newsmemory.com/?publink=4f968c864
The Arizona Senate is insisting it doesn't possess records related to its own audit. This attempt to shield its investigation from public scrutiny poses a serious threat to confidence in future elections. We're going to court to get answers.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2021/05/21/american-oversight-files-lawsuit-seeking-records-arizona-election-audit/5205992001/
Vehicular attacks on protesters are an increasingly common tactic used to disrupt anti-racist protests. That's why it's so concerning that some state legislatures are backing bills that shield drivers who hit protesters from criminal liability. Here's how we're investigating.
https://twitter.com/weareoversight/status/1397593472719327233
Fan ejected for pouring popcorn at Westbrook. PLEASE charge the person with assault and battery.
https://streamable.com/60dzsm
MSG letting Trae Young know how they feel about him
https://streamable.com/23h5gq
TSA announces first mandatory pipeline cyber regulation. TSA, which GAO said in 2018 had only 6 pipeline security staffers, says it's staffed up to enforce the new rule. It has a cyber team within the pipeline security division, trained by CISA and INL, and is continuing to hire for that team. In addition, through an existing partnership and based on voluntary company agreements, CISA and TSA have done security reviews of 23 pipeline facilities since 10/2020 and plan to conduct another 29 reviews by 10/202. The pipeline cyber rule reflects the Biden administration's post-Colonial frustration with years of mostly voluntary industry partnerships. One senior DHS official called it "step one ... to be followed by more." Meanwhile, Congress is debating whether to transfer pipeline security oversight from TSA to DOE. House E&C favors; House Homeland opposes. This seems to reinforce the Homeland view. Other lawmakers are planning a broader cyber incident reporting bill:
https://dhs.gov/news/2021/05/27/dhs-announces-new-cybersecurity-requirements-critical-pipeline-owners-and-operators
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/15/congress-colonial-pipeline-disclosure-488406
Interviews with more than a dozen current and former Capitol Police officers revealed deep levels of frustration among rank-and-file officers who had hoped for reforms in the wake of the attack but are now largely resigned to nothing of consequence changing.
https://cnn.com/2021/05/27/politics/fractured-relationship-capitol-police-members-of-congress-jan-6/index.html
Many of Trump's former appointees have been ordered to immediately repay months of payroll taxes that had been illegally deferred
https://politico.com/news/2021/05/27/trump-payroll-tax-deferral-491017
The ATF Lets Lawbreaking Gun Dealers Off The Hook. The agency that polices the gun industry let dealers get away with falsifying records and selling firearms without background checks.
https://www.thetrace.org/2021/05/atf-inspection-report-gun-store-ffl-violation/
Noah Syndergaard has been shut down for six weeks with right elbow inflammation. No structural damage, but he'll be down until at least August.
https://twitter.com/AnthonyDiComo/status/1397923938445926405
VP Harris to announce commitments from a dozen companies and organizations to invest in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador as part of the Biden admin.'s efforts to address the root causes of migration from the region.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/harris-announce-business-investments-central-america-n1268734
The 76ers announce they've revoked the season ticket of the fan who poured popcorn on Russell Westbrook, effective immediately. He is banned from all future events.
https://twitter.com/malika_andrews/status/1397932339435552768
The New York Knicks have banned a fan who spit on Hawks' Trae Young on Wednesday night.
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1397958527105257475
EPA restoring state and tribal power to protect waterways
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/epa-restoring-state-tribal-power-protect-waterways-77942693
I've been screaming endlessy that the only thing Trump was right on was the "China Virus", IT IS THE CHINA VIRUS FFS, the Wuhan lab leaked it and here we are today: Why A Lab In Wuhan Is Worth A Closer Look As A Possible Source Of The Pandemic
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/27/1000780650/every-possible-explanation-for-covid-19-should-be-investigated-expert-says
Senior Hamas official uses a 2014 photo from Syria after an Assad regime attack claiming that "this is what American aircraft do to our people." Unreal.
https://twitter.com/AAhronheim/status/1397987446990815240
Christine Wormuth confirmed unanimously by the Senate to be the first female secretary of the Army.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/senate-confirms-wormuth-first-female-army-secretary-n1268789?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_np
Austin cut its policing budget by a 1/3 last year. Recent data from Austin Police shows 911 response times have increased 30% for urgent calls since last year.
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/staffing-shortages-has-austin-police-911-response-times-up-30
One strike, against senior Hamas operative Bassem Issa, was carried out with no civilian casualties despite being in a tunnel under high-rise building surrounded by six schools & medical clinic."
https://jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/guardian-of-the-walls-the-first-ai-war-669371
This is a running gag where people pretend Republicans would be eager to strike bipartisan deals if Democrats were just a little NICER
Members of the PA legislature today voted to fine women who miscarry and force them to fill out this form. This is traumatizing for women experiencing incredible loss. Unbelievable.
https://twitter.com/ValArkooshPA/status/1397267608236265473
100% of the Afghani people VOTED FOR THIS AND WANT THIS, THEY ARE ALL TALIBANI
https://nytimes.com/2021/05/27/world/asia/afghan-surrender-taliban.html
Russia has again refused to allow today's Air France flight (Paris-Moscow) to enter its airspace because the flight would have avoided Belarus' airspace, in line with EU directives
https://twitter.com/AlexInAir/status/1397882307680378881/photo/1
Texas lawmakers pass illegal and unconstitutional bill requiring national anthem to be played by pro sports teams
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-lawmakers-bill-national-anthem-played-pro-sports-teams
Rep. Jason Crow: "We have a domestic terror movement in America. It has been enabled, it has been furthered, it has been legitimized by leaders at the highest levels of our country, starting with Donald Trump."
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/27/politics/jason-crow-january-6-cnntv/index.html
A 13-year-old who was raped by her grandfather traveled hours across Texas to get an abortion. She wouldn't have been able to under the state's new 6-week ban.
https://www.insider.com/texas-abortion-ban-would-block-teen-raped-by-grandfather-2021-5
A Utah judge tossed out a $100M suit against Russell Westbrook and the Utah Jazz filed by two fans banned from Jazz games after taunts toward Westbrook in a March 2019 game, per court documents. Shane Keisel and Jennifer Huff claimed defamation and infliction of emotional stress.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1398044643661582337
Biden administration to allow reversal of Trump program to accelerate pork plant line speeds
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pork-plants-speed/2021/05/27/fed67152-bef1-11eb-83e3-0ca705a96ba4_story.html
Republican Congressman Jody Hice, who once rescinded his endorsement of Marjorie Taylor Greene, opened for her at her rally in Dalton tonight, calling for the death of GA's Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for refusing to certify Trump as the winner of the GA election
https://twitter.com/bluestein/status/1398048756520599554
So 2020 felt like a test run. The plot to overturn the 2020 election never had a real chance of working without some external intervention like a military coup or something like that, which I never thought was particularly likely. But the institutional path that they pursued to steal the election failed because they didn't control Congress and they didn't control the right governorships in the right places. | It was a test run for a way to overturn an election with the veneer of legality. You have to give Trump and Republicans some kind of dark credit for figuring out that this is really conceivable. I think they now know that, even though it would cause a court battle and possibly a civil war, that if they can't win by suppressing the vote and the election is close enough, they can do this if they control enough state legislatures and the Congress. | Where Manchin seems to be very far away from what House Democrats want to do is on the democracy reform stuff. It's maddening because nothing that Manchin wants to do policy-wise can get done without abolishing the filibuster. Democrats are not going to have a majority after next year if they don't do some of these things now. So it's a mistake to assume Manchin can't be moved. That's the job of leadership. That's Joe Biden's job. That's Chuck Schumer's job.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/22432229/democracy-america-democratic-party-reform
It's bleak. I don't know what else to say. Democrats have to get extremely lucky next year. They either need to luck into the most favorable environment for the president's party that we haven't ever had for a midterm election or ... I don't know. There's not much else they can do. None of these democracy reforms can get through on a reconciliation bill. If Democrats don't pass nonpartisan redistricting, they're going to be fighting at a huge disadvantage in the House. That's the ballgame. Progressive activists are going to pour a billion dollars into the Florida Senate race, and then [Marco] Rubio is going to win by 10 points. So if they don't act, it's very simple. The Democrats will have to fight on this extremely unfair playing field against a newly radicalized Republican Party that is going to pull out all the stops in terms of voter suppression to win these elections, on top of the situation where they're making other changes to state laws that could allow them to mess around with results in other ways, like what we're seeing in Georgia now.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/22432229/democracy-america-democratic-party-reform
There's a very circular structure to this kind of proto-authoritarianism. You have anti-democratic practices at the state level that produce minority Republican governments that pass anti-democratic laws that end up in front of courts that are appointed by a minoritarian president and approved by a minoritarian Senate that will then rule to uphold these anti-democratic practices at the state level. And so there is no path to beating some of these laws through the courts. The Supreme Court has already said it's not going to touch gerrymandering. And so there's nothing left except Congress using its constitutional authority under the elections clause to do some regulation to the elections. | Take the scenario where Republicans don't have to steal the 2024 election. They just use their built-in advantages in which Biden wins the popular vote by three points but still loses the Electoral College. Democrats win the House vote but lose the House. Democrats win the Senate vote, but they lose the Senate. That's a situation where the citizens of the country fundamentally don't have control of the agenda and they don't have the ability to change the leadership. Those are two core features of democracy, and without them, you're living in competitive authoritarianism. People are going to wake up the next day and go to work, and take care of their kids, and live their lives, and democracy will be gone. There really won't be very much that we can do about it. Or there's the worst-case scenario where the election is stolen and then we're sleepwalking into a potentially catastrophic breakup of the country.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/22432229/democracy-america-democratic-party-reform
The EDNY probe, which is separate from SDNY's investigation of RUDY GIULIANI for possible FARA violations, underscores the U.S. government's increasingly aggressive approach to rooting out foreign interference — & especially Russian interference — in American electoral politics.
https://nytimes.com/2021/05/27/nyregion/trump-ukraine-rudy-giuliani-2020-presidential-election.html
The Jazz ejected three fans last night for their unruly behavior during Game 2 of the Utah/Memphis series and banned them indefinitely. Statement from the team:
https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1398053710689878019
One year with no games and people forgot how to act
______________________________________
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/27/statement-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-on-senate-republicans-infrastructure-proposal/
Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Senate Republicans' Infrastructure Proposal
May 27, 2021 • Statements and Releases
We are grateful for the work of Senator Capito and her colleagues on this proposal. It is encouraging to see her group come forward with a substantially increased the funding level—nearing $1 trillion. We appreciate the hard work that went in to making this proposal and continuing these negotiations. Senator Capito told the President that her team would provide us with more details later today, and we look forward to getting that information. At first review, we note several constructive additions to the group's previous proposals, including on roads, bridges and rail. At the same time, we remain concerned that their plan still provides no substantial new funds for critical job-creating needs, such as fixing our veterans' hospitals, building modern rail systems, repairing our transit systems, removing dangerous lead pipes, and powering America's leadership in a job-creating clean energy economy, among other things. Lastly, we are concerned that the proposal on how to pay for the plan remains unclear: we are worried that major cuts in COVID relief funds could imperil pending aid to small businesses, restaurants and rural hospitals using this money to get back on their feet after the crush of the pandemic.
