- Characters linking to this county: Mitch "The Maverick" Colton
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Communications Office for President Kyle Allred
Allred Press Conference Announcement, Pre-NATO Summit There are several important issues I would like to address before I leave for the NATO summit and visit to Ukraine. First, of course, I, along with our Secretaries of State and Defense, National Security Advisor, and a bipartisan group of Senators, will be meeting with the NATO heads of government to reaffirm America's commitment to this vital alliance, and to declare our support for the course we have chosen to support Ukraine in her defense against Russia's war of aggression. I believe this will be especially meaningful for the "front line" states of the Baltics and Poland. After the NATO meeting I will be traveling with our party to Kyiv to discuss the current status of the war with President Zelensky and to assure Ukraine of our continued support. I thank the Senate for swiftly confirming almost all of the individuals nominated for Cabinet positions, and look forward to the confirmation of the two outstanding nominees for Treasury and Education. I want to express my personal sympathy, and the sympathy of the American people, to the people of Tennessee for the terrible disaster they have suffered. I can report that my administration has put together a substantial aid package to help Tennessee, and I commend the leadership of both parties in Congress, particularly Senators Koenig and Coleman, for their willingness to act. Next, while I am very pleased with our quick response to the natural disaster in Tennessee, I am again asking Congress to act in response to another disaster, this one caused by people. The horrific mass shooting in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, remains unaddressed by legislation. The American people demand action, and I share their frustration that nothing has yet been done. I am urging Congress to act to pass national "red flag" legislation of the type that exists in the State of Florida, so that people who pose a potential, credible danger to others are denied access to deadly firearms. There are two other important matters on the floor of Congress which I urge swift action on. First, there is the Permanent Tax Cut Act, which will extend the tax cuts passed in 2017. Without action, the personal exemption will be cut in half, subjecting thousands more dollars of income to taxation. Every tax bracket will rise. And the per child tax credit will be reduced. My Administration has already signalled a willingness to be flexible by allowing the top income tax rate to rise back to 39.6%. There is no good reason for Democrats to hold up this bill now. Congress needs to have a clean up or down vote on this bill which will ensure your taxes do not rise in the next year. Congress has the opportunity to pass a huge increase in the minimum wage and to protect American jobs, the Higher Wages Act. By increasing the minimum wage to $13 per hour, while protecting tip income from taxation and ensuring that unscrupulous employers cannot undercut the minimum wage by hiring people who are in this country illegally. This is a comprehensive approach that the Vice President and I campaigned on and I am proud to support it now. And Congress needs to get it done. One other bill that has been introduced and I would like to see brought forward is the Hospital Competition Act, which fulfills a campaign promise to break up hospital monopolies and promote price transparency. And let me say that was initially a proposal from Vice President van Horn which I was happy to adopt. -
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Emergency Electric Grid Stabilisation and Disaster Resilience Act
IN THE 119th CONGRESS Senator MUNOZ of Texas, for himself, with thanks to Mr. Torres of New York and Ms. Velázquez of New York, introduces the following legislation, A BILL, To direct the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to, upon request, provide temporary assistance to States to help stabilize the electric grid, to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a Territorial Disaster Recovery Program to continuously identify, monitor, and address factors and capability gaps that hinder the execution and completion of recovery activities relating to major disasters by eligible entities located in the territories of the United States, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the “Emergency Electric Grid Stabilisation and Disaster Resilience Act”. SEC. 2. Temporary Federal assistance to stabilize the electric grid. (a) Provision of temporary assistance.—Not later than 10 days after receiving a request from an affected State for assistance in stabilizing the electric grid in such State, including for assistance with addressing an electricity outage or electricity generation shortage, the Secretary may provide assistance to such State as the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate to stabilize the electric grid in such State, including by providing technical assistance, temporary electricity generation, provision of equipment, or any other relevant assistance. (b) Duration.—The Secretary shall provide assistance to an affected State under subsection (a) until such time as the Secretary, in coordination with the State, determines that the electric grid in the State is stabilized. (c) Reports.—During any period in which assistance is being provided to an affected State under subsection (a), the Secretary, in coordination with the State and any applicable entity in the State that is responsible for electricity generation, transmission, or distribution, shall at least monthly submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, a report on— (1) electricity generation levels in the State; (2) progress in stabilizing the electric grid in the State; (3) additional resources, including appropriations, needed to stabilize the electric grid in the State; and (4) a timeline to complete the work to stabilize the electric grid in the State. (d) Definitions.