Assistant Secretary Toloui's diplomatic tour strengthens economic ties

Assistant Secretary Toloui's diplomatic tour strengthens economic ties

Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, Ramin Toloui, recently completed a diplomatic tour from April 22 to May 3. His journey spanned Japan, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, California, and New York. The objective of his travel was to bolster bilateral relationships and promote trade and economic opportunities with these nations.


NFU president issues statement on Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024

NFU president issues statement on Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew has issued a statement on the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, which was released today by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA). In his statement, Larew expressed anticipation for the upcoming week's markup and the continuation of the farm bill process.


U.S.-Nigeria partnership: Recent progress highlights mutual benefits

U.S.-Nigeria partnership: Recent progress highlights mutual benefits

The recent engagements between the United States and Nigeria underscore the importance of their partnership, as they represent two of the world's most populous presidential democracies. Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell and Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf M. Tuggar have been instrumental in advancing mutual economic, governance, and security priorities. These efforts were particularly evident during the April 29-30 U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission in Abuja, the 16th U.S.-Africa Business Summit from May 6-9 in Dallas, Texas, and Foreign Minister Tuggar’s May 14-17 visit to...


Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announces new investments in Georgia's urban agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announces new investments in Georgia's urban agriculture

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Turn Around Columbus, a nonprofit organization in Columbus, Georgia, on May 17, 2024. The organization is committed to investing in youth development and creating opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs, farmers, and community leaders. During his visit, Secretary Vilsack emphasized the Biden-Harris Administration's dedication to developing new markets, generating revenue, and supporting agriculture both in Georgia and across the nation.


Tulsi Gabbard: NGOs profiting off the border crisis ‘just like the cartels’

Tulsi Gabbard: NGOs profiting off the border crisis ‘just like the cartels’

Tulsi Gabbard, a former US Representative from Hawaii, stated that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have been profiting significantly from the border crisis by housing illegal immigrants, drawing a comparison between them and cartels. Gabbard made this statement on May 14.


House Committee on Rules to consider historic Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act.

House Committee on Rules to consider historic Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act.

The House Committee on Rules has announced its intention to consider the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act. The bill is expected to be put to a floor vote later this month.


House bill could mean export controls for artificial intelligence

House bill could mean export controls for artificial intelligence

A legislative proposal, known as the "Enhancing National Frameworks for Overseas Critical Exports Act" (ENFORCE Act), has been introduced by a small congressional group led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas). The proposed legislation aims to update the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) by granting the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) the authority to impose export controls on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies that could potentially threaten national security.


Commissioner Romero to address NFA's Board of Directors spring meeting

Commissioner Romero to address NFA's Board of Directors spring meeting

Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero is scheduled to address the National Futures Association’s (NFA) Board of Directors at their Spring meeting. The event will take place on Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 1:15 pm to 1:45 pm (EDT). The venue for this significant gathering is the St Regis, located at 923 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.


VA recognized as top rising research institution in North America

VA recognized as top rising research institution in North America

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been recognized as one of the top 10 fastest rising research institutions in North America, according to the esteemed Nature Index. The VA's long-standing history of medical breakthroughs includes the development of the CAT scan, the pacemaker innovation, and the execution of the first-ever liver transplant. In recent years, VA researchers have contributed significantly to critical initiatives such as COVID-19 response, women’s health, telehealth, suicide prevention, the PACT Act, President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, among others.


U.S. Department Of Energy Announces Eight New Biden-Harris Appointees

U.S. Department Of Energy Announces Eight New Biden-Harris Appointees

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the appointment of eight new members to its team, under the Biden-Harris Administration. These individuals will be working closely with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in addressing climate change and aiding the United States in achieving President Biden’s ambitious clean energy goals.


Department of Labor expands migrant worker rights website

Department of Labor expands migrant worker rights website

The Department of Labor announced a significant expansion of MigrantWorker.gov and its Spanish version, TrabajadorMigrante.gov. These websites provide valuable information to help protect the rights of all American workers, regardless of their immigration status.


New Mexico receives $25M for cleanup of legacy pollution

New Mexico receives $25M for cleanup of legacy pollution

Today, as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Week, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis visited New Mexico to announce a $25 million grant from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funding is earmarked for cleaning up legacy pollution in the state. New Mexico plans to use this grant to plug approximately 117 orphaned oil and gas wells, remediate four sites, and complete surface restoration at 33 locations.


Supreme court ruling on CFPB funding disappoints small businesses

Supreme court ruling on CFPB funding disappoints small businesses

Small businesses have expressed disappointment over the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, Limited. The court ruled that the funding mechanism for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is in compliance with the Constitution’s Appropriations Clause.


Department of Labor announces $12M grant for job quality improvement

Department of Labor announces $12M grant for job quality improvement

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the availability of $12 million in additional funds aimed at improving job quality and expanding access to good jobs in critical industries. This initiative places an emphasis on training for jobs in the care economy, such as home, elder, and childcare.


US imposes sanctions over alleged DPRK-Russia weapon deals

US imposes sanctions over alleged DPRK-Russia weapon deals

The United States has imposed sanctions on five Russia-based individuals and entities, alleging their involvement in the transfer of military equipment and components between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation. This move is seen as a violation of the UN arms embargo on the DPRK. The US asserts that Russia has increasingly relied upon the DPRK for munitions to wage its war on Ukraine, using dozens of DPRK-supplied ballistic missiles against Ukrainian targets.


US responds to recent presidential election in Chad

US responds to recent presidential election in Chad

Following the certification of final presidential election results by Chad’s Constitutional Council on May 16, the United States has expressed commendation for those who exercised their right to vote on May 5-6. The U.S. welcomed the peaceful conduct of the voting and its aftermath, despite expressing regret over multiple casualties from celebratory gunfire that followed the announcement of provisional results on May 9.


U.S.-Nigeria air transport agreement enters into force

U.S.-Nigeria air transport agreement enters into force

The United States-Nigeria Air Transport Agreement, which has been provisionally applied since 2000, officially entered into force on May 13, 2024. This bilateral agreement lays the groundwork for a modern civil aviation relationship with Nigeria that aligns with U.S. Open Skies international aviation policy and commits to high standards of aviation safety and security.


Higher interest rates stall single-family housing starts in April

Higher interest rates stall single-family housing starts in April

In April, single-family starts remained stagnant as interest rates rose above 7% and builders faced stricter lending conditions. Despite this, overall housing starts saw a 5.7% increase to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.36 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.


Justice Department takes action against DPRK's illicit revenue generation efforts

Justice Department takes action against DPRK's illicit revenue generation efforts

The Justice Department has announced a series of coordinated and court-authorized actions to disrupt the illicit revenue generation efforts of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) information technology (IT) workers. This is part of a wider initiative, the DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative, which aims to prioritize high-impact, strategic, and unified enforcement and disruption operations across the U.S. Government targeting U.S.-based enablers of unlawful DPRK IT workers overseas.


HHS expresses satisfaction with DOJ's proposed rulemaking consistency

HHS expresses satisfaction with DOJ's proposed rulemaking consistency

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has expressed satisfaction with the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued by the Justice Department (DOJ). The HHS stated, “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is pleased that the NPRM issued by the Justice Department (DOJ) is consistent with our scheduling recommendation."