As for the path forward, the President called Senator Capito thank her for the proposal, and to tell her that he would follow-up after getting additional detail. We are also continuing to explore other proposals that we hope will emerge. Though there are no votes in Congress next week, we will work actively with members of the House and Senate next week, so that there is a clear direction on how to advance much needed jobs legislation when Congress resumes legislative business during the week of June 7.
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FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Launches a Call to Action to the Private Sector to Deepen Investment in the Northern Triangle
May 27, 2021 • Statements and Releases
12 companies and organizations announce commitments to support economic development in the Northern Triangle, as part of the Call to Action launch
In her role overseeing diplomatic efforts within El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (the "Northern Triangle"), and with Mexico, Vice President Kamala Harris announced today a Call to Action for businesses and social enterprises to make new, significant commitments to help send a signal of hope to the people of the region and sustainably address the root causes of migration by promoting economic opportunity. As part of this Call to Action launch, 12 companies and organizations announced commitments to support inclusive economic development in the Northern Triangle, including: Accion, Bancolombia, Chobani, Davivienda, Duolingo, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nespresso, Pro Mujer, the Tent Partnership for Refugees, and the World Economic Forum.
Our comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of migration will involve significant commitments of U.S. government resources to support the long-term development of the region—including efforts to foster economic opportunity, strengthen governance, combat corruption, and improve security. This approach will leverage commitments and resources from the governments in the Northern Triangle, as well as partnerships with multilateral development banks and international financial institutions.
Supporting the long-term development of the region, and in the Western Hemisphere more broadly, will require more than just the resources of the U.S. government. For this reason, Vice President Harris is calling on the private sector to draw on its unique resources and expertise to make commitments to support inclusive economic growth in the Northern Triangle. Together, we can work to overcome obstacles to investment, promote economic opportunity, and support long-term development in the region. The Administration looks forward to increased collaboration with private companies—U.S., foreign, and local in the Northern Triangle and Latin America more broadly—to build upon this Call to Action in the months and years to come.
U.S. Government Long-Term Commitments and Call to Action Focus Areas
This Call to Action is one component under the U.S. government's comprehensive, long-term strategy to address barriers to investment and to promote economic opportunity in the Northern Triangle. Just as government action alone will not be enough to achieve meaningful outcomes, private sector commitments will be facilitated and supported by strong U.S. government initiatives to address longstanding impediments to investment-led growth. Under our broader strategy, near-term private sector commitments will be mutually reinforced by sustained U.S. government efforts to foster a business-enabling environment, increased private sector investment, and sustainable economic growth and opportunity. As part of the broader strategy, this Call to Action aims to generate new commitments from businesses and social enterprises in six focus areas with an emphasis on supporting vulnerable populations, including women and youth, in the Northern Triangle region. These focus areas include:
Reform Agenda – Commitments to support greater transparency, predictability, and stability in the business enabling environment by facilitating regional government efforts to adopt international best practices in licensing, permitting, procurement, regulation, and taxation.
Digital and Financial Inclusion – Commitments to expand affordable internet access and participation in the digital economy; facilitate access to financial technologies and capital for small businesses, particularly women- and indigenous-owned businesses; and ensure that the most vulnerable and the most likely to migrate have access to basic public services and financial institutions.
Food Security and Climate-smart Agriculture – Commitments to combat food shortages by increasing agricultural productivity and crop resilience.
Climate Adaptation and Clean Energy – Commitments to support the region's resilience to climate change through adaptation and mitigation efforts; support industries impacted by climate change; and transition to clean energy.
Education and Workforce Development – Commitments to expand job-training programs; support greater access to technical and secondary education; and create higher paying formal sector jobs, especially for women and in rural areas.
Public Health Access – Commitments to support regional governments in addressing the impact of COVID-19 on their populations; build robust and resilient health economies to confront future health challenges; support access to clean water and sanitation; and ensure inclusive access to healthcare.
How to Join the Call
The State Department, in coordination with the Partnership for Central America, will manage follow-up to this Call to Action, which will involve:
https://www.centampartnership.org/
Connecting businesses with relevant U.S. interagency partners, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Department of Commerce, Department of Labor, among others; non-governmental organizations (NGOs); multilateral development banks; UN agencies, other international organizations; and relevant government officials from the region to facilitate potential new partnerships and commitments;
Coordinating private sector partners to ensure sustained progress through strategic and high-impact initiatives aligned to social impact goals, and facilitating joint ventures between new and existing partners across global public, private, and social sectors;
Offering feedback on potential private sector initiatives, based on an assessment of potential migrants' needs in the region;
Working with partner governments and institutions to promote reforms that address impediments to investment and foster a business-enabling environment;
Establishing metrics to measure the impact of commitments made in response to the Call to Action, to track program effectiveness and identify key trends across key economic and social impact metrics; and
Convening public forums and facilitating discussions on challenges, trends, and progress toward aspired social impact goals.
The Partnership for Central America is a non-profit organization that was developed in support of the Vice President's Call to Action. The Partnership aims to coordinate practical solutions to advance economic opportunity, address urgent climate, education and health challenges, and promote long-term investments and workforce capability in support a vision of hope for Central America.
https://www.centampartnership.org/
The Administration and the Partnership welcome additional commitments to join this initiative and promote economic opportunity in the Northern Triangle. Vice President Harris invites interested parties to get involved by contacting the State Department Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at jointhecall@state.gov. In addition, the Partnership for Central America can be reached at support@centampartnership.org.
Founding Participants in the Call to Action
The following 12 companies and organizations join the Vice President today in supporting the Administration's Call to Action. All are also founding members of the Partnership.
These companies and organizations put forth summaries of their work to date and new initiatives to invest in the Northern Triangle, as follows:
Accion
Founded in 1961, Accion is a global nonprofit working to advance economic opportunity through microfinance and impact investing. Accion works with financial service providers across Latin America that are expanding the reach, quality, and affordability of financial services for low-income and underserved people. Over the next three years, Accion will provide advice, guidance, and consulting services to organizations that serve micro and small business owners in the Northern Triangle region, ultimately benefitting more than 400,000 people. Accion aims to connect small business owners to new markets and grow their businesses by improving their management, financial, and digital capabilities. Accion will help businesses shift from cash to digital, while expanding local access to finance through branchless banking. The effort aims to reduce barriers that have prevented women from accessing economic opportunities and boost the productivity of small-holder farmers. Accion will enable lenders that already serve the poor to make greater use of technology to reach more clients, supporting them more effectively and with greater security. Ultimately, Accion's work will empower business owners and their families to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as build the financial health, resilience, and prosperity sorely needed to address the root causes of migration.
Bancolombia
Grupo Bancolombia is one of Latin America's major financial institutions with operations in El Salvador and Guatemala. To further its commitment to sustainable development in Central America, Grupo Bancolombia will commit to expanding its financial inclusion efforts to reach the Northern Triangle's unbanked and vulnerable populations through digital banking accounts, focusing on remittance-receiving families, women-led businesses and other small enterprises to increase investment and improve living conditions, and strengthen ties to their local communities, adding more than 400,000 new account holders by 2025. As part of this work, Grupo Bancolombia will work with its partners to expand access to credit and connect more than 50,000 small shopkeepers with suppliers, distributors and retail customers.
Chobani
Chobani's mission is to make delicious, nutritious, and natural food for all people because access to good food is a right – not a privilege. Chobani will now extend its impact to the Northern Triangle and bring its incubator program to Guatemala, where local food entrepreneurs will get expertise and support to help them set up and scale their operations. Chobani will use knowledge from its global incubator program to determine how to best create and execute a program in Guatemala that will support local startups and contribute to regional economic empowerment. In the U.S., the Chobani Incubator has helped support the growth of 47 different companies in the food and beverage industry since its inception in 2016. Founders are given a monetary grant and have access to resources across the ecosystem, from retailers to investors and everything in between. The Incubator has also run programs internationally in both Australia and Turkey. Each program has its own unique operating model, but all serve Chobani's mission of bringing better food to more people.
Davivienda
Davivienda is a multi-national, Colombian bank with a presence in the United States, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama. To date, Davivienda has worked to expand financial inclusion by expanding its digital payment system, DAVIPLATA, and by increasing access to credit, particularly for women. In Colombia, Davivienda has connected nearly 13 million individuals to its digital services, 5 million of whom were previously unbanked. As part of this Call to Action, in collaboration with public and private sector partners, Davivienda will commit to connecting 1 million unbanked individuals in the Northern Triangle with financial services, including via its DAVIPLATA platform. Davivienda will also commit to contributing $500 million in loans to support low-income housing, small- and medium-sized businesses, renewable energy projects, and women entrepreneurs.
