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Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt is gearing up to head to Houston for the 10th United States – Republic of Korea (ROK) Energy Security Dialogue (ESD) and engagements at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The dialogue aims to boost collaboration between the U.S. and ROK on energy security and the clean energy transition.Pyatt's schedule includes engaging in discussions with energy experts and senior U.S. officials at Rice University’s Baker Institute, alongside Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, a Texas native and former...

The upcoming 5x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit in Chicago from June 25-27 will see the collaboration of two key U.S. Department of Commerce agencies to advance public safety communications technology.The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Public Safety Communications Research Division (NIST PSCR) have been working together for over a decade on various projects aimed at enhancing public safety innovation and technology development.The summit aims to bring together leaders in public safety,...

A federal jury in Camden, New Jersey, has convicted Bolaji Bolarinwa, 50, and Isiaka Bolarinwa, 67, both of Burlington County, New Jersey, of forced labor and other crimes related to their coercive scheme. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated, “The defendants confiscated the victims’ passports, threatened them, degraded them, physically abused them and kept them under constant surveillance, all to coerce the victims’ labor and ruthlessly exploit them for the defendants’ own profit.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger added, “Forced labor and human trafficking are...

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $362 million loan to CelLink Corporation (CelLink) to support the manufacturing of essential components for electric vehicles (EVs) at a new facility in Georgetown, Texas. The loan will help finance the production of flexible circuit wiring harnesses that are crucial for EV assembly, with the facility expected to create over 1,300 jobs.U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm highlighted the importance of domestic manufacturing of EV components, stating, "EV sales have quadrupled since President Biden took...

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has taken a significant step towards reducing emissions from federal buildings by finalizing standards that aim to decrease emissions for new and renovated federal buildings across the nation. This move is expected to slash harmful carbon emissions by 2 million metric tons.In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm highlighted the administration's commitment to energy efficiency, stating, "The Biden-Harris Administration is practicing what we preach. Just as we are helping households and businesses across the nation...

The Biden-Harris Administration has made a significant move in the realm of airline passenger rights by announcing a final rule that mandates airlines to provide automatic cash refunds to passengers when owed. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of this rule, stating, “Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling.”The new rule sets clear guidelines for when airlines must issue refunds, aiming to create certainty for consumers. Previously, airlines had varying refund policies, making...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled a new grant program aimed at advancing the transition to clean heavy-duty vehicles in America. The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act under President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, will allocate nearly $1 billion to support projects that reduce climate and air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, create new job opportunities, and enhance air quality in communities across the nation."EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program will slash climate and air...

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) unveiled new measures aimed at assisting communities in combating extreme heat as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Earth Week initiatives.In a statement, HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, "Extreme heat affects all of us. Historically underserved communities are even more vulnerable."The initiatives include the publication of a webpage on Extreme Heat by HUD, serving as a central platform for actions communities can take to...

A Vermont restaurant server was found to have been retaliated against by their employer, resulting in a $50,000 punitive damages settlement and $829 in back pay. The U.S. Department of Labor investigation revealed that the employer, Trareeba Ltd., operating as Colatina Exit in Bradford, Vermont, unlawfully included managers in its tip pool, violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.Furthermore, the investigation discovered that the restaurant failed to pay workers time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek and employed two 17-year-old delivery drivers for...

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced at the U.S. Department of Education’s Attaining College Excellence and Equity Summit the launch of a new Postsecondary Student Success Recognition Program. The program aims to recognize institutions of higher education that support students in completing affordable credentials that prepare them for success. The public has been invited to submit suggestions to the Department regarding this new initiative within a 30-day period.The initiative is part of the Department’s Raise the Bar campaign, which strives to increase...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo have come together to announce a partnership aimed at harnessing AI, facilitating data flows, and empowering digital upskilling. The joint statement released by the United States Department of Commerce and the Kenyan Ministry of Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy highlighted their shared commitment to strengthening the digital economy and promoting innovation between the two nations.During the AmCham Business Summit:...

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order aimed at protecting the U.S. livestock industry from the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. The order mandates measures such as mandatory testing for interstate movement of dairy cattle and reporting of positive test results in livestock to USDA APHIS."Requiring positive test reporting will help USDA better understand this disease and testing before interstate movement will limit its spread," said USDA in a statement.The USDA highlighted the importance of biosecurity measures in...

USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that the USDA is partnering with rural cooperatives, local organizations, and Tribes to support high-speed internet deployment in 11 states. The $5.2 million in cooperative agreements awarded through the Broadband Technical Assistance Program, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to connect every community in America with affordable, reliable high-speed internet.Speaking at the Texas Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers Conference, Deputy Secretary Torres Small emphasized the importance of keeping...

Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the U.S. Department of State Jose W. Fernandez and His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Issa al-Harthy, Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the Foreign Ministry of Oman, met in Washington on April 24, 2024, for the Second U.S.-Oman Strategic Dialogue.During the dialogue, the two sides discussed various aspects of the bilateral partnership, focusing on trade and investment, clean energy, and education, culture, and science. Fernandez welcomed Sheikh Khalifa to Washington, highlighting the...

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration has unveiled a final rule designed to shield airline passengers from unexpected junk fees when purchasing tickets. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, "Airlines should compete with one another to secure passengers’ business—not to see who can charge the most in surprise fees."The rule mandates that airlines and ticket agents disclose fees for services such as checked bags, carry-ons, and reservation changes upfront. This measure aims to prevent consumers from falling...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) have unveiled a two-year action plan aimed at addressing environmental justice issues in California through collaborative enforcement efforts. The plan, which is part of a groundbreaking federal-state partnership initiated in 2021, focuses on protecting public health and the environment in overburdened communities across the state.Martha Guzman, the EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator, expressed pride in the ongoing partnership with CalEPA, stating, “We are...

On April 24, 2024, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center announced their joint theme for the 2024 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The theme, "Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future," aims to foster intergenerational connections, action, and reflection within the communities.The annual celebration in May acknowledges the significant contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI)...

The Department of Labor has unveiled a new interactive map aimed at highlighting more than 1,000 planned clean energy projects across the United States that have the potential to create good-paying jobs. This initiative is in line with the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to fostering job growth while addressing the pressing issue of climate change.Acting Secretary Julie Su emphasized the importance of the map, stating, "This map is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Labor and other federal agencies to help ensure that the Biden-Harris administration’s...

Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero is set to participate in a panel discussion at FIA's Law & Compliance Conference. The panel, titled "AI and Machine Learning: The Unknown Future Rolls Towards Us," will take place on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. (EDT) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.The event aims to delve into the implications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the legal and compliance sectors. Commissioner Goldsmith Romero's participation underscores the importance of addressing the...

Chairman Gallagher has made a bold statement regarding the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), asserting that the CCP "wants more dead Americans," through its support of fentanyl production, which is making its way into the U.S. This assertion was made during a Congressional hearing on April 16th.

BOSTON (April 23, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently settled with WestFair Painting Corp., a local franchisee of CertaPro Painters in Bethel, Connecticut, for violations of the federal Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP Rule). The company agreed to pay a penalty of $13,122 to come into compliance with the RRP Rule."Companies certified under the Lead RRP Rule know the dangers of renovating properties with lead paint hazards and hiring contractors without proper lead training and certification is unacceptable," stated EPA New England...

WASHINGTON, DC—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the establishment of the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse today, as part of President Biden's ambitious environmental justice plan. The Clearinghouse aims to assist the public in accessing federal and non-federal resources online to support the administration's environmental justice initiatives."The Environmental Justice Clearinghouse provides groundbreaking resource guides aimed at helping us achieve our shared environmental justice goals across all agencies," stated Theresa Segovia, Chief Deputy of...

The Office of Information Policy (OIP) has announced the upcoming NexGen 2.0 FOIA Tech Showcase for federal agencies, scheduled to take place on May 14-16, 2024. The event aims to address existing FOIA case processing and backlog challenges by identifying technology solutions and showcasing advanced technological capabilities.The event will feature a range of vendors providing video demonstrations of their technology products tailored for agency FOIA administration. Following each demonstration, there will be a Q&A session allowing agencies to interact with the vendors...

The Coca-Cola Company and Microsoft have entered into a five-year strategic partnership to accelerate cloud and generative AI initiatives. In a joint announcement, the companies revealed that Coca-Cola has committed $1.1 billion to the Microsoft Cloud and its generative AI capabilities. Judson Althoff, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Microsoft, expressed pride in the progress made through the partnership, stating, "We are proud to support Coca-Cola as it continues to embrace the era of AI and looks to solutions like Azure OpenAI Service and Copilot...

Leading technology advocacy organizations, including the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), have come together to urge Congress to support the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) funding request for responsible AI innovation. In a collective effort, more than 80 organizations, companies, and universities have joined a letter directed at congressional appropriators, calling for the full funding of the NIST budget requests for AI-related work in the upcoming fiscal year.This coalition's objective is to emphasize the importance of investing in NIST's...