FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
CONTRACTS
ARMY
L-3 GSS, Reston, Va., was awarded a $50,925,735 firm-fixed-price, multi-year contract to provide Automated Installation Entry hardware and software for up to 35 military installations. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is April 13, 2018. Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received. Army Contracting Command, Natick, Mass., is the contracting activity (W911QY-14-D-0005).
AAA General Contractors, LLC,* El Paso, Texas, (W912L2-14-D-0001); Blackhawk-MILCON Joint Venture, San Antonio, Texas (W912L2-14-D-0002); Briston Construction LLC,* Mesa, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0003); Cerrudo Services, Inc.,* Novato, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0004); Charpie Construction Co., Inc.,* Las Vegas, Nev. (W912L2-14-D-0005); Cherokee General Corp., Federal Way, Wash. (W912L2-14-D-0006); Direct Project Inc.,* Fontana, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0007); E-Corp., Layton, Utah (W912L2-14-D-0008); Fortis Networks, Phoenix, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0009); IEC-ALL Star LLC,* Kansas City, Mo. (W912L2-14-D-0010); Komada, Escondido, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0011); KWR Construction, Inc.,* Sierra Vista, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0012); Loven Contracting, Inc., Flagstaff, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0013); Marsh Development, Inc.,* Huachuca City, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0014); MIE, Inc.,* Apopka, Fla. (W912L2-14-D-0015); Menco Pacific, Inc.,* Escondido, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0016); MW Services Inc.,* Temecula, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0017); Northern Construction, LLC,* Ogden, Utah (W912L2-14-D-0018); Northwind Engineering, LLC , Shelocta, Pa. (W912L2-14-D-0019); OP Solutions, Chandler, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0020); Pace Pacific, Phoenix, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0021); Pacific Tech Construction, Inc., Kelso, Wash. (W912L2-14-D-0022); Power Services, Inc.,* Las Vegas, Nev. (W912L2-14-D-0023); PRE CON Industries, Inc.,* Santa Maria, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0024); RCDS Contractors, Inc.,* Glendale, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0025); R-CON Construction, Inc.,* Las Cruces, N.M. (W912L2-14-D-0026); Rore, Inc.,* Albuquerque, N.M. (W912L2-14-D-0027); Sigma Services, Ventura, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0028); Shanks Electric Corp., Helendale, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0029); S & L Construction LLC,* Gilbert, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0030); Sun Eagle Corp., Chandler , Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0031); Southwestern Dakotah, Inc.,* Tucson, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0032); TMG Services, Inc.,* North Kansas City, Mo. (W912L2-14-D-0033); Total Team Construction Services, Inc.,* West. Sacramento, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0034); Vernadero Group Inc.,* Phoenix, Ariz. (W912L2-14-D-0035); Women's Empowerment Partnership, Inc.,* Huntington Beach, Calif. (W912L2-14-D-0036), were awarded a $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite -delivery/indefinite -quantity contract to support sustainment/repair and maintenance construction and new military construction projects for the Arizona Army and Air National Guard. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is April 1, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with fifty-four received. National Guard Bureau, Phoenix, Ariz., is the contracting activity.
Design West Technologies Inc.,* Tustin, Calif., was awarded a $9,470,626 firm-fixed-price, multi-year contract for a maximum of 650 filter fan housing assemblies for Army collective and protection units which clean and purify air. Funding and work performance location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is Oct. 8, 2020. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-14-D-0055).
Pacchiosi Drill USA Inc., New York, N.Y., was awarded an $8,918,970 firm-fixed price contract to construct cutoff walls along the waterside slope of Sites R3A and L10 on the American River, Sacramento, Calif. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $8,918,970 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is April 29, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Work will be performed in Sacramento, Calif. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento, Calif., is the contracting activity (W91238-14-C-0003).
AIR FORCE
Computer Sites Inc., Denver Colo., has been awarded a $47,057,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for emergency maintenance/preventive maintenance of Department of Defense power conditioning equipment and uninterruptable power supply systems. Performance locations (both continental United States and overseas) will be specified on individual delivery orders, and work is expected to be complete by April 13, 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and three offers were received. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $87,922 are being obligated at time of award on the initial delivery order. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/PZZKA, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8217-14-D-0001).
NAVY
American Overseas Marine LLC, Quincy, Mass., is being awarded a $32,668,153 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed price contract (N00033-10-C-5300) to exercise a one-year option period for the operation and maintenance of seven large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships. These seven ships support the deployed military forces worldwide. Work will be performed worldwide at sea and is expected to be completed by April 2015. Working capital contract funds in the amount of $14,616,880 are being obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00033-10-C-5300).
Alion Science and Technology Corp., Washington, D.C., is being awarded a $25,002,968 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-12-C-4401) for additional professional support services in support of the Surface Warfare Directorate. This modification will continue professional support services in support of SEA21 Surface Warfare Fleet Support. Specific services include, but are not limited to: program management, engineering, logistics, technical, planning and readiness, fleet introduction training and financial management support services. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C. (56 percent), Norfolk, Va. (23 percent), San Diego, Calif. (6 percent), Pascagoula, Miss. (6 percent), Bath, Maine (3 percent), Mayport, Fla. (2 percent), Japan (2 percent), and other locations less than 1 percent (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $24,762,968 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity.
