SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico issued the following news release: On September 19, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 25 individuals with conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs and to defraud the United States. In separate indictment, another individual was charged with unlicensed wholesale distribution of prescription drugs. In a separate charging instrument, another ind more PR

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington, Sept. 27 -- The U.S. Air Force McChord Air Force Base (62nd Airlift Wing) issued the following news: Team McChord is set to embark on the next phase of readiness training with the upcoming exercises Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center and Rainier War 25A, scheduled to commence in October. These high-stakes exercises are designed to rigorously test the deployment footprint, operational tempo, and the readiness of Airmen in the Mission Generation For more PR

SACRAMENTO, California, Sept. 27 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: Joined by members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills to address the legacy of racial discrimination in the state and advance a host of issues important to Black Californians. As requested by AB 3089 (Jones-Sawyer), which passed the Legislature with bipartisan and unanimous support, the Governor also signed an acc more PR

SAN DIEGO, California, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California issued the following news release: Cambridge International Systems, Inc., a defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, was sentenced in federal court today to pay a criminal fine of $2,250,000 after admitting that it participated in a scheme to bribe a public official at Naval Information Warfare Center in exchange for winning and maintaining hundreds of millions of dollars i more PR

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minnesota, Sept. 19 -- The Center of the American Experiment, a civic and educational organization that says it creates and advocates policies that make Minnesota a freer, more prosperous and better-governed state, issued the following commentary: * * * Two Autism Clinic/Feeding Our Future Investigations Revealed in DHS Letter to GOP Written by Bill Glahn The Minnesota Star Tribune writes about the growing number of investigations undertaken by the state Department of Human Se more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Sept. 9, 2024, from the National Pharmaceutical Council: * * * To: The Honorable Chiquita Brooks-LaSure Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21244 RE: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment a more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Sept. 9, 2024, from Planned Parenthood Federation of America: * * * Re: 0938-AV35; Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems * * * Dear Administrator Brooks-LaSure: Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)1 submits this comment in response t more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- The Climate Justice Alliance issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced - the Enhanced Energy Recovery Act - legislation to enhance carbon capture incentives and energy production. Reacting to the bill's introduction, K.D. Chavez, interim deputy director of the Climate Justice Alliance, issued the following statement: "At a moment when we are running out of time to course correct our energy policy, push more PR

DENVER, Colorado, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado issued the following news release: The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces that Ronald King, 51, formerly of Berlin, New Hampshire, and now residing in Bangor, Maine, Victor Roiter, 55, of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Tina Wellman, 51, of Mayfield, New York, Adam Shorr, 55, of Dunedin, Florida, Robert O'Sullivan, 55, of Lake Sherwood, California, Bradley Edson, 66, of Mes more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (TNSrep) - The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47743) on Sept 23, 2024, entitled "Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) FY2024 Appropriations: Overview" by financial economics specialist Baird Webel. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill includes funding for the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, the District of Co more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release: Congressman Josh Brecheen introduced the No More Taxpayer Cash for the Taliban Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer dollars for direct cash assistance in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Fox News' Morgan Phillips wrote an exclusive report on the bill, which you can read here. Read the full bill text here. "The Biden-Harris Administration's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-New York, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy issued a statement following the release of a new report from the VA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) that outlines severe delays and mismanagement at the Buffalo VA, which led to critical lapses in care for veterans. The report highlights multiple cases where veterans experienced unnecessary pain, suffering, and, in one case, death due to failures in management and more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New York, issued the following news release: Lockport, New York Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released the following statement following the Veterans Health Administration's report detailing how the Buffalo VA community care leaders failed to address community care consult delays despite staff's advocacy efforts at the VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo. "The VA Western New York Medical Center has failed to uphold our na more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) reintroduced the Chai Suthammanont Healthy Federal Workplaces Act, legislation to better protect federal employees during a public health emergency. The legislation previously passed the House in September 2022. "On May 26 more PR

EL PASO, Texas, Sept. 27 -- The U.S. Justice Department's Drug Enforcement Administration's El Paso Division issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: Two sheriff's deputies who allegedly tipped off a drug trafficker about an impending DEA raid are being federally prosecuted, announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Defense Acquisition Regulations System has issued a proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on Sept. 26, 2024, entitled "Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Preventing Conflicts of Interest for Certain Consulting Services (DFARS Case 2024-D007)." SUMMARY: DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release on Sept. 23, 2024: Audit Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the "Audit of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Capabilities." "Modifications to the E-2D program are intended to provide new and important capabilities for the aircraft," said IG Storch. "However, to achieve this goal, the Navy n more PR

