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|
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VACANCY:
Division Director, GS-0301-15 FEMA
Thu, 07 May 2009 06:05:45 -0500
WN/MP-09-R2-0144-JES1 (Closing Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00
EDT)
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|
Democrats'
dinner to feature Bill Clinton
by Indianapolis Star - United States
AP The Indiana Democratic Party says former President Bill Clinton
will be the keynote speaker for the party's Jefferson Jackson
Day dinner on June 20. ...
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|
Iraq
oil Ministry considers oil bids
from Alsumaria TV Iraq, Iraq news | Economics
| RSS feed
Deputy of Iraq Oil Ministry Ahmad Al Shamma’ said that Iraq
is at the final stage of a bids study submitted by Japanese company
Nippon oil, ENI Italian company and Repsol Spanish oil company.
He also assed that he intends to announce the company that won
the bid for developing Al Nassiriah oil ...
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|
Marchionne
to head Chrysler
from washingtonpost.com - by AP
MILAN -- Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne will become the chief
executive of Chrysler after the U.S. automaker emerges from bankruptcy,
a Fiat spokesman confirmed Thursday.
|
|
Anheuser
Busch-InBev to raise $1.8 billion from sale
from South Korea News latest RSS headlines
- Big News Network.com
Brewer Anheuser Busch-InBev said Thursday it will raise $1.8
billion by selling South Korea's Oriental Brewery, the country's
second largest, to private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
& Co. LP. ...
|
|
MTC
registers 21 per cent growth in Q1 of 2009
from UAE News latest RSS headlines - Big
News Network.com
Memory Technology Middle East (MTC), one of the leading IT distribution
companies in the MENA region, has announced that it has achieved
a 21 per cent growth in the Middle East during the first quarte...
|
|
Dubai
hotel revenue rises in Q1
from UAE News latest RSS headlines - Big
News Network.com
Al Ain Rotana and its third squash tournament Hong Kong Tourism
Board establishes bigger presence ... Dubai hotel revenue rises
in Q1 Qatar signs deal for new luxury hotel in Cuba Arabian Trav...
|
|
Red
Cross confirms Afghan civilian toll
from Afghanistan News latest RSS headlines
- Big News Network.com
Afghans mark off burial sites for those killed in airstrikes
in the Bala Baluk district of the province of Farah. Officials
said the death toll could reach 100.
|
|
Obama
praises Karzai, Zardari
from Afghanistan News latest RSS headlines
- Big News Network.com
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama declared Wednesday that
he received the commitments he wanted from the leaders of Pakistan
and Afghanistan to more aggressively fight Taliban and al Qaeda
militan...
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|
Asia
banks jump
from Reuters Video: Latest Videos US
May 07 - Asian markets jumped higher Thursday on banking optimism
ahead of possible European Central Bank rate cut.
|
|
Troubled
Blackwater era ending in Iraq
from Iraq News latest RSS headlines - Big
News Network.com
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The troubled Blackwater era ends in Iraq
on Thursday as another firm takes over the once-dominant company's
security services contract in Baghdad.
|
|
US
troops in Afghanistan won't be sent to Pakistan
from AP Top Headlines At 4:24 a.m. EST
by By LARA JAKES
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (AP) -- There are no plans to deploy
U.S. ground troops to Pakistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert
Gates said Thursday, despite concerns over increasing violence
between Pakistani troops and Taliban militants....
|
Obama
seeks hikes in domestic spending
from AP Top Headlines At 4:24 a.m. EST by By ANDREW TAYLOR
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In twin strokes, President Barack Obama is
calling on Congress to provide generous budget increases to domestic
programs while proposing relatively modest cuts to wasteful or
obsolete programs that just won't seem to die....
|
|
Futurebank
announces a profitable first quarter
from Bahrain News latest RSS headlines
- Big News Network.com
This steady performance start to the year is attributed to bank's
cautious investment strategies under the current economic environment.
Futurebank's total assets as of 31 March 2009 stood at BHD5....
|
Russian
foreign minister meeting with Obama
from AP Top Political News At 5:39 a.m. EST by By DESMOND BUTLER
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has promised to restart
Russian relations, but as Russia's foreign minister visits Washington
on Thursday, old tensions are emerging....
|
|
Nikkei
rises 4.6%, ends at 6-month high near 9,400 on U.S. bank hopes
from Japan News latest RSS headlines -
Big News Network.com
TOKYO, May 7 (AP) - (Kyodo)—(EDS: TO BE LED) Japan's key
Nikkei index soared 4.6 percent to a six-month closing high of
nearly 9,400 as trading resumed after a three-day holiday, as
optimism for ...
|
|
Tokyo
Stock Exchange closing indexes
from Japan News latest RSS headlines -
Big News Network.com
TOKYO, May 7 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Nikkei 225 9,385.70, UP 408.33
points Nikkei 300 180.05, UP 8.06 points TSE Index 1st Section
Topix 885.93, UP 39.08 Arithmetic Avg. 240.78, UP 7.06 Weighted
Avg. 169....
|
|
Nikkei
index jumps to 6-month high
from Japan News latest RSS headlines -
Big News Network.com
TOKYO — Japan stocks rose sharply Thursday, with the benchmark
index soaring to a six-month high, as investors returning from
holidays cheered better-than-expected news about U.S. jobs and
bank...
|
|
Israeli
PM to visit Egypt on Monday
from Sudan News latest RSS headlines -
Big News Network.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Egypt
on Monday for his first trip abroad since taking office in late
March, local daily The Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday. Israeli
gover...
|
|
Qatar
signs deal for new luxury hotel in Cuba
from Jamaica News latest RSS headlines
- Big News Network.com
Al Ain Rotana and its third squash tournament Hong Kong Tourism
Board establishes bigger presence ... Dubai hotel revenue rises
in Q1 Qatar signs deal for new luxury hotel in Cuba Arabian Trav...
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$17
billion cut OK'd by Obama
from dispatchpolitics.com: RSS by online@dispatchpolitics.com
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has signed off on budget
cuts totaling $17 billion -- or about 0.5 percent of the $3.4
trillion budget Congress approved for next year.
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|
Administration
addressing ethanol, climate change
from AP Top Science News At 5:42 a.m. EST
by By H. JOSEF HEBERT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration renewed its commitment
Tuesday to speed up investments in ethanol and other biofuels
while seeking to deflect some environmentalists' claims that
huge increases in corn ethanol use will hinder the fight against
global warming....
|
Readout
on the President's call with Chinese President Hu Jintao
President Obama spoke with Chinese President Hu this morning
and discussed ways to enhance cooperation on the global economy
and health issues.
|
Presidential
Nominations Sent to the Senate, 5-6-09
|
President
Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 5-6-09
Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate
the following individuals for key administration posts: Tara
O'Toole, Under Secretary for Science & Technology, Department
of Homeland Security and Laurie O. Robinson, Assistant Attorney
General, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice.
|
Secretaries
Chu and Donovan Sign Agreement to Help Working Families Weatherize
their Homes
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary
Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven
Chu today announced an important step forward in the partnership
between HUD and DOE to streamline and better coordinate federal
weatherization programs.
|
Background
Briefing On Terminations, Reductions, and Savings in the 2010
Budget
|
Briefing
by National Security Advisor General James Jones on the President's
Meetings with President Karzai of Afghanistan and President Zardari
of Pakistan
|
Briefing
by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Press Secretary Robert
Gibbs, 5-6-09
|
Vice
President Biden Issues Statement Following Meeting with Al Franken
|
What
Is the Social Innovation Fund?
|
"The
President and I look forward to working with Mr. Franken"
|
“Joined
By a Common Goal”
|
Continuing
the Conversation: Tax Reform for American Jobs
|
|
VIDEO:
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Finance Cmte., Member
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) discusses the Senate's efforts to draft
health care legislation.
Length: 30 min.
Published: Wednesday at 7:30am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
Taegan Goddard, Political Wire.com
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Taegan Goddard explains the political situation going into the
2010 midterm elections and key races to watch. Joining him via
teleconference are Beth Reinhard, a political reporter for the
Miami Herald, goes over the race for the Senate seat being vacated
by Sen. Mel Martinez (R). Also, Daniella Altimari of the Hartford
Courant, focuses on Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) reelection
bid. Joseph Gerth, a writer for the Louisville Courier-Journal,
talks about Sen. Jim Bunning’s reelection bid in 2010.
Length: 56 min.
Published: Wednesday at 9am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
House Ways & Means Hearing with Sec. Sebelius
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Kathleen Sebelius appeared for the first time as Secretary of
Health and Human Services before the House Ways and Means Committee.
She discussed the President's agenda for health care reform and
talked about the different options that are being discussed in
congress.
Length: 1 hr. 55 min.
Published: Wednesday at 10am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
Senate Judiciary Cmte. Hearing on DHS Oversight
from C-SPAN Recent Video
The Senate Judiciary heard from DHS Sec. Janet Napolitano on
oversight of the Homeland Security Department. The hearing focused
on immigration, citizenship and related issues. Sen. Jeff Sessions
(R-AL) makes his first appearance as the new Ranking Member.
Length: 1 hr. 50 min.
Published: Wednesday at 10am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Weekly Legislative Briefing
from C-SPAN Recent Video
House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) conducts a weekly briefing
on legislative issues in the 111th Congress.
Length: 16 min.
Published: Wednesday at 10:45am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
State Department Press Briefing
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Spokesman Robert Wood conducts a daily briefing at the State
Department.
Length: 30 min.
Published: Wednesday at 12pm (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs &
Sec. of State Clinton
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at the daily White House
briefing to discuss her meetings with Pres. Zardari of Pakistan
and Pres. Karzai of Afghanistan and responded to reporters' questions.
Following Sec. Clinton's remarks, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
continued with the daily briefing.
Length: 54 min.
Published: Wednesday at 1pm (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
White House Briefing with NSA Gen. Jim Jones
from C-SPAN Recent Video
National Security Advisor Gen. Jim Jones held a briefing at the
White House to discuss President Obama's bilateral meetings with
President Zardari of Pakistan and President Karzai of Afghanistan
and the trilateral meeting among the three leaders.
Length: 18 min.