The Haskell Co., Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a $6,883,727 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N40085-11-C-4019) for the mitigation of unsuitable soils under the taxiway apron for apron expansion, Phase II, parallel taxiway, hangar, and Marine vertical 22 maintenance hangar at Marine Corps Air Station New River. The work to be performed provides for design and construction to mitigate unsuitable soils by providing cement stabilization and installation of an underdrain system under the apron. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $151,304,423. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, N.C., and is expected to be completed by March 2015. Fiscal 2010 military construction, Navy contract funds in the amount of $6,883,727 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems Information & Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Greenlawn, N.Y., is being awarded a $6,715,693 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of 16 AN/UPX-41 (C) Digital Interrogators for the U.S. Navy (14) and the government of Japan (2) and 45 Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe field change kits for the U.S. Navy (33) and the government of Japan (12). Work will be performed in Greenlawn, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in December 2015. No funds are being obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated against individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($5,399,417; 80.4 percent) and the government of Japan ($1,316,276; 19.6 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-14-D-0004).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Brothers Produce Inc.,* Houston, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $6,666,666 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for full line fresh fruit and vegetable support. This is a competitive acquisition, and three offers were received. This is an 18-month base contract with two 18-month option periods. Location of performance is Texas with an Oct. 6, 2015 performance completion date. Using service is Department of Agriculture school customers. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Va., (SPE300-14-D-S602).
*Small Business
Monday, April 14, 2014
EX-IM BANK EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FROM: EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Ex-Im Bank and MBDA Announce Expansion of its Partnership
Washington, D.C. – The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) have announced an expansion of their partnership to help small minority- and women-owned export businesses obtain loans so they can have greater access to foreign markets.
MBDA Business Centers in Miami, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Phoenix can now process loan applications for export financing as Originators for the Ex-Im Bank’s Global Credit Express program, designed to help small businesses that do not enjoy access to conventional financing markets.
"Ex-Im Bank welcomes the MBDA Business Centers in Miami, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Phoenix to the growing list of Originators for the Global Credit Express (GCE) Direct Loan Program," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "The success of the GCE Program is based on knowledgeable referral sources like our MBDA partners, who can help us identify qualified small-business exporters that need pre-shipment working capital to expand their export sales. In FY 2013 alone, Ex-Im Bank authorized $815.6 million to support 761 export transactions by small- and medium-sized minority- and/or women-owned businesses in the U.S. In other words, approximately one in five Ex-Im transactions directly benefited minority-owned or woman-owned small businesses. This partnership will help more companies reach the other 95 percent of the world's customers that live overseas and support jobs here at home."
Through this new partnership, small- and medium-sized export businesses may be eligible for a 6- or 12-month revolving line of credit of up to $500,000 by way of Ex-Im Bank’s Global Credit Express program.
"The expansion of this partnership effort will build upon the access to capital resources available to help MBDA minority-business enterprise firms expand their global footprint," said Joann Hill, Chief of MBDA’s Office of Business Development.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER'S REMARKS ON WEEKEND SHOOTINGS IN KANSAS
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Monday, April 14, 2014
Statement by Attorney General Holder on Weekend Shootings in Kansas
“I was horrified to learn of this weekend's tragic shootings outside Kansas City. These senseless acts of violence are all the more heartbreaking as they were perpetrated on the eve of the solemn occasion of Passover.
“Justice Department prosecutors will work with their state and local counterparts to provide all available support and to determine whether the federal hate crimes statute is implicated in this case.
“No matter what, we will do everything in our power to ensure justice is served in this case on behalf of the victims and their families. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by these heinous acts.”
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STATEMENT ON OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS SHOOTING
FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE
Statement by President Obama on Shooting in Kansas
This afternoon we heard reports of a horrific shooting in Overland Park, Kansas. Michelle and I offer our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends who lost a loved one and everyone affected by this tragedy. I have asked my team to stay in close touch with our federal, state and local partners and provide the necessary resources to support the ongoing investigation. While we do not know all of the details surrounding today’s shooting, the initial reports are heartbreaking. I want to offer my condolences to all the families trying to make sense of this difficult situation and pledge the full support from the federal government as we heal and cope during this trying time.
U.S. MARINES FIRE HOWITZERS DURING SSANG YONG 2014
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Above Photos: U.S. Marines fire rounds from a howitzer during Ssang Yong 2014 on Su Seung-ri range in South Korea, April 3, 2014. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lena Wakayama.
FTC CHARGES PAYDAY LENDERS WITH ATTEMPTING TO GARNISH WAGES WITHOUT COURT ORDER
FROM: FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Payday Lenders That Used Tribal Affiliation to Illegally Garnish Wages Settle with FTC
Settlement Requires Defendants to Pay Nearly $1 Million
“Debt collectors cannot garnish consumers’ wages without a court order, and they cannot sue consumers in a tribal court that doesn’t have jurisdiction over their cases,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Regardless of tribal affiliation, debt collectors must comply with federal law.”
According to the complaint filed by the FTC, Webb and his companies offered short-term, high-fee, unsecured payday loans of $300 to $2,525 to consumers throughout the country, advertising on television and online. The FTC charged that defendants illegally tried to garnish consumers’ wages without a court order, and sought to manipulate the legal system and force borrowers to appear before the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Court in South Dakota, which did not have jurisdiction over their cases. The defendants also attempted to obtain tribal court orders to garnish consumers’ wages, according to the agency.
Under the terms of the settlement, Martin A. Webb and his companies have agreed to a $550,000 civil penalty for violating the Credit Practices Rule – which prohibits payday lenders from requiring borrowers to consent to have wages taken directly out of their paychecks in the event of a default. Following a partial judgment in favor of the FTC in September 2013, the defendants surrendered $417,740 in ill-gotten gains stemming from their prior practice of attempting to garnish consumers’ wages without court orders.
