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☆ Mitch McConnell could've tried to block a bill to protect same-sex marriage. He stayed silent about it instead.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Mitch McConnell never publicly offered his position on a bill to protect same-sex marriage. Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina on amendments to the bill, told Insider. "You know, the leader has to look at his conference," Tillis told Insider, referencing his own time as the Speaker of the North Carolina House. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, a conservative opponent of the bill, told Insider that "of course" he wished McConnell had taken a vocal position on the bill. As Sinema stood up to embrace the Iowa Republican, McConnell rose from his seat and voted no.

☆ Republican lawmakers criticize U.S. grant to battery company with China ties
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Two senior Republican lawmakers on Wednesday were highly critical of the decision by the U.S. Energy Department to award $200 million to Microvast Holdings (MVST.O) over the lithium battery company's ties to the Chinese government. In October, Texas-based Microvast won a $20 million U.S. grant from the department to help build a new EV battery components plant in Tennessee. Representative Frank Lucas, top Republican on the House Science Committee, said nearly 80% of Microvast’sassets are in China and 61% of its revenue in 2021 originated in China. In November, Microvast and General Motors (GM.N)said they would work together "to develop specialized EV battery separator technology and build a new separator plant in the U.S., which is expected to create hundreds of new jobs." Over 200 companies applied for $2.8 billion in Energy Department grants and 20 received awards.

☆ Treasury's Adeyemo says underlying health of U.S. economy 'quite strong'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Dan Burns | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The underlying health of the U.S. economy is quite strong and massive investments being made in manufacturing and infrastructure will help bring inflation down over the longer term, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said on Thursday. Legislation like the bipartisan infrastructure law, the Inflation Control Act and a law to promote domestic semiconductor production would make long-needed investments in the economy that would help bring inflation under control, he said. U.S. Treasury Department Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo attends the Reuters NEXT Newsmaker event in New York City, New York, U.S., December 1, 2022. Adeyemo said the U.S. economy was better-placed than any other economy to do well despite the rising cost of capital, and labor force participation was starting to increase, albeit not at the desired rate. Reporting by Daniel Burns; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Andrea RicciOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Biden grants PG&E $1.1 billion to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Biden administration on Monday said it's providing Pacific Gas & Electric Co. with a $1.1 billion grant to help the company prevent the closure of Diablo Canyon, California's last nuclear power plant. Diablo Canyon was originally scheduled to be decommissioned in two phases in 2024 and 2025, but state lawmakers in September voted to keep it open for five more years. PG&E applied for funding in the Department of Energy's initial phase of the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit program aimed to keep U.S. nuclear power reactors open. Diablo Canyon is California's single largest source of power, providing 8.6% of the state's total electricity and 17% of its zero-carbon electricity. Final terms of the grant are subject to negotiation and finalization, the Energy Department said, but the funding is designed to cover PG&E's anticipated losses from keeping Diablo Canyon open.

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☆ Home heating costs are on the rise but government assistance is running short
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Shannon-Pettypiece-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Shannon Pettypiece | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

But temperatures are already dropping and the number of households seeking assistance is already on the rise, according to interviews with more than a half dozen officials involved in programs that provide heating assistance. Kelly said the Salvation Army in Massachusetts has received twice as many applications as it did this time last year for its winter heating assistance program, which is aimed at those whose incomes are too high to qualify for federal assistance. The cost of heating oil has been a particular concern for the Biden administration, said the government official. Heating oil and diesel inventories are at their lowest levels on record for this time of year. The administration is also prepared to tap into the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, which has about 1 million barrels of heating oil, if necessary, the administration officials said.

☆ ‘It’s like living in an igloo.’ People are turning off their heat as prices surge
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Gabe Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

She, too, is struggling to afford her heating bills. Johnson says she doesn’t qualify for government assistance with her heating bills. He wants his heating oil to last as long as possible and filling his tank costs roughly $1,500. But it was only enough to fill roughly one third of their oil tank, which Thomas thinks will last just two to three weeks. So they’re using space heaters and electric blankets to stay warm, hoping to save their heating oil for when their kids come home for Thanksgiving.

