News from October 2023
By Federal Newswire | Oct 7, 2023
Major meat processors in the United States are facing scrutiny as the Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Agri Stats Inc. The lawsuit alleges that Agri Stats organized and managed anticompetitive information exchanges among broiler chicken, pork, and turkey processors.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 7, 2023
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against PayPal, accusing the e-commerce payment supplier of engaging in anticompetitive practices that result in higher transaction fees for consumers. The lawsuit alleges that PayPal's "draconian" anti-steering policies restrict competition from more affordable payment platforms, leading to consumers paying excess charges. The lawsuit, filed on October 5, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, was spearheaded by attorneys at Hagens Berman.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 7, 2023
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has reaffirmed the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's right to self-defense in the wake of an unprecedented attack by the Hamas militant group. Secretary Austin expressed solidarity with Israel and offered condolences to the affected families. He stated, "I am closely monitoring developments in Israel. Our commitment to Israel's right to defend itself remains unwavering."
By Federal Newswire | Oct 7, 2023
In an announcement on Oct. 4, 2023, the Biden-Harris administration unveiled an additional $9 billion in student debt relief, marking a significant milestone in their endeavors to address the issues plaguing the U.S. student loan system. These measures, coupled with critical reforms to income-driven repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs, along with automatic relief for borrowers facing total and permanent disabilities, have propelled the total debt cancellation by the Biden-Harris Administration to a staggering $127 billion, benefiting nearly 3.6...
By Federal Newswire | Oct 7, 2023
HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge has announced a new initiative aimed at expanding homeownership opportunities for low-income families. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will allocate $13.5 million through the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) to eligible national and regional non-profit organizations and consortia with experience in facilitating self-help housing projects.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 7, 2023
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has charged N. Clark, LLC and Kathleen Cresson, owner and manager of a multi-family rental home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with discriminating against potential tenants based on race and familial status. The charges were announced on October 4, 2023.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
Tribal fish hatcheries are set to receive a significant boost in support with a $10 million investment from the Biden-Harris Administration. The funding, which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, will expand the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Fish Hatchery Maintenance program, allowing federally-recognized tribes to obtain competitive grants to improve their fish hatchery facilities.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
After more than two years, Tommy Beaudreau has announced he is leaving the Deputy Secretary position at the Department of the Interior. He has been involved with the U.S. Department of the Interior for almost a decade, according to an Oct. 4 press release.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
Recently, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned several individuals with ties to the Sinaloa drug cartel. A press release from the Department of the Treasury on September 26th provided details of the individuals and the implications of the sanction.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
Jason Owens, Chief of U.S Border Patrol, provided a glimpse into the staggering amount of narcotics seized along the southern border during the 2023 fiscal year. In a tweet on Sep 26th, Chief Owens revealed that the U.S Border Patrol (USBP) had confiscated over 69,000 pounds of narcotics between the ports of entry. The breakdown of the seizures includes more than 40,000 pounds of marijuana, 13,000 pounds of methamphetamine, 11,000 pounds of cocaine, and 2,700 pounds of fentanyl.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
There has been a growing sentiment amongst certain portions of the American public that not enough is being done to fight the Mexican drug cartels. The America First Policy Institute recently released a report in which they gave their thoughts on this issue.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
Drew Maloney, the president and CEO of the American Investment Council (AIC), an advocacy group for the private equity industry, said his organization has joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the agency's recent Private Fund Advisers rule. Maloney said during an interview with Nick Morgan, the founder of Investor Choice Advocates Network, that the SEC lacks the authority it needs to create the rule, and the agency also did not point to a specific problem that the new rule is intended to address.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has released a roadmap for U.S. policymakers outlining a path for decoupling supply chains from China. The study, titled "Building a Resilient U.S. Consumer Technology Supply Chain," recognizes that reshoring all tech manufacturing jobs from China to the U.S. is not feasible. However, it suggests that it would be possible to move all operations to allies and partners of the U.S.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
The House Financial Services Committee has advanced multiple bills out of committee that aim to counter threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Two of the bills pertain to land purchases, another would impose sanctions on companies that support China's defense and surveillance technology sectors, and a fourth would impose sanctions on people and organizations that facilitate the use of spyware.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Rostin Behnam emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry during the Futures Industry Association Expo 2023 on Oct. 2. This contradicts the stance of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler, who believes that existing securities laws are sufficient to regulate the industry.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
Recent reports have shown that the effects of Mexican drug cartels reach deep into the United States, not just border states. One of the states affected is South Carolina, whose Attorney General Alan Wilson is trying to prosecute cartel members in South Carolina.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
Forbes contributor Sean Stein Smith, a business and economics professor at the City University of New York and a member of the advisory board for the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, said rather than being distracted by the drama of Sam Bankman-Fried's trial, crypto market participants should focus on several lessons from the collapse of FTX. Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of crypto exchange FTX, is beginning his trial for his role in allegedly misusing investor and customer funds.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 6, 2023
Steve Rauschenberger is President of the Technology and Manufacturing Association. He previously served in the Illinois Senate.
By Federal Newswire Report | Oct 6, 2023
The RAND Corporation has published a new study expressing worry that Russia's protracted dispute has the potential to escalate into a nuclear crisis. This report was produced in response to a request for comment from the Russian government.
By Federal Newswire Report | Oct 6, 2023
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) recently made public the names of the eighteen states and tribal governments that would share in a total of $167.7 million in Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants.
