5-Year Consolidated Plan Finalized: Fill & Download for Free

In 1981, Magic Johnson officially became a Laker for the entirety of his career. Magicsigned a $25 million contract for 25 years. The beginning of the contract was in 1984 and it expired in 2009, but what is more important it was a promise to bring Johnsononboard as a part of the Lakers front office. Jul 2, 2018Patrick Ewing became the first player to earn $15 million or more in the 95-96 season with a salary of $18,724,000. Michael Jordan was the first NBA player to sign a contract worth over twenty million and in fact, it succeeded thirty million dollars as well in a season, this was a record he had held for 15 years.The NBA’s Highest-Paid Players 2019: LeBron James Leads With $89 MillionSportsMoneyI cover sports business with rare dips into b-schools, local economiesLos Angeles Lakers v Portland Trail BlazersGETTY IMAGES“I’m not a businessman—I’m a business, man,” Jay-Z famously rapped more than a decade ago. It’s a lesson that NBA superstars are taking to heart as they recognize their ability to call the shots on and off the court. The biggest stars, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, have set up companies to manage the opportunities in media, marketing and investing that come along with being global icons.The NBA’s top 10 earners will make an estimated $540 million this year from salaries, endorsements, appearances, royalties and media pacts. The tally is up more than $180 million for hoops’ top earners from five years ago. James is the NBA’s highest-paid player for the fifth-straight year, with $88.7 million, including $53 million off the court. (Kobe Bryant was the last active basketball player to outearn King James.)James, Curry and Durant are among the rare breed of players who make more off the court than on it. Endorsements provide the bulk of the off-court earnings for the trio. Shoe deals are the driving force, but these stars are increasingly pushing their personal brands into other areas.James took control of his own marketing in 2006 when he launched what is now LRMR Ventures. A Hollywood production company, SpringHill Entertainment, followed in 2008. It has created TV shows like The Wall and Survivor’s Remorse and is working on remakes of the films House Party and Space Jam. James expanded his business empire with his digital media firm Uninterrupted in 2015. It got a boost via a $15.8 million investment from Time Warner the same year.James has moved past the traditional endorsement model in many cases. He eschewed a $15 million renewal of his endorsement dealwith McDonald’s to double down on Blaze Pizza, where he is an investor and franchisee. He teamed up last year with Cindy Crawford, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lindsey Vonn to launch Ladder, a health and wellness company, selling protein powders to start. James’ net worth is an estimated $450 million.Curry is the NBA’s second-highest-paid player for the second-straight year. His earnings of $79.5 million include $42 million off the court. Curry formed his company SC30 last year to manage his investments, endorsements, media interests and philanthropy. The two-time MVP also started a production company last year in Unanimous Media. It signed a multiyear development deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment in April.Unanimous and Facebook teamed up for a six-part original docuseries tracking Curry through the 2018-19 season. Curry’s latest venture is a high school basketball tour for basketball prospects who have been overlooked, just as he was 15 years ago.Durant rounds out the top three NBA earners with $65 million this year, including $35 million outside his Warriors playing salary. He consolidated his business enterprises under one umbrella last year with the formation of 35 Ventures. It includes endorsements (Nike, Alaska Airlines and Google), media deals (ESPN, Apple and YouTube) and investments (roughly 50, like Postmates, Lime and Rubrik).Below is the full list of the NBA’s highest-paid players for the 2018-19 season, including Forbes’ estimates for off-court earnings after speaking with NBA insiders. We exclude investment income from our estimates.1. LeBron JamesTotal Earnings: $88.7 millionSalary/bonuses: $35.7 millionEndorsements: $53 millionJames joined the Lakers last year as a free agent with a four-year, $153 million contract. The final year is a $41 million player option. His endorsement partners include Nike, Coca-Cola, Beats By Dre, Blaze Pizza and 2K Sports. James and his partners have 14 Blaze franchises open in Chicago and seven more in South Florida.2. Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors v Boston CelticsGETTY IMAGESTotal Earnings: $79.5 millionSalary/bonuses: $37.5 millionEndorsements: $42 millionCurry added Palm and Rakuten as new endorsement partners in recent months. In addition to paying $20 million a year for its name on the Warriors’ jersey, Rakuten is the presenting sponsor of Curry’s Underrated Tour. The Japanese e-commerce and internet firm plans to use Curry to expand its brand in the U.S.3. Kevin DurantGolden State Warriors v Denver NuggetsGETTY IMAGESTotal Earnings: $65 millionSalary/bonuses: $30 millionEndorsements: $35 millionDurant is eligible for a five-year contract extension from the Warriors this summer worth around $220 million (the exact number depends on the salary cap), which would set an NBA record. KD wants to be an NBA owner one day and has already earned more than $400 million in salary and endorsements during his career. He committed $10 million last year to open the Durant Center in Price George’s County, Maryland, where he grew up. It is the first College Track program on the East Coast and will help kids from low-income households attend college.4. Russell WestbrookOklahoma City Thunder v Philadelphia 76ersGETTY IMAGESTotal Earnings: $53.7 millionSalary/bonuses: $35.7 millionEndorsements: $18 millionNot too long ago, averaging a triple-double for a full season in today’s NBA was thought to be a pipe dream. The feat hadn’t been done since the 1961-62 season. Yet Westbrook is on the verge of doing it for the third straight year. Last month, Nike debuted his second signature sneaker, Why Not Zer0.2. His third lifestyle shoe, Westbrook 0.3, hit stores in the fall. Westbrook kicked off the richest playing contract in NBA history this season. The deal is worth $207 million over five years.5. James HardenOrlando Magic v Houston RocketsTIM WARNERTotal Earnings: $47.4 millionSalary/bonuses: $30.4 millionEndorsements: $17 millionThe Beard is barreling toward a second straight MVP trophy with a scoring binge unseen in the NBA since the early 1960s with Wilt Chamberlain. Harden partnered with Amazon this season to share his go-to workout products, which include a heavy dose of his endorsement partners like Adidas, BodyArmor and Beats. He is also one of the original athletes pitching Art of Sport (AOS), a new body-care brand launched in October by Kobe Bryant.6. Chris PaulHouston Rockets v Phoenix SunsGETTY IMAGESTotal Earnings: $43.7 millionSalary/bonuses: $35.7 millionEndorsements: $8 millionThe Rockets lavished a max-level contract on Paul last summer worth $160 million over four years. He’ll receive $44 million for the the 2021-22 season, when he will be 36 years old. Paul serves as the president of the National Basketball Players Association. He has 10 endorsement partners, including Nike, State Farm, Sharpie and Spalding.7. Giannis AntetokounmpoWashington Wizards v Milwaukee BucksGETTY IMAGESTotal Earnings: $43.2 millionSalary/bonuses: $24.2 millionEndorsements: $19 millionThe Greek Freak’s rise to dominant NBA star took another leap this season as he won the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Month Awards for both November and December. For the