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U.S. Senator Angus King Backs Bill to Modernize Fisheries Tracking with eDNA Technology

U.S. Senator Angus King Backs Bill to Modernize Fisheries Tracking with eDNA Technology

U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, is supporting the Fisheries Science Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at updating how federal officials monitor and protect fisheries. The proposed legislation seeks to integrate environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecular tools into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) fisheries programs. The primary objective is to enhance the accuracy and reduce the cost of fish population surveys. Currently, NOAA's stock assessment methods are expensive and constrained by the availability of research vessels, leading to gaps in survey coverage. The bill would enable NOAA to utilize eDNA, a modern technology already widely adopted in the private sector, for its assessments. This technology allows researchers to gather data in remote or hazardous environments more cost-effectively than traditional survey methods. Senator King emphasized that fisheries are vital to Maine's economy and culture, and their sustainability is crucial for their continued promin...

Congresswoman Houchin Introduces Bipartisan '16 Up Social Media Act' to Establish National Age Standard

Congresswoman Houchin Introduces Bipartisan '16 Up Social Media Act' to Establish National Age Standard

Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-IN-09) and Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04) have jointly introduced the '16 & Up Social Media Act.' This bipartisan legislation aims to set a national age standard of 16 for social media platforms, prohibiting individuals under this age from creating or maintaining accounts. The bill specifically targets platforms that utilize engagement-driven design features, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push alerts, and personalized feeds, which are engineered to capture and retain user attention. According to Rep. Houchin, the legislation is a response to the addictive nature of these platforms, particularly for children, and seeks to provide a clear guideline for both platforms and parents. The act also mandates the deletion of children's data upon account termination and requires platforms to establish a five-day appeals process for account closures, focusing on design features rather than content regulation.

House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Enhance Electric Grid Planning Amid Rising AI Demand

House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Enhance Electric Grid Planning Amid Rising AI Demand

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Load Forecasting Enhancement Act, co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Troy Balderson of Ohio and Democratic Rep. Rob Menendez of New Jersey. This legislation, which passed under suspension of the rules by voice vote, aims to improve electric grid planning, particularly in response to the increasing demand for electricity from AI data centers and other power-intensive industries. The bill mandates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish regional joint boards with state public utility commissions. These boards will be tasked with studying electric load forecasting, identifying best practices for improving reliability and affordability, and developing recommendations. The legislation also requires FERC to submit a report detailing these recommendations to Congress and encourages states to consider adopting them into their own forecasting practices. This measure was part of a broader package of 14 bills addressing various issues inclu...

House Passes Bipartisan GUARD Act to Combat Elder Financial Fraud and Scams

House Passes Bipartisan GUARD Act to Combat Elder Financial Fraud and Scams

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan GUARD Act (Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act, H.R. 2978), co-led by U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Representatives Zachary Nunn (IA-3), and Scott Fitzgerald (WI-5). This legislation aims to protect seniors and their families from financial fraud and scams, which cost Americans billions annually. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. The GUARD Act empowers state, local, and Tribal law enforcement by allowing them to use existing federal grant funds to investigate elder financial fraud, including 'pig butchering' cryptocurrency investment scams and general financial fraud. This includes funding for hiring analysts and experts, and providing specialized training for complex, often transnational financial crimes. Additionally, the act clarifies that federal law enforcement agencies can assist local partners in using blockchain-tracing tools to identify criminals and recover stolen funds. It also mandates th...

Representative Deborah Ross Co-Sponsors Bill for Federal Land Transfer to Rebuild Fayetteville Veterans Home

Representative Deborah Ross Co-Sponsors Bill for Federal Land Transfer to Rebuild Fayetteville Veterans Home

A bill co-sponsored by Representative Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, proposing the transfer of federal land in Harnett County, North Carolina, to the state. This land is intended for the construction of a replacement facility for the Fayetteville State Veterans Home, which closed in December 2023 due to structural issues and mold. The closure displaced 85 veterans, who were subsequently moved to other facilities across North Carolina. The bill, primarily sponsored by Republican Rep. Richard Hudson, has garnered bipartisan support from North Carolina's congressional delegation. The state has already committed $10 million for the rebuild in fiscal year 2026-27 and an additional $30 million in 2027-28. The proposed new location on Fort Bragg training land is seen as beneficial due to its community feel and potential for federal funding from the national Veterans Administration.

