Featured Stories
Trump Administration Announces $58M in Major New Critical Mineral Deals at White House Roundtable
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
* * *
Trump Administration Announces $58M in Major New Critical Mineral Deals at White House Roundtable
*
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is announcing $58M in three major new rare earths deals designed to fortify U.S. supply chains and revitalize the critical industries that Americans depend on every day.
"Under President Trump's leadership, America is leading the way in critical minerals development and rare earths processing," said Chairman John Jovanovic.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
* * *
Trump Administration Announces $58M in Major New Critical Mineral Deals at White House Roundtable
*
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is announcing $58M in three major new rare earths deals designed to fortify U.S. supply chains and revitalize the critical industries that Americans depend on every day.
"Under President Trump's leadership, America is leading the way in critical minerals development and rare earths processing," said Chairman John Jovanovic."Critical mineral security is national security. These deals are a large part of EXIM's strategy to fortify our supply chains, restore crucial industries that support well-paying American jobs, and safeguard everyday Americans from supply shocks."
EXIM is directing a $25M loan to Westwater Resources in Alabama for graphite, a versatile component of battery manufacturing. The Bank is also directing $25M to Global Advanced Metals in Pennsylvania for tantalum and niobium, critical minerals used in electronics, magnets, and steel production. Finally, EXIM is directing an $8M loan to 5E Advanced Materials, LLC in California for their 5E Boron Americas project. Boron is a key component of permanent magnets, semiconductors, and glass. The deals were announced at President Trump's Critical Minerals Roundtable earlier this afternoon.
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.
***
Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/trump-administration-announces-58m-major-new-critical-mineral-deals-white-house-roundtable
Remarks by Postmaster General David Steiner at the Aug. 7, 2026, USPS Board of Governors Meeting
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release:
* * *
Remarks by Postmaster General David Steiner at the Aug. 7, 2026, USPS Board of Governors Meeting
*
WASHINGTON -Below are the prepared remarks of Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner, delivered during the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors open session on Aug. 7, 2026.
Thank you, Chairwoman McReynolds, for your kind remarks.
Good afternoon, everyone.
Let me add my welcome to all attending or listening-in.
For a little more than one year, I have had the privilege to serve as America's Postmaster
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release:
* * *
Remarks by Postmaster General David Steiner at the Aug. 7, 2026, USPS Board of Governors Meeting
*
WASHINGTON -Below are the prepared remarks of Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner, delivered during the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors open session on Aug. 7, 2026.
Thank you, Chairwoman McReynolds, for your kind remarks.
Good afternoon, everyone.
Let me add my welcome to all attending or listening-in.
For a little more than one year, I have had the privilege to serve as America's PostmasterGeneral.
I have become deeply immersed in our business, visited facilities, met with many of our employees, and worked with our unions and management associations, customers, and suppliers, and stakeholders of all stripes.
And every day of the past year, my appreciation has grown for the incredible work our people do in every community, and for the value this organization brings to the nation.
I am especially grateful for the support and collaboration and good counsel of our Board of Governors over the past year.
Having served on corporate boards for large organizations in the private sector, I can tell you that goal setting, instilling accountability, and providing expertise by Boards are vitally important to the success of any CEO and the functioning of any organization.
I would like to thank this Board for its thoughtful work in representing the interests of the American public and for the good working relationship we have.
So... thank you.
Since our last open session meeting, the Postal Service has made good strides on a number of financial and operational fronts. On the financial front this quarter, we were $600 million better than in the same quarter last year. And the momentum has continued into the current quarter. On the operational side, we have reduced work hours and increased service performance, which shows that our employees are leveraging the network better than ever. And the operational momentum is continuing and will position us well as we move toward peak season.
We have done all of this amid a continuing and urgent financial crisis.
Despite the potential for distraction, our management team and the organization have been focused on what is within our ability to control.
As you will see, we are making good, steady strides with service improvements and cost reductions.
Many of you here, and the customers who follow the organization closely, will see that our network is functioning more smoothly, in more areas, with every passing month.
We are working hard to improve end-to-end visibility. This serves as the linchpin for improving customer service and drives efficient operations.
Our processing and transportation and delivery teams are grinding away at optimizing processes and the results are steadily better performance, along with reduced costs.
I believe that once we implement our end-to-end visibility, we will see further improvements in service. That is why the project is so important, and we have put our best people on it.
We will hear shortly about all of this progress from Greg White, our Vice President of Network Solutions & Performance Excellence.
