News from June 2024
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
WASHINGTON—Today, the United States Supreme Court decided Murthy v. Missouri, rejecting calls by several states to permanently block the Biden administration from colluding with Big Tech to censor speech. This decision allows the government to continue actions perceived as infringing on Americans' right to freedom of speech through its Big Tech proxies.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
Desde 2021, el Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. ha observado un aumento en el robo de salarios por parte de almacenes y empresas de transporte de carga y logística que operan en la frontera con México. Tres investigaciones recientes en San Diego han resultado en la recuperación de casi $840,000 para 32 empleados. Trabajadores de una empresa recibían menos de $3 por hora.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has initiated debt collection procedures against Hoenigman Landscaping Co. LLC, a Newbury-based landscaping company, following allegations that the company threatened workers who cooperated with a federal investigation. The investigation found that the company and its owner, Richard Hoenigman, owe $169,015 in back wages and damages to 19 affected workers.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the USDA is partnering with rural Americans on numerous clean energy projects aimed at reducing energy costs, expanding access to clean energy, and creating jobs for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. Many of these initiatives are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which represents the largest investment in combating the climate crisis in U.S. history. Additionally, USDA unveiled the “Rural Energy Resource Guide” to help rural...
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
Vice President Harris and Acting Secretary Todman announced funding for communities to eliminate barriers to building housing, production, and launch innovative strategies to address local housing needs.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided a readout of a phone conversation between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced that some Medicare enrollees will pay less for 64 drugs available through Medicare Part B. The reduced Part B coinsurance rate will be effective from July 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024, as each drug company raised prices faster than the rate of inflation. Over 750,000 people with Medicare use these drugs annually to treat conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, and infections.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
On June 26, 2024, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken issued a statement in recognition of Madagascar's National Day. "On behalf of the United States of America, it is my pleasure to wish the people of Madagascar a heartfelt congratulations as you celebrate 64 years of independence on June 26," Blinken stated.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
The Chinese government’s rejection of recommendations to address its human rights record reflects its disregard for international human rights reviews at the United Nations, according to a joint statement by the Uyghur Human Rights Project and 15 other organizations. The statement was released on June 25, 2024.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Kenyan President William Ruto
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
Mortgage rates that averaged 7.06% in May, according to Freddie Mac, the highest monthly average since last November, impacted new home sales last month.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
SEATTLE (June 26, 2024) – The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Washington Department of Ecology announced today that they have reached an agreement in principle with King County and the City of Seattle to expand their efforts to reduce discharges of untreated combined sewage and stormwater into local waterways.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections in May 2024 at 15 mines across 12 states, resulting in the identification of 300 violations and one safeguard.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that two states and five social media users did not have standing to challenge the Biden administration’s communication with social media companies over concerns about COVID-19 misinformation and election interference.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party convened a hearing this morning titled "From High Tech to Heavy Steel: Combatting the PRC's Strategy to Dominate Semiconductors, Shipbuilding and Drones." The session featured testimonies from Mr. Adam Bry, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Skydio; Dr. Chris Miller, Professor at Fletcher School at Tufts University and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute; and Mr. Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
The Department of the Interior announced today that over 1,900 state and local governments across the United States will receive a total of $621.2 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2024. These payments assist local governments in covering costs associated with essential community services, as they cannot tax federal lands.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) has issued a letter to House leaders emphasizing the necessity for "strong, comprehensive federal privacy legislation" that safeguards consumers, resolves conflicts with state laws, and sustains innovation critical to U.S. productivity. The association has expressed opposition to the "American Privacy Rights Act" (APRA), stating it does not meet these criteria.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
Today, at a brownfield site in Clinton, Iowa, EPA Region 7 Brownfields and Land Revitalization Branch Supervisor Stanley Walker presented a $3 million ceremonial check to the East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA) to supplement their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). This new funding is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and adds to the $1.8 million already awarded to ECIA due to its high-performing RLF program.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather public input on procedures for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the impact of climate-smart farming practices on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from U.S.-grown biofuel feedstock crops. This initiative aims to establish voluntary standards for biofuel feedstocks cultivated with practices that mitigate GHG emissions or sequester soil carbon. These standards, authorized by section 2709 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, could be considered in international,...
By Federal Newswire | Jun 26, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Governor Greg Abbott’s request to reclassify the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, and San Antonio metro areas from moderate to serious nonattainment of the current ozone standard. This reclassification necessitates the implementation of more stringent emission control strategies to meet the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone.
