Sen. Lee Statement on Signing of USMCA
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee issued the following statement Wednesday after President Trump signed the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA):
“The USMCA is a huge win for all of Utah, especially the more than 120,000 Utahns whose jobs depend on trade with Mexico and Canada. Utah dairy farmers, manufacturers, and the agriculture community will all benefit from continued free and fair trade with our immediate neighbors to the north and south. This update to our trade policy moves the U.S., Mexico, and Canada further into the 21st century, setting mutually beneficial standards regarding the treatment of digital services and e-commerce.”
World Trade Center Utah president and CEO Miles Hansen added:
"More than 121,000 Utah jobs depend directly on trade with Canada and Mexico. In 2018 alone, Utah companies exported nearly $2.7 billion to Canada and Mexico. With the passage of USMCA, we look forward to not only maintaining, but expanding our trade and investment ties with our closest international trade partners."
And from the Utah Manufacturers Association:
“USMCA is a win for manufacturers of all sizes—from small family businesses to large well-known manufacturing companies. The USMCA will finally provide Utah manufacturers the certainty they need to continue growing the economy and assist in creating significant jobs both in the state and across the country that depend on foreign trade. The Utah Manufacturers Association is proud to have been a part of discussions with our representatives in Congress to shape the USMCA. Utah manufacturers will greatly benefit from this agreement as will the Utah economy.”
An online version of this release can be found here.
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Dr. Joe Jarvis is seeking the United Utah Party nomination for the Second Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
His video announcement can be found here:
More information is available at JarvisForCongress.com.
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Is Too Much "Noise" Making Us Miserable at Work?
(and 10 Ways to Quiet It)
Feeling constantly unfocused, frazzled, and unproductive at work has become "normal"—but it shouldn't be. Joe McCormack says when we learn how to manage what he calls "noise," we can improve our focus, accelerate our work output, and dramatically improve our lives.
Hoboken, NJ (January 2020)—Be honest: How does your job make you feel? Do you feel productive, energized, and eager to accomplish more? Or is each day a thankless, stressful slog through an avalanche of emails; a minefield of muddled messages and pointless meetings; a cacophony of dings, beeps, buzzes, and chatter; and an ever-snowballing to-do list?
If your stomach is in an anxious knot, it's because these words resonate all too well. This is how most of us experience our work life. And the bigger problem, says Joe McCormack, is that we accept these conditions as normal—and thus we do nothing to change them.
"We think, This is just the reality of work in the Digital Age," says McCormack, author of the new book NOISE: Living and Leading When Nobody Can Focus (Wiley, January 2020, ISBN: 978-1-119-55337-3, $25.00). "We've forgotten how it feels not to be perpetually distracted and overwhelmed. We've lost sight of the fact that work isn't meant to be a gauntlet we run for a paycheck. It's not supposed to be easy, but it also shouldn't drain our life force."
The root of our collective dysfunction is what McCormack calls "noise"—the onslaught of information and constant connectivity that bombards our brains, breaks our focus, and causes us to tune out the things that matter. Consider these statistics from his website, The Brief Lab:
It's obvious that attempting to work while fielding endless distractions can cripple a career. No one can live up to their potential if they can't focus. The question is, what can we do about it? More than you might think, says McCormack. Just by making a few simple changes, we can make inroads to protecting our greatest career assets: our attention and our time.
He says when we start discerning what to allow in—and break the habit of consuming so many "empty calories" of useless information—we dramatically improve our relationships and our quality of life at work and at home. That's the goal behind his "Just Say No to Noise" movement. He wants us all to stop accepting the status quo in every area of life.
"We can't change the reality of our workplaces, but we can take small, doable steps that together help us better manage the overflow of priorities, requests, and challenges," says McCormack. "We can apply some Old World practices to the New World problems we face. They work; we just need to actually do them."