I have been especially pleased that we are achieving strong service improvements while implementing new RPDCs and S&DCs.
These are complex operations, and we are integrating new facilities, technology, and equipment without the kind of hiccups that occurred in the past.
This reflects a maturity and resiliency in operating our network.
From a revenue perspective, I am pleased to say that we have recently been meeting our growth projections.
I believe we can attribute a lot of our successes in the marketplace to our service performance.
When we pair popular products with good pricing... when we deliver good service... we attract more business.
This is validation of our increasing value, and I am pleased about the revenue path we are now on. Of course, we can always do better, and our teams are hard at work trying to add profitable volume to our network.
From a cost perspective, we are fighting headwinds with inflation and especially with fuel costs.
We are continuing to reduce work hours and drive transportation efficiencies.
We are being very aggressive in these areas, but our cost issues remain a function of our business model requirements.
Luke Grossmann, our CFO and Executive Vice President, will present shortly on our financial results and challenges, but very simply, the bottom line is that we need to fix the business model that has produced the 17-year-long imbalance in costs and revenue - and that is going to require Congressional involvement.
On the pricing front, the results this quarter show the strong leverage that pricing can have on results, and pricing is one lever that we have to use now to grow revenue.
In our market dominant products -which is essentially postage for mail delivery -we have been raising prices consistent with our regulatory authority.
And as a result, even though mail volumes have declined, largely due to secular trends, we have seen mail revenues rise -due to our pricing strategy. This dynamic has been true for 14 out of 16 quarters. Total revenue is up due to price increases despite drops in volume.
Use of our pricing authority is absolutely necessary to improve our financial sustainability and we need to be given more flexibility if we are expected to cover our costs.
Obviously, we would like to both grow volumes and grow revenue, but if we can only do one, we want to do it in a way that maximizes total revenue. That is what all companies do -from airlines to grocery stores, they apply revenue management principles to maximize profitability. Thus far, applying those basic principles has favored raising prices even though there has been a modest decrease in volumes.
All of the statistics and results show that we have yet to cross the point that we should be changing our pricing strategy, and that we have more price to take in the marketplace. It would be financially irresponsible of us not to do so.
Of course, we are constantly handcuffed by the PRC when it comes to taking the most logical steps in revenue management and pricing, and our regulator recently limited us to one price increase per-year, a $700 million loss of revenue for the Postal Service.
Given our need to use price to generate needed revenue and the once a year restriction, we recently filed a request that we be able to use density rate authority in a January 2027 market dominant price increase. Doing an increase in January rather than in July is worth $600- $800 million to the Postal Service -cash that is desperately needed for us to fund operations.
The PRC should be taking into consideration our ability to cover costs and should recognize and approve the basic revenue management principles we are trying to follow.
So, if our viability means anything to the PRC, this should be an easy decision.
So pricing is important to our long-term viability, but reform is crucial to our viability. As we prepare to further detail our legislative agenda to Congress and to the Administration, we believe that the choices are clear. And there are choices. The only thing that will doom the Postal Service is not making a choice.
As things stand, the Postal Service is expected to be self-sustaining while, at the same time, fulfilling mandates that are inherently unsustainable and do not cover their costs.
Resolving this tension comes down to the policy choice of either eliminating uneconomical mandates or funding them through appropriations. And to be clear, that policy choice is one that is the right and job of Congress to decide. We at the Postal Service have a view as to which way we would go, but that is not our decision or role. Our role is to present the choices to Congress and ask them to decide.
And I believe that to make the best choices, you need to first define the goals.
To illuminate this point, I tell the story about a former colleague of mine, and our individual goals when we played golf.
When he played golf, his goal was to complete his round as fast as possible.
My goal was to shoot the lowest score I possibly could.
We were playing the same game, but you take very different approaches and very different steps and actions when you have different goals.
So, a lot of people approach problems by asking "what do we do"? I believe you have to approach problems by asking "what is our goal"...because, just like the golf game, what you do, what steps you take, is defined by the ultimate goal.
So what is the goal of the Postal Service? Is the goal to provide the current level of service to the American public regardless of the cost? Or is the goal to provide only the level of service that can be provided at a sustainable cost? That is the question I have asked myself over the course of my first year.
Given the unfunded mandates we labor under, it is a decision Congress needs to make -whether we adjust service or Congress pays the cost of mandates through policy changes and appropriations.
And I believe that we can do both -support economic activity and provide the desired level of service.