☆ U.S. mandates new comparison internet-service labels
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday said it finalized new rules requiring labels to help consumers comparison shop for broadband internet services. The FCC is requiring labels that look similar to the ubiquitous nutrition labels on U.S. food products and require broadband providers to display, at the point of sale, labels that show prices, speeds, fees and data allowances. The labels were first unveiled as a voluntary program in 2016. Congress ordered the FAA to mandate them under the 2021 infrastructure law. Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pelosi snubs Trump in leadership exit announcement, says she 'enjoyed' working with 3 presidents: Bush, Obama, and Biden
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she's stepping down from leadership after two decades. She mentioned she 'enjoyed' working with three presidents: Bush, Obama, and Biden. Speaking on the House floor, Pelosi took a victory lap over legislative achievements she'd had under former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, holding up three fingers and saying she "enjoyed working under three presidents." Without saying "Trump," however, Pelosi did reflect on the threat posed to democracy when a mob of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Pelosi later told reporters that she ripped up the speech because "it was the courteous thing to do considering the alternatives."

☆ FAA OKs new $4.2 billion terminal at New York's JFK airport
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Shannon StapletonWASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted final environmental approval for construction of a new $4.2 billion terminal at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, the state said on Thursday. New York state Governor Kathy Hochul said construction will begin early next year on a 1.2 million-square foot (111,480-square-meter), 10-gate terminal at JFK. A $1 trillion infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 includes $15 billion for airport project grants. The FAA is expected to soon issue a similar environmental approval to a massive $8.5 billion project at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport that includes a new Terminal 2. Delta's glittering 1.3 million-square foot, $4 billion Terminal C began flights this summer.

☆ Nancy Pelosi announces leadership exit after 2 decades leading House Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she is stepping aside from her leadership role. The decision comes after Republicans narrowly won the House majority. The decision comes in the wake of Republicans narrowly winning the House majority, ending Pelosi's latest two consecutive terms as Speaker. "Never had I thought that someday I would go from homemaker to House Speaker," the California Democrat, first elected in 1987, said. At 82, Pelosi has long served alongside House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 83, and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, 82, in leadership.

☆ Amtrak has pricey tickets and big plans
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Robert Ferris | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAmtrak has pricey tickets and big plansTaking a train in the U.S. often costs more than flying and more than train systems in other countries, which often have even faster trains and better service. But Amtrak, the federally funded company that runs many of America's passenger trains, has never made money. In 2021 wasn't able to cover half of its expenses from ticket revenue. Ridership is recovering the pandemic. Now Amtrak wants to expand service in a 15-year plan, with $66 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Nationally, 32% of voters in 2022 said their vote was “to oppose Joe Biden.” But 28% said their vote was “to oppose Donald Trump,” even though Trump was out of office. About 30% of Pennsylvanians said their vote was to oppose Biden, while 26% said their vote was to oppose Trump. Only 6% of Biden 2020 voters supported Oz, while 8% of Trump 2020 voters backed Democrat John Fetterman. Nationally, 92% of Biden voters supported Democrats, while 7% peeled off to support Republicans. And 96% of Trump voters backed Republicans, while 3% broke for Democrats, the exit polls showed.

