Latest news with #CongressionalRecord
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bristol, Va. Swift Water Rescue Team recognized by congressman for work during Helene
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — The Bristol Virginia Swift Water Rescue Team was recognized on Tuesday by Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) for its efforts in responding to emergencies during Hurricane Helene. Griffith visited the Bristol, Virginia Fire Department (BVFD) to speak with crew members and learn more about their personal testimonies from responding during Hurricane Helene. He also provided a copy of his extension of remarks he presented to Congress recently, highlighting the work the Bristol Swift Water Rescue Team has done. 8 Months Since Helene: 4 state-owned bridges still closed in Northeast Tenn. 'Somewhere on one of these times that they've gone into rescue, those people wouldn't have gotten out,' Griffith said. 'And so there have been lives saved. How do you count those lives? Well you can't. Because we saved them. But the odds are that of those 80 rescues that they've done in six months, some of the people that they went out to rescue probably, I'm just guessing, but one could guess, maybe as many as half would not have survived the swift water without this team.' BVFD Lt. Tyler Wright told News Channel 11 that he can't begin to list all of the people in the department who helped tremendously during the aftermath of the recent storms, Helene and otherwise, and he's glad they're getting recognized nationally in Congress. 'Luckily, we have a team here in the region that can come out and help you,' Wright said. 'You know, our guys go through rigorous training each year, and they're obviously very aware of the dangers of being around water. And they take certain steps to try to mitigate that danger and operate as safely as they can.' Griffith explained why he ensured that the crew was honored for their work. 'This is about presenting what we call an extension of remarks that's put into the Congressional Record. And just basically, it's to recognize the great work that the Bristol Swift Water Team has done, not just here in Bristol, but all throughout the region.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Do Democrats' strongly worded letters pack a punch?
As a former congressional liaison specialist with the Department of Agriculture and now a Jane Austen scholar, I should also suggest — in reply to 'Late Night' host Seth Meyers's quip 'Is this a constitutional crisis or a Jane Austen novel?' — that the pages of the Congressional Record, like Austen's masterpieces, are replete with ironic cultural insights; if the letters and legislation therein were as brilliantly written as Austen's novels, that publication might be more widely read — which would be helpful to us all. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Price Grisham Advertisement Salem Voters will come crying back This last election was the same as many others in which voters fall victim to Republican scams and put them in charge. A few years later, when, under Republican leadership, things get worse for everyone but the rich, voters have come crying back to the Democrats for help. The difference this time is that there may not be another election as Republicans consolidate power and turn our democracy into a dictatorship. Advertisement I think the question we should ask is not what Democrats can do to win back voters but, rather, what voters can do to win back Democrats into office. Dominic Cucé North Attleborough
CNBC
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Trump signs bill cracking down on explicit deepfakes
President Donald Trump signed legislation Monday that bans the nonconsensual online publication of sexually explicit images and videos that are both authentic and computer-generated. The Take It Down Act makes publishing such content illegal, subjecting violators to mandatory restitution and criminal penalties such as prison, fines or both. The bill also establishes criminal penalties for people who make threats to publish the intimate visual depictions, some of which are created using artificial intelligence. The measure requires websites, through enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission, to remove such imagery after they receive requests from victims within 48 hours and to make efforts to take down copies, as well. "With the rise of AI image generation, countless women have been harassed with deepfakes and other explicit images distributed against their will. This is ... wrong, and it's just so horribly wrong," Trump said at an afternoon signing ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. "It's a very abusive situation like, in some cases, people have never seen before. And today we're making it totally illegal." First lady Melania Trump, who championed the legislation, attended the event. "This legislation is a powerful step forward in our efforts to ensure that every American, especially young people, can feel better protected from their image or identity being abused through nonconsensual, intimate imagery," she said at the ceremony. "Artificial Intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation — sweet, addictive and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children, but unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized, shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly." It is only the sixth bill Trump has signed into law in his second term. By his 100th day in office, he had signed only five bills — fewer than any other president in the first 100 days of an administration since at least Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s, according to an NBC News analysis of data in the Congressional Record. The Senate approved the measure by unanimous consent and the House overwhelmingly passed it in a 409-2 vote last month. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., sponsored the bill in the Senate, while Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., introduced its companion in the House along with several other members, including Democrats. According to the bill's sponsors, while many states have laws explicitly banning sexual deepfakes, they vary in terms of classification of crime and penalties. Trump highlighted the bill in early March, joking that it would apply to him. "I'm going to use that bill for myself, because nobody gets treated worse than I do online," he said. The first lady also held an event on Capitol Hill that month touting the proposal. "It's heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content like deepfakes," she said. "This toxic environment can be severely damaging," Melania Trump continued. "We must prioritize their well-being by equipping them with support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape. Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themselves free without the looming threat of exploitation or harm."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NJ Transit strike ends after shutting down New Jersey trains for weekend, union says
