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☆ Biden is pouring $16 billion into making Amtrak trains faster, easier to get to, and more accessible
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Biden is pouring $16.4 billion into passenger rail in the Northeast Regional corridor. AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden — a known proponent of Amtrak — wants trains to run faster and better. His administration is pouring $16.4 billion from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law into the Northeast Regional corridor to do just that. Meanwhile, 80% of Amtrak trains were on time in 2020 — and that fell to 74% by 2022. "We're all on our way to creating world-class passenger rail that benefits communities nationwide by making our rail systems safer, more efficient, and more convenient," Landrieu said.

Persons: Biden, —, Joe Biden —, Mitch Landrieu, Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Bill Flynn, Marc Molinaro, Landrieu Organizations: Service, Amtrak —, White, Penn, Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, European Union, Northeast Corridor Commission, NEC, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs Act, Republicans, New, New York Republican, Republican Locations: Boston, Washington, Baltimore, New York's, Connecticut, Metro, New York, Bronx, Manhattan, —, Northeast, West, Hudson

And his appeal among Black and Latino voters, groups that have been foundational within the Democratic Party, seemed to suffer the deepest loss of support, especially among younger voters. The survey results suggest that an unnamed, generic Democrat would fare better than Biden in 2024, leading Trump by 8 points while Biden trails by 4 – a formidable 12-point swing. Political Cartoons View All 1234 ImagesThe survey captures a moment in time – albeit not a very good moment for Biden. “If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party,” Axelrod wrote. Though the poll surveyed how Kamala Harris would fare in a hypothetical matchup against Trump, who performed only slightly better than Biden, other possible Democratic nominees – like California Gov.

Persons: shockwaves, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, scatterer, Biden, Trump, it’s, –, hasn’t, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Obama, David Axelrod, ” Axelrod, Bill Kristol, ” “, ” Kristol, Dean Phillips, Biden’s, he’s, Pramila Jayapal, ”, Jasmine Crockett, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer –, Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Phillips Organizations: The New York Times, White, Democratic Party, Trump, Democratic, Rep, Dean Phillips of, Congressional Progressive Caucus, MSNBC, Biden, Jasmine Crockett , Texas Democrat, CNN, Capitol Hill, Michigan Locations: Siena, Gaza, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Jasmine Crockett , Texas, California, lockstep

☆ Biden touts billions for northeast US rail corridor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Erin Scott/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 6 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday will announce the latest tranche of federal dollars to modernize key portions of the nation's busiest rail corridor that stretches from Boston to Washington DC. Biden is highlighting $16.4 billion in funding from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law for 25 passenger rail projects on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, which supports some 800,000 trips per day in a region that represents 20% of the nation's gross domestic product. "The bottom line is that for the over 200 million passengers who ride this rail corridor every year, these improvements are going to shorten travel times and improve reliability," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. Monday's event marks at least the third time Biden has held an event to highlight funding the Northeast Corridor line, underscoring the president's personal connection with the corridor. He believes strongly in improving America's passenger rail and he knows the Northeast Corridor like no one else," White House infrastructure czar Mitch Landrieu said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Finnegan, Maisy, Erin Scott, Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Frederick Douglass, Mitch Landrieu, Jarrett Renshaw, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Washington DC, U.S . Transportation, Amtrak, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, U.S, Boston, Washington, New York, Hudson, New Jersey, Maryland, Wilmington, Amtrak's Wilmington

☆ Sec. Buttigieg: The outcome of UAW deals is 'a level of assurance' on quality of life for workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSec. Buttigieg: The outcome of UAW deals is 'a level of assurance' on quality of life for workersTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the latest infrastructure projects, including the third phase of the Hudson Yards project in New York City, UAW labor deals, the potential impact on rising costs and competitiveness, and more.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg Organizations: UAW, Hudson Locations: New York City

☆ Key New York tunnel project wins $3.8 billion in new US support -senators
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The White House in July had advanced $6.88 billion in funding from the Federal Transit Administration for the project. Schumer, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and New York Governor Kathy Hochul were among the officials who celebrated the start of construction in New York on the Hudson Tunnel Project. Buttigieg said Friday the Hudson Tunnel project will reduce traveler delays, support 72,000 jobs and generate $19 billion in economic activity. The project was debated in Washington for over a decade since the New York City-area rail tunnel was damaged when Superstorm Sandy flooded parts of the city. The 112-year-old rail tunnel carries 200,000 passenger trips per day on New Jersey Transit and Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor.

