The White House infrastructure package released last week contains a number of environmental agenda items high on progressive wish lists, but some advocates are concerned those same items could be sacrificed to ensure passage in the 50-50 Senate.

President BidenJoe BidenIran espionage-linked ship attacked at sea Biden exceeds expectations on vaccines — so far Jill Biden to visit Alabama with actress Jennifer Garner MORE’s $2.25 trillion proposal would create a Civilian Climate Corps, boost spending on sustainability and clean energy and push for universal clean water by replacing all lead pipes in the U.S.

“On the whole, this proposal is a victory for our movement, and a real result of the power we’ve built over the past few years,” Ellen Sciales, press secretary for the Sunrise Movement, told The Hill.

ADVERTISEMENT

But environmentalists are worried that what they see now might look different as legislation moves through Congress, particularly with a razor-thin majority for Democrats in the Senate. It’s also no guarantee that moderate Democrats like Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinOvernight Energy: Progressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate | EPA to propose vehicle emissions standards by July’s end | Poll shows growing partisan divide on climate change Schumer gets his game changer Progressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate MORE (W.Va.) will support all of the climate change provisions.

A recent ruling by the Senate parliamentarian gives Democrats the option of advancing the infrastructure package through what’s known as the budget reconciliation process, which would let them avoid a GOP filibuster so long as they can keep all members of their caucus together.

Click Here: shopskm

“That is the fear; we don’t have much control over this aspect. And with reconciliation, a lot of policy gets dropped because of the arcane budget rules,” Brett Hartl, government affairs director for the Center for Biological Diversity, told The Hill.

“I would argue that if you can’t change policy, then dump a ton of money where you can.”

He cited provisions on clean drinking water and electric vehicles as those favored by his organization.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, Sciales said the Sunrise Movement doesn’t view compromise on these issues as an acceptable option.

“The Biden administration and Senate Democrats must do everything in their power … to ensure that these progressive agenda items become the law of the land,” she said.

“Moving forward with this package, we need members in the House to push for the strongest version of this infrastructure plan before sending it to the Senate to ensure it does match the scale and scope needed. If they don’t work to pass all of this and more, suffering will only intensify and the costs and consequences will only be higher,” she added.

Sciales also cited inclusion of the House-passed PRO Act, a union-backed bill that strengthens collective bargaining and organizing powers, as essential to retaining job protections for workers affected by the transition to renewable energy.

“The PRO Act is necessary in that green profits go to workers, not corporate executives like Elon MuskElon Reeve MuskHillicon Valley: Intel heads to resume threats hearing scrapped under Trump | New small business coalition to urge action on antitrust policy | Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure Progressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate Bezos tops record-setting Forbes list of billionaires MORE. We need more good union jobs for workers in the building trades and across the economy that will exist long after we transition off of fossil fuels,” Sciales said.

ADVERTISEMENT

The measure passed the House last month but faces an uphill struggle in the Senate.

Biden and progressive activists have had a rocky history, with most of them opposing his candidacy during the 2020 Democratic primary in favor of Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersProgressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate Five ways an obscure Senate ruling could change Washington Nina Turner touts herself as ‘coalition builder’ in House bid MORE (I-Vt.) or Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenProgressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate 2024 GOP White House hopefuls lead opposition to Biden Cabinet Biden’s push for a more noble capitalism is destined to fail  MORE (D-Mass.).

But many have been pleasantly surprised by some of Biden’s actions since taking office. The next major test of that relationship will be the president’s infrastructure package and whether the White House will fight to keep key environmental provisions or whether they’ll be sacrificed to ensure passage.

Progressive activists and lobbyists are bracing for the possibility that a final infrastructure package might jettison some of those provisions, much like the $15 minimum wage provision that was stripped from Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

The White House and congressional Democrats have not said definitively if they plan to go the budget reconciliation route with infrastructure, but both have indicated that they’re willing to go it alone without Republicans if need be.

Ben Beachy of the Sierra Club pointed to the broad popularity of many of the bill’s environmental provisions to say they should not be sacrificed for the sake of bipartisanship, especially amid criticism from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSchumer gets his game changer Progressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate Biden credits McConnell for urging Republicans to get vaccinated MORE (R-Ky.).

“That supermajority support shows that regardless of what Mitch McConnell says, the nation supports an economic renewal plan that is as big and interconnected as the crises we face,” Beachy said.

“Any quest for bipartisanship cannot come at the expense of good jobs, greater equity.”

The corporate tax proposals in President BidenJoe BidenIran espionage-linked ship attacked at sea Biden exceeds expectations on vaccines — so far Jill Biden to visit Alabama with actress Jennifer Garner MORE’s infrastructure plan would raise revenues by $2.1 trillion over 10 years, according to an analysis by the Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) released Wednesday.

Biden last week unveiled a proposal that calls for $2.25 trillion in spending over eight years on investments in areas including transportation, drinking water systems, broadband, affordable housing, school and child care facilities, and workforce development programs.

Click Here: All Blacks Rugby Jersey

The White House is also calling for $400 billion in renewable energy tax credits that the administration has yet to detail, for a total of $2.7 trillion in federal spending, PWBM said, citing reporting by The Washington Post.

ADVERTISEMENT

The White House proposes to pay for the overall package by raising taxes on corporations, including an increase in the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent, an increase in the rate for a minimum tax on corporations’ foreign earnings and the creation of a minimum tax on large corporations’ income as it’s reported on financial statements.

The administration has said that it thinks the financing proposals would raise more than $2 trillion over 15 years. PWBM estimated that the tax proposals would raise about $2.1 trillion from 2022 to 2031 and $3.6 trillion from 2022 to 2036.

PWBM said its revenue estimate of Biden’s tax proposals is at the lower end of what might be raised from the plan, since some of Biden’s proposals lacked enough detail for the researchers to model. For example, PWBM did not have enough information to provide a revenue estimate for a proposal to increase tax enforcement against corporations.

