WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Henry E. Seaton of Seaton & Husk L.P, Vienna, Virginia, and Mark J. Andrews of Clark Hill PLC, have issued a public comment on behalf of 11 organizations to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The comment was written and posted on Nov. 29, 2023. The comment was on Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0003-0005. Here are excerpts: * * * COME NOW the Air & Expedited Motor Carriers Association (AEMCA), Airforwarders Association (AfA), Alliance for Safe, Efficient and Competitive Truck  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- The American Action Forum issued the following commentary on Dec. 6, 2023: * * * Re-authorizing FISA: Options for Reform By Joshua Levine and John Belton Executive Summary * The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) requires re-authorization at the end of the year, prompting a handful of proposals to reform the current legislation to strengthen oversight and accountability, and to prevent warrantless querying of data that could belong to U.S. citizens. * This   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Army News Service issued the following news: By Christopher Hurd, Army News Service The Army is reviewing the records of all officers who were commissioned through the active-duty option of the Green to Gold Program for possible time-in-service miscalculations. The records review follows a U.S. Army Cadet Command Inspector General notice in September stating some Soldiers may not have known the period they spent as cadets did not count toward their time in servi  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: WASHINGTON - The Army is reviewing the records of all officers who were commissioned through the active duty option of the Green to Gold Program for possible time-in-service miscalculations. The records review follows a U.S. Army Cadet Command Inspector General notice in September stating some Soldiers may not have known the perio  more

PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 8 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on Dec. 6, 2023: Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced that the State Grand Jury has indicted the following 10 individuals with Illegal Control of an Enterprise, and other charges related to patient brokering: Vestine Mukarukundo, Nasibu Bauni, Pierrette Kagame, Jean Bosco Nsabimana, Immaculate Nutesi, Espoir Muhumure Nzabakiza, Willy Rutaysire, Jose Miguel Saturnino-Corrales, Julienne Swaka,  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Rep. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2023: Today, Rep. Jim Banks (IN-03) and Senator JD Vance (R-OH) introduced the College Admissions Accountability Act, to require universities to respect applicants' constitutional rights and comply with the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The legislation would condition eligibility for federal student assistance and institutional aid on univ  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. -- Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen released the following statement on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General's report on mail service in Colorado's mountain towns. The USPS Office of Inspector General initiated the audit after Colorado lawmakers, customers, local leaders, and mem  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: PHILADELPHIA -- A 37-year-old Cameroonian national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) passed away at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center (MVPC) in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Dec. 6, 2023. An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death. MVPC staff informed ERO Philadelphia  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: CHARLESTON, W.Va. - This week, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) and a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, joined her Republican Senate colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS)   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: Dubai, U.A.E. - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis today announced the EXIM Board of Directors' recent approval of a resolution to fund applications for the export of U.S small modular reactor (SMR) systems and components. The announcement was highlighted in a White House fact sheet and at the 2023 United Nations Climate C  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Scott Segerstrom, Executive Director, Colorado Youth Corps Association, has issued a public comment to the Corporation for National and Community Service. The comment was written on Dec. 5, 2023. The comment, on Docket No. CNCS-2023-0030-0001, was sent to Elizabeth Appel, Associate General Counsel. * * * Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) respectfully submits the following comments in response to Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 3045-AA84: "AmeriCorps State and Na  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Maryland, issued the following statement on Dec. 4, 2023: * * * Today, members of Maryland's federal, state, and local governments including Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04)  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: Today, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) called on General Services Administration (GSA) Acting Inspector General Robert Erickson to investigate potential political influence in the site selection process for the new Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters. "GSA must be fair and transparent in its operations. Its   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news on Dec. 5, 2023: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) sent a letter yesterday with 38 of his Senate Republican colleagues urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to overhaul its harmful and negligent policies governing the agency's treatment of unaccompanied migrant children in the United States, including a Proposed Rule that codifies ORR's practice of allowing vuln  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) led 36 Senate Republicans in demanding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) overhaul its harmful and deficient policies governing the agency's treatment of unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States. The Proposed Rule--parts of which the agency is alre  more

