News from July 2024
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced the purchase of 4.65 million barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), bringing the total purchased since 2022 to over 40 million barrels. This move is part of a broader effort to replenish the SPR, maintain its operational readiness, and protect national energy security.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled today that victims of home equity theft, where the government takes more than what is owed to satisfy property tax debts, are entitled to just compensation regardless of when the illegal taking occurred.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Online career-training company Career Step, LLC has been ordered to pay $43.5 million in debt cancellation and cash to resolve charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC alleged that the company used deceptive advertisements to lure consumers, particularly servicemembers and their families, with inflated employment outcomes, job placement promises, and partnerships with prominent companies.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
The Department of the Interior announced a $20 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to enhance climate resilience in Hawaiʻi. The funding will be allocated to 17 Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) for restoring native ecosystems, enhancing food security, and incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and practices.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State, extended warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to the people and Government of Vanuatu on their National Day. "On behalf of the people and Government of the United States of America, I extend my warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to you and the ni-Vanuatu people as you celebrate your National Day," he stated.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma met with Mauritian Foreign Minister Maneesh Gobin in Washington, D.C., to discuss the expanding cooperation between Mauritius and the United States on shared priorities. The meeting was held to address various topics, including efforts to combat trafficking in persons and increase protections for migrant workers.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
The Medicare Advantage (MA) program, which now encompasses over half of all Medicare enrollment, faces significant data gaps that need to be addressed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Center for American Progress (CAP) estimates that MA plans are overpaid by 22 percent to 39 percent, with overpayments in 2024 alone ranging between $83 billion and $127 billion. Despite steps taken by the Biden-Harris administration to enhance accountability and transparency within the MA program, critical data deficiencies hinder comprehensive assessment of program...
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) will host the Industry Advisory Group (IAG) Annual Meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. The meeting will be hybrid and open to the public from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., including a networking session starting at 4:30 p.m., at the U.S. Department of State, located at 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio today in Tokyo. They celebrated the success of the Security 2+2 meeting and affirmed their commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Medicare Advantage (MA) is private insurance that Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in as an alternative to traditional Medicare. The MA program has grown significantly in recent years and now accounts for more than half of all Medicare enrollment. The Center for American Progress estimates that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) overpays MA plans by 22 percent to 39 percent, with overpayments in 2024 alone estimated to total between $83 billion and $127 billion. Yet there is no clear evidence that the MA program leads to improved health care quality, nor is...
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Washington, D.C. — The Biden-Harris administration has proposed a series of reforms aimed at restoring accountability to the U.S. Supreme Court, including 18-year term limits for justices. Following the announcement, Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress (CAP), issued a statement.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Meta has announced the rollout of AI Studio in the United States, providing a platform for users to create, share, and discover artificial intelligence characters. Built on Llama 3.1, AI Studio enables creators to develop AI extensions of themselves to engage with fans.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh provided the following readout:
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will engage in a conversation with Singapore Ambassador-at-Large Chan Heng Chee, organized in partnership with the National University of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. The event is scheduled for 4:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. SGT on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
The concluding negotiating session of the Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) to elaborate a UN cybercrime convention will reconvene at the United Nations in New York from July 29 through August 9. UN Member States will participate in this session with the goal of finalizing the convention for subsequent adoption. Ambassador (ret.) Deborah McCarthy will lead the U.S. delegation and serve as lead negotiator for the session. The U.S. delegation includes officials from the Departments of State and Justice.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Assistant Secretary Carmen G. Cantor concluded a multi-day trip to Thailand and Indonesia on Friday, reaffirming the Department of the Interior’s conservation partnerships across Southeast Asia. The visit emphasized the Department’s long-term commitment to the region through the International Technical Assistance Program (DOI-ITAP), investments in wildlife conservation and protected areas, and collaborations with regional organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Supported by the Investing in America Agenda, 21 Projects Across 20 States will Increase Workforce Training Opportunities, Strengthen Union Labor, and Help Small Businesses Save Money, Reduce Energy Waste
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a comprehensive proposed rule aimed at reducing Salmonella contamination in raw poultry products. This initiative is the result of FSIS' three-year effort to reevaluate their strategy for controlling Salmonella rates in poultry, with the goal of protecting American consumers from foodborne illnesses linked to poultry consumption.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case City and County of San Francisco, California v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case examines whether the Clean Water Act (CWA) permits the EPA or an authorized state to enforce generic prohibitions within National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which could hold permit holders accountable for water quality standard violations without specifying discharge limits.
By Federal Newswire | Jul 29, 2024
Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Deb Haaland and National Park Service (NPS) Director Chuck Sams requesting an immediate investigation into the destructive protests on July 24 on the National Mall, Columbus Circle, and other NPS property in the D.C. area. The members wrote:
