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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned 16 officials aligned with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, citing their roles in obstructing a competitive and inclusive presidential election process and violating civil and human rights. These actions are pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13692, as amended.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued a Letter of Finding and Notice of Violation against San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico. The hospital was found to have violated federal disability civil rights laws by failing to provide a sign language interpreter for a patient, as required under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.

Federal workplace safety inspectors have identified significant safety and health violations at a Wisconsin animal food production facility, exposing employees to risks of explosions, fires, and long-term respiratory illnesses due to excessive airborne dust.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Pueblo of Sandia as one of the selected applicants for funding from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. The Pueblo's project, "Implementing Solutions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions," aims to install a commercial-scale solar photovoltaic system and electric vehicle charging stations at the Sandia Resort and Casino, which is the largest single source of energy consumption on the Pueblo.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $40 million investment to support the solar energy supply chain, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. This funding aims to enhance the lifecycle of photovoltaic (PV) solar systems by increasing their lifespan and facilitating material recovery once decommissioned.

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a global tech trade association, has urged the UK government to adopt a global, pro-innovation approach to data and technology. ITI's new recommendations provide guidance on artificial intelligence (AI), cross-border data flows, trade, and security with the aim of boosting the UK economy, transforming public services, and advancing an ambitious Industrial Strategy.

The Heritage Foundation has released the 2024 edition of the Education Freedom Report Card, accompanied by a new interactive college guide aimed at helping students "Choose College with Confidence."

The United States is taking action to promote accountability for Nicolás Maduro and his representatives for obstructing a competitive and inclusive presidential election in Venezuela and abusing the human rights of the Venezuelan people. Rather than respecting the will of the Venezuelan people as expressed at the ballot box, Maduro and his representatives have falsely claimed victory while repressing and intimidating the democratic opposition in an illegitimate attempt to cling to power by force.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Cambodian businessman Ly Yong Phat, his conglomerate L.Y.P. Group Co., LTD, and O-Smach Resort for their involvement in serious human rights abuses linked to the treatment of trafficked workers subjected to forced labor in online scam centers. OFAC has also designated Cambodia-based Garden City Hotel, Koh Kong Resort, and Phnom Penh Hotel for being owned or controlled by Ly.

On September 12, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held an awards ceremony hosted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in New York City, where 158 employees received a Secretary’s Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Department’s mission.

A Brazilian national residing in Malden, Massachusetts, has admitted guilt in a federal court in Boston for providing false information on his asylum application and during an immigration hearing.

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $44,816 in back wages and benefits for 12 apprentices who were incorrectly classified as laborers by Walker White Inc., a subcontractor on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ construction project at Fort Jackson.

A suburban Madison contractor with a history of federal safety violations, including incidents leading to an employee's fatal injuries in 2022, has once again been found exposing workers to significant hazards. A recent federal safety inspection revealed that GL Construction of Madison LLC failed to protect its employees from falls at a Verona residential construction site.

This week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the United Kingdom's Department for Business and Trade, and Australia's Department of Industry, Science, and Resources established the United States-United Kingdom-Australia Supply Chain Resilience Cooperation Group to address threats to critical supply chains.

Washington, D.C. — The inadequate supply of housing is a central issue in the ongoing U.S. housing affordability crisis. For over a decade, the production rate of new housing units has been insufficient, particularly for entry-level single-family homes and affordable rental units. Nationally, nearly half of all rental households are cost-burdened. Addressing this crisis requires significantly increasing the housing supply through policy reforms that encourage building, such as local zoning regulation changes and innovative financing opportunities, while ensuring...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has approved New Hampshire’s Medicaid State Plan Amendment to provide community-based mobile crisis intervention services for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use disorder crises. This approval allows New Hampshire to connect Medicaid-eligible individuals in crisis to behavioral health providers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With this approval, New Hampshire joins 20 other states and the District of Columbia in expanding access to...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) has sent a letter to European Union (EU) Commissioner for Internal Markets Thierry Breton, reiterating concerns about the EU's potential attempts to censor or suppress lawful speech in the United States. The letter also addresses threats of reprisal toward Elon Musk and X Corp., an American company.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a grant exceeding $17 million to MetroHealth System and seven partnering community organizations in Cleveland. This funding aims to reduce indoor air pollution and tackle environmental and climate justice challenges in disadvantaged communities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a settlement with Aloha Petroleum LLC over Clean Water Act violations at its oil storage and distribution facility in Kahului, Maui. Under the settlement, Aloha Petroleum will pay a $103,377 penalty.

As the fall season approaches, Americans are likely to see an increase in vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases, which tend to be more prevalent during colder months. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 was designed to mitigate this by requiring Medicare drug plans to offer recommended vaccines at no cost to enrollees. However, Project 2025's proposal to repeal the IRA could eliminate this benefit for 54 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Trevor Higgins, senior vice president for Energy and Environment at the Center for American Progress, testified today on the impact of the clean energy investments of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee. Following the hearing, Higgins issued a statement emphasizing the significance of these investments.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has submitted a comment in support of a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aimed at protecting farmers, growers, ranchers, and consumers from unfair practices by dominant meat processors.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the launch of a new website, the Climate Resilience and Adaptation Funding Toolbox (CRAFT), on September 11, 2024. This resource aims to assist technical assistance providers working with federal funding applicants and recipients in developing, applying for, and implementing climate-resilient investments. The website offers resources to help users consider climate adaptation and resilience throughout the process of applying for EPA funding opportunities.

The inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue, held on September 11-12, 2024, emphasized recent developments in bilateral energy cooperation between the two nations.

Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 71, of Honolulu, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for conspiring to gather and deliver national defense information to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).