FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks at the Closing Session of the 2013 U.S.-China High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong
Ben Franklin Room
Washington, DC
November 21, 2013
SECRETARY KERRY: What a pleasure to be here. Vice Premier Liu, we are really honored to have you here, and it’s a pleasure to see all of you here. I thank you so much for coming to join us for this consultation on people-to-people exchanges. This really is where the action is, and I am excited by the energy and I’m excited by the discussion. Madame Liu and I spent a little extra time talking – and I hope you’ll forgive us – but we really were excited about the panoply of possibilities, the ways in which we can expand these exchanges which make all the difference in the world, I cannot tell you.
As I am privileged to travel as Secretary and go to so many different countries, and I meet finance ministers, environment ministers, prime ministers, foreign ministers who proudly say, “I was educated at Princeton,” or “I was educated at University of California,” or “I was educated,” somewhere in the United States, or in Great Britain, in Europe, or somewhere, but the pride that all of them have for that experience and the connection that they feel is absolutely invaluable in terms of breaking down barriers, building understanding, bringing countries together, avoiding conflicts, uniting our peoples, and doing all of the things that diplomacy is about.
So I am really pleased to welcome Vice Premier Liu here to continue this, and Vice Minister Hao, thank you very much for your leadership. And I’m delighted with our new and energetic addition to our team here at the State Department with Assistant Secretary Evan Ryan and Assistant Secretary Danny Russell, sitting here in the front seat. We have a great team, all of whom care enormously about this particular program, but more importantly, about the region and about our ability to be able to connect.
I’ve been to Asia many, many times throughout my life, and three times since I became Secretary of State. And every time that I visit the region, I really come home with a much deeper understanding of the people, the challenges that they face, and especially the issues that matter to people individually. And as you saw in the video there, they really are the same; they’re not that different – people aspiring to jobs, to education, to opportunity, to family, to absence of conflict and presence of security, stability, all of these things.
Since Vice Premier Liu and Secretary Clinton launched this initiative in 2010, we have really worked hard, and we’re going to continue to work hard, in order to give more people the opportunity to be able to build their own understanding through people-to-people exchanges. There just isn’t anything more valuable. And we got excited over lunch talking about the possibilities of kids from high schools in the middle part of America and farm country going and meeting farm folks in China, the middle part or the western part of China and so forth, and building these linkages. That’s how we’re going to solve problems, I guarantee you, in the short run and the long run.
And this annual forum has served as a powerful way to address challenges and to identify new ways for us to be able to enhance our engagement. For example, thanks to the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program, which came out of last year’s CPE, students in the United States have been able to benefit from the skilled Chinese instructors like Chen Shengu or – well, Chen really normally teaches at Hainan University – the Normal University in China, but he’s currently serving as FLTA in my hometown of Boston, teaching Mandarin to students of Boston University. And Chen’s here today, and if you ask him, he’ll tell you how gratifying it is to teach American students not only his language, but just about life in China, and about what they’re thinking, and he and his contemporaries, and what they want out of life.
He’ll also tell you how much he is learning himself by being there. They say it takes an outsider to fully understand and comprehend the culture of a nation. Well, Chen has a master’s degree now, I want you to know, in American studies. But if, as a result of being in Boston over this last period of time, he can now provide an explanation for the mania that is part of Red Sox Nation – (laughter) – then someone should give him a Ph.D. immediately, folks – (laughter) – which he will have earned.
The fact is that thanks to the CPE, American and Chinese citizens are learning from one another every single day. And astronomy students are coming together to discover new challenges and developments in both Western and Chinese space exploration. Playwrights are connecting virtually in order to stage theater performances, and live-stream them to cities in China and the United States simultaneously.
American organizations like the Thomas Jefferson Foundation are planning exhibits in China. And world-class athletes are acting as sports envoys to promote athletic inclusion and adaptation for young people with disabilities. Just this morning, I was on the Hill testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Disabilities Treaty, which can help raise global standards of dealing with disabilities to the ADA standards that we have here in America. And it’s a wonderful way to include people who might otherwise be discriminated against or left on the sidelines of life.
Our educational exchanges are truly more widespread than ever before. And if I’m able to encourage that, as I hope to, they will be even more widespread over the course of these next years. Thousands – hundreds of thousands of Chinese students and teachers like Chen are coming to American colleges and universities. And later today, Vice Premier Liu and I will speak about President Obama’s 100,000 Strong Initiative and the foundation of the same name which is aimed at sending 100,000 American students to study in China by the end of next year.
President Obama sent over a letter to express his support for the CPE, and in that letter he wrote: “The Chinese and American peoples want a strong, cooperative relationship. And it is in our interest to work together to meet the global challenges that we face.” Both President Obama, President Xi share a deep commitment to expanding the people-to-people exchanges between our countries. And that is because these exchanges give folks a chance to be able to have a deeper understanding of each other’s way of life, and eventually that understanding can grow into trust. And trust, as we all know, grows into partnership and into a whole lot of benefits in the long run.
Forty-two years ago, nine ping pong players, four officials, and two family members became the first Americans to set foot in China since the Cultural Revolution of 1949. Time Magazine called the visit “the ping heard around the world.” (Laughter.) But the truth is that Americans did a lot more than play ping pong when they were there. They spent time with Chinese students, with factory workers. They visited treasured Chinese sites like the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. And they went to see the Canton Ballet. Their visit literally opened a new chapter in the history of United States and China relations. And it wasn’t only because they played ping pong. It was through their visit to China that it became clear that despite the many differences between our peoples – differences that often politics and ideologues, and sometimes even demagogues, get in the way of – that there are also always a huge number of similarities and ways that we can bind people together.
Ultimately, these exchanges can do a lot more than just bridge gaps between two different people. They can bring together the two largest polluters on earth to help combat the serious challenge of climate change. They can bring together the two largest economies on earth to help drive the shared prosperity that we want for all people. They can bring together two of the most powerful nations on earth to promote peace, security, and stability in every corner of the globe.
As President Obama put it in his letter, the world is looking to the United States and China to work together to solve pressing challenges. And there is great potential for athlete, cultural, and scientific exchanges to help solve problems for the benefit of all. By improving and expanding the ties between the people of our two countries, the CPE is providing critical gateways to important solutions. Well, the President and I and our counterparts in China know that enabling people in countries to come together in pursuit of those goals will lead not only to greater understanding, but eventually to an even stronger partnership between our two countries.
The many collaborative people-to-people initiatives that come out of the CPE are a critical part of that process. They’re as good as anything else that we do in form of diplomacy. And I look forward to building on that progress, on all of the progress that we’ve made on using your ideas, your energy, your enthusiasm, your creativity. And together, if we continue to do this, this relationship will become one of the great relationships of all time, and a game-changer for the planet.
That’s our hope. Now it’s my pleasure to introduce a woman who, as I learned at lunch, probably holds more portfolios in China than any other single person – in charge of health, education, media – what did I – of sports – (laughter) – I mean, you run the list – culture – it’s quite extraordinary, and I’m really delighted to introduce her to you, the Vice Premier of China, Madame Liu. (Applause.)
VICE PREMIER LIU: (Inaudible.)
SECRETARY KERRY: I told you she was powerful. (Laughter.)
VICE PREMIER LIU: (Via interpreter) (Inaudible) that the Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping, attaches great importance to this consultation, and he has sent to us a message of congratulation, and I would like to read to you now:
“On the occasion of the conclusion of the first round of China-U.S. High Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, I would like to extend my warm congratulations. The China-U.S. relationship is one of the most important bilateral relations in this world. China is the world’s biggest developing country and the U.S. the biggest developed one. China and the U.S. are both permanent members of the UN Security Council. Our two countries face common challenges and shoulder important responsibilities in addressing a number of issues concerning world peace and development.
“To build between China and the United States a new model of major country relationship that features no conflict or confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation calls for active support and broad participation by the public and various social sectors in both countries. Over the years, the people-to-people exchange has played a positive role in enhancing China-U.S. relations and become an important pillar for the growth of the relations between our two countries.
“During the past three years in particular, nearly 100 outcomes under the CPE framework have been implemented, and this has enhanced the level of people-to-people exchange between our two countries and provided new impetus to the growth of China-U.S. relations. I hope the CPE mechanism will build on the past achievements and open up new prospects, expand areas of communication, deepen cooperation, and make new contribution to building the bridge of heart-to-heart communication between the Chinese and American peoples, and the development of the new model of major country relationship between China and the United States.”
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, the messages of congratulations from President Xi Jinping and President Obama reflect the important agreement between our two presidents on deepening people-to-people exchange between our two countries. This will surely lend an important impetus to the building of the new model of major country relationship between China and the United States. The Secretary and I have just assigned a Memorandum of Understanding on High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange. Our coordinators have briefed us on the outcomes of consultations in each field, and we have heard excellent ideas from youth representatives on how to build the new model of major country relationship and increase youth exchanges. I’m sure encouraged by what I’ve heard. I wish to congratulate you on the success of this round of consultation. And I thank both teams for their hard work and Secretary Kerry and our American colleagues for their gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangements. (Applause.)
People-to-people exchange between China and America has a time-honored history. As early as over 200 years ago, the merchant ship Empress of China left New York harbor for China, marking the beginning of China-U.S. friendly exchange. More than 70 years ago, the people of China and America fought shoulder to shoulder in the antifascist war and forged profound friendship. And about 1,500 American (inaudible) the Flying Tigers have contributed their lives to this endeavor. Forty-two years ago, the ping pong diplomacy, which attracted worldwide attention, reopened the once-closed gate of China-U.S. exchange.
In early 1979, Mr. Deng Xiaoping paid a visit to the United States. The moment when Deng tried on the cowboy hat at a rodeo in Simonton became a classic snapshot in history of China-U.S. exchange. And 28 years ago, a party secretary from a Chinese county who is now the President of China, Mr. Xi Jinping, visited the United States. And during his visit, he stayed with a local family for two nights in a small town in Iowa where he developed a friendship with local residents. During his visit to the United States last February, President Xi revisited the small town and had a get-together with his old friends by the fireplace, which is yet another wonderful story of the friendship between the Chinese leader and ordinary Americans. Just as small streams were joined together to become a large river, the heartfelt mutual affection and the growing friendly exchange between the Chinese and American peoples will push China-U.S. relations to break waves and surge ahead.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, the establishment and development of the CPE is a major event in our people-to-people exchange and the history of our bilateral relations. Over the past three years and more, the CPE has made continued progress and implemented over 100 important outcomes in the six areas of education, science and technology, culture, sports, women, and youth. The 100,000 Strong Initiative of the U.S. side has enabled 6- to 8,000 American students to study in China, and the (inaudible) 10,000 projects of the Chinese side has in total sent nearly 10,000 people to the United States for Ph.D. studies or joint Ph.D. programs, and invited over 10,000 Americans to China for visits or studies.
The China-U.S. Cultural Forum and the China-U.S. High-Level Women Leaders Dialogue have all become famous events. The Chinese cultural series were very well received in the United States. Traditional Chinese poets such as Oh Zhu and Hauz Shigone have gradually entered local U.S. communities. The two sides have also made positive progress in breast cancer cooperation and promotion of clean cookstoves. It’s fair to say that China-U.S. people-to-people exchange now enjoys a stronger foundation, greater substance, wider coverage, more diverse participation, and stronger, far-reaching influence.
China-U.S. relations now stand at a new historic starting point, and they face new opportunities of growth. After their two meetings held in Annenberg estate and in St. Petersburg, President Xi and President Obama reached important agreement on building a new model of major country relationship between China and the United States. People-to-people exchange as one of the three pillars supporting the growth of China-U.S. relations plays an indispensible role and a strategic role in the building of this new model of major country relationship. Continued progress in people-to-people exchange can enable us to more effectively increase mutual understanding and trust and uphold mutual interests. In so doing we will enable our public to better appreciate the spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation that’s laying a solid, popular basis for the new model of major country relations between our two countries. We hope to work with the U.S. side to make the best use of this pioneering row of people-to-people exchange mechanism and comprehensively deepen and broaden such exchange.
With this in mind, I wish to make three proposals. First, we need to seek common ground while reserving differences and further capitalize the bridge-building role of mutual learning among various civilizations. Our world, rich and colorful as it is, has different civilizations. It is the beautiful leaves of different colors that make Washington, D.C. in autumn so beautiful. There are no two identical leaves in the world. It’s only natural that China and the United States, two major countries with different national conditions, histories, cultures, and systems have differences with each other. The American people have the American dream while the Chinese people have the Chinese dream.
Despite our different choice of development paths, we have a lot in common as we all endeavor to pursue people’s happiness, social harmony, economic prosperity, and world peace. People-to-people exchange is a solid bridge connecting China and the United States, and they will lead us to our common bright future. We need to further increase interactions between cultural institutions, organizations and industries; learn from each other and draw upon each other’s strength to seek commonality and harmony from diversity and difference; and pursue development through interactions in a joint effort to promote progress of human civilizations.
Second, we need to build trust, dispel misgivings, and further strengthen the catalytic effect of mutual trust between us. Former U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt has a famous saying that the only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Some of the differences and problems between China and the United States are, to a large extent, the result of lack of mutual understanding and trust. People-to-people exchange could gradually yet steadily bring the two peoples closer, increase their mutual trust, and remove prejudices and differences between them so that bilateral relations between us will become more resilient and dynamic.
To this end, we need to further encourage all forms of exchanges between people from all sectors and at all ages, and ensure the success of the exchange between young political leaders, scientists, engineers, and artists, and the Youth RME Partnership program with a view to improving understanding of each other’s national and social conditions. Third, we need to keep abreast of the times and open up new prospects of China-U.S. people-to-people exchange.
I am delighted to see that this meeting of the CPE is marked by three highlights. First, the theme activities of years and innovation have been launched. The hope of sustainable development of China-U.S. relations lies in the youth. Youth is the fresh force of the two countries and represents the bright future. I hope they will work together and enhance cooperation to cope with the common challenges facing us and make fresh contribution to world peace and progress.
Second, think tank exchanges have been introduced. This afternoon, I will engage in interactions with American scholars from think tanks at the United States Institute of Peace. I hope Chinese and American scholars will carry out more joint research programs on such topics as how to build the new model of major country relationship and strengthen people-to-people exchange, providing intellectual support, policy recommendations, and a theoretical basis for China-U.S. people-to-people exchange.
Third, provincial state people-to-people exchange under the framework of the CPE have expanded in depth and breadth. We need to bring the priority of our work down to lower levels and fully leverage the role of the mechanism of sister provinces, states, and cities so as to make people-to-people exchange closer to the society and people, and ensure that people are truly involved and benefit from it in this way. More and more people of our two countries will participate in and contribute to the exchange and share in its fruits. I believe the seeds of friendship, trust, and cooperation that we saw today will surely grow into a towering tree and yield bumper harvest.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, I am convinced that with the platform of the CPE, mutual understanding, trust, and friendship between the two peoples will further build up, and the giant ship of China-U.S. relations will sail more steadily toward its great goal. I look forward to working with Secretary Kerry and everyone here to create an even brighter future for China-U.S. people-to-people exchange, and make our due contribution to the growth of China-U.S. relations, to the well-being of the two peoples and world peace. Thank you. (Applause.)
Saturday, November 23, 2013
THREE EXECUTIVES PLEAD GUILTY TO ROLES IN SEATBELT PRICE FIXING CONSPIRACY
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Three Takata Corp. Executives Agree to Plead Guilty to Participating in Global Seatbelt Price Fixing Conspiracy
All Agree to Serve Prison Time in the United States
Three high-level executives of Tokyo-based Takata Corp. have agreed to plead guilty for their participation in a conspiracy to fix prices of seatbelts installed in cars sold in the United States, the Department of Justice announced today. The executives have also agreed to serve time in a U.S. prison.
According to the one-count felony charges filed separately against each of the executives today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit, Yasuhiko Ueno, Saborou Imamiya and Yoshinobu Fujino participated in a conspiracy to rig bids for, and to fix, stabilize and maintain the prices of seatbelts sold to Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Fuji Heavy Industries Inc. – more commonly known by its brand name, Subaru – and Mazda Motor Corp. in the United States and elsewhere. The three executives have agreed to serve prison sentences ranging from 14 to 19 months, and to cooperate with the department’s ongoing investigation.
Ueno was employed by Takata’s Auburn Hills, Mich.-based U.S. subsidiary, TK Holdings Inc., in the United States as senior vice president for sales for Japanese manufacturers from at least January 2006 through December 2007. From early 2008 through June 2009, Ueno was employed by Takata in Japan as deputy division director of the customer relations division, and as director of the customer relations division from June 2009 through at least February 2011. According to the charge, Ueno’s involvement in the conspiracy lasted from at least as early as January 2006 until at least February 2011. Ueno has agreed to serve 19 months in prison and to pay a $20,000 criminal fine.