The spending and tax portions of Biden’s plan combined would increase the federal debt by 1.7 percent, compared to the current-law baseline, by 2031, because the new spending would exceed the amount of new revenue raised. But because the spending would end after eight years while the tax increases would continue, the plan would lower government debt by 6.4 percent in 2050 compared with the current-law baseline, PWBM researchers said.

The group estimated that gross domestic product would be 0.9 percent lower compared to the baseline in 2031, and 0.8 percent lower in 2050.

“Despite the decline in government debt, the investment-disincentivizing effects of the [American Jobs Plan’s] business tax provisions decrease the capital stock by 3 percent in 2031 and 2050,” the authors of the analysis wrote. “The decline in capital makes workers less productive despite the increase in productivity due to more infrastructure.”

The U.S. Army began human testing on Tuesday for a COVID-19 vaccine that it developed as researchers aim to increase the effectiveness of inoculation against several variants of the virus. 

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) said in a release that the first phase clinical trial will test 72 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 55 who do not have a record of previous COVID-19 infection.

The WRAIR vaccine is designed to build from the current vaccines that the Food and Drug Administration has already approved. Researchers created a nanoparticle experimental vaccine placing a copy of a protein found on COVID-19 to another protein called ferritin, which is typically seen in human blood.

ADVERTISEMENT

The release says this configuration “offers a flexible approach” for the body to fight several variants of COVID-19 and possibly other coronaviruses, which researchers said could improve a person’s protection from the virus. 

Pre-clinical trials determined that the Army-developed vaccine was successful in combating the three major COVID-19 variants as well as the main strain. 

In the upcoming clinical trial, a portion of participants will get one dose of the WRAIR vaccine, while others will receive two doses four weeks apart. The initial data will be documented two weeks after the second dose or six weeks after the first dose.

Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch at WRAIR and co-inventor of its vaccine, said his team was “concerned” about COVID-19 variants before several were discovered, including those found in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

“That’s why we need a vaccine like this: one that has potential to protect broadly and proactively against multiple coronavirus species and strains,” he said in the release. 

“We are in this for the long haul,” Modjarrad continued. “We have designed and positioned this platform as the next generation vaccine, one that paves the way for a universal vaccine to protect against not only the current virus, but also counter future variants, stopping them in their tracks before they can cause another pandemic.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Click Here: custom die casting

The primary expected completion date is set for Oct. 30, 2022, with the final study completion date slated for Oct. 30, 2023, according to ClinicalTrials.gov.  

Modjarrad told The Wall Street Journal that the first results could become public by the middle of summer, noting if the vaccine appeared successful, the Army would work with a drug company on other tests and development.  

These experimental vaccines, beyond the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the first first rounds of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, could prove better at combating variants, potentially leading to the new vaccines being used for initial vaccinations or boosters in the country.

Concerns about the current vaccines’ effectiveness against the more contagious strains of coronavirus have mounted this year as variants spread rapidly across the U.S. and around the world. 

Initial studies have concluded that the three vaccines approved in the U.S. remain effective against the other strains. But the variant first found in South Africa appeared to make Johnson & Johnson less effective and to potentially cause the other two to have a reduced neutralizing effect against the virus.

A coalition of 140 national security leaders who served under Democratic and Republican administrations is urging congressional leaders to form a 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 riot on the Capitol.

“The events of January 6th exposed severe vulnerabilities in the nation’s preparedness for preventing and responding to domestic terrorist attacks. The immediate security failings that permitted a lethal breach of the Capitol Complex by armed extremists raise serious questions and demand immediate solutions,” they wrote.

The attack showed “coordinated disinformation campaigns, nontransparent financing of extremist networks, potential foreign influences, and white supremacist violent extremism,” they added.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Understanding how these forces culminated in an attack on the infrastructure of our democracy is critical to preventing future attacks,” they wrote.

The letter was signed by national security leaders including former Secretaries of Defense Chuck HagelCharles (Chuck) Timothy HagelOvernight Defense: Navy medic killed after wounding 2 sailors in Maryland shooting | Dems push Biden for limits on military gear transferred to police | First day of talks on Iran deal ‘constructive’ 140 national security leaders call for 9/11-style panel to review Jan. 6 attack Trump Afghan pullout deal unachievable, says ex-Pentagon leader MORE and William Cohen; former Secretaries of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Jeh Johnson and Michael Chertoff; and former Director of National Intelligence James ClapperJames Robert Clapper140 national security leaders call for 9/11-style panel to review Jan. 6 attack The biggest example of media malfeasance in 2020 is… Meet Biden’s pick to lead the US intelligence community MORE.

The Jan. 6 attack left five people dead and has led to more than 300 arrests. 

House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiVideo shows Capitol suspect buying knife at local market before attack Schumer gets his game changer 140 national security leaders call for 9/11-style panel to review Jan. 6 attack MORE (D-Calif.) appointed retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré to lead an investigation into the attack and has said she would assemble a 9/11-style commission as well.

But those plans have been in limbo since Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSchumer gets his game changer Progressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate Biden credits McConnell for urging Republicans to get vaccinated MORE (R-Ky.) and others criticized the format of her proposed commission for allowing Democrats to make more appointments than Republicans.

ADVERTISEMENT

Under Pelosi’s draft bill, Republicans would appoint four members of the commission, while Democrats would appoint seven. None of the members would be lawmakers or government officials.

Click Here: Sevilla soccer tracksuit

The former national security officials argued the event calls for a full nonpartisan panel to review the event and how the country can be better prepared.

“Commissions — properly empowered, resourced, and led — can establish a full picture of events and an analysis of their causes, from which nonpartisan recommendations can authoritatively flow,” they wrote. 

