Treasury Announces First State Small Business Credit Initiative Awards to Support Underserved Entrepreneurs and Small Business Growth in Key Industries

U.S. Department of the Treasury Announces First State Small Business Credit Initiative Awards to Support Underserved Entrepreneurs and Small Business Growth in Key Industries | site |




Information contained in U.S. Department of the Treasury press release dated: May 19, 2022 Washington - - Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the first group of plans approved under the new round of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The American Rescue Plan reauthorized and expanded SSBCI, which was originally established in 2010 and was highly successful in increasing access to capital for traditionally underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs. The new SSBCI builds on this successful model by providing nearly $10 billion to states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments to increase access to capital and promote entrepreneurship, especially in traditionally underserved communities...

Federal Communications Commission Announces Third Public Hearing on Broadband Consumer Labels | site |



Information published in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) release dated: May 19, 2022

The FCC today announced the third of a series of virtual public hearings as part of its broadband consumer labels rulemaking proceeding. The hearing will take place May 25, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed free to the public at fcc.gov/live .

To view the Public Notice may be viewed at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-556A1.pdf or press HERE




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Federal Reserve Board finalizes Rule that governs Funds Transfers over the Federal Reserve Banks' FedNow Service | site |



Information contained in Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System press release dated: May 19, 2022 The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday finalized a rule that governs funds transfers over the Federal Reserve Banks' FedNow℠ Service. The final rule is substantially similar to the proposal from last year, with a few clarifications in response to comments. The FedNow Service is a new 24x7x365 interbank settlement service with clearing functionality to support instant payments in the United States and is expected to be available in 2023. The final rule provides a comprehensive set of rules governing funds transfers over the FedNow Service and provides legal certainty and clarity on the rights and obligations of parties to a transfer over the FedNow Service. ...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Roundup: May 17, 2022 | site |




Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) press release dated: May 17, 2022

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Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency:

• Today, the FDA published the FDA Voices: “FDA Seeks to Engage Stakeholders on Key Considerations for a Drug Quality Management Maturity Program,” Michael Kopcha, PhD, RPh, Director of the Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD, Director of CDER. The FDA will hold a two-day workshop on May 24 and 25 for stakeholders to learn more about a quality management program and to engage with the agency. The workshop is hosted by the CDER’s Small Business and Industry Assistance and will include speakers and panelists from outside the FDA to discuss quality management maturity.

• On May 15, the FDA issued

...

U.S. Department of Labor to Offer Prevailing Wage Compliance Seminars Online for Federal Contractors, Contracting Agencies, Unions, Workers | site |




Online sessions throughout 2022 will increase participation


Information contained in U.S. Department of Labor press release dated: May 17, 2022

Washington - - The U.S. Department of Labor will offer online compliance seminars for contracting agencies, contractors, unions, workers and other stakeholders to provide information on the requirements governing payment of prevailing wages on federally funded construction and service contracts.

Offered by the department’s Wage and Hour Division, the seminars are part of the division’s ongoing effort to increase awareness and improve compliance with federal prevailing wage requirements.

The seminars will include on-demand video training on many Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and McNamara-O’Hara...

U.S. Office of Personnel Management Releases Skills-Based Hiring Guidance | site |



Guidance encourages federal agencies to value applicants based on what they can do—regardless of where they learned it


Information contained in U.S. Office of Personnel Management press release dated: May 19, 2022

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released guidance regarding the implementation of EO 13932; Modernizing and Reforming the Assessment and Hiring of Federal Job Candidates. OPM’s guidance represents a major step towards the federal government’s adoption of skills-based hiring practices and is an important innovation in federal hiring, which has historically relied on education and candidate self-assessments as a proxy for a candidate’s ability to perform in a job. This new approach helps hiring managers recognize and value skills regardless of where they were acquir...

Transcript of Press Conference from Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen in Bonn, Germany | site |



Information contained in U.S. Department of the Treasury press release dated: May 18, 2022

Transcript of Press Conference from Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen in Bonn, Germany

May 18, 2022 Thank you for being here. This has been a very productive week already, and I am looking forward to the G7 Ministerial here in Bonn this week. First, I’d like to thank Minister Lindner for his leadership. I have spent the week in Warsaw and Brussels before arriving here in Bonn. The backdrop against this trip is, of course, Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war against Ukraine. My thoughts continue to be with the people of Ukraine as they fight back against Putin’s brutal invasion into their homeland. I was honored to join and hear from refugees that have been welcomed to Poland who we...