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Why would leaders spanning security, counterintelligence, law enforcement, cybersecurity, and psychology professions from the Department of Defense, federal agencies, industry and academia take time from their busy schedules to convene for a two-day conference to talk about insider threat? To put it simply National Insider Threat Awareness Month, or more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency issued the following news: By John Joyce ARLINGTON, Va. - Why would leaders spanning security, counterintelligence, law enforcement, cybersecurity, and psychology professions from DOD, federal agencies, industry and academia take time from their busy schedules to convene for a two-day conference to talk about insider threat? To put it simply - National Insider Threat Awareness Month (NITAM more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Office of Strategic Capital has issued a notice, published in the Federal Register on Sept. 27, 2024, entitled "Notice of Funding Availability-Covered Technology Categories-Equipment Financing." ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). SUMMARY: The OSC is announcing the availability of up to $984,000,000 aggregate funding for direct loans for equipment financing  more ST

BILLINGS, Montana, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: A federal judge today sentenced an Elmo man to three years in prison and ordered $95,722 restitution for stealing his deceased mother's Social Security benefits and underreporting his income and assets to receive Social Security Administration benefits, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Gerry Alen Albus, 64, pleaded guilty in May to th more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: DALLAS Officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas arrested Santos Victor Hernandez-Garcia, an unlawfully present 60-year-old Mexican citizen charged with aggravated assault of a public servant, Sept. 24 in Wichita Falls, Texas. "ERO Dallas will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: New York City, New York Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair of the Board Reta Jo Lewis reiterated EXIM's desire to partner with the biotech industry in remarks last week during an event sponsored by BioMADE and the Global Partnerships Forum, "Building the U.S. Bioeconomy: An Intimate Dialogue with Business and Civil Society Leaders," l more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: Join the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) today for its 90th Anniversary event in New York City. The event will take place at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College. Featuring remarks from EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis, the event, entitled Fostering Global Competitiveness: EXIM at 90 and Shaping the Future," will includ more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) helped introduce the No More Taxpayer Cash for the Taliban Act, which would implement guardrails and strengthen oversight to keep U.S. taxpayer dollars away from the Taliban. "There is no excuse for any money to fall into the hands of the Taliban. But, according to recent reports from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, nearly $3 billion in cash ha more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (TNSrep) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report: Here are excerpts: * * * Fast Facts DOD continues to work toward its goal of achieving a "clean" audit opinion--when its financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with accounting principles. The financial statement audit process also finds problems that can be fixed--which has value far beyond the audit opinion. As a result of the audit process, DOD has seen cost savings, bet more PR

TAMPA, Florida, Sept. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: Acadia Healthcare Company Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Franklin, Tennessee, has agreed to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and related state statutes by knowingly billing for medically unnecessary inpatient behavioral health services or for services that did not meet federal and state regulations. Acadi more PR

ORLANDO, Florida, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Angela Chew (60, Leesburg) guilty of conspiracy to bribe a public official and commit wire fraud, three counts of bribery of a public official, and six counts of wire fraud. Chew faces up to 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, up to 15 years in federal prison on each of  more PR

TAMPA, Florida, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved by the Middle District of Florida's efforts to combat fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, the United States Attorney's Office (USAO-MDFL) has federally charged 109 individuals with fraud schemes designed to exploit state and federal programs implemented to alleviate the econ more PR

AUGUSTA, Georgia, Sept. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia issued the following news release: A Richmond County man was sentenced to federal prison for threatening to blow up Augusta's Social Security office. Keyon Tishaye Dickens, 39, of Augusta, was sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to Using a Telephone to Make a Threat to Injure a Person or Damage a Building by Explosives, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern Dis more PR

