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In a Bi-Partisan Effort, North Carolina Sen. Tillis Co-Introduces Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Bill

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In a Bi-Partisan Effort, North Carolina Sen. Tillis Co-Introduces Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Bill

Below is a press release from North Carolina Sen. Tom Tillis (R).

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Thom Tillis and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) recently introduced the bipartisan Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-Escalation Act of 2023. The legislation would require the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), to create immersive, real-life, scenario-based training curriculum to address key issues raised by law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every single day to keep our communities safe, and they deserve training and resources that help them handle the most difficult situations. This bipartisan legislation will help law enforcement receive training to de-escalate a host of crises, including those involving people with mental health or drug dependency issues. Improved training will result in improved safety for both law enforcement officers and the people they regularly interact with,” said Senator Tillis. 

The curriculum would focus on improving community-police relations; officer and community safety; de-escalation and use of force; situational awareness; physical and emotional responses to stress; critical decision-making and problem-solving; and crisis intervention. The bill would also create a grant program to support public and private entities that train law enforcement officers using immersive curriculum that meets the same standards. All law enforcement officers—in departments large and small, rural and urban—should have access to the state-of-the-art, scenario-based training that saves lives and rebuilds trust. Trust and safety are the foundation of the relationship between our law enforcement and the communities they serve – this bill is an important step toward strengthening law enforcement and community relationships.

The Fraternal Order of Police and Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association have endorsed the legislation.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Announces 96% of Power Has Been Restored Just Five Days After Hurricane Idalia’s Landfall

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Announces 96% of Power Has Been Restored Just Five Days After Hurricane Idalia’s Landfall

Below is a press release from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

PERRY, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that nearly 545,000 accounts, representing 96% of all accounts that lost power following Hurricane Idalia, have been restored. There are fewer than 23,000 accounts left to restore. Duke Energy, Florida Power and Light, TECO and the local co-ops and municipalities have worked together to rebuild substations, power poles and transmission lines.

“Restoring power to the homes and businesses of impacted Floridians is an important step in the recovery process and would not be possible without the hard work of our utility linemen,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I’m glad to announce that they have been able to restore 96% of accounts less than a week after Idalia made landfall.”

In Taylor and Madison counties, the Tri-County Electric Co-op (TCEC) expects that 95% of all accounts will be restored by Wednesday, September 6. In Suwannee, Lafayette and Hamilton counties, the Suwannee Valley Electric Co-op expects that 95% of all accounts will also be restored by Wednesday, September 6. Remaining portions of the region serviced by the Suwannee Valley and Tri-County Electric Cooperatives are expected to be restored by week’s end. Customers unable to safely receive power due to property or water damage will be restored as it is safe to do so.

Nearly 30,000 utility linemen, tree trimmers and tradesmen were staged in preparation for Hurricane Idalia and were able to deploy immediately following the storm. One day after Hurricane Idalia made landfall, power restoration crews were able to restore more than 425,000 accounts that could safely receive power. Crews will remain in the impacted areas until all accounts that can safely receive power are brought back online.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Announces CJ Foodville to Invest $47 Million in Hall County

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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Announces CJ Foodville to Invest $47 Million in Hall County

Below is a press release from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that CJ Foodville Corporation, a subsidiary of CJ Group, will invest more than $47 million in a new bakery and food processing facility in Gainesville, creating an estimated 285 jobs in Hall County.

“Our top-ranked workforce training program remains a crucial tool for our state as we prepare hardworking Georgians for opportunities in a range of sectors, including the food industry,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “With Georgia’s access to 80 percent of the U.S. market within a two-day drive, companies like CJ Foodville have a recipe for success. We are excited for CJ Foodville to support its TOUS les JOURS brand from Georgia and partner with the Hall County community to create lasting jobs.”

CJ Foodville is a subsidiary of CJ Group, one of the largest food service and food processing companies in South Korea. CJ Foodville made its first overseas expansion and entered the U.S. market in 2004 with its TOUS les JOURS bakery café brand, which currently has four storefronts in Georgia.

“Based on our strong profitability, we have decided to establish a factory in the U.S. to enhance our production and supply capabilities in response to the expanding scale of the TOUS les JOURS business,” said Tony Hunsoo Ahn, CEO of CJ Foodville USA. “We are committed to promoting the unique competitiveness of the K-Bakery, which is built upon excellent product quality in a diverse range of bread and cakes. Our ultimate goal is to establish the TOUS les JOURS brand as a globally cherished bakery brand that transcends borders and captivates palates worldwide.”

The new facility, located at the Gainesville Business Park northeast of Atlanta, is expected to be completed in 2025. At full capacity, it will produce more than 19,000 tons of products per year. CJ Foodville will be hiring for positions in procurement, production, logistics, quality control, utility, HR/Accounting, and supply chain management related positions. Learn more about the company at www.cjfoodville.co.kr.

“We are excited to have another globally branded food company call the Gainesville-Hall County Metro home,” said Mayor Sam Couvillon of Gainesville. “Gainesville has been setting the table for CJ Foodville to be a part of our business community through investments to expand Gainesville’s robust infrastructure network to the new Gainesville Business Park.”

