IN THE BEGINNING STS-88 CREATED THE SPACE STATION

FROM:  NASA 
On Dec. 6, 1998, the crew of space shuttle mission STS-88 began construction of the International Space Station, attaching the U.S.-built Unity node and the Russian-built Zarya module together in orbit. The crew carried a large-format IMAX® camera, used to take this image of Unity lifted out of Endeavour's payload bay to position it upright for connection to Zarya. Zarya, launched on Nov. 20, 1998, was the first piece of the International Space Station. Also known as the Functional Cargo Block (FGB), it would provide a nucleus of orientation control, communications and electrical power while the station waited for its other elements. Two weeks later, on Dec. 4, 1998, NASA's space shuttle Endeavour launched Unity, the first U.S. piece of the complex, during the STS-88 mission. Image Credit: NASA.

U.S. OFFICIAL'S REMARKS AT UN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
Opening Statement at the UN Convention Against Corruption
Remarks
M. Brooke Darby
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
5th Conference of the States Parties
Panama City, Panama
November 25, 2013

Chairman, distinguished delegates, I would like to thank the Republic of Panama for the warm hospitality it has shown to the delegations gathered here for this Fifth Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption. I would also like to thank President Martinelli for his inspiring words this morning, and I congratulate Panama on assuming the Presidency of the Conference.

In two weeks we will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the UN Convention against Corruption. Much has been accomplished, even since this Conference last met in Marrakech in 2011:

168 countries are now States Parties to the Convention.
The review mechanism has completed its third year of reviews.
25 countries have published not only their executive summaries, but also their self-assessment checklists and/or their final country reports.

The States Parties and Secretariat have collaborated with a wide range of other states, international organizations, civil society, and other partners in efforts to implement the Convention.

But there is more we can do. As we reflect on our accomplishments and celebrate the UNCAC’s 10th anniversary, let us also seize the opportunity we have here to build upon past progress and further our primary goal of implementing the Convention.

The Review Mechanism

The Review Mechanism has been a key focus of our endeavors over the past several years. The country reviews have promoted domestic coordination, provided information about our respective and collective implementation efforts, and helped identify potential areas for technical assistance. Nevertheless, as we approach the second round of reviews, it is critical to assess how we can improve the Mechanism in light of our experiences in the first round. While the second review cycle will not be launched until the Conference of States Parties in 2015, we look forward to a dialogue this week about possible ways to strengthen the Mechanism:

For example, the scope of the articles to be reviewed in the second cycle should be narrowed to allow for deeper examination of areas chosen for review, while making the Mechanism less burdensome overall to participating experts and the Secretariat.

We must better share the wealth of information collected from reviews, particularly regarding technical assistance needs.

We also can make the review process more inclusive and transparent, including by allowing private sector and civil society input into technical assistance discussions and related efforts.

Asset Recovery

As interest in asset recovery continues to increase, the Asset Recovery Working Group has proven to be a valuable venue for the exchange of good practices and for building trust. Drawing on that forum and work by initiatives such as the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery, the Lausanne Process, and Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR), the United States is introducing a resolution that highlights areas where we think we can do more.

The resolution’s goals include:

improving the early exchange of information, including by having our investigators work side-by-side to trace corruption proceeds;
encouraging strong domestic coordination;
encouraging consultation and proactive guidance before formal MLA requests are submitted; and
increasing participation in practitioner networks.
We can surmount barriers to asset recovery by undertaking proactive tracing searches in certain circumstances. We can recommit to supporting capacity building that is tailored and practice-based. As we each have different legal frameworks, we should make information about our respective asset recovery laws and procedures widely available, as through the practical guides the United States, the G8, and now the G20 are making available.

We should look for ways to make our legal frameworks more effective – such as by examining the benefits of approaches like non-conviction-based forfeiture.

Furthermore, the Asset Recovery Working Group should continue its good work and be tasked to provide recommendations regarding the scope of the Chapter V articles to be reviewed in the second cycle.

Prevention

Prevention also deserves our attention. The Prevention Chapter is rich, covering a broad array of topics and practices. We have identified some excellent ideas for implementation during our discussions in the Prevention Working Group. We should ensure the Conference continues these expert exchanges, while at the same time tasking the experts to consider how we may most effectively review the broad technical range of this chapter during the second round.

Civil Society

I also want to stress the important role of civil society in preventing and combating corruption, including by raising public awareness and helping keep governments accountable –the foundation of Article 13 of the Convention. This Conference always anticipated that civil society would play a contributing role in the important deliberations of this body and the various Working Groups and subsidiary bodies. All States Parties should pledge to embrace this supporting role.

