Latest news with #Nehls
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bipartisan proposal would make looting a felony during disasters
A new bipartisan bill aims to crack down on looting during natural disasters by making theft a felony in areas under federal disaster declaration. The Law On Offender Transgressions during Emergencies and Recovery (LOOTER) Act — drafted by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) — would make petty larceny during a natural disaster punishable by up to one year in prison, while grand larceny would be punishable by up to five years. The bill, details of which were shared first with The Hill, seeks to 'safeguard residents from criminal exploitation,' which has become increasingly common in the aftermaths of disasters across the country, according to Panetta's office. 'As a former prosecutor, I've seen firsthand how looting during emergencies only deepens the suffering of disaster victims,' Panetta said in a statement, noting his district has experienced devastation related to wildfires and floods. 'The LOOTER Act would ensure that those who prey on communities during times of crisis face serious consequences under federal law.' 'Our bipartisan legislation is critical to better protecting disaster-stricken communities, supporting our local law enforcement partners, and sending a clear message that if you loot during a disaster, you will be held accountable,' he added. Panetta is leading the effort with Reps. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Troy Nehls (R-Texas). Nehls, a former county sheriff, said in a statement that his district is 'prone to natural disasters' and has seen its fair share of devastation. 'When Hurricane Harvey hit, I served as Sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas, and know all too well how natural disasters leave people and their property vulnerable, especially to crime,' Nehls said. 'This bill ensures accountability for those who take advantage of disaster and ensures justice for those who might fall victim to these low-life crimes,' he added. The bill's introduction comes ahead of what federal forecasters recently predicted will be an unusually heavy hurricane season. Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and forecasters expect 3-5 major hurricanes this season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Bipartisan proposal would make looting a felony during disasters
A new bipartisan bill aims to crack down on looting during natural disasters by making theft a felony in areas under federal disaster declaration. The Law On Offender Transgressions during Emergencies and Recovery (LOOTER) Act — drafted by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) — would make petty larceny during a natural disaster punishable by up to one year in prison, while grand larceny would be punishable by up to five years. The bill, details of which were shared first with The Hill, seeks to 'safeguard residents from criminal exploitation,' which has become increasingly common in the aftermaths of disasters across the country, according to Panetta's office. 'As a former prosecutor, I've seen firsthand how looting during emergencies only deepens the suffering of disaster victims,' Panetta said in a statement, noting his district has experienced devastation related to wildfires and floods. 'The LOOTER Act would ensure that those who prey on communities during times of crisis face serious consequences under federal law.' 'Our bipartisan legislation is critical to better protecting disaster-stricken communities, supporting our local law enforcement partners, and sending a clear message that if you loot during a disaster, you will be held accountable,' he added. Panetta is leading the effort with Reps. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Troy Nehls (R-Texas). Nehls, a former county sheriff, said in a statement that his district is 'prone to natural disasters' and has seen its fair share of devastation. 'When Hurricane Harvey hit, I served as Sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas, and know all too well how natural disasters leave people and their property vulnerable, especially to crime,' Nehls said. 'This bill ensures accountability for those who take advantage of disaster and ensures justice for those who might fall victim to these low-life crimes,' he added. The bill's introduction comes ahead of what federal forecasters recently predicted will be an unusually heavy hurricane season. Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and forecasters expect three to five major hurricanes this season.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SCOOP: Congress moves to address air traffic controller crisis as Newark meltdown sparks alarm
