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adsense
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Holiday
cheer: Citigroup suspends foreclosures for 30 days
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VIDEO:
Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) On Bernanke Nomination
Sen. Sanders (I-VT) reaffirmed his opposition to the Chair, placing
a hold on Mr. Bernanke’s nomination.
Length:
Published: Wednesday at 12am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) discussed latest on health care legislation
and climate change.
Length: 28 min.
Published: Today at 7:30am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Senate Floor Debate on Health Care Bill - Day 15
Debate on health care reform legislation H.R. 3590 continued
for the fifteenth day on the Senate Floor on Capitol Hill.
Length:
Published: Wednesday at 10am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Jared Bernstein, Economic Adviser to Joe Biden
Jared Bernstein, Chief Economist & Economic Adviser to Vice
President Biden, talks about the White House push on "green"
jobs, the economy & the environment.
Length: 24 min.
Published: Today at 8:30am (ET)
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VIDEO:
U.N. Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen
President, Angela Merkel of Germany, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
of Iran, President Nicolas Sarkozy and others made remarks at
the U.N. Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Length:
Published: Today at 9am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Senate Banking Cmte. Vote on Bernanke Nomination
The Senate Banking Cmte. voted out of committee the nomination
of Ben Benanke to continue as Chairman of the Federal Reserve.
The vote was 16 to 7 to send the nomination to the Senate floor.
Sen. Sanders (I-VT) announced that he will place a hold on Mr.
Bernanke’s nomination.
Length: 1 hr. 44 min.
Published: Today at 9:30am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) on Health Care
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Senator
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made remarks at the opening of the 16th
day of debate on health care legislagion.
Length: 11 min.
Published: Today at 10am (ET)
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VIDEO:
National Urban League Briefing on African Americans in the U.S.
Census
African American leaders spoke to reporters following a meeting
with Commerce Sec. Gary Locke about efforts to address undercounting
the black community in the 2010 Census. Among the issues addressed
were educating the Black community to participate in the census;
advertising, media and financial commitments; and other resources
that can be used.
Length: 50 min.
Published: Wednesday at 8pm (ET)
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VIDEO:
State Department Press Briefing
A State Department spokesman told reporters that Pakistan has
denied visas to “several hundred” diplomats and contractors,
and that U.S. officials are monitoring the situation. Deputy
Spokesman Robert Wood also talked about Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton’s activities at the Copenhagen climate change summit
during this briefing at the State Department.
Length: 19 min.
Published: Today at 12:30pm (ET)
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VIDEO:
Defense Dept. Briefing on Afghanistan
David Sedney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Central Asia, briefed reporters at the Pentagon
about U.S. policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Length: 34 min.
Published: Today at 1:30pm (ET)
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VIDEO:
Senate Homeland Security Cmte. Safeguarding American Dream
The Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Cmte.
held a hearing to explore the creation of an independent commission
as a means to achieve economic recovery & prevent a future
financial crisis. The hearing focused on the current and long-term
imbalance between federal spending commitments and projected
revenues.
Length: 2 hr. 33 min.
Published: Today at 10am (ET)
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VIDEO: Senate Commerce Subcmte. Hearing on Carbon
Monoxide Poisoning
Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) chaired a Senate Commerce, Science and
Transportation Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance
Subcommittee hearing about health and product safety issues associated
with carbon monoxide.
Length: 57 min.
Published: Today at 2:30pm (ET)
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VIDEO:
Senate Homeland Security Subcmte. Hearing on Oversight of Afghanistan
Contracts
A new Congressional study says between 26,000 and 56,000 contractors
could be headed to Afghanistan as the President’s troop
surge begins. Meanwhile, a House committee is investigating allegations
that contractors have been paying-off warlords and the Taliban
to avoid attacks on convoys. Claire McCaskill of Missouri chairs
the Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight.
Length: 1 hr. 44 min.
Published: Today at 2pm (ET)
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VIDEO:
House Democratic End-of-Year Wrap-Up Session
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders spoke
about the accomplishments of the First Session of the 111th Congress.
Length: 34 min.
Published: Wednesday at 8pm (ET)
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VIDEO:
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) on Health Care Abortion Language
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) said he continues to negotiate with
Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson on abortion language for the Senate
Health Care bill. Those remarks came during a news conference
on the FY 2010 Defense Spending bill which the House passed on
Wednesday. The measure also contains an extension of unemployment
benefits and health insurance assistance.
Length: 36 min.
