Editor’s Notes:

🚢 Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Text Published

♿ HHS Issues New Proposed Rule on Disability Discrimination

⚒️ $150M For Critical Mineral Supply Chains

🔌 DOE Announces $125M in New Grid Resilience Grants

🌊 DOE Provides $13M for Hydropower R&D Projects

🌍 USDA Announces Africa Food Systems Initiative Partnerships

💣 DHS Awards $20M to Combat Targeted Violence, Terrorism

🏔️ DOI Cancels Oil and Gas Leases in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

🦬 DOI Announces $5M For Bison Restoration Projects

🏘️ $256 Million in New Choice Neighborhoods Funding

🌀 HUD Announces Federal Disaster Relief for Hurricane Idalia in Florida

👩‍🎓 New Student Loan Repayment Plan Introduced

[End of Editor’s Notes]

Find the full press releases on our homepage, updated almost daily:

Health Care

HHS Issues New Proposed Rule on Disability Discrimination

• Rule titled: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability.

• Updates provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Section 504.

• Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasizes accessibility challenges.

• Rule focuses on multiple areas, including:

  • Medical decision biases.

  • Digital accessibility.

  • Accessible medical equipment standards.

  • Child welfare program requirements.

  • Prohibition on life-value discrimination.

  • Integrated service setting obligations.

Energy

DOE Announces $150M For Critical Mineral Supply Chains

• U.S. DOE unveils up to $150 million for producing and refining critical minerals and materials domestically.

• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides the funding to reduce reliance on foreign supplies.

• Critical minerals vital for manufacturing clean energy technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles.

• Efforts align with America’s climate objectives and will generate jobs, especially in communities reliant on mining and energy.

• U.S. Geological Survey highlights over 50 critical minerals in the U.S., with 12 entirely sourced from abroad and over 30 sourced more than 50% from foreign supplies.

• Funding will support a sustainable U.S. supply from recycled materials, mine waste, industrial waste, and ore deposits.

DOE Announces $125M in New Grid Resilience Grants

• U.S. DOE releases $125 million to nine states, five tribal nations in seventh Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants cohort.

• Funding, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to modernize the electric grid, combat climate-driven disasters, and ensure power reliability.

• Secretary of Energy Granholm notes $15 billion U.S. climate-related disaster costs this year.

• Since May 2023, over $580.5 million distributed in these grants.

• Over five years, a total of $2.3 billion will be distributed to States, Territories, and Tribes based on specific criteria.

• Applications for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 are closed.

DOE Provides $13M for Hydropower R&D Projects

• U.S. DOE allocates over $13 million for seven hydropower research and development projects.

• Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law targets non-powered dams and pumped storage hydropower (PSH) tech advancements.

• Less than 3% of 90,000 U.S. dams produce power; PSH accounts for 93% of U.S. utility-scale energy storage.

• Secretary of Energy Granholm emphasizes hydropower’s role in achieving renewable energy goals.

Agriculture & Rural Development

USDA Announces Africa Food Systems Initiative Partnerships

• USDA announces partnerships at Africa Food Systems Forum.

• APHIS collaborates with World Organization of Animal Health.

• Partnerships seek to improve animal health infrastructure.

• WOAH projects target zoonotic infections, animal health, trade issues, food supply chain.

• New Africa Phytosanitary Program introduced.

• 11 countries for year one; 54 countries targeted by 2026.

Interior & Public Lands

DOI Cancels Oil and Gas Leases in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

• Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has authorized the cancellation of the remaining seven oil and gas leases issued by the previous administration in the Coastal Plain.

• DOI also issued new proposed regulations for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

• Leases were originally suspended June 2021 after Secretary’s Order (S.O.) 3401.

• Proposed Rules propose long-term Special Areas protection.

• Public review: 45 days for Coastal Plain, 60 days for NPR-A rule.

$180M for Large-Scale Water Recycling Program

• DOI launches a large-scale water recycling program (WaterSMART).