“Given the gravity of January 6th as a national security matter — the violent disruption to the transition of power and the continuing threat of future attacks — a national commission examining the lead up to the January 6th assault, and the attendant security lapses, is not only appropriate, but a critical component of the national response,” they added.

Welcome to Hillicon Valley, The Hill’s newsletter detailing all you need to know about the tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for our newsletter by clicking HERE. 

Welcome! Follow our cyber reporter, Maggie Miller (@magmill95), and tech team, Chris Mills Rodrigo (@chrisismills) and Rebecca Klar (@rebeccaklar_), for more coverage.

The Supreme Court issued an unanimous ruling Thursday siding with Facebook over the platform’s notification system to alert users of suspicious logins. Meanwhile, Google, Apple and Amazon received letters from two Republicans questioning the companies’ actions taken against the social media platform Parler. Top tech platforms were also the target of a Texas Senate bill that passed Thursday that aims to block social media platforms from banning residents based on political views.

ADVERTISEMENT

Click Here: baby knitted hat

SIDING WITH FACEBOOK: The Supreme Court on Thursday sided unanimously with Facebook, ruling that a notification system the social media giant employs to alert users to suspicious logins does not run afoul of a federal law aimed at curbing robocalls and automated text messages.

The decision derailed a proposed class-action lawsuit that sought to hold Facebook liable under a 1991 law that imposed a general ban on automated calls.

The justices found that Facebook’s opt-in security notification feature fell outside the law, even though the program was found to have transmitted unwanted text messages.

The court rejected an argument from a recipient of unwanted Facebook texts, who claimed that the company’s messaging program amounted to an “autodialer,” which generally involves the use of a random or sequential number generator. 

Read more about the ruling.

PRESSED ON PARLER: Rep. Ken BuckKenneth (Ken) Robert BuckHillicon Valley: Supreme Court rules Facebook text alerts not akin to robocalls | Republicans press Google, Apple, Amazon on Parler removals | Texas Senate blocks social media platforms from banning users based on politics Republicans press Google, Apple, Amazon on Parler removals House panel advances bill to repeal 2002 war authorization MORE (R-Colo.) and Sen. Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeHillicon Valley: Supreme Court rules Facebook text alerts not akin to robocalls | Republicans press Google, Apple, Amazon on Parler removals | Texas Senate blocks social media platforms from banning users based on politics Republicans press Google, Apple, Amazon on Parler removals The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden shifts on filibuster MORE (R-Utah), the top Republicans on the House and Senate antitrust subcommittees sent letters to Google, Apple and Amazon pressing the tech giants over their actions to remove from their platforms the fringe social media site Parler after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The Republicans questioned whether the companies followed “procedural fairness” in pulling Parler, and framed the actions as “three of the largest technology companies in the world” targeting “one small business.” 

Google and Apple removed Parler from their app stores just days after the deadly riot at the Capitol, after the platform was found to be rife with posts about storming the building. The companies cited Parler’s lack of content moderation policies and public safety concerns in making the decision. 

Shortly afterward, Amazon Web Services suspended Parler’s platform, citing concerns the platform could not adequately screen out potential incendiary content, including material that incites violence. 

Read more about the letter. 

TEXAS TARGETS TECH: The Texas Senate on Thursday passed a bill blocking social media platforms from banning residents based on their political views.

The Texas Tribune reported that Senate Bill 12 passed shortly after 2 a.m. on Thursday. The measure now heads to the state House, where there are two identical bills that have not moved out of their committee, according to the Tribune.

The bill bans platforms from censoring a “user, a user’s expression, or a user’s ability to receive the expression of another person” based on their viewpoints or geographical location, according to its text. The measure also requires social media companies to publicly disclose information regarding their practices around how they target content for users, promote content and services and moderate content.

Read more about the bill. 

GOOGLE’S LATEST EFFORT TO FIGHT MISINFO: Google on Wednesday announced that it will be spending nearly $30 million in Europe to combat misinformation and fake news.

“Google is contributing €25 million to help launch the European Media and Information Fund to strengthen media literacy skills, fight misinformation and support fact checking,” Matt Brittin, the president of Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in a blog post.

The money is coupled with a commitment over the next five years to work with the European University Institute, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European Digital Media Observatory.

Read more here. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Lighter click: Ooh yuh get it I guess

An op-ed to chew on: Flying blind: Data infrastructure needed to fight the next pandemic

 

NOTABLE LINKS FROM AROUND THE WEB: 

Facebook Built the Perfect Platform for Covid Vaccine Conspiracies (Bloomberg / Sarah Frier and Sarah Kopit)

Asian Americans in tech say they face ‘a unique flavor of oppression’ (Protocol / Megan Rose Dickey)

The Right Curriculum? How PragerU Infiltrates Schools. (The American Prospect / Amelia Pollard)

More than two dozen House Democrats are pushing President BidenJoe BidenIran espionage-linked ship attacked at sea Biden exceeds expectations on vaccines — so far Jill Biden to visit Alabama with actress Jennifer Garner MORE to issue an executive order banning the transfer of military-grade weapons to local police departments.

In a letter to be sent to the White House on Tuesday afternoon, the lawmakers, led by Rep. Hank JohnsonHenry (Hank) C. JohnsonOvernight Defense: Navy medic killed after wounding 2 sailors in Maryland shooting | Dems push Biden for limits on military gear transferred to police | First day of talks on Iran deal ‘constructive’ House Democrats push Biden to limit transfer of military-grade gear to police Elizabeth Warren: Filibuster ‘has deep roots in racism’ MORE (D-Ga.), argue an executive order is “a reasonable step towards demilitarizing our police forces while preserving the safety of our communities.”

“Decades of militarization of our nation’s law enforcement have led to some police departments looking more like an occupying army than a community-based regulatory arm of state and local government,” the 29 Democrats wrote in the letter, a draft of which was obtained by The Hill.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Our neighborhoods need to be protected, including from dangers posed by the militarization of police,” they added. “This reasonable step falls squarely within your executive authority as president of the United States.”