Published: Today at 2pm (ET
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House
Passes Jobs Bill—Tell Senate to Act NOW
by Seth Michaels
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Trade
and Climate Policy Cannot Be Separated
by admin
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Trumka:
Senate Health Care Bill Must Change to Be Real Reform
by Seth Michaels
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FEC
APPROVES STEPS TO COMPLY WITH EMILY'S LIST OPINION, ELECTS 2010
OFFICERS
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:58:00 -0600
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FEC
Elects Petersen Chairman for 2010, Bauerly to Serve as Vice Chair
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:45:00 -0600
WASHINGTON – At an open meeting today, the Federal Election
Commission (FEC) unanimously elected Matthew S. Petersen as Chairman
and Cynthia L. Bauerly as Vice Chair for 2010.Both Petersen and
Bauerly were nominated to the Commission by President George
W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 24, 2008
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Leadership
for U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available. Added biography:
Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure Protection, Todd Keil
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DoD
Contracts for December 17, 2009
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:04:00 -0600
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Inspector
General Management Reports for U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
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U.S. Regulators Encourage Comments to Basel
Committee
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (the Committee) today
released for comment new proposals that aim to strengthen the
resiliency of the banking sector through new capital and liquidity
standards. Following the Basel II enhancements released in July
2009, these proposals represent part of the Committee’s
ongoing effort to apply lessons learned from recent market events
to enhance regulation, supervision, and risk management of global
banks. Proposed changes include introduction of new standards
for liquidity risk management, the addition of a leverage ratio
to the Basel II framework, improvements to the quality and consistency
of capital, and strengthening of capital requirements for counterparty
credit risk.
The Committee requests responses on the proposals, which are
available on the Committee’s Web site at http://www.bis.org/press/p091217.htm,
by April 16, 2010. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency,
the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
and the Office of Thrift Supervision, which are members of the
Committee, encourage interested persons to review and comment
on the proposals.
Comments may be sent via e-mail to baselcommittee@bis.org or
to:
Secretariat of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
Bank for International Settlements
CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland.
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U.S.
International Reserve Position
December 17, 2009
2009-12-17-17-54-31-16603
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Turn
Texas Blue: Join us at the Johnson Bentsen Richards Dinner January
4, 2010!
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Mullen
Tours Afghanistan Market With Marines
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:57:00 -0600
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U.S.-Pakistani
Talks Focus on Long-Term Partnership
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:40:00 -0600
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DoD
News Briefing with David Sedney from the Pentagon
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:09:00 -0600
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Today
in the Department of Defense, 12/18/2009
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:15:00 -0600
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HCYD
White Donkey Party
What: Holiday Party
Start Time: Wednesday, December 23 at 8:30pm
End Time: Wednesday, December 23 at 10:30pm
Where: 1135 Oxford
To see more details and RSVP
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Missouri
Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:51:53 -0600
Former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Ronald Jackson pled
guilty to the theft of government property by stealing stolen
merchandise after an arrest.
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Owner
of Health Care Agency Sentenced to in Medicare Kickback Scheme
Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:29:15 -0600
Rebecca Sharp, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, the former owner of a
health care agency and one of eight defendants charged in a scheme
to solicit and pay kickbacks in exchange for Medicare patients,
was sentenced to 18 months in prison on health care fraud charges.
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Kansas
Businessman Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud Federal E-Rate Program
Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:00:15 -0600
Leonard Douglas "Doug" LaDuron, a former owner of three
Kansas computer service companies, was sentenced to 57 months
in prison for his role in a conspiracy to defraud the federal
E-Rate program and for making a false statement to the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development.
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Two
Indicted in Texas for Hurricane Rita-Related Fraud
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:46:45 -0600
Sherri Lynette Magee, of Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, and Jermaine
Darnell Palmer, of Port Arthur, Texas, were indicted in Beaumont,
Texas in separate cases involving Hurricane Rita-related fraud.
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Former
FBI Contract Linguist Pleads Guilty to Leaking Classified Information
to Blogger
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:45:08 -0600
Shamai Kedem Leibowitz, a.k.a., Samuel Shamai Leibowitz, of Silver
Spring, Maryland, pled guilty to unlawfully providing classified
documents to the host of an Internet blog who then published
information derived from those documents on the blog.
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The
DOL Newsletter - December 17, 2009
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Interactive
Timeline on H1N1: The Year in Review
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:00:00 -0600
HHS Senior Officials provide an update and give perspective on
the H1N1 outbreak and discuss the next phase of the response
to the pandemic.
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DCCC
chair: This isn't '94
Posted: December 17th, 2009 12:02 PM ET
From CNN Political Producer Rebecca Sinderbrand
Washington (CNN) – Polls show a rising
anti-Washington sentiment, less-than-stellar approval ratings
for a newly-elected Democratic president, and even worse for
Congress - just as they did the last time Democrats lost control
of the House and Senate – but there's no déjà
vu among party leaders, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Chairman Chris Van Hollen said Thursday: "This is not going
to be 1994 all over again."
A spate of recent retirements among Democrats
representing potential swing districts – including John
Tanner of Tennessee, Dennis Moore of Kansas, Brian Baird of Washington
and Bart Gordon of Tennessee – have also given political
observers some 1994 flashbacks. But Van Hollen denied the moves
signaled a trend. "We absolutely do not expect a large surge
(in retirements) on the order of 1994," he said.
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Democrats
point to 'Smoking Tweet' in GOP stalling health care
Posted: December 17th, 2009 12:15 PM ET
From CNN Audience Interaction Producer
Eric Kuhn
The 'smoking tweet.'