President Trump Signs Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act into Law

President Trump Signs Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act into Law

President Trump has signed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act (H.R. 5366) into law. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representatives Greg Steube (FL-17), Mike Thompson (CA-04), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), aims to provide fairer tax treatment for Americans rebuilding after various disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes, and floods. The bill is named in honor of the late Representative Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), who was a strong advocate for disaster tax relief. Previously, taxpayers affected by federally declared disasters could only deduct personal casualty losses if they itemized and if those losses exceeded 10 percent of their adjusted gross income. The new law allows disaster victims to deduct qualified losses exceeding $500 per disaster without itemizing and removes the 10 percent adjusted gross income threshold. It also extends an exclusion from gross income for wildfire relief payments, ensuring survivors are not taxed on compensation intended for rebuilding. The legis...

House Passes Bill Requiring AM Radio in New Vehicles

House Passes Bill Requiring AM Radio in New Vehicles

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, by voice vote. This legislation mandates that automakers include devices capable of receiving AM broadcast stations as standard equipment in all new passenger vehicles, without any additional charge to consumers. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., who co-led an earlier version of the bill in May 2023, supported its passage. The bill was initially introduced after some automakers began removing AM radio from electric vehicles. Supporters, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee, emphasize AM radio's crucial role in distributing emergency information, especially when internet or cellular networks are disrupted. The New Jersey Broadcasters Association (NJBA) Executive Director Jordan Walton highlighted AM radio's century-long provision of music, sports, news, and entertainment, and its critical function as a lifeline during emergencies. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.

GOP Representative Thomas Massie Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

GOP Representative Thomas Massie Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has introduced a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The resolution, filed on Tuesday, accuses Hegseth of engaging in hostilities in Iran for over 90 days without congressional authorization, violating the 1973 War Powers Resolution. Massie's resolution includes eight articles of impeachment. Beyond the Iran conflict, these articles allege that Hegseth disregarded laws to limit civilian casualties, ordered extrajudicial killings of suspected drug traffickers, retaliated against Senator Mark Kelly for exercising free-speech protections, directed the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores without legal authority, and initiated military operations in Yemen without congressional approval. This is not the first impeachment effort against Hegseth, as House Democrats previously introduced six articles against him in April, also citing an unauthorized war against Iran.

Rep. Gabe Evans' Bipartisan Bill Aims to Protect Communities from Data Center Electric Grid Upgrade Costs

Rep. Gabe Evans' Bipartisan Bill Aims to Protect Communities from Data Center Electric Grid Upgrade Costs

Rep. Gabe Evans, representing Colorado’s 8th district, has introduced the bipartisan "Ratepayer Protection Act." This legislation seeks to prevent local communities from bearing the financial burden of electric grid upgrades necessitated by the construction of new data centers. The bill has successfully passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee with unanimous support, indicating broad agreement on its objectives. The core intent of the act is to mandate that large-load electricity consumers, such as data centers, provide financial assurances to cover the infrastructure improvements required to meet their substantial electricity demands. This measure is designed to ensure that the costs associated with expanding and upgrading the electrical grid are not passed on to existing ratepayers, but rather are borne by the entities driving the increased demand. The bill's progression through the committee stage suggests it is moving towards a full vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.

US NTSB says one-third of FAA answers to safety recommendations are 'unacceptable'

US NTSB says one-third of FAA answers to safety recommendations are 'unacceptable'

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The U.S.

Representative Shontel Brown Co-Introduces The Refresh Act to Support School Personnel Wellness Programs

Representative Shontel Brown Co-Introduces The Refresh Act to Support School Personnel Wellness Programs

Representative Shontel Brown, a Democrat representing Ohio's 11th congressional district, has co-introduced H.R.8676, known as The Refresh Act. This legislative initiative aims to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The primary goal of The Refresh Act is to establish a grant program that would provide funding to state educational agencies. These agencies would then use the grants to implement comprehensive wellness programs specifically designed for school personnel. The proposed act seeks to address the well-being of educators and other staff within the school system, recognizing the critical role they play in student success and the challenges they often face. The introduction of this bill highlights a growing focus on mental health and support systems within the educational sector.

Senator Rick Scott Urges Congress to Pass SAFE KIDS Act to Combat Birth Tourism

Senator Rick Scott Urges Congress to Pass SAFE KIDS Act to Combat Birth Tourism

U.S. Senator Rick Scott is calling on Congress to pass his proposed legislation, the SAFE KIDS Act, aimed at preventing birth tourism and addressing the exploitation of America's immigration laws by foreign adversaries, including Communist China. Senator Scott highlighted the urgency of this bill by referencing a specific case in St. Augustine, Florida, where children are in legal limbo due to an uncollected surrogacy arrangement involving a Chinese national who has never entered the U.S. He also noted an upcoming hearing by the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses, which will focus on suspected birth tourism abuses in the Miami area. Scott emphasized that current businesses in Florida appear to be structured around exploiting the immigration system, underscoring the need for legislative action to protect vulnerable individuals from being trafficked and treated as commodities. He urged his Senate colleagues to p...