WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Oklahoma, chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC) sent a letter to the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Commerce notifying  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, April 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Ismail J. Ramsey, issued the following news release: Thomas Keller, formerly a pain management doctor in Santa Rosa, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for distributing Schedule II and IV controlled substances outside the scope of his professional practice and without a legitimate medical need, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Spe  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 6 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following fact sheet: * * * 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule On April 5, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that revises the Medicare Advantage (MA or Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), Medicare Cost Plan, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) regulations to  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Director of National Intelligence (No. IF10470) on April 7, 2023, by Michael E. DeVine, intelligence and national security analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) As provided in statute, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) oversees the integration of the intelligence functions of the 18 statutory elements of the Intelligence Community (IC),  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the HSA@20 Episode Companion (No. IN12139) on April 3, 2023. The white paper was written by homeland security and appropriations specialist William L. Painter, government organization and management analyst Ben Wilhelm and legislative attorney Todd Garvey: * * * HSA@20 Episode Companion: Oversight This Insight accompanies the "Oversight" episode of The Homeland Security Act at 20 podcast ser  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47496) on April 4, 2023, entitled "DHS Budget Request Analysis: FY2024" by William L. Painter, homeland security and appropriations specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY On March 9, 2023, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Administration released its budget request for FY2024, including $103.18 billion in total budget authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS is the third largest agen  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47496) on April 4, 2023, entitled "DHS Budget Request Analysis: FY2024:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Support Components (Title IV) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) * * * Figure 10. USCIS Annual Gross Discretionary Budget Authority, FY2023-FY2024 Source: CRS analysis of the FY2023 and FY2024 DHS Budget in Brief. * * * The Administration's $865 million FY2024 gross annual d  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R40760) on March 31, 2023, entitled "House Office of Congressional Ethics: History, Authority and Procedures:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Office of Congressional Ethics The OCE held its first public meeting on January 23, 2009, and began to implement the structural requirements of H.Res. 895. It also adopted rules of procedure, a code of conduct, and rules for the conduct of a review. The Offic  more

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, April 4 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Vanessa Roberts Avery, issued the following news release on April 3, 2023: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN TRASACCO, 50, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 96 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy and fraud offenses related to a scheme to steal  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, issued the following news release on April 4, 2023: After learning of unresolved pandemic-related small business fraud cases in Kansas' Third District, Representative Sharice Davids questioned Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman during a House Small Business Committee hearing on the SBA's efforts to investigate these cases and support victims. Davids mentioned Kansans who have been targeted by bad actor  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General issued the following newsletter: * * * The DoD OIG newsletter summarizes our reports and investigations released in the previous month and provides updates regarding our oversight activities. You can read these and other reports on our website. You'll also find our project announcements and additional news releases highlighting investigations conducted by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Thank yo  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on April 4, 2023: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today requested a full accounting from Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo of funding from the CHIPS and  more

MIAMI, Florida, April 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: Gregory Dennis, 45, a former police officer with the City of Miami Police Department, has pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with two fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans he submitted to a Small Business Administration (SBA) approved PPP lender while he was still employed with the City of Miami Police Departmen  more

MIAMI, Florida, April 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: A federal grand jury has indicted, Maylin Salado Garcia, "Salado Garcia," 34, Niubis Garcia, "Niubis Garcia," 52, Oscar Enrique Pujadas, "Pujadas," 32, and Sirce Rodriguez Rosales, "Rosales," 38, residents of Miami, Fla., for their alleged participation in a wire fraud scheme to defraud the federal government out of more than $250,000 of funds in  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Homeland Security Inspector General issued the following report (No. OIG-23-20) on March 28, 2023, entitled "FEMA Should Increase Oversight to Prevent Misuse of Humanitarian Relief Funds." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR: The Honorable Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency FROM: Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General SUBJECT: FEMA Should Increase Oversight to Prevent Misuse of Humanitarian Relief Funds For your action i  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following news release and letter: American workers and businesses will face more regulation, mismanagement, and waste from Washington should the Senate confirm Julie Su as Labor Secretary, warned House Republicans today. In a letter to President Biden, Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The U.S. House of Representatives conducted 33 committee hearings on March 28, 2023: * * * FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING TESTIMONY FROM THE HONORABLE THOMAS J. VILSACK, SECRETARY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing entitled "For the purpose of receiving testimony from The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture". Testimony was heard from Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, Department of Agricult  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The U.S. House of Representatives conducted 34 committee hearings on March 29, 2023: * * * APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Department of Justice. Testimony was heard from Merrick Garland, Attorney General, Department of Justice. * * * APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. NAVY AND U.S. MARINE CORPS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, issued the following statement on April 6, 2023: * * * House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) issued the following statement on the Biden Administration's review of the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal and announced a full committee hearing on April 19, 2023: "The American people are owed answers about the Biden Administration's disastrous A  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General issued the following report (No. 2023-AT-1002) on March 31, 2023, entitled "The Puerto Rico Department of Housing's Contracting Method for Program Management Services for the R3 Program." Here are excerpts: * * * To: Claudia I. Monterrosa, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs, DG From: Kilah S. White, Assistant Inspector General for Audit, Office of Inspect  more

