Thursday - November 21, 2024
*Florida Editor Tipoffs Newsletter for Friday November 15, 2024 ( 40 items )  

As Trump Admin. Poised to Rollback Environmental Protections, Rep. Maxwell Frost Introduces Youth Climate Leadership Act to Ensure Young People Have a Seat at Table to Fight Climate Crisis
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) introduced a new bill in the House of Representatives, the Youth Climate Leadership Act, legislation to cement the existence of the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC) at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to create more youth advisory councils at relevant federal agencies. Frost's bill comes as President-Elect Donald Trump has v  more

Biden-Harris Administration's Inflation Reduction Act Tops $1 Billion in Clean Energy Investments to Nearly 7,000 American Farms and Rural Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Latest Investments Will Bring Clean Energy, Lower Costs and New Jobs through 1,147 Farm and Business Projects in 40 States U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is funding new projects in nearly every state to lower costs, expand access to clean energy and strengthen American farms and small businesses. USDA is making the investments through the Rural Ene  more

Castor, FL Dems Call for Urgent OSHA Heat Protection Rule to Safeguard Workers
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Florida, issued the following news release: TAMPA, FL Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) led the entire Florida Democratic Congressional Delegation in urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to promptly implement the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings rule. This proposed rule aims to protect workers from the increasing dangers of extreme heat exposure in the workplace, a growing concern in  more

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Releases Public Communication From AdventHealth Cancer Institute
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Aug. 29, 2024, from Scott Johnson, physician assistant at AdventHealth Cancer Institute, Orlando, Florida: * * * To: Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure CMS - Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201 Re Comment: CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System   more

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Releases Public Communication From American Academy of HIV Medicine, 43 Collaborators
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Nov. 7, 2024, from American Academy of HIV Medicine and 43 collaborators: * * * To: Chiquita Brooks-LaSure Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 * * * Dear Administrator Brooks-LaSure, We, the undersigned healthcare organizations commend the recent proposa  more

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Releases Public Communication From Baptist Medical Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant Juneau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Sept. 4, 2024, from Michael Juneau, physician assistant of cardiothoracic surgery at Baptist Medical, Jacksonville, Florida: * * * To: Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure CMS - Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201 Re Comment: CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospecti  more

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Releases Public Communication From Clearwater Cardiovascular Consultants
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Sept. 6, 2024, from Sean Miley, CT manager and clinical director at Clearwater Cardiovascular Consultants, Florida: * * * To: Chiquita Brooks-LaSure Administrator Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Department of Health and Human Services Attention: CMS-1786-P PO Box 8010 Baltimore, MD 21244-1810 RE: CMS-180  more

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Releases Public Communication From Mayo Clinic
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Sept. 6, 2024, from Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota: * * * To: The Honorable Chiquita Brooks-LaSure Administrator Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services Attention: CMS-1809-P P.O. Box 8016 Baltimore, MD 21244-8016 RIN 0938-AV35 Re: File Code CMS-1809-P: Medicare and Medicaid  more

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Releases Public Communication From Mayo Clinic Professor of Urologic Oncology Pathak
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Sept. 6, 2024, from Ram Pathak, professor of urologic oncology at the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida: * * * To: Ms. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Department of Health & Human Services ATTN: CMS-1809-P 7500 Security Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 Re: [CMS-1809-P] CY 2025  more

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Releases Public Communication From Omeza
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication on Sept. 8, 2024, from Omeza, Sarasota, Florida: * * * To whom it may concern: Omeza appreciates CMS' review of their application for a pass-through payment in the OPPS rule. We believe that Omeza's OCMTM is a crucial advancement in the management of non-healing wounds, especially in the outpatient setting. The hard-to-heal wounds   more

Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus Meet With Former Hostage, Families of Current Hostages Held by Hamas
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-FL) issued the following statement after meeting with a former hostage and families of hostages who remain held captive by Hamas in Gaza: "It has been 405 days since Hamas terrorists massacred over 1,200 innocent men, wo  more

Congressman Cohen Says Ethics Report on Matt Gaetz Should Be Released
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) spoke from the House floor today, making the case that the United States Senate should not agree to Donald Trump's request to permit recess appointments of his nominees without hearings or votes. He also called for the release of the Ethics Committee report on the conduct of Matt Gaetz, who resigned his House seat on Wednesday night after being nominated for Attorney General.   more

CPSC Issues Recall Alert Involving Celebration Girl's Summer Pajama Sets
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following recall alert on Nov. 14, 2024: * * * Name of Product: Celebration Girl's Summer Pajama Sets Hazard: The recalled children's pajamas violate the flammability regulations for children's sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children. Remedy: Refund Recall Date: November 14, 2024 Units: About 620 Consumer Contact: Petidoux toll-free at 888-381-7171 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email a  more

