News from July 2024
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
The U.S. Department of State, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), has announced the CHIPS ITSI Western Hemisphere Semiconductor Initiative. This initiative, supported by the CHIPS Act International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, aims to enhance semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP) capabilities in Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Florida will receive two grants totaling approximately $3.5 million to support efforts in reporting and reducing climate pollution from the manufacturing of construction materials. The EPA estimates that building construction and other infrastructure projects account for over 15% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
U.S. Representative Christopher Smith and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley have addressed a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, expressing concerns over the convictions of pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong,...
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) has submitted comments on Brazil's proposed child online safety measures. This submission responds to the Brazil National Data Protection Authority’s request for feedback on various issues, including privacy, data processing, and age verification for children online.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
The Justice Department, in close coordination with the Department of Education, announced today the continued success of a process instituted in November 2022 for handling cases where individuals seek to discharge their federal student loans in bankruptcy. Data tracking the effectiveness of the process over the last year and a half show that it is achieving its goal of providing a more transparent, equitable, and streamlined mechanism for borrowers to request a discharge of their student loans in consumer bankruptcy cases. The process has resulted in increasing numbers of...
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
Maxim Marchenko, 52, was sentenced today to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in procuring dual-use, military-grade OLED micro-displays for Russian end users.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) recently introduced the "No Tax on Tips Act," which proposes exempting tips from income taxes. This legislation could significantly influence tax policy in the coming year.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
Secretary Antony J. Blinken addressed the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Foreign Affairs Track Ministerial on July 17, 2024, in Washington, D.C. In his remarks, Blinken emphasized the historical and geographical ties binding countries from Canada to Chile and highlighted shared challenges such as climate change, irregular migration, and unequal opportunity.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
Sue Mi Terry, 54, of New York, New York, was arrested yesterday and presented on criminal charges related to offenses under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
BOSTON — Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis traveled to Massachusetts this week to highlight investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). These investments are enabling the Interior Department to deploy unprecedented funding to address overdue maintenance and repairs and meet critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
Hemisphere GNSS (USA) Inc., a satellite global positioning system manufacturer based in Arizona and acquired by CNH Industrial in 2023, has agreed to pay $2.6 million to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The company allegedly provided false information to secure forgiveness for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan it was not entitled to receive.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
WASHINGTON – Today, to kick off the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced more than $5 billion in Large Bridge Project awards through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) competitive Bridge Investment Program, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Alabama will benefit from four grants totaling approximately $20.8 million to support efforts to report and reduce climate pollution from the manufacturing of construction materials. The EPA estimates that construction materials used in buildings and other built infrastructure account for more than 15% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
Pabel Miguel Acosta-Colon will spend 22 months in federal prison for the distribution of fentanyl, following a January 5 guilty plea to charges of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl. This announcement came in a July 15 news release from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
As part of its ongoing efforts to improve access to the immigration court system, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is establishing a new leadership position within its Office of the Director. This role will focus on enhancing access to the immigration system and finding innovative ways to increase representation rates for noncitizens in immigration court. The new leader will serve as EOIR’s public-facing point of contact for government and public stakeholders.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has concluded its Drinking Water and Wastewater mission in Lahaina, Hawaiʻi, as part of a multi-agency emergency response to the 2023 Maui wildfires. This initiative aimed to restore essential water services in wildfire-affected areas.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party called for sanctions on 28 members of Hong Kong’s government. These officials are accused of contributing to human rights abuses and persecuting pro-democracy protestors amid the Chinese Communist Party's takeover of Hong Kong.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
Benjamin Carpenter, also known as Abu Hamza, 34, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in connection with providing translation services to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 17, 2024
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have announced a hearing titled “The Fiscal Year 2025 Consumer Product Safety Commission Budget.”
