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Should There Be A Dog In The White House?

6 Breeds That Could Help Ensure Domestic Tranquility

Dogs and the White House have a long and stirring mutual history.

Herbert Hoover prowled the grounds with King Tut, his Belgian Malinois police dog. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s black Scottish Terrier, Fala, apparently enjoyed a high security clearance because he accompanied the president to secret meetings. And Millie, First Lady Barbara Bush’s English Springer Spaniel, became a bestselling author with Millie’s Book in 1990.

Yet despite the long and faithful connection between First Families and canines, at the moment there is no First Dog and no sign President Donald Trump plans to acquire one any time soon.

“This is the first time in more than 100 years that a president doesn’t have a dog,” says Kris Rotonda, co-founder and co-CEO of Pet-Smooch (www.pet-smooch.com), a social network for animal lovers and their pets.

“This is one policy position the president should rethink, though, because dogs are great companions and great for reducing stress.”

To make the president’s choice easy, Rotonda says Pet-Smooch has a GoldenDoodle puppy named Smoochie that it would be happy to offer as a gift. But in the spirit of canine camaraderie, Rotonda suggests a few other breeds the president might consider if he decides to welcome a “world leader’s best friend” into the Oval Office:

• Korean Jindo. As the president seeks improved relations with North Korean President Kim Jong-Un, adopting this breed could be seen as an olive branch. The American Kennel Club says the Korean Jindo is valued for its loyalty, and Trump does prize loyalty. A potential downside: This is a dominant breed, so Trump would need to make it clear who’s in charge at Cabinet meetings.
• French Bulldog. Trump reportedly has an affinity for French President Emmanuel Macron, so a Frenchie could serve as a pet salute to this favored foreign leader, Rotonda says. On the other hand, French bulldogs are prone to snort, snuffle, wheeze, grunt and snore loudly, which could cause the dog to end up on the wrong side of a late-night presidential tweet.
• Black Russian Terrier. These large dogs originally were bred to work in the Russian military, so it would be practically like having a Russian military officer in the White House. Okay, maybe not such a good idea after all. Scratch that one.
• Xoloitzcuintli. The Mexican hairless dog is an ancient breed that is deeply attached to Mexican culture, so adopting this dog could help smooth bumpy relations with our Southern neighbors. “Once you get past trying to pronounce it, this could be an interesting choice,” Rotonda says. It’s a cheerful and affectionate breed. But the Xoloitzcuintli also can be stubborn and headstrong. The dog and the president could end up quarreling right in the middle of a Rose Garden signing ceremony, making for bad optics.
• Portuguese Water Dog. This breed is hypoallergenic, something the notoriously germaphobic president could appreciate because such dogs don’t shower you with dust and dander, and there is less dog hair all over the furniture and floors, Rotonda says. Why it’s a longshot: The president’s immediate predecessor owned Portuguese water dogs, which could be a deal breaker.
• GoldenDoodle.  A GoldenDoodle is technically a mutt, but it’s also a designer breed that America loves, Rotonda says, so if Trump wants to go the populist route this is the answer. On a more practical note, Rotonda says, GoldenDoodles are another hypoallergenic breed, but minus the recent Pennsylvania Avenue history of the Portuguese water dog.

“Just playing with or petting a dog can go a long way toward relieving all the strain and tension that come with the presidency,” Rotonda says. “Plus, unlike the rest of the world, a dog won’t judge you no matter what you say.”

About Kris Rotonda

Kris Rotonda is co-founder and co-CEO of Pet-Smooch (www.pet-smooch.com), a social media network where animal lovers connect and share photos and information about their pets. He also is co-founder and co-CEO of Max and Molly Charitable Corporation (www.maxandmollycharities.com), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to both pet-related initiatives and safe-dating initiatives.

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USDA Invests $243 Million in Rural Community Facility Improvements in 22 States

Funding Supports Infrastructure, Schools, Libraries, Municipal Centers, Opioid Treatment, Prevention and Recovery, and Other Community Needs

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2018 – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $243 million in 50 rural community facility projects (PDF, 174 KB) in 22 states.

“Rural communities represent a wealth of opportunity,” Hazlett said. “Under Secretary Perdue’s leadership, USDA is a partner in bringing those opportunities to life – whether attracting jobs, accessing additional capital, or improving the quality of life in these towns through access to modern community services.”

USDA is making the investments through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. The recently passed 2018 Omnibus bill increased the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget for the program to $2.8 billion, up $200 million from FY 2017.

More than 100 types of projects are eligible for funding, such as schools, health care facilities, libraries and infrastructure improvements. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally and state-recognized Native American tribes in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less. There is no limit on the size of the loans. Loan amounts have ranged from $10,000 to $165 million.

Today’s awardees include:

• Heart 2 Heart in Wheeling, W.Va., is receiving a $2.9 million loan to establish a substance abuse/behavioral health facility serving Ohio County and the surrounding area. The area currently lacks a treatment facility. Heart 2 Heart is a nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping the sick, the elderly and people with disabilities.
• The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association is receiving a $682,000 loan to purchase an outpatient health care facility in Craig, Colo. The clinic will address a critical need for medical services in rural Moffat County. It will provide preventative and comprehensive care, including behavioral and opioid treatment services.
• Louisiana’s St. Helena Parish School Board is receiving a $2.9 million loan to renovate and expand the St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy, which is the only elementary school in the parish. The school serves approximately 250 students in kindergarten through grade 5.

Projects are being announced today in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

In April, Hazlett said USDA will prioritize investments to address the opioid crisis in rural communities. In the Community Facilities Grant Program rural communities, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribes can apply through the usual Community Facilities grant application process for grants up to $150,000 for innovative projects such as mobile treatment clinics. Community Facilities grants may fund up to 75 percent of an eligible project.

Last year, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

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Sera-Brynn Vaults Into Top 5 of Globally Ranked Cybersecurity Compliance Firms

Independent Industry Poll Shows Virginia-Based Cybersecurity Compliance Firm One of World’s Cyber Leaders

Suffolk, VA – Black Book Research, LLC recently released its independent research rankings of leading cyber compliance and risk management firms and named Sera-Brynn fourth on their global list.  

“This ranking is indicative of our company’s discipline in helping global brands interpret and meet their cybersecurity requirements.  It also reflects our consistent triple-digit annual growth and, more importantly, our exemplary customer service reviews from our clients.  It’s a tremendous honor to have this recognition from an independent international market research firm,” said Sera-Brynn Chief Executive Officer Rob Hegedus.

The top five ranked firms on Black Book’s list include: 1) Clearwater Compliance, 2) EY, 3) Deloitte, 4) Sera-Brynn and 5) KPMG.

Black Book’s rankings are based on industry polls of products, services and consultants that span 17 functional areas of cybersecurity including: Authorization and Authentication Solutions; Blockchain Solutions; Compliance and Risk Management Solutions; Cybersecurity Advisors and Consultants; Cybersecurity Training and Education; DDoS Attack Prevention; End Point Security Solutions; Access Management; Firewall Networks; Data Encryption; Intrusion Protection Solutions; Threat Detection and Prevention; Network Security; Email Protection; and Cybersecurity Data Analytics.

One of Sera-Brynn’s primary focus areas is helping government contractors interpret cybersecurity regulations and identify solutions.  Their client base is made up of some of the world’s most recognizable brands in the defense industrial base and the financial services industry. They also counsel government agencies, manufacturers along the supply chain, health care and life sciences companies; cloud service providers, and colleges and universities.

“Whether we want to admit it or not, cybersecurity vulnerabilities are now an existential threat to both our national and economic security,” continued Hegedus. “Governments and large institutional organizations are addressing this threat with stricter and more detailed regulatory requirements.  We saw this coming six years ago and positioned ourselves accordingly.”

For more information or interview requests, please contact Larry Farnsworth at (703) 489-9633 or at press@sera-brynn.com.

About Sera-Brynn: Sera-Brynn is a global leader in providing cybersecurity compliance audit and advisory services.  Founded in 2011 by former members of the U.S. intelligence community, Sera-Brynn partners with some of the worlds most respected and recognized brands to help them interpret and meet cybersecurity regulatory requirements.  In 2018, Sera-Brynn was ranked #4 on the Black Book Research list of global cybersecurity compliance firms.

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PRESS CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS SB 136 TRANSPORTATION GOVERNANCE AMENDMENTS

What: Senator Harper and Representative Schultz will host a press conference to discuss SB 136, Transportation Governance Amendments, as it pertains to the UTA rebrand.

Who: Senator Wayne Harper and Representative Mike Schultz

When: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 1:00pm

Where: Utah State Capitol, Capitol Board Room