PHOTOS: Cassidy, Ernst, Rubio, Lee Discuss Paid Family Leave with Ivanka Trump
WASHINGTON—U.S Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Mike Lee (R-UT) released the following statements today after meeting with Senior Adviser to the President Ivanka Trump to plot the path forward on enacting paid family leave legislation. Staff from the offices of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Todd Young (R-IN) also attended the meeting.
“Today we had a productive conversation about paid family leave policy focused on the bipartisan desire to find a solution that supports American workers and families. We are seeking to build consensus around policy that can garner enough votes to be passed into law and thank the Senators on both sides of the aisle who are working together towards that goal,” said Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President.
“There is widespread interest in helping moms and dads have the financial flexibility they need to raise children. The key will be crafting a policy that is fiscally sustainable, targeted, and doesn’t bury taxpayers in even more red ink,” said Dr. Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth. “We’re going to work hard in my committee to craft a good, bipartisan solution that empowers families to succeed. This is pro-family, pro-baby, pro-mama.”
“As a mother, I understand firsthand how important it is for our policies to reflect the evolving needs of our workforce and to reduce the barriers imposed on parents who are balancing family and work,” said Senator Ernst, a member of the Senate Small Business Committee. “In his State of the Union address, the president made it clear that paid family leave is a priority for his administration. That’s why I am all the more encouraged to continue working with my colleagues, and the administration, to create a path forward for a voluntary, budget-neutral, child-focused paid leave program rather than impose a new entitlement or mandate.”
“I commend the White House for continuing to show leadership and making it clear that paid family leave is a priority for this Administration,” said Senator Rubio, chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee. “I am honored to participate in the ongoing, substantive discussion about how best to implement this policy and committed to seeing this effort through. Too many new parents, especially those with low incomes, take on new debt or fall onto welfare programs just to pay for their basic living costs after having a child. It is time to take action.”
“Families are the foundation of our country, yet our tax and entitlement systems penalize parents and growing families. If young people can’t afford to form a household and have children then the very future of our nation is in jeopardy,” said Senator Lee. “It was great to hear President Trump mention this issue in the State of the Union and the continued interest of Senior Adviser Ivanka Trump is a fantastic sign. I look forward to working with the WH and my Senate colleagues to identify ways we can reform federal government policies to help solve this problem.”
“Most parents today work outside the home and childcare costs are a burden for many families. The first months of life are a critical period for newborns. We should take a look at any policy that might help in their development,” said Senator Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. “It’s been several decades since we’ve updated federal family leave laws. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both parties to explore new ideas.”
In July 2018, Dr. Cassidy chaired a Senate hearing examining proposals to provide working families with paid family leave
YOUNG CULTURE
Announces Spring Tour
With Seaway
New EP
(This Is) Heaven Out Now
Available for Purchase Here
Streaming via Spotify & Apple Music
"Magnan's urgent delivery, coupled with his emotionally-loaded voice makes
"21 Days" reminiscent of the pop-punk greats of the early-to-mid 2000s
such as New Found Glory and Sum 41." - Billboard
"Young Culture will no doubt usher in a new wave of
thoughtful, intricate pop in 2019." - New Noise Magazine
Albany, NY - February 13, 2019 - Fresh off a month-long run with The Happy Alright, pop rock band Young Culture is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. The band has announced that they will be back on the road this spring supporting Seaway. The tour kicks off on April 18th and spans the east coast and midwest. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 15th at 12pm local time. For a full list of shows, please see below or visit www.facebook.com/youngcultureNY.
Last month, Young Culture celebrated an incredibly successful first week following the release of their new EP, (This Is) Heaven, available now via Equal Vision Records. (This Is) Heaven, the band's label debut, secured the #22 spot on the New Artist chart, as well as #53 Indie. The EP has been heralded by Billboard, New Noise Magazine, Indie Mixtape, idobi Radio, and more. Fans can stream (This Is) Heaven via Spotify and Apple Music, or purchase it online at youngculture.merchnow.com.
It's not often that a rock or punk band will make a hip-hop style mixtape just to clear their creative cobwebs. But that's exactly what Albany-based four-piece Young Culture did. Formed by school friends Alex Magnan (vocals) and Gabe Pietrafesa (guitar), who have been playing together for a number of years, Young Culture put out their debut mini-album, You, in the summer of 2016. It was followed up with a five-track EP called Blue. The former had a song, "Bedroom Floor" that featured Derek DiScanio from State Champs - a fellow Albany band - on backing vocals. The latter was co-produced by him and Seth Henderson, who's worked with the likes of Real Friends, Knuckle Puck and Sleep On It.
Young Culture - completed now by guitarist Troy Burchett and drummer Nick Cavin - toured those songs and began to build up a solid following, which remains strong today. But instead of working on new material for the band, the pair, fuelled by an inherent restless creativity, began to experiment, Pietrafesa sending Magnan different beats to write lyrics over just to keep their inspiration and creative juices flowing.
That influence is very much evident in songs like "Drift," co-produced by Derek DiScanio (State Champs) and Sam Guiana (Like Pacific, Coldfront). "Drift" not only redefined who Young Culture is as a band, but also reshaped the perimeters of pop-punk - although it should be noted that they're very wary of being confined to just that genre. As they should be, because there are many more layers to this band.
2018 ushered in a brand new phase of Young Culture's existence, evident in the their latest single "21 Days" as well as the rest of new EP (This Is) Heaven. They might now be just 20 years old, but both Pietrafesa and Magnan's attitude and songwriting ability display a maturity way beyond their years. And while this isn't an entirely new beginning, it certainly marks the start of something that's thoroughly unique, electrifying and engaging.
Young Culture released (This Is) Heaven on January 18th, 2019 via Equal Vision Records. To purchase, please visit: youngculture.merchnow.com.
For More Information, please visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/youngcultureNY
Twitter: www.twitter.com/YoungCultureNY
Instagram: www.instagram.com/YoungCultureNY
Upcoming Tour Dates:
4/18 - Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall
4/19 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Loft
4/20 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground
4/21 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
4/23 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bazaar
4/24 - Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
4/25 - Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
4/26 - Virginia Beach, VA @ The Bunker
4/27 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos' Southend
4/28 - West Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern
4/30 - Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall
5/1 - Nashville, TN @ Exit / In
5/2 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
5/3 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Back Room at Colectivo Coffee
5/4 - Bloomington, IL @ Nightshop
5/5 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
5/6 - Burnsville, MN @ The Garage
5/8 - Grand Rapids, MI @ The Stache
5/9 - Indianapolis, IN @ Hoosier Dome
5/10 - Toldeo, OH @ Frankies
5/11 - Lakewood, OH @ Mahall's
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Housing and Homelessness Pillar
Now Accepting Applications
The Community Foundation of Utah (CFU) and the Association for Utah Community Health (AUCH) are soliciting proposals for funding until March 13th from organizations that provide health and wellness programming for individuals experiencing homelessness in Utah. This multi-year funding (up to $85,000 per year) is allocated to support physical wellbeing programs that collaborate and provide innovative, non-clinical care solutions for homeless populations.
For all grant criteria, and to apply for funding, visit our website. If you have additional questions or would like assistance developing your application, please email Patrick Troumbley at ptroumbley@auch.org.
Note: This grant is not for clinical healthcare for individuals experiencing homelessness. Applications for clinical care will not be considered.