International Cooperation

Finally, we still need to find ways to maximize efficiency and synergies in international cooperation. We continue to believe that we should discuss international cooperation via UNCAC through the ongoing work of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime’s Working Group on International Cooperation, particularly given that the international cooperation provisions in these conventions are almost identical.

In conclusion, the United States believes that our collective efforts over the past several years have been fruitful in advancing our ultimate goal of implementing the Convention and that even more can be accomplished working in partnership. We look forward to working together over the course of this week and beyond to find ways to improve the effectiveness of our collective efforts.

Thank you.

FDA CONSUMER SAFETY ALERT REGARDING INTERNET SALES OF LASER PRODUCTS

FROM:  U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Radiation-Emitting Products
Consumer Safety Alert: Internet Sales of Laser Products

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aware that some laser products being sold on the internet may not meet federal safety requirements and should not be available for purchase by the general public. In some cases, these products are overpowered and may be unsafe if not used responsibly. In other cases, these products are intended for use only by licensed medical professionals, trained operators, or other approved users.

FDA’s Concerns

FDA is concerned about recent reports of laser products directed at aircraft—a potentially hazardous situation. The agency is particularly concerned about the increased availability of overpowered green laser pointers. Overpowered green laser pointers are those that may have been modified to emit more radiation than the manufacturer’s original product.

What FDA Can Do

FDA’s authority is over the manufacturers of laser products. These products must meet a federal standard for the amount of radiation they can emit and must be properly labeled. FDA is working to identify manufacturers of overpowered green laser pointers and other illegal laser products and will take action to prevent unsafe products from being sold in the United States. If illegal products are imported into the U.S., they may be refused entry, returned to the seller, or destroyed.

Buyer Beware

FDA recommends that consumers be cautious when buying laser products over the internet. Consumers may unknowingly purchase an illegal laser product or may lose their money if the illegal product is refused entry into the U.S. or destroyed.

Consumers should be aware that:

Medical lasers may only be sold to licensed medical practitioners.
Class IIIb and class IV laser light show projectors, identified as such on the label, may only be sold by or to individuals or firms with current, approved laser light show variances from FDA. Laser products that are advertised as uncertified components may only be sold to other manufacturers and may not be sold to the public for general use.
Laser products should have certification and identification labels stating the product complies with the federal laser standard.

Complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11
Complies with 21 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter J
Manufactured or distributed by...
Date of Manufacture
Products should have a warning label advising the user to avoid exposure to the laser radiation.  Consumers who can not verify the above, or do not understand what it means, probably should not sell or purchase the products.

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF LABOR'S BLOG ON LABOR RIGHTS DIALOGUE IN THE AMERICAS

FROM:  U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT 
Labor Rights Dialogue in the Americas
by SETH HARRIS on NOVEMBER 26, 2013 

Just this month, at a meeting of the Organization of American States, Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the need to redefine the U.S. relationship with our hemispheric neighbors. This new era, Secretary Kerry said, will require us to make decisions together “as partners to advance the values and the interests that we share.” Two weeks ago, at the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (the labor component of the OAS) in Medellin, Colombia, I saw this new era of shared responsibility and values-based partnerships in action.
Labor ministers and deputy ministers from across the Americas and the Caribbean discussed some of our region’s most important labor issues – workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively, the relationship between economic growth and job creation, income inequality, social protections and social dialogue, youth unemployment, and others. A great deal of work remains to be done to ensure workers a fair share of our region’s prosperity and expanding trade.  Many countries need stronger labor inspectorates and more aggressive implementation of existing labor laws. Others need law reform to meet international labor standards.  I was heartened that workers’ rights and employment are leading issues for the countries that attended the IACML. Nonetheless, the United States must remain engaged and continue to lead if there is to be a leveling up of labor standards among our trading partners and neighbors.

The wave of joblessness caused by the Great Recession significantly increased risks for working families across this hemisphere. And the recovery from the recession has been uneven.  Unemployment remains unacceptably high in some regions and among certain populations, including younger workers, workers with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and racial minorities.  The United States has aggressively advocated for macroeconomic policies across the world that are principally focused on promoting job creation. But merely creating more jobs is not enough.  New jobs must be decent jobs that deliver a fair income, voice and security in the workplace, social protection, opportunities for social integration, and equality of opportunity. Stable, sustainable jobs like these will expand growth in local and national economies.  Jobs that shift unacceptable levels of risk onto workers will not.

Among the greatest threats to decent jobs in our region is precarious work. Precarious work denies millions of workers – domestic workers, migrant workers, part-time workers, temporary workers, other workers in the informal sector – workplace benefits, employment security, and legal protections. In the United States, we often speak of workers being paid “under the table,” including employees who are misclassified as “independent contractors” and, as a result, do not benefit from unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and minimum wage and overtime protections, among other things.  In other words, workers bear essentially all workplace risks, and employers assume none.

Our partners in the Americas and the Caribbean generally agree on the need for effective standards to protect workers and help move them from the informal sector to more stable employment. I emphasized in my remarks at the IACML that agreement is just the beginning. We must not allow a permanent – and growing – division of our workforces into one group of well-protected workers in the formal economy and a second, expanding group of workers who do not receive basic protections and benefits because they toil in an informal sector. I challenged our hemispheric partners to meet the conditions of the IACML Declaration relating to precarious work before our next meeting in two years.

During my remarks, I also highlighted the need for effective unemployment insurance systems as one form of social protection against recessions and narrower economic downturns. Unemployment insurance systems do not benefit only the workers who receive payments. Unemployed workers use their benefits to pay bills, buy groceries, and otherwise support their families. Certainly, these funds provide a measure of security for the millions of working families in the U.S. who receive them. And without them, some unemployed workers in the Americas and the Caribbean are forced into precarious work because they must find some way to support their families after losing a job. But unemployment benefits also ensure continued consumer spending where it would otherwise be absent at a time when national economies need it most. Seventy percent of the American economy is built on consumer spending, and the economies of many of our neighbors operate similarly. Unemployment insurance systems can act as automatic stabilizers during economic downturns. I urged our neighbors to work with us to establish unemployment insurance systems in their countries. I am delighted to report that Mexico is about to create its first national UI system, and we have had discussions with other countries in the region about following suit.

In addition to the formal conference, the IACML offered opportunities to engage in bilateral meetings with selected partners in the region. In 2011, President Obama and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signed the Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights associated with the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. Ever since, the Labor Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs has been working closely with the Colombian government to implement the Action Plan. Recognizing some of the advances Colombia has made in the last two years, but also acknowledging that there is a great deal more work to be done, I had a frank conversation with Colombian Labor Minister Rafael Pardo regarding the steps required to satisfy the Action Plan. Minister Pardo and I also agreed to continue meeting into 2014 in order to continue implementation of the Action Plan commitments.

At the end of the same week, I also participated in an International Forum on Employment and Social Security Public Policy hosted by the Mexican Labor Minister Alfonso Navarrete in Mexico City. I spoke on a panel about the importance of innovation in the U.S. skills training system as a driver for growth, and a necessity in a modern, developed economy. Corporations increasingly look to the availability of skilled labor – or at least, an infrastructure that can produce a pipeline of skilled workers – when making decisions about where to site new factories and other facilities. Skills training, driven by regional business needs and available job openings, is a necessity. President Obama has made innovative programs to create and expand these pipelines a key element of his economic agenda. Programs like the Labor Department’s Trade Adjustment and Community College Career Training grants and Workforce Innovation Fund, with their emphasis on partnerships with employers to identify the skills their businesses demand, can and should be models of innovative approaches to workforce development throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. The recently announced CareerConnect grants program, a joint project of the Labor and Education Departments, similarly seeks to bring employers and high schools together to ensure that graduates are ready to compete in 21st-century labor markets. We expect it will create a host of models worth emulating.

These trips to Medellin, Colombia, and Mexico City, Mexico, are part of an expanding effort in the Labor Department to engage aggressively with our partners, particularly our trading partners, to elevate labor standards around the world. No one conference or meeting will achieve our result. We made important progress at the IACML and the Mexico City forum, but U.S. engagement must remain focused, constant and values-based. Secretary Perez and I are committed to maintaining that effort throughout President Obama’s second term.

Seth D. Harris is the U.S. deputy secretary of labor.

La nouvelle vision de l’ESA pour étudier l’univers invisible

La nouvelle vision de l’ESA pour étudier l’univers invisible

SECRETARY OF STATE KERRY'S REMARKS ON WORLD AIDS DAY 2013

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
World AIDS Day 2013
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 29, 2013

On World AIDS Day, we come together as a global community to honor the many lives we have lost, and to reaffirm our support for the millions of individuals and families who are still living with and affected by HIV/AIDS around the world.

On this day, we also gain strength by celebrating the important strides that we have taken over the past year, and recommit ourselves to the work still ahead to achieve an AIDS-free generation.

This year marks an extraordinary decade of progress. Ten years ago, when the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was launched by President Bush and with strong bipartisan support of the U.S. Congress, an AIDS diagnosis was a virtual death sentence in much of Africa. The epidemic was threatening the very foundation of societies – creating millions of orphans, stalling economic development, and leaving countries stuck in poverty.

Today, landmark scientific advances, coupled with success in implementing effective programs have put an AIDS-free generation within sight. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the epidemic has hit the hardest, new HIV infections are down by nearly 40 percent since 2001, and AIDS-related mortality has declined by nearly one-third since 2005. This progress is thanks in large part to the unique efforts of and partnership between PEPFAR, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and host countries.

The United States is proud of its longstanding leadership role in these efforts. Through research, funding, direct support for HIV services, we have always led by example in this fight, and asked others to join us.

This June, in marking PEPFAR’s tenth anniversary, I was pleased to announce the one-millionth baby born HIV-free due to PEPFAR-supported prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs. I also was greatly encouraged to report that 13 countries (including 11 in sub-Saharan Africa) have now reached the programmatic “tipping point” in their AIDS epidemic – the point where the annual increase in adults on treatment is greater than the number of annual new adult HIV infections.

And in September, I was honored to host a session with top African leaders and senior global health stakeholders to launch the innovative concept of PEPFAR Country Health Partnerships with South Africa, Rwanda, and Namibia, which will further our efforts to advance country ownership and strengthen sustainability. These successes were further amplified by the U.S. Congress’ bi-partisan and bi-cameral effort in the passage of the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act on November 19.

The Act reaffirms the United States’ continued commitment to this historic health program and to the fight against global AIDS.

Achieving an AIDS-free generation is a shared responsibility. Partnerships with host government, civil society, the faith community, the private sector, and multilateral organizations are vital to a robust and sustained global AIDS response.

On this World AIDS Day, as we reflect on the extraordinary progress we have made together, it is important to remember that our work is far from finished.

With a sustained focus on strengthened results and shared responsibility, I know that we can get there

COURT ORDERS MAN TO PAY NFA $1.5 MILLION FOR MISREPRESENTATIONS AND SOLICITATION FRAUD

FROM:  U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION 
November 27, 2013

Federal Court in California Orders James D. Crombie to Pay over $1.5 Million for Misrepresentations to the National Futures Association and for Solicitation Fraud

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) obtained a federal court Order against defendant James D. Crombie of Virginia, requiring him to pay $789,540.47 in restitution to defrauded customers and a civil monetary penalty of $750,000. Crombie’s fraudulent scheme involved making false statements and providing false documents to the National Futures Association (NFA) and fraudulently soliciting funds for his former company, Paron Capital Management, LLC (Paron). The Order also imposes permanent trading and registration bans against Crombie and prohibits him from violating the Commodity Exchange Act, as charged.

The Order, entered on November 21, 2013 by the Honorable Claudia Wilken of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, stems from a CFTC Complaint filed against Crombie and Paron on September 15, 2011 (see CFTC Press Release 6112-11). On September 5, 2012, the court entered a consent Order of permanent injunction against Crombie’s former company, Paron; that Order imposed no monetary penalties against Paron and noted its cooperation with the CFTC’s investigation.

The November 21, 2013 Order against Crombie incorporated the findings of fact and conclusions of law set forth in the court’s July 26, 2013 partial grant of the CFTC’s motion for summary judgment against Crombie, in which the court found that Crombie willfully provided false documents to the NFA and lied to the NFA during the course of a subsequent investigation of Paron. The court also found on summary judgment that Crombie caused Paron to use fraudulent promotional materials in order to solicit clients to trade commodity futures.

The CFTC appreciates the cooperation and assistance of the NFA in this matter.

The CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this case are Jonathan Robell, Danielle Karst, John Einstman, Dmitriy Vilenskiy, Joan Manley, and Paul Hayeck.

FDA ON REVIEW AND SAFETY OF CELL PHONES

FROM:  U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION 

Cell Phones

Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer products such as cell phones and similar wireless devices before they can be sold, as it does with new drugs or medical devices. However, FDA does have the authority to take action if cell phones are shown to emit radiofrequency energy (RF) at a level that is hazardous to the user. In such a case, FDA could require cell phone manufacturers to notify users of the health hazard and to repair, replace or recall the phones so that the hazard no longer exists.

Interagency Working Group

FDA belongs to the Radiofrequency Interagency Work Group. The federal agencies in this group have responsibility for different aspects of RF safety and work to ensure coordinated efforts at the federal level. The other agencies in this group are:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Communications Commission
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Federal Communications Commission
FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for cell phones with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC certifies wireless devices, and all phones that are sold in the United States must comply with FCC guidelines on RF exposure. FCC relies on the FDA and other health agencies on health and safety related questions about cell phones.

