News from April 2024
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The latest economic statement by Eric Van Nostrand, performing duties of Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy for the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee, highlights the current state of the U.S. economy as of April 29, 2024.Van Nostrand noted that despite a slowdown in real GDP growth to 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024, the underlying demand from households and businesses remained strong. He emphasized that personal consumption and business fixed investment played crucial roles in supporting GDP growth, with residential investment showing significant...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has once again proven its commitment to supporting small businesses by receiving a grade of “A+” on the Small Business Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Small Business Procurement Scorecard. DHS was the largest federal agency to exceed all ten of the Scorecard’s small business prime and subcontracting goals."America’s small businesses are essential partners in equipping the Department’s workforce with the tools to fulfill our mission of protecting the homeland," said the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of State is gearing up to host the 31st Annual Federal Inter-Agency Holocaust Remembrance Program, titled “Stories of Courage,” on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The event, scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EDT), will be livestreamed from the Burns Auditorium of the Marshall Center at State to federal employees and the public.Among the key speakers at the program will be Holocaust survivors Ruth Cohen from North Bethesda, Maryland, and Allan Hall from Miami, Florida. The event will be moderated by Ellen Germain, the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues at...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Global tech trade ITI has unveiled a new policy guide aimed at shaping the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector in the United States. The document, titled "Building an AI-Powered Government: A Blueprint for U.S. Federal, State, and Local Policymakers," provides a comprehensive framework for policymakers to navigate the integration of AI technologies into government operations.According to ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman, the guide serves as a tool to educate lawmakers on leveraging commercial solutions to enhance government services while upholding...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has outlined five crucial threats posed by the CCP that the United States cannot afford to overlook. In an op-ed published on Fox News, Chairman Moolenaar emphasized the importance of bipartisan cooperation in addressing the challenges presented by the Chinese Communist Party.Regarding the first threat, Moolenaar stressed the significance of safeguarding Taiwan and America's allies. He highlighted the need to bolster the defense industrial base to counter the CCP's military ambitions and...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves met with Liechtenstein Deputy Prime Minister Sabine Monauni to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries."During the meeting, the Deputy Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister talked about the U.S.-Liechtenstein commercial relationship and opportunities to deepen trade and investment ties."In addition to this, "the two also discussed a recently established memorandum of understanding that will deepen bilateral cooperation between our countries to promote professional...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Rostin Behnam has announced that the Commission will hold an open meeting on Monday, April 29, at 9:30 a.m. (EDT) at the CFTC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. The meeting will be open to the public, with options for attending in person, listening by phone, or viewing a live stream at CFTC.gov.During the meeting, Behnam stated, "The Commission will consider the following." Participants can access the live meeting feed by using the provided dial-in numbers or by streaming it on CFTC.gov. Behnam also emphasized the importance of...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved a Conciliation Agreement under the Fair Housing Act between the Metropolitan Management Corporation and Lancaster Court Associates and a family of former tenants. The agreement resolves allegations of housing discrimination based on familial status.Demetria L. McCain, Principal Deputy Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all tenants, stating, "No tenant should be subjected to housing discrimination based on their familial status or family...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Energy have announced new guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act programs aimed at boosting manufacturing and clean energy investments in coal communities. The Biden-Harris Administration revealed plans for a $6 billion tax credit allocation round to support clean energy supply chains and advanced energy projects, with a significant portion earmarked for historic energy communities impacted by coal-related closures.Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo emphasized the importance of driving investments in...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Washington, D.C — The filibuster, a controversial parliamentary procedure, has a long history of being used to impede progress on civil rights and voting rights in the United States. According to Greta Bedekovics, associate director of Democracy Policy at the Center for American Progress (CAP), "The filibuster continues to be used to obstruct major legislation necessary to advance racial justice and voting rights in the United States."A recent issue brief from CAP highlights how the filibuster's historical legacy persists today, hindering the passage of crucial voting...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The Governments of Brazil and the United States of America convened in Washington, D.C., for their first Bilateral Dialogue on Migration Policies, Humanitarian Issues, and Refugee Protection. The dialogue emphasized the shared goals of both countries in advancing international protection and promoting safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration.During the meeting, the delegations exchanged insights on best practices, identified common opportunities, and discussed challenges in their responses to migration and refugees. Brazil's Operation Welcome was highlighted,...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Assistant Secretary for Financial Markets Josh Frost presented the Quarterly Refunding Statement on April 29, 2024, outlining the U.S. Department of the Treasury's plans for upcoming Treasury securities offerings. Frost announced, "The U.S. Department of the Treasury is offering $125 billion of Treasury securities to refund approximately $107.8 billion of privately-held Treasury notes maturing on May 15, 2024." The issuance aims to raise new cash from private investors amounting to approximately $17.2 billion.The upcoming securities offerings include a 3-year note of $58...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee recently submitted a detailed report to the Secretary of the Treasury, outlining various economic factors and developments that have influenced Treasury yields and market dynamics. In the letter addressed to the Secretary, the Committee highlighted key points regarding inflation, economic growth, job growth, and geopolitical tensions that have impacted the financial landscape.Regarding inflation, the Committee noted that core PCE inflation in Q1 was stronger than expected at 3.7% annualized, with slower goods price inflation...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a significant investment of $105 million in funding to support over 100 community-based organizations dedicated to enhancing maternal and infant health. The announcement was made in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of HRSA's Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative.HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the importance of maternal health, stating, “Maternal health is a fundamental human right and every mother deserves access to quality care and support. Having a safe and healthy pregnancy and birth shouldn’t depend...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
WASHINGTON – Today, global tech trade association ITI responded to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) implementing Executive Order 13984, Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency with Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities, and U.S. President Biden’s Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI.In its comments, ITI emphasized the importance of safeguarding U.S. national security and expressed a commitment to collaboration with the government to address threats posed by malicious actors’ use of...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a 2022 proposed rule, codifying critical nondiscrimination protections under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. The finalized rule updates existing protections under Section 1557, ensures LGBTQI+ people are protected from health care discrimination, and strengthens key protections for marginalized communities—including people whose primary language is not English.The finalized rule announced today ensures that no one will be denied or restricted access to any health program or...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the finalization of a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard aimed at enhancing road safety and reducing accidents. The new standard will mandate automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB, to be standard on all passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029.According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, "The new vehicle safety standards we finalized today will save hundreds of lives and prevent tens of thousands of...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently commended the efforts of citizen scientists involved in monitoring the water quality of the Merrimack River. EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash praised the collaborative work, stating, "Without good science, how can we protect human health and the environment?"Senator Ed Markey emphasized the importance of citizen science in water quality monitoring, stating, "We can't manage what we don't measure, and we can't treat what we don't know." Markey expressed gratitude to all volunteers for their role in ensuring a...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued guidance on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to promote innovation in the aviation industry and reduce emissions. This initiative is part of President Biden's agenda to create jobs and combat climate change.U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen emphasized the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act in driving American innovation and job creation, stating, "Incentives in the law are helping to scale production of low-carbon...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has finalized a rule aimed at enhancing protections for youth in foster care, particularly LGBTQI+ children. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the importance of providing tailored support for all children in government care, stating, “Every child deserves a safe and loving home.”LGBTQI+ children in foster care often face higher levels of bullying and harassment, leading to adverse outcomes such as increased mental health-related hospitalizations and homelessness. This new rule underscores the necessity of...
