Statement on Change to Definition of ‘Agricultural Products’ in Reporting Trade Data

Statement on Change to Definition of ‘Agricultural Products’ in Reporting Trade Data | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] press release dated: February 19, 2021)

Washington, Feb. 19, 2021 - - USDA and the Department of Commerce decided in December 2020 to change the way they define “agricultural products” when reporting international trade data.

Beginning with the release of the January 2021 monthly trade data on March 5, USDA will adopt the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) internationally recognized definition of “agricultural products,” which includes ethanol, distilled spirits and manufactured tobacco products, three product groups not included in the current USDA definition.

The change was first announced by Commerce in the Monthly U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report released on Feb. 5th. The change is meant to harmonize U.S. trade reporting practices with those ...

Boeing Statement on United Airlines Flight 328 - - February 21, 2021 | site |



(Information contained in the Boeing Company press release dated: February 21, 2021) Chicago, Feb. 21, 2021—Boeing today released the following statement: "Boeing is actively monitoring recent events related to United Airlines Flight 328. While the NTSB investigation is ongoing, we recommended suspending operations of the 69 in-service and 59 in-storage 777s powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000-112 engines until the FAA identifies the appropriate inspection protocol. Boeing supports the decision yesterday by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, and the FAA’s action today to suspend operations of 777 aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000-112 engines. We are working with these regulators as they take actions while these planes are on the ground and further inspections are conducted by Pratt & Whitney. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available."...

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Statement on First Step in Process to Address Individuals in Mexico with Active MPP Cases| site |



Access b-roll of the processing at San Ysidro Port of Entry here.


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: February 19, 2021) Today, DHS began the first step in a phased approach to restore safe and orderly processing at the Southwest Border. DHS and its international partners have now initiated the virtual registration process for individuals who had been forced to return to Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and have a pending case before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The United States is continuing to strictly enforce existing immigration laws and border security measures. Individuals should not approach the border, including at designated ports of entry, unless and until they are approved and receive appointment information...

Census Bureau Statement on Redistricting Data Timeline | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Census Bureau press release dated: February 12, 2021) February 12, 2021 - - The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that it will deliver the Public Law 94-171 redistricting data to all states by Sept. 30, 2021. COVID-19-related delays and prioritizing the delivery of the apportionment results delayed the Census Bureau’s original plan to deliver the redistricting data to the states by March 31, 2021. Different from previous censuses, the Census Bureau will deliver the data for all states at once, instead of on a flow basis. This change has been made because of COVID-19-related shifts in data collection and in the data processing schedule and it enables the Census Bureau to deliver complete and accurate redistricting data in a more timely fashion overall for the states. The redistricting data includes counts of population by race, ethnicity (Hispanic or Lat...

Statement of Acting Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose on California High-Speed Rail | site |



(Information contained in Federal Roadroad Administration [FRA] press release dated: February 9, 2021)


Statement of Acting Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose on California High-Speed Rail

“America has a chance to lead the world once more through innovation in infrastructure-- connecting our communities, creating good jobs, addressing climate change and ensuring equity. Passenger rail development, including world-class high-speed rail, can and must be a part of our strategy to accomplish these goals. As in many other arenas, California has taken the lead nationally to advance high-speed rail, starting an economically transformative project in the Central Valley and assuming the challenges that come with that leadership. The U.S. Department of Transportation looks forward to partnering with California...

Statement by Katharine Ferguson, USDA Chief of Staff, on the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act | site | (Information contained in U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] press release dated: February 9, 2021) Washington, Feb. 9, 2021 — “We are pleased to see the introduction of the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act yesterday in the Senate, a bill that will bring much-needed economic assistance during the pandemic and begin to advance equity for farmers of color. The bill is the culmination of hard work and collaboration among members of the Senate and House and new leadership at USDA who share a common purpose to end inequity in our food and agricultural systems. It’s a bill crafted to address the immediate need for debt relief among those who have been marginalized and are hurting while also advancing long-term issues such as Heirs’ Property, tackling the root causes of discrimination via an Equity Commission, and investing in building back a new ge...

Statement by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on the Historic Impact of Economic Crises on People of Color | site |



Information contained in U.S. Department of the Treasury statement release dated: February 5, 2021)


Today, Secretary Yellen spoke at a virtual roundtable with Vice President Kamala D Harris and participants from local Black Chambers of Commerce from across the country to discuss the importance of passing the American Rescue Plan.

