News from January 2024
Sam Lyman, Riot Platforms director of public policy: 'Cash remains the preferred currency of criminals'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 24, 2024
Sam Lyman, Director of Public Policy at Riot Platforms, a Bitcoin mining company, recently expressed his views on the use of cryptocurrency for money laundering. In a Jan. 22 post on X, Lyman stated that while cartels have indeed utilized cryptocurrency for such purposes, traditional banks have been used to launder significantly larger amounts. His comments were in response to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) remarks during a recent Congressional hearing.
Former ICE director Thomas Homan: 'President Biden is the first President to ever un-secure a border on purpose.'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 23, 2024
Thomas Homan, the retired acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), recently testified at a House committee hearing, alleging that President Joe Biden has undermined border security through open border policies.
Doomsday Clock remains at 90 seconds to midnight
By Federal Newswire | Jan 23, 2024
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has announced that the Doomsday Clock remains set at 90 seconds to midnight, indicating the world's ongoing perilous state.
Chainalysis '2024 Crypto Crime Report' finds decrease in illicit transactions
By Federal Newswire | Jan 23, 2024
On January 18, Chainalysis, a blockchain analysis firm based in New York, unveiled the introduction of its annual report that examines criminal activity within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The "2024 Crypto Crime Report" revealed a significant drop in the value of cryptocurrency sent to illicit addresses in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Congressional testimony reveals U.S. investments fueling China's military
By Federal Newswire | Jan 23, 2024
On January 17, Matt Pottinger, a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and former White House deputy National Security Advisor, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. His testimony focused on the potential impact of U.S. investments on Chinese military and intelligence capabilities. According to his testimony published on the House Foreign Affairs Committee's website, Pottinger urged Congress to take a proactive role in implementing necessary changes.
Border Patrol Chief: 'Driver was attempting to smuggle six people who unlawfully entered the US'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 23, 2024
Border Patrol agents at the Brian A. Terry Station successfully prevented a human smuggling attempt, leading to the arrest of six undocumented migrants, as announced by Chief John R. Modlin on X, previously known as Twitter.
Border Patrol Chief: 'Over $1.2 million of dangerous drugs prevented from entering our communities'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 23, 2024
Earlier this month, a K-9 unit assisted agents from the El Centro Sector Border Patrol in uncovering liquid meth concealed within the gas tank of a vehicle driven by a 39-year-old motorist. The drugs seized are estimated to have a street value of $250,000.
CBP officers at the Area Port of Douglas arrest 25-year-old US citizen trying to enter Mexico with cache of weapons
By Federal Newswire | Jan 23, 2024
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have confiscated a significant number of weapons and ammunition during outbound enforcement operations at the Area Port of Douglas, Arizona. The operation led to the arrest of a 25-year-old male U.S. citizen.
Border Patrol Chief: 'Agents found 74 bricks of cocaine weighing over 187 pounds'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 23, 2024
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens recently praised the efforts of agents in Puerto Rico and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Maritime Operations (AMO) for a significant cocaine seizure, via an announcement on social media platform X.
Report finds growing commercial tort costs disproportionately impact small businesses
By Federal Newswire | Jan 23, 2024
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has released a report detailing the rise in commercial tort costs for American businesses, revealing that these escalating costs disproportionately affect small businesses.
US Department of the Interior shares updated roadmap for solar development
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration has recently published an updated document outlining a roadmap for solar energy development. The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have provided information on milestones achieved over the past year.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report highlights benefits of proposed child tax credit expansion
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicates that approximately 19 million children from low-income families stand to benefit from the bipartisan Child Tax Credit expansion. This expansion is part of a tax bill negotiated by Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith. The proposal was passed last week by the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee.
DOE allocates $20 million across 32 states for place-based energy solutions
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a funding allocation of $20.5 million to 32 states, territories, local governments, and Tribes through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. This financial support will facilitate a variety of initiatives such as electric bicycle incentives, free home solarization for low-income families, municipal fleet electrification, decarbonization waste management strategies, and municipal building energy audits.
Border Patrol Chief: 'Mexican national has prior felony convictions'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
A Mexican national, previously convicted on felony charges related to narcotics distribution, was recently detained by Border Patrol agents at the Nogales Station. The announcement was made by Chief Patrol Agent John R. Modlin on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
Border Patrol Chief: Fentanyl 'cannot be allowed into our communities'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Tucson and San Diego sectors have seized over 30 pounds of fentanyl, according to Chief Jason Owens. Owens recently shared on social media that this seizure was significant and posed a considerable threat to America.
American Bankers Association kicks off 2024 financial education campaign
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
The American Bankers Association Foundation has launched its 2024 campaign aimed at enhancing the financial well-being of Americans. The foundation plans to implement this campaign by leveraging the expertise and workforce of thousands of employees from hundreds of banks across the nation, as it did in 2023.
Deborah Pearlstein, Princeton Professor of Constitutional Law on Mayorkas' impeachment: 'there appears to be no constitutional basis for pursuing it here'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
Deborah Pearlstein, a professor of Constitutional Law and director of two academic centers focused on the study of constitutional democracy at Princeton University, recently testified before the House Judiciary Committee. Her testimony was in relation to the impeachment proceedings against Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
David Bier, director of Immigration Studies, Cato Institute: 'Unfortunately, the U.S. immigration system does not facilitate lawful migration; instead, it obstructs it and encourages illegal immigration'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
David J. Bier, the Associate Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability that the current U.S. immigration system both hinders legal immigration and promotes illegal entry into the country.
U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher: "Ceasing federal government support for Chinese AI development is a critical national security imperative"
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), along with several other committee and subcommittee chairs, have highlighted the risk associated with China's development of artificial intelligence technology. This concern was voiced in a letter scrutinizing a UCLA AI scientist for receiving federal grants while maintaining connections to China's AI military research.
Mother advocates for stricter border policies after daughter's tragic murder: 'This could have been anyone’s daughter'
By Federal Newswire | Jan 22, 2024
Tammy Nobles, the mother of Kayla Hamilton, recently testified at a U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security hearing titled, "Voices for the Victims: The Heartbreaking Reality of the Mayorkas Border Crisis". As one of three witnesses present, Nobles spoke about the tragic murder of her daughter, who fell victim to violent crime.
