THE ANTIFA NAGS REDEFINE THE DEMOCRAT PARTY!

FRONT PAGE COMMENTARY

.
By, Peter Ripley, Publisher.

The congressional delegations from Massachusetts, Ayanna Pressley, New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez U.S. Representative, Michigan rep: Rashida Tlaib U.S. Representative, and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.
Has redefined the Democrat Party, which now has become the Socialist Democratic party!
Just by their behavior, and anti-American rhetoric. That's it these four women single handily took over the Democratic party, the DMC is now known in favoring: Radical actions of Antifa, antisemitism, at birth abortion, and so on.
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney pretty much painted the picture of what these four Antifa gals believe:
The following is the press release of her statements on remarks made by the President last weekend in simply saying the if Rashida, and Omar don't like America they should just leave, and Trump was right in saying that.  As for the other two: Cortez, and Pressley that just shown how much distian they have for this nation and should be ashamed of Antifia acts of  violence and disrespect for our flag, but of course one needs some patriotism to do that, apparently neither Pressley, and Cortez don't have any loyalty toward this nation. Just by them not condemning the attack of an ICE station in Colorado by Antifa.

The 'Squad' Won't Condemn Antifa Terrorism....WHERE Are The Media?--News Busters

Related story: Video shows far-left activists storm ICE facility, remove American flag — then raise Mexican flag---The Blaze


But here is what Cheney said: "Rep. Cheney: Our Opposition To Our Socialist Colleagues Is Because Of The Content Of Their Ideas

REP. LIZ CHENEY: “Thank you everybody, thank you for coming. We have the Republican Leader of the Education and Labor Committee here and I’m going to introduce her in just a moment to talk about minimum wage, but first, I wanted to talk about what’s been going on over the last few days.

“I want to make absolutely clear that our opposition to our socialist colleagues has absolutely nothing to do with their gender, with their religion, or with their race. It has to do with the content of their policies. They’re wrong when they attempt to impose the fraud of socialism on the American people. They’re wrong when they pursue policies that would steal power from the American people and give that power to the government. They’re wrong when they espouse and enable, and their leadership refuses to condemn, vile anti-Antisemitism. They’re wrong when they rush to blame America first, when they fail to recognize that this is the greatest nation that has ever existed, the exceptional nation. And they’re wrong when they fail to recognize that no people has ever lived in greater freedom, and then they go on and fail to provide the resources our men and women in uniform need to defend that freedom.

“Our colleagues, our socialist colleagues on the other side of the aisle, are wrong when they advocate abortion up until the moment of birth, including partial-term abortion, partial-birth abortion, late-term abortion, and when they refuse to mandate care for babies who are born alive. Our colleagues are wrong when they say that we should open America’s borders, abolish ICE, and abolish DHS. They’re wrong when they advocate policies that would eliminate all private health insurance in this country, destroy Medicare, and force the American people to pay for free healthcare for illegal immigrants. They are wrong when they pursue policies like the one we’re going to be voting on today that will destroy four million jobs for low-wage earners by mandating a federal $15 minimum wage. That is not compassion. That is callousness that’s born of ignorance. They’re wrong when they say that their programs help people at the lower end of the economic spectrum. Every one of their socialist programs would create massive new government dependency and end the very economic growth we need to ensure everyone can prosper.

“Our colleagues are wrong when they advocate packing the Supreme Court and abolishing the Electoral College. And our colleagues are wrong when they tell Americans, as Congresswoman Pressley did just last week, that any individual seat at the table is only valuable, only legitimate if that person espouses some pre-approved set of beliefs deemed appropriate based on their religion, or their gender, or their race. When they say that, that is racist.

“So no, our opposition to our colleague’s beliefs has absolutely nothing to do with race, or gender, or religion. We oppose them and their policies because their policies are dangerous and wrong and would destroy America. The issue here is the content of their policies and we will continue to stand up and fight against what we know is wrong for this nation.”---Watch the video


Editorial note: Was the Trump Tweets over this weekend just a trap? Rush Limbaugh thinks so.

Donald Trump Is Steamrolling the Democrat Party
RUSH: Most of you can’t see it because the Drive-By Media is covering it up. Most of you can’t see it because the Drive-By Media is trying to hide it from you. Most of you can’t see it because many in the Drive-By Media don’t see it. And what’s happening out there is that Donald Trump is steamrollering the Democrat Party.

Donald Trump — it’s taken four days. It’s taken four days, but everybody’s now catching up to my theory four days ago that all of these tweets about these whack jobs are purposeful, and the intent behind them was to identify the Democrat Party with these four people as the face.

It has been a masterful project. It will never be categorized that. It will never be credited as that, particularly with both parties inside the beltway because this said to be so outside the norms of presidential behavior. You don’t give your opponents openings like this.



How did this all started? It began with tweets that Trump posted Sunday, and during Remarks by President Trump at the 3rd Annual Made in America Product Showcase. During that speech he doubled down in his tweet. 

Quote: " Q    President Trump, who were you talking about in your tweet about going back to their home countries?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I don’t mention — I didn’t mention names.  And I didn’t do that.  But I will tell you, with our country — and I think everybody in this audience, these are great manufacturers, great workers in our audience too; they brought a lot of their workers here.  If you’re not happy here, then you can leave.  As far as I’m concerned, if you hate our country — (applause) — if you’re not happy here, you can leave.  And that’s what I say all the time.  That’s what I said in a tweet, which I guess some people think is controversial.  A lot of people love it, by the way.  A lot of people love it.

But if you’re not happy in the U.S., if you’re complaining all the time — very simply, you can leave.  You can leave right now.  Come back if you want; don’t come back.  It’s okay too.  But if you’re not happy, you can leave.
Q    Mr. President, three of the congresswomen that you talked about were born in America.  (Inaudible.)  What were you talking about?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, they’re very unhappy.  I’m watching them; all they do is complain.  So all I’m saying is, if they want to leave, they can leave, John.  They can leave.

I mean, I look at the one — I look at Omar — I don’t know, I never met her.  I hear the way she talks about al Qaeda.  Al Qaeda has killed many Americans.  She said, “You can hold your chest out, you can — when I think of America…huh…when I think of al Qaeda, I can hold my chest out.”  When she talked about the World Trade Center being knocked down, “Some people.”  You remember the famous “some people.”  These are people that, in my opinion, hate our country.

Now, you can say what you want, but get a list of all of the statements they’ve made.  And all I’m saying: that if they’re not happy here, they can leave.  They can leave.  And you know what?  I’m sure that there’ll be many people that won’t miss them. ( read the full text)


Related news headlines of the Antifa nags:

WALSH: A Member Of AOC's ‘Squad’ Just Made An Outrageously Bigoted Statement---Daily Wire
" Speaking at a progressive political convention a few days ago, Pressley launched into a diatribe that would surely end her career if she belonged to a different political party or political movement. To the sound of exuberant applause, the new Ringo declared: “We don’t need any more brown faces that don’t want to be a brown voice. We don’t need black faces that don’t want to be a black voice. We don’t need Muslims that don’t want to be a Muslim voice. We don’t need queers that don’t want to be a queer voice.”

Kennedy Defends Trump Against Racist Charges of ‘Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse’---Western Journal

Notorious Anti-Israel Propagandist Ilhan Omar Just Compared BDS Movement to the Boston Tea Party
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar on Wednesday appeared to draw parallels between the famed 1773 Boston Tea Party and the anti-Israel Boycott, Divest, Sanctions movement.

I’ve Been Critical of Trump, But He’s Dead Right To Tell Omar & America-Haters To Get Out
Democrats and the establishment media hurling accusations of racism at President Donald Trump is nothing new. The volume of accusations being hurled, however, may be unprecedented after the president’s weekend tweets at Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar and her fellow squadmates.

'The Squad' Deserves Trump's Ire
That big debate continues to rage between Donald Trump and Democrats.---Patriot Post

**********************************************************

NEWS HEADLINES:


Kilmer Backs Defense Authorization Bill
Press release issued 7/ 12/19

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA). The bill authorizes $733 billion for the Department of Defense and the defense-related activities of the Department of Energy, as well as Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). The legislation passed the House of Representatives 220-197.

Key provisions in the bill focus on improving the lives of military families, including a 3.1 percent pay raise for service members, and provisions to improve military housing and clean-up contaminated drinking water at military bases.

