WASHINGTON — Congress sent President Donald Trump legislation to provide the biggest expansion of college aid for military veterans in a decade.
The Senate cleared the bill by voice vote on Wednesday, passing the second piece of legislation aimed at addressing urgent problems at the beleaguered Department of Veterans Affairs in as many days. The House passed the bipartisan college aid legislation last week.
The measure is a broad effort to better prepare veterans for life after active-duty service amid a rapidly changing job market.
Building on major legislation passed in 2008 that guaranteed a full-ride scholarship to any in-state public university — or a similar cash amount for private college students — the bill removes a 15-year time limit to tap into GI benefits and increases money for thousands in the National Guard and Reserve.
President Trump joined two Republican senators on Wednesday to champion legislation overhauling legal immigration in America, calling for a merit-based system that would significantly cut admissions over the next decade.
Speaking at the White House, the president called it “the most significant reform to our immigration system in a half century.”
“As a candidate, I campaigned on creating a merit-based immigration system that protects U.S. workers and taxpayers, and that is why we are here today,” Trump said.
He was joined by Georgia Sen. David Perdue and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, the Republicans who first introduced the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy, or the RAISE Act, in February. They have said the legislation aims to reduce the number of green cards issued in half from 1 million to 500,000 a year.
Trump, Perdue and Cotton argued on Tuesday that low-skilled and unskilled immigration into the United States has depressed wages.
According to a fact sheet released to reporters, the new system would favor immigrants who are educated, speak English and have high-paying job offers. It would also reduce low-skilled and unskilled labor immigration.
Trump said new immigrants must be able to “financially support themselves and their families.”
President Trump touted a new program to increase veterans’ electronic access to medical care as part of a broader tele-health push at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The initiative connects veterans with health providers via mobile phones or computers, and is intended to improve medical care especially for those needing mental health and suicide prevention services, Trump said.
“It will make a tremendous difference for the veterans in rural locations in particular,” Trump said in an event at the White House with VA Secretary David Shulkin.
The application allows veterans to schedule appointments via their smart phones.
Shulkin also previewed a regulation allowing VA providers to provide tele-health services to veterans anywhere in the country.
“What we’re announcing today is a big deal for veterans,” said Shulkin. Veterans can find the digital application at the VA app store, he said.
The Queens County GOP will present the 2017 Queens County GOP Man of the Year award to Hon. Edward (Ed) J. O’Hare Jr. at its Annual Spring Gala on May 10th, at Terrace on the Park. Ed has been the Republican State Committeeman and District Leader in the 23rd Assembly District for over 20 years. He has helped multiple Republican candidates reach elected office and has submitted tens of thousands of signatures on nominating and designating petitions to make sure that the Republican Party is represented on the ballot year after year.
He began his professional career in real estate, proudly purchasing various properties in Broad Channel, including Turtle Towers along Cross Bay Blvd. Later in his career, Ed became a member of Local 1 Elevators Contractors. During his 37-year tenure with the union, Ed had the honor of serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at Local 1.
Ed is a political icon within the community he lives and the surrounding communities of the 23rd Assembly District. He has demonstrated sound leadership over the last two decades, as a State Committeeman, civic activist and supporter of our first responders, our youth, our active Military and Veterans.
He has volunteered his time as past President of the Broad Channel Athletic Club, as past President of the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department, and as past President of the Volunteer Firefighters Association, to name a few. Ed has also served as Vice President of the Broad Channel Civic, as a member of Community Board 14, and as Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick’s Parade in the Rockaways.
Ed is the founder of the OHBCR Regular Republican Club, member of the Rockaway Republican Club and founder of the Columbus Foundation in Howard Beach. Raised in Broad Channel, Queens, Ed met and married his wife of 25 years, Virginia (Ginger). Together they are raising their son, Edward Vincent O’Hare, with their dog Baily. Edward J. O’Hare Jr. is a 9/11 Survivor, he is a fighter, he is a winner and he is our Man of the Year!
GOP State Senate Candidate Mike Conigliaro spoke at the Maspeth Shelter Rally. As a lifelong Queens resident, as an elected official Mike will work day and night to diligently represent all of the people in the 15th district.
Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows) will face Republican challengers in this fall’s election.
Usman Ali will face Rozic and Ira Harris, a Queens Village resident and business owner, is challenging Weprin.
Each of the candidates is supported by the Queens County Republican Party, according to Bob Turner, its chairman. Neither Ali — who could not be reached for comment — nor Harris has ever run for public office before.
“[Ali] is a willing and able young man,” Turner told the Chronicle. “We have a good process for screening and selecting good candidates and we’re very proud that these people stepped up.”
Harris describes himself as a “citizen,” not a “career politician.”
“I want to listen to the people’s problems and be a candidate for the people, not a candidate for Albany,” said Harris, who supports term limits and says he would not be a member of the Assembly for a long time. “I’m going there for a short time to do my business and see what I can do for the community.”
For some New Yorkers, the mid-twenties are a time of exploration. They may use their undergraduate degrees to create entrepreneurship ventures, while others struggle to find their niche and teeter through the corporate world.
At the age of 26, Jarret Freeman is leveraging his career to become the youngest GOP candidate in New York’s history to run for the State Senate. In November, Freeman will challenge the incumbent, Sen. Leroy Comrie, for the 14th District seat in Queens that comprises all or parts of Cambria Heights, Hollis, Hollis Hills, Jamaica, St. Albans and Rosedale.
The Republican Party has nominated Donald Trump for president.
The Queens native has completed a remarkable rise from political outsider to major party nominee for the White House.
New York officially put Mr. Trump over the top in the delegate count Tuesday night at the Republican National Convention being held in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Republican Party has nominated Donald Trump for president.
The Queens native has completed a remarkable rise from political outsider to major party nominee for the White House.
New York officially put Mr. Trump over the top in the delegate count Tuesday night at the Republican National Convention being held in Cleveland, Ohio.
Michael O’Reilly announcing his run for Congress at the Rockaway Republican Club. Photo by Dan Guarino “I’m not just running to make a statement. I am in this to win,” said Michael O’Reilly as he announced his intention to run for the United States Congress on Monday, March 7.
The Wave: He made the announcement during a political forum at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club that the Rockaway Republican Club had organized for representatives of their party’s presidential candidates to speak to the public. In an interview with The Wave, O’Reilly, a Rockaway resident, said he felt like this was a good venue to make […]