U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Announces Resolution of Sexual Harassment Investigation of San Juan Bautista School of Medicine | site |

(Español)

Information contained in U.S. Department of Education press release dated: May 17, 2022 Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) resolved two complaints against San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, a private medical school in Puerto Rico. The resolution agreement will ensure the school’s compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) as it applies to requirements to respond promptly and equitably to complaints of sexual harassment, including sexual assault. The agreement also will ensure that the school uses trained staff to conduct timely and complete investigations of complaints alleging discrimination based on sex as well as race and national origin to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of...

Elizabeth De Leon Bhargava Sworn In as HUD Assistant Secretary for Administration | site |



Information contained in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development press release dated: May 13, 2022

Washington - - On Thursday, Elizabeth de León Bhargava was sworn in as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Assistant Secretary for Administration.

HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge issued the oath of office to Assistant Secretary Bhargava during a ceremony at HUD’s headquarters. Assistant Secretary Bhargava was confirmed by the Senate on May 3, 2022.

“I’m pleased to swear in Elizabeth de León Bhargava as HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Administration,” said Secretary Fudge. “Elizabeth is an

exceptional public servant with a distinguished track record of growing diverse, inclusive, and talented workforces in the...

Agencies announce Public Meeting on Proposed Acquisition by The Toronto-Dominion Bank of First Horizon Corporation; Public Comment Period Extended | site |



Information contained in Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System press release dated: May 17, 2022

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

The Federal Reserve Board and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced a joint public meeting on the proposal by The Toronto-Dominion Bank, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to acquire First Horizon Corporation, Memphis, Tennessee.

The purpose of the public meeting is to collect information from a wide range of stakeholders as the agencies evaluate the proposed applications. By law, the agencies are required to evaluate:

• the convenience and needs of the communities to be served by the combined organization;
• the insured

...

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Rear Admiral (Ret.) Ann Phillips as 20th Administrator of the Maritime Administration | site |



Information contained in U.S. Department of Transportation press release dated: May 16, 2022 Washington - - The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that Rear Admiral (Rear Adm.) Ann Phillips, USN, Ret., has been sworn in as the 20th Administrator of the Maritime Administration (MARAD). Nominated by President Biden on October 21, 2021, Rear Adm. Phillips was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 10, 2022. She is the first woman to lead MARAD as administrator. “From her distinguished naval service to her leadership on coastal infrastructure, Rear Admiral Ann Phillips has championed America’s maritime sector throughout her career,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Her experience and expertise will be invaluable as we address supply chain bottlenecks, implement the maritime ...

U.S. Department of Agriculture to Provide Approximately $6 Billion to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2020 and 2021 Natural Disasters | site |



First Wave of Payments Based on Crop Insurance Data


Information contained in U.S. Department of Agriculture press release dated: May 16, 2022

Washington, May 16, 2022 - - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses. “For over two years, farmers and ranchers across the country have been hard hit by an ongoing pandemic coupled with more frequent and catastrophic natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As the agricul...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Encourages Importation of Safe Infant Formula and Other Flexibilities to Further Increase Availability | site |


Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) press release dated: May 16, 2022 Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is announcing a guidance that outlines increased flexibilities regarding importation of certain infant formula products to further increase the availability of infant formula across the country while protecting the health of infants. The agency is encouraging infant formula manufacturers worldwide to take advantage of these flexibilities. “The FDA is leaving no stone unturned to further increase the availability of infant formula. We are doing everything in our power as part of the all-of-government efforts to ensure there’s adequate product available wherever and whenever parents and caregivers need it,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. ...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Provides New Updates on Activities to Mitigate Infant Formula Supply Challenges, Abbott Nutrition Agrees to Take Corrective Actions at Facility to Produce Safe Infant Formula
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Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) press release dated: May 16, 2022

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is announcing important updates on its ongoing work to increase the supply and availability of infant formula in the U.S. On Feb. 17, the agency warned consumers not to use certain powdered infant formula products from Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan infant formula production facility, and Abbott voluntarily ceased production at this facility as well as initiated a voluntary recall of certain products. Today, a proposed consent decree of permanent injunction between the FDA and Abbott Nutrition, as well as three Abbott principals, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Wes...