Crapo joins Colleagues in Introducing Stand with Israel Act to Combat Israel's Persecution at UN
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and 32 Senate colleagues introduced the Stand with Israel Act. This legislation would cut off U.S. funding to United Nations (UN) agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel. "Israel's enemies are trying to manipulate the United Nations to a  more

Customer Alert Regarding CFTC v. Traders Domain FX Ltd
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following enforcement news release: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Division of Enforcement today alerts customers on how to respond to a civil enforcement action it filed Sept. 30, against Traders Domain FX Ltd., and other defendants. Customers who believe they may be victims in this alleged fraud scheme are urged to complete this voluntary confidential customer survey, which will provide CFTC with pertinen  more

Department of Labor Hosts Online Panel Conversation for Employers, Workers on Federal Rights, Protections for Southeast's Care Industries
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division issued the following news release: * * * Continuing effort that recovered $4.1M for more than 2K Southeast care workers in FY24 * * * ATLANTA - Working more than 40 hours a week, a woman providing care to people with disabilities in Augusta thought her employer should be paying her overtime wages. In time, she found the courage to contact the U.S. Department of Labor and soon learned her hunch was worth $11,000 in bac  more

FAA Releases Public Communication From ATP Flight School
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has released the following public communication dated Nov. 7, 2024, from ATP Flight School, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida: * * * To: U.S. Department of Transportation Docket Operations, M-30 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Subject: Comments to Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Docket No. FAA-2024-2142, Project Identifier AD-2024-00033-A * * * ATP Flight School operates a fleet of 230 Pip  more

FAA Releases Public Communication From Fla. Tech University
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has released the following public communication dated Oct. 29, 2024, from Florida Tech University, Melbourne: * * * To: U.S. Department of Transportation Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Notice of Proposed (NPRM): Florida Tech University expresses great concern to this notice * * * Florida Institute of Technology sha  more

Fla. U.S. Attorney: Driver in High-Speed Chase Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting Two Kilograms of Fentanyl Pills and a Loaded Firearm
ORLANDO, Florida, Nov. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Jonathan Nicola (23, Sanford) to 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute two kilograms of fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Nicola entered a guilty plea on April 30, 2024. According to court documents, a DEA investigation in the St. Cloud area focused   more

Fla. U.S. Attorney: Orlando Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl
ORLANDO, Florida, Nov. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Luis Miguel Plaza (34, Orlando) to 10 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Plaza entered a guilty plea on July 24, 2024. According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration used an undercover agent and confidential informants to conduct multiple  more

Following Damning Revelations, Rep. Buchanan & 54 Members Demand Answers From FEMA
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2024: Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan led a letter co-signed by 54 House colleagues demanding answers and accountability from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following stunning revelations that an agency supervisor instructed staff to avoid providing storm assistance to homes displaying campaign signs for President-elect Trump. According to reports from sources inside FEMA, at le  more

H-2A Visa Program: Agencies Should Take Additional Steps to Improve Oversight and Enforcement
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report: Here are excerpts: * * * Fast Facts U.S. farmers face shortages of workers. The H-2A visa program allows these employers to temporarily fill jobs with foreign workers when U.S. workers aren't available. In recent years, the number of approved H-2A jobs and visas has increased by over 50%. Federal agencies are trying to keep up with application processing, but some information must be mailed rat  more

Justice Dept.: Venezuelan National Sentenced for Sanctions Evasion Scheme
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2024: George Semerene Quintero (Semerene), 61, of Venezuela, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and for his role in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions imposed on Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PdVSA), a Venezuelan state-owned oil company. "Today, the defendant  more

Labor Dept. Issues Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims for Week Ending Nov. 9, 2024
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending Nov. 9, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending November 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 217,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 221,000. The 4-week moving average was 221,000, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's unrevised ave  more

Naval Research Laboratory Completes Development of Robotics Capable of Servicing Satellites, Enabling Resilience for the U.S. Space Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory issued the following news release: By Nicholas E. M. Pasquini U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST) in partnership with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) successfully completed development of a spaceflight qualified robotics suite capable of servicing satellites in orbit, Oct. 8. Under DARPA funding, NRL developed the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) Integrate  more

New GAO Report on Gun Trafficking: 73% of Guns Recovered in Caribbean Can Be Traced Back to United States
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the release of a new report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) that examines the role of U.S  more

New GAO Report on Gun Trafficking: 73% of Guns Recovered in Caribbean Can Be Traced Back to United States
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) joined Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the release of a new report from   more

