AG HOLDER ANNOUNCES PLANS FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CARRY NALOXONE TO HELP HEROIN OVERDOSE VICTIMS

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Attorney General Holder Announces Plans for Federal Law Enforcement Personnel to Begin Carrying Naloxone

Holder Cautions Congress to Preserve Immediate Suspension Orders (ISOs) That Help DEA Shut Down Rogue Drug Distributors

In a new memorandum released Friday, Attorney General Eric Holder urged federal law enforcement agencies to identify, train and equip personnel who may interact with a victim of a heroin overdose with the drug naloxone.  This latest step by the Attorney General will pave the way for certain federal agents -- such as emergency medical personnel -- to begin carrying the potentially life-saving drug known for effectively restoring breathing to a victim in the midst of a heroin or opioid overdose.

According to the most recent study, 110 Americans on average die from drug overdoses every day, outnumbering even deaths from gunshot wounds or motor vehicle crashes.  More than half of these drug overdose deaths involve opioids such as heroin and prescription pain relievers.  Between 2006 and 2010, heroin overdose deaths dramatically increased by 45 percent.

“The shocking increase in overdose deaths illustrates that addiction to heroin and other opioids, including some prescription painkillers, represents nothing less than a public health crisis,” said Attorney General Holder.  “I am confident that expanding the availability of naloxone has the potential to save the lives, families and futures of countless people across the nation.”

The Justice Department wants federal law enforcement agencies, as well as their state and local partners, to review their policies and procedures to determine whether personnel in those agencies should be equipped and trained to recognize and respond to opioid overdose by various methods, including the use of naloxone.  Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have amended their laws to increase access to naloxone, resulting in over 10,000 overdose reversals since 2001.

“ The heroin and prescription painkiller epidemic knows no boundaries--anyone can be affected, and we have already lost far too many lives,” said Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli.  “We have moved aggressively against this epidemic and we know that the actions of law enforcement officers at the scene of an overdose can mean the difference between life and death.  Attorney General Holder's leadership in this arena will help prevent future overdose deaths and we look forward to working closely with his office and other partners to get naloxone to law enforcement professionals across the nation. ”

As the department continues to address escalating and rapidly-evolving challenges that lead to opioid abuse and drug trafficking, the Attorney General cautioned members of Congress to protect critical enforcement tools like Immediate Suspension Orders (ISOs).  A recently passed House bill would “severely undermine” a critical component of our efforts to prevent communities and families from falling prey to dangerous drugs.

The Attorney General announced the new memorandum at a day-long conference on law enforcement and naloxone convened by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.   Today’s announcement follows up on the Attorney General’s call to action in March, when he urged local law enforcement authorities, who are often the first to respond to possible overdoses, to routinely carry naloxone.

The Attorney General’s full remarks to the law enforcement conference, as prepared for delivery appear below:

“Thank you, Mary Lou Leary, for those kind words – and thank you all for being here today.  I’d particularly like to thank Director Denise O’Donnell, Deputy Director Kristen Mahoney, and their colleagues from the Bureau of Justice Assistance – as well as Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli, Administrator Michele Leonhart, Deputy Assistant Administrator Joe Rannazzisi, and the dedicated men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration – for bringing us together this morning.  And I want to recognize all of the distinguished panelists – representing fields ranging from law enforcement, to public policy, to public health and drug treatment – who have taken the time to lend their voices to this important discussion.  Every day, you stand on the front lines of our fight to confront an urgent – and growing – threat to our nation and its citizens.  And we’re proud to count you as colleagues and partners.

“As the leaders in this room know all too well, in the five years between 2006 and 2010, this country witnessed a dramatic, 45-percent increase in heroin-related deaths.  And 110 people die every day from overdoses, primarily driven by prescription drugs.  The shocking increase in overdose deaths illustrates that addiction to heroin and other opioids, including some prescription painkillers, represents nothing less than a public health crisis.  It’s also a public safety crisis.  And every day, this crisis touches – and devastates – the lives of Americans from every state, in every region, and from every background and walk of life.

“That’s why this Administration, and this Department of Justice in particular, have taken aggressive steps to fight back at every point of intervention – and with every tool at our disposal.  In recent years, we have worked to prevent opioid diversion and abuse by targeting the illegal supply chain, by disrupting pill mills, and by thwarting doctor-shopping attempts by drug users and distributors.  We have developed innovative public health programs to educate the public, to monitor the problem, and to rigorously enforce applicable federal laws.  And we have stepped up our investigatory efforts – opening more than 4,500 heroin-related investigations since 2011 and increasing the amount of heroin seized along America’s southwest border by 320 percent between 2008 and 2013.

“From our rigorous scrutiny of new pharmacy applications to prevent illicit storefront drug trafficking – to our sponsorship of “Drug Take Back” events that provide opportunities for safe and responsible prescription drug disposal – with your help and expert guidance, the department has pursued a comprehensive strategy to keep pharmaceutical controlled substances from falling into the hands of non-medical users.  We can all be proud of the steps forward we’ve taken, and the considerable results we’ve achieved, over the last few years alone.  But we continue to face escalating and rapidly-evolving challenges in our efforts to prevent opioid abuse and intercept illicit drugs.

“These challenges illustrate the need to preserve important law enforcement tools like Immediate Suspension Orders, which allow DEA to immediately shut down irresponsible distributors, pharmacies, and rogue pain clinics that flood the market with pills prescribed by unethical or irresponsible doctors.  These Immediate Suspension Orders, or ISOs, are used to take action in instances where irresponsible behavior places the public at risk - and do so without interrupting the legitimate flow of prescription drugs or preventing patients from receiving necessary medications.

“Particularly now – at a time when our nation is facing a heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis – law enforcement tools like ISOs could not be more important.  And if Congress were to take them away, or weaken our ability to use them successfully, it would severely undermine a critical component of our efforts to prevent communities and families from falling prey to dangerous drugs.

“Of course, I recognize – as you do – that we cannot prevent every individual instance of heroin or prescription painkiller abuse.  And that is why, beyond these efforts, we must also take additional steps to ensure that we can respond quickly and effectively in the event of acute heroin- or prescription drug-related emergencies that are encountered in the field.

“In March, I urged local law enforcement authorities, who are often the first to respond to possible overdoses, to routinely carry naloxone – a drug that’s extremely effective at restoring breathing to a victim in the midst of a heroin or other opioid overdose.  At that time, seventeen states and the District of Columbia had amended their laws to increase access to naloxone, resulting in over 10,000 overdose reversals since 2001.  During one of my regular meetings with the leaders of national law enforcement organizations – many of whom I see here today – they identified the need for technical assistance so that jurisdictions with an interest in equipping officers and first responders may do so effectively.  Today’s meeting fulfills that request.  The result of this convening will be a set of guidelines to assist law enforcement and public health providers who wish to be equipped and trained in the use of this potentially life-saving remedy.

“In addition, this morning, I can announce that, for the first time ever, I have issued a memorandum urging federal law enforcement agencies – including the DEA, the ATF, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service – to review their policies and procedures to determine whether personnel within their agencies should be equipped and trained to recognize and respond to opioid overdose, including with the use of naloxone.  In the coming days, I expect each of these critical agencies to determine whether and which members of their teams should be trained to use and carry naloxone in the performance of their duties.

“Although, like you, I recognize that there are numerous challenges involved in naloxone implementation – from acquisition and replenishment, to training, medical oversight and liability issues – I am confident that expanding the availability of this tool has the potential to save the lives, families, and futures of countless people across the nation.  I am certain that the leaders in this room – together with our colleagues and counterparts far beyond it – possess the knowledge, the skill, and the determination to forge workable solutions to these pressing concerns.  The ultimate goal of today’s conference is to harness your insights, to channel your expertise, and to mine your collective experience in order to make real and lasting progress on behalf of those who are in desperate need of our assistance.  Through extensive collaboration and shared wisdom, we can overcome persistent challenges and set a new course for the future.

