SEC Chair Gensler Issues Remarks at 2024 43rd Annual Small Business Forum
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following remarks on April 16, 2024, by Chair Gary Gensler at the 2024 43rd Annual Small Business Forum:
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As is customary, I'd like to note that my views are my own as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and I am not speaking on behalf of my fellow Commissioners or the staff.
Stacey Bowers joined us in January as the new director of the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation (OASB). We are excited to have her as part of the SEC's team advancing our important work on behalf of small
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following remarks on April 16, 2024, by Chair Gary Gensler at the 2024 43rd Annual Small Business Forum:
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As is customary, I'd like to note that my views are my own as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and I am not speaking on behalf of my fellow Commissioners or the staff.
Stacey Bowers joined us in January as the new director of the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation (OASB). We are excited to have her as part of the SEC's team advancing our important work on behalf of smallbusinesses and their investors.
In 1980, Congress directed the SEC to hold an annual Small Business Forum so the Commission could hear directly from small businesses and their investors about the unique issues that they face. Today, I'm pleased to welcome you to the SEC's 43rd Annual Forum.
I grew up in a small business household. My grandparents on one side opened and ran a grocery store and on the other side a bar, both in Baltimore. My dad, Sam Gensler, started a small business repairing vending machines. It grew into a small vending machine business that served hundreds of other small businesses in the process, such as small diners and bars.
In this sense, my family's business was part of a larger community of small businesses, whose owners were as diverse as the city of Baltimore.
Entrepreneurs and small businesses are integral to our capital markets. In fact, more than 99 percent of U.S. businesses are small, and their employees make up nearly half of the American private sector employees.
From 1995-2021, small businesses created nearly two out of every three new jobs.
At the SEC, our job is to serve investors building for a better future and companies of every size. We are working to make our markets more efficient, competitive, transparent, fair--and worthy of the public's trust. We work to ensure that markets serve investors and issuers alike--not the other way around.
At the SEC, we have educational resources to help equip small businesses and investors with the tools to help navigate capital raising. Please check out SEC.gov and Investor.gov.
As you discuss the various topics over the next three days--from early-stage stories to investing in early-stage companies to accessing the public markets--please share your ideas and policy recommendations with us. We greatly benefit from your perspective and willingness to engage.
This forum will inform a report that will be delivered to Congress. Further, your perspective may help the Commission consider policies to benefit small businesses, like my dad and grandad's and so many across America.
Thank you, and now turning it back to the rest of the program.
Postal Regulatory Commission: Chairman Kubayanda Testifies Before Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Postal Regulatory Commission issued the following news release on April 16, 2024:
Postal Regulatory Commission Chairman Michael Kubayanda testified before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs at a hearing titled "Oversight of the United States Postal Service."
Chairman Kubayanda testified that he hopes Postal Service leadership will be more transparent on plan changes moving forward.
Other witnesses in attendance and providing testimony included: Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Louis DeJoy, Chairman of the
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Postal Regulatory Commission issued the following news release on April 16, 2024:
Postal Regulatory Commission Chairman Michael Kubayanda testified before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs at a hearing titled "Oversight of the United States Postal Service."
Chairman Kubayanda testified that he hopes Postal Service leadership will be more transparent on plan changes moving forward.
Other witnesses in attendance and providing testimony included: Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Louis DeJoy, Chairman of theBoard of Governors Roman Martinez, IV, and Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Hull.
Paper Shopping Bags From Turkey Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release on April 16, 2024:
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of paper shopping bags from Turkey that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.
As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, Commerce
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 17 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release on April 16, 2024:
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of paper shopping bags from Turkey that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.
As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, Commercewill issue an antidumping duty order on imports of this product from Turkey.
The Commission's public report Paper Shopping Bags from Turkey (Inv. No. 731-TA-1626 (Final), USITC Publication 5504, April 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.
Product Description: The merchandise covered by this investigation is certain paper shopping bags (PSBs), which have handles of any type, regardless of whether there is any printing, regardless of how the top edges are finished (e.g., folded, serrated, or otherwise finished), regardless of color, and regardless of whether the top edges contain adhesive or other material for sealing closed. PSBs have a width of at least 4.5 inches and depth of at least 2.5 inches. PSBs typically are made of kraft paper but can be made from any type of cellulose fiber, paperboard, or pressboard with a basis weight less than 300 grams per square meter (GSM). A non-exhaustive illustrative list of the types of handles on PSBs include handles made from any materials such as twisted paper, flat paper, yarn, ribbon, rope, string, or plastic, as well as die-cut handles (whether the punchout is fully removed or partially attached as a flap).
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Final antidumping duty investigation.