“If you serve this country, Congress should have your back and invest in you and your family. I’m proud that this bill includes a number of measures to support our troops and our military families,” said Rep. Kilmer. “In addition, we were able to include measures that keep our country safe and benefit our region.”

“In this era, where partisanship is the norm, the Democratic members of the Armed Services Committee have worked diligently to preserve our Committee’s long-standing tradition of bipartisanship, and the FY20 NDAA is a reflection of that tradition,” said House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith. “While this year’s NDAA contains bipartisan provisions, our new Democratic majority has had an undeniable impact on the contents of this bill. Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Kilmer and other members of our excellent Appropriations Committee, the bill passed today reflects our Democratic values, supports our troops, and provides for a strong national defense enterprise.”

The bill includes priorities backed by Rep. Kilmer, including:

Ensuring Fairness for Shipyard Workers

For decades, the Navy has sought to recruit and retain talented workers to public shipyards for critical positions in science and engineering using the Accelerated Promotion Program (APP). In 2016, the Navy suspended the program as it sought recertification from the Office of Personnel Management. Workers hired during that one-year gap in the program were adversely affected by the suspension, leading to lost pay and slower promotions when compared to their other colleagues. To fix this issue, Rep. Kilmer authored an amendment that asks the Navy for a plan to make this right for those workers.

Prohibiting Federal Funds from Being Used for War Against Iran

Earlier this year, Rep. Kilmer and more than 100 House Democrats sent a letter to President Trump to urge him to deescalate the tensions between the United States and Iran and to ensure he seeks Congressional approval for potential offensive use of military force. In the NDAA, Rep. Kilmer sponsored a bipartisan amendment to prevent federal funds from being used for any military force against Iran without congressional authorization. The amendment clarifies that neither the 2001 nor the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) can be invoked to justify the use of military force against Iran.

Reducing Jet Noise

Over the past several years, Rep. Kilmer has pushed the Department of Defense to fund efforts to reduce the noise of the Navy’s EA-18G Growler through his work on the Appropriations Committee. In addition to the measures secured by Rep. Kilmer to monitor Navy jet noise and make that monitoring data public in the Defense Appropriations bill, the NDAA directs the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Air Force to conduct real-time noise-monitoring at Navy and Air Force installations. Like the Defense Appropriations bill, the NDAA also sets aside funds to continue developing technology that could be installed on Growler engines to reduce their noise.

Increasing Tribal Mitigation Capabilities

Currently, the Department of Defense must undertake meaningful consultations and discussions Native American tribes in the event that a military construction project impacts treaty rights and must make sure that those impacts are appropriately mitigated. To improve the consultation process and minimize potential impacts to tribes, the NDAA includes a measure championed by Rep. Kilmer to ensure that the Secretary of Defense initiates consultations with tribal governments earlier in the process and work with tribes to minimize impacts to tribal lands, sacred sites, or tribal treaty rights.

Ensuring the Military is a Responsible Climate Partner

The NDAA ensures that the military makes progress toward being a responsible partner in fighting climate change. This year, the NDAA requires the Department of Defense to develop installation master plans that assess current climate vulnerabilities and establish measures to mitigate the risks. It also requires the Department of Defense to amend the building standards for military construction to ensure that building practices and standards promote energy, climate, and cyber resilience at military installation.  Relatedly, the bill directs military construction projects to consider potential long-term changes in environmental conditions and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. Importantly, the NDAA also includes a requirement for the Department of Defense to report on the progress towards meeting the goal of 25 percent renewable energy for military facilities by 2025.



Kilmer Votes to Support 9/11 Victims and Heroes and Pass a Permanent Reauthorization of September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act
Press release issued 7/ 12/ 19

Washington, D.C – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to pass H.R. 1327, the “Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alverez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act,” which takes long-overdue action to provide the financial security and support that 9/11 first responders, survivors and families deserve.

“On September 11, 2011, our nation suffered an unthinkable tragedy – and witnessed the incredible bravery of hundreds of first responders who put their own lives on the line, rushing into the World Trade Center to save countless Americans and dealing with the aftermath. Today, I’m proud to sponsor and vote in favor of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund to ensure that no 9/11 first responder, survivor or family member goes without the help they deserve,” said Rep. Kilmer. “When we needed them most, they were there for us – and Congress should have their backs. With the passage of this legislation, we recommit as a nation to pledging our support to all those who risked their lives during and in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, now and in the future.”

This bipartisan legislation extends the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) until 2092, similar to the timeline of the World Trade Center Health Program and reverses all cuts in compensation for both current and future claims.

The bill is supported by a coalition of law enforcement organizations, including the National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriffs’ Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, FBI Agents Association, and National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. The coalition states, in part, in its letter of support, “Over the past eight years, the VCF has aided 9/11 responders and their families, operating as Congress intended and as these heroes deserve.  Despite that, however, the VCF is now running dangerously low on funds and since the beginning of the year has had to impose severe cuts to award amounts as a result of that shortage. … Month after month, the numbers [of claimants] keep going up, and not just from the NYPD’s ranks, but from federal, state and local agencies across the country. The ranks of the sick and the fallen now come from 434 of 435 Congressional Districts.”

**************************

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

**************************

Over 820 million people suffering from hunger; new UN report reveals stubborn realities of ‘immense’ global challenge.
After nearly a decade of progress, the number of people who suffer from hunger has slowly increased over the past three years, with about one in every nine people globally suffering from hunger today, the United Nations said in a new report released on Monday.

‘Complacency’ a factor in stagnating global vaccination rates, warn UN health chiefs
More than one in 10 children – almost 20 million worldwide – failed to receive potentially lifesaving vaccines in 2018, the UN said on Monday, citing obstacles including conflict, cost and complacency.

UN highlights importance of skills development on World Youth Skills Day
At UN Headquarters, and across the globe, events are taking place on Monday to celebrate World Youth Skills Day – marked each year on 15 July – to raise awareness about the importance of youth skills development.

With half of Somaliland children not in school, UNICEF and partners launch education access programme
Access to education in Somaliland is extremely limited, with more than 50 per cent of children in Somaliland out of school. In an effort to address the problem, the UN children’s fund, UNICEF, has partnered with the government, and the global fund Education Cannot Wait, to launch a programme designed to help children affected by ongoing crises in the country.

UN chief condemns terror attack in Kismayo, Somalia
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the terrorist attack that took place on July 12 in southern Somalia.






*************************
IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION
*************************


PAGE 2

Ahead of Reported ICE Raids This Weekend, Senator Murray Takes New Actions Against President Trump’s Cruel Anti-Immigrant Agenda

PAGE 3
Cantwell Announces $1.5M in New Housing, Homelessness Grants for Tacoma


PAGE 4

SECRETARY CARSON APPLAUDS THE SEC’S EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE MAIN STREET INVESTORS TO INVEST IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES


PAGE 5
USDA Announces $16 Million Funding Opportunity to Support Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers


PAGE 6

Senator Murray’s Statement on Trump Administration’s Roll Back of Fish Consumption Rule




PAGE 7
Reps. Kilmer, Reed Introduce the Teacher Education for Computer Science Act





PAGE 8
COMMENTARY
ONE MAN'S OBSESSION TO IMPEACH TRUMP FAILS...AGAIN

Senator Murray Calls for Trump Labor Secretary Acosta to Resign

Press release issued 7/ 9/ 19


Senator Murray: “This is an appalling example of what happens when powerful men protect one another and allow cycles of abuse to continue without any consequences”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate labor committee, issued the statement below following Jeffrey Epstein’s federal indictment on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. In 2007, Secretary Acosta, then the U.S. Attorney in Florida, allowed Epstein to avoid federal prosecution for sex trafficking charges involving dozens of underage victims, and a federal judge recently ruled that prosecutors in Acosta’s office violated the law by failing to notify Epstein’s victims of a non-prosecution agreement.

“Secretary Acosta's role in protecting Jeffrey Epstein and denying survivors justice is one of the many reasons why I opposed his nomination in the first place. As more information continues to shine a needed spotlight on the 'deal of a lifetime' that Acosta helped negotiate for a child sex predator, it's clear it is time for him to step aside.

"This is an appalling example of what happens when powerful men protect one another and allow cycles of abuse to continue without any consequences. All those involved should be held fully accountable for the pain they have caused."