In fact, I believe with the right investment in the Postal Service we can break even and provide even better service.
How can we do that? Well, first you have to realize that "economic activity" for the Federal Government doesn't just include the activity within the Postal Service.
You have to look at the entire $2 trillion ecosystem surrounding the Postal Service. Because if the Postal Service as a stand alone entity covers its cost, but as a result the surrounding ecosystem shrinks and economic activity and jobs resulting from that activity shrink, then net-net the nation's economy is worse off.
So, you have to look at the Postal Service not in isolation, but as part of a larger ecosystem.
And we believe that a small investment in the Postal Service would create a large return for the American economy.
So, our proposed legislative package will do just that -call for a relatively modest appropriation to invest into the Postal Service to grow the $2 trillion ecosystem.
But we would also recommend that the appropriation be periodically revisited, to account for inflation and other factors. Moreover, as we reduce costs and improve revenue, we believe we will become more profitable, and the appropriation could be reduced.
This quarter we demonstrated that we are on the right track toward success -service scores improved and we did $600 million better this quarter than in the same quarter last year. Over the past few weeks, we have met our stated financial plan from both a cost and revenue point of view, so you can see the momentum building. So, we don't think that the investment made in the Postal Service will need to be a permanent investment, but a temporary one.
And of course, our legislative package will include the common sense reforms to our benefit plans that virtually everybody agrees are necessary. And it will call for increased borrowing authority to help offset the over $20 billion of historical under investment in Postal Service assets and people.
So that is the crux of the legislative package that we will present to Congress and the Administration, and we hope it will be well received.
But as I have said in the past, we can't rely on areas outside of our control, we have to look at other ways to achieve financial self-sufficiency if that is the goal. And we are working on those plans.
Of course, we have peak season coming up, so we would not take any action until after the New Year, but if we can't get agreement on a legislative package this year, our plans would certainly have to entail changes that will impact service like taking a look at our service levels and closing thousands of unprofitable post offices, as well as raising prices. Again, whether we take these actions comes down to "what is our goal"?
If Congress agrees with us that facilitating economic activity is the goal, then they will enact some form of our legislative package. If they believe that our goal is to be "stand-alone" break even, without regard to the overall U.S. economy, we will proceed with the actions we need to take to get there. It is a very simple "either-or" scenario. We will either have a legislative package passed or we will take any available actions we can to achieve breakeven status.
And I want to make sure that I am very clear -we at the Postal Service do not make policy, we deliver the mail. And we truly look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to determine the best policy for their constituents -the American public. We have started to have these conversations, but we want to have more so that together, we are making the best, most informed decisions.
On that note of making the best decisions... we certainly look forward to working with Congress, but it would also be helpful if Congress would work with us. Their recent action in passing a bill out of Committee that would change postal ZIP Codes and other changes are not helpful to the Postal Service at all.
In a calendar quarter where our 630,000 hard working men and women struggled and strived to improve performance by $600 million, with a single action, with the stroke of a pen, Congress proposed to give it all away for no good reason. One bill that passed Committee to legislate 83 new ZIP Codes will not only eliminate the $600 million improvement, it will further erode our performance as we estimate costs from the bill to be well over $800 million. It will also affect service, not only for these ZIP Codes, but for the areas around those ZIP Codes.
So, we would ask Congress to quickly set aside this bill before it does irreparable harm to the Postal Service and to their constituents and our customers. In a glimmer of good news the Senate Committee DID pass a bipartisan alternative to the ZIP Code bill that would direct us to reform the process we use to help solve community addressing needs without the damaging delivery or financial impacts of legislated ZIP Codes -so we encourage the Senate to advance that common sense proposal instead.
But it just goes to show the systemic issues facing the Postal Service -even as the Postal Service takes one step forward, Congress imposes yet another money losing mandate that pushes us two steps back. This process has to stop.
We would prefer that rather than considering harming the Postal Service that Congress consider making an investment in the Postal Service, which after all, is making an investment in America.
I want to close by thanking the 630,000 men and women of the USPS for their commitment to our mission of service, for the great work they do for their customers and the nation every day, and for their extra effort during the busy mailing and shipping season ahead.
Last year, we did great during peak season. This year let's do even better!
I only wish that every American citizen could see what we see every day - the commitment and energy of the 630,000 strong. The drive and determination to accomplish their mission and their devotion to the American people.
I believe when you see that.... you would agree that the Postal Service is an institution worth investing in.
