government

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that nearly $174 million will soon be made available through first-ever allocations of the National Housing Trust Fund. HUD Secretary Julián Castro made announcement to a gathering of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition meeting in Washington. Read more about the National Housing Trust Fund.

Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (CA-34) today joined 163 current and former House Members as well as 44 current and former Senators in signing on to an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit defending President Obama’s Clean Power Plan

Scientists at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have been able to pinpoint for the first time what happens during a key manufacturing process of silicon solar cells.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today kicked off Fair Housing Month 2016 with the launch of a new national media campaign that helps the public to envision what communities with shared opportunity for all might look like. The new campaign is designed to further educate the public about their housing rights and the ideals behind HUD’s new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) initiative

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a final rule that provides new religious liberty protections for beneficiaries of its programs and activities. In addition, HUD’s new rule ensures that faith-based providers can compete for government funds on the same basis as any other private organization.

Yesterday, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) congratulated Aero-Flite, Inc., of Spokane, on the five-year contract awarded for two of their water-scooping aircraft. The aircraft will be used primarily for the initial attack of wildland fires

Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, announced today that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration (HHS) has awarded a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 to the LBJ Medical Center in Pago Pago for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home visiting Program.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Shipbuilding Group recently signed an alliance focused on preventing worker exposure to electrical, ergonomic, struck-by and slip, trip and fall hazards in shipyards. The Shipbuilding Group is comprised of the National Shipbuilding Research Program and the Shipbuilders Council of America.

Three years after its launch, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) has generated $2 billion in private investment to make critically needed repairs and improvements to more than 30,000 units of former public housing. Under the RAD model, public housing authorities and owners of other HUD-supported properties can access private financing to rehabilitate and preserve existing affordable housing while expanding opportunity in communities across the nation.

Scientists from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), along with their counterparts from solar energy research institutes in Germany and Japan, gathered recently to discuss the future of photovoltaics (PV) and assess its contributions to increasing global prosperity, energy security and mitigation of climate change.

Washington is one of nine U.S. cities that have been selected to attend the 2016 Community Progress Leadership Institute, a program that equips practitioners with the leadership and technical skills to address significant blight and vacancy challenges. The Leadership Institute, a program of the national Center for Community Progress, will be held on the campus of Harvard Law School on March 15-18, 2016

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the American Planning Association (APA) announced today that the Homeless Solutions Community 10-Year Plan for the City of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, is the 2016 recipient of the HUD Secretary’s Opportunity & Empowerment Award. Read more about the Homeless Solutions 10-Year Plan.

As part of the Bowser Administration’s all eight ward approach to transform the District’s response to homelessness and improve the quality and effectiveness of services, Mayor Bowser and partners today announced that District-based N Street Village will manage and operate the Patricia Handy Place for Women. The Patricia Handy Place for Women is a new facility that will serve as many as 213 women each night. N Street Village is known nationally as an innovator in homeless services with a track-record of empowering homeless and low-income women. Last month, Mayor Bowser along with DHS Director Laura Zeilinger and Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans cut the ribbon on the new facility, which is set to open next month.

A major milestone has been reached in the recovery from the May 2015 storms on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, as the 100th new manufactured home was recently provided to a tribal household. The 100 homes have been installed in just over three months’ time, with the first being turned over on December 9.

The Cherokee Nation is building 30 new, 1,200-square-foot homes for Cherokee families in the town of Vian and celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday. The three-bedroom homes are being built through the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation’s New Home Construction Program on six acres of property owned by Cherokee Nation Businesses

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to expand the list of acceptable substitutes and prohibit the use of certain chemicals in the U.S. that significantly contribute to climate change where safer, more climate-friendly alternatives exist. This is another step forward in a series under President Obama's Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a class of potent greenhouse gases that can be up to 10,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide and are used in air-conditioning, refrigeration, and other equipment.

On March 29, the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service (PBS) Commissioner Norman Dong announced the disposal of the Cotton Annex, a property in a prime location in the District of Columbia. GSA is an economic catalyst for cities and communities across the country. Moving underutilized properties out of the federal inventory allows for local use that may better promote economic growth

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are honoring 149 businesses and organizations in 35 states for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. Recipients of the 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award include Beazer Homes, The Home Depot and Verizon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is honoring Kenton County School District in Ft. Wright, Kentucky for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. The school system is one of 149 businesses and organizations in 35 states to receive the honor. Recipients of the 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award include Beazer Homes, The Home Depot and Verizon

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today the award of $784,421 in Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology (SAHAT) Grants to eligible individuals, researchers, and organizations to develop new technologies that would enhance Veterans and Servicemembers’ ability to live in specially adapted homes. The SAHAT Grant Program was authorized by Congress to design assistive technologies to expand home modification options for Veterans who apply for VA’s Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) benefit. Grants of up to $200,000 have been issued to four selected grantees.