WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Washington (November 20, 204) Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues to sound the alarm on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) facial recognition regime in airports across the United States. Senator Markey was joined by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), John Kennedy  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today joined forces with a bipartisan group of his colleagues to sound the alarm on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) facial recognition regime in airports across the United States. Merkley co-led the effort with Senators John Kennedy (R-LA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Ted Cruz (R-TX)--Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Roger Marshall (R-KS) more PR

CANBERRA, Australia, Nov. 21 -- The Australian Department of Defence issued the following news release: The Albanese Government has appointed the Hon Justice Ruth McColl AO as the Afghanistan Inquiry Compensation Advocate. The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry report contained 15 recommendations to pay compensation to victims, and their families, where there was credible information involving allegations of property damage, assault or unlawful killing, by AD more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following news release: Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) is demanding the Department of Labor (DOL) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigate whether the Biden-Harris DOL is abusing its authority. The letter comes after reports of DOL, under the guise of an Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) investigat more PR

ROBINS AFB, Georgia, Nov. 23 -- The U.S. Air Force Reserve Command issued the following news: By Staff Sgt. Christina Russo, 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Georgia -- Airmen from active duty, reserve and guard installations across the globe are what make the U.S. Air Force such a lethal, ready force in the Great Power Competition. As the true assets of the Air Force, Airmen must strive to remain combat-ready while still innovating for the future. In doing so, membe more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10553) on Nov. 19, 2024, by Marcy E. Gallo, science and technology policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Advanced technology plays a critical role in ensuring U.S. national security. To maintain technological superiority on the battlefield, the Department of Defense (DOD) relies on scientific and technical knowledg more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, released the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the status of the independence of WMATA's Office of Inspector General (OIG): "I welcome this GAO report which concludes that WMATA is now in compliance with  more PR

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 22 -- The Institute for Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2024: Today, the Department of Justice suspended the Drug Enforcement Administration's controversial practice of having agents intercept travelers, interrogate them, and insist on searching their bags in what the agency calls "consensual encounters." That suspension comes on the heels of an Office of the Inspector General report, also issued today, that criticizes the practice and refers to s more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following welcome remarks on Nov. 21, 2024, by Daniel Glad, director of the Procurement Collusion Strike Force, at the Strike Force's fifth anniversary event: * * * As Prepared for Delivery Good afternoon. My name is Daniel Glad, and I have the honor of serving as the Director of the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF). I say honor because it truly has been one, to work alongside fellow enforcers to combat collusion in gov more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Defense Acquisition Regulations System posted a rule in the Federal Register on Nov. 15, 2024, signed by Jennifer D. Johnson, Editor/Publisher, Defense Acquisition Regulations System. Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Inapplicability of Additional Defense-Unique Laws and Certain Non-Statutory DFARS Clauses to Commercial Item Contracts (DFARS Case 2018-D074) AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, (DoD). ACTION: F more ST

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 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 DoD's Management of Air Quality Issues at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti." This audit was performed in response to a DoD Hotline complaint that alleged Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ) command staff ignored ongoing more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2024: Evaluation Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the DoD Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the report "Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office's Artificial Intelligence Services and Governance." This report is part of a series of oversight work the DoD OIG is conducting focused on more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2024: Evaluation Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the "Evaluation of the DoD's Health, Safety, and Environmental Hazard Identification and Remediation in Military Housing." The report identifies deficiencies in the DoD's compliance with a dozen health, safety, and envir more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: The Defense Department today released the results of its departmentwide fiscal year 2024 financial audit, the seventh such audit since 2018. For this most-recent effort, the department's inspector general provided an overall "disclaimer of opinion" on DOD financial statements, which means the department has not yet achieved a clean audit, said Mike McCord, the department's chief financial officer. Despite that r more PR

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: The Defense Department released the results of its departmentwide fiscal year 2024 financial audit on Nov. 17, the seventh such audit since 2018. For this most recent effort, the department's inspector general provided an overall "disclaimer of opinion" on DOD financial statements, which means the department has not yet achieved a clean audit, said M more PR

