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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $267,000 in funding for Arkansas to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities. This grant will be used by 55 states and territories, including the District of Columbia, to reduce lead exposure where children learn and play, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.

Washington, D.C. – In over one million restaurants across the United States, employees are responsible for ensuring both a delightful dining experience and adherence to food safety protocols. Consistent food safety practices, such as those outlined in ServSafe® training, significantly reduce the likelihood of foodborne illness incidents.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the commencement of hazardous waste cleanup at the former Goo Smoke Shop and Select Distributors Warehouse in Clinton Township, Michigan. The site, located at 19100 15 Mile Road, was the scene of a fire and multiple explosions earlier this year.

Senior Director for International Economics at the National Security Council, Nora Todd, is traveling to Costa Rica from August 21-23 to participate in an Americas Partnership planning meeting. The focus of the meeting is the 2025 Americas Partnership Leaders’ Summit, which will be hosted by Costa Rica. The U.S. delegation includes Senior Coordinator for the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity at the Department of State, Ambassador Lisa Kubiske; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Kevin Sullivan; and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today, Aug. 21, the allocation of $9 million in grant funding to four institutions for research aimed at addressing knowledge gaps and improving the management of antimicrobial resistance risk. Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant public health concern, complicating the treatment of infections in both animals and humans. Wastewater treatment facilities are considered potential receptors and sources for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes.

The consumer filing has urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to mandate the release of a broad spectrum of information as part of labeling requirements. The filing enumerates various types of sensors on devices, such as cameras, microphones, thermometers, and presence sensors. It also highlights the data and inferences these sensors collect, particularly if they can detect location or sensitive personal information.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold an open house and "Superfund 101" training session on Thursday, August 29, for residents interested in the cleanup of the Michner Plating-Mechanic Street Superfund site in Jackson, Michigan. The event will take place at the American 1 Convention Center located at 128 Ganson St., Jackson, Mich., starting at 4:30 p.m.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the implementation of federal disaster assistance for Nebraska, following severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding from May 20 to June 3, 2024. This federal aid aims to supplement state, Tribal, and local recovery efforts.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) marks the 28th anniversary of the signing of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). On this day in 1996, President Bill Clinton signed this bipartisan legislation into law, introducing significant health care reforms. HIPAA is primarily known for establishing standards to safeguard the privacy and security of individually identifiable health information, which OCR administers and enforces.

Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez will travel to Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru from August 21-29 to engage key partners in the Western Hemisphere on critical minerals supply chains and developments in the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, and to promote trade and economic opportunities with the United States.

COLUMBIA, SC – The U.S. Department of Labor is encouraging employers and stakeholders in South Carolina’s highway construction industry to participate in a statewide survey to help its Wage and Hour Division establish prevailing wage rates for construction workers on federally funded and assisted construction projects.

The Office of Information Policy (OIP) has announced new dates for FOIA training sessions for the first half of Fiscal Year 2025. As part of its mandate to promote agency compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), OIP offers various training opportunities throughout the year aimed at agency FOIA professionals and individuals with FOIA responsibilities.

Election officials face an increasingly demanding set of responsibilities, from protecting their systems from cybersecurity threats to managing and responding to emergencies. At the same time, election officials increasingly report facing threats and harassment, often motivated by mis- and disinformation, which may be contributing to increasing turnover rates. These challenges are compounded by limited budgets for training staff on new and emerging threats.

Global tech trade association ITI has issued recommendations for the U.S. government as preparations begin for the next generation of mobile communications. Responding to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) request for comments on the advancement of Sixth Generation (6G) telecommunications technology, ITI emphasized what is needed for U.S. industry to advance 6G deployment and utilize innovations in AI, sustainable networks, and cybersecurity, with 6G anticipated to be released in 2030.

Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt will travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from August 21-22 to engage with industry representatives, academia, community leaders, and NGOs. The visit aims to highlight the Bureau of Energy Resources' (ENR) work on energy security, the energy transition, and U.S. support for Ukraine’s energy sector.

Protesters at Citi Field represented 11 organizations that signed an open letter opposing the use of facial recognition systems at stadiums. The groups included Fight for the Future, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and Amnesty International. The letter contends that “not only does facial recognition pose unprecedented threats to people’s privacy and safety, it’s also completely unnecessary.”

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $133,000 in wages and damages for 56 landscaping workers who were denied overtime by Turf Paradise Inc., a snow removal and landscaping company based in Longmont, Colorado. The Wage and Hour Division's investigation revealed that the company improperly claimed an exemption for seasonal recreational and amusement workers, leading to the failure to pay overtime.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today the implementation of federal disaster assistance for Kansas, following severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding on May 19, 2024. This action aims to supplement state, Tribal, and local recovery efforts.

The Rising Threat of China: Insights from James Fanell and Bradley Thayer

Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis announced the introduction of the No American Land for Communist China Act, aimed at preventing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from purchasing land adjacent to federal lands. The legislation is intended to protect Wyoming and other western states from potential threats to critical mineral and energy production.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has submitted a comment supporting the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) draft guidance on interchangeable biosimilar drugs, which can be substituted for brand-name biologic products. The FTC stated that the FDA’s guidance would increase patient access to lower-cost prescription medications.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned former Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly under Executive Order 14059, "Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade."

DALLAS, TEXAS (August 20, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Alief Independent School District is receiving $7,900,000 through EPA’s Clean School Bus Grant Program. This significant award, made possible through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will help the school district purchase 20 electric emission-free school buses to replace diesel-operated school buses. EPA Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance joined Representative Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Superintendent Dr. Anthony Mays and Alief ISD Chief Communications & PR...

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on August 20, 2024. The discussion focused on the importance of completing the ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, bringing the hostages home, and increasing the flow of humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Secretary Blinken and Foreign Secretary Lammy addressed the need to deescalate tensions in the region. Both officials reaffirmed their enduring support for Ukraine.

Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party have requested information from the FDA regarding U.S. biopharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and in Xinjiang, where allegations of genocide against Uyghur people persist. Representatives Neal Dunn, M.D. (R-FL), and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) joined this inquiry, expressing concerns about potential intellectual property co-option by the...