PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 1/ 17
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a group of nine Senate Democrats met with Scott Garrett, the nominee to serve as the chairman of the Export-Import Bank. The meeting included U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Joe Donnelly (D-IN). The senators issued the following joint statement:
“Today’s meeting was bizarre. Scott Garrett – one of the most vocal opponents of the Export-Import Bank while he was in Congress – agreed to speak with us about his nomination, but during the meeting, he wouldn’t discuss his personal thoughts about the Bank and its mission,” said the senators. “He refused to confirm that he would unequivocally support reauthorizing the Bank, with the current authorization expiring in September 2019. And he clearly knew very little about the critical work the Bank is doing to support small businesses and expand opportunities for U.S. manufacturers, which was both surprising and concerning. So we’re supposed to trust that someone who has extensive history undermining and disparaging the Bank will now support and lead it even though he doesn’t seem to believe his own words? We need a nominee who truly believes in the mission of the Bank and who wants to support and defend an agency that has a more than 80 year history supporting American jobs and businesses. The Bank has overwhelming support from Republicans and Democrats in Congress, and we need a leader of the Bank who also fully stands by its goals.”
Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander and Ranking Member Patty Murray Announce Health Care Committee Hearings
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 1/ 17
Washington, D.C.) – Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) today released the following statement:
“This committee will hold hearings beginning the week of September 4th on the actions Congress should take to stabilize and strengthen the individual health insurance market so that Americans will be able to buy insurance at affordable prices in the year 2018. We will hear from state insurance commissioners, patients, governors, health care experts and insurance companies. Committee staff will begin this week working with all of our committee members to prepare for these hearings and discussions.”
Bipartisan Senators and Advocates Agree: Cantwell Proposal Is the “Primary Tool” to Combat Affordable Housing Crisis
If no action is taken, uncertainty could result in a nearly $1 billion drop in affordable housing investment this year
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 1/ 17
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, at a Senate Finance Committee hearing, a bipartisan coalition of senators and housing advocates coalesced around a proposal from U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) as the most effective approach for addressing the nation’s affordable housing crisis. Senator Cantwell’s legislation, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, would expand the successful Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and make important fixes to the program.
The hearing, held at Cantwell’s request, sought to address the worsening affordable housing shortage gripping the United States. In less than a decade, as many as 15 million Americans will spend half their monthly income on rent, an increase of 25 percent from current levels.
“I can’t emphasize enough that this is a crisis across many parts of our country. I can tell you that from Seattle to Walla Walla, the housing crisis is real,” said Senator Cantwell. “This is both an urban and rural problem, there are places like Jackson, Mississippi and Baton Rouge that are just right up there with Miami and that there’s places like Clarke [County], Iowa and Douglas [County], Nevada - it’s everywhere.”
Under the Cantwell proposal, which is cosponsored by Finance Committee Chairman Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ranking Member Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and 16 others, the expanded LIHTC would help create or preserve approximately 1,300,000 affordable homes over a 10-year period – an increase of 400,000 more units than is possible under the current program.
The hearing was striking in the extent to which senators from both parties spoke in support of the LIHTC program, presenting an opportunity for bipartisan action as tax reform negotiations begin. A sampling of support from today’s hearing is below:
Democrats
Republicans
Sen. Brown – “The LIHTC is a critical tool.”
Sen. Isakson – “I’m a big supporter of Ms. Cantwell’s program... It has passed the test of time”
Sen. Cardin – “The LIHTC is the major tool available and strengthening that tool is the most important thing I believe we can do.”
Sen. Hatch – “One reason I support the LIHTC is that it… allows decisions on housing to be made within the communities where the housing is needed while involving the private sector.
Joining Cantwell, Hatch, and Wyden to cosponsor the legislation is Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), the Democratic Leader, as well as Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dean Heller (R-NV), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Todd Young (R-IN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Susan Collins (R-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Rob Portman (R-OH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
At today’s hearing, senators and witnesses also discussed the uncertainty injected into the affordable housing market by the prospect of tax reform. Including the expansion of the LIHTC in any tax reform bill ensures investment continues and expands in the affordable housing sector. If Congress takes no action to bolster the program, it is likely that almost $1 billion in investment will be lost in this year alone.
