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The United States and the Dominican Republic have signed an Open Skies Agreement aimed at advancing bilateral aviation cooperation. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez and Dominican Republic Minister of Tourism David Collado signed the agreement at the National Palace in Santo Domingo. The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, provided remarks during the signing ceremony. Under Secretary Fernandez was joined by U.S. Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and representatives from the U.S. Department of...

The Justice Department, in collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has filed a civil lawsuit against TikTok Inc., ByteDance Ltd., and their affiliates for violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The suit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that TikTok has been non-compliant with COPPA regulations since 2019.

Supported by the Investing in America Agenda, Nearly Half of States Have Submitted Applications to Start Delivering Home Energy Savings and Increasing Local Workforce Opportunities

Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon provided the following readout:

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya will travel to Nairobi, Kenya, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from August 4-8, 2024. The purpose of the trip is to engage on human rights, democratic governance, and humanitarian cooperation.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has returned an indictment charging six defendants for their participation in a years-long scheme to steal millions of dollars from American consumers’ bank accounts.

On behalf of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, its parent company ByteDance, and affiliated companies for allegedly violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and infringing an existing 2019 FTC consent order against TikTok.

Provisions in the bill could limit how third-party companies advertise to anyone under 17. COPPA 2.0 includes a ban on so-called individual-specific targeted advertising to young users, forbidding companies from using certain personalized data, such as a person’s phone location or web-surfing history, to send tailored ads to most minors, said Suzanne Bernstein, a law fellow specializing in data protection and consumer privacy at the nonprofit Electronic Privacy Information Center.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco delivered remarks at the 2024 American Bar Association (ABA) General Assembly, highlighting the importance of preserving democratic institutions and defending the Constitution. Speaking at the ABA's first-ever Democracy Summit, Monaco emphasized the critical role lawyers and citizens play in upholding the rule of law and building trust in the election system.

When Liz Allen rejoined the Department of State as Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs almost three years ago, it marked her fourth role at the Department, having previously served in positions ranging from intern to director. Today, after traveling to dozens of countries and meeting with countless world leaders, students, advocates, and academics to advance policies and reinvigorate partnerships, she leaves as Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that Drexel University in Pennsylvania has entered into a resolution agreement to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) when responding to allegations of discrimination or harassment based on national origin, including shared Jewish ancestry.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the completion of a nearly $28 million Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) transaction with the Waukegan Housing Authority (WHA). This initiative aims to expand affordable housing options for low-income seniors in Waukegan, Illinois.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 34 co-sponsors introduced the No Kings Act today, aimed at reaffirming that presidents do not have immunity for actions violating federal criminal law. The legislation also clarifies that Congress, rather than the Supreme Court, determines how to apply federal criminal laws.

Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer delivered remarks at the first public Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing meeting on August 1, 2024. In his address, Mizer highlighted the Department of Justice's (DOJ) efforts to combat unfair and illegal pricing practices across various industries.

Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez will travel to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Thursday, August 1 and Friday, August 2 to engage with Dominican partners on aviation topics.

On August 1, 2024, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $400 million with at least 18 irrigation districts to help farmers continue commodity production while conserving water across the Western United States. This funding aims to support irrigation districts and producers in using innovative water-saving technologies and farming practices amid ongoing drought conditions.

A Texas man made his initial appearance in court and pleaded guilty today to violating the Endangered Species Act by importing protected Australian reptiles into the United States on behalf of a fake zoo which he represented as legitimate.

Washington, D.C. — A new analysis from the Center for American Progress (CAP) reveals that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) has issued at least 91 subpoenas, despite defying a 2022 subpoena issued to him by the House Committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Three real estate investors have pleaded guilty to engaging in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain a $74 million loan and a $45 million loan and fraudulently acquire multifamily properties.

Human rights advocates, including the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), have long argued that the design of internet and web technologies significantly impacts their ability to defend the rights and well-being of all people, particularly marginalized groups. A recent report from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) supports this view and provides recommendations on how technical standard-setting can address challenges to broad participation and effective respect for human rights.

The U.S. Department of State, in collaboration with the National Geographic Society, announced the recipients of the 2024 Fulbright-National Geographic Award on August 1, 2024. Five individuals have been recognized for their efforts to support conservation and cultural heritage globally. These awardees will conduct research in Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Iceland, Papua New Guinea, and Sri Lanka.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blue Campaign and Lyft, Inc. announced today that over one million Lyft drivers in the United States and Canada can now access a tutorial program designed to help them detect and prevent human trafficking. This initiative builds on efforts from earlier this year during Super Bowl 2024, when Lyft provided resources to drivers in Las Vegas to help recognize signs of this crime. Human trafficking tends to increase during large-scale events due to the high volume of people and the anonymity such gatherings provide.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the appointment or reappointment of 55 members to serve on seven agricultural trade advisory committees.

Andrew Miller, former deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli-Palestinian Affairs in the Biden administration, is joining the Center for American Progress (CAP) as a senior fellow for Middle East policy in the National Security and International Policy department.

On August 1, 2024, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced the launch of a new corporate whistleblower awards program. This initiative aims to enhance the Justice Department's efforts to hold corporate wrongdoers accountable.