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The Dui Hua Foundation, which monitors prisoner rights in China, estimates there are about 200 Americans detained here, more than in any other foreign country. All four were representing Americans who had been detained in China for at least eight years. “We continue to push for the release of other wrongfully detained Americans,” Miller said. “I was very excited and happy and hopeful for him and his family,” Wells Sr. said. Wells Sr. said he and his wife, Cynthia, speak with their son once or twice a month, in calls limited to 10 minutes.

Persons: David Lin, Mark Swidan, Kai Li —, “, Lin, ”, Joe Biden, Chris Smith, Jeff Merkley, Li, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Kurmasheva, Biden, Nelson Wells, Nelson Wells Jr, Tim Hunt, Dawn Michelle Hunt, Li’s, Harrison Li, Katherine Swidan, ” Wells, ” Hunt, Alice, Alice Lin Wells Jr, Hunt, Wells Jr, —, Wells, We’ve, Nelson Jr, Dawn Michelle, Matthew Miller, Antony Blinken, ” Miller, Cynthia, GoFundMe, James Zimmerman, Zimmerman, ‘ I’m, ’ ” Janis Mackey Frayer, Jennifer Jett Organizations: U.S, Congressional, Commission, Hua Foundation, State Department, White, ”, NBC News, Chinese Foreign Ministry Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, United States, Russia, Washington, Chongqing, Chinese, Guangdong, Louisiana, Chicago, Hong Kong

☆ Lawmakers from both parties urge Biden to secure the release of Americans imprisoned in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Lawmakers are appealing to President Joe Biden to use the remaining time in his term to work for the release of Americans who are “wrongfully detained” in China, saying U.S. officials need to do more to help secure their freedom. “There are more Americans wrongfully detained in China than in any other country. They deserve tenacious advocacy to gain their release,” said Smith and Merkley, co-chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. China has denied the allegations and says it has treated detained Americans properly and respected their legal rights. Dui Hua, a rights group that advocates for detainees in China, estimates there are more than 200 Americans “under coercive measures” in China.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Chris Smith of, Democratic Sen, Jeff Merkley, Smith, David Lin, Kai Li, Mark Swidan, Hua, Li, Biden, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, Xi Jinping, “, Li’s, Harrison Li Organizations: ” Republican, Democratic, Congressional, Commission, State Department, White, and State Department Locations: China, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, Long Island , New York, Texas, Russia, People’s Republic of China, United States

☆ The Senate has a new plan to ban congressional stock trading. Here's what's in it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewOn Wednesday, a key Senate panel approved a bill that would ban lawmakers from trading stocks. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee approved the legislation — known as the Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act — by an 8-4 vote. AdvertisementPolling has shown for years that the idea of banning lawmakers from trading stocks in broadly popular among members of both parties. This is the most significant progress on a stock trading ban in yearsThe last time either chamber got close to passing a stock trading ban was in September 2022, when House Democrats proposed a sweeping bill that included a major loophole and had little time to be vetted by members. Many saw the effort as a sham designed to appease those who had been pushing for a stock trading ban.

Persons: —, Republican Sens, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ron Johnson of, Mitt Romney, James Lankford, Democratic Sen, Jeff Merkley, they've, There's, Merkley, Jon Ossoff, Josh Hawley, Missouri —, Gary Peters of, Wednesday's, Chuck Schumer Organizations: Service, Senate Homeland Security, Government, Committee, Holdings, Congressional, Republican, Business, Democratic, Treasury, House Democrats, Gary Peters of Michigan Locations: Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Utah, Oklahoma, Oregon, Georgia, Missouri

☆ Senators Josh Hawley and Jeff Merkley talk stock trading ban and Biden's struggles with Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | 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 EmailSenators Josh Hawley and Jeff Merkley talk stock trading ban and Biden's struggles with DemocratsHosted by Brian Sullivan, “Last Call” is a fast-paced, entertaining business show that explores the intersection of money, culture and policy. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC.

Persons: Josh Hawley, Jeff Merkley, Brian Sullivan, “ Organizations: CNBC

☆ Congress takes another stab at banning members from trading stocks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A bipartisan group of Senators introduced a new bill that would ban Congress from trading stocks. The ETHICS act would impose hefty fines against members of Congress that violate the law. The ETHICS legislation, if passed, would immediately ban members of Congress from trading stocks, and it would come with an imposed timeline to divest their stocks when the next session of Congress starts in 2027. The proposed law would also impose hefty fines on Congressional members who violated the trading ban. But the passage of this new stock trading ban faces an uphill battle from Congress itself.