According to the National Association of Home Builders, annual LIHTC development supports approximately 95,700 jobs and $9.1 billion in wages and business income. Enacting the Cantwell-Hatch proposal would create an additional 452,000 jobs over the next 10 years supporting the construction of additional units.
“America's housing affordability crisis affects millions of families in urban, suburban, and rural areas nationwide, and the federal government must do everything in its power to help communities address it—beginning with expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit,” said Anthony J. Alfieri, president, Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. “We commend Senator Cantwell and her colleagues for pursuing a bipartisan solution to this pressing issue and urge every member of Congress to reflect on today’s hearing and support the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2017.”
The bill also makes critical reforms to the existing program, including provisions allowing the 58,000 homeless students in the U.S. to finally take advantage of the affordable housing units created with LIHTC, expanding development opportunities in rural and Native communities and providing flexibility and financial feasibility to developments so they can more deeply target their units to the neediest individuals, including the homeless.
Over the past year, Cantwell – along with a coalition of more than 1,300 national, state, and local affordable housing advocates known as the A.C.T.I.O.N. Campaign – built support for expanding the LIHTC Washington state and the country. Cantwell has met with stakeholders and visited affordable housing developments at events in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Vancouver, Walla Walla, Longview, Kent, Bremerton, Bellingham, Portland, New York City and Salt Lake City.
In December of 2015, Cantwell championed the LIHTC and secured a critical fix to the program by permanently extending the credit rates to 9 percent of eligible costs on new construction. This ended an era in which variable rates made financing of affordable housing less predictable.
Since its creation 30 years ago, this tax credit has financed nearly 2.9 million homes across the United States, leveraging more than $100 billion in private investment. Between 1986 and 2013, more than 13.3 million people have lived in homes financed by the LIHTC.
DOE: Facility in Kenmore fined for dangerous waste violations
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 1/ 17
KENMORE – An aircraft maintenance facility on Kenmore’s Lake Washington waterfront faces a $25,000 state environmental penalty for dangerous waste violations.
The Washington Department of Ecology issued the fine to Kenmore Air Harbor, 6321 NE 175th St., after observing repeated violations in regular inspections since 2009. The most recent violations were found during an inspection on Aug. 17, 2016.
The company maintains float planes at the facility.
“With Kenmore Air’s location right on the lake there’s very little room for error in managing dangerous wastes,” said Darin Rice, manager of Ecology’s Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program. “They’ve cooperated and made corrections after past inspections, but four of those violations have re-appeared at least twice in subsequent inspections.”
Ecology is fining the company for failing to determine whether its wastes should be designated as dangerous waste, properly label and close all its dangerous waste containers, and keep required records of dangerous waste shipments.
Washington’s dangerous waste law and regulations set standards to protect the public and the environment by preventing releases of potentially harmful waste materials at commercial and industrial facilities. Ecology inspects workplaces that generate dangerous wastes to ensure compliance with requirements for safe handling and storage.
“We immediately responded to Ecology’s August 2016 inspection report with changes to procedures and training that we believe will keep our Air Harbor facility in compliance,” said Todd Banks, Kenmore Air President. “We’ve been committed to sustaining and nurturing the Pacific Northwest since our founding in 1946. Our business and employees genuinely care about a healthy environment. We intend to work collaboratively with Ecology to ensure that our operation continues to meet all required environmental standards.”
Ecology penalties may be appealed within 30 days to the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board. Kenmore Air has informed Ecology that the company intends to file such an appeal.
PAGE 2 MILKING THE SYSTEM
U.S. Files New Complaint Against City Of L.A. and a Former Redevelopment Agency to Recover Millions of Federal Grant Dollars Allegedly Obtained by Making False Promises to Provide Housing to Persons with DisabilitiesDOJ PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 1/ 17
The United States late yesterday filed a complaint in intervention against the City of Los Angeles and the CRA/LA (formerly the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles) alleging that together they fraudulently obtained millions of dollars in housing grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by falsely certifying that the money was being spent in compliance with federal accessibility laws.
