U.S. Marines make their way to a compound held by members of the Guam Army National Guard, who are acting as an opposing force during the island seizure portion of the Valiant Shield 2014 exercise on Tinian's North Field, Guam, Sept. 20, 2014.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Flag Officer Announcement
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced today that the president has made the following nomination:
Navy Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. for reappointment to the rank of admiral and for assignment as commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Honolulu, Hawaii. Harris is currently serving as commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS $87 MILLION TO ENHANCE, SUPPORT TRIBAL JUSTICE AND SAFETY
Streamlined Grant Program Offers Financial Assistance with Indian Tribes' Prevention and Law Enforcement Efforts, Victim Services and Youth Programs
PENDLETON, OR. - The Department of Justice today announced the awarding of 169 grants to American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, tribal consortia and tribal designees. The grants will provide more than $87 million to enhance law enforcement practices and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts in nine purpose areas including public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; violence against women; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs.
Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for the Office of Justice Programs, Bea Hanson, Principal Deputy Director for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), and Ron Davis, Director for the Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS) made the announcement while attending the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Annual Convention hosted by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. ATNI represents 57 northwest Tribal governments from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Northern California, Southeast Alaska, and Western Montana. This year's announcement includes awards to 22 of the represented tribes at the convention. The awards are made through the Department's Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), a single application for tribal-specific grant programs.
"This work covers every area of public safety in Indian country, from supporting children and youth to protecting and serving native women to the hiring of tribal police officers to strengthening tribal criminal and juvenile justice systems," said AAG Mason. "The CTAS programs are not only critical to reversing crime in Indian country but are integral strengthening and sustaining healthy communities."
The safety of American Indian and Alaska Native women is a top priority of OVW, and a clear priority of the entire Department of Justice. With funding from OVW's Tribal Governments Program, tribes are able to develop and strengthen the tribal justice system's response to violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women that meets the specific needs of their tribe. This funding has played a significant role in increasing programs and services available to tribes, and has both improved and increased the effectiveness of services provided by tribal court systems. This coordinated approach allows OVW and its sister grant-
making components to consider the totality of a tribal community's overall public safety needs in making award decisions.
"We know from our work across Indian country and elsewhere, that early intervention that interrupts or deters a pattern of escalating violence is the key to avoiding more serious and deadly violence in the future," said OVW's Hanson. "And it is the key to saving more women's lives and protecting more children from growing up in a home where violence is the norm."
COPS funding through CTAS improves public safety and enhances community policing in federally recognized Tribal jurisdictions. These funds will allow Tribal jurisdictions to expand the implementation of community policing and meet the most serious needs of law enforcement. With this funding 21 Tribal agencies will be able to hire or re-hire career law enforcement officers and Village Public Safety Officers. Funds awarded today may also be used to procure basic equipment and training to assist in the initiation or enhancement of Tribal community policing efforts.
"I am pleased that COPS can help Tribal jurisdictions hire more officers to help control crime through community policing," said Director Davis. "These funds also support Tribal jurisdictions by covering the costs of basic equipment and training. It's a comprehensive package of support that delivers much needed help to Tribal communities."
The Department developed CTAS through its Office of Community Oriented Policing, Office of Justice Programs and Office on Violence against Women, and administered the first round of consolidated grants in September 2010. Over the past five years, it has awarded over 1,100 grants totaling more than $530 million.
Today's announcement is part of the Justice Department's ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Joins EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge Program Emphasis on Feeding the Hungry and Not Landfills during Hunger Action Month
Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck was joined by Senator Cory Booker, Congressman Frank Pallone, BJ’s Wholesale Club’s Doug Schiefelbein Community Food Bank of New Jersey’s (CFBNJ)Tristan Wallack and Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey to announce BJ’s participation in the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge program at the store in Edison, NJ. Participants in EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge reduce, donate, and compost as much of their excess food as possible, which saves money, feeds hungry people and helps protect the environment. As part of this new agreement, BJ’s plans to develop new benchmarks to measure progress from its food donation program BJ’s Feeding Communities as well as utilize EPA’s tools to enhance its environmental programs and minimize its environmental footprint.
“A staggering amount of nutritious and edible food is wasted every day, winding up in landfills where it produces methane gas,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “EPA commends BJ’s Wholesale Club for being part of the commitment to feed people and not landfills.”
Food accounts for the greatest percentage, more than 20%, of waste going to landfills in the United States. One way to reduce that volume of waste is by donating edible food that would otherwise be thrown away. According to EPA’s Municipal Characterization Report, Americans are wasting more than 36 million tons of food per year, 96 percent of which is thrown away into landfills or incinerators. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that this translates into a loss of approximately $165 billion annually. At the same time, 14.9 percent of households in the U.S. were food insecure in 2011, meaning they did not know where their next meal would come from.
