FDA Approves First Oral Blood Thinning Medication for Children

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves First Oral Blood Thinning Medication for Children | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] press release dated: June 21, 2021) Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate) oral pellets to treat children 3 months to less than 12 years old with venous thromboembolism (a condition where blood clots form in the veins) directly after they have been treated with a blood thinner given by injection for at least five days. The FDA also approved Pradaxa oral pellets to prevent recurrent clots among patients 3 months to less than 12 years old who completed treatment for their first venous thromboembolism. In addition, Pradaxa was approved in capsule form to treat blood clots in patients eight years and older with venous thromboembolism directly after they have been treated with a blood thinner given by injection for at least five days, and to preve...

U.S. Department of Labor announces Proposed Rulemaking to Protect Tipped Workers; Clarify use of the Tip Credit | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Labor press release dated: June 21, 2021)

Washington, DC - - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to limit the amount of non-tip producing work that a tipped employee can perform when an employer is taking a tip credit. The proposed rule clarifies when an employee is working in a tipped occupation and when a worker has performed such a substantial amount of non-tipped labor that an employer can no longer take a tip credit and must pay the full federal minimum wage to the worker.

The Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers with tipped workers to pay as little as $2.13 per hour in direct wages, while taking a credit against the tips earned by the employee to make up the balance of the federal minimum wage of $7.25...

U.S. Secretary of State on United State's Leadership Role in LGBTQI Movement | site |



Washington, DC, June 21, 2021 - - Today the U.S. Department of State issued a press release in which the Secretary of State spoke of the United State's leadership role in the LGBTQI movement.

The release is located at https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-at-the-atlantic-councils-front-page-pride-edition-virtual-conversation-with-jonathan-capehart-on-pressing-for-equality-engaging-on-lgbtqi-issues-around-t or press HERE...

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Intent to Nominate Representative Xochitl Torres Small to Serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] press release dated: June 18, 2021)

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Intent to Nominate Representative Xochitl Torres Small to Serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development

Washington, June 18, 2021 – “Representative Xochitl Torres Small’s nomination to serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing rural prosperity. Her nomination is responsive to rural stakeholders and Congress; both have emphasized the importance of having a dedicated advocate for rural communities among the Department’s Subcabinet. As the daughter of migrant farm workers and a native of rural New Mexico, Torres Small represents the heart...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Award 200 Million Dollars for Disease Intervention Specialist Workforce | site |



Funding awarded to 59 jurisdictions as part of the $1.13 billion investment over the next five years as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021


(Information contained in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] press release dated: June 21, 2021)

On June 18, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services awarded 59 jurisdictions with $200 million to bolster support and enhance the disease intervention specialists (DIS) workforce. These awards represent the initial funding of the $1.13 billion investment being made over the next five years, consistent with the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and will provide these jurisdiction public health programs and CDC with the...

U.S. Education Secretary Cardona Holds Virtual Roundtable with Early Childhood Stakeholders to Discuss Priorities for Early Learning | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of Education press release dated: June 15, 2021) Today, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona held a virtual roundtable conversation with a diverse group of early childhood stakeholders and leaders who bring perspective from the experiences of early educators, families, and communities during the public health emergency. Today's conversation will help inform the Department's early learning priorities. Topics that the early childhood stakeholders discussed included the early educator workforce, childcare and pre-K, early intervention and early childhood special education services, and family supports. Secretary Cardona opened the discussion saying, "We know that this upcoming year is going to be critically important, and this conversation t...

IRS unveils Online Tool to help Low-income Families register for Monthly Child Tax Credit Payments | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Internal Revenue Service [IRS] press release dated: June 14, 2021)

Washington - - The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today unveiled an online Non-filer Sign-up tool designed to help eligible families who don't normally file tax returns register for the monthly Advance Child Tax Credit payments, scheduled to begin July 15. This tool, an update of last year's IRS Non-filers tool, is also designed to help eligible individuals who don't normally file income tax returns register for the $1,400 third round of Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may have missed. Developed in partnership with Intuit and delivered through the Free File Alliance, this tool provides a fr...

Federal Communications Commission offers Guidance on Connected Care Pilot Program; Announces 36 newly approved Projects | site |




$100 Million Program Will Support Connected Care Service Across Country, Focus on Low-Income and Veteran Patients


(Information contained in Federal Communications Commission [FCC] press release dated: June 17, 2021) Washington, June 17, 2021 - - Today the Federal Communications Commission approved a Report and Order offering further guidance on the administration of its $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program, including guidance on eligible services, competitive bidding, invoicing, and data reporting for selected participants, which will enable applicants selected for the Pilot Program to begin their projects. Additionally, the FCC this week voted to approve 36 additional pilot projects for a total of over $31 million in funding. The newly selected Pilot projects join an initial set of 23 p...