Washington (CNN) - During a press conference on Wednesday, Democrat
Sen. Dick Durbin pointed to Republican Sen. Jim DeMint's Twitter
account as the smoking gun – or as he called it, the "smoking
tweet" – showing the Republicans' strategy to slow
down the health care bill.
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CNN
Poll of Polls: Obama approval rating stabilizes
Posted: December 17th, 2009 01:10 PM ET
From CNN Deputy Political Director Paul
Steinhauser
As 2009 comes to an end, about half of the country is giving
President Barack Obama a thumbs up.
Washington (CNN) – As 2009 comes to an end, about half of
the country is giving President Barack Obama a thumbs-up.
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Obama
committed to going to climate summit
Posted: December 17th, 2009 02:57 PM ET
From CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne
Malveaux
Obama committed to going to climate summit.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama will travel to Copenhagen,Denmark,
Thursday evening to attend the U.N. Climate Conference as planned,despite
growing uncertainty that the talks will lead to an agreement,
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
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Nelson:
Health care bill 'isn't sufficient'
Posted: December 17th, 2009 03:00 PM ET
From CNN's Lauren Kornreich
Sen. Nelson said he will not vote for the health care bill in
its current form.
Washington (CNN) – Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson told a Nebraska
radio station Thursday that he will not vote for the Senate health
care bill as it stands because of concerns over insurance coverage
for abortions and other unresolved issues.
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Bill
Clinton's plea for health care reform
Posted: December 17th, 2009 04:48 PM ET
(CNN) - Former President Bill Clinton released a statement Thursday
that calls for the passage of health care reform. Last month
the former president met behind closed doors with Senate Democrats,
to urge them to come to agreement on a health care bill. Clinton
pushed for, but failed to win, major health care reform during
his first term in the White House.
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Another
Look at Election 2008
Matt Forrest, an undergraduate student at UW-Madison, sends over
a very interesting Election 2008 map that shows vote tallies
as proportional symbols and coloring the symbols based on the
margin of victory in that county.
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Axelrod
Defends Health Care Bill
On MSNBC, White House advisor David Axelod responded to progressives
who believe that they should kill the health care bill now.
Said Axelrod: "I think it would be
a tragic, tragic outcome. We're on the verge of something that
would make an enormously positive difference for people. And
it is -- I guess if you're hale and hearty and you have insurance,
it's fine to say, kill this bill. Or if you have a good relationship
-- you're healthy and you have a good relationship with your
insurance company."
"But if you're a person with a preexisting
medical condition or if you're a small business person and you
can't get insurance for your employees, or if you're someone
in the single market, in other words, not through your employer
and you're paying a huge premium to get insurance now or you
can't afford it, I don't think that you want this moment to pass.
It will not come back again."
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Traficant
Mulls Comeback
"Beamed out of Congress and imprisoned seven years ago following
his conviction on federal corruption charges, ex-Rep. Jim Traficant
(D-OH) is weighing a political comeback," reports CQ Politics.
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Quote of the Day
"Take it from someone who knows: these chances don't come
around every day. Allowing this effort to fall short now would
be a colossal blunder -- both politically for our party and,
far more important, for the physical, fiscal, and economic health
of our country."
-- Bill Clinton, in a statement backing
the current health care reform bill.
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C-SPAN Daily Alert
Programming Information for Thurs. 12/17 - Fri. 12/18, 2009
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN Highlights
Tonight:
* Senate Banking Cmte. Vote on Fed Chair Bernanke Nomination
(11pm)
* Senate Homeland Security Cmte. Hearing on Economic Future (9:45pm)
* U.N. Conference on Climate Change Opening Plenary Session (12:20pm)
Tomorrow:
* U.S. House: Not In Session
* Wartime Contracting Hearing on Afghan Security Forces (10am)
- LIVE
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN2 Highlights
Tonight:
* Senate Floor Debate Health Care (11pm)
* Press Briefing on Health Care with Sens. Stabenow, Casey &
Reed (12am)
* Press Briefing on Health Care with Republican Senators (12:35am)
Tomorrow:
* U.S. Senate: In Session (Time TBA) - LIVE
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN3 Highlights
Tonight:
* Health Care Highlights: Press Briefings with Senate Leaders
& Gov. Barbour (7pm)
* Senate Banking Cmte. Vote on Bernanke Nomination (8pm)
* Senate Hearing with Fmr. Fed Chair Greenspan; Senate Hearing
on Afghanistan (8:25pm)
Tomorrow:
* American Constitution Society Address by Asst. AG Thomas Perez
(12:30pm) - LIVE
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN Radio Highlights
Tonight:
* Programming TBA. Check the Schedule for Updates - http://www.c-span.org/Schedules/C-SPAN-Radio-Schedule.aspx
Tomorrow:
* Washington Journal (7am) - LIVE
**********************************************************************
Politics Highlights
* C-SPAN Political Programming - Sunday
on C-SPAN at 6:30pm ET
**********************************************************************
Washington Journal Highlights
* Newspaper Articles & Viewer Calls
* Discussion on U.N. Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change
* Discussion on Health Care Debate
* Discussion on Malpractice and Tort Reform
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN Capitol Spotlight
* Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson reiterated
Thursday that he will not support the Senate’s health care
overhaul unless its restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion
are strengthened. Senate Democrats need Nelson’s vote to
give them the 60 they need to advance the legislation... - Full
Story at http://www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN Special Promotions
* "American Icons," a special
three DVD set of C-SPAN documentaries, now available. Order your
copy today at www. c-span.org/store.