“So long as I have the privilege of serving as Attorney General, I am determined to keep working with you – and with leaders and stakeholders from around the country – to help break new ground, to develop new solutions, and to forge new paths to the safer, brighter, and more just futures that all Americans deserve.  I want to thank each of you, once again, for your commitment to this initiative; for your devotion to this cause; and for your partnership in the considerable work that lies before us.  I look forward to all that we must, and surely will, accomplish together in the months and years to come.  And I wish you all a most productive conference.”

DOD VIDEO: F-35 STILL ON TRACK FOR 2016

SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS WITH INDIAN MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SWARAJ

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Remarks With Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj After Their Meeting

Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan

New Delhi, India

July 31, 2014

MODERATOR: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to this media interaction. As is usual, we will first have opening statements by the two dignitaries, following which they have agreed to respond to a couple of questions each. We now begin the program. May I request that External Affairs Minister of India Shrimati Sushma Swaraj to make her opening remarks.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: Thanks. We have just completed an excellent discussion on the main areas of our partnership: security; energy; trade and investment; science and technology; regional and border issues. The extent to which our cooperation is an impact on the wellbeing of our people, our economies, and our respective regional and global interests, makes us a truly defining partnership. And the extent to which revitalized India-U.S. ties contribute to peace, security, and prosperity of our neighborhood, the Asian region and beyond, makes our relationship truly strategic.

We recognized that today, both sides stand at an important turning point. Today, we can once again realize the latent potential of our partnership, which is based on common fundamental values and converging long-term strategic interests.

Secretary Kerry and Secretary Pritzker were generous in their assessment of what our new government will be able to do to realize the expectations of our people. They recognize that there’s much hard work ahead to realize the people’s mandate in an election of hope. My colleagues and I underlined that, for our part, we see great potential for the United States as a global partner. We underlined our interest in seeing a much more robust American presence in the Indian economy – as investors, as trade partners, in skill development, in defense, and in science and technology.

We also recognized that the regional and global aspect of our strategic partnership has great value for both sides, especially in the current situation of global and regional flux. We are delighted that there is a growing global dimension in our partnership. We agreed that the visit of Defense Secretary Hagel next Friday is an important opportunity to energize our defense partnership and begin the process of giving it a new strategic content.

We also recognized that the majority of our strategic relationship has given both sides the capacity to treat issues where we diverge as an opportunity for further conversation and dialogue. Towards this end, we discussed scheduling our long-pending commercial dialogue, our ministerial trade policy forum, and other bilateral dialogue mechanisms to address outstanding trade and economic issues that arise as a natural result of different perceptions.

Today, at the conclusion of this Fifth Strategic Dialogue, we can take satisfaction in the fact that within the few years since we raised our relationship to a strategic plane, our bilateral dialogue, as in all of the (inaudible), a new energy that our meeting today has imparted to partner departments and ministries should lead to determined efforts to ensure that the summit meeting in September between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Obama raises our partnership to a new level.

I want to thank our distinguished guests for their presence here in India. We appreciate the commitment to this partnership and the substantive contributions made on both sides today. While I’m pleased at the current effort to build on the momentum of our elections, we can be truly satisfied if we sustain this effort to ensure the best possible outcomes from the summit this September and through the rest of the year.

I now request Secretary Kerry to address you, after which we’ll take a few questions. Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, thank you very much, Minister Swaraj. I want to thank you, first of all, for your leadership and I particularly want to thank you for the important perspective you brought to the discussions here today, as well as your very, very generous welcome. Thank you very much.

And in fact, the minister was extremely generous in permitting me to make a number of must-do phone calls during our session, and I’m very grateful to her for her indulgence.

I also want to acknowledge and thank the many members of the United States delegation joining me here today. Secretary Penny Pritzker is as good a Commerce Secretary as you could ever find, and I’m blessed to have her not only as a friend but as a colleague in this endeavor. And I saw firsthand today how important her leadership is in all that we are trying to undertake – science and technology, trade, all of our commercial activity and our economic issues.

Before I begin to discuss what we’ve accomplished in the past few days – and it has been a few days, because a number of members of our delegation arrived here several days ago and began meetings in Mumbai and here in Delhi. So there have been a lot of conversations taking place leading up to today. But I particularly wanted to share on behalf of President Obama and the United States our condolences with the families and the loved ones of the dozens of men and women who lost their lives in the Pune mudslide. There are many who remain missing. I know the Indian Government is investing enormous resources and effort in order to engage in the recovery effort, and the United States certainly is prepared to do anything that we might be able to if indeed help is needed.

I have been coming to India for many years. I’ve come here many times. In fact, I remember traveling here at the end of the Cold War, and it was a moment when nerves were still raw and suspicions still lingered. But as a Senator, I began to see how the relationship could quickly change, and in fact did. When I began to travel to Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, with the executives from companies and high-tech industries or in aerospace, it was very clear to me the breadth of the potential of the relationship between India and the United States, the potential of a real partnership. And I feel today, particularly after these two days of in-depth discussions, that the moment has never been more ripe to deliver on the incredible possibilities of the relationship between our nations.

Now that India’s new government has won an historic mandate to deliver change and reform, together we have a singular opportunity: to help India to meet its challenge; to boost two-way trade; to support South Asia’s connectivity; to develop cleaner energy; to deepen our security partnership in the Asia Pacific and beyond.

The United States and India can and should be indispensable partners in the 21st century. Of course, delivering on the potential of this moment is the key. The words are easy; it’s the actions we need to take that will really define the relationship in the days ahead. And I think it’s safe to say that I said to the foreign minister that we all have a lot of homework to do coming out of this meeting, many bilateral initiatives that will continue, but clearly, an importance to put specifics on the table for the trip of Prime Minister Modi to Washington in September to meet with President Obama.

I think we share a clear understanding of where we can begin. The new – in the new government’s plan for (in Hindi) – “together with all, development for all,” is a concept and a vision that is not unlike that expressed by President Obama and is one that we support wholeheartedly. Our private sector is very eager to be a catalyst for India’s development, and our government will enthusiastically support those kinds of development efforts. The opportunities are really clear, and they’re quite dramatic. American companies lead in key sectors that India wants to grow in: high-end manufacturing in infrastructure, in healthcare, and in information technology.

Still, we know we have a lot of work yet to do in breaking down barriers to trade and in encouraging the talent that we both have to be able to go to work. By limiting those obstacles, which we talked about over the course of these two days, whether they’re tariffs or price controls or preferential treatment for certain products in large, influential markets, we can build a more competitive market as well as build the bridges of opportunity that our young people in both of our countries want so much. When 10 million Indians enter the workforce each year, the Indian Government clearly understands this imperative.

Another topic that we spent a great deal of time discussing today was climate change. In past months, we have begun to find more common ground on this important global issue. There is no place where the challenges posed by climate change and the economic opportunities of renewable energy converge like they do in India today. We want to help India to be able to meet this challenge, to make the connections, and to be able to help supply clean electricity to the 400 million Indians who today live without power. I know this is a priority for the prime minister, and it’s a priority that we’re prepared to try to share.

This morning, I had the privilege of visiting IIT, the Indian Institute of Technology. And I met with some of the young doctorate candidates – doctoral candidates and master’s candidates who are doing fascinating research and development. This is one of India’s and the world’s premier institutions where students and researchers are – and their professors obviously are experimenting and working with the use of biomass and algae as sources of green energy, also new means of water treatment and cleaning water. It was really encouraging to see what is happening there, and I hope that we’ll be able to see Indian and American institutions coming together in a more formalized and productive way in order to be able to encourage that kind of joint research and innovation.

We also want to be clear: Climate change and energy shortages are not something that might happen way off in the future; it’s here with us now. Extreme weather, blackouts, scarce resources, all of these things endanger human health, prosperity, and they ultimately endanger security for all of us. Prime Minister Modi has stated clearly that he understands the urgency of this issue. He’s called for a saffron revolution, because the saffron color represents energy. He said that this revolution should focus on renewable energy sources such as solar energy in order to meet India’s growing energy demand. He is absolutely right. The United States could not agree with him more, and together, we believe that we can at last begin a new and constructive chapter in the United States-India climate change relationship.

