Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
SBA Administrator Loeffler Joins President Trump for National Small Business Week 2026
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on May 4, 2026:
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SBA Administrator Loeffler Joins President Trump for National Small Business Week 2026
White House Celebrates the Main Street Job Creators, Entrepreneurs, and Small Manufacturers who are the Backbone of America
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Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), joined President Donald J. Trump to recognize National Small Business Week during a historic Small Business Summit at the White House. The President welcomed over 100 small business owners
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WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on May 4, 2026:
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SBA Administrator Loeffler Joins President Trump for National Small Business Week 2026
White House Celebrates the Main Street Job Creators, Entrepreneurs, and Small Manufacturers who are the Backbone of America
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Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), joined President Donald J. Trump to recognize National Small Business Week during a historic Small Business Summit at the White House. The President welcomed over 100 small business ownersfrom across America, celebrating their vital contributions to the U.S. economy and highlighting their leadership across every industry, from manufacturing and construction to retail and restaurants. The job creators showcased their products and shared their appreciation for the America First agenda. This year, National Small Business Week is May 3 - 9th.
"We are a nation of builders again thanks to President Trump's historic wins for Main Street, and I'm honored to mark National Small Business Week alongside him and the job creators who fuel our local communities - particularly as America celebrates 250 years of freedom and free enterprise," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "By rapidly delivering on the America First agenda, President Trump has cut taxes and regulations, restored fair trade and public safety, and shut down the Green New Scam, fraud, DEI, and open border policies that threatened our economic stability during the last Administration. Our nation's 36 million small businesses now have the confidence to hire, reinvest, and expand, unleashing a historic era of sustained growth. America is open for business again."
Since 1963, the President of the United States has declared National Small Business Week to recognize small businesses as the job creators, builders, and innovators of America's economy. America's 36 million small businesses make up 99% of all businesses in America, create two out of every three new jobs, and generate about half of U.S. GDP.
The SBA's recognition of National Small Business Week began yesterday with a National Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., where the agency honored its State and Territory Small Business Owners of the Year. The agency also crowned its National Small Business Owner of the Year, Mark Lamoncha, President and CEO of Humtown Products in Columbiana, Ohio. Lamoncha, along with dozens of other SBA awardees, were recognized by President Trump during today's event at the White House.
National Small Business Week continues throughout this week both online through a free Virtual Summit and in-person through a nationwide tour. Starting Tuesday, Administrator Loeffler will embark on a roadshow for state award ceremonies and small business visits in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, and Georgia.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/05/04/sba-administrator-loeffler-joins-president-trump-national-small-business-week-2026
NTSB Enhances Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard With Findings Data
WASHINGTON, May 5 (TNSrep) -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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NTSB Enhances Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard With Findings Data
General Aviation Dashboard retired
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The National Transportation Safety Board has enhanced its U.S. Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard to include findings data, expanding public access to key safety information derived from NTSB investigations.
The addition of findings allows users to explore the causal and contributing factors identified in aviation accidents, providing deeper insight into safety trends.
The Civil
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WASHINGTON, May 5 (TNSrep) -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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NTSB Enhances Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard With Findings Data
General Aviation Dashboard retired
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The National Transportation Safety Board has enhanced its U.S. Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard to include findings data, expanding public access to key safety information derived from NTSB investigations.
The addition of findings allows users to explore the causal and contributing factors identified in aviation accidents, providing deeper insight into safety trends.
The CivilAviation Accident Dashboard now serves as a comprehensive, interactive tool for examining accident data, including event details, phases of flight and associated findings, within a single platform.
"The integration of findings into the Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard gives users a more complete understanding of why accidents occur," said Akbar Sultan, director of the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering. "This enhancement supports our mission to improve transportation safety by making critical investigative data more accessible and easier to analyze."
As a result of this update, the General Aviation Accident Dashboard, introduced in 2023, has been retired. Its functionality has been incorporated into the Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard, streamlining access to aviation safety data.
The Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard covers U.S. civil aviation accidents and allows users to filter and visualize data by year, aircraft category, phase of flight, defining event and findings.
The dashboard is available on the Statistical Reviews section of the NTSB website (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/Pages/research.aspx).
To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
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Original text here: https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20260504.aspx
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: Astronomers Explore the Surface Composition of a Nearby Super-Earth
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, May 5 (TNSjou) -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Astronomers Explore the Surface Composition of a Nearby Super-Earth
The analysis indicates the planet's surface is likely composed of basalt or mantle rock, ruling out a composition similar to Earth's silicate-rich crust.
