POLICY AND PUBLIC INTEREST
Budget cut proposed in President Trump's 2020 budget will make fighting discrimination harder
President Trump’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 would slash the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s historically low budget by $23.7 million, which will make it harder for workers facing discrimination to get the help they need, the union representing EEOC workers said today.
“The EEOC enforces federal laws barring workplace discrimination, including sexual harassment, and cutting our budget frustrates those efforts,” said Gabrielle Martin, president of American Federation of Government Employees Council 216, the National Council of EEOC Locals. “Victims of workplace discrimination will feel the punch of this cut when they can’t get an appointment or an investigation of their complaint.”
The administration is proposing to slash EEOC’s current budget from $379.5 million to $355.8 million in fiscal 2020, even while the agency is facing rising workloads. EEOC had a backlog of 49,608 cases in fiscal year 2018, and cases continued to pile up while EEOC was closed during the 35-day shutdown. It takes workers months to get an appointment with EEOC and over an hour to reach a live person by telephone. EEOC’s workload this year included 200,000 inquiries, 76,418 charges, 40,000 interviews, and 105,600 calls.
Sexual harassment claims were up 13.6 percent in 2018. While Congress modestly increased EEOC’s budget in response to the #MeToo movement, the agency still has not been able to keep up with demand. Last year, the EEOC’s workforce dropped below 2,000 employees for the first time since before 1980. The president’s budget plan would slash another 180 positions, including mediators, judges, intake representatives, and 50 investigators. The agency’s budget justification concedes there will be a “steady rise in pending inventory” as “there will be no…
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Jennifer Lopez Reveals Tantalizing Details Of North American It’s My Party Tour To Celebrate Milestone Birthday With Fans
Today music and entertainment powerhouse Jennifer Lopez revealed details of her highly anticipated It’s My
EEOC Union Condemns Drastic $23.7M Budget Cut to Civil Rights Enforcement in #MeToo Era
President Trump’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 would slash the
USDA and FDA Announce a Formal Agreement to Regulate Cell-Cultured Food Products from Cell Lines of Livestock and Poultry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced a formal agreement to jointly oversee the production of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry.
FSIS…
Government Officials, Ocean Experts, and NGOs Unite to Protect the Ocean and Grow Economies
The global ocean economy is estimated at $24 Trillion USD, yet ocean resources are declining rapidly worldwide – bombarded with human-imposed threats like overfishing, pollution and climate change. Scientific research shows that strongly protecting at least 30% of the world’s ocean will help maintain marine resources while maximizing yields…
International Experts convene in Seoul to Brings Focus to Divided Korea and Peaceful Reunification
As global attention was riveted on the second Trump-Kim talks in Hanoi, another more comprehensive and forward-looking summit on peaceful reunification convened in Seoul, marking the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, revered by Koreans as an expression of their shared aspirations to be free and united.
In…
Second Trump-Kim Summit, March 1 Korean Independence Centenary Bring Urgent Focus to Reunification Movement
In a major policy address, Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Chairman Hyun Jin Preston Moon credited the Trump administration for making Korea the top international priority for the U.S. for the first time since the Korean War. “The administration imposed biting sanctions, galvanized global support to enforce those sanctions, and…
Student Homelessness Growing Fastest In Rural America
While student homelessness is on the rise nationwide, it is growing at nearly four times the national rate in rural America, according to a new report from the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness (ICPH). The report, Student Homelessness in Rural America, finds that rural…
Sir Richard Branson has shared his vision for a Clean Energy Dividend which he hopes will tackle climate change.
Writing in his blog today, amid scenes of climate change marches around the world, he states his belief that there will be an opportunity to create millions of jobs whilst also driving down the price of fuels in the long term.
Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group Founder wrote: “I believe there is an extremely simple way to whip climate change and I plan to set it out below. It’s wonderful to see children all over the world marching today for such an important cause and they are absolutely right that if we don’t implement ideas immediately then their lives and their children’s lives are going to be imperilled.