second straight year, he was second among all players in fan voting for the NBA All-Star Game. Nike is releasing Antetokounmpo’s first signature shoe in June. It won’t be his last.8. Damian LillardPortland Trail Blazers v Phoenix SunsGETTY IMAGESTotal Earnings: $41 millionSalary/bonuses: $28 millionEndorsements: $13 millionThe point guard is in the middle of a five-year, $140 million deal with the Trail Blazers, who drafted Lillard sixth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. He has released a pair of rap albums under the name Dame D.O.L.L.A. Adidas released the fifth iteration of Lillard’s signature shoe last month.9. Blake GriffinGolden State Warriors v Detroit PistonsGETTY IMAGESTotal Earnings: $39.1 millionSalary/bonuses: $32.1 millionEndorsements: $7 millionGriffin is in the second year of his five-year, $171 million pact with the Pistons. The Forbes 30 Under 30 cover star has launched his own production company, Mortal Media, which has five movie and TV projects in active development, including reboots of White Man Can’t Jump and The Rocketeer. Griffin added Flagstar Bank and Levi’s as sponsors over the past 12 months.10. Paul GeorgeOklahoma City Thunder v Boston CelticsGETTY IMAGESTotal Earnings: $38.6 millionSalary/bonuses: $30.6 millionEndorsements: $8 millionThe small forward signed a four-year, $137 million contract with the Thunder in July. The deal includes a player option for 2021-22. George has rewarded Oklahoma City with a monster season. He is on pace for career highs in points and rebounds, along with leading the NBA in steals. His endorsement portfolio includes Nike, Gatorade, New Era, Bass Pro Shops, 2K Sports and Foot Locker

The American Rescue Plan Act is hurtling toward final passage, but only a few percentage points of its massive $1.9 trillion price tag is specifically geared toward, you know, addressing the pandemic. How little? House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R–Calif.) says just 9 percent of it goes "directly to toward Covid-19 relief." The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Budget puts the number even lower, declaring, "Only about 1 percent of the entire package goes toward COVID-19 vaccines, and 5 percent is truly focused on public health needs surrounding the pandemic."Most of it is instead a pre-existing Democratic Party wishlist of increased spending on virtually every aspect of government, including bigger unemployment benefits, even more money for schools, a gigantic child tax credit, and subsidies for Obamacare insurance policies that would phase out only at a household income of more than $580,000. This legislation comes on the heels of the $4 trillion in coronavirus-related spending passed last year.there is appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $4,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out this section. The Secretary of Agriculture shall use the amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a)—to purchase food and agricultural commodities;to purchase and distribute agricultural commodities (including fresh produce, dairy, seafood, eggs, and meat) to individuals in need, including through delivery to nonprofit organizations and through restaurants and other food related entities, as determined by the Secretary, that may receive, store, process, and distribute food items;to make grants and loans for small or midsized food processors or distributors, seafood processing facilities and processing vessels, farmers markets, producers, or other organizations to respond to COVID–19, including for measures to protect workers against COVID–19; andto make loans and grants and provide other assistance to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.Animal Health.—COVID–19 ANIMAL SURVEILLANCE.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct monitoring and surveillance of susceptible animals for incidence of SARS–CoV–2.FUNDING.—Out of the amounts made available under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use $300,000,000 to carry out this subsection.(d) Overtime Fees.—SMALL ESTABLISHMENT; VERY SMALL ESTABLISHMENT DEFINITIONS.—The terms “small establishment” and “very small establishment” have the meaning given those terms in the final rule entitled “Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems” published in the Federal Register on July 25, 1996 (61 Fed. Reg. 38806).OVERTIME INSPECTION COST REDUCTION.—Notwithstanding section 10703 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 2219a), the Act of June 5, 1948 (21 U.S.C. 695), section 25 of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 468), and section 24 of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1053), and any regulations promulgated by the Department of Agriculture implementing such provisions of law and subject to the availability of funds under paragraph (3), the Secretary of Agriculture shall reduce the amount of overtime inspection costs borne by federally-inspected small establishments and very small establishments engaged in meat, poultry, or egg products processing and subject to the requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.), or the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.), for inspection activities carried out during the period of fiscal years 2021 through 2030.FUNDING.—Out of the amounts made available under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use $100,000,000 to carry out this subsection.SEC. 1003. PANDEMIC PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION FUNDS.In addition to amounts otherwise available, there are appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $47,500,000, to remain available until expended, for necessary administrative expenses associated with carrying out this subtitle. ($47 MILLION to paid in order to spend tax dollars!)There are 438 different dollar amounts in this act! Including:An unknown sum for - SEC. 1005. FARM LOAN ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS.(a) Payments.—(1) APPROPRIATION.—In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2021, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until expended, for the cost of loan modifications and payments under this section.SEC. 1006. USDA ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, RANCHERS, FOREST LAND OWNERS AND OPERATORS, AND GROUPS.(a) Appropriation.—In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $1,010,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out this section.SEC. 1007. USE OF THE COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION FOR COMMODITIES AND ASSOCIATED EXPENSES.In addition to amounts otherwise made available, there are appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $800,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022, to use the Commodity Credit Corporation to acquire and make available commodities under section 406(b) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736(b)) and for expenses under such section.SEC. 1101. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.(a) Value Of Benefits.—Section 702(a) of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) is amended by striking “June 30, 2021” and inserting “September 30, 2021”.(b) SNAP Administrative Expenses.