Editor’s Notes:

The Debt Ceiling proposal offered and passed by House Republicans this week set off a flurry of activity at some of the Federal Departments that began releasing uncharacteristically sharp statements on how the bill would impact certain states, populations, and programs.

The Department of Interior announced a number of funding awards this week, topping $447 million.

The Department of Homeland Security puts together an “AI Task Force” in the same announcement where the Secretary details a “90-day Sprint” to counter Chinese threats.

The Treasury Department posted the 2023 “De-Risking” strategy report for financial institutions.

USDOT reports that in 2022 42,795 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States.

Commerce Secretary Raimondo met with Republic of Korea Minister for Trade, Industry, and Energy to discuss semiconductors, export controls, robotics, and additive manufacturing during a state visit by Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with President Biden and Defense Secretary Austin during his visit to Washington, DC.

HHS proposes opening Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to DACA recipients in a new proposed rule.

Labor Department announces $200 million to improve Unemployment fraud detection and prevention.

[End of Editor’s Notes]

Health Care

New HHS Analysis: Congressional Republicans’ Medicaid Red Tape Would Jeopardize Health Coverage and Access to Care for 21 Million Americans If Implemented

Only one state has ever fully implemented work reporting requirements, and nearly 1 in 4 adults subject to the policy lost their health coverage—including working people and people with serious health conditions—with no evidence of increased employment. Full Press Release

The Biden-Harris Administration Proposes New Standards to Help Ensure Access to Quality Health Care in Medicaid and CHIP

If adopted as proposed, the rules would establish historic national standards for access to care regardless of whether that care is provided through managed care plans or directly by states through fee-for-service (FFS). Specifically, they would establish access standards through Medicaid or CHIP managed care plans as well as transparency for Medicaid payment rates to providers, including hourly rates and compensation for certain direct care workers. Full Press Release

HHS Awards $147 Million to Support Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States

Nearly $139.1 million to metropolitan areas and states to implement strategies and interventions to provide medical and support services to reduce new HIV infections in the U.S., and $8 million to two non-profit organizations to provide training and other resources to recipients of EHE funds. Full Press Release

HHS Bolsters Support and Resources for Health Sector Resilience and Emissions Reduction

OCCHE releases the Quickfinder for Leveraging the IRA for the Health Sector, which identifies and explains how the health sector can use IRA programs and incentives to advance climate action. Full Press Release

HHS Releases Proposal to Expand Health Care for DACA Recipients

DACA recipients would have access to health care through Affordable Care Act Marketplaces, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Full Press Release

During National Minority Health Month, HHS Organizes First-Ever Nationwide Vaccination Day Event to Bring Health-Related Resources to Black Communities

HHS’s We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign (PEC) partnered with the Stay Well Community Health Initiative, an organization designed to bring health-related resources to Black communities, to run the first-ever Nationwide Vaccination Day. Full Press Release

HHS Announces $2.5 Million for Produce Prescription Programs in Indian Country

Approximately 4 to 7 awards will be issued under this program announcement for a performance period of five years. Applications are due by June 23, 2023. Full Press Release

Energy

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $13 Million to Support Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Solutions

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced 11 communities across 10 states have been selected to design community geothermal heating and cooling systems. Based on first-phase outcomes, DOE will select a subset of projects to advance to a second phase and deploy their systems. Full Press Release

DOE Announces New Effort to Power Colorado’s Federal Facilities with 100% Clean Energy by 2030

DOE and Xcel Energy will commence a three-month work period to develop a plan that, when implemented, will mean Federal customers are supplied with 100% carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) by 2030 on an annual basis, with at least 50% CFE every day. Full Press Release

DOE Launches New Consumer Energy Savings Hub

There’s something for everyone at Energy.gov/Save, with features geared towards homeowners, renters, and drivers. These home energy rebate programs will help American households save money on energy bills, upgrade to clean energy equipment and improve energy efficiency, and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution. Full Press Release

DOE Announces 21st Annual Solar Decathlon Winners

Ball State University (Zero-Energy Home), University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Deep energy retrofit for historical buildings), and The Cooper Union (zero energy retrofit design) were Named 2023 Build and Design Challenge Winners. Full Press Release

