News published on Federal Newswire in October 2023

This financial infusion stands out as the most substantial non-federal input to any Great Lakes Legacy Act cleanup

Soil Stabilizer application begins in Lāhainā

Environmental Protection Agency and local authorities take precautionary measures on fire rehabilitation steps.

Penn State Hershey Medical Center awarded $1.19M EPA grant for environmental justice

Penn State College of Medicine will spearhead a project providing technical assistance to businesses in Pennsylvania and New York

Illinois Universities receive EPA grants for pollution prevention

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago receive a combined $2.6 Million in funding to promote environmental justice

U.S. import cargo volumes set to slow, according to NRF report

According to a Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, U.S. import cargo volumes at major ports have peaked for 2023

Gulf of Mexico energy restrictions raise concerns about economic impact

A recent analysis by the American Petroleum Institute (API) has raised concerns about the potential consequences of proposed vessel restrictions in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico

FGI sues IRS for withholding records of former official Nikole Flax

The Functional Government Initiative (FGI) is taking legal action against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), accusing the agency of withholding records pertaining to former IRS official Nikole Flax during her tenure overseeing a notable budget expansion and recruitment drive.

New members appointed to the National Assessment Governing Board

U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, appointed 11 esteemed education leaders to the National Assessment Governing Board

Comer threatens to subpoena SEC chair over lack of transparency

By Federal Newswire | Oct 17, 2023

House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer has threatened to subpoena Gary Gensler, chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), if Gensler does not provide documents that Comer requested in June. Comer and Senator Tim Scott, ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, sent a letter to Gensler on June 5 requesting documents related to the SEC's involvement in the development of social engineering initiatives in the European Union (EU).

Department of Education unveils new technical assistance centers

These centers are aimed at fortifying student mental health, safety, and academic opportunities, both during and after school hours

Department of Defense joint press conference in Israel

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III delivered a strong message of support and solidarity with Israel in the wake of recent violence and attacks by Hamas

Under Secretary Zeya: 'The United States is concerned by the forced repatriation of Chinese human rights activists & lawyers'

The United States has expressed concern over the arrest of Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei and has demanded information from the People's Republic of China (PRC) regarding his whereabouts. Lu Siwei was apprehended on July 28 in Vientiane, Laos, as he was about to board a train bound for Thailand with his family. According to Amnesty International, he was subsequently sent back to China and is being detained at the Xindu Detention Center in Sichuan.

DOE unveils $7 billion for seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $7 billion initiative to establish seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) across the country. The goal of these hubs is to drive the widespread adoption of cost-effective and eco-friendly hydrogen. According to a press release by the DOE, these hubs will create a national ecosystem of clean hydrogen stakeholders, promoting hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and utilization.

Cato Institute Says Fentanyl Is Smuggled for U.S. Citizens By U.S. Citizens, Not Asylum Seekers

An essay from the Cato Institute challenges the narrative that illegal border crossings are the primary source of fentanyl smuggling and highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of the opioid crisis.

Beyond Rhetoric: Understanding the Realities of US-China Strategic Competition with Bryan Burack

Brian Burack is a senior policy advisor for China and the Indo-Pacific at the Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center. He previously worked as an advisor to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

China is exploiting Israel-Hamas conflict for global authoritarian agenda

Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, a journalist and China expert, has argued that the Chinese government is exploiting the Israel-Hamas conflict to further its global authoritarian agenda. In an article published in Axios on October 15, Allen-Ebrahimian highlighted China's efforts to influence surrounding Arab nations on authoritarian practices and erode human rights protections.

DOE awards $30 million in clean energy funding

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that it's Office of State and Community Energy Programs has granted $30 million in clean energy funding through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program to 28 state, local, and Tribal governments. These grants support a diverse range of clean energy projects and programs tailored to the needs and goals of each recipient according to a press release.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management schedules tour of Indian Lakes Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corra

The Indian Lakes Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corral in Fallon, Nev., will open to the public for tours on Oct. 27. There will be two tours given, with a limit of 20 individuals per tour, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tours last two hours and registration is required to attend.

$394 billion spent in 2022 in wildlife, hunting, and fishing-related activities

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies announced the results of a 2022 survey conducted to find out how many U.S. residents participated in outdoor activities.

New citizens sworn in at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site