Washingotn, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 4, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Secretary Clinton / Foreign Policy Advisory Board / Status of Calls Senator John Kerry NORTH KOREA Google Executive Schmitt and Former Governor Richardson Travel SYRIA Three Bs Group / UN Envoy Brahimi / U.S. View on Transitional Governing Structure TURKEY/SYRIA Advance[Read More…]

GENEVA–(ENEWSPF)–4 January 2013 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today called on the Central African Republic (CAR) to immediately stop child recruitment by rebel groups and pro-government militias amidst reports of increasing use of this practice. “A number of rebel groups and various pro-government militias have become more active[Read More…]

Trenton, NJ–(ENEWSPF)–January 4, 2013. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo released the following statement regarding today’s critical vote by the House of Representatives: “Today’s action by the House was a necessary and critical first step towards delivering aid to the people of New Jersey[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–January 4, 2013. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the December 2012 Employment Situation report released today: “December’s report marks 34 straight months of private sector job growth, which have added close to 5.8 million jobs. For nearly three years, steady gains have occurred across[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—January 4, 2013.  Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 155,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.8 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment increased in health care, food services and drinking places, construction, and manufacturing. Household Survey Data The number of unemployed persons,[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 3, 2013. In 2013, the United States will chair the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, a partnership of nearly 80 countries and international organizations that has been working since 2009 to turn the tide on maritime crime along one of the world’s busiest shipping[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 3, 2012. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Secretary’s Health / Plans to Return to Work / Committed to Testifying on Benghazi Senator Kerry Confirmation Hearings / Visits to DOS ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES Palestinian State Can Only Happen Through Negotiations $450 million for Palestinian Authority / Congress DEPARTMENT Special Envoy[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—January 3, 2013. Consistent with the Constitution, the 113th Congress convened at noon today.  In its first official business, the House of Representatives voted to retain John Boehner (R-Ohio) as Speaker of the House.  This will be Boehner’s second term as Speaker. Boehner, who was not challenged for the[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 3, 2013.  On Wednesday, January 2, 2013, the President signed into law: H.R. 8, the “American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012,” which makes permanent the temporary rates on taxable income at or below $400,000 for individual filers and $450,000 for married individuals filing jointly; permanently indexes the Alternative[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 3, 2013.   Today I have signed into law H.R. 4310, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.” I have approved this annual defense authorization legislation, as I have in previous years, because it authorizes essential support for service members and their families, renews vital national[Read More…]