Lastly, in this century, one that will continue to be defined by competing models of governance, India and the United States have a common responsibility. It is to prove that democracies can deliver the full expectations of their citizens. Our two nations believe that when every citizen, no matter their background, no matter their beliefs, can make their full contribution, that is when a nation is strongest and most secure, and that certainly applies to India and the United States. We are two confident nations. We are connected by core values. And we are optimistic nations should never lose sight of how much we can and must achieve. From women’s rights to minority rights, there is room to go further for both of us. We must also speak with a common voice that violence against women in any shape or form is a violence against our deepest values.

The United States and India are two nations that begin our founding documents with the exact same three words: We The People, We The People. By working together so that all people in our nations can pursue their aspirations, we believe we can come closer to achieving our founding dreams.

For both India and the United States, investing in each other’s success is frankly one of our smartest long-term strategic bets. We have the capacity, we have the resources, we have the open and resilient societies that can help us compete and win in an interconnected world, and we have remarkable and talented citizens in both of our countries waiting to do so. In the weeks to come, we will take a series of concrete steps to pave the way for Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Washington in September, and hopefully – hopefully – to pave the way for a new chapter in the ties between our two great democracies.

And I am also prepared to answer a few questions.

MODERATOR: The first question will be from Mr. Ashish Singh, ABP News.

QUESTION: Greetings, Secretary Kerry and greetings (inaudible). My question is for both ministers. (In Hindi.)

And Secretary, I would also request you respond to the same question about the concerns raised in India or the (inaudible) – on the Indian political parties, specifically parties (in Hindi). Thank you.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: (Via interpreter) Yes, I raised this issue with Secretary John Kerry when the matter was published in Indian newspapers. I have also conveyed to him that this act on the part of U.S. authorities is completely unacceptable to us, since our two countries are friendly nations and we happen to share dialogue with each other.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, we have a policy in the United States that with respect to intelligence matters, we do not discuss intelligence matters in public. But let me just say, very clearly, we value our relationship with India, our bilateral relationship in all the ways that I’ve just described. And we also value the sharing of information between each other regarding counterterrorism and other threats to both of our countries. We’ve had conversations, as the minister has stated, with government officials about these reports, and usually we try to have our intelligence communities work to resolve any questions or any differences that may exist.

But let me say this: President Obama has undertaken a unique and unprecedented review that he ordered of all of our intelligence and intelligence gathering and activities, and unlike any prior president, he has put out a memorandum clearly articulating in a speech – excuse me – he gave a speech in which he clearly articulated America’s approach going forward and the standards that we will apply. We will continue to work actively with India wherever we see a threat to our shared interests, and we fully respect and understand the feelings expressed by the minister.

MS. PSAKI: The next question will be from Shaun Tandon of AFP.

QUESTION: Thank you. I wanted to ask for further elaboration. You mentioned a growing role of India and the United States in the Asia- Pacific region. Can you be more specific about what you meant by that? Could you, for example, see Indian activity more in the South China Sea disputes?

And if I could touch on another global issue, Secretary Kerry, Gaza. The United States has authorized further ammunition for the Israeli forces. You’ve also called for an immediate ceasefire. I was wondering if you thought that this was consistent and whether you thought that a ceasefire is still possible at this point, particularly with all the personal attacks that have been leveled against you.

And if I could ask the external affairs minister on this same issue: When the BJP was last in power, India moved a little bit more closely – a little bit closer to Israel. I was wondering if you see that same momentum now between India and Israel, or whether the Gaza conflict affects that. Thanks.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: Your first question – strategic partnership has definite definition. If you have partnership in the area of trade, defense, and space, then that partnership is called strategic partnership. So is there no ambiguity about that.

As regards Gaza, India’s policy is very specific: We fully support the cause of Palestinians, but we have good relations with Israel.

SECRETARY KERRY: I just reaffirm what the minister just said. We have a very strong strategic partnership. It is evidenced by the fact that the United States supports India’s hopes to be able to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. That’s something we support, and we wouldn’t support that if we didn’t believe in the breadth of India’s capacity and reach, and in its values. And I talked about those values. We cooperate significantly on many different issues in the region: counterterrorism, Afghanistan, nonproliferation. India has been a significant, responsible steward of nuclear power, and those are things which we respect and, obviously, work with very closely.

So there are a great deal of interests that tie us together, and we all acknowledge that there have been ups and downs in the relationship for some period of years. But much more ups and much more involvement over the past 10 to 15 years. And that’s why I said we see this as such a ripe moment.

Prime Minister Modi has clearly made it a prime objective to deal with the question of jobs, the question of reform, providing efficiency to decisions and other kinds of things. He wants the market to be more accessible. They’re considering different things that they need to share with you, but we’re impressed by the breadth of their thoughts about the economic changes that are possible, and we certainly want to see those implemented. And we’ll wait to see. The proof is always in the pudding, obviously.

With respect to Gaza, we’ve never stopped working towards the notion that a ceasefire at some point is essential. And even today, I’ve been on the telephone on the plane flying over here. We’ve been continuing discussions. And yes, the United States remains hopeful that it is achievable. And sooner is better because of the needs to get to the table and begin the negotiation that could ultimately, hopefully, resolve issues. There’s no promise in that, I want to make that clear. No promise in that. But I think everybody would feel better if there was a bona fide effort to try to see that happen.

MS. PSAKI: The next question is from Lara Jakes of AP.

QUESTION: Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, a moment ago you spoke about barriers to trade. I’m wondering if you can update us on whether there was an agreement with India for keeping food subsidies as part of the WTO trade deal.

I also wanted to ask you whether the U.S. has asked India to follow the spirit of the sanctions against Russia, given India’s years of purchasing Russian arms.

And Madam Minister, has there been any shift in that long-time Indian policy, especially now with the shoot-down of Malaysian Airlines flight 17? Thank you.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: You asked three questions in a row. To your first question, consultations are underway in Geneva. Let us wait for the final outcome.

To your second question, there is no change in our policy because we think that the foreign policy is in continuity. Foreign policy does not change with a change in government.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, we obviously – I think there’s a meeting – I’m not sure when. Have they already met in Geneva?

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: They’ve met. They’ve already --

SECRETARY KERRY: They already did.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: They’re meeting.

SECRETARY KERRY: They already did. They already met. They’re meeting now. I thought so. Right around now.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: That’s what (inaudible).

SECRETARY KERRY: Our feeling is obviously that the agreement that was reached in Bali is an agreement that importantly can provide for food security for India. We do not dismiss the concerns India has about large numbers of poor people who require some sort of food assurance and subsistence level, but we believe there’s a way to provide for that that keeps faith with the WTO Bali agreement. And so we are obviously encouraging our friends in India to try to find a path here where there is a compromise that meets both needs. And we think that’s achievable and we hope it’s achievable.

With respect to the issue of the sanctions, the focus of our meetings here today is bilateral fundamentally, and the ways the U.S. and India can grow the relationship with respect to trade, clean energy cooperation, counterterrorism, science, technology and so forth. Now, we would obviously welcome India joining in with us with respect to that, but it’s up to them. It’s India’s choice. India has its relationships. We’d support and welcome them in dealing with the challenge that Russia is presenting, but it’s really up to India. It’s not something that entered into the bilateral relationship in the context of today’s discussion.

MODERATOR: Last question. Rajeev Sharma from the Firstpost.

QUESTION: Thank you. My question is to both Minister Swaraj and Mr. Kerry. (Inaudible), what is India’s view on Senate bill 744, whether this issue was discussed with Mr. Kerry by you? And what is his assurance, if any?