☆ Biden to laud Democrats' high-tech gains in visit to California's Viasat
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Biden will laud "the resurgence of American manufacturing" enabled by passage of three key pieces of his signature legislation - the Chips and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the White House said in a preview of his visit. Holding onto the swing seat could help Democrats hang onto their slim lead in the House. On Friday, at Viasat's headquarters in Carlsbad, near San Diego, he will laud the company's hiring of more than 700 veterans - about 10% of its workforce - across the country, the White House said. Viasat is a Carlsbad-headquartered communications company that provides satellite and fixed and mobile broadband internet. Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ America's longest-serving congresswoman argues her district needs to 'hold on to the seniority we have' amid broader calls for generational change in politics
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, 76, is the longest-serving woman in the history of the House of Representatives. She faces a tough re-election against a controversial GOP opponent amid broader calls for new leaders. In an interview with Insider in Toledo, Kaptur touted the benefits that her seniority brings to her district. the 76-year-old lawmaker told Insider during an interview in a staffer's black Jeep following a press conference. Bryan Metzger/InsiderOwing to her seniority, Kaptur sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where she chairs the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

☆ Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Tim Ryan avoids talking about Trump on the trail as he paints GOP opponent JD Vance as extreme
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Insider spent a day following Rep. Tim Ryan across Ohio as campaigned for US Senate. He's running a tight race against GOP nominee JD Vance, despite Trump winning Ohio twice. "You are grounded, go to your room," Ryan mock-replies, before drawing his story back to the reality of his Senate campaign. Republican Senate candidate JD Vance at a GOP unity event in Canton, OH on October 27, 2022. Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio at a rally for Ryan in Cleveland, OH on October 27, 2022.

☆ Biden came to Florida to help Democratic underdogs, but barely mentioned DeSantis, one of his most vocal critics
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ron DeSantis, who frequently criticizes him. Ron DeSantis while campaigning in Florida on Tuesday evening, one week out from Election Day. Earlier in the day, however, Biden called DeSantis "Donald Trump incarnate" during a fundraiser in Golden Beach, Florida. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, in November. Taking the stage on Tuesday, Crist said "Ron DeSantis wants to do to America what he has done to Florida."

☆ Biden administration to provide over $13 billion in aid to help American families lower energy bills
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Biden administration is providing over $13 billion in aid to help low- and moderate-income Americans lower their energy costs, including grants to pay electric bills as well other incentives to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. The announcement reflects the administration's efforts to lower energy costs amid extreme temperature shifts from climate change. Under the initiative, the Department of Health and Human Services will release $4.5 billion in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding, which helps pay energy bills and energy-related home repairs for families. "We know that winter heating bills account for the largest share of low-income households' home energy needs. The Biden administration will also provide roughly $9 billion to help low- and moderate-income families lower energy costs by making energy-efficient upgrades to their homes.

☆ A MAGA House candidate in Ohio was abandoned by the national GOP after questions about his military service. He could make it to Congress anyway.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

GOP House candidate JR Majewski has faced scrutiny for exaggerating his military service. That's despite Majewski's campaign slogan reading: "Conservative Veteran for Congress," with the word "veteran" highlighted in red. In an interview with Insider in Toledo, Majewski brushed off the ad cancellations. "I don't think that's something that's as big of an issue as it maybe appeared to be." "That guy right there just made one call, and made it happen for us," Majewski told attendees, pointing at the chairman.

☆ How super-hot rocks miles under the earth's surface could help combat climate change
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

"It will take public and private investment similar to those being allocated to nuclear, carbon capture, and hydrogen fuels," Hill told CNBC. But accessing superhot rock energy involves tapping into hotter, dry rock — which is everywhere, but sometimes far beneath the surface. Graphic courtesy Clear Air Task ForceIceland is a leader in investigating superhot rock geothermal energy with its Iceland Deep Drilling Project. Beyond Iceland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and the United States are leaders in superhot rock geothermal, according to Friðleifsson. Oil and gas companies could use their resources to help spur development in the superhot rock industry, the CATF report said.