Many people working on this subject believe the world needs a carbon tax on dirty fuels – coal and oil – to solve the problem. However, the problem with a carbon tax is that it has so far been impossible to impose without governments falling. The Australian government tried to bring one in and they were kicked out – the new government cancelled it. In November 2018, the state of Washington voted against a carbon…
Boeing makes this recommendation and supports the decision by the FAA
Boeing (NYSE: BA) continues to have full confidence in the safety of the 737 MAX. However, after consultation with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and aviation authorities and its customers around the world, Boeing has determined — out of an abundance of caution and in order to reassure the flying public of the aircraft’s safety — to recommend to the FAA the temporary suspension of operations of the entire global fleet of 371 737 MAX aircraft.
“On behalf of the entire Boeing team, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives in these two tragic accidents,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president, CEO, Chairman of The Boeing Company.
“We are supporting this proactive step out of an abundance of caution. Safety is a core value at Boeing for as long as we have been building airplanes; and it always will be. There is no greater priority for our company and our industry. We are doing everything we can to understand the cause of the accidents in partnership with the investigators, deploy safety enhancements and help ensure this does not happen again.”
Boeing makes this recommendation and…
Goya Commits to Donate 200 Metric Tons of Food to the People of Venezuela
Goya Foods, America’s largest Latino food company, announces its commitment to donate 200 metric tons of food, equivalent to 440,000 pounds of food, to the people of Venezuela.
In collaboration with the United States government, Goya is working to coordinate the delivery of the truckloads of product from Goya’s Houston,…
International Polar Bear Day Spreads Awareness of Polar Bear Conservation and the Dire Threat of Habitat Loss
Polar Bears International (PBI) is focused on ensuring a future for polar bears across the Arctic. On International Polar Bear Day, February 27th, the conservation group asks people to join them in celebrating the bears and taking action to preserve their sea ice home.
“Sea ice loss from climate change…
Bill and Melinda Gates Release 2019 Annual Letter: “Things We Didn’t See Coming”
Today, Bill and Melinda Gates share their 2019 Annual Letter, “Things We Didn’t See Coming.” In this year’s letter, Bill and Melinda share nine things that have surprised them over the course of their nearly two decades of work together in global health and development.
They share surprises that both…
Global Livingston Institute and Bridge of Life Partner to Support HIV Prevention and Free Health Services to More Than 3,000 Ugandans
The Global Livingston Institute has partnered with Bridge of Life, an independent nonprofit organization founded by DaVita Inc., and Reach a Hand Uganda to provide free health services throughout the iKnow Concert Series in Uganda. The concert series will take place in Kampala on March…
UN Women For Peace Association Hosted a Cocktail Reception Ahead Of International Women’s Day
Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder welcomed over 70 guests to his townhouse Monday night in advance of the UN Women for Peace Association’s upcoming Awards Luncheon on March 1, 2019, to be held at the UN Delegates Dining Room.
During the cocktail reception, Ambassador Lauder, a longtime supporter of UNWFPA, delivered…
"Frontier Tech" Regarded as a Key Tool to Achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals
By Ritz Herald /The United Nations had an 8-hour event this week in the Economic and Social Council Chamber to discuss the opportunities provided by AI and blockchain technology for sustainable development. The event brought together Member States’ representative and the UN with top researchers, experts, practitioners, the private sector, civil society and other key actors. The FSUN (Foundation to Support the United Nations) and their partners at the SDG Impact Fund have been active in leadings these gatherings, bringing attention to the possibilities of blockchain to solve the UN’s sustainable development goals.
Gatherings like these are referencing what the UN calls “frontier tech” and they’ve been picking up steam at UN HQ as NGOs, charities, governments and leaders recognize the immense power blockchain has to transform society.
“The concept of combining frontier technologies with a shift in consciousness is triggering a wake up call at the United Nations,” says Janet C. Salazar, permanent representative to the United Nations & the Chair of the Foundation for Support of the United Nations. “Even the most conservative ambassadors and leaders from around the globe are embracing the idea of using tools like cryptocurrency to make an impact.”