Agriculture & Rural Development

Statement from Secretary Vilsack on Emergency Fuel Waivers for E15 Sales

By allowing the summer sale of E15 at gas pumps nationwide, President Biden is supporting the creation of good-paying jobs and economic growth, particularly in rural and farm communities. Full Statement Here

USDA: House Republican Proposals Hurt Rural Communities

While the President’s Budget details a plan to strengthen rural economies, increase resiliency, and support rural health, House Republicans’ proposal to cut a broad range of critical programs by 22% will… Full Press Release

USDA Announces $45 Million Funding Opportunity to Support Underserved and Veteran Farmers, Ranchers, and Foresters

Funding is made through USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, also known as the 2501 Program. Full Press Release

USDA Proposes Declaring Salmonella an Adulterant in Breaded Stuffed Raw Chicken Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released today a proposed determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant in breaded stuffed raw chicken products when they exceed a very low level of Salmonella contamination. Full Press Release

USDA Announces New National Institute of Food and Agriculture Director

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of Manjit K. Misra as the new Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Prior to joining USDA, Dr. Misra served as a Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University. Full Press Release

USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Arkansas Disaster Areas

“This waiver approval for D-SNAP will help low-income Arkansas residents get the food they need as they struggle with the aftermath of recent tornadoes and severe storms,” [Secretary] Vilsack said. Full Press Release

USDA Kicks-off Effort to Expand Market Opportunities for Climate-Smart Commodities and Learn from Pilot Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the official kick-off of the implementation phase for projects funded through the $3.1 billion Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities effort. Full Press Release

Interior & Public Lands

Secretary Haaland Announces $125 Million to Restore Nation’s Lands and Waters as Part of President’s Investing in America Agenda

The funding, to be spent over the next four years, will support 240 locally led projects that advance goals laid out in the Department’s restoration and resilience framework. Full Press Release

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $35 Million for National Fish Passage Projects to Address Climate Resilience and Strengthen Local Economies

The announcement is part of the Department’s five-year $200 million commitment to restore free-flowing waters, allowing fish migration and protecting communities from flooding rivers and streams. It is also part of an over $3 billion investment in fish passage and aquatic connectivity projects. Full Press Release

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $140 Million for Water Conservation and Efficiency Projects in the West

Funding for 84 projects in 15 western states, provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations, will go to irrigation and water districts, states, Tribes and other entities and are expected to conserve over 230,000 acre-feet of water when completed. This is equivalent to 77 billion gallons of water, enough water for more than 940,000 people. Full Press Release

Interior Department Announces More Than $146 Million for Wetland Conservation Projects and National Wildlife Refuge

The Department of the Interior today announced that more than $146 million in funding has been approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, providing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners the ability to help conserve or restore 242,000 acres of wetland and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other birds across North America – including Canada and Mexico. Full Press Release

Interior Department’s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations Announces $1 Million in NATIVE Act Funding for Native Hawaiian Organizations

Tourism is a major economic driver that has long been experienced by the Native Hawaiian Community as extractive and transactional. NATIVE Act funding equips NHOs across Hawai’i with additional resources to change that experience in ways mutually beneficial to visitors and the islands’ original stewards. Full Press Release

Interior Department, National Endowment for the Humanities Partner to Preserve Federal Indian Boarding School Oral History and Records

NEH has committed $4 million to support the digitization of records from the United States’ system of 408 federal Indian boarding schools and the creation of a permanent oral history collection, documenting the experiences of the generations of Indigenous students who passed through the federal boarding school system. Full Press Releases

Treasury & IRS

FACT SHEET: Treasury Department Announces 2023 De-Risking Strategy

The customers facing de-risking challenges most acutely include:

• Small and medium-size Money Service Businesses (MSBs) that offer money transmitting services.

• Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) operating abroad in high-risk jurisdictions.

• Foreign financial institutions with low correspondent banking transaction volumes, particularly those operating in financial environments characterized by high AML/CFT risks.