* The new C-SPAN Radio iPhone app is available
FREE! Also lets you listen to C-SPAN & C-SPAN 2 - http://bit.ly/4IRa0d
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Contact: Katie Grant
202-225-3130For Immediate Release
December 16, 2009
Majority Leader Hoyer Statement on House
Floor Schedule
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader
Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement tonight
on the schedule for the U.S. House of Representatives:
“The House has completed all of its scheduled legislative
business for the week, and no more votes are expected in the
House this year.
“Following Special Orders this evening, the House will adjourn
pending further action by the Senate on must-pass legislation.
If the Senate completes action on all must pass legislation,
the House will adjourn Sine Die pursuant to the Adjournment Resolution,
H.Con.Res. 223.
“Pursuant to H.Res. 976 or recall authority under the adjournment
resolution, Members may be called back for legislative business
before January 12, 2010 to complete action on legislation if
it becomes necessary.”
###
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Credit
Suisse Agrees to Forfeit $536 Million in Connection with Violations
of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and New York
State Law
Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:13:03 -0600
The forfeiture is the largest ever entered against an entity
for IEEPA violations.
|
Remarks
of Attorney General Eric Holder at a Press Conference Announcing
the Credit Suisse Resolution
Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:15:10 -0600
The U.S. financial system is built on trust and transparency.
Our banks must know what payments they are processing and for
whom. Credit Suisse’s decades-long scheme to flout the rules
that govern our financial institutions robbed our system of the
legitimacy that is fundamental to it success.
|
HELSINKI
COMMISSION TO HOLD BRIEFING ON RUSSIA’S MUSLIMS
|
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
has issued the following news release today:
State personal income growth averaged 0.3 percent in the third
quarter of 2009 with 19 states seeing net earnings growth for
the first time in at least a year.
The full text of the release on BEA's web site can be found at
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/sqpi_newsrelease.htm
|
December
17, 2009 - DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report, (PDF, 22 pages - 158 KB)
|
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report
for the U.S. Department of Labor.
This information has recently been updated.
In the week ending Dec. 12, the advance figure for seasonally
adjusted initial claims was 480,000, an increase of 7,000 from
the previous week's revised figure of 473,000. The 4-week moving
average was 467,500, a decrease of 5,250 from the previous week's
revised average of 472,750.
Read the full
news release.
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OCC WORKSHOPS FOR NATIONAL COMMUNITY
BANK DIRECTORS
REGISTER NOW!
It is that time of year to remind your community bank directors
to register early to attend the Office of the Comptroller of
the Currency workshops for national community bank directors.
The topics of our four workshops are risk assessment, credit
risk, compliance risk, and the fundamentals of directorship.
These workshops are offered at convenient locations across the
nation.
Affordable cost. One-day workshops cost $65; the cost for the
two-day "Mastering the Basics Workshop" is $100. Registered
participants will receive a pre-course reading package, course
materials, and CDs of the OCC’s Web and telephone seminars.
A complimentary breakfast, lunch and reception are provided.
Workshops are limited to the first 35 registrants, so please
review our workshop offerings below, and have your directors
register today.
Registration is easy. There are three registration
methods: online,
print the online registration form and fax it to 336-644-6205,
or mail the completed form to CMP Meeting Services, 3505 Vernon
Woods Drive, Summerfield, NC 27358.
If you have any questions about the workshops, please contact
the registration center at 336-451-0557 or by e-mail at regcenter@cmpmeetings.com.
Additional information on OCC workshops
is also available at www.occ.treas.gov/conference.htm.
|
Gambrell
Statement on Signing of Appropriations Bill
December 17, 2009
[CDFI-2009-67]
|
Coffee
Break Training for U.S. Fire Administration. This information has recently been updated and
is now available.
|
Boston
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
CDC
Genomics & Health Weekly Update
|
|
US-CERT Current Activity
Cisco Releases Security Advisory for
Cisco WebEx WRF Player Vulnerabilities
Original release date: December 17, 2009
at 9:23 am
Last revised: December 17, 2009 at 9:23 am
Cisco has released a security advisory
to address multiple
vulnerabilities in WebEx WRF Player. These vulnerabilities may
allow
an attacker to execute arbitrary code.
US-CERT encourages users and administrators
to review Cisco security
advisory cisco-sa-20091216-webex and apply any necessary updates
to
help mitigate the risks.