LAREDO, Texas, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Justice Department Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division issued the following news release: A 35-year-old Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer working at the Port of Entry in Laredo has been arrested, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Emanuel Celedon is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christophe  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit announcement on Dec. 7, 2023, entitled "FAA's Oversight of CRRSA Act and ARPA COVID Relief Grant Funds:" * * * From: Nelda Z. Smith, Assistant Inspector General for Aviation Audits To: Director, Audit and Evaluation The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation (CRRSA) Act/1 and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)/2 - the second and third coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relief acts - aw  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following 41-page report (No. 23-F-0038) on Sept. 29, 2023, entitled "Fiscal 2022 and 2021 Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund Financial Statements." Here are excerpts: * * * At A Glance Why We Did This Audit To accomplish this objective: We performed this audit pursuant to the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act. The Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection A  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following memorandum (No. 23-N-0035) on Sept. 28, 2023, entitled "Lack of Readily Accessible Small Business Innovation Research Data:" * * * FROM: Jason Abend, Assistant Inspector General, Office of Investigations TO: Dr. Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator and EPA Science Advisor, Office of Research and Development; Kimberly Patrick, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Mission Supp  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following 11-page memorandum (No. 23-N-0036) on Sept. 28, 2023, entitled "Status of Unliquidated Obligations for Programs Receiving Funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." Here are excerpts: * * * FROM: Sean W. O'Donnell, Inspector General TO: Faisal Amin, Chief Financial Officer This is our report on the subject project conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Offi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following 16-page report (No. 23-E-0037) on Sept. 29, 2023, entitled "The Agency Adhered to Tribal Consultation Policies for Pesticide Actions but Could Update Guidance to Enhance Meaningful Involvement of Tribal Governments." Here are excerpts: * * * At A Glance Why We Did This Evaluation To accomplish this objective: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General conducte  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following semiannual report to Congress, April 1 though Sept. 30, 2023 on Nov. 20, 2023. Here are excerpts: * * * Message to Congress On behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General, I am pleased to present our Semiannual Report to Congress. This report summarizes our work and accomplishments from April 1 through September 30, 2023. Throughout this period, we prov  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) exposed that, almost four years after COVID-19 temporarily closed federal buildings, not a single government agency is occupying even half their office space and called on Biden's bureaucrats to deck the agency halls with federal workers or sell off unused facilities. As taxpayers are picking up the cost of vacant offices, Ernst unveiled a naughty list of these no-show federal age  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: Dubai, U.A.E. - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis and Hee-Sung Yoon, Chairman and President of the Export Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), today officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between EXIM and KEXIM to facilitate financing collaboration on renewable energy and zero-carbon technology projects. The MOU w  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: LAREDO, Texas - A 35-year-old Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer working at the Port of Entry in Laredo has been arrested, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Emanuel Celedon is set to make his initial appearance before  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued the following news release: During its ninth annual Law Enforcement Awards Program, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) recognized agencies that used Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) data to successfully pursue and prosecute criminal investigations. "While these awards recognize our law enforcement partners who have effectively used BSA data in   more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Dec. 7 -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued the following news release on Dec. 6, 2023: Attorney General Ashley Moody's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit today announced the arrest of a power of attorney for financially exploiting an elderly Okaloosa resident. Cheri Lynn Meyer is accused of taking more than $43,600 from the victim despite being responsible for the resident's finances to be used for health care. Attorney General Ashley Moody said, "This individual, wh  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Nov. 29 -- The Florida Auditor General released the following Quality Assessment Review (No. 2024-071) involving Department of Health - Office of Inspector General's Internal Audit Activity. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY In our opinion, the quality assurance and improvement program related to the Department of Health, Office of Inspector General's internal audit activity was adequately designed and complied with during the review period July 2022 through June 2023 to  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release on Dec. 7, 2023: * * * Recent agency actions have helped lower costs, increase care quality for consumers and promote competition across the health care market * * * Anticompetitive acquisitions and practices can chill fair competition, leading to higher health care costs, degraded working conditions, and less innovation across the health care and pharmaceutical industries. Through regulatory and legal actio  more