Persons: Mike Segar, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Sandy, Pete Buttigieg, Kathy Hochul, Buttigieg, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Schumer, David Shepardson, Nick Zieminski Organizations: New Jersey Transit, REUTERS, Rights, Amtrak, Federal Transit Administration, Schumer, Transportation, New, Congressional Democrats sparred, Thomson Locations: New Jersey, New York City, Secaucus, Secaucus , New Jersey, Manhattan, New, New York, Washington, Newark , New Jersey

☆ New Phase of Gateway Tunnel Project in Hudson River to Begin
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Patrick Mcgeehan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Construction of the long-delayed rail tunnel under the Hudson River is about to speed up, as the project gets an additional injection of $3.8 billion in federal funding. Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, will announce the latest grant from Washington on Friday, just before he and Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, are scheduled to proclaim the start of work this month on the next phase of the $16.1 billion tunnel on Manhattan’s West Side, known as the Gateway project. This new, early phase of the project involves constructing a concrete casing for trains to pass through under the Hudson Yards section of Midtown Manhattan, between the river’s edge and Pennsylvania Station. On the New Jersey side of the river, work is scheduled to begin, also this month, on the realignment of a highway so that the digging of the tunnel can begin. Plans laid out by the project’s sponsor, the Gateway Development Commission, call for two giant boring machines to grind their way through the cliff, under the river and into the bedrock of Manhattan.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Pete Buttigieg Organizations: Pennsylvania, Gateway Development Commission Locations: Hudson, New York, Washington, Midtown Manhattan, Jersey, Manhattan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Transportation Department on Friday awarded $653 million in grants to upgrade and improve 41 water-based ports across the United States. The grants are part of the $1 trillion in infrastructure investments included in a bipartisan law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021. Biden administration officials said the projects being supported will allow ports to meet greater shipping demands as well as lowering costs for consumers and improving worker safety. He said the goal of the projects is to improve the infrastructure for ports so that they can withstand the kinds of shocks seen during the pandemic. “Today’s announcement is another big step in that direction.”The grants included $43.4 million to replace a dock in Cold Bay, Alaska.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, “ Organizations: WASHINGTON, Transportation Department, Transportation Locations: United States, Cold Bay , Alaska, The, Long Beach, California, Port, Newark, New Jersey

☆ What to know about Day 2 of the Trump disqualification trial in Colorado
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

While the trial played out in Colorado, Trump filed a lawsuit to shut down a similar case in Michigan. The 14th Amendment says US officials who take an oath to uphold the Constitution are disqualified from office if they “engaged in insurrection” or aided the country’s enemies. Then, fighting would be understood as requiring violent action.”The relationship between Trump and far-right extremists is “unprecedented,” Simi said. 14th Amendment scholar to testify nextThe anti-Trump challengers said they’ll feature additional expert testimony from one of the preeminent scholars on the history of the 14th Amendment, Gerard Magliocca. “Despite President Trump’s tremendous popularity, there are people who want to deny Michigan voters the opportunity to express their choice by voting for him,” Trump’s lawyers wrote.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, ’, Peter Simi, ” Simi, Simi, Eric Olson, ’ Trump, Scott Gessler, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Jamie Raskin, Gerard Magliocca, Marjorie Taylor Greene, isn’t, Troy Nehls, “, ” Trump, Jocelyn Benson, Benson doesn’t, Trump’s, ”, CNN’s Devan Cole, Avery Lotz Organizations: CNN, Trump, Chapman University, Colorado, Capitol, Simi, Transportation, GOP Rep, Trump isn’t, Texas Rep, Michigan, ” CNN, People Locations: Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia

What’s going to stop that?” said Jon Loffi, a longtime law enforcement officer who teaches aviation security at Oklahoma State University and wrote a paper on identifying insider threats. The Federal Aviation Administration says its approved medical examiners are trained to gauge a pilot's mental health. The Horizon close call could result in the re-examination of the practice of letting off-duty pilots or other airline employees sit in the cockpit jump seat. Security experts say it would be difficult if not impossible to stop every determined criminal or terrorist who targets aviation. The off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who was arrested Sunday joined Horizon as a first officer or co-pilot in 2001.