The letter specifically asks Biden to issue an executive order mirroring language in a bill Johnson introduced last month.

Johnson’s bill would place broad restrictions on what’s known as the 1033 program, which allows the Pentagon to transfer excess military equipment to U.S. police departments.

Democrats’ letter is the latest step in a campaign to push Biden on the issue. In addition to the letter and Johnson’s bill, Rep. Nydia VelazquezNydia Margarita VelasquezOvernight Defense: Navy medic killed after wounding 2 sailors in Maryland shooting | Dems push Biden for limits on military gear transferred to police | First day of talks on Iran deal ‘constructive’ House Democrats push Biden to limit transfer of military-grade gear to police Where to, Puerto Rico? MORE (D-N.Y.) plans to introduce a bill next week that would completely repeal the 1033 program, according to a draft of the bill obtained by The Hill.

Attention on the 1033 program was renewed last year amid the nationwide protests over police violence and racial injustice sparked by George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody.

ADVERTISEMENT

Click Here: montpellier rugby jersey

“Law enforcement’s response to the civil rights demonstrations last summer show irrefutable proof of our police forces’ increasing aggression and brutality – images of local police in military vehicles, with military-grade weaponry trained on citizens exercising their constitutional right to peacefully protest,” Democrats wrote in their letter.

Former President Obama curtailed the 1033 program in 2015 after local police suppressed protests in Ferguson, Mo., using military-grade equipment. But the Trump administration rescinded the restrictions in 2017.

Biden had been expected to reimpose the Obama-era limits on the program as one of the dozens of executive orders he issued in the first weeks of his presidency, but no such directive materialized.

A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday on the idea of an executive order mirroring Johnson’s bill or whether the president still plans to reimpose the Obama-era limits.

The Democrats’ letter Tuesday urges Biden to go further than the limits imposed during the Obama administration, saying they “stopped short of full reform.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Johnson’s bill would prohibit the Pentagon from sending police departments controlled firearms, ammunition, bayonets, grenade launchers, grenades including stun and flash-bang grenades, explosives, certain controlled vehicles including mine-resistant vehicles, armored or weaponized drones, combat-configured or combat-coded aircraft, silencers and long-range acoustic devices.

The same language was included in a sweeping police reform bill the House passed last month. But that legislation, dubbed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, faces an uphill battle in getting the 60 votes needed to pass a Senate with a 50-50 party divide.

The letter argues Johnson’s bill “not only fixes what is broken but does so without compromising the integrity of the parts of the program that provide integral office and safety equipment to law enforcement agencies.”

“We believe that the provisions of my bill, the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act, in the form of an executive order is a necessary step to implement common sense reforms to the 1033 program,” the lawmakers wrote. “Only you, Mr. President, have the power to make this change immediately.”

Transportation Secretary Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegButtigieg says he ‘got along pretty well’ with Major Biden The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s infrastructure plan triggers definition debate Battle lines drawn on Biden’s infrastructure plan MORE says he gets along “just fine” with President BidenJoe BidenIran espionage-linked ship attacked at sea Biden exceeds expectations on vaccines — so far Jill Biden to visit Alabama with actress Jennifer Garner MORE‘s dog Major, despite the less-than-pristine reputation of the furry first family member.

“First time I went in for an Oval Office meeting, Major was there and said a quick hello. We got along pretty well,” Buttigieg said in an interview with TMZ’s Harvey Levin released Tuesday.

“I know there’ve been some stories about him,” Buttigieg said. “But my interactions with him have been great,” he insisted.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Bidens’ 3-year-old German Shepherd — believed to be the first shelter rescue dog to live in the White House — has made headlines in recent months following multiple reported biting incidents.

Last month, the White House told CNN that Major “nipped someone on a walk” while on the South Lawn at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The incident came just weeks after another biting incident involving the canine, in which a White House staff member sustained minor injuries.

There was also a reported bathroom accident in the halls of the White House, but it was unclear if the perpetrator was Major or the Bidens’ older dog, Champ.

Biden has defended his pet, calling Major a “sweet” animal that was adjusting to a bustling household in Washington alongside unfamiliar faces among the staff and Secret Service details.

In his interview with Levin, Buttigieg, 39, laughed as he showed all his fingers to prove Major didn’t mistake him for some kibble.

“I’m all good,” he said. “No incidents.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The former South Bend, Ind., mayor said he even wants to have a doggie get-together with the high-profile pooch.

Click Here: Japan Rugby Shop

“I haven’t yet had a chance to introduce him to Buddy and Truman, our dogs.”

—Updated at 6:18 p.m.

Happy Tuesday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Rebecca Kheel, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

THE TOPLINE: A U.S. Navy sailor shot and wounded two fellow sailors in Maryland on Tuesday before being killed by police.

Authorities identified the alleged gunman as Fantahun Girma Woldesenbet, a 38-year-old Navy hospital corpsman.

What happened: Police said Woldesenbet allegedly shot two sailors at a “military institution” at a business park in Federick, Md. Police were called to that scene at about 8:20 a.m.

Frederick Police Chief Jason Lando said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference the shooter used a rifle, but did not elaborate on the weapon. 

The gunman then drove to the Army’s nearby Fort Detrick, arriving at about 8:45 a.m. He was stopped at the base’s gates based on an alert police had already issued to be on the lookout for the suspect, Army Brig. Gen. Michael Talley, the base’s commander, said at the news conference. But he drove off before his car could be searched, Talley said.

The gunman made it about half a mile onto the base before he was stopped, got out of the car, brandished a weapon and was fatally shot by police, Talley said.

Woldesenbet did not live on Fort Detrick, police said. But he was assigned to the base, as are the two victims, Talley said.

