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Politico Update 8-25-2010

Vice President Joseph Biden and the Jobs Economy Report

“This new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is further confirmation of what we’ve been hearing from leading economists, the nation’s governors and families across the country: the Recovery Act is working to rescue the economy from eight years of failed economic policy and rebuild it even stronger than before. When the CBO, Congress’s top watchdog and an institution widely-respected on both sides of the aisle, says that because of the Recovery Act as many as 3.3 million Americans are on the job today and the unemployment rate is as much as 1.8 percent lower, it’s impossible for even the most cynical, bent-on-rooting-for-failure critics to deny. So while Republicans in Congress – the same party that got us into this mess in the first place - may want to turn back the clock and drive us back into the same ditch we’re making our way out of, it’s now clearer than ever before that we can’t afford to go backward; we have to keep moving forward and build on measures like the Recovery Act that are creating jobs and making us competitive in the 21st century economy.”

According to the CBO report, “Estimated Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Employment and Economic Output from April 2010 through June 2010,” in the second quarter of 2010, the Recovery Act:

• Raised the level of real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product (GDP) by between 1.7 percent and 4.5 percent,

• Lowered the unemployment rate by between 0.7 percentage points and 1.8 percentage points,

• Increased the number of people employed by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million

Our Top Commitment for the Gulf Coast

6-28-2010 "We're going to make it whole. We ain't leaving," Biden said. "I admire your tenacity. I admire your gumption. Through Katrina, Gustav and now BP, you were tough. You're kind of the definition of what America is." He continued This is one of the few places where the natural ecosystem and the cultural ecosystem are one and the same," Biden said today in his first visit to the Gulf Coast since April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig. Our top commitment is to make sure we save this way of life."

Crabbers and fishermen need to be able to sustain themselves and their famiies and the economy that is already here.In a report from the guys and girls at ground O in Louisiana members of the Emergency and Disaster Support organization, people are frustrated allmost as much as from Katrina. To read a first hand report click here.

Private Sector Preparedness

Washington, D.C.—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the adoption of the final standards for the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep)—a major milestone in DHS' implementation of a program recommended by the 9/11 Commission to improve private sector preparedness for disasters and emergencies.

"Private organizations across the country—from businesses to universities to non-profit organizations—have a vital role to play in bolstering our disaster preparedness and response capabilities," said Secretary Napolitano. "These new standards will provide our private sector partners with the tools they need to enhance the readiness and resiliency of our nation."

PS-Prep is a partnership between DHS and the private sector that enables private entities to receive emergency preparedness certification from a DHS accreditation system created in coordination with the private sector.

The standards—developed by the National Fire Protection Association, the British Standards Institution and ASIS International—were published for public comment in the Federal Register in Oct. 2009. The adoption of the final standards was published in a Federal Register notice today following a series of regional public meetings and the incorporation of public comments.

DHS will continue to accept comments on PS-Prep, the three adopted standards, and/or proposals to adopt any other similar standard that satisfies the target criteria of the December 2008 Federal Register notice which announced the program.

DHS Response to Oil Spill

According to Secretary Napoliano, Since day one, the Administration has engaged in an all-hands-on-deck response to this event — and DHS has played a significant role. We planned for a worst-case scenario from the moment the explosion occurred and now, almost four weeks later, we are continuing to sustain a strong and effective response. Every step of the way, the Administration has closely coordinated its efforts with the states and local communities affected by the spill.

As of this writing on May 141, there are more than 17,000 personnel at the federal, state and local level and thousands of trained volunteers responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife. More than 550 vessels have been deployed across the Gulf region, including skimmers, tugs, barges, and recovery vessels — in addition to dozens of aircraft, remotely operated vehicles, and multiple mobile offshore drilling units. More than 1.2 million feet of containment boom have been deployed, and we have deployed more than a half million gallons of dispersants in addition to using controlled burns and skimming techniques to contain the oil slick, recovering more than 5 million gallons of an oil-water mix. We have established 14 staging areas across the Gulf Coast states and three regional command centers. The Department of Defense has approved the activation of up to 17,500 National Guard troops and more than 1,300 are deployed.

While this spill is still continuing, DHS and all of our partners throughout the federal government will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that BP stops the leaks, contains the spill, and mitigates the spill’s impact on the environment, the economy, and public health.

Big Boys Going Down

5-1-2010 UBS Securities Inc. to pay a $200,000 civil penalty to settle CFTC charges of aiding and abetting the Morgan Stanley scheme.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced the separate filings and simultaneous settlements of charges against Morgan Stanley Capital Group, Inc. (Morgan Stanley) and UBS Securities Inc. (UBS) in connection with Morgan Stanley concealing from the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) the existence of a large Trade at Settlement (TAS) block crude oil trade and UBS Securities aiding and abetting that concealment.

The CFTC orders require that Morgan Stanley pay a $14 million civil monetary penalty and UBS pay a $200,000 civil monetary penalty. The orders also require Morgan Stanley and UBS to cease and desist from further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and to comply with certain undertakings.

The CFTC orders, entered on April 29, 2010, find that, in early February 2009, a Morgan Stanley trader and a UBS broker discussed an opportunity for Morgan Stanley to act as a counterparty to a third-party UBS customer to purchase a block of March 2009 crude oil futures contracts and to sell a block of a similar quantity of April 2009 contracts on the NYMEX. The price of the two legs of the trade was to be determined later by the market closing price, an arrangement known as a TAS (Trade at Settlement) block trade.

The order finds that, on February 6, 2009, prior to the trade being finalized, the Morgan Stanley trader requested that the UBS broker not report the TAS block trade until after the close of trading. The UBS broker agreed to this arrangement. At around mid-day on February 6, 2009, Morgan Stanley and UBS, on behalf of its customer, entered into the TAS block by which Morgan Stanley purchased 33,110 March 2009 NYMEX Light Sweet Crude Oil futures contracts and sold 33,110 April 2009 NYMEX Light Sweet Crude Oil futures contracts. Per their agreement, the UBS broker then did not report the existence of the TAS block trade until 2:37 pm, after the market closed, according to the order.

The CFTC order further finds that Morgan Stanley’s and UBS’s actions concealed the occurrence of the trade from the NYMEX, contrary to NYMEX Rule 6.21C(6), which provided that the “buyer and seller must ensure that each block trade is reported to the Exchange within five minutes of the time of execution.”The CFTC orders require that Morgan Stanley pay a $14 million civil monetary penalty and UBS pay a $200,000 civil monetary penalty. The orders also require Morgan Stanley and UBS to cease and desist from further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and to comply with certain undertakings.

The CFTC order further finds that Morgan Stanley’s and UBS’s actions concealed the occurrence of the trade from the NYMEX, contrary to NYMEX Rule 6.21C(6), which provided that the “buyer and seller must ensure that each block trade is reported to the Exchange within five minutes of the time of execution.” In addition to the civil monetary penalties, Morgan Stanley agreed for the next three years to 1) notify all Morgan Stanley traders of significant new and modified trading rules; 2) administer a yearly enhanced training program regarding CFTC and exchange trading rules for all appropriate Morgan Stanley employees and 3) implement, within 90 days, enhanced surveillance of TAS block trades on the NYMEX.

Explosives Detection Units

4-17-2010 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the purchase of more than 1,200 explosives trace detection units using $35.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding—improving explosives detection capabilities at airports nationwide while infusing Recovery Act dollars into local economies.