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways EXCLUSIVE: The House of Representatives is taking a hard look at the state of the U.S. air traffic control system and what it needs to modernize. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee on the House's committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, told Fox News Digital he would be leading a bipartisan series of closed-door conversations on the issue. "We are going to start holding roundtables with stakeholders to implement this plan," Nehls said in an interview. It comes after a blackout at Newark Liberty International Airport reportedly caused a roughly 90-second outage to its air traffic control screens. Real Id Documents Held Up In Mail According To Americans Who Enrolled Before Deadline A view inside Newark Airport as travelers are facing eight straight days of massive delays, United Airlines canceling routes and staffing shortages in Newark, New Jersey, on May 6, 2025. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that operators at Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, which coordinates planes arriving at the busy New York City-area airport, "temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them." Read On The Fox News App Nehls said a primary focus of the roundtable discussions would be formulating a plan on how to spend the $12.5 billion the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved toward air traffic control (ATC) modernization. The funds were marked for ATC as part of the budget reconciliation process, through which Republicans are passing a massive bill advancing a host of Trump administration priorities. Hidden Real Id Hassles Facing Airline Travelers And States To Avoid Rep. Troy Nehls is leading a bipartisan series of closed-door conversations on the state of the U.S. air traffic control system and what it needs to modernize. "We've got $12.5 billion. How are we going to spend it? Who's going to spend it? What it needs to be spent on, what should be the priority? So we are bringing in these stakeholders, these experts from all different areas," Nehls said. "We're bringing in these individuals that know about a lot dealing with a lot of this technology, they're the first group that is coming in to talk about, you know, what do we do about fiber optics." He was referring to reports that the blackout was caused by a fried piece of copper wire, which Nehls said was an example of the outdated system ATC was running on. Rep. Troy Nehls pledged to work closely with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The first meeting of the panel, which will include two Republicans and two Democrats, is set for early June, he said. "We're going to meet with new stakeholders to provide the guidance. And I'm going to do a lot of listening. I'm not going to do a whole lot of talking," Nehls said. "So we can make a very deliberate and informed decision on how we're going to spend the money with taxpayer money to modernize the system. So I think that's a step in the right direction." Fox News Digital reached out to the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for comment. Original article source: SCOOP: Congress moves to address air traffic controller crisis as Newark meltdown sparks alarm
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brown University in GOP crosshairs after student's DOGE-like email kicks off frenzy
FIRST ON FOX: A brewing controversy over a "DOGE-like" email at one of America's top universities has gotten the attention of Capitol Hill. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, wrote to Brown University on Friday morning urging the school to reconsider any disciplinary action against Alex Shieh, a sophomore who sent an email mirroring the style of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that asked non-faculty university workers what they did "all day." "Reports indicate that Mr. Shieh engaged in a journalistic act of contacting university administrative employees to inquire about their roles and responsibilities. This action, it appears, stemmed from his perspective as a student paying a substantial tuition fee and experiencing concerns regarding university facilities, leading him to question the allocation of administrative resources," Nehls wrote. "Penalizing a student for what appears to be an attempt to understand the university's administrative structure raises serious questions about the institution's commitment to open inquiry and the tolerance of dissenting viewpoints." Brown University Student Angers Non-faculty Employees By Asking 'What Do You Do All Day,' Faces Punishment He also demanded more information on how Brown uses its $7.2 billion endowment to lower tuition and better the lives of students. Read On The Fox News App It comes at a time when American Ivy Leagues have been thrust under the microscope by the Trump administration, both for their soaring tuition rates and controversies surrounding antisemitism on campus. Shieh had created a database of the 3,805 non-faculty employees who worked at Brown University and emailed them to ask, "What do you do all day?" He wrote on X that he had been given a disciplinary hearing after being "charged with misrepresentation and violating the IT policy." Tuition alone at Brown University for the 2025-2026 academic year is $71,700. Fees, food, and housing charges bring that up to about $93,000 per year, according to the school's website — and with indirect charges, annual costs are estimated at nearly $96,000. "I urge you to reconsider any disciplinary action taken against Mr. Shieh and to reaffirm Brown University's commitment to protecting the free expression of all its students," Nehls wrote. "Additionally, below you can see screenshots from Brown's website showing the performance of its $7.2 billion endowment, boasting