POLICY AND PUBLIC INTEREST
California congressional delegation urges Biden for major disaster declaration amid ongoing wildfires
Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) led 47 bipartisan members of the California Congressional delegation in urging President Biden to grant Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to the devastating ongoing impacts of the Palisades, Eaton, Franklin, and Hurst fires and the ongoing windstorm event in Los Angeles County. President Biden swiftly approved Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for the major disaster declaration, reflecting the need to ensure timely relief for Los Angeles County residents impacted by these disasters.
The fires raging across Southern California since Tuesday have killed at least two individuals and burned down more than 1,000 structures, forcing more than 110,000 Los Angeles County residents to evacuate. The fires have burned thousands of acres and remain at zero percent containment, with wind gusts up to 100 miles per hour rapidly accelerating the fires’ growth and preventing firefighters from containing the blaze.
The extensive ongoing damage caused by the Palisades, Eaton, Franklin and Hurst fires has overwhelmed the Los Angeles County Fire Department and other local first responders, who are using extensive state and local resources to fight the wildfires. President Biden had provided federal assistance, including a Fire Management Assistance Grant, but a major disaster declaration was urgently needed to improve coordination and provide California with essential assistance and recovery resources.
“These wildfires have caused widespread damage across Los Angeles County that have threatened the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Californians,” wrote the lawmakers. “The wildfires have damaged — and continue to threaten — federal and state highways and roads, critical infrastructure, homes, and buildings.”
“The severity of these wildfires requires additional coordination and a wider range…
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New Research Links Urban Sprawl to Reduced Intergenerational Mobility for Low-Income Families
Urban sprawl is not just unsightly. It could also be impeding intergenerational mobility for low-income
U.S. Home Prices Show Slower Growth in October 2024, Led by New York With 7.3% Annual Increase
S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) released the October 2024 results for the S&P CoreLogic
U.S. Sanctions Georgian Officials for Human Rights Violations Amidst Brutal Crackdowns on Protests and Media
Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning two Georgian officials from Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs which has engaged in brutal crackdowns on media members, opposition figures, and protesters — including during demonstrations throughout 2024. These officials are being sanctioned under Executive Order (E.O.)…
U.S. Special Operations Forces Play Key Role in Countering Great Power Competition With China and Russia, Says Defense Official
Special operations forces have been crucial in U.S. counterterrorism efforts, but they also have a place in what is also known as a great power competition, said Chris Maier, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.
Maier spoke at the Center for a New American Security,…
U.S. Space Force Celebrates 5th Anniversary With Reflections on Achievements and Future Goals
The U.S. Space Force, which stood up Dec. 20, 2019, is America’s newest military service branch. Last Friday, service leaders marked Space Force’s 5th birthday with a small celebration in the Pentagon.
“I’m very reflective on our 5th birthday of all the things that we’ve accomplished,” said Chief of Space…
Senate Passes Bipartisan Outdoors for All Act to Enhance Urban Park Access for Underserved Communities
Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the Senate passed his bipartisan Outdoors for All Act, legislation that would expand outdoor recreational opportunities in urban and low-income communities across the nation. The bill passed today as part of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which…
U.S. Designates Individuals and Entities for Supporting North Korea’s Military Provocations and Ties With Russia
The United States is designating eleven individuals and eight entities for their actions, enabling the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and its support to Russia.
On October 31, 2024, the DPRK conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, the first since December 2023. Subsequently, on November 5, 2024, the…
Austin to attend UDCG's 25th meeting, department ramping up to support multiple D.C. events in January
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is scheduled to travel to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Jan. 7, to attend the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the Defense Department announced.
The UDCG, which was founded under Austin in response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, is a coalition of some 50 nations that meet regularly to discuss Ukraine’s security needs.
Austin’s planned attendance at the upcoming meeting is intended to, “reaffirm our enduring commitment to Ukraine, together with defense ministers and military leaders from around the globe,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told members of the media.
“Secretary Austin will focus on delivering practical and coordinated support that reinforces Ukraine’s ability to defend itself today and deter aggression in the future,” Singh said, adding that more details about the secretary’s official engagements will be made available in the coming days.
The announcement of Austin’s attendance at the upcoming UDCG meeting comes on the heels of DOD’s announcement on Monday that it will be providing a pair of aid packages to Ukraine with a combined worth of nearly $2.5 billion.
One of the assistance packages comprises a $1.25 billion presidential drawdown authority; the other includes $1.22…
Sanctioning PRC cyber company involved in malicious botnet operations
The United States is imposing sanctions today on the Beijing-based cybersecurity company Integrity Technology Group, Incorporated (Integrity Tech), which has links to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of State Security, for its role in multiple computer intrusion incidents against U.S. victims.
Integrity Tech is a large PRC government contractor with ties to the Ministry of State Security. It provides services to country and municipal State Security and Public Security Bureaus, as well as other PRC cybersecurity government contractors. PRC-based hackers working for Integrity Tech, known to the private sector as “Flax Typhoon,” were working at the direction of the PRC government, targeting critical infrastructure in the United States and overseas. “Flax Typhoon” hackers have successfully targeted multiple U.S. and foreign corporations, universities, government agencies, telecommunications providers, and media organizations.