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A team of researchers led by postdoctoral researcher and NASA Sagan Fellow Sebastian Zieba of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and Laura Kreidberg, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy Director and study PI, analyzed the surface
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CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, May 5 (TNSjou) -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Astronomers Explore the Surface Composition of a Nearby Super-Earth
The analysis indicates the planet's surface is likely composed of basalt or mantle rock, ruling out a composition similar to Earth's silicate-rich crust.
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A team of researchers led by postdoctoral researcher and NASA Sagan Fellow Sebastian Zieba of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and Laura Kreidberg, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy Director and study PI, analyzed the surfacecomposition of the rocky exoplanet LHS 3844 b. Beyond characterizing exoplanetary atmospheres, this kind of deciphering the geological properties of planets orbiting distant stars is the next step in unveiling their nature. The results of this investigation are now published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
A dark and airless rocky super-Earth
LHS 3844 b is a rocky planet 30% bigger than Earth and orbits a cool red dwarf star once within roughly 11 hours. Whirling just three stellar diameters above the host star's surface, the planet is tidally locked to its orbit. This means one rotation takes just as long as one revolution. As a result, the same hemisphere of LHS 3844 b always faces its star, producing a constant dayside with an average temperature of about 1000 Kelvin (approximately 725 Degrees Celsius or 1340 Degrees Fahrenheit). The LHS 3844 system is only 48.5 light-years away from Earth.
"Thanks to the amazing sensitivity of JWST, we can detect light coming directly from the surface of this distant rocky planet," said Kreidberg. "We see a dark, hot, barren rock, devoid of any atmosphere."
With its dark surface, LHS 3844 b may resemble a larger version of the Moon or the planet Mercury. This conclusion is based on analysing the infrared radiation received from the planet's hot dayside. However, when measuring this radiation, we cannot see the planet directly; instead, we register the repeating change in brightness we receive from the star and the orbiting planet combined.
MIRI divided a portion of the planet's infrared emission, ranging from 5 to 12 micrometers, into smaller wavelength sections and measured the brightness per wavelength bin. This is what astronomers call a spectrum, a rainbow-like distribution of the light's components. Another data point, obtained from observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope and published a few years ago, augmented the analysis.
Constraining geological activity
Similar to how exoplanetary atmosphere research has benefited from climate science, this emerging field of exoplanetary geology draws on Earth-based geologic knowledge. Zieba, Kreidberg, and their collaborators ran models and accessed template libraries of rocks and minerals known from Earth, the Moon, and Mars to see what infrared signatures they would produce under the conditions on LHS 3844 b. Comparing observation-based data with these computations confidently ruled out a composition comparable to Earth's crust, typically silicate-rich minerals such as granite.
Although this result is not very surprising - even in the Solar System, Earth is the only planet with such a crust - it may reveal details on LHS 3844 b's geological history. Earth-like silicate-rich crusts are thought to form through a prolonged refinement process that requires tectonic activity and typically relies on water as a lubricant. The rocky material repeatedly melts and solidifies as it is mixed with mantle material, leaving the lighter minerals on the surface.
"Since LHS 3844 b lacks such a silicate crust, one may conclude that Earth-like plate tectonics does not apply to this planet, or it is ineffective," says Zieba. "This planet likely only contains little water."
What can we deduce about the exoplanet's rocky surface?
Instead, the dark surface points to a composition reminiscent of terrestrial or lunar basalt, or of Earth's mantle material. However, the astronomers attempted an even more detailed characterization.
A statistical analysis of how well this spectrum fits various mineral mixtures and configurations revealed that extended solid areas of basalt or magmatic rock best match the observations. They are rich in magnesium and iron and can include olivine. Crushed material, such as rocks or gravel, also fits fairly well, whereas grains or powders are inconsistent with the observations due to their brighter appearance, at least at first glance.
Without a protective atmosphere, planets are subjected to space weathering, predominantly driven by hard, energetic radiation from the host star and impacts from meteorites of various sizes.
"It turns out, these processes not only slowly dissolve hard rocks into regolith, a layer of fine grains or powder as found on the Moon," explains Zieba. "They also darken the layer by adding iron and carbon, making the regolith's properties more consistent with the observations."