“At BJ’s Wholesale Club, what is not sold, is shared; we have a vested interest in addressing and helping to solve the very real problems of hunger prevention in our local communities,” said Doug Schiefelbein, general manager of the BJ’s Wholesale Club in Edison, New Jersey. “BJ’s Wholesale Club is proud to join the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Challenge. We look forward to working together with the EPA to help keep food out of landfills and minimize greenhouse gas emissions to better the neighborhoods we serve.”
In addition to being the first wholesale club to join the Food Recovery Challenge, BJ’s also recently awarded a grant of $21,000 to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in honor of the company’s 30th anniversary and Hunger Action Month in September. The grant will help the Community Food Bank of New Jersey build capacity through the purchase of additional refrigerators, thermal blankets and other equipment for their partner organizations such as local soup kitchens and food pantries. The new equipment will help their anti-hunger partners store a larger amount of perishable items, thus distributing more nutritious options to local families struggling with food insecurity in New Jersey. The Food Bank was one of 30 grantees that BJ’s Charitable Foundation awarded to Feeding America-member food banks across the 15 states where BJ’s operates.
BJ’s launched a chain-wide initiative, BJ’s Feeding Communities Program in 2011 to help in the fight against hunger. In partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s largest food bank network, BJ’s Clubs donate unsold but still wholesome and nutritious produce, meat, poultry, fish and dairy to food banks and local agencies within the BJ’s footprint. As of August, 2014 BJ’s has donated over 22 million pounds of frozen meat, poultry and fish, produce, dairy and bakery products to food banks, which is the equivalent of 18 million meals. Locally, the BJ’s in Edison has donated 182,762 pounds of healthy, nutritious food, which is the equivalent of 152,302 meals. In total, 15 of BJ’s Clubs in New Jersey that support the CFBNJ have donated 1,470,140 pounds of food, equating to 1,225,117 meals.
BJ’s Feeding Communities Program aligns with the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy to Feed Hungry People.
EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge is based on the fact that wasted food has economic, environmental, and social impacts. Much of this waste is not waste at all, but actually safe, wholesome food that could potentially feed millions of Americans. Excess food, leftovers and scraps that are not fit for consumption and donation can be composted into a nutrient-rich soil supplement. There is also a tremendous waste of energy and natural resources that goes to the growth, processing, transporting and marketing of food, all of which goes to waste when food is thrown away. A full list of the 600 participants can be found at Food Recovery Challenge.
Attorney General Holder Announces $2.6 Million in Grants for Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention
Attorney General Eric Holder announced Monday that the Justice Department has selected four sites to receive a total of $2.6 million in grants to implement promising models aimed at reducing domestic violence homicides. Over the next two years, these sites—Pitt County, North Carolina; Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Contra Costa County, California; and the Borough of Brooklyn, New York—will institute screening models and evidence-based strategies that will allow them to anticipate potentially lethal behavior, take steps to stop the escalation of violence, and – ultimately – save lives. The National Institute of Justice will conduct an evaluation of the models in each of the selected sites to identify the key components needed to successfully adapt the domestic violence homicide prevention models nationwide.
“Domestic violence is more than a crime against just the victim,” said Attorney General Holder in a video message posted on the Justice Department’s website. “It is a crime against all of us as a society. And our collective response must treat it as such.”
The complete text of the Attorney General’s video message is below:
“Domestic violence is a devastating crime that claims far too many lives. Studies have shown that, on average, three women die every day in America at the hands of their partner or ex-partner. And from 2009 to 2012, 40 percent of mass shootings started with the killer targeting a girlfriend, wife, or ex-wife. These are tragic and shocking statistics, and the Justice Department is working hard to bring an end to this horrific status quo.
“Under the Violence Against Women Act, which was reauthorized last year, the Department of Justice is taking vital action to protect and empower women and partners who are being exploited and abused. Through our Office on Violence Against Women, we are working to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable by promoting a coordinated community response. And in the reauthorized Act, this Administration helped to secure important new protections for women in Indian Country, LGBT individuals, and others.
“These are important achievements – but we must do more. That’s why, in 2013, I was proud to stand with Vice President Biden to unveil a new grant-funded initiative to help reduce domestic violence homicides. This funding provided twelve communities– in states across the country – with the opportunity to reduce domestic violence homicides by effectively identifying potential victims and monitoring high-risk offenders.
“And today, I am pleased to announce that four sites have been selected to receive a total of $2.6 million to implement promising models aimed at reducing domestic violence homicides. In Pitt County, North Carolina; in Cuyahoga County, Ohio; in Contra Costa County, California; and in the Borough of Brooklyn, New York – these two-year awards will make a tremendous difference, helping local officials to put their anti-violence initiatives into practice.
“In that time, they will institute screening models and evidence-based strategies that will allow them to anticipate potentially lethal behavior, take steps to stop the escalation of violence, and – ultimately – save lives. These innovative programs can then be studied and replicated in order to protect those who are at risk – and stop would-be abusers – across the United States.