Relevant Url(s):
<http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-sa-20091216-webex.shtml>
====
This entry is available at
http://www.us-cert.gov/current/index.html#cisco_releases_security_advisory_for15
|
GEN
Sharp on Republic of Korea
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:46:23 -0600
The Commander of U.S. forces in the Republic of Korea says the
U.S. military has made a huge difference in the stability and
security of northeast Asia.
|
Soldiers
Prepare for Iraqi Elections
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:42:00 -0600
|
Allison
Testimony before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee
December 17, 2009
TG-453
|
|
Cyber Security Tip ST04-018
Understanding Digital Signatures
Digital signatures are a way to verify
that an email message is really from
the person who supposedly sent it and that it hasn't been changed.
What is a digital signature?
There are different types of digital signatures;
this tip focuses on digital
signatures for email messages. You may have received emails that
have a
block of letters and numbers at the bottom of the message. Although
it may
look like useless text or some kind of error, this information
is actually a
digital signature. To generate a signature, a mathematical algorithm
is used
to combine the information in a key with the information in the
message. The
result is a random-looking string of letters and numbers.
Why would you use one?
Because it is so easy for attackers and
viruses to "spoof" email addresses
(see Using Caution with Email Attachments for more information),
it is
sometimes difficult to identify legitimate messages. Authenticity
may be
especially important for business correspondence—if you
are relying on
someone to provide or verify information, you want to be sure
that the
information is coming from the correct source. A signed message
also
indicates that changes have not been made to the content since
it was sent;
any changes would cause the signature to break.
How does it work?
Before you can understand how a digital
signature works, there are some
terms you should know:
* Keys - Keys are used to create digital signatures. For every
signature,
there is a public key and a private key.
+ Private key - The private key is the portion of the key you
use to
actually sign an email message. The private key is protected
by a
password, and you should never give your private key to anyone.
+ Public key - The public key is the portion of the key that
is
available to other people. Whether you upload it to a public
key
ring or send it to someone, this is the key other people can
use to
check your signature. A list of other people who have signed
your
key is also included with your public key. You will only be able
to
see their identities if you already have their public keys on
your
key ring.
* Key ring - A key ring contains public keys. You have a key
ring that
contains the keys of people who have sent you their keys or whose
keys
you have gotten from a public key server. A public key server
contains
keys of people who have chosen to upload their keys.
* Fingerprint - When confirming a key, you will actually be confirming
the
unique series of letters and numbers that comprise the fingerprint
of
the key. The fingerprint is a different series of letters and
numbers
than the chunk of information that appears at the bottom of a
signed
email message.
* Key certificates - When you select a key on a key ring, you
will usually
see the key certificate, which contains information about the
key, such
as the key owner, the date the key was created, and the date
the key
will expire.
* "Web of trust" - When someone signs your key, they
are confirming that
the key actually belongs to you. The more signatures you collect,
the
stronger your key becomes. If someone sees that your key has
been signed
by other people that he or she trusts, he or she is more inclined
to
trust your key. Note: Just because someone else has trusted a
key or you
find it on a public key ring does not mean you should automatically
trust it. You should always verify the fingerprint yourself.
The process for creating, obtaining, and
using keys is fairly
straightforward:
1. Generate a key using software such as PGP, which stands for
Pretty Good
Privacy, or GnuPG, which stands for GNU Privacy Guard.
2. Increase the authenticity of your key by having your key signed
by
co-workers or other associates who also have keys. In the process
of
signing your key, they will confirm that the fingerprint on the
key you
sent them belongs to you. By doing this, they verify your identity
and
indicate trust in your key.
3. Upload your signed key to a public key ring so that if someone
gets a
message with your signature, they can verify the digital signature.
4. Digitally sign your outgoing email messages. Most email clients
have a
feature to easily add your digital signature to your message.
There are a variety of mechanisms for creating
digital signatures, and these
mechanisms may operate differently. For example, S/MIME does
not add a
visible block of letters and numbers within the message, and
its digital
signatures are verified indirectly using a certificate authority
instead of
directly with other users in a web of trust. You may just see
an icon or
note on the message that the signature has been verified. If
you get an
error about a digital signature, try to contact the sender through
a phone
call or a separate email address that you know is valid to verify
the
authenticity of the message.
|
|
FDIC Report Highlights Challenging Environments
for Interest-Rate Risk Management, Community Reinvestment Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2009 Media Contact:
David Barr (202-898-6992)
In light of today's low interest-rate environment,
the FDIC's Winter 2009 issue of Supervisory Insights - released
today - focuses on the critical need for banks to have strong,
effective interest-rate risk (IRR) management programs that help
mitigate excessive exposure.
"We are seeing evidence that some financial institutions
are becoming more exposed to a rise in interest rates,"
said Sandra L. Thompson, Director, Division of Supervision and
Consumer Protection. "In our current issue of Supervisory
Insights, we remind bankers of longstanding guidance on managing
IRR exposures, and we offer observations about best practices
for measuring, monitoring and controlling interest-rate risk."