Persons: We’re, ”, Jon Loffi, It's, Joseph David Emerson, Emerson, Jeffrey Price, “, Ross Aimer, ” Price, ” Loffi, Loffi, Pete Buttigieg, Karen Yee, ” Allen Scott, ___ Claire Rush Organizations: Alaska Airlines, Oklahoma State University, FAA, FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Oklahoma State, FedEx, Pacific Southwest Airlines, Security, Transportation Security Administration, Sunday, Virgin America, Mercury, San Francisco Chronicle Locations: U.S, Oklahoma, French, California, Alaska, Multnomah County , Oregon, Portland, Pleasant Hill , California, San Francisco, Jose, Portland , Oregon

☆ What a Long, Strange and Unsatisfying EV Trip It’s Been
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( James Freeman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg charge an electric vehicle in Takoma Park, Maryland in 2021. Photo: michael reynolds/ShutterstockIt’s a hard life on the road, especially when the journey involves politically correct transportation. Regular readers are familiar with the travails of Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg as they have bravely attempted to promote impractical travel. The Times identifies David Gelles as “a correspondent on the Climate desk,” suggesting he’s at least open to the idea of inefficient transport. Sure enough, Mr. Gelles reports in the Times’s Climate Forward newsletter that he’s had good experiences with Tesla and its charging network.

Persons: Energy Jennifer Granholm, Transportation Pete Buttigieg, michael reynolds, Shutterstock, David Gelles, Gelles, he’s, Tesla Organizations: Energy, Transportation, New York Times Locations: Takoma Park , Maryland, Minneapolis

☆ Climate protesters disrupt start of Federal Reserve Chair Powell's economic speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Protesters disrupt an Economic Club of New York event on Oct. 19th, 2023. The start of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's speech on Thursday was delayed by climate activists protesting at the Economic Club of New York. The protesters appeared to be from a group called Climate Defiance. The group's mission statement calls for the end of fossil fuel extraction on federal lands and waters, among other items. The Federal Reserve leader appeared to leave his seat near the podium at some point during the protest.

Persons: Jerome Powell's, Powell, Transportation Pete Buttigieg Organizations: of New, Federal, Economic, Federal Reserve, Defiance, Transportation Locations: of New York, New York

Most foreign airlines have suspended or curtailed services, leaving passengers uncertain how to leave or reach the country and consular services struggling to keep up with demand for assistance, with priority given to those with missing relatives. Israel's parliamentary finance committee said late on Tuesday it would debate authorising state guarantees for providing war risk insurance for Israeli airlines. British Airways said it would suspend flights to Tel Aviv after diverting a flight from London back to Britain shortly before it was due to reach Tel Aviv, citing security concerns. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Washington remains in talks with U.S. airlines about flights to Israel. Passengers have complained of mounting costs especially for leaving Israel, but airlines deny driving up prices.

Persons: Yiannis, El Al, Sun Dor, Israel, ” Neil Roberts, Jan Lipavsky, Lipavsky, couldn't, Annalena Baerbock, Carsten Spohr, Pete Buttigieg, flydubai, Steven Scheer, Carolyn Cohn, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Michael Kahn, Victoria Klesty, Joanna Plucinska, Tim Hepher, Huseyin Hayatsever, David Shepardson, Alexander Cornwell, Mark Potter, Lincoln Organizations: Larnaca International Airport, REUTERS, El, Hamas, Association, British Airways, Lufthansa, German, . Transportation, U.S, Nordic, Dubai's Emirates, Etihad Airways, Thomson Locations: Israel, Larnaca, Cyprus, Israeli, Athens, Rome, Madrid, Bucharest, New York, Paris, Istanbul, El, Tel Aviv, London, Britain, Czech, Oman, Prague, Lipavsky, Denmark, Carsten Spohr ., Washington, Norwegian, Oslo, Abu Dhabi, United States, COVID

Florida said the White House is conditioning transportation funding on the state's agreement not to enforce provisions that the Secretary of Labor believes undermine collective bargaining. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and their respective agencies are among the defendants. The Labor Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Florida passed laws to protect workers from being strong-armed by unions," Republican state Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement. "We're pushing back against this overreach to protect our state's autonomy and Florida workers."