Published: Wednesday at 5pm (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
Senate Hearing on the Future of Journalism
from C-SPAN Recent Video
A Senate Commerce Subcmte. holds a hearing to examine the future
of journalism and challenges facing the print newspaper industry.
Newspapers & online news representatives will testify. Recently,
several large city newspapers announced that they will cease
print publication and only report stories online.
Length: 2 hr. 48 min.
Published: Wednesday at 2:30pm (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
Joint Economic Cmte. Hearing with Fed. Chairman Bernanke
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Fed. Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke provided an assessment of
the nation's economy before a Joint Economic Committee hearing.
When questioned about the current economic path, Chair Bernanke
stated that the U.S. "will see positive growth by the end
of the year."
Length: 2 hr. 8 min.
Published: Tuesday at 10am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
House Foreign Relations Cmte. Hearing with Envoy Richard Holbrooke
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Pakistan-Afghanistan envoy Richard Holbrooke will testify about
the Administration's Pakistan strategy before the House Foreign
Affairs Committee. He has said the United States must have a
unified strategy for both countries, which share a mountainous
border region that is a hotbed of Taliban and al-Qaeda activity.
Length: 1 hr. 47 min.
Published: Tuesday at 12:15pm (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
House Energy & Commerce Cmte. Members on HR 1550 Agreement
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Chairman Henry A. Waxman and other members reached an agreement
with the White House on a "Cash for Clunkers" program
that will help the auto industry while cleaning our air. This
agreement is based on H.R. 1550, introduced by Congresswoman
Sutton, and H.R. 520, introduced by Congressman Inslee.
Length: 12 min.
Published: Tuesday at 10pm (ET)
|
Strickland
Holds Big Leads in Ohio
A new Quinnipiac poll finds Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) remains
a big favorite for re-election in 2010.
|
Obama
Seeks No Leaks on Supreme Court Nominee
The Washington Post has details on how President Obama will pick
a new Supreme Court nominee.
|
Specter
Stripped of Seniority
Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) "infuriated Senate Republicans
when he bolted from their party last week. Now he's alienated
just about everybody in the Senate Democratic caucus, too,"
Politico notes.
|
Sestak
Sounds Like a Candidate
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) told Politico that he will take "at
least a couple of months" before deciding whether to challenge
Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) in a Democratic primary.
|
|
White
House plans to release plane flyover report, photo
Posted: 04:04 PM ET
From CNN's Ed Hornick
Pentagon officials say more than $300,000 was spent on a New
York flyover by a 747 plane used as Air Force One
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The White House indicated Wednesday that
a report and a photo from the controversial low-altitude New
York flyover by a 747 plane used as Air Force One could be released
soon.
|
|
Supreme
Court vetting moving quickly
Posted: 05:58 PM ET
From CNN Supreme Court Producer Bill Mears
The search for a new Supreme Court justice is moving ahead quickly
at the White House.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The search for a new Supreme Court justice
is moving ahead quickly at the White House with senior staff
ready to begin paring down a list of finalists to less than half
a dozen candidates, two sources with knowledge of the selection
process tell CNN.
|
Obama:
Afghanistan, Pakistan, U.S. working to defeat radical extremists
Posted: 06:25 PM ET
President Obama is flanked by Afghan President Hamid Karzai (left)
and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Barack Obama said Wednesday
that the leaders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States
are meeting "as three sovereign nations joined by a common
goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat" al Qaeda and the
Taliban.
|
|
Reid
says Specter's seniority will be determined by the caucus
Posted: 07:55 PM ET
From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
(CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid, D-Nevada, told CNN Wednesday that Sen. Arlen Specter's
seniority on committees will be determined in the next Congress,
but stopped short of pledging the onetime Republican would regain
his choice positions on the panels.
|
|
Biden,
Franken confer at the White House
Posted: 07:56 PM ET
From CNN's Sarah Parker
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Democrat Al Franken
and his wife dropped by the White House Wednesday to update Vice
President Biden on the state of Minnesota's hotly-contested Senate
seat.
|
|
Reid
discusses Obama's 'I have a gift' quote
Posted: 08:20 PM ET
(CNN) — In his interview with CNN Wednesday, Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid discussed a 2005 encounter with then-Sen. Barack
Obama, when the newly-elected senator declared, "I have
gift."
Reid writes in a new epilogue to his book,
"The Good Fight," that Obama made the comment after
Reid praised him for a speech on the war in Iraq.
"He didn't have an ounce of —
it was all humility," he told CNN of the Obama comment which
has since drawn some controversy. "I mean, he just looked
at me so sincerely, just like, "Harry…I was born to
be able to do that."
|
|
India
votes in fourth phase of general elections
Posted: 03:59 AM ET
By Harmeet Shah Singh
CNN
NEW DELHI, India (CNN) — Indians were
voting Thursday in the fourth phase of a marathon general election
to choose a new federal government.
|
|
U.S.
Department of State Joint Investigation into Reported Civilian
Casualties
Robert Wood
Acting Spokesman, Office of the Spokesman
Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
|
|
Export
Requirements for Meat & Poultry Products for USDA Food Safety
and Inspection Service
The export requirements for Russia, People's
Republic of China, Honduras, and Azerbaijan have been revised.
This information has recently been updated.
You may view a copy of the updated information.
|
|
U.S.
Department of State Schedule for May 6, 2009
Washington, DC
May 6, 2009
|
|
Third
Party Procurement for Federal Transit Administration
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
May
6, 2009 - DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report, (PDF, 18 pages - 164 KB)
|
Press
Releases for TTB.gov. This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Coffee
Break Training for U.S. Fire Administration
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
Orion
Undergoes Testing
Tue, 05 May 2009 23:00:00 -0500
An Orion model recently underwent testing at the Johnson Space
Center in an anechoic chamber. Orion's antennas were tested in
the chamber, which absorbs...
|
|
Statement
of FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair on Regulating and Resolving Institutions
Considered "Too Big To Fail" before the U.S. Senate
Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs delivered on
May 6, 2009 is available at
the following link:
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/speeches/chairman/spmay0609.html
|
|
Cms.hhs.gov-
Skilled Nursing Facility- Long Term Care Open Door Forum for
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
San
Francisco Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Open
Meeting Agendas & Documents for Federal Election Commission
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available. The Open Meeting Agenda for May 7, 2009,
has been posted.
|
|
FDA
Warning Letters for U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
NCTR
Research Highlights for U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
This information has recently been updated
and is now available.
|
|
What's
New at CBER for U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
Military
Social Work
Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:00:00 -0500
|
No
Loss Of Benefits For Senior Citizens Receiving FEMA Aid
Wed, 06 May 2009 08:55:16 -0500
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas senior citizens in Miller, Polk
and Sevier counties do not have to be concerned that applying
for, or receiving, state and federal disaster-related financial
assistance may cause them to sacrifice Social Security benefits,
pay additional taxes, or give up income-based benefit programs.
|
|
CBER's
Proposed and Final Rules for U.S. Food & Drug Administration
(FDA)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
Former
Governors Join North Carolina Heroes Board
Wed, 06 May 2009 10:00:00 -0500
|
|
Open
Solicitations for Office of Justice Programs
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Economic
Recovery Act of 2009 for U.S. Department of Homeland Security
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
Report for May 5, 2009 is now available.
|
NEW
VACANCIES AT THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
|
The
Federal Bureau of Investigation's Terrorist Watchlist Nomination
Practices, Audit Report 09-25, May 2009
|
Gates
Seeks 'Ground Level' View of Afghanistan Operations
Wed, 06 May 2009 10:04:00 -0500
|
Secretary Chu to Hold Media Briefing on
the DOE FY 2010 Budget Thursday, May 7, 2009 12:30 PM
Briefing is pen and pad only
Washington, DC – On Thursday, May 7, 2009, US Energy Secretary
Steven Chu will hold a pen and pad briefing on the Department
of Energy’s FY 2010 Budget. Secretary Chu will discuss the
Administration's commitment to moving the country toward energy
independence, creating green jobs, and building a new energy
economy by making investments in renewable and clean energy sources.
Pen and Pad details:
WHAT: Secretary Chu’s pen and pad briefing on DOE’s
FY 2010 Budget
WHEN: Thursday, May 7, 2009
12:30 PM
***Media outside of Washington, DC are invited to listen in.
To listen in only please call:
(866) 812-0464 (US)
(904) 486-1093 (International)
Participant Access Code: 998976
WHERE: US Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave
Washington, DC 20585
Room: GJ-015
This briefing is pen and pad only. No video recording devices
or still cameras will be allowed. Media wishing to attend should
contact Tiffany Edwards at tiffany.edwards@hq.doe.gov.
-DOE-
|
Secretary
Sebelius Highlights Two New Reports on Health Care Quality, Says
Improving Quality is Key Component of Health Reform
Wed, 06 May 2009 08:30:00 -0500
|
DOE
Selects 53 New Projects Focused on Wind Energy
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary
Steven Chu today announced selection of 53 new wind energy projects
for up to $8.5 million in total DOE funding. These projects will
help begin to address market and deployment challenges identified
in DOE’s 2008 report: “20% Wind Energy by 2030.”
Increasing wind energy generation will be a critical factor in
achieving the Obama Administration’s goals for clean energy,
while also supporting new green jobs. Secretary Chu made the
announcement by video at the WindPower 2009 Conference in Chicago
this week.
“Wind energy is one of our most promising renewable energy
sources,” said Secretary Chu. That’s why I’m pleased
to make this announcement today. By continuing to make investments
in renewable energy we can cut our dependence on foreign oil
and invest in a clean energy agenda that creates jobs and puts
money back into the pockets of consumers.”
