U.S. Government

FEMA Staging Assets and Deploying Response Teams in Response to Hurricane Dolly

July 23, 2008 -- Tropical Storm Dolly has intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. FEMA is working closely with the state of Texas to identify resources and pre-position supplies if needed post landfall.

Hurricane Dolly Warning: Corpus Christi,TX, July 23, 2008 -- Early morning warnings on US Interstate 37, warns motorists of pending conditions from Hurricane Dolly. (Photo Credit: Barry Bahler/FEMA)    » read more »

7/22/08 -- With the president's July 21 signature of the Maritime Pollution Protection Act of 2008, U.S. agencies are setting course to implement a key international agreement to reduce air pollution from large ships. This key step clears the way for U.S. ratification of the international treaty regulating emissions – known as MARPOL Annex VI -- from large diesel-powered, ocean-going vessels.

Under MARPOL Annex VI, container ships, tankers, cruise ships and bulk carriers must limit NOx emissions from their category three diesel engines. It also sets a cap on the sulfur content of the fuel they burn and includes a program for designating areas where more stringent fuel controls apply, such as near coastlines that have more severe air quality concerns.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., July 22, 2008 -- EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson: "Given the amount of work that remains to sufficiently answer the Texas request for a waiver from the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), it is now clear that a final decision on the request will not be completed by July 24. Rather, additional time is needed to allow staff to adequately respond to the public comments and develop a decision document that explains the technical, economic and legal rationale of our decision.    » read more »

July 17, 2008 -- The proportion of U.S. adults who self report they are obese increased nearly 2 percent between 2005 and 2007, according to a report in today′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). An estimated 25.6 percent of U.S. adults reported being obese in 2007 compared to 23.9 percent in 2005, an increase of 1.7 percent. The report also finds that none of the 50 states or the District of Columbia has achieved the Healthy People 2010 goal to reduce obesity prevalence to 15 percent or less.    » read more »

Prepared Remarks Before Tax Analysts Conference on RRA '98

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2008 –– IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman: Good morning. I would like to thank Chris Bergin for the opportunity to be here today to discuss the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act. I greatly enjoyed my work on the Restructuring Commission, and it is a real pleasure to see here today so many familiar faces from that time – even if we all look a little older.    » read more »

Actor Dennis Haysbert brings fair lending message to movie goers in 28 cities

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2008 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that a public service announcement (PSA) designed to educate consumers about their fair lending rights is now running on 595 screens in 32 movie theatres in 28 cities, including 10 cities with some of nation’s highest foreclosure rates. HUD’s PSA featuring Dennis Haysbert, will run through July 25. It will be in 32 selected theatres.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16, 2008 -- In a Record of Decision issued today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it will make land available for oil and gas leasing in the northeast portion of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A).

“This action sets the stage for a major lease sale this fall. This is welcome news at a time when Americans are paying record prices at the pump,” said C. Stephen Allred, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals, in signing the ROD.

At the same lease sale, the BLM also plans to offer land in the northwest portion of the NPR-A.    » read more »

Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grants provide opportunities for development of students' reading skills

July 18, 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the award of $18,258,896 to enhance libraries in 59 low-income school districts across the United States. The grants aim to help students improve reading achievement by increasing their access to up-to-date and technologically advanced school library materials.    » read more »

July 18, 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today delivered remarks on the progress that her Commission on the Future of Higher Education helped to facilitate, as well as discussed global competitiveness and the workforce needs of the 21st Century in Chicago, Ill.

Following are her prepared remarks:

(Introduced by Charles Miller, chairman, Meridian National, Inc.)

Thank you, Charles, for introducing me.

Charles has been a great friend and a trusted mentor and adviser. One of the first pieces of advice he gave me was that changing higher education wasn't going to be easy. You've heard of the "third rail"?    » read more »

SAN FRANCISCO, 07/17/2008 — The U.S. Department of Labor has sued a purported employer association, a health fund trustee, and the fund's consultant over alleged imprudent management of the Manufacturing and Industrial Workers Benefit Fund (MIWU) of Bryan, Texas. The defendants' actions allegedly resulted in more than $3.4 million in unpaid health claims affecting participants in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and other states.    » read more »

Thursday, July 17, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has entered into a Resolution Agreement with Seattle-based Providence Health & Services (Providence) to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. In the agreement, Providence agrees to pay $100,000 and implement a detailed Corrective Action Plan to ensure that it will appropriately safeguard identifiable electronic patient information against theft or loss.    » read more »

July 18, 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the award of $1,279,738 for 16 projects that add a European Community-United States dimension to international curriculum development and student exchanges. The grants fund collaborative efforts between colleges and universities in the United States and Europe to develop programs of study in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines.

"By partnering with one another," Spellings said, "institutions of higher education in the U.S. and Europe are building critical human capital needed for success in the 21st century. These projects carry out two vital goals: fostering student exchanges and addressing crucial global issues."    » read more »

The Time to Vote on the U.S. Colombia Free Trade Agreement Is Now

WASHINGTON, Sunday, July 20, 2008 — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez issued the following statement on the occasion of Colombia’s Independence Day with a call to Congress to schedule a vote on the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement:

“Freedom and democracy go hand in hand. As our nation celebrates with our Colombian friends and allies on their independence day, we reflect on the remarkable progress that they have made toward stability, social justice and peace. These are developments that all Americans should be proud to support. When Colombia is strong, secure and prosperous, so is the Western Hemisphere.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it is seeking members to serve on the Board of Evaluators for the Edward R. Madigan United States Agricultural Export Excellence Award Program. This award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurial efforts to expand U.S. agricultural exports.

"Former Secretary Madigan recognized that strong export growth is vital to the prosperity of rural communities across America," said Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. "Because of his significant contributions to developing market-oriented agricultural policies, this award bearing his name honors those who have made outstanding contributions to U.S. agriculture's export success."    » read more »

Washington, DC, July 17, 2008 --The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated four leaders of al Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a terrorist organization that has carried out numerous attacks in Algeria. On July 3, 2008, these four individuals were added to the United Nations Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with Usama Bin Laden, al Qaida, and the Taliban.    » read more »