The complaint in intervention – which replaces a complaint previously filed on behalf of the United States by a “whistleblower” – alleges the city and CRA/LA received federal money by falsely promising to create accessible housing for people with disabilities. Instead of creating accessible housing, they used the money to create inaccessible housing that deprived people with disabilities an equal opportunity to find housing of their choice.
The city repeatedly certified its compliance with federal accessibility laws to obtain the federal funds without taking the required steps to ensure it complied, according to the complaint, which further alleges that many of the HUD-assisted apartment buildings failed to meet minimal accessibility requirements. The city allegedly approved the design and construction of inaccessible buildings, with, among other things:
slopes and ramps that are too steep for safe passage by persons with mobility disabilities; door thresholds that are too tall for wheelchairs to roll over; steps that prohibit access to common areas; kitchen cabinets, shelves and surfaces that are outside of the accessible reach ranges of persons who use wheelchairs;
sinks, grab bars, mailboxes and circuit breakers mounted beyond the reach of wheelchair users; pipes below sinks and lavatories that are not insulated, thereby posing a physical threat of burns to people who use wheelchairs; and
insufficient numbers of accessible parking spaces in garages and lots.
“The complaint filed yesterday underscores the Department’s commitment to ensure that people with disabilities are provided equal access to federally-funded public housing, as required by law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
“Despite the federal government investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Los Angeles to create housing for everyone, the City of Los Angeles instead created housing only for some,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Brown for the Central District of California. “For 17 years, the city falsely certified that it had complied with federal law and covered up its repeated disregard of historic and important civil rights laws.”
The city and the CRA/LA allegedly violated Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act, as well as failed to fulfill their duty to affirmatively further fair housing. Congress passed these accessibility laws to ensure people with disabilities have an opportunity to live in an integrated society, achieve independent living, and have the same opportunities for economic and social self-sufficiency as other citizens.
By law, the city and the CRA/LA are required to comply with the federal accessibility laws. They could not – neither directly, nor through contractual or other arrangements – deny people with disabilities the opportunity to benefit from housing services or subject them to discrimination based on disability.
The accessibility laws require recipients of federal funds to operate their housing programs in a manner that is accessible to people with disabilities. Among other things, they must have a system in place to ensure compliance with the laws. They are required to develop non-discriminatory policies and practices, hire a coordinator knowledgeable about accessibility, and implement a grievance procedure that allows for just resolution of complaints. They also must maintain a publicly available list of accessible units and their accessibility features so that people who require those features are able to find housing.
The federal accessibility laws also require that recipients of federal monies have a method in place to avoid giving accessible units needed by people with disabilities to people who do not need accessibility features. The laws also require that recipients of federal monies monitor apartment buildings to ensure they are designed, constructed and altered in compliance with the law so that, among other things, five percent of all units in certain multifamily housing will be accessible to people with mobility impairments, and an additional two percent will be accessible to people with visual and auditory impairments.
The United States’ lawsuit alleges that the city and CRA/LA failed to meet these legal obligations.
The lawsuit, United States ex rel. Ling, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., CV11-974-PG, was originally filed in U.S. District Court by whistleblowers Mei Ling, a resident of Los Angeles who uses a wheelchair, and the Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley, a nonprofit civil rights advocacy group. The United States elected to intervene in the lawsuit and take over the litigation, which prompted the unsealing of the whistleblowers’ complaint in June. The case is pending before U.S. District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez.
The lawsuit was filed under the qui tam – or whistleblower – provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the United States when they believe that a party has submitted false claims for government funds, and to receive a share of any recovery.
This matter was investigated by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and the HUD Office of Inspector General.
The claims asserted against the City of Los Angeles and the CRA/LA are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
California Resident Sentenced to Prison in Fraudulent Refund and Stolen Treasury Check Scheme
Conspiracy Used Information from California Death Records to Seek Tax Refunds
DOE PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 1/ 17
A Los Angeles, California woman was sentenced to 65 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to cash stolen and fraudulently obtained U.S. Treasury checks, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Brian J. Stretch for the Northern District of California.