Victims’ conditions: The Navy said later Tuesday that one of the sailors who was shot has been released from the hospital. The other victim remains in critical condition, the Navy tweeted.

“We send our deepest condolences to all affected by this terrible act of violence and will continue to support the investigation,” the Navy tweeted.

Investigation ongoing: Talley and Lando said the shooter’s motive is still under investigation, as is whether he had any connection to the victims.

The FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service are helping the Frederick Police Department with the investigation, Lando said.

Read more here.

 

HOUSE DEMS PUSH BIDEN ON 1033 PROGRAM

Democrats are upping pressure on President BidenJoe BidenIran espionage-linked ship attacked at sea Biden exceeds expectations on vaccines — so far Jill Biden to visit Alabama with actress Jennifer Garner MORE to issue an executive order banning the transfer of military-grade weapons to local police departments.

The latest salvo came Tuesday in the form of a letter to Biden from more than two dozen House Democrats, who argued an executive order is “a reasonable step towards demilitarizing our police forces while preserving the safety of our communities.”

“Decades of militarization of our nation’s law enforcement have led to some police departments looking more like an occupying army than a community-based regulatory arm of state and local government,” the 29 Democrats wrote in the letter, a draft of which was obtained by The Hill ahead of its release.

“Our neighborhoods need to be protected, including from dangers posed by the militarization of police,” added the lawmakers, who were led by Rep. Hank JohnsonHenry (Hank) C. JohnsonOvernight Defense: Navy medic killed after wounding 2 sailors in Maryland shooting | Dems push Biden for limits on military gear transferred to police | First day of talks on Iran deal ‘constructive’ House Democrats push Biden to limit transfer of military-grade gear to police Elizabeth Warren: Filibuster ‘has deep roots in racism’ MORE (D-Ga.). “This reasonable step falls squarely within your executive authority as president of the United States.”

The specifics: The letter specifically asks Biden to issue an executive order mirroring language in a bill Johnson introduced last month.

Johnson’s bill would place broad restrictions on what’s known as the 1033 program, which allows the Pentagon to transfer excess military equipment to U.S. police departments.

The bill would prohibit the Pentagon from sending police departments controlled firearms, ammunition, bayonets, grenade launchers, grenades including stun and flash-bang grenades, explosives, certain controlled vehicles including mine-resistant vehicles, armored or weaponized drones, combat-configured or combat-coded aircraft, silencers and long-range acoustic devices.

What will Biden do?: Biden had been expected to reimpose Obama-era limits on the program as one of the dozens of executive orders he issued in the first weeks of his presidency, but no such directive materialized.

A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday on the idea of an executive order mirroring Johnson’s bill or whether the president still plans to reimpose the Obama-era limits.

More to come: In addition to the letter and Johnson’s bill, Rep. Nydia VelazquezNydia Margarita VelasquezOvernight Defense: Navy medic killed after wounding 2 sailors in Maryland shooting | Dems push Biden for limits on military gear transferred to police | First day of talks on Iran deal ‘constructive’ House Democrats push Biden to limit transfer of military-grade gear to police Where to, Puerto Rico? MORE (D-N.Y.) plans to introduce a bill next week that would completely repeal the 1033 program, according to a draft of the bill obtained by The Hill.

Read more here.

 

FIRST IRAN DEAL MEETINGS ‘CONSTRUCTIVE’

“Constructive” was the word of the day after Tuesday’s meetings in Vienna to bring Iran and the United States back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Enrique Mora, the European Union’s coordinator for the talks, tweeted after the meeting with Iran that it was a “constructive Joint Commission meeting.”

“There’s unity and ambition for a joint diplomatic process with two expert groups on nuclear implementation and sanctions lifting,” he added. “As Coordinator I will intensify separate contacts here in Vienna with all relevant parties, including US.”

What Iran said: Iran’s chief negotiator similarly described Tuesday’s meeting as “constructive.”

“The talks in Vienna were constructive … our next meeting will be on Friday,” Abbas Araqchi said on Iranian state television, according to Reuters.

What the US said: The talks were indirect, meaning Iran and the United States weren’t in the room with each other.

But the State Department agreed with the characterization that Tuesday’s first meetings were constructive.

“It is a welcome step, it is a constructive step, it is a potentially useful step,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said at a briefing.

The goal: The meetings in Vienna, where European, Russian and Chinese signatories to the deal are expected to shuttle between the U.S. and Iranian negotiators, are expected to establish a roadmap of “mutual compliance.”

“The short hand is compliance for compliance,” Price said. “There are obviously many more complexities involved in that but that will be the task ahead for our partners, the Europeans, as well as Russians and Chinese, in their talks with the Iranians going forward.”

Read more here.

 

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday will participate in a virtual fireside chat with the Center for a New American Security at 10 a.m. https://bit.ly/2Q3fpU5

Former Defense Secretary Chuck HagelCharles (Chuck) Timothy HagelOvernight Defense: Navy medic killed after wounding 2 sailors in Maryland shooting | Dems push Biden for limits on military gear transferred to police | First day of talks on Iran deal ‘constructive’ 140 national security leaders call for 9/11-style panel to review Jan. 6 attack Trump Afghan pullout deal unachievable, says ex-Pentagon leader MORE and other former officials will speak at an Atlantic Council event on “Preventing nuclear proliferation and reassuring America’s allies” at 11 a.m. https://bit.ly/39KkEik

 

ICYMI

— The Hill: Air Force hypersonic missile test fails to launch from B-52

— The Hill: Human testing underway for COVID-19 vaccine developed by Army

— The Hill: Cross-partisan groups urge Biden to stick with May 1 Afghanistan withdrawal

— The Hill: 140 national security leaders call for 9/11-style panel to review Jan. 6 attack

— The Hill: Intel heads to resume worldwide threats hearing scrapped under Trump

— New York Times: Democrats push biden to take harder line on Saudi Arabia

— Washington Post: Marines launch new investigation after disaster that killed nine troops

— New York Times: Modern crime-solving methods vs. the mystery of World War II deaths

Click Here: cheap converse classic chuck shoes

Congressional Democrats are debating how they should raise taxes to finance President BidenJoe BidenIran espionage-linked ship attacked at sea Biden exceeds expectations on vaccines — so far Jill Biden to visit Alabama with actress Jennifer Garner MORE’s infrastructure plan, with minor disagreements emerging in the early stages.

