U.S. Department of the Treasury Extends Wind-Down Period for United Company RUSAL PLC

U.S. Department of the Treasury Extends Wind-Down Period for United Company RUSAL PLC

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OFAC Issues General License to Mitigate Impact on Parties Affected by Deripaska Designation



Washington, DC - - (April 23, 2018) - - The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today issued General License 14 in the Ukraine-/Russia-related sanctions program.

General License 14 authorizes U.S. persons to engage in specified transactions related to winding down or maintaining business with...

Highlights of Activities of Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen on Day One Meetings at the G7 Security Ministerial

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Toronto, Canada - - (April 23, 2018) - - On April 23, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen joined her foreign counterparts in Toronto, Canada for the G7 Security Ministerial. While in Toronto, Secretary Nielsen met with allies from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom as well as representatives from the European Union to discuss joint efforts to combat terrorism, bolster democratic institutions against outside interference, and hold Russia accountable. Specificall...

U. S. Food and Drug Administration Takes New Steps to Advance the Development of Innovative Products for Treating Opioid Use Disorder

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Editor's note: A "disease" or "disorder" called "OUD" ("Opioid Use Disorder") is highlighted


(April 20, 2018) - - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today the latest action to encourage and support the development of treatment options for people with opioid use disorder (OUD). The agency has released the first of two new draft guidances intended to aid industry in developing new medications for use in medication-assisted...

U.S. Department of Transportation Launches BUILD Transportation Program, Announces $1.5 Billion Notice of Funding Opportunity

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Washington, DC - - (April 20, 2018) - - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program. BUILD Transportation grants will replace the pre-existing Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (T...

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Azar Announces Appointment of James Parker

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(April 18, 2018) - - Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced that James Parker will serve as Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Health Reform and Director of the Office of Health Reform at HHS. Mr. Parker will lead the initiative to address the cost and availability of health insurance. Upon this announcement, Secretary Azar said: “Jim Parker has spent his life working in the private sector to provide Americans a...

G7 Finance Ministers Joint Statement on North Korea

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(April 18, 2018) - - North Korea’s continued development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs poses a grave threat to international peace and security. We remain committed to the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and dismantlement of North Korea’s WMD and ballistic missile programs, but North Korea must match its words with concrete actions. To support this goal,...

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue Statement Regarding Chinese Duties on U.S. Sorghum

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Washington, DC - - (April 18, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement regarding China’s announcement of duties of almost 179 percent on U.S. sorghum imports: “The international grain market is about the freest market there is, and it is ludicrous to even mention ‘dumping,’ because China can buy product from anywhere they choose...

U.S. Department of Labor Launches Webpage to Assist Federal Employees In Filing FECA Claims for Injuries Arising Out of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

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Washington, DC - - (April 12, 2018) - - As part of U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta’s efforts to assist federal employees in filing 9/11 Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) claims, the U.S. Department of Labor has launched a new webpage that provides information on how to file a claim, the key evidence needed to establish a claim, and...

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen to Travel to G7 Security Ministerial

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Washington, DC - - (April 20, 2018) - - Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen will travel to Toronto, Canada to participate in the G7 Security Ministerial on Monday, April 23 and Tuesday, April 24. There, Secretary Nielsen will meet with her foreign counterparts to discuss joint efforts to combat terrorism, human trafficking, and cybersecurity threats. Secretary...

Allegiant Air and Hawaiian Airlines Fined for Violating Airline Consumer Protection Rules

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Washington, DC - - (April 13, 2018) - - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined Allegiant Air $250,000 and Hawaiian Airlines $125,000 for violating the Department’s airline consumer protections rules. DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office found that Allegiant Air failed to provide passengers with disabilities adequate and timely assistance in moving within airport terminals, and did not adequately ...

U.S. Department of Commerce Initiates Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Investigations of Imports of Certain Steel Wheels from China

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(April 17, 2018) - - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced the initiation of new antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations to determine whether certain steel wheels from China are being dumped in the United States and if producers in China are receiving unfair subsidies. “When a trade case is initiated it begins an open and transparent process that allows American companies, workers, and communities to gain relief from the market-distorting effects of ...