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Bill, Julie Su, Pete Buttigieg, General Ashley Moody, Donald Trump, Jonathan Stempel, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Department of Labor, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Republican, Labor, U.S . Department, Department of Transportation, Labor Department, Florida Education Association, Democrat, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Florida, paychecks, U.S, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, New York

☆ Simone Biles going for team gold at World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images Biles competes on the balance beam during the US National Gymnastics Championships in August 2013. Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images Biles poses after winning a gold medal at the 2013 World Championships. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Biles dodges a bee flying near her during the medal ceremony at the 2014 World Championships. Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Biles competes on the uneven bars during the 2018 World Championships. And by competing in Antwerp, Biles became the first woman to represent the US at six artistic world championships.

Persons: CNN — Simone Biles, –, Simone Biles, Laurence Griffiths, Ron, Biles, Smiley, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Lintao Zhang, Nellie, Adria, Leslye Davis, Gabby Douglas, Douglas, Donald Miralle, Ezra Shaw, Damir Sagolj, Reuters Biles, Kai Pfaffenbach, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, David Ramos, Emmanuel Dunand, Jimmy Fallon, Donald Glover, Andrew Lipovsky, Michael Phelps, Raisman, Olivia Munn, Trae Patton, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Alex Wong, Bob Levey, Sasha Farber, Eric McCandless, Daniel Dunn, Ulrik Pedersen, NurPhoto, Lionel Bonaventure, Emilee Chinn, Natacha, Cecile Canqueteau, Landi, Shannon Miller, Robert Gauthier, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols, Larry Nassar, Saul Loeb, Joe Biden, Biden, James Corden, Pete Buttigieg, Terence Patrick, Stacy Revere, Skye Blakey, Shilese Jones, Joscelyn Roberson, Leanne Wong, Matthias Hangst Organizations: CNN, Biles, Houston Chronicle, The New York Times, US, Getty, Reuters, NBC, White House, Disney, Entertainment, Walt Disney Television, Houston Texans, GK, Tokyo, Los Angeles Times, USA Gymnastics, CBS, BBC Locations: Antwerp, Belgium, Houston, Spring , Texas, Rio de Janeiro, AFP, Tokyo, American, Biles

☆ 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Simone Biles goes for more medals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The 26-year-old has another opportunity to add to her medal collection over the next week at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images Biles competes on the balance beam during the US National Gymnastics Championships in August 2013. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Biles dodges a bee flying near her during the medal ceremony at the 2014 World Championships. I’m just going to come back another day, another day.’”In qualifying for the world championships, she became the only US woman to qualify for six world championships, her first being in 2013 – an event that was also held in Antwerp. Biles is already the most decorated gymnast in US history, winning 32 medals across the Olympics and the world championships.

Persons: Simone Biles, Biles, Laurence Griffiths, Ron, Smiley, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Lintao Zhang, Nellie, Adria, Leslye Davis, Gabby Douglas, Douglas, Donald Miralle, Ezra Shaw, Damir Sagolj, Reuters Biles, Kai Pfaffenbach, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, David Ramos, Emmanuel Dunand, Jimmy Fallon, Donald Glover, Andrew Lipovsky, Michael Phelps, Raisman, Olivia Munn, Trae Patton, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Alex Wong, Bob Levey, Sasha Farber, Eric McCandless, Daniel Dunn, Ulrik Pedersen, NurPhoto, Lionel Bonaventure, Emilee Chinn, Natacha, Cecile Canqueteau, Landi, Shannon Miller, Robert Gauthier, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols, Larry Nassar, Saul Loeb, Joe Biden, Biden, James Corden, Pete Buttigieg, Terence Patrick, Stacy Revere, I’m, ” Biles, Olympics.com, “, ’, Yves Logghe Organizations: CNN, Tokyo, NBC, BBC, Houston Chronicle, The New York Times, US, Getty, Reuters, White House, Disney, Entertainment, Walt Disney Television, Houston Texans, GK, Los Angeles Times, USA Gymnastics, CBS, Tokyo Olympics, AP, Games, Olympic Committees Locations: Antwerp, Belgium, Paris, Houston, Spring , Texas, Rio de Janeiro, AFP, Tokyo, American, Biles, San Jose , California, China, Japan, Great Britain, Canada