The “20% Wind Energy by 2030” report found that the
Nation possesses affordable wind energy resources in excess of
those needed to generate 20% of U.S. electricity needs. The report
also identified major challenges including: investment in a national
transmission system; larger electric load balance areas and better
regional planning; reduction in wind turbine capital costs; improvement
of turbine performance; siting and environmental issues; and
workforce development. The full report is available at http://windandhydro.energy.gov.
|
Construction
Crews in Southern Afghanistan Prepare for Troop Increase
Wed, 06 May 2009 11:02:00 -0500
|
|
Recently
Published Rulemaking Documents for U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
Neighborhood
Stabilization Program NOFAs published by HUD
|
|
Cms.hhs.gov-
Physicians, Nurses and Allied Health Professionals Open Door
Forum for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Cms.hhs.gov-
Mandatory Insurer Reporting for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
CDC:
Transcript and Audio for CDC Clinician Conference Call on Maternal
and Child Health Issues Related to the Current Outbreak of the
New Influenza Virus of Swine Origin
|
BTS Releases Fourth-Quarter 2008 Air Fare
Data
Average Fourth-Quarter Domestic Air Fares Drop from Third Quarter
Top 100 Airports: Highest Fare in Cincinnati, Lowest Fare at
Dallas Love
Average domestic air fares in the fourth quarter of 2008 of $347
were 3.7 percent lower than the all-time quarterly high set in
the third quarter but were still the highest for any fourth quarter
on record, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau
of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and
Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported today.
A press release containing information about fourth-quarter average
fares and the Air Travel Price Index, a quarterly measure of
changes in airfares is available at www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm.
Additional information about air fares in the fourth quarter,
including average fares for the top 100 airports, and about ATPI,
including indexes for foreign-origin itineraries and the top
85 air travel markets based on originating passengers, can be
found on the BTS website, http://www.bts.gov/xml/atpi/src/index.xml.
Multiple airport areas for which a single average fare calculation
is available are: Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston,
Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.
|
Stress
Test Finds Strength in Banks
Uncertainty Remains, but Officials Say Most Have Capital to Outlast
Recession
(By Binyamin Appelbaum, The Washington Post)
|
CDC.gov
feature articles on health and safety topics that affect you
are now available.
|
WHO
Updates International H1N1 Situation Including Global Number
of Laboratory Confirmed Cases
|
|
U.S.
Department of State Annual Reception for Donors to the Diplomatic
Reception Rooms
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
April 30, 2009
|
CDC:
Briefing on Public Health Investigation of Human Cases of H1N1
Flu (Swine Flu)
|
U.S.
Soldiers, Iraqi Police Secure Busy Marketplace
Wed, 06 May 2009 11:47:00 -0500
|
|
Fact
Sheets for U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
A new fact sheet, 2009
Military Airport Program Selections, is now available.
|
Local,
Federal Experts To Hold Public Meeting On Mitigation - Dickinson
Wed, 06 May 2009 10:32:13 -0500
BISMARCK, N.D. -- Protecting your home and your bank account
from the ravages of flooding is the main item on the agenda at
the Community Mitigation Workshop 6-8 p.m. MDT Thursday, May
14, at City Hall in Dickinson.
|
NASA
Wins Two Webby Awards for Internet Excellence
Tue, 05 May 2009 23:00:00 -0500
NASA has received two Webby awards for excellence on the Internet.
|
CDFI
Request for Public Comment: CDE Certification Application
May 5, 2009
[CDFI-2009-26]
|
VACANCY:
Public Affairs Specialist CDFI U.S. DEPT OF THE TREASURY
|
|
Friend --
Last week, Congress passed President Obama's
budget. It's a budget that works for ordinary Americans, and
it's all thanks to people like you.
Members of Organizing for America spoke
up and asked Congress to lay a new foundation for American growth
by passing a budget that invests in energy, health care, and
education -- and that's exactly what they did.
But as the President said on his hundredth
day in office, we should be pleased with our progress so far,
but not satisfied. There's so much more work to do, and to get
it done we need to keep growing this movement.
Please take the next step by writing a
letter to the editor of your local paper -- share your story
about how you helped pass this budget, and invite folks in your
community to join in.
Write and remit your letter online by clicking
here.
On election night in November, President
Obama told us that our victory was just the chance to make the
change that we seek.
The work we're doing now is crucial to
enact the reforms our country so desperately needs -- and with
your help, people can understand why.
Over the last several weeks, members of
Organizing for America gave their time and energy to collect
hundreds of thousands of signatures and make just as many calls
to Congress, helping to pass a budget that creates jobs, reduces
our deficit, and makes crucial investments in energy, health
care, and education.
Write a letter to the editor to share that success
in your neighborhood, and bolster this movement the same way
it has grown from the beginning -- neighbor to neighbor.
Passing this budget was no small task,
but we always knew it wouldn't be easy.
The fights ahead will be tougher, and the
stakes will be higher. With the special interests gearing up
to block or water down the President's agenda, we'll need to
count on your active involvement to defeat them, and we'll need
to get even more people involved if we hope to succeed.
Write a letter to the editor now to show
the power of the movement that helped pass the President's budget,
and how much is yet to come.
http://my.barackobama.com/letters
Thank you,
Mitch
Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America
|
National
Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of May 5,
2009
Wed, 06 May 2009 12:47:00 -0500
|
|
Inspector
General Management Reports for U.S. Department of Homeland Security
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
Added two April 2009 reports:
OIG-09-55
- Better Monitoring and Enhanced Technical Controls Are Needed
to Effectively Manage LAN-A (Redacted) (PDF, 31 pages - 914
MB)
OIG-09-53 - DHS Efforts to Address Lessons Learned
in the Aftermath of Top Officials Exercises
(PDF, 29 pages - 596 KB)
|
|
Contact: Katie Grant
Stephanie Lundberg
202-225-3130For Immediate Release
May 06, 2009
Hoyer Delivers Keynote Address on Entitlement
and Health Care Reform
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader
Steny H. Hoyer (MD) delivered the keynote address at a Bipartisan
Policy Center forum, “Unprecedented Federal Debt: Putting
Our Fiscal House in Order,” hosted by former Senator Pete
Domenici at the St. Regis Hotel. Below are his remarks as prepared
for delivery:
“If I were to guess the single most lasting lesson of our
economic crisis, and if I were to spell it out in just five words,
I would say: this is what debt does.
“The recklessness we have seen from
so many consumers, and from Wall Street, found an echo in the
recklessness of the federal government. For years, our government
has lived far beyond its means—and we see now that when
we over-rely on debt, things can turn very ugly, very quickly.
If a fiscal meltdown comes, there will be no one to bail out
America.
“What we face is not just an accounting
issue, but a moral issue. And turning a blind eye to our long-term
challenges would not only be irresponsible—it would be dangerous
to our nation’s continued success. Those of us who know
our government must invest in national security, health care,
education, energy independence, infrastructure, scientific research,
and other priorities have a critical stake in helping us take
on these challenges.
“Today, I want to talk about the hard
decisions it will take to get our fiscal house in order and control
the spiraling costs of our entitlement programs, especially Social
Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. But I come here today with
a good deal of optimism, because never in recent memory has the
American public been so focused on the danger of debt and so
ready to turn responsibility into a powerful political issue.
As a result, we have a very short window of time in which to
act—and the sooner we act, the easier we will find solutions,
both politically and substantively.
“I think we all understand how we
got here. In 2001, when President Bush took office, America had
a projected ten-year surplus of $5.6 trillion. Today: record
deficits and debt. Three things got us from that point to this.
First, massive tax cuts, which brought government revenues down
from 20.9% of GDP when President Bush took office, to 16.5% of
GDP when President Obama took office. Second, a spending explosion,
including massive increases in defense spending and a new prescription
drug entitlement; over the same time frame, total government
spending went from 18.4% of GDP to 24.9% of GDP. Third, and most
recent, is the economic collapse and the deficit spending that
came in response.
“Today, we are looking at a fiscal
year 2009 deficit of $1.7 trillion. And our debt has never been
higher: collectively, we owe $11 trillion dollars, and more than
$3 trillion of that debt is held by foreign lenders, especially
China—which, as of February of this year, held $744.2 billion
in U.S. Treasury bonds. Hundreds of billions of dollars every
year—hundreds of billions that could strengthen our national
defense, or help young Americans go to college, or fund research
on the next energy breakthrough—will instead go to interest
payments, merely to keep us solvent.
“But as bad as our immediate fiscal
problems are, the structural problems are greater. If we continue
on our current course, by 2025 the debt held by the public will
exceed the historical high of 109% of GDP, reached at the end
of World War II. By then, the money we spend on interest on that
debt, along with the ‘big three entitlements’ will
equal 18.5% of GDP—and that spending will consume virtually
all of our revenues. The cause is not merely spending that grows
on autopilot, but demographic changes that will see the retirement
of the Baby Boomers and a continued decline in the ratio of workers
to retirees.
“That is our sad, debt-ridden fiscal
state. In my view, our response falls into three categories.
“First is our response to the recession: the Recovery Act
and financial stabilization that are necessary to restore growth
and increase our revenues. I firmly believe that we should not
incur debt as a course of action. But I also believe that government
spending in response to this recession is the least bad option,
because when consumers and businesses are afraid to spend, only
government has the resources to inject demand into our economy.
Still, however you feel about the Recovery Act, it is clear that
recent deficit spending makes restraint even more important in
the months and years to come.
“Our second response came in the budget
resolution Congress passed last week. That budget cuts our deficit
by nearly two-thirds, from 10.5% of GDP in 2009 to 3% of GDP
in 2014. And it makes clear our commitment to statutory PAYGO—the
principle that our government must pay for what it buys. Pay-as-you-go
was essential to the Clinton Administration’s surplus, and
it is essential today. Speaker Pelosi and I have insisted that
the House will not consider any bills on middle-income tax cuts,
the estate tax, AMT relief, or the sustainable growth rate in
the Medicare program unless they include statutory PAYGO, they
are fully offset, or statutory PAYGO has already been enacted.
“I know that many of you here have
reservations about the decision to change the baseline to assume
current policies on taxes and physician payments are extended
without offsets as part of the agreement for moving statutory
PAYGO forward. I share that concern, and would have fought to
maintain the current baseline if I thought there was the will
in the House or Senate or administration to make the choices
necessary to enforce that position. Unfortunately, I have concluded
that is not the case and trying to enforce a position that is
not politically sustainable undermines the credibility of budget
enforcement, much as was the case with the discretionary spending
limits in the late 1990s that were routinely violated.
“I believe that enforcing a more realistic
baseline with a strengthened PAYGO regime will impose greater
discipline than would be the case if we maintained the current
law baseline on paper but routinely waived PAYGO. But whether
or not you agree with our decision, I would hope that all of
you who care about fiscal discipline will work with me to strictly
enforce this revised PAYGO regime and resist proposals that would
result in costs beyond current policies.
