Federal - Executive Branch
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from the U.S. Executive Branch, covering all aspects of the Obama administration including cabinet departments, federal agencies, regulatory and independent agencies.
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Wash. U.S. Attorney: Federal Way Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Scheme to Prepare False Income Tax Returns
SEATTLE, Washington, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Attorney Brian T. Moran, issued the following news release:
* * *
- Defendant Falsified Deductions on more than a Thousand Tax Returns over Four Years
* * *
A 52-year-old Federal Way, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and $13,141 in restitution for eight counts of aiding and assisting in preparing false income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. LINA PASTARS ran a tax preparation business out
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SEATTLE, Washington, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Attorney Brian T. Moran, issued the following news release:
* * *
- Defendant Falsified Deductions on more than a Thousand Tax Returns over Four Years
* * *
A 52-year-old Federal Way, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and $13,141 in restitution for eight counts of aiding and assisting in preparing false income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. LINA PASTARS ran a tax preparation business outof her home and collected higher fees from customers by falsely inflating their deductions, so that her clients received a bigger refund. PASTARS was convicted February 28, 2019, following a four-day jury trial. At the sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said PASTARS' clients were primarily immigrants with little knowledge of the tax system and limited language skills. "That population is most vulnerable," the Chief Judge said "They were left to flounder by themselves when the IRS came knocking at their door."
According to testimony at trial and records filed in the case, the investigation of PASTARS began in 2015, when the IRS audited one of her clients whose 2012 tax return claimed more than $30,000 in unreimbursed business expenses. The clients claimed PASTARS had claimed the deductions without their knowledge. The IRS Scheme Development Center then began a review of returns prepared by PASTARS between 2012 and 2014 and discovered the returns had unreimbursed employee business expenses that far exceeded the average claims in the Puget Sound region. The statistical analysis revealed PASTARS claimed unreimbursed business expenses for clients that were three to four times the average claim.
On two different occasions in March and April 2015, undercover IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) agents went to PASTARS posing as clients for tax preparation. Both were very clear that they had no employee business expenses. They told PASTARS that all their expenses were reimbursed by their employers. Nevertheless, PASTARS claimed thousands of dollars in unreimbursed expenses so that the returns showed a refund. She increased the fee that she charged each undercover agent saying "If I do deduction I charge more." Undercover audio and video of these exchanges were admitted into evidence and played for the jury.
As PASTARS deductions and promised refunds grew, so did her business. Most of her customers paid in cash - making her profit from the scheme difficult to trace. But based on those customers who paid by check or via an online payment system she went from 159 returns prepared in 2012 to 366 prepared in 2015. Over those same years, her trackable income from tax prep increased ten-fold from $6,500 in 2012 to $65,470 in 2015. Those figures do not account for clients who paid in cash.
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seungjae Lee and Michael Dion.
Offutt Air Force Base Runway Closure Delayed 10 Months
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Nebraska, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Air Force (55th Air Wing) issued the following news:
By Jacob Skovo
The 55th Wing's runway replacement at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, has been pushed back from December 2019 to October 2020.
The ten-month delay of the runway closure allows for demolition and earthwork to begin before winter. This sets up the program to be in the asphalt and concrete work phase by spring 2021 and wrapping up the needed inspections and Federal Aviation Administration approval to reopen in the twelfth month of work.
Sections of Offutt's current runway are
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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Nebraska, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Air Force (55th Air Wing) issued the following news:
By Jacob Skovo
The 55th Wing's runway replacement at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, has been pushed back from December 2019 to October 2020.
The ten-month delay of the runway closure allows for demolition and earthwork to begin before winter. This sets up the program to be in the asphalt and concrete work phase by spring 2021 and wrapping up the needed inspections and Federal Aviation Administration approval to reopen in the twelfth month of work.
Sections of Offutt's current runway aremore than 70 years old. Regular maintenance is required to sustain safe flight conditions. The replacement, which is projected to cost approximately $176 million between Offutt and Lincoln, sets up the 55th Wing's global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission to continue from Offutt for at least 20 years before any major maintenance is required.
"It is definitely needed. [The 55th Civil Engineer Squadron] is pouring man-hours and resources into our current runway just to keep it functioning," said Rob Hufford, 55th CES civil engineer and 55th Wing Project Management Office engineering lead. "As it ages we have to put more time and money into it, but we still have the same amount of people and the same amount of money."
The finished product is planned to be built narrower but with the same length. Features of the new runway design include concrete landing zones with an asphalt center and shoulders.
