GSA Names Key Senior Advisors to Focus on COVID Relief and Executive Actions

U.S. General Services Administration Names Key Senior Advisors to Focus on COVID Relief and Executive Actions | site |



(Information contained in U.S. General Services Administration press release dated: January 25, 2021)

Washington - - Today, the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Acting Administrator Katy Kale named Zoe Garmendia as the Senior Advisor to the Administrator on COVID and Josh Sawislak as the Senior Advisor to the Administrator focusing on implementing executive actions. “We are thrilled to have Zoe Garmendia and Josh Sawislak on board to support GSA’s coordinated response to President Biden’s critical executive actions, particularly to fight the pandemic," said Acting Administrator Katy Kale. Garmendia brings more than 20 years of executive level experience in strategic management of people, resources and operations. This includes work at the White House, the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the Wisconsi...

Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Rosenworcel announces Staff Appointments and Special Designations | site |



(Information contained in Federal Communications Commission [FCC] press release dated: January 25, 2021)

Washington, January 25, 2021 - - Today, Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the following staff appointments and special designations to the Office of the Chairwoman.

Chairwoman Rosenworcel said, “I have long said that the talent and dedication of FCC staff is unmatched. So, I am honored that this group of public servants have agreed to assist me in leading the Commission. We have a lot of work to do and I can’t wait to get started.”

Travis Litman, Acting Chief of Staff: Travis is an FCC veteran with over a decade’s experience at the agency. He served then-Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s office in different capacities including as Chief of Staff and Senior Legal...

2020 Census Geographic Products Available | site |




California, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Ohio and Oregon



(Information contained in U.S. Census Bureau press release dated: January 26, 2021)

Jan. 26, 2021 - - Today the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 geographic support products for California, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Ohio and Oregon. These geographic products are provided to support redistricting efforts by state and local governments and contain newly created 2020 Census blocks and updated block groups, census tracts, voting districts, and current boundaries for legal governments and school districts referenced to Jan. 1, 2020.

Geographic products are being released on a flow basis from Jan. 22-Feb. 28 for all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The following are also available:

• Released

...

U.S. Department of Commerce Announces First Biden-Harris Appointments | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of Commerce press release dated: January 25, 2021)

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced new appointees to lead the agency under the Biden-Harris Administration. The appointments represent a diverse and accomplished group of individuals who are committed to advancing the economy for all Americans. In partnership with dedicated career civil servants, these key appointments will work to promote job creation and economic growth while also advancing key priority areas for the Biden-Harris Administration, including containing the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the climate crisis, ensuring equitable job creation, and helping businesses and communities build back better. “President Biden is building a team at the Department of Commerce that will deliver on his promise to build our economy back better,” said incomi...

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen Confirmed in a Historic, Bi-Partisan Senate Vote | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of the Treasury press release dated: January 26, 2021)

Washington - - Secretary Janet Yellen was confirmed in a historic vote by the United States Senate as Secretary of the Treasury Department, gaining broad bi-partisan support. The Senate confirmation came days after Secretary Yellen won unanimous backing from both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee. Secretary Yellen has the deep experience to meet this moment and get the economy back on track, strengthen the financial system, and restore jobs. As the first woman to lead the Treasury Department - and the first person to have ever served as Treasury Secretary, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors and Chair of the Federal Reserve - Secretary Yellen is a strong, crisis-tested leader prepared to...

G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Arrest and Detention of Alexey Navalny | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesperson, press release dated: January 26, 2021)

The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union.

Begin Text: We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, are united in condemning the politically motivated arrest and detention of Alexey Navalny. We are also deeply concerned by the detention of thousands of peaceful protesters and journalists, and call upon Russia to adhere to its national and international obligations and release those detained arbitrarily for exercising their ri...

U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Heather Dawn Thompson as Director, Office of Tribal Relations | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] press release dated: January 25, 2021) Washington, Jan. 25, 2021 - - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of Heather Dawn Thompson as Director of the Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) reporting to the Secretary of Agriculture. Thompson is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, a Harvard Law School graduate, and an expert in American Indian law, tribal sovereignty, and rural tribal economic development. With Thompson in place, USDA will return OTR directly under the Secretary, restoring the office’s important government-to-government role. Most recently, Thompson served a member of the American Indian Law Practice Group at Greenberg Traurig, where she worked on federal Indian law and Tribal agriculture. Thompson has a long record of public...

Statement by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Chief of Staff Jenn Jones on New Leadership Appointees | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] press release dated: January 26, 2021)


Statement by HUD Chief of Staff Jenn Jones on New Leadership Appointees

“These last four years have tested our faith in our government, our democracy and at times, our humanity. This experienced team is hard at work alongside fellow career staff to rebuild the department and to increase equitable access to housing for millions of families. With their vast expertise and knowledge and their unwavering commitment to serving the American people, this team will play a vital role in the Biden Administration’s ambitious agenda to build back better.”

Jones announced the following leadership appointees:

Office of the Secretary Chief of Staff: Jenn Jones White Ho...

U.S. Internal Revenue Service says New Law extends COVID Tax Credit for Employers who Keep Workers on Payroll | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Internal Revenue Service [IRS] press release dated: January 26, 2021)

Washington - - The Internal Revenue Service urges employers to take advantage of the newly-extended employee retention credit, designed to make it easier for businesses that, despite challenges posed by COVID-19, choose to keep their employees on the payroll. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted Dec. 27, 2020, made a number of changes to the employee retention tax credits previously made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), including modifying and extending the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), for six months through June 30, 2021. Several of the changes apply only to 2021, while others apply to both 2020 and 2021. As a result of the new ...

U.S. Small Business Administration Partners with National Science and Technology Council to Award $330,000 in Prizes in New Lab to Market Competition | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] press release dated: January 19, 2021)

Washington - - The U.S. Small Business Administration partnered with the National Science and Technology Council’s Lab-to-Market subcommittee to award $330,000 in prizes to the winners of the new Lab-to-Market (L2M) Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem Prize Competition.

The L2M prize competition recognizes the most impactful organizations, programs and ideas that support the research and development (R&D) innovation ecosystems, particularly those focused on underrepresented communities and pandemic responses. The competition’s goal is to encourage entrepreneurship and inclusive, sustainable growth by developing and commercializing technology to improve...