And question to Mr. Kerry is: Don’t you think that this 744 is a rather protectionist measure? And even American companies are seeing it as a protectionist measure. Is there a mood to amend it or dilute it? Thank you.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: Let me first answer. Yes, I raised the issue with Secretary Kerry about the bill number 744. And our minister of commerce, Shrimati Nirmala Sitharaman, also raised this issue in the plenary session. I told Secretary Kerry that we are not against the bill per se. Immigration is your internal matter. But we are certainly concerned with the provisions which will affect the Indian IT industry if the bill is passed in the present form. And I also told Secretary Kerry that it will give a very negative signal, and that too at a time when India is opening up its economy for the foreign players. Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: So I’m going to confess something to you that I probably shouldn’t confess to you, but when I was in the United States Senate for 29 years, I never identified a bill by its number. (Laughter.) It was the immigration bill or it was the something bill. So thank God the minister knew that that was the number to that. (Laughter.)

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: Yes, that was the number.

SECRETARY KERRY: We did talk about the immigration bill, and it’s a critical priority for President Obama. And we are very aware of the need to make sure that there are more people able to travel, more people able to become part of the commerce that we just talked about – all of these areas, including education and so forth.

But the way it left the Senate leaves that in need of some amending. The House has not taken it up yet, and it really appears as if they won’t, certainly, before the election, which is in three months. The Administration – President Obama – would support some changes that will deal with some of the issues that you’ve just raised and other issues, but at the moment, it does not appear as if this bill – not “appear” – it will not move in the next several months. One has to hope that after the election is over, there may be the possibility of rebuilding support for it.

It’s a critical bill for us in many, many ways, way beyond those that you just articulated. And President Obama would really like to see it done as a matter of fairness, as a matter of morality, as a matter of commercial and business interests, as a matter of family interests. There are many compelling reasons for why this needs to pass, and I’m confident that at some point in time, we will get appropriate immigration reform.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. With that, we come to the end of this event.

SECRETARY KERRY AND SECRETARY PRITZKE SHARE OP-ED ON INDIA'S BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

India's Economic Strength and Business Environment Are of Strategic Importance to the U.S.

Op-Ed

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Penny Pritzke, U.S. Secretary of Commerce

The Economic Times

Washington, DC

July 30, 2014

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The long-standing partnership between the US and India is on the cusp of an historic transformation. Working together, the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy can forge a new era of shared prosperity and security for hundreds of millions of people in India, across Asia and the world.

India's rise will help the Indo-Pacific region become more stable, more prosperous and more free. The strategic choices India makes on how to grow its economy and promote regional security will directly impact Asia's growth and US interests. As President Barack Obama has observed, America's economy and security will increasingly be influenced by events in Asia. India's economic strength and business environment are, therefore, of strategic importance to both our countries.

We are coming to India to deliver a single message: the US is prepared to be a full partner in this effort. We will work hand in hand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government to promote open and liberal trade and investment, job training and closer strategic ties.

Burgeoning Business

We are not starting from scratch. Since 2000, trade between our countries has increased nearly fivefold to more than $96 billion, Indian investment in the US has grown from just over $300 million to $9 billion, and US investment in India has risen from $2.4 billion to $28 billion. Ford is spending $1 billion to turn its new auto plant in Gujarat into a regional manufacturing hub. US subsidiaries of Indian-owned companies employ 45,000 people in the US. Citizens of both countries recognise the importance of our relationship. Half of all Indians see the US as their country's "most dependable future ally", according to a recent Pew poll. Similarly, a recent Gallup poll found that more Americans than ever have a favourable view of India.

The Next Chapter

We want to build on this strong foundation. We will focus on specific areas that are aligned with the priorities of India's new government.

First, infrastructure. We will have astrong focus on this area during our strategic dialogue, reinforcing our joint efforts to create a business climate conducive to increasing US private sector participation in India's infrastructure needs. We believe US companies can play a leading role in bringing cutting-edge technologies, equipment, capital, services and know-how to India.

Second, India and the US are rich in talent. By sharing best practices and skills in manufacturing, training and education, we can expand that talent together. India is already a centre of entrepreneurship with budding innovators. But we can expand practical programmes like vocational training, community colleges and healthcare industry skills. Some 1,00,000 Indian students are pursuing higher education degrees at American universities. Increasing our collaboration in these areas will strengthen both of our economies.

Third, creating a business climate that is open to global business and investment is key to unleashing India's economic potential. Attracting investment, technology and know-how is essential to growth and requires all of us to have world-class, transparent and clear regulations that incentivise innovation by ensuring protection of intellectual property rights.

The development of competitive technology and manufacturing capabilities that integrate India into global supply chains will create far more employment than mandatory local-content requirements, which discourage foreign investment. Creating a level playing field will help India attract even more foreign investment, and help it boost growth.

In that regard, as we work with our trading partners around the world to advance trade and investment liberalisation, India must decide where it fits in the global trading system. Its commitment to a rulesbased trading order and its willingness to fulfil its obligations will be a key indication.

Powering India 

For India to fuel its economy, however, it must address its energy security needs. Fortunately, this is one of the most robust areas of our partnership. We will expand our partnership to leapfrog the limits of power grids and bring modern energy access to millions. We are expanding our work together to find competitive formulas for clean energy, including further cooperation on civilian nuclear power, renewable energy sources and supporting a regional energy network, that demonstrate how economic growth and the environment can be secured together.

Our strong and deepening partnership will continue on a series of fronts: from energy to higher education and climate change to joint military training and counter-proliferation efforts.

What's more, programmes such as President Obama's SelectUSA initiative, which connects foreign investors with opportunities in the US, can be powerful engines for global collaboration and integration.

We look forward to working with the governments and business leaders in India's states. The leadership, entrepreneurship and competitive spirit we see in many Indian states augur well for the country's economic transformation.

Our trip to India for the strategic dialogue — along with subsequent senior-level visits, including Prime Minister Modi's prospective trip to Washington — signals our commitment to a bold and unequivocally affirmative partnership with India. Working together will mean more jobs for Indians and Americans, and it will help India achieve its full potential as a trade and investment centre of Asia. With this shared prosperity will come a shared security and a stronger partnership between our two great democracies.

(John Kerry is U.S. Secretary of State and Penny Pritzker is U.S. Secretary of Commerce)

SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS ON HUMANITARIAN CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA

FROM:  THE STATE DEPARTMENT 

Remarks on the Humanitarian Cease-fire Announcement in Gaza

Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

New Delhi, India

August 1, 2014

---

Good morning. I’m sorry to get you all up at this hour. I’m not going to take any questions, but I think a few of the staff will be around to answer a few questions for you, and I’ll just make a brief statement.

This morning, Israel and the Palestinian factions have agreed that they are now prepared to implement a 72-hour unconditional humanitarian cease-fire. So starting later this morning at 8:00 August 1st, the parties are expected to cease all offensive military activities, and neither side will advance beyond its current locations. They will stay where they are in place. Israel will be able to continue its defensive operations for those tunnels that are behind its lines, and the Palestinians will be able to receive food, medicine, and additional humanitarian assistance, as well as to be able to tend to their wounded, bury their dead, be able to in safe areas travel to their homes, and take advantage of the absence – hopefully, hopefully – of violence for these 72 hours.

Then, as soon as the cease-fire is underway tomorrow morning – I talked to the Egyptian foreign minister tonight – Egypt will issue invitations to the parties to come to Cairo immediately in order to engage in serious and focused negotiations with Egypt to address the underlying causes of this conflict. And we hope and we expect both sides to raise all the topics of concern. The parties, obviously, need to find a way to address Israel’s security concerns and to ensure that the people of Gaza can live in safety and in dignity. And for our part, the United States will be sending a small delegation to Cairo to assist and take part in these negotiations.
As I said, this will last for 72 hours – three days – precious time. It is a lull of opportunity, a moment for the sides and the different factions to be able to come together with the state of Israel in an effort to try to address ways to find a sustainable cease-fire and then, obviously, ultimately, over a longer period of time, address the underlying issues. Let me also add that tomorrow morning the United States will also join in the effort to provide humanitarian assistance. President Obama has made available some $47 million to help ensure that some of the relief is able to come in, and many of our international partners have also made commitments over the course of the last weeks.

