Common Ground: Bipartisan Efforts to Locate Government Waste
Many federal agencies in Washington D.C. serve communities across the country — but how can government officials in D.C. know what the main issues and concerns are for Americans in these places when they work thousands of miles away from them?
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) discuss how their bipartisan bill, the Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement (SWAMP) Act, is dedicated to relocating federal jobs out of Washington D.C. and closer to the communities they serve — allowing Americans to feel more connected to federal agencies. They also discuss the need to cut unnecessary spending on Capitol Hill, and how many lawmakers are willing to work across the aisle to find where this should be done.
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Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Canada commits billions in military spending to meet NATO target
But even if Canada is able to finally hit the 2 percent threshold, that is not likely to be enough to satisfy the United States or other NATO allies. Mark Rutte, NATO's secretary general, speaking in London on Monday, called on the alliance's members to make a 'quantum leap in our collective defense' by committing to significantly higher spending targets. Rutte wants members to commit to spending 5 percent of their gross domestic products on military and defense-related activities. Trump has called for a similar spending target. Advertisement Proposals for increased spending are likely to dominate the NATO summit meeting in The Hague this month, though Rutte has not set a timeline for his increased spending plan. Carney, speaking in Toronto, said that new geopolitical threats, advances in technology, and the fraying of Canada's alliance with the United States demanded an accelerated spending schedule. 'We stood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold War and in the decades that followed, as the United States played a dominant role on the world stage,' he said. 'Today, that dominance is a thing of the past.' Advertisement 'It is time for Canada to chart its own path,' he added, 'and to assert itself on the international stage.' While Carney promised to increase spending by billions of Canadian dollars, he did not specify where the funds would come from. Government officials spoke mostly in broad terms about how the money would be used. Canada's economy is heavily dependent on exports to the United States, and Trump's tariffs have targeted key industries, including autos and steel. Some economists have warned that Canada could face a recession if the tariffs persist. Carney also said the country would no longer rely as extensively on American defense contractors to supply its armed forces, underscoring Canada's strained relations with the United States and focus on shifting away from its neighbor. The Canadian government said it would immediately add 9.3 billion Canadian dollars (about $6.8 billion) to its defense budget. That will raise total defense-related spending this year to CA$62.7 billion, slightly higher than the 2 percent NATO target. To get there, the government included CA$2.5 billion in spending related to 'defense and security' for other departments, including the Canadian coast guard, an unarmed civilian agency which is under the department of fisheries. Carney's spending pledge was welcomed by defense analysts. 'This is a long-overdue announcement,' said Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. 'This significant commitment is remarkable given how quickly they're going to have to move to make 2 percent by the end of the fiscal year.' But, she added, Carney will have to add further budget increases to fund all of the programs he is promising. Advertisement Carney laid out a long shopping list for the military, including 'new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles, and artillery.' He also said the military would add drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor in the Arctic, a vast region of the country that is becoming a source of competition among global powers such as Russia and China. But Canadian officials said that this year most of the spending would go toward things like increasing the pay and the benefits of armed forces members to help ease a severe recruitment crisis, and repairing broken equipment. Carney also said that money would be directed toward much-needed improvements, noting that three of the Royal Canadian Navy's four diesel submarines were not seaworthy. 'We will repair and maintain our ships, our aircraft, and infrastructure that for too long we allowed to rust and deteriorate,' the prime minister said. Other spending will focus on artificial intelligence and computer systems, as well as ammunition production within the country. Carney also said that Canada would look to buy more goods domestically or from allies other than the United States to equip its military. 'We should no longer send three-quarters of our defense capital spending to America,' he said. Carney said Monday that details about how the country's military needs would be financed would be revealed when a budget was released in the fall. 'Our fundamental goal in all of this is to protect Canadians,' he told reporters, 'not to satisfy NATO accountants.' This article originally appeared in
Yahoo
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Naturalization ceremony at Clinton Presidential Library, 39 new citizens welcomed by former President Bill Clinton