"These state-of-the art technologies will strengthen security and streamline screening operations while making air travel more convenient for passengers," said Secretary Napolitano. "Explosives trace detection technology, enhanced inline baggage screening systems and improved surveillance capabilities are important elements of our layered aviation security strategy to protect the flying public from terrorism."

The Recovery Act funded explosives trace detection units announced by Secretary Napolitano today will effectively and efficiently screen checked and carry-on baggage for explosives residue. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has expanded the random use of explosives trade detection technology—which can also be used to screen the hands of passengers or their clothing—as part of the Department's efforts to strengthen aviation security at U.S. airports and around the world since the attempted terrorist attack on Dec. 25, 2009.

More than 7,000 explosives trace detection units are currently in use by TSA at U.S. airports.

In addition, $30.4 million in ARRA funding announced today will be used to expand an inline baggage screening system at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Inline baggage handling systems use state-of-the-art technology to screen checked baggage for explosives more quickly, while streamlining the ticketing and boarding process. The systems also provide on-screen resolution capabilities for TSA officers screening baggage, reducing the number of re-scans and physical bag searches.

$6.1 million in ARRA funds will be used to purchase 135 chemical analysis devices to identify potential explosives in medically necessary liquids brought through security checkpoints at airports across the country.

Healthcare-The President Said

I said this once or twice, but it bears repeating: If you like your current insurance, you will keep your current insurance. No government takeover; nobody is changing what you’ve got if you’re happy with it. If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. In fact, more people will keep their doctors because your coverage will be more secure and more stable than it was before I signed this legislation.

And now that this legislation is passed, you don’t have to take my word for it. You’ll be able to see it in your own lives. I heard one of the Republican leaders say this was going to be Armageddon. Well, two months from now, six months from now, you can check it out. We’ll look around –- (laughter) -- and we’ll see. You don’t have to take my word for it.

The President explained what the signing was really about:

Today, I’m signing this reform bill into law on behalf of my mother, who argued with insurance companies even as she battled cancer in her final days.

I’m signing it for Ryan Smith, who’s here today. He runs a small business with five employees. He’s trying to do the right thing, paying half the cost of coverage for his workers. This bill will help him afford that coverage.

I’m signing it for 11-year-old Marcelas Owens, who’s also here. Marcelas lost his mom to an illness. And she didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford the care that she needed. So in her memory he has told her story across America so that no other children have to go through what his family has experienced.

I’m signing it for Natoma Canfield. Natoma had to give up her health coverage after her rates were jacked up by more than 40 percent. She was terrified that an illness would mean she’d lose the house that her parents built, so she gave up her insurance. Now she’s lying in a hospital bed, as we speak, faced with just such an illness, praying that she can somehow afford to get well without insurance. Natoma’s family is here today because Natoma can’t be. And her sister Connie is here. Connie, stand up.

I’m signing this bill for all the leaders who took up this cause through the generations from Teddy Roosevelt to Franklin Roosevelt, from Harry Truman, to Lyndon Johnson, from Bill and Hillary Clinton, to one of the deans who’s been fighting this so long, John Dingell. (Applause.) To Senator Ted Kennedy. (Applause.) And it’s fitting that Ted’s widow, Vicki, is here -- it’s fitting that Teddy’s widow, Vicki, is here; and his niece Caroline; his son Patrick, whose vote helped make this reform a reality.

I remember seeing Ted walk through that door in a summit in this room a year ago -- one of his last public appearances. And it was hard for him to make it. But he was confident that we would do the right thing.

Our presence here today is remarkable and improbable. With all the punditry, all of the lobbying, all of the game-playing that passes for governing in Washington, it’s been easy at times to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing; to wonder if there are limits to what we, as a people, can still achieve. It’s easy to succumb to the sense of cynicism about what’s possible in this country.

But today, we are affirming that essential truth -– a truth every generation is called to rediscover for itself –- that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations. We are not a nation that falls prey to doubt or mistrust. We don't fall prey to fear. We are not a nation that does what’s easy. That’s not who we are. That’s not how we got here.

We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America.

And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care. (Applause.) And it is an extraordinary achievement that has happened because of all of you and all the advocates all across the country.

So, thank you. Thank you. God bless you, and may God bless the United States.

All right, I would now like to call up to stage some of the members of Congress who helped make this day possible, and some of the Americans who will benefit from these reforms. And we’re going to sign this bill.

Healthcare Miracle Bill Passes

3-19-2010 President Obama, I stand before you, one year after the worst recession since the Great Depression, having to make a bunch of tough decisions, having had a tumultuous debate, having had a lot of folks who were skeptical that we could get anything done. And right now, we are at the point where we are going to do something historic this weekend. That’s what this health care vote is all about.

The healthcare miracle bill was passed by a vote of 216-212, on Sunday March 21, 2010. Here at 911 we think that with all of the resistance that the president has weathered, this is truly a miracle bill because it is for the people of the country as a good change that will begin to make things right for the people that the current system has marginalized for far too long.

The President said: They had counted us out before we had even started, because the Washington conventional wisdom was that change was too hard. But what we had even then was a group of students here at George Mason who believed that if we worked hard enough and if we fought long enough, if we organized enough supporters, then we could finally bring change to that city across the river.We believed that despite all the resistance, we could make Washington work. Not for the lobbyists, not for the special interests, not for the politicians, but for the American people.

A few miles from here, Congress is in the final stages of a fateful debate about the future of health insurance in America. It’s a debate that’s raged not just for the past year but for the past century. One thing when you’re in the White House, you’ve got a lot of history books around you. And so I’ve been reading up on the history here. Teddy Roosevelt, Republican, was the first to advocate that everybody get health care in this country. Every decade since, we’ve had Presidents, Republicans and Democrats, from Harry Truman to Richard Nixon to JFK to Lyndon Johnson to every single President has said we need to fix this system.

It’s a debate that’s not only about the cost of health care, not just about what we’re doing about folks who aren’t getting a fair shake from their insurance companies. It’s a debate about the character of our country about whether we can still meet the challenges of our time; whether we still have the guts and the courage to give every citizen, not just some, the chance to reach their dreams.

At the heart of this debate is the question of whether we’re going to accept a system that works better for the insurance companies than it does for the American people because if this vote fails, the insurance industry will continue to run amok. They will continue to deny people coverage. They will continue to deny people care. They will continue to jack up premiums 40 or 50 or 60 percent as they have in the last few weeks without any accountability whatsoever. They know this. And that’s why their lobbyists are stalking the halls of Congress as we speak, and pouring millions of dollars into negative ads. And that’s why they are doing everything they can to kill this bill.

So the only question left is this: Are we going to let the special interests win once again?

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: Or are we going to make this vote a victory for the American people?

AUDIENCE: Yes we can! Yes we can!

THE PRESIDENT: George Mason, the time for reform is right now. Not a year from now, not five years from now, not 10 years from now, not 20 years from now ,it’s now. We have had, we have had a year of hard debate. Every proposal has been put on the table. Every argument has been made. We have incorporated the best ideas from Democrats and from Republicans into a final proposal that builds on the system of private insurance that we currently have. The insurance industry and its supporters in Congress have tried to portray this as radical change.

Rights of Young Girls Globally

3-5-2010 As leaders gather for the fifteen-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action, we, the members of the United Nations Adolescent Girls Task Force, jointly pledge to intensify our efforts to fulfil the human rights of adolescent girls. During the next five years, we will aim to increase our agencies’ support to developing countries to advance key policies and programmes that empower the hardest-to-reach adolescent girls, particularly those aged 10 to 14 years.