—In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is hereby appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $1,150,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2023, with amounts to be obligated for each of fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023, for the costs of State administrative expenses associated with carrying out this section and administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), of which—(1) $15,000,000 shall be for necessary expenses of the Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) for management and oversight of the program; and(2) $1,135,000,000 shall be for the Secretary to make grants to each State agency for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 as follows: (This is all spending to fund government)SEC. 1106. WIC PROGRAM MODERNIZATION.In addition to amounts otherwise available, there are appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $390,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to remain available until September 30, 2024, to carry out outreach, innovation, and program modernization efforts, including appropriate waivers and flexibility, to increase participation in and redemption of benefits (Increased dependency)SEC. 2001. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.(a) In General.—In addition to amounts otherwise available through the Education Stabilization Fund, there is appropriated to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $122,774,800,000, to remain available through September 30, 2023, to carry out this section.SEC. 2002. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS.(a) In General.—In addition to amounts otherwise available through the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools Program, there is appropriated to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $2,750,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2023, for making allocations to Governors under the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools Program to provide services or assistance to non-public schools that enroll a significant percentage of low-income students and are most impacted by the qualifying emergency. (Any emergency)SEC. 2006. GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY. appropriated, $19,250,000, to remain available through September 30, 2023, for the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, and Gallaudet Universitywhich may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance.SEC. 2007. STUDENT AID ADMINISTRATION. there is appropriated to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2021, $91,130,000, to remain available through September 30, 2023, for Student Aid Administration within the Department of Education including direct outreach to students and borrowers about financial aid, economic impact payments, means-tested benefits, unemployment assistance, and tax benefits, for which the students and borrowers may be eligible.SEC. 2008. HOWARD UNIVERSITY. there is appropriated to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2021,$35,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2023, for Howard University to provide financial aid grants to students, which may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance.SEC. 2009. NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF, there is appropriated to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2021, to remain available through September 30, 2023, for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf to provide financial aid grants to students, which may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance.SEC. 2010. INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES, there is appropriated to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2021, $100,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2023, for the Institute of Education Sciences to carry out research among the student subgroups described in section 1111(b)(2)(B)(xi) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(B)(xi)) and students experiencing homelessness and children and youth in foster care, and to disseminate such findings to State educational agencies and local educational agencies and other appropriate entities.SEC. 2011. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, there is appropriated to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2021,$15,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2024, for Program Administration within the Department of Education for salaries and expenses necessary to implement this part.SEC. 2012. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, there is appropriated to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2021, $5,000,000, to remain available until expended, for the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Education, for salaries and expenses necessary for oversight, investigations, and audits of programs, grants, and projects funded under this part carried out by the Office of Inspector General.SEC. 2014(a) Amounts For IDEA.—There is appropriated to the Secretary of Education for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated—$2,580,000,000 for grants to States under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;$200,000,000 for preschool grants under section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and$250,000,000 for programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.SEC. 2021. NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, there is appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $135,000,000, to remain available until expendedSEC. 2022. NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES, there is appropriated for fiscal year 2021,$135,000,000, to remain available until expendedSEC. 2023. INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES, there is appropriated to the Institute of Museum and Library Services for fiscal year 2021, $200,000,000Extending expanded unemployment benefits with a $300 weekly supplement through Labor Day (September 6, 2021), preventing benefits from expiring on March 31, 2021[67][3]Most Democrats favored a higher amount (with the House passing a bill with a $400 weekly supplement) and some favored a longer duration (through early October); however, the Senate passed a scaled-back provision at the insistence of Senator Joe Manchin and other moderate Democratic holdouts.[67][68][69]The bill provides that the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits are not taxable for households with incomes below $150,000, thus avoiding the risk of many workers incurring surprise tax liability.[70]$1,400 direct payments to individuals.[3][68]Under pressure from West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat, Biden agreed to have the direct payment start to phase out for high-income taxpayers, including some who received stimulus checks in previous stimulus rounds.[71][70] Under the Senate-passed bill, the stimulus benefit begins to phase out for taxpayers making $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for single parents, and $150,000 for couples; taxpayers making more than $80,000 for individuals, $120,000 for single parents, and $160,000 for households will not receive any payment.[67] House Democrats and Biden had favored less stringent caps (with the House-passed bill setting income caps $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for couples).[69]Unlike in past rounds of stimulus payments, otherwise eligible adult dependents will receive payments,[70] including college students,[70] SSI recipients, and SSDI recipients.[72]Emergency paid leave for over 100 million Americans[3]The House- and Senate-passed bills provide a tax credit, through October 1, 2021, to employers who choose to offer paid sick leave and paid family leave benefits. However, the bills do not require employers to provide the benefit, as Biden initially proposed.[69]Extends a 15% increase in food stamp benefits (the increase, passed in previous rounds of stimulus; was set to expire at the end of June 2021; the bill extends it through September 2021).[69]Tax provisionsExpands the child tax credit[70] by allowing qualifying families to offset, for the 2021 tax year, $3,000 per child up to age 17 and $3,600 per child under age 6 for 2021,[70][69] up to a maximum of $8,000 in annual child care costs[3] The size of the benefit would diminish for Americans earning more than $75,000 per year. The proposal was backed by Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, who introduced a similar bill four days earlier.[73]Expands the earned income tax credit by removing the upper age limit and lowering the lower age limit to 19. The maximum benefit will also be increased to $1,502. These provisions are for 2021 only.[74]Included in the Senate bill is an amendment that makes forgiven student loan debt tax-free, should Biden or Congress decide to cancel any debt.[75][76]Reduction of reporting requirement (1099-K) for third party settlement organizations (e.g. PayPal) threshold from over $20,000 and 200 transactions to over $600 and no minimum number of transaction. This is expected to impact gig workers, independent contractors, casual eBay sellers, among others. This amendment is projected to generate $8.4 billion over the next decade.[77]Grants to small businesses,[3] specifically:$28.6 billion for a new grant program for restaurants and bars to meet payroll and other expenses. Individual businesses will be eligible for $5 million each.[78][69]$15 billion for Emergency Injury Disaster Loans (a long-term, low-interest loan program of the Small Business Administration); priority for some funds would go to "severely impacted small businesses with fewer than 10 workers".[69]An additional $7 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, and an expansion of the eligibility criteria to some non-profit organizations previously excluded from the program.[69]$3 billion for a payroll support program for aviation manufacturers. The industry itself will be responsible for funding half of the program, and the program will last six months.[78]$1.25 billion in funding for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant for music halls and other concert venues[78][79]$175 million for a Community Navigator Program to reach out to eligible businesses.[69]$350 billion to help state, local, and tribal governments bridge budget shortfalls and mitigate the fiscal shock.[68][67][80]Under both the House-passed bill and the Senate-passed bill, a total of $195 billion would be allocated among the states and the District of Columbia, and the tribes and territories would be allocated about $25 billion.[80]The Senate bill would allocate $60 billion to counties and $10 billion for a Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund; by contrast, the House bill would allocate $65 billion to counties and $65 billion to municipalities.[80]Education funding:$130 billion for K-12 schools,[68][81] to safely reopen most schools within 100 days.[3]The money for K-12 schools may be used to improve ventilation in school buildings, reduce class sizes to make social distancing possible, purchase personal protective equipment, and hire support staff.[81][70]20% of the school money must be directed to programs to help counteract "learning loss" from students who missed school during the pandemic.[70]Almost $40 billion for colleges and universities.[81]At least half of the money to colleges and universities must go to emergency grants to students.[75]Up to $25 billion[70] in aid to renters with unpaid debts to landlords;[3] utility assistance funding; homelessness prevention funding.[69]The bill contains the following COVID-19 funding (including for COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and contact tracing) and other healthcare-related funding:$50 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for vaccine distribution and assistance.[67]$47.8 billion on COVID-19 testing, mitigation, and transmission prevention, including diagnosis, tracing, and monitoring.[82]$13.48 billion for Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare programs through September 30, 2023.[82]$10 billion under the Defense Production Act for personal protective equipment and other medical gear, and for response to pathogens that could become future public health emergencies.[82]$7.66 billion for workforce programs for state, local, and territorial public health departments and certain nonprofits, including funds to hire and train "case investigators, contact tracers, social support specialists, community health workers, public health nurses, disease intervention specialists, epidemiologists, program managers, laboratory personnel, informaticians, communication and policy experts, and any other positions as may be required to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19."[82]$7.6 billion to community health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers to combat COVID-19, including promotion, distribution, and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine; COVID-19 tracing and mitigation; COVID-19-related equipment; and COVID-19 outreach and education.[82]$7.5 billion to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, administration, and tracking,[82] including preparation of community vaccination centers and mobile vaccine units and acceleration of vaccine deployment.[3][82] The bill funds 100,000 public health workers for vaccination outreach and contact tracing.[3]$6.05 billion for "expenses related to research, development, manufacturing, production and purchase of vaccines".[82]$5.4 billion to the Indian Health Services.[82]$3.5 billion in block grants to states, evenly split between the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant program and the Substance Abuse Prevention Treatment Block Grant program.[82]$1.75 billion for genomic sequencing, analytics, and disease surveillance.[82]$1 billion to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for vaccine confidence programs to increase vaccination rates.[82]Approximately $750 million on global health security to fight COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases.[82]$500 million to the Food and Drug Administration to evaluate vaccine performance and facilitate vaccine oversight and manufacturing.[82]$330 million for teaching health centers with graduate medical education programs.[82]$500 million to the CDC for public health surveillance and analytics, including a modernization of the U.S. disease warning system to predict COVID-19 "hot spots" and emerging public health threats.[82]$200 million for nursing loan repayment programs.[82]$100 million for the Medical Reserve Corps.[82]$100 million for a Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program.[82]$80 million for mental and behavioral health training.[82]$86 billion for a rescue package/bailout for approximately 185 multiemployer pension funds (usually pension plans set up by a union and industry) that are close to insolvency. The pension funds collectively cover 10.7 million workers.[83][84]Transportation provisions$30.5 billion in grants to public transit and commuter rail agencies across the country to mitigate major decreases in ridership and fare revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes $6 billion to the MTA (the U.S.'s largest public transit agency) and $1.4 billion to the WMATA, VRE and MARC.)[85]$15 billion for airlines and airline contractors for a third extension of Payroll Support Program (which would otherwise have expired at the end of March 2021). The extension will prevent the furlough of more than 27,000 aviation employees.[85]$8 billion for U.S. airports.[85]$2 billion for Amtrak.[85]$10.4 billion for agriculture and USDA, of which:[86][87]$4 billion (39% of total agricultural expenditures) and $1 billion (9.7% of total agricultural expenditures) goes to debt forgiveness and outreach/support, respectively, for socially disadvantaged farmers.[86] Experts identified the relief bill as the most important legislation for African-American farmers since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, benefiting many who were not fully compensated by the Pigford settlements.[87]$3.6 billion (35% of total agricultural expenditures) for COVID-19 response (e.g., for agricultural and supply chain workers) and for the purchase and distribution of food.[86]$800 million (7.7% of total agricultural expenditures) for Food for Peace.[86]$500 million (4.8% of total agricultural expenditures) for USDA-administered Emergency Rural Development Grants for Rural Healthcare.[82][86]$1.85 billion for cybersecurity funding as a response to the SolarWinds hack.[88]$1 billion will go to the General Services Administration's Technology Modernization Fund which will help the federal government launch new cyber and information technology programs.$650 million will go to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to improve its risk mitigation services.$200 million will go to the U.S. Digital ServiceSeems very little is “covid” related!

