Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 4, 2014.  The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sgt. Girard D. Gass Jr., of Lumber Bridge, North Carolina, died Aug. 3, in Jalalabad Air Field Hospital, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident while on patrol that[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 1, 2014.  REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY: Good afternoon, everybody. Sorry I’m a little bit late. Before I take questions, I just have three announcements. The first is about the secretary’s schedule next week. He’ll embark on his 15th international trip, a nine-day trip, actually focused on the United[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–July 31, 2014.  Today, Congressman Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI) and Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act (H.R. 5231) — which allows Veteran-owned small businesses to apply for and receive unwanted government surplus or excess property. “Our Veterans sacrifice everything to defend our great nation,” said Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, an[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–July 302, 2014.  A new report out today from the Center for American Progress examines the obstacles women in the military face to accessing reproductive and sexual health care. The report’s findings make the case for why newly introduced legislation that would improve access to contraception for women who[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—July 30, 2014 SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE DEBORAH JAMES: Thanks to all of you for joining us and spending some time this afternoon. I have now been on the job as the 23rd secretary of the Air Force for about seven months, and during that seven month period,[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–July 29, 2014. REAR ADMIRAL JOHN REAR ADM. KIRBY: Afternoon, everybody. Look, I know there’s been some — some breaking news here out of Europe, so if you’ll just bear with me, I’m going to read you just a short statement here. During a routine post-flight maintenance inspection of[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—July 29, 2014. I applaud the overwhelming, bipartisan confirmation of Bob McDonald as our next Secretary of Veterans Affairs.  As a veteran himself and a proud member of a military family, Bob is deeply committed to serving our veterans and their families.  And as an executive with decades of[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—July 29, 2014. I welcome the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s announcement today that 17,000 service members and other consumers will receive a total of $92 million in debt relief from Rome Finance, whose unlawful, predatory lending schemes specifically targeted active-duty military personnel serving nationwide. No one who serves our[Read More…]

Rome Finance and Owners Permanently Banned from Consumer Lending After Deceiving About 17,000 Servicemembers and Other Consumers WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–July 29, 2014.  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and 13 state attorneys general obtained approximately $92 million in debt relief from Colfax Capital Corporation and Culver Capital, LLC, also collectively known[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–July 28, 2014.  Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout: Secretary Hagel spoke today by phone with Ukraine’s new Minister of Defense, Valeriy Heletey. The secretary congratulated Minister Heletey on his appointment and asked for his assessment of developments in Ukraine. Minister Heletey conveyed that despite[Read More…]