Duolingo
Duolingo is an education app with over 500 million downloads. In the Northern Triangle, the app is used by over 500,000 people to learn English in order to improve their education and job prospects. Duolingo will commit to ensuring that its content remains free so that everyone has access to high-quality education through mobile devices. The company recently created Duolingo ABC, an app designed to teach early literacy skills to children. In order to reduce high levels of illiteracy in the Northern Triangle, Duolingo will commit to developing Duolingo ABC in Spanish. Duolingo will also commit to providing fee waivers for the Duolingo English Test to high-achieving, low-income students to reduce barriers to higher education. Combined, these efforts will expand access to education in the region through the use of technology, helping to improve people's livelihoods and prospects for a better future.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health brings together dedicated experts from multiple disciplines to produce powerful change to improve the lives and health of people around the globe. The Harvard Chan School will commit to adding an evidence-based lens by harnessing scientific data to maximize capacity to measure and report systems-wide impact of the partnership; improve access to health care; and train and enable workers to manage pipeline healthcare issues in the Northern Triangle. Harnessing qualitative and quantitative metrics, the School will provide partners and managers with the means to pilot and scale activities that support data-sharing in order to foster transformative change across all communities, platforms, and sectors.
Mastercard
Through its work in financial inclusion, Mastercard has brought over 500 million individuals globally into the digital economy. In collaboration with public and private sector partners, the company aims to bring 5 million people in the Northern Triangle into the financial system and digitalize 1 million micro and small businesses, leveraging its innovation and technology to improve access to vital services and drive inclusive economic growth. This includes enabling individuals to pay and get paid digitally, securely, and efficiently, and reaching previously underserved communities with technology that works on mobile phones and in rural, low-connectivity areas. Mastercard can also provide marginalized individuals with access to services like healthcare and agricultural marketplaces, and help small businesses grow with affordable tools and services. With access to financial and digital tools, and the ability to use them, Mastercard can help close the digital divide and improve livelihoods for generations to come.
Microsoft
Microsoft's purpose is to ensure that technology helps promote inclusive opportunity, protects fundamental rights, and supports a sustainable future. Microsoft will build on its long-standing presence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to bring connectivity, skills, and greater opportunity to their citizens. First, with local partners including Albavision, Microsoft will expand internet access to up to 3 million people in the region by July 2022, as part of the Microsoft Airband Initiative. Microsoft will also expand its work with partner New Sun Road to establish community centers to provide internet, digital skills, devices, educational experiences and mentorship to women and youth in rural and high-migration areas. Second, Microsoft will build on its global skills initiative to provide access to digital skills learning paths to connect people to skills and certifications. Third, Microsoft is investing in technology to increase the transparency and accountability of government spending, and exploring the use of data science to evaluate the efficacy of interventions to address community needs.
Nespresso
By working directly with over 120,000 coffee farmers in 15 countries, Nespresso, which offers high quality portioned coffee to consumers, unlocks the potential of coffee for producers through its unique sustainable quality coffee sourcing approach by addressing the key social, economic and environmental challenges they face with practical solutions, focusing on improving yields and quality to drive revenues, paying higher prices for high quality coffee and driving activities to improve livelihoods, providing free agronomy support, promoting human rights protection and gender equality, and building resilience to climate change through regenerative agricultural practices and agroforestry. Nespresso is committed to improving livelihoods in the Northern Triangle by expanding its existing sourcing activities in Guatemala, and by starting to source quality coffees from El Salvador and Honduras from this year on, creating new economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and replicating the social and environmental impact of Nespresso's programs in more communities. The company aims to support the local economy with a minimum of $150 million spent across coffee purchases, price premiums and technical assistance by 2025, more than doubling both the number of coffee farms it works with and total coffee volumes.
Pro Mujer
For over 30 years, Pro Mujer has been driving inclusive economic opportunities for women in Latin America by providing millions of families with access to finance, healthcare services, entrepreneurship support, and digital inclusion. Pro Mujer will commit to reaching three million people in the Northern Triangle by bringing these services directly, and with the collaboration of local partners, to vulnerable communities, including low income families, rural and indigenous populations. In addition, Pro Mujer will commit to structuring and launching blended finance vehicles that provide capital, technical assistance and capacity building support to micro, small and medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Northern Triangle. This critical support to MSMEs and the services Pro Mujer intends to bring to individuals and families will together have a transformative effect on these communities and directly address the root causes of migration from the region.
Tent Partnership for Refugees
The Tent Partnership for Refugees mobilizes the business community to improve the lives and livelihoods of refugees displaced from their home countries. Tent pledges to share best practices and lessons learned with the Partnership for Central America from working with its network of over 150 major businesses to implement commitments in support of refugees around the world. In addition, Tent will leverage its business network to raise awareness of the root causes of migration and how companies can help improve conditions in Central America, for example by supporting education outcomes, creating jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in the region, as well as sourcing more products from the Northern Triangle.
World Economic Forum
The Forum has been actively engaged in Latin America for decades, developing and supporting the implementation of a strategic agenda to address the region's most pressing challenges and ensuring a robust participation of leaders in its various projects, activities and events. In response to this Call to Action, the World Economic Forum will convene a network of committed actors over time, with a special focus on the role that long-term, sustainable investment can play in transforming the lives and well-being of citizens throughout the area. To do so, the Forum would facilitate collaboration between governments, civil society, business, development institutions and others, to address the root causes of migration and for the Northern Triangle countries to realize their potential towards sustainable and inclusive growth and for quality job creation.
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Biden administration illegally and unconstitutionally backs illegal and unconstitutional environmental disaster approved under Trump. This was more important to Biden than minimum wage and Jan 6 consequences and eliminating student debt and fixing the failed health care system. Good to know. Getting him elected was a waste of time: he's abandoned every single policy he campaigned on.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/26/biden-alaska-oil-project-trump-491132
Cancer-causing chemical found in 78 sunscreen products
https://www.livescience.com/sunscreen-carcinogen-benzene.html
Federal judge to appoint special master to review materials seized from Giuliani
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-orders-special-master-review-rudolph-giulianis-electronic-devices-2021-05-28/
U.S. to Freeze Funding for Ethiopia as Tigray Abuses Surface
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-28/u-s-to-freeze-funding-for-ethiopia-as-tigray-abuses-surface
US rapidly planning to evacuate Afghan interpreters
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-57277650
Russia Carried Out Hack Through System Used By U.S. Aid Agency | Microsoft reported that it had detected the intrusion and that the same hackers behind the earlier SolarWinds attack were responsible. | Hackers linked to Russia's main intelligence agency surreptitiously seized an email system used by the State Department's international aid agency to burrow into the computer networks of human rights groups and other organizations of the sort that have been critical of President Vladimir V. Putin, Microsoft Corporation disclosed on Thursday.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/us/politics/russia-hack-usaid.html
Police seize hundreds of monkeys being shipped abroad to be eaten
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/police-seize-hundreds-monkeys-being-110000268.html
Blamed for virus spread, over 20 5G towers damaged in Punjab in 3 weeks
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ludhiana/blamed-for-virus-spread-over-20-5g-towers-damaged-in-punjab-in-3-weeks-259504
Republicans Illegally And Unconstitutionally (Democrats are the majority) Block Bipartisan Probe Of Pro-Trump Terrorist Atttack Jan. 6.
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/28/1000524897/senate-republicans-block-plan-for-independent-commission-on-jan-6-capitol-riot
Matt Gaetz Encourages Supporters Yo Murder Silicon Valley Executives. Gaetz might be more concerned with the 4th, 5th, 6th & 8th amendments given the federal probe into his trafficking and rape of underage females.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/05/matt-gaetz-silicon-valley-2a
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Friday he is planning to force a vote next month on a sweeping bill to overhaul elections, setting the stage for a high-profile clash over the filibuster. In a letter to the Democratic caucus, Schumer said he would bring the For the People Act, also known as S. 1 and H.R. 1, to the floor in June. Though he's previously said it would get a vote before the August recess, Friday marks the first time he's tied it to a hard timeline.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/555977-schumer-to-force-vote-on-sweeping-election-overhaul-next-month
Biden's $6 trillion budget dropped key campaign promises on student debt cancellation and healthcare reform
https://www.businessinsider.com/bidens-budget-campaign-promises-student-debt-and-healthcare-reform-2021-5
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/28/a-proclamation-prayer-for-peace-memorial-day-2021/
A Proclamation: Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2021
May 28, 2021 • Presidential Actions
On Memorial Day, we honor and reflect upon the courage, integrity, and selfless dedication of the members of our Armed Forces who have made the greatest sacrifice in service to our Nation. Whether in the waters of the Pacific, on the beachheads of Europe, in the deserts of the Middle East, or in the mountains of Afghanistan, American service members have given their lives to uphold our Constitution and to defend the safety and freedoms of our citizens. These patriots embody the best of the American spirit. They put themselves on the line for our shared values — for duty, honor, country — and they paid the ultimate price. Our Nation can never fully repay the debt we owe to our fallen heroes and their families.
Jill and I know what it means to have a child serving in a war zone — the ever-present concern for your loved one and their fellow service members. Today and every day, we ask G-d to protect our troops. We also recognize the tremendous loss endured by America's Gold Star families — the families of military members who died in conflict. We have a sacred obligation as a Nation to support those families and to always honor the memories of their loved ones.
That is the vow we make each year on Memorial Day. Our Nation will never forget the courage and patriotism demonstrated by the countless women and men who laid down their lives so that we may continue to pursue a more perfect Union and to protect the unalienable rights Americans hold dear. They came from every part of the country, of every background and belief, united by a shared belief in our uniquely American creed — that all people are created equal. We will honor their legacy by continuing our work to live up to that commitment and to advance the values they lived and died to defend. We will continue to fight for equity and inclusion in our country and institutions, and ensure every qualified American who is willing to serve our country — regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or background — has a fair and equal opportunity to do so.