AG FERGUSON STATEMENT AHEAD OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ORAL ARGUMENT
WASH. AG press release issued 7/ 8/ 19

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson offers the following statement ahead of Tuesday’s oral argument defending the Affordable Care Act (ACA):

“A group of Republican attorneys general are seeking to eliminate the Affordable Care Act without any replacement — and the Trump Administration callously refused to defend the law, threatening the health care of millions. Without the Affordable Care Act, hundreds of thousands of hardworking Washingtonians will lose access to affordable health care coverage, and many more will face devastating cost increases. That’s why Washington and a multistate coalition have stepped up to defend the Affordable Care Act. We’ll continue fighting to protect Washingtonians’ access to affordable health care all the way to the United States Supreme Court.”

Oral argument in Texas v. United States starts at 11 a.m. Pacific in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in New Orleans.

A multistate coalition including Washington is appealing the decision of a federal district court judge in Texas declaring the ACA invalid, including its guarantee of coverage for those with preexisting conditions.

Republican Attorneys General, led by Texas, filed the challenge to the ACA in February 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Those states argue that, because Congress zeroed out the tax penalty used as enforcement of the individual mandate in December 2017, the entire ACA is unconstitutional.

In a brief filed in June 2018, the Trump Administration declared that it would not defend the ACA against the challenge by the Republican Attorneys General. In a letter to Congressional leaders, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the decision not to defend the ACA was made “with the approval of the President of the United States.”

Because of the Administration’s decision, Ferguson, 15 states and the District of Columbia filed a motion to intervene in the case on the side of the federal government to defend the ACA. This is not one of Ferguson’s 40 lawsuits against the Trump Administration. Twenty states and the District of Columbia now comprise the multistate coalition.

More than 800,000 Washingtonians depend on the ACA for their health care. Since the ACA went into effect, Washington’s uninsured rate dropped by 60 percent, and now fewer than 6 percent of Washingtonians are without health insurance.

If the ACA is eliminated, Washingtonians would lose an average of $295 per month in federal premium subsidies, and more than 600,000 people enrolled in Apple Health as part of the ACA’s Medicaid expansion would lose coverage. Insurers would once again be allowed to discriminate based on medical history, and patients would again be subject to annual and lifetime limits to their health benefits.

Ferguson has defended the ACA on multiple occasions, including defending against a previous challenge to the law by the U.S. House of Representatives, and filing a lawsuit to ensure critical funding would continue. Ferguson also filed two “friend of the court” briefs in cases challenging tax credits for low- and middle-income people buying health insurance (Halbig v. Burwell and King v. Burwell).






Following Hearing on Amtrak, Cantwell Calls for Analysis of Gaps in Positive Train Control Implementation
Press release issued 7/ 8/ 19

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After pushing rail officials to make safety a top priority at a Senate hearing last month, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration on the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) technology for rail safety and what measures FRA requires in areas where Amtrak operates without PTC.

“I am writing to seek more information about how the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”) ensures the safety of intercity passenger rail service on over 1,400 miles of track where Positive Train Control (“PTC”) safety technology is not implemented,” Cantwell wrote in her letter to FRA Administrator Ron Batory.

Last month, an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found that, had PTC been deployed, it could have prevented the fatal 2017 derailment of Amtrak 501 near DuPont, WA.

“While taking the train is generally a safe way to travel, in December 2017 tragedy struck near DuPont, Washington when the Amtrak Cascades 401 derailed and fell onto the highway below, claiming three lives and injuring 65 people. The National Transportation Safety Board found that PTC would have prevented this tragedy,” Cantwell wrote.

“Since the development of PTC technology nearly 50 years ago, there have been more than 150 accidents that this lifesaving technology could have prevented,” Cantwell continued. “At a recent Senate hearing, witnesses representing Amtrak and the NTSB expressed concerns about ensuring intercity passenger rail safety where PTC is not installed.”

Cantwell’s letter also seeks information from FRA on additional rail safety measures the agency requires for areas where Amtrak operates without PTC technology, including requirements for crewmember training, speed limit action plans, and other operational risk mitigations. 

In her role on the Commerce Committee, Cantwell has been a consistent advocate for increasing accountability and investment in rail safety in the United States. In July of 2015, as the Senate considered the DRIVE Act, Senator Cantwell expressed concern that the bill would delay PTC implementation and roll back safety protections. In December of 2017, Cantwell joined her Senate colleagues from the Pacific Northwest to demand railroads be held accountable for PTC implementation. In January 2018, Cantwell led members of the Washington Congressional delegation in calling for a comprehensive update from the Federal Railroad Administration on the nationwide implementation of PTC. And in March 2018, after calling for a hearing in the wake of the DuPont derailment, Cantwell pressed Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson on rail safety and PTC implementation.

***************************
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES
****************************

Terrorism ‘spreading and destabilizing’ entire regions, Guterres warns States, at key Kenya conference
“Trauma from terrorism” hurts families, communities and destabilizes entire regions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, as he expressed solidarity with victims of extremist attacks in Africa.

UN experts voice ‘deep concern’ over Iran’s ‘consistent pattern’ of denying life-saving medical treatment to detainees
Despite repeated calls, Iran continues to deny medical treatment to detainees in what amounts to “a consistent pattern”, according to eight UN human rights experts, in a statement on Wednesday.

Now is the time to seize ‘unprecedented opportunity’ of the Sustainable Development Forum, says ECOSOC President
Nations across the world now have an “unprecedented opportunity to talk to each other and learn from each other”, Inga Rhonda King, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ESOSOC), said on Tuesday, kicking off the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York.

Threat from petty criminals who turn to terrorism, a growing concern, Security Council hears
The less predictable threats represented by small-time criminals who have opportunistically embraced terrorism, are a source of growing concern, the UN Security Council heard on Tuesday. That warning came from Tamara Makarenko, an International Consultant, who works with the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), speaking at an open debate on threats to international peace and security.

Groundbreaking cancer-fighting drugs now included in updated UN list of essential medicines
The UN health agency, WHO, announced on Tuesday that dozens of new drugs have been added to the list of essential medicines that every country should have, including new cancer treatments that can be swallowed rather than injected.

***************************

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

*******************************

PAGE 2

Senator Murray Announces Major Federal Investment in Federal Way Link Expansion


PAGE 3

Senator Murray Slams Republicans for Bringing Partisan Lawsuit to Strip Families of Health Care, Scrap Patient Protections, and Drive Up Costs for Millions

PAGE 4

New York Anesthesiologist Indicted for Alleged Role in Telemedicine Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

PAGE 5
National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson releases comprehensive report intended to improve EITC administration; publishes "subway map" of taxpayer’s journey through the tax system.

PAGE 6

Cantwell, Colleagues Request Feedback from American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian Community Leaders on the Effects of Climate Change on Native Communities


PAGE 7
Outraged by Worsening Crisis at Southern U.S. Border, Senator Murray Outlines New Legislation to End Cruel Treatment of Migrant Children in Government Custody




PAGE 8
COMMENTARY
THE UN-AMERICAN WOMEN SOCCER TEAM WINS WORLD CUP.

Court Set to Decide Fate of Affordable Care Act – Cantwell Defends Coverage for Millions of Washingtonians with Pre-Existing Conditions.

Press release issued 7/ 2/ 19

Senator releases new report showing more than 867,000 King County residents, 3 million Washingtonians under the age of 65 live with a pre-existing health condition; Lawsuit by state attorneys general threatens to undermine Pacific Northwest health care system, critical health coverage for millions of Americans
SEATTLE – One week before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in a lawsuit that could eliminate the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01), health care providers, and local patient advocates to defend the ACA and the millions of Washingtonians with pre-existing conditions protected under the law.

“The moment is here for all of us to stand up and advocate for health care and make sure that this law is not struck down and that the United States Congress is allowed to continue to fight for great access to health care policy,” Cantwell said at today’s event.

More than three million Washingtonians under the age of 65 live with a pre-existing health condition, which can include common conditions ranging from allergies, asthma, and high blood pressure to cancer and diabetes. More than 385,000 of those with pre-existing conditions are children under the age of 18.

The Affordable Care Act outlawed insurance company discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, meaning that insurance companies cannot deny coverage to people or charge them more because they have a pre-existing condition. However, in December 2018, a U.S. District Court Judge in Texas declared the entire ACA unconstitutional.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice announced it would no longer defend the Affordable Care Act in court and filed a brief with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asking the court to invalidate the entirety of the law.