2. Petitioner: The Coalition for Fair Trade in Shopping Bags, a coalition whose members include Novolex Holdings, LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina, and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
3. USITC Institution Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
4. USITC Hearing Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024.
5. USITC Vote Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024.
U.S. Industry in 2023:
1. Number of U.S. producers: 4.
2. Location of producers' plants: Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
3. Production and related workers: 1
4. U.S. producers' U.S. shipments: 1
5. Apparent U.S. consumption: 1
6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption: 1
U.S. Imports in 2023:
1. Subject imports: 1
2. Nonsubject imports: 1
3. Leading import sources: China, Vietnam.
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Footnote:
1/ Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.
NRC Issues Event Notification for Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Tenn.
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 57077) involving Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Tennessee:
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Facility: Watts Bar
Region: 2
State: TN
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Tony Pate
HQ OPS Officer: Sam Colvard
Notification Date: 04/15/2024
Notification Time: 14:38 [ET]
Event Date: 02/15/2024
Event Time: 22:24 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/15/2024
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.73(a)(1) - Invalid Specif System Actuation
Person (Organization): Miller, Mark (R2DO)
Power
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 57077) involving Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Tennessee:
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Facility: Watts Bar
Region: 2
State: TN
Unit: [1] [2] []
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: Tony Pate
HQ OPS Officer: Sam Colvard
Notification Date: 04/15/2024
Notification Time: 14:38 [ET]
Event Date: 02/15/2024
Event Time: 22:24 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/15/2024
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.73(a)(1) - Invalid Specif System Actuation
Person (Organization): Miller, Mark (R2DO)
PowerReactor Unit Info
The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"At 2224 EST on February 15, 2024, with both units 1 and 2 in Mode 1 at 100 percent power, an invalid start of the emergency diesel generator (EDG) system on 1A-A, 1B-B, and 2B-B EDGs occurred while removing clearances. The 2A-A EDG did not start because it was still under a clearance. The 1A-A, 1B-B, and 2B-B EDGs started and functioned successfully.
"The start signal for the 1A-A, 1B-B, and 2B-B EDGs was generated from the common emergency start of the 2A-A EDG. The signal was not from a loss of offsite power (LOOP) to any shutdown board or from any parameters that would initiate a safety injection (SI) signal, for which the EDG is designed to provide a design basis safety function. Also, the starts were not from intentional manual actuation. Starting the EDGs did not make them inoperable and each EDG was able to perform its design [basis] safety function.
"The common emergency start relay for each diesel is not safety related. It is an anticipatory and redundant circuit to start other EDGs in the event of a LOOP or SI related to the specific EDG. With the 2A-A EDG out of service, the associated common emergency circuit would not be required to perform any function. The starts were not initiated in response to actual plant conditions or parameters satisfying the requirements for initiation of the system.
"This event was originally reported under EN 56970 on February 16, 2024, at 0205 EST in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3) (iv)(A) as an event that results in a valid actuation of the emergency diesel generator system. This EN was retracted on February 21, 2024, at 1549 EST.
"This event is being reported in accordance with 10 CFR 50.73(a)(1) and 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A) as an event that results in an invalid actuation of the emergency diesel generator system.
"There was no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel. The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."
NRC Issues Event Notification for Vartanian Medical, Farmington Hills, Mich.
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 57069) involving Vartanian Medical PLLC, Farmington Hills, Michigan:
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Rep Org: Vartanian Medical, PLLC
Licensee: Vartanian Medical, PLLC
Region: 3
City: Farmington Hills
State: MI
License #: 21-356-97-01
Agreement: N
NRC Notified By: Jonathan Olsen
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Notification Date: 04/09/2024
Notification Time: 16:12 [ET]
Event Date: 04/09/2024
Event Time: 12:40 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/09/2024
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
35.3045(a)(1)
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 57069) involving Vartanian Medical PLLC, Farmington Hills, Michigan:
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Rep Org: Vartanian Medical, PLLC
Licensee: Vartanian Medical, PLLC
Region: 3
City: Farmington Hills
State: MI
License #: 21-356-97-01
Agreement: N
NRC Notified By: Jonathan Olsen
HQ OPS Officer: Karen Cotton-Gross
Notification Date: 04/09/2024
Notification Time: 16:12 [ET]
Event Date: 04/09/2024
Event Time: 12:40 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/09/2024
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
35.3045(a)(1)- Dose <> Prescribed Dosage
Person (Organization): Edwards, Rhex (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
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MEDICAL EVENT - UNDERDOSE
The following information is an event summary via phone call from Vartanian Medical, PLLC:
On April 9, 2024, at 1240 EDT, a patient received only 73 percent of the intended dose of Y-90 TheraSpheres during a radioembolization. The prescribed dose was 3000 Gy and the dose received was approximately 2200 Gy. The physician described the cause of the event to be due to a smaller catheter needle used for treatment, which impeded the requisite flow.
