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Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Todd D. Robinson is embarking on a significant journey to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago from May 6-10, 2024.During his visit to Saint Lucia, Assistant Secretary Robinson will focus on U.S. initiatives to assist Caribbean nations in combating firearms trafficking. He will also announce additional support from INL to enhance the capabilities of frontline customs officers in intercepting small arms and light weapons at key Caribbean ports of entry. Moreover,...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced an investment of $28,650,000 towards replacing lead service lines in Alaska as part of President Biden's commitment to ensuring safe drinking water for all. The funding, provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to address the public health risks associated with lead exposure in drinking water, particularly affecting children and families.

The World Food Prize Laureate for 2024 will be unveiled at the upcoming World Food Prize Announcement Ceremony on May 9, as announced by the Office of the Spokesperson on May 6, 2024. The event, which will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Department of State Benjamin Franklin Room, will see Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivering remarks alongside Ambassador Terry Branstad, the President of the World Food Prize Foundation, who will announce this year's Laureates.In a statement, the Office of the Spokesperson highlighted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of...

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Department of Labor has reached an agreement with Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, a Tennessee cleaning contractor, to address violations related to child labor employment in sanitation contracts. The company has agreed to pay $649,304 in civil money penalties and take proactive steps to prevent the employment of children in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.The investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division revealed that at least 24 children, some as young as 13 years old, were employed by Fayette Janitorial Service at two separate...

Five federal departments have come together to reaffirm their shared commitment to uphold civil rights laws and advance environmental justice in communities across the United States. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Housing and Urban Development, jointly expressed their dedication to this important cause.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s...

WASHINGTON – Global tech trade association ITI has welcomed the release of the U.S. International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy. In a statement issued today, ITI's Senior Vice President of Policy and General Counsel, John Miller, emphasized the importance of maintaining a secure and trusted internet for global economic growth and innovation."Maintaining a secure, open, interoperable, resilient, and trusted internet is foundational to enabling global economic growth and continued innovation," stated Miller. He commended the Biden Administration for its proactive...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, along with other key departments, has released the annual Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports following a meeting of the respective boards. The reports provide valuable insights into the financial health and future outlook of these crucial programs.Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen emphasized the importance of Social Security and Medicare, stating, “Seniors spent a lifetime working to earn the benefits they receive, and the Biden-Harris Administration will continue to oppose cuts to either program.”Acting Secretary...

The Department of Defense has extended an invitation to the media to cover the upcoming pre-trial proceedings in the case of United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad and three others. The defendants are facing charges related to their alleged involvement in the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States.According to the announcement, the proceedings are scheduled to take place from July 15 to August 9 at the Expeditionary Legal Complex in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) Cuba, with a closed-circuit television site at Ft. Meade, Md. The Department of Defense...

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) today announced additional steps to support students and their families with the Better FAFSA. The Department is launching a multi-million-dollar program as part of the FAFSA Student Support Strategy to help school districts, state, nonprofits and other public and private organizations with efforts to boost FAFSA completion. Since the new 2024–25 FAFSA form became available on Dec. 30, more than 8.95 million forms have been successfully submitted.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the success of its COVID-19 Vaccination Public Education Campaign, "We Can Do This," which has been credited with saving thousands of lives and billions of dollars. According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the campaign resulted in an estimated $731.9 billion in societal benefits, with a return of nearly $90 for every $1 spent.HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra expressed pride in the campaign's impact, stating, "We now have research to confirm the COVID-19 Public Education...

Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Elizabeth M. Allen recently traveled to Los Angeles, California, to participate in the 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference. The event featured a panel titled "The Future of Diplomacy and Statecraft," which explored how emerging technologies and global shifts are reshaping diplomacy and international collaboration. The session was moderated by Ambassador Stuart Holliday, CEO of the Meridian International Center.During her visit to Los Angeles, Under Secretary Allen also met with leadership from Film Independent and USC’s...

Washington, D.C. — Stasha Rhodes, a veteran movement strategist and organizer, has been welcomed back to the Center for American Progress (CAP) as a senior fellow focusing on democracy and government reform issues. Ben Olinsky, senior vice president for Structural Reform and Governance at CAP, expressed his excitement about Rhodes' return, stating, "I’m thrilled that Stasha is returning to CAP."Rhodes brings over 15 years of experience in conducting state and national campaigns, grassroots organizing, and shaping national conversations on various policy issues such as...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a new round of funding aimed at replacing lead pipes in Washington as part of President Biden's commitment to ensuring safe drinking water. The $28,650,000 investment is part of the Investing in America agenda and will help in identifying and replacing lead service lines to prevent exposure to lead in drinking water. Lead exposure is known to cause severe health issues, especially in children.