For example:
Get clear on why noise is a problem. Noise hurts our attention span, impacts our brain and working memory, and eventually causes us to stop caring and listening, says McCormack. For example, consider the interruptions that break your concentration multiple times a day. Now consider that it takes 25 minutes to get back into the swing of things when you've been interrupted. When you realize the high cost of noise, you'll be more likely to take it seriously.
"Just calling it 'noise' goes a long way toward helping people see that it's a problem that needs to be dealt with," says McCormack. "By naming, framing, and claiming it, we make it real."
Get intentional about your time and attention. Even if you have little control over the meetings you must attend and what arrives in your email inbox, you can fine-tune your focus the rest of the time. Get to work on time in the morning and dive right into the most important task of the day. Don't exhaust high-quality attention by reading news feeds, checking social media, deleting emails, or looking at the weather.
Carve out quiet time. Prioritize it. A study conducted by The Brief Lab found that 64 percent of professionals reported having less than two hours a day of quiet, uninterrupted activity. Those quiet moments when we used to get lost in thought are largely disappearing as we obsessively consume information. We can fix a big part of this problem by wrenching ourselves away from screens as much as possible (see next tip). We can also seek out quiet spaces at the office when we need to do "deep work." And we can utilize tools like noise-canceling headphones or even an old-fashioned handwritten "do not disturb" sign taped to our door.
"The point is to get intentional about protecting quiet time," says McCormack. "When you don't shut out the world, you're constantly aware of its endless demands. These will break your focus and make you feel anxious because you can't stop what you're doing and 'fix' them."
Give the screens a rest. In The Brief Lab study, 70 percent of respondents said they were likely to begin and end each day by checking their smartphones. However, those who rejected this "always-connected" behavior found quality time much easier to come by. Forty percent of those who didn't begin and end their day by checking their smartphone reported having four hours or more a day of quiet, uninterrupted activity—far more than the others in the survey. McCormack suggests the 7-to-7 rule.
"Don't check your smartphone or computer before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m.," he says. "This will provide vital quiet time for deeper thinking (typically in the morning) and greater reflection (in the evening). These are ideal moments to plan and prioritize activities. Common sense suggests this practice will benefit families, friends, and spouses too!"
Try the 11-minute unplug before critical conversations, presentations, and meetings. Step away from all screens for 11 minutes and think intently about what you hope to accomplish. You may have to take a walk or hide in a conference room, but it will be worth it. Why 11 minutes? Because 10 isn't quite enough.
Focus on few things, not many. The key to productivity isn't multitasking; it's single-minded focus. Juggling too many balls at work is awkward and counterproductive, and constant distractions can be so irresistible that you end up saying yes to everything. Focus on the most important things you need to do first. And don't move on to the next task until the current task is complete.
A good trick to try: Write one task on a Post-It note and throw it out once you're done. Check the trash can for all the little things you accomplished by doing one thing at a time. NOTE: For more tips, see this blog post.
Get brief in your communication. When trying to inform, explain, update, and convince, simplicity goes a long way. Focus on being lean, clear, and concise whether you're speaking or writing. Ask yourself: What is the single most important thing I want to convey in this conversation or communication? Then, tailor that email, voicemail, phone call, or presentation accordingly.
Master your impulse management skills. There are countless moments when our minds get yanked around, latching onto things that really don't matter much. When you find yourself impulsively getting distracted, practice managing your impulses and staying focused.
Commit to work-free nights and weekends. Don't bring your work home with you. Working all the time leads to physical, emotional, and cognitive exhaustion. Use your weeknights and weekends to relax, rest, and recharge. This ensures that when you show up to work, you can produce and perform.
Tune into why your work matters. As you are tackling a particularly tough task, lean in a little more and consider why you're dedicating your undivided attention to the task. This helps you dig deeper and provides specific, meaningful purpose to your focus, especially when it gets really tough to pay attention.
"This is really just about breaking your bad habits and replacing them with good ones," concludes McCormack. "Once you learn how to tune out the noise, it frees you up to consistently focus on the things that make you more productive, more creative, and a better innovator and collaborator. These are the qualities that make you a better leader, client, and coworker. They're the qualities that get you recognized and fuel your success."
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About the Author:
Joseph McCormack is the author of NOISE: Living and Leading When Nobody Can Focus. He is passionate about helping people gain clarity when there is so much com¬peting for our attention. He is a success¬ful marketer, entrepreneur, and author. His first book, BRIEF: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less (Wiley, 2014), sets the standard for concise communication.
Joe is the founder and managing director of The BRIEF Lab, an organization dedicated to teaching professionals, military leaders, and entrepreneurs how to think and communicate clearly. His clients include Boeing, Harley-Davidson, Microsoft, Mastercard, DuPont, and select military units and government agencies. He publishes a weekly podcast called "Just Saying" that helps people master the elusive skills of focus and brevity.
To learn more, visit www.noisethebook.com.
About the Book:
NOISE: Living and Leading When Nobody Can Focus (Wiley, January 2020, ISBN: 978-1-119-55337-3, $25.00) is available at bookstores nationwide, from major online booksellers, and direct from the publisher by calling 800-225-5945. In Canada, call 800-567-4797. For more information, please visit the book's page on www.wiley.com.
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USDA Invests Nearly $10 Million for Broadband in Maine’s Rural, Coastal and Island Communities
ARROWSIC, Maine, Jan. 30, 2020 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Donald “DJ” LaVoy visited the Arrowsic Volunteer Fire Station to announce a $9.87 million investment in four infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 4,527 households and 215 businesses in rural Maine. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments.
“This substantial investment in broadband in Maine will help ensure that these rural, coastal and island communities can connect to the vital internet services that they depend on,” LaVoy said. “Upgrading and installing essential broadband infrastructure will improve connectivity for critical first responders and rural businesses. It also will enhance learning opportunities for students, provide access to telehealth services and build prosperity for Maine’s iconic towns.”
LaVoy announced the following projects:
Background:
In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. On Dec. 13, 2018, Secretary Perdue announced the rules of the program, called “ReConnect,” including how the loans and grants will be awarded to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. USDA received 146 applications between May 31, 2019, and July 12, 2019, requesting $1.4 billion in funding across all three ReConnect Program funding products: 100 percent loan, 100 percent grant, and loan-grant combinations. USDA is reviewing applications and announcing approved projects on a rolling basis. Additional investments in all three categories will be made in the coming weeks.
These grants, loans and combination funds enable the federal government to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient service is defined as connection speeds of less than 10 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 1 Mbps upload.
In December 2019, Agriculture Secretary Perdue announced USDA will be making available an additional $550 million in ReConnect funding in 2020. USDA will make available up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans. The application window for this round of funding will open Jan. 31, 2020. Applications for all funding products will be accepted in the same application window, which will close no later than March 16, 2020.
A full description of 2020 ReConnect Pilot Program funding is available on page 67913 of the Dec. 12, 2019, Federal Register (PDF, 336 KB). To learn more about eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force. To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/me.
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21 Books to Spark Hope in the Food System This Winter
Dear Friend,
Greetings from Baltimore!
This week, we’re celebrating 21 books that creating change in the food system!
From Food Tank’s Winter List, readers can feel uplifted by farmers, doctors, researchers, and activists from around the world who are calling attention to challenges in food and agriculture—and empowering their communities to solve them. From stories covering culinary innovation, migrant communities, food waste, and protecting democracy, readers will triumphantly finish these books with a sense of hope for the future of the food system.
