The Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act would provide a five-year extension on the statute of limitations for criminally prosecuting those who stole unemployment benefits.

During a recent Ways and Means Work and Welfare Subcommittee hearing, Work and Welfare Chairman Darin LaHood, R-Ill., shared details of the recent conviction in Pennsylvania of a man who stole $59 million in public benefits, including unemployment, and funneled the funds to his co-conspirators in China.

“This is a must pass bill,” said LaHood. “Federal law enforcement agencies are in the middle of litigating hundreds of cases with hundreds more yet to be litigated.”

According to the Department of Justice, there are still 157,000 open UI fraud complaints and 1,648 open investigations. The current statute of limitations is scheduled to expire on March 27, 2025, without Congressional action.

An estimated $100 billion to $135 billion of UI benefits from the pandemic were lost in the greatest theft of taxpayer dollars in American history. Of that, only $5 billion has been recovered.

LaHood said the same people who stole pandemic unemployment benefits are still at work.

“The same groups doing the same thing are happening now,” said LaHood. “This time, criminals are stealing disaster benefits owed to the Los Angeles fire and North Carolina hurricane victims.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, over 1,400 people have been convicted of unemployment insurance fraud since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measure passed out of committee and is headed to the U.S. House floor. Similar legislation which extended the statute of limitations for PPP fraud was passed by Congress.

The House Homeland Security Committee last week painted the contours of China’s surveillance surge, documenting more than 60 espionage operations in 20 states during the Biden administration that unmasked the breadth of Beijing’s efforts to steal America’s intellectual property and the tools of its military might.

In addition, lawmakers confirmed the Chinese spy balloon that embarrassed the Biden administration two years ago when it traversed U.S. airspace for days unimpeded likely contained technologies from multiple U.S. companies, illustrating how Beijing even uses U.S. friendships to gain advantage.

“There are still people who see China like we used to see it as an economic partner. They are not that. They are an enemy,” House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green told Just the News.

Tougher export controls

Chinese leadership under Xi Jinping “want to see China at the top of the international world order. And they want to see the international world order working to advantage China. So if they can get that through theft of intellectual property, or they can create disruption inside our own country, they’re going to do that,” Green said during a wide-ranging interview with the John Solomon Reports podcast. […]

— Read More: justthenews.com

Today, 45% of Democrats and left-leaning independents surveyed indicated they would prefer a more moderate Democratic Party, up 11% from 2021, according to Gallup. Meanwhile, the number of Republicans who want their party to stay the same – 43% – has similarly climbed over the same time by 9%. Those wanting a more conservative party declined by 12%.

“Both party groups’ preferences have shifted significantly since 2021, at the start of Joe Biden’s presidency, the last time Gallup measured opinions on this question,” wrote Gallup Senior Editor Megan Brennan.

This just days after Gallup released another survey showing of the five living American presidents, former President Barack Obama is the most liked, and former President Joe Biden is the least. Forty-eight percent of Americans surveyed had a favorable opinion of President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, though more people were unfavorable toward Trump (12% answered as having ‘no opinion’ on Clinton).

The data from the latest Gallup survey coincides with data from another poll the analytics firm released in January showing “that partisans have grown more ideologically polarized in the past few years.”

That poll reflected all-time highs in the number of Republicans and Democrats identifying as conservative and liberal. Seventy-seven percent of Republicans identified as conservative in the January poll, with 24% saying they were very conservative, while 55% of Democrats identified as liberal and 19% as very liberal. Each of these were record highs, with the percentage of those describing themselves as conservative growing by four points from 2023.

According to its analysis of Texas school districts, Texas ranked 31st among states in terms of recovery in math and eighth in reading between 2019 and 2024.

“Average student achievement in Texas remains over half a grade level below 2019 levels in math (.51 grade equivalents) and almost one third of a grade level below in reading (.31 grade equivalents). In other words, the loss in math achievement in Texas is equivalent to 51% of the progress students typically make annually between grades 4 through grade 8,” CEPR explains.

The analysis found 88% of students are enrolled in school districts whose average math achievement in 2024 remained below their own 2019 levels. Slightly less, 84% of students are enrolled in school districts whose average reading achievement remained below 2019 levels.

The scorecard is a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. CEPR has reported on learning losses in reading and math and academic recovery measures in districts nationwide for three years.