GAINESVILLE, Georgia, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan K. Buchanan, issued the following news release: Ronald House, who applied for unemployment insurance in his name and the names of others in multiple states during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge. "House ran a multi-state scam stealing benefits allotted for those in need," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. "COVID-19 pandemic funds provided vital aid for   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today led 38 Senate Republicans in calling on the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to overhaul its harmful and deficient policies governing the agency's treatment of unaccompanied alien children in the United States. ORR's Proposed Rule - parts of which the agency is already enforcing - allows vulnerable children to be placed   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: MIAMI - A Guatemalan national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) passed away at the Larkin Community Hospital (LCH) in South Miami, Florida Dec. 4, 2023. An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death. On Dec. 2, ICE Health Services Corps informed ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Miami an American Med  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. A-06-21-02000) on Nov. 29, 2023, entitled "Louisiana Should Improve Its Oversight of Nursing Homes' Compliance With Requirements That Prohibit Employment of Individuals With Disqualifying Background Checks" filed under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Here are excerpts: * * * Report in Brief Why OIG Did This Audit Background checks for employees are an important safety  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a notice, published in the Federal Register on Dec. 4, 2023, entitled "Solicitation of Proposals for New and Modified Safe Harbors and Special Fraud Alerts." The notice was issued by Christi A. Grimm, Inspector General. COMMENT DEADLINE: February 2, 2024 * * * SUMMARY: In accordance with section 205 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), this annual notification solicits pr  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: Lawmakers Urge USPS To Implement Report's Recommendations Immediately WASHINGTON - Colorado U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Colorado U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen released the following statement on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General's report on mail service in Colorado's mountain towns. The USPS Office of Inspector General initiated the au  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The House Administration Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-262) on a bill (H.R. 5734), which aims to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to extend the Administrative Fine Program for certain reporting violation. The report was advanced by Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wisconsin, on Nov. 2, 2023. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 5734, To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to extend the Administrative Fine Program for certain reporting   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The House Financial Services Committee issued the following testimony by the National Credit Union Administration Chairman Todd M. Harper involving a hearing on Nov. 15, 2023, entitled "Oversight of Prudential Regulators": * * * Chairman McHenry, Ranking Member Waters, and members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to discuss the work of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The NCUA insures deposits at federally insured credit unions, protects credit  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, issued the following news release: The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence passed the FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2023 by voice vote. "The Intelligence Community relies every single day on information collected through FISA Section 702 to keep us safe and inform policymakers. Any lapse could result in a catastrophic national security failure for which Congr  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: Today, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs passed the Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act, bipartisan legislation authored by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) to make it easier for veterans with disabilities to be made financially whole in the event they are defrauded of their benefits by allowing the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to reimburse victims of fraud without first meeting unnecessary bureauc  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs issued the following testimony by Zachary Stolz, a partner of Chisholm Chisholm and Kilpatrick, at an oversight hearing on Nov. 29, 2023, entitled "Examining the VA Appeals Process: Ensuring High Quality Decision-Making for Veterans' Claims on Appeal": * * * Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member Pappas, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for inviting Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs issued the following testimony by National Organization of Veterans' Advocates Executive Director Diane Boyd Rauber at an oversight hearing on Nov. 29, 2023, entitled "Examining the VA Appeals Process: Ensuring High Quality Decision-Making for Veterans' Claims on Appeal": * * * Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member Pappas, and members of the Subcommittee, the National Organization of Vetera  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Background Checks: Are VA's HR Failures Risking Drug Abuse and Veteran Harm?" at 10 a.m. on Dec. 6, 2023, at 360 Cannon House Office Building: Witnesses: * Mr. Shawn Steele, Director of the Healthcare Infrastructure Division, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs * Mr. Seto Bagdoyan, Director for Audit Services, Fore  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement Embraces Negligent Vetting Standards for Minors, While Muzzling Whistleblowers WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), who serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, is among a group of 39 Republican Senators demanding the Biden administration rewrite a proposed rule that would allow unvetted, potentially criminal sponsor  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: "The United States has the strongest and most capable military in the world because of the people who volunteer to serve in its ranks. To maintain that advantage, we must continue to attract the best and brightest America has to offer... make no mistake, there is strong bipartisan concern that the military services continue to struggle to meet their recruiting goals." Washington, D.C. - Chairing a   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden sent a follow-up letter to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Army, Lieutenant General Donna W. Martin, to further press for a comprehensive review of the facts leading up to the October 25 mass shooting at Just-In-Time Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille in Lewiston.   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), and Rob Wittman (R-VA) have sent a letter to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget requesting that the FBI headquarters relocation process be paused in order to al  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), and Rob Wittman (R-VA) have sent a letter to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget requesting that the FBI headquarters relocation process be paused in order t  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), and Rob Wittman (R-VA) have sent a letter to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget requesting that the FBI headquarters relocation process be paused in order t  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), and Rob Wittman (R-VA) have sent a letter to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget requesting that the FBI headquarters relocation process be paused in order to allo  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA-8), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), Morgan Griffith (R-VA-9), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-2), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-4), Bobby Scott (D-VA-3), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-7), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10), and Rob Wittman (R-VA-1) have sent a letter to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget requesting that the FBI headqu  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, issued the following news release: In September of this year, 21 individuals were charged in a federal indictment alleging trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; money laundering; illegally possessing firearms; and dog fighting. On December 6th, 2023, execution of additional search warrants in Indianapolis and Anderson resulted in seven additional arrests related to the S  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service has issued a notice, published in the Federal Register on Dec. 4, 2023, entitled "National Urban Indian Behavioral Health Awareness." The notice was issued by Roselyn Tso, Director. * * * Announcement Type: New. Funding Announcement Number: HHS-2024-IHS-NUIBH-0001. Assistance Listing (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance or CFDA) Number: 93.654. Key Dates Application Deadline Date: January 1, 20  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- The Interior Inspector General issued the following report (No. 2021-ER-026) on Dec. 4, 2023, entitled "The National Park Service Should Increase Monitoring and Oversight To Protect the Integrity and Recreational Value of the Land and Water Conservation Fund State Side Program." Here are excerpts: * * * Memorandum To: Charles F. Sams III, Director, National Park Service From: Kathleen Sedney, Assistant Inspector General for Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations Subject  more

