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WASHINGTON, April 27 (Reuters) - West Virginia Governor Jim Justice launched his campaign on Thursday for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate who has been a constant thorn in his party's side. Justice, 72, has repeatedly changed parties, most recently in 2017 when he switched his registration to Republican after being elected as a Democrat in 2016. Manchin has been a key vote on every major piece of legislation of Biden's tenure, as a moderate representing an increasingly conservative state. Justice, a coal-mining billionaire, would first need to win a Republican primary against U.S. Representative Alex Mooney to become his party's nominee to challenge Manchin in 2024.

☆ There are only 3 EV plugs for every 10,000 Americans, a disparity threatening automakers' $1.2 trillion investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A lack of access to public electric car charging is a huge barrier to EV adoption. More than seven out of every 10 EV chargers are in the richest US counties, according to Bumper. Meanwhile, more than 95% of EV chargers are in counties with majority-white populations. And while over 63% of the counties in the US have charging stations, 36% of counties do not. Data indicates there were more than 51,000 public EV charging stations in the US as of March, with over 131,000 plugs.

☆ Biden launches 2024 reelection campaign, promising to fulfill economic policy vision
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"When I ran for President four years ago, I said we are in a battle for the soul of America. If Biden won a second term, he would extend his streak as the oldest person to sit in the Oval Office: He would be 82 on Inauguration Day 2025. Polling shows Democrats prefer a candidate other than Biden, but there isn't a consensus on who that alternative would be. An NBC News poll released Sunday found 70% of Americans, including 51% of Democrats, believe Biden should not seek a second term. Biden was able to accomplish many of his ambitious campaign goals with the help of a Democratic-controlled Congress for the first half of his term.

☆ Biden vows to 'finish the job' on the economy in first speech since launching 2024 campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

US President Joe Biden speaks about the creation of new manufacturing jobs at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, April 25, 2023. - Biden announced Tuesday his bid "to finish the job" with re-election in 2024. President Joe Biden honed in on his economic achievements Tuesday in his first speech since he announced he will seek a second term in the White House. "Folks, it's time to finish the job," Biden said after listing his first term economic accomplishments. As voters often judge incumbent presidents on economic conditions, Biden outlined what he considers the economic wins of his first term, like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

☆ CEOs like Jamie Dimon, Warren Buffett, and Elon Musk want the government to fight inequality and 'reignite the American dream'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Ethan Dodd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

His proposals include investing in American industry, teaching students workplace skills, and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit. Forecasting "storm clouds ahead," Dimon wants the government to drive economic growth by subsidizing industry, investing in the workforce, and reducing income inequality. Following in Buffett's footsteps, Dimon said JPMorgan owes its business success to the "extraordinary conditions our country creates" for economic growth. Akin to Musk, Dimon said he didn't want the government to micromanage industry, believing "Adam Smith's invisible hand still prevails." He suggested expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, a tax refund that allows lower-income working individuals and families to keep more of their earned income.

☆ Harris to close out ‘Invest in America’ tour by announcing $300M in bridge repair funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Donald Judd | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Biden administration will announce nearly $300 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to repair and replace bridges across eight states and the District of Columbia Thursday, closing out its three week “Invest in America” tour highlighting legislative achievements under President Joe Biden. Vice President Kamala Harris will make the announcement at the Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge, which connects Washington, DC, to Northern Virginia and will receive $72 million in funding for repairs, the White House said. According to a fact sheet shared with CNN, the bridge serves over 88,000 vehicles per day. Thursday’s announcement marks the last stop on the administration’s “Invest in America” tour, which Biden launched last month by touring a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Durham, North Carolina. Per an administration official, 20 representatives from the Biden administration traveled to over 50 cities across 25 states during the tour, highlighting $435 billion in funding for 23,000 infrastructure projects in 4,500 cities and towns across the US.

