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Bipartisan Bill Seeks $100 Million Annually for Fortified Roof Programs and Disaster Mitigation

Bipartisan Bill Seeks $100 Million Annually for Fortified Roof Programs and Disaster Mitigation

U.S. Representatives from Louisiana, Mississippi, and California have introduced a bipartisan bill aiming to allocate an additional $100 million annually towards disaster mitigation efforts. This funding would specifically support programs like Louisiana's fortified roof initiative and similar disaster prevention programs in other states. U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a Democrat from Louisiana, and U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, a Republican from Mississippi, are among the lawmakers championing this legislation. The bill also includes a provision requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to engage with insurance companies to mandate specific credits for homeowners who implement fortified improvements, thereby incentivizing disaster-resilient construction.

U.S. Representatives Introduce Bipartisan Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act

U.S. Representatives Introduce Bipartisan Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and David Valadao (R-CA) have introduced the bipartisan National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act. This legislation aims to establish a coordinated federal program designed to enhance the understanding of flood risks, promote more effective mitigation and resilience strategies, and ultimately reduce the loss of life and property due to flooding. The proposed act is structured similarly to the successful National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program. It would create an interagency committee, led by the Army Corps of Engineers, and include key federal agencies such as FEMA, NOAA, USGS, NIST, OSTP, and OMB, to coordinate planning and implementation efforts. Additionally, the bill calls for an advisory committee comprising representatives from academia, industry standards groups, and state and local governments. This committee would be tasked with assessing advancements in flood resilience science and evaluating the program's overall effectiveness.

US plans to pay $850 million of the $5 billion it owes the United Nations

US plans to pay $850 million of the $5 billion it owes the United Nations

The Trump administration has notified Congress of its plans to pay more than $800 million of the several billion it owes to the United Nations

Congressman Michael McCaul to Retire, Ending Advocacy for Special Immigrant Visas

Congressman Michael McCaul to Retire, Ending Advocacy for Special Immigrant Visas

GOP Representative Michael McCaul of Texas is set to retire from Congress, effective January. McCaul has been a prominent supporter of special immigrant visas (SIVs) for individuals from Afghanistan, aid officials, and those who served alongside the U.S. military. His retirement, alongside that of Rep. Don Bacon, marks the departure of two Republican members who have consistently advocated for immigration protections and the benefits of legal immigration. This comes at a time when Republican support for legal immigration pathways has reportedly dipped by 14 percentage points in the past year, and issues like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are increasingly conflated with unlawful immigration. McCaul's stance on SIVs reflects a commitment to those who assisted U.S. efforts abroad, particularly in Afghanistan.

Columbia University Dismisses Professor Following Congressional Inquiry by Representative Stefanik

Columbia University Dismisses Professor Following Congressional Inquiry by Representative Stefanik

Columbia University's former president, Minouche Shafik, stated during a U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing that Professor Mohamed Abdou would 'never work at Columbia again' and had been terminated. This declaration followed questioning by Representative Elise Stefanik, who referenced pro-Palestinian social media posts made by Professor Abdou after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel. Stefanik highlighted a specific post from October 11 where Abdou allegedly stated, 'Yes. I'm with Hamas and Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.' Shafik expressed 'repugnance' at these remarks and affirmed that faculty making antisemitic statements would face consequences. Professor Abdou, a visiting professor for the Spring 2024 academic term, subsequently sued Columbia University, alleging defamation, discrimination, and harassment. However, the court dismissed his lawsuit, ruling that Shafik's statements were non-actionable true statements of fact regarding his termination and that his claims ...

Veteran Agricultural Leaders Launch 'Restore American Agriculture' Initiative to Address Farm Crisis

Veteran Agricultural Leaders Launch 'Restore American Agriculture' Initiative to Address Farm Crisis

A group of veteran agricultural leaders has launched 'Restore American Agriculture,' an initiative aimed at pressing Congress and the Administration for a serious response to the ongoing farm crisis. This effort was formed after previous attempts to alert lawmakers to the state of the farm economy, including two letters sent to Congress and the administration, received no response. Jon Doggett, former CEO of the National Corn Growers Association, stated that the initiative has created a website for farmers and ranchers to voice their concerns, emphasizing the need for grassroots input from those who produce the nation's food. Pam Johnson, a farmer from Iowa and past NCGA president, highlighted the urgency, noting projections that farmers may not be profitable for the next two years, signaling a severe crisis. The group is advocating for immediate and comprehensive congressional hearings on the current farm economy to assess the real-world impacts of federal policy decisions.