☆ How super-hot rocks miles under the earth's surface could provide limitless clean energy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

The Clean Air Task Force commissioned a non-profit geothermal organization, the Hot Rock Energy Research Organization, and an international clean energy consultancy, LucidCatalyst, to estimate the levelized cost of commercial-scale superhot rock electricity. Graphic courtesy Clear Air Task ForceRegular versus superhot geothermalWhile energy from superhot rocks is not being used now, geothermal energy is being used in a few places where super-hot temperatures exist close to the surface of the earth. But accessing superhot rock energy involves tapping into hotter, dry rock — which is everywhere, but sometimes far beneath the surface. Graphic courtesy Clear Air Task ForceIceland is a leader in investigating superhot rock geothermal energy with its Iceland Deep Drilling Project. Beyond Iceland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and the United States are leaders in superhot rock geothermal, according to Friðleifsson.

☆ USDA announces $759M for high-speed internet in rural areas
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making available $759 million in grants and loans to enable rural communities to access high-speed internet, part of the broader $65 billion push for high-speed connectivity from last year’s infrastructure law. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House senior adviser Mitch Landrieu are unveiling the grants in North Carolina on Thursday. “Rural communities are the backbone of our nation, but for too long they’ve been left behind and they have been underrecognized,” Landrieu said. That’s just beyond unacceptable that that’s not available to rural America.”Vilsack said he and Landrieu will “learn firsthand” from people in North Carolina about the opportunities internet access can create. They plan to meet with state and local officials including North Carolina Gov.

☆ U.S. awards $1 billion to electrify school bus fleets
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 26 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Wednesday unveiled nearly $1 billion in awards to U.S. school districts to replace aging, gas-fueled school buses with cleaner, mainly electric models. The funding is the first tranche of $5 billion that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hand out over five years through a clean school bus program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. The EPA's clean school bus program is part of a broader push by the administration to upgrade public school infrastructure and reduce pollution from old buses. Transitioning to an electric school bus fleet nationwide would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.3 million tons per year, according to a study by the non-profit Public Interest Research Group. Last month, EPA said it would nearly double its planned $500 million in clean bus awards for this year due to overwhelming demand from school districts.

☆ Why former staffers for Alaska's long-serving GOP Rep. Don Young are backing Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola over Sarah Palin
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Some of Alaska Rep. Don Young's former staffers are backing Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat. They say she'll carry on the long-serving Republican's legacy better than Sarah Palin or Nick Begich. Sarah Palin in a special election for the state's sole House seat, Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola is about to face voters once more. Equally revealing is what some staffers, who generally identify as Republican or right-leaning independents, had to say about Palin and Nick Begich III, Peltola's conservative opponents. But Young staffers noted that the long-serving Republican often took positions that clashed with the priorities of party leadership, including his relatively high support among organized labor.

☆ U.S. awards $2.8 billion for EV battery, grid projects
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration will announce on Wednesday it is awarding $2.8 billion in grants for projects to boost U.S. manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries and domestic mineral production, a White House official told Reuters. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueThe White House is also launching an effort, dubbed the American Battery Material Initiative, to strengthen critical mineral supply chains as automakers race to expand U.S. electric vehicle and battery production. The projects include “retrofitted, and expanded commercial-scale domestic facilities to produce battery materials, processing, cell components, and battery recycling and demonstrations,” the White House official said. Legislation Biden signed in August sets new strict battery component and sourcing requirements for $7,500 consumer EV tax credits. The White House said in a fact sheet the United States and allies do not produce enough of the critical minerals and materials used in EV batteries.

☆ Biden awards $2.8 billion for projects to boost electric vehicle battery manufacturing
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks to highlight electric vehicle manufacturing in America, during a visit to the Detroit Auto Show, September 14, 2022. The Biden administration on Wednesday said it will award $2.8 billion in grants for projects to expand U.S. manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and domestic mineral production. The announcement is part of the administration's broader push to transition the U.S. away from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles. "Producing advanced batteries and components here at home will accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels to meet the strong demand for electric vehicles, creating more good-paying jobs across the country," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. The projects will support developing enough lithium to supply about 2 million EVs per year, developing enough graphite to supply about 1.2 million EVs per year and producing enough nickel to supply about 400,000 EVs per year, according to the Energy Department.

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