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Announces Additional $1.9 Billion in State Revolving Loan Funds for Water Infrastructure Upgrades | site |


$1.9 Billion in annual appropriations adds to $7.7 billion in SRF funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2022


Information contained in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency press release dated: May 13, 2022 Washington - - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1.9 billion in grant funding to the State Revolving Funds (SRF) to accelerate progress on water infrastructure projects. Combined with historic investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding will help states, Tribes, and territories upgrade water infrastructure to provide safe drinking water, protect vital water resources, and create thousands of new jobs in communities across the country. “Our nation’s water infrastructure is in significant need ...

Federal Railroad Administration Announces New Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Program to Guide Nationwide Expansion and Enhancement of Intercity Passenger Rail Service
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Information contained in U.S. Department of Transportation press release dated: May 13, 2022 The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today established the new Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program, which is the first step in an unprecedented undertaking to transform America’s passenger rail network through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Corridor ID Program will establish a pipeline of projects ready for funding – allowing them to be implemented faster and with greater coordination than ever before. The program will serve as a key vehicle for directing federal investments and technical assistance toward new or improved intercity passenger rail services across the nation. "Americans...

Accessing Non-Traditional Technology Vendors Just Got Easier Thanks to New Partnership Between DIU and GSA | site |



MOU Creates Path for Innovative Technology Solutions through GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule


Information contained in U.S General Services Administration press release dated: May 16, 2022

Washington, D.C. and Mountain View, CA – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) that will make it easier for federal agencies to access innovative technology solutions. The MOU establishes a framework for GSA to transition successfully-prototyped DIU technology solutions to GSA contract vehicles.

A Department of Defense (DoD) organization, DIU accelerates the adoption of emerging commercial technology into the U.S. military by lowering the barriers to entry and streamlining acquisitions via their Commercial...

Grand Jury Indicts Didion Milling Inc., Six Managers on Nine Counts related to Five Deaths, Numerous Serious Injuries in 2017 Cambria Corn Mill Explosion | site |



Company, managers attempted to obstruct, mislead OSHA investigation


Information contained in U.S. Department of Labor press release dated: May 16, 2022

Cambria, WI - - A federal grand jury has indicted the operator and six management officials of a Cambria corn mill – where a May 31, 2017, explosion killed five workers and injured 15 others – on nine criminal counts, including two counts related to willful violations of federal workplace safety standards for grain handling. Handed down by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin in Madison on May 11, 2022, the indictment of Didion Milling Inc. and its current and former managers includes counts of document falsification in contemplation of a U.S. Department of Labor, Occupationa...

Remarks by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra at the Global COVID-19 Summit | site |



Information contained in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) press release dated: May 12, 2022

Xavier Becerra
May 12, 2022
Second Global COVID-19 Summit
Virtual Event

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra delivered remarks at the second Global COVID-19 Summit, co-hosted by the United States, Belize, Germany, Indonesia, and Senegal. During the Summit, Secretary Becerra discussed our continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic—getting shots in arms, enhancing access to tests and treatments, protecting the health workforce, and financing and building health security for future pandemics and other health crises.


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U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Obtains Emergency Relief to Halt allegedly Pre-IPO Stock Fraud Scheme by allegedly Unregistered Broker-Dealer | site |



Allegedly, defendants, including persons barred from the brokerage industry, allegedly sold shares they didn’t own, and pocketed more than $75 million


Information contained in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) press released dated: May 16, 2022 Washington D.C., May 16, 2022 - - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it obtained asset freezes and other emergency relief against StraightPath Venture Partners LLC, StraightPath Management LLC, Brian K. Martinsen, Michael A. Castillero, Francine A. Lanaia, and Eric D. Lachow (collectively, the defendants) to halt ongoing securities violations, including allegedly selling pre-initial public offering (IPO) shares they did not own, pocketing undisclosed fees, and commingling investor fu...