Persons: Jeff Hawley, —, Josh Hawley, Jon Ossoff, Jeff Merkley, Gary Peters, Hawley, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Matt Gaetz, don't, Merkley Organizations: Senators, Service, Democratic, Holdings, Senate's Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs Committee, NPR Locations: Congress

☆ Senators strike bipartisan deal for a ban on stock trading by members of Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday launched a renewed effort to ban members of Congress from trading stock. "There is no reason why members of Congress ought to be profiting off of the information that only they get." Wednesday's amendment to an existing stock trading ban bill would immediately forbid members of Congress, the president and the vice president from purchasing stocks and other covered investments. The effort to bar members of Congress from trading stocks has been an uphill battle since at least the start of the Biden administration. The then-Speaker had previously written off the trading ban as a misguided effort to prevent lawmakers from participating in the "free market economy."

Persons: Jeff Merkley, Sen, Josh Hawley, Hawley, Jon Ossoff, Gary Peters, Biden, Ossoff, Nancy Pelosi, Paul Pelosi Organizations: U.S . Senate Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, Holdings, Congressional, U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Wednesday, —, Homeland Security, Governmental, FBI, Democratic Locations: Washington ,, Sens, U.S

☆ Uyghur forced labor: US blocks imports from 26 Chinese textile firms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington (Reuters) — The United States has barred imports from 26 Chinese cotton traders or warehouse facilities on Thursday as part of its effort to eliminate goods made with the forced labor of Uyghur minorities from the US supply chain. US officials believe Chinese authorities have established labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in China’s western Xinjiang region. “The so-called ‘Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’ is just an instrument of a few US politicians to disrupt stability in Xinjiang and contain China’s development,” the spokesperson said. Washington has restricted imports from 65 entities since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List law was passed in 2021, according to the department. “We enthusiastically endorse DHS’s action today to nearly double the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’s ‘Entity List’ — while recognizing that the current list remains only a fraction of the businesses complicit in forced labor,” Representative Chris Smith and Senator Jeff Merkley, chairs of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said in a statement.

Persons: ” Alejandro Mayorkas, “, Chris Smith, Jeff Merkley Organizations: Washington, Reuters, Uyghur, Labor, US Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security, Congressional, Commission, DHS Locations: United States, China’s Xinjiang, China’s, Xinjiang, Beijing, Washington, China, Asia

☆ Senators Seek to Curb Facial Recognition at Airports, Citing Privacy Concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A bipartisan group of senators is pushing to halt the expansion of facial recognition technology at airports in the United States and restrict its use as part of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that is making its way through Congress. Citing privacy concerns, Senators Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, and John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, are proposing to block the expansion of the technology until 2027 and require the transportation security administrator to make clear that passengers can opt out at airports where it is in use. With a Friday deadline for renewing the aviation law, the proposal is among the amendments likely to get a vote before the bill can pass. The Federal Aviation Administration is planning to expand facial recognition technology to more than 430 airports, from 25, as part of an effort to speed up the check-in process. Using kiosks with iPads affixed to them, passengers have their photographs taken and matched to an image from a government database instead of presenting a physical identification card.

Persons: Jeff Merkley, John Kennedy Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, Republican Locations: United States, Oregon, Louisiana

☆ These 18 senators voted against Ukraine and Israel aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Senate passed a bill to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan — and force a sale of TikTok. Republicans opposed the Ukraine aid, while some Democrats took issue with Israel aid. Republicans generally voted against the package because of their long-standing opposition to Ukraine aid, while Democrats opposed the bill over the lack of conditions on Israel aid. AdvertisementThat included a vote on a nearly $61 billion Ukraine aid bill, a more than $26 billion Israel aid bill, Taiwan aid, and a bill that combined an amended version of a previously approved TikTok bill that was combined with a bill allowing the US to seize Russian assets to pay for Ukraine aid. Related stories37 House Democrats voted against Israel aid, while 112 House Republicans voted against Ukraine aid.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Bernie Sanders, Vermont Jeff Merkley, Oregon Peter Welch of Organizations: Service, Republicans, Ukraine, Democratic, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Vermont, Oregon, Oregon Peter Welch of Vermont