The analysis is different than one published by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which addresses changes in average achievement by state, because it combines NAEP scores with district scores on state assessments to provide a more extensive description of the change in local communities statewide.

The report breaks down achievement by district in downloadable charts and maps. In some school districts like Arlington and Aldine, the average student remains a full grade equivalent below their 2019 mean achievement in math. In Klein and Conroe ISDs, students nearly recovered to 2019 levels in mean reading and math; Frisco ISD students surpassed their 2019 mean in reading and nearly recovered in math.

Nationally, no state improved its math and reading NAEP scores; more than 100 districts exceeded their scores pre-COVID-era lockdowns. Of the top 100 districts, states with the most recovered were Alabama (19), Louisiana (13), Texas (12), and California (11), according to a list of 100 recovered school districts.

Houston area districts ranked among the top in the state and nationwide, according to the list.

Spring Branch ISD in Houston ranks third best in the country for recovering in math and reading. Magnolia ISD, north of Houston, ranks 15th best nationwide; Angleton ISD, south of Houston, ranks 31st. Other Texas districts in the top 100 were Lubbock-Cooper ISD, Southside ISD, Nederland ISD, Pine Tree ISD, Somerset ISD, Gilmer ISD, Raymondville ISD and Hillsboro ISD.

Chronic absenteeism was a primary factor in learning losses in Texas and nationwide. In Texas, 26% of students were reported for chronic absenteeism in 2022 and 21% in 2023 up from 11% in 2019, according to the report.

As of spring 2024, the average U.S. student nationwide remained nearly half a grade level behind pre-COVID-era lockdown policies in achievement in math and reading. Students today “are even further behind in reading than they were in 2022,” the report found.

Achievement gaps also widened nationwide due to COVID lockdown learning losses. High-income districts were nearly four times more likely to recover than low-income districts, the report found.

Part of the disconnect is the extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts, which Republicans view as preventing a tax hike rather than a reduction in revenue. Extending the provisions could considerably add to U.S. debt without corresponding spending cuts. The Congressional Budget Office has said it won’t pay for itself without further budget offsets. Another issues is President Donald Trump’s tariff plan, which could raise revenue, but figuring out how much remains a challenge as Trump implements some tariffs and leaves others on pause.

In December, Trump promised to cut “hundreds of billions” in federal spending in 2025 through the reconciliation progress. Last week, Trump posted “balanced budget” in all capital letters followed by three exclamation points on Truth Social. He signed the post with his initials. Congress hasn’t proposed anything close to meeting those goals.

The House resolution would allocate $4.5 trillion to extend the president’s 2017 tax cuts. The House resolution raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion and instructs congressional committees to find at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years, only partially offsetting the tax cuts extension. In return, the bill would authorize a $300 billion increase in mandatory spending split among the Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Judiciary committees.

Trump’s comment aren’t the only ones that don’t square with the proposals Republicans have put forward.

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, a longtime fiscal hawk, holds the House Budget Committee gavel, but it’s unclear if he’ll correct course on the nation’s spending even with Trump in the White House and narrow GOP majorities in both legislative chambers.

“This budget resolution is more than numbers on a ledger, it’s a blueprint for restoring America’s security, prosperity, and leadership in the world,” Arrington said. “It’s a promissory note for our children to preserve the land of liberty and opportunity by safeguarding it from an unwieldy government and the unbridled spending, taxing, and regulating that threatens to destroy it. This budget blueprint is the fiscal framework for our unified Republican leadership to rein in Washington’s reckless spending and endless bureaucracy, reignite economic growth and prosperity, and restore the bulwark of our common defense.”

However, the blueprint he’s talking about doesn’t stop the federal government from spending money it doesn’t have. An analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said the budget resolution includes $3.3 trillion of net allowable deficit increases. With interest, that would allow almost $4 trillion of additional debt. A bill consistent with those instructions would increase debt in 2034 to 126% of gross domestic product, a measure of economic output. The budget window – fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2034 – is an eight-year extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which could make the $4.8 trillion of tax cuts and spending increases in this budget window translate to $5.5-$6 trillion of 10-year increases, CRFB noted.

“Overall, the budget resolution would allow lawmakers to increase borrowing by nearly $4 trillion over the next decade at a time when it would be a mistake to make our fiscal situation worse,” the nonpartisan group said.

Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, said the House budget plan could add $25 trillion in debt over the next decade.