In addition to the monetary payment imposed on the defendants, the settlement prohibits them from further unfair and deceptive practices, and bars them from suing any consumer in the course of collecting a debt, except for bringing a counter suit to defend against a suit brought by a consumer.
For consumer information regarding payday loans see: Payday Loans.
In addition to Webb, the FTC’s complaint and amended complaint named as defendants Payday Financial, LLC, Great Sky Finance, LLC, Western Sky Financial, LLC, Red Stone Financial, LLC, Financial Solutions, LLC, Management Systems, LLC, 24-7 Cash Direct, LLC, Red River Ventures, LLC, and High Country Ventures, LLC.
The Commission vote approving the settlement was 4-0. On April 4, 2014, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota approved the settlement and entered a final order and judgment.
SEC CHARGES MAN WITH USING PHONY CREDIT UNION TO DEFRAUD INVESTORS
FROM: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SEC Charges Indiana Man for Defrauding Investors in "Credit Union" Ponzi Scheme
On April 11, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed an action charging Indianapolis-based Timothy J. Coughlin, 63, and two entities that did business as "Oxford International Credit Union" or "Oxford International Cooperative Union" with conducting an Internet offering fraud in which investors lost millions of dollars by investing funds in a fictitious credit union. The complaint alleges that between June 2007 and December 2009, Coughlin and Oxford International Credit Union collected deposits from more than 5,000 investors exceeding $12.8 million dollars. Approximately 3,300 of the investors were U.S. residents, with victims residing in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The SEC's complaint alleges that Coughlin misappropriated investor money to pay personal expenses, fund unrelated business expenses, and make distributions to other investors in a classic Ponzi-scheme fashion.
According to the SEC's complaint, to further the fraud, the defendants posted false information to investors' online accounts to create the appearance that their deposits in the fake credit union were earning substantial daily investment returns. The Oxford International Credit Union website for example, showed investors that their deposits were purportedly earning investment returns that averaged, during the January 2007 through December 2009 period, 0.471% each trading day, equating to an approximately 356% average annual rate of return. According to the complaint, however, the defendants did not actually make investments with the members' deposits sufficient to generate the returns they boasted. Coughlin and Oxford International Credit Union also falsely claimed that member accounts were insured by a private insurance company. Then, beginning in December 2008, Coughlin began operating a successor to Oxford International Credit Union, called Oxford International Cooperative Union, which also boasted bogus investment returns on its website from its inception in late 2008 through December 2011.
The SEC's complaint alleges that Coughlin misappropriated at least $5.97 million and used investor money for illegitimate purposes, including $1.57 million used for personal expenditures and $4.4 million (or approximately 35%) to pay other investors who had requested withdrawals from their Oxford International Credit Union accounts . Coughlin also transferred money from Oxford International Credit Union's accounts to bank accounts he controlled in the names of two relief defendants.
According to the SEC's complaint, in late 2008 and 2009, Coughlin began to deny investors' requests for withdrawals from their accounts. To explain his refusal to allow investors to access their funds, Coughlin falsely claimed that Internal Revenue Service and foreign tax authorities had frozen Oxford International Credit Union and Oxford International Cooperative Union's accounts.
In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia today unsealed a criminal complaint against Coughlin.
The SEC's complaint charges Coughlin, OICU Ltd. and OICU Investments Corp. with violating Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and seeks disgorgement of all ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, civil penalties, conduct-based injunctions, and an officer-and-director bar against Coughlin. The SEC also seeks disgorgement and prejudgment interest from relief defendants American Quality Cleaning Services, Inc. (d/b/a "Oxford Privacy Group") and Avocalon LLC.
The SEC's investigation was conducted by Adam J. Eisner and Carolyn E. Kurr in the Washington, D.C. office, and supervised by C. Joshua Felker. The SEC's litigation is being led by Stephan J. Schlegelmilch and Bridget M. Fitzpatrick.
The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of the Treasury, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; the Indiana Secretary of State, Securities Division; the National Credit Union Administration; and the Ontario Securities Commission.
The SEC's investigation is continuing.
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CAMP'S STATEMENT ON THE U.S. TAX CODE
FROM: U.S. HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DAVE CAMP
Yet, some in Washington think taxes need to be even higher. At a time when we’re all paying more for gas, more for groceries and more for health care, the last thing we need is to pay more to Washington.
It's time to stand up and say 'enough is enough.' Washington needs to live within its means, and make the tax code simpler and fairer so our economy gets stronger, more jobs are created and paychecks start going up again. We’ve already lost a decade due to how weak the economy is, and before we lose a generation, it’s time for real, meaningful tax reform to get this economy back on track.
Earlier this year I released a blueprint for tax reform that does just that. The non-partisan experts have looked at my bill, and they say it would grow the economy by over $1 trillion. That means an extra $1,300 in the pockets of average families.
My draft makes the tax code more effective and efficient by getting rid of special interest handouts to lower tax rates for individuals, families and businesses.
We make the tax code so simple, that 95 percent of taxpayers get the lowest possible tax rate by simply claiming the standard deduction – no more gathering all those receipts and filling out all those forms.
This will not only help families, but it will help large and small businesses alike expand, hire new workers and increase benefits and take home pay for American workers.
So this year, as you fill out your taxes, think about what it would be like if you only had to fill out one form. And on top of that, think about what it would be like if you could trust that Washington wouldn’t waste your hard-earned money."