U.S. Department of Education Confirms Title IX Protects Students from Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Education press release dated: June 16, 2021)

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights today issued a Notice of Interpretation explaining that it will enforce Title IX's prohibition on discrimination on the basis of sex to include: (1) discrimination based on sexual orientation; and (2) discrimination based on gender identity. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity offered by a recipient of federal financial assistance. The Department's interpretation stems from the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, issued one year ago this week, in which the Supreme Court recognized that it is impossible to discriminate against a p...

Veterans Affairs Secretary statement on Richard Stone, M.D. stepping down as Acting Under Secretary for Health | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] press release dated: June 10, 2021) The contributions of Dr. Richard Stone, Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. to the country and Department of Veterans Affairs are immeasurable. I admire and rely on him a great deal and have been discussing this important assignment and his role with him for months. I respect his decision to leave, especially given the reason he told me he would do so: to ensure the incoming Under Secretary, whom I strongly believe needs to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, has the opportunity to fully assume leadership of the Veterans Health Administration. We owe Dr. Stone an immense debt of gratitude for his leadership, especially during the pandemic. When COVID-19 first began to spread, Dr. Stone was among the first people Veterans and their...

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Report Shows Child Drownings Remain High; Most Fatalities to Children Under Five | site |




Fewer Kids Took Swim Lessons During COVID-19 Pandemic Putting Them at Risk


(Information contained in U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission press release dated: June 8, 2021)

Washington - - The annual drowning and submersion report released today by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds families to make water safety a priority, particularly as they return to community pools and resume warm-weather activities near water. Child drownings remain the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages one to four years old.

CPSC’s latest data show:

• an increase in pool-or spa-related fatal drowning incidents among children younger than 15 years old;
• on average, there were 397 reported pool-or-spa-related fatal drownings per

...

Renee Jones to Join SEC as Director of Corporation Finance; John Coates Named SEC General Counsel | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] press release dated: June 14, 2021)

Washington D.C., June 14, 2021 - - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Renee Jones has been appointed Director of the Division of Corporation Finance. John Coates, the Division’s current Acting Director, has been named SEC General Counsel. Both appointments are effective June 21, 2021.


Renee Jones

Jones most recently served as Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Boston College Law School, where she taught courses in corporations, securities regulation, startup company governance, and financial regulation. Previously, she represented private and public companies on corporate and securities matters at Hill & Barlow law firm. Jones is a member of the...

Boeing Statement on U.S.-EU Understanding on Aircraft Subsidies | site |



(Information contained in The Boeing Company press release dated: June 15, 2021)


Chicago, June 15, 2021— Boeing today released the following statement:

“Boeing welcomes the agreement by Airbus and the European Union that all future government support for the development or production of commercial aircraft must be provided on market terms. The understanding reached today commits the EU to addressing launch aid, and leaves in place the necessary rules to ensure that the EU and United States live up to that commitment, without requiring further WTO action. Boeing will fully support the U.S. Government’s efforts to ensure that the principles in this understanding are respected.”...

Statement by Miguel Cardona Secretary of Education on the U.S. Department of Education Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of Education press release dated: June 16, 2021)

Statement by Miguel Cardona Secretary of Education on the U.S. Department of Education Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request

Good morning Chairwoman Murray and Ranking Member Blunt. I am pleased to join you today, and I am proud to testify on behalf of President Biden's fiscal year 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Education. The full fiscal year 2022 Budget Request, which was released a little over two weeks ago, makes good on President Biden's campaign commitment to reverse years of underinvestment in Federal education programs and would begin to address the significant inequities that millions of students—primarily students of color—and teachers confront every day i...

Federal Trade Commission Approves Final Administrative Consent Order Against Amazon for Withholding Customer Tips from Amazon Flex Drivers | site |


(Information contained in Federal Trade Commission [FTC] press release dated: June 10, 2021)

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final administrative consent order against Amazon, which has agreed to pay more than $61.7 million to settle charges that it failed to pay Amazon Flex drivers the full amount of tips they received from Amazon customers over a two and a half year period.

According to the FTC’s administrative complaint, announced in February 2021, the company regularly advertised that drivers participating in the Flex program would be paid $18-25 per hour for their work making deliveries to customers. The ads, along with numerous other documents provided to Flex drivers, also prominently featured statements such as: “You...

Interior and Commerce Departments Restore Lands to the Native Hawaiian Community | site |




Transfer of Surplus Federal Land to the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust Could Provide Up To 400 New Homesteads for Native Hawaiian Families



(Information contained in U.S. Department of the Interior press release dated: June 14, 2021) Washington - - As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to honor relationships with Indigenous communities and uphold trust responsibilities, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves today announced the transfer of an 80-acre parcel of surplus federal property at the former NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center on O‘ahu for inclusion in the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust. The land has the potential to provide homesteads for 200 to 400 Native Hawaiian families. The lands are being transferred to the state of Hawaii’s Department of Hawaiian Home Lands ...

Adrianne Todman Sworn in as Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] press release dated: June 14, 2021)

Washington - - Today, Adrianne Todman was officially sworn in as the twelfth Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge issued the oath of office to Deputy Secretary Todman during a ceremony at HUD’s headquarters that was livestreamed to the department’s staff. Deputy Secretary Todman was confirmed by the Senate by unanimous consent on June 10.