A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.
EEOC: Gregg Orr Auto to Pay $325,000 to Resolve Disability, Age Discrimination Lawsuit
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, April 17 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release on April 16, 2024:
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Federal Agency Charged Car Dealership Company Fired Longtime Employee To Avoid Healthcare Costs
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Gregg Orr Auto Collection, Inc., a group of car dealerships, has agreed to pay $325,000 and provide other relief to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit alleging that the Texarkana, Texas-based company fired a senior sales executive to avoid medical costs related to his cancer diagnosis, the federal agency announced today.
According
... Show Full ArticleBIRMINGHAM, Alabama, April 17 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release on April 16, 2024:
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Federal Agency Charged Car Dealership Company Fired Longtime Employee To Avoid Healthcare Costs
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Gregg Orr Auto Collection, Inc., a group of car dealerships, has agreed to pay $325,000 and provide other relief to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit alleging that the Texarkana, Texas-based company fired a senior sales executive to avoid medical costs related to his cancer diagnosis, the federal agency announced today.
Accordingto the lawsuit, Greg Orr Auto fired the 65-year-old employee in February 2020 without prior warning and informed him that his health insurance coverage would end, effective immediately. The EEOC contended this came shortly after the worker received billing statements for a costly surgery to treat a serious cancer. The suit alleged that Greg Orr Auto knew the company would be exposed to the employee's ongoing healthcare expenses under its self-insured employee health care plan and therefore replaced him with a significantly younger worker in his mid-30s.
Such conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which prohibit employers from discriminating based on disability or age (age 40 or older). The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Gregg Orr Auto Collection, Inc., Case No. 5:23-cv-00097) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas after first attempting to reach a pre litigation resolution through its administrative conciliation process.
As part of the consent decree settling the case, Greg Orr Auto agreed to update its anti-discrimination policies and to provide its upper management with training on disability and age discrimination.
"This resolution underscores the EEOC's commitment to eliminating age and disability discrimination," said Marsha Rucker, regional attorney for the EEOC's Birmingham District.
Birmingham District Director Bradley Anderson said, "The EEOC appreciates Greg Orr Auto's willingness to undertake significant training to ensure workers' rights are protected in the future."
The EEOC's Birmingham District Office is charged with enforcing federal employment discrimination laws in Alabama, Mississippi (except for 17 northern counties) and the Florida Panhandle.
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at http://www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.
CPSC Revamps Chronic Hazards Guidelines, Making It Easier to Protect You From Toxic Chemicals in Your Home
BETHESDA, Maryland, April 17 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following statement on April 15, 2024, by Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr.:
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The Commission unanimously approved new chronic hazard guidelines that improve the agency's ability to protect you from toxic chemicals.
Over three decades ago, during the last days of the George H.W. Bush Administration, CPSC issued restrictive guidelines that made it nearly impossible for the agency to protect you from toxic chemicals. This favor to the chemical industry made it easier for them to make us all sicker. But the Federal
... Show Full ArticleBETHESDA, Maryland, April 17 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following statement on April 15, 2024, by Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr.:
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The Commission unanimously approved new chronic hazard guidelines that improve the agency's ability to protect you from toxic chemicals.
Over three decades ago, during the last days of the George H.W. Bush Administration, CPSC issued restrictive guidelines that made it nearly impossible for the agency to protect you from toxic chemicals. This favor to the chemical industry made it easier for them to make us all sicker. But the FederalHazardous Substances Act (FHSA) tasks CPSC with protecting consumers from toxin-emitting products in the home, including chronic toxins. Now, we've freed ourselves to do the job the FHSA gave us. For families that have unknowingly been poisoned for decades, federal action is long overdue.
The old guidelines arguably forced the Commission, but not industry, to apply a set of onerous, costly, and outmoded procedures before acting against chronic hazards. The new guidelines remove that impediment to the Commission, allowing us to innovate. After today, we can apply the latest methods in toxicology and use current scientific insight, including research and findings from other federal agencies, universities, and professional toxicologists. That is a major leap forward.
The old guidelines had glaring gaps in the types of chronic hazards they discussed. They talked about how this agency could approach toxic chemicals that cause cancer, neurological problems, or developmental and reproductive issues like birth defects. Those are very serious hazards. But we know that toxic chemicals in the home can cause a host of other problems too--respiratory illness, heart disease, immunosuppression, and more. Today's update makes it clear that CPSC can tackle all toxic "endpoints," not just the worst of the worst. Again, that's real progress for consumers.
Faithfully,
Your consumer advocate at the Consumer Product Safety Commission