• Initial funding of $180 million seeks to create drought-resistant and climate change-resilient water supplies.

• The Bureau of Reclamation has invested $310 million for water recycling projects so far.

• The new program allows projects of any size, focusing on transforming unusable water sources into dependable ones.

• The Bureau of Reclamation will invest $8.3 billion over five years in water infrastructure projects: purification, reuse, storage, conveyance, desalination, and dam safety.

• The funding opportunity is under Reclamation’s WaterSMART program, targeted at water management agencies to address water supply shortages.

• Program total funding: $450 million.

DOI Announces $5M For Bison Restoration Projects

• $5 million allocated for bison restoration in Tribal communities.

• Funds to bolster bison conservation, manage herds, and restore native grassland habitats.

• Initiative supports America the Beautiful and Grasslands Keystone Initiative.

• Sec. Order 3410 focuses on restoration of bison populations and prairie grassland ecosystem.

• Bison’s history: Once numbered 60 million in North America, nearly extinct by 1889, now around 15,000 wild bison exist.

• Restoration efforts can enhance soil, restore native plants, wildlife, promote carbon sequestration, and benefit agriculture, recreation, and Tribes.

Justice & Labor

DOL Youth Workforce Development Grants

• U.S. Department of Labor awards $14 million in grants for youth workforce services.

• Beneficiaries: seven organizations across Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Virginia.

• Target: workforce readiness for underserved youth, ages 14-21.

• Coverage: 21 states and American Samoa.

• Services include job training, summer employment, career exploration.

• Emphasis on earn-and-learn models: pre-apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeships.

• Previous announcement outlined $15 million funding availability.

Homeland Security

DHS Awards $20M to Combat Targeted Violence, Terrorism

• DHS awarded 34 grants totaling $20 million through the TVTP Grant Program for FY23.

• TVTP, overseen by CP3 and FEMA, is the U.S. federal grant program focusing on local targeted violence and terrorism prevention.

• Grants aid local communities in developing targeted violence prevention, piloting new approaches, and sharing best practices.

• DHS’s May NTAS Bulletin emphasizes the threats from lone offenders and small extremist groups.

• DHS launched PreventionResourceFinder.gov in March for public access to prevention resources.

• 41% of FY23 grant recipients focus on underserved populations, a rise from 25% the previous year.

DHS Launches Campaign for Work-Eligible Noncitizens

• DHS introduces national campaign to aid work-eligible noncitizens in acquiring EAD.

• USCIS sent notifications in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole; Russian and Ukrainian versions upcoming.

• Government aims to integrate new noncitizens into the U.S. workforce.

• Outreach targeted towards individuals from CHNV, U4U parole processes, or those with a pending Form I-589.

• Eligibility criteria for EAD:

  • Recently paroled via CHNV, U4U, or through CBP One App appointment.

  • Filed Form I-589 and it has been pending for at least 150 days.

• No fee for Form I-765 with a pending Form I-589; $410 fee for other noncitizens.

• Fee waiver information available at USCIS’s official website.

DHS Extends South Sudan Temporary Protected Status

• Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas extends South Sudan’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months: November 4, 2023 – May 3, 2025.

• Reason: Ongoing armed conflict, temporary extraordinary conditions in South Sudan.

• Special Student Relief for F-1 nonimmigrant South Sudanese students announced.

• Extension due to violence, human rights abuses, environmental, health, and food concerns.

• Extension affects approx. 133 beneficiaries; redesignation potentially impacts an additional 140.

• Current beneficiaries must re-register between September 5, 2023, and November 4, 2023.

• Federal Register provides details on eligibility, procedures, and EAD renewals.

Public & Affordable Housing

$256 Million in New Choice Neighborhoods Funding

• HUD releases $256 million for Choice Neighborhood Implementation (CMI) Grants.

• Funding is targeted at transforming HUD-assisted housing and bolstering neighborhood investments.