We will continue to honor our fallen service members through the actions of a new generation who volunteer to serve in uniform, who anchor our military to our democratic values, and who stand ready to deter aggression from our enemies and, if required, fight and defend our Nation. Today — as we keep true to the memory of our fallen heroes — we will endeavor to meet their legacy and once more lead the world through the power of our example and not just the example of our power.
As our Nation's service members continue to risk their lives to protect our homeland and thwart our enemies, we must not lose sight of our desire for enduring peace. Every day, countless Americans pray and work for peace so that we may one day live in a world where American patriots need not make the ultimate sacrifice, and where all people live in freedom and prosperity. As a Nation, we are grateful to the brave members of our Armed Services — both past and present — who have forged the legacy for that possibility.
In honor and recognition of all of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer and reflection. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 31, 2021, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer and reflection. I urge the press, radio, television, and all other information media to cooperate in this observance. I further ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
I request the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our L-rd two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
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51 senators can seat a Supreme Court justice but 54 senators can't establish an independent commission to investigate a violent insurrection in their own damn building.
Literally where has the dude been?
https://twitter.com/Sen_JoeManchin/status/1398335147003502592
Paul Gosar is tweeting sympathy for a pro-Trump terrorist who died trying to murder a Capitol police but he has been silent about the US Capitol Police officer who died.
https://twitter.com/hunterw/status/1398357871411318787
during public health emergencies. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/health-spending-would-increase-by-23-under-biden-budget-request
One fun detail in this year's HHS budget request: $73 million for cyber response during public health emergencies. HHS was hit by a cyber-attack in March 2020
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/health-spending-would-increase-by-23-under-biden-budget-request
It's an odd thing when "smart politics" means not asking anymore questions about an event which could have killed the (Republican) vice president, (Democratic) speaker of the House and any number of other members of Congress, and did result in several police and other deaths
I'll believe Netanyahu is being replaced when the alternative government is sworn in, and not a moment before. There are 5 days left to do it. Bibi's trying to foil it, we'll see if he succeeds. If you're wondering what's going on, here's an explainer:
https://yair.substack.com/p/what-you-should-know-about-yair-lapid
Israeli media reporting that Naftali Bennett has agreed to join ranks with Lapid to swear in a government next week. Since it's Shabbat in Israel, a possible announcement could take place tomorrow evening. But it's not over until it's over. Netanyahu is not observing Shabbat
Biden budget plan removes decades-old ban (Hyde Amendment) on federal funds for abortions
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-budget-abortion-hyde-amendment/2021/05/28/7b248838-bfde-11eb-b26e-53663e6be6ff_story.html
Some recent bills that were defeated by filibuster along with the number of votes they received in the Senate:
Jan. 6 commission: 54 votes
DREAM Act: 55 votes
Manchin-Toomey: 54 votes
DISCLOSE Act: 59 votes
Paycheck Fairness Act: 58 votes
The Biden administration is planning to dramatically reshape how asylum-seekers are processed in order to prevent an increase to the backlog of immigration court cases
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz/biden-new-asylum-process-plan
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/28/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-the-rise-of-anti-semitic-attacks/
Statement by President Joe Biden on the Rise of Anti-Semitic Attacks
May 28, 2021 • Statements and Releases
In the last weeks, our nation has seen a series of anti-Semitic attacks, targeting and terrorizing American Jews.
We have seen a brick thrown through window of a Jewish-owned business in Manhattan, a swastika carved into the door of a synagogue in Salt Lake City, families threatened outside a restaurant in Los Angeles, and museums in Florida and Alaska, dedicated to celebrating Jewish life and culture and remembering the Holocaust, vandalized with anti-Jewish messages.
These attacks are despicable, unconscionable, un-American, and they must stop.
I will not allow our fellow Americans to be intimidated or attacked because of who they are or the faith they practice.
We cannot allow the toxic combination of hatred, dangerous lies, and conspiracy theories to put our fellow Americans at risk.
As Attorney General Garland announced yesterday, the Department of Justice will be deploying all of the tools at its disposal to combat hate crimes.
In recent days, we have seen that no community is immune. We must all stand together to silence these terrible and terrifying echoes of the worst chapters in world history, and pledge to give hate no safe harbor.
May is Jewish American Heritage Month, when we honor Jewish Americans who have inextricably woven their experience and their accomplishments into the fabric of our national identity; overcoming the pain of history, and helping lead our struggle for a more fair, just, and tolerant society.
Let us all take up that work and create a nation that stands for, and stands up for, the dignity and safety of all of our people.
________________________________________
Milwaukee Bucks lose starter Donte DiVincenzo for playoffs due to foot injury | After leaving Thursday's win in the second quarter, Bucks starting guard Donte DiVincenzo will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn ligament in his left ankle.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31527371/milwaukee-bucks-lose-starter-donte-divincenzo-playoffs-due-foot-injury-sources-say
'11 in a row': Chris Paul upset about losing another playoff game refereed by Scott Foster
https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-suns-chris-paul-upset-about-losing-another-playoff-game-refereed-by-scott-foster-144858838.html
San Jose mass shooting: VTA killer evaded California's tough gun laws
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/27/san-jose-mass-shooting-killer-evaded-californias-tough-gun-laws/
mRNA vaccines have been in research and development for well over a decade and are used to combat a variety of influenza strains. As new strains appear in the world, scientists simply build off of the previous versions of mRNA vaccines. It's not like they built this vaccine from scratch and rushed it to deployment within a year. Also 40% of the adult population in the US has now been fully vaccinated. If there was an issue with any of the 2 major mRNA vaccines, we would be seeing it.
Biden shows list of Republicans touting COVID-19 relief after voting against it: 'Some people have no shame'
https://www.newsweek.com/biden-shows-list-republicans-touting-covid-relief-after-voting-against-it-some-people-have-no-1595626
Texas spent $1.1 million fighting a lawsuit from prisoners who asked for soap, hand sanitizer, and social-distancing measures
https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-spent-1m-fighting-prisoners-asked-soap-hand-sanitizer-documents-2021-5
Why are we trying to negotiate with people who can't even agree that an attempted insurrection needs an independent investigation? If they won't "give in" to that what makes them think they are going to be willing to be bipartisan on an infrastructure bill? If we can't agree on MASSIVE issues what makes them think they give a flying fuck about fixing our failing roads and bridges?
Thank you, Congressman, but the question was actually about age of consent laws
https://twitter.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1398270079788228609
How Do You Teach 6-Year-Olds Their Legal Rights? Immigration lawyers and groups have been visiting emergency shelters to help educate children who crossed the border without a parent.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/us/migrant-children-legal-rights.html
Opa-locka police sergeant German Bosque fired for seventh time. So the guy's been investigated 40 times by internal affairs, 16 for battery and excessive force, and been arrested 3 times. Yet he's been with the same force for almost 30 years? And says he fully expects to get his job back?! After getting caught on body cam coaching another officer to lie about a gun at a crime scene that some rando swapped for a toy gun when the cop wasn't watching like he should have... What the hell Florida
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article251706088.html
Germany says it committed genocide in Namibia during colonial rule - offers $1.34 billion reparations
https://ewn.co.za/2021/05/28/germany-says-committed-genocide-in-namibia-during-colonial-rule
The remains of 215 children, including some as young as 3, were found buried under a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, a First Nation confirmed Thursday. | "To our knowledge, these missing children are undocumented deaths," said Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir. "Some were as young as 3 years old."
https://www.vice.com/en/article/3aqkzw/remains-of-215-indigenous-children-found-buried-at-former-residential-school
https://tkemlups.ca/wp-content/uploads/05-May-27-2021-TteS-MEDIA-RELEASE.pdf
This is absolutely heartbreaking news. I spoke to Kukpi7 Casimir this evening to offer the full support of Indigenous Services Canada as the community, and surrounding communities, honour and mourn the loss of these children.
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/remains-of-215-children-found-at-former-kamloops-residential-school-first-nation
Last August, when Brazil had emerged as among the worst hit nations by Covid, Pfizer Inc. offered the health ministry to set aside as many as 70 million doses of the vaccine it was developing. It got no answer. So it made the offer again. And then a third time. The next month, the company's former Brazil head, Carlos Murillo, told congress, Pfizer's global chief put the offer in writing to President Jair Bolsonaro with copies to the vice president, chief of staff, ministers of health and economy and ambassador to the U.S. He never heard back. The severity of Covid in Brazil, with 16 million cases and 450,000 lives lost, has often been attributed to Bolsonaro, who still wades unvaccinated and maskless into crowds. A congressional probe is making clear, however, that his neglect has been matched by incompetence at nearly every level of government in key processes -- negotiations with drug companies, relations with other countries and supply chain management.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-28/brazil-let-70-million-shots-get-away-and-sealed-its-covid-fate
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/05/28/on-the-record-press-call-by-omb-acting-director-shalanda-young-and-cea-chair-cecilia-rouse-on-the-presidents-budget-for-fiscal-year-2022/
On-the-Record Press Call by OMB Acting Director Shalanda Young and CEA Chair Cecilia Rouse on the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2022
May 28, 2021 • Press Briefings
Via Teleconference
11:05 A.M. EDT
MR. FRIEDLANDER: Hey, everyone. This is Rob from the OMB Communications team. Thanks so much for joining us. This will be an on-the-record call about the President's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget.
We will be joined by Shalanda Young, Acting Director of OMB; as well as Cecilia Rouse, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers. They'll each make some brief comments at the top, and then we'll have time to take some questions at the end.
As a reminder, this call will be on-the-record and embargoed until 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time today, along with the materials you've received also under embargo until 1:30 p.m. today.
And with that, I will turn it over to Acting Director Young.
