U.S.A.'s interesting latest

REAL NEWS PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T WANT YOU TO MISS Trump says he'll visit Florida, emphasize mental health after school shooting - POLITICO On Thursday, President Donald J. Trump addressed the Nation and announced his plans to visit Florida after a gunman opened fire at a high school in Broward County, resulting in 17 deaths. President Trump’s remarks underscored his commitment to “working with state and local leaders to help secure our schools and tackle the difficult issue of mental health.” The President also ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff through sunset on Monday. ------------------------- U.S. homebuilder sentiment remains near highest level since 1999 - Bloomberg Markets According to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo, “confidence among American homebuilders held steady in February near the highest level since 1999.” This new report signals that “home construction will continue to pick up as economic conditions remain favorable.” ------------------------- Building a stronger America - WhiteHouse.gov “A Nation’s infrastructure is a measure of its greatness,” National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn writes. He breaks down the infrastructure plan that President Trump unveiled this week—a main goal of which is to stimulate state, local, and private investment. “Rather than telling governors and mayors what to do, we will partner with them as they invest in the most pressing projects,” Cohn says. ------------------------- Democrats scramble on taxes as Republicans gain steam CNN The Democrats have been caught “flat-footed by the suddenly increasing popularity of the GOP tax plan,” CNN reports. Democratic leadership has been in a “scramble” trying to “reignite opposition to a tax plan . . . [that] is now seen favorably by about half of voters.” Democrats did not anticipate that “businesses would quickly hand out sizable bonus checks in response to its implementation.” ------------------------- Sen. Tim Scott: New tax law will spur opportunity in distressed communities - USA Today Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) met with President Trump, Ivanka Trump, and others in the Oval Office this week to discuss how “Opportunity Zones” could be a game-changer in confronting poverty in America. “The Investing in Opportunity Act gives investors incentive to put their sidelined capital gains into struggling areas in every zip code,” Sen. Scott writes. ------------------------- FERC moves to help solar, wind power by removing barrier to energy storage - Washington Examiner In the Trump Administration’s latest regulatory rollback, the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee removed “long-standing barriers to energy storage in power markets,” a move that could help the country better utilize its solar and wind energy resources. How Art Therapy Uplifts Children Fighting Cancer February 17, 2018 By: Karen Pence Second Lady We had a great visit with Tracy’s Kids at Methodist Children’s Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, on Friday. It was so nice being able to paint with the kids. We painted Texas bluebonnets in honor of where we were. The kids shared with me what art therapy means to them. A young 10 year old boy expressed how much he likes to come to the hospital because he gets to work with the art therapist. He very graciously presented me with one of his original paintings of the Statue of Liberty which I told him I will proudly display in my office at the White House. One of my favorite moments was a note I received from a patient who was not able to leave her room. She wanted me to know that she does art 95% of the day. She loves art therapy. We did a little video to say thank you and hello to her on the art therapist’s phone to be shared with her later. Another patient has been in and out of the hospital for six months. And art therapy is the only thing that gets her out of her room. To see Tracy’s Kids San Antonio, which provides art therapy for all pediatric oncology patients at Methodist Children’s Hospital in full swing under the capable direction of “Miss Courtney” was very inspiring. “Miss Courtney”, thank you for what you do. Keep up the great, great work! And thank you to the community in San Antonio that supports this art therapy program. I am honored to have this national and international platform to shine the light on art therapy. I hope you continue to follow along, as I will share stories about my visits across the United States and around the world to elevate art therapy. WTAS: Senate Minority’s Obstructionism On Immigration Issued on: February 16, 2018 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “I thought my friends across the aisle would jump at this opportunity to fulfill what they say is their top priority. But they just could not take ‘yes’ for an answer. They turned away from a golden opportunity to solve this issue. They decided they’d rather come away empty handed, with no resolution whatsoever for the 1.8 million individuals they say they are championing, than accept a reasonable compromise with the president.” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX): “On Tuesday the Majority Leader tried twice to open the debate and start voting, but both times there were objections heard by our Democratic colleagues. This despite their repeated promises over the years to address the DACA issue once and for all.” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA): “Today is a sad day for many Americans and for many dreamers who would have had a rare pathway to citizenship. We had the opportunity to pass a bill that would have provided legal certainty for 1.8 million individuals. It would have secured the border and focused enforcement on the very worst criminals, like sex offenders, human rights violators and war criminals. And importantly, it had the President’s support and could have actually become law…. It’s unfortunate that so many of my colleagues, when given the chance to finally give citizenship to DACA kids, refused to do so.” Sen. John Boozman (R-AR): “President Trump presented a thoughtful framework to accomplish these shared goals and Senator Grassley’s amendment, which I supported, turned that framework into legislation that could become law. Given our mutual goals, it should have passed the Senate in a bipartisan manner. I am disappointed that it did not.” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR): “What this debate has shown is just how unserious the Democrats are about illegal immigration. If they were serious, they wouldn’t have shut down the government over DACA only to reject the one bill, endorsed by the president, that would’ve given DACA recipients the legal certainty they need. And they wouldn’t have introduced such a reckless proposal that had zero chance of becoming law. There’s broad agreement about how to solve this problem, but we won’t succeed unless the Democrats stop this incessant virtue-signaling and start negotiating in good faith.” Sen. David Perdue (R-GA): “Senate Democrats have shown their true colors. First, they shut down the government over DACA. Today, they had an opportunity to vote to provide certainty for 1.8 million DACA recipients and they voted no. Senate Democrats said they wanted a bipartisan solution, but really they don’t. Senate Democrats said they want to secure our border, but really they don’t. Today, Senate Democrats crushed the dreams of many people who were counting on them to deliver and showed they are quite happy to have an immigration system that does not serve the American people or protect our national security.” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): “In case you didn’t think Congress was absurd before, Senate Democrats are now filibustering the open immigration debate they asked for, and are refusing to put their bill on the floor.” Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA): “I voted for Senator Grassley’s measure based on President Trump’s proposal. We must stop human trafficking, money laundering and drug trafficking. This amendment provided real border security and discouraged future human trafficking. As a compromise, it also addressed Democrats’ concerns. This was the only bill that could become law. If Democrats truly wished to solve immigration issues, they should have supported this bill.” Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT): “It is disappointing that a minority of the Senate blocked my bipartisan proposal to end sanctuary cities and protect the safety and security of America.” Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND): “I voted against the proposal put forward by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer because the Department of Homeland Security said it would not secure the border, nor did it end the diversity lottery system or adequately address chain migration.” Sen. James Lankford (R-OK): “Most of what was proposed by the President and Senate Republicans has passed the Senate multiple times over the past fifteen years, but not today. It’s disappointing that Democrats would not come to the table simply because President Trump supported it. Immigration reform is complicated and emotional, but it is essential that we keep working until we reach a good faith solution for the future of all Americans.” Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA): “I am disappointed that the Senate was unable to reach an agreement today on immigration policy…. It was also deeply troubling that a minority of Senators blocked consideration of my common-sense bipartisan amendment designed to end dangerous sanctuary city policies.” Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC): “I have said from the beginning that we must secure the border and keep our nation safer, reform our legal immigration system, and find a permanent, compassionate solution for DACA recipients. Today, I voted for measures that would accomplish these things, namely the Secure and Succeed Act and legislation to stop sanctuary cities, and against measures that do not. Democrats continue to try and use Dreamers as a political tool, and we continue working to find a solution.” Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN): “Trump has shown presidential leadership on immigration. Senate Democrats should take my fellow Tennessean – Howard Baker’s – advice that ‘the other fellow might be right,’ and the other fellow in this case might be named President Trump.” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): “I share the President’s commitment to border security. That’s why I voted for his plan. That’s why I fought to ensure the $25 billion he requested for border security was included in the bipartisan deal. That’s why I opposed the Democratic proposal that did not provide a single penny for border security.” Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI): “Sad to see that the US Senate could not find any path forward on DACA and immigration reform today. Of interest, Sen Stabenow voted to defund ‘Sanctuary Cities’.” COMMENTATORS Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL): “Senate Democrats blocked a vote on #SanctuaryCities. Only further proving that they care more about illegals than actual Americans.” Fox Business’ Trish Regan: “President [Trump] is extending a massive olive branch on immigration, but the Democrats don’t want to make a deal! Maybe they don’t want Republicans to get the credit for giving these dreamers a path to citizenship!” Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the Russia Indictments FOREIGN POLICY Issued on: February 16, 2018 Earlier today, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced indictments against 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian entities for meddling in the 2016 Presidential election, which began in 2014 before the President declared his candidacy. President Donald J. Trump has been fully briefed on this matter and is glad to see the Special Counsel’s investigation further indicates—that there was NO COLLUSION between the Trump campaign and Russia and that the outcome of the election was not changed or affected. President Trump says, “it is more important than ever before to come together as Americans. We cannot allow those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancor to be successful. It’s time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions. We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections.”