Keep up with what’s happening in DC. Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team read this week.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: It was announced on Friday that Associate US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed away. She had a long and successful legal career, culminating in over 30 years on the Supreme Court. Justice Ginsburg was widely respected for her tireless pursuit of equality, especially for women.
Health Officials Warn Public: In a Senate hearing, top public health officials testified that the US won’t return to a pre-COVID normal anytime soon. More here.
Iranian Hackers Charged in Criminal Case: Two Iranian nationals were charged by the FBI with hacking and selling data on the black market to the Iranian Government. The data included nuclear and national security information, personal data, and intellectual property. Full story at Politico.
737 MAX Updates: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee pulled a bipartisan air safety bill from consideration following disagreement over various amendments. The bill was prompted by investigations into the 737 MAX crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Meanwhile, a House report found that a “spectacular” regulatory failure at the FAA and a culture of profit over safety at Boeing contributed to the crashes. Story here and here.
TikTok Ban: The Department of Commerce has ordered that TikTok be banned from US mobile store apps beginning Sunday, pursuant to an Executive Order halting US business with TikTok’s Chinese parent company. The President indicates a deal could be reached to keep the app on the market. More.
President Chastises FBI Director: President Trump expressed dissatisfaction on Twitter after FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Homeland Security Committee. Director Wray testified that antifa is “more of an ideology or a movement than an organization”, and confirmed that Russia is actively working to undermine Joe Biden in the Presidential race and sow discord. President Trump said later that he “did not like his answers”. Full story here.
Puerto Rico Aid Package: The White House announced an almost $12 billion aid package for Puerto Rico to rebuild critical infrastructure, following severe damage by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Full story.