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center issued the following news: By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News The Defense Department today released the results of its departmentwide fiscal year 2024 financial audit, the seventh such audit since 2018. For this most-recent effort, the department's inspector general provided an overall "disclaimer of opinion" on DOD financial statements, which means the department has not yet achieved a clean audit, said Mike McCor more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) forced a vote in the U.S. Senate on his joint resolution of disapproval (S.J.Res.117) to stop the Biden Administration from making Ukraine's debt the responsibility of the American people. Specifically, the joint resolution of disapproval would have prohibited the Biden Administration's cancellation of $4.65 billion of debt owed by Ukraine to U.S. taxpayers. The Biden Adm more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis reaffirmed EXIM's commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and businesses across the nation on Women's Entrepreneurship Day. For more than 25 years, EXIM has provided critical resources and financing to help women-owned businesses compete in global markets, empowering them to exp more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: Baku, Azerbaijan Last week, Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Board Member Owen Herrnstadt travelled to the 2024 U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan to highlight EXIM's record-level clean energy investments, discuss EXIM's climate financing opportunities with international government and business leaders and share how EXIM's effort more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest: * * * Commission meetings and hearings No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week. * * * Administrative Fines The Commission made public five closed cases, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Administrative Fine Search System. AF 4696 Committee to Elect Marcus Jones and Marcus Jones, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final deter more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted in support of H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, a package of bipartisan, bicameral provisions to modernize the delivery of healthcare, benefits, and services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), expand access to job training and employment opportuni more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 23 -- First Lady Cathy Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 22, 2024: First Lady Cathy Justice hosted the final Communities In Schools (CIS) Advisory Council meeting of 2024, bringing together leaders dedicated to removing barriers to education and empowering West Virginia's students. First Lady Justice opened the meeting by reflecting on the year's successes and expressing her gratitude to the Advisory Council for their commitment to CIS. "Bringi more PR