Janel McDonald, 38, was convicted in March of conspiring to commit theft of public money, theft of public money and aggravated identity theft. McDonald was charged, along with 10 co-defendants, in November 2015. According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, from August 2013 through April 2015, McDonald’s co-conspirators stole deceased individuals’ personal identifying information from California death records and used it to file federal tax returns seeking refunds. They also obtained social security and refund checks that were stolen from the U.S. mail system. McDonald provided fake California IDs to her co-conspirators who used them to cash the stolen and fraudulently obtained U.S. Treasury checks. McDonald caused a tax loss of approximately $471,000.
In addition to the term of prison imposed, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White ordered McDonald to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $471,961 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Stretch thanked special agents of the IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Newman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Olivera and Trial Attorney Gregory Bernstein of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Naval Employee Pleads Guilty to Accepting More Than $250,000 in Cash Bribes From Unauthorized Liquor Buyers
DOE PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 1/ 17
An employee of the U.S. Department of the Navy pleaded guilty today to accepting more than $250,000 in cash bribes from three people making unauthorized liquor purchases from the Navy Exchange Service Command where he worked, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Leo Lamont of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s (NCIS) Northeast Field Office.
Eric Jex, 29, of Uniondale, New York, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert of the Eastern District of New York. Sentencing is set for Feb. 2, 2018.
According to admissions made in connection with his guilty plea, as a supervisory sales associate at the NEX at Mitchel Field in Garden City, New York, Jex was responsible for preparing and processing retail transactions, and he had direct authority to make decisions concerning large liquor orders and shipments from the NEX’s warehouse. He was also subject to policies limiting access to the NEX’s goods to authorized personnel, such as Navy service members, and requiring NEX employees to check purchasers’ IDs. In connection with his guilty plea, Jex admitted that from approximately November 2015 through December 2016, he agreed with three unauthorized purchasers, one of whom had a New York State Liquor License, to arrange repeated large purchases of liquor from the NEX. He allowed the three unauthorized purchasers access to the NEX’s low prices and frequently provided additional price-matching discounts to which the purchasers were not entitled. In exchange, the three unauthorized purchasers paid cash bribes to Jex, typically $5 to $20 per case of liquor. According to plea documents, these bribes added up to more than $250,000 for the period of the scheme.
The NCIS; U.S. Treasury Department, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau; and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Criminal Investigations Division investigated this case. Trial Attorneys Luke Cass and Andrew Laing of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
PAGE 3: BUSINESS & FINANCE
US COMMERCE DEPT: Secretary Ross and Secretary Perry Hail New Coal Deal with Ukraine
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 7/ 31/ 17
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry welcomed the announcement from the Government of Ukraine that Ukrainian state-owned power generation company Centrenergo PJSC will purchase American thermal coal ahead of the upcoming winter season.
Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross:
“As promised during the campaign, President Trump is unshackling American energy with each day on the job. This has brought enormous benefit to our nation’s coal communities, and will now also benefit an important international partner. Today’s announcement will allow Ukraine to diversify its energy sources ahead of the coming winter, helping bolster a key strategic partner against regional pressures that seek to undermine U.S. interests. In the past, Russia has tried to choke off opposition to its ambitions by restricting the flow of natural gas to its western neighbors. Under President Trump’s leadership, I look forward to working with Secretary Perry and others in industry and government to further expand American exports in support of our goals of keeping this country safe and promoting robust economic growth.”
Statement from U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry:
“In today’s turbulent world, geopolitical turmoil can create uncertainty for nations without access to an abundance of their own natural resources. No one knows this more than Ukraine. In recent years Kiev and much of Eastern Europe have been reliant on and beholden to Russia to keep the heat on. That changes now. The United States can offer Ukraine an alternative, and today we are pleased to announce that we will. U.S. coal will be a secure and reliable energy source for Centrenergo and its electricity customers. This announcement will also boost our own economy by supporting jobs in the coal and transportation industries. This Administration looks forward to making available even more of our abundant natural resources to allies and partners like Ukraine in the future to promote their own energy security through diversity of supply and source. Partnerships like this are crucial to the path forward to achieve energy dominance.”