Many of the 600 million adolescent girls living in developing countries remain invisible in national policies and programmes. Millions live in poverty, are burdened by gender discrimination and inequality, and are subject to multiple forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation, such as child labour, child marriage and other harmful practices. The full potential of these girls and their contribution to their communities have yet to be realized.

We are convinced that educated, healthy and skilled adolescent girls will help build a better future, advance social justice, support economic development, and combat poverty. They will stay in school, marry later, delay childbearing, have healthier children, and earn better incomes that will benefit themselves, their families, communities and nations. Investing in their rights and empowerment will help accelerate the achievement of internationally-agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

We will work with governments, civil society, communities, adolescent girls and boys on five strategic priorities:

Educate adolescent girls: Ensure adolescent girls have access to quality education and complete schooling, focusing on their transition from primary to post-primary education and training, including secondary education, and pathways between the formal and non-formal systems.

Improve adolescent girls' health: Ensure adolescent girls’ access to age-appropriate health and nutrition information and services, including life skills-based sexuality education, HIV prevention, and sexual and reproductive health.

Keep adolescent girls free from violence: Prevent and protect girls from all forms of gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation, and ensure that girls who experience violence receive prompt protection, services and access to justice.

Promote adolescent girl leaders: Ensure that adolescent girls gain essential economic and social skills and are supported by mentors and resources to participate in community life.

Count adolescent girls: Work with partners to collect, analyse, and use data on adolescent girls to advocate for, develop and monitor evidence-based policies and programmes that advance their well-being and realize their human rights.

We will work in a coordinated manner with other relevant global initiatives. We call on Member States to join us in accelerating efforts to protect the rights of adolescent girls. Together, we can build a future of gender equality and social justice.

Tilting at Windmills

2-25-2010 Open the door to your new office, check out the rooms, then go buy new office furniture if you are in the renewable energy sector. Why should you do this, because the Interior Secretary Salazar is almost at the point of approving that public lands can be used for natural energy, IE that plans to make Cape Wind on Nantucket Sound a Wind Farm.

According to Secretary Salazar, “America’s vast offshore wind resources offer exciting potential for our clean energy economy and for our nation’s efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said Secretary Salazar. “But as we begin to develop these resources, we must ensure that we are doing so in the right way and in the right places.

“The Keeper’s finding that Nantucket Sound is eligible for listing in the National Register provides information that will help us to undertake final consultations and analysis of potential impacts of wind development on historic and cultural resources in Nantucket Sound.

“After several years of review, it is now time to move the Cape Wind proposal to a final decision point. That is why I am gathering the principal parties together next week to consider the findings of the Keeper and to discuss how we might find a common-sense agreement on actions that could be taken to minimize and mitigate Cape Wind’s potential impacts on historic and cultural resources. I am hopeful that an agreement among the parties can be reached by March 1. If an agreement among the parties can’t be reached, I will be prepared to take the steps necessary to bring the permit process to conclusion. The public, the parties, and the permit applicants deserve certainty and resolution.”

Stolen Funds

The World Bank Group welcomes the continued efforts of the Swiss Government to hand over to Haiti millions of stolen assets held by the Duvalier family in Switzerland, money that could be used for development purposes following the devastating earthquake in the Caribbean country.

The Swiss authorities announced Wednesday that the Federal Supreme Court had ordered the release of US$5.7 million to the family of Haiti's ex-dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier. Whilst upholding judgments of lower courts on facts, the court decided that funds would have to be released to the Duvalier family because the statute of limitations had expired. Following the announcement, the Swiss Government, the Federal Council, immediately ordered the assets to be frozen on a constitutional basis.

“We welcome the decision by the Swiss authorities to freeze the looted funds. They should be returned to Haiti, especially now when the humanitarian needs have increased after the earthquake,” said World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. “This case highlights the technical difficulties countries face when dealing with stolen assets, and the importance of undertaking ambitious and creative legal actions by all financial centers to overcome this problem.”

In its written decision, the Supreme Court advised that the legal constraints that hindered the return of assets in this case would have to be addressed by strengthening legislation. The Swiss authorities have indicated they are already working on legislative proposals aimed at improving the legal framework. Solutions may be found in extending the statutes of limitations on international corruption cases and facilitating the process of legal assistance between national authorities.

“The legal challenges in the Duvalier case are shared by many other jurisdictions,” said Okonjo-Iweala. “We need pro-active global action to set up a more flexible international framework on asset recovery. Recovering and repatriating looted assets to countries where they belong sends a far more powerful message than aid.”

At the request of the government of Haiti, the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR), a joint effort of the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has provided technical assistance to help further the freezing and restitution of the Duvalier assets.

The StAR Initiative was launched in September, 2007. It emphasizes that developed and developing countries share a joint responsibility in tackling corruption, and that international collaboration and collective action are needed to facilitate asset recovery and prevent asset theft.

I Want a Jobs Policy on My Desk Without Delay

Quipped the President in his State of the Union Speech last night. The Maestro has spoken and shown a direction in which to push our power,efforts and energies toward.

We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities -- and give rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy-efficient, which supports clean energy jobs. And to encourage these and other businesses to stay within our borders, it is time to finally slash the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas, and give those tax breaks to companies that create jobs right here in the United States of America.

If you would like to read the entire speech click here

Haiti Aftershock News

1-21-2010 There was no clear picture yet as to what extra damage yesterday’s aftershock had caused in Haiti, John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, said at Headquarters today.

There was no clear picture yet as to what extra damage this morning’s aftershock had caused in Haiti, John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, said at Headquarters today.

Speaking at a press conference on the current situation in the earthquake-ravaged island nation, he said the epicentre of the aftershock, which registered 6.1 on the Richter Scale, was at Petit Goave, west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, on the northern coast of Haiti’s western region.

He said efforts to reach cities outside Port-au-Prince, particularly Jacmel, near Petit Goave, were being stepped up significantly. While aid was being delivered in significant quantities, it remained short of needs. Search-and-rescue operations were continuing and people were still being pulled from the rubble of the ruined capital. Search-and-rescue teams had saved 120 people, not counting those pulled out by local residents.

He said health questions remained a major concern, particularly ensuring that the numerous injured people would get the surgical treatment they needed. Every effort was being made to ensure the availability of the right number of doctors and the right amount of drugs. Seven field hospitals were in place and others on the way, he said, noting that a United States hospital ship had arrived.

focus remained on water, he said, pointing out that, although large quantities were available at the main treatment plant, fuel constraints were hampering the tanker trucks used to ferry supplies. However, those constraints were now being eased as the Haitian Government had released some fuel from its own stocks and increasing quantities were coming in from the neighbouring Dominican Republic.

He said the World Food Programme (WFP) had reached some 250,000 people with rations that would last some days, while the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other organizations had reached an additional 250,000. However, an estimated 2 million of 3 million people in need would require food assistance for six months. Some food was being sold on the street, but people needed money to buy it, he noted, adding that some banks were expected to open on Friday.

As for logistics, he said the airport was working increasingly well in terms of handling military and humanitarian flights. The United Nations was working with the United States on prioritizing flights to ensure that the most urgent needs, including medical ones, were met first. It was to be hoped that Médecins Sans Frontières would get a landing slot today.

He said the Dominican Republic was increasingly being used as a staging post for the delivery of equipment and food through the use of road transportation from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) regarded the escort of aid convoys by its troops as a top priority. However, it was to be hoped that United States Marines could lend support as they arrived. MINUSTAH was also maintaining law and order in Port-au-Prince, with the assistance of some 2,000 personnel of the Haitian National Police.