 Full Press Release

Treasury Department Announces Approval of Federal Funds to Connect Hawaii Homes and Families to Affordable, High-Speed Internet as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda

U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the approval of $115.5 million for high-speed internet projects in Hawaii under the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF). Full Press Release

Transportation

Following New Data Showing Traffic Fatalities Remain Persistently High, USDOT Announces Over 30 New Commitments from Allies in Action to Reduce Traffic Deaths

The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced over 30 new commitments from organizations that are supporting the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and taking action to reverse the crisis that is killing more than 40,000 people on American roads each year. An estimated 42,795 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2022. This represents a small decrease of about 0.3% as compared to the 42,939 fatalities reported for 2021. Full Press Release

Biden-Harris Administration Opens Applications for First Year of $400M Competitive Grant Program to Reduce Truck Air Pollution at America’s Ports

The FY2022-2023 funding for the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program totals $160 million. The funding will focus on projects that reduce emissions from idling trucks at our nation’s ports, which negatively impacts air quality for surrounding communities, including small children, truck drivers, and port workers. Full Press Release

NATIONAL FACT SHEET: House Republicans’ Proposals Jeopardize Transportation Safety and Infrastructure

While the President’s Budget details a plan to invest in transportation safety and infrastructure, House Republicans’ proposal to cut a broad range of critical programs by 22% will… Full Press Release

U.S. Department of Transportation Expands Investment in Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Grant Program

Program will provide an additional $24 million to explore options for expedited delivery of transportation infrastructure projects through innovative finance and delivery methods. Full Press Release

Commerce

Biden-Harris Administration Recommends $562 million Investment to Make Communities Resilient to Climate Impacts as Part of Investing in America Agenda

Department of Commerce has recommended $562 million in funding for nearly 150 projects across 30 coastal states and territories to make communities and the economy more resilient to climate change. The awards are made under NOAA’s Climate-Ready Coasts Initiative. Full Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invites Industry Groups to Apply for Export Promotion Funding

This week, the U.S. Department of Commerce released a new funding opportunity through the 2023 Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) to support projects up to $300,000 each aimed to generate U.S. exports, help address trade barriers, enhance U.S. industry competitiveness, and create American jobs. Full Press Release

CHIPS for America Outlines Vision for the National Semiconductor Technology Center

The paper, A Vision and Strategy for the National Semiconductor Technology Center, lays out how the NSTC will accelerate America’s ability to develop the chips and technologies of the future to safeguard America’s global innovation leadership. Full Press Release

United States – Korea Supply Chain and Commercial Dialogue Ministerial Joint Statement

Commerce secretary Raimondo and Republic of Korea Minister of Trade, Industry, and energy Chang-Yang Lee agreed to strengthen their efforts to foster supply chain resilience in the field of Semiconductors, collaborate on Robotics & Additive Manufacturing, and increase Export Controls cooperation, among others. Full Press Release

2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit Brings President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to the Global Stage and Announces New Speaker Line-Up

United States’ Top Foreign Direct Investment Event to Host White House Officials, Cabinet Members, Governors, and Global Business Leaders to Promote Economic Investment, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in the U.S. Full Press Release

Justice & Labor

US Department of Labor Announces Up to $200M in Available Grants to States to Strengthen Unemployment Insurance Programs; Prevent, Detect Fraud

The grants can be used to improve tools, services, and investigations to verify applicants’ identity; evaluate and implement strategies to address emerging trends and new fraud schemes; and reduce improper payments. They may also be used by states to increase overpayment recovery, such as by accepting repayment through various methods, including online debit or credit card options, and to protect victims of unemployment identity fraud. Full Press Release

Department of Labor Announces $90m in Grants to Support Delivery of Training, Employment Services to Young People For High Demand Careers

Ranging from $700,000 to $1.5 million each, the awards’ announcement follows the department announcement of the availability of YouthBuild grants in November 2022. The grants will support pre-apprenticeships that will educate and train young people, from ages 16 to 24, who are neither enrolled in school nor in the labor market for jobs in high-demand industries. Full Press Release

US Department of Labor Awards Nearly $2.3M to Hawaii to Promote Equitable Access to State’s Unemployment Insurance System

To help identify and address barriers workers face in accessing state unemployment insurance benefits, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $2,283,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Full Press Release

US Department of Labor Launches Toolkit to Help States Promote, Improve, Expand Equitable Access to Unemployment Insurance Benefits