MIAMI, Florida, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On Nov. 8, a federal jury convicted Lazaro Verdecia Hernandez, 37, and Yadier Rodriguez Arteaga, 41, both of Miami, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering, in connection with a scheme to obtain fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Verdecia was also convicted of wire fraud. Verde more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) are calling on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to strengthen and enforce tax code regulations on noncompliant nonprofit hospitals. "While the promotion of health is an exempt purpose, not every entity that promotes health is entitled to a tax exemption," the senators wrot more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2024: This week, the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement, led by Chairman Clay Higgins (R-LA), and Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability, led by Chairman Dan Bishop (R-NC), held a joint hearing to examine how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: Spokane, Washington - On November 14, 2024, United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced that United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Antonio Feliciano Crawford, age 55, of Mead, Washington, to 45 months in federal prison on charges of bank fraud. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release, restitution of $203,347.08, and forfeiture  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Georgia, chairman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2024: Today, the Committee on House Administration's Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) sent a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General (IG) Robert Storch, demanding a correction of the DoD's factually inaccurate January 6 report, as first reported by The Federalist. After a thorough inves more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Andy Biggs (R-AZ) sent a letter to Inspector General Michael Horowitz requesting that the Inspector General open an investigation into the United States Marshals Service' (USMS) carelessness and excessive force during a false arrest of an 66- more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Government Innovation released the following written testimony by ex-Defense Department Official Luis Elizondo from a Nov. 13, 2024, joint hearing with the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border and Foreign Affairs entitled "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth": * * * Greetings, Chairwoman Mace, Chairman Grothman, Ranking Members Connolly and Garcia, a more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today issued a subpoena to a key official at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to further investigate the USDA's arbitrary enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and the final rule titled Horse Protection Amendments. Information obtained by the more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Nov. 19, 2024: * * * Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) released a statement following the passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371), which included his previously introduced legislation the Modernization of VA Disability Benefits Questionnaires Act. H.R. 8371 is a comprehensive legislative package that includes several bipartisan proposa more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republicans today demanded answers from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell about her agency's troubling responses to recent disasters and crises, including the amount FEMA resources devoted to addressing the southern border crisis, the slow respo more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Opening remarks, as prepared, of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) from today's hearing entitled, "In the Eye of the Storm: Oversight of FEMA's Disaster Readiness and Response": Tr more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, issued the following news release on Nov. 20, 2024: Today, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the subcommittee's oversight hearing entitled, ""VA Cybersecurity: Protecting Veteran Data from Evolvin more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization issued the following information for a hearing entitled "VA Cybersecurity: Protecting Veteran Data from Evolving Threats" at 9 a.m. on Nov. 20, 2024, at 360 Cannon House Office Building: Witnesses * The Honorable Kurt DelBene, Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs * Ms. Lynette Sherrill, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infor more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 22, 2024: Yesterday, the Justice Department's Antitrust Division and Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) commemorated the PCSF's fifth anniversary in Washington with a celebration involving law enforcement partners and key stakeholders from across the government. Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Jonathan Kanter, PCSF Director Daniel Glad and other department officials were joined by representat more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: * * * John Chen Furthered the PRC Government's Transnational Repression Campaign Against the Falun Gong by Paying Cash Bribes to a Purported IRS Official * * * John Chen, 71, of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Los Angeles, was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for acting as unregistered agents of the PRC and bribing an IRS agent in connection with a plot to target U.S.-base more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 22, 2024: An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Northern District of Texas charging two co-founders of Blueacorn, a lender service provider, in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Accordi more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: Dell Technologies Inc. and Dell Federal Systems L.P. (collectively Dell), located in Austin, Texas, have agreed to pay $2,300,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting and causing the submission of non-competitive bids to the Army and thereby overcharging the Army under the Army Desktop and Mobile Computing 3 (ADMC-3) contract. Iron Bow Technologies LLC (Iron Bow), loc more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: A Virginia man pleaded guilty today for committing insider trading and making false statements about his trading to his employer, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (FRBR). According to court documents, Robert Brian Thompson, 43, of Mosley, worked as a bank examiner and senior manager with supervisory duties for the FRBR. Due to his position, Thompson was privy to confidential informatio more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 20, 2024: The owner and operator of a Texas laboratory was charged yesterday in connection with his role in a $79 million respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) testing fraud scheme. According to court documents, Osman Syed, 34, also known as Syed Osman, an Indian national, caused BioDX Labs LLC (BioDX) to submit more than $79 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Texas Medicaid for RPP tests that  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 22, 2024: A Michigan woman was convicted today for her role in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and receive illegal health care kickbacks. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mary Smettler-Bolton, 71, of Oakland County, referred Medicare beneficiaries to several Metro Detroit home health companies in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks paid b more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2024: A California physician pleaded guilty today in Los Angeles to criminal health care fraud, arising from her false home health certifications and related fraudulent billings to Medicare. According to court documents, Lilit Gagikovna Baltaian, 61, of Porter Ranch, was a physician licensed to practice in California and an enrolled Medicare provider. From approximately January 2012 through July more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to conduct oversight of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) use of facial recognition technology. "We urge you to conduct thorough oversight of the Transportation Security Administration's ("TSA") use of facia more PR

BRADDON, Australia, Nov. 20 -- The Law Council of Australia issued the following news release: The Law Council of Australia has cautioned that the law must be very clear about the circumstances in which the Australian Defence Force (ADF) can be deployed in response to domestic threats and safeguards established to protect people's rights. "Part IIIAAA of the Defence Act 1903 (Cth) enables the ADF to be called out to assist civilian authorities, such as the police, in response to 'domestic viol more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Nov. 20 -- McGuireWoods, a law firm, issued the following news release: * * * New York Partner Brings In-House Experience From Global Pharmaceutical Companies * * * Craig B. Bleifer, a nationally recognized healthcare and life sciences attorney who served as general counsel for two global pharmaceutical companies, has joined McGuireWoods as a partner in New York. Bleifer comes to McGuireWoods from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field. He has more than three decades of experie more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 3:24-cv-00800-MHL; E.D. Va., filed Nov. 8, 2024) involving Robert Brian Thompson: * * * On November 8, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed insider trading charges against Robert Brian Thompson, a long-time banking supervisor and examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, for allegedly using material nonpublic information to trade in stock and options of two publicly  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: On June 14, 2024, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Border Patrol personnel monitoring remote cameras notified Border Patrol agents, via radio, of a group of possible undocumented noncitizens located approximately 3.15 miles east of the Rio Grande River and 17.5 miles northwest of the Eagle Pass Bridge Port of Entry in Eagle Pass, Texas. At approximately 6:00 a.m., agen more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: On April 27, 2024, at approximately 8:45 p.m., the Border Patrol's Del Rio Sector Border Intelligence Center received a call from two male Mexican migrants wishing to surrender. The caller advised the other migrant was in medical distress and provided Border Patrol agents with their GPS coordinates. The Intelligence Center forwarded the coordinates to the Carrizo Sp more PR