FCC also regulates cell phone base stations. These base stations operate at higher power than cell phones. The RF exposures people experience from base stations are typically much lower than from cell phones because base station antennas are mounted on towers or other building structures and are thus substantially farther away from the public. Both cell phones and base stations are required to comply with FCC RF exposure guidelines.

International Workgroup

For the past several years, delegations from Japan, Korea, the European Union, Australia, China, the World Health Organization, and the United States have met to discuss health concerns for wireless telecommunications. The purpose of these workshops has been to discuss scientific issues related to RF exposure from wireless communications technology from an international perspective. Specific topics addressed have included:

health effects of emerging wireless technologies
recent biological research
standards development
prospects for international collaboration related to the safety of wireless telecommunication devices.

ASSISTANT LABOR SECRETARY'S STATEMENT ON CRIMINAL SENTENCE IN FATAL GUNPOWDER PLANT EXPLOSION

FROM:  U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT 
Statement by Assistant Secretary of Labor Dr. David Michaels 
on sentencing in fatal gunpowder plant explosion

Editor's Note: This re-issued News Statement clarifies the length of the sentences imposed in the case.

CONCORD, N.H. — Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels today issued the following statement regarding the sentencing of Craig Sanborn in Coös County Court in New Hampshire for manslaughter in connection with the May 2010 explosion at the Black Mag LLC plant, which killed employees Jesse Kennett and Don Kendall while they were manufacturing a gunpowder substitute. Sanborn, who was the company's president, managing member and primary owner, was sentenced to five to 10 years on two counts of manslaughter, to be served consecutively, for a total of 10 to 20 years, and assessed fines of $10,000:

"The disregard for safety cost two workers their lives, and this jury agreed that Craig Sanborn's actions were criminal.

"Sanborn recklessly ignored basic safety measures that would have protected their lives. His criminal conviction and sentence won't bring these men back to life, but it will keep him from putting workers' lives in peril. And it should drive home to employers this message: Worker safety can never be sacrificed for the benefit of production, and workers' lives are not — and must never be — considered part of the cost of doing business. We categorically reject the false choice between profits and safety.

"The Labor Department commends the Coös County Attorney's Office for its successful prosecution. We also appreciate the invaluable cooperation of the New Hampshire Department of Safety, specifically the Fire Marshal and the State Police, during our investigation."

# # #

Note: OSHA's investigation of the May 2010 explosion at Sanborn's Black Mag gunpowder plant in Colebrook, N.H., resulted in issuance of 16 willful and over 30 serious safety violation citations, along with a $1.2 million penalty to Black Mag. The citations and penalties were affirmed in an agreement that compelled Sanborn to surrender his ATF explosives manufacturing license and barred him from ever again employing workers in any explosives-related business enterprise.
State of New Hampshire v. Craig Michael Sanborn, Case No. 214-2012-CR-18 (Superior Court, Coös County)

U.S. MILITARY CELEBRATES THANKSGIVING DAY

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
The East Coast Marine Corps Combined Band marches in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Nov. 28, 2013. The band includes 80 instrumentalists from the Marine Corps' three largest East Coast installations; Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. A.J. Rasure -

"Gobbles," the prize winning turkey, sits on display at the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team's dining facility on Fort Stewart, Ga., Nov. 27, 2013. Chefs created the turkey from various types of chips and other snack foods. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Richard Wrigle.

The First Lady Receives the 2013 White House Christmas Tree | The White House

The First Lady Receives the 2013 White House Christmas Tree | The White House

ESA Week in Images

Week in Images

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S WEEKLY ADDRESS FOR NOVEMBER 28, 2013

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 
Weekly Address: Wishing the American People a Happy Thanksgiving

Remarks of President Barack Obama

Weekly Address -- Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Hi, everybody.  On behalf of all the Obamas – Michelle, Malia, Sasha, Bo, and the newest member of our family, Sunny – I want to wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

We’ll be spending today just like many of you – sitting down with family and friends to eat some good food, tell stories, watch a little football, and most importantly, count our blessings.

And as Americans, we have so much to be thankful for.

We give thanks for the men and women who set sail for this land nearly four centuries ago, risking everything for the chance at a better life – and the people who were already here, our Native American brothers and sisters, for their generosity during that first Thanksgiving.

We give thanks for the generations who followed – people of all races and religions, who arrived here from every country on Earth and worked to build something better for themselves and for us.