“We have come a long way since the time when these incidents of abuse were considered private, household matters. But we have a ways to go still. Domestic violence is more than a crime against just the victim. It is a crime against all of us as a society. And our collective response must treat it as such.
“Going forward, the Justice Department will continue to build our important efforts to end violence against women and girls – no matter who they are or where they live – because all Americans deserve to feel safe and secure in their homes, on their college campuses, and on the streets of our communities.
“As we strive to end the epidemic of domestic and intimate partner violence, all of us have a great deal of work to do. But this Administration, this Department of Justice – and I personally – will not waver in that effort: to shine a light on violence and abuse; to protect and empower women; and to make domestic violence homicide a thing of the past.”
EPA Awards $81,600 to Mesa Community College for Innovative Center for Urban Agriculture
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded an environmental education grant of $81,600 to Mesa Community College for the development of a cutting-edge “Center for Urban Agriculture” program which will include a degree program, urban farm site and engaging local elementary schools.
The Center for Urban Agriculture will partner with high schools, universities, industry, and communities. The program at Mesa Community College will serve as a model which can be replicated at sites across the state. Participants in the program will learn to utilize open spaces, abandoned lots, and suitable brownfield sites in the Greater Phoenix area to produce and eat healthy foods, reduce air and water pollution, reduce the urban heat island effect, establish and run profitable businesses, and beautify their neighborhoods.
“This environmental education effort will teach employable skills to students and enable them to become environmental stewards,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “The hands on experience that Mesa Community College students will receive is unparalleled and will serve as a model for similar institutions nationwide.”
“We are truly excited to have this unique opportunity to partner with the U.S. EPA on developing a Center for Urban Agriculture Program at Mesa Community College," said Dr. Shouan Pan, President, Mesa Community College. “This model program promises to promote environmental education and advance a growing industry.”
Approximately 50 students will enroll in the Sustainable Urban Agriculture certificate and Associate in Applied Science degree program that will utilize an urban farm site and aquaponics in greenhouse classrooms and gardens. Mesa Community College plans to conduct 20 environmental education workshops for 500 community members. In addition, by taking 10 college-level courses, K-8th grade teachers can acquire an environmental education expertise for their professional development.
The EPA Environmental Education Model Grants Program supports environmental education projects that increase the public's awareness about environmental issues and provide them with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. The EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Office received over 80 applications this year, and the Mesa Community College project is one of two projects in the Pacific Southwest Region that received an environmental education grant.
The fall colors are at their peak on the upper part of the...
09/22/2014 12:22 PM EDT
The fall colors are at their peak on the upper part of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive inGreat Basin National Park. September is a great time to visit!
Photo: National Park Service
CHIEF PINNING
U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Malcolm Jeffcoat receives his cover on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during a chief pinning ceremony in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 15, 2014. Twenty-four sailors aboard the Nimitz were pinned to the rank of chief petty officer. Jeffcoat is a logistics specialist.
HORNET LAUNCH
An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 102 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington during Valiant Shield 2014 in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 17, 2014.
Associate Attorney General West Delivers Farewell Remarks
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Thank you very much. This is all very humbling.
First, let me thank the president, for his confidence in entrusting me with not one but two roles in his administration. One of the mementos I have from the 2008 campaign is a picture of the president and me, in gym clothes, holding a basketball. As was his custom on primary days, he played basketball and on this particular primary day, I was invited to join. Now, I may have many skills; basketball is definitely not one of them. I understand to this day, the president tells people that I am the worst player with whom he’s ever stepped on a court. Thankfully, he didn’t hold that against me when nominating members to serve in his administration. I’m grateful to him, not just for the privilege of serving, but for his leadership in a time of great challenge and change, and I believe we are a stronger, more just, more secure country for generations to come thanks to the difficult decisions he makes every day.
To our speakers: Loretta and Shaun are such remarkable public servants, so good at what they do, the president asked them for repeat performances -- in Loretta’s case this is the second time she's served the country as a U.S. Attorney. And as all of you know, Shaun did such a good job handling the complex organization that is HUD that the President rewarded him by giving him the federal budget. Congratulations, I think. I’m so grateful they made time to be here.
Sam and Maame -- each brilliant, each deeply passionate about the work they do. For years, Sam has been the creative and driving force behind so much of what this administration is getting right when it comes to improving the lives of Native Americans, particularly Native women. And Maame – we’ve worked together on and off for the last 15 years and thanks to her work in connection with these latest big bank settlements, scores of middle-class families will get a second chance at achieving the American dream. I couldn't be more proud of both of them.