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Nov. 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2024: The owner of a home healthcare company was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday and accused of defrauding the Missouri Medicaid Program and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs out of more than $800,000. Natavia Boyd-Wells, 40, is now facing four counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements related to a healthcare ma more PR

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Nov. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri issued the following news release: The former owner, office manager, and business manager of a St. Louis County, Missouri-based home health care company were sentenced Tuesday to prison time for health care fraud. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced Doriann Morgan, 59, of St. Louis County, to two years in prison. Judge Pitlyk sentenced Thalisa Walton, 47, of Hazelwood, and Barbara Jac more PR

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Nov. 23 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina issued the following news release on Nov. 22, 2024: A Charlotte behavioral health services provider was sentenced yesterday to 135 months in prison for Medicaid fraud, COVID-19 fraud, and money laundering, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Ashley Nicole Cross, 42, of Charlotte, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release more PR

NEW YORK, Nov. 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2024: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), announced today the arrest of HENRY YAU for charges in connection with a scheme to commit identity theft, convert government records, and dis more PR

NEW YORK, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York issued the following news release: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Jonathan Mellone, the Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General ("DOL-OIG"); and Andrew Wroblewski, the Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service ("DSS") Domestic Operations, announce more PR

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, Nov. 23 -- The Commander of the Hawaii Navy Region issued the following news: From Raquel Cloma, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) inspects, investigates, or inquires into matters of importance to the Department of the Navy with respect to fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and command operations. The OIG provides support and guidance that enables management to evaluate the economy, effici more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released the following public communication dated Nov. 1, 2024, from the Government Accountability Project: * * * To: James. S. Frederick Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Occupational Safety and Health Administration U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20210 Re: Public Comments on OSHA Whistleblower Protection Program  more ST

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release: The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that the following individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and multiple counts of health care fraud: * Frank Suess (a.k.a., Franz P. Suess), age 78, of Wellington, Florida; * Luis Salgado, age 50, of Nape more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSres) -- The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2024: * * * Financial Positions Continue to Grow Stronger in PBGC Insurance Programs * * * The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) today released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Annual Report. The report shows PBGC's insurance programs are financially sound and continue to grow stronger. This marks the fourth consecutive year of positive net financial positions for both our Sing more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility issued the following news release on Nov. 20, 2024: * * * House Chair Says EPA Scientific Integrity Program Will "Usurp" Agenda * * * The bipartisan consensus in support of federal scientific integrity policies appears to be fraying, according to a fiery letter from a Republican House committee chair released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The letter charges that the scientific integr more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Rep. Mark Alford, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) joined his colleagues in a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough, urging the department to streamline the current scheduling system for veteran mental health appointments. The letter was led by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10). "We owe a deep debt of gratitude to our veterans for their selfless service to this nation.  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) applauded the House passage of his legislation to reform and improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and empower veterans as they begin their transition back into civilian life as well as improve programs for those and their families who transitioned already. The bill passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis by a vote of 389-9. This is the si more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a subpoena to a key official at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to further investigate the USDA's arbitrary enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and the final rule titled Horse Protection Amendments. Information obtained by the Oversight Committee, along with recent actions at Tennessee Walking Horse shows, rev more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) today announced his Service Member Employment Protection Act passed the House as part of H.R. 8371, "The Dole Act." The Dole Act includes 12 major initiatives designed to reform and enhance the delivery of Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) services, including expanding healthcare options, offering more education opportunities and streamlining benefits an more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., introduced the "Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act" on Sept. 6, 2024. The text of the bill was released on Nov. 15. H.R. 9468. A bill making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Appropriations. The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Tom Cole, R-Okla., John R. Carter, R-Texas, Ken Calvert, R-Calif., David G. Valadao, R-Calif. more ST

