This week the main headlines from the media outlets were stories about the Normandy invasion by allied forces June 6, 1944, which began the liberation of European countries held by the Nazis.
The following stories are about the D-Day commemoration on that day, which began the long march to defeat Nazi Germany. It's been 75 years since then. We thank the many men and women who stood for freedom on that day.
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President Trump Attends Normandy D-Day Ceremony
President Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and others attended a 75th anniversary of D-Day ceremony at Normandy American Cemetery in France. (cspan video)
Related stories:
Proclamation on National Day of Remembrance of the 75th Anniversary of D-Day
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-national-day-remembrance-75th-anniversary-d-day/
Nearly Forgotten: Reagan's Second Great Speech on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day--PJ Media
https://pjmedia.com/trending/2016/06/06/nearly-forgotten-reagans-second-great-speech-on-the-40th-anniversary-of-d-day/
Their Fathers Never Spoke of the War. Their Children Want to Know Why.
Seventy-five years after D-Day, families of World War II veterans are turning to professional researchers to piece their stories together from military records.---NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/us/world-war-2-history-research-archives-.html
The radio reporter who witnessed D-Day and told the world what he saw
Wright Bryan, a war correspondent with NBC Radio and the Atlanta Journal, scooped 600 other reporters by broadcasting the first eyewitness account of the Normandy invasion.--WP
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/?utm_term=.9e386b7db7d5
When War Was the Answer---National Review
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/06/d-day-history-normandy-france/
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Cantwell, DelBene, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce New Legislation to Combat Affordable Housing Crisis
Press release issued 6. 4. 19
In WA, bill would build nearly 10,000 new affordable housing units, provide more than 11,000 jobs & generate more than $1 billion in economic activity; Strengthened tax credit supports affordable housing for rural communities, Indian Country, students, veterans, homeless youth, and more
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Washington state and the country continue to grapple with an affordable housing and homelessness crisis, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today introduced legislation to increase investment in affordable housing and provide more resources and stronger protections for at-risk groups.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Spokane or Walla Walla, whether you’re in Yakima or Vancouver, we have a housing crisis in the state of Washington,” said Senator Cantwell in a speech on the Senate floor today. “We know that this challenge of moving forward on affordable housing is something that is a bipartisan issue. The tax credit has had bipartisan support for many years in the United States Congress. We just need to put the petal to the metal and provide more of the tax credit so we can get more affordable housing built in the United States of America.”
“Since 1986, housing credits have financed over three million affordable rental-housing units for roughly 7.4 million hardworking families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. But in many parts of Washington state and across the country, people are struggling to put a roof over their heads,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene. “The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act will help lift families out of dire situations and give them a chance to enter the middle class and not look back. I’m honored to team up with Senator Cantwell on this legislation and will work hard to get this bill passed so we can ensure every American has a safe, affordable place to call home.”
The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2019 would expand and strengthen the Affordable Housing Tax Credit (also known as the Low Income Housing Tax Credit) to produce more units of affordable housing and better serve a number of at-risk and underserved communities.
Overall, the Cantwell-DelBene bill would help build more than 9,700 new affordable housing units in Washington over ten years, in addition to the hundreds of units built each year through the program. The bill will also provide more than 11,000 jobs and add over $1 billion to the Washington economy in wages and business income.
In recent years, Washington state has experienced a severe housing affordability crisis. Between 2006 and 2015, the median income in the state increased three percent, but the median rent increased by 18%. More than 450,000 households – or nearly 17% of all households in the state – spend more than 30% of their monthly income on rent, and nearly 220,000 of these households pay more than half of their monthly income. These statistics are even more drastic among extremely low-income renters in the state – 71% pay more half or more of their monthly income on rent.
“The Affordable Housing Credit is our state’s most valuable resource for creating and sustaining affordable apartments,” said Kim Herman, executive director of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, which allocates the credit to developers. “It works in every kind of community and for every kind of household, from seniors to the homeless to working families. We are so proud that our Washington state members of Congress are leading the way to expand and enhance this critical program.”
Across the United States, the expanded Affordable Housing Tax Credit would produce roughly 1.9 million new affordable housing units over the next decade, an increase of more than 550,000 units more than would be built without the legislation. The bill increases the total number of affordable housing units built by:
Increasing the amount of credits allocated to each state by 50% over current levels, resulting in the production of more than 384,000 more affordable homes in the next 10 years than would otherwise be created; and,
Stabilizing the value of the 4% Affordable Housing Tax Credit – which is used for new construction that uses additional subsidies or the acquisition cost of existing buildings. This will create more certainty for ongoing and new projects and increase affordable housing production by more than 66,000 units.
Expanding and reforming “recycling” of multifamily housing bonds, allowing states to maximize the available resources of private activity bonds by recycling multifamily bonds for affordable housing, resulting in 100,000 additional affordable housing units.