☆ Who’s coming to the White House’s Japan state dinner: the Clintons, De Niro, Bezos
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The guest list also includes Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield and White House chief of staff Jeff Zients. NBC News White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell, who is the president of the White House Correspondents Association, will attend, as well as Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin. First lady Jill Biden chose Simon to perform at the state dinner because Kishida also “shares an appreciation” for his work, a White House official said. The state dinner for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol featured a Broadway star’s performance of Don McLean’s “American Pie” – a personal favorite of Yoon. It led to one of the iconic state dinner moments of the Biden presidency – Yoon picking up a microphone to serenade guests with a few lines from the song.

Persons: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Robert De Niro, Jeff Bezos, Fumio Kishida, Joe Biden, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tim Cook, Laurence Fink, Jamie Dimon, Brad Smith, Shawn Fain, Cecile Richards, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Alejandro Mayorkas, Jennifer Granholm, Gina Raimondo, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Katherine Tai, United Nations Linda Thomas, Jeff Zients, CQ, Jerome Powell, Bill Nelson, Biden, Donald Trump, De Niro, Nelson, ” Nelson, Sen, Bill Hagerty, Trump, Rahm Emanuel, Kelly O’Donnell, Josh Rogin, Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, Kathy Hochul, Josh Shapiro, Tony Evers, Roy Cooper of, Mazie, Jeff Merkley, Ashley Biden, Howard Krein, Finnegan Biden, Naomi Biden Neal, Peter Neal, Paul Simon, Jill Biden, Simon, Kishida, ”, It’s, Yoon Suk, Don McLean’s, Yoon, – Yoon, CNN’s Arlette Saenz Organizations: CNN, Amazon, White, Japan’s, Apple, BlackRock, JPMorgan, Microsoft, United Auto Workers, Planned, Biden, Homeland, Senate, Energy, National Intelligence, US, United Nations, White House, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Federal, NASA, Tennessee Republican, NBC, White House Correspondents Association, Washington, Democratic, Gov, Pennsylvania, South Korean Locations: Japanese American, Greenfield, Cleveland , Ohio, Japan, New York, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Hawaii, Oregon

☆ Opinion | President Biden, You Have Leverage That Can Save Lives in Gaza. Please Use It.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Nicholas Kristof | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden is sounding tougher toward Israel these days and showing more compassion for people starving in Gaza. So we’re now in a bizarre situation: American bombs and American aid are both falling from Gaza’s skies. In 1948, the United States and its allies undertook the famous Berlin Airlift to rescue West Berlin from a Soviet blockade. Israel is insisting on painstaking inspections of every aid truck going into Gaza. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley visited the Gaza border and found that Israel has blocked water purifiers.

Persons: Biden, ” Biden, it’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, we’re, Israel, Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley Organizations: Israel’s, UNICEF Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, United States, West Berlin, Soviet

☆ Anesthetics, crutches, dates. Inside Israel’s ghost list of items arbitrarily denied entry into Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

In a January 13 press conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted about permitting “minimal humanitarian aid” to enter Gaza. “We provide minimal humanitarian aid,” Netanyahu said. Other trucks carrying dates have been allowed into Gaza, according to UN data. Over 1,000 children have undergone leg amputations in Gaza, according to UNICEF, some without anesthesia. “An Israeli tank missile hit her when she was on the sixth floor of our building,” Bseiso told CNN.

Persons: Jordan, Joe Biden, Tamim al, Chris Murphy, Abed Zagout, ”, “, ” COGAT, COGAT, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Israel, Clodagh Kilcoyne, “ I’ve, Janti Soeripto, we’ve, ” Soeripto, Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley, ” Van Hollen, they’d, Van Hollen, ” Tania Hary, GISHA, Ahed Bseiso, Hani Bseiso, ” Bseiso, ” Ahed, Bseiso, Ghassan Abu, Sittah, ” Abu, Dr Ghassan Abu, Alex Platt, Um Adel, Khan Younis, Jamie McGoldrick, Marwan al, Mary Rogers Organizations: Jordan —, CNN, United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, Getty, Children, UN, “, Bseiso Medicines, World Health Organization, Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Thani, ”, Anadolu, Arish, Rafah, Gazan, there’s, Territories, COGAT, ” Israel, Israel, Egypt, Nitzana, Palestinian, London, Abu, British, Khan, Jordanian, Jordan, Al