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Steve Womack (AR-03), and Chris Pappas' (NH-01) bipartisan legislation to strengthen oversight and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a part of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. The Department of Vetera more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, issued the following news on Nov. 22, 2024: Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) voted in favor of H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This legislation, which passed out of the U.S. House by a vote of 389-9, includes Congresswoman Kiggans' bills, H.R. 3581, the Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement (COPE) Act and H.R. 3504, the VA Medical Center Security Report Act of 2 more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL) and Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act to end the epidemic of sexual assaults on prison staff by inmates within the prison system. According to a February 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG), a staggering 40% of 7,000 surveyed Federal Bureau of Prisons ( more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Alabama, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Last week, Representative Gary Palmer (AL-06) introduced a bill that gives the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorization to transfer funds designated for other purposes to the Disaster Relief Fund. Following Hurricane Helene this year, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated, "FEMA does not have the funds to make it throug more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: On Tuesday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) demanded the Biden administration preserve all records and evidence related to the missing unaccompanied alien children who have been brought into the United States under the watch of their administration. "The Biden-Harris Administration's reckless, open-borders policies have led to record-breaking numbers of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) arriving at the southwes more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Today, Congressman Van Drew questioned Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell in a House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing about reports that FEMA workers were instructed to "avoid homes advertising Trump" while assisting hurricane victims. The directive led workers to skip over at least 20 homes displaying Trump campaign signs  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2024: * * * Gensler implemented reforms to enhance efficiency, resiliency, and integrity in U.S. capital markets; agency held wrongdoers accountable and returned billions to harmed investors. * * * The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that its 33rd Chair, Gary Gensler, will step down from the Commission effective at 12:00 pm on January 20, 2025. Chair Gensler began hi more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: Unprompted Federal searches of travelers have disproportionately targeted Black travelers,according to a recent media investigationThis is an external link Atlanta, Ga. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is demanding answers about unprompted searches of travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Today, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Drug Enforcement Ad more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Rick Scott blasted the Biden administration after it refused to have U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray show up for a public hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) on Threats to the Homeland. Senator Rick Scott said, "In a dangerous and cow more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 19, 2024: * * * In response to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chairman Martin Gruenberg's announcement he will resign on January 19th, Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released the following statement: "I've called on Martin Gruenberg to resign from the agency for almost a year - yet he's continued to play pol more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a report detailing the Biden-Harris administration's failures to secure the southern border resulting in the exploitation and abuse of migrant children. This report comes more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 20, 2024: U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, co-chaired a full Committee hearing on the President's disaster relief supplemental funding request for communities affected by recent natural disasters, including Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Today's hearing featured two panels of witnesses: U.S. Senators Thom Tilli more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the highest-ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, responded to press reports indicating that President Biden will finally lift some restrictions on Ukraine using U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). "If initial press reports are true, I am encouraged at the prospect of allowing Ukraine to use long-range ATACM missiles supplied by the  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and a bipartisan group of Senators to sound the alarm on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) facial recognition regime in airports across the United States. Senators Marshall and Merkley co-led this effort with Senators John Kennedy (R-LA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) to urge a thorough investigation by U.S. Dep more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 22, 2024: Today, the House Committee on Homeland Security released its October "Startling Stats" factsheet, detailing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) border encounter data for the first month (October 2024) of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. According to CBP, for the fourth October in a row under the Biden-Harris administration, nationwide encounters  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and 14 Senate colleagues demanded greater accountability and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after a stunning multi-billion-dollar budget debacle in recent weeks in a letter to SVAC Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT). The senators are urging the SVAC chairman to ensure the Protecti more PR

ALPINE, Texas, Nov. 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas issued the following news release: A former Valentine Independent School District employee pleaded guilty to charges related to his scheme to fraudulently misappropriate school district funds for personal expenses. According to court records, Ernesto Villarreal Jr., 43, of Marfa, was employed as the Business Manager and served as the Tax Collector and Assessor for the Valentine ISD, in Valentine, TX. Du more PR