The White House has proposed raising the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent and increasing taxes on U.S. companies’ foreign earnings. But some Democratic lawmakers are pushing back on aspects of the tax proposals, while others have suggested ideas that diverge from the administration’s plans.

Reaching consensus on taxes will be among the top challenges for Democrats as they work to enact an infrastructure and jobs package in the coming months. Democrats will need to craft legislation that can get near-universal support in the party, since Republicans have signaled that they will oppose any measures that resemble the proposal Biden unveiled last week.

ADVERTISEMENT

White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiBiden exceeds expectations on vaccines — so far Overnight Energy: Progressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate | EPA to propose vehicle emissions standards by July’s end | Poll shows growing partisan divide on climate change Psaki refutes Fox reporter claim on ‘very similar’ Colorado and Georgia laws MORE said during Monday’s press briefing that Biden called for increasing the corporate tax rate to 28 percent because he “felt it was responsible to propose a way to pay for his proposal.” But she also said the administration expects there will be discussions with lawmakers about how to finance the package.

“There will be different ideas for tax proposals,” Psaki said. “That will all need to be weighed by a range of questions, including — with Congress and with leaders in Congress and outspoken members in Congress about whether it should be paid for, over what period of time, how much should be paid for, what the options are for paying for it.”

Biden is hoping to build on his first major legislative victory — a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package signed into law last month — with a roughly $2.25 trillion proposal focused on improving infrastructure and addressing climate change. The White House has suggested paying for the infrastructure legislation over 15 years by raising the corporate tax rate and making other changes to the tax code to increase the amount paid by multinational companies.

Administration officials have been discussing their plan with lawmakers, with Treasury Secretary Janet YellenJanet Louise YellenOn The Money: Five ways an obscure Senate ruling could change Washington | IMF sees record global economic growth in 2021 Yellen: ‘We lost four important years’ in fight against climate change The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden, McConnell agree on vaccines, clash over infrastructure MORE holding a briefing with House Democrats on Tuesday.

Republicans quickly said corporate tax increases are a non-starter for them, making the budget reconciliation process the likely legislative vehicle for Democrats so they can pass an infrastructure package with a simple majority vote in the Senate and avoid a GOP filibuster.

But even among Democrats, there is no consensus about how the infrastructure package will take shape. No legislative text has been released, and it’s likely to take at least several months for any legislation to be enacted.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, there is broad consensus among Democrats that the corporate tax rate is too low. The rate was slashed from 35 percent to 21 percent under former President TrumpDonald TrumpYelp creates tool to help support Asian-owned businesses Iran espionage-linked ship attacked at sea Biden exceeds expectations on vaccines — so far MORE’s 2017 tax cut law, which did not receive any Democratic votes.

Many Democrats have expressed support for Biden’s proposal to increase the corporate tax rate.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, characterized the 28-percent figure as “a prudent compromise” that “moderates and progressives would be wise to support.” The GOP argument that U.S. businesses cannot compete globally at that rate, Beyer added, is contradicted by history.

“The rate was significantly higher from the post-WWII era until 2017, a timespan which included some of the most prosperous periods for the U.S. economy,” Beyer, also a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, said in an email.

Rep. Earl BlumenauerEarl BlumenauerDemocrats have a growing tax problem with SALT Progressives up pressure on Biden to back COVID vaccine patent waiver Bottom line MORE (D-Ore.), who previously championed raising the gas tax to pay for infrastructure, told The Hill that raising the corporate tax rate is a better option at this time.

“The gas tax is fast declining in its effectiveness and opposition is increasing,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “Using other sources, like adjusting the corporate tax rate, have greater promise of being enacted, restoring tax fairness, and generating the significant amount of money that is necessary to meet the needs of the American people.”

Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinOvernight Energy: Progressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate | EPA to propose vehicle emissions standards by July’s end | Poll shows growing partisan divide on climate change Schumer gets his game changer Progressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate MORE (D-W.Va.) threw a curve ball into the discussions on Monday when he said that he thinks a 28 percent corporate tax rate is too high, and that he’d prefer a smaller increase, to 25 percent. Manchin’s support is necessary for any Democratic proposal in the 50-50 Senate.

It’s unclear how many other moderate Democrats will raise objections to Biden’s goal of a 28 percent corporate rate.

An aide to a centrist House Democratic member suggested Tuesday that, quite aside from the corporate tax hike, the overall size of Biden’s plan might alienate moderates. But the aide also predicted that Democrats would likely land on a corporate hike that the centrists could support.

“Whatever the price tag is, even if we’re talking about $1 trillion, you’re going to have to offset that in one way or another. Obviously, the corporate tax rate is going to be a part of it,” the aide said. “We’re still seeing what the possible will be, but with a recognition that a form of increase is probably likely and we’ll support it. I just don’t know if we’ll be willing to go as far as 28 [percent].”

The corporate tax rate isn’t the only tax component of Biden’s proposal that’s sparking competing ideas among Democrats.