JERUSALEM, Israel, Dec. 8 -- The government of Israel issued the following news release on Dec. 7, 2023: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, this evening lit the first Chanukah candle at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Also participating in the event were National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and his wife Ayala, Israel Police Inspector General Koby Shabtai, Jerusalem District Police Commander Doron Turgeman, Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, Western Wall Heritage Found  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: A federal judge in the Northern District of Georgia has sentenced three military contractors for their roles in a multi-year procurement fraud scheme related to more than $7 million in federal government contracts. Former Envistacom LLC president and co-founder Alan Carson was sentenced on Nov. 30 to six months in prison and two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a criminal fine of $250,000.  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: Former hospital executive Peggy Borgfeld, of Lexington, Texas, and physicians Linh Nguyen, M.D. and Thuy Nguyen, M.D., of Dallas, and Heriberto Salinas, M.D., of Cleburne, Texas, have agreed to pay a total of $880,199 to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving illegal remuneration in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The parties also have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department's investi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following investigative summary (No. 24-014) on Dec. 5, 2023, entitled "Finding of Misconduct by a Ex-Assistant U.S. Attorney for Attempted Misuse of Position." * * * The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation after receiving information from the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) alleging that a then-Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) was arrested for ass  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following investigative summary (No. 24-015) on Dec. 5, 2023, entitled "Finding of Misconduct by a then-FBI Legal Attache for Unauthorized Disclosure of Sensitive Information, False Statements, Failure to Cooperate, and Related Misconduct." * * * The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation after receiving information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), alleging that a  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 37 other Republican senators in writing the Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families, Jeff Hild, and Director of the Office for Refugee Resettlement, Robin Dunn Marcos, to demand changes to a proposed rule that would replace certain  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: Click here to read the full letter. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden sent a follow-up letter to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Army, Lieutenant General Donna W. Martin, to further press for a comprehensive review of the facts leading up to the October 25 mass shooting at Just-In-Time Recreation and S  more

MIDDLE RIVER, Maryland, Dec. 6 -- The Maryland National Guard issued the following news: By Master Sgt. Chris Schepers The Maryland Air National Guard conducted a sweeping operational readiness exercise involving the full spectrum of missions and personnel across Martin State Air National Guard Base Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. The Air Combat Command directed exercise, designated Operation Frosty Strike 2023, was designed to demonstrate the 175th Wing's ability to survive and operate in a simulate  more

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Dec. 1 -- Gov. Wes Moore, D-Maryland, issued the following statement on Nov. 30, 2023: * * * Today, members of Maryland's federal, state, and local governments including Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey, and Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks released the following stateme  more

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Dec. 5 -- Gov. Wes Moore, D-Maryland, issued the following joint statement on Dec. 4, 2023: * * * Today, members of Maryland's federal, state, and local governments including Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey, and Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks released the following st  more

