This Week's Federal Press Releases

April 8 - April 13, 2023

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US Government News
April 13, 2023

What is this?

US Government News consolidates press releases from the top 14 Federal Departments and Agencies responsible for disbursing funding, making policies and regulations, and (as allowed by law) implementing the President’s agenda. We put them all in one place to make it easier for you to track what the federal government is doing daily. It can be dense reading, but that’s what it takes to get the facts to you.

What’s Missing?

For the time being, we cannot reliably report every press release from the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, Labor, and Justice due to the sheer volume of press released from these agencies. In the future, US Government News will include these agencies in their own dedicated newsletters.

What’s the Point?

Headlines are completely unedited. Summaries are taken directly from the press release, and while sentences may be shortened, no text is added or altered. In the rare circumstance that we will provide a commentary note, it will be clearly noted as an “Editor’s Note.” You may share, redistribute, and reuse the content found in this newsletter so long as you do so in a way that complies with US Law and Regulations, no attribution to US Government News is necessary (although we would love it if you shared us with your friends and colleagues 😉).

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Health Care

HHS Proposes Measures to Bolster Patient-Provider Confidentiality Around Reproductive Health Care

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), through its Office for Civil Rights, issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to strengthen Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule protections by prohibiting the use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI) to investigate, or prosecute patients, providers, and others involved in the provision of legal reproductive health care, including abortion care. Today’s NPRM proposes to extend additional privacy protections for providers, insurers, patients and others to safeguard PHI when that information otherwise would be disclosed or used to identify, investigate, sue, or prosecute someone for seeking, obtaining, providing, or facilitating lawful reproductive health care. Reproductive health care would be defined to include, but not be limited to, prenatal care, abortion, miscarriage management, infertility treatment, contraception use, and treatment for reproductive-related conditions such as ovarian cancer. Full Press Release

HHS-SAMHSA Provides Emergency Response Grant to Pennsylvania to Support Community Wellness, Resilience Following Recent East Palestine Train Derailment, Chemical Spill

This week, Pennsylvania will receive an initial, 90-day SERG of $48,782, with additional funding expected after 90 days to continue for an additional 12 months to support activities. The grant funding is expected to support the immediate and ongoing behavioral health needs of the community related to the initial incident and subsequent traumatic experiences, to minimize the long-term impacts and foster resilience in the community, and to expand and enhance the capacity of local crisis response systems to ensure adequate and effective intervention in situations of crisis. Full Press Release

HHS Proposes New Rule to Further Implement the 21st Century Cures Act

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for public comment on proposals to implement certain provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) and make several enhancements to the ONC Health IT Certification Program (Certification Program). Full Press Release

  • Implementing the Electronic Health Record Reporting Program

  • Modifying exceptions in the information blocking regulations

  • Revising several Certification Program certification criteria

  • Adopting the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Version 3

  • Updating standards and implementation specifications

In addition to this proposed rule, ONC is developing two other proposed rules, which are listed in the Fall 2022 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions and the Regulatory Plan:

HHS Office for Civil Rights Announces the Expiration of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency HIPAA Notifications of Enforcement Discretion

These Notifications and the effective beginning and end dates are:

HHS’ Administration for Children and Families Awards More Than $375 Million to Reduce Poverty, Increasing Anti-Poverty Funding Through CSBG to $750 Million in FY23

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced the release of $375 million in Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding to help reduce poverty through community-based programming. This funding is the third installment of CSBG funding for states, territories, and tribes in FY23 to support services that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty and brings the total CSBG funding released this fiscal year to more than $750 million. Full Press Release

Energy

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $72 Million to Expand Pathways to Clean Energy Jobs

DOE announced five competitively selected higher education institutions to serve as Centers of Excellence for DOE’s Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) Program and will receive a combined $18.7 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Also, DOE today announced a $54 million funding opportunity from the Law to expand the IAC Program to community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs, and create new Building Training and Assessment Centers (BTACs) at higher education institutions. Full Press Release

  • Great Plains Center of Excellence at Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK), in partnership with Northern Oklahoma College, Wichita State University, and the University of Nebraska.

  • Southeastern Center of Excellence at Georgia Tech University (Atlanta, GA), in partnership with Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, and Kennesaw State University.