☆ EPA proposes new tailpipe rules that could push EVs to make up two-thirds of new car sales in US by 2032
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The agency anticipates the new rules would mean EVs could also make up nearly half of all new medium-duty vehicles, like delivery trucks, by model year 2032. One expert told CNN the Biden administration’s proposal is a pivotal moment for the US auto industry and consumers. Six in 10 respondents said they believe EVs help the environment “only a little” or “not at all,” Gallup reported. “Folks who purchase electric vehicles will see a cost savings over the lifespan of the vehicle, because they’re not having to buy gas, having to pay for maintenance,” Regan said. That means much of the US car industry will already be transitioning ahead of the proposed federal rules.

☆ AOC says 'a lot' of House Dems would cast 'disingenuous' yes votes for Medicare for All if it came to floor because they 'know that it's going to a graveyard' in the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued some Democrats don't sincerely support Medicare for All. She said the Senate's 60-vote filibuster lets them to rhetorically support it but not fight for it. She argued dismantling the filibuster is the "precursor" to passing progressive priorities. The most recent House version of the bill, introduced in 2021, garnered 123 co-sponsorships — more than half of the House Democratic Caucus at the time. Filibuster frustrationsThe filibuster stymied Democrats during the first two years of the Biden administration when they held slim majorities in both the House and Senate.

☆ Energy Department boosts university programs designed to help small manufacturers find savings of up to $130,000 a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 1: Student Union building on the campus of the Oklahoma State University on October 1, 2005 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Three out of five of the new programs have specific expertise in climate mitigation strategies, including energy management, industrial electrification, industrial decarbonization, resiliency planning, renewable energy, and waste and water management, according to the Energy Department. At the universities, teams perform assessments that will typically identify more than $130,000 in potential annual savings for small manufacturers. The IAC at Georgia Tech in Atlanta will focus on energy management and industrial electrification. San Francisco State University's center will study renewable energy, energy demand management, thermal systems design, and waste and water management, especially in the Western U.S.

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WASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) - The White House said on Tuesday it was funneling hundreds of millions of dollars to help coal communities, including $450 million for clean energy projects on current and former mining areas. "This project will help strengthen American supply chains, revitalize energy communities, and reduce reliance on competitors like China," the White House said in a statement. The government action also includes putting 11 federal agencies to work in tandem on getting new resources into energy communities like former coal mining towns, it said. The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service will release guidance on Tuesday that will allow developers of clean energy projects and facilities to tap into billions of dollars in boneses, in addition to existing tax credits, it said. The funding for this initiative comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the White House said.

☆ Biden administration pushes to revitalize coal communities with clean energy projects
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Biden administration is channeling hundreds of millions of dollars from recent legislation into its efforts to turn coal communities into clean energy hubs, the White House said Tuesday. The effort includes $450 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that the Department of Energy will allocate to an array of new clean energy demonstration projects on former mine lands. Many of the initiatives are made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Chips and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. The administration touted the potential benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act, a bill passed by Democrats to spur clean energy investments last year. The Biden administration said the working group has funneled over $14.1 billion in federal investments into the select communities.

☆ Biden could help save cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians from being pulled under trucks in an accident with a simple fix, advocates say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Side guards can also stop people and cars from being crushed by a truck's rear wheels. A man stands on a truck's rear underride guard in Mexico City in 2021. Isaac Guzman/Getty Images'A catch-22'The US government and road safety experts have known for at least 50 years that underride guards save lives. Rear underride guards have been mandatory for most trucks in the US since the 1950s. Cahalan blames the trucking industry for "delaying and fighting against common sense safety reforms," not just with regard to underride guards.

☆ Alaska oil drilling protesters disrupt White House climate adviser appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Conocophillips FollowWASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - Protesters criticizing President Joseph Biden's approval of an oil drilling project in Alaska on Monday blocked an administration official from delivering a speech about U.S. climate leadership. Ali Zaidi, White House climate adviser, was unable to address the event on the "Future of U.S. A dozen protesters holding a sign saying "End Fossil Fuels" chanted: "Keep your promise, no new drilling" for several minutes, preventing Zaidi from starting his remarks. Protesters believe the Willow decision may overshadow Biden's other climate achievements. The administration has been touting climate investments stemming from its signature climate law called the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)and its bipartisan infrastructure law.