The toolkit is intended to help states review and analyze current processes; develop a scope of work and proactive equitable access strategy; enhance standard operating procedures; align priorities and goals; and enact new initiatives to expand access. Full Press Release

US Department of Labor Announces Availability of $1M In Grants To Prevent, Respond To Workplace Gender-Based Violence, Harassment

The Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants will help survivors and women at high risk for violence and harassment in the workplace. Administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau and the Employment and Training Admin, the FARE grant program will support non-profit organizations’ efforts to address gender-based violence and harassment. Full Press Release

US Department of Labor Awards Initial $800k Grant to Support Employment, Assistance After Severe Storms, Tornadoes in Mississippi in March 2023

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an initial grant of $800,000 to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security for cleanup and recovery activities after severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes in March 2023 killed 21 people and ravaged towns. Full Press Release

Homeland Security

Secretary Mayorkas Announces New Measures to Tackle A.I., PRC Challenges at First State of Homeland Security Address

Focused on two trends that will shape what President Biden has called a “decisive decade” for the world” – the revolution created by generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the multi-faceted threat posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) – the Secretary unveiled the Department’s first-ever AI Task Force and a Department-wide 90-day sprint to counter PRC threats. Full Press Release

U.S. Government Announces Sweeping New Actions to Manage Regional Migration

When the Title 42 order lifts at 11:59 PM on May 11, the United States will return to using Title 8 immigration authorities to expeditiously process and remove individuals who arrive at the U.S. border unlawfully. Full Press Release

DHS Conducts Dozens of Removal Flights Every Week

With the end of the Title 42 public health Order, DHS will continue to enforce U.S. immigration laws with the return to expedited removal proceedings under Title 8 authorities, which carry stricter consequences like at least a five-year ban on reentry and potential criminal prosecution for unlawful reentry. Full Press Release

Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on the Anniversary of the Establishment of Uniting for Ukraine

“It is because of the tireless dedication of our personnel and thousands of volunteers that our Department was able to provide humanitarian relief to so many who were forced to flee Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.” Full Statement Here

Public & Affordable Housing

HUD Outlines its Action Plan to Remove Unnecessary Barriers to Housing for People with Criminal Records

HUD will issue new guidance and technical assistance to assist PHAs and HUD-affiliated owners in determining what convictions are relevant to health and safety and how to conduct an individualized assessment when reviewing criminal history records. Full Press Release

HUD Awards $15M to Help Low-Income Seniors Age in Place

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded almost $15 million to 13 nonprofit organizations, in addition to a state government to assist in undertaking comprehensive programs that make safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs to meet the needs of low-income elderly homeowners that allow them to age in place. Full Press Release

HUD Announces $5 Million Available to Help End Youth, Family Homelessness

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it will make available $5 million for new Family Unification Program (FUP) voucher assistance for youth and families who lack safe and adequate housing. Full Press Release

HUD Seeks Public Comment on Potential Changes to Regulation Requiring Accessibility and Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in HUD-Assisted Programs

HUD’s Section 504 ANPRM asks the public to respond to several questions that relate to HUD’s existing Section 504 regulation which was originally published in 1988. The Department is seeking information on what it should consider relating to Recipients’ obligations, including how to account for advances in accessible design, the use of websites and other technology, and auxiliary aids and services including assistive technologies. Full Press Release

HUD and Census Bureau Report New Residential Sales in March 2023

The median sales price of new houses sold in March 2023 was $449,800. The average sales price was $562,400. Full Press Release

Education

U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid Awards New Contracts to Five Companies to Serve Borrowers, Reduce Delinquency, and Improve Accountability

U.S. Department of Education’s (Department’s) office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced it has signed contracts with five companies to modernize and enhance loan servicing for more than 37 million borrowers with federally managed loans. Full Press Release

FACT SHEET: House Republican Proposals Hurt Children, Students, and Borrowers, and Undermine Education

While President Biden’s plan invests an additional $11 billion to improve education while lowering everyday costs of essentials like child-care for families, House Republicans’ proposal to cut a broad range of critical programs by 22% will… Full Press Release

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Announced

Across the country, 26 schools, 11 districts, and four postsecondary institutions are being honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education.  Full Press Release

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