News published on Federal Newswire in February 2024

The Biden administration has canceled a total of $1.2 billion in student debt as part of efforts to bolster the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. This initiative is set to impact over 150,000 borrowers and aims to build upon previous loan forgiveness measures that have resulted in $138 billion in student debt cancellation for nearly 3.9 million borrowers.

EPA partners with other federal agencies to mitigate lead hazards

Several governmental agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are collaborating to reduce health risks from lead hazards, particularly among children. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have also signed agreements to spearhead this initiative.

HHS announces $100 million investment for women’s health research

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra has announced a $100 million investment in women’s health research. The funding will be provided through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency within HHS, as disclosed during his visit to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.

Undocumented Venezuelan migrant arrested for murder of former UGA student

Laken Riley, a 22-year-old student at the University of Augusta, was tragically killed after being attacked during a jog around campus. The suspect in this case is Jose Antonio Ibarra, an undocumented migrant who crossed the border into El Paso in 2023 before being arrested in New York. After his release, he relocated to Georgia.

A McKinsey think-tank helped advise China on technology policies that have increased US tensions

The global management consulting firm, McKinsey and Company, has been implicated in a controversy over its role in advising China on advanced technologies, contributing to the escalating tensions between the United States and China. This has led several US Republicans to call for a ban on McKinsey from federal contracts.

US government officials remain committed to backing Ukraine on anniversary of Russian invasion

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, representing the Department of State (DOS), issued a statement on the eve of the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He affirmed that the U.S. government remains unwavering in its commitment to assist Ukraine.

ACLED projects increase in violence in Mexico

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) has identified Mexico as one of the world's most severe conflict zones in 2024. The increase in political violence is attributed to various factors, including drug production, cartel infighting, migration, and tensions with the U.S.

Unexpected medical bills and healthcare costs are voters’ top worries, KFF survey shows

By Federal Newswire | Feb 25, 2024

Financial concerns related to unexpected medical bills and healthcare costs are the primary issues on the minds of American voters, as per a recent Health Tracking Poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). The poll also revealed that these voters are eager for the 2024 presidential candidates to address these concerns.

Chinese businesses sanctioned as the United States attempts to restrict Russian military funding

By Federal Newswire | Feb 25, 2024

Seventeen businesses from mainland China and Hong Kong have been sanctioned following the United States' attempt to hold Moscow accountable for the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The release of these new sanctions represents the largest number of sanctions imposed at a single time.

CGFNS International launches a think tank

CGFNS International has announced the establishment of the Global Health Workforce Development Institute. The institute aims to conduct research and utilize the knowledge that CGFNS International has accumulated as a credentialing service provider, in order to advance scientific understanding of health workforce roles and develop credentialing and certification programs and policies.

ATA's Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference welcomes rule clarifying how detention and demurrage charges are billed

The Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC) of the American Trucking Association (ATA) has expressed approval for a new rule by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). This rule provides clarification on how shippers are billed for detention and demurrage charges. Both the IMCC and ATA had previously urged Congress to provide this clarification during the passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act in 2022.

DOE announces $24m funding for clean energy workforce training

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a new $24 million funding opportunity from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to further expand the existing Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) network. The initiative aims to engage more union training programs, community colleges, and trade schools in supporting workforce training programs that focus on clean energy jobs which do not require a four-year degree.

$4.3 billion plea deal between Binance and US Department of Justice approved

A federal judge has approved the $4.3 billion plea deal that Binance, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, has negotiated with the United States Department of Justice. Binance will plead guilty to violations of sanctions and anti-money laundering laws.

The United States Department of Justice has imposed further sanctions on Russia

In the aftermath of Russian opposition leader Alex Navalny's death, the United States Department of Justice has imposed sanctions on a multitude of Russian companies. This action is aimed at further curtailing Russia's capacity to finance the ongoing war in Ukraine. The full-scale, unprovoked conflict initiated by Russia against Ukraine has now been raging for two years.

Navigating National Sovereignty: Shea Bradley-Farrell's Last Warning to the West

Dr. Shea Bradley-Farrell is President of the Counterpoint Institute for Policy, Research, and Education in Washington, DC. She is the author of “Last Warning to the West: Hungary's Triumph Over Communism and the Woke Agenda.”

U.S. Rep. Mark Alford of Missouri issues American Land and Property Protection Act to restrict foreign purchases of US land

U.S. Representative Mark Alford (R-Mo.) has introduced a new property protection bill, the American Land and Property Protection Act. As stated in a recent press release, the legislation aims to prevent entities associated with certain foreign countries from purchasing land within the United States.

IACP explains the serious global threat of drug cartels

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has highlighted the extensive influence of drug cartels beyond mere drug trafficking. In an article published in its official publication, Police Chief, the IACP delves into the role of cartels as transnational criminal organizations and their connections with terrorist groups profiting from the drug trade.

Association for Accessible Medicines Interim President and CEO: Medicare Part D Plans still deny patients 'full value of low-cost generic drugs'

The Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) has expressed disappointment over an analysis published by Avalere this week, which revealed that Medicare plans are increasing patients' costs for generic drugs. The AAM asserts that Medicare patients should not be excluded from the full savings provided by generics and biosimilars.

AFPI's Adam Savit: CCP-owned land near U.S. critical infrastructure is 'like a permanent spy balloon'

Adam Savit, director of the China Policy Initiative at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), told Federal Newswire that previously introduced bills that would prohibit entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from purchasing American agricultural land have really been aiming to prevent the CCP from owning land near military bases and other critical infrastructure. He emphasized that the importance of barring the CCP from owning land near these sites is to prevent the collection of sensitive information that could weaken U.S. national security.

Journal of Political Risk publisher: 'We need informational reciprocity, not one-way propaganda'