News from December 2023
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has reported a 7.4% increase in the number of homeless veterans in the United States during 2023. The findings were derived from the 2023 Point-in-Time count, a statistical measurement that examines the number of Americans without permanent housing at the time of the count.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher, who serves as the chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has stated that the CCP is conducting a global campaign to intimidate and harass its critics. This statement was made during a hearing titled "CCP Transnational Repression: The Party's Effort to Silence and Coerce Critics Overseas" held on December 13.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released a report indicating that the Democrats' Raise the Wage Act of 2023, which seeks to increase the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour, could result in the loss of up to 1.4 million American jobs over the next ten years. The CBO estimates that the bill would also increase the deficit by $46 billion over the same period, with a significant portion of the cost coming from increased expenses to Medicare and Medicaid.According to the report, the legislation would not only lead to job losses but also result in increased prices...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has expressed his strong opposition to the Biden Administration's final rule implementing President Biden's Executive Order 14063, "Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects." In a statement released today, Comer criticized the rule, calling it "anti-growth" and "inflationary."According to Comer, the rule discriminates against contractors based on their labor affiliation, giving preferential treatment to labor unions. He argues that this will not only raise taxpayer costs...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division issued a statement following Adobe Inc.'s decision to abandon its proposed acquisition of Figma Inc.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) have introduced a bipartisan resolution emphasizing the significance of the U.S.-Senegal relationship and urging the Senegalese government to hold free, fair, transparent, and inclusive elections on February 25, 2024.Ranking Member Risch expressed concerns about the political climate in Senegal, stating, "Though president Sall's commitment not to seek an unconstitutional third term was widely applauded, I remain concerned about closing political space, repression of the political opposition, and lack of...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
Washington, DC - Senator Joe Manchin, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has requested a legal opinion from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the guidance issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for implementing section 30D of the Inflation Reduction Act. In a letter to the GAO, Senator Manchin expressed concerns about the Treasury Department's recent guidance on the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit, specifically its impact on American taxpayers and the country's reliance on foreign nations for battery and vehicle...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
Veteran service organizations (VSO) play a crucial role in supporting veterans as they transition back to civilian life and take care of military families. These organizations provide a community that honors the sacrifices made by veterans during their time in the armed forces. However, under current law, donations to VSOs are not tax-exempt if more than 10 percent of their membership are not classified as "wartime veterans."This unfair distinction has a particularly negative impact on VSOs that serve veterans of recent wars, such as those who have served in Iraq and...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have jointly issued the 2023 Merger Guidelines, outlining factors and frameworks used in reviewing mergers and acquisitions. This release marks the end of a nearly two-year process involving public engagement and reflects current market conditions, advancements in economics and law, as well as experiences from diverse market participants.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) expressed her strong opposition to the Raise the Wage Act of 2023, following the release of a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report. In her statement, Foxx criticized the proposed legislation, calling it a "bureaucrat's daydream" that would have detrimental effects on the American economy.Foxx stated, "Bad ideas take their first breath in the Democrat-controlled Senate—that much is clear. S. 2488 might have a glossy exterior and a poll-tested title, but it’s nothing more than a bureaucrat’s...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
Today, the Education and the Workforce Committee, led by Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, expressed its disappointment with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona for delaying rulemaking that would protect Jewish students from antisemitism on college campuses. The Department's decision to postpone the implementation of President Trump's Executive Order on Combating Anti-Semitism, which was expected this month, has drawn criticism from the Committee.In a letter addressed to Secretary Cardona, the lawmakers stated, "This is particularly egregious in the face of increased anti-Jewish...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
WASHINGTON - Virginia Foxx, Chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce Committee, has criticized President Biden's final rule implementing Executive Order 14063. According to Foxx, this rule benefits union bosses at the expense of American workers, contractors, and taxpayers. Foxx stated, "Whenever union bosses call President Biden to do their bidding, he picks up on the first ring." She argues that the rule, which promotes project labor agreements on federal construction projects, is lopsided and unfair.Foxx further expressed her concern that the rule excludes...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
Following a court-authorized wiretap investigation, a federal grand jury in Boise, Idaho, returned an indictment this week charging two executives of competing companies with conspiring to rig bids and allocate territories in violation of the Sherman Act, conspiring to commit wire fraud, and committing wire fraud.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
On Friday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) announced that the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Program will receive a $600 million federal grant to replace the I-5 Bridge connecting Portland, Oregon, and Southwest Washington. The grant comes from the Department of Transportation's Mega program, which was authored by Sen. Cantwell to fund large and complex transportation projects that drive regional and national economies.Sen. Cantwell expressed her satisfaction with the funding, stating, "Today marks a mega win for the State of Washington: Finally, the...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
Washington, D.C. - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta, along with 14 other committee Republicans, have expressed their concerns to Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson regarding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) decision to allow states to regulate broadband rates under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.In a letter addressed to Assistant Secretary Davidson, the committee...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 18, 2023
U.S. Senator Tom Carper and a group of senators are calling on the Biden administration to expand access to the 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. The credit, which was extended in the Inflation Reduction Act, provides billions of dollars for eligible refueling infrastructure investments.The senators are urging the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service to finalize guidance and expand eligibility for the tax credit. They argue that the current threshold is too restrictive and propose recommendations that would cover an...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 17, 2023
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), and Sen. Jeff Merkley (R-Ore.), co-chair of the CECC, have jointly expressed their disappointment over the commencement of Jimmy Lai's trial in Hong Kong. The trial, which began this week, has drawn criticism from lawmakers across various nations.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 17, 2023
The Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), has endorsed the integration of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) Security Partnership into the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
By Federal Newswire | Dec 17, 2023
Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Ranking Member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have jointly called for immediate action in response to the CCP's decision to place bounties on five individuals, including an American citizen.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 17, 2023
Mike Gallagher, the Republican representative from Wisconsin and chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), recently offered insights into the approval of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Gallagher underscored the importance of securing funding for this crucial bill.