Laugh or Cry…Your comments are utterly partisan, shallow, void of facts, blatant lies, and ignorant and nothing more than paid for narrative to support Democratic agenda.Obviously you don’t like President Donald Trump; just because he is not a career politician and because he is fighting, every day, the Democratic agenda of Socialism, Communism, Liberalism and draining the swamp of corrupt Democracy as propagated by Obama, Biden and Hillary Clinton.Question is stupid… but if you insist, the answer is: “ Donald Trump is a very strong minded man and is very effective as the President of the United States. United States is a Constitutional Republic and Trump is trying hard to keep it that way. He is fighting the battle to keep America Great, and fights everyday the weak minded lying cheating deceitful corrupt Democrats who are pushing their liberal, socialist and communist agenda.NO… no one is laughing at Donald Trump. On the contrary, the politicians in other countries are emulating what Trump does to make their own country a better place for its citizens. If every country took care of its citizens, the world would be a better place for everyone, don’t you think?Trump will be the President of United States for another 5/6 years… deal with it. He will change the American political landscape for ever… just watch it unfold.Trump is bold, brave and fearless… and is multiprocessing to do things that will restore American power (both military and financial) in the world. He is doing things that no other POTUS ever dare think of enacting over the last fifty years.It is sad and hilarious at the same time that timid, shallow and unimaginative people like you are more focused on Trump’s spelling skills and nitpicking on everything he says or does on a daily basis.Trump is changing the geopolitical landscape of the United States and its role as the most powerful nation in the world community… while taking care of it’s citizens first.Having said that; I suggest you read my comments above, item by item, as my response to your comments to expose the shallowness, the lies, doctored facts and fabrications in your comments blowing hot air up Obama stack.When I’m done, you probably blow up like an inflated egotistical balloon.Since Donald Trump announced he was running for president, he has been sliced, diced and scrutinized every which way by Trump haters, feeble supporters, corrupt politicians, fake and biased media and the lying cheating corrupt DemoRats propagating their socialist, liberal and communist agenda.I have followed Trump for over 30 years and here’s my list… take a look, and you decide for yourself:ACTS of Kindness· Trump gave sanctuary to Grammy Award winning singer Jennifer Hudson after three of her family members were murdered.· When airlines wouldn’t help to accommodate a boy who had serious medical issues, so Trump offered his jet to help.· Trump helped save a family’s working farm that was going into foreclosure.· After Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi was released from Mexican prison, Trump sent him a check for twenty five thousand dollars to help get him on his feet.· Trump sent ten thousand dollars to Darnell Barton (a bus driver) for his humanitarian act, where he stopped the bus and reached out to help a woman to prevent an attempted suicide.After Trump became the President of the United States, his “altruistic” acts have become bigger (affecting hundreds of millions) and better (sustainable and with lasting impact).Here is an old list of what he has done for you, for me, for millions of Americans and for the human race:Trump Compelled Many Talented and Extraordinary People to Run for his AdministrationEconomic Growth· 4.2 percent growth in the second quarter of 2018.·For the first time in more than a decade, growth is projected to exceed 3 percent over the calendar year.Jobs· Currently, there are 7.14 million job openings, the most ever in our history. More openings than people to fill them.·4 million new jobs have been created since the election, and more than 3.5 million since Trump took office.·More Americans are employed now than ever before in our history.·Jobless claims at the lowest level in nearly five decades.·The economy has achieved the longest positive job-growth streak on record.·Job openings are at an all-time high and outnumber job seekers for the first time on record.·Unemployment claims at 50 year low·African-American, Hispanic, and Asian-American unemployment rates have all recently reached record lows.·African-American unemployment hit a record low of 5.9 percent in May 2018.·Hispanic unemployment at 4.5 percent.·Asian-American unemployment at a record low of 2 percent.·Women’s unemployment recently at the lowest rate in nearly 65 years.·Female unemployment dropped to 3.6 percent in May 2018, the lowest since October 1953.·Youth unemployment recently reached its lowest level in more than 50 years.·July 2018’s youth unemployment rate of 9.2 percent was the lowest since July 1966.·Veterans’ unemployment recently hit its lowest level in nearly two decades.·July 2018’s veterans’ unemployment rate of 3.0 percent matched the lowest rate since May 2001.·Unemployment rate for Americans without a high school diploma recently reached a record low.·The rate for disabled Americans recently hit a record low.·Blue-collar jobs recently grew at the fastest rate in more than three decades.·A poll found that 85 percent of blue-collar workers believe their lives are headed “in the right direction.”·68 percent reported receiving a pay increase in the past year.·Last year, job satisfaction among American workers hit its highest level since 2005.·Nearly two-thirds of Americans rate now as a good time to find a quality job.·Optimism about the availability of good jobs has grown by 25 percent.·Added more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs since the election.·Manufacturing employment is growing at its fastest pace in more than two decades.·100,000 new jobs supporting the production & transport of oil & natural gas.American Income· Median household income rose to $61,372 in 2017, a post-recession high.·Wages up in August at their fastest rate since June 2009.·Paychecks rose by 3.3 percent between 2016 and 2017, the most in a decade.·Council of Economic Advisers found that real wage compensation has grown by 1.4 percent over the past year.·Some 3.9 million Americans off food stamps since the election.·The median income for Hispanic-Americans rose by 3.7 percent and surpassed $50,000 for the first time ever in history.·Home-ownership among Hispanics is at the highest rate in nearly a decade.·Poverty rates for African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels ever recorded.American Optimism· Small business optimism has hit historic highs.·NFIB’s small business optimism index broke a 35-year-old record in August.·SurveyMonkey/CNBC’s small business confidence survey for Q3 of 2018 matched its all-time high.Manufacturers are more confident than ever.