My deep thanks to the Deputy Attorney General, who I know wanted to be here today. Anybody who is familiar with this place knows that Jim has one of the two most important jobs and, I think the Attorney General would agree, the most difficult job in this department. We are all very fortunate that Jim Cole is serving in that role, and I’m fortunate to be able to call him a close colleague and friend.
In so many ways I’d simply not be here if it weren’t for Valerie. By some stroke of good luck, I was able to work closely with her during the fall campaign in 2008, and I guess I didn't make too many mistakes because she made it possible for me to return to this department that I love so much. You know, Valerie is such an inspiring role model for me -- her intelligence, her grace under pressure, her ability to bounce back and always to keep moving forward. She would never say this about herself, but I truly believe our country will be a better place because, in many of those moments when it mattered most, Valerie was in the room. Thank you for being here today.
And then, of course, there is the Attorney General.
I’ll never forget the night the AG called to offer me the job of leading the Civil Division. Here’s something you've probably never heard: when he asked, I didn’t say immediately say “yes.”
I had just picked up my wife, Maya, from the airport and we were driving home in the car when I got the call. So when I hung up, Maya knew that I had just told the next Attorney General of the United States, “I’m not sure. Let me think about it.”
And my wife is very supportive, very understanding, so she calmly listened as I explained all the reasons for why I wasn’t sure it was the right fit for me, and when I had finished she looked at me with loving eyes and asked, “Have you lost your mind?”
Turns out I had lost my mind. And, as is often the case, Maya helped me to find my mind. Mind firmly back in place, I quickly phoned the AG back to accept the job.
He said, “I’m not sure. Let me think about it.”
I could have asked for no better boss, no more committed colleague, no more supportive friend than Eric Holder. I am absolutely convinced that when the history is written about how this department successfully defended our voting rights when they were under attack; or how it worked to heal the divisions of race and class that too often manifest themselves in our criminal justice system; or how it found itself on the right side of history in a critical moment for LGBT Americans; or how it protected the civil liberties of our citizens while enhancing the security of our Nation -- those are not easy destinations to reach, but when that history is written I’m convinced it will say that it was Eric Holder -- this Attorney General -- who led us there each and every time. I am so thankful that he allowed me to be part of his team and, as an American, I am so proud of all he has accomplished for our country.
Everything I want to say over the next several minutes can be summed up with one word: Gratitude. Those of you with whom I’ve worked know that I dread the prospect of speaking too long, so I’m going to do my best to get through this quickly because I know folks have happy hours to get to. But I ask your indulgence for just a bit as my heart is full and there are many people to thank for that.
As so many of you know, the Justice Department is my home. Most of my career has been spent here; it’s where I learned to be a lawyer. I’ve been fortunate to serve two Attorneys General, in both career and political posts. I’ve been the most junior of DOJ trial lawyers and privileged to work among this department’s most senior leadership. I once said about the AG, himself a graduate of the DOJ career ranks, that this place was his North Star; in describing him, I was also talking about myself.
I love this department because of its unique mission. It's an audacious one -- I suppose with a name like “Justice” audacity is appropriate. It's a mission that speaks to the fundamental importance of the Rule of Law, as represented by that statue on your far right, aptly named the “Majesty of Law,” a bundle of arrows in hand.
But what I also love about this institution is represented by the statue just behind me -- the “Spirit of Justice.” She’s the soul of this place, a recognition that the Rule of Law without justice is tyranny.
And it’s that Spirit of Justice that is best represented by the people who have dedicated their lives and careers to this department. Particularly those career employees who make up the bulk of this institution. You know who you are: You’re prosecutors and paralegals; investigators and economists; the legal support who makes us look good and the security staff who keeps us safe.
You have withstood shrinking budgets, survived sequestration, weathered the storms of unfair public criticism and a lack of public appreciation. And yet you have performed your duties with a dedication that never wavers; a commitment that never falters. You are the beating heart of this department.
You are people like the amazing folks I worked with in the Civil Division -- political appointees and career attorneys who grappled with some of the most difficult legal and policy issues this department has ever faced. Whether it was pursuing health care fraud, protecting our national security, or successfully defending the Affordable Care Act, you remain some of the smartest, most committed public servants with whom I’ve ever worked.
I’ll never forget the very first team of deputies we had when I joined the Civil Division in 2009 -- Beth Brinkmann, Ian Gershengorn, Ann Ravel, Juan Osuna, Bill Orrick and Mike Hertz -- what an incredible team.
And I’m particularly grateful for the many Civil Division support staff who embraced me in the early days when I was still figuring out where the bathrooms were -- folks worth their weight in gold, led by Ken Zwick, Peggy McKenzie and my protector, Bonita Franklin.
When I became the Associate, I was blessed with an equally impressive array of talent -- people like Elizabeth Taylor, Marisa Chun, Anna Martinez and Sarah Montgomery. Over time, we added extraordinary individuals like Julie McEvo y, Pippa Scarlett, Richard Parker, Alison Nichol, Matt Stegman and Chris Casey.