“CJ Foodville will be a welcome part of Gainesville-Hall County’s business community of 330 global manufacturers and processers,” said Tim Evans, Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. “Gainesville-Hall County offers a competitive advantage for food and pharmaceutical businesses by connecting them to world-class talent, industry specific training at Lanier Technical College, a network of cold-chain logistics providers, and global markets through Georgia Port Authority’s new Inland Port Terminal, expected to open in 2026.”

Director of Korean Investment Yoonie Kim represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, Georgia EMC, and Georgia Quick Start.

“Georgia’s economy is exceptionally diverse, and it’s a critical factor in allowing us to weather economic changes,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “CJ Foodville’s investment is a great example of both the diversity of our economy and the investments coming from our international partners. Connectivity creates opportunity, and Georgia’s decades-long relationship with South Korea has built a diverse economic and cultural exchange reflected across the state. Congratulations to CJ Foodville and our friends in Gainesville-Hall County.”

Half of the country’s top 100 food processing companies operate in Georgia. Locations of new and expanding food processing companies ranked among the greatest number of new industrial projects during fiscal year 2022 and resulted in more than $923 million in investment in fiscal year 2023. Complementing this growth, Georgia offers 178 million square feet of cold storage space, and logistics and infrastructure stemming from Georgia’s already central location in the southeastern U.S. allow companies to quickly and efficiently move products in and out of the state.

About CJ Foodville Corporation
CJ Foodville Corporation started by opening a family restaurant in South Korea in 1994 and launched a homegrown, Western-style family restaurant “VIPS” in 1997, laying the foundation as a specialized food service company. Founded in South Korea in 1997, TOUS les JOURS has more than 1,650 stores worldwide. Foodville anticipates 120 TOUS Les JOURS stores in the U.S. by the end of this year and 1,000 stores by 2030. CJ Foodville also currently runs eight restaurant and franchise brands and multi-restaurant culture spaces with a goal of providing unique Korean food service value to a global market. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.cjfoodville.co.kr.

Tennessee Sen. Blackburn, Colleagues Stand Up for Religious Liberty of Federal Contractors

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Tennessee Sen. Blackburn, Colleagues Stand Up for Religious Liberty of Federal Contractors

Below is a press release from Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn.

NASHVILLE, TENN. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), and their Republican Senate colleagues introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) final rule, which rescinds the 2020 rule “Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exemption” issued by the Trump administration to protect faith-based contractors from discrimination.

“The Biden administration’s war on Americans with deeply held religious beliefs continues,” said Senator Blackburn. “Federal contractors should not be discriminated against because of their religious views, and the Trump administration’s rule ensured that employees of faith were protected. The Biden administration’s reversal of this rule is a slap in the face to faith-based organizations and Americans with sincerely held religious beliefs who want to partner with the federal government. I will always stand for the rights of Americans to express their religious views freely.”

“Federal contractors should not have to check their faith at the door because they want to do business with the federal government,” said Senator Lankford. “The First Amendment is clear that everyone in our nation has the right to have a faith, live their faith, change their faith, or have no faith at all. No American should be forced by any Administration to choose between their First Amendment freedom and doing business with the federal government. I remain strongly opposed to the Biden Administration’s ongoing push to trample on Americans’ right to live their faith.”

“President Trump’s rule was an important step to strengthen religious liberty protections for faith-based contractors,” said Senator Budd. “The Biden Administration’s reversal of this rule needlessly targets faith-based organizations that simply want to serve our communities alongside their secular counterparts without violating their religious beliefs. I am pleased to join this effort to keep the appropriate protections in place to ensure employers of faith are able to operate within their values.”

“The foundation of America is freedom, but the foundation of freedom is faith. If we want to keep our country strong, we can’t sit idly by while the Biden administration forces Americans to choose between partnering with the government and their beliefs. I was proud to have partners like Senator Lankford when we advanced our rule through the Trump-Pence Department of Labor, and I look forward to working with him to protect our rule and keep faith-based protections permanent,” said former Vice President Mike Pence.

Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jim Risch (R-Ind.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) cosponsored the resolution.

Blackburn, Lankford, and Budd’s resolution is supported by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Religious Liberty, Scholars at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, America First Policy Institute, Advancing American Freedom, Independent Women’s Network, Family Research Council, Heritage, CatholicVote, Alliance Defending Freedom, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Family Policy Alliance.