Three Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee unveiled a framework Monday for raising taxes on multinational corporations that has some similarities to Biden’s proposal as well as some differences. For example, Biden has called for scrapping international provisions in Trump’s tax law that Senate Democrats are proposing to modify instead.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Senate Democrats’ idea was designed with the goal of attracting support across the caucus. It was released by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenFive ways an obscure Senate ruling could change Washington Senate parliamentarian to let Democrats bypass GOP filibuster on two bills Senate Democrats unveil international tax plan MORE (Ore.), progressive Sen. Sherrod BrownSherrod Campbell BrownFormer Ohio health director won’t run for Senate Democratic county official joins race for Pennsylvania Senate seat Senate Democrats unveil international tax plan MORE (Ohio) and centrist Sen. Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerFive ways an obscure Senate ruling could change Washington Lawmakers struggle with Capitol security after latest attack Senate Democrats unveil international tax plan MORE (Va.).

“This is about getting all 50 Senate Democrats on board,” Wyden said on a call with reporters Monday.

He said his proposal is “built to become law” because it is designed to boost incentives for investment in the U.S. in addition to raising revenue, and because the plan uses existing systems, when possible, in an effort to keep it simple.

Some congressional progressives have said they think Biden’s infrastructure package should be larger. But that could require additional revenue raisers in the form of new or higher taxes if lawmakers want to fully pay for it.

Additionally, lawmakers and the White House will have to figure out how they want to address the demands of Democrats from high-tax states such as New York and New Jersey who want the infrastructure bill to undo the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction that was imposed by Trump’s 2017 law. Rolling back the cap on the deduction would add an additional cost to the infrastructure legislation.

A spokesperson for Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that the congressman “supports a big bold infrastructure plan and isn’t opposed to raising taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals” but wouldn’t support any deal that doesn’t address the SALT deduction cap.

ADVERTISEMENT

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard NealRichard Edmund NealTop Democrat calling for expansion of child care support DOJ asks for more time to make decision on turning over Trump taxes On The Money: Social Security gives IRS data for COVID-19 relief checks | Senate passes bill heading off Medicare cuts MORE (D-Mass.), whose panel will be key in writing the tax portion of infrastructure legislation, said during a press conference in his district last week that he thinks Congress will agree to some of Biden’s proposed funding ideas but put forth its own ideas as well.

“I think that Congress will offer some suggestions,” he said. “We will accept some of what he is proposing, but I also think timing here is a critical issue.”

Mike Lillis contributed.

Click Here: new zealand blues jersey

Welcome to Hillicon Valley, The Hill’s newsletter detailing all you need to know about the tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for our newsletter by clicking HERE. 

Welcome! Follow our cyber reporter, Maggie Miller (@magmill95), and tech team, Chris Mills Rodrigo (@chrisismills) and Rebecca Klar (@rebeccaklar_), for more coverage.

The House and Senate Intelligence panels will hold hearings to examine worldwide threats, including those in the cyber and technology spaces, next week after a two-year gap. Meanwhile, a new coalition of independent businesses is targeting Amazon as it pushes for a revamp of federal antitrust policy, and Amazon CEO Jeff BezosJeffrey (Jeff) Preston BezosHillicon Valley: Intel heads to resume threats hearing scrapped under Trump | New small business coalition to urge action on antitrust policy | Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure On The Money: Five ways an obscure Senate ruling could change Washington | IMF sees record global economic growth in 2021 Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure MORE is throwing his weight behind raising the corporate tax rate to pay for President BidenJoe BidenIran espionage-linked ship attacked at sea Biden exceeds expectations on vaccines — so far Jill Biden to visit Alabama with actress Jennifer Garner MORE’s infrastructure package. 

ADVERTISEMENT

 

ANNUAL THREATS HEARINGS RETURN: The House and Senate Intelligence committees will question leaders of five major intelligence and security agencies next week, resuming the annual tradition of a worldwide threats hearing that was abandoned under the Trump administration.

Director of National Intelligence Avril HainesAvril HainesHillicon Valley: Intel heads to resume threats hearing scrapped under Trump | New small business coalition to urge action on antitrust policy | Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure Intel heads to resume worldwide threats hearing scrapped under Trump 2024 GOP White House hopefuls lead opposition to Biden Cabinet MORE, CIA Director William BurnsWilliam BurnsHillicon Valley: Intel heads to resume threats hearing scrapped under Trump | New small business coalition to urge action on antitrust policy | Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure Intel heads to resume worldwide threats hearing scrapped under Trump Biden urges Congress to pass assault weapon ban MORE, FBI Director Christopher Wray, National Security Agency Director Gen. Paul Nakasone and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Gen. Scott Berrier will all appear before the Senate on April 14 and before the House on April 15.

Federal law requires the intelligence community to submit an annual worldwide threats assessment, but agencies failed to do so during Trump’s final two years in office. The last worldwide threats hearings were in January 2019.

“Over the last four years, the Trump Administration discarded the tradition of open hearings on World Wide Threats, when it displeased the former president to have his preferred views of rival nations contradicted by agency heads,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffHillicon Valley: Intel heads to resume threats hearing scrapped under Trump | New small business coalition to urge action on antitrust policy | Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure Intel heads to resume worldwide threats hearing scrapped under Trump The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden tasks Harris on border; news conference today MORE (D-Calif.) said in a statement.

Read more about the upcoming hearings here. 

 

ADVERTISEMENT

PUSHING FOR ANTITRUST POLICY: A coalition of independent businesses launched Tuesday with the goal of urging federal policy reform to rein in the market power of top tech companies. 

The coalition, Small Business Rising, specifically takes aim at Amazon — accusing the e-commerce giant of anti-competitive tactics and harming small firms nationwide. 

The coalition is urging lawmakers to help break up and regulate the tech companies it called monopolies. 

It’s also urging lawmakers to block dominating corporations from engaging in abusive tactics by strengthening antitrust laws, as well as outlawing “mega-mergers.” 

Amazon pushed back on the coalition’s criticism, saying it has in fact “empowered small and mediums-sized businesses.”

Read more about the new coalition. 