ACTING DIRECTOR YOUNG: Well, thanks, Rob. And thanks to all of you for joining. I want to start with a very quick overview of this year's budget process, which, many of you know, looks a little different in a transition year.
Back in April, we released the topline information for the President's discretionary request for Fiscal Year 2022, which provided Congress with guidance on his funding priorities to help inform the appropriations process.
That discretionary request recommended that Congress reinvest robustly in areas like public health, education, basic science, and clean energy. The country had been weakened by a decade of disinvestment in these areas, which were squeezed under restrictive budget caps. The discretionary request issued a clear call for Congress to reinvest in these areas, restoring nondefense appropriations to its historical average share of the economy.
Additionally, the President also unveiled his American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. Together, these two will be transformational: strengthening our economy, boosting American competitiveness, and delivering shared prosperity and economic security.
Today, we're releasing a budget that puts these pieces together and does exactly what the President told the country he would do: grow the economy, create jobs, and do so responsibly by requiring the wealthiest Americans and big corporations to pay their fair share.
Already, we know that the President's economic plan is working. New unemployment claims are down 60 percent since he took office, the economy created more new jobs in the President's first 100 days than the first 100 days of any President on record, and growth is stronger than anyone expected. And this budget outlines the next steps in that plan.
The budget investments — the budget starts with the American Jobs Plan — a once-in-a-generation investment in America that will put millions of people to work rebuilding our country — fixing highways, rebuilding bridges, and upgrading our transit systems; replacing all lead pipes and service lines in our drinking water systems; investing in the infrastructure of our care economy and creating new and better jobs for caregiving workers; and much, much more.
The budget also includes the President's American Families Plan — a historic investment in the middle class and in the pathways to the middle class, including education, healthcare, and childcare.
And the budget also incorporates the President's discretionary request. For example, it calls for $6.5 billion to launch ARPA-H — a historic 20-billion-dollar increase for Title I schools to advance educational opportunity for all students; the largest budget authority increase at the CDC in nearly two decades to help rebuild its capacity to detect, prepare for, and respond to emerging global threats; and $36 billion in discretionary climate investments, just to name a few.
And finally, the budget reiterates the President's strong call to Congress during his joint address to move on healthcare — reducing the costs of prescription drug, and expanding and improving health coverage.
Put together, this budget is an agenda for robust, durable economic growth and broadly shared prosperity. It will deliver a strong economy now and for decades into the future. And it is in an investment in Americans all across the country who power our economy.
The budget makes these investments in a way that's responsive to both the near- and medium-term economic landscape, as well as the long-term challenges our country faces.
In the near-term, the decades-long, global trend of declining interest rates, even as publicly held debt has increased, gives us the fiscal space to make necessary upfront investments.
Under the budget policies, the real cost of federal debt payments will remain below the historical average through the coming decade, even as the budget assumes that interest rates will rise from their current lows, consistent with private-sector forecasts. Low real debt service payments show that the cost of these upfront investments is not burdening the economy. To the contrast, failing to make these investments at a time of such low interest costs would be an historic missed opportunity that would leave future generations worse off.
This budget does not make that mistake, and it invests — its investments will pay dividends for generations to come.
Over the long run, when we face larger fiscal challenges and more uncertainty about interest rates, the budget will reduce the deficit and improve our nation's finances.
That's because its frontloaded investments are more than paid for through permanent tax reforms that will ensure corporations and the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.
You'll see, in summary tables that all of you should have, that the budget policies reduce annual deficits beginning in 2030 and by increasing amounts thereafter.
It also shows that the budget policies reduce deficits in every year beyond the 10-year window and by over $2 trillion in the subsequent decade.
And it also shows that the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan are fully offset within 15 years.
So, as a whole, the budget will improve our nation's long-term finances while making the growth-enhancing investments that we need right now.
With that, let me turn it over to Chairwoman Rouse to talk about the budget's economic assumptions and the economic outlook under the budget's policies.
CHAIR ROUSE: Thank you. And thank you for you time today. I want to use this opportunity to cover two important elements of the budget: the economic motivation and the economic forecast behind its policies.
As Acting Director Young just mentioned, this is a very important and forward-looking budget. The policies proposed are premised on the idea that, to move forward as a country, we need to invest in innovation. And the public sector is critical to building a robust and inclusive economy.
When the government invests in infrastructure and families, it acts a partner, not a rival, to private business. When it underinvests in these public goods, it diminishes the private sector's productivity and its ability to grow, hire, and invest.
Moreover, when the public sector doesn't fulfill its side of the partnership with the private sector, the harm is not equally felt. Low-income neighborhoods and communities of color bear the brunt of the harm.
A robust — a robust body of economic evidence has found that investments like these in the budget pay off for years to come in the form of stronger economic growth, less reliance on transfer benefits, and greater tax revenue.
The President has proposed a comprehensive tax plan to offset these investments by asking corporations and wealthy individuals to shoulder their fair share of the tax burden.
Most importantly, it is imperative that this country makes up for decades of underinvestment in important parts of our country, which, as I noted earlier, will pay off in the long run.
Typically, when policies like this are proposed, they are baked into the budget forecast. And typically, a three-months' difference between when a forecast is done and when the budget is proposed is not really a big deal.
But I don't need to tell you that this year was unlike any other in modern history. When we did the forecast in early February, the world looked much different than it does today.
At that point, it was unclear how we could successfully stand up a national vaccination program, how fast we could get those shots into arms, how effective the shots would be, and how much vaccinating a nation would free up consumers to spend and businesses to reopen.
In addition, the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan — the cornerstone of the budget — were in the early stages of development.
That February forecast projected real GDP growth at 5.2 percent in 2021, and 3.2 percent in 2022.
We began the year with a 6.3 percent unemployment rate and expected it to fall to 5.5 percent by the end of 2021, and 4.1 percent by the end of 2022.
We also expected short-term interest rates to rise slowly as the economy approached full employment and inflation to stabilize around 2 percent.
There are two important reasons why our current economic reality looks different from our February forecast. First, the economic reality on the ground, as summer looms, is very different than last winter. Recovery and real GDP has outperformed our expectations thus far. More than half of adults in the United States have been fully vaccinated, accelerating a full reopening. The consensus forecast for real GDP growth during 2021 has climbed from 5.0 to 7.0 percent.
Aside from GDP, two other components of the forecast that have been revised up as well: the consensus view about 10-year yield and the expectation for 2021 inflation.
Second, as I noted earlier, the forecast does not fully reflect the policies proposed in the budget. This is a solid —
a budget that reflects President Biden's vision for investing in people and society, and ensures that the economy grows and that everyone shares in the prosperity. And it understands that the public sector is a key component in moving us forward.
Thank you for your time.
MR. FRIEDLANDER: Great, thanks very much. Moderator, we'll be ready to take some questions now.
Q Yes, hi. This is Asma with National Public Radio. I just wanted to better understand, you know, how you're addressing some of the concerns that have been risen, particularly from fiscal hawks, that even though interest rates are low right now and these are investments you need to do, that if you don't sort of tackle the gaping structural deficit problem that the country is in, it will be enormously difficult to deal with the debt problem over the long term.
ACTING DIRECTOR YOUNG: Thank you. Thank you for that question. You know, that is certainly one way to look at the budget. There are also other metrics of how you look at this with sustainability. And we certainly believe that the President's budget improves the long-term fiscal outlook because his policies are more than paid for over the long run.
So this President is putting forth a historic, staggering agenda that changes the long-term view of how this country invests in its infrastructure and brings its competitiveness with those like China back to where we should be — which is first in the world — while ensuring that he not only offsets his policies, but improves the deficit picture, starting in 2030, and by cutting deficits over — by over $2 trillion in the 10 years after that.
That is a sharp departure from unpaid tax cuts under the prior administration that seriously wor- — worsened our long-term fiscal problems.
But for the near term and the medium term, we believe the most important test of our fiscal health is real interest payments on the debt. That's what tells us whether debt is burdening our economy and crowding out other investments.
This budget takes advantage of the fiscal space created by historically low interest rates to make urgently needed investments that will contribute to growth and shared prosperity. Under the budget's policies, the real cost of federal debt payments will remain below the historical average through the coming decades, showing that the cost of these upfront investments is not burdening the economy.
Q Wall Street Journal. This is a question, I guess, for Chairwoman Rouse on the economic assumptions. So you mentioned the consensus forecast for GDP 10-year yields and inflation — how those have shifted. Could you tell us — and maybe I just misunderstood — how the White House forecasts have changed? Like what are you actually expecting this year and maybe next year for real GDP rates and inflation at this point?
CHAIR ROUSE: So, you know, we did this like a forecast, which is led by the CEA, but very much in conjunction with OMB and the Treasury Department. And we developed that forecast in early February.
But, you know, just like you are, we're watching the economy, and we can see that GDP growth in the first quarter came in at 6.4 percent. You know, we have seen unemployment come down. You know, we just got to PCE numbers on inflation, which shows that people are spending and the economy is opening up.
So, you know, if we were revising today, we would certainly be reflecting these new economic realities into our forecasts. But we don't update the forecast, you know, mid-cycle in this way because we need to develop the budget in time for agencies to develop their own budgets. And if we were to have revised the budget, it would have delayed this budget roll- — if we revised our forecast that would have delayed this budget rollout even further, which we didn't think would be such a wise thing to do.
Q Hi, thanks. Yeah, Niv Elis from The Hill. So I have two questions. One is, it looks like the net interest that's going to be paid rises to $914 billion by the end of the decade, which is 40 percent more than the primary deficit. So with net interest costs getting that high, can you sort of explain how that counts as a responsible fiscal course when so much is just going to pay off the debt?
The other question is also about GDP. You talked about how the — this forecast didn't incorporate the effects of the Jobs Plan and the Families Plan. Do you have forecasts as to how those would increase GDP if they are enacted?
