The Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library convened a conference to focus on national security, classified material, transparency, and the role of the National Archives in presidential record-keeping. During this conversation, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the declassification process, public access to important documents, and national and global security challenges.
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in Biden v. Nebraska, a case involving six states challenging President Biden's student loan debt relief program and its legality. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona adopted the plan in August 2022. The administration argues the secretary had legal authority to enact the program under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act (HEROES). Under the law, the education secretary is given authority to "waive or modify" federal student loan programs to ensure borrowers experiencing economic burdens from a national emergency declaration are not financially worse off due to their loans. The national emergency in this case is the COVID-19 pandemic. Nebraska, along with five other states, argue this loan forgiveness program is not lawful. At the federal district court level this case was dismissed for lack of standing. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled for the states and issued a nationwide injunction, stopping t
"Investing in our children is no different than investing in defense--both protect our tomorrow," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona at an event hosted by the Department of Education. His remarks on the Biden administration's education priorities focused on the theme of "raising the bar" and covered a variety of topics including promoting global competitiveness, mental health in schools, creating a competitive teacher salary and multilingual development.
Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies on President Biden's 2024 budgetrequest for the Justice Department before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee.
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz testifies on his coffee chain's treatment of union organizing efforts, before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Mr. Schultz stepped down as CEO days before his testimony.
"I'm optimistic, because the people of Pennsylvania, well, they've inspired me, and I have faith, in all of us, that we can do this work together," said Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) during his first budget address to the state's legislature in Harrisburg. The governor urged lawmakers to find bipartisan agreement on his budget proposal. Gov. Shapiro touched on several topics in his remarks, including workforce development, childcare and education investment, mental health care, clean energy and the environment, childhood hunger concerns, and business investment and innovation. Gov. Shapiro also addressed public safety and criminal justice reform.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) delivered his 2023 State of the State address from the capitol in Tallahassee. He touted the influx of migration and economic growth in Florida, deeming the state "number one" in the nation. Topics included eliminating a sales tax, hurricane recovery, law enforcement, illegal immigration and K-12 education.
"Unlike D.C., we pay our debts," said Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) as she urged the joint session to completely pay off the Alabama Trust Fund during her State of the State address. Her remarks from the Capitol in Montgomery covered a variety of topics including a proposed pay raise for teachers, investing in K-12 education and using federal funds to invest in Alabamians including giving a one-time rebate of $400 per person. In addition, she discussed the creation of the Saban Center named after the University of Alabama's head football coach Nick Saban. The center will be an interactive education, arts, recreation and sports science center.
"The state of our state has never been more exceptional," said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) as he delivered his State of the State address from Noveon Magnetics in San Marcos. He touched on a variety of topics, including business investment, workforce development, the economy and tax cuts, education and parental rights, public safety, the fentanyl crisis, and border security. This was the second year in a row the governor did not deliver his State of the State before the Texas Legislature in Austin.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) delivered the State of the State address before a joint session of the legislature in Augusta. She touted her administration's budget and commitments to address issues in education, health care access, drug abuse and addiction, and climate change.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker delivered his State of the State Address from the State Capitol in Springfield. Topics included education, economic investments in small businesses, the cannabis industry, tv and film and other industries, expanding reproductive health care, crime prevention, and reducing poverty and food insecurity in the state.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) discussed economic policy during a conversation hosted by the Cato Institute in Washington, DC. Topics included school choice and education funding, tax cuts and business investments for the state.