Thank you.
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is currently pursuing a transformation plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
***
Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0807-remarks-by-postmaster-general-david-steiner-at-the-aug-7-2026-usps-board-of-governors-meeting.htm
Postal Service IG: Florida 3 District: Delivery Operations in the Miami, FL, Area
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 26-066-R26) on August 4, 2026, entitled "Florida 3 District: Delivery Operations in the Miami, FL, Area."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
During the week of March 2, 2026, we performed a self-initiated audit at the Royal Palm Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC), and three delivery units serviced by the P&DC. The delivery units included Blue Lagoon Branch and Milam Dairy Branch in Miami, FL and North Miami Branch in North Miami, FL.
We issued individual reports for the three delivery
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 26-066-R26) on August 4, 2026, entitled "Florida 3 District: Delivery Operations in the Miami, FL, Area."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
During the week of March 2, 2026, we performed a self-initiated audit at the Royal Palm Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC), and three delivery units serviced by the P&DC. The delivery units included Blue Lagoon Branch and Milam Dairy Branch in Miami, FL and North Miami Branch in North Miami, FL.
We issued individual reports for the three deliveryunits and one report for the P&DC. We will also issue another report summarizing the results of our audits at all three delivery units with specific recommendations for management to address.
The audit team identified deficiencies in six areas we reviewed affecting mail delivery and property conditions at the three delivery units.
* * *
View the original text at: https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2026-08/26-066-r26.pdf
NASA Tests Featherweight Radar Antenna for SkyFall Mars Helicopters
PASADENA, California, Aug. 7 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
* * *
NASA Tests Featherweight Radar Antenna for SkyFall Mars Helicopters
The hardware will enable the SkyFall mission's trio of planetary rotorcraft to use ground-penetrating radar to study the Martian subsurface.
When the trio of NASA's SkyFall helicopters takes to the Martian skies, one of their tasks will be to hunt for frozen water -- a critical resource for future astronauts -- using ground-penetrating radar. For that radar to work, each rotorcraft will carry a flexible, fabric-based antenna
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, Aug. 7 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
* * *
NASA Tests Featherweight Radar Antenna for SkyFall Mars Helicopters
The hardware will enable the SkyFall mission's trio of planetary rotorcraft to use ground-penetrating radar to study the Martian subsurface.
When the trio of NASA's SkyFall helicopters takes to the Martian skies, one of their tasks will be to hunt for frozen water -- a critical resource for future astronauts -- using ground-penetrating radar. For that radar to work, each rotorcraft will carry a flexible, fabric-based antennathat will need to extend below the aircraft without interfering with landings or breaking upon impact. It is a specialized design for the mission, and it recently cleared a round of testing at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
Although orbiting spacecraft can map the thick Martian ice deposits tens of yards below the surface, they're effectively blind to the top several yards of regolith, or broken rock and dust. This shallow zone is what will matter most for future astronauts, who will need to easily reach and process ice for water, oxygen, and fuel.
"The only way to detect shallow subsurface ice remotely is to fly close to the ground," said Adrian Tang, SkyFall's ground-penetrating radar lead instrument scientist at JPL. "By flying low and slow, a SkyFall helicopter could capture radar images that resolve the fine layering where dry soil gives way to ice, detecting its presence and mapping its extent."
Composed for Mars
To peer beneath the Martian surface, SkyFall's ground-penetrating radar will use an ultra-wide frequency range -- from 500 to 2,500 megahertz -- corresponding to wavelengths of about 24 to 5 inches (60 to 12 centimeters). The longest wavelengths can penetrate several yards below the surface. The shorter wavelengths provide finer detail about the uppermost layers and surface texture.
This is where the unique antenna design comes in. A traditional antenna operating in that part of the electromagnetic spectrum would need to be 19 inches (48.3 centimeters) long and have a clear view of the ground, but the minimum clearance between Mars' surface and the base of the helicopter's fuselage is only about 6 inches (15.2 centimeters). The team needed an antenna that wouldn't interfere with or be damaged by landing.
After an extensive search for the right antenna, the SkyFall team zeroed in on the Vivaldi because it can transmit and receive signals across a large, continuous range of radio frequencies, and because its flat, lightweight profile can be easily cut into flexible, metalized fabrics. The curvilinear antenna was named by its inventor, Peter Gibson, who felt its sweeping lines resembled a violin, an instrument associated with composer Antonio Vivaldi.