“Our third response is, by far, the
most important. That is the structural response—the actions
we must take to confront the imbalance between our commitments
and our revenues that are driving us deeper into debt every year.
We will not bring our debt down if we do not reform entitlements
and rein in the rapidly rising cost of health care.
“I am glad that we have a President
who sees it that way. His talk of a ‘grand bargain’
that encompasses issues from entitlements to health care to taxes
shows a clear understanding of the tradeoffs and sacrifices that
will be necessary. Given the gravity of our situation, we cannot
afford to take any options off of the table, either on the spending
or the revenue side.
“Of our entitlement programs, I believe
we would have the easiest challenge in reforming Social Security.
Here, the options are well and widely understood. We can bring
in more revenues. We can restrain the growth of benefits, particularly
for higher-income workers, while we strengthen the safety net
for lower-income workers. And/or we can raise the retirement
age, recognizing that our life expectancy is significantly higher
today. What is missing here is not ideas—it is political
will.
“The bipartisan trust we need for
compromise has been sorely damaged. And both sides are guilty—Democrats
for using Social Security as the ‘third rail’ for political
advantage, and Republicans for walking away from the table at
the first mention of raising revenues. Neither side has been
willing to put forward realistic, effective alternatives.
“Even if we are going to fix just
Social Security, we need the kind of trust that existed between
leaders like Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill when they reformed
Social Security in 1983 and our tax code in 1986. And right now,
we have a rare opportunity to build that trust. At the White
House Fiscal Summit in February, we heard constructive comments
on Social Security from leaders as diverse as John Boehner and
Dick Durbin—and we saw that stakeholders from the AARP to
the National Federation of Independent Businesses understand
the need for compromise, as well.
“That is not to say that reforming
Social Security should take priority over reforming health care—simply
that we must, and should, deal with multiple challenges at once,
and that the Republican interest in working constructively on
Social Security gives us a real opening for progress, along with
an immediate chance to take pressure off of the budget.
“To be honest, it will be much more
difficult to deal with the entitlements related to health care:
Medicare and Medicaid. But it is absolutely clear that health
care reform is the central part of entitlement reform.
“We have pledged that, in the health
care reform bill we will debate this session, we will pay for
expanded access, so that health care reform does not add to the
short-term deficit. But that is not enough. It is imperative
that we slow the growth of health care spending over the long
term. It’s important to remember that the American health
care system is the most expensive per-capita in the world, and,
compared to the rest of the developed world, it is not buying
us better health.
“The health care debate must be about
both controlling costs and expanding access. In fact, a focus
on controlling costs is what will help us pass health care reform.
But while expanded access will on its own help reduce unnecessary
expenses, it isn’t a magic bullet for controlling costs;
other options for doing so include electronic medical records
and comparative effectiveness research. But reforming health
care will also take many more long-term choices. Discussing the
problem is important—but what we need from you even more
is your willingness to actively support those who are willing
to make those tough choices.
“The political challenges on Social
Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are extraordinary. So I think
it’s very possible that finding a solution will demand an
extraordinary process. Some Members of Congress, including Congressmen
Cooper and Wolf, have called for a Fiscal Future Commission—composed
of Members of Congress and the Administration, experts outside
the government, and those who would be directly affected by entitlement
reform—which would propose solutions and send them to Congress
for a vote. I think they make a strong case. A Fiscal Future
Commission would help protect that process from the political
attacks that have derailed it in the past. This is also a function
that could be handled by the President’s Economic Recovery
Advisory Board, chaired by Paul Volcker.
“Some have argued that creating a
Commission would mean taking these vital issues out of the political
process. But the truth is that Congress has a long history of
inaction on long-term fiscal issues. I do think Congress could
play an important role by debating and amending the Commission’s
proposed solutions, provided that the bottom line stays the same.
And even if a Commission never gets off the ground, the mere
possibility of a Commission could spur Congress to act, just
as the threat of a Balanced Budget Amendment encouraged Congress
and the Clinton Administration to balance the budget on their
own.
“So that, in my view, is the extraordinary
work that we can no longer ignore. President Obama said that
we have been called to govern in difficult times—and so
let me close with the two things it will take for us to rise
to these times and govern well.
“First, both parties must work together
in good faith. Bipartisan compromise will build public confidence
that the solutions we agree on are reasonable, and it will prevent
either party from exploiting those solutions for political advantage.
Quite simply, we have to understand one another’s fears—Republican
fears that Democrats will merely raise revenues and then spend
them on new entitlements, and Democratic fears that reform will
undermine the security of those in need and weaken support for
popular programs. Those fears are understandable—but they
should be outweighed by the fear of what will happen if we fail,
if our debts overwhelm us, and if the fiscal meltdown comes.
Republicans fear that taxes will go through the roof and think
that families and small businesses will suffer. Democrats fear
that the programs we value will be slashed, and that those we
most want to protect—the weakest, the least powerful—will
suffer the most. Compromising now is the only way out of that
worst-case scenario.
“But that shared purpose isn’t
enough. Second, and as importantly, we need to engage the public.
Our political system is built to encourage easy decisions. If
the incentives are going to change, the voters have to be the
ones to change them. So to those of us who understand the danger
clearly: Let’s explain the stakes. Let’s make it clear
to anyone who will listen that fiscal issues are moral issues,
that the kind of lives our children will lead are at stake. And
let us seize this rare and precious moment in time.”
###
|
Combating
Piracy
Wed, 06 May 2009 09:24:55 -0500
Senior Defense leaders are echoing the views of Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs Admiral Michael Mullen on how military resources
should be used in combating piracy.
|
Air
Force Green Fuel
Wed, 06 May 2009 09:27:41 -0500
Producing a more secure supply of fuel is a key goal of the Air
Force alternative fuels program.
|
Lynn
Speech at Navy League
Wed, 06 May 2009 10:09:20 -0500
Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn outlined the Pentagon's
2010 budget recommendations and how they could affect future
operations for the US Navy.
|
Afghan
Operations Latest
Wed, 06 May 2009 12:02:56 -0500
President Barack Obama is meeting with Afghan President Hamid
Karzai and Pakistan President Asif Zardari at the White House
today.
|
|
PandemicFlu.gov
Outbreak Monitoring Information for U.S. Dept. of Health &
Human Services
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Health
& Safety Information for U.S. Dept. of Health & Human
Services
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
State
and Local Government Planning & Response Activities for U.S.
Dept. of Health & Human Services
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
HUD Webcasts—May 2009
Tax Credit Assistance Program
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM (Noon Pacific)
Disaster Housing Assistance Program
Thursday, May 7, 2009
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (8:00 AM Pacific)
Recovery Act Webcasts
HUD will produce a series of webcasts regarding the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants the week of May 12th. You
can find a detailed description of each webcast at http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/recovery.cfm
and also find links to submit questions in advance.
You can register to participate in these webcasts at http://www.hud.gov/emarc
Homeless Prevention Program
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (8:00 AM Pacific)
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (8:00 AM Pacific)
Community Development Block Grant Funds
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (8:00 AM Pacific)
Assisted Housing Green Retrofit
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (11:00 AM Pacific)
Public Housing Capital Fund
Thursday, May 14, 2009
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (8:00 AM Pacific)
Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2
Thursday, May 14, 2009
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (11:00 AM Pacific)
Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
Thursday, May 14, 2009
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (11:00 AM Pacific)
--View HUD’s webcasts here: http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/index.cfm
Please note that the links for the webcasts will appear on this
page on the day of the scheduled program.
--If you won’t be available to view the program live, the
archive will be available within 24-48 hours after the program
ends: http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/archives/
--If you are OUTSIDE the HUD network, please view our tips on
watching a HUD webcast: http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/troubleinst.cfm
--If you have trouble viewing the webcast please call 1 (888)
652-6811 for technical assistance.
--If you are INSIDE the HUD network, please view the webcast
on HUD's intranet.
Sam Gallagher
Departmental Web Manager
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
|
|
General
Pandemic Flu Information for U.S. Dept. of Health & Human
Services
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
State
Department Launches American Documentary Showcase to Promote
Contemporary U.S. Documentaries and Filmmakers Overseas
Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
May 6, 2009
|
|
NIOSH
"What's New" list
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
U.S.
Department of State U.S.-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Consultations
II
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani
President Asif Ali Zardari
Benjamin Franklin Room
Washington, DC
May 6, 2009
|
C-TPAT
Announces First Annual Northern Border Highway Carrier Conference
in Buffalo, NY
Wed, 06 May 2009 12:08:01 -0500
The registration for this event will begin in late May 2009 and
this will serve as a preliminary announcement for all those highway
carriers who may be interested in attending.
|
|
Press
Room for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
USCIS Modifies Application for T Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-914)
|
|
U.S.
Department of State: Accepting applications for temporary appointments
in Afghanistan
We are pleased to inform you that we are
now accepting applications for temporary appointments in Afghanistan.
Click here (http://careers.state.gov/ap-jobs)
for more information, to view vacancy announcements, and to start
the online application process. You are encouraged to read the
entire announcement before you submit your application package.
Your application may not get full consideration if you do not
follow the instructions as outlined. Please continue to check
this site as additional jobs will be posted in the near future.
Applicants:
must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
are temporarily assigned to Afghanistan.
must be able to obtain a medical clearance.
must be able to obtain an ethics clearance.
must be U.S. citizens.
Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
We appreciate your interest in a career with the U.S. Department
of State.
|
|
USDA
SEEKS FUNDING APPLICANTS FOR HOUSEHOLD WATER WELL GRANTS
Release No. 0153.09
Contact:
Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384
|
|
New
Funding Opportunities from the National Institute of Justice
for Office of Justice Programs
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
NIJ has released the solicitation "Fundamental Research
To Improve Understanding of the Accuracy, Reliability and Measurement
Validity of Forensic Science Disciplines."