QUEENS, New York, Dec. 7 -- Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2023: Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) applauded the United States Postal Service of Inspector General's (OIG) announcement that it is auditing the United States Postal Service's (USPS) efforts to mitigate mail theft in Queens. In her ongoing effort to combat mail theft in the district, in a letter, Meng convinced USPS OIG to investigate mail that is being delivered throughout the borough.   more

DETROIT, Michigan, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dawn N. Ison, issued the following news release: Commerce Township resident Ryan T. Carruthers was sentenced to two years and three months in prison yesterday for defrauding the Small Business Administration and various banks out of approximately $851,000 as part of a pandemic relief fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Carruthers was also ordered to pay $851,963 in restitution to his vi  more

BAY CITY, Michigan, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dawn N. Ison, issued the following news release: A federal grand jury indicted Andrew Semenchuk and Adam Ball, former owners and executives of Surveying Solutions, Inc. and Jeffrey Bartlett, a current owner and executive of Surveying Solutions, Inc., on charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. The indictm  more

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark A. Totten, issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2023: U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Roshell Beaty, 46, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced to 124 months in prison for her role related to pandemic fraud schemes used to obtain over $1 million in COVID-19 relief. Beaty previously pled guilty to two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and one  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dawn N. Ison, issued the following news release: A Southfield man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in connection with an extensive, multi-million-dollar cell phone upgrade fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. Delano  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dawn N. Ison, issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2023: A Southfield woman pleaded guilty today to wire fraud arising out of a scheme to defraud the State of Michigan out of more than $300,000 in pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Ison was joined in the announcement by Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Departme  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Andrew M. Luger, issued the following news release: A Rush City woman has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution for her role in multiple schemes that defrauded individuals throughout the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, from   more

OXFORD, Mississippi, Dec. 7 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Clay Joyner, issued the following news release on Dec. 6, 2023: A Memphis, Tennessee man was sentenced today to 62 months imprisonment following his conviction for his role in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration ("SBA") by submitting fraudulent loan applications to the SBA for over $11 Million. According to court documents, Norman Beckwood, 29, of Memphis, recruited individuals to submi  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 6 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release: Attorney General Josh Stein reached a $1.45 million settlement against South Carolina clinic Med First Immediate Care and Family Practice, P.A. (Med First). The settlement resolves allegations that Med First was operating as a pill mill and filing false claims with Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary urine drug tests and lengthy complex office visits that never happened. Because Me  more

GREENSBORO, North Carolina, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, Sandra J. Hairston, issued the following news release: Med First Immediate Care & Family Practice, P.A. (Med First) has agreed to pay the government $1,450,000 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that its clinic in Dillon, South Carolina had been operating as a pill mill and falsely filing claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary urine drug testing (UDT), as well as lengthy an  more

TRENTON, New Jersey, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release on Dec. 7, 2023: The chief executive officer of a Passaic, New Jersey, company today admitted falsifying data plates on forklifts provided to the U.S. Army to make it appear as if the forklifts, which were purchased in China, had been manufactured in the United States, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. James Cai, 33, of Hackensack, New Jersey, plead  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2023: The former owner of a New Jersey marketing company was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud public and private health benefits programs of over $6 million for the billing of medically unnecessary compounded prescriptions, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Michael Drobish, 46, of Cedar Grov  more

