MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sam Graves (6th District of Missouri)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) and Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01) have introduced legislation to help provide stable energy rates and a reliable energy grid to states in the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), including Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

“Missouri’s rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities have worked with the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) to provide affordable and reliable electricity to Missouri families for over 80 years,” said Rep. Graves. “But the way SWPA is set up, droughts and other disruptions can cause rate spikes that are passed on to co-ops and municipalities that have no choice but to increase electric rates on Missouri families. This common sense legislation creates a revolving fund to fix that problem—giving SWPA the stable funding necessary to avoid costly rate spikes, and lower customer rates.”

“For more than eight decades, the Southwestern Power Administration has allowed rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities to provide reliable, affordable energy to Kansans,” said Rep. Mann. “Under the current funding structure, SWPA has not had the flexibility to make necessary investments into their infrastructure. As a result, when natural disasters and bad weather limit the Administration’s ability to produce power, replacement power has to be purchased, and that cost is absorbed by everyday Kansans. Establishing a revolving fund for SWPA ensures that they can continue to invest in their infrastructure while providing safe, reliable, and affordable energy to Kansas families and rural communities like those in the Big First.”

The SWPA, part of the Department of Energy, markets power produced by federal hydropower projects, including Clarence Cannon Dam and Harry S. Truman Dam, to electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act would give the SWPA the authority to operate on a self-funding, revolving Treasury fund to help provide long-term stability to SWPA. This would provide the certainty and stable funding SWPA needs to avoid drastic and unnecessary spikes in power rates charged to electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in an extreme or multi-year regional drought. 

The Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act is supported by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Missouri Public Utilities Association, Southwestern Power Resources Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and American Public Power Association.

“Missouri’s rural electric cooperatives thank Congressman Graves for leading this effort to provide more reliable and affordable electricity for Missouri families. When no one else would, Missouri’s electric cooperatives answered the call to provide power to every farm and every home in every corner of this state. Now, this bill ensures we can keep providing affordable, reliable electric service to Missouri families for decades to come.” – Caleb Jones, CEO/Executive Vice President of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives

“MPUA commends Congressman Graves for championing this forward-thinking legislation, which preserves Missouri’s legacy of affordable, renewable energy, while strengthening its future. The Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act is a foundational step in modernizing federal hydropower and ensuring its long-term reliability. This bill will help secure cost-based power for generations to come. We look forward to collaborating with Congressman Graves to advance this important legislation. – Steven Stodden, President & CEO, Missouri Public Utilities Association

“Federal hydropower is a vital, reliable renewable energy source for the state of Missouri and throughout the region.  We are grateful for Congressman Graves’ support for this legislation that will help cut unnecessary red tape and keep energy prices affordable for the members we serve.” – Brian Ackermann, SPRA Board President and Vice President of Portfolio Management at Associated Electric Cooperative

“Federal hydropower is a reliably renewable generation resource. This legislation recognizes the value of protecting that resource throughout the six-state region, making sure that these important assets are maintained. This legislation would go a long way toward ensuring grid reliability and affordably throughout the region for millions of homes, farms and small businesses. I thank Congressman Graves for introducing this important bill that represents good business sense.” – Nicki Fuller, Executive Director, Southwestern Power Resources Association 

“NRECA supports the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act. The self-financed revolving loan fund authorized by this bill would allow the Southwestern Power Administration to better manage infrastructure needs while being more responsive to market conditions and electric demands created by extreme weather events.” – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

“The American Public Power Association applauds the introduction of the Southwestern Power Fund Establishment Act. Since 1943, not-for-profit public power utilities and rural electric cooperatives have successfully partnered with the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) to bring reliable hydropower produced at Army Corps dams to millions of customers in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. While SWPA customers pay all costs of generating and transmitting the electricity in their power rates, a complicated funding process has increasingly failed to provide the financial certainty necessary to steady power rates to customers during drought and extreme weather events. The Southwestern Power Fund Establishment Act would streamline this process in a manner that would help avoid rate spikes and economic hardship for communities served by public power utilities and rural electric cooperatives while continuing to ensure that SWPA customers pay all costs associated with generating and transmitting hydropower produced at Corps dams. It is a win-win for the federal government and communities served by not-for-profit electric utilities.” – American Public Power Association

You can find the full text of the legislation here.