Applications are due June 22, 2009 11:45 PM eastern time.
|
|
Congressional
Appearances for U.S. Department of Homeland Security
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
DoD
Senior Executive Service Appointments/Assignments
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:05:00 -0500
|
|
FAA
Aviation News for U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
The May-June issue is now available.
|
|
Interior
Democrats of Alaska: Weekly Interior Democratic Luncheon on Friday,
May 8 at 12:00pm
Event: Weekly Interior Democratic Luncheon
What: Club/Group Meeting
Host: Interior Democrats of Alaska
Start Time: Friday, May 8 at 12:00pm
End Time: Friday, May 8 at 1:00pm
Where: The Red Lantern at the Westmark
To see more
details and RSVP
|
|
Contact: Anu Narasimhan
Communications Department,
mnarasimhan@uscirf.gov
(540) 230-6670
USCIRF Letter to President Obama Regarding
Meetings with Pakistani and Afghan Presidents
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent,
bipartisan federal agency advising the Administration and Congress,
sent the following letter to President Obama on May 5, urging
him to raise pressing concerns about religious freedom in Pakistan
and Afghanistan during his meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari
of Pakistan and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan in Washington,
DC.
“…the forces that threaten the integrity of the Pakistani
and Afghan states, and therefore, U.S. security interests, operate
according to a violent extremist ideology that rejects tolerance
for non-Muslims and internal differences amongst Muslim believers,”
said Felice D. Gaer, USCIRF Commission Chair. “The United
States can optimize its security mission by working to ensure
respect for religious freedom as integral to the fundamental
human rights of all citizens of Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
The complete text of the letters follows:
*****
May 5, 2009
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I write today respectfully to urge you
to raise concerns about religious freedom and related human rights
when you meet later this week with the presidents of Afghanistan
and Pakistan. Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief
is core to the creation of stable, secure societies and to sustainable
states built on the rule of law. Indeed, the forces that threaten
the integrity of the Pakistani and Afghan states, and therefore,
U.S. security interests, operate according to a violent extremist
ideology that rejects tolerance for non-Muslims and internal
differences amongst Muslim believers. The United States can optimize
its security mission by working to ensure respect for religious
freedom as integral to the fundamental human rights of all citizens
of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
I write to you in my capacity as Chair
of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an
independent federal government commission created by Congress
to monitor religious freedom worldwide and make recommendations
to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress. The Commission
released its 2009 Annual Report last week, and it again recommends
that Pakistan be designated a “country of particular concern”
for the systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious
freedom engaged in or tolerated by the government. The Commission
placed Afghanistan on our Watch List of countries with serious
and troubling violations of religious freedom.
In Pakistan, a number of the country’s
laws, including laws against blasphemy and laws directed against
members of the Ahmadi religious community, have been used to
silence members of religious minorities and dissenters, and frequently
have resulted in imprisonment on account of religion or belief
and/or vigilante violence. Also, in view of U.S. reengagement
with the UN Human Rights Council, special mention should be made
of Pakistan’s continued promotion of the flawed “defamation
of religions” concept which seeks to limit the freedoms
of religion and expression everywhere, while creating in effect
a global blasphemy law. In February, the Commission also publicly
expressed serious concern about the Pakistani government’s
so-called “peace deal” with Taliban-associated extremists,
as we concluded such an agreement would represent a significant
victory for the extremists and could embolden them to expand
their control elsewhere in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Commission’s
concerns sadly are being borne out as, soon after Pakistan’s
Parliament and President approved the deal, the extremists moved
to duplicate their success in neighboring regions of the country.
There is a need to include lessons on tolerance
for the beliefs and religions of others in both nations’
state-sponsored curricula. Further, the state educational systems
must be strengthened, as the current weakness results in schools
operated by extremists being the only viable educational option
for many children.
The Commission has long raised concerns about Afghanistan’s
new constitution which does not protect the right of individuals
to dissent from the prevailing orthodoxy on Islamic beliefs and
practices. This lack of clear constitutional protections for
the freedoms of expression and thought, conscience, religion
or belief has resulted in serious abuses, including criminal
court cases for blasphemy that violate the rights of the accused.
Journalists and publishers either are intimidated into self-censorship
or face severe legal consequences for writing or disseminating
material that is deemed “un-Islamic.” An example is
the case of a student journalist, Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, who
originally was sentenced to death for blasphemy for circulating
material from the Internet about women’s rights in Islam.
Last October, an appeals court reduced his sentence to 20 years
in prison.
Mr. President, the Commission asks that you raise with each president
these troubling limitations on religious freedom and make clear
your Administration’s genuine commitment to fundamental
human rights for all. Considering the role of religious-based
insurgencies in both countries, ensuring religious freedom protections
would help establish the rule of law based on the protection
of all rights. Thank you for considering the Commission’s
views.
Very Truly Yours,
Felice D. Gaer
Chair
|
Chairman
Recognizes National Military Appreciation Month
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:13:00 -0500
|
NCO
Piano Man Brings Calm Over Camp
Wed, 06 May 2009 12:27:00 -0500
|
Codex
News & Comments Requested for USDA Food Safety and Inspection
Service
This information has recently been updated. (See Other U.S. Codex
News).
You may view a copy of the updated information.
|
Press
Conference with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at Cairo, Egypt
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:18:00 -0500
|
Guard
Members From Eight States Practice Contamination Responses
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:29:00 -0500
|
United
States Department of Defense Image Gallery
|
FDIC
2009 Annual Performance Plan
The FDIC is required under the Government Performance and Results
Act to submit to the Congress each year an Annual Performance
Plan that outlines specific performance goals, targets and indicators
for each of its three major business lines (Insurance, Supervision,
and Receivership Management). The FDIC Chairman transmitted the
2009 Annual Performance Plan to the Congress on March 10, 2009.
To review this document, please visit http://www.fdic.gov/about/strategic/performance/2009/index.html.
|
White
House Fellowship Includes Five Servicemembers
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:51:00 -0500
|
McKiernan
Views Incoming Troops as Opportunity in Afghanistan
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:53:00 -0500
|
SBA
Emergency Management Loans - Not Just For Businesses
Wed, 06 May 2009 13:07:48 -0500
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management want
to remind those with damages from the severe storms and tornadoes
of April 9 that loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA) are not just for businesses. The low-interest loans are
also available for residents in the disaster-designated counties
of Miller, Polk and Sevier counties.
|
|
Interior
Democrats of Alaska: Luke Hopkins for Borough Mayor on Wednesday,
May 13 at 5:30pm.
Event: Luke Hopkins for Borough Mayor
"Campaign Kick-off"
What: Club/Group Meeting
Host: Interior Democrats of Alaska
Start Time: Wednesday, May 13 at 5:30pm
End Time: Wednesday, May 13 at 7:30pm
Where: Bobby's Downtown Restaurant
To see more
details and RSVP
|
Media
Availability with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:55:00 -0500
|
|
HUD No. 09-050 FOR RELEASE
Neill McG. Coleman Wednesday
202-708-0980 May 6, 2009
http://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm
SECRETARY DONOVAN ANNOUNCES MAXIMUM
TRANSIT SUBSIDY FOR HUD EMPLOYEES IS ALMOST DOUBLED
WASHINGTON - HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan
announced today that HUD's maximum transit subsidy to its employees
will be almost doubled from $120 to $230 per month. The increase
is provided for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
which President Obama signed into law in February. HUD will provide
the increased transit subsidy benefit department-wide retroactive
to March 1, 2009.
"This significant increase in the
transit subsidy will help HUD employees in tough economic times,"
said Secretary Donovan, "and encouraging the use of mass
transit will reduce congestion and pollution. We are pleased
to have so successfully worked with the union to implement the
increase President Obama signed into law as part of the Recovery
Act. I encourage all employees to take part and smooth their
ride to work while helping our environment."
HUD provides its qualified employees with
transit passes, in amounts approximately equal to employee commuting
costs, not to exceed the maximum level allowed by law. That maximum
will now be increased to $230 per month. The benefit is available
to employees nationwide. Approximately 55% of HUD's 9,346 staff
are in the program and HUD hopes the increases in the maximum
level will encourage more employees to participate. Secretary
Donovan's senior staff worked with the American Federation of
Government Employees Council 222 and American Federation of Government
Employees Local 476 to implement the increase.
Eddie Eitches, AFGE Local 476 President,
who served as chief negotiator on the increased benefit said,
"I appreciate Secretary Donovan's efforts in partnering
on this issue and expect to continue this collaboration not only
to improve working conditions for HUD employees but further the
critical mission of HUD."
##
|
|
SECRETARIES CHU AND DONOVAN SIGN AGREEMENT
TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES WEATHERIZE THEIR HOMES
HUD No. 09-051 FOR RELEASE
Andrea Mead Wednesday
(202) 708-0685 May 6, 2009
http://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm
Unprecedented interagency collaboration
will help save energy cost, lower carbon footprint
WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu today announced
an important step forward in the partnership between HUD and
DOE to streamline and better coordinate federal weatherization
programs. These efforts will make it easier for low-income families
to weatherize their homes, saving money for working families
and creating tens of thousands of new green jobs.
Today, the Secretaries signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate energy retrofit programs
in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The signing
of the MOU today represents the next step in a longer-term partnership
between these agencies, as they continue to make it easier and
more cost-effective for families to weatherize their homes. To
view the MOU, please go to: http://www.hud.gov/recovery/doemoucombined.pdf
This unprecedented interagency collaboration
will help minimize administrative barriers and simplify the process
for residents of HUD public and assisted housing that are seeking
to weatherize their homes under the DOE Weatherization Assistance
Program, which is targeted to low-income households. By eliminating
unnecessary red tape and helping more families weatherize their
homes, Secretary Chu and Secretary Donovan are helping to fulfill
President Obama's goal of making government work better for all
Americans.
Vice President Joe Biden, joined by Secretary
Donovan and Secretary Chu, praised the interagency proposal during
his remarks at a Recovery Act Implementation Cabinet Meeting
in Washington, D.C.
"This agreement is the perfect example
of government coming together in service of the greater good,"
said Vice President Biden. "Thanks to this new partnership,
we're going to tear down the unnecessary barriers in making the
homes of low-income and elderly citizens more energy-efficient
and shred the red tape that too often stands between government
assistance and the people it is meant to serve. In the process,
we'll not only bring down energy costs, but also create new green
jobs that will be the foundation of our economic recovery."
"The Recovery Act made a critical
investment in home energy efficiency," said Secretary Chu.