“Next week, as oral arguments start in this case, we must make sure that we’re doing all that we can to articulate and to get the Senate to act to defend the Affordable Care Act so that we can show the great economic impact to our region if the health care law is not continued,” Senator Cantwell said today.

This attempt to nullify the ACA could have devastating effects in Washington and throughout the country. Three million Washingtonians, and nearly 130 million Americans nationwide, have pre-existing medical conditions and could be charged more or locked out of coverage if the law is struck down – even if they get health insurance through their employers.

Invalidating the ACA could also kick 50,000 Washingtonians under the age of 26 off their parents’ health care plans, allow insurance companies to charge women more than men, allow for an “age tax” on people over 50, and put millions more at risk of facing coverage lock-out periods, exclusions, or other forms of insurance discrimination.

“These are the faces of Washingtonians who will be impacted if the health care law is struck down in a court cast that is now going to be heard starting next week,” Cantwell said about the patient advocates in the room.

At the event, Senator Cantwell also released a report on the threats to health care coverage for the millions of Washingtonians under the age of 65, including more than 867,000 in King County alone, living with a pre-existing health care condition.

Inslee discusses how to help more students find a pathway to well-paying, high-demand careers

From the Governor's medium page posted 7. 2. 19

Darrell Wilson said he took an unorthodox approach to getting his education.
After earning his associate degree from Pierce College, he spent the next three-plus years earning his own tuition money so that he wouldn’t have to take out student loans. Then, he earned a certificate and took two internships (one with the Pierce County Health Department, the other with the City of Puyallup) around his career choice: Geographic Information System Mapping Technology. He did all of this before even starting his undergraduate program at the University of Washington.
“I wanted to build my resume from the ground up because some people struggle to get a job in their field after they graduate because they don’t have real-world experience,” Wilson said. “Doing those internships beforehand helped me keep ahead of the competition. It’s a competitive world and I wanted to be ahead of everything.”
Soon, he’ll graduate from the University of Washington with a GIS degree. And he’ll enter the professional workforce already having a strong network in his field because of his hands-on internship and certificate work.
Wilson shared his story with with Gov. Jay Inslee, state leaders and Washingtonians on Tuesday as they discussed how the state is helping more students find a pathway to a good-paying job or career. The meeting focused on college, STEM programs and degrees, and career-connected learning programs such as apprenticeships.
A highly-skilled workforce is one reason cited by many employers for locating in Washington state and Inslee said these kinds of efforts ensure Washington remains a top choice for businesses. State leaders project there will be 740,000 job openings by 2021, many of which require a post-secondary credential whether that is a degree, a certificate or a credential.
Inslee said the state has made significant progress over several years to increase the number of Washingtonians who are positioned to find high-demand, high-wage jobs.
The 2019 legislative session brought forth the Workforce Education Investment Act. The act includes two pieces of governor-priority legislation that will impact thousands of Washington students.
One piece of legislation focuses on college affordability. It will provide meaningful financial aid for 110,000 students each year to take apprenticeships and attend two- and four-year public colleges and universities.

“We’re hoping the new financial aid program will help ease the financial burden for many students,” Inslee said. “And it’s people like Darrell, who stopped his education for years to earn tuition money, who could benefit from this program.”

The other piece of legislation is a focus on career-connected learning. It gives students more chances to get real-life work experience during their schooling.
“The passage of that act was one of the most important achievements of the recent session,” Inslee said. “We have one of the most progressive financial aid systems in the country now. And it reflects a key part about why we’re ranked as the number one state to live and work.”
Career Connect Washington is designed to meet the governor’s goal of connecting 100,000 students to career-connected opportunities and our other efforts to create multiple pathways to good-paying careers. This comes from a Washington STEM action plan of 70 percent of students achieving a postsecondary credential.
The legislature recently secured $25 million in operating and more than $11 million in capital and transportation funding for Career Connect Washington and supported initiatives. Career Connect Washington hosts a variety of work-based programs that include classroom learning and career-specific instruction. This helps students get early exposure to careers and the different pathways one career holds.

During the Inslee administration, policy makers have worked on the following items that increase living-wage job opportunities:
Paid family and medical leave
Non-compete legislation that protects workers
Free tuition for low-income students through Washington College Grant
A fair minimum wage
Guaranteed sick leave
Updating overtime rules
Long-term care program
Fair chance for employment with ‘ban the box’ measures
Limited college tuition increases
Governors STEM Innovation Alliance
Career-connected learning with real-world work experience through Career Connect Washington
Expanded pathway options for high school graduation
Job quality tax incentives on clean energy projects
Future of Work Taskforce that prepares Washington’s economy for technological change
Guaranteed Education Tuition program that gives people the ability to buy tuition early
College savings plans (called “Dream Ahead”) to save for education
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship expansion to professional technical programs and apprenticeships
Expanded high demand STEM enrollments
State financial aid eligibility for “Dreamers”
Student loan refinancing
Working connections child care for low-income students in professional technical programs
The number of students who earned STEM degrees has also increased during the past few years. Inslee said it’s important to emphasize STEM opportunities because a large amount of upcoming high-wage jobs require STEM knowledge and skills. Yet more qualified applicants apply to the public four-year college and universities than the institutions have room for in these programs.
Whether it’s a STEM degree, an ironworker apprenticeship or an early childhood education certificate, there’s a payoff for students who seek out a variety of educational opportunities after high school: Education pays. That’s according to Cody Eccles, associate director at the Council of Presidents, who also spoke at Tuesday’s meeting. Earnings have increased for all students who finish college. And students who complete a professional-technical program earn the highest, according to the Washington State Board Community and Technical Colleges.
Currently, the job areas with the highest workforce needs are education, computer science and mathematics, business and finance, and health care.

***************************

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

****************************

Remarks by President Trump, Chairman Kim Jong Un, and President Moon in Greeting at the Korean Demilitarized Zone---White House press release

Remarks by President Trump and President Moon in Greeting with U.S. and Republic of Korea Service Members---White House press release

Libya detention centre attack could amount to a war crime says UN, as Guterres calls for independent investigation
A missile attack on a detention centre in Tripoli that killed scores of migrants and refugees “deserves more than condemnation”, UN agencies said on Wednesday, as both the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL), insisted that it may amount to a war crime.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1041792

Restrictions, unmet promises, unbridled violence in Sudan, a ‘recipe for disaster’, says Bachelet
After nationwide protests across Sudan on Sunday, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday called on Sudanese authorities to lift restrictions on the internet and launch independent investigations into all acts of violence against demonstrators, and allegations of excessive force, including attacks on hospitals.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1041802

UN cultural agency removes birthplace of Jesus from its list of heritage sites in danger
The United Nations’ cultural agency announced on Tuesday that it was removing the place that is officially recognized as the Birthplace of Jesus, from its List of World Heritage in Danger – crediting extensive restorative work on Bethlehem’s Nativity Church, in Palestine.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1041742



*******************
NEWS FLASH!
No deaths reported in the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Southern California---LA TIMES

*******************






*************************
IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION
*************************






PAGE 2

Cantwell, Merkley, Murray, Wyden Announce Passage of Bill to Improve Safety and Sanitation at Columbia River Tribal Fishing Sites


PAGE 3

Reps. Kilmer, King, Murphy, Hurd Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Assess & Address Rising Threat of Deepfakes

PAGE 4

Murray, Cantwell Request Federal Engagement in New Sea-Tac International Arrivals Facility.

PAGE 5

Treasury Targets Cuban Support for the Illegitimate Venezuelan Regime


PAGE 6

NASA Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Historic Moon Landing with Live TV Broadcast, Events.


PAGE 7

Presidential Message on the 243rd Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration of Independence


PAGE 8

Inslee statement on decision to drop citizenship question from census

News story Commentary: Does the oath of office mean anything to the Dems?

Kilmer-Backed Priorities Included in Second Appropriations Package

Press release issued 6. 25. 19
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3055, the second Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations package which funds the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. The legislation passed the House 227-194.

“The passage of the spending package today is a big win for Northwest Washington and I’m proud to support it,” said Rep. Kilmer. “This bill continues to make progress on important priorities for our region – like protecting the environment and investing in our natural landscapes, making our communities safer, honoring commitments to Indian country, supporting affordable housing, and bringing broadband to more rural areas.”