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Sept. 28 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2024: United States Attorney Clare E. Connors announced that Stephen Timothy Wells, 41, pleaded guilty today in federal court to executing a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs through the submission of false billings. Sentencing is scheduled for January 29, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake. According to court documents and information more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: The Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce today held a hearing titled "Tracking Progress: Examining the Department of Defense's Financial Management Practices" to bring transparency to the Department of Defense's (DOD) financial management practices and progress towards obtaining a clean audit of DOD fi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General posted the following advisory opinion (No. 24-05) on July 22, 2024: * * * Favorable in part and unfavorable in part opinion regarding proposed assistance for: (i) travel, lodging, meals, and associated expenses; and (ii) fertility preservation services for qualifying patients receiving one of two gene therapy treatments developed by a publicly traded biotechnology company. * * * [We redact certain identifying information more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General posted the following advisory opinion (No. 24-06) on July 23, 2024: * * * Unfavorable opinion regarding proposed assistance for fertility services for qualifying patients receiving a gene therapy treatment developed by a biotechnology company. * * * [We redact certain identifying information and certain potentially privileged, confidential, or proprietary information, unless otherwise approved by the requestor(s).] Iss more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General posted the following advisory opinion (No. 24-07) on Aug. 23, 2024: * * * Favorable opinion regarding a proposed patient assistance program operated by a nonprofit grant-making organization. * * * [We redact certain identifying information and certain potentially privileged, confidential, or proprietary information, unless otherwise approved by the requestor(s).] Issued: August 20, 2024 Posted: August 23, 2024 [Addre more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General posted the following advisory opinion (No. 24-08) on Sept. 13, 2024: * * * Unfavorable advisory opinion regarding an entity's proposal to share a percentage of its savings with certain groups to which it provides coverage through Employer Group Waiver Plans. * * * [We redact certain identifying information and certain potentially privileged, confidential, or proprietary information, unless otherwise approved by the reque more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released the following public communication dated Sept. 25, 2024, from the American Medical Association, Chicago, Illinois: * * * To: Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP National Coordinator Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 330 C Street, SW, 7th Floor Washington, DC 20024 Re: RIN 0955-AA06 HTI-2 NPRM  more ST

FORT BRAGG, North Carolina, Sept. 24 -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command issued the following news: By Staff Sgt. David Lietz, 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - With service deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, under two different military occupational specialties, Isaura Guerrero-Perez, assigned to the 85th USARSC's G8 section, shares her story of service emigrating to the United States and later advancing as an Army officer and Army Civilian. "My Army Reserve car more PR

MIAMI, Florida, Sept. 24 -- Holland and Knight, a law firm, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON (September 23, 2024) - Holland & Knight continues to strengthen its national Financial Services Team with the addition of Eamonn Moran as a partner in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Moran was a senior counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright. Mr. Moran leverages his experience as a former counsel in the Office of Regulations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFP more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies released the following testimony by Amtrak Inspector General Kevin H. Winters from a Sept. 18, 2024, oversight hearing on the agency programs and operations: * * * Chairman Womack, Ranking Member Quigley, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss the Office of Inspector General's (OIG) oversight of Amtrak (the company) prog more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies released the following testimony by Transportation Inspector General Eric J. Soskin from a Sept. 18, 2024, oversight hearing on the agency transportation programs and activities: * * * Chair Womack, Ranking Member Quigley, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss the Office of Inspector General's (OIG) oversight of Departme more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health released the following testimony by James Jones, deputy commissioner for human foods at the Food and Drug Administration, from a Sept. 10, 2024, hearing entitled "Evaluating FDA Human Foods and Tobacco Programs": * * * Chair Guthrie, Ranking Member Eshoo, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you to discuss the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA or the Agency) new Human Food more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion released the following testimony by Jennifer J. Schulp, director of financial regulation studies of the Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives at the Cato Institute, from a Sept. 18, 2024, hearing entitled "Dazed and Confused: Breaking Down the SEC's Politicized Approach to Digital Assets." SEC is the Securities and Exchange Commission. * * * Chairman Hill, Ranking Me more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust released the following testimony by Richard G. Frank, director and senior fellow at the Center on Health Policy in Brookings Institution, from a Sept. 11, 2024, hearing entitled "The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers": * * * Chairman Massie and Ranking Member Correa, thank you for inviting me to participate in this discussion of the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers or PBMs. The co more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance released the following testimony by Katrina Berger, executive associate director of Homeland Security Investigations, from a Sept. 18, 2024, hearing entitled "Oversight of Homeland Security Investigations": * * * - Good afternoon, Chairman Biggs, Ranking Member McBath, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee: On behalf of the women and men of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), I  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government issued the following information for a hearing entitled "The Weaponization of the Federal Government" at 10 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2024, at 2141 Rayburn House Office Building: The hearing will examine how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has used its security clearance adjudication process to purge its ranks of conservatives and whistleblowers, and unlawfully punish those with view more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) today opened a hearing titled "Tracking Progress: Examining the Department of Defense's Financial Management Practices" by emphasizing the importance of improving financial transpa more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisconsin, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: Today, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the subcommittee's hearing to discuss a recent VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) report highlighti more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Illinois, chairwoman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: Today, Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the subcommittee's oversight hearing on the Committee's investigation into the Hampton, Virginia more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Digital GI Bill in Disarray: Holding the Biden-Harris Administration Accountable for VA's Costly Mismanagement" at 1 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2024, at 360 Cannon House Office Building: Witnesses * Mr. Ronald Burke, Under Secretary for Policy and Oversight, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration * Mr. Robert Orifici, Executive more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, issued the following news release: Last week, Representatives Sharice Davids, Jake LaTurner (R-KS-02), Mark Alford (R-MO-04), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), and Sam Graves (R-MO-06) united in a bipartisan effort to address mail delivery delays in the Kansas City area. The group called on U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to act on a recent audit's(link is external) recommendations, which identified staffing shortages and more PR