☆ Craft beer, marriages and air travel: The collateral damage of a government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Alex Seitz-Wald | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Staff, meanwhile, have been forced to put their real jobs on hold to prepare for the looming shutdown. National parksThe National Park Service plans to close its parks and furlough park rangers if the government shuts down on Sunday. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, the parks themselves remained accessible, but without most services. Some presidential libraries would remain open as long as they have sufficient funds, but others would close and research services would be reduced. A shutdown would result in a "data blackout" of critical economic statistics that influence markets and businesses around the globe.

Persons: Donald Trump, that's, Biden, Joshua, Armando L, Sanchez, Pete Buttigieg, they're, White, Treasury Department furloughed, shutdowns Organizations: Yosemite, Fresno Bee, Tribune, Service, Getty, White House Council, Economic Advisers, Management, Staff, National Park Service, Park Service, Department of Interior, NBC, Congressional Research Service, National Zoo, U.S . Holocaust, Museum, National, Science, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, FBI Agents Association, FBI, Air, Transportation Security, LaGuardia, TSA, O'Hare International, State Department, Consular, Education Department, AmeriCorps, Agriculture Department, Assistance, Women, Small Business Administration, Federal Housing Administration, Social, Consumer, Food and Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Labor, —, Social Security, Medicare, Treasury Department, Foreign Assets Control, Russia Locations: El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, Washington, Civil, U.S, Europe, Southeast Asia, New Mexico, shutdowns, New York, Chicago, Russia, Iran, Ukraine

☆ Opinion | ‘The Entire Debate Was a Gong Show’: Winners and Losers From the Second Republican Showdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( New York Times Opinion | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +21 min

Matthew Continetti Governor Haley is an excellent communicator, but her message was often lost amid all the cross talk. Daniel McCarthy In this debate, Governor Haley decided to play the role that Vivek Ramaswamy played last time, frequently interrupting and attacking others. Matthew Continetti Governor DeSantis is not an exciting debater, but he remains the most plausible alternative to Donald Trump. Jane Coaston He really, really, really wanted to fight Donald Trump, who was not present. His worst moment was a canned line in which he compared Donald Trump to Donald Duck (Disney defamation suit to follow).

Persons: Ronald Reagan, Jane Coaston, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Gail Collins, Matthew Continetti, Haley, Ron DeSantis, I’m, Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Amy Klobuchar, Vivek Ramaswamy’s Pete Buttigieg —, Michelle Goldberg, Katherine Mangu, Ward, Daniel McCarthy, Katherine Miller Haley, Scott, ” Peter Wehner, she’d, DeSantis, Donald Trump, zinged Trump, Trump, he’s, Nobody, Michelle Goldberg DeSantis, DeSantis —, Daniel McCarthy He’s, don’t, Katherine Miller, Peter Wehner, Christie, Donald Duck, Matthew Continetti Governor Christie, He’s, —, Ross Douthat “ Donald DUCK, “ Donald Duck, ” Katherine Mangu, Biden, ” Daniel McCarthy Governor Christie, Katherine Miller Christie, stemwinders, Donald Trump’s, Haley —, ’, “, ” Matthew Continetti, MAGA populists, MAGA, Haley didn’t, Reagan, Ward Ramaswamy, Katherine Miller Ramaswamy, Burgum, Ross, Yep, Katherine Miller Burgum, Gail Collins Boy, Pence, ”, Mike Pence, Asa Hutchinson, Peter Wehner Trump Organizations: Republican, Ronald Reagan Presidential, American Special Operations, Washington, Trump, Fox, Washington , D.C, South, Blacks, ’, Reagan Locations: California, Iowa, New Hampshire, Mexico, Florida, Ukraine, Washington ,, New Jersey, Simi Valley, China, America, North Dakota

