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On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Personnel and co-chair of the House Hypersonics Caucus, passed an amendment in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act prioritizing the Navy’s hypersonics program. 

U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Indiana.  Photo courtesy of the member, www.congress.gov.

From the press release: “Indiana is a national hub for hypersonics development and Purdue University recently opened a first-of-its-kind hypersonics Applied Research Facility. The Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system, the Navy’s main hypersonic program, has no one-star or two-star flag officer billets, disincentivizing servicemembers from serving at CPS and undermining its talent pipeline. Rep. Banks’ amendment directs the Secretary of Defense and Chief of Naval Operations to develop a plan to re-allocate a one-star billet to serve as director of CPS.”

Damien Center will offer free and confidential rapid HIV testing June 27 at four locations in observance of National HIV Testing Day. This annual event encourages people to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment right away. 

From the press release: “HIV testing is done through a quick finger prick blood sample, so getting tested is easy and test results are available within 20 minutes. Damien Center also offers free and confidential HIV and STI testing every weekday and on three Saturdays throughout the month.

“According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 13% of the estimated 1.2 million people in the U.S. living with HIV today are not aware of their status. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to preserving health and preventing transmission. People who test positive for HIV can lead long, healthy lives through medication and other methods.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a public school teacher, claiming that House Enrolled Act 1608, a law that prohibits “instruction” on “human sexuality” in grades K-3, infringes on her constitutional rights.

Ken Falk, ACLU of Indiana legal director: “HEA 1608 is written so broadly that it would be next to impossible for teachers to determine what they can and cannot say to students. In addition, teachers have a First Amendment right to express themselves as private citizens outside of the classroom, including in the school’s hallways, playground, or before and after school, but the vagueness of this law would certainly have a chilling effect on those rights.”

Katie Blair, ACLU of Indiana advocacy director: “In this session, legislators were determined to target LGBTQ community members and to censor conversation about the LGBTQ community in schools, HEA 1608 was no exception. This bill, like others across the country, was modeled after Florida’s infamous ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law. LGBTQ students exist at all ages and in all grade levels and their stories belong in Indiana schools.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently announced that annual inflation has fallen for 11 months in a row.

Mike Schmuhl, chair of the Indiana Democratic Party.  Photo provided.

Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Mike Schmuhl: “[The] Consumer Price Index report reaffirms the strong economy President Biden has built with record-low unemployment and historic investments in manufacturing and the industries of tomorrow. Inflation has fallen for 11-straight months, and is at its lowest point in over two years, meaning more breathing room for Hoosier families. With unemployment rates reaching historic lows across the state, and inflation falling fast, Hoosiers are witnessing the integral role Democratic leaders—such as Representatives Frank Mrvan and André Carson – are playing in accelerating a vision for a better economic future for all demographics, including young people, Black women, and people with disabilities. Republicans, on the other hand, remain keen on giving handouts to special interests and big corporations that would increase the debt by hundreds of billions.”

Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against an Arizona-based company allegedly responsible for facilitating billions of robocalls. As part of a coalition of 48 states and the District of Columbia, Rokita sued Michael D. Lansky LLC, which does business under the name Avid Telecom. 

Attorney General Todd Rokita. Photo provided.

Rokita: “Hoosiers are sick and tired of these annoying robocalls that not only interrupt their lives but also violate state and federal laws. Rest assured that we will keep going after these illegal robocalls with the same dogged aggressiveness that we’ve shown since Day One.”