On another topic, even as economic conditions show signs of rebounding,
deteriorating credit quality is reinforcing the need for financial
institutions to work with stressed borrowers faced with employment
disruptions and declining housing values. "Not Just Adding
Up the Numbers: Achieving CRA Objectives in Challenging Times"
describes how Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) examiners should
balance concerns about a low volume of loans with the quality
of a bank's programs to meet challenging community needs.
This issue's "From the Examiner's Desk" addresses financial
institutions' frequent struggle with conducting effective customer
information risk assessments. Recent phishing attacks are one
example demonstrating the critical need to safeguard information
assets. "Customer Information Risk Assessments: Moving Toward
Enterprise-wide Assessments of Business Risk" summarizes
three types of risk assessments, identifies issues and areas
for improvement often observed by examiners, and discusses the
supervisory response to deficiencies.
Supervisory Insights provides a forum for discussing how bank
regulation and policy are put into practice in the field, sharing
best practices, and communicating about the emerging issues that
bank supervisors face.
The journal is available on the FDIC's
Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/examinations/supervisory/insights/index.html.
Suggestions for future topics and requests
for permission to reprint articles should be e-mailed to supervisoryjournal@fdic.gov.
Requests for print copies should be e-mailed to publicinfo@fdic.gov.
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On December 17, 2009, the FDIC released the
Winter 2009 issue of Supervisory Insights. This issue is now
available on www.fdic.gov at http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/examinations/supervisory/insights/index.html.
Articles in this issue of Supervisory Insights address topics
of interest to examiners, bankers, and supervisors: a discussion
of the current low interest rate environment and the need for
a strong and effective interest rate risk (IRR) management program,
with emphasis on best practices for measuring, monitoring, and
controlling IRR; an overview of how, during the current economic
downturn, Community Reinvestment Act examiners should balance
concerns about a low volume of loans with the quality of a bank’s
strategically designed programs that meet challenging community
needs; and a description of three approaches to conducting financial
institution customer information risk assessments.
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USDA Announces New Dairy Economic Loss
Assistance Payment Program to Provide Financial Relief to Struggling
Dairy Producers
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2009 - Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the implementation of the
new Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment (DELAP) program. The
2010 Agricultural Appropriations Bill authorized $290 million
for loss assistance payments to eligible dairy producers.
"Through this program, eligible dairy
producers will receive economic assistance that will help stabilize
their operations during these tough economic times," said
Vilsack. "I have personally heard from hundreds of struggling
dairy farmers from all across our country who have been hit hard
by declining prices over the past year, and now, we'll be able
to offer them help."
Milk prices declined substantially through
early-to-mid-2009, with the national price for milk averaging
$16.80 per hundredweight (cwt.) in the fourth quarter of 2008
and averaging $12.23 per cwt. in the first quarter of 2009, a
27-percent decline. On average, the price U.S. dairy producers
received for milk marketed in the summer of 2009 was about half
of what it cost them to produce milk.
"The dedicated employees of the Farm
Service Agency deserve a great deal of credit for acting quickly
to provide this critical assistance to America's dairy farmers,"
said Jim Miller, Under Secretary of USDA Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services.
Eligible producers will receive a one-time
direct payment based on the amount of milk both produced and
commercially marketed by their operation during the months of
February through July 2009. Production information from these
months will be used to estimate a full year's production for
an operation to calculate the payments, using a 6-million pound
per dairy operation limit.
Dairy producers who have production records
at the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office because they
participated in another FSA dairy program do not need to apply
for the program. FSA will use existing production records for
February through July 2009 to calculate and issue their payments.
Producers who have not provided production
data for those months to FSA, and have not already been contacted
by FSA to provide such data, have 30 days, until Jan. 19, 2010,
to apply. FSA officials estimate that more than 95 percent of
eligible producers will receive benefits without having to fill
out a new application.
A national per hundred weight payment rate
will be determined by dividing the available funding of $290
million, less a reserve established by FSA, divided by the total
pounds of eligible milk production approved for payment. Based
on current information, FSA estimates that 875 million cwt. of
milk production will be eligible for payment. The reserve will
cover new applicants and appeals. The expected payment rate is
approximately $0.32 per cwt.
To be eligible for DELAP, the dairy producer
and the dairy operation in which the producer has a share:
Must have produced milk in the United States
and marketed milk commercially at any time from February through
July 2009;
Must have milk production data for those months;
Must certify to all milk production produced and marketed by
the dairy operation during that time.
Also, any dairy producer who has an annual average adjusted gross
nonfarm income of more than $500,000 for calendar years 2006
through 2008 is not eligible for DELAP.
For more information and eligibility requirements
on the new DELAP program, please visit your local FSA county
office or www.fsa.usda.gov.