CAMDEN, New Jersey, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release: A West New York financial advisor was found guilty on 11 counts of defrauding public health insurance plans out of more than $4 million and transacting in the criminal proceeds, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Kaival Patel, 54, of West New York, New Jersey, was convicted on Dec. 7, 2023, of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and he  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, issued the following news release: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SINA MOAYEDI, the owner of a construction company, Montage, Inc., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, stemming from his 25-year fraud on the United States Government. MOAYEDI pled guilty in April 2023 to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to commi  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, issued the following news release on Dec. 4, 2023: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the guilty plea of SETH MARKIN in connection with his participation in a scheme to trade in stock of Pandion Therapeutics ("Pandion") based on inside information that he misappropriated from his then-girlfriend, who was an attorney at a major law firm ass  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (TNSres) -- The National Air Traffic Controllers Association issued the following news release on Dec. 2, 2023: NATCA denounces the unfair and inaccurate portrayal of air traffic controllers in today's article in the New York Times. It does not portray the professionalism and skill with which air traffic controllers perform their complex and stressful duties every day, 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year. The National Airspace System (NAS) is at its safest point in  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 8 -- The Ohio Environmental Council issued the following news release: Following the recent indictment of former Public Utilities of Ohio (PUCO) Chairman Samuel Randazzo, several environmental and consumer organizations representing thousands of Ohioans across the state requested a comprehensive PUCO investigation into the Commission's decisions during his time at the helm of this influential agency. The letter, which can be viewed here (https://theoec.org/wp-content/uploa  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The White House Office of Management and Budget issued the following memorandum (No. M-24-04): * * * MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES FROM: Shalanda D. Young SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2024 Guidance on Federal Information Security and Privacy Management Requirements Purpose This memorandum provides agencies with Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 reporting guidance and deadlines in accordance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Jacqueline C. Romero, issued the following news release on Dec. 7, 2023: United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that John Dougherty, 63, of Philadelphia, PA and Brian Burrows, 63, of Mount Laurel, NJ, were convicted today by a federal jury of numerous charges related to their embezzlement of funds belonging to Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ("Local 98  more

SEATTLE, Washington, Dec. 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington issued the following news release: A heating and plumbing business headquartered in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania will pay $1.35 million to settle allegations it failed to follow the terms of a contract for servicing fire and life safety systems at seven Veteran's Affairs (VA) facilities nationwide. Media Plumbing and Heating, dba Kinetix, participates in the VA's service-disabled veteran owned small   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is pressing the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide transparency on the potential impacts of its Network Plan on delivery service and communities. In a letter, Peters requested details and analyses of the full scope and associated impacts of the Postal Service's plans, which include   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- Rep. Bill Posey, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) introduced the Grant Recipient Accountability for Necessary Transparency Act (GRANT Act) to require more disclosure of foreign involvement from countries of concern in taxpayer funded research grants. Currently, there is no clear statutory requirement for recipients to disclose to the agency that gave them the grant if a foreign entity of concern provided support after the f  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 23-130-R24) on Dec. 5, 2023, entitled "Delivery and Customer Service in Colorado Mountain Towns." Here are excerpts: * * * Background The U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation. Mail delivery is especially critical to the residents and businesses of more remote locations, such as Colorado's mountain towns, who have fewer options to receive   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 23-082-R24) on Dec. 4, 2023 entitled "Fiscal 2023 Selected Financial Activities and Accounting Records." Here are excerpts: * * * Background The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 requires annual audits of the U.S. Postal Service's financial statements. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 requires the Postal Service to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Rep. Joseph Neguse, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: Lafayette, CO -- Congressman Joe Neguse released the following statement on the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General's Audit Report titled "Delivery and Customer Service in Colorado Mountain Towns. The USPS Office of Inspector General initiated the audit after Congressman Neguse and other lawmakers, customers, local leaders, and members of the media called attention to serious def  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 -- Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL)'s RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act (H.R. 4667), passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. This bill will recover billions for the taxpayer by reclaiming fraudulent government loans and help us restore fiscal responsibility and government accountability. "The federal government must step up and ensure that bad actors are not taking hard-earned taxpa  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Negligent vetting standards and whistleblower muzzle provisions make federal guidelines for unaccompanied minors "wholly unworkable" WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today led 36 Senate Republicans in demanding the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) overhaul its harmful and deficient policies govern  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, issued the following news release: On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), joined U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and 38 of their Senate GOP colleagues in a letter calling on the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to overhaul its harmful and deficient policies governing the agency's treatment of unaccompanied alien children in the United States. ORR's Proposed Rule--parts of which the age  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care issued the following written testimony by Nicki Perisho, program director of the Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center, involving a hearing on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Ensuring Medicare Beneficiary Access: A Path to Telehealth Permanency": * * * Chairman Senator Cardin, Ranking Member Senator Daines, and members of the Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on Health Care, thank you for the opportunity to testify a  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care issued the following testimony by Chad Ellimoottil, an associate professor of urology and medical director of virtual care at the University of Michigan, involving a hearing on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Ensuring Medicare Beneficiary Access: A Path to Telehealth Permanency": * * * I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to the members of this Subcommittee for this opportunity to discuss the current and future state of   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 7, 2023: U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the inclusion of several of his priorities in the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Inspector General for Ukraine "As part of our effort to support Ukraine, we must enhance the oversight of our assistance to ensure  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is pressing the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide transparency on the potential impacts of its Network Plan on delivery service and communities. In a letter, Peters requested details and analyses of the full scope and ass  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight, issued the following opening statement at a hearing on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Examining Federal COVID-Era Spending and Preventing Future Fraud": * * * Good afternoon. Our hearing today focuses on federal spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to conduct oversight of those funds, and opportunities to   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight issued the following testimony by Justice Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz, chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, involving a hearing on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Examining Federal COVID-Era Spending and Preventing Future Fraud": * * * Chairwoman Hassan, Ranking Member Romney, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for inviting me to te  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General issued the following news on Dec. 4, 2023: Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General released the "Special Report: Common Cybersecurity Weaknesses Related to the Protection of DoD Controlled Unclassified Information on Contractor Networks." The report outlines 24 open recommendations from previous DoD OIG audit reports aimed at addr  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- Reese C. May, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, St. Bernard Project, New Orleans, Louisiana, has issued a public comment to the Corporation for National and Community Service. The comment was posted on Dec. 4, 2023. The comment, on Docket No. CNCS-2023-0030-0001, was sent to Elizabeth Appel, Associate General Counsel. * * * SBP respectfully submits the following comments in response to Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 3045- AA84: "AmeriCorps State and National Upd  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Rep. John P. Sarbanes, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, members of Maryland's federal, state and local governments including Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressmen John Sarbanes (MD-03), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06) and Glenn Ivey (MD-04), and Prince  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, members of Maryland's federal, state, and local governments including Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04), and Prince  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Members of Maryland's federal, state, and local governments including Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04), and Prince George's County Executi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Members of Maryland's federal, state, and local governments including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (Md.-05), Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.-02), John Sarbanes (Md.-03), Kweisi Mfume (Md.-07), Jamie Raskin (Md.-08), David Trone (Md.-06), and Glenn Ivey (Md.-04), and Prince George's Coun  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: HOUSTON -- A Texas man who created a fake church to fraudulently obtain car loans and forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act was sentenced Nov. 30 to more than eight years in federal prison following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigat  more

