Flight Attendant Union Statement on the Boeing 737 MAX Return to Service | site |
(Information contained in Association of Flight Attendants CWA, AFL-CIO press release: November 18, 2020)
Washington, DC (November 18, 2020) — Following the Boeing 737 MAX return to service order by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson released the following statement:
“As aviation’s first responders and last line of defense, Flight Attendants understand that our jobs and our lives depend on this industry meeting the highest possible standards of safety and security. After nearly two years of reviews and the redesign of critical aircraft systems, U.S. regulators are clearing the 737 MAX to resume flying.
"This day is the result of the persistence of engineers and manufacturing workers at Boeing. But this day is also a reminder of why this plane has not flown for two years and the responsibility we all h...
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11-28-2020, 02:31 AM -
Air Line Pilots Association comments on Federal Aviation Administration’s Return-to-Service Protocol for Boeing 737 MAX | site |
(Information contained in Air Line Pilots Association press release: November 18, 2020) McLean, Va.—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) issued the following statement today after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the final Airworthiness Directive and Flight Standardization Board report for the Boeing 737 MAX, paving the way for the aircraft’s return to service after being grounded internationally since March 13, 2019: “Based on the Airworthiness Directive, ALPA believes that the engineering fixes to the flight-critical aircraft systems are sound and will be an effective component that leads to the safe return to service of the 737 MAX. “While ALPA continues to review the specific enhanced flight crew training details contained in the Flight Standardization Board report, the months-long process, in...11-28-2020, 02:09 AM -
Boeing Responds to Brazil’s Aviation Authority Approval to Resume 737 MAX Operations in Brazil | site |
(Information contain in The Boeing Company press release: November 25, 2020)
SAO PAULO, Nov. 25, 2020 – Brazil’s Aviation Authority, ANAC, joined the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today, by rescinding the order that halted commercial operations of Boeing 737-8s in Brazil. Commercial operations for the aircraft type can take place once airlines have met the requirements outlined by ANAC’s order. "Not a day goes by that we don't remember, reflect and rededicate ourselves to ensuring accidents like the ones that led to the decision to suspend operations never happen again," said David Calhoun, chief executive officer of The Boeing Company. "Boeing worked closely with the FAA and ANAC to meet their expectations to safely return the 737 MAX to commercial service in Brazil”. Throughout the past 20 months, Boeing ...11-28-2020, 01:54 AM -
U.S. Department of Labor announces WIOA Guidance on Priority of Service for Americans in Need
| site |
Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor released a Training and Employment Guidance Letter today announcing its vision for a priority of service in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult program and explaining how the Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) expects states to implement the priority requirement.
As outlined in the guidance, the Department will work with states to strengthen state and local policies and procedures that enhance workforce development services to recipients of public assistance, low-income individuals, and individuals who are deficient in basic skills. This follows the Department’s announcement of a tri-agency initiative with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work with states to better coordinate employment assistance programs...11-28-2020, 01:37 AM -
U.S. Department of Energy Announces $35 Million in Funding for Hydrokinetic Turbine Development | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Department of Energy [DOE] news release: November 24, 2020)
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy today announced $35 million in funding for 11 projects as part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) Submarine Hydrokinetic And Riverine Kilo-megawatt Systems (SHARKS) program. SHARKS teams will develop new economically competitive Hydrokinetic Turbines (HKT) designs for tidal and riverine currents. “Hydrokinetic energy is an abundant renewable resource that can boost grid resiliency and reduce infrastructure vulnerability, but it is currently a cost prohibitive option compared to other energy generating sources,” said ARPA-E Director Lane Genatowski. “SHARKS teams will address this barrier by designing new, efficient HKT systems that utilize America’s tidal, riverine, a...11-27-2020, 10:55 AM -
Federal Communications Commission to Host Webinar on Virtual Volunteerism on Dec. 2 | site |
(Information contained in Federal Communications Commission [FCC] release: November 24, 2020)
The FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau will host a webinar on Virtual Volunteerism: leveraging broadband to match individual volunteers with nonprofit organizations and provide services. The free webinar will begin Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. ET.