"The design we are going with is the model bases are going to across the Air Force where we can," Hufford said. "It's faster to construct and it's, in theory, easier to maintain. We can go through and do asphalt repairs in a couple hours, and it's good to go. Whereas with concrete, you need a couple of days."
During the replacement, the wing plans to move flight operations to Lincoln Airport (LNK) which is just under 50 miles away.
"One of our driving factors is to protect the Airmen here at Offutt, from being gone longer than 12 months," Hufford said. "We know it's going to stink to have to go back and forth from Lincoln on a daily basis, so that's why we are trying to limit how long that displacement occurs."
Commuting to and operating from LNK's west ramp is estimated to last for approximately 12 months. Nearly 800 personnel are expected to be bussed between Offutt and LNK daily until construction is completed in October of 2021.
"The 55th Maintenance Group's main concerns revolve around the support for our people while deployed to Lincoln," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Scott Yancey, 83rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. "We will be working extra-long shifts, four days per week, with three day breaks. Our highly trained Airmen are critical to keeping the maintenance machine moving which is why taking care of our people is our highest priority."
Preparations are being made at the west ramp at LNK to meet the demands of the Offutt's aircraft. The apron is being reconditioned, a temporary hangar is being erected, and renovations are being made to an existing hangar and firehouse.
Also, the program's managers are working with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce to explore various dining possibilities at the west ramp, which does not currently offer any options within walking distance. Options being considered include having a rotation of food trucks, and working with the 55th Force Support Squadron to set up a mobile dining facility on site.
Other installation support functions are planned to be on location as needed or have special hours available to Airmen who commute to LNK.
The U.S. Air Force E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft and the U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft plan to operate out of LNK in addition to other locations.
The LeMay Aero Club plans keep the office here open during the closure and move the aircraft to the Plattsmouth Municipal Airport for the clubs flying needs.
NIH Funds Eleven Research Centers in Minority Institutions
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health issued the following news release:
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), part of the National Institutes of Health, has funded three new awards and renewed the awards of eight institutions previously funded under the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Specialized Centers program. The RCMI develops and strengthens the research infrastructure necessary to conduct state-of-the-art biomedical research and foster the next generation of researchers
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health issued the following news release:
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), part of the National Institutes of Health, has funded three new awards and renewed the awards of eight institutions previously funded under the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Specialized Centers program. The RCMI develops and strengthens the research infrastructure necessary to conduct state-of-the-art biomedical research and foster the next generation of researchersfrom underrepresented populations. The centers will share approximately $187 million over their five-year project periods, subject to available funds.
The purpose of the RCMI Program, which was established in 1985, is to support institutions that offer doctorate degrees in the health professions or in a health-related science and that have a commitment to educating underrepresented students. Additionally, the program supports institutions that deliver health care and provide clinical services to medically underserved communities. The overall goals are to advance the science of minority health and health disparities in multiple disciplines, promote the diversity of the biomedical workforce and reduce health disparities and promote health equity.
Grants within this program are committed to fostering the next generation of researchers through opportunities to engage in rigorous, mentored research experiences focused on diseases that disproportionately affect minority and other health disparity populations. Building and enhancing research capacity and infrastructure through investigator development, state-of-the-art information systems, and opportunity to collaborate within and across institutions, are at the core of the RCMI program. Community engagement in the research process is also an essential program component.
"The RCMI is a legacy program critical to NIMHD's vision of enhancing the science of minority health and health disparities," said NIMHD Director Eliseo J. Perez-Stable, M.D. "The new round of funding promotes advancement of current research while expanding the range of research projects and institutions supported through this program."
The 11 RCMI award recipients are:
Accelerating Excellence in Translational Science (AXIS)
Jaydutt Vadgama, Ph.D.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles
2U54MD007598-11
RFA-MD-18-012
AXIS will provide opportunities for interventions to reduce health disparities within one of the most underserved and under-resourced areas of Los Angeles, with predominately Hispanic and African American residents; focusing socio-economic and environmental factors and using the precision medicine model in the areas of cancer, cardiometabolic diseases, and HIV/AIDS.
Border Biomedical Research Center
Robert Kirken, Ph.D.
University of Texas at El Paso
2U54MD007592-26
RFA-MD-18-012
BBRC will address cancer health disparities through innovative basic, behavioral and clinical studies within the geographically isolated and underserved Mexican American population located in the West Texas region known as the Borderplex.
Center for Translational Research in Health Disparities
Vincent Bond, Ph.D.
Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta
5U54MD007602-32
RFA-MD -17-006
The center will bring together expertise of the RCMI program cores with community and clinical researchers and partners to build a Multidisciplinary Translational Teams (MDTT's) through research projects with a health disparities focus, targeted at more rapid translation of health disparities (e.g., cancer, stroke, infectious diseases, cardiometabolic diseases and reproductive health) by expanding the baseline research infrastructure.
Enhancement of Cancer Research at Clark Atlanta University
Shafiq Khan, Ph.D.
Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta
2U54MD007590-32
RFA-MD-18-012
The center will support research in cancer biology, drug discovery and behavioral aspects of prostate cancer and its impact on the African American community by focusing on understanding molecular mechanisms in the development and progression of prostate cancer along with the biological basis of higher incidence and development of more advanced disease at an earlier ages of African American men.
FAMU Center for Health Disparities Research
Karam Soliman, Ph.D.
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Tallahassee
2U54MD007582-34A1
RFA-MD-18-012
The center will support research projects to address novel therapy in breast cancer, validate innovative drug delivery for lung cancer and investigate new approaches to promoting colorectal cancer screening among minorities.
Health Disparities Research at UCR
David D. Lo, M.D., Ph.D., Bruce G. Link, Ph.D., Gerald A. Maguire, M.D.,
Juliet McMullin, Ph.D.
University of California, Riverside
1U54MD013368-01A1
RFA-MD-18-012
The center will support research projects that focus on testing the correlates of environmental aerosol exposures in Latino neighborhoods in eastern Coachella Valley with asthma and cardiopulmonary disease and the relationship between infant feeding styles and practices in low-income Latino families; and infant growth and obesity.
Howard University Research Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities
William M. Southerland, Ph.D.
Howard University, Washington, D.C.
2U54MD007597-31
RFA-MD -17-006
The center will support three innovative research projects addressing diseases that disproportionately affect African Americans. These projects will focus on hepatitis C, diabetes, prostate cancer, sleep disturbance, and cardiometabolic consequences in sickle cell disease.
PHSU Specialized Center in Health Disparities
Jose A. Torres-Ruiz, Ph.D. and Richard Noel, Ph.D.
Ponce School of Medicine, Puerto Rico
2U54MD007579-34
RFA-MD-18-012
The center will focus research efforts on cancer biology/oncology, neurosciences, infectious diseases, cardiovascular and hypertension research and human genetics to address minority health and health disparities.
RCMI @ Morgan: Center for Urban Health Disparities Research and Innovation
Hongtao Yu, Ph.D.
Morgan State University, Baltimore
1U54MD013376-01A1
RFA-MD-18-012
The RCMI @ Morgan will conduct research on urban health and health disparities, studying major health threats in Baltimore such as infectious diseases, addiction research, obesity and cancer, food security, and health informatics with the goal to enhance health for all citizens and to eliminate health disparities.
SDSU HealthLINK Center for Translational Health Disparities Research
Guadalupe Ayala, Ph.D. and Kristen Wells, Ph.D.
San Diego State University, California
5U54MD012397-02
RFA-MD -17-006
The center at SDSU, a Hispanic-serving institution, will focus research on minority populations, sexual and gender minorities, and lower-income populations, which are known to suffer disproportionately from numerous adverse health conditions such as higher rates of obesity, diabetes, cardiometabolic disorders, pain, and cancer.
Xavier RCMI Center for Cancer Research
Guangdi Wang, Ph.D. and Gene D'Amour, Ph.D.
Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans
2U54MD007595-11
RFA-MD -17-006
The center will implement program activities to support early stage, underrepresented investigators, maintain core facilities to support Xavier researchers at all levels of career development, and promote and sustain long-lasting partnerships between Xavier and local communities to address cancer health disparities.
The newly funded grants expand upon the program's seven grants funded in fiscal year 2017. For more information visit https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-fund-seven-research-centers-minority-institutions.
NIMHD is one of NIH's 27 Institutes and Centers. It leads scientific research to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities by conducting and supporting research; planning, reviewing, coordinating, and evaluating all minority health and health disparities research at NIH; promoting and supporting the training of a diverse research workforce; translating and disseminating research information; and fostering collaborations and partnerships. For more information about NIMHD, visit http://www.nimhd.nih.gov.
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About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.
NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health
Extrememat Technical Advisory Board Discusses Development of Extreme Environment Materials for Fossil Fuel Plants at National Energy Technology Laboratory
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory issued the following news:
Technical advisory board members of eXtremeMAT, a national effort focused on developing next-generation extreme-environment materials for use in advanced fossil energy power systems that operate in extreme environments, met at NETL's Pittsburgh site Aug. 13, 2019, to assess progress and map plans for future research.
Fossil energy transformational power technologies like ultra-supercritical steam plants and supercritical carbon-dioxide power have the potential
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PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory issued the following news:
Technical advisory board members of eXtremeMAT, a national effort focused on developing next-generation extreme-environment materials for use in advanced fossil energy power systems that operate in extreme environments, met at NETL's Pittsburgh site Aug. 13, 2019, to assess progress and map plans for future research.
Fossil energy transformational power technologies like ultra-supercritical steam plants and supercritical carbon-dioxide power have the potentialto increase efficiencies and bolster clean coal efforts because they operate at higher temperatures and pressures. However, these technologies operate in harsher, more corrosive conditions compared to traditional power plants. In addition, current fossil power plants are increasingly subjected to cycling conditions due to increases in renewable energy sources onto the electricity grid. Accelerating the development of improved steels, superalloys and other advanced alloys is of paramount importance in deploying materials solutions to address materials challenges associated with both the existing fleet and future power systems.
The U.S. Department of Energy Office (DOE) of Fossil Energy's (FE) eXtremeMAT project addresses these challenges by harnessing the computational and experimental materials science expertise and capabilities within the DOE national laboratory complex into an integrated, mission-focused team aimed at improving heat-resistant alloys and improving models to predict long-term materials performance in existing and future fossil energy power systems.
The eXtremeMAT team is led by NETL and partner laboratories, Ames Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Its approach uses physics-based computational modeling with data analytics and machine learning coupled with specific, targeted experimentation to accelerate the design of new heat-resistant alloys for existing and advanced fossil energy power cycles.
The purpose of the eXtremeMAT technical advisory board is to assess the technical merit of the project. The board members, which include subject matter experts from academia and government, are reviewing research progress to date and making plans while providing technical feedback.
The board members received an official welcome to NETL from Bryan Morreale, executive director of NETL's Research and Innovation Center; Regis Conrad, director of FE's Advanced Energy Systems; and Briggs White, technology manager for NETL's Crosscutting Research Program.
The technical advisory board meeting at NETL consists of representatives of the University of Pittsburgh, West Virginia University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Georgia Tech, Pennsylvania State University, the National Institute for Science and Technology and Thermo-Calc Software Inc.
Department of Energy Releases Annual Wind Market Reports, Finding Robust Wind Power Installations and Falling Prices
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Energy issued the following news release:
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released annual market reports documenting data and trends in wind installations, technologies, costs, prices, and performance through the end of 2018 for three sectors: utility-scale land-based, offshore, and distributed wind.
"Onshore wind energy installation continues to grow across the country, and this Administration has proven that we can pursue renewable energy advancements and deployment, particularly wind energy resources, which are predicted to surpass other
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Energy issued the following news release:
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released annual market reports documenting data and trends in wind installations, technologies, costs, prices, and performance through the end of 2018 for three sectors: utility-scale land-based, offshore, and distributed wind.
"Onshore wind energy installation continues to grow across the country, and this Administration has proven that we can pursue renewable energy advancements and deployment, particularly wind energy resources, which are predicted to surpass othersources of renewable power generation this year," said Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. "And with over 25 gigawatts in the development pipeline, U.S. offshore wind is poised to be a significant part of our comprehensive energy portfolio in the coming years."
The utility-scale land-based wind sector had another strong year with 7,588 megawatts (MW) installed during 2018, accompanied by record low costs and prices. The U.S. distributed wind sector now stands at 1,127 MW from over 83,000 wind turbines across all 50 states. And the U.S. offshore wind industry has a pipeline of 25,824 MW in various stages of development.
The 2018 Wind Technologies Market Report, prepared by DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, found the following:
* The U.S. wind industry installed 7,588 MW of capacity last year, bringing total utility-scale wind capacity to over 96 gigawatts (GW).
* Wind industry employment is at an all-time high, supporting 114,000 jobs.
* In total, 41 states operated utility-scale wind projects. Texas leads the nation with nearly 25 GW of wind capacity, while California, Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma have more than 5 GW.
* Wind energy provides 6.5% of the nation's electricity, more than 10% of total generation in 14 states, and more than 30% in Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
* The trend of installing wind turbines that are larger and more powerful continued in 2018. Read more about these size and performance trends.
* The price of wind energy being sold in long-term contracts is at an all-time low. Wind power purchase agreement (PPA) prices are below 2 cents per kilowatt-hour, driven by a combination of higher capacity factors, declining turbine prices and operating costs, low interest rates, and the production tax credit.
The 2018 Distributed Wind Market Report, prepared by DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, highlights the following:
* Distributed wind power is used at or near where it is generated, as opposed to wind power from wholesale generation, where power is sent to consumers via transmission lines and substations.
* Employed by households, schools, farms, industrial facilities, and municipalities, distributed wind doesn't only refer to small-scale turbines; it includes any size turbine or array of turbines that generates power for local or on-site use.
* U.S. wind turbines in distributed applications reached a cumulative installed capacity of 1,127 MW in 2018. This capacity comes from over 83,000 turbines installed across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.
* The trend of using larger wind turbines in distributed applications continued in 2018. The average capacity of large-scale turbines installed in distributed applications in 2018 was 2.1 MW--almost double the capacity of turbines used in 2003.
* Commercial and industrial distributed wind projects increased in 2018, representing 29% of total project capacity. Distributed wind for utility customers remained the most prevalent use, representing 47% of capacity in 2018. Read more about the customers of U.S. distributed wind.
* Of small wind turbines (nameplate capacity up to 100 kilowatts) deployed in the United States, very small turbines--less than 1 kW-- are contributing an increasingly larger percentage of both the total number of turbines (99%) and capacity (47%) of small wind projects. These systems are often used for battery charging and are sometimes integrated with solar PV panels to power remote infrastructure.
The 2018 Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report, prepared by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, found the following:
* The U.S. offshore wind project development pipeline grew to a potential generating capacity of 25,824 MW across 13 states, including the Block Island Wind Farm commissioned in 2016.
* Projects totaling 21,225 MW have exclusive site control, meaning the developer has a lease or other contract to develop the site. Most of these projects are on the Eastern seaboard, with one in the Great Lakes.
* California and Hawaii have several early-stage floating offshore wind projects in the planning phase.
* The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) auctions for three lease areas off the coast of Massachusetts brought in winning bids of $135 million--more than three times the value of previous BOEM auctions--indicating strong interest and confidence in the U.S. offshore wind market.
* Offtake prices for the first commercial-scale U.S. offshore wind project--Vineyard Wind off the coast of Massachusetts--came in lower than expected at $65-$75 per megawatt-hour.
* Technology trends toward larger turbines continued, with offshore turbines installed globally in 2018 averaging 5.5 MW, and turbines with capacities of 10-12 MW coming to market in the next couple years. Read more about offshore trends.
Find more information on the three wind market reports. For more information on DOE's wind energy research and development efforts, visit DOE's Wind Energy Technologies Office. (https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/wind-energy-technologies-office)
CFTC's Market Risk Advisory Committee to Meet September 9 by Teleconference
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Market Risk Advisory Committee (MRAC) will hold a public meeting on September 9 via teleconference. CFTC Commissioner Rostin Behnam is the sponsor of MRAC.
At this meeting, the MRAC will receive a status report from the Interest Rate Benchmark Reform Subcommittee and vote on its recommendation regarding plain-English disclosure materials. The MRAC will also discuss other issues involving the transition from the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Market Risk Advisory Committee (MRAC) will hold a public meeting on September 9 via teleconference. CFTC Commissioner Rostin Behnam is the sponsor of MRAC.
At this meeting, the MRAC will receive a status report from the Interest Rate Benchmark Reform Subcommittee and vote on its recommendation regarding plain-English disclosure materials. The MRAC will also discuss other issues involving the transition from the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR)to risk-free reference rates, including central counterparty (CCP) adjustments to discounting/price alignment interest and the clearing treatment for certain physically-settled swaptions.
"On September 9th, the MRAC will consider the first recommendation from the Interest Rate Benchmark Reform Subcommittee regarding disclosures included with new derivatives that reference LIBOR and other IBORs. I appreciate the Subcommittee's hard work in developing these plain-English disclosures for use by market participants, and commend them for this important contribution to the benchmark reform effort," said Commissioner Behnam.
A formal agenda for this meeting is forthcoming and can be viewed at CFTC Events.