Answering questions, Mr. Holmes said the United Nations did not look for United States forces to work under its command, but wished to coordinate with them as much as possible. Liaison offices had been established in Washington, D.C., and Miami, but the most important coordination was done on the spot, with United States generals talking intensely with Special Representative Edmond Mulet and his team.

The coordination was good and areas of responsibility were being defined, he said. The central coordinating role of the United Nations was accepted by all, including the United States, which, although it controlled the airport, had asked the world body for help in deciding on humanitarian priorities.

In response to another question, he said increasing numbers of people were indeed heading north from Port-au-Prince to find better conditions or to live with relatives. That was not being discouraged, although there was a longer-term concern that their whereabouts would be unknown and they could strain resources elsewhere in the already poor country. Camps and reception centres for internally displaced persons were being established around Port-au-Prince, he added.

Characterizing as “insulting” reports that the Chinese search-and-rescue team had concentrated on finding their own nationals, or that search-and-rescue teams generally favoured finding international staff over Haitians, Mr. Holmes said the Chinese team had been the first on the ground. It had taken the lead at the Christopher Hotel but was also looking elsewhere. The team had worked quickly and effectively and had rescued many people.

Asked if the $5 a day offered under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) “Cash for Work” programme was enough to meet people’s actual needs, he said there was a need to get some cash into people’s pockets and to get them to take part in rubble removal and repairs. There was also a concern, not least on the Haitian Government’s part, not to “wreck the market” and not to undercut normal economic activities.

Replying to questions about the $575 million flash appeal and other aid, Mr. Holmes said that so far 30 per cent of the appeal target amount had been received in the form of contributions and pledges. One concern was that agencies were spending lots of money and that there could be a problem in a few weeks’ time. The flow of money between different sectors was uneven. Some areas, such as food, were generally covered quickly, while contributions for other areas, such as early recovery, came in more slowly.

Regarding fundraising, he said he was working well with United Nations Special Envoy Bill Clinton and his team. The United Nations did not solicit in-kind contributions from corporations, although it had standing arrangements with some companies, such as Ericsson for telecommunications and DHL for airport management. However, many in-kind contributions had come in and were being listed and passed on to interested organizations, which could then follow up.

President Clinton and others were emphasizing the message that money was more useful than in-kind donations, he said, adding that the financial tracking system followed all contributions as accurately as possible, including contributions to the flash appeal, bilateral contributions and in-kind donations.

Haiti

One Hundred Million in AID From the U.S.

1-15-2010 The losses that have been suffered in Haiti are nothing less than devastating, and responding to a disaster of this magnitude will require every element of our national capacity -- our diplomacy and development assistance; the power of our military; and, most importantly, the compassion of our country. And this morning, I'm joined by several members of my national security team who are leading this coordinated response.

I've made it clear to each of these leaders that Haiti must be a top priority for their departments and agencies right now. This is one of those moments that calls out for American leadership. For the sake of our citizens who are in Haiti, for the sake of the Haitian people who have suffered so much, and for the sake of our common humanity, we stand in solidarity with our neighbors to the south, knowing that but for the grace of God, there we go.

This morning, I can report that the first waves of our rescue and relief workers are on the ground and at work. A survey team worked overnight to identify priority areas for assistance, and shared the results of that review throughout the United States government, and with international partners who are also sending support. Search and rescue teams are actively working to save lives. Our military has secured the airport and prepared it to receive the heavy equipment and resources that are on the way, and to receive them around the clock, 24 hours a day. An airlift has been set up to deliver high-priority items like water and medicine. And we're coordinating closely with the Haitian government, the United Nations, and other countries who are also on the ground.

We have no higher priority than the safety of American citizens, and we've airlifted injured Americans out of Haiti. We're running additional evacuations, and will continue to do so in the days ahead. I know that many Americans, especially Haitian Americans, are desperate for information about their family and friends. And the State Department has set up a phone number and e-mail address that you can find at www.state.gov -- www.state.gov -- to inquire about your loved ones. And you should know that we will not rest until we account for our fellow Americans in harm's way.<

Even as we move as quickly as possible, it will take hours -- and in many cases days -- to get all of our people and resources on the ground. Right now in Haiti roads are impassable, the main port is badly damaged, communications are just beginning to come online, and aftershocks continue.

None of this will seem quick enough if you have a loved one who's trapped, if you're sleeping on the streets, if you can't feed your children. But it's important that everybody in Haiti understand, at this very moment one of the largest relief efforts in our recent history is moving towards Haiti. More American search and rescue teams are coming. More food. More water. Doctors, nurses, paramedics. More of the people, equipment and capabilities that can make the difference between life and death.

The United States armed forces are also on their way to support this effort. Several Coast Guard cutters are already there providing everything from basic services like water, to vital technical support for this massive logistical operation. Elements of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division will arrive today. We're also deploying a Marine Expeditionary Unit, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, and the Navy's hospital ship, the Comfort.

And today, I'm also announcing an immediate investment of $100 million to support our relief efforts. This will mean more of the life-saving equipment, food, water and medicine that will be needed. This investment will grow over the coming year as we embark on the long-term recovery from this unimaginable tragedy.

The United States of America will also forge the partnerships that this undertaking demands. We will partner with the Haitian people. And that includes the government of Haiti, which needs our support as they recover from the devastation of this earthquake. It also includes the many Haitian Americans who are determined to help their friends and family. And I've asked Vice President Biden to meet in South Florida this weekend with members of the Haitian American community, and with responders who are mobilizing to help the Haitian people.

We will partner with the United Nations and its dedicated personnel and peacekeepers, especially those from Brazil, who are already on the ground due to their outstanding peacekeeping efforts there. And I want to say that our hearts go out to the United Nations, which has experienced one of the greatest losses in its history. We have no doubt that we can carry on the work that was done by so many of the U.N. effort that have been lost, and we see that their legacy is Haiti's hope for the future.

We will partner with other nations and organizations. And that's why I've been reaching out to leaders from across the Americas and beyond who are sending resources to support this effort. And we will join with the strong network of non-governmental organizations across the country who understand the daily struggles of the Haitian people.

Yet even as we bring our resources to bear on this emergency, we need to summon the tremendous generosity and compassion of the American people. I want to thank the many Americans who have already contributed to this effort. I want to encourage all Americans who want to help to go to whitehouse.gov to learn more. And in the days ahead, we will continue to work with those individuals and organizations who want to assist this effort so that you can do so.

Finally, I want to speak directly to the people of Haiti. Few in the world have endured the hardships that you have known. Long before this tragedy, daily life itself was often a bitter struggle. And after suffering so much for so long, to face this new horror must cause some to look up and ask, have we somehow been forsaken?

To the people of Haiti, we say clearly, and with conviction, you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten. In this, your hour of greatest need, America stands with you. The world stands with you. We know that you are a strong and resilient people. You have endured a history of slavery and struggle, of natural disaster and recovery. And through it all, your spirit has been unbroken and your faith has been unwavering. So today, you must know that help is arriving -- much, much more help is on the way, said President Obama.

What the President Promised

That was brought home again yesterday. We learned that in November, our economy saw its first month of job gains in nearly two years – but last month, we lost more than we gained. Now, we know that no single month makes a trend, and job losses for the final quarter of 2009 were one-tenth what they were in the first quarter. But until we see a trend of good, sustainable job creation, we will be relentless in our efforts to put America back to work.

