U.S. Politics

[Rick Plant]

US to offer funds of $2.9 billion for major infrastructure projects

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House will announce on Wednesday a funding opportunity of $2.9 billion earmarked by the Transportation Department for major infrastructure projects this year, as part of a $1-trillion law Congress approved in 2021.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu will unveil the plans at an event held at a major bridge linking the U.S. capital of Washington with Arlington, Virginia.

The grant funding offers "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix our outdated infrastructure and invest in major projects for the future of our economy," Buttigieg said. Applications are due by May 23.

The figure includes $1 billion for projects of national or regional significance that are too large or complex for traditional funding programs, which Buttigieg described as the "cathedrals of our infrastructure."

Such structures could be bridges or tunnels linking two states, new rail and transit lines or freight hubs integrating ship, train and truck traffic.

The department also plans to award $300 million for rural projects and $1.55 billion for other highway, multimodal freight and rail projects.

A potential funding recipient is a $12.3-billion project that aims to build a new tunnel between New York City and New Jersey and reconstruct an existing one.

Buttigieg said he expected the project to apply for funding but it would face review, like all the rest. On a visit to the existing tunnel, Buttigieg added, he saw a "sense of urgency around those much needed upgrades."

The Hudson Tunnel Project is a key component of the Gateway Program, a major project to overhaul much of the aging rail infrastructure in the New York City area.

The New York City-area rail tunnel, which opened in 1910, was damaged in 2012 when Superstorm Sandy flooded parts of the city.

Congress approved $66 billion for rail as part of the massive infrastructure bill, with passenger railroad Amtrak receiving $22 billion. The bill also sets aside $36 billion for competitive grants.

© Reuters

[Richard Smith]

These right wingers sure aren't shy about their racism anymore. The GOP wants to take us back to the 1950's and some want to go even further back to the 1700's.

Republican Senator Mike Braun Says Supreme Court Should Have Never Legalized Interracial Marriage
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/mike-braun-says-interracial-marriage-should-be-illegal-1325336/

Maybe check the history books and learn which party promoted racism in the US.  Here's a hint.  Lincoln was a republican. 

[Rick Plant]

Every single Republican voted against President Biden's American Rescue Plan that saved America from the Trump Economic Disaster.

American Rescue Plan boosts environmental work in Chesapeake region

When Congress hit the start button one year ago on a massive $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid measure, it also sent a surge of spending toward environmental efforts.

The American Rescue Plan Act was largely directed at providing a financial stimulus to households and speeding the country’s response to the pandemic.


The rooftop of the Maycroft Apartments in the District’s Columbia Heights neighborhood is covered with 192 photovoltaic panels, squeezed in among air conditioning units, skylights and vents. Electricity generated by the solar array goes to the grid, earning the building’s residents sizable credits on their power bills. Credit: Timothy B. Wheeler

But the aid package also delivered $100 million to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which was split in half: $50 million for environmental justice initiatives and $50 million for air-quality monitoring.

It also set aside $350 billion for states and local governments, with modest restraints on how it could be spent. The fate of much of that total is up in the air, as jurisdictions grapple with spending plans and, in some cases, the capacity to implement them.

Last summer’s first wave of payments largely went toward plugging budget gaps caused by the pandemic’s economic fallout. To prepare for the second wave, due to begin in May, many cities and counties over the past few months arranged in-person and online meetings to seek ideas for how to best spend the money. In some places, officials and community members are advocating for clean water and conservation projects, pointing out that some projects bring multiple benefits, such as outdoor space for recreation, “green” jobs and the reduction of urban “heat islands.”

All funds must be committed by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.

Across the Chesapeake Bay region, some funding announcements are trickling in. Here is a look at some of the recipients (and proposals) in the “green” sector.

District of Columbia

The District received $2.3 billion. As of the end of last August, the deadline for the first federal reporting period, the District had spent $83 million of that sum.

$16 million to the DC Department of Energy & Environment and the DC Sustainable Energy Utility to provide grants to “under-resourced” buildings to conduct energy audits and predevelopment design and construction work. Eligible facilities include senior care centers, schools, hospitals and places of worship.

$17.5 million to DOEE’s Solar for All program to provide solar energy assistance funds to an additional 3,800 low– and moderate-income households and install more community solar projects.

Maryland

The act set aside about $3.9 billion for state government. This year’s budget swallowed about $2.1 billion of that sum. About $1.7 billion remains.

City and county governments across Maryland will divvy up a separate pot of $2.3 billion.

$200,000 for Baltimore’s YH2O mentoring program, an on-the-job training program for young adults. Participants are involved in water quality monitoring, sampling and reporting — skills that will help them transition into water infrastructure jobs. To be eligible, they must be 18–24 years old, have a high school diploma or GED and be unemployed or underemployed. The new funding is drawn from $50 million set aside nationwide from EPA funds dedicated to environmental justice.

$13,000 to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury to develop materials for a new series of artwork highlighting Black experiences on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The funding comes from an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant program tied to the rescue plan.

$1.5 million to Baltimore County (proposed) to plant trees in less-affluent areas where the existing tree canopy is often thin.

$6.6 million to Baltimore County (proposed) to complete a living shoreline and aquatic habitat project along the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River.