Representative Tracey Mann Introduces Build American Efficiency Act to Streamline Federal Housing Project Compliance

Representative Tracey Mann Introduces Build American Efficiency Act to Streamline Federal Housing Project Compliance

Representative Tracey Mann (R-KS), along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, has introduced the Build American Efficiency Act. This legislation aims to encourage the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to recognize auditable and verifiable systems, such as NEMA’s Make It American program, when determining compliance for federally funded housing projects. The primary goal of this act is to reduce duplicative paperwork, uncertainty, and the need for waiver requests associated with domestic-content requirements. The Make It American program, a third-party certification, independently evaluates manufacturers against the NEMA 70901-2024 process standard and product-specific Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) requirements. Certified facilities and products are then listed in NEMA’s public Make It American BABA Registry, providing a clear resource for identifying compliant manufacturers and products. This initiative follows similar recognition from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and ...

East Peoria Leaders Reluctantly Accept New FEMA Floodplain Maps, Impacting Property Owners

East Peoria Leaders Reluctantly Accept New FEMA Floodplain Maps, Impacting Property Owners

The East Peoria City Council has reluctantly accepted new floodplain maps issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These updated maps will designate approximately 430 additional properties across several East Peoria neighborhoods, including areas near Richland, Central Junior High School, Meadow Avenue, and East Peoria Community High School, as being within a new floodplain. This reclassification means that homeowners with federally backed mortgages in these newly designated areas will be mandated to acquire flood insurance. City leaders initially considered rejecting the proposal but concluded that a refusal would lead to significant negative consequences, including endangering residents' ability to obtain flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. The changes are set to become effective on September 7.

House Democrat Accused of Sexual Assault Following 'Consensual' Encounter Admission

House Democrat Accused of Sexual Assault Following 'Consensual' Encounter Admission

A sitting House Democrat, Representative Jimmy Gomez of California, is facing accusations of sexual assault after previously admitting to 'consensual' mistakes outside his marriage. The allegations stem from an investigation by the House Ethics Committee into his conduct. Lawyers representing one of the women interviewed by the committee dispute Gomez's characterization of their encounter as consensual, labeling his actions as 'brazen sexual misconduct.' This development follows Gomez's earlier statement to Fox News Digital where he acknowledged 'mistakes outside [his] marriage' but maintained that his actions were 'consensual in nature' and did not violate law or House Ethics rules. The woman's legal team asserts that the committee will reach a similar conclusion regarding the non-consensual nature of the encounter. This incident adds to a series of recent accusations against House lawmakers concerning improper relations with congressional staff.

Savannah Morning News

Georgia sunrise, sunset under permanent Daylight Saving Time

Georgia sunrise, sunset under permanent Daylight Saving Time

Sunrise near 9 a.m.? If permanent Daylight Saving Time becomes law, that's what it would be across Georgia. See the times for sunrise, sunset.

U.S. Rep. Houchin Introduces Bill to Reverse Expanded Methadone Access Guidelines

U.S. Rep. Houchin Introduces Bill to Reverse Expanded Methadone Access Guidelines

U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, a Republican from Indiana, has introduced a bill aimed at reversing updated guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that expanded access to methadone treatment for opioid use disorder. Methadone, a Schedule II substance, is one of three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder, known for reducing cravings and withdrawal pain. Unlike buprenorphine and naltrexone, methadone is highly regulated, requiring in-person visits to SAMHSA-certified clinics for dispensing. The updated SAMHSA guidelines, which Houchin's bill seeks to overturn, were part of a broader effort to increase access to treatment, especially in response to the opioid crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw emergency measures like telehealth screening and unsupervised take-home doses become permanent.

Rep. Chip Roy and Rep. Steve Cohen Introduce ARTICLE ONE Act to Require Congressional Approval for National Emergency Declarations

Rep. Chip Roy and Rep. Steve Cohen Introduce ARTICLE ONE Act to Require Congressional Approval for National Emergency Declarations

Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee) have introduced the ARTICLE ONE Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at requiring congressional approval for national emergency declarations. Under this proposed legislation, any national emergency declaration and the powers exercised under it would need to be approved by Congress within 30 days to remain in effect. The lawmakers emphasize that the bill seeks to restore Congress's role in overseeing emergency powers and to add accountability to such declarations. Rep. Roy stated that the measure is intended to ensure checks and balances, while Rep. Cohen highlighted that existing emergency authority can persist without sufficient political oversight, and the bill would limit these powers to genuine emergencies. This initiative comes amidst ongoing discussions about the scope of executive power during national crises.