That task goes even deeper than replacing the seven million jobs that have been lost over the past two years. We need to rebuild our economy in such a way that our families can feel a measure of security again. Too many of the folks I’ve talked with this year, and whose stories I read in letters at night, tell me that they’ve known their own private recessions since long before economists declared one – and they’ll still feel the recession long after economists have declared it over.

That’s because, for decades, Washington avoided doing what was right in favor of doing what was easy. And the result was an economy where some made out well, but the middle class too often took a beating.

Over the past decade, the income of the average household actually declined, and we lost as many jobs as we created. Hardworking folks who did everything right suddenly found themselves forced to downscale their dreams because of economic factors beyond their control. We’re talking about simple dreams. American dreams. A good job with a good wage. A secure and dignified retirement. Stable health care so you don’t go broke just because you get sick. The chance to give our kids a better shot than we got.

That’s why, as we begin to emerge from this crisis, we will not return to the complacency that helped cause it. Even as we focus on putting America back to work today, we’re building a new foundation for our economy to create the good, lasting jobs and shared prosperity of tomorrow.

We’re making historic investments in science and in a clean energy economy that will generate and keep the jobs and industries of the future right here in America.

aliWe’re reforming our education system, so that our kids are fully prepared to compete with workers anywhere in the world and win the race for the 21st century.

We’re fixing our broken health insurance system that’s crushing families, eating away at workers’ take-home pay, and nailing small businesses with double-digit premium increases.

And that’s what I’d like to focus on for a minute. After a long and thorough debate, we are on the verge of passing health insurance reform that will finally offer Americans the security of knowing they’ll have quality, affordable health care whether they lose their job, change jobs, move, or get sick. The worst practices of the insurance industry will be banned forever. And costs will finally come down for families, businesses, and our government.

Now, it’ll take a few years to fully implement these reforms in a responsible way. But what every American should know is that once I sign health insurance reform into law, there are dozens of protections and benefits that will take effect this year.

Uninsured Americans with a pre-existing illness or condition will finally be able to purchase coverage they can afford.

Children with pre-existing conditions will no longer be refused coverage, and young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ policy until they’re 26 or 27 years old.

Small business owners who can’t afford to cover their employees will be immediately offered tax credits to purchase coverage.

Early retirees who receive coverage from their employers will see their coverage protected and their premiums go down.

Seniors who fall into the coverage gap known as the donut hole will receive discounts of up to 50 percent on their prescriptions as we begin to close that gap altogether.

And every patient’s choice of doctor will be protected, along with access to emergency care.

Here’s what else will happen within the first year. Insurance plans will be required to offer free preventive care to their customers – so that we can start catching preventable illnesses and diseases on the front end. They’ll no longer be allowed to impose restrictive annual limits on the amount of coverage you receive or lifetime limits on the amount of benefits you receive. They’ll be prohibited from dropping your coverage when you get sick and need it most. And there will be a new, independent appeals process for anyone who feels they were unfairly denied a claim by their insurance company.

In short, once I sign health insurance reform into law, doctors and patients will have more control over their health care decisions, and insurance company bureaucrats will have less. All told, these changes represent the most sweeping reforms and toughest restrictions on insurance companies that this country has ever known. That’s how we’ll make 2010 a healthier and more secure year for every American – for those who have health insurance, and those who don’t.

We enter a new decade, now, with new perils – but we’re going to meet them. It’s also a time of tremendous promise – and we’re going to seize it. We will rebuild the American Dream for our middle class and put the American economy on a stronger footing for the future. And this year, I am as hopeful and as confident as ever that we’re going to rise to this moment the same way that generations of Americans always have: as one nation, and one people. Thanks for listening.

Smart Energy Grid

Applicants say investments will create tens of thousands of jobs, save energy and empower consumers to cut their electric bills

ARCADIA, FLORIDA – Speaking at Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, President Barack Obama today announced the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history, funding a broad range of technologies that will spur the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system. The end result will promote energy-saving choices for consumers, increase efficiency, and foster the growth of renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

As a part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act

The $3.4 billion in Smart Grid Investment Grant awards are part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and will be matched by industry funding for a total public-private investment worth over $8 billion. Applicants state that the projects will create tens of thousands of jobs, and consumers in 49 states will benefit from these investments in a stronger, more reliable grid.

An analysis by the Electric Power Research Institute estimates that the implementation of smart grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than 4 percent by 2030. That would mean a savings of $20.4 billion for businesses and consumers around the country, and $1.6 billion for Florida alone -- or $56 in utility savings for every man, woman and child in Florida.

One-hundred private companies, utilities, manufacturers, cities and other partners received awards today, including FPL which will use its $200 million in funding to install 2.6 million smart meters and other technology that will cut energy costs for its customers. In the coming days, Cabinet Members and other Administration officials will fan out to awardee sites across the country to discuss how this investment will create jobs, improve the reliability and efficiency of the electrical grid, and help bring clean energy sources from high-production states to those with less renewable generating capacity. The awards announced today represent the largest group of Recovery Act awards ever made in a single day and the largest batch of Recovery Act clean energy grant awards to-date.

Today’s announcement includes:

• Empowering Consumers to Save Energy and Cut Utility Bills -- $1 billion. These investments will create the infrastructure and expand access to smart meters and customer systems so that consumers will be able to access dynamic pricing information and have the ability to save money by programming smart appliances and equipment to run when rates are lowest. This will help reduce energy bills for everyone by helping drive down “peak demand” and limiting the need for “stand-by” power plants – the most expensive power generation there is.

• Making Electricity Distribution and Transmission More Efficient -- $400 million. The Administration is funding several grid modernization projects across the country that will significantly reduce the amount of power that is wasted from the time it is produced at a power plant to the time it gets to your house. By deploying digital monitoring devices and increasing grid automation, these awards will increase the efficiency, reliability and security of the system, and will help link up renewable energy resources with the electric grid. This will make it easier for a wind farm in Montana to instantaneously pick up the slack when the wind stops blowing in Missouri or a cloud rolls over a solar array in Arizona.

• Integrating and Crosscutting Across Different “Smart” Components of a Smart Grid -- $2 billion. Much like electronic banking, the Smart Grid is not the sum total of its components but how those components work together. The Administration is funding a range of projects that will incorporate these various components into one system or cut across various project areas – including smart meters, smart thermostats and appliances, syncrophasors, automated substations, plug in hybrid electric vehicles, renewable energy sources, etc.

• Building a Smart Grid Manufacturing Industry -- $25 million. These investments will help expand our manufacturing base of companies that can produce the smart meters, smart appliances, synchrophasors, smart transformers, and other components for smart grid systems in the United States and around the world – representing a significant and growing export opportunity for our country and new jobs for American workers.

The combined effect of the investments announced today, when the projects are fully implemented, will:

• Create tens of thousands of jobs across the country. These jobs include high paying career opportunities for smart meter manufacturing workers; engineering technicians, electricians and equipment installers; IT system designers and cyber security specialists; data entry clerks and database administrators; business and power system analysts; and others.

• Leverage more than $4.7 billion in private investment to match the federal investment.

Vigorous Debate

The Health Care Bills Passage 10-20-2009

After many months of debate and deliberation, dozens of hearings, the dissemination and debunking of hundreds of myths and falsehoods, and testimonials from thousands and thousands of ordinary Americans asking for change, reform took yet another step forward. With the emergence of a reform bill from the final committee in Congress with jurisdiction over the the issue, this issue that has seemed utterly intractable for most of a century is now closer to a resolution than it has ever been.