“Unfortunately, this resolution sets the stage for adding trillions more in new deficits and debt,” he said. “It allows for $4.5 trillion in revenue reductions, with only $1.2 trillion in offsets. All told, this plan would add more than $25 trillion to the debt over the next decade.”

Peterson said taxpayers can’t afford it and lawmakers should make changes.

“They should avoid budget gimmicks like unrealistic economic growth, undefined spending cuts, uncertain tariff revenue, or timing games, all of which simply conceal more debt,” he said. “The bottom line is that America is in terrible fiscal shape and the new administration and Congress have many available policy options to improve our fiscal outlook, or at the very least fully offset any policies they wish to enact or extend. Now is the time to prioritize our fiscal future and put our nation on a more sustainable path.”

Congress’ own research service, the Government Accountability Office, has for years been warning presidents and lawmakers that the nation remains on an unsustainable fiscal path. The GAO repeated those warnings last week.

A GAO report warned that unchecked spending could push public debt to 219% of GDP by 2051 and create a significant economic and national security risk.

“We project that public debt will reach an unprecedented level by 2027,” said Gene Dodaro, U.S. Comptroller General and head of the GAO. “We’re calling on Congress and the Administration to act now to develop and implement a strategy to address this acute challenge. Inaction could result in great difficulties for many Americans and impede policymakers’ flexibility to respond to future economic recessions or unexpected events.”

Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, said the group will continue to look for ways to reduce the deficit.

“I commend Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington on navigating a budget resolution through markup and setting up the Trump agenda for success,” he said. “RSC’s stated position is this process must reduce the budget deficit and we will continue to work with the Administration and designated committees to achieve additional savings.”

“On Trade, I have decided, for purposes of Fairness, that I will charge a RECIPROCAL Tariff meaning, whatever Countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them – No more, no less!” Trump wrote Thursday afternoon on Truth Social.

The president said he will consider other countries use of value-added taxes or VAT, a consumption tax assessed on the value added in each production stage of a good or service. Such taxes are common in European countries.

“For purposes of this United States Policy, we will consider Countries that use the VAT System, which is far more punitive than a Tariff, to be similar to that of a Tariff. Sending merchandise, product, or anything by any other name through another Country, for purposes of unfairly harming America, will not be accepted,” Trump wrote.

“In addition, we will make provision for subsidies provided by Countries in order to take Economic advantage of the United States. Likewise, provisions will be made for Nonmonetary Tariffs and Trade Barriers that some Countries charge in order to keep our product out of their domain or, if they do not even let U.S. businesses operate,” the president continued. “We are able to accurately determine the cost of these Nonmonetary Trade Barriers. It is fair to all, no other Country can complain and, in some cases, if a Country feels that the United States would be getting too high a Tariff, all they have to do is reduce or terminate their Tariff against us. There are no Tariffs if you manufacture or build your product in the United States.”

The memo orders Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer to evaluate custom country-by-country remedies to U.S. trade deficits. Office of Management and Budget boss Russell Vought would then submit a report within 180 days to assess the fiscal impact of the tariffs.

The order came short of imposing the tariffs immediately. Trump has forestalled all but one of his tariff orders so far. He agreed to pause 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada after leaders of those countries promised to strengthen border security to stop fentanyl from entering the U.S., a decades-long problem that some view as intractable. Trump did go forward with a 10% tariff on imports from China. China responded with limited tariffs on U.S. imports and filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization.

Trump also moved to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Those could start March 1.

Trump said Thursday that his plan was to level the playing field.

“For many years, the U.S. has been treated unfairly by other Countries, both friend and foe. This System will immediately bring Fairness and Prosperity back into the previously complex and unfair System of Trade,” Trump wrote. “America has helped many Countries throughout the years, at great financial cost. It is now time that these Countries remember this, and treat us fairly – A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR AMERICAN WORKERS.”

Trump touted tariffs throughout his campaign and during his inauguration said tariff revenue would make the U.S. “rich as hell.” He also said that tariff revenue would lower the tax burden on American taxpayers.

Most economists have questioned Trump’s tariff plans.

Last week, S&P Global, a credit-rating agency, reported the potential effects of Trump’s tariffs were “overwhelmingly negative.” S&P analysts said the tariffs could slow gross domestic product growth, boost unemployment and inflation. It noted that “the effects on the U.S. are smaller than for trading partners.” Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, is a measure of economic output. S&P noted the uncertainty around Trump’s tariff plans creates problems for businesses and U.S. families.