Background:
Pennsylvania based Xcoal Energy and Resources won a contract to supply thermal coal to Ukraine’s state-owned power generation company, Centrenergo PJSC.
This partnership formed in response to Ukraine’s desire to diversify its energy supply which has historically been negatively impacted by the volatility of the governments whom they rely on for energy.
The United States provides Ukraine with a secure, reliable and competitive alternative energy source.
Multiple U.S. government agencies and offices were involved in making this deal a reality including the Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce.
XCoal has stated that it anticipates that shipments of U.S. coal are planned to arrive in Ukraine in late August or early September, just in time to stockpile fuel for the winter heating season.
Note: According to a recent EIA report, U.S. coal exports have increased by nearly 60 percent in the first months of the Trump Administration
US COMMERCE DEPT: Free-Trade is a Two-Way Street
Editorial note; The US Commerce share the following article from the Wall St. Journal on their webpage 8/ 1/ 17
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross at The White House
The Trump administration last week celebrated the workers and businesses that make this country great. The purpose of “Made in America Week” was to recognize that, when given a fair chance to compete, Americans can make and sell some of the best, most innovative products in the world.
Unfortunately, many governments across the globe have pursued policies that put American workers and businesses at a disadvantage. For these governments, President Trump and his administration have a clear message: It is time to rebalance your trade policies so that they are fair, free and reciprocal.
Many nations express commitment to free markets while criticizing the U.S. for what they characterize as a protectionist stance. Yet these very nations engage in unfair trading practices, erect barriers to American exports, and maintain significant trade surpluses with us. They argue that our $752.5 billion trade deficit in goods last year was simply a natural and inevitable consequence of free trade. So, they contend, America should have no complaints.
Our major trading partners issue frequent statements regarding their own free-trade bona fides, but do they practice what they preach? Or are they protectionists dressed in free-market clothing?
When it comes to trade in goods, our deficits with China and the EU are $347 billion and $146.8 billion, respectively. As the nearby chart shows, China’s tariffs are higher than those of the U.S. in 20 of the 22 major categories of goods. Europe imposes higher tariffs than the U.S. in 17 of 22 categories, though the chart does show that the EU and China are much different regarding tariff rates.
The EU charges a 10% tariff on imported American cars, while the U.S. imposes only a 2.5% tariff on imported European cars. Today Europe exports 1.14 million automobiles to the U.S., nearly four times as many as the U.S. exports to Europe. China, which is the world’s largest automobile market, has a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and imposes even higher tariffs on luxury vehicles.
In addition to tariffs, both China and Europe enforce formidable nontariff trade barriers against imports. Examples include onerous and opaque procedures for registering and gaining certification for imports; unscientific sanitary rules, especially with regard to agricultural goods; requirements that companies build local factories; and forced technology transfers. The list goes on.
Both China and Europe also bankroll their exports through grants, low-cost loans, energy subsidies, special value-added tax refunds, and below-market real-estate sales and leases, among other means. Comparable levels of government support do not exist in the U.S. If these countries really are free traders, why do they have such formidable tariff and nontariff barriers?
Until we make better deals with our trading partners, we will never know precisely how much of our deficit in goods is due to such trickery. But there can be no question that these barriers are responsible for a significant portion of our current trade imbalance.
China is not a market economy. The Chinese government creates national champions and takes other actions that significantly distort markets. Responding to such actions with trade remedies is not protectionist. In fact, the World Trade Organization specifically permits its members to take action when other countries are subsidizing, dumping and engaging in other unfair trade practices.
Consistent with WTO rules, the U.S. has since Jan. 20 brought 54 trade-remedy actions—antidumping and countervailing duty investigations—compared with 40 brought during the same period last year. The U.S. currently has 403 outstanding orders against 42 countries.
But unfortunately, in its annual reports, the WTO consistently casts the increase of trade enforcement cases as evidence of protectionism by the countries lodging the complaints. Apparently, the possibility never occurs to the WTO that there are more trade cases because there are more trade abuses.