"But, to help as many families as possible, we need to cut
the federal red tape that tangles up too many Americans trying
to do the right thing. By making it as easy as possible for families
to weatherize their homes, we can create new jobs that can't
be shipped overseas, save families money on their energy bills,
and take another step toward energy independence."
"HUD is committed to making public
housing more green, while keeping it as affordable as possible
for working families, particularly in these challenging economic
times," said Secretary Donovan. "This partnership will
ensure that HUD and DOE together can play a significant role
in the Administration's goal to weatherize one million homes,
while at this same time serving a population in need. I am proud
of the work our agencies have done and look forward to a continued
partnership with Secretary Chu and DOE to make all housing affordable
and energy efficient."
This agreement will also impact tens of
thousands of residents in rural communities -- mostly seniors
and low-income individuals -- who are part of U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Multi+Family Housing Direct Loan Program.
"This agreement will make a big difference
in the lives of many rural residents providing much-needed heating
and cooling, saving money and enhancing energy efficiency,"
said U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack added.
Currently, the income verification requirements
under DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program duplicate the HUD
system for verifying income before providing housing subsidies.
Under this new agreement, the income verification process will
be conducted only once, breaking down bureaucratic barriers to
using weatherization funds in HUD-assisted housing. HUD is committing
to rent stabilization and scope of work requirements consistent
with weatherization requirements.
The Recovery Act provides $16 billion to
the Department of Energy and the Department of Housing and Urban
Development to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes.
The partnership announced today between HUD and DOE will coordinate
funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which received
$5 billion under the Recovery Act. Other energy efficiency efforts
include $4.5 billion in HUD funding to renovate and upgrade public
and Native American housing, as well as $250 million to retrofit
privately owned federally assisted housing. In addition to the
weatherization funds, DOE received $3.2 billion for Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Block Grants for cities, counties, states and
Indian Tribes, $3.1 billion for the State Energy Program, and
other programs.
The Recovery Act funds provide an historic
opportunity for the two agencies to work together to accelerate
deployment of energy efficient and green building technologies
in millions of homes, while helping to create a highly-qualified,
highly-trained, and high-performing workforce. Today's announcement
is only one step in a continued partnership between the two agencies.
HUD and DOE will continue to work together to provide guidance
to public and assisted housing on energy efficiency programs,
develop a common baseline for measuring energy efficiency, and
develop new home energy financing products.
###
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Registry
(IIS): CVX - Vaccines Administered (HL7 Standard Code Set) for
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Oncology
Drugs for U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Selected
New Postings on U.S. Department of Justice Web sites
This page has recently been updated with
the following new items:
The
Federal Bureau of Investigation's Terrorist Watchlist Nomination
Practices, Audit Report 09-25 (5/06/09)
The RSA Cybersecurity Conference: An FBI After
Action Report (5/05/09)
|
Joint
Investigation Aims to Get to Bottom of Afghanistan Incident
Wed, 06 May 2009 15:19:00 -0500
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DepSecDef
Remarks
Wed, 06 May 2009 10:17:48 -0500
|
|
Reports
& Publications for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
New
York Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
U.S.
Department of State: Daily Press Briefing - May 6
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:36:22 -0500
Robert Wood
Acting Department Spokesman
Daily Press Briefing
May 6, 2009
|
|
May 6, 2009
NATIONAL ARCHIVES GRANTS "EXCELLENCE
IN GENEALOGY" AWARDS
Essay contest celebrates 75th Anniversary of the National Archives
Washington, D.C. . . . Acting Archivist
Adrienne C. Thomas has
announced the winners of the National Archives "Excellence
in
Genealogy" Awards. The essay contest was held to celebrate
both the
75th anniversary of the National Archives and the Fifth Annual
National
Archives Genealogy Fair. The awards recognize significant achievements
in genealogy research, based on genealogical records from the
National
Archives. Acting Archivist Adrienne C. Thomas presented these
awards at
the Fifth Annual Genealogy Fair at the National Archives Building
in
Washington, DC, on April 22, 2009.
First place ($1,000 award) was awarded
to Myron McGhee of Decatur, GA,
who is a Library and Information Science Masters student at Valdosta
State University, Valdosta, GA. Mr. McGhee's essay, "The
Use of
National Archives Holdings for Genealogical Research," traces
his
family's ancestry using Federal, state, and local government
records.
Second place ($500 award) was awarded to
Stephanie D. Smith of Richtor
Park, IL, who is studying intellectual property law at the John
Marshall
Law School, Chicago, IL. Ms. Smith's essay, "Resounding
Resonance:
Heeding the Call of My Male Ancestors," details her use
of Federal
census, military service, and pension records to trace her family
history.
The National Archives is known worldwide
as a treasure chest of
genealogical information. Each year, millions of people use Federal
records in the National Archives to search for their family roots.
Census schedules, ship passenger arrival lists, citizenship papers,
military pension files, land patents, and court records offer
detailed
evidence to flesh out family histories. Information about National
Archives holdings relating to genealogy can be found at
http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/.
This competition provided an
opportunity for students to share their research "treasures"
with
the public.
# # #
For press information contact the National
Archives Public Affairs
staff at 202-357-5326.
09-78
|
Department
of Defense 2010 Budget Preview
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:48:40 -0500
A preview from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on the 2010
Defense Budget.
|
Walking
The Talk Of Long-Term Mississippi Recovery
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:31:48 -0500
BILOXI, Miss. -- Recovery from Hurricane Katrina can feel like
a long and winding road, filled, at times, with potholes and
other surprises. But there's a team intent on straightening and
smoothing out that road - especially as it leads to affordable
housing. It's the Long Term Community Recovery staff of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
|
VACANCY:
09-183, Information Technology Specialist (Business Analyst),
CT-2210-12/13 CTFC.GOV
Office of Information and Technology Services, Washington, DC
Closes May 20, 2009
|
|
Atlanta
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
U.S.
Department of State Update on Silva Harotonian
Bureau of Public Affairs
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
|
NRC
to Discuss 2008 Performance Assessment for Prairie Island Nuclear
Power Plant
|
The opt-out lists for the FDIC Debt Guarantee
Program and Transaction Account Guarantee Program have been updated.
Visit: http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/TLGP/optout.html
|
|
USCIS
Form Updates for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status. New version,
dated 3/30/09. Prior versions will not be accepted after 6/6/09.
|
Secretary Chu Announces Funding for 71
University-Led Nuclear Research and Development Projects
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today
announced the selection of 71 university research project awards
as part of the Department of Energy’s investments in cutting-edge
nuclear energy research and development (R&D). Under the
Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), these 71 projects will
receive approximately $44 million over three years to advance
new nuclear technologies in support of the nation’s energy
goals. By helping to develop the next generation of advanced
nuclear technologies, the Nuclear Energy University Program will
play a key role in addressing the global climate crisis and moving
the nation toward greater use of nuclear energy.
“As a zero-carbon energy source, nuclear power must be part
of our energy mix as we work toward energy independence and meeting
the challenge of global warming,” said Secretary Chu. “The
next generation of nuclear power plants – with the highest
standards of safety, efficiency and environmental protection
– will require the latest advancements in nuclear science
and technology. These research and development university awards
will ensure that the United States continues to lead the world
in the nuclear field for years to come.”
Selected R&D projects include 31 U.S. universities that will
act as lead research institutions for projects in more than 20
states. Other universities, industries, and national laboratories
will serve as collaborators and research partners. Under the
Nuclear Energy University Program, DOE will support projects
in the following nuclear energy research fields: the Advanced
Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), the Next Generation Nuclear Plant
(NGNP) also known as Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems, Investigator-Initiated
Research (IIR), and Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS).
In keeping with the Obama Administration’s commitment to
training the next generation of American scientists, Secretary
Chu also announced that DOE is accepting applications for individual
nuclear science and engineering scholarships and fellowships
under the Nuclear Energy University Program. As part of the Department’s
efforts to recruit and train the next generation of nuclear scientists
and engineers, DOE is offering approximately $2.9 million in
university fellowships and scholarships to support students entering
the nuclear science and engineering fields. Further details on
the Request for Applications are available at: www.caesenergy.org.
Contracts for the R&D projects are expected to be awarded
by September 30, 2009 by the Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA),
a Management and Operating contractor for DOE at the Idaho National
Laboratory (INL).
More information about the 71 research and development awards
is available HERE.
|
|
Boston
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
DoD
to Conduct Briefs for Fiscal 2010 Budget Request
Wed, 06 May 2009 15:59:00 -0500
|
|
Washington
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
Teacher
of Year Works to Connect Educators Worldwide
Wed, 06 May 2009 16:14:00 -0500
|
|
Sacramento
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
Afghanistan,
Pakistan Vow to Increase Cooperation
Wed, 06 May 2009 16:22:00 -0500
|
|
Denver
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Indianapolis
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Seattle
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Ask Congress to Improve the Lives of
Children Worldwide
We need your help to improve child survival
around the world. Despite significant progress in children's
health over the past few decades, 25,000 children under five
years old still die from mostly preventable causes each day.
With the current global financial crisis, vulnerable newborns
and young children face greater challenges than ever.
Our friends at the United Nations Children Fund
(UNICEF) are working to address this challenge and need your
support.
In partnership with the U.S. Government
and the American people, UNICEF has helped cut the world's child
mortality rate in half since 1960, proving that progress for
children is possible. UNICEF now has a much larger goal: reducing
the number of child deaths from preventable causes to zero.
To make progress toward this ambitious
goal, more resources are needed.
Each year the U.S. Government makes a contribution
to UNICEF as part of America's global investment in children.
This annual contribution to UNICEF's regular budget is critical
to UNICEF's work in child survival and development.
With bipartisan support, Congress provided
a contribution to UNICEF of $130 million for this fiscal year
- the highest U.S. contribution ever to UNICEF.
Because of the current global financial
crisis, UNICEF's important work is even more crucial to child
survival. That is why for FY 2010, we will ask the U.S. Congress
to invest $135 million in UNICEF to help save children's lives
and protect their futures.
To gain the needed support in Congress,
UNICEF needs your voice to speak up on the behalf of children
worldwide.
