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Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla and Treasurer Daniel Elliott offer their praise for the speedy action taken by the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) to divest assets from China. Both Comptroller Nieshalla and Treasurer Elliot are INPRS board members.

In 2023, Indiana became the first state to enact a law, Senate Enrolled Act 268, requiring the public pension system to divest within five years from “any investment that is domiciled, issued, incorporated or listed in the People’s Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.” The law passed both chambers with unanimous, bipartisan support. As of July 1, 2024, just one year later, the pension plan has divested 100 percent of the $1.2 billion investments in Chinese entities.

“China is one of the foremost threats against our country’s national security, and INPRS has nobly exceeding the parameters set forth in the law by divesting Hoosier’s pension dollars from China ASAP,” Comptroller Nieshalla said.

“By divesting from China and focusing on investments in countries that value the principles of democracy, capitalism and freedom, we are safeguarding the best financial interest of Hoosiers and our nation,” said Treasurer Elliott.

Both Comptroller Nieshalla and Treasurer Elliott commend Senators Chris Garten, Aaron Freeman and Travis Holdman who authored SEA 268, and the Indiana General Assembly for passing this necessary common-sense legislation.

U.S. Senator Mike Braun's bills to become law or pass Senate in the 118^th Congress (2023-2024) are:

(Became Law) The Federal Prison Oversight Act

A bill to provide independent oversight to improve conditions for staff and prisoners in federal prisons like Terre Haute.

(Became Law) COVID-19 Origins Act

A bill that required the intelligence community to declassify important information about the origins of COVID, specifically the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

(Became Law) The Wounded Warrior Access Act

A bill that streamlines the claims process for veterans with a new online tool, helping those who previously had to get their claims information through the mail or by driving to a regional VA location.

(Became Law) Department of Defense Overdose Data (DOD) Act

A bill to ensure naloxone and any other medication to reverse opioid overdose is available on all military installations and in each operational environment.

(Became Law) Reforming Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans with Spina Bifida

A bill to help the children of Vietnam Veterans suffering from spina bifida due to their father’s exposure to Agent Orange get access to medical benefits for the rest of their lives

(Became Law) Administrative Pay-As-You-Go Act

A bill which requires agencies to propose pay-fors to offset expensive government regulations.

(Passed Senate) VA Home Loan Awareness Act

A bill to inform veteran homebuyers of their eligibility for the VA Home Loan Program, which helps more veterans achieve the dream of homeownership.

(Passed Senate) Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2023

A bill to improve conditions for dogs used in the detection of explosives, narcotics and patrol duties by federal agencies, by instituting programs that detect abuse and neglect and ensure emergency medical care, food and water, and rest time.

(Passed Senate) Mark Our Place Act

A bill to provide special headstones upon family request for all veterans who have received the Medal of Honor.

If signed into law, the National Fossil Act will join the following Braun bills signed into law:

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 118TH CONGRESS (2023-2024).

Federal Prison Oversight Act
The COVID-19 Origins Act (Public Law 118-2)
The Administrative Pay-As-You-Go Act (included in Public Law 118-5)
Reforming Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans with Spina Bifida (Public Law 118-8)
The Wounded Warrior Access Act (Public Law 118-21)
The Korean American VALOR Act (Public Law 118-20)
The Department of Defense Overdose Data (DOD) Act (Public Law 118-31)
Supporting the Provision of Veteran Survivor Benefit Plans (Public Law 118-31)
Flexibility and Funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (Public Law 118-31)

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 117TH CONGRESS (2021 - 2022):

Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-67)
A bill to properly implement the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act (Public Law 117-3)
The Consider Teachers Act (Public Law No: 117-49)
The Growing Climate Solutions Act (Public Law 117-328)
The STREAM Act (Public Law 117-328)
Small Business Establishment Registration Waiver Act (Public Law 117-328)
The Make It in America Act (Public Law 117-58)
The DUMP Opioids Act (Public Law 117-29
Better ODDS to Reduce Diversion Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-328)
FREED of Opioids Act (Public Law 117-328)
The Access for Veterans to Records Act (Public Law 117-328)
Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act (Public Law 117-328)
Apply the Science Act (Public Law 117-328)
The Emergency Use Transparency Act (Public Law 117-328)
The Recovery Startup Assistance Act (Public Law 117-328)
Promoting Access to Critical Countermeasures by Ensuring Specimen Samples (ACCESS) to Diagnostics Act (Public Law 117-328)
Predetermined Change Control Plan Act (Public Law 117-328)
Protecting Patients from Counterfeit Medical Devices Act (Public Law 117-328)
The PLUM Act (Public Law 117-328)