ACTING DIRECTOR YOUNG: So, I'll start with the interest-rate question and let the Chairwoman jump in on GDP. But, as you point out, our budget does build in assumptions about a future rise in interest rates. That's the responsible thing to do, and that's exactly what you see.
Even with assumed interest — increase in interest rates, real interest payments on the federal debt, which are a key test of fiscal health, remain low by historical standards throughout the coming decade, showing that this budget puts the nation on sound fiscal course for the near term.
Like CBO and market forecasters, we don't assume that interest rates go all the way back to the last seen — level seen several decades ago. That's because the decline in interest rates is a global persistent phenomenon; it has not been temporary or localized.
And that being said, things could change. And we recognize that the long-run outlook is more uncertain. That's one of the reasons why the President has put forward proposals to pay for all of his policies and, in fact, reduces deficits over time by reforming our tax system so that corporations and the very wealthy pay their fair share.
CHAIR ROUSE: Terrific. And so, this is Cecilia Rouse, and I'll take the second question about the impacts of the AJP and the AFP.
So just — just as a reminder, when we made the budget forecast, it was early February. And, nonetheless, we do assume that at 10 years out — in 2031 — that real GDP growth would be about — would be at 10 — at 2.0 percent. So when we made this forecast, we did include some — we did expect some positive growth effects from some of the investments that we knew we wanted to be able to make, but we hadn't fully developed those programs at that time.
So, you know, in terms of the protect — projected impact of the AJP and the AFP on the economy, I will refer you to Mark Zandi's forecast. And he projects that these two programs — by 2030, that we will have GDP at 2.3 percent and unemployment will have fallen under 3.8 percent.
Q Hi, this is Benjy Sarlin with NBC News. I just want to ask about a pair of healthcare reforms that seem to be mentioned in the factsheet: the drug reform and the public option. I was wondering if you could explain to me exactly where they fit into this budget. Is there a specific proposal that is being incorporated into assumption?
Or is this more just a general statement that the White House would like Congress to eventually pass something on this without further details? And if so, why is there not a more detailed incorporation into this budget?
ACTING DIRECTOR YOUNG: Hey, thanks for that. We — we love to talk about healthcare policy, so thanks for giving us the opportunity to do that.
One, I do want to make sure we note, in the Families Plan — so a part of this budget — the President does have a robust healthcare proposal. It makes permanent — it will make permanent the premium tax credit improvements that, as we all know, helped millions of people gain coverage and reduce premiums for millions more. This budget also invests $400 billion in improving home- and community-based services for older people and people with disabilities.
What the budget does — I think you're referring to — is also calls on Congress to act this year — the President is very clear he would like to see action this year — to reduce prescription drug costs; strengthen ACA, Medicaid, and Medicare coverage; and create additional public coverage options.
We know there are proposals on the Hill being introduced, and we believe that it is more productive to work collaboratively with Congress to develop and build consensus around the specific policies that achieve his broad goals.
Q Oh, hey. Ben White at Politico. Thanks for doing this. I just want to go back to the growth projections for a second. I mean, obviously you've talked about how this was done in February pre-AJP and AFP. Do we just disregard these projections as too small? Because they're relatively tepid growth rates for the kind of investments you're talking about making. How should we think about that? Should we just discount this as, you know, old numbers? And should we expect much faster growth going forward? Or how should we think about it?
CHAIR ROUSE: Well, a great — good question. So again, our budget does assume that real GDP growth is at 2.0 percent 10 years out — so that's in 2031. So we want to put that 2.0 long-term forecast in perspective. The Congressional Budget Office's projection, which was also released in February, used then-current law assumptions. So it didn't include the ARP — the American Rescue Plan; the AJP; or the AFP, and it reaches GDP of 1.6 percent in 2031. The median Federal Reserve long-term growth forecast back in mid-March was 1.8 percent.
So I want to just highlight this seemingly small difference in — differences in real GDP growth can end up having enormous effects on the output and income that our economy generates over time.
So, for example, let's take a difference between the CBO's 2031 real GDP growth projection, 1.6 percent, and our 2 percent 2031 forecast. So that's a difference of 0.4 percentage points each year in the long term. That 0.4 percentage point difference in real growth would translate into the U.S. economy cumulatively producing $4.8 trillion more over a decade in inflation-adjusted 2019 dollars. So that's roughly $1 trillion more than the annual GDP of Germany. That just shy of the annual GDP of Japan.
Put another way, that extra output from an extra 0.4 percentage points of real growth each year, summed over a decade, would be the equivalent of $36,000 per household, again in 2019 dollars. So, differences of a mere tenths of a percentage points to economic growth can gradually add up to be the size of whole nations' economies.
Q Hi, there, Jim Tankersley with the New York Times. Thanks so much for doing this. Racial equity has been a big focus of the President, but there is not a racial equity breakout in this budget. Why?
ACTING DIRECTOR YOUNG: So thank you for that. I — you know, I think one way to accomplish things like racial equity, which is important — as you've pointed out, the President is taking historic action — is to ensure that we're looking at implementing all of our programs with that in mind.
So, we have built that in. We have given clear direction to our agencies that they are to use that lens as they implement these programs. You know, we can't wait on this, and this is why we have given clear instructions to agencies, with resources they have now, that they should be looking at racial equity with everything that they do. This is not something we should have to call out; this is something that should be pervasive in how the government does its business.
So you — you may not see a line item, but I think that's more than appropriate with the way the President has asked his government to address these long, pervasive issues.
Q Hey, guys. It's Justin Sink from Bloomberg. I'm wondering — just to make sure I'm reading this correctly — if you see the entirety of the Trump tax cuts expiring at their end but in the middle of your 10-year budget cycle.
And, you know, there's been criticism that that would violate the President's pledge not to raise taxes on those making under $400,000 a year. So how do you, kind of, grapple with that question?
ACTING DIRECTOR YOUNG: Hey, this is Shalanda. I'm happy to restate as many times as you allow me: The President has committed, continues to commit, will commit forever that individuals making under $400,000 a year will not have to pay a single dollar more in taxes.
The tax expiration issue that you brought up doesn't happen until 2025. The President will use the time between now and that expiration in 2025 to work with Congress to continue reforming our tax code so that it can ask the wealthy to pay their fair share, raising the right amount of revenue, and protect the low- and middle-income families.
So, you know, absolutely we are tracking this, but what — the issue you raise is an issue in 2025, and this is a 2022 budget. And so, we are certainly aware and we'll ensure that Congress keeps to the President's pledge that we not raise taxes on those under $400,000.
MR. FRIEDLANDER: Great. And, Moderator, we have time for one more question.
Q Hi, this is Ben Popken with NBC News. So prices are rising and — does the budget anticipates that wage growth will outpace rising inflation, deterioration of consumer purchasing power, especially for lower-income households. And is there a time period before that becomes true? Thank you.
CHAIR ROUSE: So the budget does — the budget certainly does project that there's going to be some short-term inflation, although we do expect it to settle back down to about 2 percent at an annual rate.
You know, we anticipate that the — that because of these policies, we're going to have some GDP growth, which will be benefiting all Americans. We know that when you reach full employment — which we also anticipate that through these policies we'll reach full employment — that that benefits all, as the President outlined and la- — leaned into in his speech yesterday.
And so we — we expect that everybody will benefit and that the economy will benefit from the productivity-enhancing investments that are embedded in this budget, funded from the revenue that would be largely from the wealthiest Americans to help pay for these investments.
MR. FRIEDLANDER: Great, thank you so much. And thanks, all of you, for joining us on a Friday.
A reminder that the contents of this call are on the record and embargoed until 1:30 p.m. Eastern time today.
And with that, hope you all have a great weekend. Thanks so much.
11:31 A.M. EDT
____________________________________________
EEO laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19, so long as employers comply w/ the reasonable accommodation provisions of the ADA and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act...
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USEEOC/bulletins/2e1bfc4
So the Hamas terrorist who fired 4,000 missiles at Israel civilians has a 17-year old niece hospitalized in Israel for over a month getting a critical bone marrow transplant. Never more proud to be a supporter of Israel than when I read this.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-chiefs-niece-has-been-hospitalized-in-israel-for-over-a-month-report/
Shooter who killed 9 at California rail yard had 12 guns, 22,000 rounds of ammunition at house he set on fire.
https://twitter.com/anitakumar01/status/1398403338316754944
What built the wealth that created Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma? Descendants of victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and experts say it was land ownership. Property was granted to Black people who had been enslaved by Native American nations.
https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-business-race-and-ethnicity-874fade343fc7515210117c4efe1335f
UNFUCKING BELIEVABLE, DEMOCRATS ARE WORTHLESS TERRORIST COWARDS: Biden orders Justice Dept. to toss lawsuit against Trump, Barr for illegal and unconstitutional military clearing of Lafayette Square. Military, federal and local police forcibly cleared the square using batons, clubs, horses, pepper spray, smoke and fired projectiles 30 minutes before a citywide curfew began. Images of violence drew a national backlash against Trump's calls for "overwhelming force" to put down those he called "THUGS" and domestic terrorists. The nation's top military official later apologized for walking with Trump before television cameras that day. Biden and Democrats are now saying it's okay to murder anybody in the name of "presidential security."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/trump-lafayette-square-civil-lawsuit/2021/05/28/c413c840-bfb3-11eb-b26e-53663e6be6ff_story.html
Justice Department has also been ordering Judges to release the pro-Trump terrorists in prison, most have been released......