Now, obviously, while we are grateful that the violence and the bloodshed has the opportunity to stop for more than 24 hours, it is up to the parties – all of them – to take advantage of this moment. There are no guarantees. This is a difficult, complicated issue, years and years in the building, and I think everyone knows it has not been easy to get to this point. And everyone knows that it will not be easy even to get beyond this point, but it is imperative that people make the best effort to try to find common ground and do so.

A lot of folks have been working hard at this effort. I want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu, who I know wants to see the people of Israel live in security, free from rockets, free from attacks from tunnels. And I know he has worked hard at this. We’ve had many phone calls, sometimes in the middle of the night, and I’m pleased that he thought this moment was an appropriate one to embrace this effort, this cease-fire. I want to thank UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Special Coordinator Serry for their continuous efforts to try to help create a framework as well as the call for a cease-fire, and helping to galvanize the international community. And I’m grateful also to President al-Sisi and to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who has been consistently on the phone working this, and Egypt will host these talks. And this effort is built on the original Egyptian initiative that began the talk of a cease-fire. So Palestinian President Abbas has been consistently working behind the scenes, sending his emissaries to various places to work effectively, and I appreciate his leadership in this effort.

Now, I want to re-emphasize: This is not a time for congratulations and joy, or anything except a serious determination, a focus by everybody to try to figure out the road ahead. This is a respite. It’s a moment of opportunity, not an end; it’s not a solution. It’s the opportunity to find the solution. And President Obama hopes that all the parties will work diligently to do so. From the moment the President asked me to travel some 12 days or so ago, the President has been consistently on the phone, tracking this, talking with the prime minister and others in an effort to help to move us to this place.

But we have to understand: Both parties have – all the people involved in this have strong demands and strong visions about what the future should look like. Israel has to be able to live in peace and security, without terror attacks, without rockets, without tunnels, without sirens going off in the day. And Palestinians need to be able to live with the opportunity to educate their children and move freely and share in the rest of the world, and to lead a life that is different from the one they have long suffered. So we hope that this moment of opportunity will be grabbed by the parties, but no one can force them to do that, obviously.

So we come at it with sober reflection about the lives lost and the violence suffered; the soldiers killed, the individuals killed; the three kids who were kidnapped and murdered in the beginning of this, and then a retribution killing. There’s been too much of it for most people’s judgment here, and our hope is that reason could possibly prevail to find the road forward. And with that, I’ll leave you to the folks who might give you a little more sort of background and everything else. Thank you all very much.

DOJ AND IACP RELEASE MODEL FOR DEALING WITH CHILDREN OF ARRESTED PARENTS

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Department of Justice and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Release Groundbreaking Model Policy

Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents

The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), today released a seminal model policy regarding police interaction with children who are impacted when a parent is arrested and law enforcement carries out its investigative and arrest responsibilities.  Reflecting the collective input of a wide range of subject-matter experts and stakeholders, and understanding that interactions between children and law enforcement create lasting impressions, the resulting model policy, Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents , provides strategies for law enforcement to improve their procedures and positively impact the communities they serve.

“Limiting a child’s exposure to potentially traumatic events is an operationally sound and necessary law enforcement strategy,” said Deputy Attorney General James Cole.  “It is also consistent with law enforcement’s duty to serve the community as a whole.  It is an important part of the principles of community policing, problem solving, and conflict resolution.”

Funded through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents is an important resource for law enforcement.  Law enforcement agencies will find the information contained in this document highly instructive as they seek to enhance their policies and procedures and gain understanding about the trauma children experience when law enforcement carries out its investigative and arrest responsibilities.

“Trauma associated with the arrest of a parent can have devastating and long term effects on the life of a child,” said Cecilia Muñoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.  “This administration is committed to advancing policies and programs that support the children of incarcerated parents and ensure that their futures remain bright with possibility.  Implementation of this new protocol, first announced in 2013 during a White House Champions of Change event, will help limit these children's exposure to trauma and encourage positive interactions between members of law enforcement and the communities that they serve.”

In addition to the development of the model policy, IACP is developing a training curriculum that will be delivered through webinars and a number of training sessions at conferences around the country.

“Police officers are confronted with significant challenges and responsibilities when children are present or in need of care and supervision following the arrest of a parent,” said BJA Director Denise E. O’Donnell.  “We are pleased to partner with IACP on a new model policy that provides sound, practical, and child-focused guidance on how police can join with their community partners to best meet the needs of children in these difficult circumstances.”

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY'S STATEMENT ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Statement by the Press Secretary

It is extraordinary that the House of Representatives, after failing for more than a year to reform our broken immigration reform system, would vote to restrict a law enforcement tool that the Department of Homeland Security uses to focus resources on key enforcement priorities like public safety and border security, and provide temporary relief from deportation for people who are low priorities for removal.  In the face of Congressional inaction, the Administration’s use of Deferred Action for DREAMers in 2012, which has benefitted more than 500,000 young people who are Americans in every way except on paper, is the most significant progress we have made toward immigration reform in years.  By failing to act on an immigration reform bill that requires that people who are here illegally pay taxes, undergo background checks and get on the right side of the law, the House is instead driving an approach that is about rounding up and deporting 11 million people, separating families, and undermining DHS’ ability to secure the border.

PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS FAIR PAY AND SAFE WORKPLACE EXECUTIVE ORDER

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Remarks by the President at the Signing of Fair Pay and Safe Workplace Executive Order

South Court Auditorium

1:40 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody, hello!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Everybody, please have a seat.  Welcome to the White House. 

The executive order I’ll sign in a few minutes is one that’s good for workers, it's good for responsible employers, and it's good for the middle class.  That explains the folks who are standing up on stage with me, including Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, who’s done a great job on this.  (Applause.)  

Yesterday, we learned that the springtime was a strong time for economic growth.  Companies are investing.  Consumers are spending.  Our energy, our technology, our auto industries are all booming, with workers making and selling goods all around the world.  Our businesses have created nearly 10 million new jobs over the past 52 months, and the unemployment rate is at its lowest point since 2008.  401(k)s have recovered their value.  Home prices are rising.  Millions more families have the peace of mind that comes with having affordable, quality health care.

And because of the incredible hard work and resilience of the American people, we’ve recovered faster, we've come farther than any other advanced country since the onset of the Great Recession.  (Applause.)  Things are getting better.  Steadily, things are getting better.  But we all know there’s more work to do.  And the decisions we make now are going to have an impact on whether or not this economy works for everybody or just folks at the top; whether we've got a growing economy that fuels rising incomes and creates a thriving middle class and ladders into the middle class.

That’s what’s at stake -- making sure our economy works for every hardworking American, and if you work hard and you're responsible, you can get ahead.  That's what we want.  We want to make sure the young dad on the factory floor has a shot to make it into the corner suite -- or at least see his daughter make it there some day.

That’s why I ran for office.  That’s what has driven every policy that we've initiated this year and since the advent of my presidency.  Policies that create more jobs rebuilding America.  Policies to ease the student loan burden.  Policies to raise wages for workers, and make sure that women are being paid fairly on the job, and creating opportunities for paid leave for working families, and support for child care. 

These are all policies that have two things in common.  Number one, they’d all help working families.  And, frankly, number two, they’re being blocked or ignored by Republicans in Congress.  So I’ve said to my team, look, any time Congress wants to do work with me to help working families, I'm right there.  The door is always open.  More than that, I'll go to them; I'll wash their car -- (laughter) -- walk their dog.  (Laughter.)  I mean, I'm ready to work with them any time that they want to pursue policies that help working families.  But where they’re doing so little or nothing at all to help working families, then we've got to find ways, as an administration, to take action that's going to help. 