LAREDO, Texas, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Alamdar S. Hamdani, issued the following news release: A 35-year-old Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer working at the Port of Entry in Laredo has been arrested, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Emanuel Celedon is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 9:40 a.m. The indictment, returned Nov. 28, charges him with two counts of bribery and witness  more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, issued the following news release: An Aubrey woman was convicted at trial Thursday of defrauding elderly victims in romance schemes, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. After 7 days of trial and 10 hours of deliberation, a jury convicted Ijeoma Okoro, 33, of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. "  more

TYLER, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Damien M. Diggs, issued the following news release: A Tyler man has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for multiple violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Derek Robert Hamm, 39, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, violating the Stolen Valor Act, using a fraudulent military discharge certificate, and being a felon in possession of fir  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and 37 other Republican Senators in calling on the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to overhaul its harmful and deficient policies regarding the treatment of unaccompanied alien children in the United States. ORR's proposed rule - parts of which the agency is already enforcing - all  more

LOS ANGELES, California, Dec. 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on Dec. 6, 2023: A South Bay woman has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for billing Medicare more than $24 million by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment - mostly power wheelchairs (PWC) - and PWC repairs, many of which were never performed, the Justice Department announced today. Tamara Yvonne Motley,  more

SANTA ANA, California, Dec. 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2023: A Riverside County woman who participated in a scheme that used stolen identities to fraudulently apply for just over $2.8 million in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison, the Justice Department announced today. Sasha Lizette Jimenez, 26  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release: Charles Edwards and Murali Venkata are charged in United States District Court for the District of Columbia case number 20-cr-66 and Sonal Patel is charged in case number 19-cr-81. Charles Edwards, Sonal Patel, and Murali Venkata, who were then employed at the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, engaged in an unlawful scheme to convert government prope  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 8 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on Dec. 7, 2023: The former owner and operator of a Norfolk-based dermatology practice was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for fraudulently receiving federal workers' compensation and disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Karen Nolan, 66, of Norwood, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman t  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Dec. 8 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release: A company located in Chantilly has agreed to pay $1.75 million to settle civil fraud allegations that it and its subsidiaries improperly obtained government contracts that were set-aside for small businesses. The United States alleged that the Pavion Company (Pavion) ceased to qualify as a small business concern after its predecessor company was acquired in 2  more