· 95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future, the highest ever.·Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high.·12 percent of Americans rate the economy as the most significant problem facing our country, the lowest level on record.·Confidence in the economy is near a two-decade high, with 51 percent rating the economy as good or excellent.American Business· Investment is flooding back into the United States due to the tax cuts.·Over $450 billion dollars has already poured back into the U.S., including more than $300 billion in the first quarter of 2018.·Retail sales have surged. Commerce Department figures from August show that retail sales increased 0.5 percent in July 2018, an increase of 6.4 percent from July 2017.·ISM’s index of manufacturing scored its highest reading in 14 years.·Worker productivity is the highest it has been in more than three years.·Steel and aluminum producers are re-opening.·Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and NASDAQ have all notched record highs.·Dow hit record highs 70 times in 2017 alone, the most ever recorded in one year.Deregulation· Achieved massive deregulation at a rapid pace, completing 22 deregulatory actions to every one regulatory action during his first year in office.·Signed legislation to roll back costly and harmful provisions of Dodd-Frank, providing relief to credit unions, and community and regional banks.·Federal agencies achieved more than $8 billion in lifetime net regulatory cost savings.·Rolled back Obama’s burdensome Waters of the U.S. rule.·Used the Congressional Review Act to repeal regulations more times than in history.Tax Cuts· Biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history by signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs act into law·Provided more than $5.5 trillion in gross tax cuts, nearly 60 percent of which will go to families.·Increased exemption for the death tax to help save Family Farms & Small Business.·Nearly doubled the standard deduction for individuals and families.·Enabled vast majority of American families will be able to file their taxes on a single page by claiming the standard deduction.·Doubled the child tax credit to help lessen the financial burden of raising a family.·Lowered America’s corporate tax rate from the highest in the developed world to allow American businesses to compete and win.·Small businesses can now deduct 20 percent of their business income.·Cut dozens of special interest tax breaks and closing loopholes for the wealthy.·9 in 10 American workers are expected to see an increase in their paychecks thanks to the tax cuts, according to the Treasury Department.·More than 6 million American workers have received wage increases, bonuses, and increased benefits thanks to tax cuts.·Over 100 utility companies have lowered electric, gas, or water rates thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.·Ernst & Young found 89 percent of companies planned to increase worker compensation thanks to the Trump tax cuts.·Established opportunity zones to spur investment in left behind communities.Worker Development· Established a National Council for the American Worker to develop a national strategy for training and retraining America’s workers for high-demand industries.·Employers have signed Trump’s “Pledge to America’s Workers,” committing to train or retrain more than 4.2 million workers and students.·Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs.·Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.Domestic Infrastructure· Proposed infrastructure plan would utilize $200 billion in Federal funds to spur at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment across the country.·Executive order expediting environmental reviews and approvals for high priority infrastructure projects.·Federal agencies have signed the One Federal Decision Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) streamlining the federal permitting process for infrastructure projects.·Rural prosperity task force and signed an executive order to help expand broadband access in rural areas.Health Care· Signed an executive order to help minimize the financial burden felt by American households Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline.·Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments.·Signed Right-to-Try legislation, expanding health care options for terminally ill patients.·Enacted changes to the Medicare 340B program, saving seniors an estimated $320 million on drugs in 2018 alone.·FDA set a new record for generic drug approvals in 2017, saving consumers nearly $9 billion.·Released a blueprint to drive down drug prices for American patients, leading multiple major drug companies to announce they will freeze or reverse price increases.·Expanded short-term, limited-duration health plans.·Let more employers form Association Health Plans, enabling more small businesses to join together and affordably provide health insurance to their employees.·Cut Obamacare’s burdensome individual mandate penalty.·Signed legislation repealing Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board, also known as the “death panels.”·USDA invested more than $1 billion in rural health care in 2017, improving access to health care for 2.5 million people in rural communities across 41 states·Proposed Title X rule to help ensure taxpayers do not fund the abortion industry in violation of the law.·Reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy to keep foreign aid from supporting the global abortion industry.·HHS formed a new division over protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom.·Overturned Obama administration’s midnight regulation prohibiting states from defunding certain abortion facilities.·Signed executive order to help ensure that religious organizations are not forced to choose between violating their religious beliefs by complying with Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate or shutting their doors.Combating Opioids·Chaired meeting the 73rd General Session of the United Nations discussing the worldwide drug problem with international leaders.·Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand, introducing new measures to keep dangerous drugs out of our communities.·$6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid epidemic.·DEA conducted a surge in April 2018 that arrested 28 medical professions and revoked 147 registrations for prescribing too many opioids.·Brought the “Prescribed to Death” memorial to President’s Park near the White House, helping raise awareness about the human toll of the opioid crisis.·Helped reduce high-dose opioid prescriptions by 16 percent in 2017.·Opioid Summit on the administration-wide efforts to combat the opioid crisis.·Launched a national public awareness campaign about the dangers of opioid addiction.·Created a Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis which recommended a number of pathways to tackle the opioid crisis.·Led two National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days in 2017 and 2018, collecting a record number of expired and unneeded prescription drugs each time.·$485 million targeted grants in FY 2017 to help areas hit hardest by the opioid crisis.·Signed INTERDICT Act, strengthening efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids before they reach our communities.·DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers.·Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales.·Declared the opioid crisis a Nationwide Public Health Emergency in October 2017.Law and Order· More U.S. Circuit Court judges confirmed in the first year in office than ever.·Confirmed more than two dozen U. S. Circuit Court judges.