While the standard Vivaldi footprint was efficient and robust, it was still too large to work with SkyFall's ground clearance. Fortunately, SkyFall's ground-penetrating radar can be further miniaturized because it is designed specifically for shallow surveying (under 16 feet, or 5 meters) in the dry Martian regolith, which blocks radio waves far less than Earth's soil. The team developed techniques to reduce the antenna's size even more without sacrificing sensitivity.
"Although we managed to shrink the antenna quite a bit, it is about 11/2 times longer than the helicopter's legs," said Christine Gebara, SkyFall ground-penetrating radar mechanical lead at JPL. "That means during landing, the Vivaldi has to bend out of the way -- and if it lands on a rock, it bends even further. But when the helicopter takes off again, the antenna must spring back into place for data collection. Because SkyFall is expected to make dozens of flights exploring Mars, we needed an antenna that could repeatedly handle those pressures without losing its shape in flight."
To ensure their downsized Vivaldi could withstand flight operations, the team sheathed it in a polyester and then layers of Vectran -- the same flexible, superstrong material used for the landing airbags containing NASA's Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers. To help the antenna maintain shape while airborne, engineers added flexible fiberglass tape springs and a lightweight magnesium mounting structure. The entire setup weighs about 5 ounces (150 grams), slightly more than two violin bows.
Testing Vivaldi
Testing space hardware concepts with paper designs and mathematical models can get a mission only so far. The team needed to prove their antenna prototype could survive a full mission's worth of intense temperature swings and space radiation.
Working in JPL's Environmental Test Laboratory, engineers bent the antenna to simulate one possible orientation after a SkyFall flight at Mars. Then they ran it through dramatic thermal shifts to simulate the Martian day-night cycle, during which temperatures can swing by as much as 170 degrees Fahrenheit (94 degrees Celsius). Next, they repeatedly flexed the antenna as if it had gone through dozens of landings. Along the way, they paused six times to carry the hardware to an electromagnetic test chamber to verify that its ability to beam and receive radar signals hadn't diminished.
During radiofrequency testing, the team inverted the antenna so that the bottom pointed up -- a setup that stresses the structure more than Mars' one-third gravity ever would -- and tested signal performance. By the end of the test campaign, the antenna had withstood 200 Mars landings, more than double what would be required for a successful prime mission, with no loss of performance.
"This test checked every box it was supposed to and answered our biggest technical questions," said Tang. "While we still have work ahead of us before the antenna is fully flight-qualified, this was a major milestone, and the hardware performed exactly as expected."
With the antenna's first big test campaign behind it, the ground-penetrating radar team is building an engineering model that will endure vibration testing, deployment in a simulated Martian environment, signal testing, and outdoor trials at JPL's Mars Yard.
Equipped with four instruments each, the three SkyFall aircraft follow in the footsteps of NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which flew 72 times over nearly three years, proving that powered, controlled flight is possible in the rarefied Martian atmosphere. It also demonstrated how an aerial perspective can generate valuable data by helping NASA's Perseverance Mars rover team plan time-saving routes and choose locations for science-gathering.
SkyFall is expected to launch aboard NASA's Space Reactor-1 Freedom in late 2028.
For more information on SkyFall:
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/skyfall/
* * *
Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-tests-featherweight-radar-antenna-for-skyfall-mars-helicopters/
IDB Supports the Modernization of the Energy Subsidy System to Protect Vulnerable Households in Argentina
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
* * *
IDB Supports the Modernization of the Energy Subsidy System to Protect Vulnerable Households in Argentina
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $500 million operation to support the implementation of Argentina's new Targeted Energy Subsidies System (SEF), aimed at protecting access to energy for vulnerable households and strengthening the sustainability of the country's energy subsidy scheme.
The operation will support the transition toward
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
* * *
IDB Supports the Modernization of the Energy Subsidy System to Protect Vulnerable Households in Argentina
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $500 million operation to support the implementation of Argentina's new Targeted Energy Subsidies System (SEF), aimed at protecting access to energy for vulnerable households and strengthening the sustainability of the country's energy subsidy scheme.
The operation will support the transition towarda more targeted, efficient, and fiscally sustainable subsidy system. To this end, it will finance subsidies for natural gas consumption through the gas distribution network and bottled gas (LPG) for eligible households, while also strengthening the institutional capacities required to implement, manage, and monitor the new scheme.
The IDB-supported program will directly benefit approximately 1.2 million households receiving support for natural gas network consumption and 3.5 million bottled gas users.