OCALA, Florida, Dec. 5 -- 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 Katrina Denise McCoy (41, Minneola) has pleaded guilty to 14 counts of wire fraud. For each count, McCoy faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. McCoy has also agreed to forfeit $39,570 - representing the proceeds of the offense. McCoy was indicted on July 11, 2023. Her sentencing hearin  more

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Dec. 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa issued the following news release: An Iowa farmer who operated an unlicensed custom cattle operation known as "Fawn Hollow" in Clayton County pled guilty on December 1, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Michael Wayne Butikofer, age 53, from Monona, Iowa, was convicted of one count of theft of livestock, one count of wire fraud, and one count of false bankruptcy declaration. In his plea agreeme  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D - MN) introduced legislation to improve the United States Postal Service's (USPS) delivery tracking and accountability systems following concerning reports of serious mail delays across Minnesota. Congresswoman Angie Craig (D - MN2) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives in October. This legislation would addr  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Shuk-Mei Ho, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, has issued a public comment to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The comment was written on Nov. 29, 2023, and posted on Nov. 30, 2023. The comment, on Docket No. HHS-OASH-2023-0014-0001, was sent to Sheila Garrity, Director, Office of Research Integrity. * * * This letter is submitted on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Scie  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-03772-28) on Nov. 29, 2023, entitled "Care in the Community Summary Report for Fiscal 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * Report Overview This fiscal year 2022 Office of Inspector General (OIG) Care in the Community (CITC) healthcare inspection report provides summary results from the focused evaluations conducted in eight Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs)./1 The OIG e  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-00071-216) on Sept. 26, 2023, entitled "Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." Here are excerpts: * * * Report Overview This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report provides a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the inpatient   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-04037-32) on Dec. 5, 2023, entitled "Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the VA Providence Healthcare System in Rhode Island." Here are excerpts: * * * Report Overview This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report provides a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the inpatient and outpatient settings of the V  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 23-01138-203) on Sept. 28, 2023, entitled "Inspection of Information Security at the VA Dublin Healthcare System in Georgia." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary Information security controls protect VA systems and data from unauthorized access, use, modification, or destruction. To determine compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA)  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-00414-113) on Sept. 26, 2023, entitled "Oversight Could Be Strengthened for Non-VA Healthcare Providers Who Prescribe Opioids to Veterans." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the rate of opioid-related deaths had increased over the past decade, and most fatal opioid overdoses were associated wit  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-03931-226) on Sept. 28, 2023, entitled "Review of Veterans Health Administration Reproductive Health Services." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a national review of Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) reproductive health services for veterans. While VHA provides reproductive health services for men, women, and gen  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-02377-217) on Sept. 28, 2023, entitled "Review of Veterans Health Administration's Multi-Tiered Patient Safety Program." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review of Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Patient Safety Program to assess oversight, culture of safety, staffing, and training. This report stems from OIG'  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-02017-224) on Sept. 26, 2023, entitled "Review of VHA's Oversight of Community Care Providers' Opioid Prescribing at the Eastern Kansas Health Care System in Topeka and Leavenworth." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection to assess care coordination for patients of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care S  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jessica D. Aber, issued the following news release: The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered IT Services Now LLC and O@sis Group LLC, located in McLean, and their CEO, Mustafa Khabir, 51, of Haymarket, to pay $1,052,227 for submitting fraudulent applications to obtain federally guaranteed loans through the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). T  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: "Without better data, policymakers and regulators are unable to adequately oversee the program and legislate potential reforms." Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, raising concerns a  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: "New information about the DoD's failure to properly implement these reforms freshly raises questions about the Department's commitment to supporting the health and safety of service members and their families"  "It is crucial for DoD to take additional actions to increase oversight of privatized housing and ensure that service members and their families have access to safe and comfortable housing  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) joined U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) in sending a letter to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget requesting that the FBI headquarters relocation process b  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2023: U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and a group of over 30 Republican senators called on the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to overhaul its harmful and deficient policies governing the agency's treatment of unaccompanied alien children in the United States. ORR's Proposed Rule - parts of which the agency is already enfo  more