NEWS EXTRA

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SOURCE:  Office of Senator Mitch McConnell

Trade Agreement Will Face ‘Intense Scrutiny’ in Congress

McConnell: ‘serious concerns have been raised on a number of key issues.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Monday on the announced agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP):

“The Trans-Pacific Partnership is potentially one of the most significant trade deals in history and ‎could shape our engagement and commerce with these nations for decades. We are committed to opening trade in a way that benefits American manufacturers, farmers, and innovators. But serious concerns have been raised on a number of key issues.

“This deal demands intense scrutiny by Congress and the legislation we passed earlier this year provides us the opportunity to give this agreement that scrutiny. In the months ahead, the Senate will review this agreement to determine if it meets the high standards Congress and the American people have demanded.”

SOURCE:  Office of Senator Mitch McConnell

McConnell Comments on President Obama’s Ozone Rule

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following comments today regarding the Obama Administration’s latest regulation dubbed the “most expensive regulation in U.S. history”:

“The Obama Administration’s latest attack on the Middle Class, another massive regulation with negligible benefits that threatens to ship American jobs overseas, could

Sen. Leader Mitch McConnell. Photo Courtesy: United States Senate.

throw thousands of Kentuckians out of work every year and impose hundreds of millions in costs on Kentucky employers. Nationwide, it could lead to massive job loss and cost tens of billions annually in lost economic growth. No wonder it’s being called the costliest regulation in American history. No wonder we’ve seen even the Obama Administration’s traditional union allies fret publicly about ‘the detrimental impact’ these ‘extreme requirements’ would have on American jobs and the American economy.

“The Obama Administration should focus on helping the communities across our country that still struggle to comply with current Washington mandates, not callously impose even more harsh costs on families and jobs. I will continue to fight back against this rule and others on behalf of the many Kentuckians who make our economy work.”

BACKGROUND:

Earlier this year, Senator McConnell secured several provisions – including one addressing the ozone rule — in the Senate Interior Appropriations bill that seek to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing onerous regulations that would have a negative impact on Kentucky’s economy. He inserted language to prohibit the EPA from regulating a standard for ozone or “smog” levels until at least 85 percent of counties nationwide that are not in compliance are able to do so.  He also secured a measure that would protect states from any consequences from the EPA should they forego submitting a state plan for complying with the agency’s recently finalized power plant rule. Finally, the bill contains his provision that would prohibit implementation and funding of the so-called Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule that would classify nearly all wetlands, including small ponds and ditches, as “navigable” waters and thus subject to interference by Washington.

Senator McConnell is also a cosponsor of Senator Thune’s Clean Air, Strong Economies (CASE) Act, which prohibits the EPA from enforcing its national ambient air quality standards for ozone until at least 85% of counties that are not in compliance with the current standards are able to comply.

SOURCE:  Blacknews.com

TRACY “T-MAC” MCGRADY LAUNCHES MOBILE HBCU FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN DURING BLACK COLLEGE TOUR

— HBCU Give 105 Initiative Focuses on Building Awareness and Increasing Enrollment at Historically Black Colleges & Universities —

Tracy “T-Mac” McGrady wants to raise $1M per HBCU. Photo Courtesy: Blacknews.com / HBCU

Atlanta, GA — HBCU Direct, LLC (HD), a marketing collective specializing in HBCU relations, and former NBA superstar Tracy T-Mac McGrady announced the launch of the HBCU Give 105 fundraising initiative with a mission to build awareness of HBCUs and increase overall enrollment. McGradys donation of $105,000.00 helped fund the proprietary software, developed by Give.mobi, required for donations to all HBCUs collectively or individual institutions. The goal of the program is to raise $105 million or $1 million per institution. The announcement was made during the first Tour stop of the Aspire Hoops-N-Hip Hop® Tour at Alabama State University in Montgomery, AL. Donations can be made at www.hbcugive105.org.

The partnership provides a huge opportunity to use our voices to support the efforts of the nations 105 HBCUs to build awareness and attract talent,” said seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady. “HBCUs are a cornerstone of our community, having graduated some of the most notable African-Americans across the spectrum including medicine, technology, the arts, sports and beyond. With more African-Americans entering college today than ever before, it is imperative that we do all that we can to support HBCUs in every way as they continue to provide a high quality education.”

“This partnership perfectly aligns with our mission of servicing and creating positive awareness of HBCUs,” added Rod Chappell, CEO and Executive Director of HBCU Direct. Collectively, HBCUs need more support in marketing and awareness to increase revenues through enrollment and fundraising. The statistics regarding increased college enrollment for African-American students are encouraging, and we have to do all that we can to make sure that HBCUs are strong benefactors of this increase. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported that among 2014 U.S. high school graduates, 70.9 percent of African-American graduating high school seniors had enrolled in college by October, up from 59.3 percent college enrollment rate in 2013.

Through this partnership, the five-year-old HBCU Direct follows its mission of supporting the nation’s 100+ HBCUs through with partnerships to increase revenues and/or reduce expenses. For more information about HBCU Direct, visit www.hbcudirect.com.