UN Study: Crypto Is Independent From Political Influence
A 2017 study from the UN’s Economic & Policy Division noted, “Decentralized and autonomous, cryptocurrencies are governed by the users’ consensus over a set of rules. They are independent from political influence and actions of monetary authorities. This also means, that in case of cryptocurrencies’ non-compliance with a country’s laws or regulations, there will be no institution to…
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111 Prominent Individuals From Around the World Became Aurora Forum Goodwill Ambassadors
Nir Yahav: Israeli Students to Join the Military to Help Them Land Jobs in Silicon Valley
California’s Government Officials Support Cybersecurity Education
California’s government provides services that millions of people across the state rely on. Imagine what would happen if those systems fell victim to a cybersecurity attack.
Government officials spend a lot of time thinking about that scenario and are committed to supporting programs and events that help train the next…
AJC Paris Urges Increased Government Actions on Anti-Semitism
AJC is urging France’s political leadership to re-examine the efficacy of current strategies to combat rising anti-Semitism in France. The call comes following the release of a government report showing a 74% spike in anti-Semitic incidents during 2018, compared to the previous year.
“For more than 18 years, French governments…
Former First Lady Laura Bush And NBC’s Jenna Hager Wow ASI Fort Worth Audience
The ASI Show® launched its inaugural trade show in Fort Worth with a keynote with former First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter, Today Show correspondent Jenna Hager. The mother-daughter duo wowed business owners and entrepreneurs with their deep appreciation for the opportunities they’ve enjoyed as part of a…
The Aurora Forum is proud to announce that 111 influencers from political, academic, entertainment, and business sectors around the world have joined the Aurora Forum as Goodwill Ambassadors, showing their dedication to tackling some of our time’s and future generation’s most pressing global challenges.
Aurora Forum Co-Founders Noubar Afeyan, Vartan Gregorian, and Ruben Vardanyan welcome the Goodwill Ambassadors as luminaries of Aurora’s vision to promote innovative and effective approaches to advancing positive social change in Armenia and beyond.
The inaugural Aurora Forum to be held in Armenia, October 14-21, 2019, will bring together thought-leaders and change-makers from Armenia and across the world to facilitate discussions, share knowledge, and experience educational and cultural activities in the sectors spanning from health to technology to education to arts to ecology to humanitarianism. The Aurora Forum is made possible with the cooperation of various organizations in Armenia and globally.
“We are proud to have established a network of people who have made real impact on the world in their particular field,” said Vartan Gregorian, Aurora Forum Co-Founder. “The role of the Goodwill Ambassadors is crucial in making the Aurora Forum a platform to inspire the next generation to take the leap toward…
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Nir Yahav: Israeli Students to Join the Military to Help Them Land Jobs in Silicon Valley
A Ton of Love Delivered for Abandoned Animals and Pets of Government Workers (in Case of Another Shutdown)
When you add up the number of animals impacted during this winter’s deep freeze and the concern about how the recent federal partial shutdown affected families, including pets, there’s a lot of need here in the nation’s capital.
To bring a little warmth, love, and most especially, food to animals…
Even in Female-Dominated Industries, More than One-Third of Americans Agree Women Face a “Glass Ceiling”
Industries such as real estate, healthcare and education are female-dominated, however, at the executive level, there’s a stark lack of women. A new survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, conducted online by The Harris Poll, revealed that 34 percent of Americans working in female-dominated industries agree that women…
Paralyzed Veterans of America Receives Over $1 Million through Penske Automotive Group’s “Service Matters” Campaign
Paralyzed Veterans of America received over $1 million through Penske Automotive Group’s 2018 “Service Matters” campaign. Since the beginning of this partnership in 2015, Penske Automotive Group has raised more than $4 million to support PVA.
Throughout 2018, Penske Automotive Group’s dealerships encouraged customers to donate toward its “Service Matters”…