Background:

  1. On December 9, 2020, OFCCP published its final religious exemption rule, which went into effect January 8, 2021. The rule promoted the full and equal participation of faith-based organizations as federal contractors and was intended to broaden the pool of applicants for government contractors. Many religious entities were hesitant to partner with the government out of fear of sanction for abiding by their beliefs.
  2. The 2020 rule clarified the existing exemption found in Executive Order 11246 on who qualified for an exemption, which consisted largely of non-profit organizations, but some for-profit entities were also covered. It clarified that employers can take religion into account during employment decisions. The rule did not change the vast majority of federal contractors’ responsibilities to comply with their obligations under the Executive Order. At the time, the DOL expected that the large majority of federal contractors would not qualify or seek to qualify for the religious exemption.
  3. The final 2020 rule provided clarification regarding the full scope of a religious exemption and affirmed that faith-based entities have the ability to hire people who share their faith mission, not just people who share the same religion. It also affirmed that contractors are able to carry out their work consistent with their faith mission even if they accept a federal contract or grant.
  4. In November 2021, the Biden administration issued a proposed rule to rescind the Trump-era rule.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Rejects Request from Donald Trump Supporters to Oust Fanni Willis

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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Rejects Request from Donald Trump Supporters to Oust Fanni Willis

In the weeks following Fulton County District Attorny Fanni Willis’ announcement of indictments against former President Donald Trump and 18 of his associates, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp publicly rejected the notion that a state special session should be called to remove or reprimand Willis.

“The bottom line is that in the state of Georgia as long as I’m governor, we’re going to follow the law and the Constitution, regardless of who it helps and harms politically,” Gov. Kemp said. “Over the last few years, some inside and outside of this building may have forgotten that. But I can assure you that I have not.”

Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore, vice chairman of the state Freedom Caucus, is among the legislators who called for a special session on Willis’ actions. During the press conference, Gov. Kemp dispelled rumors of evidence that Willis engaged in unethical behavior.

“Let me be clear: We have a law in the state of Georgia that clearly outlines the legal steps that can be taken if constituents believe their local prosecutors are violating their oath by engaging in unethical or illegal behavior,” he said. “Up to this point, I have not seen any evidence that DA Willis’ actions, or lack thereof, warrant action by the Prosecuting Attorney Oversight Commission.”

Louisiana Gov. Edwards Holds UCG for Latest on Wildfires, Announces FEMA’s Approval of Federal Grant to Help Vernon and Rapides Parishes

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Louisiana Gov. Edwards Holds UCG for Latest on Wildfires, Announces FEMA’s Approval of Federal Grant to Help Vernon and Rapides Parishes

Below is a press release from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.

BATON ROUGE, La. – Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) announced that FEMA has approved Louisiana’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declaration to help with wildfire fighting efforts for the Highway 113 Fire in Vernon and Rapides parishes. Today’s approval brings the total number of FMAGs to four, including the Ida Fire and Lions Camp Fire in Vernon Parish and the Tiger Island Fire in Beauregard Parish. Firefighting costs eligible for FMAG coverage may include expenses for field camps, repair and replacement tools, mobilization and demobilization activities, equipment use, and materials and supplies. The announcement came as Gov. Edwards held a Unified Command Group (UCG) meeting this morning with all of the responding agencies who continue to provide state resources and assistance to all parishes impacted by the wildfires.

“We remain in constant communication with all of our federal partners and are grateful for their rapid approval of our latest request for assistance in fighting the Highway 113 Fire in Vernon and Rapides parishes,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “Louisiana is still facing unpredictable and dangerous conditions as we continue to fight wildfires across the state. This is a long-term event and until we get a significant amount of rain, we must remain vigilant. Our state is still a tinderbox and there are still fires popping up all over. Do not burn anything. We must do all we can to prevent the further spread of wildfires and ease the stress on our responders.”

As a reminder, the statewide burn ban remains in place until further notice, and there are no exceptions of any kind.

Virginia Congressman Gerald Connolly Releases Statement on 5.2 Percent Pay Raise for Feds in 2024

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Virginia Congressman Gerald Connolly Releases Statement on 5.2 Percent Pay Raise for Feds in 2024

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, released the following statement after President Biden announced a 5.2 percent average pay raise for federal employees in 2024.

“Today’s announcement is great news. While not quite what Senator Schatz and I called for in our FAIR Act, a 5.2 percent average pay raise is the highest since the Carter Administration and will help us recruit and retain the federal workforce of tomorrow. I applaud President Biden and his Administration for recognizing and taking care of our nation’s greatest asset – our dedicated, patriotic federal employees.”

Virginia Congressman Don Beyer Urges Blinken to Press China On Cases Of Uyghurs Detained In Xinjiang

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Virginia Congressman Don Beyer Urges Blinken to Press China On Cases Of Uyghurs Detained In Xinjiang

Below is press release from Virginia Congressman Don Beyer.

U.S. Representatives Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA) and Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) today wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to ensure that human rights abuses perpetrated against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang are addressed in all future high-level meetings between the U.S. and Chinese governments. They also raised the cases of Uyghur families with relatives in Virginia, including the family of Memeteli Abdurashid, and the family of Adbulhakim Idris and Rushan Abbas, who have been detained and sentenced to years in prison without cause.

“The State Department should demand information about the well-being and whereabouts of the people, including the family of Memeteli Abdurashid, and the family of Adbulhakim Idris and Rushan Abbas, who have been detained or gone missing without a trace and call for the release of anybody arbitrarily detained,” the members wrote. “We urge the administration to continue to highlight detained or missing individuals when in dialogue with Chinese counterpart whenever an opportunity arises.”

An estimated one million members of mainly Muslim ethnic groups have been arbitrarily detained and sent to internment camps or prison in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

Full text of the letter is available here.   

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