Hegseth ultimately hopes the U.S. will increase its defense budget as he claims the Biden administration “underinvested” in the American military, but things like DOD climate change programs are ripe for cuts, according to the secretary.

“The Defense Department is not in the business of climate change, solving the global thermostat. We’re in the business of deterring and winning wars,” Hegseth told reporters Tuesday. “Things like that, we want to look for and find efficiencies.”

President Joe Biden ramped up efforts across the federal government to combat climate change. He and his administration repeatedly framed climate change as, among other things, a military priority, considering it a threat to national security.

“The Department continues to respond to climate change in two ways: adaptation to enhance resilience and mitigation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” wrote former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin In the department’s 2024-2027 Climate Adaptation Plan.

The military’s mitigation goals outlined in the plan include net-zero installations and leveraging technologies that reduce energy use.

Enhancing resilience includes using renewable energy and “installing microgrids to ensure power is available at all times,” Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer Rachel Ross said in 2024. In 2023, the president’s proposed defense budget included $3.7 billion for “installation resiliency and adaptation” and $1.5 billion for research and development, operational energy and contingency preparedness.

With major players like Air Liquide, Air Products, and Praxair operating hydrogen pipelines, and a well-established network of refineries and chemical plants that already produce and use hydrogen, the state has the potential to become a national hub for hydrogen and fuel cell development.

But that future is a bit uncertain with the new Trump administration. Shifting federal policies, regulatory uncertainty, and looming tax debates have left Louisiana’s hydrogen prospects in limbo.

The Trump administration has issued a wave of executive orders on energy policy, including a directive to review all federal funding mechanisms for energy projects.

“The new administration has indicated that they’re not the biggest fans of green energy tax credits under the [Inflation Reduction Act], both of which 40 5q and 40 5v have been either implemented or expanded under the [IRA],” Shawn Daray, a New Orleans tax attorney, told the Clean Hydrogen Task Force on Monday.

While the “Unleashing American Energy” order does not directly target 45Q and 45V tax credits, it could impact the broader financial support available for hydrogen development in Louisiana by targeting the Inflation Reduction Act.

Just before transitioning to the Trump administration, the U.S. Treasury Department finalized rules for the 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit.

The final regulations for the 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, effective Jan. 10, introduced significant changes aimed at providing investment certainty while ensuring compliance with lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions standards.

These rules clarify eligibility criteria for hydrogen producers using various energy sources, including renewable electricity, natural gas with carbon capture, and renewable natural gas. The regulations also introduce stricter emissions accounting, requiring hydrogen producers to meet hourly matching standards for electricity use by 2030.

Despite these efforts to promote clean hydrogen, potential challenges loom over the tax credit’s future. The Congressional Review Act could be used to challenge the rule, while the Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning Chevron deference may influence future legal disputes over regulatory authority.

Additionally, new executive orders and any forthcoming tax legislation from the Trump administration or a potential new administration could reshape the policy landscape, affecting hydrogen investment decisions.

The final rules aim to support the growth of the clean hydrogen industry, particularly in projects tied to the Department of Energy’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs.

The Homeland Security inspector general reported that the Coast Guard failed to followed required cybersecurity procedures for at least three of its computer systems that transmitted data to and from the Department of Defense Information Network and that as a result national security was placed at risk.

“The three systems we reviewed, and other similarly situated systems in the Coast Guard’s enterprise, are vulnerable to cybersecurity weaknesses and exposed to un-assessed risks that could result in the unauthorized disclosure or compromise of sensitive Coast Guard information,” the federal watchdog warned in a report that included redactions for security information.

“Adversaries also could leverage these cybersecurity weaknesses to compromise the DODIN, placing DoD and Coast Guard personnel, assets, and the Nation at risk,” the report also reads.

You can read the report here: […]

— Read More: justthenews.com

“If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated,” Netanyahu wrote on the social media platform X Tuesday.

Al-Qassam Brigades – the armed wing of Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip – said Monday the hostage release would be “postponed until further notice.”

Following a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Tuesday, President Donald Trump predicted Hamas likely would not release the hostages.

“I don’t think they’re going to make the deadline, personally,” Trump said, according to The Associated Press. “They want to play tough guy. We’ll see how tough they are.” […]

— Read More: justthenews.com