The WTO should protect free and fair trade among nations, not attack those trade remedies necessary to ensure a level playing field. Defending U.S. workers and businesses against this onslaught should not be mislabeled as protectionism. Insisting on fair trade is the best way to ensure the long-term strength of the international trading system.
The Trump administration believes in free and fair trade and will use every available tool to counter the protectionism of those who pledge allegiance to free trade while violating its core principles. The U.S. is working to restore a level playing field, and under President Trump’s leadership, we will do so.
This is a true free-trade agenda.
PAGE 4: WORLD & NATIONAL
UN NEWS CENTER: Afghanistan: UN condemns killing of civilians in Herat mosque attack2 August 2017 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN political mission in Afghanistan have denounced last night's attack against worshippers gathered in a mosque in the city of Herat which killed at least 31 civilians and injured many more.
SOURCE LINK
UN NEWS CENTER: Deadly combination of cholera, hunger and conflict pushes Yemen to 'edge of a cliff' – senior UN official
1 August 2017 – Describing the situation in Yemen as “very bleak,” with “no end in sight,” a senior United Nations official envoy today said the war-torn country, already reeling from malnutrition and dwindling health care, is plummeting into further distress amid a deadly cholera outbreak and looming famine.
SOURCE LINK
US MISSION TO THE UN: Ambassador Haley Meets with Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Vasilly Nebenzia
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 1/ 17
Ambassador Nikki Haley met with Ambassador Vasilly Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations. Ambassador Haley welcomed Ambassador Nebenzia and congratulated him on taking up his new post at the UN. Ambassador Haley and Ambassador Nebenzia discussed counterterrorism, North Korea’s dangerous provocations, especially its recent missile tests, and the U.S.-Russia relationship at the UN going forward.
Explanation of Vote at the Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2370 on Preventing Terrorists from Acquiring Weapons
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 2/ 17
Thank you, Mr. President, and I want to congratulate you on the Presidency for August and also for starting it off in a very good way, especially for negotiations on something that brings attention to an important issue like this. So we thank you.
We know that terrorists have many ways to get their hands on dangerous weapons. They divert legal weapons transfers. They take advantage of poorly secured stockpiles. They seize weapons on the battlefield. They get them through criminal networks.
This resolution is meant to address the many ways that terrorists acquire weapons. It calls on Member States to do more to strengthen export controls and provide assistance to other countries in destroying excess weapons. It highlights the need for enhancing the physical security of weapons stockpiles and the creation of tracing programs for weapons. It sheds a spotlight on the killing potential of improvised explosive devices. It encourages public-private cooperation to prevent the transfer of IEDs, drones, and light weapons to terrorist organizations. Most importantly, it calls attention to the obligation of all nations – particularly those who profess a concern about weapons falling into the hands of terrorists – to enforce UN arms embargos.
This Council has been clear in prohibiting arms transfers to Yemen, Somalia, and other places. And yet we know weapons continue to flow across borders in open violation of Security Council resolutions. For some Member States, this is an issue of extreme hypocrisy. For all of us, it is an unacceptable stain on this Council’s authority that must be removed. It’s true that we have made great progress against ISIS and al-Qa’ida in recent months. We’re pleased that regional partners have taken steps to improve their ability to cut off ISIS from financial support and material. But weapons aren’t finding their way to terrorists only through some Member States’ failure to take action.
One country stands out for its deliberate, systematic contributions of weapons, training, and funding for terrorist groups. One country uses its support for terrorist proxies to conduct its foreign policy and to compensate for its own weakness. That country is Iran. Iran was first designated by the United States as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1984. Its training, funding, and arming of terrorists has continued unabated to this day. Terrorist proxies are doing the Iranian regime’s will in Iraq and in Syria. Iran also supports Hamas and Bahraini terrorist groups. Through its partner Hizballah, Iran is engaged in preparing for war in Lebanon. It is building an arsenal of weapons and battle-hardened troops.