EAST ST. LOUIS, Illinois, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois issued the following news release: A Belleville woman is accused of falsely applying for, accepting and spending more than $20,000 in PPP funds for personal expenses. A federal grand jury charged Felicia D. Harris, 44, with four counts of interstate transportation of a security obtained by fraud. She is employed at the U.S. National Geospatial Agency in St. Louis. In response to financi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report: Here are excerpts: * * * Fast Facts USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is intended to help low-income people and families purchase food. In this Q&A, we reported that for FY 2023, USDA estimated 11.7% (or about $10.5 billion) of SNAP benefits that it paid were improper--meaning that payments were the wrong amount or otherwise should not have been made. This was an increase from t more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Interior Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 2023-CGD-006) on September 9, 2024, entitled "Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Grants Awarded to the State of Idaho by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service." Here are excerpts: * * * Memorandum To: Martha Williams, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service From: Colleen Kotzmoyer, Director, Contract and Grant Audit Division Subject: Final Audit Report - Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Grants A more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Interior Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 2023-CGD-041) on Sept. 4, 2024, entitled "Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Grants Awarded to the State of Montana by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service." Here are excerpts: * * * Memorandum To: Martha Williams, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service From: Colleen Kotzmoyer, Director, Contract and Grant Audit Division Subject: Final Audit Report - Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Grants Awa more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The International Refugee Assistance Project issued a 66-page report in September 2024 entitled "Offshoring Human Rights: Detention of Refugees at Guantanamo Bay." The report was written by Ninaj Raoul, Mishan Wroe, Melissa Adamson and Michelle Doherty. Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary For decades, the United States has detained refugees encountered at sea in a little known facility, the Migrant Operations Center (the "GMOC"), in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In t more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 [Category: Political] -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following news: "Our testing of mock taxpayer data determined that the IRS network allowed uploads of taxpayer data to [redacted]." IRS systems containing private taxpayer information can still be compromised, as documented in a heavily-redacted recent audit report from the official agency watchdog, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. After the largest theft of private taxpayer data in IRS hi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: James B. Nutter & Company, a former mortgage lender located in Kansas City, Missouri, has agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 by knowingly underwriting Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Federal Housing Admini more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-110) on Sept. 19, 2024, entitled "Office of Justice Programs Victim Assistance Funds Subawarded by the Iowa Department of Justice to Crisis Intervention Services, Oskaloosa, Iowa." Here are excerpts: * * * EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) provided funds to the Iowa Department of Justice (Iowa DOJ) to make subawards to support vict more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-111) on Sept. 19, 2024, entitled "Office of Justice Programs Victim Compensation Grants Awarded to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Phoenix, Arizona." Here are excerpts: * * * EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Objective The objective of the audit was to evaluate how the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (Arizona CJC) designed and implemented its crime victim compensation program. To accomplish this obj more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General issued the following report (No. 24-112) on September 25, 2024, entitled "Report to Congress on Implementation of Section 1001 of the USA PATRIOT Act." Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction The OIG is an independent entity within DOJ that reports to both the Attorney General and Congress. The OIG's mission is to investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse in DOJ programs and personnel, and to promote eco more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to help college graduates reduce the burden of student loans through a tax-free employer contribution. The Employer Participation in Repayment Act would permanently extend a provision of the Internal Revenue Code allowing employees to exempt up to $5,250 from tax annually in student loan repayments that employers contribute on their behalf. more PR

LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Sept. 28 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky issued the following news release: A hospital, a laboratory, three lab employees, and a referring physician and his office manager have agreed to collectively pay the United States more than $7.2 million dollars to resolve civil allegations that they defrauded federal healthcare programs in connection with laboratory tests that were not medically necessary or were tainted by violations of the f more PR

LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Sept. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: A Lexington man, Vonnie McDaniels, 35, was found guilty on Wednesday, by a federal jury sitting in Lexington, of four counts of wire fraud, for fraudulently applying for three Small Business Administration (SBA) Covid-19 relief loans and for fraudulently applying to the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government's (LFUCG) federally funded Hous more PR

LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Sept. 28 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky issued the following news release: The physician and office manager of a medical practice in Jackson, Kentucky, have agreed to pay $450,000 to resolve civil allegations that the physician unlawfully prescribed controlled substances, and that they both defrauded federal healthcare programs by soliciting kickbacks for laboratory referrals. Pablo Merced, M.D. owned and operated St. John Neumann's more PR

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Sept. 28 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2024: The United States Attorney's Office announced today that RANDY A. FARRELL, SR. ("FARRELL"), age 61, a resident of Metairie, and his company, IECI & ASSOCIATES LLC ("IECI") were charged today in a twenty-five count indictment with conspiracy, wire fraud, and honest services fraud. The charges stemmed from FARRELL's acceptance of bribes to  more PR

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued the following news release: United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LEESSA AUGUSTINE ("AUGUSTINE"), age 46, was indicted on September 20, 2024 for her involvement in multiple fraud schemes while employed as a Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans ("S&WB") Senior Special Agent, a position tasked with investigating the alleged misconduct of other Sewerage & Water Board emp more PR

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Sept. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: The Chief Executive Officer of Dana Group Associates, who is also the former Chief Operating Officer of Prime Behavioral Health, pleaded guilty today to a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs by directing false billing for patient visits. Miguel Saravia, 42, of Hanson, pleaded guilty to six counts of health care fraud. U.S. District more PR

DETROIT, Michigan, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan issued the following news release: United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today a series of three civil settlements, totaling over $8 million, related to, among other allegations, kickbacks that medical device company Ra Medical Systems, Inc. (Ra Medical), paid to various physicians across the country related to Ra Medical's DABRA laser. Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agen more PR

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2024: A former professional basketball player on Wednesday admitted committing $272,774 worth of fraud involving pandemic aid programs. Lorenzo Gordon, 41, of Chesterfield, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of theft of government money. As part of his plea agreement, Gordon admitted fraudulently applying for t more PR

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2024: A Texas businessman has been indicted in St. Louis and accused of fraudulently seeking more than $4.5 million from Medicare for COVID test kits and obtaining more than $1.9 million. Rashid Naqvi, 51, of the Houston area, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on September 4 on four counts of wire fraud conspiracy and one count each more PR

NEWARK, New Jersey, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey issued the following news release: Two individuals have admitted their respective roles in a multimillion dollar compounded medication kickback scheme that they and others ran out of a pharmacy in Clifton, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Jeffrey Andrews, 73, pleaded guilty on Sept. 24, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to one count of more PR

NEWARK, New Jersey, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2024: B A Rahway, New Jersey-based highway contractor will pay $950,000 to resolve allegations that it improperly represented itself as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) in order to obtain federally funded contracts, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today. The settlement resolves allegations that from October 2016 through April 2019, MV C more PR

NEWARK, New Jersey, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: A New York acupuncturist was sentenced today to 34 months in prison for participating in a $9 million health care fraud scheme to defraud Amtrak, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Punson Figueroa, aka "Susie," 58, of Long Island City, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an inf more PR

NEWARK, New Jersey, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey issued the following news release: Three New Jersey licensed attorneys and a New Jersey licensed realtor were indicted for their roles in defrauding financial institutions in a short sale fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Lawyers Bruce Egert, 69, of Tenafly, New Jersey, Nelson Kong, 44, of Bethpage, New York, Seung Han Shin, aka Aaron Shin, 42, of Old Tappan, New Jersey, and  more PR

ALBANY, New York, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: Brandon Bartley, age 26, of Laurel, Maryland, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison and to pay a $5,000 fine for drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, and his possession of more than 30 firearms. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Frank A. Tarentino III, S more PR