The package includes a number of priorities for the region championed by Rep. Kilmer, including:

 Restoring Puget Sound

 The FY 2020 Interior Appropriations Bill includes a $5 million increase in the Puget Sound Geographic Program, which provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments to implement projects that protect jobs and local economies by improving water quality, enhancing fish passage, increasing salmon habitat, and protecting shorelines. The total funding level of $33 million included in the FY 2020 bill is an increase of more than 18% above the current funding level and is a larger proportional increase than the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (6%) and the Chesapeake Bay (16%) Geographic Programs.

Additionally, each of the 28 National Estuary Programs (NEPs) received a $100,000 increase over the FY 2019 enacted level, as well as a $3 million increase for competitive grants. The Puget Sound National Estuary Program is an Environmental Protection Agency place-based program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance, including Puget Sound - the nation’s second largest estuary.

In addition, Rep. Kilmer helped secure $1.5 million for the Southern Resident Killer Whales program to increase research and monitoring to improve the recovery of the species.

“We know what we need to do to recover Puget Sound,” said Laura Blackmore, Executive Director, Puget Sound Partnership. “The primary barrier between us and more food for orcas, clean and sufficient water supplies for people and fish, sustainable working lands, and harvestable shellfish beds is funding. These proposed budget increases would be a very welcome boost to Puget Sound recovery, to orca recovery, and to estuarine recovery nationwide.”

Investing in Forest Collaboration Management and Forest Restoration

Rep. Kilmer authored a provision highlighting the value of collaborative forest management and directing the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to prioritize resources to better leverage support from existing Forest Collaboratives to expedite project development and approval of forest treatments developed by Collaboratives. This provision will help collaboratives like the Olympic Forest Collaborative continue to advance forest treatments that increase harvest levels while also achieving much needed environmental benefits like landscape restoration, watershed protection, and habitat conservation, in order to create more economic opportunities on the Olympic Peninsula.

The legislation also includes a $257 million increase for the Forest Service’s non-firefighting activities.

Additionally, Rep. Kilmer advocated for the legislation to include an increase for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Forest Stewardship Program (also known as the Working Forest Lands Program), totaling $20.5 million, which plays a vital role in engaging family landowners in active, long-term stewardship of their land by helping landowners develop comprehensive plans to accomplish their own management goals while meeting state-wide priorities as determined by forest action plans.

“We appreciate Rep. Kilmer’s leadership in helping secure critical investments for necessary work on overstocked and at-risk national forests,” said Travis Joseph, President, American Forest Resource Council. “Increased funding for active, sustainable forest management, thinning, forest roads, and smart wildfire suppression – while engaging diverse stakeholders and partner organizations – will improve the health and resiliency of our forests, local economies, and surrounding communities.”

Combating Climate Change and Investing in Resiliency

In order to continue making meaningful progress towards combating the impacts of climate change, Rep. Kilmer fought to increase federal funding for programs that support state efforts to protect vulnerable communities from coastal hazards and other consequences of climate change. The bill includes $81 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coastal Zone Management Grants, which provide core funding for states to address important national and state coastal management priorities. Rep. Kilmer also ensured that the Committee encourages NOAA to support mitigation and relocation efforts of coastal tribal communities, like the Hoh, Quileute, and Makah tribes, that are seeking to mitigate the threat of severe weather storms and promote public safety.

In addition, the legislation includes $74 million for NOAA’s Climate Research Cooperative Institutes to support cutting-edge research on climate, ocean, and fishery science and directs $2.5 million toward the creation of a regional pilot program, in partnership with two or more state Sea Grant Programs, focused on enhancing coastal resiliency.

The legislation also includes $60 million for the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) to support the eight regionally-focused Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) around the country

and rejects the Administration’s proposal to reduce the overall number of centers. These Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs), which includes the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center housed at the University of Washington, provide actionable science and research that directly address many of the climate-related challenges unique to different regions of the country.

“Rep. Derek Kilmer has been a staunch friend and ally for the City of Ocean Shores, WA, providing us with guidance and assistance when we declared an emergency when our geotubes failed, helping us develop strategies and partners to pursue solutions for the emergency, and assisting us in seeking and obtaining the long-term maintenance for the issues relating to our deteriorating navigation jetty,” said Crystal L. Dingler, Mayor, City of Ocean Shores.

Increasing Early Warning Capabilities for Natural Hazards and Disasters

Rep. Kilmer also championed an effort this Congress for a $1.5 million increase in NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Centers and for the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. The funding for these programs supports hazard identification and assessment; response and evacuation planning at both the state and community level; installation and maintenance of evacuation route signs; deployment, installation, and maintenance of the All Hazards Alert Broadcast tsunami warning siren system, which is comprised of 58 sirens along the coastline; and a robust program of outreach, education, and exercises. Without these funds, most, if not all, of these activities would be discontinued.

The legislation also includes $18.6 million for the USGS for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a West Coast Earthquake Early Warning System.

In addition, the bill includes $30.36 million for the Volcano Hazards program to maintain support for next generation lahar detection operations and infrastructure on Mount Rainier and other high-threat volcanoes.

Finally, the bill includes $4.15 million for the Landslides Hazards program, which will help to prevent human and economic loss through the development of methods and models for landslide hazard assessment, monitoring, and tools for landslide early warning and situational awareness.

Fighting for Salmon Recovery

Rep. Kilmer also secured several key funding increases in NOAA’s budget to help recover salmon stocks and support the commercial, recreational and tribal fisheries that depend on them, including $30 million to implement the newly ratified Pacific Salmon Treaty, $25 million to support Mitchell Act hatchery activities, and $15 million to support communities impacted by recent fisheries disasters.

Originally signed by Canada and the United States in 1985, the Pacific Salmon Treaty provides a framework for the two countries to cooperatively manage Pacific salmon stocks focused on protecting and expanding spawning habitat, increasing hatchery production, and implementing conservation measures to prevent overfishing and maximize production. The $30 million included in this bill is critical in supporting the recommendations outlined in the Pacific Salmon Commission’s plan to implement the treaty.

The $25 million in dedicated funding for Mitchell Act hatchery activities will enable federal agencies to work with Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to establish and operate a series of hatcheries and fish passage facilities to improve declining salmon runs in the Columbia River System. These efforts will ensure the conservation of these critical natural resources, maintain economically viable tribal, commercial, and sports fisheries, and provide prey for Southern Resident killer whales.

In addition, the legislation includes $65 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund to support efforts to protect and restore salmon habitat and maintain long-term monitoring to track the success of restoration efforts. This program is the primary source of funding dedicated to recovering wild salmon and steelhead populations listed as threatened and endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

“People here in the Pacific Northwest, along with our orcas and coastal ecosystems, depend on salmon returning to Puget Sound and the Columbia River,” said Jacques White, Executive Director, Long Live the Kings. “Long Live the Kings is grateful to Congressman Kilmer who has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to protect and restore our salmon and our environment for future generations."

Honoring Federal Commitments by Investing to Indian Country

In an effort to address the longstanding deficit in federal funding needed to uphold the federal government’s treaty and trust obligations to Native American communities, Rep. Kilmer fought to secure significant increases in funding for both the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which received a $432 million funding increase above FY 2019, and the Indian Health Service, which received a $537 million increase.

Rep. Kilmer also secured $42.3 million for the BIA’s Rights Protection Implementation (RPI) program - a $2 million increase focused on conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources. RPI funding has helped tribes throughout Washington state produce professional tribal fish and wildlife co-management programs that are achieving high results for their communities.

 In addition, the bill includes $15 million for the BIA’s Tribal Climate Resilience program, which will provide competitive awards to support vulnerable coastal tribal communities. Rep. Kilmer authored a provision directing additional assistance to ensure that tribal communities have the resources necessary to support adaptation planning and respond to current and projected impacts of climate change.

“The FY 2020 Interior appropriations bill will soon be considered in the House and includes an over $900 million increase in funding from last fiscal year for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Services,” said Fawn Sharp, President, Quinault Indian Nation. “This legislation is an important step by the federal government in meeting its role as trustee to Native American Tribes. I would like to thank Congressman Derek Kilmer for his efforts as a member of the Appropriations Committee and for his leadership in addressing the continued federal funding shortfall for Native Americans as determined in the Broken Promises report of December 2018. I urge the House and Senate to expeditiously pass this legislation.”