Members of the public may listen to the meeting by using the domestic toll-free or international toll or toll-free numbers to connect to a live, listen-only audio feed. Lines are limited and available on a first come first serve basis. Persons requiring special accommodations to attend the meeting because of a disability should notify Alicia Lewis at (202) 418-5862.
What:
Market Risk Advisory Committee Meeting
Date:
Monday, September 9, 2019
Time:
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Conference call information:
Domestic Toll Free:
1-866-844-9416
International Toll Numbers:
International Numbers
Conference Passcode:
4136858
Members of the public who wish to submit written statements in connection with the meeting should submit them by September 16, 2019. Written statements should be identified by "Market Risk Advisory Committee," and submitted by mail or hand delivery to: Christopher Kirkpatrick, Secretary of the Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Center, 1155 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20581, or via the CFTC's website, https://comments.cftc.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments through the Comments Online process on the website. Any statements submitted in connection with the committee meeting will be made available to the public, including publication on the CFTC website, http://www.cftc.gov.
Air Force Pilot Trainee Accepts Tennis Award, Life's Challenges
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news:
By Robert Guest
Second Lt. Isaac Perez, a former tennis player at the U.S. Air Force Academy, has been named a 2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recipient by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.
Perez will be presented with the award during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York Aug. 24, 2019.
"Isaac was a role-model for my team the day he stepped on our courts and has always displayed the utmost respect and sportsmanship while
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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news:
By Robert Guest
Second Lt. Isaac Perez, a former tennis player at the U.S. Air Force Academy, has been named a 2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recipient by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.
Perez will be presented with the award during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York Aug. 24, 2019.
"Isaac was a role-model for my team the day he stepped on our courts and has always displayed the utmost respect and sportsmanship whilerepresenting the Academy," said Dan Oosterhous, head men's tennis coach at the Academy.
In a release announcing his selection, it noted that Perez was a four-year varsity starter at the Academy, finishing his career with a 37-35 singles record and 43-39 mark in doubles play. In addition to his position as team captain and during his senior season, Perez served on the Cadet Wing staff, the highest level of the academy's chain of command, as a public affairs officer where he became a visible and trusted presence on campus. He was also the vice commander of the Air Force Summer Sports Camps.
Perez originally intended to apply for a human intelligence officer position in the Air Force, to take advantage of his current dual-language ability--he speaks English and Spanish--and his ethnic appearance. However, Oosterhous would occasionally talk to Perez about his time as a C-5 pilot before he retired from the Air Force.
"Coach was very open to questions about being a pilot and he encouraged us," Perez said. "He never pushed but he told us that if we wanted a constant challenge, the pilot career field would challenge us every day."
While his coach spurred Perez's interest in becoming an aviator, he said his desire to serve as a pilot in the Air Force was solidified through USAFA's parachuting and powered flight programs.
Originally from San Antonio, Perez was fortunate enough to be selected to attend pilot training in his hometown, and he will begin his time as a student in version three of "Pilot Training Next." PTN is the Air Force's experiment-driven pilot training program that falls under Air Education and Training Command's Detachment 24.
While he awaits the start of his pilot training in January 2020, Perez works as a staff officer and studying aviation in an informal, self-directed way. There is a quiet workspace at Det. 24 where lieutenants awaiting training can study as well as a virtual reality simulator room where they can practice self-guided, virtual flights before their training officially begins.
"I'm open to flying any airframe when I graduate from pilot training," Perez said. "But I'd like to fly the F-35 Lightning II because of its versatile mission sets."
The future pilot, who was a two-time recipient of the Coach Gugat "Attitude is Everything" award at the Academy, was humble in accepting the award and hopes people know what the award stands for.
"It's really not a big deal," Perez said of receiving the award. "What I really want people to be aware of is the story and meaning behind the award. Ashe was a revolutionary tennis player who showed us how important it is to treat not just other players but everyone with respect, dignity and care."
Ashe was the only African American to win the U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon, according to the International Tennis Hall of Fame's website. That site also points out that "Ashe was much more than a storied tennis player; he was an activist, author, educator."
In honor of his achievements in tennis, the main stadium for the U.S. Open is called the Arthur Ashe Stadium. In honor of his life legacy, Arthur Ashe Kids' Day will be celebrated at the Open August 24 and is the largest grassroots tennis event in the world according to the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day website. As part of the weekend's events, Perez will be volunteering his time during the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day event.
"Challenges drive me," Perez said. "It is service that makes it all worth it."