☆ U.S. proposes limits for cancer-causing chemicals in drinking water
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Valerie Volcovici | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed the first-ever national drinking water standard for six cancer-causing chemicals known as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Under the new standard, the agency will require public water systems to monitor for six PFAS chemicals, inform the public if PFAS levels exceed proposed standards in the drinking water supply, and take action to reduce PFAS levels. It is the first time since 1996 that drinking water standards have been proposed for a new chemical under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Environmental groups welcomed the new standards but said it was up to retailers and chemical companies to make a difference. "I’m looking forward to hearing from those who will be impacted by this announcement, including local water systems and ratepayers across the country, on how we can provide assistance for implementation," she said.

☆ Biden seeks new funding for air traffic controllers, Amtrak
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Monday released details on a new proposal calling for more funding for more air traffic controllers and to speed modernization efforts after a computer outage led to the first nationwide flight grounding since 2001. The Transportation Department's $108.5 billion budget request seeks funding from Congress, including $117 million to hire another 1,800 air traffic controllers in addition to another 1,500 being hired this year. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said last year the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had 1,500 fewer controllers than in 2011. The Transportation Department wants $3.1 billion in annual funding for passenger railroad Amtrak on top of $4.4 billion in funding from the $1 trillion 2021 infrastructure law. The FAA wants $24 million to fund 50 new test pilots, data scientists, safety inspectors and others to oversee Boeing (BA.N) and other airplane manufacturers.

☆ Kamala Harris recalls testy exchange with Mike Pompeo on climate change during sit-down with Gloria Estefan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Vice President Kamala Harris recalled a testy exchange she had with Mike Pompeo back in 2017. During Pompeo's confirmation hearing, she asked him if he believed in climate change. Harris was speaking about the Biden administration's climate policies at the Aspen Ideas conference in Miami. Speaking about her time in the Senate, Harris recalled the "heat" she took after an exchange she had with a Trump appointee about climate change during a confirmation hearing. Harris, who was then fresh off her election to represent California, asked Pompeo whether he believed in climate change.

REUTERS/Andrew Winning/File PhotoWASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters) - Engineering company Siemens AG (SIEGn.DE) will announce on Tuesday it is investing over $220 million to build a rail car manufacturing facility in North Carolina, the White House and Siemens said. Busch said Siemens has a "strong foothold" in the market and sees longer term growth opportunities in high-speed rail. Siemens' rail unit will be receiving a jobs development grant from the state of North Carolina, the company said. Funding comes in part from the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in 2021, the White House said. The $1 trillion infrastructure law provides $66 billion for rail, an unprecedented boost in federal aid for trains.

Trumzz | Istock | Getty ImagesOver the past two years, millions of low-income U.S. households have received broadband internet at a discount through two consecutive government programs. "Millions could be left in the dark without broadband service for the very same reasons they didn't have it in the first place." The Emergency Broadband Benefit, or EBB, which was approved by then-President Donald Trump in late 2020 and launched in February 2021, provided a $50 subsidy. That's considered an accomplishment, said Ken Garnett, chief strategy officer at Cal.net, a small internet service provider that serves rural inland areas of California. As of January, about $6.1 billion of the funds had been claimed by broadband service providers as reimbursement for discounting their services and products.

☆ Biden admin offers $1.2 billion for distressed, shut nuclear plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The Biden administration said on Thursday it is offering a fresh round of $1.2 billion in aid to extend the life of distressed nuclear power plants which, for the first time, could offer funding to a plant that has recently closed. President Joe Biden's climate team believes nuclear power is a crucial source of virtually carbon-free electricity needed to be maintained and expanded to reach his pledge of what it calls 100% clean electricity by 2035. The funding comes from the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit program, created by the 2021 infrastructure law, and will be distributed by the Department of Energy (DOE). Holtec International, the current owner, had applied for the first round of funding, but the DOE rejected it. Last year, the DOE provided $1.1 billion in conditional CNC funding to Pacific Gas & Electric's Diablo Canyon nuclear plant that had been set to fully shut in 2025.

