President of the United States
News about President Barack Obama
Featured Stories
White House Issues Text of Letter From President Trump to House Speaker, Senate President
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The White House issued the following text of a letter from President Trump:
Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days before the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.
In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The White House issued the following text of a letter from President Trump:
Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days before the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.
In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publicationthe enclosed notice, stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13222 of August 17, 2001, in light of the expiration of the Export Administration Act of 1979, is to continue in effect for 1 year beyond August 17, 2020.
Sincerely,
DONALD J. TRUMP
Statement From U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison
SPRINGFIELD, Missouri, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Tim Garrison, issued the following statement on Aug. 13:
* * *
U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison participated in today's press conference with Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker to announce state charges against Ryson Ellis in the fatal shooting of 4-year-old Legend M. Taliferro, who was asleep at home the morning of June 29, 2020, when a shot was fired into his residence and struck him.
"We are all pleased that we're now a step closer to finding justice for the tragic murder of LeGend Taliferro," Garrison
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Missouri, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Tim Garrison, issued the following statement on Aug. 13:
* * *
U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison participated in today's press conference with Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker to announce state charges against Ryson Ellis in the fatal shooting of 4-year-old Legend M. Taliferro, who was asleep at home the morning of June 29, 2020, when a shot was fired into his residence and struck him.
"We are all pleased that we're now a step closer to finding justice for the tragic murder of LeGend Taliferro," Garrisonsaid. "This case underscores the effectiveness of state, local, and federal law enforcement working together to reduce violent crime in Kansas City. Operation LeGend has resulted in significant numbers of arrests and seizures of dozens of firearms and illegal drugs. Today's arrest is one of 16 homicide-related arrests under Operation LeGend.
"The alleged killer of LeGend Taliferro is in custody, but there are still too many armed and violent criminals roaming the streets of Kansas City. Operation LeGend will continue to provide federal support to assist our local law enforcement partners so that more criminals will be taken off the street, more victims will receive justice, and our neighborhoods will be more safe."
* * *
Operation LeGend
Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
State Department: Republic of Korea National Day
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the following statement by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo:
* * *
On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I extend best wishes to the Republic of Korea and Koreans everywhere on the occasion of their National Day.
The enduring strength of our alliance is a force for the advancement of democracy, prosperity, and freedom in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.
We celebrate the shared values, people-to-people ties, and long-standing friendship that make up the strong bond between our two
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the following statement by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo:
* * *
On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I extend best wishes to the Republic of Korea and Koreans everywhere on the occasion of their National Day.
The enduring strength of our alliance is a force for the advancement of democracy, prosperity, and freedom in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.
We celebrate the shared values, people-to-people ties, and long-standing friendship that make up the strong bond between our twocountries and form the foundation of our work together when tackling global challenges.
I wish you a peaceful National Day and look forward to our continued partnership.
Remarks by Commerce Secretary Ross at U.S. Trade Representative Virtual Field Hearing on Seasonal and Perishable Produce
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce issued the following remarks on Aug. 13 by Secretary Wilbur L. Ross Jr. at the Trade Representative Virtual Field Hearing on Seasonal and Perishable Produce:
* * *
Ambassador Lighthizer, for your steadfast commitment and devotion to American producers and American workers. And a warm welcome to the many panelists and witnesses that will testify over the two days of hearings.
The amount of interest shown in this hearing by those dedicated to preserving and strengthening this essential American industry is an indication of the importance of
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce issued the following remarks on Aug. 13 by Secretary Wilbur L. Ross Jr. at the Trade Representative Virtual Field Hearing on Seasonal and Perishable Produce:
* * *
Ambassador Lighthizer, for your steadfast commitment and devotion to American producers and American workers. And a warm welcome to the many panelists and witnesses that will testify over the two days of hearings.
The amount of interest shown in this hearing by those dedicated to preserving and strengthening this essential American industry is an indication of the importance ofdomestic food production and our domestic farmers.
We are here today because the Trump Administration recognizes the economic importance of this country's seasonal and perishable produce industry. At the Commerce Department, we are acutely aware that U.S. agriculture faces rising foreign competition, particularly from Mexico. In the past 10 years, total agricultural imports from Mexico have skyrocketed, increasing almost threefold, to $28.3 billion in 2019. Imports of fresh fruits from Mexico excluding bananas have increased from $2.3 billion in 2010, to $6.9 billion in 2019. Fresh vegetable imports from Mexico have almost doubled over the past decade to $6.3 billion.
It's imperative that the U.S. government listens to the concerns of our growers. And at the Commerce Department, we take concerns of unfair foreign trade practices seriously, and we use every tool available to counter them whenever and wherever they exist. In fact, the Trump Administration has already delivered some results for the domestic tomato industry.
