Debris from a SpaceX rocket was recovered in Washington state last week and reclaimed by the space-exploration company, according to a local sheriff’s office.

The confirmation comes after pieces of the rocket plunged through the atmosphere in the Pacific Northwest last week, lighting up the sky with comet-like streaks that were documented by numerous users on social media.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office tweeted confirmation of the material on Friday, writing, “SpaceX recovered a Composite-Overwrapped Pressure Vessel from last week’s Falcon 9 re-entry.”

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The sheriff’s office did not provide additional information about the debris’s location or impact.

“Media and treasure hunters: we are not disclosing specifics. The property owner simply wants to be left alone,” they tweeted.

The pieces were found on private property, and did not cause damage besides a 4- to 5-inch impact mark in the ground, according to NBC News. 

SpaceX, founded by billionaire Elon MuskElon Reeve MuskThe Hill’s Morning Report – GOP pounces on Biden’s infrastructure plan American Rescue Plan: Ending child poverty — let’s make it permanent Climate change: Can humans be the Earth’s air conditioner? MORE, is receiving two contracts valued at nearly $160 million from the Pentagon to launch two of its Falcon 9 rockets.

Musk has set a goal of sending 1 million people to Mars by 2050. 

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Happy Thursday and welcome back to On The Money, where we’re celebrating Opening Day even if we can’t watch the Mets and Nats. I’m Sylvan Lane, and here’s your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line.

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THE BIG DEAL—White House hopes to see infrastructure bill passed by summer: President BidenJoe BidenThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden may find zero GOP support for jobs plan Republicans don’t think Biden really wants to work with them Lack of cyber funds in Biden infrastructure plan raises eyebrows MORE hopes to see Congress pass his infrastructure and climate proposal by this summer, White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiRepublicans don’t think Biden really wants to work with them The biggest campaign issue of 2022? On The Trail: How marijuana went mainstream MORE said Thursday, setting a slightly longer timeline than his recently enacted coronavirus relief package.

Why? Psaki told reporters at an afternoon briefing that the extra time will allow for more White House negotiations with congressional Republicans and Democrats, particularly since the legislation does not carry the same level of urgency as the American Rescue Plan that was signed into law last month.

“We’ve got a little bit more time here to work and have discussions with members of both parties,” she continued. “We want to see progress by Memorial Day, we’d like to see this package passed by the summer. But I certainly expect when Congress returns that the president will be inviting members to the Oval Office.”

The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant has more here.

Reach out vs. go it alone: Senate Republicans by and large ripped Biden’s proposal on Wednesday, arguing that it was too partisan and would derail the U.S. economy with tax hikes.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellRepublicans don’t think Biden really wants to work with them On The Money: White House hopes to see infrastructure bill passed by summer | Biden under pressure from all sides over scope, tax hikes White House hopes to see infrastructure bill passed by summer MORE (R-Ky.) vowed to fight the legislation and said it “is not going to get support from our side” during a news conference in Kentucky on Thursday. 

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Even so, Psaki suggested there were more areas of agreement than disagreement on improving the country’s infrastructure and other provisions in Biden’s proposal.

“Does he disagree that our nation’s infrastructure is outdated and needs repair? Does he disagree that we need to do more to put American workers back to work and to invest in industries that have growth potential over the long term? Does he disagree that one third of the country who doesn’t have broadband access should have access to broadband?” Psaki said

The battle over pay-fors: Whether any Republicans support Biden’s plan will be determined in part by negotiations over the tax hikes the president proposed to pay for it. 

• Top GOP senators have warned it would be tough to get any Republicans to vote for raising taxes, even as they’ve also panned the idea of paying for a large infrastructure package through deficit spending.
• That said, Biden’s plan falls short of what more liberal Democrats and progressive groups were hoping for, and they are already exerting pressure to try to get him to go bigger.

The Hill’s Jordain Carney walks us through the strategy questions facing Biden.

Pass the SALT?: Another wild card Biden will have to address is the $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. Three House Democrats have already pledged to vote against Biden’s bill if the SALT cap isn’t repealed. 

During a Thursday press call, Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden may find zero GOP support for jobs plan Gaetz showed lawmakers nude photos of women he claimed to have slept with: report On The Money: White House hopes to see infrastructure bill passed by summer | Biden under pressure from all sides over scope, tax hikes MORE (D-Calif.) stopped far short of drawing a red line, as those Democrats have done. But she said she’s a “big supporter of their position” and suggested she wants to see that particular tax provision wrapped into Biden’s infrastructure bill, which is expected to feature a series of tax hikes to offset the spending.