 

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) led more than 100 Democrats in the House and Senate in condemning staffing cuts and potential closures to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Field Offices across the country. In a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, the lawmakers called on HUD to fully and immediately reinstate civil servants who were illegally fired from the Department and condemned reports that HUD is considering the illegal closure of nearly two-thirds of field offices nationwide. 

“We write to express concern about reports that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is considering closing nearly two-thirds of the Department’s field offices, leaving most states and the District of Columbia without critical sites or staff,” the lawmakers wrote. “These reports follow the unlawful mass termination of probationary federal employees, HUD’s announcement that employees at GS-13 and below in the Office of Field Policy and Management would be terminated, and reports that the Department plans to cut its agency-wide workforce by at least half.”

“We strongly urge HUD to maintain existing field offices with adequate staffing levels and to fully and immediately reinstate civil servants who have been illegally terminated,” the lawmakers continued.

The letter was cosigned by U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Becca Balint (D-VT), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Troy Carter (D-LA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Danny Davis (D-IL), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Al Green (D-TX), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY), Hank Johnson (D-GA), William Keating (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), James McGovern (D-MA), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Frank Mrvan (D-IN), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), David Scott (D-GA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Mark Takano (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Nikema Williams (D-GA), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).

The letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The official letter from lawmakers is available here.

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), David Scott (D-GA), and Nikema Williams (D-GA), members of the House Financial Services Committee, led 50 House Democrats in sending a letter to Travis Hill, the Acting Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), opposing the Trump Administration’s effort to undermine the agency’s critical role of ensuring financial stability and protecting consumers from financial harm.

The letter follows ongoing reports that the Trump Administration and Elon Musk are planning to move forward with a proposed merger of the FDIC with other key banking regulators, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Reserve’s supervisory division. In recent weeks, the Administration fired hundreds of bank examiners, failed to put forward Acting Director Hill’s nomination to officially lead the agency before the U.S. Senate, and reportedly asked the Treasury Department to draft recommendations streamlining the role of other banking regulators to exert more control over them.

“Since the Great Depression, the FDIC has played a vital role in supporting the wellbeing of American families and the economy, promoting stability and confidence in the banking system and guaranteeing that hard-earned deposits are protected,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Having been in Congress during the 2008 financial crisis, I’ve seen the horrible consequences that follow reckless deregulation and inadequate oversight of America’s financial system. While I pray to never see such an economic collapse again, the Trump Administration’s efforts to put special interests over the interests of everyday Americans by gutting the FDIC and those responsible for ensuring our financial system is sound leave me properly petrified. It’s imperative that the Acting FDIC Chair protect the mission and integrity of the independent agency before another tragedy occurs.”

“The notion that the President would consider merging or consolidating the FDIC is an outrageous, reckless, and profoundly irresponsible attack on the financial security of millions of Americans,” said Congressman David Scott. “The FDIC has been the backbone of our banking system for nearly a century, ensuring that depositors’ money is safe and protected against bank failures. To dismantle the institution by firing the very people tasked with overseeing bank soundness and safety, is to invite chaos, economic instability, and financial ruin for working families and small businesses across Georgia and the nation. Acting Chair Travis Hill must immediately rebuff any attempt to blunt or politicize the mission of the FDIC, oppose the mass layoff of key examiners and reaffirm his commitment to the agency’s independence.”

“Once again, President Trump is showing his laughable ignorance of our financial system,” said Congresswoman Williams. “The FDIC’s independence is essential to protecting confidence and stability in our banking system. Chairman Hill’s willingness to entertain consolidating the FDIC with other banking regulators, while it is already understaffed, is a direct threat to that stability. Dismantling this agency is another thinly veiled attempt to attack working families, many who look like my constituents in Atlanta, and a deliberate attempt to widen the racial wealth gap.”

“The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), representing the employees at FDIC, OCC and CFPB, is grateful for Representatives Scott, Cleaver, Williams and others for their letter to Acting Chair Hill.  The current Administration is playing reckless games with the bank deposits of hard-working Americans.  Firing hundreds of experienced bank examiners puts every American’s bank accounts at risk.” Doreen Greenwald, National President, National Treasury Employees Union.