a 10% annual return. Please explain how these funds are used to improve the student experience or bring down the cost of tuition." Nehls previously introduced a bill that would significantly hike excise taxes on most larger colleges' endowment funds from 1.4% to 21%, in line with the corporate tax rate. A Brown University official declined to comment on Nehls' letter directly when reached by Fox News Digital, but denied free speech was the larger issue. Trump Admin Halting More Than $500M In Federal Funding To Brown University Over Antisemitism Response "In spite of what has been reported publicly framing this as a free speech issue, it absolutely is not," Brian Clark, vice president for news and strategic campus communications, said in an email statement to Fox News Digital. "At the center of Brown's review are questions focused on whether improper use of non-public Brown data, non-public data systems and/or targeting of individual employees violated law or policy." "Brown has detailed procedures in place to investigate alleged conduct code violations, resolve them and implement discipline in instances when students are found responsible, and these will continue to guide our actions," Clark added. "Students have ample opportunity to provide information and participate directly in that process to ensure that all decisions are made with a complete understanding of the circumstances." Fox News Digital's Rachel del Guidice contributed to this article source: Brown University in GOP crosshairs after student's DOGE-like email kicks off frenzy
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Brown University in GOP crosshairs after student's DOGE-like email kicks off frenzy
FIRST ON FOX: A brewing controversy over a "DOGE-like" email at one of America's top universities has gotten the attention of Capitol Hill. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, wrote to Brown University on Friday morning urging the school to reconsider any disciplinary action against Alex Shieh, a sophomore who sent an email mirroring the style of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that asked non-faculty university workers what they did "all day." "Reports indicate that Mr. Shieh engaged in a journalistic act of contacting university administrative employees to inquire about their roles and responsibilities. This action, it appears, stemmed from his perspective as a student paying a substantial tuition fee and experiencing concerns regarding university facilities, leading him to question the allocation of administrative resources," Nehls wrote. "Penalizing a student for what appears to be an attempt to understand the university's administrative structure raises serious questions about the institution's commitment to open inquiry and the tolerance of dissenting viewpoints." He also demanded more information on how Brown uses its $7.2 billion endowment to lower tuition and better the lives of students. It comes at a time when American Ivy Leagues have been thrust under the microscope by the Trump administration, both for their soaring tuition rates and controversies surrounding antisemitism on campus. Shieh had created a database of the 3,805 non-faculty employees who worked at Brown University and emailed them to ask, "What do you do all day?" He wrote on X that he had been given a disciplinary hearing after being "charged with misrepresentation and violating the IT policy." Tuition alone at Brown University for the 2025 to 2026 academic year is $71,700. Fees, food, and housing charges bring that up to about $93,000 per year, according to the school's website – and with indirect charges, annual costs are estimated at nearly $96,000. "I urge you to reconsider any disciplinary action taken against Mr. Shieh and to reaffirm Brown University's commitment to protecting the free expression of all its students," Nehls wrote. "Additionally, below you can see screenshots from Brown's website showing the performance of its $7.2 billion endowment, boasting a 10% annual return. Please explain how these funds are used to improve the student experience or bring down the cost of tuition." Nehls previously introduced a bill that would significantly hike excise taxes on most larger colleges' endowment funds from 1.4% to 21%, in line with the corporate tax rate. A Brown University official declined to comment on Nehls' letter directly when reached by Fox News Digital, but denied free speech was the larger issue. "In spite of what has been reported publicly framing this as a free speech issue, it absolutely is not," Brian Clark, vice president for news and strategic campus communications, said in an email statement to Fox News Digital. "At the center of Brown's review are questions focused on whether improper use of non-public Brown data, non-public data systems and/or targeting of individual employees violated law or policy." "Brown has detailed procedures in place to investigate alleged conduct code violations, resolve them and implement discipline in instances when students are found responsible, and these will continue to guide our actions," Clark added. "Students have ample opportunity to provide information and participate directly in that process to ensure that all decisions are made with a complete understanding of the circumstances."