“Hopefully we can get it into the bill. I never give up hope for something like that [that] means so much to the American people,” Pelosi said on a press call.

The Hill’s Mike Lillis tells us more here.

The bigger picture: Zooming out from the details and negotiations, it’s good to keep in mind the broader message Biden is trying to send with his infrastructure package. 

The White House is pushing an infrastructure bill that could reshape the discussion around capitalism as it seems to reestablish the federal government as a primary driver of how the economy should grow and function.

In addition to traditional infrastructure projects, Biden’s $2.25 trillion American Jobs Plan would make government investments in broadband, electric vehicles, climate change, elderly care, child benefits, housing and developing future technologies. 

The Hill’s Jonathan Easley, Brett Samuels, and Amie Parnes tell us how Biden’s proposal effectively transforms the relationship between the government and the private sector. 

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Read more: Biden clashes with business groups over tax hikes.

 

LEADING THE DAY

Weekly jobless claims rise back above 700K: Weekly jobless claims rose above 700,000 last week after briefly dipping below the pre-pandemic record for the first time since March 2020, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

• In the week ending March 27, the seasonally adjusted number of new applications for unemployment insurance rose to 719,000 from the previous week’s revised total of 658,000.
• Last week’s increase brings weekly jobless claims back above the pre-coronavirus pandemic record of roughly 690,000, set in October 1982. 
• Weekly claims had been consistently above that level since the end of March 2020, when the onset of the pandemic drove millions of workers out of the U.S. labor market.

I break down the data here.

 

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S&P 500 passes 4,000 points for first time: The S&P 500 surpassed 4,000 points on Thursday for the first time, at 4,020, up 47 points, or 1.2 percent.

The market milestone is the latest record in a year that has seen unexpected gains despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, which led to some of the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression. The Hill’s Niv Elis has more here.

 

GOOD TO KNOW

• More than two dozen House Democrats asked the Federal Reserve on Thursday to use its full arsenal of policy tools to direct funding away from the fossil fuel industry and toward communities harmed by climate change and pollution.
• The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) monthly measure of manufacturing activity rose to its highest level since 1983 in March.
• The IRS said Wednesday it will automatically calculate and send refunds to those who paid taxes on unemployment benefits received during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

ODDS AND ENDS

• Apple CEO Tim Cook criticized Georgia’s new voting law in an interview with Axios published on Thursday, joining a growing number of CEOs who have condemned the new measure.

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President BidenJoe BidenThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden may find zero GOP support for jobs plan Republicans don’t think Biden really wants to work with them Lack of cyber funds in Biden infrastructure plan raises eyebrows MORE‘s $2.25 trillion infrastructure plan does not include any funds to protect critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, even as the threat grows against targets like the electric grid.

Experts say it was disappointing to see there were no funds set aside to defend systems critical to everyday life from hackers, particularly as the proposal calls for things like $100 billion for improving grid resiliency, the creation of new jobs, and developing more clean electricity.

“It is a bit of an eyesore of not seeing a more prominent listing of cybersecurity in this, but I think there will be more to come,” said Tobias Whitney, vice president of Energy Security Solutions at Fortress Information Security, which works with grid operators.

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The cybersecurity of the grid has become an area of increasing concern in recent years as hackers have ratcheted up efforts to target critical systems. Those efforts accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials on Capitol Hill warned last year that foreign adversaries had the ability and were actively attempting to disrupt the grid during the pandemic. The 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment compiled by former Director of Intelligence Daniel Coats found that Russia, China and Iran were all capable of launching cyberattacks that “cause localized, temporary disruptive effects on critical infrastructure.”

The Government Accountability Office in a report last month highlighted how distribution systems within the U.S. grid are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks.

The warnings aren’t theoretical either.

Grid disruptions have taken place in recent years, with a cyberattack on an undisclosed Western utility in 2019. And in February, frigid temperatures caused millions in Texas to lose power and put lives in danger, underscoring the crippling effect of any disruption to the electric grid.

Jim Cunningham, the executive director of Protect Our Power, told The Hill that “the grid is attacked millions of times per day,” and noted that his organization is urging the Biden administration and Congress to invest between $20 billion and $25 billion to secure it.

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“I think it is absolutely an essential part of any infrastructure plan,” Cunningham said. “The reality is the tragedy that we witnessed in Texas a short time ago thankfully only lasted a week, week and a half…but if the grid goes down, we’re looking at months, maybe God forbid even a year. So electricity plays a critical role in the functioning of our society.”