Editor's note: The FCC Public Notice detailing the webinar may be viewed at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachme...C-368347A1.pdf or press HERE
11-27-2020, 10:36 AM -
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Issues New Policy on Dry Heat for Reuse of Certain Respirators | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration press release: November 25, 2020)
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance on the use of dry heat to help support the single-user reuse of certain particulate filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), such as N95 respirators, by health care personnel when there is a limited supply of respirators during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The immediately-in-effect guidance provides the FDA’s thinking and recommendations regarding the use of bioburden reduction systems that use dry heat to reduce the bioburden, or amount of microorganisms present, on certain respirators for reuse by a single user. Bioburden reduction systems are intended to achieve a certain level in microbial reduction on a device; these are not decontamina...11-27-2020, 10:13 AM -
U.S. Internal Revenue Service says Special $300 Tax Deduction helps most People give to Charity this Year – Even if they Don’t Itemize | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Internal Revenue Service [IRS] press release: November 25, 2020) WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers of a special new provision that will allow more people to easily deduct up to $300 in donations to qualifying charities this year. Following special tax law changes made earlier this year, cash donations of up to $300 made before December 31, 2020, are now deductible when people file their taxes in 2021. "Our nation's charities are struggling to help those suffering from COVID-19, and many deserving organizations can use all the help they can get," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "The IRS reminds people there's a new provision that allows for up to $300 in cash donations to qualifying organizations to be deducted from income. We encourage people to expl...11-26-2020, 06:07 AM -
U.S. Department of Transportation publishes Air Travel Consumer Report: September 2020 and 3rd Quarter 2020 Numbers | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Department of Transportation press release: November 25, 2020)
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today released its November 2020 Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on reporting marketing and operating air carrier data compiled for the month of September 2020. The full consumer report and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer . The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency has resulted in significant changes to airline schedules and operations, contributing to airlines’ on-time performance and cancellation statistics in September 2020 and 3rd Quarter 2020. The 10 marketing network carriers reported 345,294 scheduled domestic flights in September 2020 compared to 398,470 flights in A...11-26-2020, 05:45 AM -
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Recognized for Impact on Lives of Blue Water Navy Veterans | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs press release: November 25, 2020)
Washington - - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals has awarded the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Blue Water Navy (BWN) communications and outreach campaign with a 2020 MarCom Platinum Award.
The campaign increased awareness about the BWN Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 which extended the presumption of exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange to Veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. “VA supports BWN Veterans, their families and survivors around the country,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilke. “Ensuring Veterans and their families are aware of the benefits available to them is a priority ...11-26-2020, 04:58 AM -
National Institutes of Health says Fourth Iteration of COVID-19 Treatment Trial underway| site |
(Information contained in National Institutes of Health [NIH] press release: November 25, 2020) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, today announced that the fourth iteration of the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT-4) has begun to enroll hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who require supplemental oxygen. The NIAID-sponsored trial will enroll up to 1,500 patients at approximately 100 sites in the United States and other countries. Participants will be assigned at random to one of two treatment arms of equal size. One group will receive both dexamethasone, a corticosteroid available as a generic drug, and remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral discovered and developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., of Foster City, California. Remdesivir, also known as Veklury, was r...11-26-2020, 04:28 AM -
National Institutes of Health says Fourth Iteration of COVID-19 Treatment Trial underway| site |
(Information contained in National Institutes of Health [NIH] press release: November 25, 2020) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, today announced that the fourth iteration of the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT-4) has begun to enroll hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who require supplemental oxygen. The NIAID-sponsored trial will enroll up to 1,500 patients at approximately 100 sites in the United States and other countries. Participants will be assigned at random to one of two treatment arms of equal size. One group will receive both dexamethasone, a corticosteroid available as a generic drug, and remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral discovered and developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., of Foster City, California. Remdesivir, also known as Veklury, was r...11-26-2020, 04:28 AM -
Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, November 4-5, 2020 | site |
(Information contained in Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System press release: November 25, 2020)
The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Open Market Committee on Wednesday released the attached minutes of the Committee meeting held on November 4-5, 2020.
The minutes for each regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee ordinarily are made available three weeks after the day of the policy decision and subsequently are published in the Board’s Annual Report. The descriptions of economic and financial conditions contained in these minutes are based solely on the information that was available to the Committee at the time of the meeting.