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Today we reached a critical milestone in our effort to reform our health care system. After many months of thoughtful deliberation, the fifth and final committee responsible for health care reform has passed a proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support. This effort was made possible by the tireless efforts of Chairman Max Baucus and the other members of the Senate Finance Committee. It's a product of vigorous debate and difficult negotiations.

After the consideration of hundreds of amendments, it includes ideas from both Democrats and Republicans, which is why it enjoys the support of people from both parties. And I want to particularly thank Senator Olympia Snowe for both the political courage and the seriousness of purpose that she's demonstrated throughout this process.

Now, this bill is not perfect and we have a lot of difficult work ahead of us. There are still significant details and disagreements to be worked out over the next several weeks as the five separate bills from the Senate and the House are merged into one proposal. But I do believe the work of the Senate Finance Committee has brought us significantly closer to achieving the core objectives I laid out early in September.

Most importantly, this bill goes a long way towards offering security to those who have insurance, and affordable options for those who don't. It reins in some of the worst practices of the insurance industry, like the denial of coverage due to preexisting conditions. It also sets up an insurance exchange that will make coverage affordable for those who don't currently have it. And as the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has certified, it will slow the growth of health care costs in the long term and it will not add a penny to our deficit.

The committee's progress over the past several weeks is the culmination of work by all five committees and numerous members of Congress over the better part of this year. We've reached out to stakeholders across the spectrum -- doctors and nurses, businesses and workers, hospitals and even drug companies. And we've considered a wide variety of ideas and proposals in an effort to find common ground.

As a result of these efforts, we are now closer than ever before to passing health reform. But we're not there yet. Now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back. Now is not the time to offer ourselves congratulations. Now is the time to dig in and work even harder to get this done. And in this final phase, I hope that we will continue to engage each other with the spirit of civility and seriousness that has brought us this far and that this subject deserves.

I commend the Chairman and the committee's members for their achievement and the example that they've set, and I look forward to continue to work with Congress in the weeks ahead. We are going to get this done.

Thank you very much, everybody.THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Today we reached a critical milestone in our effort to reform our health care system. After many months of thoughtful deliberation, the fifth and final committee responsible for health care reform has passed a proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support. This effort was made possible by the tireless efforts of Chairman Max Baucus and the other members of the Senate Finance Committee. It's a product of vigorous debate and difficult negotiations.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Pittsburgh

10-2-2009 In 1921 The New York Times published an article which said that there was shutdown talk in some of the steel mills in Pittsburgh due to a lessening demand for Pig Iron. Bessemer was selling at $23.00, basic at $21.50 and foundry at $22.50.

In the late 1980's the steel mills were also closing there and residents were in a severe economic depression.

My what a long way we have come since then. Only last week the newest global finciers and consultants met in Pittsburg to consider the economies of the entire world there. By having 20 countries rather than the traditional G8 countries this helps to include more major players and contributes to more working together.Although it is true that there are 170 other countries to consider, they are not major players in financing or taking care of their own people, rather the heads of their respective governments and invite massive fraudulent activities.

It is still going to take a couple of years to really see economic change for many coutries and their inhabitants just because it takes the time it takes to make significant changes work.

Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

After fullfilling what they thought was their last project this Commission closed on August 21, 2004. The ten members of the 9-11 Commission announced the creation of the 9/11 Public Discourse Project. We must also remember that there have been major changes at different agncies since the closing of the report in August of 2005.

Our new CIA Director Leon Panetta is charged with running the agency on a day to day basis and dealing with issues like can they use waterboarding anymore for interrogation techniques. The answer is no they can't.

$500 Million in Recovery Act Awards for Clean Energy Projects from the Treasury

Initial Round of Cash Assistance for Wind, Solar Projects in Eight States Will Create Jobs, Increase Development

6-25-2009 WASHINGTON– Marking a major milestone in the effort to spur private sector investments in clean energy and create new jobs for America's workers, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced $502 million in the first round of awards from an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) program that provides cash assistance to energy production companies in place of earned tax credits. The new funding creates additional upfront capital, enabling companies to create jobs and begin construction that may have been stalled until now.

"The Recovery Act is investing in our long-term energy needs while creating jobs in communities around the country," said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. "This renewable energy program will spur the manufacture and development of clean energy in urban and rural America, allowing us to protect our environment, create good jobs and revitalize our nation's economy."

Said Secretary Chu: "These grants will help America's businesses launch clean energy projects, putting Americans back to work in good construction and manufacturing jobs. The initiative will help double our renewable energy capacity over the next few years and make sure America leads the world in creating the clean energy economy of the future."

Created under Section 1603 of the Recovery Act, the program is expected to provide more than $3 billion in financial support for clean energy projects by providing direct payments in lieu of tax credits. These payments will support an estimated 5,000 bio-mass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities in all regions of the country over the life of the program. As a result of this first round of funding, more than 2,000 Americans will have access to jobs in the renewable energy industry – both in construction and in manufacturing – while moving the nation closer to meeting the Administration's goal of doubling renewable energy generation in the next few years.

The Treasury Department opened the application process for the 1603 program on July 31, 2009 and is today making the first awards in half the statutorily mandated turnaround time of 60 days. The following is a chart of projects funded as part of today's announcement. Additional awards under the program will be announced in the coming weeks.

Health/Business

According to the newest information from the Council on Economic Advisors:

Many small businesses that provide health insurance for their employees would receive a small business tax credit to alleviate their disproportionately higher costs and encourage coverage. The tax credit would be targeted to those firms with employees whose average wages fall below a certain threshold.

Small businesses that meet certain criteria would be able to purchase health insurance through an "insurance exchange" – allowing them to choose among a multitude of plans that would provide better coverage at lower costs than they could find in the current small group market.

The current reform options include financial incentives for medium- and large-sized firms to provide health insurance coverage through so-called "pay-or-play" provisions. Firms with payrolls or employment levels below a certain threshold, which would include the vast majority of small businesses, would be exempt from the pay-or-play provisions.

The creation of an insurance exchange would also provide better and lower-cost options for workers in small businesses that do not offer health insurance. Low-income individuals and families would receive sliding scale subsidies to help them purchase insurance. Additionally, health insurers would not be allowed to screen potential enrollees for pre-existing conditions.

The proposed reforms could help spur entrepreneurial activity by increasing the incentives for talented Americans to launch their own companies, and could increase the pool of workers willing to work at small firms. Further, successful reform would reduce the phenomenon of "job lock," in which workers are reluctant to leave a job with employer-sponsored health insurance out of fear that they will not be able to find affordable coverage. Small firms that are unable to provide health insurance for their employees bear the greatest cost of this phenomenon.

Reductions in absenteeism and improvements in worker productivity resulting from better health outcomes because of expanded coverage would particularly benefit small businesses.

Bill Clinton

It was a good decision to send Former President Bill Clinton as number one, North Koreans do not respect their women like the West does. Had we sent Hillary Clinton Secretary of State, it would have been perceived as a weakness. That is an unfortunate fact. President Clinton is feared in North Korea, that is a plus for the U.S. and the international community.

According to The Daily NK online newspaper, Professor of North Korean Studies at Korea University Yoo Ho Yul predicted, “North Korea will use Clinton’s visit to Pyongyang as a turning point to shift its position from a hard-line, provocative attitude to one of dialogue.”