Sunday, April 13, 2014
FTC SETTLES CHARGES WITH PLASTIC LUMBER MANUFACTURER REGARDING MISLEADING CLAIMS
FROM: FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges That N.E.W. Plastics’ Environmental Claims for its Plastic Lumber Products Were Misleading
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order settling charges that N.E.W. Plastics Corp., a Wisconsin-based manufacturer of plastic lumber products, misled consumers and distributors about the recycled content, post-consumer recycled content, and recyclability of its products.
The FTC’s February 2014 complaint alleges that between September 2012 and March 2013 the company made false and misleading claims that its Evolve plastic lumber products are made from 90 percent or more recycled content. It also alleged that the company made false and misleading claims that its Trimax plastic lumber products are made from mostly post-consumer recycled content and that both Evolve and Trimax are recyclable.
Under the FTC’s final order, the company must have credible evidence to support any claims it makes about its products’ recycled content, post-consumer recycled content, recyclability, or any other environmental benefit, and is required to tell its distributors to stop using marketing material for the two products provided by the company before December 2013.
The final order also bars N.E.W. from making unqualified recyclable claims about any product or package, unless the product or package can be recycled in an established recycling program, and such facilities are available to at least 60 percent of consumers or communities where the product or package is sold.
EPA PROPOSES LARGEST TOXIC CLEANUP IN EPA HISTORY
FROM: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
2014 News Releases
EPA Proposes Plan to Remove Toxic Sediment from the Passaic River; Largest Cleanup in EPA History Will Protect People’s Health and Create Jobs
Release Date: 04/11/2014
Contact Information: Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov
(New York, N.Y.) In an historic action that will protect people’s health and the environment, and benefit riverfront communities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today proposed a plan to remove 4.3 million cubic yards of highly contaminated sediment from the lower eight miles of the Passaic River in New Jersey. The sediment in the Passaic River is severely contaminated with dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, pesticides and other contaminants from more than a century of industrial activity. The lower eight miles of the Passaic is the most heavily contaminated section of the river. Ninety percent of the volume of contaminated sediments in the lower Passaic are in the lower eight miles of the river.
The EPA is proposing bank-to-bank dredging – one of the largest volumes ever to be dredged under the EPA’s Superfund program – followed by capping of the river bottom.
The proposed plan is based on an extensive seven-year study of the lower eight miles of the river, known as a focused feasibility study, and was developed in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and with outreach to representatives of the many communities along the lower Passaic River. The study examined the contamination and analyzed options for reducing the risks that the contaminants in this segment of the river pose to people’s health and the environment. The EPA will accept public comments on its proposed plan from April 21 to June 20.
The EPA will hold three public meetings to explain the proposal.
* May 7, 2014 at 7 p.m.
Portuguese Sports Club
55 Prospect Street
Newark, New Jersey, 07105
* May 2014 in Kearny, New Jersey
Specific date and location To Be Determined
* June 2014 in Belleville, New Jersey
Specific date and location To Be Determined
“High concentrations of dioxin, PCBs and other contaminants in the lower eight miles of the Passaic River are a serious threat to the people who eat fish and crabs from this river,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “The EPA’s proposed cleanup plan will result in a cleaner river that protects people’s health and increases the productive use of one of New Jersey’s most important natural resources and creates jobs during the cleanup. Doing less is not good enough for this river or the people who live along it.”
A major source of dioxin in the river was pollution from the Diamond Alkali facility in Newark, New Jersey, where the production of Agent Orange and pesticides during the 1960s generated dioxin that contaminated the land and the river. In addition, approximately 100 companies are potentially responsible for generating and releasing dioxin, PCBs, heavy metals, pesticides and other contaminants into the river. Fish and shellfish in the lower Passaic, its tributaries and Newark Bay are highly contaminated with mercury, PCBs and dioxin. Fisheries along the river have long been closed due to the contamination. Catching crabs is prohibited and there are “Do Not Eat” advisories for all fish. Local plans for riverfront development have also been hindered because of sediment contamination. The site was added to the federal Superfund List in 1984.
The lower 17 miles of the Passaic River, which stretches from its mouth at Newark Bay to the Dundee Dam, are part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site. From 1983 to 2001 extensive cleanup work was conducted on land at the Diamond Alkali facility and in the streets and homes near it. The proposed cleanup plan announced today addresses the lower eight miles of the river portion of the site.
Because of the nature and complexity of the Passaic River contamination, the EPA divided the investigation and consideration of cleanup options into two studies – one of the entire 17-mile stretch of the Lower Passaic from its mouth to the Dundee Dam and the other focused on just the lower eight miles. The study of the lower eight miles was conducted by the EPA. A long-term study of contaminated sediment in the 17-mile stretch is ongoing. It is being conducted by a group of approximately 70 parties potentially responsible for the pollution, with the EPA oversight. Information gained from the 17-mile study was integrated into EPA’s proposal for the cleanup of the lower eight miles. A portion of Newark Bay is also being studied by one of the parties potentially responsible for the contamination.
In the lower Passaic River, there is an approximately 10-to-15-foot deep reservoir of contaminated fine-grained sediment in the lower eight miles of the river. Under this plan, about 4.3 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment will be dredged and removed from the Passaic River. Once the top layer of contaminated sediment is removed from the river, a protective cap will be placed over the area that was dredged. The cap will consist of two feet of sand except along the shore where it will be one foot of sand and one foot of materials to support habitat for fish and plants. The cap will be monitored and maintained to ensure that the cleanup remains protective.
The proposed plan includes several options for managing the contaminated sediment after dredging. Air and water quality will be monitored during the work.
After receiving and considering comments from the public, the EPA will finalize a cleanup plan by early next year. Once a plan is finalized, engineering and design work necessary to carry out the plan will be done in the following years.