• Eligible applicants include Public housing authorities, local governments, and Tribal entities.

• Maximum grant: $50 million.

• Recent awards: $370 million to eight cities.

• Six new grants are expected in 2024.

• 13,000 Total units completed across 52 cities.

HUD Announces Federal Disaster Relief for Hurricane Idalia in Florida

• HUD implements federal disaster relief post-Hurricane Idalia, starting August 27, 2023.

• President Biden issued major disaster declaration.

• Actions:

  • 90-day moratorium on certain FHA mortgage foreclosures.

  • Mortgage insurance available via HUD’s Section 203(h) program; 100% financing covered.

  • HUD’s Section 203(k) supports mortgage/home rehabilitation.

  • HUD shares housing information with FEMA and the State.

  • Community Planning and Development Grantees given flexibility.

  • Public Housing Agencies can request waivers for disaster relief.

  • Tribes can seek administrative flexibility through regulatory waivers.

  • HUD-approved housing counseling agencies assist victims.

  • HUD assists with housing discrimination issues; complaints can be filed.

Education

Launch of “Kindergarten Sturdy Bridge Learning Community”

• U.S. Department of Education introduces Kindergarten Sturdy Bridge Learning Community.

• Objective: Transform the kindergarten experience for student transitions into 1st grade.

• Participation: State education agencies (SEAs) & local education agencies (LEAs).

• Kindergarten’s role is to detect undiagnosed needs and foster trust with families.

• $1 billion from Bipartisan Safer Communities Act for early learning.

• $500 million for preschool incentive demonstration program.

• The goal is to expand high-quality preschool for Title I school children.

• Upcoming guidance on utilizing funds for high-quality preschool.

• Full Service Community Schools’ awards expected in late 2023.

Education Announces National HBCU Week Conference

• 2023 National HBCU Week Conference in Arlington, Virginia from September 24-28.

• Cardona highlights $7.3 billion investment directly to HBCUs.

• 12th Project SERV grant: Over $287,000 to Dillard University, New Orleans for trauma response.

• Dillard University hires two mental health counselors, offers teletherapy, and training.

• Cardona emphasizes importance and impact of HBCUs, highlights record investments.

• Conference theme: “Raising the Bar: Forging Excellence through Innovation & Leadership.”

• White House Initiative on HBCUs’ Dr. Dietra Trent stresses HBCUs’ significance.

New Student Loan Repayment Plan Introduced

• Over 4 million borrowers enrolled in the new SAVE income-driven repayment (IDR) plan.

• 1.6 million IDR applications received since July 30; nearly 1 million for SAVE.

• Borrowers earning <$15/hour pay zero; potential $1,000 yearly savings on SAVE.

• No balance growth from unpaid interest with consistent payments.

• New IDR application uses IRS data, eliminating annual re-certification.

• A 12-month protection plan was introduced for late/missed payments.

• Over $117 billion in relief approved for 3.4 million borrowers.

U.S. Department of Education Promotes Educator Diversity

• Department to host two events focused on educator diversity, the “Teach to Lead Summit” and “Conference on Equity in Opportunity.”

• Both events scheduled for Oct. 26, 2023, in Denver, Colorado.

• Aims to elevate educator diversity and discuss effective practices.

• Emphasizes pandemic recovery, American Rescue Plan funding.

• Department issued policy brief on eliminating educator shortages.

• Recent job loss in education: 730,000 from Feb-May 2020, 1.2% reduction before pandemic.

• $45 million announced to support teacher diversity/recruitment

Commerce

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Text Published

• U.S. Department of Commerce unveils Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Supply Chain Agreement text.

• Agreement signifies a renewed approach to economic engagement.

• Sec. Raimondo: The agreement supports U.S. manufacturing and supply chain strength.

• IPEF aims for resilient, efficient, transparent, diversified, secure supply chains.

• Focus on collaborative response to disruptions and labor rights support.

• Implementation already underway; entry into force preparations started.

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