FOMC minutes can be viewed on the Board's website at http://www.federalreserve.gov/moneta...ccalendars.htm
Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee
November 4-5, 2020: HT...11-26-2020, 03:56 AM -
American Hospital Association says, As COVID-19 Cases surge again, four Major Health Care Organizations release Updated Guidance on Maintaining Essential Surgery during the Ongoing Pandemic | site |
(Information contained in American Hospital Association press release: November 24, 2020)
As COVID-19 cases surge again, four major health care organizations release updated guidance on maintaining essential surgery during the ongoing pandemic
Joint roadmap addresses the dual need to meet health care demands for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, along with patients who need essential surgical services; calls for centralized coordinated governmental action to deploy necessary supplies
CHICAGO (November 24, 2020): Hospitals in many regions across the United States are now reporting near or at bed and ICU capacity due to the resurgence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is presenting new...11-25-2020, 08:26 AM -
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Issues Statement on European Central Counterparties Seeking to Register or Request Exemptions From the SEC | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] press release: November 23, 2020) Washington D.C., Nov. 23, 2020 - - The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a Policy Statement and Guidance focused on central counterparties (CCPs) authorized under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) that may seek to access and operate in the U.S. securities markets. The Statement provides transparency into the Commission’s processes and highlights efficient ways that CCPs based in the European Union (EU) can register as a clearing agency or request exemptions from certain requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The SEC has a longstanding and collaborative relationship with its European counterparts with respect to supervision and enforcement of regulate...11-25-2020, 06:37 AM -
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: November 24, 2020 | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] press release: November 24, 2020)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the following actions taken in its ongoing response effort to the COVID-19 pandemic:- The FDA today published Face Masks, Including Surgical Masks, and Respirators for COVID-19, a comprehensive new page on FDA.gov with answers to frequently asked questions about face masks, surgical masks, and respirators. The topics covered in this new page include:
- The basics on face masks, surgical masks, and respirators
- Using face masks, surgical masks, and respirators
- Shortages of face masks, surgical masks, and respirators during COVID-19
- The Emergency Use Authorizations for face masks, surgical masks, and respirators
- Manufacturing and importing face masks, surgical masks, and respirators during
11-25-2020, 05:42 AM - The FDA today published Face Masks, Including Surgical Masks, and Respirators for COVID-19, a comprehensive new page on FDA.gov with answers to frequently asked questions about face masks, surgical masks, and respirators. The topics covered in this new page include:
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U.S. Reinforces Commitment to Secure, Stable, Democratic, and Self-Reliant Afghanistan at 2020 Conference | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesperson press release fact sheet: November 24, 2020)
The United States participated in the 2020 Afghanistan Conference on November 23-24, the sixth quadrennial gathering to coordinate international development support for Afghanistan. The conference was hosted virtually by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Government of Finland, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. At the conference, the United States emphasized its commitment to a secure, stable, democratic, and self-reliant Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors, and underscored the following:- The United States has announced the availability of up to approximately $600 million in civilian assistance for Afghanistan for calendar year
11-25-2020, 12:22 AM -
U.S. Internal Revenue Service says Get Ready for Taxes: Steps to take Now to make Tax Filing easier in 2021 | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Internal Revenue Service [IRS] press release: November 24, 2020)
Washington – The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers to take necessary actions this fall to help file federal tax returns timely and accurately in 2021.
This is the second in a series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. A special page, updated and available on IRS.gov, outlines steps taxpayers can take now to make tax filing easier in 2021. 2020 has been a busy year, with a lot of changes. To make sure taxpayers don't miss out on tax benefits or make mistakes, they can take a few simple steps now to make filing their taxes easier in 2021. An important first step to getting taxes ready is to gather all tax records. Having records organized makes preparing a tax return easier. It...11-24-2020, 11:22 PM -
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launches Recovery Housing Program to aid Americans recovering from Substance Abuse | site |
The pilot program would provide housing and stability to those who are currently in recovery from substance abuse disorder
(Information contained in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development press release: November 24, 2020)
Washington - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced the publication of the Notice for HUD’s pilot Recovery Housing Program (RHP). The program was authorized by the SUPPORT Act to provide stable, temporary housing to individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. RHP is funding 25 grantees, 24 states and the District of Columbia, whose age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths was above the national overdose mortality rate. “As a Nation, we need to remove the stigma associated with substance-use disorder, m...11-24-2020, 10:39 PM -
Statement from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Chief of Staff Brian Harrison on Efforts to Increase Transparency at HHS | site |
(Information contained in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release: November 24, 2020)
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through a Notice published in the Federal Register announced a policy to enhance transparency at HHS by requiring that all assumptions, working papers, models, and other information used as part of any impact analysis associated with a rule or demonstration project are shared at the time the results of that analysis are publicly disclosed. HHS Chief of Staff Brian Harrison issued the following statement:
“We are providing needed transparency by requiring the Department to show its math so the American people can know and challenge the methods government uses to calculate effects of regulations it imposes on them.”
Frequently...11-24-2020, 09:24 PM