News from May 2024
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a voluntary resolution agreement with the Employment Department of Oregon to enhance language access in its unemployment insurance program for individuals with limited English proficiency.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) announced today that Sean P. Murphy will join the global tech trade association in June as Executive Vice President of Policy. Murphy brings over three decades of senior tech policy experience, including global roles in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
Two Catholic priests from the Baoding Diocese in Hebei Province, China, have reportedly gone missing under unclear circumstances. The Baoding Diocese is one of China's largest underground Catholic groups and has historically been under close scrutiny by the Chinese Communist Party.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has joined a lawsuit challenging the Department of Labor’s (DOL) final overtime rule. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the lawsuit aims to block the implementation of the new rule set to take effect on July 1, 2024.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) have called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Drone Advocacy Alliance for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The advocacy group is funded by DJI, a Chinese drone company.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
On May 22, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves met with the Secretary’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee for the final meeting of its seventh charter. Deputy Secretary Graves expressed gratitude to the Committee for its recommendations over the course of its two-year charter.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, has sent a letter to Congress ahead of a House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing regarding the potential repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
On Friday, Colorado enacted Senate Bill 24-205 (SB 205), a new law aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in AI-driven decision systems. This legislation requires companies to provide basic information and safeguards when using AI for high-stakes decisions affecting employment, credit, healthcare, and education. Currently, many companies make such decisions without informing the affected individuals, leading to potential errors and biases that undermine civil rights and consumer protection laws.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) conducted an outreach event today focused on beneficial ownership reporting requirements. The event, held at the Puerto Rico Department of State, was attended by Puerto Rico’s Secretary of State, Hon. Omar J. Marrero-Diaz, and included trade associations representing small business groups in Puerto Rico. This marks FinCEN’s first outreach event in Spanish regarding federal requirements for reporting information about individuals who ultimately own or control businesses.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
A federal court in Vermont has ruled that the First Amendment does not protect a Milton, Vermont excavation contractor and its officials from using social media to retaliate against employees. The decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont is part of ongoing litigation between the Department of Labor and Bevins & Son Inc. and represents one of the first federal court decisions to address the relationship between the First Amendment and the anti-retaliation provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
El Departamento del Trabajo de los EE. UU. anunció hoy un acuerdo voluntario con el Departamento de Empleo de Oregon para mejorar el acceso al programa de seguro de desempleo para personas con dominio limitado del inglés.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
The Justice Department announced today that Pen Yu, also known as Ben Yu, 51, of Gibsonton, Florida, and Gregory Muñoz, 45, of Minneola, Florida, have each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy. The charges stem from their involvement in a scheme to fraudulently procure deeply discounted products from Massachusetts biochemical company Sigma-Aldrich Inc., doing business as MilliporeSigma, and export them to China using falsified export documents.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries convened today to discuss four legislative bills aimed at streamlining water and hydropower infrastructure. Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) provided a statement regarding the hearing:
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized an Administrative Order on Consent with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation concerning Clean Water Act violations at the California Men’s Colony wastewater treatment plant in San Luis Obispo, California. The order addresses unauthorized discharges of filter backwash water into Chorro Reservoir.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
The recent federal push to require certain new homes to meet the stringent energy efficiency requirements of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1-2019 will price many would-be home buyers and renters out of the market, forcing them to stay in older, less efficient homes, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
On Wednesday, May 22, Jake Laperruque from the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security during a hearing titled “Advancing Innovation (AI): Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Defend and Secure the Homeland.”
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
The United States and Kuwait held the 15th U.S.-Kuwaiti Joint Military Commission (JMC) in Kuwait City from May 20-21, 2024. The Chief of Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Bander Salem Al Muzaien, led the Kuwaiti delegation, while Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro headed the U.S. side. The JMC serves as a primary bilateral defense forum for senior officials from both nations to discuss strategic issues and advance their defense partnership.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a prominent small business advocacy organization, has announced its support for S.J. Res. 58, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution aimed at repealing the Department of Energy's (DOE) final rule on gas furnace efficiency standards. The NFIB will consider this resolution as a Key Vote for the 118th Congress.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
WASHINGTON—Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action President Kevin Roberts released a statement Wednesday following reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was prepared to use deadly force during the raid on former President Donald J. Trump's residence in August 2022.
By Federal Newswire | May 22, 2024
On May 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $225 million in funding to enhance access to safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater services for American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. This funding, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, represents one of the largest annual investments in water infrastructure for Tribes. It aims to advance public health and environmental protections by addressing issues such as lead service lines and emerging contaminants like PFAS.