Geologically fresh or weathered? Two possible scenarios
This assessment left the astronomers with two scenarios for the planet's surface that match the data equally well. One involves a surface dominated by dark, solid rock composed of basaltic or magmatic minerals. Compared to geological timescales, space weathering alters its properties quickly. Therefore, the astronomers conclude that, in this scenario, the surface should be relatively fresh, produced by recent geological activity, such as widespread volcanism.
The second scenario also proposes a dark surface, comparable to the Moon or Mercury. Still, it accounts for prolonged space weathering, which leads to extended regions covered by a darkened regolith layer, a fine powder also present on the Moon, as evidenced by the iconic photos of the astronauts' footprints. This alternative relies on longer periods of geological inactivity, thereby requiring conditions opposite to the first scenario.
Attempts to resolve the ambiguity
These two alternatives differ in the degree of recent geological activity required. On Earth and other active objects in the Solar System, a typical phenomenon during such activity is outgassing. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a gas commonly connected to volcanism. If present on LHS 3844 b in reasonable amounts, MIRI should have detected it. Still, it found nothing. Therefore, a recent period of activity seems unlikely, which leads the astronomers to favour the second scenario. If correct, LHS 3844 b may truly look much like Mercury indeed.
To test their idea, Zieba, Kreidberg, and their colleagues are already pursuing a more direct approach. They have obtained additional JWST observations, which should enable them to discern surface conditions by exploiting small differences in how solid slabs and powders emit or reflect light. The distribution of emission angles depends on surface roughness, which affects the amount of radiation received at a given viewing angle. This concept is successfully applied to characterizing asteroids in the Solar System.
"We are confident the same technique will allow us to clarify the nature of LHS 3844 b's crust and, in the future, other rocky exoplanets," concludes Kreidberg.
Additional information
Laura Kreidberg is the only MPIA astronomer involved in this study.
Other researchers were: Sebastian Zieba (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Cambridge, USA), Brandon P. Coy (Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, USA), Aaron Bello-Arufe (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA [JPL]), Kimberly Paragas (Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA), Xintong Lyu (Peking University, Beijing, China), Renyu Hu (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA and JPL), Aishwarya Iyer (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, USA), Kay Wohlfarth (Technische Universitat Dortmund, Germany)
The JWST observations used in this study were conducted as part of GO program #1846 (PI: Laura Kreidberg, co-PI: Renyu Hu) titled "A Search for Signatures of Volcanism and Geodynamics on the Hot Rocky Exoplanet LHS 3844 b."
The MIRI consortium comprises the ESA (European Space Agency) member states: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. National science organisations fund the consortium's work - in Germany, the Max Planck Society (MPG) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Participating German institutions include the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, the University of Cologne, and Hensoldt AG in Oberkochen, formerly Carl Zeiss Optronics.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the world's leading observatory for space research. It is an international programme led by NASA and its partners ESA and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).
The Spitzer Space Telescope was operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with NASA.
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Original text here: https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/astronomers-explore-surface-composition-nearby-super-earth
Commission on International Religious Freedom Fact Sheet: Country Update - Uzbekistan
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following fact sheet on May 4, 2026:
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COUNTRY UPDATE: Uzbekistan
Declining FoRB Conditions in Mirziyoyev's "New Uzbekistan"
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Introduction
When Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed the presidency of Uzbekistan in 2016, he made some positive reforms to the bleak religious freedom landscape that former president Islam Karimov had left behind. Ten years later, Mirziyoyev's government has undone such positive changes. Today, the Uzbek government exploits an ever-expanding legal framework regulating freedom ofreligion
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WASHINGTON, May 5 -- U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following fact sheet on May 4, 2026:
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COUNTRY UPDATE: Uzbekistan
Declining FoRB Conditions in Mirziyoyev's "New Uzbekistan"
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Introduction
When Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed the presidency of Uzbekistan in 2016, he made some positive reforms to the bleak religious freedom landscape that former president Islam Karimov had left behind. Ten years later, Mirziyoyev's government has undone such positive changes. Today, the Uzbek government exploits an ever-expanding legal framework regulating freedom ofreligionor belief (FoRB) to target religious activities, such as religious expression and education, through administrative and criminal penalties. The majority of the government's religious freedom violations are against Muslims who deviate from the state's preferred interpretation of Sunni Islam according to the Hanafi school of thought. Additionally, other minority religious groups, such as Shi'a Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Protestant Evangelical Christians, also face official persecution. This publication assesses Uzbekistan's negative religious freedom trajectory by summarizing its backsliding over the past decade and highlighting the damaging impact of its policies on religious communities through harassment, fines, detention, prison sentences, and physical abuse.