BOISE, Idaho, April 4 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho, Joshua D. Hurwit, issued the following new release on April 3, 2023: Kelly Nathaniel Goodman, 71, of Gooding, Idaho, pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL) in Idaho, an applicant must, among other requirements, receive a passing score from a CDL skills test examiner. The Idaho Transportation Department   more

VIENNA, Austria, April 6 -- The International Press Institute issued the following news and letter: The International Press Institute (IPI) calls on the relevant authorities in Kenya to ensure that all forms of press freedom violations that have occurred in the context of the ongoing protests are duly investigated and that all perpetrators of violence towards journalists are held accountable. The government must protect media freedom and the public's right to receive news and information. On A  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on April 7, 2023: Five individuals were sentenced this week to prison for their roles in a $1 billion biofuel tax conspiracy: Lev Aslan Dermen, aka Levon Termendzhyan, 56, was sentenced to 40 years; Jacob Kingston, 46, was sentenced to 18 years; Isaiah Kingston, 42, was sentenced to 12 years; Rachel Kingston, 67, was sentenced to seven years; and Sally Kingston, 45, was sentenced to six years. According to   more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on April 3, 2023: A Southern California man pleaded guilty today to submitting false enrollment applications to Medicare that hid the real owners of a fraudulent hospice company, which then submitted over $3.1 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. According to court documents, Karen Sarkisyan, aka Kevin Sarkisyan, 44, of Glendale, submitted false and fraudulent Medicare enrollment forms for Sa  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: MedCare Clinic & Pharmacy, LLC (MedCare), located in Indian Trail, North Carolina, has agreed to pay $213,677 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing federal health care programs for medications that were never dispensed. The United States alleged that, from Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2019, MedCare billed both Medicare Part D and North Carolina Medicaid for 200  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on April 3, 2023: An Indiana woman pleaded guilty in federal court last Friday in the District of Columbia to conspiring to file false tax returns and related charges. According to court documents and statements made in court, Awett Tedla of Indianapolis was the owner and operator of Speedy Tax Services, L.L.C., a tax preparation business in Washington, D.C., and District Heights, Maryland. From 2012 throug  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on April 5, 2023: A California man pleaded guilty today to submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare for prescription drugs that were never dispensed to patients. According to court documents, Paul Mansour, 55, of Sierra Madre, was a pharmacist at a Sierra Madre-based pharmacy, Mansour Partners Inc., doing business as Best Buy Drugs, which he also co-owned. Mansour created fake patient profiles in the pharma  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: Genotox Laboratories Ltd., of Austin, Texas, has agreed to pay at least $5.9 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it paid volume-based commissions to third party marketers in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and submitted claims to federal health care programs for unnecessary drug tests. In parallel proceedings, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas and Genotox e  more

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana, April 7 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, Brandon B. Brown, issued the following news release: A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against Kristal Glover-Wing, 50, of Broussard, Louisiana, for one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud following a trial that lasted nearly four weeks, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Dr. Gary M. Wiltz and Dr. Charles H. Louis were each acquit  more

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, April 5 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Duane A. Evans, issued the following news release on April 4, 2023: U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DENT HUNTER, of New Orleans, LA, age 45, was indicted on March 31, 2023, on one count of making false statements, one count of theft of government funds, and two counts of money laundering related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). On March 27, 2020, the Pre  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Labor Inspector General issued the following alert memorandum on March 31, 2023, regarding the use of identity verification service contractors results in equitable access to UI benefits and secure biometric data. Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR: BRENT PARTON, Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training FROM: CAROLYN R. HANTZ, Assistant Inspector General for Audit SUBJECT: Alert Memorandum: ETA and States Need to Ensure the Use of Identity Verif  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Labor Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 03-23-001-04-431) on March 31, 2023, entitled "Office of Workers' Compensation Programs Did Not Ensure Best Prices and Allowed Inappropriate, Potentially Lethal Prescriptions in the Federal Employees' Compensation Act Program." Here are excerpts: * * * INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, FECA PHARMACEUTICAL MANAGEMENT To: Christopher J. Godfrey, Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Departmen  more