And so far this year, we’ve made sure that more women have the protection they need to fight for fair pay in the workplace  -- because I believe when women succeed, America succeeds.  (Applause.)  We’ve acted to give millions of Americans the chance to cap their student loan payments at 10 percent of their income. I don’t want young people to be so saddled with debt that they can't get started in life.  (Applause.) 

We’ve acted on our own to make sure federal contractors can’t discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity -- because you shouldn’t be fired because of who you love.  (Applause.)  If you’re doing the job, you should be treated fairly and judged on your own merits.  (Applause.)

We acted to require federal contractors to pay their workers a fair wage of $10.10 an hour.  (Applause.)  And we’ve gone out and we’ve worked with states and cities and business owners to join us on our $10.10 campaign, and more and more are joining us -- because folks agree that if you work full-time in this country, you shouldn’t be raising your family in poverty.  That’s a pretty simple principle that we all believe in.  (Applause.) 

So the American people are doing their job.  I’ve been traveling around the country meeting them.  They’re working hard. They’re meeting their responsibilities.  Here in the executive branch, we’re doing our job, trying to find ways in which we can help working families.  Think about how much further along we’d be if Congress would do its job. 

Instead, the big event last night -- it wasn’t the vote on the minimum wage.  (Laughter.)  It wasn’t a vote on immigration reform, strengthening the borders.  It wasn’t a vote on family leave.  What did they have a vote on?  (Laughter.)  They got together in the House of Representatives, the Republicans, and voted to sue me for taking the actions that we are doing to help families.  (Laughter.)

One of the main objections that’s the basis of this suit is us making a temporary modification to the health care law that they said needed to be modified.  (Laughter.)  So they criticized a provision; we modify it to make it easier for business to transition; and that’s the basis for their suit.  Now, you could say that, all right, this is a harmless political stunt -- except it wastes America’s time.  You guys are all paying for it as taxpayers.  It’s not very productive.  But it’s not going to stop me from doing what I think needs to be done in order to help families all across this country.  (Applause.)

So we’ve got too much work to do.  (Applause.)  And I said to Speaker Boehner, tell your caucus the best way to avoid me acting on my own is work with me to actually do something.  Then you don’t have to worry about it.  We’re not going to stop, and if they’re not going to lift a finger to help working Americans then I’m going to work twice as hard to help working Americans.  (Applause.)  They can join me if they want.  I hope they do.  But at least they should stop standing in the way of America’s success.   We’ve got too much to do. (Applause.)  

So, today, I’m taking another action, one that protects workers and taxpayers alike.  Every year, our government signs contracts with private companies for everything from fighter jets to flapjacks, computers to pencils.  And we expect our tax dollars to be spent wisely on these contracts; to get what we pay for on-time, on budget.  And when companies that receive federal contracts employ about 28 million Americans –- about one in five workers in America work for a company that has a federal contract -– we also expect that our tax dollars are being used to ensure that these jobs are good jobs. 

Our tax dollars shouldn’t go to companies that violate workplace laws.  (Applause.)  They shouldn’t go to companies that violate worker rights.  (Applause.)  If a company is going to receive taxpayer money, it should have safe workplaces.  (Applause.)  It should pay its workers the wages they’ve earned. It should provide the medical leave workers are entitled to.  It should not discriminate against workers.  (Applause.)

But one study found that more than one in four companies that have poor records on these areas also still get contracts from the federal government.  And another study found that the worst violators are also the ones who end up missing performance or cost or schedule targets –- or even overbilled the government, ripping off the taxpayers altogether -- which makes sense.  I mean, if you think about it, if you got a company that isn’t treating its workers with integrity, isn’t taking safety measures seriously, isn’t taking overtime laws seriously, then they're probably cutting corners in other areas, too.

  And I want to be clear, the vast majority of the companies that contract with our government, they play by the rules.  They live up to the right workplace standards.  But some don’t.  And I don't want those who don't to be getting a contract and getting a competitive advantage over the folks who are doing the right thing, right?  That's not fair.  (Applause.)

Because the ones that don't play by the rules, they're not just failing their workers, they’re failing all of us.  It’s a bad deal for taxpayers when we’ve got to pay for poor performance or sloppy work.  Responsible companies that follow the law are likelier to have workers and workplaces that provide a better return for our tax dollar.  They should not have to compete on an unfair playing field with companies that undercut them by breaking the law.  In a race to the bottom, nobody wins.  (Applause.)

So over the past few years, my administration has taken steps to make the contracting process smarter.  But many of the people who award contracts don’t always have the information that they need to make sure contracts go to responsible companies.  So the executive order I’m signing today is going to do a few things. 

Number one, it will hold corporations accountable by requiring potential contractors to disclose labor law violations from the past three years before they can receive a contract.  It’s going to crack down on the worst violators by giving agencies better tools to evaluate egregious or repeated offenses.
It will give workers better and clearer information on their paychecks, so they can be sure they’re getting paid what they’re owed.  It will give more workers who may have been sexually assaulted or had their civil rights violated their day in court. 
It will ease compliance burdens for business owners around the country by streamlining all types of reporting requirements across the federal government.  So this is a first step in a series of actions to make it easier for companies, including small businesses, to do business with the government.   So we’re going to protect responsible companies that play by the rules -- make it easier for them, try to reduce the paperwork, the burdens that they have.  They’ll basically check a box that says they don’t have these violations.  We want to make it easier for good corporate citizens to do business with us.  (Applause.) 

And, by the way, for companies that have violations, our emphasis is not going to be on punishments.  It is to give them a chance to follow good workplace practices and come into compliance with the law.  If you want to do business with the United States of America, you’ve got to respect our workers, you’ve got to respect our taxpayers. 

And we’ll spend a lot of time working with and listening to business owners, so we can implement this thoughtfully and make it manageable for everybody.  But the goal here is to make sure this action raises standards across the economy; encourages contractors to adopt better practices for all their employees, not just those working on federal contracts; give responsible businesses that play by the rules a fairer shot to compete for business; streamline the process; improve wages and working conditions for folks who work hard every single day to provide for their families and contribute to our country. 

And even though it is an executive action, I want to acknowledge and thank the members of Congress who support it and who always stand up for America’s workers.  And most of them are stuck at Capitol Hill, but I just want to mention their names anyway -- Tom Harkin; Rosa DeLauro; Keith Ellison is here; Raul Grijalva; Eleanor Holmes Norton.  They’ve all been working on these issues, so I want to thank those members of Congress.  (Applause.)

The executive order I sign today, like all the other actions I’ve taken, are not going to fix everything immediately.  If I had the power to raise the federal minimum wage on my own, or enact fair pay and paid leave for every worker on my own, or make college more affordable on my own, I would have done so already. If I could do all that, I would have gotten everything done in like my first two years.  (Laughter.)  Because these policies make sense.  But even though I can’t do all of it, that shouldn’t stop us from doing what we can.  That’s what these policies will do.

And I’m going to keep on trying, not just working with Democrats, but also reach out to Republicans to get things moving faster for the middle class.  We can do a lot more.  We need a Congress that’s willing to get things done.  We don’t have that right now.  In the meantime, I’m going to do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, to keep this country’s promise alive for more and more of the American people.

So, thank you all.  We’re going to just keep on at this thing, chipping away.  And I’m confident that when we look back, we’ll see that these kinds of executive actions build some of the momentum and give people the confidence and the hope that ultimately leads to broad-based changes that we need to make sure that this economy works for everybody.

Thank you so much.  I’m going to sign this executive order.  (Applause.)

END
2:00 P.M. EDT

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JULY 31, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

ARMY

Honeywell Aerospace International, Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded a $121,890,543 modification (P00001) to foreign military sales contract W58RGZ-14-C-0021 (Turkey, Australia, United Arab Emirates and Morocco) to procure 440 T55-GA-714A engines and 365 T55-GA-714A engine fielding kits. Fiscal 2012, 2013, and 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $121,890,543 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2018. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Arizona. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Sippican, Inc., Marion, Massachusetts, was awarded a $49,915,441 firm-fixed- price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiyear foreign military sales contract (Korea and Finland) for Stinger M934E6 fuses (legacy), M934E7 fuses (proximity capability), warhead body assemblies (legacy), and warhead body assemblies (proximity capability). Funding and work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 25, 2018. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-14-D-0082).