NUWC Division Newport torpedo team members win NAVSEA's Expand the Advantage Achievement Award
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: The Mark 48 Mod 4 Torpedo Submarine Launch Team, with 13 members from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport, recently won the Expand the Advantage Achievement Award in the Naval Sea Systems Command's (NAVSEA) fiscal year 2023 Excellence Awards program. The award program recognizes individuals and teams in various occupational specialties across the enterprise for outstanding efforts made in supp  more

Rep. Buchanan Leads 32 Members Calling to Replenish Depleted SBA Disaster Loan Program
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 13, 2024: Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, co-chair of the Florida delegation, led a bipartisan letter to Congressional leadership calling for significant new funding to help replenish the Small Business Administration's (SBA) disaster loan program. Following three catastrophic hurricanes that tore across the southern United States, the SBA announced that it will no longer be able to make new offer  more

Rep. Cammack Joins Rep. Buchanan, 52 Members Demanding Answers From FEMA
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2024: Today, Rep. Cammack joined Rep. Vern Buchanan and 52 House colleagues in a letter demanding answers and accountability from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following stunning revelations that an agency supervisor instructed staff to avoid providing storm assistance to homes displaying campaign signs for President-elect Trump. According to reports from sources inside FEMA, at l  more

Rep. Dunn Congratulates House Leadership on Conference Vote Victories
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2024: Today, Congressman Neal Dunn (Florida-02) congratulated Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-06), and Republican Conference Chair-elect Lisa McClain (MI-09) for their election to positions in House Republican Leadership. "I'd like to congratulate members of our existing leadership team for their unanimous support from Congressional Re  more

Rep. Graves, T&I Committee Leaders Demand Answers From FEMA for Ignoring Disaster Victims Who Supported President-Elect Trump
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) are continuing their investigation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response to recent hurricanes, including reports that some FEMA employees in Florida were instructed to avoid impacted homes that displayed camp  more

REP. HILL OUTLINES PRINCIPLES TO MAKE BANKING GREAT AGAIN
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Rep. French Hill, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today released a set of principles outlining his support for a growing, successful community banking industry. He is requesting comments on these principles by December 31, 2024, which will guide the development of his forthcoming legislative framework going into the 119th Congress. This will build on Rep. Hill's work to protect community banks through legislation like his Small LEND  more

Rep. Webster, T&I Committee Leaders Demand Answers From FEMA for Ignoring Disaster Victims Who Supported President-Elect Trump
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, along with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA), and all Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republicans wrote to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell in response to recent hur  more

Reps. Frankel, Salazar, Lee Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing National Caregiving Youth Week
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2024: Today, Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), and Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing November 11-17, 2024, as National Caregiving Youth Week. The resolution seeks to honor the contributions and commitment of youth under 18 who provide essential care for their loved ones. "All over the country, there are young people who set aside thei  more

Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Jim Risch, 32 Colleagues in Introducing Stand with Israel Act to Combat Israel's Persecution at UN
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Jim Risch and 32 of their colleagues to introduce the Stand with Israel Act. This legislation will cut off U.S. funding to United Nations (UN) agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel. Joining Senators Scott and Risch are Senators Tom Cotton, Chuck Grassley, Bill Cassidy, Dan Sullivan, Steve Daines, Mike Lee, Kevi  more

Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Joni Ernst Demanding FDIC IG Investigate 500+ Allegations of Harassment
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: After a report exposed the pervasive culture of harassment and other egregious behavior at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Joni Ernst and four of their colleagues in demanding the Inspector General (IG) investigate every single one of the more than 500 allegations of misconduct. The senators blasted the agency for allowing a toxic culture to run rampant and u  more

Sen. Rick Scott on PPI Report: Failures of Biden-Harris Admin Continue Hurting American Families with High Prices
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Rick Scott released the below statement following the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlighting the need to implement substantive fiscal reforms to end the ongoing inflation crisis fueled by the Biden-Harris administration's reckless tax-and-spend agenda. October's PPI data shows that there has been a significant rise in inflation during the  more

Sports Heroes Who Served: Baseball Hall of Famer Served in World War II
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: Baseball Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm pitched for 10 Major League Baseball teams from 1952 to 1972 and was on the World Series winning New York Giants team in 1954. He was born in Huntersville, North Carolina, in 1922 and in 1942, he was signed to play by the Mooresville Moors baseball team of the North Carolina State League. But his baseball career was put on hold when he entered military service with the Army a  more

U.S. Access Board Releases Public Communication From Miami-Dade County, Fla. Office of Resilience
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Access Board has released the following public communication dated Nov. 4, 2024, from Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience, Florida: * * * To: Office of General Counsel, U.S. Access Board 1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000 Washington, DC 2004-1111 * * * This letter is provided in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) issued by the U.S. Access Board which proposes to revise and update accessibility guidelines at 36 CFR 1191 for buildings and facilit  more