My longtime colleague Geoff Graber joined us and helped push forward the work of the RMBS Working Group as its Director.
And there were the many, exceptionally talented career attorneys who I detailed from other parts of the department -- which is another way of saying I stole them -- people like Varu Chilakammar i, Stacey Grigsby , Ben Kingsley, Josh Braunstein and Tammie Gregg.
And, of course, we wouldn't be able to get anything done without our two anchors -- the ever cheerful Nathaniel Gamble and the always dependable “rock” of our office, Currie Gunn.
I am so grateful to all of them, and to the many component and division heads, directors and supervisors, career attorneys, support staff and political appointees -- all of them for making this a uniquely special and rewarding space to come to work every day.
I do want to pause for a moment on two individuals. Not many people are indispensable to an organization, but these two come close. Cindy Chang, my deputy chief of staff: her creativity, intelligence, loyalty and sheer capacity for hard work is virtually unmatched. If our office is an engine, Cindy is the oil that makes it run smoothly and I will always be grateful she chose to spend part of her career with me.
And as many of you know, Brian Martinez was, for nearly the entire time I was here, my chief of staff. If Jim Cole’s job is the hardest one at Justice, I think Brian’s was a close second. And Brian did it superbly well. We’ve worked together, in both private practice and public life, for over a decade, and I simply could not have done either of these two jobs without him.
My deepest gratitude goes to my family -- my mom, Peggy, my youngest sister, Patricia and her son -- my nephew -- Ezra, are here. My other sister, Pam, very much wanted to be with us today, as did my sister-in-law, Kamala, but they were unable to make the trip. I'm so thankful for all of my siblings -- they keep me grounded and humble in that special way only a family's love can.
My mom is an amazing woman. She sets an example of integrity, compassion and joy to which I continually aspire and anything good I may have done starts with her and my dad, and I am so thankful for the foundation of love and support they gave me.
Not physically here are my mother-in-law, Dr. Shyamala Harris and my father, Franklin West. Both passed away within the last few years -- at ages much too young -- and not a day in this job has gone by when I don't feel their presence and inspiration. My mother in law was a great life-force of a woman who came to this country as a teenager from India in 1959. She became a renowned scientist in breast cancer research. But she was also a very vocal civil rights activist, and she spent a lifetime knocking down barriers for herself and for other women of color.
My dad was born deep in the Jim Crow south, where he grew up poor, without a father, working his grandparents' farm in rural Georgia on which they were sharecroppers. The first in his family to go to college, Dad had an unshakable belief in the transformative power of education because it opened up pathways that allowed him to reach horizons beyond those to which he was born.
Both my father and Mother Harris lived extraordinary lives, made extraordinary sacrifices and achieved extraordinary things. And I know that any success I may enjoy in my life has been built on the foundation they laid.
Finally, the two pillars of my life, my daughter, Meena, and my wife, Maya. Maya and I have been married for 16 years this past July. We met the third day of our first year in law school but it was Meena, four years old at the time, who introduced us.
I'm signing up for classes and this little girl starts engaging me in a game of hide-and-seek. It was Meena. Over the next three days, I keep seeing this little girl running around the courtyard, egging me on to play. And I finally asked her, “Who do you belong to?”
Turns out, nearly ten years later, after Maya and I got married, she belonged to me. Maya and I are so proud of the exceptionally smart, poised young woman Meena's become, and I could have no better cheerleader in my corner.
And then there is my wife. Ask anyone in my office what Rule Number 1 is and they’ll tell you, “Domestic Tranquility.” That’s because when all is right with Maya, all is right with the world. Maya is a n extraordinary woman of accomplishment -- in the law, public policy, philanthropy and civil rights. She has been as much my teacher as she has been my partner, and every day she is in my life is a blessing. She’s my best friend and closest confidant; my sounding board and reality check; she helps me find the occasional lost mind and I’ll always be grateful she chose me with whom to share this life.
So, let me close with this.
One of the reasons why this place is so unique, so extraordinary, so special, is because what happens here really matters to real people. And those of you who remain here and continue this important work -- I want you to know that what you do speaks to our highest aspirations and expectations about what a fair and just society should be; about what it means to play on a field that’s level; to get an equal shot at success.
And I want you to know that all kinds of people across this country -- they are depending on you to keep doing your best to get it right.
Especially those who, to paraphrase Hubert Humphrey, dance in the dawn of life; or rest in the sunset of life; or struggle in the shadows of life – they’re depending on you. Those who often work the hardest, but have the least; those who know not the mainstream but life’s margins.
All of us are depending on you to make every moment you serve in this department count. And having spent over a decade working closely with you, I know you are more than up to the task.
S o for the privilege of sharing this public service with you, I thank you.