Imamiya was employed by Takata in Japan as general manager for Toyota sales from at least January 2008 to July 2009, and as director of the customer relations division from July 2009 through at least February 2011. According to the charge, Imamiya’s involvement in the conspiracy lasted from at least as early as January 2008 until at least February 2011. Imamiya has agreed to serve 16 months in prison and to pay a $20,000 criminal fine.
Fujino was employed by Takata in Japan as the manager of the Toyota group within the customer relations division from at least January 2004 through June 2005, and as the manager of the Mazda group within the customer relations division from June 2005 through the end of 2007. From the beginning of 2008 through at least February 2011, Fujino was employed by TK Holdings in the United States as assistant vice president for sales for Japanese manufacturers. According to the charge, Fujino’s involvement in the conspiracy lasted from at least as early as January 2004 until at least February 2011. Fujino has agreed to serve 14 months in prison and to pay a $20,000 criminal fine.
Takata Corp. is a manufacturer of automotive occupant safety systems, including seatbelts. Seatbelts are safety strap restraints designed to secure an occupant in position in a vehicle in the event of an accident, and may be sold bundled with related parts according to the needs of the automobile manufacturer. According to the charges, the Takata executives and their co-conspirators carried out the conspiracy by, among other things, agreeing during meetings and communications to coordinate bids submitted to the automobile manufacturers.
On Sept. 26, 2013, Gary Walker, an executive of TK Holdings Inc., agreed to plead guilty and serve a sentence of 14 months in prison for his involvement in the same conspiracy. On Oct. 9, 2013, Takata Corp. agreed to plead guilty for its involvement in the conspiracy and to pay a criminal fine of $71.3 million.
Each of the executives is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine for individuals. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
Including today’s charges, 24 individuals have been charged in the department’s investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry. Additionally, 21 corporations have been charged.
The current prosecution arose from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry, which is being conducted by each of the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement sections and the FBI. Today’s charges were brought by the National Criminal Enforcement Section, with the assistance of the Detroit, Michigan, Field Office of the FBI.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Three Takata Corp. Executives Agree to Plead Guilty to Participating in Global Seatbelt Price Fixing Conspiracy
All Agree to Serve Prison Time in the United States
Three high-level executives of Tokyo-based Takata Corp. have agreed to plead guilty for their participation in a conspiracy to fix prices of seatbelts installed in cars sold in the United States, the Department of Justice announced today. The executives have also agreed to serve time in a U.S. prison.
According to the one-count felony charges filed separately against each of the executives today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit, Yasuhiko Ueno, Saborou Imamiya and Yoshinobu Fujino participated in a conspiracy to rig bids for, and to fix, stabilize and maintain the prices of seatbelts sold to Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Fuji Heavy Industries Inc. – more commonly known by its brand name, Subaru – and Mazda Motor Corp. in the United States and elsewhere. The three executives have agreed to serve prison sentences ranging from 14 to 19 months, and to cooperate with the department’s ongoing investigation.
Ueno was employed by Takata’s Auburn Hills, Mich.-based U.S. subsidiary, TK Holdings Inc., in the United States as senior vice president for sales for Japanese manufacturers from at least January 2006 through December 2007. From early 2008 through June 2009, Ueno was employed by Takata in Japan as deputy division director of the customer relations division, and as director of the customer relations division from June 2009 through at least February 2011. According to the charge, Ueno’s involvement in the conspiracy lasted from at least as early as January 2006 until at least February 2011. Ueno has agreed to serve 19 months in prison and to pay a $20,000 criminal fine.
Imamiya was employed by Takata in Japan as general manager for Toyota sales from at least January 2008 to July 2009, and as director of the customer relations division from July 2009 through at least February 2011. According to the charge, Imamiya’s involvement in the conspiracy lasted from at least as early as January 2008 until at least February 2011. Imamiya has agreed to serve 16 months in prison and to pay a $20,000 criminal fine.
Fujino was employed by Takata in Japan as the manager of the Toyota group within the customer relations division from at least January 2004 through June 2005, and as the manager of the Mazda group within the customer relations division from June 2005 through the end of 2007. From the beginning of 2008 through at least February 2011, Fujino was employed by TK Holdings in the United States as assistant vice president for sales for Japanese manufacturers. According to the charge, Fujino’s involvement in the conspiracy lasted from at least as early as January 2004 until at least February 2011. Fujino has agreed to serve 14 months in prison and to pay a $20,000 criminal fine.
Takata Corp. is a manufacturer of automotive occupant safety systems, including seatbelts. Seatbelts are safety strap restraints designed to secure an occupant in position in a vehicle in the event of an accident, and may be sold bundled with related parts according to the needs of the automobile manufacturer. According to the charges, the Takata executives and their co-conspirators carried out the conspiracy by, among other things, agreeing during meetings and communications to coordinate bids submitted to the automobile manufacturers.
On Sept. 26, 2013, Gary Walker, an executive of TK Holdings Inc., agreed to plead guilty and serve a sentence of 14 months in prison for his involvement in the same conspiracy. On Oct. 9, 2013, Takata Corp. agreed to plead guilty for its involvement in the conspiracy and to pay a criminal fine of $71.3 million.
Each of the executives is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine for individuals. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
Including today’s charges, 24 individuals have been charged in the department’s investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry. Additionally, 21 corporations have been charged.
The current prosecution arose from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry, which is being conducted by each of the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement sections and the FBI. Today’s charges were brought by the National Criminal Enforcement Section, with the assistance of the Detroit, Michigan, Field Office of the FBI.
LIVING LEGEND AWARD HONORS MEXICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST MIGUEL LEON-PORTILLA
FROM: U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
A Celebration of Mexico: Honoring a “Living Legend”
November 21, 2013 by Erin Allen
Mexican anthropologist and historian Miguel León-Portilla is the newest recipient of the Library of Congress Living Legend Award for his work in studying the Náhuatl language and literature – the ancient, still-spoken tongue of the Aztecs. The award will be conferred upon León-Portill at the Library’s “Celebration of Mexico”on Dec. 12.
The Living Legend Award honors those who have made significant contributions to America’s diverse cultural, scientific and social heritage. León-Portilla is the world’s foremost authority on Náhuatl philology and philosophy. He has spearheaded an entire scholarly discipline to evaluate and understand Náhuatl literature and thought, extending from pre-Columbian times to the 1.5 million speakers of Náhuatl today. The language of the Aztecs, Náhuatl has been spoken in Central Mexico since at least the 7th century AD.
A Celebration of Mexico: Honoring a “Living Legend”
November 21, 2013 by Erin Allen
Mexican anthropologist and historian Miguel León-Portilla is the newest recipient of the Library of Congress Living Legend Award for his work in studying the Náhuatl language and literature – the ancient, still-spoken tongue of the Aztecs. The award will be conferred upon León-Portill at the Library’s “Celebration of Mexico”on Dec. 12.
The Living Legend Award honors those who have made significant contributions to America’s diverse cultural, scientific and social heritage. León-Portilla is the world’s foremost authority on Náhuatl philology and philosophy. He has spearheaded an entire scholarly discipline to evaluate and understand Náhuatl literature and thought, extending from pre-Columbian times to the 1.5 million speakers of Náhuatl today. The language of the Aztecs, Náhuatl has been spoken in Central Mexico since at least the 7th century AD.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S REMARKS AT CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE CONNECT ED
FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE
Remarks by the President at Champions of Change ConnectED Event
South Court Auditorium
November 21, 2013
THE PRESIDENT: Well, hello, everybody. Have a seat, have a seat. And thank you, Misa, for the introduction and, more importantly, what you are doing in the classroom every single day, which is making such a big difference. And I want to welcome all of you who are here. This is one of my favorite events we do periodically. It gives me an opportunity to say thanks and recognize people who are making extraordinary contributions in their local communities. And we’re learning from you, seeing what works, seeing what has an impact.
We call them Champions of Change: people who have done some innovative work that hopefully can be replicated in other parts of the country once they have good models that are having success. And today, we are honoring 10 educators who use technology to support one of our country’s top priorities, and that’s preparing our kids and our workers for the competition that they’re going to face in a 21st century global economy.
In an age when the world’s information is just a click away, we’ve got to bring our schools and our libraries into the 21st century. That’s why five months ago I launched an initiative that we’re calling ConnectED to bring high-speed Internet to 99 percent of American students over the next five years. And this is going to be a top priority for me. It’s going to take some hard work across my administration, but I’m committed to getting it done.
Because this is not just about wiring schools; it’s about changing students’ lives. It’s about using technology to give students a chance to learn at their own pace, whether they’re catching up on a subject or moving ahead to the next level. It’s about giving teachers a better data set so they can see exactly what’s working and what isn’t for particular students. It’s about unleashing a new market for educational devices and apps that will create jobs and spur innovation.
And it’s about supporting outstanding, innovative educators like our Champions for Change. Because of their work in North Dakota, young people with autism are using educational apps to discover abilities that they didn’t even know that they had. In Colorado, preschoolers have now obtained access to a digital discovery center that helps them to get a great education from the earliest age. In Georgia, students at an after-school technology club are learning skills that are going to help them succeed in college and throughout their careers. And today’s Champions of Change are helping to give our students what every parent wants for their child -- the chance to go as far as their talents and hard work will take them.
So to all of our Champions for Change, we want to thank you for your extraordinary efforts. As long as I’m President, I’m going to keep working not only to support the great work that educators and librarians are doing across the country but more fundamentally to make sure that young people are getting every opportunity that they deserve to thrive and succeed in this modern economy. And I see some young people here and they look like they’re doing pretty good. (Laughter.) Although they may be bored by me making too long a speech. (Laughter.)
Thank you very much, everybody.
Remarks by the President at Champions of Change ConnectED Event
South Court Auditorium
November 21, 2013
THE PRESIDENT: Well, hello, everybody. Have a seat, have a seat. And thank you, Misa, for the introduction and, more importantly, what you are doing in the classroom every single day, which is making such a big difference. And I want to welcome all of you who are here. This is one of my favorite events we do periodically. It gives me an opportunity to say thanks and recognize people who are making extraordinary contributions in their local communities. And we’re learning from you, seeing what works, seeing what has an impact.
We call them Champions of Change: people who have done some innovative work that hopefully can be replicated in other parts of the country once they have good models that are having success. And today, we are honoring 10 educators who use technology to support one of our country’s top priorities, and that’s preparing our kids and our workers for the competition that they’re going to face in a 21st century global economy.
In an age when the world’s information is just a click away, we’ve got to bring our schools and our libraries into the 21st century. That’s why five months ago I launched an initiative that we’re calling ConnectED to bring high-speed Internet to 99 percent of American students over the next five years. And this is going to be a top priority for me. It’s going to take some hard work across my administration, but I’m committed to getting it done.
Because this is not just about wiring schools; it’s about changing students’ lives. It’s about using technology to give students a chance to learn at their own pace, whether they’re catching up on a subject or moving ahead to the next level. It’s about giving teachers a better data set so they can see exactly what’s working and what isn’t for particular students. It’s about unleashing a new market for educational devices and apps that will create jobs and spur innovation.
And it’s about supporting outstanding, innovative educators like our Champions for Change. Because of their work in North Dakota, young people with autism are using educational apps to discover abilities that they didn’t even know that they had. In Colorado, preschoolers have now obtained access to a digital discovery center that helps them to get a great education from the earliest age. In Georgia, students at an after-school technology club are learning skills that are going to help them succeed in college and throughout their careers. And today’s Champions of Change are helping to give our students what every parent wants for their child -- the chance to go as far as their talents and hard work will take them.
So to all of our Champions for Change, we want to thank you for your extraordinary efforts. As long as I’m President, I’m going to keep working not only to support the great work that educators and librarians are doing across the country but more fundamentally to make sure that young people are getting every opportunity that they deserve to thrive and succeed in this modern economy. And I see some young people here and they look like they’re doing pretty good. (Laughter.) Although they may be bored by me making too long a speech. (Laughter.)
Thank you very much, everybody.
THUNDERSNOW: THE SOUND OF LAKE-EFFECT SNOW IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION
FROM: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Scientists brave Old Man Winter to dig out secrets of lake-effect snows
'Tis the season...for snow.
Thundersnow.
Rare anywhere, thundersnow is sometimes heard during the lake-effect snowstorms of the Great Lakes. The interaction of clouds and ice pellets inside these storms generates a charge, with lightning and thunder the result.
How to catch thundersnow in action? This winter, stalwart veterans of tornadoes, hurricanes and other severe storms will be watching.
One is known as the Doppler-on-Wheels (DOW), a National Science Foundation (NSF) national facility used by NSF-supported and other researchers. Joining it is a University of Wyoming instrumented aircraft, the King Air, also an NSF-funded national facility.
In rain, sleet or snow, like the postman, they always deliver...storm data.
Using the DOW, the King Air and other equipment, scientists from across the country will converge on the shores of Lake Ontario from Dec. 5-21, 2013, and Jan. 4-29, 2014.
They will work to better understand the atmospheric conditions and mechanisms that lead to the deep snows that accumulate across the region each winter.
The project is called OWLeS (Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems). OWLeS is funded by NSF and is a collaborative effort of nine universities.
Participating institutions are the University of Wyoming, University of Illinois, University of Utah, State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Millersville University, Penn State University, University of Alabama in Huntsville, SUNY Albany and the Center for Severe Weather Research (CSWR) in Boulder, Colo.
Although lake-effect snowstorms happen near all the Great Lakes, the New York area along Lake Ontario has some of the deepest snowfalls. Average annual snow reaches more than 100 inches. Nearby locations, such as the Tug Hill Plateau, may be blanketed with more than 250 inches each year.
But lake-effect snows aren't limited to the shores of Lake Ontario.
New York's Finger Lakes region also bears the brunt of lake-enhanced snowstorms. Complex interactions between the local environment and the far-reaching influence of Lake Ontario can significantly affect the location of lake-effect snowbands, says scientist Scott Steiger of SUNY Oswego.
"Even winter-hardened Great Lakes residents and infrastructure can be severely affected by heavy lake-effect snows," says Brad Smull, program director in NSF's Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, which funded the research.
"OWLeS' unique suite of modern mobile observing equipment and computer-based storm models will help us understand the processes that control the timing and location of these zones of heavy snow."
OWLeS scientists will use a network of specialized weather instrumentation--including three DOWs, the King Air, several weather balloon sounding systems, and a vertically-pointing radar wind profiler---to study the inner workings of lake-effect snowstorms.
The DOW and the King Air will intercept the lake-effect snowbands that cause the heavy snowfalls of the Lake Ontario region.
The King Air will fly over Lake Ontario, collecting data on snow and ice pellets, temperatures and other properties inside lake-effect snowbands.
The DOW looks more like the dish of a radio telescope than a sophisticated weather instrument. It's mounted on the back of a flat-bed truck. DOW-on-board, the truck becomes an odd configuration of generator, equipment and operator cabin.
Ungainly as it may appear, it's ideally suited to providing detailed information on the inner workings of snowstorms, says Josh Wurman, CSWR director.
The DOW uses Doppler radar to produce velocity data about objects--such as severe storms--at a distance.
"The King Air also carries Doppler radar that will transect the snowbands and a lidar that will show how the bands first form near the upwind side of the lake," says Bart Geerts of the University of Wyoming, co-lead scientist on the project with David Kristovich of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Lakes upwind of Lake Ontario can have a big influence on how heavily, and where, lake-effect snows fall.
"Air that has been moistened and mixed by moving over Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and even Lake Superior can play a major role in the large amount of snow that falls in the Lake Ontario snowbelt," says Kristovich.
Some of the questions scientists will investigate during OWLeS include:
What environmental factors have the greatest influence on the amount of snowfall and location of snowbands over and near Lake Ontario?
How do other Great Lakes affect the amount of snow that falls near Lake Ontario?
How does the interplay between winds and clouds produce long-lived snowbands far downstream of open water?
How does the local terrain influence the strength and longevity of these systems?
As snows begin to fall, the researchers will head out to collect data. The results will lead to increased predictability of, and preparedness for, Old Man Winter.
-NSF-
Scientists brave Old Man Winter to dig out secrets of lake-effect snows
'Tis the season...for snow.
Thundersnow.
Rare anywhere, thundersnow is sometimes heard during the lake-effect snowstorms of the Great Lakes. The interaction of clouds and ice pellets inside these storms generates a charge, with lightning and thunder the result.
How to catch thundersnow in action? This winter, stalwart veterans of tornadoes, hurricanes and other severe storms will be watching.
One is known as the Doppler-on-Wheels (DOW), a National Science Foundation (NSF) national facility used by NSF-supported and other researchers. Joining it is a University of Wyoming instrumented aircraft, the King Air, also an NSF-funded national facility.
In rain, sleet or snow, like the postman, they always deliver...storm data.
Using the DOW, the King Air and other equipment, scientists from across the country will converge on the shores of Lake Ontario from Dec. 5-21, 2013, and Jan. 4-29, 2014.
They will work to better understand the atmospheric conditions and mechanisms that lead to the deep snows that accumulate across the region each winter.