☆ Senate passes $95 billion aid bill for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, but getting it through the House is another matter
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewThe US Senate passed a $95 billion emergency defense aid bill for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan early Tuesday morning. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X that Putin "will regret the day he questioned America's resolve." AdvertisementHowever, the bill will now need to go to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to face stiff opposition. House Speaker Mike Johnson preemptively rejected the bill on Monday evening, saying that it failed to address US-Mexico border security and was therefore a nonstarter. AdvertisementIt does not include any border security provisions after Schumer stripped the border security language from the bill last week, per Reuters.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Peter Welch of, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders of, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Putin, America's, Mike Johnson preemptively, ”, Schumer, JD Vance, won’t, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: Service, Senate, Democratic, Business, Representatives, Associated Press, Republican Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, Peter Welch of Vermont, Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Mexico, “, China, Gaza

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, It’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch of, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Schumer, McConnell, “, ” McConnell, Republican Sen, James Lankford, J.D, Vance, Russia's Putin, Putin, Kentucky Sen, Rand Paul, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, ” Tillis, ” Sen, Jerry Moran, Moran, Trump, Russia “, Mike Turner, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Turner, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, ” Johnson, Abigail Spanberger, Zelenskyy, ” Spanberger, Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican Party, Ukraine, Republican, Republicans, Sens, Ukraine —, GOP, U.S . Senate, Trump, Ohio Republican, Kentucky, NATO, House Republicans, House Intelligence, Russia, ”, Senate, Virginia Democrat, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, United States, U.S, Oregon, Peter Welch of Vermont, Russia, Kyiv, China, Gaza, Ohio, Carolina, Europe, America, Virginia

☆ These 3 Democratic senators voted against a $95.3 billion Ukraine and Israel aid bill — citing the war in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Three Democratic senators voted against a $95.3 billion bill to give aid to Israel and Ukraine. Other Democratic senators who have been critical of the war voted for the aid anyway. AdvertisementEarly on Tuesday morning, the Senate passed a $95.3 billion bill to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan by a 70-29 margin. Most of the votes against the bill came from Republicans, some of whom were opposed to providing $60 billion in Ukraine aid while others protested the lack of border security provisions. It requires any country receiving foreign aid, including Israel, to submit written assurances that they are complying with human rights laws.

Persons: —, Peter Welch of, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders of, Sanders, Welch, Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Mike Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Democratic, Service, Senate Democratic Conference, Senate Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, Taiwan, Peter Welch of Vermont, Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont

☆ Group of Democrats call on Blinken to provide answers on bypassing Congress to approve arms sales to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A group of 19 predominantly Democratic lawmakers is calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide answers about why he bypassed Congress last month to approve arms sales to Israel. The top US diplomat made two emergency determinations in December to immediately approve the transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in military equipment to Israel. In their letter, the lawmakers noted the rarity of administrations using emergency declarations to immediately approve arms sales without congressional approval. “Use of a national emergency waiver does not exempt the U.S. government from assessing whether arms sales are consistent with” those standards, they wrote. I would say that the process that the secretary followed and the process that we follow here at the State Department is the process that the law actually prescribed,” Miller said at a State Department briefing.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe Biden, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Democratic Sens, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, James McGovern, Earl Blumenauer, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Raúl, Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Jill Tokuda, Maxine Waters, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Leahy, credibly, “ Israel, ”, ’, “, Matt Miller, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, UN, Independent, Democratic, State Department, Leahy, ”, Department Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hamas

☆ Democratic senators want to keep Trump on the ballot in 2024, even as he faces potential disqualification under the 14th amendment
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe Supreme Court could soon rule on whether former President Donald Trump can be disqualified from appearing on 2024 ballots under the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. That's the answer to me, period," said Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Many of his potential voters are likely sympathetic to the arguments made by the former president and his allies — that disqualifying Trump via the 14th amendment is itself undemocratic. "So I hope the Supreme Court does an honorable, non-political job of evaluating the situation." "The [Supreme Court] will decide the legal issue of whether the 14th amendment applies."