We applaud the message at the heart of this resolution: that the international community must work together – and do more – to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists. But I encourage this Council to be aware that weapons don’t always just “fall” into the hands of terrorists. Too often they are pushed.
This is the threat we face today in Iran, and it is one that no amount of technical cooperation or security upgrades will diminish. As long as we allow the Iranian regime to violate this Council’s prohibitions with impunity, it will be a source of weapons to terrorist groups that will only grow in volume and destructive capability. The United States will continue to raise this issue of Iranian non-compliance with international obligations at every opportunity.
NATIONAL
WH: Statement by President Donald J. Trump on Signing the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions ActPRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 2/ 17
Today, I signed into law the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act,” which enacts new sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia. I favor tough measures to punish and deter bad behavior by the rogue regimes in Tehran and Pyongyang. I also support making clear that America will not tolerate interference in our democratic process, and that we will side with our allies and friends against Russian subversion and destabilization.
That is why, since taking office, I have enacted tough new sanctions on Iran and North Korea, and shored up existing sanctions on Russia.
Since this bill was first introduced, I have expressed my concerns to Congress about the many ways it improperly encroaches on Executive power, disadvantages American companies, and hurts the interests of our European allies.
My Administration has attempted to work with Congress to make this bill better. We have made progress and improved the language to give the Treasury Department greater flexibility in granting routine licenses to American businesses, people, and companies. The improved language also reflects feedback from our European allies – who have been steadfast partners on Russia sanctions – regarding the energy sanctions provided for in the legislation. The new language also ensures our agencies can delay sanctions on the intelligence and defense sectors, because those sanctions could negatively affect American companies and those of our allies.
Still, the bill remains seriously flawed – particularly because it encroaches on the executive branch’s authority to negotiate. Congress could not even negotiate a healthcare bill after seven years of talking. By limiting the Executive’s flexibility, this bill makes it harder for the United States to strike good deals for the American people, and will drive China, Russia, and North Korea much closer together. The Framers of our Constitution put foreign affairs in the hands of the President. This bill will prove the wisdom of that choice.
Yet despite its problems, I am signing this bill for the sake of national unity. It represents the will of the American people to see Russia take steps to improve relations with the United States. We hope there will be cooperation between our two countries on major global issues so that these sanctions will no longer be necessary.
Further, the bill sends a clear message to Iran and North Korea that the American people will not tolerate their dangerous and destabilizing behavior. America will continue to work closely with our friends and allies to check those countries’ malignant activities.
I built a truly great company worth many billions of dollars. That is a big part of the reason I was elected. As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress.
US TREASURY DEPT: Remarks by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin on Sanctions
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 7/ 31/ 17
As Delivered at The White House Press Briefing
Today, the United States is broadening its efforts to address the ongoing assault on Venezuela's democratic institutions by the Maduro regime. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro Moros. As a result of today's sanctions, all assets of Maduro subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from dealing with him.
As President Trump said earlier this month, the strong and courageous actions by the Venezuelan people to stand for democracy, freedom, and the rule of law have been continually ignored by Nicolas Maduro who dreams of becoming a dictator. Yesterday's illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people.
This National Constituent Assembly aspires illegitimately to usurp the constitutional role of the democratically elected National Assembly, rewrite the constitution, and impose an authoritarian regime on the people. As such, it represents a rupture in Venezuela's constitutional and democratic order. By sanctioning Maduro, the United States makes clear our opposition to the policies of his regime and our support for the people of Venezuela who strive to return their country to a full and prosperous democracy.
As the country's head of state, Maduro is directly responsible for Venezuela's descent and for the destruction of democracy. Adding Maduro to OFAC's list of Specially Designated Nationals reflects our commitment to not stand by idly as Venezuela continues to crumble under the regime's abuses.
We hope that these sanctions will make all Maduro regime officials reconsider how their actions have affected their country. These sanctions highlight the high costs and personal repercussions that enablers of this regime could face if they continue their reckless and undemocratic activities. Anyone who participates in this illegitimate ANC could be exposed to future U.S. sanctions for their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela.
Daily Bible Verse: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22 NKJV
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