1. S.1659 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to require the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a highway cost allocation study, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY] (Introduced 05/17/2021) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works

Latest Action: Senate - 05/17/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (All Actions)

1. S.1657 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to impose sanctions with respect to the People's Republic of China in relation to activities in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (Introduced 05/17/2021) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations

Latest Action: Senate - 05/17/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (All Actions)

1. S.1656 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to provide a taxpayer bill of rights for small businesses.

Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (Introduced 05/17/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Finance

Latest Action: Senate - 05/17/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)

1. S.1655 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to prohibit States from regulating certain commercial motor vehicle service contracts, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thom [R-NC] (Introduced 05/17/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate - 05/17/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (All Actions)

1. S.1654 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include certain over-the-counter dietary supplement products as qualified medical expenses.

Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] (Introduced 05/17/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Finance

Latest Action: Senate - 05/17/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)

1. S.1653 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to repeal the current Internal Revenue Code and replace it with a flat tax, thereby guaranteeing economic growth and fairness for all Americans.

Sponsor: Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL] (Introduced 05/17/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Finance

Latest Action: Senate - 05/17/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)

1. S.593 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (Introduced 03/04/2021) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: House - 05/17/2021 Held at the desk. (All Actions)

1. S.Res.218 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A resolution recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges of children in the foster care system, and encouraging Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of children in the foster care system.

Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (Introduced 05/17/2021) Cosponsors: (19)

Latest Action: Senate - 05/17/2021 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2552; text: CR S2545-2546) (All Actions)

1. S.Res.217 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A resolution designating the week of May 16 through May 22, 2021, as "National Public Works Week".

Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] (Introduced 05/17/2021) Cosponsors: (3)

Latest Action: Senate - 05/17/2021 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2552; text: CR S2545) (All Actions)

>>13696375

1 7

Student Athletes + Holder 🤔

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Tacoma woman sentenced to 6 years in prison for molesting child left in her care and making a video for her boyfriend

Couple arrested in 2017 after an alert airline passenger sees disturbing text messages while on flight

Tacoma – A 52-year-old Tacoma resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 6 years in prison for distribution of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Gail Lynn Burnworth, 53, and her boyfriend Michael Kellar, 59, were arrested in August 2017, after an alert passenger on a July 31, 2017, flight to San Jose, California, noticed disturbing texts between Kellar, who was on the plane, and Burnworth, who was in Tacoma. The investigation revealed the two had produced and shared sexually explicit images of children placed in Burnworth’s care. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said, “You exercised your free will and ultimately put your needs ahead of the needs of children.”

“This defendant committed unspeakable acts, claiming to be under the evil influence of her boyfriend,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The harm she inflicted to those left in her care is deserving of prison and supervision that keeps her away from children.”

According to records filed in the case, after the witness reported her concerns to the airline flight attendants, the flight crew arranged for law enforcement to meet the plane. Kellar was questioned by police and ultimately arrested. A review of his electronic devices showed graphic explicit exchanges with Burnworth discussing drugging and raping the children in her care.

The Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force was alerted and obtained a Court-authorized search warrant for Burnworth’s residence and electronic devices. Investigators found sexually explicit images on Burnworth’s devices and found several hundred images of child pornography on Kellar’s laptop.

Writing to the court, prosecutors noted that Burnworth’s claims that she acted under the sick control of Kellar does not mean she should be returned to the community. Burnworth “is no different than a loaded firearm sitting on a counter: in the wrong hands, something terrible could happen. And like that firearm, Burnworth lacks both the ability and the fortitude to intercede to prevent that harm. Just as the safest place for a loaded weapon is a locked safe, the safest place for Burnworth is a prison,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.

“Protecting children is one of the FBI's most noble missions. In this case, the mission included local partners as well as a vigilant private citizen which led to the rescue of two children from unspeakable abuse. Thanks to this work, Ms. Burnworth will be able to reflect on her choices from behind bars,” said Donald Voiret, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Seattle Field Division.

On September 25, 2019, Kellar pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Produce Child Pornography and access with intent to view child pornography. In February 2020, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Following his prison term, he will be on lifetime supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Burnworth will be on 10 years of supervised release following her prison term and will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Both defendants have been in custody since their arrests in August 2017.

The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the San Jose, California, Sheriff’s Office and the Seattle Police Department Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC).

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Hampton and Marie Dalton.

>>13696910

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/tacoma-woman-sentenced-6-years-prison-molesting-child-left-her-care-and-making-video

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Five Members of a Violent Austin Area Criminal Faction Sentenced to Federal Prison for RICO Conspiracy

AUSTIN – A federal judge in Austin today sentenced five individuals, including ringleader Beronica Rodriguez, aka Black Widow, Queen B and Baby B, to federal prison for their roles in a racketeering conspiracy that involved murder, carjacking, kidnapping, home invasion robberies, identity theft and drug trafficking.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel issued the following sentences:

Beronica Rodriguez, age 42, received 336 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release;

Leon Castillo, aka Big Moe, age 34, received 276 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release;

Thomas Cisneros Jr., aka T, age 27, received 360 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release;

Gloriana Vega, aka Baby G, age 23, received 108 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release; and

Jacqelynn Aleman, aka Jackie, age 24, received 60 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.

“This opportunistic group used any means at their disposal to prey on our community for their own personal enrichment. The streets and homes of central Texas are safer now that these callous and violent offenders have been held accountable for their criminal enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “We hope these federal prison sentences will bring a certain measure of justice for the victims.”

All five defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute. According to court records, the defendants were part of a group responsible for numerous violent crimes in the Austin area to include an armed home-invasion robbery in Georgetown on October 18, 2016, during which several firearms were stolen. One of the stolen firearms was used in the assault, kidnapping and murder of an individual on October 30, 2016. The murder victim’s body and vehicle were then set on fire.

In November 2016, members of the group were responsible for a string of crimes that included an attempted carjacking wherein a woman and her small child were shot at; an armed home-invasion robbery of an elderly woman; another armed home-invasion resulting in a woman being restrained and assaulted; and a carjacking at gunpoint of a man who was restrained and robbed by members of the group.

“The FBI would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Austin Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Bastrop, Travis and Williamson County Sheriffs’ Offices for their partnership and unyielding dedication to work the long, hard hours required for this very complex investigation,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division. “As a result of our collective efforts, members of this criminal organization will no longer plague and terrorize our communities in central Texas with their brazen acts of violence, drug trafficking, and kidnapping.”

The FBI, Austin Police Department, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office investigated this RICO case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Harding, Keith Henneke, Dan Guess and Robert Almonte prosecuted this RICO case.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/five-members-violent-austin-area-criminal-faction-sentenced-federal-prison-rico