·Followed through on the promise to nominate judges to the Supreme Court who will adhere to the Constitution·Nominated and confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.·Signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to develop a strategy to more effectively prosecute people who commit crimes against law enforcement officers.·Launched an evaluation of grant programs to make sure they prioritize the protection and safety of law enforcement officers.·Established a task force to reduce crime and restore public safety in communities across Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels.·Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels.·Violent crime decreased in 2017 according to FBI statistics.·$137 million in grants through the COPS Hiring Program to preserve jobs, increase community policing capacities, and support crime prevention efforts.·Enhanced and updated the Project Safe Neighborhoods to help reduce violent crime.·Signed legislation making it easier to target websites that enable sex trafficking and strengthened penalties for people who promote or facilitate prostitution.·Created an interagency task force working around the clock to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent human trafficking.·Conducted Operation Cross Country XI to combat human trafficking, rescuing 84 children and arresting 120 human traffickers.·Encouraged federal prosecutors to use the death penalty when possible in the fight against the trafficking of deadly drugs.·New rule effectively banning bump stock sales in the United States.Border Security and Immigration· Secured $1.6 billion for border wall construction in the March 2018 omnibus bill.·Construction of a 14-mile section of border wall began near San Diego.·Worked to protect American communities from the threat posed by the vile MS-13 gang.·ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division arrested 796 MS-13 members and associates in FY 2017, an 83 percent increase from the prior year.·Justice worked with partners in Central America to secure criminal charges against more than 4,000 MS-13 members.·Border Patrol agents arrested 228 illegal aliens affiliated with MS-13 in FY 2017.Fighting to stop the scourge of illegal drugs at our border· ICE HSI seized more than 980,000 pounds of narcotics in FY 2017, including 2,370 pounds of fentanyl and 6,967 pounds of heroin.·ICE HSI dedicated nearly 630,000 investigative hours towards halting the illegal import of fentanyl.·ICE HSI made 11,691 narcotics-related arrests in FY 2017.·Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand introduced new measures to keep dangerous drugs out the United States.·Signed the INTERDICT Act into law, enhancing efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids.·DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers.·DOJ launched their Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales.·Released an immigration framework that includes the resources required to secure our borders and close legal loopholes, and repeatedly called on Congress to fix our broken immigration laws.·Authorized the deployment of the National Guard to help secure the border.·Enhanced vetting of individuals entering the U.S. from countries that don’t meet security standards, helping to ensure individuals who pose a threat to our country are identified before they enter.·These procedures were upheld in a June 2018 Supreme Court hearing.·ICE removed over 226,000 illegal aliens from the United States in 2017.·ICE rescued or identified over 500 human trafficking victims and over 900 child exploitation victims in 2017 alone.·In 2017, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested more than 127,000 aliens with criminal convictions or charges, responsible for·Over 76,000 with dangerous drug offenses.·More than 48,000 with assault offenses.·More than 11,000 with weapons offenses.·More than 5,000 with sexual assault offenses.·More than 2,000 with kidnapping offenses.·Over 1,800 with homicide offenses.·Created the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office in order to support the victims and families affected by illegal alien crime.·More than doubled the number of counties participating in the 287(g) program, which allows jails to detain criminal aliens until they are transferred to ICE custody.Trade· Negotiating and renegotiating better trade deals, achieving free, fair, and reciprocal trade for the United States.·Agreed to work with the European Union towards zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsidies.·Deal with the European Union to increase U.S. energy exports to Europe.·Litigated multiple WTO disputes targeting unfair trade practices and upholding our right to enact fair trade laws.·Finalized a revised trade agreement with South Korea, which includes provisions to increase American automobile exports.·Negotiated a historic U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement to replace NAFTA.·Agreement to begin trade negotiations for a U.S.-Japan trade agreement.·Secured $250 billion in new trade and investment deals in China and $12 billion in Vietnam.·Established a Trade and Investment Working Group with the United Kingdom, laying the groundwork for post-Brexit trade.·Enacted steel and aluminum tariffs to protect our vital steel and aluminum producers and strengthen our national security.·Conducted 82 anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations in 2017 alone.·Confronting China’s unfair trade practices after years of Washington looking the other way.·25 percent tariff on $50 billion of goods imported from China and later imposed an additional 10% tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods.·Conducted an investigation into Chinese forced technology transfers, unfair licensing practices, and intellectual property theft.·Imposed safeguard tariffs to protect domestic washing machines and solar products manufacturers hurt by China’s trade policies·Withdrew from the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).·Secured access to new markets for America’s farmers.·The recent deal with Mexico included new improvements enabling food and agriculture to trade more fairly.·The recent agreement with the E.U. will reduce barriers and increase trade of American soybeans to Europe.·Won a WTO dispute regarding Indonesia’s unfair restriction of U.S. agricultural exports.·Defended American Tuna fisherman and packagers before the WTO·Opened up Argentina to American pork exports for the first time in a quarter-century·American beef exports have returned to China for the first time in more than a decade·OK’d up to $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by unfair trade retaliation.Energy· Presidential Memorandum to clear roadblocks to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.·Presidential Memorandum declaring that the Dakota Access Pipeline serves the national interest and initiating the process to complete construction.·Opened up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to energy exploration.·Coal exports up over 60 percent in 2017.·Rolled back the “stream protection rule” to prevent it from harming America’s coal industry.·Canceled Obama’s anti-coal Clean Power Plan and proposed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule as a replacement.·Withdrew from the job-killing Paris climate agreement, which would have cost the U.S. nearly $3 trillion and led to 6.5 million fewer industrial sector jobs by 2040.·U.S. oil production has achieved its highest level in American history·The United States is now the largest crude oil producer in the world.·The U.S. has become a net natural gas exporter for the first time in six decades.·Action to expedite the identification and extraction of critical minerals that are vital to the nation’s security and economic prosperity.·Took action to reform National Ambient Air Quality Standards, benefitting American manufacturers.