Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—November 19, 2015 SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending November 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 271,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 276,000. The 4-week moving average was 270,750, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week’s unrevised[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–November 19, 2015.  President Barack Obama met with Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Manila to adopt a set of ambitious initiatives under this year’s theme of “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” Now in its 26th year, APEC has contributed to a tremendous rise[Read More…]

PHILLIPINES–(ENEWSPF)–November 18, 2015 We, the Leaders of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam, met today to mark the conclusion of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. We congratulate our Ministers and negotiating teams, after more than five years of negotiations, on[Read More…]

Manila, Philippines–(ENEWSPF)–November 18, 2015 – 2:41 P.M. PHT PRESIDENT OBAMA:  It is a great pleasure to have our first formal sit-down between myself and Prime Minister Trudeau.  Obviously there are no closer friends that we have than the Canadians.  And we share values, we share culture.  The ties between our[Read More…]

Manila, Philippines–(ENEWSPF)–November 18, 2015 – 10:20 A.M. PHT PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Everybody, please have a seat.  Well, good morning. AUDIENCE:  Good morning. PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I understand that Jack set the place on fire this morning already with his remarks — (laughter) —[Read More…]

Manila, Philippines–(ENEWSPF)–November 18, 2015 – 4:23 P.M. PHT MR. EARNEST:  Good afternoon, everybody.  It’s nice to see you all.  The purpose of today’s briefing is to try to give you some insight into some aspects of the President’s trip that you all have been covering for quite some time.  That[Read More…]

Legislation Now Moves to the House Floor Amid Momentum to End the Drug War and Mass Incarceration Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—November 18, 2015. Today, the House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to advance the Sentencing Reform Act. The bill, introduced by Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), and sponsored[Read More…]

Secretary of Commerce prepares for Bilateral Talks on Commerce and Trade WASHINGTON –(ENEWSPF)–November 17, 2015.  Ahead of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Representatives Rick Larsen (D-Wash.-02) and Charles Boustany (R-La.-03) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker urging her[Read More…]

Government Transformation Act Could Save Taxpayers Millions WASHINGTON –(ENEWSPF)–November 17, 2015.   U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) today announced the introduction of S.2269, the Government Transformation Act, a bill which creates an independent commission to target government waste and inefficiency. The bill would also provide actionable recommendations[Read More…]

WASHINGTON –(ENEWSPF)–November 17, 2015.  U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y) and veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to show their support for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act (S. 928/H.R.1786), which would fully extend the World Trade Center Health[Read More…]