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 116TH CONGRESS (2019 - 2020):

The Safeguarding Small Business Act
Healthcare Transparency
the Whistleblower Act of 2019
the VA Directly Returning Opioid Prescriptions Act
the Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019
Restore Harmony Way Bridge Act
Richard Lugar Post Office Act
Payment Integrity Information Act
ALS Disability Insurance Access Act
OTC Reform
The Fair Care Act
Braun Provisions in the WRDA Reauthorization in the OMNI

The National Fossil Act has now passed the Senate. This bill names the mastodon as the U.S. national fossil, and was introduced by Senator Mike Braun and Senator Gary Peters and cosponsored by Senator Eric Schmitt and Senator Maggie Hassan.

This is Senator Braun’s fifth standalone bill to pass the Senate just this year, and if signed into law will be his tenth in the 118^thCongress (2023-2024) to become law, including provisions on veterans healthcare, opioids, and budget reform.

The National Fossil Act aims to celebrate the unique natural history of the United States, and encourage interest in paleontology.

If the National Fossil Act is passed by the House and signed into law, the mastodon would join the bald eagle, bison, rose, and oak tree as enduring national symbols of the United States.

The mastodon lived more than 13,000 years ago in the Pleistocene era, predominantly on land that would eventually become the United States of America. A fully grown mastodon was over 10 feet tall, weighed more than 11 tons, and was preceded by a pair of 16-foot-long tusks. Unlike its distant cousin, the mammoth, the mastodon was found exclusively in the United States, with its bones being unearthed in every state across the continental U.S.

Mastodon fossils are frequently found in Indiana and Michigan.

The mastodon was made the Indiana state fossil in 2022.

Mastodons have been found in nearly every Indiana county, including notable discoveries in Hebron, Fort Wayne, and Seymour.

“Mastodons embody the spirit of exploration, resilience, and strength that exemplifies our great nation. As a uniquely American symbol, mastodons inspire us to embrace our heritage and to protect our country’s natural treasures. I hope making Indiana’s state fossil our national fossil will inspire young Hoosiers to take an interest in our country’s rich natural history that may be in their own backyard.” – Senator Mike Braun

“Michigan made history when we uncovered one of the most complete skeletons of the Mastodon ever found, and we continue to find traces of this prehistoric giant all throughout our state,” said Senator Peters. “The Mastodon represents a unique piece of both Michigan’s and our nation’s history. By establishing the Mastodon as our national fossil, we can better preserve that history and inspire a new generation of scientists and researchers to continue their pursuit of discovery.”

The National Fossil Act:

Section 1 designates the bill as the National Fossil Act.
Section 2 establishes findings on the role of the Mastodon in American public life.
Section 3 designates the Mastodon as the national fossil under Title 36 U.S. Code, and makes necessary conforming amendments.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita recently issued the following statement:

"Due to the city of East Chicago common council voting to completely repeal its 'Welcoming City Ordinance' and Mayor Copeland approving its decision, our office has officially dismissed the lawsuit we filed on this issue.

We are pleased East Chicago will no longer operate as a sanctuary city, giving safe harbor to illegal aliens, and are now following state law.

This is a big win for hardworking Hoosiers and legal immigrants who came to our great nation the right way.

We will continue exercising our new enforcement authority by pushing forward with our lawsuit against Monroe County officials over their unlawful immigration policy and evaluating other local units of government that refuse to follow the law."

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is inviting Hoosiers attending the Indiana State Fair to meet the team, learn about the office, and reunite with your unclaimed property.

The Indiana State Fair runs from Friday, August 2, to Sunday, August 18, and is closed on Mondays. Attorney General Rokita’s booth is located in the Mercantile Building and will be staffed from 9 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET each day.

“The Indiana State Fair is a cherished tradition for Hoosiers of all ages,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “It is also a great opportunity to interact with our team, learn about the Attorney General’s Office and the services our office provides - including reuniting Hoosiers with theirunclaimed property.” 

Representatives from the office will be available to assist Hoosiers with unclaimed property and provide information to help consumers protect themselves and their family from ID theft and other clever scams. Copies of Attorney General publications like the Parents’ Bill of Rights, Gun Owners Bill of Rights, and Indiana Constitution will also be available.

Attorney General Rokita’s office has returned over $45,000,000 so far this year and much more is ready to be claimed.  With more than $1 million returned to Hoosiers every week, don’t miss out on your chance to be next!

Grab a funnel cake, take a stroll down the Midway, and search for what you may be missing at  IndianaUnclaimed.gov.  