In addition, the operation will strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of the Secretariat of Energy and the National Gas and Electricity Regulatory Authority through the development of information systems, analytical tools, and improvements to targeting and monitoring mechanisms, contributing to more efficient and transparent program management.
The IDB loan has a repayment term of 25 years, a 5.5-year grace period, and an interest rate based on SOFR.
* * *
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the IDB works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-supports-modernization-energy-subsidy-system-protect-vulnerable-households-argentina
EPA IG: Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Payment Integrity Information Act Reporting for Fiscal Year 2025
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0045) entitled "Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Payment Integrity Information Act Reporting for Fiscal Year 2025."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Why We Did This Report
Our objective for this audit was to determine whether the CSB is in compliance with the Payment Integrity Information Act, or PIIA, for its fiscal year 2025 reporting.
Summary of Findings
For FY 2025, the CSB was not required to comply with PIIA and applicable OMB improper payment
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0045) entitled "Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Payment Integrity Information Act Reporting for Fiscal Year 2025."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Why We Did This Report
Our objective for this audit was to determine whether the CSB is in compliance with the Payment Integrity Information Act, or PIIA, for its fiscal year 2025 reporting.
Summary of Findings
For FY 2025, the CSB was not required to comply with PIIA and applicable OMB improper paymentreporting requirements. While the CSB's outlays in FY 2025 totaled approximately $10.8 million, none of the CSB's nine programs met the threshold of $10 million to be subject to improper payment reporting requirements.
As a result, the CSB was not required to publish its payment integrity information in its FY 2025 Performance and Accountability Report or to perform risk assessments for those programs. Additionally, the CSB has implemented internal controls to identify and reduce improper payments.
* * *
The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-08/_epaoig_20260804-26-p-0045_cert.pdf
Argentina Boosts Agricultural Productivity in Rio Negro With IDB Support
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on Aug. 6, 2026:
* * *
Argentina Boosts Agricultural Productivity in Rio Negro with IDB Support
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Board of Executive Directors approved an $80 million operation to boost agricultural productivity in the Province of Rio Negro, Argentina, through investments in irrigation, rural electrification, and productive infrastructure.
The operation will finance the Rural Productive Development Program for the Province of Rio Negro, which seeks to increase agricultural productivity,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on Aug. 6, 2026:
* * *
Argentina Boosts Agricultural Productivity in Rio Negro with IDB Support
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Board of Executive Directors approved an $80 million operation to boost agricultural productivity in the Province of Rio Negro, Argentina, through investments in irrigation, rural electrification, and productive infrastructure.
The operation will finance the Rural Productive Development Program for the Province of Rio Negro, which seeks to increase agricultural productivity,improve the efficiency of rural infrastructure, and strengthen production resilience. The initiative will help advance water-use efficiency, expand access to electricity, and strengthen the capacity of producers and institutions to prevent and respond to extreme events such as wildfires, droughts, and hailstorms.
"Rio Negro has enormous potential to further strengthen its agricultural production. Through this operation, the IDB is supporting strategic investments that will improve access to water and energy, strengthen risk management, and create better conditions for producers. This initiative reflects our commitment to more productive and resilient growth for Argentina's regional economies," said Viviana Alva Hart, IDB Group Representative in Argentina.
"The approval of this loan reflects the confidence that international organizations place in the way we manage the province. That confidence is built through responsibility, predictability, and keeping our commitments. This is the path we have chosen and will continue to strengthen," said Alberto Weretilneck, Governor of Rio Negro Province.
This operation is the first under the Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP) titled "Strategic Provincial Investments Program for Rural Productive Development," which provides for up to $600 million to finance future investments in Argentina's provinces. Through this credit line, the IDB will support projects aimed at strengthening rural infrastructure, promoting innovation and the adoption of new technologies, increasing agricultural productivity and developing more resilient and competitive production systems.
The program is expected to directly benefit nearly 7,000 agricultural producers in Rio Negro Province. In addition, 566 households in Guardia Mitre will gain access to higher-quality electricity service. Indirectly, more than 275,000 people in the areas of intervention will benefit from improvements in the province's water, energy, and productive infrastructure.
The loan has a 25-year repayment period, a 5.5-year grace period, and an interest rate based on SOFR. The financing will be complemented by $5 million in local counterpart funding, bringing the total program cost to $85 million.
* * *
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the IDB works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/argentina-boosts-agricultural-productivity-rio-negro-idb-support