Through much of this past year, USDA took
a number of steps to provide relief to dairy farmers around the
country. Some of these steps include:
USDA reactivated USDA's Dairy Export Incentive
Program (DEIP), to help U.S. dairy exporters meet prevailing
world prices in addition to encouraging the development of international
export markets in areas where U.S. dairy products are not competitive
due to subsidized dairy products from other countries.
USDA spent approximately $1 billion in fiscal year 2009 on purchases
of dairy products (Dairy Product Price Support Program) and payments
to producers (Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC).
USDA increased the amount paid for dairy products through the
Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP). USDA estimates that
these increases, which were in place from August 2009 through
October 2009, increased dairy farmers' revenue by approximately
$243 million.
In March, USDA transferred approximately 200 million pounds of
nonfat dry milk to USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, which will
not only remove inventory from the market, but also support low-income
families struggling to put nutritious food on their tables.
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House
Narrowly Approves Year-end Jobs
Posted: 16 Dec 2009 04:00 PM PST
By ANDREW TAYLOR
WASHINGTON - Democrats in the House Wednesday muscled through
a year-end plan to create jobs, mixing about $50 billion for
public works projects with another almost $50 billion for cash-strapped
state and local governments.
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Open
Meeting Agendas & Documents for Federal Election Commission. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
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McHugh
in Afghanistan
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:36:57 -0600
Between flights to Forward Operating Bases throughout Regional
Command South in Afghanistan this week, Secretary of the Army
John McHugh ate dinner with soldiers at Kandahar Airfield.
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FEC
HEARS TESTIMONY ON DEFINITION OF FEA ACTIVITY
Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:43:01 -0600
WASHINGTON—The Federal Election Commission today held a
public hearing on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) addressing
the definition of Federal Election Activity. The NPRM explored
possible modifications to the definitions of “voter registration
activity” and “get-out-the-vote activity” in response
to the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit in Shays v. FEC (Shays III).
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OIP
FOIA Post for U.S. Department of Justice. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
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Pentagon
Briefing
Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:11:42 -0600
Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell speaks with reporters
at the Pentagon.
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New
Troops Arrive in Afghanistan
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:57:17 -0600
The first of 30,000 new troops have arrived in Afghanistan.
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McChrystal
Praises Canada's Afghanistan Contributions
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:40:00 -0600
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A draft interim rule and a draft notice of
proposed rulemaking, both being considered by the Federal Election
Commission at its open session of December 17, are available
now online at http://www.fec.gov/law/law_rulemakings.shtml#emilyslistrepeal.
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See the CFTC
News Room for the latest news and events or News
Room Archives for previous releases.
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Enforcement
Actions for CFTC.gov.
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The National Simulator Program has posted
an update to our home page that includes new information concerning
upcoming events relating to Part 60 Simulation Quality Management
Systems requirements. Please visit our home page at http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/nsp/
for further information.
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General
Officer Assignments
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:14:00 -0600
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Speaker's Event Tonight, and CTYDs Monthly
Meeting on MONDAY!
Hello All!
Just a couple reminders for you during
this busy holiday season:
TONIGHT!!
Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan,
State Reps. Ryan Barry, Mae Flexer, Matt Lesser, Chris Lyddy,
Bryan Hurlburt, Gary Holder-Winfield, Jason Rojas, Kelvin Roldan,
and other elected officials from around the state invite you
to join them for a night of live music, food, beer tasting, and
a celebration of Youth & Democracy.
Live entertainment will be provided by
the band Tip the Van and another surprise performer.
Where: City Steam Brewery, 942 Main St.,
Hartford, CT
When: 6:00pm-10:00pm
Ticket Price: $30
Tickets available at the door.
If you have questions, you may contact
Gary Turco at gary.turco@sbcglobal.net or 860-335-6122.
Paid for by Speaker's Leadership PAC, Jeffrey Greenfield, Treasurer
Link to the Event's Facebook link:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=213179834044&index=1
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BIDEN KICKS OFF $7.2 BILLION RECOVERY
ACT BROADBAND PROGRAM
Joined by Governor Perdue, Vice President
Announces an Initial $183 Million in Awards to Expand Broadband
Access in Seventeen States
DAWSONVILLE, Ga., December 17, 2009 - Vice
President Biden today kicked off $7.2 billion in Recovery Act
broadband grant and loan programs, of which $2 billion will be
made available on a rolling basis over the next 75 days to bring
high-speed Internet to communities that currently have little
or no access to the technology. At an event at Impulse Manufacturing
in Dawsonville, Georgia, with Governor Sonny Perdue (R-GA), he
announced an initial $183 million investment in eighteen broadband
projects benefiting seventeen states which has already been matched
by over $46 million in public and private sector capital. The
awards are not only expected to provide initial job opportunities
in infrastructure and manufacturing, but help bridge the digital
divide and boost economic development for communities held back
by limited or no access to the technology.
"New broadband access means more capacity
and better reliability in rural areas and underserved urban communities
around the country. Businesses will be able to improve their
customer service and better compete around the world," said
Vice President Biden. "This is what the Recovery Act is
all about - sparking new growth, tapping into the ingenuity of
the American people and giving folks the tools they need to help
build a new economy in the 21st-century."