EUGENE, Oregon, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2024: A Prineville, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for using stolen identities to submit fraudulent health care claims resulting in over $1.5 million in misappropriated funds from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Medicaid Program and filing false tax returns that failed to report earnings she received. Darla K. Byus, 55, was sentenced to more PR

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Sept. 28 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2024: United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that Florida-based durable medical equipment supplier Electrostim Medical Services, Inc. (EMSI) and its Founder and Chairman Mario Garcia, Jr. have together agreed to pay, based on their limited ability to do so, $20 million to resolve allegations that they violated the Fa more PR

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico issued the following news release: The United States Attorney's Office reached two settlement agreements with local pharmacies and their respective owners to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting or causing to be submitted fraudulent claims for payment to the Medicare and Medicaid Programs from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2023. Farmacia Beatriz, LLC,  more PR

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Sept. 23 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island issued the following news release: A former office manager and bookkeeper for a Pawtucket medical practice has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for misappropriating nearly $570,000 in medical practice funds and more than $11,000 in TDI benefits she fraudulently applied for and received, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Tianna Keller, 59, previously ple more PR

ELLSWORTH AFB, South Dakota, Sept. 24 -- The U.S. Air Force Ellsworth Air Force Base (28th Bomb Wing) issued the following news: By Airman 1st Class Brittany Kenney, 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs As the sun rose up into the sky ushering in a new day, exercise Raider Reach, a two-week, two-phase exercise involving the entire 28th Bomb Wing, encompassing five groups, 17 squadrons and supporting agencies, and over 4K military and civilian personnel came to a close Sept. 20, 2024. The exercise ev more PR

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Nebraska, Sept. 27 -- The U.S. Strategic Command issued the following news: By Airman 1st Class Brittany Kenney, 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. - As the sun rose up into the sky ushering in a new day, exercise Raider Reach, a two-week, two-phase exercise involving the entire 28th Bomb Wing, encompassing five groups, 17 squadrons and supporting agencies, and over 4K military and civilian personnel came to a close Sept. 20, 2024. The exercise more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, issued the following news release: Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chair Burgess Owens (R-UT), House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), and House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) led a follow-up letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland requesting additional informati more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2024: Today, Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the Investigative Integrity Protection Act which would prevent a sitting president from dismissing an active criminal prosecution against him or herself, including through coercion of an attorney general by the president or anyone acting on the president's behalf. "The rule of law is a core foundation of our nation. No one, not  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, issued the following news release: Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Subcommittee Chair, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) today introduced the COVID Spending Transparency Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation that would extend the term of the Treasury Department's more PR

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Sept. 24 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Jacksonville District issued the following news release: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida accepted a guilty plea from Mitchell Scavone for constructing numerous docks, mooring piles, and bulkheads in navigable waters of the United States without the authorization of a Department of the Army permit. Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) prohibits placing any structure in, under, or over navi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: * Senator Jon Ossoff is continuing his bipartisan efforts to improve prison safety and security. * Sens. Ossoff and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Human Rights Subcommittee, recently introduced the bipartisan Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, which would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct a comprehensive review of inmate-on-staff sexual assault at more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Senate Appropriations Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 118-200) on a bill (S. 4797) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations and related programs for the fiscal ending Sept. 30, 2025. The report was advanced by Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, on July 25, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS The Committee recommendation for activities under the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and R more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Senate Appropriations Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 118-200) on a bill (S. 4797) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations and related programs for the fiscal ending Sept. 30, 2025. The report was advanced by Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, on July 25, 2024. * * * (Continued from Part 1 of 12) TITLE I - DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF STATE Administration of Foreign Affairs DIPLOMATIC PROGRAMS Appropriati more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Senate Appropriations Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 118-200) on a bill (S. 4797) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations and related programs for the fiscal ending Sept. 30, 2025. The report was advanced by Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, on July 25, 2024. * * * (Continued from Part 3 of 12) TITLE II - UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Funds Appropriated to the President OPERATING EXPENSES Appropriations, 20 more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Senate Appropriations Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 118-200) on a bill (S. 4797) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations and related programs for the fiscal ending Sept. 30, 2025. The report was advanced by Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, on July 25, 2024. * * * (Continued from Part 4 of 12) TITLE III - BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE Funds Appropriated to the President GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRAMS Appropriations, 2024 ... $10,030,4 more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Senate Appropriations Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 118-200) on a bill (S. 4797) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations and related programs for the fiscal ending Sept. 30, 2025. The report was advanced by Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, on July 25, 2024. * * * (Continued from Part 7 of 12) TITLE VI - EXPORT AND INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE Export-Import Bank of the United States INSPECTOR GENERAL Appropriations, 2024 ... $8,860,0 more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Senate Appropriations Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 118-200) on a bill (S. 4797) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations and related programs for the fiscal ending Sept. 30, 2025. The report was advanced by Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, on July 25, 2024. * * * (Continued from Part 11 of 12) TITLE VIII - OTHER MATTERS The act includes new language regarding oversight of lending by the IDB and EBRD. COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH  more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and 41 other Republican lawmakers called out the Biden-Harris administration for its failure to address the abuses at the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR),  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: Last night, the U.S. Senate passed the Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act, Senator Tuberville's legislation to reissue benefits to defrauded veterans. The bill will now head to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. "We'd like to believe we live in a country where no one would take advantage of our veterans, but sadly it does happen. What's worse is if the money that was lost to fraud  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) yesterday led 42 bicameral Republican colleagues in a letter urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to work with Congress to root out abuses in their administration's unaccompanied migrant children program and stop the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)'s attempted cover-up of the crisis. More than 500,000 unaccompanied mig more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Subcommittee Chair, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) today introduced the COVID Spending Transparency Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation that would extend the  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2024: U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Subcommittee Chair, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) today introduced the COVID Spending Transparency Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation that would extend the  more PR