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown, Trump, disqualifying Trump, Sen, Elizabeth Warren of, Joe Biden, Shana Bellows, Bellows, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Tim Kaine, Jamie Raskin, Maryland, Jeff Merkley, who's, Bernie Sanders of, Richard Blumenthal, Fetterman, That's Organizations: Service, Trump, Democratic, Business, Colorado Supreme, United States Supreme, Capitol, Committee, Daily Locations: Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Colorado, Maine, New Mexico, Virginia, Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

Sen. Jeff Merkley became the second senator to call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war this week. And with recent polling showing that a majority of Americans support a cease-fire in Gaza, the pressure from constituents has been thick. Sen. Chris Coons was badgered on a train about why he hadn’t endorsed a cease-fire. Both have drawn attention to humanitarian concerns in Gaza in recent weeks but stopped short of calling for a cease-fire. “I and others defended Israel’s right to respond with a campaign targeted at destroying Hamas,” Merkley wrote .

Persons: Sen, Jeff Merkley, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Coons, hadn’t, Israel –, –, Dick Durbin, Biden, Cori Bush, Joe Biden, eyeing, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, “, Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders, Netanyahu’s, Ilhan Omar, she’s, J, Edwin Benton, ”, ” Benton, ” Merkley Organizations: Oregon Democrat, White, Hamas, Democrats, Illinois Democrat, NBC, Biden, Israel, Minnesota Democrat, University of South Locations: Israel, Oregon, Gaza, Sen, Massachusetts, Illinois, Missouri, lockstep, ”, Vermont, Minnesota, University of South Florida

☆ U.S. Lawmakers Point to Reports of Forced Labor in China’s Seafood Industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Richard Vanderford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Fish on display at a seafood market in China’s Shandong Province. Photo: Wang Haibin/Zuma PressU.S. lawmakers said the Biden administration should crack down on China’s use of forced labor in seafood production after an investigative journalism group found widespread transfers of laborers from the country’s Xinjiang region to processing facilities elsewhere in the country. The administration should block imports from seafood-processing facilities in China that run afoul of a U.S. law meant to target forced labor linked to Xinjiang, home to the country’s Uyghur people and other minority groups, said Rep. Chris Smith (R., N.J) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.) in a letter sent Tuesday to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas .

Persons: Wang Haibin, Biden, Chris Smith, Sen, Jeff Merkley, Alejandro Mayorkas Organizations: Zuma Press U.S, of Homeland Locations: Shandong Province, Xinjiang, China

☆ Powerful senators fire off letter decrying 'abusive' tactics in Corizon bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Nine US senators including Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, and Bernie Sanders have sent a letter to Corizon leaders demanding answers on its bankruptcy. The letter says Corizon has sought "to manipulate bankruptcy law" and calls the strategy "abusive." Citing Insider's reporting, the senators gave Corizon two weeks to turn over details about its use of the Texas Two-Step to shield assets from creditors. AdvertisementAdvertisementA powerful group of senators have pressed for answers about the bankruptcy of the private prison healthcare provider formerly known as Corizon Health. "The Texas Two-Step is a distorted use of the U.S. bankruptcy system by corporations to evade mass tort liability," the senators write.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, Bernie Sanders, Corizon, —, Cory Booker, Ron Wyden, Tehum, Jeffrey Sholey, Isaac Lefkowitz, Tehum's, Sholey, Lefkowitz, Sen, Warren, YesCare, Hector Garcia, Adria Malcom, excoriate Corizon, Hector Garcia Jr, David Jones, Jones, Christopher Lopez, Durbin, Johnson, Sanders, Booker, Wyden, Democratic Sens, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch of Organizations: Service, Tehum Care, Finance, Corizon, Detention, Genesis Healthcare, Geneva Consulting, Genesis, Geneva Consulting —, Genesis HealthCare Inc, US, Texas, Committee, Democratic Locations: Texas, Ana, Las Cruces , New Mexico, New Mexico, Alabama, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Hawaii, Oregon, Peter Welch of Vermont

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Federal regulators have approved the expansion of a natural gas pipeline in the Pacific Northwest over the protest of environmental groups and top officials in West Coast states. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave it the green light in a vote on Thursday. The pipeline belongs to TC Energy of Calgary, Canada — the same company behind the now-abandoned Keystone XL crude oil pipeline. The agency’s final environmental assessment revised that number downward by roughly half in calculations contested by environmental groups. In a joint letter to the federal agency the day before its vote, Democratic U.S.