NEW YORK, April 7 -- Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-New York, issued the following news release on April 6, 2023: Following a rise in stolen checks from neighborhood post offices and mailboxes, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) and Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06) have introduced bipartisan legislation to enhance the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) ability to crack down on postal crime. Specifically, The USPS Subpoena Authority Act would strengthen USPS' ability to crack down on criminal organ  more

RIVERDALE, New York, April 5 (TNSpro) -- Manhattan College issued the following news: * * * Criminology classes will have a particular emphasis on social injustice and inequality that impact low-income communities. * * * Manhattan College is introducing a new B.A. in criminology major beginning in fall 2023 that will rigorously train students to focus on the root causes of social oppression and prepare them to engage in the scientific inquiry of human behavior. The 33-credit major will be a  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Rachael S. Rollins, issued the following news release on April 5, 2023: The former Assistant Chief Engineer of Facilities for Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) and the former general manager of a Massachusetts-based electrical company have been charged in a scheme to defraud Keolis of over $8 million. John P. Pigsley, 58, was indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts of wire fraud, one count of conspi  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Rachael S. Rollins, issued the following news release on April 5, 2023: The former CEO, COO, and Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs for Magellan Diagnostics, Inc. (Magellan), a medical device company headquartered in Billerica, Mass., have been charged in connection with concealing a device malfunction that allegedly produced inaccurately low lead test results for tens of thousands of childr  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 5 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron, issued the following news release on April 4, 2023: * * * Owings Mills Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Transporting and Smuggling Firearms and Ammunition from the United States to Assist Separatists Fighting Against the Government of Cameroon * * * U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Wilson Nuyila Tita, age 47, of Owings Mills, Maryland, to 63 months   more

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia, April 8 -- The U.S. Navy's U.S. Fleet Forces Command issued the following news: By Bobbie A. Camp, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic Public Affairs and Outreach The Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) Medical Inspector General (MEDIG) evaluated the performance, efficiency, and mission readiness at Commander, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic (NMFL) during a scheduled command inspection onboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads Portsmouth Annex, March 28-30. "W  more

DETROIT, Michigan, April 5 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dawn N. Ison, issued the following news release on April 4, 2023: A Detroit man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft arising out of a scheme to defraud multiple states out of more than $1.6 million in pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Ison was joined in the announcement by Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great La  more

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, April 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Dena J. King, issued the following news release: MedCare Clinic & Pharmacy, LLC (MedCare), located in Indian Trail, North Carolina, has agreed to pay $213,677.00 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing federal health care programs for medications that were never dispensed. The United States alleged that, from Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2019, MedCare b  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, April 4 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release on April 3, 2023: A Morris County public relations firm entered into a settlement agreement with the United States resolving allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by taking a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to which the company was not entitled, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Congress created the PPP in   more

CAMDEN, New Jersey, April 5 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release on April 4, 2023: Seven people have been charged for their participation in a telemarketing scheme to defraud timeshare owners over the age of 55, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. William O'Hanlon, 58, and his wife Karen Stefanowski, 60, of Miami, Florida, James Toner, 41, of Lake Mary, Florida, and William Chiusano Jr., 48, of Laguna Niguel,  more

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, April 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Alexander M.M. Uballez, issued the following news release on April 5, 2023: Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Michael J. Missal, Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, announced that Faye Janzad made an initial appearance in federal court on April 5 on an indictment charging her with two counts of fiduciary misappropriation and two counts of ma  more

NEW YORK, April 5 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, issued the following news release on April 4, 2023: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Patricia Tarasca, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Office of the Inspector General ("FDIC-OIG"), announced the unsealing of a criminal Complaint charging CHARLIE JAVICE with falsely and drama  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 (TNSper) -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service issued the following news release on April 3, 2023: The National Park Service (NPS) announced today the selection of Jessica Taylor as the U.S. Park Police's (USPP) Chief of Police. Taylor will begin her role in early May. Taylor will oversee a workforce of 560 employees in Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco metropolitan areas. "I trust in Jessica's core values as a leader and the skills  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The National Science Foundation Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 23-2-004) on March 30, 2023, regarding the controls over Graduate Research Fellowship Program Funding. Here are excerpts: * * * AT A GLANCE WHY WE DID THIS AUDIT NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time, research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mat  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Health Authority, Portland, have issued a public comment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The comment was written on March 27, 2023, and posted on March 29, 2023. The comment, on Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072-1543, was sent to Administrator Michael Regan. * * * The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) offer the following comments on the U.S. Environm  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Alexandria, Virginia, has issued a public comment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The comment was written and posted on March 31, 2023. The comment, on Docket No. CPSC-2014-000, was sent to Alberta E. Mills, secretary of CPSC. * * * The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute ("OPEI") submits the following comments on behalf of its members to express the concern that the subject proposal erodes the crucial information disclosu  more

