March 04, 2010

Six local and national environmental groups praised the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for unveiling the Obama administration's 18-month plan this afternoon to expedite construction of near-term projects, while creating a long-term vision and governance structure for restoring coastal wetlands in Louisiana. CEQ and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) are leading an interagency working group created by President Obama last August to step up the federal response to catastrophic wetland loss in the Gulf Coast region that worsened the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor this afternoon in support of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, which passed the House by a vote of 217 to 201. Below are the Speaker's remarks. "Madam Speaker, I will not speak long because the sooner we finish debate on this bill, the sooner it goes back to the Senate, the sooner it goes to the White House for signature, the sooner jobs are created in our country. "I agree with much of what the distinguished Ranking Member on the Committee, Mr. Mica, said about wanting a six-year bill." Full release.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Commander Roberto "Bobby" Barrera today presented a personalized commemorative baseball bat to President Barack Obama to recognize his support for the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act and going to bat for veterans. "The President's support of this advance appropriation act truly honors the service and sacrifice of our nation's disabled veterans and their families," said Commander Barrera. "His support for this initiative throughout the 2008 election campaign and as President has improved health care delivery to veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)." Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this morning on Sander Levin of Michigan becoming new acting Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee: "Congressman Pete Stark has informed me that, due to his desire to remain as subcommittee Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, he has resigned as acting Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Pete Stark has been a leader in health insurance reform, and we will continue to rely upon him as we enter the final stretch of ensuring health care for all Americans." Full release.

As part of the Justice Department's year-long commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli today announced the kick-off of a nationwide college campus tour by top department officials to raise awareness of violence against women. Throughout the month of March, eight members of the Department of Justice leadership will visit 12 universities around the nation, including public, private and faith-based institutions and a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Department officials will speak with students about ways to prevent violence against women on college campuses, and the role that federal, state and local government, working with university staff, faculty and students, should play. Full release.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Bill Clinton join today with international recording artists will.i.am and David Guetta, South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, and director Spike Lee, to launch MASSIVEGOOD, an innovative fundraising movement that will enable travelers to make a "micro-contribution" towards major global health causes every time they buy a plane ticket, reserve a hotel room or rent a car. Full release.

Taxpayers who did not file a 2006 tax return are at risk of forfeiting more than $1.3 billion in possible refund dollars, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service notes that this year's tax filing deadline of April 15 is doubly significant for the nearly 1.4 million people who did not file in 2006, given that their three-year window to claim a potential refund is quickly closing. Full release.

Today the National Autism Association celebrated the passing of H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act, on Wednesday and those responsible for spearheading the bill. Congressman George Miller (D-CA) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced the federal legislation as a much-anticipated solution to the issues of unregulated restraint and seclusion in schools. Full release.

The aggregate value of Commercial Real Estate (CRE) loans priced by DebtX that collateralize CMBS increased to 76.7% as of January 29, 2010, up from 75.9% as of December 31, 2009. Loan values are down from 81.3% compared to January 2009. "Loan prices rose in January due primarily to the downward shift of the treasury yield curve and a modest tightening of whole loan spreads," said DebtX CEO Kingsley Greenland. "These improvements in the capital markets were partially offset by weak commercial real estate fundamentals." Full release.

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