Making Our Communities Safer

In 2018, Congress passed the Bipartisan STOP School Violence Act, which Rep. Kilmer co-led, to boost school efforts to develop violence prevention programs and coordinate with law enforcement to improve school safety. This year, Rep. Kilmer helped secure $125 million for the grant program - a $25 million increase - to help train students, teachers, school officials, and local law enforcement how to identify and intervene early when signs of violence arise and create a coordinated reporting system when threatening signs are noticed.

The bill also includes $582.5 million for the Violence Against Women Act Prevention and Prosecution Programs, an $85 million increase from the FY 2019 enacted level. The bill will include direct funding for federally-recognized Indian tribes.

“This funding is critical to protecting our children. We know that violence and suicide in our schools are preventable when we teach students and adults to ‘know the signs’ and reach out when they see someone hurting or need help themselves. We applaud the continued bipartisan commitment of Reps. Kilmer, Rogers, Deutch, Crist, and Rutherford, and the House of Representatives, to improve school safety through prevention and early intervention to stop future tragedies before they can happen,” said Mark Barden, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Sandy Hook Promise, and the father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy.

Improving Quality of Care at the VA and Investing in Regional Facilities

Rep. Kilmer worked to secure several provisions that will help to improve the quality of care administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including a $496 million increase for the Veterans Electronic Health Record to develop an interoperable electronic health record system that will access seamlessly the records of veterans in the VA system, the Department of Defense (DOD), and of community providers. The VA system is the same as the one chosen by DOD and is scheduled to be rolled out with the same timeline and geographic areas as DOD in order to realize cost efficiency savings.

In addition, Rep. Kilmer pushed for the bill to include a Committee recommendation that the VA conduct a pilot program to improve health outcomes and patient experience for beneficiaries with complex medical conditions.

In a continued effort to invest in facilities and infrastructure at critical defense facilities across the region, the legislation includes $25 million for an Undersea Vehicle Maintenance Facility at Keyport and $51 million for Dry Dock 4 and Pier 3 modernization work at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Supporting Affordable Housing and Homeownership Programs

This year, Rep. Kilmer was able to help secure a $5.9 billion increase for the Department of Housing and Urban Development for a wide range of programs that support affordable housing and homeownership and to provide communities with resources to increase affordable housing stock, make homeownership more accessible, and increase access to rental assistance, including:

a $500 million increase for the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME),
a $300 million increase for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG),
a $18 million increase for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (NeighborWorks America)
a $5 million increase for the Section 4 Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing,
and, a $1 million increase for the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP).
“The Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) very much appreciates Rep. Kilmer’s work on the House proposal for a HUD budget,” said Michael Mirra, Executive Director, Tacoma Housing Authority. “He knows THA and its work well. And he knows his community well. The House budget will strengthen THA’s efforts that not only house people but also help them and their children succeed. We are lucky to have such a Congressman and such a Congressional delegation.”

Increasing Access to Rural Broadband

The bill invests over $680 million in the expansion of broadband service to provide economic development opportunities and improved education and healthcare services. These significant investments in broadband reflect a commitment to enabling Americans in rural communities to access digital tools necessary to improve health, educational, and economic outcomes.

The bill also includes an effort by Rep. Kilmer to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to explore means to better utilize current programs to expand high-speed internet deployment in Indian country, and to work with tribal communities to better understand the unique infrastructure challenges they face and ensure that they are not held at a competitive disadvantage when competing for broadband resources.

“Mason PUD 3 is excited about the commitment of Representative Kilmer to find solutions for rural broadband expansion. He has reached across the aisle to work an issue that is important to the entire country, regardless of location and political persuasion,” said Joel Myer, Public Information & Government Relations Manager, Mason County PUD 3. “We are pleased that Representative Kilmer has regularly consulted with public and private entities that are working so hard to ensure our citizens have the tools to personally and professionally successful, wherever they live.”

Inslee letter to Trump Administration regarding poverty changes

Press release issued 6. 21. 19

In case you missed it: Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter today that details concerns about potential changes to how the federal government measures poverty. The Trump Administration recently put out a notice that asked for comment on a proposal that would lower the poverty threshold and could leave tens of thousands of Washingtonians and millions of Americans without assistance for health care, food, housing and child care needs.

The letter details the potential impact on Washington state. It is also signed by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Insurance Commissioner MIke Kreidler and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. 

"Assuming the change would impact benefit eligibility starting in 2020, we project the following reductions in Washingtonians’ access to federal, state and local assistance over ten years:

More than 60,000 individuals would lose eligibility for health coverage through Medicaid and CHIP, which means fewer children, adults and seniors would be receiving medically necessary services — including but not limited to: primary care, hospital services, medications, vaccinations, long-term services and supports, treatment for mental illness and substance use disorder, vision and dental services, assistance with Medicare premiums, as well as copays and deductibles for low-income seniors;
Nearly 5,000 seniors and more than 3,600 people with disabilities would face higher outof-pocket costs for healthcare in the Medicaid Medically Needy program;
More than 100,000 individuals with health coverage under the Affordable Care Act would face higher health insurance premiums on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange due to lost or reduced ACA premium tax credits;
Nearly 3,500 people would lose eligibility for basic food through SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program);
More than 4,200 parents would lose child care assistance through our state’s Working Connections Child Care program aimed at helping families achieve self-sufficiency;
Over 530 children would lose education, health and family support services through our state’s preschool program, the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP);
More than 5,200 pregnant women, new moms and children under age 5 would lose eligibility for breastfeeding support, nutrition education and monthly checks for nutrition and health screenings and referrals through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program;
Nearly 3,700 women would lose healthcare access through the Title X Family Planning Program, including breast and pelvic exams, cancer screenings, HIV testing, pregnancy testing and counseling, and affordable birth control;
Over 470 individuals would lose preventative healthcare for breast, cervical and colon cancer screenings through the Breast, Cervical and Colon Health Program;
Almost 3,700 households would lose assistance with heating costs, heating system repair and replacement, energy conservation education, temporary shelter assistance, energy crisis intervention, and other emergency services (such as blankets, space heaters and repairs) through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP);
Over 20,300 residents would lose services through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program, such as housing, energy assistance, nutrition, employment, training, and emergency food and shelter;
On a daily basis nearly 10,000 students would lose reduced price lunches, while nearly 20,000 students would lose free lunches and be forced to pay more or go hungry, through the National School Lunch Program;
On a daily basis nearly 4,000 students would lose reduced price breakfasts, while nearly 8,000 students would lose free breakfasts and be forced to pay more or go hungry, through the National School Breakfast Program; and
More than 600 students would lose eligibility for college financial aid through our state’s College Bound Scholarship Program."

***************************

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

****************************

President Donald J. Trump Is Imposing Sanctions on the Supreme Leader of Iran and the Worst Elements of the Iranian Regime
 " We call on the regime to abandon its nuclear ambitions, change its destructive behavior, respect the rights of its people, and return in good faith to the negotiating table." ---President Trump.
From a White House press release

Remarks by President Trump at Signing of Executive Order on Iran Sanctions.
White House press release


New UN report on families in a changing world puts ‘women’s rights at their core’
While women’s rights have advanced over the decades, gender inequalities and other fundamental human rights violations within families persist, according to a flagship study released on Tuesday, from the UN’s gender empowerment agency.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1041221

UN chief praises impact of Palestine refugee agency as ‘our common success’, at key pledging conference
The work of the UN body responsible for assisting Palestine refugees, UNRWA, which has allowed millions of children to receive an education that promotes UN values of human rights and tolerance, as well as democracy and conflict resolution, should be viewed “not only as our common responsibility, but as our common success”, said Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1041251

Security Council approves ‘historic’ political Haiti mission, ending UN peacekeeping role in the country
The Security Council on Monday approved a resolution to create a UN “Integrated Office” in Haiti, designed to support the country’s government in strengthening political stability and good governance. The Office, named BINUH, will replace the 15-year long peacekeeping mission, MINUJUSTH, on October 16.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1041291

*************************

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

**************************

PAGE 2

Cantwell Calls for Full Funding of Land and Water Conservation Fund, Investing in America’s Public Lands



PAGE 3

Senator Murray Cosponsors Legislation to Form Commission to Study Reparations For African-American Descendants of Slavery

PAGE 4
Cantwell, Smith Secure $9.1 Million for Noise Mitigation in Highline School District Classrooms


PAGE 5

Kilmer, Bishop Statement on Committee Passage of the Restore Our Parks And Public Lands Act


PAGE 6

Cantwell, Rubio Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Capital for Women, Minority Business Owners.