The proposed plan builds on dredging that has already occurred in two smaller areas with high concentrations of contaminants. In 2012, the EPA oversaw dredging in the Passaic near the Diamond Alkali facility in Newark. About 40,000 cubic yards of the most highly dioxin contaminated sediment were removed, treated and then transported by rail to licensed disposal facilities. In 2013, the EPA oversaw dredging of approximately 16,000 cubic yards of highly contaminated sediment from a half-mile stretch of the Passaic River that runs by Riverside County Park North in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. This area is located about 11 miles north of the river mouth and outside of the lower eight miles addressed in today’s proposed plan. The work, which is ongoing, was necessary because the EPA identified particularly high levels of contamination in the sediment in this portion of the river.
The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs to taxpayers. The EPA searches for parties legally responsible for the contamination at sites that are placed on the Superfund list and seeks to hold those parties accountable for the costs of investigations and cleanups. Most of the work to-date to clean up the Passaic has been performed by parties responsible for the contamination. The EPA will similarly pursue agreements to ensure that the cleanup work proposed today be carried out and paid for by those responsible for the contamination at the site.
MISSION CONTROL ROOM FOR ORION SPACECRAFT
FROM: NASA
IMMIGRATION SERVICES SCAMMERS ORDERED TO PAY REFUNDS TO CLIENTS
FROM: FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
FTC Wins Court Judgment Against Immigration Services Scam
Court Bans Baltimore-based Defendants from Providing Immigration Services
A federal court has ordered the operators of a Baltimore-based immigration services scam to pay as much as $616,000 in refunds to Spanish-speaking immigrants, who were deceived into paying the defendants for immigration services that they were not qualified or authorized to provide. The order bans the defendants from providing or promoting these services in the future.
The court found that some customers “suffered severely” for relying on the defendants. Several were deported and one was arrested and jailed for almost 11 months, according to the court.
In March 2013, the court found Manuel Alban, his wife Lola Alban, and their company, Loma International Business Group, Inc., liable for violating the FTC Act. Targeting Spanish speakers from El Salvador and Honduras, the Albans misled immigrants to believe they were authorized to provide immigration services for a fee, according to the court. Under federal regulations, except for attorneys, only authorized providers may accept money in exchange for preparing immigration forms on someone else’s behalf.
The court found that although the defendants were not authorized providers, they took in an estimated $479,000 to $753,000 from unsuspecting immigrants. The Court also noted that according to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services data, the agency denied or rejected more than 60 percent of the immigration applications handled by the Albans.
“Misleading people to steal their money and destroy their dreams crosses the line,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC is here to protect people from just these kinds of scams.”
The court order requires Manuel Alban and his wife Lola Alban to pay the refund judgment in installments totaling up to $616,000, depending on the number of victims the FTC is able to locate to receive a refund.
In addition to banning the defendants from providing immigration services, the order prohibits them, their employees, and others representing them from misrepresenting anything about goods or services they are promoting – including that they are qualified or authorized to provide immigration or tax preparation services. It also requires all customer information held by the defendants to be destroyed, and all customer information held by a court-ordered monitor to be turned over to the FTC.
Consumer Information
Spanish-speaking immigrants often are targeted by scammers who call themselves “immigration consultants” or “notarios” – or falsely claim that they are attorneys. The FTC has information in Spanish that explains how to find legitimate free or low-cost immigration advice from authorized providers, and where to report immigration services fraud. Because scammers target immigrants from around the world, the FTC’s immigration-related materials also are in Chinese, Korean, Creole, and Vietnamese.
AG HOLDER'S REMARKS AT BRIDGE DRUG COURT CEREMONY
FROM: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the Bridge Drug Court Ceremony in Charleston, South Carolina
~ Friday, April 11, 2014
I appreciate the opportunity to see firsthand the critical work that you all are doing to strengthen public health and build stronger, safer communities. And I’d like to thank Judge [Bruce Howe] Hendricks for allowing me to observe today’s proceedings – and for your leadership of this outstanding program. Just as importantly, I want to thank all of our program participants for sharing your stories.
I know the paths that brought you to this courtroom have been anything but easy. But each of you is here today because you’ve decided not to let past choices – and challenges – define you. You’re working hard to stay on a constructive path. And I am proud of every one of you.
Since its inception, the BRIDGE pilot program has shown tremendous promise in helping to reduce recidivism by empowering determined people like you to overcome addiction, to fight through adversity, and to contribute to their communities. None of this would be possible without the dedication of the judges of this Court; the prosecutors and staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, including your outstanding U.S. Attorney, Bill Nettles; their counterparts in the Probation Office and in the Office of the Federal Defender; treatment service providers and members of the defense bar; and a wide range of community partners.
As a result of their efforts – and the work of participants like the graduate we recognize today, who has refused to give up or give in – to date, more than a dozen people have successfully completed this program.
That’s why I’m so pleased to celebrate with Katie this morning – as she joins this distinguished group and takes her place among the ranks of well over a million people across the country who have graduated from drug courts like this one.
Katie is a remarkable person who has demonstrated an uncommon ability to persevere in the face of tremendous challenges. She has seen how drug addiction can bring a young mother who had never before been charged with anything but a motor vehicle violation into federal court – and put her family at risk. Fortunately, through her involvement in the BRIDGE program, Katie has moved beyond associations that contributed to her substance dependency. She has earned her GED. And she’s learned important life skills that are helping her reach her potential – as a worker, as a citizen, and, most importantly, as the mother of two great kids.