 

BEZOS BACKS CORPORATE TAX HIKE: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced on Tuesday that the company is supportive of raising the corporate tax rate to pay for President Biden’s infrastructure package. 

Bezos released a statement that he supports the administration’s focus on infrastructure and that “it’s the right time to work together” to pass a package.

“We recognize this investment will require concessions from all sides — both on the specifics of what’s included as well as how it gets paid for (we’re supportive of a rise in the corporate tax rate),” Bezos said.

Read more here. 

 

UPDATE, PLEASE: Bipartisan leaders of a key Senate panel on Tuesday pressed the Biden administration for more information on its investigation into two recent, massive foreign espionage hacking incidents.

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Gary PetersGary PetersHillicon Valley: Intel heads to resume threats hearing scrapped under Trump | New small business coalition to urge action on antitrust policy | Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure Senators call for update on investigations into SolarWinds, Microsoft hacks Five things to watch on Biden infrastructure plan MORE (D-Mich.) and ranking member Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanHillicon Valley: Intel heads to resume threats hearing scrapped under Trump | New small business coalition to urge action on antitrust policy | Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure Senators call for update on investigations into SolarWinds, Microsoft hacks Former Ohio health director won’t run for Senate MORE (R-Ohio) sent letters on cybersecurity concerns to Brandon Wales, the acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and to Federal CISO Christopher DeRusha, who works within the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 

ADVERTISEMENT

The committee leaders questioned Wales and DeRusha about the progress the administration has made garnering information about the SolarWinds hack, which U.S. intelligence agencies assessed in January was “likely” carried out by Russian hackers, and compromised at least nine federal agencies and 100 private sector groups.

The senators also asked questions about recently discovered vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s Exchange Server, which the company said last month was actively exploited by at least one state-sponsored Chinese hacking group to gain access to thousands of organizations around the world. 

“There is no easy solution to advanced persistent cyber threats,” the senators wrote.

Read more about the senators’ concerns here. 

 

YOUTUBE KIDS : Rep. Raja KrishnamoorthiSubramanian (Raja) Raja KrishnamoorthiHillicon Valley: Intel heads to resume threats hearing scrapped under Trump | New small business coalition to urge action on antitrust policy | Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure House panel investigating YouTube for advertising practices on kids’ platform From one ‘big house’ to another: DOJ must hold the leaders of Purdue Pharma accountable MORE (D-Ill.), chair of the Oversight and Reform subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, sent a letter to YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki requesting documents about YouTube Kids amid concerns over the content and advertisement practices for children.

Krishnamoorthi wrote that YouTube Kids “appears to be serving up inappropriate, low-education, highly commercial content.” 

ADVERTISEMENT

“I believe that may be ascribable to your advertisement-based business model and reliance on free uploads of user-generated videos without adequate quality control. YouTube profits from this disservice of children with more paid ads and more corporate revenue,” he wrote.

Read more about the letter. 

 

FACEBOOK TAKES ACTION: Facebook on Tuesday announced that during March it removed more than 1,100 accounts tied to spreading deceptive content in a variety of countries as part of its effort to root out domestic and international disinformation efforts. 

The social media giant reported that it had also removed almost 300 Instagram accounts, over 250 Facebook pages, and 34 Facebook groups tied to 14 coordinated influence operations over the past month. 

The over a dozen networks were based around the world, including five in Mexico along with networks in Israel, Comoros, Georgia, and Benin that were targeting domestic audiences within each country. 

One network based in Israel was targeting Iranian audiences, while the remaining networks in Spain, El Salvador, Argentina, Albania and Iran were all targeting groups in various other countries.  

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more about the takedowns here. 

 

GOOGLE RESEARCHER STEPS DOWN: A Google researcher who oversaw the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) ethics group resigned on Tuesday following the controversial dismissal of two of his former colleagues on the research team, Bloomberg reported. 

The researcher, Samy Bengio, announced he would be leaving in an email to staff obtained by Bloomberg. Bengio’s last day will be on April 28, the outlet reported. 

“While I am looking forward to my next challenge, there’s no doubt that leaving this wonderful team is really difficult,” Bengio reportedly wrote in the email. 

In his message, Bengio did not refer to Timnit Gebru and Margaret Mitchell, two of his former colleagues leading Google’s work on ethical AI that were ousted in recent months, according to Bloomberg.

Read more here. 

Click Here: Converse Men Shoes

 

BEZOS TOPS BILLIONAIRE LIST, AGAIN: Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has topped Forbes’s annual world’s billionaire list for the fourth consecutive year.

This year’s billionaires are worth a combined $13.1 trillion, up from $8 trillion last year, according to Forbes. This year’s list has 493 newcomers, including dating app Bumble’s CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd. 

Tesla CEO Elon MuskElon Reeve MuskHillicon Valley: Intel heads to resume threats hearing scrapped under Trump | New small business coalition to urge action on antitrust policy | Amazon backs corporate tax hike to pay for infrastructure Progressives fear infrastructure’s climate plans won’t survive Senate Bezos tops record-setting Forbes list of billionaires MORE comes in second on the list, jumping from the 31st spot last year. Rounding out the top five are LVMH CEO Bernard Arnualt, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerburg. 

Read more here. 

Lighter click:  Top notch lifeguarding 

An op-ed to chew on: Biden’s infrastructure proposal is good for America’s national security too 

NOTABLE LINKS FROM AROUND THE WEB: 

I Called Off My Wedding. The Internet Will Never Forget (Wired / Lauren Goode) 

European institutions targeted in a cyber-attack last week (Bloomberg / Alberto Nardelli and Natalia Drozdiak) 

The NYPD Has Misled The Public About Its Use Of Facial Recognition Tool Clearview AI (BuzzFeed News / Caroline Haskins)

End racism. Make money. Finney says Black entrepreneurs can do both. (Protocol / Megan Rose Dickey)