The project is called OWLeS (Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems). OWLeS is funded by NSF and is a collaborative effort of nine universities.
Participating institutions are the University of Wyoming, University of Illinois, University of Utah, State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Millersville University, Penn State University, University of Alabama in Huntsville, SUNY Albany and the Center for Severe Weather Research (CSWR) in Boulder, Colo.
Although lake-effect snowstorms happen near all the Great Lakes, the New York area along Lake Ontario has some of the deepest snowfalls. Average annual snow reaches more than 100 inches. Nearby locations, such as the Tug Hill Plateau, may be blanketed with more than 250 inches each year.
But lake-effect snows aren't limited to the shores of Lake Ontario.
New York's Finger Lakes region also bears the brunt of lake-enhanced snowstorms. Complex interactions between the local environment and the far-reaching influence of Lake Ontario can significantly affect the location of lake-effect snowbands, says scientist Scott Steiger of SUNY Oswego.
"Even winter-hardened Great Lakes residents and infrastructure can be severely affected by heavy lake-effect snows," says Brad Smull, program director in NSF's Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, which funded the research.
"OWLeS' unique suite of modern mobile observing equipment and computer-based storm models will help us understand the processes that control the timing and location of these zones of heavy snow."
OWLeS scientists will use a network of specialized weather instrumentation--including three DOWs, the King Air, several weather balloon sounding systems, and a vertically-pointing radar wind profiler---to study the inner workings of lake-effect snowstorms.
The DOW and the King Air will intercept the lake-effect snowbands that cause the heavy snowfalls of the Lake Ontario region.
The King Air will fly over Lake Ontario, collecting data on snow and ice pellets, temperatures and other properties inside lake-effect snowbands.
The DOW looks more like the dish of a radio telescope than a sophisticated weather instrument. It's mounted on the back of a flat-bed truck. DOW-on-board, the truck becomes an odd configuration of generator, equipment and operator cabin.
Ungainly as it may appear, it's ideally suited to providing detailed information on the inner workings of snowstorms, says Josh Wurman, CSWR director.
The DOW uses Doppler radar to produce velocity data about objects--such as severe storms--at a distance.
"The King Air also carries Doppler radar that will transect the snowbands and a lidar that will show how the bands first form near the upwind side of the lake," says Bart Geerts of the University of Wyoming, co-lead scientist on the project with David Kristovich of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Lakes upwind of Lake Ontario can have a big influence on how heavily, and where, lake-effect snows fall.
"Air that has been moistened and mixed by moving over Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and even Lake Superior can play a major role in the large amount of snow that falls in the Lake Ontario snowbelt," says Kristovich.
Some of the questions scientists will investigate during OWLeS include:
What environmental factors have the greatest influence on the amount of snowfall and location of snowbands over and near Lake Ontario?
How do other Great Lakes affect the amount of snow that falls near Lake Ontario?
How does the interplay between winds and clouds produce long-lived snowbands far downstream of open water?
How does the local terrain influence the strength and longevity of these systems?
As snows begin to fall, the researchers will head out to collect data. The results will lead to increased predictability of, and preparedness for, Old Man Winter.
-NSF-
Friday, November 22, 2013
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR NOVEMBER 22, 2013
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
CONTRACTS
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
BAE Systems Aerospace, Phoenix, Ariz., has been awarded a maximum $11,093,991 modification (P00102) exercising the first one-year option period on a one-year base contract (SPM8EH-13-D-0002) with four one-year option periods for life preservers and component parts. This is a firm-fixed-price with economic-price contract. Location of performance is Arizona with a Dec. 5, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.
Patriot Industries Inc.*, Monticello, Ky., has been awarded a maximum $9,262,151 firm-fixed-price contract for modular lightweight load carrying equipment. This contract is a competitive acquisition and ten offers were received. Location of performance is Kentucky with a Nov. 30, 2014 performance completion date. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-14-D-1002).
AIR FORCE
Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, Calif., has been awarded a $105,083,207 modification (P00057) to an existing cost-plus-award-fee contract (FA8808-10-C-0002) to provide MILSATCOM Orbital Operations and Logistics Sustainment Support functions to support the operations and sustainment of Milstar and the Defense Satellite Communications System. This modification exercises the fourth option year. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale,
Calif., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $17,500,000 are being obligated at time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center/PKJ, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colo., is the contracting activity.
Jacobs Technology Inc., Lincoln, Mass., has been awarded a $12,800,149 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00013) on an existing contract (FA8721-13-C-00008) to continue providing disciplined systems/specialty engineering and technical/Information Assurance services, support, and products using established government, contractor, and industry processes. This contract provides a broad array of classified cryptographic and information assurance (IA) systems, equipment, services and support across different DoD agencies, U.S. military departments and various foreign military sales customers. A good portion of the contract supports developing, acquiring, modernizing, testing, fielding, sustaining and disposing of COMSEC systems, sustaining SIGINT equipment, providing key management, providing information assurance services, and providing cryptographic/IA logistical and field support services. In addition, the contract also supports the Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System program. Work will be performed at Lincoln, Mass., and is expected to be completed by May 19, 2014. Fiscal 2013 research and development and procurement funds and fiscal 2014 research and development, procurement and operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,342,754 will be obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/PZM, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity.
ARMY
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded a $46,867,800 firm-fixed-price contract to convert 26 UH-60M Black Hawk aircraft to Taiwan Army and Taiwan National Airborne Service Corps configurations. Estimated completion date is Aug. 30, 2016. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds were obligated at the time of the award. One bid was solicited and one received. Work location is Stratford, Conn. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal (Aviation), Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-12-C-0008).
Weeks Marine Inc., Covington, La., was awarded a $21,253,000 firm-fixed-price contract for pipeline dredging of the Bayport Flare and Houston Ship Channel, Redfish to Beacon 78, Chambers County, Texas. Dredging consists of 742,000 cubic yards for Bayport Flare Sections 1 and 2; and 3,989,000 cubic yards for Houston Ship Channel Sections 4 through 14. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $17,306,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 3, 2014. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Work location will be Anahuac, Texas. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-14-C-0001).
Hamp’s Construction LLC, New Orleans, La. was awarded an $11,658,930 firm-fixed-price contract for clearing and grubbing the existing levee, including debris disposal, demolition of the flood wall and cutting sheet piles. Hamp’s will also remove abandoned pipelines, remove and replace existing riprap armament, furnish borrow pit preparation, construct a levee enlargement, and surface same, realign and surface access ramps, install deep soil mixing material for ground improvement including soil and excavation disposal, and seeding, fertilizing and mulching, and other related work. Estimated completion date is Aug. 29, 2014. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with six received. Work location is Buras, La. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-14-C-0009).
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., was awarded an $8,192,012 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a protected Military Satellite Communications design for affordability risk reduction demonstration. This is proposed against Army Research Laboratory broad agency announcement. Estimated completion date is Jan. 21, 2015. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were sent out via the Internet with an indeterminate number received. Work location is Redondo Beach, Calif. Army Contracting Command, Adelphi, Md., is the contracting activity (W911QX-14-C-0004).
Shavers-Whittle Construction LLC, Mandeville, La., was awarded an $8,112,606 firm-fixed-price contract for the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, Soniat Canal, Jefferson Parish, La. Estimated completion date is Aug. 5, 2015. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with eight received. Work location will be New Orleans, La. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-14-C-0010).
SOS International, Reston, Va. was awarded a $7,299,684 modification (P00009) to firm-fixed-price contract W52P1J-11-C-0058 which will execute option year two for public affairs operations in support of U.S. Forces - Afghanistan. Estimated completion date is Nov. 26, 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Army funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received. Work location will be Afghanistan. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (52P1J-11-C-0058).
Black River Constructors Joint Venture, La Crosse, Wis., was awarded a $7,299,000 firm-fixed-price contract for The Grand Encampment Island Unloading Project to remove dredged and other materials from the Mississippi River’s Grand Encampment Island, Pool 4, Buffalo County, Wis. Estimated completion date is Nov. 15, 2015. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Work location will be Alma, Wis. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, Minn., is the contracting activity (W912ES-14-C-0002)
NAVY
Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $33,023,240 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to delivery order 0044 previously issued against a basic ordering agreement (N00019-12-G-0006) in support of the V-22. This modified order provides for engineering and technical support for the V-22 flight control system and on-aircraft avionics software; flight test planning and coordination of changed avionics and flight control configuration; upgrade planning of avionics and flight controls, including performance of qualification testing and integration testing on software products. Work will be performed at Ridley Park, Pa. (90 percent) and Fort Worth, Texas (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2015. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Navy; fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Air Force; fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Air Force; and fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $33,023,240 will be obligated at time of award, of which $7,907,796 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Mass., is being awarded a $17,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-5126) to exercise fiscal 2014 options for deferred mission systems equipment for DDG 1001. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, R.I. (48 percent), Minneapolis, Minn. (41 percent), and Moorestown, N.J. (11 percent), and is expected to be completed by April 2017. Fiscal 2014 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy funds in the amount of $17,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., is being awarded $13,297,674 for cost-plus-fixed-fee order 0015 under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00164-11-G-JQ97) for the procurement of eight redesigned Turret Electronic Unit prototypes and related data items for the Target Sight Systems AN/AAQ-30(A). This acquisition is for the AN/AAQ-30 Target Sight Systems (TSS) that is to be integrated into the AH-1Z Cobra Attack Helicopter. This integration is part of the U.S. Marine Corps H-1 Upgrades Program for the remanufacture of legacy aircraft with state of the art designs incorporated into the existing fleet of AH-1W’s, converting them to AH-1Z. The TSS provides target identification and tracking, passive targeting for integrated weapons, including Hellfire missiles, and a laser designation capability supporting friendly laser-guided weapons. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., and is expected to be completed by April 2016. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement Navy contract funds in the amount of $13,297,674 will be obligated at time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as set forth in FAR 6.203-1(b)(1)(ii) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity.
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
Kearfott Corp., Little Falls, N.J., is being awarded an $18,700,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to design, develop, assemble and test high fidelity inertial measurement units (IMU) that meet or exceed the requirements of MDA-STD-005 for the Missile Defense Agency Advanced Technology Risk Reduction. Options work will also include qualification testing, highly accelerated life test/high accelerated stress screening and service life tests, and delivery of one set of IMU test station equipment. The work will be performed in Little Falls, N.J. The performance period is from November 2013 through September 2018. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website with 112 proposals received. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $700,000 are being obligated on this award. The Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (HQ0147-14-C-0002).
*Small Business
CONTRACTS
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
BAE Systems Aerospace, Phoenix, Ariz., has been awarded a maximum $11,093,991 modification (P00102) exercising the first one-year option period on a one-year base contract (SPM8EH-13-D-0002) with four one-year option periods for life preservers and component parts. This is a firm-fixed-price with economic-price contract. Location of performance is Arizona with a Dec. 5, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.
Patriot Industries Inc.*, Monticello, Ky., has been awarded a maximum $9,262,151 firm-fixed-price contract for modular lightweight load carrying equipment. This contract is a competitive acquisition and ten offers were received. Location of performance is Kentucky with a Nov. 30, 2014 performance completion date. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-14-D-1002).
AIR FORCE
Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, Calif., has been awarded a $105,083,207 modification (P00057) to an existing cost-plus-award-fee contract (FA8808-10-C-0002) to provide MILSATCOM Orbital Operations and Logistics Sustainment Support functions to support the operations and sustainment of Milstar and the Defense Satellite Communications System. This modification exercises the fourth option year. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale,
Calif., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $17,500,000 are being obligated at time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center/PKJ, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colo., is the contracting activity.
Jacobs Technology Inc., Lincoln, Mass., has been awarded a $12,800,149 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00013) on an existing contract (FA8721-13-C-00008) to continue providing disciplined systems/specialty engineering and technical/Information Assurance services, support, and products using established government, contractor, and industry processes. This contract provides a broad array of classified cryptographic and information assurance (IA) systems, equipment, services and support across different DoD agencies, U.S. military departments and various foreign military sales customers. A good portion of the contract supports developing, acquiring, modernizing, testing, fielding, sustaining and disposing of COMSEC systems, sustaining SIGINT equipment, providing key management, providing information assurance services, and providing cryptographic/IA logistical and field support services. In addition, the contract also supports the Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System program. Work will be performed at Lincoln, Mass., and is expected to be completed by May 19, 2014. Fiscal 2013 research and development and procurement funds and fiscal 2014 research and development, procurement and operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,342,754 will be obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/PZM, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity.
ARMY
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded a $46,867,800 firm-fixed-price contract to convert 26 UH-60M Black Hawk aircraft to Taiwan Army and Taiwan National Airborne Service Corps configurations. Estimated completion date is Aug. 30, 2016. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds were obligated at the time of the award. One bid was solicited and one received. Work location is Stratford, Conn. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal (Aviation), Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-12-C-0008).
Weeks Marine Inc., Covington, La., was awarded a $21,253,000 firm-fixed-price contract for pipeline dredging of the Bayport Flare and Houston Ship Channel, Redfish to Beacon 78, Chambers County, Texas. Dredging consists of 742,000 cubic yards for Bayport Flare Sections 1 and 2; and 3,989,000 cubic yards for Houston Ship Channel Sections 4 through 14. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $17,306,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 3, 2014. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Work location will be Anahuac, Texas. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-14-C-0001).
Hamp’s Construction LLC, New Orleans, La. was awarded an $11,658,930 firm-fixed-price contract for clearing and grubbing the existing levee, including debris disposal, demolition of the flood wall and cutting sheet piles. Hamp’s will also remove abandoned pipelines, remove and replace existing riprap armament, furnish borrow pit preparation, construct a levee enlargement, and surface same, realign and surface access ramps, install deep soil mixing material for ground improvement including soil and excavation disposal, and seeding, fertilizing and mulching, and other related work. Estimated completion date is Aug. 29, 2014. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with six received. Work location is Buras, La. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-14-C-0009).
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., was awarded an $8,192,012 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a protected Military Satellite Communications design for affordability risk reduction demonstration. This is proposed against Army Research Laboratory broad agency announcement. Estimated completion date is Jan. 21, 2015. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were sent out via the Internet with an indeterminate number received. Work location is Redondo Beach, Calif. Army Contracting Command, Adelphi, Md., is the contracting activity (W911QX-14-C-0004).
Shavers-Whittle Construction LLC, Mandeville, La., was awarded an $8,112,606 firm-fixed-price contract for the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, Soniat Canal, Jefferson Parish, La. Estimated completion date is Aug. 5, 2015. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with eight received. Work location will be New Orleans, La. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-14-C-0010).
SOS International, Reston, Va. was awarded a $7,299,684 modification (P00009) to firm-fixed-price contract W52P1J-11-C-0058 which will execute option year two for public affairs operations in support of U.S. Forces - Afghanistan. Estimated completion date is Nov. 26, 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Army funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received. Work location will be Afghanistan. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (52P1J-11-C-0058).
Black River Constructors Joint Venture, La Crosse, Wis., was awarded a $7,299,000 firm-fixed-price contract for The Grand Encampment Island Unloading Project to remove dredged and other materials from the Mississippi River’s Grand Encampment Island, Pool 4, Buffalo County, Wis. Estimated completion date is Nov. 15, 2015. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Work location will be Alma, Wis. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, Minn., is the contracting activity (W912ES-14-C-0002)
NAVY
Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $33,023,240 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to delivery order 0044 previously issued against a basic ordering agreement (N00019-12-G-0006) in support of the V-22. This modified order provides for engineering and technical support for the V-22 flight control system and on-aircraft avionics software; flight test planning and coordination of changed avionics and flight control configuration; upgrade planning of avionics and flight controls, including performance of qualification testing and integration testing on software products. Work will be performed at Ridley Park, Pa. (90 percent) and Fort Worth, Texas (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2015. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Navy; fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Air Force; fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Air Force; and fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $33,023,240 will be obligated at time of award, of which $7,907,796 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Mass., is being awarded a $17,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-5126) to exercise fiscal 2014 options for deferred mission systems equipment for DDG 1001. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, R.I. (48 percent), Minneapolis, Minn. (41 percent), and Moorestown, N.J. (11 percent), and is expected to be completed by April 2017. Fiscal 2014 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy funds in the amount of $17,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., is being awarded $13,297,674 for cost-plus-fixed-fee order 0015 under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00164-11-G-JQ97) for the procurement of eight redesigned Turret Electronic Unit prototypes and related data items for the Target Sight Systems AN/AAQ-30(A). This acquisition is for the AN/AAQ-30 Target Sight Systems (TSS) that is to be integrated into the AH-1Z Cobra Attack Helicopter. This integration is part of the U.S. Marine Corps H-1 Upgrades Program for the remanufacture of legacy aircraft with state of the art designs incorporated into the existing fleet of AH-1W’s, converting them to AH-1Z. The TSS provides target identification and tracking, passive targeting for integrated weapons, including Hellfire missiles, and a laser designation capability supporting friendly laser-guided weapons. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., and is expected to be completed by April 2016. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement Navy contract funds in the amount of $13,297,674 will be obligated at time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as set forth in FAR 6.203-1(b)(1)(ii) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity.
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
Kearfott Corp., Little Falls, N.J., is being awarded an $18,700,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to design, develop, assemble and test high fidelity inertial measurement units (IMU) that meet or exceed the requirements of MDA-STD-005 for the Missile Defense Agency Advanced Technology Risk Reduction. Options work will also include qualification testing, highly accelerated life test/high accelerated stress screening and service life tests, and delivery of one set of IMU test station equipment. The work will be performed in Little Falls, N.J. The performance period is from November 2013 through September 2018. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website with 112 proposals received. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $700,000 are being obligated on this award. The Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (HQ0147-14-C-0002).
*Small Business
AG HOLDER'S REMARKS AT MEETING OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC SECURITY IN AMERICAS
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the Fourth Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security in the Americas
Medillin, Colombia ~ Thursday, November 21, 2013
Thank you, Associate Deputy Minister [John] Ossowski. I appreciate your kind words – and I thank you for serving as moderator for today’s first session. I would also like to thank the Government of Colombia for hosting this important gathering of friends, colleagues, and leaders. And I applaud the Organization of American States for having the vision to focus on regional cooperation as an effective conduit for increasing public safety – and reinforcing our mutual security.
It’s an honor to bring greetings from President [Barack] Obama. And it’s a pleasure to be in this beautiful city today.
As Minister Pinzon suggested this morning, there could be no more powerful symbol than that we are holding our OAS meeting today in Medellin – a city that has been transformed. And I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to the courage of the Colombian judges, prosecutors, police officers and citizens who made this transformation possible – sometimes at the cost of their lives. Their courage is an inspiration to us today.
Indeed, each of our nations has displayed a shared commitment – and dedication – to building on the progress that our respective countries have made possible in recent years, particularly when it comes to protecting our citizens from violence and harm and combating transnational organized crime. And I appreciate the chance to discuss this commitment with you today.
As the title of this session suggests, the cornerstone of any effective law enforcement strategy rests upon the notion that our actions must be undertaken in concert with others – whether within individual neighborhoods, states, countries, or continents. We must cooperate if we are to protect our respective citizens from the criminal enterprises that threaten our national and international interests. And we must acknowledge that none among us can fight this battle on our own, or by implementing a “one-size-fits all” approach. On the contrary: we must take advantage of opportunities like this one to review and analyze cutting-edge strategies that can work for all of us, while at the same time seeking ways to adapt, to fine-tune, and to closely tailor our individual crime-fighting modalities to the specific security threats our people face.
In the United States, shifting crime trends over the last four decades have made it abundantly clear that new strategies must be brought to bear. It’s become self-evident that 20th-century solutions are simply not adequate to address the 21st-century challenges we face. And that’s why my colleagues and I have undertaken a series of fundamental policy changes – within the American criminal justice system, at the federal level – to invest in innovative models for reform; to explore new ways to ensure public safety and bring about just outcomes; to target precious law enforcement resources to the areas where they’re most needed; and to become smarter as well as tougher on crime. I hope that what we’ve chosen to do at the Justice Department will prove of value to you. And I look forward to your feedback, as well as the chance to learn how your countries have dealt with some of the same issues.
The approach we have undertaken in the United States requires policymakers and law enforcement leaders to be frank about which policies have proven effective – and which have not. It demands that we embrace data-driven solutions, reject the tired assumptions of the past, and consider crime in its appropriate context – not just by reacting to criminal acts themselves, but by improving the government’s ability to enhance public safety through proactive policing – and empowering those who are released from prison to rejoin their communities in a productive and meaningful way.
As President Obama and I have discussed many times over the years – and as I have repeatedly made clear – the path we are currently on is far from sustainable. As we speak, roughly one out of every 100 American adults is behind bars. Although the United States comprises just five percent of the world’s population, we incarcerate almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners. While few would dispute the fact that incarceration has a role to play in any comprehensive public safety strategy, it’s become evident that such widespread incarceration is both inadvisable and unsustainable. It requires that we routinely spend billions of dollars on prison construction – and tens of billions more, on an annual basis, to house those who are convicted of crimes. It carries both human and moral costs that are too much to bear. And it results in far too many Americans serving too much time in too many prisons – and beyond the point of serving any good law enforcement reason.
Clearly, it is time – in fact, it’s well past time – that federal leaders consider a fundamentally new approach. As a prosecutor, a former judge, an attorney in private practice – and now as my nation’s top law enforcement official – I’ve seen the federal criminal justice system firsthand, from nearly every angle. And although I have the utmost faith – and confidence – in America’s legal system, and especially in the dedicated men and women who serve it, I also recognize that we can and must do much better.
This is why, early this year – at my direction – the Department of Justice launched a targeted review of the federal criminal justice system in order to identify reforms that will enable us to better protect the American people from crime; to increase support for those who become crime victims; and to bolster public safety by improving the criminal justice system as a whole. In August, I announced the results of this review – which include a series of significant actions that the Department of Justice has undertaken to ensure just outcomes, to promote fair law enforcement, to improve diversion and reentry policies, and to strengthen protections for the most vulnerable members of our society.
These reforms – which are currently being implemented across the United States – will help to bring our criminal justice system in line with our most treasured values: of equality, opportunity, and justice under law. Particularly in this time of growing demands and limited budgets, they also will help our federal system operate more efficiently by improving coordination between agencies at every level.
These efforts must begin with law enforcement. That’s why I issued guidance to ensure that every case brought by federal authorities serves a substantial federal interest – and complements the work of our law enforcement counterparts at the state, local, and tribal levels. I have also directed our United States Attorneys, who lead federal prosecutions across the country, to develop specific, locally-tailored guidelines for determining when charges should be filed, and when they should not. This will enable us to focus our efforts on the most serious cases – those that implicate clear and substantial public security threats, including national security, protecting Americans from violent crime and financial fraud, and safeguarding our most vulnerable citizens.
In addition, I took action this summer to bring about a significant change in the Justice Department’s charging policies with regard to mandatory minimum sentences for drug related crimes – so that certain people who have committed low-level, nonviolent drug offenses, and who have no ties to large-scale organizations, gangs, or cartels – will no longer be charged with offenses that impose draconian mandatory minimum sentences. Instead, they will be charged with offenses for which the accompanying sentences are more appropriate for their specific conduct, reserving the most severe penalties for violent criminals or drug kingpins.
This shift will enable the Justice Department to better promote public safety, deterrence, and rehabilitation, while making our expenditures smarter and more productive. As it stands, roughly 219,000 federal inmates are currently behind bars in the United States. Almost half of them are serving time for drug-related crimes, and many have substance abuse problems. Statistics show that many are likely to reoffend after they are released from prison – cycling through our federal and state criminal justice systems at great cost to American taxpayers – and without real benefit to public safety.
This vicious cycle – of poverty, criminality, and incarceration – traps too many Americans and weakens too many communities. And many aspects of our criminal justice system may actually exacerbate these problems, rather than alleviate them. This is why the Justice Department is also placing a renewed emphasis on the use of what we refer to as diversion programs – such as drug courts, treatment programs for those who have committed low-level drug crimes, and dual-track programs that differentiate between those with a low risk of recidivism and those with more serious criminal histories. By examining cases individually, identifying effective alternatives to incarceration under certain circumstances, and providing the resources necessary for those currently in the criminal justice system – and those who are released from prison – to become productive, law-abiding members of society, we can break this cycle. And we can improve public safety, forge safer neighborhoods, begin to address the root causes of criminality – and make smarter decisions on how to prevent it.
With these goals in mind, I have directed federal prosecutors around the country to designate prevention and reentry coordinators within each U.S. Attorney’s office – so we can ensure that these efforts are prioritized in every district. The Justice Department is taking steps to highlight promising initiatives – many pioneered by individual states – that can serve as models for success, allowing policymakers to direct funding away from prison construction and toward strategies that are proven to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. And my colleagues and I are moving in a variety of ways to identify and share best practices on reentry programs focused on specific needs related to employment, housing, and family support, among other key priorities.
Ultimately, however, this comprehensive “Smart on Crime” approach is about far more than fairness for those who are released from prisons. It makes plain economic sense. And it is a matter of both public safety and public good. While my colleagues and I recognize that the aggressive enforcement of federal criminal statutes will always be necessary, the reality is that we will never prosecute or incarcerate our way to becoming a safer nation. No country can succeed with such an approach. Instead, we must focus on prevention and reentry. We must be smart as well as efficient when battling criminal acts – and the conditions, and individual choices, that breed them. Most importantly, we must embrace reforms and innovations that can bring our law enforcement policies and practices in line with the values we share with all of the nations represented here – and which all of you have been working hard to translate into principled action, especially in recent years.
Each of the leaders in this room has the privilege of serving his or her respective country – and its citizens – in a time of common challenges and uncommon threats, when our ability to ensure peace, security, and justice depends more than ever on our willingness to work together – meeting national challenges with regional, and even global, solutions. There’s no question – as we come together today – that we have an unprecedented opportunity to share critical information, instructive experiences, and best practices. And that’s why I firmly believe that each of us must resolve – here and now – to seize this chance to collaborate, and to work together, in order to make our communities and our nations not only safer, but stronger.
Together, we can grow smarter on crime by implementing reforms and enacting legislation that ensures fairness in sentencing; by focusing scarce resources on incarcerating only those who pose the greatest threats; and by providing safe and productive paths forward for those who have paid their debts to society. We can grow smarter on crime by directing assistance and resources to “hot spots” of criminality; by recognizing that vulnerable populations deserve extra care and protection; and by acting on the realization that we are uniquely positioned – and empowered – to make the positive difference that our citizens need and deserve.
On behalf of President Obama – and the Department of Justice I am privileged to lead – let me say, once again, how pleased and honored I am to stand with you, and to work with you, to improve the safety and security of our fellow citizens. Despite the obstacles that undoubtedly lie ahead, as I look around this room, I cannot help but feel confident in our collective ability to do just that. I look forward to all that we will accomplish in the months and years ahead. And I thank you, once again, for the opportunity to be here today.
Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the Fourth Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security in the Americas
Medillin, Colombia ~ Thursday, November 21, 2013
Thank you, Associate Deputy Minister [John] Ossowski. I appreciate your kind words – and I thank you for serving as moderator for today’s first session. I would also like to thank the Government of Colombia for hosting this important gathering of friends, colleagues, and leaders. And I applaud the Organization of American States for having the vision to focus on regional cooperation as an effective conduit for increasing public safety – and reinforcing our mutual security.
It’s an honor to bring greetings from President [Barack] Obama. And it’s a pleasure to be in this beautiful city today.
As Minister Pinzon suggested this morning, there could be no more powerful symbol than that we are holding our OAS meeting today in Medellin – a city that has been transformed. And I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to the courage of the Colombian judges, prosecutors, police officers and citizens who made this transformation possible – sometimes at the cost of their lives. Their courage is an inspiration to us today.
Indeed, each of our nations has displayed a shared commitment – and dedication – to building on the progress that our respective countries have made possible in recent years, particularly when it comes to protecting our citizens from violence and harm and combating transnational organized crime. And I appreciate the chance to discuss this commitment with you today.
As the title of this session suggests, the cornerstone of any effective law enforcement strategy rests upon the notion that our actions must be undertaken in concert with others – whether within individual neighborhoods, states, countries, or continents. We must cooperate if we are to protect our respective citizens from the criminal enterprises that threaten our national and international interests. And we must acknowledge that none among us can fight this battle on our own, or by implementing a “one-size-fits all” approach. On the contrary: we must take advantage of opportunities like this one to review and analyze cutting-edge strategies that can work for all of us, while at the same time seeking ways to adapt, to fine-tune, and to closely tailor our individual crime-fighting modalities to the specific security threats our people face.
In the United States, shifting crime trends over the last four decades have made it abundantly clear that new strategies must be brought to bear. It’s become self-evident that 20th-century solutions are simply not adequate to address the 21st-century challenges we face. And that’s why my colleagues and I have undertaken a series of fundamental policy changes – within the American criminal justice system, at the federal level – to invest in innovative models for reform; to explore new ways to ensure public safety and bring about just outcomes; to target precious law enforcement resources to the areas where they’re most needed; and to become smarter as well as tougher on crime. I hope that what we’ve chosen to do at the Justice Department will prove of value to you. And I look forward to your feedback, as well as the chance to learn how your countries have dealt with some of the same issues.
The approach we have undertaken in the United States requires policymakers and law enforcement leaders to be frank about which policies have proven effective – and which have not. It demands that we embrace data-driven solutions, reject the tired assumptions of the past, and consider crime in its appropriate context – not just by reacting to criminal acts themselves, but by improving the government’s ability to enhance public safety through proactive policing – and empowering those who are released from prison to rejoin their communities in a productive and meaningful way.
As President Obama and I have discussed many times over the years – and as I have repeatedly made clear – the path we are currently on is far from sustainable. As we speak, roughly one out of every 100 American adults is behind bars. Although the United States comprises just five percent of the world’s population, we incarcerate almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners. While few would dispute the fact that incarceration has a role to play in any comprehensive public safety strategy, it’s become evident that such widespread incarceration is both inadvisable and unsustainable. It requires that we routinely spend billions of dollars on prison construction – and tens of billions more, on an annual basis, to house those who are convicted of crimes. It carries both human and moral costs that are too much to bear. And it results in far too many Americans serving too much time in too many prisons – and beyond the point of serving any good law enforcement reason.
Clearly, it is time – in fact, it’s well past time – that federal leaders consider a fundamentally new approach. As a prosecutor, a former judge, an attorney in private practice – and now as my nation’s top law enforcement official – I’ve seen the federal criminal justice system firsthand, from nearly every angle. And although I have the utmost faith – and confidence – in America’s legal system, and especially in the dedicated men and women who serve it, I also recognize that we can and must do much better.
This is why, early this year – at my direction – the Department of Justice launched a targeted review of the federal criminal justice system in order to identify reforms that will enable us to better protect the American people from crime; to increase support for those who become crime victims; and to bolster public safety by improving the criminal justice system as a whole. In August, I announced the results of this review – which include a series of significant actions that the Department of Justice has undertaken to ensure just outcomes, to promote fair law enforcement, to improve diversion and reentry policies, and to strengthen protections for the most vulnerable members of our society.
These reforms – which are currently being implemented across the United States – will help to bring our criminal justice system in line with our most treasured values: of equality, opportunity, and justice under law. Particularly in this time of growing demands and limited budgets, they also will help our federal system operate more efficiently by improving coordination between agencies at every level.
These efforts must begin with law enforcement. That’s why I issued guidance to ensure that every case brought by federal authorities serves a substantial federal interest – and complements the work of our law enforcement counterparts at the state, local, and tribal levels. I have also directed our United States Attorneys, who lead federal prosecutions across the country, to develop specific, locally-tailored guidelines for determining when charges should be filed, and when they should not. This will enable us to focus our efforts on the most serious cases – those that implicate clear and substantial public security threats, including national security, protecting Americans from violent crime and financial fraud, and safeguarding our most vulnerable citizens.
In addition, I took action this summer to bring about a significant change in the Justice Department’s charging policies with regard to mandatory minimum sentences for drug related crimes – so that certain people who have committed low-level, nonviolent drug offenses, and who have no ties to large-scale organizations, gangs, or cartels – will no longer be charged with offenses that impose draconian mandatory minimum sentences. Instead, they will be charged with offenses for which the accompanying sentences are more appropriate for their specific conduct, reserving the most severe penalties for violent criminals or drug kingpins.
This shift will enable the Justice Department to better promote public safety, deterrence, and rehabilitation, while making our expenditures smarter and more productive. As it stands, roughly 219,000 federal inmates are currently behind bars in the United States. Almost half of them are serving time for drug-related crimes, and many have substance abuse problems. Statistics show that many are likely to reoffend after they are released from prison – cycling through our federal and state criminal justice systems at great cost to American taxpayers – and without real benefit to public safety.
This vicious cycle – of poverty, criminality, and incarceration – traps too many Americans and weakens too many communities. And many aspects of our criminal justice system may actually exacerbate these problems, rather than alleviate them. This is why the Justice Department is also placing a renewed emphasis on the use of what we refer to as diversion programs – such as drug courts, treatment programs for those who have committed low-level drug crimes, and dual-track programs that differentiate between those with a low risk of recidivism and those with more serious criminal histories. By examining cases individually, identifying effective alternatives to incarceration under certain circumstances, and providing the resources necessary for those currently in the criminal justice system – and those who are released from prison – to become productive, law-abiding members of society, we can break this cycle. And we can improve public safety, forge safer neighborhoods, begin to address the root causes of criminality – and make smarter decisions on how to prevent it.
With these goals in mind, I have directed federal prosecutors around the country to designate prevention and reentry coordinators within each U.S. Attorney’s office – so we can ensure that these efforts are prioritized in every district. The Justice Department is taking steps to highlight promising initiatives – many pioneered by individual states – that can serve as models for success, allowing policymakers to direct funding away from prison construction and toward strategies that are proven to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. And my colleagues and I are moving in a variety of ways to identify and share best practices on reentry programs focused on specific needs related to employment, housing, and family support, among other key priorities.
Ultimately, however, this comprehensive “Smart on Crime” approach is about far more than fairness for those who are released from prisons. It makes plain economic sense. And it is a matter of both public safety and public good. While my colleagues and I recognize that the aggressive enforcement of federal criminal statutes will always be necessary, the reality is that we will never prosecute or incarcerate our way to becoming a safer nation. No country can succeed with such an approach. Instead, we must focus on prevention and reentry. We must be smart as well as efficient when battling criminal acts – and the conditions, and individual choices, that breed them. Most importantly, we must embrace reforms and innovations that can bring our law enforcement policies and practices in line with the values we share with all of the nations represented here – and which all of you have been working hard to translate into principled action, especially in recent years.
Each of the leaders in this room has the privilege of serving his or her respective country – and its citizens – in a time of common challenges and uncommon threats, when our ability to ensure peace, security, and justice depends more than ever on our willingness to work together – meeting national challenges with regional, and even global, solutions. There’s no question – as we come together today – that we have an unprecedented opportunity to share critical information, instructive experiences, and best practices. And that’s why I firmly believe that each of us must resolve – here and now – to seize this chance to collaborate, and to work together, in order to make our communities and our nations not only safer, but stronger.
Together, we can grow smarter on crime by implementing reforms and enacting legislation that ensures fairness in sentencing; by focusing scarce resources on incarcerating only those who pose the greatest threats; and by providing safe and productive paths forward for those who have paid their debts to society. We can grow smarter on crime by directing assistance and resources to “hot spots” of criminality; by recognizing that vulnerable populations deserve extra care and protection; and by acting on the realization that we are uniquely positioned – and empowered – to make the positive difference that our citizens need and deserve.
On behalf of President Obama – and the Department of Justice I am privileged to lead – let me say, once again, how pleased and honored I am to stand with you, and to work with you, to improve the safety and security of our fellow citizens. Despite the obstacles that undoubtedly lie ahead, as I look around this room, I cannot help but feel confident in our collective ability to do just that. I look forward to all that we will accomplish in the months and years ahead. And I thank you, once again, for the opportunity to be here today.
OWNER HEALTH CARE COMPANIES SENTENCED TO SERVE 120 MONTHS FOR ROLE IN FRAUD SCHEME
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Owner of Home Health Companies Sentenced for Role in $20 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
The owner and operator of several Miami health care agencies was sentenced today to serve 120 months in prison for his role in a health care fraud scheme involving defunct home health care company Trust Care Health Services Inc.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Steinbach of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher B. Dennis of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Office of Investigations Miami Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael J. DePalma of the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.
Roberto Marrero, 60, of Miami, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore in the Southern District of Florida. In September 2013, Marrero pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to receive and pay health care kickbacks.
Marrero was an owner and operator of Trust Care, a Miami home health care agency that purported to provide home health and physical therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries.
Co-conspirators Sandra Fernandez Viera, 49, Patricia Morcate, 34, and Enrique Rodriguez, 59, all of Miami, have also pleaded guilty to related charges, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to receive and pay health care kickbacks. On Nov. 13, 2013, Fernandez Viera was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison; Morcate was sentenced to serve 60 months; and Rodriguez was sentenced to serve 57 months.
Together with Marrero, Fernandez Viera was an owner and operator of Trust Care. Morcate worked at and was an investor in Trust Care. Rodriguez served as a patient recruiter on behalf of Trust Care.
According to court documents, Marrero and his co-conspirators operated Trust Care for the purpose of billing the Medicare Program for, among other things, expensive physical therapy and home health care services that were not medically necessary and/or were not provided.
Marrero primarily controlled Trust Care and, in light of that role, oversaw the schemes operating out of the company. Marrero was also responsible for negotiating and paying kickbacks and bribes, interacting with patient recruiters, and coordinating and overseeing the submission of fraudulent claims to the Medicare program.
Marrero and his co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to patient recruiters in return for the recruiters providing patients to Trust Care for home health and therapy services that were medically unnecessary and/or not provided. Marrero and his co-conspirators at Trust Care also paid kickbacks and bribes to co-conspirators in doctors’ offices and clinics in exchange for home health and therapy prescriptions, medical certifications and other documentation. Marrero and his co-conspirators used these prescriptions, medical certifications and other documentation to fraudulently bill the Medicare program for home health care services, which Marrero knew was in violation of federal criminal laws.
From approximately March 2007 through at least October 2010, Trust Care submitted more than $20 million in claims for home health services. Medicare paid Trust Care more than $15 million for these fraudulent claims.
Marrero and his co-conspirators have also acknowledged their involvement in similar fraudulent schemes at several other Miami health care agencies in addition to Trust Care with estimated total losses of approximately $50 million. Those agencies include A&B Health Services Inc. , Centrum Home Health Care Inc., Global Nursing Home Health Inc., Lovable Home Health Services Corp., New Concepts In Health Inc., Nursemed Home Care Corp., R&M Health Care Inc., Ubieta Health System Inc., and Vital Care Home Health Services Inc.
The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, with the assistance of IRS-CI, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force initiative, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. This case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney A. Brendan Stewart of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 1,700 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $5.5 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Owner of Home Health Companies Sentenced for Role in $20 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
The owner and operator of several Miami health care agencies was sentenced today to serve 120 months in prison for his role in a health care fraud scheme involving defunct home health care company Trust Care Health Services Inc.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Steinbach of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher B. Dennis of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Office of Investigations Miami Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael J. DePalma of the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.
Roberto Marrero, 60, of Miami, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore in the Southern District of Florida. In September 2013, Marrero pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to receive and pay health care kickbacks.
Marrero was an owner and operator of Trust Care, a Miami home health care agency that purported to provide home health and physical therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries.
Co-conspirators Sandra Fernandez Viera, 49, Patricia Morcate, 34, and Enrique Rodriguez, 59, all of Miami, have also pleaded guilty to related charges, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to receive and pay health care kickbacks. On Nov. 13, 2013, Fernandez Viera was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison; Morcate was sentenced to serve 60 months; and Rodriguez was sentenced to serve 57 months.
Together with Marrero, Fernandez Viera was an owner and operator of Trust Care. Morcate worked at and was an investor in Trust Care. Rodriguez served as a patient recruiter on behalf of Trust Care.
According to court documents, Marrero and his co-conspirators operated Trust Care for the purpose of billing the Medicare Program for, among other things, expensive physical therapy and home health care services that were not medically necessary and/or were not provided.
Marrero primarily controlled Trust Care and, in light of that role, oversaw the schemes operating out of the company. Marrero was also responsible for negotiating and paying kickbacks and bribes, interacting with patient recruiters, and coordinating and overseeing the submission of fraudulent claims to the Medicare program.
Marrero and his co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to patient recruiters in return for the recruiters providing patients to Trust Care for home health and therapy services that were medically unnecessary and/or not provided. Marrero and his co-conspirators at Trust Care also paid kickbacks and bribes to co-conspirators in doctors’ offices and clinics in exchange for home health and therapy prescriptions, medical certifications and other documentation. Marrero and his co-conspirators used these prescriptions, medical certifications and other documentation to fraudulently bill the Medicare program for home health care services, which Marrero knew was in violation of federal criminal laws.
From approximately March 2007 through at least October 2010, Trust Care submitted more than $20 million in claims for home health services. Medicare paid Trust Care more than $15 million for these fraudulent claims.
Marrero and his co-conspirators have also acknowledged their involvement in similar fraudulent schemes at several other Miami health care agencies in addition to Trust Care with estimated total losses of approximately $50 million. Those agencies include A&B Health Services Inc. , Centrum Home Health Care Inc., Global Nursing Home Health Inc., Lovable Home Health Services Corp., New Concepts In Health Inc., Nursemed Home Care Corp., R&M Health Care Inc., Ubieta Health System Inc., and Vital Care Home Health Services Inc.
The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, with the assistance of IRS-CI, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force initiative, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. This case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney A. Brendan Stewart of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 1,700 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $5.5 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
U.S.-PAKISTAN MEET REGARDING SECURITY, STABILITY, NONPROLIFERATION
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Pakistan and United States Discuss Security, Strategic Stability, and Nonproliferation Issues
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 21, 2013
Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller and Additional Secretary for United Nations and Economic Coordination Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry co-chaired the sixth round of the Pakistan–U.S. Security, Strategic Stability, and Nonproliferation (SSS&NP) Working Group in Islamabad on November 21.
The delegations had a productive exchange of views on issues of mutual importance, including international efforts to enhance nuclear security and peaceful applications of nuclear energy. The participants also shared views on nonproliferation challenges as well as on the multilateral regimes on chemical and biological weapons, export controls, and the importance of regional stability and security.
The delegations reaffirmed that the Working Group remains an invaluable forum for discussing issues of critical mutual importance and stated that they looked forward to future sessions.
The SSS&NP Working Group is part of the U.S.–Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, re-energized during the visit of Secretary of State John Kerry to Pakistan in August and reaffirmed by Prime Minister Sharif and President Obama in October. It follows a meeting of the Energy Working Group in Washington, D.C. on November 12. The Defense Consultative Group, a third bilateral forum within the Strategic Dialogue, also met on November 21 in Washington.
Pakistan and United States Discuss Security, Strategic Stability, and Nonproliferation Issues
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 21, 2013
Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller and Additional Secretary for United Nations and Economic Coordination Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry co-chaired the sixth round of the Pakistan–U.S. Security, Strategic Stability, and Nonproliferation (SSS&NP) Working Group in Islamabad on November 21.
The delegations had a productive exchange of views on issues of mutual importance, including international efforts to enhance nuclear security and peaceful applications of nuclear energy. The participants also shared views on nonproliferation challenges as well as on the multilateral regimes on chemical and biological weapons, export controls, and the importance of regional stability and security.
The delegations reaffirmed that the Working Group remains an invaluable forum for discussing issues of critical mutual importance and stated that they looked forward to future sessions.
The SSS&NP Working Group is part of the U.S.–Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, re-energized during the visit of Secretary of State John Kerry to Pakistan in August and reaffirmed by Prime Minister Sharif and President Obama in October. It follows a meeting of the Energy Working Group in Washington, D.C. on November 12. The Defense Consultative Group, a third bilateral forum within the Strategic Dialogue, also met on November 21 in Washington.
ISS CELEBRATES 15 YEARS IN SPACE
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| Image Credit: NASA |
Celebrating Fifteen Years of the International Space Station
Astronaut James H. Newman waves during a spacewalk preparing for release of the first combined elements of the International Space Station. The Russian-built Zarya module, with its solar array panel visible here, was launched into orbit fifteen years ago on Nov. 20, 1998. Two weeks later, on Dec. 4, 1998, NASA's space shuttle Endeavour launched Unity, the first U.S. piece of the complex. Endeavour's forward section is reflected in Newman's helmet visor in this image. During three spacewalks on the STS-88 mission, the two space modules built on opposite sides of the planet were joined together in space, making the space station truly international.
Since that first meeting of Zarya and Unity, the space station grew piece by piece with additions from each of the international partners built across three continents and leading to the largest and most complex spacecraft ever constructed. The space station, now four times larger than Mir and five times larger than Skylab, represents a collaboration between NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, representing 15 countries in all.
In support of station assembly and maintenance, station and shuttle crews have conducted 174 spacewalks totaling almost 1,100 hours – the equivalent to nearly 46 days of spacewalks to build and maintain the complex. The station, with a mass of almost a million pounds and the size of a football field, is second only to the moon as the brightest object in the night sky.
Over the years, a great deal of research has been done on the space laboratory, which has already yielded tremendous results toward various fields. The science of the space station has provided benefits to humankind in areas such as human health, Earth observation and education. Many more results and benefits for both space exploration and life on Earth are expected in the coming years.
> Celebrating 15 Years Since the Sunrise
OFFICIAL AT VENEZUELAN STATE DEVELOPMENT BANK PLEADS GUILTY FOR ROLE IN BRIBERY SCHEME
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Monday, November 18, 2013
High-Ranking Bank Official at Venezuelan State Development Bank Pleads Guilty to Participating in Bribery Scheme
A senior official in Venezuela’s state economic development bank has pleaded guilty in New York federal court to accepting bribes from agents and employees of a New York-based broker-dealer (Broker-Dealer) in exchange for directing her bank’s security-trading business to the Broker-Dealer.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of the Southern District of New York, and Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos of the New York Office of the FBI made the announcement.
Maria De Los Angeles Gonzalez De Hernandez, 55, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in the Southern District of New York to conspiring to violate the Travel Act and to commit money laundering, as well as substantive counts of these offenses. Sentencing for Gonzalez is scheduled for Aug. 15, 2014, before Judge Engelmayer.
At all times relevant to the charges, Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) was a state-run economic development bank in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government had a majority ownership interest in BANDES and provided it with substantial funding.
According to court records, Gonzalez was an official at BANDES and oversaw the development bank’s overseas trading activity. At her direction, BANDES conducted substantial trading through the Broker-Dealer. Most of the trades executed by the Broker-Dealer on behalf of BANDES involved fixed income investments for which the Broker-Dealer charged the bank a mark-up on purchases and a mark-down on sales.
From early 2009 through 2012, Gonzalez participated in a bribery scheme in which she directed trading business she controlled at BANDES to the Broker-Dealer and, in return, agents and employees of the Broker-Dealer shared the revenue the Broker-Dealer generated from this trading business with Gonzalez. During this time period, the Broker-Dealer generated over $60 million in mark-ups and mark-downs from trades with BANDES. Agents and employees of the Broker-Dealer devised a split with Gonzalez of the commissions paid by BANDES to the Broker-Dealer. Emails, account records, and other documents collected from the Broker-Dealer and other sources reveal that Gonzalez received a substantial share of the revenue generated by the Broker-Dealer for BANDES-related trades. Specifically, Gonzalez received millions in bribe payments from Broker-Dealer agents and employees.
Additionally, Gonzalez paid a portion of the bribe payments she received to another BANDES employee who was also involved in the scheme.
To further conceal the scheme, the kickbacks to Gonzalez were often paid using intermediary corporations and offshore accounts that Gonzalez and others held in Switzerland, among other places.
Previously, three former employees of the Broker-Dealer – Ernesto Lujan, Jose Alejandro Hurtado, and Tomas Alberto Clarke Bethancourt – each pleaded guilty in New York federal court to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), to violate the Travel Act and to commit money laundering, as well as substantive counts of these offenses, relating, among other things, to the scheme involving bribe payments to Gonzalez. Sentencing for Lujan and Clarke is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe. Hurtado is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Harold Baer Jr. on March 6, 2014.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the SEC and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant Chief James Koukios and Trial Attorneys Maria Gonzalez Calvet and Aisling O’Shea of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant United States Attorneys Harry A. Chernoff and Jason H. Cowley of the Southern District of New York’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Carolina Fornos is also responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case
Monday, November 18, 2013
High-Ranking Bank Official at Venezuelan State Development Bank Pleads Guilty to Participating in Bribery Scheme
A senior official in Venezuela’s state economic development bank has pleaded guilty in New York federal court to accepting bribes from agents and employees of a New York-based broker-dealer (Broker-Dealer) in exchange for directing her bank’s security-trading business to the Broker-Dealer.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of the Southern District of New York, and Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos of the New York Office of the FBI made the announcement.
Maria De Los Angeles Gonzalez De Hernandez, 55, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in the Southern District of New York to conspiring to violate the Travel Act and to commit money laundering, as well as substantive counts of these offenses. Sentencing for Gonzalez is scheduled for Aug. 15, 2014, before Judge Engelmayer.
At all times relevant to the charges, Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) was a state-run economic development bank in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government had a majority ownership interest in BANDES and provided it with substantial funding.
According to court records, Gonzalez was an official at BANDES and oversaw the development bank’s overseas trading activity. At her direction, BANDES conducted substantial trading through the Broker-Dealer. Most of the trades executed by the Broker-Dealer on behalf of BANDES involved fixed income investments for which the Broker-Dealer charged the bank a mark-up on purchases and a mark-down on sales.
From early 2009 through 2012, Gonzalez participated in a bribery scheme in which she directed trading business she controlled at BANDES to the Broker-Dealer and, in return, agents and employees of the Broker-Dealer shared the revenue the Broker-Dealer generated from this trading business with Gonzalez. During this time period, the Broker-Dealer generated over $60 million in mark-ups and mark-downs from trades with BANDES. Agents and employees of the Broker-Dealer devised a split with Gonzalez of the commissions paid by BANDES to the Broker-Dealer. Emails, account records, and other documents collected from the Broker-Dealer and other sources reveal that Gonzalez received a substantial share of the revenue generated by the Broker-Dealer for BANDES-related trades. Specifically, Gonzalez received millions in bribe payments from Broker-Dealer agents and employees.
Additionally, Gonzalez paid a portion of the bribe payments she received to another BANDES employee who was also involved in the scheme.
To further conceal the scheme, the kickbacks to Gonzalez were often paid using intermediary corporations and offshore accounts that Gonzalez and others held in Switzerland, among other places.
Previously, three former employees of the Broker-Dealer – Ernesto Lujan, Jose Alejandro Hurtado, and Tomas Alberto Clarke Bethancourt – each pleaded guilty in New York federal court to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), to violate the Travel Act and to commit money laundering, as well as substantive counts of these offenses, relating, among other things, to the scheme involving bribe payments to Gonzalez. Sentencing for Lujan and Clarke is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe. Hurtado is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Harold Baer Jr. on March 6, 2014.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the SEC and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant Chief James Koukios and Trial Attorneys Maria Gonzalez Calvet and Aisling O’Shea of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant United States Attorneys Harry A. Chernoff and Jason H. Cowley of the Southern District of New York’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Carolina Fornos is also responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case
HHS CITES STUDY ON HAPPY MARRIAGES
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
This isn’t about who wins the argument – but a study of hot marital fights indicates that when the wife calms down, the couples are more happy. Researcher Lian Bloch of the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology in Palo Alto found that in a study she did at the University of California, Berkeley. She looked at data that included recorded arguments by long-time husbands and wives.
“The marriages that were the happiest were the ones in which the wives were able to calm down quickly during marital conflict.”
Bloch says calm wives were able to look constructively for ways to deal with the emotions and talk about ways to solve the problems. Happiness didn’t change if the husband calmed down quickly.
The study in the journal Emotion was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
This isn’t about who wins the argument – but a study of hot marital fights indicates that when the wife calms down, the couples are more happy. Researcher Lian Bloch of the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology in Palo Alto found that in a study she did at the University of California, Berkeley. She looked at data that included recorded arguments by long-time husbands and wives.
“The marriages that were the happiest were the ones in which the wives were able to calm down quickly during marital conflict.”
Bloch says calm wives were able to look constructively for ways to deal with the emotions and talk about ways to solve the problems. Happiness didn’t change if the husband calmed down quickly.
The study in the journal Emotion was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
CDC REVEALS HEALTH DISPARITIES
FROM: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
CDC Report Documents Health Disparities
Highlights progress, challenges, and needs for stronger data
Income, education level, sex, race, ethnicity, employment status, and sexual orientation are all related to health and health outcomes for a number of Americans, according to a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Supplement released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The "CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report — United States, 2013," is the second CDC report that highlights differences in mortality and disease risk for multiple conditions related to behaviors, access to health care, and social determinants of health – the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, age, and work.
The latest report looks at disparities in deaths and illness, use of health care, behavioral risk factors for disease, environmental hazards, and social determinants of health. This year’s report contains 10 new topics including access to healthier foods, activity limitations due to chronic diseases, asthma attacks, fatal and nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses, health-related quality of life, periodontitis in adults, residential proximity to major highways, tuberculosis, and unemployment.
“Better health for all Americans depends on focusing our efforts where they’re needed most,” said CDC Director Tom. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H." This kind of information helps us target health programs and promotes accountability for improving health equity at the federal, state and local level."
Some of the report’s key findings include:
The overall birth rate for teens 15-19 years old fell dramatically -- by 18 percent -- from 2007 to 2010. Birth rate disparities also decreased because the rates fell by more among racial and ethnic minority populations that had higher rates. However, across states, there was wide variation, from no significant change to a 30 percent reduction in the rate from 2007 to 2010.
Working in a high risk occupation -- an occupation in which workers are more likely than average to be injured or become ill -- is more likely among those who are Hispanic, are low wage earners, were born outside of the United States, have no education beyond high school, or are male.
Binge drinking is more common among persons aged 18-34 years, men, non-Hispanic whites, and persons with higher household incomes.
While the number of new tuberculosis cases in the United States decreased 58 percent from 1992 to 2010, tuberculosis continues to disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities, including foreign-born individuals.
The report also underscores the need for more consistent data on population characteristics that have often been lacking in health surveys, such as disability status and sexual orientation. To help ensure that such data are more available in the future, the Affordable Care Act required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop a set of uniform data collection standards for national population health surveys. These standards were published in 2011.
“It is clear that more needs to be done to address the gaps and to better assist Americans disproportionately impacted by the burden of poor health,” said Chesley Richards, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Office of Public Health Scientific Services, which produced the report. “We hope that this report will lead to interventions that will allow all Americans, particularly those most harmed by health inequalities, to live healthier and more productive lives.”
The full "CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report — United States, 2013" and related information on the individual chapters is available at http://www.cdc.gov/DisparitiesAnalytics .
The Affordable Care Act can help to reduce health disparities in the United States. Through the Affordable Care Act, more Americans will qualify to get health care coverage that fits their needs and budget, including important preventive services that are covered with no additional costs. Reducing disparities in health insurance coverage and access to care will contribute to health equity and is a key strategy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. For those enrolled by December 15, 2013, coverage starts as early as January 1, 2014.
CDC Report Documents Health Disparities
Highlights progress, challenges, and needs for stronger data
Income, education level, sex, race, ethnicity, employment status, and sexual orientation are all related to health and health outcomes for a number of Americans, according to a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Supplement released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The "CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report — United States, 2013," is the second CDC report that highlights differences in mortality and disease risk for multiple conditions related to behaviors, access to health care, and social determinants of health – the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, age, and work.
The latest report looks at disparities in deaths and illness, use of health care, behavioral risk factors for disease, environmental hazards, and social determinants of health. This year’s report contains 10 new topics including access to healthier foods, activity limitations due to chronic diseases, asthma attacks, fatal and nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses, health-related quality of life, periodontitis in adults, residential proximity to major highways, tuberculosis, and unemployment.
“Better health for all Americans depends on focusing our efforts where they’re needed most,” said CDC Director Tom. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H." This kind of information helps us target health programs and promotes accountability for improving health equity at the federal, state and local level."
Some of the report’s key findings include:
The overall birth rate for teens 15-19 years old fell dramatically -- by 18 percent -- from 2007 to 2010. Birth rate disparities also decreased because the rates fell by more among racial and ethnic minority populations that had higher rates. However, across states, there was wide variation, from no significant change to a 30 percent reduction in the rate from 2007 to 2010.
Working in a high risk occupation -- an occupation in which workers are more likely than average to be injured or become ill -- is more likely among those who are Hispanic, are low wage earners, were born outside of the United States, have no education beyond high school, or are male.
Binge drinking is more common among persons aged 18-34 years, men, non-Hispanic whites, and persons with higher household incomes.
While the number of new tuberculosis cases in the United States decreased 58 percent from 1992 to 2010, tuberculosis continues to disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities, including foreign-born individuals.
The report also underscores the need for more consistent data on population characteristics that have often been lacking in health surveys, such as disability status and sexual orientation. To help ensure that such data are more available in the future, the Affordable Care Act required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop a set of uniform data collection standards for national population health surveys. These standards were published in 2011.
“It is clear that more needs to be done to address the gaps and to better assist Americans disproportionately impacted by the burden of poor health,” said Chesley Richards, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Office of Public Health Scientific Services, which produced the report. “We hope that this report will lead to interventions that will allow all Americans, particularly those most harmed by health inequalities, to live healthier and more productive lives.”
The full "CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report — United States, 2013" and related information on the individual chapters is available at http://www.cdc.gov/DisparitiesAnalytics .
The Affordable Care Act can help to reduce health disparities in the United States. Through the Affordable Care Act, more Americans will qualify to get health care coverage that fits their needs and budget, including important preventive services that are covered with no additional costs. Reducing disparities in health insurance coverage and access to care will contribute to health equity and is a key strategy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. For those enrolled by December 15, 2013, coverage starts as early as January 1, 2014.
FTC TESTIFIES BEFORE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE REGARDING FRAUD AFFECTING MILITARY COMMUNITY
FROM: FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
FTC Testifies Before Congress on Fraud Affecting Military Community
The Federal Trade Commission testified before a U.S. Senate Committee regarding the agency’s law enforcement and educational efforts to combat deceptive and unfair practices that impact servicemembers and their families.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Charles Harwood, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, said that although all consumers are potential targets for fraudsters, certain scams are more likely to affect the military community. The testimony describes the work the Commission has done to identify illegal conduct that impacts servicemembers and to stop it – including through a recent case against one of the nation’s largest refinancers of home loans for allegedly making misleading claims targeted at current and former servicemembers.
The testimony also highlights Military Sentinel, part of the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network that the Commission uses to collect complaints from consumers and other federal agencies and organizations. In 2012, the FTC received 42,200 fraud complaints from the military community. The top complaint categories were debt collection, imposter scams, fraud involving prize offers, sweepstakes or gifts, unlawful banking or lending practices, and scams that offer mortgage foreclosure relief or debt management services. Notably, these complaint categories overlap with some of the FTC’s highest consumer protection priorities – particularly its aggressive recent work to stop frauds related to consumer financial products and services.
The Commission is working with the DoD, VA, Departments of Education and Justice, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to collect feedback from the military community regarding education institutions that may not have lived up to the promises they made to their students. The agency also is coordinating with the Defense Department on possible amendments to DoD’s military lending rule.
In addition to its law enforcement efforts and coordinating with its partners on policy initiatives, the FTC uses a variety of resources to educate military families about their rights when dealing with certain consumer protection issues. Some of the FTC’s military specific resources include information on limiting the harm from identity theft, placing an active duty alert on a credit report, and understanding military protections with respect to payday loans.
Most recently, the FTC published Eight Questions to Ask When Choosing a College After Military Service. Last year, the agency launched its first Military Consumer Protection Day, an annual partnership campaign and new website to inform the military community and veterans about a variety of consumer issues from dealing with debt to avoiding fraud.
The Commission vote approving the testimony was 4-0.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.
FTC Testifies Before Congress on Fraud Affecting Military Community
The Federal Trade Commission testified before a U.S. Senate Committee regarding the agency’s law enforcement and educational efforts to combat deceptive and unfair practices that impact servicemembers and their families.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Charles Harwood, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, said that although all consumers are potential targets for fraudsters, certain scams are more likely to affect the military community. The testimony describes the work the Commission has done to identify illegal conduct that impacts servicemembers and to stop it – including through a recent case against one of the nation’s largest refinancers of home loans for allegedly making misleading claims targeted at current and former servicemembers.
The testimony also highlights Military Sentinel, part of the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network that the Commission uses to collect complaints from consumers and other federal agencies and organizations. In 2012, the FTC received 42,200 fraud complaints from the military community. The top complaint categories were debt collection, imposter scams, fraud involving prize offers, sweepstakes or gifts, unlawful banking or lending practices, and scams that offer mortgage foreclosure relief or debt management services. Notably, these complaint categories overlap with some of the FTC’s highest consumer protection priorities – particularly its aggressive recent work to stop frauds related to consumer financial products and services.
The Commission is working with the DoD, VA, Departments of Education and Justice, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to collect feedback from the military community regarding education institutions that may not have lived up to the promises they made to their students. The agency also is coordinating with the Defense Department on possible amendments to DoD’s military lending rule.
In addition to its law enforcement efforts and coordinating with its partners on policy initiatives, the FTC uses a variety of resources to educate military families about their rights when dealing with certain consumer protection issues. Some of the FTC’s military specific resources include information on limiting the harm from identity theft, placing an active duty alert on a credit report, and understanding military protections with respect to payday loans.
Most recently, the FTC published Eight Questions to Ask When Choosing a College After Military Service. Last year, the agency launched its first Military Consumer Protection Day, an annual partnership campaign and new website to inform the military community and veterans about a variety of consumer issues from dealing with debt to avoiding fraud.
The Commission vote approving the testimony was 4-0.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR NOVEMBER 21, 2013
FROM: U.S. DEFENCE DEPARTMENT
CONTRACTS
ARMY
Ahtna Engineering Services, Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-14-D-0005); Bristol Environmental Remediation Services LLC, Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-14-D-0006); Marsh Creek LLC, Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-14-D-0009); BSI-TLI, Joint Venture, Golden, Colo. (W911KB-14-D-0007); Chemtrack Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-14-D-0008)*, were awarded a $180,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for environmental remediation services. Estimated completion date is Nov. 20, 2018. Bids were solicited via the Internet with ten received. Funding and location will be determined with each order. Army Corps of Engineers, Elmendorf, Alaska, is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $57,849,999 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of tube launched optically tracked wireless guided missiles. Estimated completion date is Nov. 30, 2015. One bid was solicited and one received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement army funds in the amount of $19,886,000 were obligated at the time of the award. One bid was solicited and one received. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal (Missile), Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-12-C-0265).
University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Calif., was awarded a $56,591,679 cost-sharing contract for an extension and ceiling increase modification to maintain the Collaborative Biotechnologies (ICB) University Affiliated Research Center. Services include engineering and research capabilities focusing on research to enable biotechnology solutions that address Army needs through the application of the principles of cross-disciplinary bioengineering sciences. UCSB/ICB is dedicated to performing research at the interface between biotechnology and engineering in order to solve difficult problems in the areas of sensors, materials, and systems engineering. Estimated completion date is Nov. 30, 2016. One bid was solicited and one received. Funding and location will be determined by each order. Army Contracting Command, Research Triangle Park, N.C., is the contracting activity (W911NF-09-D-0001).
The Bedwell Co., West Chester, Pa., was awarded a $42,751,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the Communications Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center Flight Activity Facility Joint Base project. Options will be exercised at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Sept. 15, 2015. Fiscal 2014 military construction funds in the amount of $42,751,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with five received. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-14-C-0004).
Clark Construction Enterprises LLC, St. Martinsville, La., was awarded a $26,154,430 firm-fixed-price contract for a resilient features, hurricane and storm damage risk reduction system, Mississippi River levee, Mississippi River and tributaries, Belle Chasse to Oak Point, Plaquemines Parish, La. Estimated completion date is Oct. 7, 2013. Fiscal 2014 funds in the amount of $26,154,430 were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with eight received. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting agency (W912P8-14-C-0008).
AIR FORCE
CORRECTION: The contract number for the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control awarded contract announced Nov. 19, 2013 was incorrect. The correct number is FA8682-14-D-0091
NAVY
Silver Ships Inc.*, Theodore, Ala. (N00024-14-D-2205) and Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC*, doing business as Metal Shark Aluminum Boats LLC, Jeanerette, La. (N00024-14-D-2207), are each being awarded separate firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contracts for the construction of high speed maneuverable surface targets (HSMSTs). The U.S. Navy maintains an inventory of HSMSTs to be utilized mainly for weapon system test and evaluation and fleet training exercises at nine seaborne target operating activities (“ranges”). This effort also includes trailers, shipping cradles and spares for a total estimated ceiling value of $48,000,000 for both awards. Silver Ships Inc., is being awarded $11,683,129, and Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC is being awarded $13,782,379. Work will be performed in Theodore, Ala., and Jeanerette, La., and work is expected to be completed by November 2018. Fiscal 2013 other procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $25,465,508 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively solicited as a small business set aside via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with six offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded a $13,929,461 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N61340-12-C-0030) to exercise an option to procure one AH-1Z Flight Training Device for the U.S. Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Broken Arrow, Okla. (54 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (28 percent) and St. Louis, Mo. (18 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2017. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $13,929,461 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity.
G4S Government Solutions, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is being awarded an $11,495,146 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N33191-11-D-0738) to exercise option two for base operating services at Naval Support Activity, Kingdom of Bahrain. The work to be performed provides for but is not limited to, all management, supervision, tools, materials, supplies, labor, and transportation services necessary to perform trouble calls, security, galley, facilities investment, custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste management grounds maintenance, wastewater, operate reverse osmosis water treatment system and base support vehicles and equipment at the Naval Support Activity in the Kingdom of Bahrain and its seven outlying areas. Work will be performed at the Naval Support Activity, Kingdom of Bahrain, and work is expected to be completed November 2014. Contract funds are fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy and fiscal 2014 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $10,049,237 and the funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Europe Africa and Southwest Asia, Naples, Italy, is the contracting activity.
Onyx-Ace Joint Venture LLC*, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $10,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for architect-engineer services for professional Geographic Information System services for activities at various locations primarily in the Pacific and Indian Ocean Areas. The maximum dollar value for the not-to-exceed 60-month period (including the base year and four one-year option periods) is $10,000,000. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed in the Pacific and Indian Ocean Areas. The term of the contract is not-to-exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of June 2018. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-14-D-0200).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Hess Corporation, Woodbridge, N.J., has been awarded a maximum $378,818,845 firm-fixed-price requirements contract utilizing block purchase for electricity. This contract is a competitive acquisition, and seven offers were received. Locations of performance are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and District of Columbia with a June 30, 2019 performance completion date. This contract is a five year base contract. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2019 Army, Navy, and Air Force funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SPE600-14-D-8000).
