News from May 2024
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden enacted H.R.1042, the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, effectively banning the importation of Russian uranium and marking a significant shift in the U.S.'s reliance on foreign nuclear fuel sources. This move is aimed at bolstering domestic nuclear fuel production by unlocking $2.72 billion recently appropriated by Congress to expand domestic uranium enrichment and conversion capacity.
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
The Department of Labor (DOL) has been recognized for its procurement practices, receiving an "A" score on the Fiscal Year 2023 Small Business Procurement Scorecard. This marks the 15th consecutive year that the department has achieved this grade. The scorecard, compiled by the Small Business Administration, evaluates the contracting opportunities that federal agencies provide to small businesses, including those that are disadvantaged, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones).
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke today with his counterpart from Lithuania, Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas. Secretary Austin congratulated Minister Kasčiūnas on his recent appointment as minister and the two discussed support to Ukraine, NATO regional plans, recent progress with Lithuania's defense industrial base, and U.S. force posture in the Baltics.
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission will host an online compliance webinar on May 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET to provide an overview of the FTC’s final rule banning noncompetes, which will include information on how to comply with the rule after its effective date.
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that makes available over $2 billion in Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program funding for projects located on the Northeast Corridor (Fed State-NEC). The corridor supports 800,000 passengers per day and billions of dollars in annual economic activity. Modernizing this critical infrastructure to provide safer, faster and more reliable passenger rail service is a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo has announced the roster of global executives, business leaders, and senior U.S. government representatives who will participate in the 2024 SelectUSA Investment Summit. The event is scheduled to take place from June 23-26 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a $30 billion renewal funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV). This significant investment aims to aid Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in their ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing options to families and individuals in need.
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
On May 13, 2024, President Biden signed H.R. 1042, the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, into law. This bipartisan legislative action bans the import of Russian uranium products into the United States starting from August 12, 2024. The law also establishes a waiver process with the Department of Energy, in consultation with the Departments of State and Commerce, which will be in effect until January 1, 2028.
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
The Justice Department has declared that Nebraska is in violation of federal civil rights laws, due to the unnecessary segregation of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) in assisted living and day program facilities. This segregation breaches the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Olmstead v. L.C.
By Federal Newswire | May 14, 2024
Cyberprivacy expert Alan Butler has expressed concern over the use of Social Security numbers as universal identifiers, stating, "It’s terrible from a security perspective." As the executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a nonprofit dedicated to defending privacy and identity rights, Butler has highlighted that these numbers are mandatory for any activity that triggers tax reporting. This includes employers reporting wages to the IRS.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero is set to participate on an AI panel at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) at the 2024 Legislative Leadership Summit. The panel, titled "How AI is Changing the World," will take place on Monday, May 13, 2024, from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm (EDT) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place, NW, Washington, DC 20001.Romero's insights on the topic will be shared alongside other experts in the field during the summit, providing valuable perspectives on the impact of artificial...
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
The Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a field hearing in Hayward, Wisconsin, underscoring the significance of federal land access for outdoor enthusiasts. The hearing was chaired by Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), who emphasized the cultural importance of outdoor sports such as hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting in Wisconsin's heritage.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) has issued a statement in response to the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security's recent announcement. The Bureau has added numerous Chinese entities to its export curbs list, including firms that were involved with the "high altitude balloon" that flew over U.S. airspace in February 2023.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a new initiative aimed at expediting housing assistance for individuals experiencing homelessness through the Housing Choice Voucher program. This will be achieved by allowing housing agencies to accept self-certification of income for determining program eligibility, thereby reducing the time it takes for individuals to secure stable homes.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has declared a $1.7 million research funding allocation for the establishment of a Climate Change and Transportation Research Center at the University of California, Davis. The newly formed Center for Emissions Reduction, Resiliency, and Climate Equity in Transportation will function in cooperation with DOT to support the DOT Climate Change Center and various other related departmental climate and research programs.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
Robust consumer protections are crucial in enhancing the value of health insurance by ensuring that health plans are fair, transparent, and provide meaningful coverage. Recent federal legislative and regulatory actions have expanded these protections in health care, and states are implementing their own reforms to protect people from common provider and insurance industry practices. These practices include routine claims denials or charging fees unrelated to a health care service, which can compromise affordability and undermine access to care.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
The Department of Labor announced today that its Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has selected "Access to Good Jobs for All" as the theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which will be observed in October 2024.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
President Biden has issued an order prohibiting the acquisition and necessitating the divestment of a cryptocurrency mining facility located within one mile of Francis E. Warren Air Force Base (F.E. Warren AFB). The directive also mandates the removal of certain improvements and equipment at the property by MineOne Partners Limited, which is primarily owned by nationals of the People's Republic of China; MineOne Cloud Computing Investment I L.P.; MineOne Data Center LLC; and MineOne Wyoming Data Center LLC (collectively known as MineOne), including their affiliates.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is set to host an online compliance webinar, aimed at providing an overview of the FTC’s final rule banning noncompetes. The session will include information on how to comply with the rule after its effective date. Members of the public are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the webinar by emailing asknoncompete@ftc.gov.
By Federal Newswire | May 13, 2024
The U.S. Justice Department, representing the Department of the Interior, has filed a motion to intervene in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s lawsuit against the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The lawsuit, which also includes the city's mayor, chief of police and city attorney as defendants, is currently before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