The projects receiving funds today are
the first in the $7.2 billion program - $4.7 billion through
the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) and $2.5 through the Department
of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) - being implemented
under the Recovery Act to expand broadband access and adoption
across the country. The awards are designed to help underserved
- and often hard-hit - communities overcome the distance and
technology barrier by expanding connectivity between educational
institutions, enabling remote medical consultations and attracting
new businesses - as well as the jobs that come with them. They
are part of an over $100 billion investment in science, technology
and innovation the Administration is making through the Recovery
Act to lay a new foundation for economic growth.
"Broadband is the new dial tone of
the 21st-century," said Governor Perdue. "Internet
access is as important to our communications infrastructure today
as reliable telephone service was a century ago. Creating an
advanced network will promote economic development, expand educational
opportunities and improve the availability and efficiency of
government services."
The National Economic Council today released
a report, "Recovery Act Investment in Broadband: Leveraging
Federal Dollars to Create Jobs and Connect America," which
found that Recovery Act investments in broadband will create
tens of thousands of jobs in the near term and expand opportunities
and economic development in communities that would otherwise
be left behind in the new knowledge-based economy. A copy of
the report can be viewed at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/20091217-recovery-act-investments-broadband.pdf.
As part of today's announcement, Commerce
Secretary Gary Locke traveled to Bangor, Maine, where he announced
$25.4 million in grants to build broadband infrastructure throughout
rural and disadvantaged portions of parts of the state. On Tuesday,
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Ohio to discuss
how a $2.4 million broadband award will help boost economic development
in the region and connect the local community to the smart energy
grid.
"Expanding high-speed Internet access
is critical to improving America's economic competitiveness,"
said Secretary Locke. "Unless we use the 21st-century tools
at our disposal, America will never be as connected as it could
be. And that connection is crucial for our economic future."
"These broadband investments continue
the Obama Administration's efforts to create jobs, expand economic
opportunities and build a stronger rural America," said
Secretary Vilsack. "We must take steps to keep the institutions
that are the heart and soul of our communities strong, and that
is why many of these grants and loans support anchor institutions
- such as libraries, public buildings and community centers -
that are necessary for the viability of rural communities."
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Cotton-on-Call
for CFTC.gov.
The Cotton On-Call Report # 50 is now available.
See previous weeks in Historical
Cotton On-Call Reports.
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Publications
for Federal Election Commission.
December supplements to the Campaign Guide series are now available.
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Charlotte
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
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FEC
CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW ROUNDTABLE WORKSHOP: TRAVEL RULES
Learn about the new rules governing
noncommercial campaign travel on aircraft!
February 24, 2010
9:30 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
Registration Fee: $25
FEC Headquarters, Washington, DC
Pre-registration and payment is required. For details, visit
http://www.fec.gov/info/outreach.shtml#roundtables,
call the
FEC’s Information Division at 800-424-9530 (press 6) or
(202) 694-1100 or e-mail Conferences@fec.gov. A full
refund will be made for cancellation rerequests received before
5 p.m. EST on February 19; no refund will be made for
cancellation request after that date and time.
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Cincinnati
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
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Recall
Case Archive for USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. This information has recently been updated. Case
057-2009, Massachusetts Firm Recalls Fresh Ground Beef Patties
And Beef Steak Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination,
has been moved to the archive.
You may view a copy of the updated information.
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Indianapolis
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
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HOUSE FLOOR WRAP-UP FOR DECEMBER 16,
2009
Considered and Passed:
Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment with a House Amendment
to H.R.
3326 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010
(Rep. Murtha – Appropriations) (395 - 34)
H.J.Res.
64 - Making further continuing appropriations for the Fiscal
Year 2010, and for other purposes (Rep. Obey – Appropriations)
(Voice Vote)
H.R.
4314 - To Permit Continued Financing of Government Operations
(Rep. Rangel – Ways and Means) (218 - 214)
Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment with a House Amendment
to H.R.
2847 – Jobs for Main Street Act (Rep. Obey – Appropriations)
(217 - 212)
Bills Adopted Under Suspension of the Rules (6):
1. H.Con.Res.
160 - Honoring the American Kennel Club on its 125th anniversary
(Rep. Price (NC) - Oversight and Government Reform)
2. H.R.
1110 - PHONE Act of 2009 (Rep. Scott (VA) - Judiciary)
3. H.Res.
905 - Recognizing the 70th anniversary of the retirement
of Justice Louis D. Brandeis from the United States Supreme Court
(Rep. Yarmuth - Judiciary)
4. H.R.
4194 - Law Student Clinic Participation Act of 2009 (Rep.
Lungren - Judiciary)
5. H.R.
1147 - Local Community Radio Act of 2009 (Rep. Doyle - Energy
and Commerce)
6. H.R.
3714 - Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 (Rep.
Schiff - Foreign Affairs)
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