News from May 2024
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
On May 15, Lithuania became the 40th signatory to the Artemis Accords in a ceremony held in Vilnius. The Artemis Accords were established in 2020 by the United States and seven other countries to set out a practical set of principles to guide space exploration.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration has extended the deadline for student borrowers to apply for loan consolidation, giving them until June 30 to do so. This extension comes as part of an update on the timing of the payment count adjustment, a mechanism designed to ensure that borrowers receive proper credit for progress made toward income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) and the Japan Ministry of Defense (MOD) have reached a formal agreement for a Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Cooperative Development (GCD) Project Arrangement. This agreement is in line with the U.S.-Japan bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Projects (RDT&E).
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
Zwanenberg Food Group USA Inc., a leading supplier of processed foods, has agreed to pay $1.7 million in federal penalties and invest $1.9 million in safety improvements at its Cincinnati plant. This decision comes as a resolution to hazards identified during several investigations by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
Seven individuals have been sentenced following their convictions for federal conspiracy against rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act offenses. These sentences are the result of three separate trials related to the forceful blockade of a Washington, D.C., area reproductive health clinic on Oct. 22, 2020.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources, Geoffrey R. Pyatt, is set to travel to Amman, Jordan, and Baghdad and Erbil in Iraq. During his visit to Amman, he will engage in discussions with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Saleh Kharabsheh about Jordan’s energy security, renewable energy goals, and green hydrogen potential. They will also discuss electricity interconnections with neighboring countries including Iraq, as well as partnerships with U.S. companies.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
Today, Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, along with House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup D.P.M. (R-OH), issued a statement following the 40 to 1 vote by the House Oversight Committee to advance the BIOSECURE Act to the House floor.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning lauded Congress today for their bipartisan vote to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years. This move concludes a sequence of extensions that had been causing uncertainty for crucial programs within the FAA.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered over $153,000 in back wages and damages from a South Carolina convenience store that failed to pay its workers overtime rates as required by law. The investigation revealed that Samer Express LLC, a West Columbia gas station and convenience retailer, paid 29 employees straight time for all hours worked without considering the overtime premium of time and one-half employees’ hourly rates for hours exceeding 40 in a workweek. This practice was found to be in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
For many years, Israelis and Palestinians have been trapped in cycles of violence that have resulted in significant suffering. This situation is deeply rooted in a complex political and security landscape, which has been exacerbated by leaders who have prioritized short-term gains over lasting peace. The consistent failures of these leaders, including those at the highest levels of U.S. leadership, have repeatedly led to violent outbursts, corruption, and a lack of political vision.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
As National Police Week commences, The Heritage Foundation's leading crime experts and former prosecutors are calling for national support for law enforcement communities amidst a surge in crime across the United States.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina M. Khan testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government today, discussing the agency's FY 2025 budget request and its ongoing work to promote open, competitive markets while protecting American consumers and businesses from fraud.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The Governments of the United States of America and Portugal released a joint statement on May 15, 2024, detailing the outcomes of the 51st U.S.-Portugal Standing Bilateral Commission (SBC) meeting. The session, held in Washington on May 14, focused on strengthening the bilateral relationship and security partnership in light of NATO's 75th anniversary.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published its Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report, providing an overview of the agency's efforts to safeguard consumers and foster competition. FTC Chair Lina M. Khan emphasized the organization's commitment to ensuring that American consumers, workers, and entrepreneurs can benefit from fair and free markets.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
On May 15, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Access Board and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). The partnership aims to advance the interests of disabled people in the design and governance of artificial intelligence (AI).
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Dr. William A. LaPlante, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, Chris Lowman, have announced the release of the Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF). The RSF is designed to optimize regional Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered over $153,000 in back wages and damages from a South Carolina store that denied overtime pay to its workers. The employer, Samer Express LLC, located at 295 Glenn Road, West Columbia, SC 29172, was found by the department's investigators to have failed to pay 29 employees the overtime rates required by law.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), Gary Shapiro, has issued a statement in response to Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer's AI policy framework that was released recently.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The Department of Labor has announced the availability of approximately $35 million in funding through the second round of Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs grants. This initiative is designed to prepare workers for the well-paid infrastructure jobs being created by the Biden-Harris administration’s “Investing in America” agenda.
By Federal Newswire | May 15, 2024
The United States has imposed sanctions on two Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanders, Ali Yagoub Gibril and Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed, for their roles in leading RSF operations in Darfur. The RSF's military operation to encircle and besiege El Fasher, North Darfur, has endangered the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians. Attacks by the RSF, the Sudanese Armed Forces, and allied forces have resulted in civilian casualties and must immediately cease. External support for warring parties should also be halted. It is crucial that all impediments to humanitarian access be...