Sterling Foods LLC, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $32,785,593 modification (P00006) exercising the second one-year option period on a one-year base contract (SPM3S1-12-D-Z100) with four one-year option periods for bakery components used in the meal-ready-to-eat program. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. Location of performance is Texas with a Dec. 31, 2014, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.
*Small Business
CONTRACTS
ARMY
Ahtna Engineering Services, Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-14-D-0005); Bristol Environmental Remediation Services LLC, Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-14-D-0006); Marsh Creek LLC, Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-14-D-0009); BSI-TLI, Joint Venture, Golden, Colo. (W911KB-14-D-0007); Chemtrack Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-14-D-0008)*, were awarded a $180,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for environmental remediation services. Estimated completion date is Nov. 20, 2018. Bids were solicited via the Internet with ten received. Funding and location will be determined with each order. Army Corps of Engineers, Elmendorf, Alaska, is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $57,849,999 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of tube launched optically tracked wireless guided missiles. Estimated completion date is Nov. 30, 2015. One bid was solicited and one received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement army funds in the amount of $19,886,000 were obligated at the time of the award. One bid was solicited and one received. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal (Missile), Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-12-C-0265).
University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Calif., was awarded a $56,591,679 cost-sharing contract for an extension and ceiling increase modification to maintain the Collaborative Biotechnologies (ICB) University Affiliated Research Center. Services include engineering and research capabilities focusing on research to enable biotechnology solutions that address Army needs through the application of the principles of cross-disciplinary bioengineering sciences. UCSB/ICB is dedicated to performing research at the interface between biotechnology and engineering in order to solve difficult problems in the areas of sensors, materials, and systems engineering. Estimated completion date is Nov. 30, 2016. One bid was solicited and one received. Funding and location will be determined by each order. Army Contracting Command, Research Triangle Park, N.C., is the contracting activity (W911NF-09-D-0001).
The Bedwell Co., West Chester, Pa., was awarded a $42,751,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the Communications Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center Flight Activity Facility Joint Base project. Options will be exercised at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Sept. 15, 2015. Fiscal 2014 military construction funds in the amount of $42,751,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with five received. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-14-C-0004).
Clark Construction Enterprises LLC, St. Martinsville, La., was awarded a $26,154,430 firm-fixed-price contract for a resilient features, hurricane and storm damage risk reduction system, Mississippi River levee, Mississippi River and tributaries, Belle Chasse to Oak Point, Plaquemines Parish, La. Estimated completion date is Oct. 7, 2013. Fiscal 2014 funds in the amount of $26,154,430 were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the Internet with eight received. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting agency (W912P8-14-C-0008).
AIR FORCE
CORRECTION: The contract number for the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control awarded contract announced Nov. 19, 2013 was incorrect. The correct number is FA8682-14-D-0091
NAVY
Silver Ships Inc.*, Theodore, Ala. (N00024-14-D-2205) and Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC*, doing business as Metal Shark Aluminum Boats LLC, Jeanerette, La. (N00024-14-D-2207), are each being awarded separate firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contracts for the construction of high speed maneuverable surface targets (HSMSTs). The U.S. Navy maintains an inventory of HSMSTs to be utilized mainly for weapon system test and evaluation and fleet training exercises at nine seaborne target operating activities (“ranges”). This effort also includes trailers, shipping cradles and spares for a total estimated ceiling value of $48,000,000 for both awards. Silver Ships Inc., is being awarded $11,683,129, and Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC is being awarded $13,782,379. Work will be performed in Theodore, Ala., and Jeanerette, La., and work is expected to be completed by November 2018. Fiscal 2013 other procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $25,465,508 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively solicited as a small business set aside via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with six offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded a $13,929,461 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N61340-12-C-0030) to exercise an option to procure one AH-1Z Flight Training Device for the U.S. Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Broken Arrow, Okla. (54 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (28 percent) and St. Louis, Mo. (18 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2017. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $13,929,461 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity.
G4S Government Solutions, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is being awarded an $11,495,146 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N33191-11-D-0738) to exercise option two for base operating services at Naval Support Activity, Kingdom of Bahrain. The work to be performed provides for but is not limited to, all management, supervision, tools, materials, supplies, labor, and transportation services necessary to perform trouble calls, security, galley, facilities investment, custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste management grounds maintenance, wastewater, operate reverse osmosis water treatment system and base support vehicles and equipment at the Naval Support Activity in the Kingdom of Bahrain and its seven outlying areas. Work will be performed at the Naval Support Activity, Kingdom of Bahrain, and work is expected to be completed November 2014. Contract funds are fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy and fiscal 2014 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $10,049,237 and the funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Europe Africa and Southwest Asia, Naples, Italy, is the contracting activity.
Onyx-Ace Joint Venture LLC*, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $10,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for architect-engineer services for professional Geographic Information System services for activities at various locations primarily in the Pacific and Indian Ocean Areas. The maximum dollar value for the not-to-exceed 60-month period (including the base year and four one-year option periods) is $10,000,000. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed in the Pacific and Indian Ocean Areas. The term of the contract is not-to-exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of June 2018. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-14-D-0200).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Hess Corporation, Woodbridge, N.J., has been awarded a maximum $378,818,845 firm-fixed-price requirements contract utilizing block purchase for electricity. This contract is a competitive acquisition, and seven offers were received. Locations of performance are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and District of Columbia with a June 30, 2019 performance completion date. This contract is a five year base contract. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2019 Army, Navy, and Air Force funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SPE600-14-D-8000).
Sterling Foods LLC, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $32,785,593 modification (P00006) exercising the second one-year option period on a one-year base contract (SPM3S1-12-D-Z100) with four one-year option periods for bakery components used in the meal-ready-to-eat program. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. Location of performance is Texas with a Dec. 31, 2014, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.
*Small Business
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 16, 2013
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending November 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 323,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 344,000. The 4-week moving average was 338,500, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average of 345,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent for the week ending November 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 9 was 2,876,000, an increase of 66,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,810,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,856,750, an increase of 6,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,850,250.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 322,510 in the week ending November 16, a decrease of 40,996 from the previous week. There were 403,637 initial claims in the comparable week in 2012.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.0 percent during the week ending November 9, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,548,141, an increase of 44,428 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.3 percent and the volume was 2,945,515.
The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending November 2 was 3,875,295, a decrease of 32,376 from the previous week. There were 5,241,438 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2012.
No state was triggered "on" the Extended Benefits program during the week ending November 2.
Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,180 in the week ending November 9, an increase of 287 from the prior week. There were 2,439 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 152 from the preceding week.
There were 19,974 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending November 2, a decrease of 1,869 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 30,864, a decrease of 1,379 from the prior week.
States reported 1,301,562 persons claiming Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits for the week ending November 2, a decrease of 32,147 from the prior week. There were 2,156,505 persons claiming EUC in the comparable week in 2012. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending November 9 were in Alaska (4.9), Puerto Rico (4.0), Virgin Islands (3.8), New Jersey (3.0), Connecticut (2.8), Pennsylvania (2.7), California (2.6), Oregon (2.5), Arkansas (2.4), District of Columbia (2.4), Illinois (2.4), Nevada (2.4), and New York (2.4).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 9 were in California (+4,737), New York (+2,853), Pennsylvania (+2,711), Michigan (+2,271), and New Jersey (+2,210), while the largest decreases were in Florida (-1,055), Kentucky (-580), Ohio (-409), Kansas (-169), and Puerto Rico (-144).
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending November 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 323,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 344,000. The 4-week moving average was 338,500, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average of 345,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent for the week ending November 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 9 was 2,876,000, an increase of 66,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,810,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,856,750, an increase of 6,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,850,250.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 322,510 in the week ending November 16, a decrease of 40,996 from the previous week. There were 403,637 initial claims in the comparable week in 2012.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.0 percent during the week ending November 9, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,548,141, an increase of 44,428 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.3 percent and the volume was 2,945,515.
The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending November 2 was 3,875,295, a decrease of 32,376 from the previous week. There were 5,241,438 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2012.
No state was triggered "on" the Extended Benefits program during the week ending November 2.
Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,180 in the week ending November 9, an increase of 287 from the prior week. There were 2,439 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 152 from the preceding week.
There were 19,974 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending November 2, a decrease of 1,869 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 30,864, a decrease of 1,379 from the prior week.
States reported 1,301,562 persons claiming Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits for the week ending November 2, a decrease of 32,147 from the prior week. There were 2,156,505 persons claiming EUC in the comparable week in 2012. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending November 9 were in Alaska (4.9), Puerto Rico (4.0), Virgin Islands (3.8), New Jersey (3.0), Connecticut (2.8), Pennsylvania (2.7), California (2.6), Oregon (2.5), Arkansas (2.4), District of Columbia (2.4), Illinois (2.4), Nevada (2.4), and New York (2.4).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 9 were in California (+4,737), New York (+2,853), Pennsylvania (+2,711), Michigan (+2,271), and New Jersey (+2,210), while the largest decreases were in Florida (-1,055), Kentucky (-580), Ohio (-409), Kansas (-169), and Puerto Rico (-144).
SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE DISABILITIES TREATY
FROM: U.S.STATE DEPARTMENT
Opening Remarks at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC
November 21, 2013
Well, thank you. Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Corker and members of the committee, thanks very, very much for welcoming me here to talk about the Disabilities Treaty, which I’m very anxious to do.
I’m mindful of the comments of the Ranking Member just now. I’d just start off by saying we are 100 percent prepared, as we have been, to work through what are known as RUDs – the Reservations, Understandings, and Declarations – in order to pass this treaty. That’s our goal. And as – we begin with a place that makes it clear that we don’t believe this has impact, but we’re happy to restate and reassert the law in ways that makes senators feel comfortable, obviously. We want to pass this.
It’s not lost on any of us that only 11 months ago the Senate fell just five votes short of approving this treaty. So more than 60 senators have already resolved in their minds many of the questions that are re-raised again and again. And we can go into them today, as I’m sure we will.
Obviously, that day when we fell those five votes short with a number of people who had previously been going to vote for it and then changed, so it’s even closer, that was a rough day for a lot of us who support the treaty, including Senator McCain, who is hardly a newcomer to this issue and is one of the strongest and most eloquent voices for why we ought to be doing this, for why – to put it bluntly – this treaty is in America’s interests.
In the after-action conversations that I had with many senators, both Republicans and Democrats alike, including a number who had voted against the treaty – yourself, Senator Corker, and others – I even heard some real regret about what had transpired and the unintended message that the outcome sent to Americans with disabilities as well as to other people around the world. And I heard from many not just a willingness but a hope that they would have the chance in a new congress to take up the treaty again and to demonstrate the important truth that senators from both sides of the aisle care deeply about the rights of people with disabilities.
So thank you, Chairman Menendez, for your comments this morning, for your leadership in bringing the round – the first hearing and being willing to come back at this important treaty. And thank you, Ranking Member Corker, for joining with him in a bipartisan way to do exactly what both of you have talked about trying to do here. And that is with an eye to trying to make certain that we air all of the concerns so that every senator can make up their own judgment in an atmosphere that is not clouded with procedural questions, as we unfortunately were last year.
I think we all approach this renewed discussion – we in the Administration, I mean, listen very carefully to all of you. And we recognize that while many senators voted yes, some senators were dissatisfied with the process last year and that several are not prepared to support the treaty until they feel that certain concerns are addressed. So again I repeat: I’m absolutely committed – I’ve said this to the Chairman in private conversations – we will work with you on an appropriate reservation or understanding or declaration, as appropriate, in order to try to clarify something, if indeed it really is begging for clarification and we’re not able to show adequately through legal cases, through precedent, through the reality of the treaty itself, that it is already addressed.
Now, I still believe what I believed the first time we tried to do this when I was Chair, that the ratification of the Disabilities Treaty will advance core American values, it will expand opportunities for our citizens and our businesses, and it will strengthen American leadership. And I am still convinced that we give up nothing but we get everything in return. I’ll say that again: We give up nothing but we get everything in return. Our ratification does not require a single change to American law, and it isn’t going to add a penny to our budget. But it will provide the leverage, the hook, that we need in order to push other countries to pass laws or improve their laws or raise their standards for the protection of people with disabilities up to the standard that we have already adopted in the United States of America, up to the standard that prompted President George H.W. Bush and Republican Leader Dole to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act, and indeed to negotiate the treaty.
Now, I’m especially engaged now, obviously, as Secretary of State, because having traveled to a great number of countries these last nine months since you confirmed me, I have seen firsthand the need for this treaty in ways that I never had before. It’s not an abstract concept. This is not just a nice thing to do. It’s not something that’s sort of for the few. It really raises standards for the many. And there are countries where children with disabilities are warehoused from birth, denied even a birth certificate, not a real person, and treated as second-class citizens every single days of their life. The United States has the ability to impact that by the passage of this treaty. One hundred and thirty-eight countries have already signed up to this. In too many countries, what we did here at home with the Americans with Disabilities Act hasn’t even been remotely realized overseas. And in too many places, what we take for granted here hasn’t been granted at all.
Now, I’ll never forget my visit recently to a sport rehabilitation center for disabled veterans in Bogota a little while ago, a center that we support with funding from USAID. And I met police officers who were injured by grenades, soldiers wounded by IEDs, volunteers caught in the tragic shootouts that take place over their efforts to help us together to enforce global international narcotics objectives. These brave men and women have risked life and limb and they’ve lost friends in battle, and yet there’s a whole world that they are unable to access today because of their disabilities which they received as they undertook duties shared by our hopes and aspirations with respect to the enforcement of law.
Moments like this really clarify for me the work that we have to do to export our gold standard. The Americans with Disabilities Act is the global gold standard. We should be extraordinarily proud of it. We are. But I would hate to see us squander our credibility on this issue around the world because we’re unwilling to embrace what we actually began – this initiative. When I tell other countries that they ought to do what we’ve done, I’m often reminded that we haven’t done what we said we were going to do, we haven’t joined the treaty ourselves. It’s pretty hard to leverage people when you’re on the outside.
So those 138 parties to the treaty, when they convene, we miss out on the opportunity to use our expertise to leverage what we’ve done in America and put it on the table. We lose out on that. We’re not at the table. We can’t share our experience and use our experience to broaden theirs. When other countries come together to discuss issues like education, accessibility, and employment standards for people with disabilities, areas where the United States has developed the greatest expertise, we’ve been excluded because we’re not a party to the treaty. And the bottom line is that when we’re not there, other countries with a different and unfortunately often a lower standard, a lower threshold, wind up filling the void, and that’s the best that people get.
I don’t want to see us continue to take ourselves out of the game. No member of the Senate should want us to voluntarily take ourselves out of this. And remaining on the sidelines jeopardizes our role in shaping the future of disability rights in other countries, and we need to help push the door open for other countries to benefit, not just from our example but from our guidance and our expertise, our experience.
Joining the treaty is the most powerful step that we can take to gain all of those upsides. And don’t take my word for it. In a letter to this committee last month, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said it best. He wrote, “If the Senate does not approve this treaty, the United States will continue to be excluded from the most important global platform for the implementation of best practices in disability rights abroad.”
So this is about something very real. Look at the numbers of people who were here today and the numbers of groups represented behind me here today. Every one of them represents thousands more people for whom this is very real. It’s about things that you can see and you can touch and that make a difference to people’s lives. I’m talking about sidewalks without curb cuts – try managing that; public buildings with no accessible bathrooms; restaurants, stores, hotels, and universities without ramps or elevator access; buses without lifts, train platforms with tactile strips that keep you from going over onto the tracks. We can’t afford to ignore these barriers as problems that somehow affect other countries but don’t affect us. They’re present all over the world, including some of the top destinations for Americans traveling abroad for work or for study or for pleasure. And we’re not using all of our power and influence to change things for the better if we don’t join this treaty.
Now, I’d ask you just to think about what this treaty could mean. It means something for everybody with disabilities. But I do particularly want to ask you to think about what it means to our veterans with disabilities.
Last year I met a fellow named Dan Berschinski. He is a West Point graduate, a retired U.S. Army captain, and he’s an Afghanistan war veteran. Like many of us, Dan never thought that he’d one day have a disability or be an advocate for people with disabilities. But his life changed instantly when he stepped on the trigger of an IED and he lost both of his legs. Dan speaks in absolutely clear, searing, stark terms about the difficulty, the fear, the embarrassment of negotiating obstacles abroad as a person with a disability. And he experienced those obstacles firsthand when he traveled to South Africa. And he told me last year – he told all of us, because he shared his testimony with this committee – quote, “The advantages that we take for granted here at home that allow people like to me to live fulfilling, independent lives don’t exist in much of the rest of the world.”
Now let me tell you the good news. Dan is now a student at Stanford Business School and he wants to be able to take advantage of every possible opportunity. He can do that in the United States because of the ADA and other disability rights laws. But Dan will tell you – not me, he will tell you, as he said last year – as he experienced on a trip abroad, his opportunities in the increasingly important international marketplace are hindered by his disability, and it’s a disability that he acquired while fighting overseas on our behalf. He’s asking us now to fight for him and a lot of folks like him on their behalf.