—In this section: (1) AFFECTED STATE.—The term “affected State” means a State in which there is an electricity generation shortage, or a failure of equipment for the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity, that has resulted in a disruption of the electric grid within the State. (2) SECRETARY.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers. (3) STABILIZE.—The term “stabilize” means, with respect to an electric grid, to make the electric grid resilient to disruptions caused by an electricity generation shortage or a failure of equipment for the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity. (4) STATE.—The term “State” means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. (e) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000,000. $500,000,000 minimum must be spent in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guan, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of he Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia unless the Governors of these territories certify that their electric grids are stabilized SEC. 3. Territorial Disaster Recovery Program. (a) In general.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a Territorial Disaster Recovery Program (in this section referred to as the “Program”) to continuously identify, monitor, and address factors and capability gaps of local emergency managers, or other applicable emergency response coordinators, and eligible entities located in the territories of the United States in carrying out recovery activities relating to major disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). (b) Duties.—In carrying out the Program, the Administrator shall— (1) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, identify and analyze gaps in identifying, applying and receiving assistance, and carrying out recovery activities described in subsection (a) that are specific to eligible entities located in the territories of the United States; (2) provide technical assistance to the entities described in paragraph (1) in applying for grants under sections 403, 404, 406, 407, and 502 of such Act that— (A) is tailored to meet the needs of applicants at each stage of the administration of projects for which grants are made under such sections; and (B) takes into account the challenges of— (i) applicants who are located in remote or difficult-to-access areas; (ii) applicants with slow internet speeds or limited broadband access; (3) design online and in-person training courses that are specific to the entities described in paragraph (1) and that address the capability gaps identified under this section; (4) develop best practices regarding the administration of projects in the territories of the United States for which grants are made under sections 403, 404, 406, 407, and 502 of such Act; (5) develop feedback mechanisms for entities receiving technical assistance or training under this section; and (6) foster meaningful collaboration with local experts, community leaders, and other members of the community, that leads to the performance of activities under this section that are locally informed and relevant to local needs. (c) Report to Congress.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter for the duration of the Program, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on— (A) any capability gaps identified under subsection (b)(1); (B) the nature of any technical assistance provided under the Program; (C) any online or in-person training courses developed, or planned to be developed under the Program; (D) any best practices identified under subsection (b)(4); and (E) an analysis of, responses to, and any activities carried out as a result of feedback received by applicants for assistance under the Program and entities receiving such assistance. (2) FINAL REPORT.—In the report required to be submitted in the final year for which the Program is authorized, the Administrator shall include recommendations on— (A) whether to continue the Program; (B) if a continuation of the program is recommended, the suggested duration of such continuation; and (C) the necessary funding to carry out the Program. (d) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. (e) Definitions In this Act: (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2) COMMUNITY.—The term “community” means a network of individuals and families, businesses, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, and other civic organizations that reside or operate within a shared geographical boundary and may be represented by a common political leadership at a regional, county, municipal, or neighborhood level. (3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term “eligible entity” means an entity eligible for a grant under section 403, 404, 406, 407, or 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (5121 U.S.C. et seq.). (4) RECOVERY.—The term “recovery” means the capabilities and actions necessary to recover effectively from a major disaster declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), including— (A) rebuilding infrastructure systems; (B) providing adequate interim and long-term housing for individuals impacted by such incident; (C) restoring health, social, and community services; (D) promoting economic development; and (E) restoring natural and cultural resources. (5) TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES.—The term “territory of the United States” means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northen Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States. -
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