Deputy Secretary Todman most recently served as the CEO of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). Before

Adrianne Todman Sworn in as Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Photo courtesy HUD)

...

Testimony of Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen to the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of the Treasury press release dated: June 17, 2021)

Testimony of Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen to the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives

Chairman Neal, Ranking Member Brady, it’s a pleasure to be with you. When I took office back in January, the first – and most urgent – problem confronting our economy was obviously the pandemic: helping people make it to the other side of the crisis and ensuring they were met there by a robust recovery. Thanks to this Congress – and its passage of the American Rescue Plan – I believe we are well on our way towards that goal. But we have to be clear-eyed about something: The pandemic was not our only economic problem. Long before a single American was infected w...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Selects 2021 Class of E. Kika De La Garza Fellows | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] press release dated: June 17, 2021) Washington, June 17, 2021 - - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the selection of 25 faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) across the nation as 2021 E. Kika De La Garza Fellows. This summer fellowship program offers experiences in policymaking and research through direct interaction with every USDA agency. “These fellowships have multiple benefits for minority-serving higher education institutions,” said Lisa Ramirez, director of USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. “The fellows get valuable professional development, they meet federal staff for long-term collaboration opportunities, and then they share what they learned with students and colleagues at their home institutions.” The f...

Federal Reserve Board and Federal Open Market Committee release Economic Projections from the June 15-16 FOMC Meeting | site |




(Information contained in Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System press release dated: June 16, 2021)

The attached tables and charts released on Wednesday summarize the economic projections made by Federal Open Market Committee participants in conjunction with the June 15-16 meeting.

Projections (PDF) | Accessible Materials...

U.S. Department of Labor announces availability of more than $21 Million in Grants for Training on Workplace Hazards, Infectious Diseases | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Labor press release dated: June 17, 2021)

Washington, DC - - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding opportunities for more than $21 million in Occupational Safety and Health Administration training grants for non-profit organizations.

The first availability will provide $10 million under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021for Workplace Safety and Health Training on Infectious Diseases, including the Coronavirus grants.

To be eligible for these grants, applicants must develop training that focuses on four program emphasis areas:

• Identifying and preventing workplace-related infectious diseases, including the coronavirus, in industries with high illness rates, those employing frontline workers or those serving

...

U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey Phase 3.1 Biweekly Data Release | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Census Bureau press release dated: June 16, 2021)

June 16, 2021 - - The U.S. Census Bureau today released new data from phase 3.1 of the experimental Household Pulse Survey. Phase 3.1 includes substantial revisions to the questionnaire. Additional questions address the following new topics: disability, child health access, telehealth and child care. Also included are demographic questions to identify service members and military spouses, and questions to classify respondents employed in “essential” worker occupations. The Household Pulse Survey is the result of an effort by the Census Bureau and other federal statistical agencies to provide data on how individuals are experiencing business curtailment and closures, stay-at-home orders, school disruptions, changes in the availability of consumer goods and consumer...

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responds with Record Number of Fourth Mission Assignments to assist America during Pandemic | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] press release dated: June 17, 2021)

Washington - - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, since March 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs has completed 150 Fourth Mission assignments nationwide.

COVID-19 mission assignments are carried out in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

Assignments range in scope from:

• Deploying staff to other VA facilities.

• Placing VA staff in community medical and long-term care facilities.

• Caring for civilian in-patients at VA facilities.

• Helping local governments in need of COVID-19 testing, vaccines and staff.

“VA nurses, doctors and other staff have volunteered for more than 5,000 deployments supporting missions in State Veterans Homes,...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo Statement on the Conclusion of the 2021 SelectUSA Investment Summit | site |



U.S. Department of Commerce said, "This year’s Investment Summit was the largest in its history with representatives from every U.S. state and territory participating for the first time ever"


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Commerce press release dated: June 11, 2021) On the final day of the 2021 SelectUSA Investment Summit, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo released the following statement: “The United States offers unmatched diversity, a culture of innovation, and the world’s most productive workforce to global companies of all sizes looking to grow and succeed in the U.S. market. This week’s Investment Summit showcased that America is back and open for business, and I am thrilled to share it was a record-shattering success. “This year’s event was attended by over...

U.S. Department of State Renews Charter of Overseas Schools Advisory Council | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of State's Office of the Spokesperson press release media note dated: June 17, 2021) On March 26, 2021, the Department of State renewed the charter of the Overseas Schools Advisory Council (OSAC) to provide a formal channel for consultation and advice from U.S. corporations and foundations regarding American-sponsored overseas schools. The Under Secretary for Management has determined that renewal of the advisory committee charter is necessary and in the public interest. The Assistant Secretary for Administration will appoint the members of the committee. The committee will follow the procedures prescribed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Meetings will be open to the public unless a determination is made in accordance with the FACA Section 10(d) and 5 U.S.C. 552b(c) that a meeting or a portion of the meeting should b...