Marty Edwards, vice president of OT Security at cybersecurity group Tenable, said the Biden administration needs to make cybersecurity a component of infrastructure.

“Any critical infrastructure modernization must take cybersecurity into account from the start,” Edwards said in a statement to The Hill. “As we become more and more reliant on the electric grid, increasingly advanced adversaries are looking to disrupt our way of life in any way possible, including by attacking our most critical infrastructure.”

While the proposed infrastructure package did not include specific cybersecurity funds, the administration has taken some steps toward addressing national security risks in cyberspace, particularly in the wake of recent massive foreign cyber espionage incidents.

President Biden will soon sign an executive order that, according to administration officials, will include around a dozen actions to improve federal cybersecurity. Biden also spearheaded the inclusion of $650 million in the recently enacted COVID-19 relief package for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), along with millions more in technology modernization funds.

On electric grid security, Bloomberg News reported this week that administration officials including Energy Secretary Jennifer GranholmJennifer GranholmThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden may find zero GOP support for jobs plan Lack of cyber funds in Biden infrastructure plan raises eyebrows White House hopes to see infrastructure bill passed by summer MORE briefed top utility executives last month on a new plan to defend the U.S. grid from cybersecurity threats.

A National Security Council spokesperson told The Hill on Thursday that the administration “is committed to safeguarding the cybersecurity of U.S. critical infrastructure from persistent and sophisticated threats” and has “launched a 100 Day Control Systems cybersecurity initiative, working closely with the private sector that manages much of this critical infrastructure like those for electricity and water, to improve cybersecurity.”

There is bipartisan interest on Capitol Hill to address vulnerabilities in the grid.

A group of leading bipartisan senators on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee sent a letter to Granholm last month urging her to ensure cybersecurity of the electric grid remains a priority.

“The reliability and resilience of the electric grid is critical to the economic and national security of the United States,” the lawmakers, led by Sens. Jim RischJim Elroy RischLack of cyber funds in Biden infrastructure plan raises eyebrows The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden shifts on filibuster Senators urge Energy chief to prioritize cybersecurity amid growing threats MORE (R-Idaho) and Angus KingAngus KingLack of cyber funds in Biden infrastructure plan raises eyebrows Five things to watch on Biden infrastructure plan Democrats wrestle over tax hikes for infrastructure MORE (I-Maine), wrote in their letter.

Risch told The Hill in a separate statement Thursday that “securing our critical energy infrastructure is one of the most pressing national security issues facing our nation.”

“There is strong bipartisan agreement that protecting the electric grid and other critical infrastructure is of paramount importance and must be a key component of any plan,” he added.

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A spokesperson for Sen. John BarrassoJohn Anthony BarrassoLack of cyber funds in Biden infrastructure plan raises eyebrows As Congress considers infrastructure, don’t forget rural America Hillicon Valley: Another Big Tech hearing | Cyber Command flexes operations | Trump’s social media site in the works MORE (R-Wyo.), the ranking member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, criticized numerous aspects of Biden’s infrastructure plan, including the lack of specific cyber funding.

“In addition to decreasing electric reliability, renewables, like wind and solar energy, [the proposal] actually increases the exposure to cyberattacks on the electric grid, which is a prime target for America’s adversaries,” the spokesperson said. “The vast majority of the $2.25 trillion in spending will not improve our nation’s infrastructure. It is therefore not surprising that President Biden’s plan fails to address cybersecurity.”

Whitney, of Fortress Information Security, said there is now likely to be more pressure on the administration to address cybersecurity, either in the existing infrastructure proposal or in another measure.

“Given the fact that cybersecurity wasn’t a huge focus in the infrastructure plan, I think there’s going to be more pressure going forward in terms of what the future sector-specific cybersecurity plans look like,” he said.

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Egypt could seek $1 billion in compensation for damages caused by the grounding of a cargo ship in the Suez Canal that slowed international trade for days.

That compensatory figure does not include the financial damages that owners of the nearly 400 boats that were delayed during the past week and the companies whose products were being transported may also seek, according to USA Today.

Lt. Gen. Ossama Rabei, head of Suez Canal Authority, reportedly said that the $1 billion that Egypt is asking for will likely cover the income the country lost out on in transit fees and well as the cost of the tugboat that freed the Ever Given and the damage done to the canal in the six days that the tugboat dredged the large container ship.

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“This is the right of the country,” Rabei said, according to the outlet. “It should get its due.”