Clinton met with Kim Jong Il, to get the release of two women journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling who had been sentenced on Monday to 12 years of hard labour. Clinton got them released, and they flew back to the U.S. with him. The two young women were sentenced for illegal entry and engaging in "hostile acts." Last month U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had urged North Korea leaders to grant them amnesty, saying they were remorseful and their families anguished. They had been jailed for 145 days.

No doubt this was a staged event by North Korea to get our attention.

Usually when North Korea needs something they want to talk the the U.S. leadership to get something from us. However, this is not the way to solve their worst problems like making political issues of their nuclear arms programs and trading food or whatever else they need for their starving people. The U.S. keeps that type of negotiation separate, and it is not a problem that a single trip to Pyongyang is likely to change quickly.

Hong Soon Kyung, the president of the Association of North Korean Defectors, said, “North Korea is facing serious difficulties, so it is trying to make a breakthrough via bilateral talks with the U.S. North Korean leadership is notorious for signing agreements, and then six months later ignoring what they signed. They are just creating an issue with which to use the U.S. to get what they want.

Just last month North Korea launched a underground nuclear tests. However, the U.N. imposed new sanctions because of that testing. Now the UN says all ships in the international community can stop and search North Korean vessels for weapons. The unanimous resolution points to the intense anger felt by international communities. that resulted from North Koreas’ nuclear testing. So the bad boys of North Korea are just that, only smaller bad boys now because of their attitudes. Their attitudes must change and sooner than later for their own good . Maybe Kim Jong Il has never grown up, always had his own way, like a spoiled 14 year old whose mind has not matured or caught up with his hormone raging changing body. Of course his raging hormones stopped storming years ago due to his age.

78 Million

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced nearly $78 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) funding for approximately 240 new law enforcement officers at 15 transit systems across the country to enhance the nation's ability to guard against acts of terrorism. "Securing our mass transit systems requires well-trained personnel on the ground to protect against those who seek to cause harm," said Secretary Napolitano. "This Recovery Act money will create critical law enforcement jobs that will help our nation prevent terrorist attacks."

Secretary Napolitano announced the funding at New York City's Grand Central Terminal, where hundreds of thousands of commuters and visitors travel each day. The grants will provide approximately $35 million for approximately 125 new officers in the New York Police Department through the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority as well as additional resources in other urban transit systems across the nation.

The announcement reflects Secretary Napolitano's commitment to applying Recovery Act funds to projects and programs that create jobs for Americans while strengthening the security of the United States quickly and efficiently.

The funds, allocated by the Transportation Security Administration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2009 Transit Security Grant Program, will be used by transit agencies to hire new law enforcement officers and by police departments with dedicated transit bureaus to hire anti-terrorism personnel, purchase anti-terrorism equipment and obtain and train explosive detection canines.

The three types of grants announced today include:

Anti-Terrorism Teams, including overt and covert officers whose activities focus on terrorism prevention;

Explosive Detection Canine Teams, which consist of an explosives detection canine and an officer/handler; and Mobile Explosives Detection Screening Teams, which deploy trained officers and explosives detection technology for random security screening in the transit environment.

Millions in Cost Avoidances

“Our Efficiency Review has already generated millions of dollars in cost avoidances, enabling us to direct more resources to critical security programs,” said Secretary Napolitano. “These new initiatives will streamline operations, improve customer service, and help us stretch every homeland security dollar even further.”

Secretary Janet Napolitano today unveiled five new efficiency initiatives, marking the fourth milestone in the Department-wide Efficiency Review launched in March.Throughout the Department, efforts have commenced to establish a plan to ensure that DHS retains skilled full-time employees to fulfill the Department’s core mission; increase coordination between headquarter and operational components; and standardize content for new-employee orientation and annual training. In addition, DHS is working to implement energy efficiencies in facility management projects and expand the acquisition and leasing of hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles.

Efficiency Review initiatives already in progress continue to generate substantial cost savings across the Department. By leveraging the buying power of the entire Department, more than 487,000 licenses were consolidated into one Department-wide license for Microsoft software and maintenance for a cost avoidance of approximately $87.5 million over the next six years. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also modified its license agreement for Oracle software from more than 200 licenses to one unlimited license agreement for an estimated cost avoidance of $1.5 million over the next year.

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center recently held its biennial leadership conference for senior managers at its office instead of a private facility, saving $104,000 in travel and per diem costs. Similarly, U.S Customs and Border Protection expects to avoid $640,000 in travel costs in FY 2009 by posting training materials online and hosting web-based training sessions instead of in-person trainings.

The Coast Guard has started utilizing a free e-invitation system to manage invitations, for major events which is expected to save almost $95,000 per year in printing and mailing costs. ICE will save more than $90,000 by redeploying vehicles in their existing fleet instead of purchasing new vehicles.

Efficiency Review initiatives are broken down into 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-day groups based on when implementation will begin. Going forward, the Department will focus on institutionalizing the 20 initiatives announced over the past four months and rolling out new initiatives biannually.

On Feb. 17, Secretary Napolitano directed the entire Department to identify current and past efforts to improve efficiency, which resulted in an inventory of more than 700 initiatives implemented over the past five years. An Efficiency Review Steering Committee with representatives from across DHS components was then established, along with a full-time Efficiency Review Team composed of department veterans that shaped these initiatives.

E-Verify

Protecting US Jobs

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today strengthened employment eligibility verification by announcing the Administration’s support for a regulation that will award federal contracts only to employers who use E-Verify to check employee work authorization. The declaration came as Secretary Napolitano announced the Department's intention to rescind the Social Security No-Match Rule, which has never been implemented and has been blocked by court order, in favor of the more modern and effective E-Verify system.

“E-Verify is a smart, simple and effective tool that reflects our continued commitment to working with employers to maintain a legal workforce,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Requiring those who seek federal contracts to use this system will create a more reliable and legal workforce. The rule complements our Department’s continued efforts to strengthen immigration law enforcement and protect critical employment opportunities. As Senator Schumer and others have recognized, we need to continue to work to improve E-Verify, and we will.”

E-Verify, which compares information from the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) against federal government databases to verify workers’ employment eligibility, is a free web-based system operated by DHS in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The system facilitates compliance with federal immigration laws and helps to deter unauthorized individuals from attempting to work and also helps employers avoid employing unauthorized aliens.

The federal contractor rule extends use of the E-Verify system to covered federal contractors and subcontractors, including those who receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. After a careful review, the Administration will push ahead with full implementation of the rule, which will apply to federal solicitations and contract awards Government-wide starting on September 8, 2009.

On average, one thousand employers sign up for E-Verify each week, totaling more than 134,000 employers representing more than half a million locations nationwide. Westat, an independent research firm, found that 96.9 percent of all queries run through E-Verify are automatically confirmed work-authorized within 24 hours. The figure is based on statistics gathered from October through December 2008. Since October 1, 2008, E-Verify has processed more than six million queries. In an April 2009 American Customer Satisfaction Index Survey of over a thousand E-Verify participants, E-Verify scored 83 out of a possible 100 points—well above the latest federal government satisfaction index of 69 percent.

In addition to expanding participation, DHS continues to enhance E-Verify in order to guard against errors, enforce compliance, promote proper usage, and enhance security. Recent E-Verify advancements include new processes to reduce typographical errors and new features to reduce initial mismatches. In May 2008, DHS added access to naturalization database records which increased the program’s ability to automatically verify naturalized citizens’ status, reducing citizenship-related mismatches by 39 percent. Additionally, in February 2009, the agency incorporated Department of State passport data in the E-Verify process to reduce mismatches among foreign-born citizens. Other initiatives underway will bring further improvements to Federal database accuracy; add new tools to prevent fraud, misuse, and discrimination; strengthen training, monitoring, and compliance; and enhance privacy protections.