SHERMAN, Texas, Nov. 21 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas issued the following news release: An Oklahoma City, OK woman has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for various crimes related to an international drug trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Debra Lynn Mercer-Erwin, 61, was convicted at trial of money laundering; wire fraud; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine; and consp more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: VA is now retracting previous claim that it was facing a $3 billion shortfall Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and 14 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) demanding greater accountability and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after a stunning multi-billion-dollar budget short more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSres) -- Student Borrower Protection Center issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: * * * CFPB Student Loan Ombudsman and FSA Ombudsman Both Warn of Widespread Failures by MOHELA Amid Historic Spike in Borrower Complaints * * * Yesterday, a second independent federal watchdog released a scathing new report, warning that student loan giant MOHELA is systematically failing borrowers. The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA) Ombudsman's ann more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Corrections Officer Rashaad Roper, 45, of Gaithersburg, MD, is one of five people charged by indictment, unsealed today, in a conspiracy to provide a knife, drugs, and cell phones to inmates in the D.C. jail as they awaited trial for murder and assault with intent to kill while armed. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Spe more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Mahmoud Al Hafyan, 53, a Syrian national, has been charged in a 12-count indictment, unsealed today in U.S. District Court, alleging major fraud against the United States for illegally diverting more than $9 million in U.S.-funded humanitarian aid intended for Syrian civilians to armed combatant groups, including the Al-Nusrah Front (ANF), which is a designated more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following remarks by Board Chairman Roman Martinez IV during an open session: * * * Good morning and welcome. We have a full agenda today. First, I'd like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of USPS employees across the country during the 2024 election cycle. Once again, the USPS rose to the occasion and served the American people with dedication & precision. Outstanding! I also want to call out the significant contributions of more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Nov. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: A Mosley man pled guilty today to committing insider trading and making false statements about his trading to his employer, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (FRBR). According to court documents, Robert Brian Thompson, 43, worked as a bank examiner and senior manager with supervisory duties for the FRBR. Due to his position, Thompson was pri more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Gary Lomax, 62, of Hurricane, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation, including four months on home detention, and ordered to pay $29,592 in restitution for theft of public money, property or records. Lomas admitted that he fraudulently obtained approximately $8,760 in unemployment benefits, including COVID-19 supple more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), members of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel urging him to strengthen and enforce tax code regulations on nonprofit hospitals, which are still taking advantage of their nonprofit status to pay little to nothing in taxes while failing to provide adequate charity and community care to th more PR

SPOKANE, Washington, Nov. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington issued the following news release: Vanessa R. Waldref, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced the creation of a new, interagency Environmental Task Force to protect public health and safety, to ensure that everyone enjoys equal protection from environmental and health hazards, and to combat criminal conspiracies that attempt to profit from pollution. "Strong and  more PR

SPOKANE, Washington, Nov. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington issued the following news release: On November 14, 2024, United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced that United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Antonio Feliciano Crawford, age 55, of Mead, Washington, to 45 months in federal prison on charges of bank fraud. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release, restitution of $203,347.08, and forfeiture of $173,329.00 i more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report: Here are excerpts: * * * Fast Facts Nearly 760,000 trips are made each weekday using D.C.'s Metro rail and bus system. In recent years, Metro's operations have come under scrutiny. Metro's Office of Inspector General is supposed to provide independent oversight of its operations, but we found some threats to that independence. For example, Metro's board doesn't have procedures to remove an IG-- more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: On May 31, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m., two migrants approached a house in Sunland Park, New Mexico and requested help. A construction worker at the house called 911, and Sunland Park Fire Department and Police Department responded to the residence and requested an air ambulance. The fire department called the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station Tactical Operati more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: On June 22, 2024, the El Paso Regional Communications (911) Center contacted the Border Patrol's El Paso Sector communications center after receiving an emergency call regarding lost migrants seeking aid in the vicinity of Santa Teresa, New Mexico. At approximately 5:22 p.m., El Paso Sector communications alerted Border Patrol agents at the Santa Teresa Station and more PR