U.S. Small Business Administration Recognizes Export Lenders Citibank and Byline Bank

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Washington, DC - - (April 18, 2018) - - The U.S. Small Business Administration today honored Citibank and Byline Bank as the 2018 SBA Export Lenders of the Year, respectively, for large and small lending institutions during a ceremony at the 11th annual SBA Export Lender Roundtable in Washington, D.C. Citibank Senior Vice President Don DiMartini, and Byline Bank Small Business Capital President Bruce Lammers received the awards on behalf of their...

Agencies Propose Transition of New Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) Accounting Standard into Regulatory Capital Framework

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(April 17, 2018) - - The federal banking agencies today proposed a revision to their regulatory capital rules to address and provide an option to phase in the regulatory capital effects of the new accounting standard for credit losses, known as the "Current Expected Credit Losses" (CECL) methodology. The proposal addresses the regulatory capital treatment of credit loss allowances under the CECL me...

Department of Health and Human Services Provides States Second Installment of Grant Awards to Combat Opioid Crisis

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57 grant awards totaling an additional $485 million


(April 18, 2018) - - Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing the second year of funding to 50 states, four U.S. territories, and the free associated states of Palau and Micronesia, totaling $485 million to continue the Nation’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis. “The Trump Administration is partnering with states and territories to accelerate the deployment of this historic level of resources provided by the Congress to fight the epidemic,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “These funds will help support evidence-based efforts at the state level to prevent misuse of opioids in the first place, expand access to effective treatment options for people in need, and support recovery for those who have prevailed.” The Opioid State Targeted Response (STR) grants, which were created by the 21st Century Cures Act, are administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within HHS. Dr. Elinore F. McCance-Katz, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use said, “Within the first year, we have already seen states use the funding to support innovative models to connect Americans with the evidence-based programs and practices proven to help people who have opioid use disorders.” Grantees have used first year funding to implement effective medication-assisted treatment, promote the use of naloxone and key prevention strategies, and build sustainable systems of recovery support services across the country. Prevention efforts include communications campaigns along with use of proven community-based strategies. People in recovery, friends, and family members with personal experience are helping enhance recovery support. This funding is just one more step in implementing HHS’ comprehensive five-pronged strategy to address the o...

U.S. Department of Labor Holds Seminar on Prevailing Wage Requirements for Employers Seeking Federal Construction and Service Contracts

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Kansas City, MO - - (April 18, 2018) - - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) opened registration for a comprehensive compliance seminar for federal contractors, unions, and workers on the rules governing federal prevailing wage requirements. Attendance is free, but pre-registration is required. WHD will hold the training on June 12-14 at the Holiday Inn-Country Club Plaza,...

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen Joins President Trump at Jiatf-South to Discuss Efforts to Stop Drugs and Criminals from Entering Our Country

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April 19, 2018


In order to discuss efforts to stop drugs and criminals from entering the U.S.A., this week Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen joined President Donald J. Trump and senior U.S. officials at the Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) in Key West, Florida. The purpose of the visit was to review the Administration’s...

Nearly $700 Million in State Veterans Home Funding Leads to New Construction Projects

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Funding Represents Largest Appropriation in Program’s History



Washington, DC - - (April 18, 2018) - - Recently the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will use $685 million in funding from Congress to fund several State Veterans Home construction projects through the VA State Veterans...

U.S. Treasury says it has Sanctioned a Syria-based Transnational Human Smuggling Organization

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Treasury says organization is involved in smuggling migrants to the United States


Washington, DC - - (April 18, 2018) - - Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Syrian national Nasif Barakat and the Barakat Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) pursuant to Executive Order 13581, “Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations.” The Barakat TCO is a human smuggling organization based in Homs, Syria,...

Quarter 1 in Review - - Department of Interior Releases Comprehensive List of First Quarter 2018 Accomplishments Under President Trump and Secretary Zinke

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Washington, DC - - (April 16, 2018) - - Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior released a comprehensive list of 2018 first quarter accomplishments that the Department has achieved under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. “Under the Trump Administration, Interior has made incredible strides in creating a conservation stewardship legacy, modernizing our infrastructure, helping combat opioid addiction, securing the southern border, and...

April 16th Update from the Department of Health and Human Services

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(April 16, 2018) - - Today, the Department of Health and Human Services issued the following statement: Earlier today, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex M. Azar II, was discharged from St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana after he was admitted yesterday for treatment of a minor infection. The Secretary has been fully functional during his brief period of observation and has been in regular contact with HHS senior ...