Professional Contract Services, Inc., Austin, Texas, was awarded a $32,209,556 Type 1contract for healthcare housekeeping services, Evans Army Community Hospital, Fort Carson. Work will be performed at Fort Carson, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2019. One bid was solicited with one received. Funding will be determined with each order. Army Medical Command Contracting Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81K04-14-D-0009).

Northrop Grumman, Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $31,000,000 modification (P00108) to contract W31P4Q-08-C-0418 to add fiscal 2014 funding for continued research and development of the integrated air and missile defense hardware and software systems. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $31,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Sept. 30, 2015. Work will be performed at Huntsville, Alabama. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Berg Manufacturing, Inc.,* Spokane, Washington, was awarded a $22,338,771 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a cost-reimbursable line item number to supply metalworking machine shop sets shelters with a guaranteed minimum of two and a maximum of 220 shelters and field service representative support (on an as needed basis). The government will obligate the minimum guaranteed quantity. The estimated completion date is July 31, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W9098S-14-D-0051).

Carlson Constructors Corp.,* Joliet, Illinois, was awarded a $21,862,091 firm-fixed-price contract with options, for constructing family housing. Work will be performed at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 5, 2016. Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received. Fiscal 2014 military construction funds in the amount of $21,862,091 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (W9128F-14-C-0050).

BAE Systems Land & Armaments, L.P., Santa Clara, California, was awarded a $16,797,020 modification (P00021) to contract W56HZV-13-C-0018 for technical support and sustainment system technical support for the Bradley family of vehicles. Fiscal 2012, 2013, and 2014 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $16,602,803 and fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $194,217 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 17, 2015. Work will be performed in Santa Clara, California; Sterling Heights, Michigan; and York, Pennsylvania. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

Technical and Project Engineering, Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a $12,084,389 modification (P00002 ) to contract W91CRB-13-C-0036 for professional software development and support, testing, training, and software and database maintenance services to support Army training models. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $12,084,389 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Aug. 6, 2015. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

TrueTandem, LLC,* Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $6,819,552 modification (P00006) to contract W52P1J-12-F-5110 for enterprise knowledge services for the U.S. Army Reserve. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $6,819,552 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Sept. 29, 2015. Work will be performed at Fayetteville, North Carolina. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity.

Advanced Systems Development, Inc.,* Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $6,539,047 modification (P00049) to contract W9124Q-11-F-0020 for information systems operations support service. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $4,914,821 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2016. Work will be performed at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Army Contracting Command, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands, New Mexico, is the contracting activity.

NAVY

Hawaiian Rock Products Corp., Mangilao, Guam, is being awarded a maximum $90,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for airfield paving projects at various U. S. military locations in Guam. The work to be performed provides for the construction, alteration, repair and/or maintenance of asphalt and concrete airfield projects, to also include roads, streets, highways, alleys, parking areas, and their associated facilities, such as, but not limited to, concrete sidewalks, curbs and gutters, guard rails, U-ditch drainage pipe, traffic striping, pavement markings, and related work. Work will also include cold milling, excavation, embankment grading or sub-base and base course, compaction, density test, bituminous surface treatment, seal coating, asphalt/concrete paving, adjustment of existing utilities and structures, and other related work. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed in Guam, and is expected to be completed by January 2019. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas, Guam, is the contracting activity (N40192-14-D-6000).

Joyce & Associates Construction, Inc.*, Newport, North Carolina (N40085-14-D-1321); Daniels & Daniels Construction Company*, Goldsboro, North Carolina (N40085-14-D-1322); Lifecycle Construction Services, LLC*, Fredericksburg, Virginia (N40085-14-D-1323); OAC Action Construction, Corp.*, Miami, Florida (N40085-14-D-1324); Olympic Enterprises, Inc.*, Hubert, North Carolina (N40085-14-D-1325); and Vet Built, Inc.*, Williamston, North Carolina (N40085-14-D-1326), are each being awarded an indefinite-/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract for general construction projects located at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Marine Corps Air Station New River, and other outlying facilities in North Carolina. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and four option years for all six contracts combined, is $90,000,000. The work to be performed provides for a broad range of general construction services including, but not limited to, new construction, demolition, repair, interior and exterior alterations and renovation of buildings, systems and infrastructure. It may include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, communication systems, installation of new or extensions to existing high voltage electrical distribution systems, extensions to the existing high pressure steam distribution systems, extensions to the potable water distribution systems, extensions to the sanitary sewer systems, additional storm water control systems, painting, removal of asbestos materials and lead paint, and incidental related work. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. Joyce & Associates Construction, Inc. is being awarded task order 0001 at $39,993 for various repairs and to paint the interior and exterior of Building 486 at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by November 2014. All work will be performed in Jacksonville, North Carolina (65 percent); Havelock, North Carolina (30 percent); and other outlying facilities in North Carolina (5 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of July 2019. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $69,993 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 47 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

General Electric Co., Lynn, Massachusetts, is being awarded a $68,550,240 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-13-C-0132) for the procurement of 16 GE38-1B engines, closure kits, tooling, and associated systems engineering and program management in support of the CH-53K helicopter program. Work will be performed in Lynn, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed in January 2017. Fiscal 2013 and 2014 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $22,499,879 will be obligated at time of award, $19,424,878 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Korte Construction Co., doing business as The Korte Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded a $48,276,440 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of the hangar 6 extension to accommodate P-8 aircraft, hangar 9 extension to accommodate P-3 aircraft, and repair and modernization of hangar 6 including seismic upgrades at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. The work includes an addition to hangar 6 and the construction of a tent fabric extension to hangar 9. Hangar 6 would be capable of accommodating four P-8A squadrons with sufficient maintenance space with a hangar bay. The expansion of hangar 9 is required to fully enclose P-3C aircraft during the construction period. Hangar 6 repair and modernization will renovate all interior administrative and shop spaces to include demolition of existing finishes, modernization of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, electrical system, and interior finishes to include walls, paint, flooring, and fixtures. The facility will also be brought up to current seismic code and current Americans with Disabilities Act requirements; current antiterrorism/force protection criteria will be integrated into the repairs. Work will be performed in Oak Harbor, Washington, and is expected to be completed by August 2017. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Navy) and fiscal 2014 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $33,355,000 are being obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 12 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity (N44255-14-C-5001).

DRS Laurel Technologies, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is being awarded a $31,823,189 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00178-14-D-3036) utilizing firm-fixed-priced orders for production hardware for Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) Mk2 production hardware. The scope includes hardware production, assembly, configuration, alignment, integration, testing and shipping of the SSDS hardware. Work will be performed in Chesapeake, Virginia (60 percent) and Johnston, Pennsylvania (40 percent), and is expected to be completed by July 2017. Subject to the availability of funds, fiscal 2015 and 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) and fiscal 2014 and 2017 other procurement (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $497,733 will be obligated at contract award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Mississippi, is being awarded a $29,803,395 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-14-D-0019) to provide organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance and logistics support for T45TS aircraft based at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi; Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas; and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. This requirement also includes the support and maintenance of the T-45 aircraft at all operational sites, numerous outlying fields, and various detachment sites. Work will be performed in Kingsville, Texas (58 percent); Meridian, Mississippi (36 percent); and Pensacola, Florida (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2014. Contract funds will not be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

USA Environmental, Inc.,* Oldsmar, Florida, is being awarded $26,153,599 for cost-plus-fixed-fee task order 0006 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N62470-11-D-8007) for munitions and explosives of concern removal at the former Vieques Naval Training Range and former Naval Ammunition Support Detachment, Puerto Rico. The work to be performed provides for the removal of surface, subsurface, and underwater munitions and explosives of concern. Work will be performed in Vieques, Puerto Rico, and is expected to be completed by July 2017. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $6,538,404 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