There are an estimated 5.5 million disabled veterans just like Dan, and many of the veterans and their beneficiaries on the Post-9/11 GI Bill have a disability. And many of them are unable to study abroad because of poor accessibility standards at schools overseas. Now, I’ve met with recovering veterans at home in Massachusetts. I’ve met with them at Walter Reed. They want, very simply, a world where they can be independent, go out and fend for themselves, where they can travel abroad to work or study or vacation. And they should never have to worry about whether the disabilities sustained fighting on our behalf are going to prevent them from accessing the classroom, a workplace, a hotel, or transportation overseas. Like all people with disabilities, they deserve a world where they can fully participate in the global economy on equal terms without fear of discrimination or loss of dignity.
Joining the Disabilities Treaty will also expand opportunities for American students with disabilities, who need to be able to study abroad to prepare themselves to compete in the global economy. I want you to take the example of Anais Keenon. She is one of the outstanding interns at the State Department. She’s here today. Anais is a graduate student with dreams of a career in Foreign Affairs. She happens to also be deaf.
Two years ago, she traveled to Ghana. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, but the obstacles she faced, from the absence of written directions on how to proceed through customs at the airport, to the absence of fire alarms with flashing lights in public buildings made the demands of everyday life much more difficult for her to sustain. And she managed to travel, despite the obstacles in her way that would stop others from traveling at all.
Anais is exceptional, but it shouldn’t be the exception. It ought to be the rule. And America has more students with disabilities in higher education than ever before, partly by virtue of what we’ve accomplished with the ADA. So students with disabilities participate in study abroad programs, unfortunately, less than half as often as those without disabilities. And our joining this treaty will help change those numbers.
I just ask you – very quickly, and then I’ll wrap up – consider just a few concrete examples. We’re talking about joining a treaty that will strengthen our hand as we push for fire alarms with flashing lights so people who are deaf or hard of hearing will know when there’s emergency or when they need to evacuate. We’re talking about joining a treaty that gives us leverage to push for other countries to have sidewalks with those curb cuts so people who use wheelchairs can safely cross the street, or the tactile strip at the train platform so people who are blind don’t fall into danger. Our joining the treaty means that we will lead the way for other countries to raise their standards, and it means that we will lead the way for other countries to adopt our standards for all of these things – accessible bathrooms, tactile strips, fire alarms, flashing lights, all of the advancements that have made an enormous difference in the lives of Americans with disabilities.
Now, I will admit to you change is not going to just happen with the passage of the treaty. It’s not going to happen overnight. When we passed the ADA, sidewalks with these curb cuts and bathrooms that were accessible didn’t appear the next day, nor did all of the businesses that make accessible products that serve people with disabilities. But the Disabilities Treaty, just like the ADA, is a process. And our joining the treaty, followed by a very important ingredient – we pass this treaty, I will send a message to every embassy in the world, and we will begin to engage a protocol that will have our people reaching out to every country and every government, and we will use our presence in this treaty to leverage these changes in these other countries, to encourage these changes, to use the voice that you will give us by actually joining it, a voice that we’re not able to exercise today for our absence as a member.
If we join, we can ensure that vets like Dan Berschinski and a lot of others like him have the same opportunities abroad as other Americans. That’s why the American Legion, our nation’s largest wartime veteran service organization, which I’m proud to be a lifetime member, and the VFW likewise, and many other veterans groups support the ratification of this.
If we join – I ask you to think about this – why is the American Chamber of Commerce supporting this? Why are so many businesses – Coca-Cola, which is, I think, in something like 198, 200 countries plus – why do they support it? Because this will open new markets. It’ll level the playing field for our businesses, who already meet accessibility standards. As other countries rise to meet our standards and need our expertise, guess what? They’re going to look to American companies that already produce these goods, and we’ll be able to help them fill the needs, and this means jobs here at home. And that’s why IBM and the Consumer Electronics Association and many other businesses support ratification.
So I think this is the single most important step that we can take today to expand opportunities abroad for the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities. This treaty is not about changing America. This treaty is about America changing the world.
And I hope that each of you will put yourselves in the situation if you were disabled today. One of our colleagues, Mark Kirk, as we all know, supports this treaty, has unfortunately found himself fighting back against things that happen unexpectedly. And so while our circumstances might change, our rights and our opportunities should never change. And with the passage of this treaty, we have an opportunity to guarantee that for all Americans. And we also have an opportunity to change lives for the better for a lot of people in the world. That’s what America is all about, and I’ll hope we’ll ratify this treaty.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Opening Remarks at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC
November 21, 2013
Well, thank you. Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Corker and members of the committee, thanks very, very much for welcoming me here to talk about the Disabilities Treaty, which I’m very anxious to do.
I’m mindful of the comments of the Ranking Member just now. I’d just start off by saying we are 100 percent prepared, as we have been, to work through what are known as RUDs – the Reservations, Understandings, and Declarations – in order to pass this treaty. That’s our goal. And as – we begin with a place that makes it clear that we don’t believe this has impact, but we’re happy to restate and reassert the law in ways that makes senators feel comfortable, obviously. We want to pass this.
It’s not lost on any of us that only 11 months ago the Senate fell just five votes short of approving this treaty. So more than 60 senators have already resolved in their minds many of the questions that are re-raised again and again. And we can go into them today, as I’m sure we will.
Obviously, that day when we fell those five votes short with a number of people who had previously been going to vote for it and then changed, so it’s even closer, that was a rough day for a lot of us who support the treaty, including Senator McCain, who is hardly a newcomer to this issue and is one of the strongest and most eloquent voices for why we ought to be doing this, for why – to put it bluntly – this treaty is in America’s interests.
In the after-action conversations that I had with many senators, both Republicans and Democrats alike, including a number who had voted against the treaty – yourself, Senator Corker, and others – I even heard some real regret about what had transpired and the unintended message that the outcome sent to Americans with disabilities as well as to other people around the world. And I heard from many not just a willingness but a hope that they would have the chance in a new congress to take up the treaty again and to demonstrate the important truth that senators from both sides of the aisle care deeply about the rights of people with disabilities.
So thank you, Chairman Menendez, for your comments this morning, for your leadership in bringing the round – the first hearing and being willing to come back at this important treaty. And thank you, Ranking Member Corker, for joining with him in a bipartisan way to do exactly what both of you have talked about trying to do here. And that is with an eye to trying to make certain that we air all of the concerns so that every senator can make up their own judgment in an atmosphere that is not clouded with procedural questions, as we unfortunately were last year.
I think we all approach this renewed discussion – we in the Administration, I mean, listen very carefully to all of you. And we recognize that while many senators voted yes, some senators were dissatisfied with the process last year and that several are not prepared to support the treaty until they feel that certain concerns are addressed. So again I repeat: I’m absolutely committed – I’ve said this to the Chairman in private conversations – we will work with you on an appropriate reservation or understanding or declaration, as appropriate, in order to try to clarify something, if indeed it really is begging for clarification and we’re not able to show adequately through legal cases, through precedent, through the reality of the treaty itself, that it is already addressed.
Now, I still believe what I believed the first time we tried to do this when I was Chair, that the ratification of the Disabilities Treaty will advance core American values, it will expand opportunities for our citizens and our businesses, and it will strengthen American leadership. And I am still convinced that we give up nothing but we get everything in return. I’ll say that again: We give up nothing but we get everything in return. Our ratification does not require a single change to American law, and it isn’t going to add a penny to our budget. But it will provide the leverage, the hook, that we need in order to push other countries to pass laws or improve their laws or raise their standards for the protection of people with disabilities up to the standard that we have already adopted in the United States of America, up to the standard that prompted President George H.W. Bush and Republican Leader Dole to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act, and indeed to negotiate the treaty.
Now, I’m especially engaged now, obviously, as Secretary of State, because having traveled to a great number of countries these last nine months since you confirmed me, I have seen firsthand the need for this treaty in ways that I never had before. It’s not an abstract concept. This is not just a nice thing to do. It’s not something that’s sort of for the few. It really raises standards for the many. And there are countries where children with disabilities are warehoused from birth, denied even a birth certificate, not a real person, and treated as second-class citizens every single days of their life. The United States has the ability to impact that by the passage of this treaty. One hundred and thirty-eight countries have already signed up to this. In too many countries, what we did here at home with the Americans with Disabilities Act hasn’t even been remotely realized overseas. And in too many places, what we take for granted here hasn’t been granted at all.
Now, I’ll never forget my visit recently to a sport rehabilitation center for disabled veterans in Bogota a little while ago, a center that we support with funding from USAID. And I met police officers who were injured by grenades, soldiers wounded by IEDs, volunteers caught in the tragic shootouts that take place over their efforts to help us together to enforce global international narcotics objectives. These brave men and women have risked life and limb and they’ve lost friends in battle, and yet there’s a whole world that they are unable to access today because of their disabilities which they received as they undertook duties shared by our hopes and aspirations with respect to the enforcement of law.
Moments like this really clarify for me the work that we have to do to export our gold standard. The Americans with Disabilities Act is the global gold standard. We should be extraordinarily proud of it. We are. But I would hate to see us squander our credibility on this issue around the world because we’re unwilling to embrace what we actually began – this initiative. When I tell other countries that they ought to do what we’ve done, I’m often reminded that we haven’t done what we said we were going to do, we haven’t joined the treaty ourselves. It’s pretty hard to leverage people when you’re on the outside.
So those 138 parties to the treaty, when they convene, we miss out on the opportunity to use our expertise to leverage what we’ve done in America and put it on the table. We lose out on that. We’re not at the table. We can’t share our experience and use our experience to broaden theirs. When other countries come together to discuss issues like education, accessibility, and employment standards for people with disabilities, areas where the United States has developed the greatest expertise, we’ve been excluded because we’re not a party to the treaty. And the bottom line is that when we’re not there, other countries with a different and unfortunately often a lower standard, a lower threshold, wind up filling the void, and that’s the best that people get.
I don’t want to see us continue to take ourselves out of the game. No member of the Senate should want us to voluntarily take ourselves out of this. And remaining on the sidelines jeopardizes our role in shaping the future of disability rights in other countries, and we need to help push the door open for other countries to benefit, not just from our example but from our guidance and our expertise, our experience.
Joining the treaty is the most powerful step that we can take to gain all of those upsides. And don’t take my word for it. In a letter to this committee last month, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said it best. He wrote, “If the Senate does not approve this treaty, the United States will continue to be excluded from the most important global platform for the implementation of best practices in disability rights abroad.”
So this is about something very real. Look at the numbers of people who were here today and the numbers of groups represented behind me here today. Every one of them represents thousands more people for whom this is very real. It’s about things that you can see and you can touch and that make a difference to people’s lives. I’m talking about sidewalks without curb cuts – try managing that; public buildings with no accessible bathrooms; restaurants, stores, hotels, and universities without ramps or elevator access; buses without lifts, train platforms with tactile strips that keep you from going over onto the tracks. We can’t afford to ignore these barriers as problems that somehow affect other countries but don’t affect us. They’re present all over the world, including some of the top destinations for Americans traveling abroad for work or for study or for pleasure. And we’re not using all of our power and influence to change things for the better if we don’t join this treaty.
Now, I’d ask you just to think about what this treaty could mean. It means something for everybody with disabilities. But I do particularly want to ask you to think about what it means to our veterans with disabilities.
Last year I met a fellow named Dan Berschinski. He is a West Point graduate, a retired U.S. Army captain, and he’s an Afghanistan war veteran. Like many of us, Dan never thought that he’d one day have a disability or be an advocate for people with disabilities. But his life changed instantly when he stepped on the trigger of an IED and he lost both of his legs. Dan speaks in absolutely clear, searing, stark terms about the difficulty, the fear, the embarrassment of negotiating obstacles abroad as a person with a disability. And he experienced those obstacles firsthand when he traveled to South Africa. And he told me last year – he told all of us, because he shared his testimony with this committee – quote, “The advantages that we take for granted here at home that allow people like to me to live fulfilling, independent lives don’t exist in much of the rest of the world.”
Now let me tell you the good news. Dan is now a student at Stanford Business School and he wants to be able to take advantage of every possible opportunity. He can do that in the United States because of the ADA and other disability rights laws. But Dan will tell you – not me, he will tell you, as he said last year – as he experienced on a trip abroad, his opportunities in the increasingly important international marketplace are hindered by his disability, and it’s a disability that he acquired while fighting overseas on our behalf. He’s asking us now to fight for him and a lot of folks like him on their behalf.
There are an estimated 5.5 million disabled veterans just like Dan, and many of the veterans and their beneficiaries on the Post-9/11 GI Bill have a disability. And many of them are unable to study abroad because of poor accessibility standards at schools overseas. Now, I’ve met with recovering veterans at home in Massachusetts. I’ve met with them at Walter Reed. They want, very simply, a world where they can be independent, go out and fend for themselves, where they can travel abroad to work or study or vacation. And they should never have to worry about whether the disabilities sustained fighting on our behalf are going to prevent them from accessing the classroom, a workplace, a hotel, or transportation overseas. Like all people with disabilities, they deserve a world where they can fully participate in the global economy on equal terms without fear of discrimination or loss of dignity.
Joining the Disabilities Treaty will also expand opportunities for American students with disabilities, who need to be able to study abroad to prepare themselves to compete in the global economy. I want you to take the example of Anais Keenon. She is one of the outstanding interns at the State Department. She’s here today. Anais is a graduate student with dreams of a career in Foreign Affairs. She happens to also be deaf.
Two years ago, she traveled to Ghana. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, but the obstacles she faced, from the absence of written directions on how to proceed through customs at the airport, to the absence of fire alarms with flashing lights in public buildings made the demands of everyday life much more difficult for her to sustain. And she managed to travel, despite the obstacles in her way that would stop others from traveling at all.
Anais is exceptional, but it shouldn’t be the exception. It ought to be the rule. And America has more students with disabilities in higher education than ever before, partly by virtue of what we’ve accomplished with the ADA. So students with disabilities participate in study abroad programs, unfortunately, less than half as often as those without disabilities. And our joining this treaty will help change those numbers.
I just ask you – very quickly, and then I’ll wrap up – consider just a few concrete examples. We’re talking about joining a treaty that will strengthen our hand as we push for fire alarms with flashing lights so people who are deaf or hard of hearing will know when there’s emergency or when they need to evacuate. We’re talking about joining a treaty that gives us leverage to push for other countries to have sidewalks with those curb cuts so people who use wheelchairs can safely cross the street, or the tactile strip at the train platform so people who are blind don’t fall into danger. Our joining the treaty means that we will lead the way for other countries to raise their standards, and it means that we will lead the way for other countries to adopt our standards for all of these things – accessible bathrooms, tactile strips, fire alarms, flashing lights, all of the advancements that have made an enormous difference in the lives of Americans with disabilities.
Now, I will admit to you change is not going to just happen with the passage of the treaty. It’s not going to happen overnight. When we passed the ADA, sidewalks with these curb cuts and bathrooms that were accessible didn’t appear the next day, nor did all of the businesses that make accessible products that serve people with disabilities. But the Disabilities Treaty, just like the ADA, is a process. And our joining the treaty, followed by a very important ingredient – we pass this treaty, I will send a message to every embassy in the world, and we will begin to engage a protocol that will have our people reaching out to every country and every government, and we will use our presence in this treaty to leverage these changes in these other countries, to encourage these changes, to use the voice that you will give us by actually joining it, a voice that we’re not able to exercise today for our absence as a member.
If we join, we can ensure that vets like Dan Berschinski and a lot of others like him have the same opportunities abroad as other Americans. That’s why the American Legion, our nation’s largest wartime veteran service organization, which I’m proud to be a lifetime member, and the VFW likewise, and many other veterans groups support the ratification of this.
If we join – I ask you to think about this – why is the American Chamber of Commerce supporting this? Why are so many businesses – Coca-Cola, which is, I think, in something like 198, 200 countries plus – why do they support it? Because this will open new markets. It’ll level the playing field for our businesses, who already meet accessibility standards. As other countries rise to meet our standards and need our expertise, guess what? They’re going to look to American companies that already produce these goods, and we’ll be able to help them fill the needs, and this means jobs here at home. And that’s why IBM and the Consumer Electronics Association and many other businesses support ratification.
So I think this is the single most important step that we can take today to expand opportunities abroad for the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities. This treaty is not about changing America. This treaty is about America changing the world.
And I hope that each of you will put yourselves in the situation if you were disabled today. One of our colleagues, Mark Kirk, as we all know, supports this treaty, has unfortunately found himself fighting back against things that happen unexpectedly. And so while our circumstances might change, our rights and our opportunities should never change. And with the passage of this treaty, we have an opportunity to guarantee that for all Americans. And we also have an opportunity to change lives for the better for a lot of people in the world. That’s what America is all about, and I’ll hope we’ll ratify this treaty.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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