We did this by successfully leveraging the threat of tariffs. Both the Commerce Department and the U.S. ITC investigated alleged dumping; and while the investigation was pending, Commerce imposed a 17 percent cash-deposit requirement on tomatoes from Mexico. Meanwhile, we negotiated aggressively on behalf of the U.S. industry. And ultimately, in September 2019, we finalized the strongest agreement in history protecting U.S. tomato producers. It establishes reference prices for Mexican tomatoes and contains strong monitoring and enforcement provisions. It includes border inspections to prevent the importation of low-quality, poor-condition tomatoes from Mexico that can have price-suppressive effects on the market. The agreement also closes loopholes that had effectively permitted sales below the prior reference points. That was a major victory for American tomato farmers and generated $426 million in revenue for Florida tomato farmers in 2019 alone.
Since the beginning of the current administration, the Department of Commerce has initiated 281 new Antidumping and Countervailing Duty investigations a 260 percent increase from the comparable period in the previous administration. We currently administer 531 AD/CVD orders against unfairly traded foreign goods an all-time high. No other administration has ever come close to this level of trade enforcement activity. But we rely on American producers, their workers, and their representatives in Congress to alert us to unfair foreign trade policies and unfair pricing in the U.S. market.
Over the two days of these hearings, the trade enforcement team from the Commerce Department will listen to the oral testimony and will further study all of your written submissions. We are eager to hear from you about the obstacles you face in our own market, and what the Administration can do to address them.
Thank you, again, for the many long hours of hard work you do to feed our families with the highest quality food.
Online Emission Inspection System Saves Money, Air Quality
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center issued the following news:
More than 60 Air Force installations are reaping savings and the benefits of improved air quality, thanks to the continued use of an online vehicle air emission inspection and compliance system that is estimated to be saving the Air Force over $11.8 million annually.
The Air Force Civil Engineer Center launched the Employee-vehicle Certification and Reporting System, or ECARS, in 2013, and has since rolled the software out to 62 installations.
"ECARS helps the Air Force comply
... Show Full Article
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center issued the following news:
More than 60 Air Force installations are reaping savings and the benefits of improved air quality, thanks to the continued use of an online vehicle air emission inspection and compliance system that is estimated to be saving the Air Force over $11.8 million annually.
The Air Force Civil Engineer Center launched the Employee-vehicle Certification and Reporting System, or ECARS, in 2013, and has since rolled the software out to 62 installations.
"ECARS helps the Air Force complywith mandatory Clean Air Act requirements in areas that do not meet air quality standards for ozone and carbon monoxide," said Frank Castaneda, AFCEC air quality subject matter expert and program lead for ECARS. "In these locations, federal facilities must provide proof that privately owned vehicles, operated by federal employees, comply with local inspection and maintenance requirements."
ECARS tracks employee compliance with local requirements to ensure employees remain compliant, regardless of which state their vehicles are registered in.
Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, one of the last and largest installations to implement the program, has maintained a high compliance rate through ECARS.
"While a quantitative analysis of any air quality impact cannot be determined, our participation and embrace of this program speaks to the teamwork and willingness of the Scott AFB military and civilian community," said Keith Brumley, physical scientist and ECARS lead at Scott. "The contractors responsible for managing the distribution and updating of those notified have done an outstanding job of continuing to update the process."
Prior to ECARS, the Air Force relied on the vehicle decal program, where employees were required to provide proof of registration, insurance and an emissions test to obtain a decal. The decal program was discontinued after 9/11 in an effort to enhance security, leaving no standardized method to demonstrate compliance.
"We looked at various alternatives," said Brent Allred, contractor and program lead for ECARS. "Options included re-instating in-person registration, having supervisors manually gather and store self-certification forms, relying on each installation to implement their own compliance method, or developing a standardized, Air Force-wide IT solution."
After analyzing various options, Mark Correll, Air Force deputy civil engineer at the time, approved a self-certification module into the existing Air Program Information Management System, requiring a minimal initial investment and small increase to ongoing sustainment costs.
The ECARS self-certification process takes less than five minutes per employee, saving more than 200,000 man-hours per year when compared to the time previously required for in-person registration. It also provides instant access for gathering, tracking and analyzing data to help installations meet overarching compliance goals and improve and sustain air quality.
Employee rosters are maintained by Air Force Directory Services, and impacted employees receive automated email notifications when certification updates are required.
Cape Cod Air Force Station, Massachusetts, was one of the first installations to implement the program, and ECARS has helped simplify compliance tracking.
"Cape Cod Air Force Station is a small, geographically separated unit with only about 80 participants in the program," said Stephen Mellin, support officer and ECARS lead at Cape Cod. "This allows me to reach out to our folks and make sure they are updating ECARS promptly. ECARS allows me to quickly check and see if I have anyone who is non-compliant."
