WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–December 19 – The Senate set a vote for late tonight on a Department of Defense bill that would authorize $625 billion for the military. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he will vote “no” and issued the following statement: “At a time when the United States has a $17.2 trillion[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 19, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing SOUTH SUDAN Update on Evacuations INDIA Issue of Immunity / India’s Deputy Consul General / Allegations / Vienna Convention / Secretary Kerry’s Statement / U.S. Moving Forward Under Secretary Sherman’s Readout / Diplomatic Security / Specific Courtesies Judicial and Legal Process /[Read More…]

Largest Nonbank Servicer Will Also Refund $125 Million to Foreclosure Victims and Adhere to Significant New Homeowner Protections                                                  WASHINGTON, D.C.—(ENEWSPF)—December 19, 2013. Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), authorities in 49 states, and the District of Columbia filed a proposed court order requiring the country’s largest nonbank mortgage loan[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 19, 2013.  Today President Barack Obama granted clemency to twenty-one individuals, consisting of eight commutations and thirteen pardons. The President granted commutations to the following eight individuals: Clarence Aaron – Mobile, Ala. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; possession with intent to[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 19, 2013. Three years ago, I signed the bipartisan Fair Sentencing Act, which dramatically narrowed the disparity between penalties for crack and powder cocaine offenses.  This law began to right a decades-old injustice, but for thousands of inmates, it came too late.  If they had been sentenced under[Read More…]

Senators send letter to correct a bureaucratic oversight by the regulators of the Dodd-Frank Act’s Volcker Rule; Senators make sure community banks are protected from the broad brush of federal regulation WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–December 19, 2013.  U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today sent a letter[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 19, 2013. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 379,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week’s figure of 369,000. The 4-week moving average was 343,500, an increase of 13,250 from the previous week’s revised average[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 18, 2013. I’m pleased that with tonight’s vote in the Senate, for the first time in years, both parties in both houses of Congress have come together to pass a budget.  It’s a budget that unwinds some of the damaging sequester cuts that have harmed students and seniors[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 18, 2013 – 12:43 P.M. EST MR. CARNEY:  Before I take your questions, I want to welcome you here to the briefing room for your daily briefing.  And first, I’d like to say that today we are highlighting how the Affordable Care Act helps young adults.  As you[Read More…]

Materials Offer Consumers Tips on Taking Advantage of New Protections WASHINGTON, D.C.—(ENEWSPF)—December 18, 2013. Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched a campaign to educate the public about the new protections provided by the Bureau’s mortgage rules. The Bureau is releasing educational materials in advance of the January 10,[Read More…]