EL PASO, Texas, Sept. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas issued the following news release: A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of the falsification of a document in a federal investigation. According to court documents, documents and evidence presented at trial, Miguel Angel Delgado Jr., 41, used excessive force in two more PR

HOUSTON, Texas, Sept. 24 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release on Sept. 23, 2024: A former federal agent has admitted to theft of personal property and providing false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. From March 2022 to July 2023, Nicholas Anthony Williams, 37, Houston, stole money and property from multiple residences while executing search warrants in his official capacity. Williams proceeded to retain more PR

DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: Two pain management doctors who pantomimed injections on patients were sentenced today to six and a half years apiece for healthcare fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Drs. Desi Barroga, 51, and Deno Barroga, 51, were indicted in November 2023 and pleaded guilty in May 2024 to one count each of conspir more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Humane Society of the United States issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: Today the Humane Society of the United States honored U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Mark Warner as the Humane Horsemen of the Year for 2023. This annual award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to protecting American equines. Senators Crapo and Warner have been stalwart champions in the fight to end the cruel practice of horse "soring," where  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Treasury Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. OIG-24-035) on Sept. 18, 2024, entitled "Compliance with the Geospatial Data Act of 2018." Here are excerpts: * * * Antony Arcadi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Information Systems and Chief Information Officer, Department of the Treasury Mary Ryan, Administrator, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau This report presents the results of our audit of the Department of the Treasury's (Treas more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Treasury Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. OIG-24-036) on Sept. 24, 2024, entitled "Soundness of Investment Decisions for Participation in the Emergency Capital Investment Program." Here are excerpts: * * * To: Jessica Milano, Chief Program Officer, Office of Capital Access This report presents the results of our audit of the Department of the Treasury's (Treasury) soundness of investment decisions for participation in the Emergency more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued the following audit report (No. 2024-200-048) on Sept. 17, 2024, entitled "Actions Need to Be Taken to Improve the Data Loss Prevention Solution and Reduce the Risk of Data Exfiltration." Here are excerpts: * * * HIGHLIGHTS Why TIGTA Did This Audit The IRS is entrusted with protecting information received from taxpayers, including Personally Identifiable Information and tax account data. The IRS's more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (TNSrep) -- The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued the following audit report (No. 2024-200-042) on Sept. 9, 2024, entitled "Compliance Data Warehouse Security Needs Improvement." Here are excerpts: * * * HIGHLIGHTS Why TIGTA Did This Audit The primary goal of the Compliance Data Warehouse (CDW) is to provide a single, integrated environment of data and computing services to support the research and analysis needs of IRS employees and research ana more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (TNSrep) -- The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued the following audit report (No. 2024-200-047) on Sept. 10, 2024, entitled "Improvements Are Needed in the Cloud Security Assessment, Approval, and Monitoring Processes." Here are excerpts: * * * Highlights Why TIGTA Did This Audit The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Security Threat Analysis Report is an IRS created document that contains a systematic analysis and asses more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (TNSrep) -- The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued the following audit report (No. 2024-208-052) on Sept. 16, 2024, entitled "The Individual Tax Processing Engine Project Is Progressing, but Risks Remain." Here are excerpts: * * * HIGHLIGHTS Why TIGTA Did This Audit The Customer Account Data Engine 2 program is one of the most complex modernization programs in the Federal Government and involves major changes to core IRS tax processing systems. Th more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (TNSrep) -- The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued the following audit report (No. 2024-308-036) on Sept. 9, 2024, entitled "Review of the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax Implementation Identified Weaknesses in the Pre-Rulemaking Process." Here are excerpts: * * * HIGHLIGHTS Why TIGTA Did This Audit The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) was signed into law on August 16, 2022. The IRA includes many provisions that impact a wide range of Gover more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Treasury Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. OIG-24-031) on Sept. 6, 2024, entitled "Enterprise Applications' Description of its HRConnect System and the Suitability of the Design and Operating Effectiveness of its Controls for the Period July1, 2023 to June 30, 2024." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR NICOLAOS B. TOTTEN, DEPUTY CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR APPLICATIONS AND DIGITAL SERVICES FROM: Ade Bankole, Director, Financia more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Mint has issued a final rule, published in the Federal Register on Sept. 25, 2024, entitled "Exchange of Coin." SUMMARY: This final rule removes Treasury regulations relating to the exchange of bent, partial, fused, and mixed coins. The removal will end the exchange program for bent and partial coin. DATES: Effective Date: October 25, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Apryl Whitaker, Senior Legal Counsel, Office of the Chief more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Katie Britt (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and 41 bicameral Republican colleagues in signing a letter urging President Biden and Vice President Harris to work with Congress to root out abuses in the unaccompanied alien children (UAC) program and stop the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) cover-up of its gross mismanagement o more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release: James B. Nutter & Company, a former mortgage lender located in Kansas City, Missouri, has agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 by knowingly underwriting Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development  more PR