“It is gravely misguided and dangerous to undermine the independence of the FDIC which has tirelessly and capably protected depositors and the economy for almost a century. People rely on the FDIC seal of approval and communities across the country rely on the FDIC to preserve the safety and soundness of local banks.” Patrick Woodall, Managing Director of Policy, Americans for Financial Reform.

The letter was endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform (AFR), the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and Public Citizen.

The letter was cosigned by Representatives Becca Balint (D-VT), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Shontel Brown (D-OH), André Carson (D-IN), Troy Carter (D-LA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA), Herbert Conaway (D-NJ), Danny Davis (D-IL), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Al Green (D-TX), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), George Latimer (D-NY), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).

The official letter from lawmakers is available here.

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

“It is unclear how these technologies, which have not been widely adopted even by the real estate industry, would help HUD meet its mission.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Kansas City, MO) – This weekend, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) hosted House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) in Kansas City to participate in a listening session with local educators and community leaders to discuss President Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Department of Education and to hear firsthand how cuts to public education funding and personnel will impact the communities we serve. With the support of House Republicans, President Donald Trump has announced an executive order that purports to eliminate the Department of Education, which is only possible through an act of Congress.

“This weekend I had the privilege of hosting Ranking Member Bobby Scott in Kansas City to hear from educators throughout Missouri’s Fifth District about the devastating consequences the Trump administration’s effort to dismantle the Department of Education would have on students, teachers, and families,” said Congressman Cleaver. “It is abundantly clear: eroding this critical institution means students and teachers will suffer. Our educators, parents, and children deserve a government that invests in their success – not one that undermines their future. I’m committed to fighting to strengthen and protect every child’s right to a quality education.”

“This weekend, I had the pleasure of traveling to Kansas City and hearing from Rep. Cleaver’s constituents. The Department of Education (ED) was founded in part to guarantee the enforcement of students’ civil rights.  And champions of public school segregation objected and campaigned for a return to ‘states’ rights.’ Moreover,  during President Trump’s first term in office, he nominated dozens of judges who during their confirmation hearings refused to say whether they thought Brown v. Board was properly decided,” Ranking Member Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce. “Legality aside, dismantling ED will exacerbate existing disparities, reduce accountability, and put low-income students, students of color, students with disabilities, rural students, and English as a Second Language (ESL) students at risk.  I believe this executive order will be used to distract Americans from the fact that Republicans are not working to address the real problems facing students and families: widening academic achievement gaps, school shootings, and the burden of student loans.”

Dismantling the Department of Education would mean a funding cut for every student:

• 26 million kids across every school district – rural, suburban, and urban – will lose access to critical funding to help them get ahead.
• 12 million students will lose access to career and technical education, including pathways to well-paying jobs through apprenticeship programs in trades or STEM
• 10 million students from low-income families could lose access to two-and four-year colleges due to costs
• 7.5 million students with Individualized Education Plans – accounting for 15 percent of all students nationally – will lose access to special education service funding.

Dismantling the Department of Education means eliminating federal efforts to ensure equal educational opportunities for all, federal support to school districts, states, and institutions of higher education, civil rights enforcement in our schools, and educational research to support best practices for educational attainment at all levels. 

A fact sheet from the event can be found here.

Photos from the event can be found here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement on President Trump’s decision, with the permission of Congressional Republicans, to instigate a global trade war, levy a new import tax on everyday goods, and raise prices on American families.

“Tariffs are not an all-encompassing economic strategy—at least not one that is made for long-term prosperity. When used appropriately, they are a tool in America’s toolbox to protect vital industries and our national security. When used inappropriately, as I believe the president is doing with across-the-board import taxes on our allies and adversaries alike, they lead to higher prices, fewer jobs, slower economic growth, and more contentious relationships with nations around the world. With inflation already on the rise again due to previously implemented tariffs, this is a recipe for disaster.

“Missouri families, including our farmers, are already struggling with the cost of living, but rather than focusing on lowering essentials like groceries, housing, and healthcare, President Trump has instigated a reckless trade war—and the American people will pay the price. 

“The president has admitted himself that these new taxes will create more pain for American families, farmers, and small businesses, saying that he ‘couldn’t care less’ about the prospect of higher prices on everything from cars to groceries. Well, the American people care, and they will make their feelings known if the president does not quickly reverse course, repair the relationships that America has spent decades forging, and focus on lowering costs for the public.”