☆ US government shutdown could add misery to air travel
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. Travel Association said a partial shutdown would cost the U.S. travel economy as much as $140 million a day. During a government shutdown, the U.S. air travel system would be "hampered by more flight delays, longer screening lines and setbacks in air travel modernization," the group said. Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officers are among the government workers who would be required to keep working but would not be paid. A government watchdog report said in June that air traffic operations were at risk. The FAA was forced to slow air traffic putting pressure on lawmakers to end the standoff.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, shutdowns, David Shepardson, Grant McCool Organizations: LaGuardia, U.S, Acquire, . Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S . Travel Association, Air, Transportation Security Administration, FAA, TSA, Thomson Locations: New York City, New York, WASHINGTON, U.S

☆ A government shutdown could make air travel even worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg warns that might make air travel worse. The impacts on air travel will be immediate, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg told Insider. AdvertisementAdvertisementImportantly, a shutdown could also jeopardize a crucial piece of ensuring flight safety and timeliness — enough air traffic controllers . The DOT has been making strides in curbing travel nightmares: Throughout 2023, air travel cancellations have stayed below 2%, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report — a far cry from the 2.7% cancellation rate in 2022. AdvertisementAdvertisementEven without a shutdown, Republicans' proposals to keep the government funded while enacting widespread cuts could jeopardize travel, according to Buttigieg.

Persons: Transportation Pete Buttigieg, —, they're, Buttigieg Organizations: Transportation, Service, TSA, Air, Department of Transportation, Republican, Democratic, Independent, Republicans, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, American

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Monday that it has awarded more than $1.4 billion to projects that improve railway safety and boost capacity, with much of the money coming from the 2021 infrastructure law. The projects include track upgrades and bridge repairs, in addition to improving the connectivity among railways and making routes less vulnerable to extreme weather. “We’ve been fighting to return passenger trains to the Gulf Coast since it was knocked offline by Hurricane Katrina. A project in Kentucky will receive $29.5 million to make improvements to 280 miles of track and other infrastructure along the Paducah and Louisville Railway. And in Tennessee, $23.7 million will go to helping upgrade about 42 bridges on 10 different short-line railroads.

Persons: —, Pete Buttigieg, Hurricane Katrina, Katrina, ” Sen, Roger Wicker, “ We’ve, Jim Mathews Organizations: WASHINGTON, Biden, Hurricane, Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, ” Rail Passengers Association, Railroad, Paducah and Louisville Railway, & $ Locations: Alabama , Louisiana, Mississippi, of Mexico, Gulf, Gulf Coast, Coulee, Washington, Kentucky, Paducah, Tennessee

☆ GOP shutdown politics rock Washington as Trump and Biden head for a swing-state showdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —President Joe Biden and his Oval Office predecessor, Donald Trump, are about to wage the most direct showdown yet of their possible rematch as far-right House Republicans drive the nation to the brink of a government shutdown. Trump, seeking to sow dysfunction on Biden’s watch and advance his political goals as the GOP front-runner for 2024, is goading his loyalists to shut Washington down. Michigan – which Trump won in 2016 but Biden pulled back into the Democratic column in 2020 – will again be a vital general election state. With the political heat over a potential shutdown rising, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg toured Sunday political talk shows to pressure Republicans. He wrote on his Truth Social network that the shutdown was the “last chance to defund these political prosecutions against me and other Patriots.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Trump, Biden, ”, –, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Ronald Reagan, Hunter Biden’s, New Jersey Sen, Robert Menendez, illegalities, Trump’s, McCarthy, Tim Burchett, Dana Bash, ” McCarthy, he’d, midterms, Pete Buttigieg, “, ” Buttigieg Organizations: CNN, Office, House Republicans, Democratic, White, GOP, United Auto Workers, Trump, Biden, Republican, Former South Carolina Gov, Florida Gov, Ronald Reagan Presidential, New, Senate Foreign Relations, Trump Republicans, California Republican, Russia, Tennessee, Union, Transportation, Patriots, Republicans Locations: Washington, Michigan, Wolverine, Wisconsin, Florida, California, New Jersey, “ State