The Hispanic Institute Launches Bilingual PSA for Get-Out-The-Vote Campaign
The key to reaching Hispanic voters? Speak both their languages!
Washington, DC [CapitalWirePR] September 22, 2014 - Today, The Hispanic Institute launched a bilingual public service announcement videoencouraging Hispanics to vote in this November's midterm elections. Thevideo -- which transitions seamlessly between English and Spanish -- is part of the Institute's 2014 Get-Out-The-Vote campaign.
"America's 54 million Hispanics owe it to themselves and their families to make their voices heard at the polls this November," said Gus West, Board Chair of The Hispanic Institute. "Our video appeals to Hispanic Americans' sense of civic duty -- whatever their preferred language may be."
Historically, Hispanics have been under-represented politically. That's largely because they've voted at rates 25 percent lower than blacks and whites.[1]
The Hispanic Institute's video aims to change that. And reaching Hispanics requires bilingual outreach. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts the use of Spanish as the primary language will decrease among Hispanics in the coming years.[2] Already, a quarter of Hispanic Americans speak only English at home.[3]
The Hispanic Institute is looking to air its Get-Out-The-Vote video in five states with the most competitive elections this fall: Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, Georgia, and Iowa.
"With the mid-term elections just six weeks away, Hispanics have a historic chance to influence policy on the issues that matter most to them," said West. "Our campaign will call on them to seize that opportunity."
The video is here:
The Weeks Bay Foundation, Inc. Receives $270,566 to Increase Awareness and Action on Gulf Issues
Stennis Space Center, MS – The U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Program recently announced that the Weeks Bay Foundation, Inc. (Weeks Bay) has received a $270,566 through a cooperative agreement for the project “A Gulf of Mexico Coastal Training Initiative.” This project will be directed under the leadership of Michael Shelton, Coastal Training Program Coordinator of Weeks Bay Foundation, Inc.
“The Gulf of Mexico Program is committed to supporting our partners in addressing our mutual goals of improving, protecting and restoring the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico,” said Ben Scaggs, Director of the U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Program. “We look forward to the sustainable environmental results that will be accomplished through this cooperative agreement with the Weeks Bay Foundation, Inc.”
The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Training Initiative will offer targeted and technical assistance to resource managers and decision-makers on the Gulf Coast. The training events and technical assistance will employ proven educational methodologies to increase regional awareness and action on program priorities and strategic goals identified by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program and the region’s coastal decision-makers. Weeks Bay will hold 15 workshops on the Gulf Coast, provide technical assistance to five coastal communities over three years, as well as engage local communities and raise awareness of environmental issues Gulf-wide.
“The Gulf National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) regional partnership is well positioned to address coastal resource management issues that have impacts on a regional level through locally based training and technical assistance,” said Shelton. “The primary outcome of the NERRs and GMP initiative is improved decision-making in the management of coastal resources.”
This cooperative agreement will further the strategic goals and objectives of Gulf of Mexico Program and lead to a healthy and prosperous ecosystem.
Military Continues Battle Against Suicide
By Lisa Ferdinando
Army News Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2014 - Every suicide in the force is tragic, a top National Guard leader said recently, and the number of these deaths needs to be reduced to zero.
Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael E. Bobeck, special assistant to the director of the Army National Guard, spoke Sept. 19 at the Psychological Health and Resilience Summit at Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia. His topic was "Resilience and Psychological Efforts in the DoD."
"Suicide and high-risk behavior reduction remains an incredibly difficult problem and has the top interest of our Army senior leaders as well as our Department of Defense," Bobeck said. "We need to continue to work and strive to reduce high-risk behavior and suicides across our force."
Number of soldier-suicides down
Bobeck said the Army National Guard had 120 suicides in 2013. There have been 44 this year, he said.
"That's tragic that we've even had 44, but that's a significant difference in number," Bobeck said. "We've made a tremendous investment in our resiliency campaigns and our resiliency training. Can we tie that directly to that? We're still looking at that, but we know we've had a significant reduction."
Yet, each soldier's suicide "is still tragic," said Bobeck, who noted the necessity of reducing the incidence of such tragedies "to zero."
Eliminate stigma of seeking help
The stigma associated with getting help for psychological issues needs to be eliminated, he said. Soldiers seeking treatment also need to fully disclose their conditions and not be afraid to report the issues they are facing, he added.
National Guard soldiers face challenges in accessing health programs, Bobeck said, as many live in communities far from where the military health programs are offered.
"Because of our geographically dispersed, part-time nature of our force, our behavioral health programs have to adapt to serve our unique needs," Bobeck said. "Our soldiers don't live near large bases, we don't have continual access to clinics and we don't come together on a daily basis."
'Invisible' wounds can emerge
National Guard soldiers are screened before, during and after deployments, Bobeck noted. Follow-up assessments need to occur in the months and years after deployments, he said, when the "invisible" wounds can emerge from traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder.