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Thirty-nine individuals from 18 different countries and nationalities were officially sworn in as United States citizens Monday afternoon during a naturalization ceremony held at the Clinton Presidential Library. The event was made even more special by the presence of former President Bill Clinton, who addressed the new Americans with words of encouragement, gratitude and hope for their futures. The ceremony celebrated the journeys of men and women who, after navigating the immigration process and demonstrating knowledge of U.S. history, government and civic values, took their oaths of allegiance to become full participants in the American democratic system. Former President Bill Clinton welcomes new U.S. citizens at naturalization ceremony in Little Rock One of those new citizens, Selen Strickland, originally from Turkey, reflected on her six-year journey to citizenship. 'It's a very big accomplishment,' she said. 'I came to the U.S. six years ago to pursue my master's degree. After my studies, I decided to stay, moved to Little Rock five years ago, met my husband, and now we have a one-year-old daughter. I feel very proud—this is a big achievement and a major milestone in my life.' Former President Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, welcomed the group with heartfelt remarks, commending their resilience and the diversity they bring to the nation. 'Thank you for bringing your talents, perseverance, and your dreams to the United States,' Clinton said. 'There is nothing more important than what people decide to do with their lives, their minds and their hearts every new day.' Clinton urged the newly naturalized citizens to embrace education, civic participation and the responsibilities of their new status. 'You now hold the cards to forge a new future for yourselves and your families,' he said. 'As a country, we welcome the heritage you bring. Together, we continue to form a more perfect union.' Many attendees had the chance to meet and shake hands with the former president, who emphasized that being American is not about background but about shared values and commitment to the community. 'Whatever your nationality, as long as you follow the law, show up, work hard, pay your taxes and do all the things that are burdens of citizenship—we're glad you're here,' Clinton concluded. Immigrants from 22 countries become U.S. citizens in Little Rock As the event came to a close, emotions ran high among the new citizens who now call the United States their home. For many, including Strickland, the moment marked the culmination of years of perseverance and the start of a new chapter in the American story. 'After all the sacrifices and everything, I think this is the reward that I'm getting today, becoming an American citizen,' she said through tears. The ceremony served not only as a celebration of individual achievement but also as a powerful reminder of the enduring promise of the American dream. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
House approves pair of resolutions condemning antisemitic attack in Colorado
The House on Monday approved a pair of resolutions condemning the antisemitism attack in Boulder, Co., as the chamber looks to crack down on the spate of incidents targeting Jewish individuals. The first resolution, led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), was adopted in a 400-0-2 vote, with just Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) voting 'present.' The second measure, spearheaded by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), cleared the chamber in a 280-113-6 vote, with 113 Republicans voting 'no.' 'Antisemitic violence will not be ignored, excused, or tolerated in the United States of America,' Van Drew wrote on X after the vote. While both measures were adopted in a bipartisan fashion, the resolution sponsored by Evans drew Democratic ire. Lawmakers were frustrated that Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), who represents Boulder, was not included as a co-sponsor of the legislation. Some also took issue with the inclusion of details about the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman's, immigration status. Evans' resolution also said the attack 'demonstrates the dangers of not removing from the country aliens who fail to comply with the terms of their visas,' leaning into the politically polarizing issue of immigration. And it 'expresses gratitude' to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement 'for protecting the homeland.' 'In times like these I would have hoped that my colleagues would be willing to come together to properly honor the victims, to condemn antisemitism as I have said and as our resolution does. It's not hard to do the right thing, Mr. Speaker,' Neguse said on the House floor. 'And the question that Mr. Evans should answer is why? Why not join his two other Republican colleagues in Colorado and join the bipartisan resolution that thanks the Boulder Police Department, that thanks the FBI? The purpose of these resolutions is to unite the congress, not divide it.' Neguse and other members of the Colorado congressional delegation — including two Republicans — introduced their own resolution condemning the attack last week. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the Evans resolution was 'not a serious effort.' 'Who is this guy? He's not seriously concerned with combating antisemitism in America,' Jeffries said. 'This is not a serious effort. This guy is going to be a one-term member of Congress. He's a complete and total embarrassment.' Soliman was charged with 118 counts of attempted murder after he threw Molotov cocktails at a group of people who were gathered peacefully and calling for the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas amid the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. He was also charged with a federal hate crime after acknowledging that he planned the attack for a year and said he 'walked to kill all Zionist people.' In a statement on X after the vote, Greene said she voted 'present' on Van Drew's resolution because Congress has not condemned hate crimes against other groups of Americans. 'Antisemitic hate crimes are wrong, but so are all hate crimes. Yet Congress never votes on hate crimes committed against white people, Christians, men, the homeless, or countless others,' Greene wrote. 'Tonight, the House passed two more antisemitism-related resolutions, the 20th and 21st I've voted on since taking office. Meanwhile, Americans from every background are being murdered — even in the womb — and Congress stays silent. We don't vote on endless resolutions defending them.' 'Prioritizing one group of Americans and/or one foreign country above our own people is fueling resentment and actually driving more division, including antisemitism,' she added. 'These crimes are horrific and easy for me to denounce. But because of the reasons I stated above, I voted present.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
