News published on Federal Newswire in January 2024

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) has expressed his support for the New York Stock Exchange's (NYSE) decision to withdraw a proposal to incorporate Natural Asset Companies (NACs) into the Exchange. He highlighted the potential threat this could have posed to public lands. His remarks came shortly after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the termination of the proposal.

Austin: 'US and Iraq will start US-Iraq Higher Military Commission'

In an effort to mitigate risks posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group, the United States and Iraq have unveiled a new partnership aimed at bolstering the security relationship between the two nations. A proposed U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission (HMC) is anticipated to deepen this commitment.

Close to 200 individuals have been charged across the United States for drug trafficking

A series of arrests targeting large-scale drug trafficking organizations operating throughout the United States has been carried out. The highest number of arrests have been made in Alaska, West Virginia, Nebraska, and Mississippi.

Russian Cyber Actor responsible for Medibank Hack is sanctioned by the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have imposed sanctions on Alexander Ermakov due to his involvement in a ransomware attack against Australian healthcare insurer Medibank in 2022. This cyberattack resulted in the exposure of sensitive data belonging to approximately 9.7 million Medibank users.

Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen provides remarks on the US Economy

In Chicago, Janet Yellen, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury, delivered a speech on the current state of the U.S. economy. Her remarks focused on the middle class and how they have been supported by the present administration.

Top executives for world's largest pork producer, WH Group, revealed as Chinese Communist Party members

Senior officials of WH Group Limited, the world's most prominent pork producer, and its U.S. subsidiary, Smithfield Foods, have been identified as members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) due to their strong ties with the Chinese government. This revelation came about after a review of corporate records and was reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF).

Atlantic Council's Ellen Wald calls on US to review lithium production as it grapples with its surging demand

Ellen R. Wald, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, has called for the United States to address its escalating lithium demand for electric vehicles and batteries. She suggests this could be achieved by revising policies such as those from the Inflation Reduction Act that hinder crucial mineral supply chain development and by reducing reliance on critical minerals from China.

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming points out negative effects of NACs

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) withdrew the proposed rule to establish Natural Asset Companies (NACs) on Wall Street on Jan. 17. The withdrawn rule drew criticism from U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) due to its potential impact on her home state of Wyoming.

David Williams, Taxpayers Protection Alliance president: 'Mass tort litigation has gotten out of control'

David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), a non-profit organization dedicated to analyzing the government's impact on the economy, has raised concerns about third-party investors backing mass tort lawsuits while remaining anonymous. According to Williams, this practice will continue to cost the American public money until policymakers change regulations.

DOJ extends timeline for settlement against accused Passaic River polluters

The U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) has announced an extension to the timeline for finalizing a settlement against several companies alleged to have polluted the Passaic River in New Jersey, a part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site. The Passaic River is among the longest existing and extensively contaminated sites listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Priority List of polluted locations requiring remediation.

Border Patrol Chief: 'Casa Grande Station agents arrested six migrants'

U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector have been actively preventing illegal entry attempts into the country, as per a series of tweets by John R. Modlin, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector. A total of 12 migrants and one U.S. citizen were apprehended.

Lawmakers Request Investigation into Biden Admin’s Botched FAFSA Rollout

Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, along with other lawmakers, has requested a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the Biden administration's mishandling of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. The bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act, passed in 2020, aimed to make financial aid more accessible by streamlining the application process. However, the Department of Education (Education) failed to properly implement the program, causing delays for students and families in accessing crucial financial...

Border Patrol Chief: 'One hundred twenty-seven pounds of meth kept off the streets by Border Patrol agents'

Border Patrol agents near San Clemente, California, have seized a significant quantity of methamphetamine, as announced by Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel via a social media post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

U.S. Rep. John Curtis of Utah: 'Wall Street shouldn’t be allowed to control Utah’s land just to meet with ESG goals'

U.S Representative John Curtis (R-Utah) has expressed his opposition to the control of public land by Natural Asset Companies (NACs). His comments come in the wake of the Security and Exchange Commission's (SEC) recent withdrawal of a proposal to add NAC listing standards to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Border Patrol Chief: 'Thirty-eight pounds of fentanyl were discovered inside a tire'

San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents seized over 38 pounds of fentanyl during a vehicle stop on Interstate 5 earlier this month. The narcotics, found in pill form, have an estimated street value of $1.7 million.

U.S. Attorney Peter Leary: ‘Albert Ross directed enormous amounts of deadly drugs into Georgia from Mexico for many years’

Albert Ross, the leader of a drug trafficking organization based in Georgia and supplied by Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel, has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy charges. U.S. Attorney Peter D. Neary of the United States' Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia, disclosed that Ross was implicated in crimes that spanned from trafficking cocaine to ordering a murder.

Select Committee calls for increased enforcement measures for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has joined forces with Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) to call for bolstered enforcement measures for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). In a letter addressed to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the lawmakers put forth their suggestions for reinforcing the enforcement of the UFLPA.

Semiconductor Industry Association VP: GOP tax relief bill provisions 'vital to the semiconductor industry'

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has voiced its support for the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024), highlighting two provisions within the bill that it deems crucial to the semiconductor industry.

Future of Life Institute concerned about Meta's plans to build AGI and open-source it

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) has raised concerns over Meta's plans to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) and make it open-source. The announcement was made by Meta's founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, via an Instagram post last week.

South Dakota rancher Amanda Radke on NAC withdrawal: 'The little guy takes a WIN on this one'