"What we've found is that many of the DoD and the Army health programs are designed for active-duty soldiers and that component," Bobeck said. "We have to think differently on how we deliver services to our men and women in this unique population."
Duty status also impacts the availability of health care, he said.
Bobeck said the National Guard and Army Reserve are looking at several different unified budget legislation actions to help change some policies and allow members to access care regardless of their status.
Nation at war
Members of the National Guard are citizens who work, go to school, live in their communities, and are always ready to serve the nation whenever called upon, Bobeck said.
"They have been heavily engaged in combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 13 years, and as well as responding to national emergencies at the national level as well as at the state level," he said.
"Our men and women serving in the National Guard today are not in a Guard that their grandfather served in," Bobeck said.
"We are definitely training more than a weekend a month and two weeks during the summer, and that shows by the readiness of our men and women to respond to emergencies in their state as well as being able to quickly mobilize and deploy for operations overseas."
Health and resiliency programs need to address the needs and challenges of the diverse National Guard locations, Bobeck said.
"One program does not fit all 50 states and territories," he said.
Fiscal challenges
Budget cuts are forcing "tough resource decisions," Bobeck said. The Army across the force has allocated a "tremendous amount of time and resources" over the past 13 years for resiliency programs for family support, employment assistance, substance abuse and programs to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual assault, he said.
"We know that these budget cuts that are coming are forcing us to take a hard look at all of those programs, balance those resources, look for program efficiencies, as well as partner with other not only services but other organizations to continue to provide that access for our men and women," he said.
"And it's hard to do," the general added.
NASA Sees Tropical Depression Polo Winding Down
NASA's Aqua satellite gathered infrared data on Polo on Sept. 22 at 5:11 a.m. EDT, reading cloud top temperatures. There was a small area of high clouds (blue), indicating that most thunderstorms had weakened or already dissipated except for that area.
Image Credit:
NASA JPL, Ed Olsen
Infrared satellite imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite showed only a swirl of low-level clouds some deep clouds around Polo's weakening center on Sept. 22 as the storm weakened to a depression.
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard Aqua gathered infrared data on Polo on Sept. 22 at 5:11 a.m. EDT, reading cloud top temperatures. There was a small area of high clouds, indicating that most thunderstorms in the depression had weakened or already dissipated except for that area.
At 5 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 22, Tropical Depression Polo's maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph (55 kph) and additional weakening is forecast during two days. In fact, the National Hurricane Center expects Polo to become a remnant later in the day.
Polo was centered near latitude 22.5 north and longitude 113.8 west, about 250 miles (40 km) west of the southern tip of Baja California. It was moving toward the west near 8 mph (13 kph) and is expected to turn to the southwest by Sept. 23. Swells generated by polo affecting the southern Baja California peninsula are expected to subside late on Sept. 22.
The National Hurricane Center discussion noted during the morning of Sept. 22 at 5 a.m. EDT that Polo had been devoid of significant deep convection for 10 hours and that the satellite imagery showed the cyclone consisted of "a tight swirl of low-level clouds with a few deeper clouds located over 100 nautical miles west of the center near the mid-level remnants."
Polo will likely be declared a remnant low late on Sept. 22 and dissipate by Sept. 26.
Face of Defense: Navy 'Shooters' Launch Carrier Jets
By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Chris Cavagnaro
USS George Washington
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2014 - Navy Lt. Kacee Jossis, a "shooter" aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington, verifies all the pre-flight checks have been completed and everyone on the flight deck is in position to commence flight operations.
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Jossis then looks up at an F/A-18F Super Hornet jet assigned to the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron 102 and gives the signal to launch.
These seemingly routine operations require the teamwork of many highly trained personnel, including a small group of 11 yellow-shirted catapult officers known as "shooters" who are responsible for the safe and efficient launch of the ship's aircraft.
"The catapult officer is responsible to ensure the catapult is prepared and ready to launch aircraft, the aircraft is properly configured to launch, all personnel are in their proper position and any observers are behind the foul lines," said Lt. Cmdr. Robert Neff, a shooter aboard George Washington.
"We inspect the entire catapult system, the jet-blast deflector, and input our calculations for wind to determine how much steam is needed to launch aircraft," Neff said.
On-the-job training
In order to become a shooter, a catapult officer must hold numerous qualifications and have successfully completed rigorous on-the-job training.
The qualifications can take anywhere from three to six months to achieve, but upon completion, being a shooter is one of the best jobs a sailor can have on an aircraft carrier, said Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Kreutz, George Washington's lead catapult officer,.
"For us, it's all about being around flight operations and continuing to do so," Kreutz said. "All of us come from different backgrounds as naval aviators and being a shooter is a completely different job than we're used to, so it's nice to see a different side of the aviation world and control flight operations."
Part of air department
In addition to these duties, shooters command the five divisions that make up George Washington's air department.