Background
In the beginning of his presidency, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev encouraged his government to roll back some of the repressive religious policies of his predecessor. In 2018, the Uzbek parliament adopted a "road map" to promote FoRB on the basis of recommendations from former United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on FoRB Ahmed Shaheed, who had visited the country in late 2017. Over the subsequent two years, the government began to register some non-Muslim religious organizations, allowed children to attend mosque, released some religious prisoners, and banned law enforcement from raiding and harassing religious communities.
The Uzbek government also began to work closely with the United States to consider revisions to its restrictive religion law. However, the amended 2021 law ultimately ignored many recommendations--which would have aligned the law with international standards--and, at the same time, the government slowed its positive reforms and resumed its repression of peaceful religious activities. By March 2023, a follow-up report released by the Special Rapporteur on FoRB found the government had only partially implemented some of the recommendations and failed to address many others. Since then, the government has passed additional religious regulations that further restricts FoRB.
Legal Framework
Within this regressively oppressive environment, Uzbek authorities frequently employ the 1998 law On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations ("religion law") and the 2018 law On Combating Extremism ("extremism law")--both of which violate international FoRB standards--to limit religious activities. For example, the religion law places burdensome bureaucratic restrictions on the registration process for religious communities, bans missionary activity and proselytism, prohibits unregistered religious education, and mandates government approval for all religious materials. Meanwhile, the extremism law employs a broad and vague definition of extremism that goes far beyond activities that are actually violent or incite violence, permitting authorities to also penalize a broad range of peaceful activities.
In recent years, Uzbek officials have expanded the legal framework regulating religion. In 2023, the government supplemented the Administrative Code to ban "being in a manner that does not allow for identification in public places" under Article 184.4, with no exemptions for religious head coverings. In February 2025, President Mirziyoyev also approved amendments to Article 23 of the law On Guarantees of the Rights of the Child, or "the children's rights law," that prohibit parents and guardians from "illegally involving their child in religious education." The amended law empowers authorities to penalize individuals who send their children to unregistered religious educational institutions. In addition, Article 241 already penalizes those who teach religion without authorization--including parents privately teaching their children about their beliefs.
Multi-Faceted Crackdown on the Religious Activities of Independent Muslims
Violation of FoRB in Prison
Uzbek officials continue to violate international standards that protect prisoners' right to FoRB. For example, prison officials have frequently targeted Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, a Muslim and Karakalpak human rights defender imprisoned since 2023 for his legal advocacy on behalf of the Karakalpak ethnic minority. According to January 2026 reports from Tajimuratov's lawyer, in March 2025, guards seized his uneaten food before he could break his Ramadan fast for four days in a row, thus preventing him from eating entirely. In November, they prevented him from reading the Qur'an and publicly insulted him in front of other inmates; when he threw his shoe at the officers in response, they forced him into a freezing, uninsulated punishment cell, poured over twenty buckets of water over him, and repeatedly kicked him.
Arbitrary Imposition and Extension of Prison Sentences
Uzbekistan's Supreme Court reportedly maintains a list of around 1,400 religious materials that it has banned for import, production, storage, or distribution for containing supposed signs of "extremism" under Criminal Code Article 244.3. Knowingly or unknowingly contravening that list carries real consequences; when 23-year-old Asadbek Miromiddonov posted a religious song from that banned list to his personal social media page, officials arrested him on an indeterminate date for violating this statute. Miromiddonov claimed he did not understand the context of the banned song, and his family questioned why officials did not choose to issue a warning before arresting him. In September 2025, a court sentenced him to five years in prison for that supposed violation. Uzbek officials sometimes arbitrarily extend the sentences of FoRB victims who are already serving time in prison for their peaceful religious activities. FoRB victim Fariduddin Abduvokhidov, initially sentenced in 2020 for discussing Islam, represents a particularly egregious case of such arbitrary sentence extensions. Abduvokhidov will serve two additional 10-year sentences concurrently, remaining in prison until 2034.