Computer Sciences Corp., San Diego, California, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $24,904,083 undefinitized contract action (UCA) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee bridge contract (M00264-13-C-0004) that will expire on August 28, 2014, for information technology services to support the Technology Services Organization's (TSO) requirements and its role as an enterprise business systems integrator for the Marine Corps. Services required are in support of highly complex government designed and owned Marine Corps business systems that have no parallel in other sectors of the government or private industry. Software engineering design, programming, testing, and integration to be performed under this contract will involve tasking that is so integrally related that it requires personnel with highly developed experiences with the specific systems supported by the TSO and outlined below. The TSO supports a number of business mission areas across the Marine Corps, including the Deputy Commandant Program & Resources, Deputy Commandant Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and the Deputy Commandant Installation and Logistics. This UCA involves a 6-month base period and two 3-month option periods, which if exercised, will bring the tentative value of the bridge to $49,735,547. Work will be performed in Kansas City, Missouri (95 percent) and Indianapolis, Indiana (5 percent); work is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2015. If all the options are exercised, work will continue through Aug. 28, 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $18,678,062 will be obligated at the time of the UCA award, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Regional Contracting Office, National Capital Region, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M00264-14-C-1014).

Goodwill Industries, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is being awarded a $12,748,338 firm-fixed-price contract on behalf of Naval Station Great Lakes to provide food and logistics support services for the Galley and Uniform Issue Department, which supports the overall training mission of the Recruit Training Command (RTC), Training Support Center (TSC), and other tenant activities located within the Naval Station. This contract will provide for the continued operation of the galleys at RTC and TSC, which serve to support Navy recruits undergoing their initial basic training and subsequent training schools. This contract will also provide for logistics, financial management and administrative support of the galley and uniform issue operations; galley equipment maintenance and repairs; traffic material movement operations; material handling equipment maintenance, training and licensing support and fuel operation; uniform issue; base postal service; and affiliated warehousing and storeroom management functions. This contract contains three 1-year options, which if exercised, will bring the contract value to $239,565,843. Work will be performed in Great Lakes, Illinois, and work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2014. If all options are exercised, work will continue until Sept. 30, 2017. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount $7,248,338 and fiscal 2014 military personnel (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,500,000 will be obligated at the time of award, and both will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The requirement was solicited and awarded non-competitively pursuant to the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act and the rules of the Committee for the Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled which implements the AbilityOne Program. NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00189-14-C-Z021).

H.V. Collins Co.,* Providence, Rhode Island, is being awarded an $11,761,926 firm-fixed-price contract for renovations to three levels of Hewitt Hall Research Centerof the Naval War College at Naval Station Newport. Renovations include converting the existing garage (lower level) to interior high capacity book storage space, and repairs to the basement and first floor levels of Hewitt Hall, as well as garage conversion and other system modifications. The contract also contains five unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $13,737,241. Work will be performed in Newport, Rhode Island, and is expected to be completed by December 2015. Fiscal 2014 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $11,761,926 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with six proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-14-C-5221).

I.E.-Pacific, Inc.,* San Diego, California, is being awarded $10,435,000 for firm-fixed-price task order 0017 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-09-D-1657) for renovation of Building 302 at Naval Base Point Loma. The work to be performed provides for repair and renovation that shall eliminate all deficiencies, and bring the facility up to latest codes and regulations and Navy criteria (United Facilities Criteria (UFC) and other instructions/guidance). Room layouts shall be changed to meet accessibility requirements. All interior finishes shall be removed and replaced with new finishes, including interior and exterior signage. Building elevators shall be renovated/repaired/upgraded to the most recent codes/UFC and Interim Technical Guidance 2013-01 and accessibility (Architectural Barriers Act/Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance. The superstructure shall also be upgraded to current seismic codes/regulations. All plumbing systems, fixtures, waste water systems, heating, exhaust fans, ceiling fans, electrical and fire distribution systems shall be replaced. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by January 2016. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,435,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.

Rolls Royce Marine North America, Walpole, Massachusetts, is being awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price repair order (N00104-09-G-A755) for the repair of one Marine Trent 30 marine gas turbine engine for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Freedom variant. This contract provides for the repair and overhaul of the Marine Trent 30 marine gas turbine engine, replacement of non-repairable re-assembly to the LCS configuration, and pass-off testing to validate performance. Work will be performed in Bristol, United Kingdom, and is expected to be completed by February 2016. Funds in the amount of $9,000,000 will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $9,000,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The order was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded an $8,737,000 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-13-D-0002) for services in support of Tomahawk Depot Missile maintenance, including direct fleet support for resolving technical issues with forward deployed, in-theater weapons and inventory management for the U.S. Navy and the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (60 percent); Camden, Arkansas (36 percent); and various other continental United States locations (4 percent). Work is expected to be completed in March 2015. Contract funds will not be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Black Construction/MACE International Joint Venture, Harmon, Guam, is being awarded $6,678,072 for firm-fixed-price task order 0002 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62742-14-D-1303) for repairs to worn out and deteriorated building components and utility systems of Unaccompanied Personnel Housing 7 at the U. S. Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia. Work will be performed in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, and is expected to be completed by November 2015. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $6,678,072 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Exelis Inc., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded an estimated $49,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for new and enhanced software. The contractor will research, develop, enhance, deploy and support the next-generation Cross Domain Transfer Solutions. This will be accomplished by the following: researching new cross domain transfer solution technologies to improve performance, enhance security, increase autonomy and reduce life-cycle costs; enhance current solutions utilizing technologies from varying Technology Readiness Levels; providing authorized users the ability to securely transfer data between interconnected security domains while protecting against unauthorized access or malicious attack; and by deploying and supporting these solutions to meet the current and rapidly evolving intelligence needs. Work will be performed at Rome, New York, and is expected to be completed by July 30, 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and offers were solicited electronically, and two offers were received. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $100,000 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKE, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-14-D-0001).

BAE Systems, Rockville, Maryland, has been awarded a fixed-price level of effort $32,409,117 modification (P00032) for option 1 of the Integration Support Contract (FA8214-13-C-0001). The contract modification is to exercise option I to provide systems engineering/technical assistance support, training and development in performing integration, sustaining engineering and program management support functions for the Minuteman III Weapon System. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $67,625,630. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, and research and development funds in the amount of $26,285,927 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center/PZBF, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity.

Exelis Systems Corp,, Systems Div., Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, has been awarded a $21,536,294 cost-plus-award-fee modification (P00947) to F04701-0l-C-0001 to provide the following Launch and Test Range System support functions to the Eastern Range and Western Range: range sustainment; external user support, projects and engineering services (Missile Defense Agency, Navy, NASA, etc.; systems engineering; and interim supply support spares for the sustainment period). The total cumulative face value of the contract is $1,772,689,908. This modification extends the basic contract by a maximum period of performance of three months. Work will be performed at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and the work for this effort will be completed by Oct. 31, 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, other procurement, and research and development funds in the amount of $18,203,081 are being obligated at time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a $17,858,824 firm-fixed-price, incentive-firm modification (25), on delivery order 0067 to F19628-01-D-0016 for E-3F enhancements. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $378,494,386. The contract modification is for the full Mode 5 and Mode S-FAA radar capabilities for incorporation into the French Air Force mission and ground system suite. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2017. This contract supports 100percent foreign military sales for France, and $17,858,824 will be obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Operating Location, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity.

Hewlett-Packard Co., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded an $8,792,988 firm-fixed-price delivery order (FY15) on an AFWAY contract (FA8771-10-A-0601) for the technical refresh of laptop and desktop computers in support of the Air Force Reserve Command mission. Work will be performed at Herndon, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 29, 2014. This award is the result of a Quarterly Enterprise Buy on the Air Force Way Mandatory Website. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,792,988 are being obligated at time of award. Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8771-10-A-0601).

*Small business