PAGE 7

Senators Murray, Cantwell Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Rights of Public Sector Workers to Join Unions, Bargain Collectively




PAGE 8

Inslee announces $5.8 million in grants for local communities to improve lives of families facing poverty.

COMMENTARY: Making what is immoral, moral!

Senator Murray Cosponsors Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing International Year of the Salmon

Press release issued 6. 17. 19
(Washington, D.C.) – As part of her ongoing efforts to protect and bolster Washington state’s vital salmon population, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) recently joined Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to introduce a resolution recognizing 2019 as the International Year of the Salmon. The resolution aims to serve as a framework for collaboration across the Northern Hemisphere to restore and recover salmon stocks through research, cooperation, and public action. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Angus King (I-ME) also signed on to the resolution.

“Salmon is as important to Washington state’s history and culture as it is to our environment and economy, and our families, tribes, and recreationists understand the importance of our wild salmon populations to our way of life,” said Senator Murray. “This resolution is a signal to our international neighbors that the United States is serious about salmon recovery and preservation, and I’m proud to stand with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize this important call to action.”

Senator Murray, a longtime defender of Washington state’s salmon habitats, previously led efforts to restore federal funding for salmon recovery after previous attempts from President Trump to eliminate vital federal support for salmon recovery, and successfully championed increased federal investments in the program in the last spending bill.

Background:

The International Year of the Salmon (IYS) was launched by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) and other partners last fall to inform and stimulate salmon outreach and research.
The IYS aims to serve as a framework for international collaboration, supporting the resilience of salmon and coastal societies throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including research events in Japan, Russia, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and on both coasts of the US and Canada.
One of the associated projects is a Gulf of Alaska research cruise focused on studying Pacific salmon during their first ocean winter and determining rearing areas and abundances of specific stocks.
The IYS focal year is 2019, though activities began in 2018 and are planned to continue through to 2022.
Resolution Highlights:

Salmon are a vital resource, providing communities with cultural and social value, food security, and economic opportunity.
Salmon can be vulnerable to impacts from human interference, including development pressures and climate change.
Drawing on science, Indigenous knowledge, and the experience of fishers, policy makers, resource managers, and others is essential to conserve salmon.
People from all walks of life can learn about the value of salmon and support salmon conservation.







AG FERGUSON SECURES $5.1M IN RELIEF FOR MORE THAN 500 WASHINGTON STUDENTS SCAMMED BY LENDER AFFILIATED WITH SHUTTERED FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE
Student CU Connect continued to issue loans despite ITT expecting more than 60 percent would default.
Press release issued 6. 14. 19
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that as a result of an investigation, Student CU Connect LLC (CUSO) will provide debt relief for 100 percent of its student loans for deceiving ITT Technical Institute students when it issued the loans.Ferguson's student loan initiative
ITT Technical Institute (ITT Tech) was a for-profit college that abruptly closed all of its 149 campuses in September 2016, including campuses in Seattle, Everett and Spokane Valley. CUSO must provide a total of $5.1 million in student loan debt relief to 538 Washington borrowers who attended ITT Tech. The median amount of debt relief Washington borrowers will receive is $6,096. Nationally, CUSO will discharge $168.2 million in loans.
CUSO issued loans to only ITT Tech students between 2009 and 2011. CUSO continued issuing loans even though ITT projected borrowers would default at rates exceeding 60 percent. The company now projects rates to exceed 90 percent.

“For honest lenders, a borrower's ability to pay back a loan matters," said Ferguson. “ITT Tech and CUSO were only interested in increasing their bottom line at their students’ expense. They issued private loans they knew students could not afford in order to access their federal loan dollars. This was a scam, and students deserve this relief.”

In the assurance of discontinuance with Washington and other filings with the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 43 other states and the District of Columbia, CUSO agreed to forgo collections on all current and defaulted private student loan balances. 

As a result of the assurance of discontinuance, CUSO may no longer collect on any of its loans and must discharge and cancel all outstanding balances. Additionally, the company will notify the three major credit bureaus that the loans are no longer outstanding and request that they remove the credit line associated with the loans.

CUSO will notify all affected student loan borrowers of the debt relief by mail within 30 days.

CUSO’s conduct

ITT Tech’s tuition was higher than most other for-profit schools at the time, with its associate degree programs costing approximately $44,000. Many students who enrolled in the school could not cover the cost of tuition with federal student aid alone. ITT Tech used CUSO from 2009 to 2011 as part of a two-step scheme to ensure students could borrow enough to cover tuition, no matter their ability to repay their debt.

First, ITT Tech offered many students a “temporary credit” to cover the gap between what the student received in federal student loans and the remaining tuition balance. The temporary credit only covered the first nine-month term, at the end of which the school required the student to pay it back in full.

Many students did not understand that they would need to repay the temporary credit due to rushed meetings with ITT Tech financial aid staff.

Second, when students were not able to pay back the credit after nine months, the school pressured them to take out a private student loan with CUSO or another ITT Tech-specific loan program by calling the students at home, barring them from class or withholding course materials, diplomas and transcripts.

The former CEO of ITT Tech personally encouraged financial aid staff to pull students out of class to complete financial aid applications.

This scheme allowed ITT Tech to skirt federal regulations governing for-profit schools and shift the risk of providing loans to students at high risk of default, while continuing to profit off these students’ tuition.

Students who refused the private student loans faced expulsion from the school. Because transferring ITT Tech credits to other schools was virtually impossible, students who refused to take out the loans could lose their entire educational investment.

Students trapped in CUSO loans grappled with high interest rates of 13.75 to 16.25 percent, making progress toward paying off the loan difficult. After ITT Tech shut down its campuses, CUSO estimated that borrowers behind on their payments by 30 days or more could default at a rate of up to 99.5 percent.

ITT Tech is one of several for-profit higher education institutions that closed in recent years after state and federal investigations revealed deceptive marking tactics and the facilitation of predatory private student loans. In addition, the Attorney General’s Office has submitted a claim in ITT Tech’s pending bankruptcy regarding its illegal conduct surrounding student loans.

Former ITT Tech students interested in learning more about the ITT Tech bankruptcy case and a related class-action lawsuit for former students can visit the Harvard Law Center’s website.

This lawsuit is similar to others brought by state attorneys general against for-profit schools that target vulnerable students with predatory student loan practices. In January, Attorney General Ferguson secured more than $7 million in relief for students who fell victim to Career Education Corporation’s deceptive practices. Ferguson also has successfully defended Obama-era rules designed to protect students from predatory and deceptive practices by colleges, including for-profit institutions.

Ferguson also has recovered more than $1.5 million cracking down on debt adjustment companies that charge fees to help borrowers consolidate their federal student loans and enroll in income-driven repayment plans — tasks that borrowers’ loan servicers can and should help them with for free. More information on the office’s student loan work is available here.

To assist student loan borrowers in Washington, the Attorney General's Office has compiled a Student Loan Survival Guide.

Additionally, borrowers who need help understanding or resolving problems with their student loans should contact Washington’s Student Loan Advocate at loanadvocate@wsac.wa.gov.

***************************

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

***************************

Ripple effect of sexual violence in conflict threatens ‘collective security’, stains ‘our common humanity’, says UN chief
Sexual violence in conflict is a “threat to our collective security” and a “stain on our common humanity”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040811

Record displacement shows ‘we're almost unable to make peace’, warns UN refugee agency chief
A record 70.8 million people fled war, persecution and conflict in 2018, UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi said on Wednesday, appealing for greater international solidarity to counter the fact that “we have become almost unable to make peace”.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040761

Syria: Humanitarian disaster in Idlib ‘unfolding before our eyes’ says top UN relief official
Unabating violence, destruction and a downward sprial in overall conditions for the desperate people trapped in north-western Syria’s Idlib were in the spotlight as the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator told the Security Council on Tuesday that “we are faced with a humanitarian disaster unfolding before our eyes”.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040791

Hate speech ‘on notice’ as UN chief launches new plan to ‘identify, prevent and confront’ growing scourge
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has declared war on hate speech, telling Member States on Tuesday, that we all need to “do better at looking out for each other”.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040731

UN health agency steps up fight against ‘invisible pandemic’ of antimicrobial resistance
As resistance to antibiotics grows, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the latest stage of its campaign to fight this deadly health risk – likened by the agency to an “invisible pandemic”– with the launch of a new online tool for health professionals on Tuesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040741





************************
IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION
************************


PAGE 2

Cantwell Helps Secure Seattle as Homeport for Newest Polar Icebreakers



PAGE 3
 MURRAY SUPPORTS FLYING THE "RAINBOW FLAG" 
At US embassies


PAGE 4

House Passes First Appropriations Package with Key Kilmer-Backed Priorities Included.



