News from April 2024
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) released the Ensuring Necessary Financial Oversight and Reporting of Cryptocurrency Ecosystems (ENFORCE) Act as a proposed solution to the U.S. Treasury’s inquiry into stronger legislation to address digital asset anti-money laundering and more secure treatment of digital assets.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
U.S. Representative Aumua Amata (R-American Samoa) acknowledged the South Carolina Gamecocks’ women’s basketball team for winning a National Championship, and recognized standout player Tehina Paopao who has Samoan and Tokelauan heritage.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, hosted a panel discussion with The Hill on the policies needed to advance America’s leadership in AI. The event, which featured prominent industry figures, aimed to address key issues impacting innovation and global competitiveness.During the event, TechNet President and CEO, Linda Moore, emphasized the importance of sensible regulations to protect the American public and institutions while fostering innovation in the field of AI. Moore highlighted the need to...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
Sacramento, Calif. – The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) will be presenting their stance on California's tech bills in a hearing scheduled for Wednesday. CCIA State Policy Director Khara Boender will be testifying on behalf of CCIA regarding three bills, advocating for certain amendments while opposing one.CCIA supports AB 2839 and AB 2355, with Boender emphasizing the importance of addressing potential risks associated with generative artificial intelligence. Regarding these bills, Boender stated, "While we recognize the urgent need to implement...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
Chairman Rostin Behnam will be taking part in a lecture at the University of Chicago Law School on April 10, 2024. The event is scheduled to take place from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (CT) and 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (ET) at the University of Chicago School of Law, located at 1111 East 60th Street, Room C in Chicago, Illinois.Behnam's participation in the lecture at the prestigious law school is anticipated to be insightful and informative. This event provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and attendees to engage with Chairman Behnam on various legal and regulatory...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
In a recent episode recorded live at the NVIDIA GTC global AI conference, Curtis Northcutt, the cofounder and CEO of Cleanlab, and Steven Gawthorpe, senior data scientist at Berkeley Research Group, shared insights on combating corruption using AI-powered investigative analytics. Speaking with Noah Kravitz, host of NVIDIA’s AI Podcast, the experts delved into Cleanlab's innovative approach to data curation.Northcutt highlighted Cleanlab's commitment to enhancing data reliability and trustworthiness through advanced error identification and correction algorithms. He...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
Leo Schwartz, author of the Fortune Crypto Proof of State newsletter, has expressed concern over the "non-response from the U.S. government" regarding the detention of U.S. citizen and Binance employee, Tigran Gambaryan, in Nigeria. Schwartz made these remarks in his April 4 newsletter.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
The National Retail Federation today announced the promotion of David French from senior vice president to executive vice president of government relations and executive director of the National Council of Chain Restaurants. In a statement, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay praised French, saying, “As NRF’s chief lobbyist, David is a great partner of many years who has done an incredible job with public policy efforts that support retailers and the millions of people they employ and the communities they serve.”French has been with NRF since 2011 and has been instrumental...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson, a Commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), delivered keynote remarks at the NYU AI Convening on the integration of AI in financial markets. Johnson emphasized the potential benefits and risks associated with AI in financial markets, stating, "While the use of AI in financial markets may hold the potential for substantial benefits, such use may also introduce unprecedented risks concerning market integrity, customer protection, governance, data privacy, bias, and cyber threats."Johnson highlighted her advocacy for...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced the appointment of Christopher L. Skinner as the CFTC’s Inspector General. According to the official announcement, Mr. Skinner brings 15 years of IG experience to his new role, including leading and managing Offices of Inspectors General and conducting various investigative tasks.Mr. Skinner's previous experience includes serving as the Inspector General at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) since 2019. During his tenure at the FEC, he managed a significant budget and oversaw the day-to-day operations of the...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
In response to proposed amendments that would expand Section 702 of the base text on government surveillance, Chris Baumohl, a law fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), expressed strong concerns. Baumohl highlighted the potential implications of these amendments, stating, “As if the base text wasn’t bad enough, these amendments would all significantly expand Section 702. In particular, the weaponization of a post-9/11 warrantless surveillance authority to search for immigrants traveling to the U.S.—with no suspicion of wrongdoing whatsoever—is deeply...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
On April 10, 2024, the importance of foundation models in the realm of artificial intelligence was highlighted in a post from the AI Decoded series. The post aimed to shed light on the core concepts of AI technology, making it more accessible to a wider audience.Foundation models, described as the fundamental building blocks for AI applications, were emphasized as crucial components for developing advanced technologies. These models are neural networks trained on vast amounts of raw data through unsupervised learning, enabling them to understand and generate human-like...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
The Energy and Environmental Markets Advisory Committee (EEMAC) is set to convene on April 10, 2024, at the University of Missouri – Kansas City in Kansas City, Mo. The meeting, sponsored by CFTC Commissioner Summer K. Mersinger, will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CDT) and is open to the public both in person and virtually, space permitting.Commissioner Mersinger highlighted the focus of the upcoming meeting, stating, “The last few EEMAC meetings focused on the metal and mineral markets and the crucial role of those commodities in the transition to renewable energy. I...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
A new piece of legislation, the Reasonable Intelligence Surveillance Authorization Act (RISAA), has sparked debate among Republicans regarding the FBI's ability to conduct surveillance without a warrant. The bill, which is positioned as a compromise between two existing bills, has raised concerns about its actual implications.According to sources, RISAA is perceived as a compromise between the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act and the FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2023. However, there are doubts about the true nature of this compromise, with...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero will speak at the Institute for Business in Global Society on Tackling the Challenges of Responsible AI at Harvard Business School. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) at the Institute for Business in Global Society, Harvard Business School, Boston, MA 02163.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries recently convened to discuss the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health (BIDEH) rule. Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) expressed his concerns regarding the proposed rule, stating, "This rule is misguided, driven by ideological agendas rather than practical conservation principles, poorly designed, and impractical in its application." Bentz emphasized that the rule would hinder effective management tools crucial for wildlife and refuge systems and...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations recently conducted a hearing focusing on the repercussions of the Biden administration's border policies, which have facilitated the infiltration of violent cartels into rural tribal communities well beyond the Southern border of the United States.Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) expressed deep concerns about the situation, stating, “Joe Biden’s open border policies have had detrimental effects on Indian country, with drugs and cartels infiltrating these communities at an alarming rate.” Gosar highlighted the...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
On April 3, 2024, staff from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regional 7 and the HHS Office of Population Affairs (OPA) engaged with youth in St. Louis, MO. The event included a youth rally and a roundtable discussion on adolescent health.More than 20 schools and 3,000 middle and high school youth from across St. Louis, MO and East St. Louis, IL gathered at the St. Louis University Chaifetz Arena for a youth empowerment rally. HHS Region 7 Director Joe Palm and Deputy Assistant Secretary Jessica Swafford Marcella attended the rally, with DASPA...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
In a bid to rejuvenate communities nationwide burdened by aging housing, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has declared its plan to allocate $70 million in grants. This funding is aimed at refurbishing these homes to maintain their affordability while enhancing the quality of life for residents within these communities.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 10, 2024
The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) has expressed concerns following the European Parliament's plenary vote on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Procedural Regulation. ITI's Policy Manager for Europe, Laura Wiesenfeld, highlighted the potential consequences of the vote on GDPR enforcement mechanisms, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach.Wiesenfeld stated, "Unfortunately, today’s vote threatens the viability of the GDPR’s essential One-Stop-Shop mechanism, reduces confidentiality protections, restricts rights of investigated parties, and...
