Stories by Karen Kidd on Federal Newswire


Vilsack: Research with wild and domestic animals will 'accelerate our understanding of the COVID virus'

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is developing new tests and tools to identify and track the virus that causes COVID-19 in wild and domestic animals.


Mayorkas: 'Forced labor is a heinous act' on anniversary of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

U.S. Department of Homeland Security is working hard to prevent the importation of forced labor-made goods from the Xinjiang region of China.


Parker: Amazon recordkeeping lapse 'could have significant consequences for a large number of workers'

Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently cited Amazon for not recording work-related injuries and illnesses properly.


Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $1.5 million for environmental worker training in Missouri

The $1.5 million in Brownfields Grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pay for Missouri environmental workers is part of President Joe Biden's administration's drive to clean up the nation's polluted areas, EPA deputy administrator Janet McCabe said in a news release.


Ducheneaux: 'We've extended the DMC enrollment deadline'

U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a deadline extension for dairy margin coverage programs enrollment to help producers.


Vilsack: USDA funding is 'expanding opportunities for small and underserved producers'

U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $325 million for pilot projects to expand opportunities for small and underserved food productions.


Raimondo: 'We are raising our game to grow U.S. business engagement in Africa'

U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced $15 billion in two-way trade and investment commitments, deals and partnerships between the U.S. and Africa.


Mussington: CISA 'rule modernizes and clarifies important aspects of the' PCII Program

A new technical rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will improve and modernize the Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program.


//eip//Trottenberg: DOT 'applauds Virginia's efforts to improve safety and reduce delays along the I-81 corridor'

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced two low-interest loans totaling $97.6 million for the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board.


Jensen: 'Altogether Roofing shows a callous disregard for the safety and well-being of its workers'

An Ohio roofer was cited for the eighth time in seven years for unsafe working conditions for his employees.


Looman: DOL, IRS work to 'resolve labor violations by employers who benefit by misclassifying employees'

The U.S. Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service renewed a memorandum of understanding and streamlined a process for referrals to help stop businesses from misclassifying workers.


Peace: Stockbroker and partners 'lined their pockets with the lifetime savings of hard-working citizens'

A former stockbroker was sentenced to 10 years in prison for participating in a conspiracy to manipulate the price of shares in publicly traded companies.


Armstrong: 'Catalytic converter thefts are not victimless crimes'

Three Missouri men were recently sentenced in federal court for their part in a multi-million catalytic converters theft ring.


Labor Department reaches $6.3 million settlement with Maine welding supply company

The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a $6.3 million settlement with a Maine-based welding supply company over violations to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.


Garcia: 'Funding will provide under- and unemployed people in Puerto Rico critical training'

The $500,000 for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Job Training Program jobs in Puerto Rico announced last week could provide long-term careers in communities that need it most.


Hochul: 'More New Yorkers than ever before are employed with family-sustaining clean energy jobs'

New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the state reached a record number of 165,000 workers in green economy jobs last year.


Gordon: Sentence is 'reflective of just how despicable and damaging Todd Roatsey's crimes against children are'

A West Virginia elementary school counselor was sentenced to 25 years in prison for child exploitation crimes following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.


Francis: 'The veterans who do this work are indeed heroes'

Omaha native and former Marine Jeremy Smith recently graduated from Homeland Security Investigations' Human Exploitation Rescue Operation Child-Rescue Corps (HERO Corps).


Parker: OSHA works 'to ensure that every worker in the U.S. ends their workday safely'

U.S. Department of Labor reported an increase in fatal work injuries based on the Bureau of Labor and Statistics 2021 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.


McCabe: Investments will 'support the cleanup of some of our nation's most polluted areas' in Connecticut

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $1 million in grant funding for environmental job training programs in Connecticut.