Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 22, 2013.  The Department of Justice announced today that it will file a new lawsuit against the State of Texas, the Texas Secretary of State, and the Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety over the State’s strict voter photo identification law (SB 14). The United States’[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 21, 2013 – 1:13 P.M. EDT MR. EARNEST:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I apologize for keeping you waiting.  I made a rookie mistake and almost forgot my glass of water.  (Laughter.)  So, my apologies. I do have a quick announcement at the top before we get going.  The President[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 22, 2013. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending August 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 336,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 323,000. The 4-week moving average was 330,500, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week’s revised[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 21, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing EGYPT Determining our Relationship with Egypt / Reviewing Assistance Working with EU and Other Counterparts Call for Inclusive Political Process Mubarak Egyptians Should not be Arbitrarily Arrested and Tried SYRIA General Dempsey’s Letter / Aid to the Moderate Opposition Chemical Weapons /[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–21 August 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his shock at reports of alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria’s Damascus suburbs today, as a United Nations team continues to investigate the matter in other parts of the war-torn country. Following a late-day closed-door briefing to the Security Council[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 21, 2013.  The United States is deeply concerned by reports that hundreds of Syrian civilians have been killed in an attack by Syrian government forces, including by the use of chemical weapons, near Damascus earlier today.  We are working urgently to gather additional information.   The United States[Read More…]

CFPB Report Also Finds Many Nonbanks Lack Robust Compliance Systems WASHINGTON, D.C.—(ENEWSPF)—August 21, 2013. Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a report detailing mortgage servicing problems at banks and nonbanks. The report also found that many nonbanks lack robust systems for ensuring they are following federal laws.  “Our[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 20, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Status of Officials Placed on Independent Leave following Benghazi Attack / Reassignment to Different Positions Enhancing Embassy Security / ARB Recommendations EGYPT U.S. Aid/Assistance to Egypt Disbursement of Obligated Funds Policy and Legal Review Violence / Attacks on Coptic Christians U.S.[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 20, 2013 – 1:12 P.M. EDT MR. EARNEST:  I actually have a little announcement at the top to review with you.  I wanted to talk to you a little bit more this afternoon about the President’s upcoming bus tour through New York and Pennsylvania where he is going[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 20, 2013 – 2:10 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Now, it’s mid-August, which means football is in the air.  (Laughter.)  And I love baseball, but SportCenter is better when you’ve also got some football on there.  (Laughter.)  College football[Read More…]