Washington - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have announced changes to the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) membership. Departing members include Katie Moussouris, Chris Novak, Tony Sager, and Wendi Whitmore. Joining the CSRB are Jamil Jaffer, David Luber, Katie Nickels, and Chris Krebs.CISA Director Jen Easterly expressed her gratitude to the departing members and welcomed the new additions, stating, "I am truly grateful for their service on the Board...I know their cybersecurity expertise and...

Former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) tactical officer, Javian Griffin, 38, has been sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for using excessive force against an inmate and writing a false report to cover it up. Griffin pleaded guilty to the offense on Oct. 11, 2023.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, “The defendant pledged to protect and serve but instead he abused his authority as a corrections officer, violently punching a man in the head and breaking his jaw. The...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $28.65 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help Idaho identify and replace lead service lines, aiming to prevent exposure to lead in drinking water. This initiative is part of the broader commitment to replace every lead pipe in the nation to ensure safe drinking water. The funding, provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, contributes to the Administration’s efforts to address environmental justice and enhance public health.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England will host a virtual Environmental Justice resource fair on May 8, 2024, from 1 to 4 pm ET. The event aims to showcase funding opportunities for New England communities, including the Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants, Healthy Communities Grant Program, and the Southeast New England Program Opportunity to Advance Resilience.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reminding New Englanders to utilize free air quality monitoring tools this summer to stay informed and take necessary health precautions. As part of Air Quality Awareness Week from May 6 to 10, 2024, EPA and the New England states are offering resources for the public to monitor the latest air quality forecasts.EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash emphasized the importance of individual actions in reducing emissions that contribute to air pollution, stating, "When air quality is poor, we can all take...

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is set to embark on a significant journey spanning across San Francisco, California, and Guatemala in the coming days. On May 6, Secretary Blinken will attend the RSA Conference in San Francisco, where he will interact with technology industry stakeholders. Additionally, he will engage with emerging technology experts in areas such as biotechnology and quantum information science and technology. During his time at the conference, Blinken will elaborate on the United States' efforts to promote a more inclusive, secure, and...

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at RSA Conference (RSAC) 2024 in San Francisco, California on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 3:50 p.m. PDT. The focus of his address will be on the International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy. Secretary Blinken emphasized that the keynote will highlight "technology’s transformative impact on foreign policy and the U.S. vision towards an innovative, secure, and rights-respecting digital future."The keynote speech by Secretary Blinken will be open to credentialed media and will also be streamed...

Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez is scheduled to travel to Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 6-7, 2024, to take part in the high-level Building Resilient Economy and Resisting Economic Coercion (REC) conference hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.The conference aims to foster collaboration among like-minded partners to tackle economic coercion. One of the key highlights will be discussions on the collaborative policy responses required to combat the coercive misuse of trade connections,...

NFIB Principal of Federal Government Relations, Andrea McGee, recently penned an op-ed in the Washington Examiner highlighting the significance of right-to-repair initiatives for small and independent auto shops. McGee emphasized the impact of technological advancements in the auto industry on small businesses, stating, "For decades, auto manufacturers have acted in good faith after agreeing to a memorandum of understanding with independent repair shops."McGee pointed out the challenges faced by independent repair shops due to the increasing computerization of cars, which...

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden administration announced a new federal rule granting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients eligibility for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage and financial assistance for the first time, a change expected to lead to 100,000 DACA recipients enrolling in federal marketplace coverage.In response to this development, Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, senior policy analyst for Immigration Policy at the Center for American Progress, emphasized the significance of the new rule, stating, "The Biden administration’s rule expanding...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the Biden-Harris Administration, has finalized a rule aimed at increasing access to health care for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. The rule allows DACA recipients to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace, or for coverage through a Basic Health Program (BHP). According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), this change is expected to result in around 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients gaining health...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has chosen 28 organizations to host members of USDA’s Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC) as part of President Biden’s American Climate Corps initiative. The aim is to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders, providing technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people to deliver climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers.Deputy Secretary Torres Small emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “America’s rural communities are on the frontlines of climate change,...