"Restricted Freedom"
At times, officials transfer FoRB victims from prison to serve the rest of their sentence at home under a type of parole called "restricted freedom." In other instances, officials impose such parole conditions as the original sentence. This type of probation is particularly restrictive, empowering authorities to threaten potential violations with time in prison. For example, in December 2025, a Yunusabad District Criminal Court judge ordered "restricted freedom" until October 2029 for former FoRB prisoner Fazilkhoja Arifkhojayev. This probation prevents him from using the internet, leaving Tashkent, or participating in public events such as attending mosque or holiday celebrations. In January, Arifkhojayev reportedly visited his sick mother in the hospital and then stopped by a local mosque to pray for her, prompting probation officers to warn him that he would return to prison if he again violated the terms of his restricted freedom.
Administrative Penalties for Peaceful Religious Activities
Uzbek officials continue to issue administrative penalties for peaceful but unauthorized religious activities such as establishing prayer rooms, providing religious education, leading prayers, and distributing religious materials. Under the Administrative Code, violators can face fines or periods of administrative imprisonment for such violations. For example, in January 2026, the Pakhtachi District Court found a man guilty of violating Article 184.3 of the Administrative Code, which penalizes the "preparation, storage, or dissemination of materials inciting national, racial, ethnic or religious hatred," for his social media post that allegedly insulted the Prophet Muhammad. The court sentenced the man to 12 days of administrative imprisonment, ordered the destruction of his phone, restricted him from using his social media account, and made him pay for his detention.
In a comparable case, a Shoykhontohur District Criminal Court judge found Gayrat Ziyakhojayev guilty in October 2025 of violating Administrative Code Article 184.2, which penalizes "unlawful production, storage, importation, or distribution of religious materials," for posting a video on social media of an official imam's sermon. The court fined him an amount equivalent to about one month of wages in Tashkent. Ziyakhojayev appealed against the ruling, but police officers obstructed him from attending his appeals hearing in December.
State Persecution of Minority Communities
Uzbek authorities have targeted minority religious communities including Shi'a Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Protestant Evangelical Christians. Officials have penalized Shi'a Muslims for their religious expression, Jehovah's Witnesses for sharing their beliefs in public, and Protestant Evangelical Christians for operating without the required registration. For example, in November 2025, police raided the religious service of a Baptist Council of Churches congregation in Fergana Region. During the raid, police filmed congregants and warned them not to meet again without official registration. Police also detained several church members for several hours to interrogate them and forced them to sign a paper "confessing" that they had violated the law. This periodic harassment has persisted for many years due to the Council of Churches' longstanding resistance to mandatory religious registration--a requirement that contravenes international FoRB standards.
Conclusion
Although Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev portrays himself as a reformer who protects human rights in his country, the reality is that his government has ushered in a new era of FoRB violations in which the space for religious freedom is steadily diminishing. The government has expanded the framework of legislation regulating religion targeting independent Muslims and other religious minority groups through fines, detentions, prison sentences, and even physical abuse. In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State place Uzbekistan on the Special Watch List (SWL).
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Professional Staff
Michael Ardovino, Policy Analyst
Gretchen Birkle, Senior Advisor
Susan Bishai, Supervisory Policy Analyst
Mollie Blum, Policy Analyst
Guillermo Cantor, Director of Research and Policy
Serena Doan, Supervisory Policy Analyst
Kaylee Fisher, Public Affairs Specialist
Andrew Hamm, Victims List Database Specialist
Sema Hasan, Senior Policy Analyst
Thomas Kraemer, Chief Administrative Officer
Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst and International Legal Specialist
Veronica McCarthy, Government Affairs Specialist
Hilary Miller, Policy Analyst
Nora Morton, Operations Specialist
Molly Naylor-Komyatte, Policy Analyst
Dylan Schexnaydre, Policy Analyst
Katherine Todd, Policy Analyst
Ross Tokola, Policy Analyst
Brett Warner, Administrative Specialist
Scott Weiner, Supervisory Policy Analyst
Kurt Werthmuller, Supervisory Policy Analyst
Nathan Wineinger, Chief of Public Affairs
Jean Wu, Policy Analyst
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2026-05/2026%20Uzbekistan%20Country%20Update.pdf
EXIM Recognizes Exporters of the Year for Advancing U.S. Competitiveness in Global Markets
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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EXIM Recognizes Exporters of the Year for Advancing U.S. Competitiveness in Global Markets
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has named its Exporters of the Year, honoring 10 U.S. companies whose sustained export performance, global reach, and partnership with EXIM have helped strengthen American competitiveness in markets around the world.