On September 18, the Department of Justice announced a court-authorized operation to disrupt a botnet consisting of more than 200,000 consumer devices infected by Integrity Tech in the United States and worldwide. Along with Five Eyes partners, the United States issued a public cybersecurity advisory outlining some of the tactics employed by PRC-linked cyber actors and providing technical information to network defenders to remediate these threats.
These multi-agency efforts reflect our…
Concern Grows Over Drone Sightings Above Military Installations in New Jersey
In recent weeks, a number of drones have been sighted over New Jersey, prompting concern and thousands of telephone calls to report them. Some of those drones have even been sighted over Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle, both in New Jersey.
During an on-background telephone call today, officials…
U.S. Missile Defense Agency Achieves First Successful Ballistic Missile Intercept From Guam
The Missile Defense Agency, on Tuesday, conducted a live intercept of a ballistic missile target from Guam, the Pentagon has announced.
Partnering with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and other Defense Department partners, MDA’s Guam test represented the first ballistic missile defense test executed from that U.S. territory, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary…
U.S. Takes Firm Action Against Global Corruption and Human Rights Abuses on International Anti-Corruption Day
On International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of Human Rights Day the United States is taking the following actions to promote accountability for perpetrators of corruption and human rights abuse around the world.
The Department of State is designating 14 individuals, including immediate family members for involvement in significant…
Senate Passes Padilla, Murkowski Bill to Reauthorize National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced that the Senate passed their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through Fiscal Year 2028. Senate passage of the bill comes after a series of major earthquakes struck Northern California this…
U.S. Central Command Conducts Successful Self-Defense Strikes Against Threats in Eastern Syria
U.S. Central Command Tuesday morning successfully engaged and destroyed several weapon systems that posed a threat to U.S. and coalition forces in Syria, the Defense Department announced.
The weapons destroyed — which included three truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers, a T-64 tank and multiple mortars — presented a “clear and imminent…
Agencies release annual asset-size thresholds under Community Reinvestment Act regulations
By Peter Duncan / Finance ReporterThe Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation announced the 2025 updated Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) “small bank” and “intermediate small bank” asset-size thresholds.
The CRA regulations establish the framework and criteria by which the relevant agencies assess a financial institution’s record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound operations. Financial institutions are evaluated under different CRA examination procedures based upon their asset-size classification. The asset-size thresholds are adjusted annually based on the average change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which is a measure of inflation. As a result of the 2.91 percent increase in the CPI-W for the period ending in November 2024, the CRA asset-size thresholds for small banks and intermediate small banks are:
A small bank is an institution that, as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years, had assets of less than $1.609 billion.
An intermediate small bank is a small institution with assets of at least $402 million as of December 31 of both of the prior two calendar years and less than $1.609 billion as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years.
These thresholds are in effect from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. A list of the current and historical asset-size thresholds is available here.
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USS George Washington Returns to Japan
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan as the United States’ only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, Nov. 22.
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U.S. Department of Defense Consults With Interagency Partners on Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Roles
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire which could lead to a cessation of Hezbollah attacks on Israel and the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, according to news reports.
The U.S. Defense Department will play a role in the ceasefire, but there are few details, said…
Within the first week of declaring initial operational capability, personnel at the Air Force Accessions Center demonstrated their ability to adapt quickly to evolving accession requirements
Within the first week of declaring Initial Operational Capability, personnel at the Air Force Accessions Center demonstrated their ability to adapt quickly to evolving accession requirements, resulting in dozens of highly qualified cadets being notified of a pilot career field selection.
These additions came after Headquarters Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services directed a mid-year production increase of over 200 officers both rated and non-rated for fiscal 2025. The AFAC was able to execute a smart solution quickly, which was key to maintaining the overall officer accession requirement for fiscal 2025.
This achievement was made possible by the successful merger of the Air Force Recruiting Service and Holm Center at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Dec. 2, which allowed the AFRS and Reserve Officer Training Corps to bypass traditional bureaucratic hurdles.
AFRS and the Holm Center worked together to reallocate pilot Air Force Specialty Codes to cadets who had previously been unable to secure a pilot position due to limited availability. With the new organization, AFAC was able to provide increased slots to awaiting ROTC cadets, while also adding additional slots to a just completed Officer Training School rated board.
According to Brig. Gen. Chris Amrhein, AFAC commander, “The early…
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U.S. Navy Receives Newest Attack Submarine, USS Iowa, Enhancing Undersea Capabilities
U.S. Sanctions Five Gulf Cartel Associates for Involvement in IUU Fishing and Criminal Activities
The Department of the Treasury today imposed sanctions on five Mexican individuals associated with the Gulf Cartel, one of Mexico’s most dangerous criminal organizations, for involvement in criminal activities associated with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, human smuggling, and narcotics trafficking in the Gulf of Mexico.
Under the Maritime…
Stratcom Commander Discusses Nuclear System Modernization
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Paralyzed Veterans of America Applauds House Passage of Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare Act, Urges Senate Approval
Paralyzed Veterans of America National President Robert Thomas issues the following statement in response to the House’s passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This legislation is a comprehensive bipartisan package of bills that expands services for veterans, their families and caregivers,…