Katie and her peers in this courtroom aren’t merely data points. They are passionate individuals who have taken on the rigors of a cutting-edge drug court program in order to build brighter futures. They’re also living proof that programs like this one can not only improve – and save – countless lives; they can help us conserve resources at a time when they could hardly be more scarce.
That’s why I made it a priority to be here, and why I’ve traveled around America to highlight innovative programs like this one – so jurisdictions across the country can emulate, learn from, and expand upon the work you’re doing right here in Charleston.
Last August, I launched a new “Smart on Crime” initiative that’s driving the Justice Department’s efforts to strengthen the federal criminal justice system and increase our focus on proven programs like this one. As part of this initiative, I have directed every U.S. Attorney to designate a Prevention and Reentry coordinator in his or her office – something that U.S. Attorney Nettles has already done.
Just yesterday, the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to modestly reduce federal sentencing guidelines for certain drug crimes – a change that marks a major step forward in our effort to reshape the criminal justice system’s approach to dealing with drug offenses. This measured reduction sends a strong message about the need to reserve the harshest penalties for the most serious crimes. And it will help rein in spending on our overburdened prison system, which consumes nearly a third of the Justice Department’s total budget, while preserving public safety.
Going forward, my colleagues and I will work with Congress to advance commonsense legislation like the bipartisan Smarter Sentencing Act to further enhance the fairness of our criminal justice system – and to secure the passage of President Obama’s budget request, which includes $173 million to sustain and advance this important work – so we can ensure that it remains a top priority throughout the nation.
I want to thank everyone here for their support of these ongoing efforts. And I want to congratulate Katie, once again, on this extraordinary achievement. I am inspired by your success. And I encourage you to keep working hard. Keep striving to transform your community and strengthen your country. And never lose sight of your responsibility to serve as a role model for those around you – particularly the young people who need your support and look up to your example.
Each of you has the power to make a profound, positive difference in our collective effort to forge a more just, more fair, and more inclusive society. And I look forward to hearing great things about all that you accomplish in the months and years ahead.
Thank you.
U.S. SENDS BEST WISHES TO CAMBODIAN PEOPLE ON THEIR KHMER NEW YEAR
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Khmer New Year
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
April 11, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am delighted to send best wishes to the Cambodian people as you celebrate the Khmer New Year starting on April 14.
Since my time as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee I have been strongly committed to helping the Cambodian people build a better tomorrow for future generations. I believe the path to a better tomorrow includes addressing the atrocities of Cambodia’s past and building a more democratic future.
The United States and Cambodia share common interests in promoting regional stability, fostering economic development, and improving health and education in Cambodia. And we look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years to come.
I wish your country peace, prosperity and a joyful New Year celebration.
Since my time as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee I have been strongly committed to helping the Cambodian people build a better tomorrow for future generations. I believe the path to a better tomorrow includes addressing the atrocities of Cambodia’s past and building a more democratic future.
The United States and Cambodia share common interests in promoting regional stability, fostering economic development, and improving health and education in Cambodia. And we look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years to come.
I wish your country peace, prosperity and a joyful New Year celebration.
EX-IM BANK AND PTA BANK SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WORTH $100 MILLION
FROM: EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Ex-Im Bank Signs $100 Million Agreement with PTA Bank
Washington, DC – Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), and Admassu Tadesse, president and chief executive of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (PTA Bank), signed a $100 million memorandum of understanding (MOU) at a conference hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the GE “Garage” here yesterday.
“Yesterday we reached an agreement to work with members of the sub-Saharan African Diaspora community in America who wish to export U.S. goods and services to their home countries. The agreement aligns with the White House’s ‘U.S. Strategy Toward sub-Saharan Africa,’ which focuses on growth in the region,” said Chairman Hochberg. “By engaging Diaspora-owned businesses, the arrangement will help U.S. companies capitalize on unique opportunities abroad and support jobs here at home while contributing to the development of sub-Saharan Africa.”
The MOU signing capped a conference titled “Unlocking Growth in Africa: How the Diaspora can Partner with the Public and Private Sectors in the U.S. and Africa” held at the GE-powered “Garage,” a new high-tech experiential showcase where visitors can try out the latest technologies, including 3D printers and laser cutters.
According to the MOU, Ex-Im Bank and PTA Bank will explore options for utilizing up to $100 million in Ex-Im Bank medium- and long-term loan guarantees and/or direct loans to finance U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa that target both Diaspora businesses in the U.S. and PTA Bank’s member states.
Ex-Im Bank and PTA Bank have joined forces on number of transactions over the last 15 years to boost trade finance and U.S. exports to Africa. In 2011, Ex-Im Bank guaranteed a $60 million loan extended by HSBC to PTA Bank that financed the sale of American aircraft to Rwanda's RwandAir Express.
“PTA Bank has been growing its financing by about 30% per annum, of which close to half has gone into energy and infrastructure, with the renewable sub-sector a beneficiary. In the past two years, we have co-financed several independent power producers in various countries such as Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania and Uganda, including wind farms and mini-hydros,” Mr. Tadesse said. “We are keen on furthering our financing of infrastructure and power development, and are looking forward to expanded financial cooperation with long-standing partners such as U.S. Exim Bank, among others.”
PTA Bank is a multilateral development bank that provides development capital and services to advance regional growth and integration.
In the past four years, Ex-Im Bank has authorized more than $4 billion in financing for U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa. In FY 2013 alone, Ex-Im Bank authorized a record 188 transactions totaling $604 million to facilitate exports to the region. Ex-Im Bank-supported exports accounted for three percent of all U.S. merchandise exports to sub-Saharan Africa during the same timeframe.
Ex-Im Bank Signs $100 Million Agreement with PTA Bank
Washington, DC – Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), and Admassu Tadesse, president and chief executive of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (PTA Bank), signed a $100 million memorandum of understanding (MOU) at a conference hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the GE “Garage” here yesterday.
“Yesterday we reached an agreement to work with members of the sub-Saharan African Diaspora community in America who wish to export U.S. goods and services to their home countries. The agreement aligns with the White House’s ‘U.S. Strategy Toward sub-Saharan Africa,’ which focuses on growth in the region,” said Chairman Hochberg. “By engaging Diaspora-owned businesses, the arrangement will help U.S. companies capitalize on unique opportunities abroad and support jobs here at home while contributing to the development of sub-Saharan Africa.”
The MOU signing capped a conference titled “Unlocking Growth in Africa: How the Diaspora can Partner with the Public and Private Sectors in the U.S. and Africa” held at the GE-powered “Garage,” a new high-tech experiential showcase where visitors can try out the latest technologies, including 3D printers and laser cutters.
According to the MOU, Ex-Im Bank and PTA Bank will explore options for utilizing up to $100 million in Ex-Im Bank medium- and long-term loan guarantees and/or direct loans to finance U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa that target both Diaspora businesses in the U.S. and PTA Bank’s member states.
Ex-Im Bank and PTA Bank have joined forces on number of transactions over the last 15 years to boost trade finance and U.S. exports to Africa. In 2011, Ex-Im Bank guaranteed a $60 million loan extended by HSBC to PTA Bank that financed the sale of American aircraft to Rwanda's RwandAir Express.
“PTA Bank has been growing its financing by about 30% per annum, of which close to half has gone into energy and infrastructure, with the renewable sub-sector a beneficiary. In the past two years, we have co-financed several independent power producers in various countries such as Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania and Uganda, including wind farms and mini-hydros,” Mr. Tadesse said. “We are keen on furthering our financing of infrastructure and power development, and are looking forward to expanded financial cooperation with long-standing partners such as U.S. Exim Bank, among others.”
PTA Bank is a multilateral development bank that provides development capital and services to advance regional growth and integration.
In the past four years, Ex-Im Bank has authorized more than $4 billion in financing for U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa. In FY 2013 alone, Ex-Im Bank authorized a record 188 transactions totaling $604 million to facilitate exports to the region. Ex-Im Bank-supported exports accounted for three percent of all U.S. merchandise exports to sub-Saharan Africa during the same timeframe.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
FLASHLIGHT APP CREATOR SETTLES CHARGES WITH FTC
FROM: U.S. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges Against Flashlight App Creator
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges against Goldenshores, Inc., and its owner, Erik Geidl.
According to the FTC’s complaint, the company created a popular flashlight app for Android devices that the FTC charged deceived consumers with a privacy policy that did not reflect the app’s use of personal data and presented consumers with a false choice on whether to share their information.
The settlement, first announced in December 2013, prohibits Goldenshores and Geidl from misrepresenting how consumers’ information is collected and shared and how much control consumers have over the way their information is used.
The settlement also requires the defendants to provide a just-in-time disclosure that fully informs consumers when, how, and why their geolocation information is being collected, used and shared, and requires defendants to obtain consumers’ affirmative express consent before doing so.
The defendants also will be required to delete any personal information collected from consumers through the Brightest Flashlight app.
The Commission vote approving the final order and letters to members of the public who commented on it was 4-0. (FTC File No. 132-3087
DOD PROVIDES VETERINARY CARE IN REMOTE LOCATIONS ON KODIAK ISLAND
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
An Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter prepares to land at Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak in Alaska, April 6, 2014. The helicopter transported military medical and veterinary professionals to remote locations on Kodiak Island for Operation Arctic Care, a Defense Department training program to provide free medical, dental, vision and veterinary care to underserved communities. DOD photo by EJ Hersom.
Army Capt. Andrew Ciccolini, left, performs surgery on a dog with his assistant, Army Spc. Carla Rodulfo, during Operation Arctic Care at a military veterinary clinic on Kodiak Island, Alaska, April 7, 2014. Ciccolini is a veterinarian and Rodulfo is an animal care specialist assigned to the 218th Medical Detachment, Veterinary Services, Fort Lewis, Wash. DOD photo by EJ Hersom.
U.S. URGES SUPPORTING GLOBAL AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
United States Urges Partner Countries To Increase Support for the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 12, 2014
Trust Fund Produces High Impact, Sustainable Results in the Global Fight against Poverty and Hunger
The Secretaries of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of State yesterday sent a letter to international partner countries urging nations around the world to expand their support for the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP).
The United States spearheaded the creation of GAFSP in the wake of the 2007-2008 food price crisis. It assists in the implementation of pledges made by the G-20 in Pittsburgh in September 2009. GAFSP promotes food security by providing merit-based financing for the agricultural sector in low-income countries, with a focus on smallholder farmers in poor communities. GAFSP financing and technical assistance helps to increase agricultural productivity, link farmers to markets, reduce risk and vulnerability, and improve rural livelihoods. Managed by the World Bank, GAFSP is a multi-donor trust fund and partnership among developing countries, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
“Since GAFSP was established, we have seen sustainable reductions in hunger and malnutrition, but the challenge of meeting the global demand for food is just as pressing as ever,” wrote Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew and Secretary of State John F. Kerry. “We are proud to champion this innovative program, and we call upon our international partners to join us in supporting the work of GAFSP. Together, we can make progress in the effort to eradicate hunger and poverty.”
As leaders gather for the World Bank-International Monetary Fund 2014 Spring Meetings this week, yesterday’s letter highlights the important role that GAFSP is playing in supporting the efforts of some of the world’s poorest countries in alleviating hunger and malnutrition. The letter calls on international partners to pledge additional support to meet funding goals for GAFSP. In October 2012, the United States challenged the international community to provide much needed funding for food security, by committing to contribute $1 to GAFSP for every $2 from other donors, up to a maximum U.S. contribution of $475 million. Since the announcement of the funding challenge, other donors have provided $230 million in new pledges. An additional $720 million in pledges from other donors is needed in order to fully leverage matching funds from the United States.
GAFSP consistently produces high impact, sustainable results, and the program is expected to improve the livelihoods of at least 13 million farmers across 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Already, some countries have seen rural incomes increase by more than 200 percent. In Bangladesh, GAFSP has already reached more than 430,000 farmers in the first two years of a five-year program, providing smallholder producers with training and improved drought- and heat-tolerant seeds and fertilizer that will help farmers adapt to climate change. Two and a half years into its five year-long Rwanda project, GAFSP has already reached more than 92,000 direct beneficiaries, of which half are women. By helping to increase soil fertility in hillside areas, GAFSP has enabled farmers to improve their yields by an average of fourfold across various crops. GAFSP has also supported the introduction of new high nutrient crop varieties that could improve nutritional outcomes for farmers and their families.
The Secretaries of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of State yesterday sent a letter to international partner countries urging nations around the world to expand their support for the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP).
The United States spearheaded the creation of GAFSP in the wake of the 2007-2008 food price crisis. It assists in the implementation of pledges made by the G-20 in Pittsburgh in September 2009. GAFSP promotes food security by providing merit-based financing for the agricultural sector in low-income countries, with a focus on smallholder farmers in poor communities. GAFSP financing and technical assistance helps to increase agricultural productivity, link farmers to markets, reduce risk and vulnerability, and improve rural livelihoods. Managed by the World Bank, GAFSP is a multi-donor trust fund and partnership among developing countries, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
“Since GAFSP was established, we have seen sustainable reductions in hunger and malnutrition, but the challenge of meeting the global demand for food is just as pressing as ever,” wrote Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew and Secretary of State John F. Kerry. “We are proud to champion this innovative program, and we call upon our international partners to join us in supporting the work of GAFSP. Together, we can make progress in the effort to eradicate hunger and poverty.”
As leaders gather for the World Bank-International Monetary Fund 2014 Spring Meetings this week, yesterday’s letter highlights the important role that GAFSP is playing in supporting the efforts of some of the world’s poorest countries in alleviating hunger and malnutrition. The letter calls on international partners to pledge additional support to meet funding goals for GAFSP. In October 2012, the United States challenged the international community to provide much needed funding for food security, by committing to contribute $1 to GAFSP for every $2 from other donors, up to a maximum U.S. contribution of $475 million. Since the announcement of the funding challenge, other donors have provided $230 million in new pledges. An additional $720 million in pledges from other donors is needed in order to fully leverage matching funds from the United States.
GAFSP consistently produces high impact, sustainable results, and the program is expected to improve the livelihoods of at least 13 million farmers across 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Already, some countries have seen rural incomes increase by more than 200 percent. In Bangladesh, GAFSP has already reached more than 430,000 farmers in the first two years of a five-year program, providing smallholder producers with training and improved drought- and heat-tolerant seeds and fertilizer that will help farmers adapt to climate change. Two and a half years into its five year-long Rwanda project, GAFSP has already reached more than 92,000 direct beneficiaries, of which half are women. By helping to increase soil fertility in hillside areas, GAFSP has enabled farmers to improve their yields by an average of fourfold across various crops. GAFSP has also supported the introduction of new high nutrient crop varieties that could improve nutritional outcomes for farmers and their families.
U.S. EXTENDS NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS TO PEOPLE OF THAILAND
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Thai New Year
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
April 11, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the American people, it is my great pleasure to extend New Year’s greetings to the people of Thailand. I hope this Songkran provides all Thais an occasion to spend an enjoyable time with family and friends and to look forward to good luck and prosperity in the New Year.
We are proud to mark another year in the enduring friendship between Thailand and the United States. Our nations enjoy an unshakable bond that transcends politics in either of our countries, and we look forward to working together in the New Year on important issues such as trade relations, health research, security cooperation, and educational exchange.
I look forward to the opportunities that the New Year holds for both of our nations and for our alliance. I wish you a happy and healthy Songkran!
U.S. OFFERS WARMEST GREETINGS TO PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA ON THEIR NEW YEAR
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Sinhala and Tamil New Year's Message
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
April 11, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I offer warmest greetings to the people of Sri Lanka and the vibrant global Sri Lankan diaspora.
This New Year brings a new opportunity for all Sri Lankans to join together in the spirit of tolerance, reconciliation, and peace. As Sri Lankans gather to mark the potential of the New Year, we join in celebrating with you.
As you continue your work to build a prosperous, democratic Sri Lanka, I offer my best wishes for a safe and happy holiday and a prosperous, peaceful year ahead.
This New Year brings a new opportunity for all Sri Lankans to join together in the spirit of tolerance, reconciliation, and peace. As Sri Lankans gather to mark the potential of the New Year, we join in celebrating with you.
As you continue your work to build a prosperous, democratic Sri Lanka, I offer my best wishes for a safe and happy holiday and a prosperous, peaceful year ahead.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)