"Air department is the biggest department on the ship, with nearly 750 sailors," Neff said. "When we're not out there on the flight deck shooting aircraft, we're running our divisions and leading our sailors."
To mark the end of her tour on the George Washington, Jossis upheld a catapult officer tradition by tying her flight deck boots around a catapult and launching them into the ocean.
"For my last shot on the flight deck, I was able to shoot my boots to signify my completed tour as a shooter," Jossis said. "It was a nice way to send me off and onto my next command."
Reflects on catapult officer duty
Jossis reflected upon the two years she spent as a shooter aboard the ship.
"It's been a good experience," Jossis said. "If you're going to come to a carrier as a pilot and not fly, shooting is the best job you can have. I really enjoyed working with everyone in air department. It's bittersweet to leave, but I'm ready to fly again."
George Washington is currently participating in Valiant Shield, which is a joint exercise integrating U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps assets, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners.
The Odd Trio
To learn more about the surface of Tethys (660 miles, or 1,062 kilometers across), see PIA17164. More on the chaotic spin of Hyperion (168 miles, or 270 kilometers across) can be found at PIA07683. And discover more about the role of Prometheus (53 miles, or 86 kilometers across) in shaping the F ring inPIA12786.
This view looks toward the sunlit side of the rings from about 1 degree above the ringplane. The image was taken in visible light with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on July 14, 2014.
The view was acquired at a distance of approximately 1.2 million miles (1.9 million kilometers) from Tethys and at a Sun-Tethys-spacecraft, or phase, angle of 22 degrees. Image scale is 7 miles (11 kilometers) per pixel.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging operations center is based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo.
NASA Sees Tropical Storm Fung-Wong Move Through East China Sea
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong weakened over the weekend of Sept. 20-21 as it moved over Taiwan and approached Shanghai, China.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Fung-Wong when it was approaching Taiwan on Sept. 20 at 1:35 a.m. EDT.
On Sunday, Sept. 21, Tropical Storm Fung-Wong was over Taiwan. It was centered at 26.0 north latitude and 122.0 east longitude, just 60 miles north-northeast of Taipei, Taiwan and moving to the north. Maximum sustained winds were near 50 knots (57 knots/92.6 kph).
By Monday, Sept. 22, Fung-Wong's center was approaching the China coast, south of Shanghai, but is curving away from land and headed toward South Korea. At 10 a.m. EDT, Maximum sustained winds weakened to 40 knots (46 mph/74 kph). Fung-Wong was centered near 29.6 east latitude and 122.4 east longitude, about 135 nautical miles south-southeast of Shanghai.
Infrared satellite imagery on Sept. 22 shows that the storm is being affected by westerly vertical wind shear as the bulk of showers and thunderstorms are being pushed northeast of the center. Vertical wind shear, when strong enough can weaken a storm's circulation and the overall storm and that's what is happening with Fung-Wong.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) expects Fung-Wong to continue curving to the east-northeast and grazing southern South Korea. Over the next day or two, Fung-Wong is expected to become extra-tropical, that is, its core will go from warm to cold, like a regular mid-latitude low pressure system. As it transitions, JTWC expects vertical wind shear to increase in the next couple of days and continue to weaken it. By Sept. 24 or 25, that wind shear is expected to dissipate Fung-Wong.
Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
EPA Announces Grant Opportunities to Reduce Diesel Emissions at Ports
WASHINGTON - Today, EPA announced the availability of up to $5 million in grant funding to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing emissions from marine and inland water ports located in areas of poor air quality.
“Communities surrounding ports often face serious air quality and other environmental challenges, “ said Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. “By working with fleet owners to replace or update older equipment with cleaner technologies, we can find collaborative solutions that foster both economic growth and improve public health.”
Older diesel engines emit large amounts of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants are linked to a range of serious health problems including asthma, lung and heart disease, and other respiratory ailments. Most of the country’s busiest ports are located near large metropolitan areas and, as a result, people in neighboring communities are exposed to high levels of diesel emissions. Since most ships and equipment at ports run on diesel engines, clean diesel projects at ports will produce immediate emissions reductions and provide health benefits to those living and working in the area.
This is the second grant competition to focus on reducing emissions at ports under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA). Under this competition, EPA anticipates awarding between two and five assistance agreements. Applicants may request up to $2 million in funding toward eligible projects. Port authorities, governmental or quasi-governmental public agencies that operate ports, and state and local governments with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality are eligible to apply. Community groups, terminal operators, shipping carriers, and other related entities are encouraged to participate through partnerships with eligible applicants. Projects may include drayage trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and cargo handling equipment at marine or inland water ports. Funding is limited to projects at ports located in areas of poor air quality, as determined by the Administrator. The list of eligible areas for this RFP can be found at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/ports/documents/fy14-ports-county-area-
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