Please urge your Members of Congress to support
expanded funding for UNICEF today >>
Thanks for all that you do,
- The Change.org Team
|
CSMS#
09-000215 - April 2009 Trade Account Owner Update
Wed, 06 May 2009 16:58:58 -0500
|
Sec
gates visits troops
Wed, 06 May 2009 16:17:54 -0500
Wednesday Sec Gates visits the troops in Afghanistan.
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|
C-SPAN Programming Information for Weds.
5/6 - Thurs. 5/7, 2009
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN Highlights
Tonight:
* White House Press Briefing with Sec. of State Clinton (9pm)
* Pres. Obama, Afghan Pres. Karzai & Pakistani Pres. Zardari
Meeting (9:20pm)
* National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones Press Briefing (9:35pm)
Tomorrow:
* U.S. House: In Session (10am) - LIVE
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN2 Highlights
Tonight:
* House Ways & Means Cmte. Hearing with HHS Sec. Sebelius
(8pm)
* CDC Press Briefing on Swine Flu (10pm)
* Senate Judiciary Cmte. Hearing on DHS Oversight (10:30pm)
Tomorrow:
* U.S. Senate: In Session (Time TBA) - LIVE
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN3 Highlights
Tonight:
* Excerpt: Pres. Obama, Karzai & Zardari; DOD; Sec. Napolitano;
CDC; Sec. Sebelius (7pm)
* Washington Journal: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on Health Care
Reform (7:30pm)
Tomorrow:
* House Appropriations Cmte. Hearing on FY 2009 War Supplemental
(10am) - LIVE
**********************************************************************
|
VACANCY:
Lead Contract Specialist, GS-1102-13/14 (FPL: GS-14); FinCEN
opens: May 06, 2009 closes: May 27, 2009
(You must apply online via Career Connector)
|
DoD
Contracts for May 06, 2009
Wed, 06 May 2009 17:03:00 -0500
|
Today
in the Department of Defense, 5/7/2009
Wed, 06 May 2009 17:03:00 -0500
|
|
DOT
News for Department of Transportation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
NRC
FY2010 Budget Brief to be Held May 7
|
|
FEMA
DMIS SIG Program Live Meeting and Powerpoint Presentation
The Live Meeting recording and PowerPoint
from Wednesday's DMIS SIG Program are now available for download
from:
http://www.disasterhelp.gov/disastermanagement/library/archive/presentations.shtm
|
FDA
Approves New Influenza Vaccine Production Facility
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that
it has approved a new manufacturing facility used to produce
influenza virus vaccines. The facility is approved for seasonal
influenza vaccine production and could be used for the production
of vaccine against the new 2009 H1N1 influenza strain.
|
|
Tax
Division Injunctions for U.S. Department of Justice
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
Military
Continues to Monitor H1N1 Flu Virus's Path
Wed, 06 May 2009 17:34:00 -0500
|
Obama
Encouraged By Afghan, Pakistani Cooperation
Wed, 06 May 2009 17:33:00 -0500
|
|
Scheduled
Events for U.S. Department of Homeland Security
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Resources
on Disabilities from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
Secretary
Sebelius Highlights Two New Reports on Health Care Quality, Says
Improving Quality is Key Component of Health Reform
At a speech before the United Nurses of America's 12th National
Nurses Congress, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today discussed
two new HHS reports on the quality of health care in America
and challenged hospitals to work to reduce health care associated
infections. Published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality, the annual 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report and
2008 National Healthcare Disparities Report indicate that patient
safety measures have worsened and that a substantial number of
Americans do not receive recommended care.
|
|
Mission
& Budget for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Mental
Health for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Contract
Solicitations for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
Cardiac
Patients Take NASA Super Plastic to Heart
Tue, 05 May 2009 23:00:00 -0500
A NASA technology that was developed for an aerospace high-speed
research program is now part of an implantable device for heart
failure patients.
|
Secretary
Napolitano's Media Briefing on H1N1 Flu Outbreak
Wed, 06 May 2009 06:00:00 -0500
Remarks by Secretary Napolitano at today’s media briefing
on the H1N1 flu outbreak
|
|
Nursing
Research for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Evidence-Based
Practice for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
ACE
Portal Application and Program Participation
Wed, 06 May 2009 16:31:27 -0500
Establish an ACE Portal account and access other ACE related
programs, including ACE periodic monthly statement.The new CBP
automated system, ACE, is a growing reality for truck carriers,
importers, and brokers. Stay current on the latest ACE developments,
including regulatory requirements. Apply for an ACE Account today!
|
|
Long-Term
Care for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Technology
Assessments for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
Meat,
Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory for USDA Food Safety
and Inspection Service
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
|
|
NR 2009-47
For Immediate Release
May 6, 2009
Joint Statement By Secretary of the
Treasury Timothy F. Geithner, Chairman of the Board of Governors
of The Federal Reserve System Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Sheila Bair, and Comptroller
of the Currency John C. Dugan
The Treasury Capital Assistance Program and the Supervisory Capital
Assessment Program
WASHINGTON — During this period of extraordinary economic
uncertainty, the U.S. federal banking supervisors believe it
to be important for the largest U.S. bank holding companies (BHCs)
to have a capital buffer sufficient to withstand losses and sustain
lending even in a significantly more adverse economic environment
than is currently anticipated. In keeping with this aim, the
Federal Reserve and other federal bank supervisors have been
engaged in a comprehensive capital assessment exercise--known
as the Supervisory Capital Assessment Program (SCAP)--with each
of the 19 largest U.S. BHCs.
The SCAP will be completed this week and
the results released publically by the Federal Reserve Board
on Thursday May 7th, 2009 at 5pm EDT. In this release, supervisors
will report--under the SCAP “more adverse” scenario,
for each of the 19 institutions individually and in the aggregate--their
estimates of: losses and loss rates across select categories
of loans; resources available to absorb those losses; and the
resulting necessary additions to capital buffers. The estimates
reported by the Federal Reserve represent values for a hypothetical
‘what-if’ scenario and are not forecasts of expected
losses or revenues for the firms. Any BHC needing to augment
its capital buffer at the conclusion of the SCAP will have until
June 8th, 2009 to develop a detailed capital plan, and until
November 9th, 2009 to implement that capital plan.
The SCAP is a complement to the Treasury’s
Capital Assistance Program (CAP), which makes capital available
to financial institutions as a bridge to private capital in the
future. A strong, resilient financial system is necessary to
facilitate a broad and sustainable economic recovery. The U.S.
government reaffirms its commitment to stand firmly behind the
banking system during this period of financial strain to ensure
it can perform its key function of providing credit to households
and businesses.
Understanding the Results of Supervisory Capital Assessment Program
The SCAP Focus on the Quantity and Quality
of Capital
Minimum capital standards for a BHC serve only as a starting
point for supervisors in determining the adequacy of the BHC’s
capital relative to its risk profile. In practice, supervisors
expect all BHCs to have a level and composition of Tier 1 capital
well in excess of the 4% regulatory minimum, and also to have
common equity as the dominant element of that Tier 1 capital.
Under the SCAP, supervisors evaluated the extent to which each
of the 19 BHCs would need to alter either the amount or the composition
(or both) of its Tier 1 capital today to be able to comfortably
exceed minimum regulatory requirements at year-end 2010, even
under an more adverse economic scenario.
The SCAP capital buffer for each BHC is
sized to achieve a Tier 1 risk-based ratio of at least 6% and
a Tier 1 Common risk-based ratio of at least 4% at the end of
2010, under a more adverse macroeconomic scenario than is currently
anticipated.
The SCAP focuses on Tier 1 Common capital—measured
by applying the same adjustments to “voting common stockholders’
equity” used to calculate Tier 1 capital--as well as overall
Tier 1 capital, because both the amount and the composition of
a BHC’s capital contribute to its strength. The SCAP’s
emphasis on Tier 1 Common capital reflects the fact that common
equity is the first element of the capital structure to absorb
loss and offers protection to more senior parts of the capital
structure.. All else equal, more Tier 1 Common capital gives
a BHC greater permanent loss absorption capacity and a greater
ability to conserve resources under stress by changing the amount
and timing of dividends and other distributions.
The Role of the SCAP Buffer
By its design, the SCAP is more
stringent than a solvency test. First, each BHC’s capital
was rigorously evaluated against a two-year-ahead adverse scenario
that is not a prediction or an expected outcome for the economy,
but is instead a “what if” scenario. In addition, the
buffer was sized so that each BHC will have a cushion above regulatory
minimums even in the stress scenario. Thus, any need for additional
capital and/or a change in composition of capital to meet the
SCAP buffer is not indicative of inadequate current capitalization.
Instead, the SCAP buffer builds in extra capital against the
unlikely prospect that the adverse scenario materializes.
The presence of this one-time buffer will give market participants,
as well as the firms themselves, confidence in the capacity of
the major BHCs to perform their critical role in lending, even
if the economy proves weaker than expected. Once this upfront
buffer is established, the normal supervisory process will continue
to be used to determine whether a firm’s current capital
ratios are consistent with regulatory guidance.
The SCAP and the Capital Planning Process
Over the next 30 days, any BHC needing to augment its capital
buffer will develop a detailed capital plan to be approved by
its primary supervisor, in consultation with the FDIC, and will
have six months to implement that plan. In light of the potential
for new commitments under the Capital Assistance Program or exchanges
of existing CPP preferred stock, supervisors will consult with
Treasury on the development and evaluation of the plans. The
capital plan will consist of three main elements:
A detailed description of the specific
actions to be taken to increase the level of capital and/or to
enhance the quality of capital consistent with establishing the
SCAP buffer. BHCs are encouraged to design capital plans that,
wherever possible, actively seek to raise new capital from private
sources. These plans should include actions such as:
Issuance of new private capital instruments;
Restructuring current capital instruments;
Sales of business lines, legal entities, assets or minority interests
through private transactions and through sales to the PPIP;
Use of joint ventures, spin-offs, or other capital enhancing
transactions; and
Conservation of internal capital generation, including continued
restrictions on dividends and stock repurchases and dividend
deferrals, waivers and suspensions on preferred securities including
trust preferred securities, with the expectation that plans should
not rely on near-term potential increases in revenues to meet
the capital buffer it is expected to have.
A list of steps to address weaknesses,
where appropriate, in the BHC’s internal processes for assessing
capital needs and engaging in effective capital planning.