The program has had a few hurdles to overcome, including vehicle inspection stations refusing to test out-of-state vehicles. Installations have worked with local inspectors to help rectify these types of issues.
AFCEC completed a comprehensive evaluation of the compliance methodology in 2020. While the evaluation identified some opportunities for improvement, it also found that the self-certification process facilitated by ECARS continues to be effective in minimizing the cost of compliance and managing compliance risk.
"Innovative solutions like ECARS have far-reaching effects across the Air Force," said Ben Kindt, chief of the AFCEC Environmental Quality Technical Support Branch. "The AFCEC air quality team has not only made great strides in protecting the environment, but has saved millions in dollars and man-hours for essential mission requirements."
DLA Disposal Team in Guam Assists Aircraft Carrier During Extended Stay
BATTLE CREEK, Michigan, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency issued the following news:
The property disposal team at the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services site in Guam provided sustained pier-side assistance to deployed sailors this summer as members of the USS Theodore Roosevelt crew quarantined on the island from late March into May.
The aircraft carrier was diverted to Guam March 26 after sailors began testing positive for COVID-19. While portions of the ship's crew sheltered in place at area hotels, some sailors stayed behind to prepare the vessel
... Show Full Article
BATTLE CREEK, Michigan, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency issued the following news:
The property disposal team at the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services site in Guam provided sustained pier-side assistance to deployed sailors this summer as members of the USS Theodore Roosevelt crew quarantined on the island from late March into May.
The aircraft carrier was diverted to Guam March 26 after sailors began testing positive for COVID-19. While portions of the ship's crew sheltered in place at area hotels, some sailors stayed behind to prepare the vesselfor resumption of its Western Pacific cruise.
Disposal Services Representatives Faron Washington and Edward Forbes were among DLA employees standing by to help prepare the carrier for additional months on the water.
"[We] remained in constant contact with key logistics personnel aboard the ship," Washington said, adding that disposal workers made multiple appointments to help sailors turn in 60 types of equipment from the ship, including 5,000 pounds of aircraft tires, aircraft fairings, valve assemblies and drained fuel tanks. Tens of thousands of protective masks were also provided to the ship from DLA excess property in Ohio.
The ship's sailors and its beach detachment followed Defense Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines by properly palletizing the equipment, shrink wrapping it and placing plastic shrouds over every container.
"Upon turn in, our receivers downloaded the pallets and purposefully left the property outside to 'bake' in the very hot Guam sun," Washington said. "With zero cases of COVID-19 among our Guam personnel, it appears we erred on the side of caution and correctly accepted the ship's material."
Site Manager Eric Mills, a Navy Reserve officer who was pulled away from the office by official orders to support the ship in uniform, praised his team's responsiveness.
"Our efforts assisted the ship's logistical mission and its ability to get back under way while maintaining COVID-19 mitigation strategies," Mills said.
According to a 7th Fleet statement, the ship's sailors manned the rails upon the vessel's departure in June as a "gesture of gratitude and thanksgiving" to honor the people of Guam and the civilians and service members who supported the crew during its stay.
Crystal Beach, Florida, Construction Contractor Pays $16,567 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Uncovers Overtime Violations
CRYSTAL BEACH, Florida, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release:
After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), High Line Construction Services LLC - a construction contractor based in Crystal Beach, Florida - has paid $16,567 in back wages to five employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
WHD investigators found that High Line Construction Services LLC paid employees straight time for all the hours that they worked, failing to pay overtime when they worked over 40 hours
... Show Full Article
CRYSTAL BEACH, Florida, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release:
After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), High Line Construction Services LLC - a construction contractor based in Crystal Beach, Florida - has paid $16,567 in back wages to five employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
WHD investigators found that High Line Construction Services LLC paid employees straight time for all the hours that they worked, failing to pay overtime when they worked over 40 hoursin a workweek.
"We hope that the results of this investigation lead other employers to examine their own pay practices to ensure that they comply with the law," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Nicolas Ratmiroff, in Tampa, Florida. "The Wage and Hour Division is committed to ensuring that workers are paid all the wages they have legally earned, and that employers all play by the same rules to level the playing field. We encourage all employers and employees to reach out to their local Wage and Hour Division office to learn about their responsibilities and rights under federal law."
The Department offers numerous resources to ensure employers have the tools they need to understand their responsibilities and to comply with federal law, such as online videos (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/videos) or confidential calls to local WHD offices.
For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers that discover overtime or minimum wage violations may self-report and resolve those violations without litigation through the PAID program (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/paid). Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd.
WHD's mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation's workforce. WHD enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD also enforces the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.
The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.
[Category: TNSlinxC]
