News from May 2024
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a significant allocation of $129.2 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to aid New York in identifying and replacing lead service lines, ultimately safeguarding public health by preventing exposure to lead in drinking water. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the critical nature of this initiative, stating, "There is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water is through lead pipes."The funding, made available through the...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
Washington, D.C. — In a move aimed at strengthening public health, the Biden administration has unveiled a $3 billion investment to replace hazardous lead pipes, as part of its ongoing commitment to ensuring safe drinking water across the nation.Jill Rosenthal, director of public health policy at the Center for American Progress, emphasized the significance of this investment, stating, "There is no safe level of exposure to lead, and it is especially dangerous for young children. This investment by the Biden administration will support state and local governments in...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
The United States has expressed encouragement towards the progress achieved during the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution held in Ottawa, Canada. Engaging with stakeholders from various sectors, including non-governmental organizations and the business community, the U.S. worked collaboratively with over 170 countries to develop an international legally binding agreement aimed at addressing plastic pollution.During the session, countries made significant progress in negotiations on various aspects contained in the draft...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
Secretary Blinken is set to embark on a visit to Arizona, with scheduled engagements in Tucson and Sedona on May 3, 2024.During his time in Tucson, Secretary Blinken will tour the Tucson Passport Center to observe operations and meet with staff from the Western Passport Center. Additionally, he will visit an emergency call center where he plans to engage with Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and other key officials from the health and law enforcement sectors to discuss the impacts and challenges posed by substances like fentanyl and other synthetic drugs in the local community....
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas has issued a statement following President Joe Biden's signing of the National Security Memorandum (NSM), an action aimed at safeguarding critical American infrastructure.
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Information Officer, has announced a Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) class deviation related to cybersecurity standards for covered contractor information systems.According to the announcement, the class deviation aims to allow the industry a more deliberate transition in anticipation of the upcoming release of the revised National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, titled...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration has released new data on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) approvals in every Congressional District, showcasing the significant progress made in providing relief to borrowers. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona highlighted the impact of this effort, stating, “As we honor our nation’s teachers, we also celebrate the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic work to help ease the burden of student loans for educators as well as for nurses, firefighters, and other public service workers in every single part of the country.”The data...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
In a recent announcement made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 2, 2024, a substantial amount of funding has been allocated towards replacing lead pipes in Minnesota. The funding, totaling $86,566,000, is part of President Biden’s commitment to ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The science is clear, there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water is through lead pipes.” This funding is a...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) regarding securing the information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain for connected vehicles.In a statement attributed to TechNet President and CEO Linda Moore, she emphasized the importance of the U.S. automotive industry, stating, "The U.S. automotive industry is a key driver of innovation and economic development, supporting 9.7 million American jobs and...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
The Center for REALTOR® Development has announced a strategic partnership with Shaping Wealth to provide training programs aimed at equipping agents with essential human-centric skills for success in the real estate market. Marc Gould, NAR chief learning officer and CRD board member, emphasized the commitment to empowering agents with the necessary tools, stating, "Partnering with Shaping Wealth enhances our members' ability to serve their clients with empathy, integrity, and professionalism."Dr. Joy Lere, a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of Shaping Wealth,...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
An Ohio physician, Thomas Romano, 74, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for unlawfully distributing opioids from his clinic. The sentence comes after Romano was found guilty of 24 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.The court documents revealed that Romano's pain management clinic in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, was a hub where individuals traveled long distances to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. The prescriptions issued by Romano greatly...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
Hahn Air Lines GmbH, a privately owned company based in Germany, and its Minneapolis-based subsidiary Hahn Air USA Inc. (collectively Hahn Air) have agreed to pay $26.8 million to resolve allegations that Hahn Air violated the False Claims Act by knowingly failing to remit to the United States certain travel fees that Hahn Air collected from commercial airline passengers flying into or within the United States.According to Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, "Companies that benefit from air travel...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of Labor and Treasury have unveiled a new partnership aimed at bolstering fraud prevention measures in state unemployment insurance agencies. The initiative, announced on May 2, 2024, marks a significant step towards enhancing controls and tools to combat unemployment insurance fraud.As part of the collaboration, state unemployment agencies will now have access to the Do Not Pay Working System data sources and services through the UI Integrity Data Hub. The hub, managed by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, serves as a...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a significant allocation of $28,650,000 from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to aid New Hampshire in identifying and replacing lead service lines, thus preventing exposure to lead in drinking water. This funding is part of the Administration's commitment to replacing every lead pipe in the country, a measure aimed at protecting public health and ensuring the delivery of safe drinking water.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the urgency of addressing lead pipes, stating, "The science is clear,...
By A. I. Benavidez | May 2, 2024
Congressman Mike Collins (R-GA) has voiced his opposition to HR 6884, a bill that proposes to increase the minimum liability insurance for trucking companies from $750,000 to $5 million. Collins argues that this legislation would spur more lawsuits and cause "trucking rates [to go] through the roof," with the resultant costs ultimately being borne by consumers. The Congressman expressed these views during an April 30 episode of the Land Line podcast.
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the designation of five individuals for their involvement in aiding U.S.-designated Hizballah money exchanger Hassan Moukalled and his company, CTEX Exchange, in evading sanctions and facilitating illicit activities in support of Hizballah.Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson emphasized the significance of the actions taken, stating, "Hizballah continues to rely on seemingly legitimate business investments and key facilitators...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
May 2 2024WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) expressed concerns over the recent revelation that Huawei has been secretly funding research at American universities like Harvard through an independent foundation.In a statement, Chairman Moolenaar stated, "Huawei has shown time and time again that its presence in America is a national security risk, and now here it is again, tricking Americans into giving up their latest innovations and research to a company at the beck and call of the Chinese Communist Party."The Chairman called for...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
BRAINTREE, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor's investigation into the 29-story fall of a window cleaner in downtown Boston's financial district in October 2023 has revealed alarming negligence on the part of the employer, Sky Safety Inc.According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Sky Safety Inc. failed to inspect and replace damaged or defective equipment, leading to the tragic incident. OSHA found that the company exposed employees to fall hazards by not ensuring that personal fall protection systems and rope descent systems were in proper...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
Sysco West Coast Florida Inc., a subsidiary of food service distributor Sysco Corp., has agreed to pay $133,625 in back wages and interest to resolve alleged hiring discrimination against 95 female applicants for outbound selector positions at its Palmetto facility. The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) conducted a routine compliance review and found that the employer's hiring practices violated Executive Order 11246."Federal contractors like Sysco West Coast Florida are required to make certain its employment practices comply...
By Federal Newswire | May 2, 2024
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will join President Biden in celebrating the expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Vice President Kamala Harris, who led the bill during her time in Congress, expressed her gratitude, stating, “These expansions will increase access to nature, boost our outdoor economy, and honor areas of significance to Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples.” Secretary Vilsack also praised the expansion, emphasizing that it ensures protection for future generations.The expanded national monument includes a variety of sites and...