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico issued the following news release: A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer was sentenced 20 months in prison for violating the civil rights of a U.S. citizen and falsifying records in a federal investigation. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 18, 2019, while working as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 41 bicameral Republican colleagues in signing a letter urging President Biden and Vice President Harris to work with Congress to root out abuses in their administration's unaccompanied alien children program and stop the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)'s cover-up of the crisis.  HHS has more PR

WHEELING, West Virginia, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia issued the following news release: The Pain Center of Virginia, PLLC d/b/a the Pain Center of West Virginia ("The Pain Center of West Virginia"), a clinic located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting or causing the submission of false claims to Medicare for the use of amniotic flu more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (TNSrep) -- The Agriculture Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 03601-0001-21) on Sept. 9, 2024, entitled "IRA - Oversight of the Inflation Reduction Act for Distressed Borrowers With Direct Loans That Took Extraordinary Measures to Avoid Delinquency." Here are excerpts: * * * OBJECTIVE Our objective was to evaluate the internal controls FSA designed and established to respond to risks it identified related to (1) consistent and accurate reviews of a more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following news release: DNC Director of Outreach Communications Tracy King released the following statement: "Vice President Harris' economic policy platform will be a boost to building Black generational wealth and closing the racial wealth gap. A Harris-Walz administration will continue to fight for working and middle-class Black families by lowering the cost of groceries, rent and home ownership while capping the cost of  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: With winter cold, flu, and COVID season upon us, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) is leading Senate introduction of the Chai Suthammanont Healthy Federal Workplaces Act, legislation requiring federal agencies to establish and publish workplace protections in the instance of a public health emergency declared for an infectious disease. Companion legislation was also introduced today in the House of Representa more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Angus King (I-Maine), along with Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), wrote to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urging the agencies to develop strong guardrails for the 45Q tax cr more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators: "We share the grave concerns of the residents of Southern Oregon that this consolidation poses significant negative consequences for both our community and the efficiency of postal services in the region" Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded Postmaster General DeJoy immediately reverse his damaging position to relocate outgoing operations at the regional postal distribution center in more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (TNSres) -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Senators: "We share the grave concerns of the residents of Southern Oregon that this consolidation poses significant negative consequences for both our community and the efficiency of postal services in the region" * * * U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded Postmaster General DeJoy immediately reverse his damaging position to relocate outgoing operations at the regional post more PR