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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (AR-02), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets Ann Wagner (MO-02), and all Republican members of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, sent a letter to Acting Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Mark Uyeda commending the Commission for its recent decision to rescind Staff Legal Bulletin (SLB) No. 14L. The lawmakers also used the letter to highlight additional challenges that remain within the Rule 14a-8 framework. 

In the letter, Hill, Wagner, and Republican members of the Subcommittee stated, “The SEC’s core mission is to protect investors, maintain fair and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation. The recent rescission of SLB 14L is a commendable action aligned with this mission. We encourage the Commission to build upon this progress by pursuing further reforms to Rule 14a-8 that will promote a shareholder proposal process that is both fair and focused on enhancing long-term shareholder value.

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear Acting Chair Uyeda,

We write to commend the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its recent decision to rescind Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14L through the issuance of Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14M on February 12, 2025. This action marks a significant step toward restoring balance in the shareholder proposal process and ensuring that proposals included in proxy statements are pertinent to shareholder value.

However, despite this positive development, challenges remain within the Rule 14a-8 framework. The politicization of the proxy process continues to place a substantial burden on public companies, drive up unnecessary costs for shareholders, and undermine the broader attractiveness of U.S. public markets. When shareholder proposals are driven by social and political agendas rather than issues directly tied to corporate performance, they erode investor confidence and divert resources away from long-term value creation. This not only harms the companies targeted but also retail investors, pension funds, and other market participants who rely on fair and efficient capital markets.

In addition to the broader politicization of the proxy process, the unchecked influence of proxy advisory firms, such as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis, continues to distort voting outcomes with little transparency or accountability. By imposing arbitrary voting thresholds, these firms override shareholder intent, disenfranchising the majority of investors who support management proposals. Despite their outsized influence, proxy advisory firms often issue blanket recommendations that fail to account for company-specific circumstances. Worse, their recommendations are rarely grounded in a substantive analysis of whether a given proposal serves the economic interests of shareholders, further eroding confidence in the process.

These challenges underscore the need for the SEC to take decisive action in regulating the proxy process. Given the ongoing litigation surrounding the SEC’s proxy advisor rules and the conflicting decisions from various circuit courts, we urge the SEC to reengage in defending its interpretation that proxy voting advice constitutes a “solicitation.” Reinforcing the agency’s authority to regulate proxy advisory firms is critical to ensuring accountability and restoring trust in the proxy process.

To further enhance the effectiveness and fairness of the shareholder proposal process, we urge the SEC to undertake a formal rulemaking to:

1. Restore the Shareholder Proposal Rule’s Original Intent by Keeping Politics Out of Proxy Statements: The SEC should formally recognize that corporate proxy statements are not the appropriate forum for partisan ideological debates. The shareholder proposal rule was designed to facilitate engagement on matters directly tied to a company’s business and financial performance, not as a tool for advancing broader social or political agendas. To restore this original intent, the SEC should amend Rule 14a-8 to clarify that companies may exclude shareholder proposals that do not directly relate to core business operations and financial performance.

2. Eliminate the Significant Policy Exception: The SEC should eliminate the so-called “significant policy exception” under Rule 14a-8(i)(7), a provision not explicitly stated in the rule but created through Commission-level guidance and SEC staff interpretation. This loophole allows activists to compel companies to include shareholder proposals on controversial political and social issues, even when they are not meaningfully tied to a company’s operations. The exception has increasingly been exploited to advance special interest agendas, resulting in an influx of proposals that detract from corporate governance and impose unnecessary costs on businesses and shareholders. Removing this loophole would help refocus the shareholder proposal process on issues that promote long-term shareholder value, rather than allowing it to become a tool for divisive political activism.

3. Increase Resubmission Thresholds: Raising the resubmission thresholds would prevent the recurrence of proposals that have been consistently rejected, ensuring that only those with substantial shareholder support are reconsidered.

4. Enhance Oversight of Proxy Advisory Firms: Establishing greater transparency and accountability standards for proxy advisory firms would ensure that their recommendations are accurate, free from conflicts of interest, and in the economic interest of shareholders.

