a Better Bubble™

Aggregator

Duckworth, Moran Lead Colleagues in Reintroducing Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Use of Biofuels for Aviation

5 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would help accelerate the production and development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector and create new markets for American farmers. The bipartisan Farm to Fly Act would utilize current USDA programs to support the development of SAF, clarify federal definitions for SAF and enable greater collaboration between USDA and the private sector. Last September, Duckworth, Moran and Klobuchar—along with U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR)— launched the first-ever, bipartisan Sustainable Aviation Caucus to promote the longevity of the aviation and renewable fuels industries. “One of the most important things we can do to make American

Continue Reading

Duckworth, Durbin Join Van Hollen and Colleagues in Introducing D.C. Statehood Bill

5 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)—along with 38 of their Senate Democratic colleagues—in introducing legislation to grant Washington, D.C. statehood following U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton’s (D-DC-At Large) introduction of the bill in House. The bills are numbered S. 51 and H.R. 51, respectively, highlighting the lawmakers’ effort to admit Washington, D.C. into the Union as its 51st state. “Over 700,000 Americans who live in D.C.—including over 21,000 Veterans—are currently being denied full voting representation in both chambers of Congress despite the fact that they pay federal taxes,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Van Hollen, Senator Durbin and my colleagues in introducing this bill that would help right this injustice by providing D.C. residents with the same democratic representation

Continue Reading

IDPH Launches New Data Dashboard on Violent Deaths and Firearm Injuries

5 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has launched a new dashboard detailing information about all violent deaths and firearm-related injuries in the state. The new dashboard is presented in two parts: Illinois Firearm Injury Rates and Illinois Violent Deaths . It is intended to provide detailed information at the county level about these incidents, including the types of incidents (e.g., homicide, suicide, etc.), weapon type and where victims reside, broken down by county. The goal of the dashboard is to inform data-driven prevention and intervention efforts to reduce violent deaths and firearm injuries in Illinois. “Firearm violence is a public health crisis that requires public health solutions,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Modernizing how we gather and use data is critical to finding holistic solutions that address firearm violence in a comprehensive way. IDPH is proud to partner with the Joyce Foundation and Understory to

Continue Reading

Gov. Pritzker Signs Bipartisan Dignity in Pay Act

5 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the bipartisan Dignity in Pay Act (HB793) into law alongside bill sponsors Representative Theresa Mah and Senator Cristina Castro. The Dignity in Pay Act primarily implements a plan to phase out 14(c) subminimum wage authorizations in Illinois, joining 18 other states in doing so. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) and the Illinois Department of Labor will lead the 5-year process—eliminating subminimum wage for people with disabilities by December 31, 2029. “Illinois is closing an era of an outdated two-tier wage system that let disabled workers make less money for their hard work,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The strength of the Dignity in Pay Act is that it not only sunsets an unfair wage policy, it puts an unprecedented emphasis on expanding employment opportunities for people across the spectrum of disability—strengthening rates, programs,

Continue Reading

President Donald Trump Pardons Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht

5 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Trump fulfills promise and pardons Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht's life sentence. (Ulbricht family; Official White House Photo) President Donald Trump, fulfilling a promise made at the Libertarian Party's National Convention in May, pardoned Ross Ulbricht today. Ulbricht had been serving a life sentence for his role in founding and operating the dark web marketplace Silk Road . As Trump put it in a Truth Social post: "in honor of , and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross." He said "the scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern-day weaponization of government against me." As I reported on his sentencing in May 2015 (he has been in prison since his October 2013 arrest): Ross Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison with no parole…by Judge Katherine Forrest in U.S. District Court

Continue Reading

Leaders Find Unity, Move Forward With Amended Rams Settlement Legislation 

5 months 3 weeks ago
ST. LOUIS - This week, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, and Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, along with support from Greater St. Louis, Inc., announced an agreement for the investment of funds from the Rams settlement. Through a series of amendments, the new TRANSFORM ACT combines components of Board Bill 153, sponsored by Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, and Board Bill 131, sponsored by Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, representing weeks of negotiations between the bill sponsors, the business community, and the Mayor’s Office. “The changes being introduced to this bill are a reflection of governing at its best,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “I want to thank Alderwoman Sonnier, Alderwoman Boyd, Greater St. Louis, Inc., and my own staff for working diligently to make this compromise happen.” “It has been an honor to work with Mayor Jones, Alderwoman Boyd, and the business sector to create legislation providing such a historic example of collaboration

Continue Reading