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, April 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow, issued the following news release: W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, announced the indictment of six individuals for a multi-million-dollar fraudulent scheme to illegally obtain federal recovery funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Grand Jury charged the defendants with multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, Zachary A. Cunha, issued the following news release on April 5, 2023: A registered nurse and nurse practitioner, who defrauded commercial health insurers and Medicare of nearly $12 million by devising and executing fraudulent billing schemes in three states seeking payment for patient services that were never performed, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Za  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- Rep. Henry C. 'Hank' Johnson Jr., D-Georgia, issued the following news release and letter on April 5, 2023: Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) and seven other members of Congress are calling for a deeper investigation into troubling allegations of wrongdoing and unethical behavior by Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro, who is already the focus of a probe into an apparently inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. In a letter sent today to   more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Last week, Rep. Roy (R-TX-21) joined Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) in proposing legislation that would provide strict oversight over American taxpayer money flowing to Ukraine by establishing the Office of the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance (SIGUA). The legislation establishes a Senate-confirmed office which would be empowered to conduct audits, investigations, and oversight for programs run by the De  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- Rep. Cori Bush, D-Missouri, issued the following news release on April 5, 2023: Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) joined Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) and six other members of Congress in calling for a deeper investigation into troubling allegations of wrongdoing and unethical behavior by Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro, who is already the focus of a probe into an apparently inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. In a letter sent t  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona, has issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Representative David Schweikert (AZ-01), Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, sent a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Daniel Werfel requesting an update on IT modernization efforts at the agency. In April 2019, the IRS released a six-year strategy as part of its Modernization Plan to update the agency's IT systems and build necessary critical   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced the "Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance Act" on March 2, 2023. S. 651. A bill to establish the Office of the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. The bill is cosponsored by Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio * * * SECTION 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the "Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance Act". SEC. 2. Special Inspector General  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy issued the following written testimony by Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi involving a hybrid hearing on March 7, 2023, entitled "The Federal Debt Limit and its Economic and Financial Consequences": * * * The Treasury debt limit is an immediate threat to any optimism the economy can skirt recession in the coming year and poses a long-term threat to the nation's finances and economic  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy issued the following written testimony by Amy K. Matsui, director of income security and senior counsel at the National Women's Law Center, involving a hybrid hearing on March 7, 2023, entitled "The Federal Debt Limit and its Economic and Financial Consequences": * * * My name is Amy K. Matsui, and I am the Director of Income Security and Senior Counsel at the National Women's Law Center (NWLC)  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee issued the following testimony by David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO, involving a hearing on March 16, 2023, entitled "Strengthening the Aviation Workforce": * * * Thank you for inviting me to testify on behalf of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS) to discuss strengthening the aviation workforce. PASS represents approximately 11,000 Federal Av  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Senate Finance Committee issued the following testimony by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra involving a hearing on March 22, 2023, on the fiscal 2024 budget request: * * * Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). I am pleased to appear before you today, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to serve the American people. It is my great ple  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following written testimony by Carol Harris, director of information technology and cybersecurity at the Government Accountability Office, involving a hearing on March 15, 2023, entitled "Examining the Future Path of VA's Electronic Health Record Modernization Program": * * * I am pleased to be here today to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program. As you know  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Neil C. Evans, acting program executive director of the Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office at the Veterans Affairs Department, involving a hearing on March 15, 2023, entitled "Examining the Future Path of VA's Electronic Health Record Modernization Program": * * * Thank you for the opportunity to testify today in support of VA's initiative to modernize its electronic health re  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, issued the following news release and letter: On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, along with four senators from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, including Ranking Member Rand Paul (R- Ky.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becer  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release and letter: Following a letter from U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a ruling to crack down on a loophole that helps the ultra-wealthy dodge taxes. Last month, the senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, raising concerns that the wealthiest millionaires an  more