  • Mid-Atlantic Center of Excellence at Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA), in partnership with West Virginia University.

  • Gulf Coast Center of Excellence at Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)

  • Western Center of Excellence at San Francisco State University (San Francisco, CA), in partnership with San Jose State University, San Diego State University, Laney College, and Cuyamaca College.

Agriculture & Rural Development

Biden-Harris Administration announces historic funding to expand access to trees and green spaces in disadvantaged urban communities

The Biden-Harris Administration is announcing the availability of
$1 billion in grants to increase equitable access to trees and green spaces in urban and community forests where more than 84% of Americans live, work and play. The funding announced today is part of a $1.5 billion investment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Full Press Release

Food Help on the Way for Arkansas Households Hit by Tornadoes and Severe Storms

Approximately 7,000 families in Cross and Pulaski County affected by recent tornadoes and severe storms will soon be able to receive food packages containing nutritious, high-quality foods that are 100% grown and produced on farms in the U.S. – known as USDA Foods. Full Press Release

USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for California Disaster Areas

For more information about this and other available aid, callers from California can dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-621-3362. For more information about California SNAP, visit www.cdss.ca.gov/food-nutrition/calfresh.

USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Mississippi Disaster Areas

For more information about this and other available aid, callers from Mississippi can dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-222-6362. For more information about Mississippi SNAP, visit Mississippi’s Department of Human Services.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Staff Appointments

  • Jamal Habibi has been promoted to Chief of Staff for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. Most recently, Habibi served as Chief of Staff for Rural Housing Service since February 2021.

  • Russellie Bongolan has been promoted to White House Liaison. Bongolan has served as Deputy White House Liaison since September 2022.

  • Aliza Drewes has been appointed Senior Advisor on Energy for Rural Utilities Service. Drewes joins USDA after most recently serving as Founder and Executive Director of Rural Investment to Protect our Environment (RIPE), where she worked to advance a fair value for voluntary agricultural stewardship as part of national climate policy.

Interior & Public Lands

Interior Department Announces Next Steps to Protect the Stability and Sustainability of Colorado River Basin

To address the continued potential for low run-off conditions and unprecedented water shortages in the Colorado River Basin, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) today released a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to potentially revise the current interim operating guidelines for the near-term operation of Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams. This proposal to address immediate water supply challenges complements Reclamation’s ongoing process to develop new guidelines for Colorado River Operations when the current interim guidelines expire at the end of 2026. Full Press Release

Treasury & IRS

TREASURY: Biden-Harris Administration Officials, Senator Casey Announce Approval of Federal Funding to Connect 44,000 Pennsylvania Homes and Businesses to Affordable, High-Speed Internet as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda

U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Chief Recovery Officer Jacob Leibenluft joined White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling and U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. to announce the approval of $200 million for high-speed internet projects in Pennsylvania under the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The state will use its funding to connect approximately 44,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet. Full Press Release

Vice President Harris, Treasury Department Announce Over $1.73 Billion to Improve Access to Capital, Financial Services in Underserved Communities

Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) has awarded over $1.73 billion in grants to 603 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) across the country through the CDFI Equitable Recovery Program (ERP). ERP is a competitive grant program designed to provide funding to CDFIs to expand lending, grant making, and investment activities in low- or moderate-income communities. Full Press Release

Transportation

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $300 Million for 9 Bridge Projects as Part of Investing in America Agenda

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced nearly $300 million for nine small and medium-sized bridge projects in both rural and urban areas in eight states and the District of Columbia. The nearly $300 million investment will fund the repair, rehabilitation, and/or replacement of the following nine bridge projects:

  • $24 million - City of San Diego, CA – Palm Avenue/Interstate 805 Bridge

  • $73 million - Michigan DOT – Lafayette Bascule Bridge

  • $21 million (Rural) New York State Thruway Authority – Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge

  • $11.5 million (Rural) - Oklahoma: Circuit Engineering District 8 – Improving Rural Bridges in Northwest Oklahoma

  • $13.9 million - Portland, OR Bureau of Transportation – Burgard Bridge

  • $51.2 million (Rural) - South Carolina DOT – Investing in South Carolina’s Rural Bridges