The award recognizes exporters across a range of industries who have demonstrated consistent international growth while leveraging EXIM
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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EXIM Recognizes Exporters of the Year for Advancing U.S. Competitiveness in Global Markets
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has named its Exporters of the Year, honoring 10 U.S. companies whose sustained export performance, global reach, and partnership with EXIM have helped strengthen American competitiveness in markets around the world.
The award recognizes exporters across a range of industries who have demonstrated consistent international growth while leveraging EXIMsupport to manage risk and expand access to global customers. Collectively, this year's honorees reflect the strength and diversity of U.S. manufacturing and services exporters, from advanced industrial equipment and healthcare products to consumer goods and critical infrastructure technologies.
Each recipient exemplifies how American companies, many of them small businesses, are using export markets to scale production, support domestic jobs, and compete more effectively in strategic global sectors.
"These companies represent the very best of American exporting -innovative, resilient, and competitive in markets across the world," said EXIM President and Chairman John Jovanovic. "EXIM is proud to support their continued growth as they open new markets, strengthen U.S. supply chains, and support well-paying jobs here at home."
The 2026 Exporters of the Year are:
Bonaventure Group, Inc. - Raleigh, North Carolina
A small business manufacturer of fire suppression equipment operating as Afex Systems, Bonaventure Group has been an EXIM customer since 2013. The company produces liquid and dry chemical systems as well as monitoring and compliance solutions used across mining, energy, textiles, and forestry industries. With exports spanning 34 buyers across 14 markets, including Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Brazil, the company has experienced steady growth in international demand, including a significant increase in shipments over the past year. Bonaventure Group exemplifies a long-standing commitment to safety-critical manufacturing and export-led expansion.
"EXIM has been a valuable partner in supporting AFEX's international growth and export success," said Sally Botwick, HR & Accounting
GF Health Products, Inc. - Atlanta, Georgia
Founded in 1946, GF Health Products is a leading manufacturer of healthcare equipment and supplies serving hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, and home care markets. The company's portfolio includes widely recognized brands such as Everest & Jennings, Lumex, Grafco, and Intensa. With manufacturing operations in Georgia, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, GF Health Products continues to expand its U.S.-based production footprint while exporting globally to meet rising demand for reliable medical equipment.
"EXIM Bank plays a critical role in our international sales strategy," said CEO Kenneth Spett. " Their risk mitigation solutions enable us to enter new markets with confidence, support our foreign customers, and accelerate global growth."
Ruelco Inc. - New Orleans, Louisiana
Ruelco is a family-owned manufacturer of measuring and process control devices serving global industrial markets. Founded in 1980, the company operates a 60,000-square-foot facility with ISO 9001 certification and employs 85 people. A certified women-owned business, Ruelco exports to more than 21 countries, including the UAE, UK, Singapore, and Australia. Starting from a garage-based operation, the company has grown into a globally recognized supplier with a strong export track record and long-standing EXIM partnership.
"We are a relatively small company with only 29 employees. However, approximately 20% of our sales are international, and many of our international customers demand credit terms," said Daniel J. Kelly, Controller. "We have a Short-Term Multi-buyer Export Credit Insurance Policy with EXIM. Without this policy, we could not absorb the risk of international credit default, as we lack the resources to pursue collection, especially overseas."
Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing, LLC - Saint Louis, Michigan
Established in 1964, Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing produces chemical processing equipment used primarily in chlorine containment and sodium hypochlorite production systems. The company's technology supports a significant share of bleach production in North America and serves industrial, municipal, and consumer applications worldwide. With exports across multiple regions, including Southeast Asia, Canada, and South Africa, Powell continues to play a critical role in global chemical infrastructure.
"We have insured our foreign receivables with EXIM Bank for nearly 20 years. During that time, we have been able to rest assured that EXIM had our back should a customer be slow to pay and/or non-responsive to our inquiries regarding past due payments," said CFO Norman Winterstein. "On more than one occasion we have worked with our EXIM broker to prepare a notice to slow paying customers explaining the fact that our receivables are insured by EXIM Bank and upon receipt of such notice customers were quick to respond and then follow up with past due payments. As long as we have foreign receivables, we will have them insured with EXIM Bank"
Ace Manufacturing & Parts Co. - Sullivan, Missouri
Founded in 1957, Ace Manufacturing is a long-standing producer of heavy-duty clutches and clutch components used in commercial trucking, industrial, and motorsport applications. Known for its innovation and U.S.-sourced production strategy, the company exports to markets across the Americas and beyond. With nearly three decades of EXIM support, Ace continues to expand its international presence while maintaining a strong domestic manufacturing base.