Congress so far has failed to finish any of the 12 regular spending bills to fund federal agency programs in the fiscal year starting on Oct. 1. "Republicans need to vote for Republican bills" to avert a shutdown, McCaul said on ABC's "This Week" broadcast. They just kick the can down the road," Republican Representative Tony Gonzalez told CBS News' "Face the Nation." Even some of the Senate's most conservative Republicans on Sunday appealed to House counterparts to stop blocking a stop-gap bill. Reporting by Richard Cowan and Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michael McCaul, Anna Voitenko, Kevin McCarthy, McCaul, Tony Gonzalez, Joe Biden, McCarthy, Tim Burchett, CNN's, Burchett, Pete Buttigieg, Marsha Blackburn, Blackburn, Richard Cowan, Sarah N, Lynch, Bill Berkrot Organizations: House Foreign Affairs Committee, Saint, REUTERS, Rights, Washington, Republican Party, U.S, Congress, Sunday, Republicans, Republican, House Intelligence, CBS, Internal Revenue Service, Democratic, Transportation, ABC, Fox Business, Biden, Thomson Locations: Saint Michael's, Ukraine, Kyiv, Washington, United States, Mexico

☆ Congress remains divided on budget negotiations as government shutdown looms: “Our financial ship is sinking”
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks with reporters as he arrives for the day at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. September 18, 2023. House Republicans on Thursday sent the chamber into recess, delaying further developments in the negotiations. "I don't know what to think," said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "All we're focused on is keeping the lights on," New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." This has to be avoided," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Dick Durbin, Durbin, McCarthy, Tim Burchett, I've, Trump, haven't, they're, Josh Gottheimer, Gottheimer, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tennessee's Burchett, Burchett, Pete Buttigieg Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Lawmakers, House Republicans, Thursday, Republican, GOP, Republican Congress, Tennessee GOP, Republicans, New Jersey Democratic, Democratic, Investors, U.S . Transportation Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, California, Washington, Pennsylvania

With a potential government shutdown now less than a week away, President Biden and other administration officials this weekend intensified their warnings of the consequences of closing government agencies as they pressed congressional Republicans to find a way out of their spending stalemate. Both the president and the transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, made public calls for Republicans to resolve their differences before next Sunday, when federal funding is set to lapse. Yet even after a weekend of private haggling at the Capitol, there was no sign that the G.O.P. “Now everyone in America could be forced to pay the price.”“Funding the government is one of the most basic responsibilities of Congress,” he said. “It’s time for Republicans to start doing the job America elected them to do.”

Persons: Biden, Pete Buttigieg, ” Mr, ”, Kevin McCarthy, “ Organizations: Republicans, Capitol, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, America Locations: America

☆ US government shutdown: What is it and who would be affected?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Contracts awarded prior to the shutdown would continue, and the Pentagon could place new orders for supplies or services needed to protect national security. NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCESIt's not clear how the United States' 63 national parks would be affected. They remained open during the 2018-2019 shutdown, through restrooms and information desks were closed and waste disposal was halted. WHITE HOUSEIn 2018-2019 shutdown, the White House furloughed 1,100 of 1,800 staff in the Executive Office of the President. Some offices, such as the National Security Council, continued at full strength, while others like the Office of Management and Budget were scaled back sharply.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Lockheed Martin, Donald Trump, Pete Buttigieg, Pell, Andy Sullivan, Pete Schroeder, Howard Schneider, Moira Warburton, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Workers, Pentagon, Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, The, National Nuclear Security Administration, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Service, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Federal Trade, AFFAIRS U.S, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Oceanographic, Atmospheric Administration, NASA, Space, Disease Control, Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, Securities, Exchange, Commodities, Futures Trading, Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Currency, Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Education Department, White, Small Business Administration, National Labor Relations, National Security Council, Management, U.S . Postal, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States

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