A hospital in Alabama has discharged the final patient from its COVID ward. Dr. Raul Magadia made the announcement at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, thanking the community for uniting to care for patients, and each other, during the challenging year.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1398418823120920578
https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1398418823120920578
Fourteen states have enacted 22 new laws making it harder to vote
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/28/politics/voter-suppression-restrictive-voting-bills/index.html
____________________________________________
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/28/executive-order-on-advancing-equity-justice-and-opportunity-for-asian-americans-native-hawaiians-and-pacific-islanders/
Executive Order on Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
May 28, 2021 • Presidential Actions
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) individuals and communities are irrefutable sources of our Nation's strength. These communities have molded the American experience, and the achievements of AA and NHPI communities make the United States stronger and more vibrant. The richness of America's multicultural democracy is strengthened by the diversity of AA and NHPI communities and the many cultures and languages of AA and NHPI individuals in the United States.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities together constitute the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States and make rich contributions to our society, our economy, and our culture. Yet for far too long, systemic barriers to equity, justice, and opportunity put the American dream out of reach of many AA and NHPI communities. Many AA and NHPI individuals face persistent disparities in socioeconomic, health, and educational outcomes. Linguistic isolation and lack of access to language-assistance services continue to lock many AA and NHPI individuals out of opportunity. Too often Federal data collection practices fail to measure, reflect, and disaggregate the diversity of AA and NHPI experiences. These practices contribute to often painful and enduring stereotypes about Asian Americans as a "model minority" and obscure disparities within AA and NHPI communities.
Our Nation has also seen again that anti-Asian bias, xenophobia, racism, and nativism have deep roots in our Nation. Tragic acts of anti-Asian violence have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, casting a shadow of fear and grief over many AA and NHPI communities, in particular East Asian communities. Long before this pandemic, AA and NHPI communities in the United States — including South Asian and Southeast Asian communities — have faced persistent xenophobia, religious discrimination, racism, and violence. The Federal Government must provide the moral leadership, policies, and programs to address and end anti-Asian violence and discrimination, and advance inclusion and belonging for all AA and NHPI communities.
At the same time, many AA and NHPI communities, and in particular Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, have also been disproportionately burdened by the COVID-19 public health crisis. Evidence suggests that Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are three times more likely to contract COVID-19 compared to white people and nearly twice as likely to die from the disease. On top of these health inequities, many AA and NHPI families and small businesses have faced devastating economic losses during this crisis, which must be addressed.
As I directed in Executive Order 13985 of January 20, 2021 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government), the entire Federal Government must advance equity and racial justice for underserved communities, which include AA and NHPI communities. As I established in the Presidential Memorandum of January 26, 2021 (Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States), it is the policy of my Administration to address and confront racism, xenophobia, and intolerance. The purpose of this order is to build on those policies by establishing the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Both will work to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities in the United States.
Sec. 2. President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
(a) There is established in the Department of Health and Human Services the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (Commission).
(b) The Commission shall be led by two Co-Chairs, one of whom shall be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the other of whom shall be the head of an executive department or agency (agency) designated by the President. The Commission shall provide advice to the President, in close coordination with the Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, on:
(i) the development, monitoring, and coordination of executive branch efforts to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities in the United States, including efforts to close gaps in health, socioeconomic, employment, and educational outcomes;
(ii) policies to address and end anti-Asian bias, xenophobia, racism, and nativism, and opportunities for the executive branch to advance inclusion, belonging, and public awareness of the diversity and accomplishments of AA and NHPI people, cultures, and histories;
(iii) policies, programs, and initiatives to prevent, report, respond to, and track anti-Asian hate crimes and hate incidents;
(iv) ways in which the Federal Government can build on the capacity and contributions of AA and NHPI communities through equitable Federal funding, grantmaking, and employment opportunities;
(v) policies and practices to improve research and equitable data disaggregation regarding AA and NHPI communities;
(vi) policies and practices to improve language access services to ensure AA and NHPI communities can access Federal programs and services; and
(vii) strategies to increase public- and private-sector collaboration, and community involvement in improving the safety and socioeconomic, health, educational, occupational, and environmental well‑being of AA and NHPI communities.
(c) The Commission shall consist of 25 members appointed by the President. The Commission shall include members who:
(i) have a history of advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities;
(ii) represent diverse sectors, including education, commerce, business, health, human services, housing, the environment, the arts, agriculture, labor and employment, transportation, justice, veterans affairs, economic and community development, immigration, law, and national security;
(iii) are from organizations or associations representing one or more of the diverse AA and NHPI communities;
(iv) have personal or professional experience addressing intersectional barriers faced by AA and NHPI communities, such as discrimination or lack of access to opportunity based on country of origin, immigration status, disability, age, or sex, including based on sexual orientation and gender identity; or
(v) have such other experience as the President deems appropriate.
(d) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall designate an Executive Director of the Commission (Executive Director). The Executive Director shall report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the other Co‑Chair of the Commission and the Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison.
(i) The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide funding and administrative support for the Commission to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations, and may, as necessary and appropriate under section 1535 of title 31, United States Code, enter into one or more agreements to obtain goods or services from one or more agencies in support of the Commission.
(ii) The heads of other agencies shall assist and provide information to the Commission, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out its functions. Each agency shall bear its own expenses of assisting the Commission.
(iii) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707). Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (the "Act"), may apply to the administration of the Commission, any functions of the President under the Act, except that of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Administrator of General Services.
(e) The Commission shall terminate 2 years from the date of this order, unless sooner renewed by the President.
Sec. 3. White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
(a) There is established the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (Initiative), a Federal interagency working group. The Initiative shall be led by two Co-Chairs, one of whom shall be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the other of whom shall be the head of an agency designated by the President. The Executive Director of the Commission established in section 2(d) of this order shall also serve as the Executive Director of the Initiative, reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the other Co-Chair of the Initiative and the Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison.
(b) The Initiative shall advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities by coordinating Federal interagency policymaking and program development efforts to eliminate barriers to equity, justice, and opportunity faced by AA and NHPI communities, including by advancing policies, programs, and initiatives. In developing and implementing such policies, programs, and initiatives, the Co-Chairs of the Initiative and the Executive Director shall coordinate closely with the Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison. To support implementation of a whole-of-government approach to equity and racial justice, as established in Executive Order 13985, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall coordinate closely with the Co-Chairs of the Initiative and the Executive Director to ensure that the needs and voices of AA and NHPI communities are considered in the efforts of my Administration to advance equity and civil rights.
In particular, the Initiative shall advance efforts to:
(i) identify and eliminate any existing institutional policies or barriers within Federal programs and services that may disadvantage or burden AA and NHPI communities;
(ii) improve safety, access to justice, and violence prevention for AA and NHPI communities, including by preventing, reporting, addressing, and better tracking acts of hate and bias (such as acts of hate and bias at the intersection of gender-based violence);
(iii) promote inclusion and belonging for AA and NHPI communities, including by expanding public education and knowledge of AA and NHPI people and their diverse cultures, languages, and histories;
(iv) expand the collection and use of disaggregated data at the Federal, State and local level on AA and NHPI communities, and facilitate improved research on policy and program outcomes for AA and NHPI communities, in coordination with the Interagency Working Group on Equitable Data established by Executive Order 13985;
(v) end language access and other barriers faced by AA and NHPI communities in accessing government benefits and services;
(vi) improve health outcomes, eliminate health disparities, and expand access to quality, affordable, and culturally competent medical and mental healthcare services for AA and NHPI individuals and communities;
(vii) end disparities in educational outcomes for AA and NHPI youth and students of all ages, and address barriers to learning, including bullying, harassment, and other forms of discrimination at school;
(viii) address the concentration of poverty facing many AA and NHPI communities, including by identifying and addressing disparities in access to safe, affordable housing and homeownership;
(ix) expand economic opportunity for AA and NHPI families, including by advancing opportunities for AA and NHPI entrepreneurs and small businesses, supporting access to jobs and workforce training for AA and NHPI communities, promoting AA and NHPI participation and success in the private sector, ensuring workplaces are free from race and national origin harassment and other forms of employment discrimination, and ensuring AA and NHPI communities can access consumer and finance protections;
(x) increase opportunities for civic engagement, such as electoral participation, within AA and NHPI communities;
(xi) improve the equitable allocation of Federal resources, including through Federal funds, contracts, grants, and awards, to AA and NHPI communities and AA and NHPI-serving organizations;
(xii) support AA and NHPI communities in responding to and recovering from national or regional crises and public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic crisis;
(xiii) secure climate and environmental justice for AA and NHPI communities who are particularly impacted by the climate crisis and are overburdened by environmental degradation; and
(xiv) identify ways to foster the recruitment, career and leadership development, retention, advancement, and participation of AA and NHPI public servants at all levels of the Federal workforce.
(c) In addition to the Co-Chairs, the Initiative shall consist of senior officials from the following agencies and offices, designated by the heads thereof:
(i) the Office of the Vice President;
(ii) the Department of State;
(iii) the Department of the Treasury;
(iv) the Department of Defense;
(v) the Department of Justice;
(vi) the Department of the Interior;
(vii) the Department of Agriculture;
(viii) the Department of Commerce;
(ix) the Department of Labor;
(x) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(xi) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(xii) the Department of Energy;
(xiii) the Department of Education;
(xiv) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(xv) the Department of Homeland Security;
(xvi) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(xvii) the Office of Management and Budget;
(xviii) the Office of the United States Trade Representative;
(xix) the Small Business Administration;
(xx) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(xxi) the National Security Council;
(xxii) the National Economic Council;
(xxiii) the Domestic Policy Council;
(xxiv) the Gender Policy Council;
(xxv) the Council on Environmental Quality;
(xxvi) the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs;
(xxvii) the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs;
(xxviii) the White House Office of Public Engagement;
(xxix) the White House Office of Presidential Personnel;
(xxx) the Social Security Administration;
(xxxi) the General Services Administration;
(xxxii) the United States Agency for International Development;
(xxxiii) the Office of Personnel Management;
(xxxiv) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and
(xxxv) other agencies and offices as the President may, from time to time, designate.
At the direction of the Co-Chairs, the Initiative may establish subgroups consisting exclusively of Initiative members or their designees, as appropriate. To the extent permitted by law, members of the Initiative, or their designees, shall devote the time, skill, and resources necessary and adequate to carry out the functions of the Initiative. Each agency and office shall bear its own expenses for participating in the Initiative.