Graceland Fruit, Inc. - Frankfort, Michigan
Graceland Fruit is a leading U.S. producer of dried fruit ingredients and juice concentrates supplied to food manufacturers globally. Founded in 1973, the company sources and processes cherries, blueberries, cranberries, and other fruit products for international food industry customers. With growing exports across Asia and North America, Graceland Fruit continues to expand its global footprint while supporting agricultural supply chains in the United States.
"Working with the EXIM Bank program has been extremely positive and instrumental in helping our business grow internationally," said Beth Pacurari CMA Corporate Controller. " The program provides reliable financial support, reduced risk, and has given us the confidence to pursue export opportunities we might not have otherwise considered. The process is very straightforward, and the support and guidance we receive along the way is always clear and helpful. Overall, EXIM Bank plays a key role in expanding our global reach and strengthening our ability to compete in international markets."
Medical Illumination International, Inc. - Chatsworth, California
Established in 1978, Medical Illumination designs and manufactures surgical and medical lighting systems used in operating rooms and clinical environments worldwide. The company exports to more than 25 countries, including Japan, Australia, and Canada. With decades of EXIM support and a strong track record of global sales, the company continues to play a key role in supporting healthcare infrastructure internationally.
"The EXIM Bank programs have proven to be a valuable resource in supporting our export activities. Their risk mitigation tools have helped us expand into new markets with greater confidence, allowing us to provide open terms to customers overseas," said Alan Kiviat, President. "EXIM's support has enabled us to remain competitive internationally while continuing to grow our export footprint. Overall, our experience with EXIM Bank has been positive, and we view the organization as an important partner in assisting U.S. companies with exports and supporting domestic manufacturing."
Ohio Associated Enterprises, LLC (Meritec) - Painesville, Ohio
Operating as Meritec, Ohio Associated Enterprises designs and manufactures advanced electrical interconnect systems used in military, medical, datacom, and testing applications. Founded in 1967, the company exports to 19 countries with strong market presence in Asia and Europe. With a diversified global customer base and long-standing EXIM support, Meritec continues to expand its role in high-performance industrial electronics.
"Working with EXIM over the years has provided our company with clear communication and guidance each step of the way," said Angela Cimaglio, Block Controller. " The team is always responsive, knowledgeable, and professional. EXIM has been a reliable partner in supporting our international growth."
Taffy Town, Inc. - Salt Lake City, Utah
A family-owned confectionery manufacturer founded in 1916, Taffy Town produces gourmet saltwater taffy and specialty candies distributed globally. The company continues a multi-generational legacy of candy manufacturing while expanding into international markets. With recent EXIM-supported export activity, Taffy Town represents a growing U.S. small business presence in global consumer goods markets.
"EXIM has provided us with the confidence to expand beyond the United States, participate in international trade shows, and bring our nostalgic American confection to customers worldwide," said CEO Joe Adams. "We also recognize and appreciate our consultants, Impello Global, for their assistance in ensuring that both the application process and ongoing compliance are understood and manageable. We appreciate this partnership with EXIM and look forward to a prosperous relationship for years to come."
Select Services International LLC - Doral, Florida
Select Services International serves as a manufacturing representative for U.S. construction equipment and spare parts exporters, enabling expanded access to Latin American markets. Founded in 2000, the company works closely with OEM suppliers and maintains a strong regional sales presence across Chile and Peru. With consistent export activity and long-term EXIM support, the company plays an important role in facilitating U.S. industrial exports in the Western Hemisphere.
"Select Services International has worked closely with EXIM bank through our agent, Export Insurance, since 2006, said Jose Medina. "We have been utilizing EXIM's credit insurance to support our operations for over 20 years, and EXIM has been instrumental in covering a large portion of our nearly $80 million in sales throughout Latin America during this time. Without EXIM's help and support over the years our business would not have been able to promote and sustain our successful export efforts for so many years!"
ABOUT EXIM:
As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/exim-recognizes-exporters-year-for-advancing-competitiveness-global-markets
EXIM Names Trade Acceptance Group Broker of the Year for Sustained Leadership in Supporting U.S. Exporters
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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EXIM Names Trade Acceptance Group Broker of the Year for Sustained Leadership in Supporting U.S. Exporters
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has named Trade Acceptance Group, Ltd. (TAG) the Broker of the Year, recognizing more than two decades of work helping U.S. exporters, particularly small businesses, access the trade credit tools they need to compete globally.