  • $14 million (Rural) Texas DOT - US-59 San Antonio River Bridge

  • $72 million D.C. DOT - Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge

  • $15.1millionCity of Madison, WI - John Nolen Drive Bridges

In Latest Work to Advance Rail and Hazmat Safety, USDOT Issues New Safety Advisory to Major Freight Railroads to Help Prevent Derailments

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is calling on major freight railroads to review and update their placement of rail cars and locomotives. This is the sixth safety advisory the Department has issued since the February 3rd Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio – all part of the Department’s longstanding, ongoing work to hold railroad companies accountable to their workers and to communities across the country. Full Press Release

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $240 Million to Support Additional Bus Rapid Transit in the Twin Cities

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a grant award of $239.3 million to support the Twin Cities’ Metropolitan Council as it constructs the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The FTA Full Funding Grant Agreement will help the Metropolitan Council expand its BRT network to better connect residents of the east metro area of the Twin Cities to job centers and other opportunities through fast, frequent service from Woodbury to downtown St. Paul. Full Press Release

USDOT Announces Effort to Accelerate Surface Transportation Project Delivery under Inflation Reduction Act

As part of an ongoing effort to help deliver surface transportation projects faster, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on environmental review processes that can be improved under the Inflation Reduction Act. FHWA is also seeking information on:

  • the types of assistance that would be most beneficial to recipients of direct funding and facilitate an efficient and effective environmental review process for surface transportation projects;

  • what program areas would most benefit from new or continued research; and,

  • ways in which FHWA can make resources available to the eligible entities while promoting equity and maximizing the opportunity to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the environmental review process.

Justice & Labor

Justice Department Announces Total Distribution of Over $6B to Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism

The U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (the Fund) today notified a group of eligible claimants of upcoming payments totaling approximately $2.7 billion. The Fund will issue these payments to 5,361 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks and certain spouses and children of the victims of those attacks. These payments will bring the total compensation paid by the Fund to victims of international terrorism and their families to more than $6 billion. The Fund was established by Congress in 2015 and is administered by the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS). Full Press Release

Homeland Security

Trilateral Joint Statement

Today, Panamanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Janaina Tewaney, Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Álvaro Leyva Durán, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas led high level delegations and met in Panamá City to discuss joint efforts to address one of the most pressing issues in the region: irregular migration. The three governments will seek to achieve the following ambitious goals:

  1. End the illicit movement of people and goods through the Darién by both land and maritime corridors, which leads to death and exploitation of vulnerable people for significant profit.

  2. Open new lawful and flexible pathways for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees as an alternative to irregular migration.

  3. Launch a plan to reduce poverty, improve public service delivery, create jobs, and promote economic and sustainable opportunities in border communities in northern Colombia and southern Panamá, through international partnerships across financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector.

Departments of Homeland Security and State Announce Enhancements to the Central American Minors Program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State are announcing changes to enhance the Central American Minors (CAM) program. These changes build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued efforts to provide alternatives to perilous and irregular migration to the border. The CAM program allows certain individuals in the United States to request access to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for potential resettlement to the United States on behalf of their qualifying children in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Full Press Release

Public & Affordable Housing

HUD Awards $98 Million in Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants and Opens New $10 Million Funding Opportunity for Local Planning Efforts

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced “Supplemental Grant” awards for Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grantees totaling more than $98 million. In addition, HUD is opening a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for $10 million to support local planning efforts. Today’s grant awards provide additional funds to 16 current Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grantees to address the pandemic related disruptions. The Supplemental Grant funding for Implementation Grantees will be used to construct new, high-quality, mixed-income housing nationwide. Full Press Release

Federal Housing Administration Seeks Feedback on Proposed Changes to Increase Access to Affordable Financing for Properties with Accessory Dwelling Units

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) published for feedback a draft update to its requirements for insuring mortgages on single family homes with Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The proposal adds additional flexibility in calculating market rent and in using ADU rental income to qualify for FHA-insured mortgage financing. If finalized, these updates would allow more borrowers to qualify for FHA financing for properties with ADUs, including 203(k) renovation loans. Full Press Release

We are publishing a day early this week but will be back to our regular weekly schedule next week.

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