An outline of the steps the firm will take
over time to repay government provided capital taken under the
Capital Purchase Program (CPP), Targeted Investment Program (TIP),
or the CAP, and reduce reliance on guaranteed debt issued under
the TLGP.
In addition, as part of the 30-day planning
process, firms will need to review their existing management
and Board in order to assure that the leadership of the firm
has sufficient expertise and ability to manage the risks presented
by the current economic environment and maintain balance sheet
capacity sufficient to continue prudent lending to meet the credit
needs of the economy.
Supervisors expect that the board of directors and the senior
management of each BHC will give the design and implementation
of the capital plan their full and immediate attention and strong
support. Capital plans will be submitted and approved by supervisors
by June 8th, 2009. Upon approval, these capital plans will be
the basis for the BHC’s establishment of the SCAP capital
buffer by November 9th, 2009.
Mandatory Convertible Preferred under the
CAP
To ensure that the banking system has the capital it needs to
provide the credit necessary to support economic growth, the
Treasury is making capital available under its Capital Assistance
Program as a bridge to private capital in the future. A BHC may
apply for Mandatory Convertible Preferred (MCP) in an amount
up to 2% of risk-weighted assets (or higher upon request). MCP
can serve as a source of contingent common capital for the firm,
convertible into common equity when and if needed to meet supervisory
expectations regarding the amount and composition of capital.
Treasury will consider requests to exchange outstanding preferred
shares sold under the CPP or the Targeted Investment Program
(TIP) for new mandatory convertible preferred issued under the
CAP. In order to protect the taxpayer interest, the Treasury
expects that any exchange of Treasury-issued preferred stock
for MCP will be accompanied or preceded by new capital raises
or exchanges of private capital securities into common equity.
The MCP instrument is designed to give
banks the incentive to redeem or replace the government-provided
capital with private capital when feasible. The term sheet for
MCP is available at www.financialstability.gov.
The SCAP focused on the largest financial firms to ensure that
they maintain adequate capital buffers to withstand losses in
an adverse economic environment. Smaller financial institutions
generally maintain capital levels, especially common equity,
well above regulatory capital standards. There is no intention
to expand the SCAP beyond the 19 BHCs that have recently completed
this exercise.
The Treasury reiterates that the CAP application process remains
open to these institutions under the same terms and conditions
applicable to the 19 SCAP BHCs. The Treasury stands ready to
review and process any applications received in an expedient
manner. For those firms wishing to apply to CAP, supervisors
will review those firms’ risk profiles and capital positions.
In addition, supervisors will evaluate the firms’ internal
capital assessment processes, including capital planning efforts
that incorporate the potential impact of stressful market conditions
and adverse economic outcomes.
Redeeming Preferred Securities Issued under
the CPP
Supervisors will carefully weigh an institution’s desire
to redeem outstanding CPP preferred stock against the contribution
of Treasury capital to the institutions overall soundness, capital
adequacy, and ability to lend, including confirming that BHCs
have a comprehensive internal capital assessment process.
All BHCs seeking to repay CPP will be subject to the existing
supervisory procedures for approving redemption requests for
capital instruments.
The 19 BHCs that were subject to the SCAP
process must have a post-repayment capital base at least consistent
with the SCAP buffer, and must be able to demonstrate its financial
strength by issuing senior unsecured debt for a term greater
than five years not backed by FDIC guarantees, in amounts sufficient
to demonstrate a capacity to meet funding needs independent of
government guarantees.
###
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U.S.
Department of State Remarks on Trilateral Consultations With
Afghanistan and Pakistan
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Remarks at White House Briefing
Washington, DC
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Swedish
Man Charged with Hacking, Trade Secret Theft from NASA, Cisco
Tue, 05 May 2009 08:39:05 -0500
Philip Gabriel Pettersson, aka "Stakkato," a Swedish
national, was indicted on charges of hacking and theft of trade
secrets related to alleged computer intrusions at NASA and Cisco.
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FLOOR SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 7,
2009
House Meets At… Last Vote Predicted…
10:00 a.m.: Legislative Business
Five “One Minutes” Per Side 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Complete Consideration of H.R.
1728 - Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act (Rep.
Miller (NC) – Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule)
Postponed Suspension Vote (1 Bill)
1) H.Res.
14 - Recognizing the importance of the Border Patrol in combating
human smuggling and commending the Department of Justice for
increasing the rate of human smuggler prosecutions (Rep. Issa
– Judiciary)
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U.S.
Food & Drug Administration Enforcement Report for May 6,
2009
Wed, 06 May 2009 16:38:00 -0500
Weekly report by the Food and Drug Administration, Department
of Health and Human Services. It contains information on actions
taken in connection with agency Regulatory activities.
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Hubble's
Eye on the Universe
Wed, 06 May 2009 11:00:00 -0500
JPL’s camera aboard Hubble has taken some of the space telescope’s
most memorable images. The camera will be removed and brought
back to Earth during a Hubble servicing mission this month.
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VACANCY:
Program Specialist (Deployment/Reports), GS-301-09 FEMA
Wed, 06 May 2009 15:39:59 -0500
SA2-274-SAA3 (Closing Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT)
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Gov.
Davis, Eric Garcetti and Asm. Price for Paul Koretz SATURDAY,
5/9!
The Honorable Curren Price joins the festivities!
We're pleased to announce that Curren Price--current
Assemblymember and LACYD's endorsed candidate for the SD-26 special
election--will be coming to the event in support of Paul Koretz!
So come join us this Saturday, meet some
electeds, and get out the vote for Paul Koretz!
--------------------
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Contact: Katie Grant
202-225-3130For Immediate Release
May 06, 2009
Hoyer Applauds Passage of Anti-Fraud
Legislation and Bipartisan Commission
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader
Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after
the House passed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, which
also contained provisions creating a bipartisan commission to
investigate the causes of the financial crisis:
“With today’s passage of the Fraud Enforcement and
Recovery Act, the House continues to take action on measures
aimed at protecting consumers and preventing another economic
crisis from occurring. This bill provides critical resources
to help law enforcement pursue and prosecute mortgage and securities
fraud, both of which combined to propel us into this recession.
“Just as importantly, this bill creates an outside, bipartisan
commission to investigate the causes of the financial crisis
and the current recession, so that we can draw lessons from these
events. By learning what happened, we can work to ensure that
a crisis of this magnitude does not occur again.”
###
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Secretary
Gates
Wed, 06 May 2009 17:35:01 -0500
Secretary Gates speaks to the press in Saudi Arabia during his
visit to the Middle East.
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Today's top Air Force stories include:
Levitow's pilot lands at Peterson for leadership
visit
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123148027
'Continuum of Service' video promotes total
force options
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123147873
CDC confirms H1N1 case involving military
dependent
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123147915
Sheppard officials test synthetic fuels
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123146843
Continuous Process Improvement workshop
held
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123147821
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President
Obama Announces Plans to Provide Settlement Funds for Lawsuit
by Black Farmers Against USDA
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FDA
Approves Fanapt to Treat Schizophrenia
Wed, 06 May 2009 16:00:00 -0500
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Fanapt tablets
(iloperidone) to treat adults with schizophrenia, a chronic,
severe and disabling brain disorder. "Schizophrenia can
be a devastating illness requiring lifelong treatment and therapy,"
said Thomas Laughren, M.D., director of the Division of Psychiatry
Products in the FDA?s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
"Medications for schizophrenia can ease many symptoms, allowing
people to live more independent lives."
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Secretary
Gates
Wed, 06 May 2009 20:26:33 -0500
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks to the press in Saudi
Arabia during his visit to the Middle East.
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Jet
Blue Bargains
Wed, 06 May 2009 15:11:32 -0500
Jet Blue Airlines is offering servicemembers an opportunity to
fly to any of its non-stop destinations out of Washington Dulles
and Richmond International Airports for only one dollar.
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New
Attorney Vacancies for U.S. Department of Justice
This page has recently been updated with
the following new vacancies:
TRIAL
ATTORNEYS, GS-12 THROUGH GS-15 CIVIL DIVISION, FEDERAL PROGRAMS
BRANCH WASHINGTON, DC
These positions are open until filled.
TRIAL
ATTORNEYS, GS-12 THROUGH GS-15 CIVIL DIVISION, FEDERAL PROGRAMS
BRANCH WASHINGTON, DC
These positions are open until filled.
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Phoenix
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation
This information has recently been updated,
and is now available.
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NASA's
Spitzer Telescope Warms Up to New Career
Tue, 05 May 2009 23:00:00 -0500
The primary mission of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope is about
to end after more than five and a half years of probing the cosmos
with its keen infrared eye.
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NASA
Television to Provide HD Coverage of Space Shuttle Launch
Tue, 05 May 2009 23:00:00 -0500
NASA Television will provide live high definition coverage of
Monday's scheduled launch of space shuttle Atlantis on its STS-125
mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope.
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Broward
Young Democrats May '09 Regular Meeting" on Monday, May
11 at 6:30pm.
Event: Broward Young Democrats May '09
Regular Meeting
What: Club/Group Meeting
Host: Broward Young Democrats
Start Time: Monday, May 11 at 6:30pm
End Time: Monday, May 11 at 8:30pm
Where: Gatsby's Davie
To see more
details and RSVP
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Tennessee
Young Democrats 2009 State Convention is May 16th and we want
you to join us!
State Convention featured speaker and presenter
announcement!
Each year TNYD comes together at the state
convention for training, networking and more. This year we are
proud to announce featured speaker and presenter State Representative
Ty Cobb and his campaign team.
The 2008 campaign for State Representative
in the 64th district was one of the most hotly contested and
most watched races in the state. Ty Cobb and his team did what
some considered to be impossible: get a relatively unknown, young
Democrat elected in a mainly Republican district and county.
From the use and implementation of new technology to employing
a base level door to door campaign, the 2008 Ty Cobb team pulled
off a win by using communication, strategy and a LOT of hard
work.
Join us on Saturday, May 16 at the TNYD
State Convention to hear firsthand how Rep. Cobb and his team
did this!
Details:
Saturday, May 16th
10 am until 4 pm
Registration $20 (includes lunch)
Register online at http://www.facebook.com/l/;http://www.actblue.com/page/may16conventionregistration
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May 07, 2009
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