(d) The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide funding and administrative support for the Initiative to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations, and may, as necessary and appropriate under section 1535 of title 31, United States Code, enter into one or more agreements to obtain goods or services from one or more agencies in support of the Initiative.
(e) Each agency in the Initiative shall prepare a plan (agency plan) outlining measurable actions the agency is considering or will take to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities, including plans to implement the policy goals outlined in subsection (b) of this section. Agencies shall report their plans to the Co-Chairs of the Initiative and the Executive Director on a frequency established by the Executive Director. In developing such plans, officials participating in the Initiative shall seek opportunities to engage with employee affinity groups or Federal networks representing AA and NHPI public servants.
(i) Each such agency shall assess and report to the Co-Chairs of the Initiative and the Executive Director on its progress in implementing its respective agency plan on a regular basis as established by the Co-Chairs of the Initiative and the Executive Director.
(ii) On an annual basis, the Co-Chairs of the Initiative shall develop and submit to the President a report outlining a Government-wide interagency plan to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities, and progress made in implementing the policy goals outlined in subsection (b) of this section.
(f) The Initiative shall coordinate with and support the existing regional network of Federal officials who facilitate improved communication, engagement, and coordination between the Federal Government and AA and NHPI communities throughout the United States (Regional Network). Agencies identified as participants in the Initiative shall seek opportunities, consistent with applicable law and available resources, to provide support and resources to the Regional Network through each agency's respective regional offices. The Executive Director shall coordinate the efforts of the Regional Network, and may establish regular reporting and information-sharing activities between the Regional Network and the Initiative.
Sec. 4. General Provisions.
(a) This order supersedes Executive Order 13125 of June 7, 1999 (Increasing Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Federal Programs); Executive Order 13339 of May 13, 2004 (Increasing Economic Opportunity and Business Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders); Executive Order 13515 of October 14, 2009 (Increasing Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Federal Programs); and Executive Order 13872 of May 13, 2019 (Economic Empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders).
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(d) For purposes of this order, references to executive departments and agencies shall not include the agencies described in section 3502(5) of title 44, United States Code. Independent regulatory agencies are strongly encouraged to comply with the provisions of this order.
(e) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 28, 2021.
____________________________________________
The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs are not timed race events, but a way for firefighters and the community to honor and remember the FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives so that others might live.
https://www.firehero.org/events/9-11-stair-climbs-2/
Humpback whales have bred prolifically since people stopped butchering them. They may now be as numerous as they were before commercial whaling
https://www.economist.com/asia/2021/05/27/australian-whales-are-breeding-like-rabbits
Swiss bank admits to laundering $36 million in bribes to soccer officials
https://www.newsweek.com/swiss-bank-admits-laundering-36-million-bribes-soccer-officials-1595668
Candidates in Iran's presidential elections "insufficiently loyal" to the Islamic Revolution have been disqualified. Ebrahim Raisi, the current judiciary chief appointed by Mr. Khamenei, will be Iran's new Presidenti.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/world/middleeast/iran-election-khamenei-raisi.html
Former health department employee, Rebekah Jones, granted official whistleblower status
https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2021/05/28/former-health-department-employee-rebekah-jones-granted-official-whistleblower-status/
Important to understand what's going on here. Most Democrats don't actually believe antisemitism is real. They seriously believe all Jews are white and american and wealthy and successful and therefore cannot be victims of bigotry.
Biden Administration maintains Republican embargo against Cuba
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/555488-biden-renews-trump-listing-of-cuba-as-state-sponsor-of-terror
Voting update for #NM CD1 special election. Total of 71,309 votes have been cast with three days of early voting left. Here's breakdown by party affiliation:
Democrats - 42,069
Republicans - 20,577
Libertarians - 318
Independents/other - 8,345
Election Day is June 1. #nmpol
https://twitter.com/DanBoydNM/status/1397975199987822593
Of note: Total turnout to date is about 15.6% of registered voters. With early voting ending Saturday, unclear if total turnout for special election will hit 30% mark.
Also, absentee ballots currently make up about 31% of all votes cast. #nmpol
https://twitter.com/DanBoydNM/status/1397978035756748800
Kyrsten Sinema Called January 6 Commission 'Critical,' But Missed Vote
https://www.newsweek.com/kyrsten-sinema-called-january-6-commission-critical-missed-vote-1596103
Two officers who helped fight the Capitol mob died by suicide. Many more are hurting. The families of Officers Jeffrey Smith and Howard Liebengood want their deaths recognized as "in the line of duty."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/police-officer-suicides-capitol-riot/2021/02/11/94804ee2-665c-11eb-886d-5264d4ceb46d_story.html
Now that Republicans have killed the commission to investigate the January 6th insurrection, the Democrats should now pursue it as a civil case, as multiple felonies occurred that were openly instigated by numerous Republican politicians, including Trump.
On this Memorial Day, what would the Greatest Generation—that defeated the Nazis—think of seeing swarms of domestic terrorists invading our Capitol to overturn an election? Or the cowardice in the Senate looking away at rising fanaticism? Are we the Worst Generation?
https://twitter.com/PaulaChertok/status/1398727176040505348
How to overturn an election in Texas. Check out the major changes to Legislature's massive elections bill just days before the session ends
https://houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Biden-denounces-Texas-voting-bill-now-amended-to-16212715.php
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/nntzrk/game_thread_denver_nuggets_4725_portland_trail/
History is everywhere. A Tulsa resident pointed out to me that the bricks in the facade of this building were reclaimed from buildings that burned in 1921.
https://twitter.com/jelani9/status/1398668209453256707
ESPN Experts
Jerry Bembry: Nuggets in 7
Nick DePaula: Blazers in 7
Nick Friedell: Nuggets in 7
Kirk Goldsberry: Nuggets in 7
Tim Legler: Blazers in 7
Zach Lowe: Blazers in 7
Tim MacMahon: Nuggets in 6
Bobby Marks: Nuggets in 7
Dave McMenamin: Nuggets in 6
Monica McNutt: Blazers in 7
Kevin Pelton: Blazers in 6
Omar Raja: Nuggets in 6
Jorge Sedano: Blazers in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 7
André Snellings: Blazers in 7
Marc J. Spears: Blazers in 7
Royce Young: Blazers in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Nuggets in 7
Final tally: Blazers (9), Nuggets (9).
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31463086/nba-playoffs-2021-experts-predictions-round-1
Palaeontologists hope Biden will restore protections on fossil-rich US lands
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01445-6
$10 million on vaccine outreach spent by the state. Where is the science-based messaging in those campaign operative placed ads? Where is the science in "get the jab or pay the tab"? Or the vaccine will only create a sore arm?
https://www.ctpost.com/news/coronavirus/article/Connecticut-has-spent-10M-on-COVID-vaccine-16213318.php
Natural disasters occurring three times more often than 50 years ago: new FAO report | At no other point in history have agri-food systems faced more hazards such as megafires, extreme weather, unusually large desert locust swarms, and emerging biological threat
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/03/1087702
New details emerging in the mass shooting in unincorporated Dade that left two dead and twenty wounded, as a senior law enforcement source tells there were three gunmen, armed with assault style rifles, that fired "at least 100 rounds" into the crowd.
https://twitter.com/DeFede/status/1399077017216335875
Coming up shortly to speak with @Acosta, with great news about #covid19 in the U.S. The vaccinated are very well-protected & infections declining steadily. Still, we can't declare victory when nearly half the country remains unvaccinated & coronavirus rages around the world.
https://twitter.com/DrLeanaWen/status/1399097797555720192
This #MemorialDay Weekend, we woof like to ask our friends to take a moment and pay their respects to all the canine military heroes who lost their lives in action. We hope that soon, technology will make it so that innocent doggos are no longer needed in war theaters. Woof!
https://twitter.com/TheOvalPawffice/status/1399093470745223178
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._J._Thomas
135 million people in the United States have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus.
https://twitter.com/ryanstruyk/status/1399114613388623880
People seem to think the Bucks sweeping Miami means Miami were bubble frauds. Instead, the focus should be on how much better this year's Bucks team is
the DoJ just dropped (on a holiday weekend Sunday) a new indictment in the Oath Keepers case, adding four new defendants to the case: Joseph Hackett, Jason Dolan, William Isaacs, all from Florida, plus a person whose name has not been revealed.
https://twitter.com/kenbensinger/status/1399099114193776642
The co-founder of Black Lives Matter says leftists must "step up" and put an end to Israel. She has the same goal as Hamas, the PLO, and Iran's ayatollah. Whatever their differences, they are all antisemites who yearn to drive the Jews into the sea.
https://twitter.com/Jeff_Jacoby/status/1399123902140502023
When it's fully within the Democrats' power to actually fulfill what they promise, and they still refuse to deliver, what good is it to blame Republicans? The Democrats continually show themselves to be just as complicit.
Trump: I got 5 deferments b/c of my rich dad
Republicans:¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Trump: Escaping STDs was my Vietnam
Republicans:¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Trump: Mocks Gold Star parents
Republicans:¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Trump: Fallen soldiers are "suckers & losers"
Republicans:¯\_(ツ)_/¯
VP Harris: Have a good weekend
Republicans: This is outrageous!Face with symbols over mouth
Former national security advisor Michael Flynn at the QAnon Dallas event endorses a military coup happening in the US like it did in Myanmar. The military coup in Myanmar has been widely praised in the QAnon community.
https://mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/qanon-supporters-and-far-right-message-boards-hail-myanmar-coup-and-say
Here is the video of former national security advisor Michael Flynn saying that he thinks a coup like the coup in Myanmar should happen in the US.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1399129297240084489
https://twitter.com/MC_Hyperbole/status/1399129297240084489
New indictment shows the people involved in the insurrection called it an insurrection.
https://twitter.com/JanNWolfe/status/1399150524528828418
https://twitter.com/JanNWolfe/status/1399150524528828418/photo/1
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