He also said that until an investigation is completed and the captain of the Ever Given complies with the demands of the canal authority the ship will not be allowed to continue its travels to Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The ship was freed from the canal on Monday, by a Dutch dredging company that removed 30,000 cubic meters of sand from around it. It is now anchored in Great Bitter Lake. 

 

The suspect in the attack at the Capitol on Friday was an apparent follower of Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam.

Noah Green, a 25-year-old Indiana man, was reported by multiple media outlets as the suspect in Friday’s attack, which killed one Capitol Police officer and wounded another.

Police said the suspect rammed a car into two Capitol Police officers before hitting a barricade on the north side of the Capitol. He then exited the vehicle and allegedly lunged at officers before being shot and killed by police.

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Screenshots from Green’s now-deleted Facebook page showed that he promoted speeches from Farrakhan and Elijah Muhammad, the previous leader of the Nation of Islam, according to multiple reports.

His Facebook posts were reported by The New York Times and NBC News, and Facebook confirmed that the page had been taken down.

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The Nation of Islam has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center over anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks by its members.

Green posted on Facebook about how the “past few years” were “tough” and said he looked to Muhammad’s teachings for support.

“I have been tried with some of the biggest, unimaginable tests in my life. I am currently now unemployed, after I left my job, partly due to afflictions,” he wrote.

“So, I wanted to give a personal testimony for the man whose [sic] accomplished such a great mission for the liberation of us all under the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, brought forth by Allah, in the person of Master Fard Muhammad,” he added, referring to another Nation of Islam leader. 

He also posted about the “crucifixion of Michael Jackson,” a sermon Farrakhan used to defend Michael Jackson. 

Other Facebook posts uncovered by CNN showed that Green was under the impression that the government was targeting him with “mind control” and that he has suffered “terrible afflictions … presumably by the CIA and FBI, government agencies of the United States of America.”

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 don’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.

Experts this week were disappointed that President BidenJoe BidenJobs report adds to Biden momentum White House says bills are bipartisan even if GOP doesn’t vote for them Trump calls for boycott of MLB for moving All-Star Game MORE’s $2.25 trillion infrastructure package did not include specific funding for securing the electric grid against cyberattacks, although the White House is working on a separate initiative to protect the grid. Meanwhile, a Russian court fined Twitter on Friday for failing to remove certain posts, and two Democratic lawmakers pressed the Education Department to protect K-12 institutions from malicious hackers. 

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GRID INSECURITY: President Biden‘s $2.25 trillion infrastructure plan does not include any funds to protect critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, even as the threat grows against targets such as the electric grid.

Experts say it was disappointing to see there were no funds set aside to defend systems critical to everyday life from hackers, particularly as the proposal does including things such as $100 billion for improving grid resiliency, the creation of new jobs and developing more clean electricity.

“It is a bit of an eyesore of not seeing a more prominent listing of cybersecurity in this, but I think there will be more to come,” said Tobias Whitney, vice president of energy security solutions at Fortress Information Security, which works with grid operators.

The cybersecurity of the grid has become an area of increasing concern in recent years as hackers have ratcheted up efforts to target critical systems. Those efforts accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A National Security Council spokesperson told The Hill on Thursday that the administration “is committed to safeguarding the cybersecurity of U.S. critical infrastructure from persistent and sophisticated threats” and has “launched a 100 Day Control Systems cybersecurity initiative, working closely with the private sector that manages much of this critical infrastructure like those for electricity and water, to improve cybersecurity.”

Read more here.

TWITTER FINED: A Russian court fined Twitter Friday for not removing posts that encouraged minors to participate in protests, The Associated Press reported.

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The court’s ruling comes after Russian telecommunications watchdog pressured the platform to remove the content or be blocked. 

The court found Twitter guilty on three counts of violating regulations on restricting unlawful content, ordering it to pay three fines adding up to 8.9 million rubles, or about $117,000, the AP reported. 

Read more here. 