PAGE 5

After Pressure from Cantwell, Trump Administration Relents on Closure of Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers



PAGE 6

Senator Murray Introduces New Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Health Care Costs for Working Families in Washington State, Nationwide


PAGE 7
Cantwell, Colleagues Press Uber, Lyft for Information over Continued Use of Vehicles with Open Safety Recalls

PAGE 8

Inslee, health care leaders, patients kick off nation’s first public option effort


A new page for additional coverage, including local governmental meeting agendas

REP. CORTEZ PRIORITIES ARE MORE ABOUT HER THAN OTHERS!

*************NEWS STORY COMMENTARY************

By Peter Ripley, Publisher.
The New York Rep. Cortez demands a pay raise! That make me wonder why did she go into politics? Was it for the money she be getting? While the people who she claims to represents are living on scraps from the masters table she makes $174, 000! a month! The people of New York were con into voting for her! The Socialist wants to line her pocket, while probably those who live a fixed income has to decide whether they can by food or not! The following are some headlines from other media outlets about Cortez rant about not getting a pay raise! How about a cost of living increases for those who are on Social Security, SSI first Rep. Cortez?



The Daily Wire: Ocasio-Cortez, Who Makes $174,000, Wants $4,500 Raise: ‘It’s Not Even Like A Raise’
Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) whined on Monday about the possibility that she may not get a $4,500 pay raise — which she downplayed as only being a cost of living adjustment — as she compared members of Congress to minimum wage workers.

PJ MEDIA: Ocasio-Cortez: Lawmakers and 'All Workers Should Get Cost of Living Increases' in Pay
WASHINGTON — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has expressed support for raising congressional salaries.

Washington Examiner: ‘It’s not even a raise’: AOC upset at congressional Democrats for tabling pay hike

THE HILL: House to vote on $15 minimum wage by August
The House will vote on the first federal minimum wage increase in over a decade this summer, according to a senior Democratic aide.

NYT: Social Security Is Staring at Its First Real Shortfall in Decades
Unless a political solution is reached, Social Security’s so-called trust funds are expected to be depleted within about 15 years. Then, something that has been unimaginable for decades would be required under current law: Benefit checks for retirees would be cut by about 20 percent across the board.

“Old people not getting the Social Security checks they have been promised? That has been unthinkable in America — and I don’t think it will really happen in the end this time, because it’s just too horrible,” said Alicia Munnell, the director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. “But action has to be taken to prevent it.”

Editorial comment: Yet, we have congress thinking about getting their COLA raised. Something is wrong with this picture.

********************IN OTHER NEWS****************

Senator Murray Stands Up for Middle Class Washingtonians, Fights to Get Workers Overtime Pay They Have Earned.

Press release issued 6. 11. 19

(Washington, D.C.)  – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate labor committee, defended middle class workers’ ability to receive paid overtime by reintroducing the Restoring Overtime Pay Act, which would increase the overtime salary level from $23,660 per year to about $51,000 per year, making roughly 4.6 million workers newly eligible for overtime pay. The bill re-instates the Obama Administration’s 2016 overtime rule that has since been undermined by the Trump administration. The Trump Administration’s abandonment of the Obama overtime rule has been devastating for Washington state families, costing Washington state workers more than $25 million in lost wages each year.

“Millions of workers put in more than 40 hours a week and are still unable to makes ends meet and support their families,” said Senator Murray. “While the Trump Administration continues to put corporations and billionaires ahead of working families, I’m proud to introduce the Restoring Overtime Pay Act to provide a much-needed update to our nation’s overtime rules and give millions of families the financial security they need.”

Senator Murray has consistently fought for workers, recently introducing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen protections for workers’ right to organize a union and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. Senator Murray also denounced the Trump administrations lower proposed overtime threshold, which would leave out millions of workers.


Senators Murray, Cantwell Announce Bill to Force Trump Administration to Maintain U.S. Participation in Historic International Climate Accord
Press release issued 6. 7. 19
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=16F711D5-D713-4BA3-B3D8-2449B3A4A289

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined with a group of 43 Senators to announce legislation in the Senate, directing the Trump administration to meet the standards established by the historic Paris Climate Agreement and to mitigate the long-term damage caused by the Trump administration’s anti-environment actions. The International Climate Accountability Act, lead by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), would prevent the President from using funds to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and instead, directs the Trump administration to develop a strategic plan for the country to meet its commitment under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

“Washingtonians have long been focused on combatting the dangers climate change has already inflicted to our environment and economy, and backing out of the Paris Climate Agreement was a self-inflicted injury to America’s credibility in this critical global fight,” said Senator Murray. “This legislation rightly seeks to correct that mistake and have our country once again lead in the ongoing fight against the immediate threat of climate change. While President Trump and Republicans have consistently shown that that they are unwilling to take the necessary steps to address the climate crisis, my Democratic colleagues in the Senate and I will continue working towards solutions.”

“Climate change is already taking a toll throughout the Pacific Northwest, from bigger and more intense wildfires to retreating glaciers and disruptions to our agricultural economy,” Senator Cantwell said. “Doing nothing will cost us trillions and risk leaving future generations with an uninhabitable planet. If President Trump is going to continue to ignore science, it’s up to the United States Senate to step up -- for our future economic prosperity and competitiveness and for generations of Americans to come.”

Senators Murray and Cantwell have worked relentlessly to fight climate change and protect our planet. In March, both Senators spoke passionately from the Senate floor to state their opposition to climate change, and advocate for steps to reduce the threat it poses. In 2017, both Senators urged President Trump not to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.

***************************

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

***************************

One-in-five suffers mental health condition in conflict zones, new UN figures reveal
More than one-in-five people living in conflict-affected areas suffers from a mental illness, according to a new report based on UN figures, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to call for increased, sustained investment in mental health services in those zones.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040281

New Disability Inclusion Strategy is ‘transformative change we need’, says Guterres
Disability inclusion is not only a fundamental human right, it is “central to the promise” of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the annual conference on the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which began on Tuesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040231

UN health agency identifies 5-year-old Congolese boy as first confirmed case of Ebola in Uganda
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health, confirmed on Tuesday the first case of the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda, stemming from the nearly year-long current outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040311

Sudan: ‘Violence must stop’, says UNICEF chief, ‘gravely concerned’ over 19 child deaths since military backlash
At least 19 children have reportedly been killed in Sudan and another 49 injured since a military backlash against protesters began earlier this month, prompting the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to express her grave concern “at the impact of the continuing violence and unrest in the country on children and young people”.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040301

Tragedy of Mediterranean deaths continues, as seven drown, 57 rescued: UN migration agency
A rescue operation on the Mediterranean concluded on Tuesday with confirmation that seven people drowned and 57 were rescued, following a shipwreck off the Greek island of Lesvos, the UN migration agency, IOM, said.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040291

*****************************

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

*****************************

PAGE 2

One Day After Calling for Vote to Protect Free and Open Internet, Cantwell Confronts Trump FCC Over Net Neutrality Repeal.

PAGE 3

White House Fact Sheet
President Donald J. Trump Is Unleashing Innovation for American Farmers


PAGE 4

Cantwell Criticizes FCC for Ignoring Concerns About Interference with Extreme Weather Forecasting, Announces Upcoming Hearing



PAGE 5

EPA updates cleanup plan for Wyckoff-Eagle Harbor Superfund Site on Bainbridge Island


PAGE 6

#FreeThePill: Senator Murray Pushes for Affordable Over-the-Counter Birth Control


PAGE 7
50 electric buses coming to Washington transit agencies