In addition to expanding the number of affordable homes built in the United States, the legislation makes a number of key reforms to strengthen the Affordable Housing Tax Credit. These reforms will:
Create veteran-specific housing options. The legislation stipulates that the Affordable Housing Tax Credit can be used to support housing for veterans.
Better target extremely low-income populations. The legislations increases, by 50%, the amount of credits available to developments serving extremely low-income populations or those with special needs, such as formerly homeless veterans.
Boost affordable housing in Indian Country. The legislation classifies projects in Indian Country as Difficult to Develop Area, increasing the amount of credits available to affordable housing projects in these areas. The legislation also requires states to consider the needs of their Native American communities by establishing new selection criteria for projects.
Boost affordable housing to rural communities. The legislation gives states the ability to increase the amount of credits available to projects in rural areas.
Protect victims of domestic violence and stalking. The legislation will bring all properties built using the Affordable Housing Tax Credit in line with Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) standards to better protect victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Opens affordable housing properties to more low-income students. The legislations simplifies current rules to ensure non-traditional students, such as single parents, veterans, formerly homeless youth, and domestic violence survivors, have access to affordable housing properties. Previously the rule was overly complex and differed from other HUD-finance housing rules.
Since its creation 30 years ago, the Affordable Housing Tax Credit has built or rehabilitated more than 3.2 million affordable housing units, leveraging more than $190 billion in private investment to do so. During that time, the credit has been responsible for nearly 90 percent of all federally-funded affordable housing. Between 1986-2013, more than 13.3 million people lived in homes financed by the Affordable Housing Tax Credit.
Here’s how many units of affordable housing the Affordable Housing Tax Credit has built in each county since the tax credit was created in 1986.
Related press release from HUD
HUD OFFERS $43 MILLION TO SUPPORT HOUSING COUNSELING
Press release issued 5. 31. 19
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_19_085
WASHINGTON - June is National Homeownership Month, a time to recognize the importance of homeownership to the U.S. economy and the benefits owning a home have on building household wealth for families. To support stable and sustainable homeownership, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced it is making $43 million in grants available to support hundreds of housing counseling organizations across the country.
Related press release from HUD
HUD CHARGES IDAHO LANDLORDS WITH DISCRIMINATING AGAINST FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_19_086
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is charging the owners and manager of a rental home in Nampa, Idaho, with violating the Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent the home to a married couple because they have children. Read the charge.
In Lewis and Clark Counties, Senator Murray Charts New Path Forward to Bridge the Digital Divide, Strengthen Federal Protections for Workers
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=CE0CCF31-2426-4277-9262-0406018E8CE2
In visits with residents in Toledo and Vancouver, Senator Murray discussed bold new legislation aimed at leveling the playing field for working families in Washington state, nationwide
Press release issued May 31, 2019
(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate education and labor committee, visited communities in Southwest Washington where she discussed her plans to strengthen federal protections for working families and help ensure no one is left behind in our rapidly-evolving world. In Toledo, WA, Senator Murray visited Toledo High School where she toured the school’s digital resources and sat for a conversation with local elected officials and school leaders, as well as teachers, students and small business owners, to discuss her new legislation to close the digital skills gap, the Digital Equity Act.
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WORLD NEWS HEADLINES
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The White House: Remarks by President Trump and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at State Banquet | London, United Kingdom
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-majesty-queen-elizabeth-ii-state-banquet-london-united-kingdom/
The White House: Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister May in Joint Press Conference
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-prime-minister-may-joint-press-conference/
Keeping Morocco’s indigenous culture and conservation in balance
The delicate balance between indigenous farming practices and conservation in Morocco is under threat, but according to the UN, local communities in the Western High Atlas Mountains are finding ways to preserve traditions and still make a living from the land.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1039821
Take action on air pollution to save lives, and the planet, urges UN chief
In a message to mark World Environment Day, celebrated on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized the link between worsening levels of air pollution and the climate crisis.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1039831
‘Bicycle Kingdom’ makes a comeback, as China seeks solutions to tackle air pollution crisis
Cars have replaced bicycles as the primary means of transport in many Chinese cities but, with air pollution a major problem for the country, the bike is making a comeback, thanks to digital technology, and some 21st Century thinking.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1039751
(for more world news headlines see pg 2)
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IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION
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PAGE 2
House Passes Cantwell, Newhouse Measure Supporting Cherry Growers Hurt By Retaliatory Tariffs.
PAGE 3
White House Fact Sheet
President Donald J. Trump Is Working with the United Kingdom To Secure A Stronger and More Prosperous International Partnership
PAGE 4
United States, State of Washington, and the Suquamish and Tulalip Tribes Announce Major Settlement Addressing Natural Resource Damages at Port Gardner Bay Area, Washington
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IRS reminder: June 17 is next deadline for those who pay estimated taxes
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Kilmer’s Bipartisan Bill to Fight Ocean Acidification Passes House
PAGE 7
In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Murray honored the history of Washington state women who helped pave the road toward women’s suffrage and reflected on the progress women have made since securing the right to vote
