Search for news, organizations and people The Federal Newswire

Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) from the House Energy and Commerce Committee are urging for the blacklisting of certain Chinese companies. These companies, reportedly linked to the Chinese military, are intended to be utilized by Ford in its forthcoming factory with Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology, Co. Limited (CATL).

Brad Garlinghouse, the Chief Executive Officer of cryptocurrency exchange Ripple, has stated that crypto companies in the United States are eager to comply with regulations. However, he notes that the country is trailing behind others in implementing concrete guidelines for the industry. In contrast, he says that these companies are forced to seek regulatory clarity through legal battles.

The 2023 Human Trafficking Data Collection Report revealed a significant increase of 49% in the number of individuals referred to U.S. attorneys for human trafficking offenses, reaching 2,027 in fiscal year 2021, compared to 1,360 in 2011. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) published this report in October 2023.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, has announced that Maria Mendoza-Mendoza, a leader in human smuggling, pleaded guilty to criminal charges. She is scheduled to appear before a judge for a sentencing hearing on April 2, 2024.

Law enforcement officials have reported that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has established a significant presence in the small communities of western Washington. This follows the arrests of cartel-connected drug traffickers in the Puget Sound region. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent David F. Reames warned that the cartel's influence in the region poses a significant threat to many.

Eric Moses, a spokesperson for global chemical manufacturer OxyChem, indicated in a Jan. 25 statement to Federal Newswire that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed settlement for the cleanup of New Jersey's Passaic River only covers a portion of the total funding needed for remediation. This could potentially leave taxpayers to cover the remaining costs. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has declined to comment on this matter.

Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have introduced the "BIOSECURE Act." This legislation aims to prevent foreign biotech companies from accessing U.S. taxpayer dollars.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an investigation into investments and partnerships related to generative artificial intelligence (AI). The FTC has issued orders to five companies—Alphabet, Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., Anthropic PBC, Microsoft Corp., and OpenAI, Inc.—to provide information as part of this inquiry.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has sanctioned new regulations that mandate broadband and other essential communications providers to report their operational status daily during disasters. However, these rules may pose challenges for rural telecommunications companies represented by the NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association (NTCA), potentially hindering service restoration.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have imposed sanctions on Alexander Ermakov due to his involvement in a ransomware attack against Australian healthcare insurer Medibank in 2022. This cyberattack resulted in the exposure of sensitive data belonging to approximately 9.7 million Medibank users.

Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, along with other lawmakers, has requested a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the Biden administration's mishandling of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. The bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act, passed in 2020, aimed to make financial aid more accessible by streamlining the application process. However, the Department of Education (Education) failed to properly implement the program, causing delays for students and families in accessing crucial financial...

Border Patrol agents near San Clemente, California, have seized a significant quantity of methamphetamine, as announced by Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel via a social media post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has joined forces with Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) to call for bolstered enforcement measures for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). In a letter addressed to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the lawmakers put forth their suggestions for reinforcing the enforcement of the UFLPA.

Thomas Homan, the retired acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), recently testified at a House committee hearing, alleging that President Joe Biden has undermined border security through open border policies.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has announced that the Doomsday Clock remains set at 90 seconds to midnight, indicating the world's ongoing perilous state.

The Biden-Harris Administration has recently published an updated document outlining a roadmap for solar energy development. The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have provided information on milestones achieved over the past year.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a funding allocation of $20.5 million to 32 states, territories, local governments, and Tribes through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. This financial support will facilitate a variety of initiatives such as electric bicycle incentives, free home solarization for low-income families, municipal fleet electrification, decarbonization waste management strategies, and municipal building energy audits.

U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Tucson and San Diego sectors have seized over 30 pounds of fentanyl, according to Chief Jason Owens. Owens recently shared on social media that this seizure was significant and posed a considerable threat to America.

U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), along with several other committee and subcommittee chairs, have highlighted the risk associated with China's development of artificial intelligence technology. This concern was voiced in a letter scrutinizing a UCLA AI scientist for receiving federal grants while maintaining connections to China's AI military research.

Ammon Blair, a former Border Patrol agent, has revealed that cartels are utilizing fraudulent documentation to smuggle illegal immigrants, occasionally minors, into the United States. These individuals are then able to secure employment using the counterfeit IDs. Blair offered an inside look into the intricate system established by cartels and smuggling organizations at the border.

Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who is at the helm of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has voiced concerns about the storage of Navy fuel in the Indo-Pacific region. The Congressman's apprehensions stem from an escalation in aggression by the Chinese military in this area, which poses a heightened threat to Taiwan.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), House Republican Conference Chair, joined forces with Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), the chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to issue a joint statement regarding a recent report from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The report seeks to highlight potential national security threats posed by Chinese-manufactured Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

Last week, lawmakers, water experts, community leaders, and landowners from Texas convened in Alpine for the Water in the Desert conference. The event was hosted by Sul Ross State University with the aim of discussing new challenges and opportunities in west Texas water management.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced an updated model aimed at improving the quality of care for individuals living with mental health conditions and substance use disorders who are covered by Medicaid and Medicare. This initiative is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and promotes the development of health information technology through infrastructure initiatives.

Kevin Cirilli is host of The Daily Debrief, a contributor to The Hill, and a visiting media fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub.