USDA Radio Newsline
Monday, September 9th Stories:
The annual campaign encourages federal employees and retirees to help those in need
Alexandria, Virginia | 9 September 2019 – The Combined Federal Campaign launches its 2019 campaign on today, inviting federal employees and retirees to give to participating charities. The CFC is the official workplace giving campaign of the federal government. Over the past 58 years, members of the federal community have contributed more than $8.3 billion to local, national, and international charities.
Giving through the CFC is easy. Donors choose a cause, make a pledge, and help is given to those in need. Whether a donor cares about youth development, military families, housing and shelter, or animal welfare – the CFC has a charity for any cause they want to support. A donor can even give to multiple charities with one pledge. The online pledge portal at opm.gov/ShowSomeLoveCFC allows donors to renew pledges and offers the full range of giving options: payroll or annuity deduction, credit/debit card, e-check, and volunteer hours (for federal employees only). Paper pledge forms are also available upon request.
“All contributions no matter how great or small, can have a huge impact, and in many cases, change someone’s life said The Honorable Jody K. Olsen, Ph.,D., Director, Peace Corps, 2019 Honorary CFC Honorary Chairperson. “The CFC harnesses our collective power to impact the lives of millions…[by giving] to the causes we personally care about the most.”
In 2018, federal employees and retirees pledged more than $92.9 million in monetary pledges and volunteer time for local, national, and international charities. These contributions help people and communities in need and are a reflection of the generous nature of the federal community. This year we look forward to improve CFC campaign results and extend the extraordinary CFC legacy into one more campaign season.
The 2019 CFC runs from September 9, 2019 through January 12, 2020. We invite federal employees and retirees in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado to pledge or learn more about the campaign at https://www.mountainstatescfc.org.
About the Combined Federal Campaign
The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is a 58-year federal workplace giving tradition that has raised more than $8.3 billion for charitable organizations. The CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaigns, with 36 CFC zones throughout the country and overseas raising millions of dollars each year. The funds raised each fall through the campaign help neighbors in need around the corner, across the nation, and throughout the world. The Combined Federal Campaign of the Mountain States is the local campaign for federal employees and retirees in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado region. Through the contributions of federal civilian, military, and postal employees and retirees, the campaign generated more than $3 million in 2018 for the thousands of participating local, national, and international charities. For more information, visit https://www.mountainstatescfc.org.
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REPUBLICAN JEFF BURNINGHAM PRESS CONFERENCE AT UTAH STATE CAPITOL
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH— Republican Jeff Burningham is holding a press conference tomorrow morning at the Utah State Capitol on the South Steps. If there is inclement weather, the press conference will be held in the Aspen Room in the Senate Building. The press is invited to attend.
If you’d like to schedule an interview with Jeff after the press conference, please contact Britt Larsen at 970.217.2834 or britt@jeffburningham.com.
Jeff Burningham is an innovative outsider and job-creating entrepreneur.
Burningham’s track record as a game-changing leader is well-established. Jeff and his partners established Utah County’s first institutional venture capital firm and invested $40M in 40+ start-ups along the Wasatch front. These companies have created more than 4,000 jobs.
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#NRC NEWS RELEASE: NRC Awards Fiscal Year 2019 Academic Grants
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has awarded 45 grants to 33 academic institutions in 19 states and Puerto Rico, totaling $15 million in fiscal year 2019.
Recipients include four-year universities and colleges, two-year trade school and community colleges, and minority serving institutions, which are a federally recognized category of educational establishments.
Congress authorized the NRC to provide federal funding opportunities to qualified academic institutions to encourage careers and research in nuclear, mechanical and electrical engineering, health physics, and related fields to meet expected future workforce needs. Recipients are to use the grants for scholarships, fellowships and faculty development.
More than 5,200 students in 35 states and Puerto Rico have been recipients of the NRC program over its 10-year tenure. Through this program, NRC has funded multiple research and development, educational and training, and experiential learning projects to enhance academic excellence and to produce a skilled future workforce.
The NRC announces grant opportunities on www.grants.gov, which enables the public to find and apply for federal funding opportunities. Information regarding the review process also is available. A panel of reviewers, from academia and the NRC, evaluates the grant proposals. The panel composition is diverse, with most reviewers having experience reviewing proposals for government agencies and advanced credentials in nuclear engineering, health physics, radiochemistry or related disciplines. All panelists must certify no conflict of interest for the proposals they evaluate.
The complete list of grants awarded and general information about the grant program are available on the NRC’s website.
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IRC responds to new reports of plans to further reduce US refugee admissions
Further cuts to the US Refugee Resettlement Program by the Trump Administration would turn back thousands already referred to the US for admission, put lives at risk, undermine US foreign policy interests, and speed a global race to the bottom on protection
New York, 9 September, 2019 - The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds this afternoon with highest concern to reports in the New York Times on US government discussions to further lower the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) refugee admissions level. Over 100,000 have already been referred to the US for resettlement, including persecuted religious minorities, those whose lives are in danger for assisting US troops, orphaned children and others seeking to be reunified with family, and victims of torture or gender-based violence who cannot find safety in countries of first refuge. Nearly 30,000 of those referred to the US for admissions have already completed interviews with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS.) Turning our backs on them now is unfair, inhumane, and strategically flawed.
As US Admiral Robert J. Natter (Ret.) and Lt. General Mark P. Hertling (Ret.) wrote in an opinion piece for the Washington Post, cutting refugee admissions further will have severe consequences for the US military. Conflicts and their consequences grow when refugees have nowhere to flee. Premature refugee returns can restart conflict and destabilize fragile regions where troops are deployed.
If the United States does not keep the commitment to those who assisted US troops, over 100,000 of whom await admission to the US, it cannot count on their help in the future. Over two dozen of the foremost US military leaders wrote a letter to President Trump urging an admissions goal commensurate with today’s global crises and US interests.
Nazanin Ash, Vice President, Global Policy and Advocacy:
“A refugee admissions level of 30,000 is already inadequate - additional cuts next fiscal year would devastate thousands already referred for resettlement, nearly 30,000 of whom have already completed DHS interviews.
“Refugee resettlement is a lifesaving option for less than 5% of the world’s 26 million refugees--reserved only for the most vulnerable, those who cannot find safety in countries of first refuge because of their status as religious minorities, for their assistance to US troops, because of torture or violence they suffered, or they are families seeking to reunite and care for loved ones.
“Cuts under this administration have already put lives in danger, sped a global race to the bottom in refugee admissions, undercut promises to those who supported US missions, and abandoned strategic regional allies who host the vast majority of the world’s refugees. Our nation’s military leaders have affirmed the humanitarian and national security importance of this program--and they know what’s at stake. The Administration should heed their advice.
“Hollowing out this bipartisan program even further will cost lives, undermine US interests, and stress the refugee resettlement program to the breaking point – disrupting refugee admissions now and into the future. We urge the administration to protect this vital program, and set an admissions level of 95,000 refugees.”
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For more information, or to schedule an email, please contact communications@rescue.org
ABOUT THE IRC
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 offices across the U.S. helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities. Learn more at www.rescue.org and follow the IRC on Twitter & Facebook.
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CONTACT
Jesse, Prentice-Dunn
Policy Director, Center for Western Priorities
jesse@westernpriorities.org
720-204-1886
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2019
DENVER—Today, William Perry Pendley, the anti-public lands lawyer who is currently the acting director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), testified before the House Natural Resources Committee about the planned dissolution and relocation of BLM’s Washington, DC headquarters.
The Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:
“Acting Director Pendley made it clear the agency performed little to no analysis of why the move is necessary or how many staff will be lost. This remains a cynical ploy to dismantle the Bureau of Land Management national headquarters and drain the agency of career expertise.
“With anti-public lands extremists like William Perry Pendley in charge, this is a relocation plan only drilling and mining companies would love.”
According to Acting Director Pendley’s testimony, 97 percent of Bureau of Land Management staff already work outside of Washington, D.C.
Pendley: The federal government should sell its Western lands [National Review]
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Jesse Prentice-Dunn at 720-204-1886 or jesse@westernpriorities.org. Sign up for Look West to get daily public lands and energy news sent to your inbox.