We give thanks for all our men and women in uniform – and for their families, who are surely missing them very much today.  We’re grateful for their sacrifice too.

We give thanks for the freedoms they defend – the freedom to think what we want and say what we think, to worship according to our own beliefs, to choose our leaders and, yes, criticize them without punishment.  People around the world are fighting and even dying for their chance at these freedoms.  We stand with them in that struggle, and we give thanks for being free.

And we give thanks to everyone who’s doing their part to make the United States a better, more compassionate nation – who spend their Thanksgiving volunteering at a soup kitchen, or joining a service project, or bringing food and cheer to a lonely neighbor.  That big-hearted generosity is a central part of our American character.  We believe in lending a hand to folks who need it.  We believe in pitching in to solve problems even if they aren’t our problems.  And that’s not a one-day-a-year belief.  It’s part of the fabric of our nation.

And we remember that many Americans need that helping hand right now.  Americans who’ve lost their jobs and can’t get a new one through no fault of their own.  Americans who’ve been trapped in poverty and just need that helping hand to climb out.  Citizens whose prayers and hopes move us to act.

We are a people who are greater together than we are on our own.  That’s what today is about.  That’s what every day should be about.  No matter our differences, we’re all part of one American family.  We are each other’s keeper.  We are one nation, under God.  That core tenet of our American experience has guided us from the earliest days of our founding – and it will guide us to a future that’s even brighter than today.

Thank you, God bless you, and from my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

USDA INFORMATION ON REGULATION OF PET FOOD

FROM:  U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION 

Pet Food
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates that can of cat food, bag of dog food, or box of dog treats or snacks in your pantry. The FDA’s regulation of pet food is similar to that for other animal foods. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. In addition, canned pet foods must be processed in conformance with the low acid canned food regulations to ensure the pet food is free of viable microorganisms, see Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 113 (21 CFR 113).

FDA Regulation of Pet Food
There is no requirement that pet food products have pre-market approval by the FDA. However, FDA ensures that the ingredients used in pet food are safe and have an appropriate function in the pet food. Many ingredients such as meat, poultry and grains are considered safe and do not require pre-market approval. Other substances such as sources of minerals, vitamins or other nutrients, flavorings, preservatives, or processing aids may be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for an intended use (21 CFR 582 and 584) or must have approval as food additives (21 CFR 570, 571 and 573). Colorings must have approvals for that use as specified in 21 CFR 70 and be listed in Parts 73, 74, or 81. For more information about pet foods and marketing a pet food, see FDA’s Regulation of Pet Food and Information on Marketing a Pet Food Product.
Labeling

Pet food labeling is regulated at two levels. The current FDA regulations require proper identification of the product, net quantity statement, name and place of business of the manufacturer or distributor, and proper listing of all the ingredients in the product in order from most to least, based on weight. Recent legislation in the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 requires FDA to establish by regulation – (1) ingredient standards and definitions with respect to pet food; (2) processing standards for pet food; and, (3) updated standards for the labeling of pet food that include nutritional and ingredient information. FDA is working on this legislative mandate. Comments concerning this initiative can be made at http://www.regulations.gov to Docket No. FDA-2007-N-0442. Some states also enforce their own labeling regulations. Many of these regulations are based on a model provided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). For more information about AAFCO,disclaimer icon please visit its website. For more information about labeling requirements, see Pet Food Labels - General.

FDA also reviews specific claims on pet food, such as “maintains urinary tract health,” “low magnesium,” “tartar control,” “hairball control,” and “improved digestibility.” Guidance for collecting data to make a urinary tract health claim is available in Guideline 55 on the CVM portion of the FDA internet site.

CVM DOES NOT recommend one product over another or offer guidance on individual pet health issues that are normally provided by the pet’s veterinarian. Questions regarding your pets' health and/or the specific use of any veterinary drug, pet food, or other product should always be referred to your veterinarian.

LABOR SECRETARY USES BLOG TO PROMOTE INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE

FROM:  U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT 
Holiday Belt-Tightening for Minimum Wage Workers
by SECRETARY TOM PEREZ on NOVEMBER 26, 2013 

“I’m living out of a spare room at my children’s house.”

“I’m working 70 hours a week…my day starts at 6am…I want to go to college, [but] I don’t have time [and] I can’t afford it.”

“I shouldn’t have to decide: am I going to pay the electric bill or do I pay the heat? I’m a thousand dollars behind in rent now…where is this money going to come from?”

“I’ve worked since I was 15 years old, and I’ve never been fired or asked to leave a job. I can’t work more than 8 hours a day or I’ll lose my day care… If I lose that, I’ll lose access to food assistance. I’m barely staying above water now as it is.”

This is just a sampling of what I’ve heard from low-wage workers I’ve met with recently. I come away from these conversations more convinced than ever that we have to raise the federal minimum wage.

In a nation as wealthy as ours, one based on the belief that anyone can make it if they try, it’s unconscionable that people working full-time are living in poverty and resorting to safety net programs for their very survival. As one young man who works in fast food in Milwaukee told me: “This fight – it’s about the minimum wage, but it’s about respect.”

This is a time of year for plentiful family gatherings. But while many of us are fortunate to enjoy a Thanksgiving of abundance and relaxation, the holidays are too often a source of even greater economic anxiety than usual for those earning at or near the minimum wage.

The American Farm Bureau Federation has estimated that feeding a table of 10 this Thanksgiving will cost $49 on average. But it takes minimum wage workers nearly a full shift to earn that much (and many will have to work on Thanksgiving anyway). For them, putting any meal on the table, let alone a multi-course feast, is a penny-squeezing struggle. So while many Americans will be loosening their belts after helpings of turkey and stuffing, it’s another day of belt-tightening for workers trying to get by on the minimum wage.

But increasing the minimum wage isn’t about holiday giving or charity. This is smart economic policy with universal benefits. In an economy driven by consumer demand, more purchasing power for working families means more sales at businesses large and small. With tens of millions of people heading to stores to start their holiday shopping this weekend, imagine how much more retailers could benefit if low-wage workers had more to spend. I can’t put it any better than one worker who told me: “If they would pay us what we need, we could put money back into the economy and pay for what we need. And that strengthens all of us.”

Minimum wage workers are proud and hardworking. They need and deserve a raise. And that’s not just Tom Perez talking — more than three-quarters of Americans agree, according to a recent Gallup poll. As a matter of social justice and economic common sense, it’s time for Congress to act.

FORMER SCHOOL BEEF SUPPLIERS SETTLE ALLEGATIONS OF MISTREATING COWS AND EVADING "DOWNER COW" INSPECTIONS

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Former Suppliers of Beef to National School Lunch Program Settle Allegations of Improper Practices and Mistreating Cows

Several California companies and individuals that formerly supplied beef to the National School Lunch Program have agreed to settle allegations of inhumane handling of cattle, circumventing appropriate inspection of nonambulatory disabled (“downer”) cattle and false representations regarding their eligibility to process beef, the Justice Department announced today.  The announcement follows approval of the last of these settlements by a California probate court.

“Children across the country depend on the National School Lunch Program to provide them with a healthy meal each day, so we all depend on companies providing food to the program to follow the rules designed to ensure those meals are safe to eat,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division Stuart F. Delery.  “The Justice Department will pursue aggressively anyone whose unlawful conduct puts the safety of our food at risk.”

“The contractors who supply beef and other meat products to schools and child-care facilities have a responsibility to provide our nation’s young people with products that come only from healthy and humanely handled animals,” said U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California André Birotte Jr.  “This settlement holds accountable businesses that mistreated cows on a regular basis and routinely evaded a critically important USDA inspection procedure that allowed ‘downer cows’ to be processed into food.”

The settlements will conclude a lawsuit initiated by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA) after an HSUS investigator videotaped alleged inhumane cattle handling and improper downer cattle inspection practices at the slaughterhouse and meat processing facility of Westland Meat Co. and Hallmark Meat Packing Co. in Chino, Calif.  The government later joined the lawsuit and brought additional claims that the defendants concealed their ineligibility to process beef because a convicted felon, Aaron “Arnie” Magidow, was a partner in and otherwise responsibly connected with the facility’s operations.  U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations applicable to suppliers of the National School Lunch Program prohibit the inhumane handling of cattle, require the proper inspection and disposition of downer cattle and require suppliers to identify convicted felons who are responsibly connected to the suppliers’ operations.

The National School Lunch Program, administered by the USDA, is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child-care institutions.  The program provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.  All ground beef containing the defendants’ products was recalled as of Feb. 16, 2008, and the defendants no longer supply beef to the National School Lunch Program.

“A top priority for USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) is protecting the integrity of America’s food supply by investigating violations of the Federal Meat Inspection Act,” said USDA-OIG Western Region Special Agent in Charge Lori Chan.  “Agents from OIG’s Diamond Bar, Calif., office conducted an extensive investigation of the Hallmark/Westland facility, which supplied ground beef to schools through USDA’s National School Lunch Program.  The government’s joint investigation led to one of the largest civil settlements in OIG’s history.”  

Under the settlements, Westland Meat Co., based in Corona Del Mar, Calif., and its owner Steve Mendell will pay $240,000, and Westland will enter into a consent judgment for $155.68 million.  M&M Management, also based in Corona Del Mar, Calif., and Cattleman’s Choice, based in Commerce, Calif., and the estate of Cattleman’s deceased owner, Arnie Magidow, and Magidow’s surviving spouse will pay a total of approximately $2.45 million.  Magidow’s surviving spouse was named in the lawsuit as a successor in interest to Magidow and is not alleged to have engaged in any wrongdoing.  In October 2012, defendants Donald R. Hallmark and Donald W. Hallmark settled allegations for $304,130.

The FCA’s whistleblower provisions, under which HSUS filed the lawsuit, permit a private entity to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in any proceeds from the suit.  The FCA also allows the government to intervene in the lawsuit, as it has done in this case.  As a result of the settlements announced today, HSUS will receive approximately $600,000.    

The case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch; in cooperation with the USDA Office of Inspector General.  The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 23, 2013

FROM:  U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT 
          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending November 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 316,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 326,000. The 4-week moving average was 331,750, a decrease of 7,500 from the previous week's revised average of 339,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent for the week ending November 16, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 16 was 2,776,000, a decrease of 91,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,867,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,831,750, a decrease of 22,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,854,500.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 363,053 in the week ending November 23, an increase of 37,229 from the previous week. There were 358,869 initial claims in the comparable week in 2012.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent during the week ending November 16, an increase of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,684,088, an increase of 143,750 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.2 percent and the volume was 2,835,628.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending November 9 was 3,913,729, an increase of 38,437 from the previous week. There were 5,183,962 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 9.

Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,943 in the week ending November 16, a decrease of 237 from the prior week. There were 2,027 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 412 from the preceding week.

There were 19,189 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending November 9, a decrease of 785 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 31,277, an increase of 413 from the prior week.

States reported 1,304,899 persons claiming Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits for the week ending November 9, an increase of 3,337 from the prior week. There were 2,119,054 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 16 were in Alaska (4.6), Puerto Rico (3.8), New Jersey (3.2), Virgin Islands (3.1), California (2.8), Connecticut (2.8), Pennsylvania (2.7), Oregon (2.5), Illinois (2.4), and New York (2.4).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 16 were in Florida (+888), Idaho (+573), Mississippi (+534), Minnesota (+155), and North Dakota (+103), while the largest decreases were in California (-4,644), Michigan (-3,342), Pennsylvania (-3,112), Texas (-2,584), and New York (-2,246).

RECENT U.S. ARMY PHOTOS

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
U.S. soldiers conduct a dismounted patrol from one of their observation points to an Afghan border police checkpoint in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, Nov. 18, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Eric Provost.

U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Weston, center, and his soldiers secure the rear element of a dismounted patrol en route to an Afghan border police checkpoint in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, Nov. 18, 2013. Weston, a team leader, is assigned to 10th Mountain Division's Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. The patrol's purpose was to assess the state of the checkpoint and its current capabilities. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Eric Provost.

West Wing Week 11/29/13 or, "Kindness Covers All of My Political Beliefs" | The White House

West Wing Week 11/29/13 or, "Kindness Covers All of My Political Beliefs" | The White House

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAGEL'S THANKSGIVING MESSAGE TO SERVICE MEMBERS AND FAMILIES

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
Hagel Issues Thanksgiving Message to Troops, Families
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel offered his gratitude to service members and their families in a Thanksgiving message.
Here is the secretary's message:

One hundred fifty years ago, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving. Though it was a time of hardship, Thanksgiving was a day for Americans to express gratitude for the many blessings they enjoyed, including the sacrifices of those serving in uniform and their families. Every year since, Americans have come together during this season to reflect and to give thanks.

As this special American holiday draws near, I want to extend my personal gratitude to the entire Department of Defense community for your work to keep our country strong and secure. Whether you are in uniform or a civilian, whether deployed abroad or stationed here at home, it is your service and commitment that allows Americans to enjoy the blessings of Thanksgiving. Your strength, selflessness, and patriotism are deeply respected by the American people, and we are very thankful for your commitment to our country.This time of year is especially difficult for service members who are serving far away from their families and loved ones. To all those deployed overseas: know that Americans will be thinking about you as they gather around the Thanksgiving table, and praying for your safe return. To their families back here at home: Americans will always be indebted to you for sacrificing on their behalf. And to all DOD personnel everywhere and your families: thank you and happy Thanksgiving.