Persons: Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, Washington, ”, Audrey Leonard, Leonard, fracking Organizations: —, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, TC Energy, Keystone, Federal Energy Regulatory, Democratic U.S, Senators, Columbia Locations: PORTLAND, Pacific Northwest, West Coast, Idaho , Washington and Oregon, Calgary, Canada, Kootenai County , Idaho, Walla Walla County , Washington, Sherman County , Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Washington , Oregon, California , Oregon

The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel is reprehensible. Israel is under heavy attack right now by Hamas and taking action to defend itself and its people. Israel has every right to defend itself.”Sen. Jon Tester, Montana Democrat“I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks launched by Hamas against our ally Israel. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.”Sen. Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Democrat“Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel is nothing short of horrifying. Israel has every right to defend itself from this unjust war.”Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat“The terrorist attack on Israel is appalling.

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries, “, Steve Scalise, ” Kevin McCarthy, ” Chuck Schumer, –, Herzog –, ” Mitch McConnell, ” Tom Emmer, ” Katherine Clarke, ” Dick Durbin, ” John Thune, ” Sen, Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat “, Israel, Amy Klobuchar, Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat “, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat “, Joe Manchin, West Virginia Democrat “, Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Democrat “, Gary Peters, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat “, Catherine Cortez Masto, Brian Schatz, Hawaii Democrat “, Jeff Merkley, Oregon Democrat “, John Barrasso, Joni Ernst, Iowa Republican “, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Republican “, Steve Daines, Montana Republican “, Mike Lee, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grassley, Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Kyrsten, Mark Kelly, John Boozman, Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican “, Alex Padilla, Laphonza Butler, California Democrat “, today’s, Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat “, John Hickenlooper, Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat “, Chris Murphy, Tom Carper, Delaware Democrat “, Chris Coons, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Jon Ossoff, Georgia Democrat “, Anat Sultan, Raphael Warnock, “ I’m, Mazie, Tammy Duckworth, Todd Young, Mike Braun, Jerry Moran, Kansas Republican “, Hamas’s, Roger Marshall, Netanyahu, Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican “, Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, Susan Collins, Maine Republican “, Ben Cardin, Maryland Democrat “, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, Tina Smith, Minnesota Democrat “, Roger Wicker ,, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican “, Cindy Hyde, Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, Jon Tester, Montana Democrat “, Deb Fischer, Nebraska Republican “, Pete Ricketts, Jacky Rosen, Nevada Democrat “, Jeanne Shaheen, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat “, Maggie Hassan, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat “, Bob Menendez, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat “, Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Democrat “, Biden, Ben Ray Lujan, Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Democrat “ I'm, Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, North Carolina Republican “, John Hoeven, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican “, Kevin Cramer, Sherrod Brown, Ohio Democrat “, J.D, ”, Vance, James Lankford, Markwayne Mullin, Israel –, Ron Wyden, Bob Casey, John Fetterman, craven, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican “ I’m, Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican “ Shocked, Marsha Blackburn, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican “ Israel, Bill Haggerty, Tennessee Republican “, John Cornyn, John Cornyn , Texas Republican “, Ted Cruz, Mitt, Vile, Peter Welch, Vermont Democrat “, Tim Kaine, Patty Murray, Washington Democrat “, Maria Cantwell, Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican “ Israel, Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Republican “, Jim Jordan, Jared Moskowitz, Abigail Spanberger, Elissa Slotkin, Don Bacon, perpetrating, Cori Bush, Missouri Democrat “, Kevin Hern, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican “, ” Rep, Ritchie Torres, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat “, Michael McCaul, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican “ I, Ilhan Omar Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Biden, House, Michigan Democrat, Minnesota Democrat, Virginia Democrat “, Senate Intelligence, Massachusetts Democrat, Islamic, Cory Booker , New, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat, West Virginia Democrat, Wisconsin Democrat, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat, Nevada Democrat, Hawaii Democrat, State, Oregon Democrat, John Barrasso , Wyoming Republican, Iowa Republican, West Virginia Republican, Montana Republican, Utah Republican, Idaho Republican, Alabama Republican, Alaska Republican, Alaska Republican “, Arizona Democrat, John Boozman , Arkansas Republican “, Jewish, Arkansas Republican, California Democrat, Colorado Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Delaware Democrat, Israel, Florida Republican, Georgia Democrat, Hawaii Democrat “, Indiana Republican, Indiana Republican “, Kansas Republican, Kentucky Republican, Louisiana Republican, Maine Republican, Maryland Democrat, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican, Smith , Mississippi Republican, Josh Hawley , Missouri Republican, Missouri Republican, Montana Democrat, Nebraska Republican, Jeanne Shaheen , New, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat, Bob Menendez , New, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat, New Mexico Democrat, New, New York Democrat, United, North Carolina Republican, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican, Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Republican “, Ohio Democrat, Vance , Ohio Republican, James Lankford , Oklahoma Republican, Oklahoma Republican, “ Hamas, Rhode, Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Republican, South Carolina Republican, South Dakota Republican, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican, Tennessee Republican, John Cornyn , Texas Republican, Ted Cruz , Texas Republican, Vermont Democrat, Washington Democrat, Wisconsin Republican, Wyoming Republican, ”, Ohio Republican “, Missouri Democrat, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican, Ritchie Torres , New, Ritchie Torres , 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☆ A landmark marijuana bill is headed to the Senate floor
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