Nearly $23 million to Prince George’s County to address stormwater problems, flooding and stream restoration needs, including $2.3 million to develop a stormwater management plan. One of the projects will restore 3,100 linear feet of streams in the historically Black community of Eagle Harbor, where a nearby power plant has exacerbated flooding in recent years.

Virginia

Virginia received $4.3 billion at the state level, while its cities and counties got $2.9 billion. The current state budget is absorbing $3.2 billion of the funding, leaving $1.1 billion to be spent in the future.

$50 million to the Department of Health to support equal access to clean drinking water in small and disadvantaged communities.

$125 million to the Department of Environmental Quality to help pay for sewage treatment plant upgrades aimed at reducing the frequency of overflows. Alexandria and Richmond would each receive $50 million, while Lynchburg would get $25 million. Each city must provide 100% matching funds.

$75 million to DEQ for septic, pipe and sewer system repairs and upgrades.

$2 million to Norfolk (proposed) to reduce flooding along Surrey Crescent, a residential road in the low-lying Larchmont/Edgewater neighborhood.

$850,000 to Norfolk Botanical Garden (proposed) to establish “Nature’s Wonderland,” which would include a new destination exhibit, renovations to the butterfly house and the creation of a staff-guided kayak program on Lake Whitehurst.

$1.5 million to Richmond to acquire land for new parks on the Southside, a historically underserved section of the city. The goal is to reduce the number of residents who don’t have access to park space within a 10-minute walk of their homes.

$19 million to Richmond in environmental spending, including $12.5 million in stormwater system upgrades and

$1.5 million for a climate-risk assessment plan.

$1 million to the state Department of Conservation and Recreation to be provided to Fairfax County for trail system connections at Lake Royal Park.

$25 million to DCR to cover outdoor recreation area maintenance and construction needs.

Pennsylvania

The act made available about $7.2 billion for the state government. The state’s current budget used about $1 billion of that total, leaving $6.2 billion to be spent by the 2026 deadline.

Federal officials allotted $6 billion for local governments in Pennsylvania. In Lebanon County, Palmyra Borough received $752,000 to bore a stormwater pipe below a rail line and extend the system elsewhere.

Also, bills are pending in the General Assembly that would apply more still funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to clean water projects across the state.

https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2022/03/20/american-rescue-plan-boosts-environmental-work-in-chesapeake-region/

[Rick Plant]

Maybe check the history books and learn which party promoted racism in the US.  Here's a hint.  Lincoln was a republican.

Perhaps you should check your calendar. It's March 2022 not March 1862.

People don't care about the Republicans of 1862, they care about Republicans in 2022 promoting racism.

Abe Lincoln wouldn't be welcome in today's Republican Party. Trump would call him a RINO trying to kick him out.

Republicans are promoting racism today and this is a horrible racist statement by Mike Braun. And he isn't the only Republican who feels this way. Racism like this should not be tolerated. It's disgusting.

Republican Senator Mike Braun Says Supreme Court Should Have Never Legalized Interracial Marriage
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/mike-braun-says-interracial-marriage-should-be-illegal-1325336/

[Rick Plant]

That's why he's known as Criminal Donald. Lock him up in the big house!

Trump committed ‘numerous’ felonies, said resigning New York prosecutor – report
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/23/donald-trump-crime-accusation-prosecutor-mark-pomerantz

[Rick Plant]

President Biden continues to do great things and now he's working on eliminating Russian fossil fuel in Europe.

Biden to announce sweeping plan to get Europe off of Russian fossil fuel dependency: report



On Wednesday, The Washington Post reported that President Joe Biden is planning a sweeping new initiative to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe, in an effort to wean them off of reliance on Russian energy amid the invasion of Ukraine and embargo against the Kremlin.

"The announcement, a dramatic effort to deprive Russia of leverage as it continues to batter Ukraine, would mark an unusual move to reorder the world’s energy flow — a shift that could have an impact long after the war is over," reported Tyler Pager, Ashley Parker, John Hudson, and Jeff Stein. "It comes as European officials have asked the United States to do more to help them cut their reliance on Russia for oil and natural gas."

"Biden is also expected to use his stop in Brussels on Thursday and Friday — where he is meeting with NATO, the Group of Seven and the European Council — to announce additional sanctions against Moscow, as well as a crackdown on evasions of the current sanctions," continued the report. "The sanctions are expected to hit numerous members of Russia’s parliament, defense companies and subsidiaries, and additional sectors of its economy, according to two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe matters not yet made public. They cautioned that planning was fluid and subject to change."

The United States is the world's largest producer of natural gas. Russia is second, meaning that it will require a lot of exports to keep European countries properly supplied if Russian energy markets are fully cut off.

Already, Germany took a major step as the invasion escalated by shutting down the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would have increased capacity to deliver Russian gas to Europe. Oil exports to Western countries have plummeted too, although China is the largest buyer of Russian oil.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/23/biden-russia-sanctions-brussels/

[Richard Smith]

Hard to believe it could get any worse but Biden's poll numbers continue to fall:

Biden approval rating falls to new low: poll


"President Biden's approval rating dropped to 40 percent this week, according to a Reuters-Ipsos poll, an all-time low for the president in that survey.

The survey showed that Biden had a 54 percent disapproval rating amid high inflation and tensions caused by Moscow's deadly invasion of Ukraine, according to Reuters."