DHS will be proposing a new regulation rescinding the 2007 No-Match Rule, which was blocked by court order shortly after issuance and has never taken effect. That rule established procedures that employers could follow if they receive SSA No-Match letters or notices from DHS that call into question work eligibility information provided by employees. These notices most often inform an employer many months or even a year later that an employee’s name and Social Security Number provided for a W-2 earnings report do not match SSA records—often due to typographical errors or unreported name changes. E-Verify addresses data inaccuracies that can result in No-Match letters in a more timely manner and provides a more robust tool for identifying unauthorized individuals and combating illegal employment.

As Governor of Arizona, Secretary Napolitano signed legislation mandating all employers in the State use E-Verify. Implementation of this

legislation has received high marks from employers across Arizona and the USCIS Ombudsman (in a December 2008 report).

SEC Charges

SEC Charges Frank DiPascali

Washington, D.C., Aug. 11, 2009 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Bernard L. Madoff's chief financial officer, Frank DiPascali, with securities fraud for overseeing the mechanics of Madoff's entirely fictitious investment strategy and creating millions of phony documents and trading records to conceal the fraud from regulators and investors.

According to the SEC's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, DiPascali helped generate bogus annual returns of 10 to 17 percent by fabricating backdated and fictitious trades that never occurred. The SEC further alleges that DiPascali helped Madoff cover up the fraud by preparing fake trade blotters, stock records, customer confirmations, Depository Trust Corporation (DTC) reports and other phantom books and records to substantiate the non-existent trading.

"DiPascali and Madoff ran an extraordinary and massive counterfeiting operation that concealed their fraud from investors and regulators alike," said Robert Khuzami, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement.

Without admitting or denying the allegations of the SEC's complaint, DiPascali has consented to a proposed partial judgment, which if entered by the court would impose a permanent injunction against DiPascali and leave the issues of disgorgement and a financial penalty to be decided at a later time.

The SEC alleges that DiPascali, who resides in Bridgewater, N.J., sustained Madoff's unprecedented fraud from at least the 1980s until the scheme's collapse, causing billions of dollars in investor losses. A specific computer was used to simulate phantom trading in advisory accounts, and to generate phony books and records reflecting that trading. This fake set of books and records was kept separate and distinct from the books and records for the market-making and proprietary trading operation at Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (BMIS). When investors sent in funds to BMIS for investment, the funds were deposited or wired into a bank account at JPMorgan Chase that was not in any way reflected on the books and records (including the ledger) of the BMIS broker-dealer operation.

The SEC's complaint alleges that great effort was made to hide the fact that there were several thousand advisory accounts at BMIS, which would have required SEC registration. DiPascali helped Madoff devise a shifting subset of 10 to 25 accounts — known as the "special" accounts — which they deceptively presented as the universe of BMIS advisory accounts. DiPascali and others prepared fake books and records to provide regulators with information about only these special accounts in order to conceal the true size of the advisory business.

According to the SEC's complaint, DiPascali joined BMIS as a research clerk at age 19 after dropping out of college. Eventually, Madoff put DiPascali in charge of the bulk of day-to-day operations on the now-infamous 17th floor of BMIS. As Madoff consistently communicated his fear of detection to DiPascali, a significant portion of DiPascali's time and effort was dedicated to anticipating and preparing for regulatory inquiries — particularly SEC examinations in 2004 and 2005 and an SEC investigation in 2006.

The SEC's complaint alleges that DiPascali helped carry out Madoff's fictitious "split-strike conversion" strategy that BMIS claimed to be pursuing on behalf of its clients. DiPascali helped Madoff structure and record non-existent trades that were reflected on millions of pages of customer confirmations and account statements distributed each year. None of the trades purportedly executed as part of this strategy ever occurred. In fact, the strategy was nothing more than fictitious trading by hindsight, supported by documents created after the fact based on actual historical data.

According to the SEC's complaint, DiPascali helped Madoff cover his tracks in numerous nefarious ways. For instance, when Madoff grew concerned that showing positive returns every month would be suspicious, he occasionally instructed DiPascali to enter phony trades designed to lose money in order to make their investment strategy and returns more credible. In order to avoid scrutiny by sophisticated financial institutions, they made a practice of closing down accounts of investors who worked at such institutions. Madoff and DiPascali even went so far as to develop a phantom computer trading platform that would appear to reflect real trading. In the event of a surprise visit from outsiders requesting to observe real-time trading activity, one BMIS employee was to enter trades on a computer screen and another employee was to go into an office nearby and play the role of a counterparty trader in Europe.

The SEC further alleges that DiPascali misappropriated investor funds for personal gain, setting up an account at BMIS for himself in 2002 that he named after his fishing yacht, Dorothy Jo. DiPascali withdrew more than $5 million from the account between 2002 and 2008 to fund personal expenses, including the purchase of a new boat. DiPascali's withdrawals were funded directly from money deposited by investors with BMIS. Investor money being used to fund the overall operations of BMIS also contributed to the more than $2 million in salary and bonus that DiPascali received each year.

Today's charges mark the fifth enforcement action taken by the SEC related to the Madoff fraud. Previously, the Commission charged Madoff and BMIS, their auditors, certain solicitors, and certain feeder funds.

SEC Charges Three Executives

Robert Allen Stanford Indicted 6-24-2009

Robert Allen Stanford of Stanford International bank, has been indicted for fraud by the SEC. He and bank officers were charged in February of this year.

to the SEC “Stanford's companies include Antiguan-based Stanford International Bank (SIB), Houston-based broker-dealer and investment adviser Stanford Group Company (SGC), and investment adviser Stanford Capital Management. The SEC also charged SIB chief financial officer James Davis as well as Laura Pendergest-Holt, chief investment officer of Stanford Financial Group (SFG), in the enforcement action.

Pursuant to the SEC's request for emergency relief for the benefit of defrauded investors, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor entered a temporary restraining order, froze the defendants' assets, and appointed a receiver to marshal those assets.

"As we allege in our complaint, Stanford and the close circle of family and friends with whom he runs his businesses perpetrated a massive fraud based on false promises and fabricated historical return data to prey on investors," said Linda Chatman Thomsen, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement. "We are moving quickly and decisively in this enforcement action to stop this fraudulent conduct and preserve assets for investors."

Rose Romero, Regional Director of the SEC's Fort Worth Regional Office, added, "We are alleging a fraud of shocking magnitude that has spread its tentacles throughout the world."

Moises Pacheco, Advanced Money Management, Inc. Charged 6-24-2009

SEC officials have been exremely busy as they have also charged The SEC alleges that Moises Pacheco, Advanced Money Management, Inc. (AMM), and Business Development & Consulting Co. (BD&C) raised $14.7 million from more than 200 investors over a 3?-year period, acting as investment advisers to the five self-described hedge funds — AP Premium Value Funds I through IV and Capital Partnership Group.

According to the SEC’s complaint, Pacheco told investors that he had developed a lucrative investment strategy involving the purchase and sale of covered call options, and that the hedge funds exclusively relied upon this strategy to generate trading profits ranging from 30 percent to 48 percent per year. In reality, Pacheco did not generate the returns he claimed to have made, and instead used investor principal to pay purported returns until the scheme collapsed.

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