BISMARCK, North Dakota, April 5 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC), joined Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS) in introducing the Department of Veterans Affairs EHRM Standardization and Accountability Act, legislation to prevent VA facilities from further implementing the Oracle Cerner electronic health record (EHR) system until it undergoes significant improvements. "I  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are teaming up to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve military sexual trauma (MST) survivors' access to care and benefits, as well as bolster MST claims processing  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The State Department Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. ESP-23-01) in March 2023 entitled "Review of Challenges in the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program." Here are excerpts: * * * What OIG Reviewed In 2021, the Department of State (Department) implemented the Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Program to facilitate the resettlement of Afghan nationals in communities around the United States in conjunction with nine resettlement agencies.   more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The State Department Inspector General issued the following report entitled "Spring Addendum to Work Plan Fiscal Years 2023-2024." Here are excerpts: * * * Contents OIG Work Planning Process ... 3 Office of Audits ... 4 Office of Inspections ... 5 Appendix A: Abbreviations and Definitions ... 7 * * * OIG Work Planning Process The Office of Inspector General (OIG) assesses relative risks in the programs for which it has oversight authority to identify areas mo  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- Rep. Michelle Steel, R-California, issued the following news release and letter on April 6, 2023: American workers and businesses will face more regulation, mismanagement, and waste from Washington should the Senate confirm Julie Su as Labor Secretary, warned House Republicans today. In a letter to President Biden, Representative Michelle Steel (CA-45) Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (MO-08), Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Sp  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * Lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to strengthen MST survivors' care and benefits during Sexual Assault Awareness Month * * * This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are teaming up to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve military sexual t  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release on April 6, 2023: This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are teaming up to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve military sexual trauma (MST) survivors' access to care and benefits, as well as bolster MST claims processing. The Servicemembers an  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, issued the following news release on April 6, 2023: This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are teaming up to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve military sexual trauma (MST) survivors' access to care and benefits, as well as bolster MST claims processing. The Servicemembers an  more

LOS ANGELES, California, April 4 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on April 3, 2023: A licensed Orange County pharmacist was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison for her role in a health care fraud scheme in which more than 1,000 bogus prescriptions for compounded medications were filled, costing Tricare, the United States military's health care plan, more than $11 million in losses. Sandy Mai Trang Nguyen, 42, of  more

PORTLAND, Maine, April 4 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine issued the following news release: A Westbrook woman was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland for serving as a "money mule" for someone she met online. A money mule is someone who transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else. Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Cheryl White, 58, to three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $7,340 in restitution to the F  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on April 5, 2023: Walsh Construction Company (Walsh) and Melo's Rodbusters, Inc. (Melo's) have agreed to pay $1.24 million collectively to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they participated in a fraudulent scheme designed to take advantage of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in connection with their work on the federally funded Whittie  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, April 4 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey issued the following news release on April 3, 2023: An Essex County man today admitted stealing credit cards and checks from the mail while employed as a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced. Parrish Brookins, 30, of East Orange, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with one count of m  more

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, April 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued the following news release on April 6, 2023: The U.S. Attorney's Office announced today that United States District Court Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced JAMES MOHAMAD, 54, of Kenner, to forty-six (46) months imprisonment. MOHAMAD pleaded guilty to conspiracy to using an interstate facility with intent to carry on unlawful activity (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1952(  more

EAST ST. LOUIS, Illinois, April 8 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois issued the following news release on April 7, 2023: A podiatrist practicing in East St. Louis pled guilty in a U.S. District courtroom on Thursday to committing health care fraud from 2016 to 2020. Howard Jackson, 69, of Florissant, Missouri, admitted he routinely billed Medicare and Medicaid for procedures he did not perform. "Health care providers who commit fraud for financial gain t  more

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands, April 6 (TNSgov) -- The U.S. Virgin Islands legislature issued the following news release: The 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, led by Senate President Novelle E. Francis, Jr. Convened Wednesday, in a special session, called by Governor Albert Bryan. Pursuant to Section 7 (a) of the Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended for the United States Virgin Islands, the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands can call a special session at any time. The Legislat  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-00042-91) on March 30, 2023, entitled "Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System in Harlingen." Here are excerpts: * * * Report Overview This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report provides a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the outpatient settings of the VA Texas  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-01594-86) on March 30, 2023, entitled "Inadequate Coordination of Care for a Patient at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System in Florida." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System (facility) in Florida to assess allegations related to the cancer care a patient rec  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 21-03133-48) on April 6, 2023, entitled "Office of Emergency Management Has Not Deployed a Functional Last-Resort Emergency Communications System." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary VA provides healthcare services to veterans through its vast nationwide network of medical facilities, which includes those outside the contiguous United States. Power loss, circuit overloads, or infr  more