The strike that idled NJ Transit trains is over after three days, just in time for the Monday commute. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen said Sunday night that after two days of post-strike negotiations they'd reached a deal and 'will return to work and trains will begin running on their regular schedules Monday." The union, known as BLET, was seeking pay comparable to the wages made by engineers at other nearby railroads, including Long Island Rail Road. NJ Transit, which has long had shaky finances, was trying to avoid blowing a hole in its own budget. BLET's general chairman for the NJ Transit union said the union was 'able to show management ways to boost engineers' wages that will help NJT with retention and recruitment, without causing any significant budget issue or requiring a fare increase.' Gov. Phil Murphy and NJ Transit CEO are expected to brief the media on Sunday night. The terms of the agreement were not immediately available, largely because the union's rank and file still need to review and vote on them. In April, BLET's members overwhelmingly rejected a March deal, setting up the strike that began Friday. The new deal was reached with the help of the National Mediation Board, which called both sides back to the table on Sunday. But even before that, the national head of BLET, Mark Wallace, called NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri on Friday night to restart talks on Saturday. The strike that began 12:01 a.m. Friday came at a relatively lucky time for the Murphy administration. Fridays are the lightest ridership day and service is expected to resume in time for the Monday rush hour. The last strike to idle trains came in 1983, as NJ Transit was being born as a statewide transit agency. It lasted more than a month. So the quick end is likely to contain the political fallout. One political feature of the strike was how little anyone in Washington seemed to care that one of the nation's largest railroads was going to shut down, idling the trains that carry 100,00 people a day. In 2022, Congress rushed to intervene in a freight rail strike, like it has on several other occasions to delay or prevent disruptions. Wallace praised Congress for staying out of it. 'This should be a lesson for other railroad disputes,' he said in a statement. 'Nothing would have been gained by kicking the can down the road. Allowing strikes to happen encourages settlement rather than stonewalling.' While members of New Jersey's congressional delegation urged both sides back to the table, none of them took to the floor to discuss the issue in recent days, according to a search of the Congressional Record, and no one introduced legislation to avert the strike. Instead, they largely issued blameless statements. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat running for governor, posted a video of himself on Saturday sitting at a folding table and chairs outside a train station in Bergen County 'until everyone comes to the table to get the trains moving.' The negotiations, which happened on Saturday and wrapped up Sunday, were happening in another county.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US Congress Honors The Salvation Army's Legacy of Service During National Salvation Army Week
Congressman Don Davis, NC-01, and Sen. Tim Kaine, VA, Join in Commemorating May 12-18 as National Salvation Army Week ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, The Salvation Army was recognized in both chambers of Congress as part of National Salvation Army Week, observed May 12-18, 2025. Congressman Don Davis, N.C.-01, a member of The Salvation Army's National Advisory Board, introduced to officially recognize the occasion. Demonstrating bicameral support, Sen. Tim Kaine, Va., commemorated the week by submitting a statement for the Congressional Record. First proclaimed by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, National Salvation Army Week celebrates the organization's long-standing commitment to service — offering compassion, care, and support to those in need. The only organization of its kind to be honored with a nationally designated week, The Salvation Army has served individuals and families across the United States for 145 years, providing hope and assistance wherever it's needed most. Watch Congressman Don Davis' House floor speech here. The resolution introduced by Davis affirms the importance of National Salvation Army Week as a moment to recognize the organization's service to communities nationwide. It highlights The Salvation Army's role in poverty alleviation, disaster response, and social service delivery and formally acknowledges the contributions of its officers, volunteers, donors, and staff. Following the introduction of Davis spoke on the House floor, commending the organization's legacy and continued impact. Senior leaders from The Salvation Army were present in the gallery to witness the speech. "I've seen firsthand The Salvation Army's unwavering commitment to serving those in need — not only in times of crisis, but every single day," said Davis. "Our resolution, introduced during National Salvation Army Week, provides an opportunity to honor the people behind that service — the volunteers, officers, donors, and partners who help strengthen and offer hope to communities across eastern North Carolina and our nation." Kaine's official statement, submitted for inclusion in the Congressional Record, offers formal Senate recognition of National Salvation Army Week and honors the organization's legacy of service. It highlights The Salvation Army's long-standing commitment to uplifting communities and addressing human needs and celebrates the people who make that work possible. "I am proud to recognize May 12-18, 2025, as National Salvation Army Week," said Kaine. "For more than 150 years, The Salvation Army has provided essential social services, including disaster relief, food assistance, shelter, rehabilitation programs, and youth development initiatives in local communities across the United States. I am grateful for the work that The Salvation Army accomplishes every day and applaud its dedication to service." Today, National Salvation Army Week serves as a moment of reflection and gratitude for the millions of people who support the organization's mission each year — through generosity, partnership, and service. Salvation Army locations across the country will commemorate the week through events, volunteer initiatives, and community partnerships aimed at thanking supporters and reflecting on the difference their contributions make every day. With the ability to meet needs in nearly every ZIP code, The Salvation Army serves more than 27 million people annually through programs that provide food, shelter, disaster relief, addiction recovery services, job training, youth mentorship, and spiritual guidance — meeting people where they are and offering support that uplifts body, mind, and soul. "We are deeply grateful for the leadership of Congressman Davis and Sen. Kaine in honoring National Salvation Army Week," said Commissioner Merle Heatwole, national commander of The Salvation Army. "This recognition underscores the critical role everyday people play in helping their neighbors — and reaffirms our shared commitment to serve those most in need." To learn more about The Salvation Army's impact or how you can give back in your community during National Salvation Army Week and all year long, visit About The Salvation Army The Salvation Army annually helps more than 27 million people in America overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and meeting human needs in His name without discrimination in nearly every ZIP code. By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, rehabilitation, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment, and more, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 6,400 centers of operation around the country. For more information, visit Media Contact: Bishop Wash Cell: 972-854-1586 mediarelations@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Salvation Army Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