5. End Robovoting Practices: Ensuring institutional investors conduct independent analyses before voting, rather than automatically following proxy advisory firm recommendations, is consistent with investors’ fiduciary duties and will protect shareholder interests.

The SEC’s recent actions are a step in the right direction, but the Commission must build on this momentum by implementing durable, substantive reforms through formal rulemaking. Ensuring that the proxy process serves the interests of all shareholders—not just a vocal minority with political agendas—is critical to maintaining the integrity and competitiveness of U.S. capital markets and supporting long-term value creation. Political debates should be left to Congress, not corporate proxy statements.

The SEC’s core mission is to protect investors, maintain fair and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation. The recent rescission of SLB 14L is a commendable action aligned with this mission. We encourage the Commission to build upon this progress by pursuing further reforms to Rule 14a-8 that will promote a shareholder proposal process that is both fair and focused on enhancing long-term shareholder value.

We appreciate your attention to this critical issue and look forward to working with the Commission to advance important, commonsense reforms to the proxy process.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Trent Kelly (R-Miss)

Lawmakers Issue Letter Endorsing State Request for Federal Disaster Declaration

Washington, April 2, 2025

Washington, D.C. – The Mississippi congressional delegation today shared their strong support for Governor Tate Reeves’ request for a federal disaster declaration after deadly weather struck the state on March 14-15.

U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., Michael Guest, R-Miss., and Mike Ezell, R-Miss., sent President Trump a letter endorsing the governor’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration for the State of Mississippi, and for individual federal assistance for 14 counties. If approved, the presidential disaster declaration would unlock additional federal resources to supplement state recovery efforts.

“In the wake of recent extreme weather that brought severe thunderstorms and violent tornadoes to the State of Mississippi, we request your full consideration of Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves’ request for a federal disaster declaration,” the lawmakers wrote.

The letter follows a preliminary disaster assessment, which highlights the extent of loss of life, injuries, and damage.

“Available resources from state and local governments and volunteer organizations are inadequate to meet the state’s recovery needs. Significant federal assistance and cooperation are needed for Mississippi to rebuild,” the lawmakers wrote.

To read the full letter, please click on the link.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement on Friday:

“Each of the 18 senior Trump administration national security officials on the ‘Signal Houthi PC’ group chat—including the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Treasury Secretary, CIA Director, Director of National Intelligence, National Security Advisor, and White House Chief of Staff—must be held accountable. Each of them failed in their sworn responsibility to ensure that a classified discussion take place on a secure channel. Each of them failed to intervene when this information was freely shared on an open commercial messaging app. Each of their actions fundamentally compromised an impending U.S. military operation and put the lives of American servicemembers at great risk.

“President Trump’s national security team clearly broke laws designed to protect the American people, including mishandling classified information and failing to preserve federal government records in accordance with the Presidential Records Act. The Trump Administration has broken the trust of the American people, especially the dedicated women and men of the Intelligence Community and those who serve in the military who were put in harm’s way.

“Several of these officials served in the military, including Vice President Vance, Secretary Hegseth, Director Gabbard, and Mr. Waltz. If any of them had released classified information while wearing the uniform, accountability would have been swift and severe. Yet as members of the Trump Administration, they’ve faced no accountability whatsoever.

“In the United States of America, it is unacceptable to have one set of a laws for political appointees of President Trump and another set of laws for everyone else. Congress must immediately issue subpoenas, hold hearings, and fully investigate this reckless and illegal conduct that put American lives at risk.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman McCollum (D, MN-04), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement on Wednesday:

“The Department of Defense specifically prohibits DoD personnel from using Signal to share non-public information. Secretary Hegseth shared detailed information in the Signal chat about an impending military strike — a clear and obvious violation of his own department’s policy. This information in the hands of adversaries would certainly put American lives at risk.

“If anyone else in the military did what Secretary Hegseth did, they would be fired immediately, could be dishonorably discharged, and certainly would lose their security clearance.

“We cannot have one set of rules for the Secretary and another set of rules for everyone else. Everyone on the Signal chat must be held fully accountable, including the other 18 senior Trump Administration officials who had a duty to intervene immediately. Each of them failed to do that.

“Republicans in Congress must immediately issue subpoenas, hold hearings, and investigate this reckless conduct.”

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