News published on Federal Newswire in January 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'

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.

Former Border Patrol Agent: Cartels 'provide the fake family with fake documents'

Ammon Blair, a former Border Patrol agent, has revealed that cartels are utilizing fraudulent documentation to smuggle illegal immigrants, occasionally minors, into the United States. These individuals are then able to secure employment using the counterfeit IDs. Blair offered an inside look into the intricate system established by cartels and smuggling organizations at the border.

Fentanyl victim's mother at US House hearing: 'Under Secretary Mayorkas’ leadership, Fentanyl is an invasion'

Josephine Dunn, a mother who lost her child to Fentanyl and a witness at the recent U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security hearing titled "Voices for the Victims: The Heartbreaking Reality of the Mayorkas Border Crisis", spoke about the impact of Fentanyl on her family. Dunn was among three witnesses providing testimony at the hearing.

Montana U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich: ‘He belongs in federal prison’

A man from Billings, Montana was recently sentenced to a quarter-century in prison for his involvement in a large-scale drug and gun trafficking conspiracy linked to Mexican drug cartels. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich stated that Roderick Plentyhawk was part of the drug trafficking operations based out of the Crow Indian Reservation.

Gallagher flags Navy fuel storage and fleet size in Indo-Pacific

Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who is at the helm of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has voiced concerns about the storage of Navy fuel in the Indo-Pacific region. The Congressman's apprehensions stem from an escalation in aggression by the Chinese military in this area, which poses a heightened threat to Taiwan.

Reps. Stefanik and Gallagher release joint statement addressing national security risks associated with Chinese drones

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), House Republican Conference Chair, joined forces with Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), the chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to issue a joint statement regarding a recent report from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The report seeks to highlight potential national security threats posed by Chinese-manufactured Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

Cochise County Sheriff: Our southern border 'is in the worst shape I have ever seen it'

On January 18, a U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security hearing titled "Voices for the Victims: The Heartbreaking Reality of the Mayorkas Border Crisis" was convened. Among the four witnesses was Sheriff Mark J. Dannels of Cochise County, Arizona, who has been serving as an elected sheriff for the past 12 years and is deeply committed to protecting his county and country.

Proposal aims to lower credit card transaction fees for consumers paying billions of dollars in swipe costs

Recent reports suggest that consumers spend billions of dollars in transaction fees when they use credit cards for shopping. The U.S. Senate is currently considering the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA), a bipartisan proposal sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and JD Vance (R-Ohio). This proposed legislation aims to require banks to foster competition among credit card processing networks, with the ultimate goal of creating more competition and reducing swipe fees for consumers and small businesses.

Former Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Joseph Edlow: "the Biden Administration has waged war against the immigration system of the United States"

Joseph B. Edlow, the former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), recently testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. In his testimony, Edlow examined the current state of immigration and evaluated the measures taken by the Biden Administration at the border.

Texas lawmakers, community leaders and landowners collaborate at Water in the Desert

Last week, lawmakers, water experts, community leaders, and landowners from Texas convened in Alpine for the Water in the Desert conference. The event was hosted by Sul Ross State University with the aim of discussing new challenges and opportunities in west Texas water management.

Coalition urges Florida lawmakers to reject two bills that would put youth workers at risk

A collective of community nonprofits, children's advocacy organizations, and other interested parties are appealing to the Florida legislature to reject two bills that could potentially undermine the protections provided by the state's child labor law. The group contends that these rollbacks would escalate the health and safety risks faced by young workers in Florida.

Tech giants Microsoft and Vodafone create partnership to bring generative AI to millions of consumers

Microsoft and Vodafone have embarked on a decade-long partnership aimed at delivering digital services and generative artificial intelligence (AI) to over 300 million consumers and various businesses across Europe and Africa.

How the US Department of the Treasury has approached equitable community finance recently

Graham Steele, the Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of Treasury, recently provided an analysis on how the Treasury has approached equitable community finance over the past few years. The field of community finance has undergone rapid transformation due to policies that have supported equitable economic growth.

The United States Department of Agriculture is creating a program to help meat processors access better markets

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has initiated a new program aimed at bridging the gap between cattle producers and meat processors with superior markets. This connection will be facilitated through the department's official beef quality grading and certification.

Bipartisan Policy Center launches task force to address the youth mental health and addiction crisis

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) has announced the formation of a task force aimed at addressing what it describes as a severe crisis in youth mental health and addiction. The task force, chaired by four former members of Congress and ex-governors, seeks to create a national strategy to combat this issue.

DOJ joins 10 states in lawsuit challenging NCAA's transfer rule

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has become a co-plaintiff in a civil antitrust lawsuit initiated by 10 state attorneys general, challenging the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Transfer Eligibility Rule. The suit contends that the rule unreasonably inhibits college athletes from transferring to other colleges by limiting their eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports and unfairly suppresses competition in the athletic services market.

Google has been laying off hundreds of workers in aim to lower expenses

Google has disclosed plans to reduce its workforce across multiple divisions in a bid to decrease expenses. The tech giant's move is part of its ongoing competition with other major technology companies for dominance in the artificial intelligence sector.

JetBlue and Spirit Airlines merger attempt blocked by US federal judge