(Remarks as prepared)

Thank you all for joining us. I know the members of the Black Chambers of Commerce have been very engaged in helping us respond to this economic crisis, and I am looking forward to our conversation. I’ve been an economist for a long time, and one of the areas where I’ve focused my attention is on the racial disparity in economic outcomes. It was probably because I started studying economics during the Civil Rights Moveme...

G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Situation in Burma | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of State's Office of the Spokesperson press release dated: February 3, 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 coup in Myanmar. We are deeply concerned by the detention of political leaders and civil society activists, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, and targeting of the media. We call upon the military to immediately end the state of emergency, restore power to the democratically elected government, to ...

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Statement on Equal Access to COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccine Distribution Sites | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: February 1, 2021) DHS and its Federal government partners fully support equal access to the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine distribution sites for undocumented immigrants. It is a moral and public health imperative to ensure that all individuals residing in the United States have access to the vaccine. DHS encourages all individuals, regardless of immigration status, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine once eligible under local distribution guidelines. DHS carries out its mission, including all areas within its COVID-19 response, without discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, or other protected class, and in compliance with law and policy. Further, DHS supports the equitable and efficient distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to all populati...

Statement by Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dat P. Tran on VA easing Economic Hardships for Veterans, their families, Survivors and Caregivers | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs press release dated: January 29, 2021)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is steadfast leading the way in President Joseph Biden’s Jan. 22 Executive Order to deliver economic relief to Americans amid the COVID-19 crisis by addressing economic hardships the Veteran community faces during the ongoing pandemic.

Through no fault of their own, our Veterans and their loved ones continue to face economic hardship due to the pandemic. I want to assure Veterans, their family members, survivors and caregivers that we are doing everything we can to lessen their burden and worry.

Effective today, VA will extend the existing moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until March 31, 2021. VA borrowers...

Media Statement from CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, on Extending the Eviction Moratorium | site |



(Information contained in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] press release dated: January 29, 2021)

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed an extension to the order determining the evictions of tenants for failure to make rent or housing payments could be detrimental to public health control measures to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This extension will carry this order that was scheduled to expire January 31, 2021 through March 31, 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a historic threat to our nation’s health. Despite extensive mitigation efforts, COVID-19 continues to spread in America at a concerning pace. The pandemic has also exacerbated underlying issues of housing insecurity for many Americans. Keeping people in their homes and out of congregate settings — like sh...

Federal Open Market Committee reaffirms its "Statement on Longer-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy" | site |


(Information contained in Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System press release dated: January 27, 2021)

The Federal Open Market Committee, at its annual organizational meeting this week, unanimously reaffirmed its "Statement of Longer-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy."

The reaffirmed statement is identical to the statement adopted in August 2020 following the Committee's review of its monetary policy strategy, tools, and communication practices, which included numerous public Fed Listens events around the country. The Committee first adopted a framework statement in 2012.

Statement on Longer-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy (PDF)
Reaffirmed January 26, 2021...

Acting HUD Secretary Statement on President Biden's Executive Order Redressing Discriminatory Housing Practices and Policies | site |


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

Acting U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Matthew E. Ammon today released the following statement on President Biden’s executive order redressing our nation's and the federal government's history of discriminatory housing practices and policies:

“President Biden’s executive order is a vital step toward redressing the federal government’s legacy of housing discrimination and securing equal access to housing opportunity for all. “Racially discriminatory housing practices and policies have kept communities of color from accessing safe, high-quality housing and the chance to build wealth that comes through homeownership. To this day, people of color disproportionately bear the bu...

Federal Reserve issues FOMC Statement | site |


(Information contained in Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System press release dated: January 27, 2021)

The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time, thereby promoting its maximum employment and price stability goals. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world. The pace of the recovery in economic activity and employment has moderated in recent months, with weakness concentrated in the sectors most adversely affected by the pandemic. Weaker demand and earlier declines in oil prices have been holding down consumer price inflation. Overall financial conditions remain accommodative, in part reflecting policy measures to support the economy and the flow of credit to U.S. households and businesses. The path of the economy will depend significant...

Statement from the U.S. Department of Transportation on President Joseph R. Biden’s Made-In-America Executive Order | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of Transportation press release dated: January 25, 2021) Monday, January 25, 2021 - - The Department of Transportation is a strong supporter of Buy American and we applaud President Biden for taking bold action today to ensure our future is made in America -- and by American workers. The crises we face have created an opportunity to build back our economy better than before, and President Biden’s executive order will empower us to be a central force in our country’s recovery. We look forward to implementing President Biden’s Made in America executive order that will ensure transportation-related capital purchases, equipment, and supplies are acquired when available. In addition, we will also ensure that the President’s strong support of the Jones Act is realized so that onl...