Based in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and registered in Minneapolis, TAG is a small business specializing in trade credit
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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EXIM Names Trade Acceptance Group Broker of the Year for Sustained Leadership in Supporting U.S. Exporters
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has named Trade Acceptance Group, Ltd. (TAG) the Broker of the Year, recognizing more than two decades of work helping U.S. exporters, particularly small businesses, access the trade credit tools they need to compete globally.
Based in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and registered in Minneapolis, TAG is a small business specializing in trade creditinsurance and a long-standing EXIM Platinum-tier broker licensed in more than 20 states. Over the past 20 years, the firm has built a reputation as one of EXIM's most consistent and effective partners in connecting exporters to financing solutions.
"Trade Acceptance Group's leadership is a great example of why strong partners are so essential to what we do," said EXIM President and Chairman John Jovanovic. "Through brokers like TAG, we're able to reach more businesses, move faster, and ensure American workers and exporters can compete around the world.
In Fiscal Year 2025, TAG led all EXIM brokers in total authorizations, closing 182 transactions, and ranked second in total authorized value at $258 million.
"We have been ardent supporters of EXIM Bank since our inception in 1996. We are honored to be consistently ranked as one of the country's most active brokers of EXIM's insurance programs," said AJ Krzyanowski, Principal. "EXIM is an invaluable tool for those SME companies who are just getting started, trying to mitigate risk in challenging markets, or to match foreign competitors' financing offers as they try to win projects overseas based on financing, and not on just product quality alone. Through our partnership with EXIM, we are excited to continue supporting U.S. exporters in the years ahead!"
At the core of TAG's work is a strong focus on small business exporters, which make up more than 85 percent of its EXIM-supported clients. The firm is also an active participant in EXIM's Broker Advisory Council and has received multiple Broker of the Year honors over its long partnership with the Bank, underscoring its deep experience and continued commitment to expanding access to export finance.
ABOUT EXIM:
As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/exim-names-trade-acceptance-group-broker-year-for-sustained-leadership-supporting-exporters
EPA Begins Review of Four Superfund Cleanups in the Nation's Heartland
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Begins Review of Four Superfund Cleanups in the Nation's Heartland
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LENEXA, KAN. (MAY 4, 2026) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will conduct comprehensive reviews of cleanup work at four Superfund sites beginning this spring.
Each individual site will undergo a Five-Year Review to ensure ongoing or completed remediation efforts continue to protect human health and the environment. Upon completion of the review, EPA will make a Five-Year Review Report available
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Begins Review of Four Superfund Cleanups in the Nation's Heartland
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LENEXA, KAN. (MAY 4, 2026) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will conduct comprehensive reviews of cleanup work at four Superfund sites beginning this spring.
Each individual site will undergo a Five-Year Review to ensure ongoing or completed remediation efforts continue to protect human health and the environment. Upon completion of the review, EPA will make a Five-Year Review Report availableon the Superfund Site Profile page.
"EPA Region 7 is committed to upholding the statutory requirements granted to it by Congress and will conduct comprehensive Five-Year Reviews at our Superfund sites across the Heartland," said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy. "Protecting human health and the environment is our core mission, and we do that at Superfund sites by making sure remedies are operating as designed."
This spring, EPA Region 7 will begin Five-Year Reviews for sites listed below:
* Vienna Wells in Vienna, Missouri
* E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company Inc. County Road X23 in West Point, Iowa
* Mississippi River Pool #15 in Riverdale, Iowa
* Aluminum Company of America - Davenport in Riverdale, Iowa
Additional Five-Year Reviews in the Heartland are scheduled to start later this year and will be announced closer to the start date.
Why this Matters:
Five-Year Reviews generally are required when hazardous substances remain on-site above levels that permit unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. The reviews provide an opportunity to evaluate the implementation and performance of a remedy to determine whether it remains protective of human health and the environment. EPA retains responsibility for determining the protectiveness of the remedy.
More information:
The Superfund program, a federal program established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up complex, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country. EPA endeavors to facilitate activities to return them to productive use.
Learn more about the Superfund program at EPA's Superfund program website.
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Visit the Region 7 Media page
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-begins-review-four-superfund-cleanups-nations-heartland