SCHOOL INSECURITY: Reps. Doris MatsuiDoris Okada MatsuiHillicon Valley: Grid security funding not included in Biden’s infrastructure plan | Russia fines Twitter | Lawmakers call for increased school cybersecurity Lawmakers urge Education Department to take action to defend schools from cyber threats Hillicon Valley: House approves almost billion in cyber, tech funds as part of relief package | Officials warn of ‘widespread’ exploit of Microsoft vulnerabilities | Facebook files to dismiss antitrust lawsuits MORE (D-Calif.) and Jim LangevinJames (Jim) R. LangevinHillicon Valley: Grid security funding not included in Biden’s infrastructure plan | Russia fines Twitter | Lawmakers call for increased school cybersecurity Lawmakers urge Education Department to take action to defend schools from cyber threats Lawmakers roll out bill to protect critical infrastructure after Florida water hack MORE (D-R.I.) on Friday urged the Department of Education to prioritize protecting K-12 institutions from cyberattacks, which have shot up in the past year as classes moved increasingly online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel CardonaMiguel CardonaHillicon Valley: Grid security funding not included in Biden’s infrastructure plan | Russia fines Twitter | Lawmakers call for increased school cybersecurity Lawmakers urge Education Department to take action to defend schools from cyber threats Biden requesting information on legal authority to cancel student debt MORE, the two lawmakers highlighted concerns that cybersecurity threats to school have spiked during the pandemic, and urged Cardona to issue guidance to educational institutions to help navigate these threats.

“As the U.S. continues to battle the ongoing pandemic, the Department of Education will play a critical role in supporting American families as they navigate the challenges of distance learning and prepare to reenter the classroom safely,” Matsui and Langevin wrote.

“To help ensure schools are keeping pace with the demands of the modern classroom, we urge you to issue guidance that will allow K-12 schools to make needed investments in increased cybersecurity measures,” they added. 

The letter was sent after a year in which school districts were hit with a wave of cyberattacks and other online interruptions as K-12 institutions were forced to hold classes online during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Read more about their concerns here.

INTERNET DOWN: Myanmar’s military is shutting down wireless internet access in an attempt to quell protests that have erupted throughout the country since the military takeover on Feb. 1.

The military has been shutting off the internet overnight for weeks, but the Ministry of Transport and Communications told internet providers Thursday that “all wireless broadband data services be temporarily suspended until further notice,” Ooredoo, a local internet provider in the country said, according to the Associated Press.

Companies are also no longer allowed to offer high-speed internet to Myanmar’s citizens as the military is now only offering fiber optic cables that give internet access at slow speeds.

The decision comes after Myanmar’s deadliest week of protest as the Myanmar military has now killed more than 500 pro-democracy protesters.

Read more here.

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FACEBOOK’S FRAME: Facebook on Thursday launched COVID-19 vaccine-themed frames for profile pictures.

The company said in a statement that it developed the frames in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It said in the coming weeks users can see a summary in their News Feed of those who they follow who are using the profile frames.

Users have the option of choosing between frames that feature banners that say “I Got My COVID-19 Vaccine” or “Let’s Get Vaccinated.” The frames feature logos that say “We Can Do This” in either magenta or blue.

Read more here. 

Lighter click: Just your typical broadcast

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An op-ed to chew on: Science is rescuing us from COVID — it’s time for the US to return the favor

NOTABLE LINKS FROM AROUND THE WEB: 

LexisNexis To Provide Giant Database Of Personal Information To Ice (The Intercept / Sam Biddle)

Advanced hackers used Fortinet flaws in likely attempt to breach government networks, feds warn (CyberScoop / Sean Lyngaas) 

Why cable hates Biden’s $100B internet plan (Axios / Margaret Harding McGill)

How America’s surveillance networks helped the FBI catch the Capitol mob (Washington Post / Drew Harwell and Craig Timberg)

Same as the old boss: How Amazon honed its anti-union bent at a Seattle call center 20 years ago (GeekWire / Mike Lewis and Todd Bishop)

DOE watchdog detailed its cybersecurity state amid SolarWinds hack (NextGov / Mariam Baksh)

A German vaccine commission is advising people under the age of 60 that have received their first dose of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine to not receive their second dose.

Reuters reported that the committee, called STIKO, recommended that people receive a dose of an mRNA-based vaccine, such as those from Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna, 12 weeks after receiving their first AstraZeneca dose.

“Until the appropriate data is available, STIKO recommends for people under 60 years old that instead of the second AstraZeneca dose, a dose of an mRNA-vaccine should be given 12 weeks after the first vaccine,” STIKO said, according to Reuters.

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STIKO noted that here was no scientific evidence on the safety of a mixed series of vaccines, according to the wire service. 

The recommendation comes after Germany suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine for those under the age of 60 over concerns of a rare occurrence of blood clots found in a small number of people that received the vaccine.

STIKO at the time planned on releasing recommendations for those who had received their first dose by the end of April.

A handful of countries have paused or suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine amid reports of blood clots in a small percentage of patients. 

Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended on Monday against using the vaccine in adults under age 55 while it investigated concerns over clotting.

The European Medicines Agency said Wednesday that there was a remote possibly of blood clots, but there was no evidence that the vaccine was linked to an increased risk of clotting.

AstraZeneca said in late March that its vaccine was 76 percent effective against symptomatic COVID-19, and that it planned on filing for an emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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The FBI carried out a record number of background checks on individuals purchasing firearms last month as multiple mass shootings gained the nation’s attention and sparked a conversation on America’s gun policies.

The FBI says nearly 4.7 million Americans underwent background checks in connection with purchasing guns in March, CNN reported. That number was up almost 36 percent from February.

While CNN noted that background checks do not necessarily correlate directly to firearms sold, they do indicate that the volume of purchases has increased.

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Large quantities of guns were sold following March’s deadly shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colo, according to CNN. During that time, House Democrats passed two gun control bills that could expand background check requirements for all gun transfers and purchases, which have garnered pushback from many Republicans.

The measures face a much steeper path in the 50-50 Senate.

President BidenJoe BidenThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden may find zero GOP support for jobs plan Republicans don’t think Biden really wants to work with them Lack of cyber funds in Biden infrastructure plan raises eyebrows MORE last week called on Congress to ban high-capacity magazines and assault weapons as well as expand background checks for firearm sales.

“We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again. I got that done when I was a senator. … We should do it again,” he said.

 

 

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A groups of LGBTQ students have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education over discriminatory practices at religious colleges and universities.

The suit was filed by the Religious Exemption Accountability Project (REAP) by 33 current and former students in an Oregon federal court on Monday.

The suit aims to “put an end to the U.S. Department of Education’s complicity in the abuses and unsafe conditions thousands of LGBTQ+ students endure at hundreds of taxpayer-funded, religious colleges and universities.”

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At issue is the religious exemption to Title IX, a federal law that prohibits institutions from discriminating against students on the basis of sex in its programs. The group claims that the religious exemption has allowed schools to continue with discriminatory practices.

The students described experiences of discrimination, including being forced into conversion therapy, being denied admissions or expelled.

“The religious exemption to Title IX, however, seemingly permits the Department to breach its duty as to the more than 100,000 sexual and gender minority students attending religious colleges and universities where discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is codified in campus policies and openly practiced,” the suit says.

The Hill has reached out the Department of Education for comment.

The suit comes as Democrats push forward with advancing protections for the LGBTQ community.

President BidenJoe BidenThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden may find zero GOP support for jobs plan Republicans don’t think Biden really wants to work with them Lack of cyber funds in Biden infrastructure plan raises eyebrows MORE signed an executive order in early March aimed at guaranteeing that students can learn in an environment free of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, but it doesn’t address religious exemptions under Title IX.

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The House passed the Equality Act in late February, which expands protections in education, housing and employment to LGBT people. The measure still has an uphill battle in the Senate, where both parties control 50 seats.

Two New Mexico Native American communities have sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over a revision to federal rules regarding waterways they argue violated federal responsibilities toward tribes.

A rule change that took effect last June curtailed the categories of waterway subject to federal protection under the Clean Water Act. The Biden administration is currently reviewing numerous rule changes made under the Trump administration but has yet to announce action on the water rule.

In the lawsuit, the Jemez and Laguna pueblos argued that cultural practices and tribal resources are adversely affected by any removal or restriction of access to clean water due to the scarcity of water in the Southwest.

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“The Agencies had discretion to apply a broader interpretation of ‘waters of the United States’ as they did in the 2015 Clean Water Rule, which would have avoided harm to the Pueblos’ waters,” the lawsuit states. “Instead, the Agencies’ narrow interpretation of ‘waters of the United States’ in the 2020 Navigable Waters Rule withdraws federal water quality protections over Pueblo streams that are ephemeral, intermittent, and seasonal, as well as groundwater, upon all of which the Pueblos rely.”

It further charges that the federal government failed to conduct any direct consultations with pueblo leaders before the rule took effect.

“Instead of engaging in a government-to-government dialogue in the development of policy, the EPA offered generic “listening sessions” that did not allow any meaningful conversations,” the complaint reads.

The lawsuit follows another last May by the state of New Mexico. In the complaint, state Environmental Secretary James Kenney said the rule would remove protections for up to 90 percent of rivers and streams in the state, according to The Associated Press.

An EPA spokesperson told The Hill the agency declined comment on pending litigation.

 

–Updated 4:15 p.m.

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