New York CNN —The Senate Banking Committee approved a historic marijuana banking bill last week that breaks barriers between financial institutions and cannabis companies. The legislative road ahead is tough, despite the bipartisan majority in committee, but this bill could redefine the business of marijuana. A cannabis business owner drove from Portland to Salem to deliver his taxes, and he had a backpack with $70,000 cash in it. Shutting down its DVD business could help Netflix better focus resources as it expands into new markets such as gaming as well as live and interactive content. Its DVD business has also declined significantly in recent years.

Persons: Bell, Jeff Merkley, Banks, I’ve, that’s, Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser, Eva Rothenberg, Samantha Murphy Kelly, “, Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Kaiser, Coalition, Kaiser Permanente Unions, D.C, Kaiser Permanente, Netflix, Blockbuster, Hollywood Locations: New York, Oregon, Portland, Salem, That’s, California , Oregon, Colorado , Virginia, Washington

☆ Landmark marijuana financing bill set to move forward in the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A new bill that aims to give the marijuana industry access to banking services is expected to move forward in the Senate on Wednesday. The bill would provide legal protection to banks or other financial institutions that offer services to state-legal marijuana businesses. The Senate Banking Committee will mark up the bill Wednesday, and the panel is expected to vote to advance it to the full chamber's floor. Even as 39 states have legalized marijuana for recreational or medical use, the sector has struggled to scale. The new bill includes stricter requirements for federal regulators, such as prohibiting them from terminating any marijuana-related accounts without "valid reason," or from denying banking services based on "personal beliefs or political motivations."

Persons: Jeff Merkley, Steve Daines, Kyrsten Sinema, Cynthia Lummis, Chuck Schumer, Ian Katz Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Sens, SAFE, Democratic, Republican, GOP, Capital Alpha Partners, Republicans Locations: Oregon, Washington ,

☆ Republicans soften on federal marijuana reform in a shift that could make it a reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Julie Tsirkin | Liz Brown-Kaiser | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The SAFE Banking Act would make it lawful for legal marijuana businesses to use major financial and banking institutions. Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action, a political organization opposed to marijuana legalization, urged Tuberville to oppose the legislation in a recent letter. Financial institutions, including small and community banks, have also put pressure on lawmakers, including Tuberville, to support the bill. There's been these attempts by the chairman of the Banking Committee to add a bunch of other stuff onto it, and I think that just completely torpedoes the chances." Ahead of his re-election campaign, President Joe Biden announced his intention to pardon federal convictions for simple marijuana possession offenses at the end of last year.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, We've, Sen, Steve Daines, Sherrod Brown, Kevin Cramer, Daines, Cramer, Dan Sullivan, Lisa Murkowski, Bill Cassidy of, Cynthia Lummis of, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of, Kevin McCarthy of California, McCarthy, Tommy Tuberville, Steve Stafford, Tuberville, Sullivan, Jeff Sessions, Trump, Sheriff Dan Springer, Springer, I've, Jeff Merkley, Jack Reed, It's, Cory Booker of, Dave Joyce, Alexandria Ocasio, Joe Biden Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, SAFE, Republicans, Democrats, GOP, Auburn University, Smart, Senators, Republican, D.C, Sheriff, HOPE Locations: Ohio, GOP Sens, Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Susan Collins of Maine, Washington, Gallatin County , Montana, Montana, Cory Booker of New Jersey, R, Alexandria, Cortez

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