☆ Biden to Address House Democrats Ahead of Budget Release
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Ken Thomas | Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden has warned that Republicans will seek deep spending cuts. President Biden is set to meet with House Democrats at their annual retreat as the administration prepares to release its budget proposal next week in an attempt to draw sharp distinctions with majority Republicans in the House. The president is traveling Wednesday evening to Baltimore, where he was expected to discuss with Democrats the White House efforts to implement a series of big-ticket spending laws, including a more than $1 trillion infrastructure law and a separate law to build up the nation’s semiconductor capacity. The Biden administration is also in the midst of a standoff with Republicans over raising the debt ceiling later this year.

☆ Pete Buttigieg's presidential hopes make him an easy target for Republicans — and his slow response in Ohio gave them plenty of ammo
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg hasn't ruled out running for the White House again. He's in the spotlight and the hot seat far more than most other transportation secretaries before him. The search-engine test shows Buttigieg has become a high-profile target who finds himself in the spotlight far more than most other transportation secretaries before him. However, no transportation secretary has likely entered the job with more star power. After he strode onto the stage of The Late Show last fall, host Stephen Colbert noted that not many transportation secretaries have been guests on late night talk shows.

☆ US awards nearly $1 billion to airports in infrastructure grants
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is awarding nearly $1 billion to 99 U.S. airport terminal projects under a 2021 $1 trillion infrastructure law. The awards include $10.8 million to Des Moines International Airport in Iowa to replace the 1948 terminal that is operating above capacity and $29 million to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah for a terminal and concourse redevelopment program. This is the second phase of funding - the FAA awarded nearly $1 billion for airport terminal projects announced for 85 airports last year. In November the FAA granted final environmental approval for construction of a new $4.2 billion terminal at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport and for an $8.5 billion project at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport that includes a new Terminal 2. The 2021 infrastructure law dedicates $25 billion for airport projects over five years.

☆ U.S. awards nearly $1 billion to airports in infrastructure grants
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is awarding nearly $1 billion to 99 U.S. airport projects under a 2021 $1 trillion infrastructure law. The awards include $10.8 million to Des Moines International Airport in Iowa to replace the 1948 terminal that is operating above capacity and $29 million to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah for a terminal and concourse redevelopment program. This is second phase of the funding -- FAA awarded nearly $1 billion for airport terminal projects announced for 85 airports last year. Reporting by David ShepardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas talks President Biden, infrastructure funding, and governing without gridlock at the local level: 'We've got to get stuff done'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas strives for collaboration as he works on tough policy issues. And he looks at Kansas City — whose Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII earlier this month — as an example of resiliency. What have been some of the most tangible and immediate benefits of the law for Kansas City? Mayor Lucas speaks during the Kansas City Chiefs' victory celebration in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 15, 2023. In Kansas City, we've said: "How do we keep talking to people even if everybody's mad at each other in the room?"

☆ Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who'll likely face a tough reelection fight in 2024, says he won't 'run from Biden': 'I run my own race, and my own brand'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Sherrod Brown told Politico he was "fine" with Biden running on the same ballot as him in 2024. Brown is seeking a fourth term in the Senate and has carved out a unique appeal among Ohio voters. And despite President Joe Biden's eight-point statewide loss to former President Donald Trump in 2020, Brown told Politico he was "fine" running alongside the president on the same ballot should the commander-in-chief seek reelection next year. So, I'm not going to run from Biden," Brown told Politico. In the 2018 Senate race, when Brown defeated then-GOP Rep. Jim Renacci, the senator won 98% of Democrats, 56% of Independents, and 11% of Republicans, per CNN exit polling.

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