·Rescinded Obama’s hydraulic fracturing rule, which was expected to cost the industry $32 million per year.·Proposed an expansion of offshore drilling as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy·Held a lease sale for offshore oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico in August 2018.·Got EU to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.·Issued permits for the New Burgos Pipeline that will cross the U.S.-Mexico border.Foreign Policy· Moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.·Withdrew from Iran deal and immediately began the process of re-imposing sanctions that had been lifted or waived.·Treasury has issued sanctions targeting Iranian activities and entities, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force·Since enacting sanctions, Iran’s crude exports have fallen off, the value of Iran’s currency has plummeted, and international companies have pulled out of the country.·All nuclear-related sanctions will be back in full force by early November 2018.·Historic summit with North Korean President Kim Jong-Un, bringing beginnings of peace and denuclearization to the Korean Peninsula.·The two leaders have exchanged letters and high-level officials from both sides have met resulting in tremendous progress.·North Korea has halted nuclear and missile tests.·Negotiated the return of the remains of missing-in-action soldiers from the Korean War.·Imposed strong sanctions on Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro and his inner circle.·An executive order preventing those in the U.S. from carrying out certain transactions with the Venezuelan regime, including prohibiting the purchase of the regime’s debt.·Responded to the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime.·Rolled out sanctions targeting individuals and entities tied to Syria’s chemical weapons program.·Directed strikes in April 2017 against a Syrian airfield used in a chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians.·Joined allies in launching airstrikes in April 2018 against targets associated with Syria’s chemical weapons use.·New Cuba policy that enhanced compliance with U.S. law and held the Cuban regime accountable for political oppression and human rights abuses.·Treasury and State are working to channel economic activity away from the Cuban regime, particularly the military.·Changed the rules of engagement, empowering commanders to take the fight to ISIS.·ISIS has lost virtually all of its territory, more than half of which has been lost under Trump.·ISIS’ self-proclaimed capital city, Raqqah, was liberated in October 2017.·All Iraqi territory had been liberated from ISIS.·More than a dozen American hostages have been freed from captivity all of the world.·Action to combat Russia’s malign activities, including their efforts to undermine the sanctity of United States elections.·Expelled dozens of Russian intelligence officers from the United States and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, WA.·Banned the use of Kaspersky Labs software on government computers, due to the company’s ties to Russian intelligence.·Imposed sanctions against five Russian entities and three individuals for enabling Russia’s military and intelligence units to increase Russia’s offensive cyber capabilities.·Sanctions against seven Russian oligarchs, and 12 companies they own or control, who profit from Russia’s destabilizing activities.·Sanctioned 100 targets in response to Russia’s occupation of Crimea and aggression in Eastern Ukraine.·Enhanced support for Ukraine’s Armed Forces to help Ukraine better defend itself.·Helped win U.S. bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.·Helped win U.S.-Mexico-Canada’s united bid for 2026 World Cup.Defense· Executive order keeping the detention facilities at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay open.·$700 billion in military funding for FY 2018 and $716 billion for FY 2019.·Largest military pay raise in nearly a decade.·Ordered a Nuclear Posture Review to ensure America’s nuclear forces are up to date and serve as a credible deterrent.·Released America’s first fully articulated cyber strategy in 15 years.·A new strategy on national bio-defense, which better prepares the nation to defend against biological threats.·The administration has announced that it will use whatever means necessary to protect American citizens and servicemen from unjust prosecution by the International Criminal Court.·Released an America first National Security Strategy.·Put in motion the launch of a Space Force as a new branch of the military and re-launched the National Space Council.·Encouraged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to increase defense spending to their agreed-upon levels.·In 2017 alone, there was an increase of more than 4.8 percent in defense spending amongst NATO allies.·Every member state has increased defense spending.·Eight NATO allies will reach the 2 percent benchmark by the end of 2018 and 15 allies are on trade to do so by 2024.·NATO allies spent over $42 billion dollars more on defense since 2016.·Executive order to help military spouses find employment as their families deploy domestically and abroad.Veterans Affairs· Signed the VA Accountability Act and expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.·Delivered more appeals decisions – 81,000 – to veterans in a single year than ever before.·Strengthened protections for individuals who come forward and identify programs occurring within the VA.·Signed legislation that provided $86.5 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the largest dollar amount in history for the VA.·VA MISSION Act, enacting sweeping reform to the VA system that:·Consolidated and strengthened VA community care programs.·Funding for the Veterans Choice program.·Expanded eligibility for the Family Caregivers Program.·Gave veterans more access to walk-in care.·Strengthened the VA’s ability to recruit and retain quality healthcare professionals.·Enabled the VA to modernize+ its assets and infrastructure.·Signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act in 2017, which authorized $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program.·Worked to shift veterans’ electronic medical records to the same system used by the Department of Defense, a decades-old priority.·Issued an executive order requiring the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to submit a joint plan to provide veterans access to access to mental health treatment as they transition to civilian life.·Increased transparency and accountability at the VA by launching an online “Access and Quality Tool,” providing veterans with access to wait time and quality of care data.·Signed legislation to modernize the claims and appeal process at the VA.·Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, providing enhanced educational benefits to veterans, service members, and their family members.·Lifted a 15-year limit on veterans’ access to their educational benefits.·Created a White House VA Hotline to help veterans and principally staffed it with veterans and direct family members of veterans.·VA employees are being held accountable for poor performance, with more than 4,000 VA employees removed, demoted, and suspended so far.· Signed the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act, increasing the number of VA employees that can assist justice-involved veterans.I have watched Trump for over 30 years… and find him an effective and persuasive speaker and a leader. Thousands of people go to Trump rallies and speeches because these gatherings are informative, inspiring and entertaining.Trump is what America need to drain the swamp in Washington… and restore America’s financial and military power globally.Deal with it…