Food Tank is highlighting the following books sparking hope this season: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Through Sustainable Food Systems edited by Riccardo Valentini, John Sievenpiper, Marta Antonelli, and Katarzyna Dembska; Bite Back: People Taking On Corporate Food and Winning edited by Saru Jayaraman and Kathryn De Master; Colonial Migrants at the Heart of Empire: Puerto Rican Workers on U.S. Farms by Ismael García-Colón; Cooking with Everything by Winnow; Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want by Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen; Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet—One Bite at a Time by Mark Hyman; Food from the Radical Center: Healing Our Land and Communities by Gary Paul Nebhan; Fruteros: Street Vending, Illegality, and Ethnic Community in Los Angeles by Rocío Rosales; Grassroots Rising by Ronnie Cummings; Harvesting Prosperity: Technology and Productivity Growth in Agriculture edited by Keith Fuglie; Hungry: Eating, Road-Tripping, and Risking it All with The Greatest Chef in the World by Jeff Gordinier; Sugarcane and Rum: The Bittersweet History of Labor and Life on the Yucatán Peninsula by John Robert Gust and Jennifer P. Mathews; The Chile Pepper in China: A Cultural Biography by Brian R. Dott; Northern Harvest: Twenty Michigan Women in Food and Farming by Emita Brady Hill; "Organic Food Systems: Meeting the Needs of Southern Africa" edited by Raymond Auerbach; Protecting Pollinators: How to Save the Creatures that Feed Our World by Jodi Helmer; Rainforests: Dispatches From Earth’s Most Vital Frontlines by Tony Juniper; Uncertain Harvest: The Future of Food on a Warming Planet by Ian Mosby, Sarah Rotz, and Evan D.G. Fraser; Wildcrafted Fermentation: Exploring, Transforming, and Preserving the Wild Flavors of Your Local Terroir by Pascal Baudar; Women in Rural Production Systems: The Indian Experience edited by V. K. Ramachandran, Madhura Swaminathan, and Shruti Nagbhushan; and World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever.
Read and share this article by CLICKING HERE.
Who inspires you to think optimistically about the food system? Please email me at danielle@foodtank.com to share with us!
Best,
Danielle Nierenberg
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CONTACT
Aaron Weiss, Deputy Director
Center for Western Priorities
aaron@westernpriorities.org
720-279-0019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 30, 2020
DENVER—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to release proposed regulations as soon as today that would weaken enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a foundational wildlife conservation law passed in 1918. For decades, the law has been used to hold companies accountable for killing birds in oil spills and other environmental disasters, most notably in the Deepwater Horizon explosion. The proposal released today would codify a highly controversial legal opinion issued by Interior Solicitor Daniel Jorjani, a former Koch advisor, which declared the law only applies when companies intentionally kill birds.
In response, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:
“This radical interpretation of the law has already allowed oil companies to kill birds without repercussions. Now, the Trump administration wants to make sure extractive industries can continue to kill birds after they leave office.
“Secretary Bernhardt’s former oil industry clients have explicitly asked for this policy change, and now he is delivering. It seems there are no limits to what Bernhardt will do to shred wildlife protections at the behest of drilling and mining companies. Finalizing this proposal would only sign the death warrants of millions of birds across the country.”
Public comments submitted in 2017 by the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), a former client of Interior Secretary Bernhardt, ask the agency to clarify that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act does not include incidental take, both by rescinding an Obama-era legal opinion and by instituting a new rulemaking—both of which have now been done. The Center for Investigative Reporting has reported on recordings that show IPAA executives bragging about their direct access to David Bernhardt.
An investigation by the New York Times found that in the wake of Interior Solicitor Jorjani’s legal opinion, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has largely stopped investigating bird deaths and discouraged local governments and businesses from taking precautionary steps to protect birds.
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org. Sign up for Look West to get daily public lands and energy news sent to your inbox.
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TOMORROW: Franklin Discovery Academy to Host a World History Fair to Celebrate School Choice
Vineyard – Franklin Discovery Academy, a charter school focused on individualized student learning, will host a world history fair to shine a positive spotlight on their school during National School Choice Week.
WHAT:
- Dance performance
- World history fair
- Celebration of National School Choice Week
WHO:
- Students, parents, teachers, and school leaders
WHEN:
- Friday, January 31 at 10 a.m.
WHERE:
- 320 E Gammon Rd Vineyard, UT 84059
As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for students, families, and communities around the country. From January 26 through February 1, 2020, more than 50,000 independently-planned events will be held in celebration of the Week. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com/utah.
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