Nation

Energy Secretary Chu Opts Out of Second Term

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Energy Secretary Steven Chu. Courtesy/DOE

DOE News:

In a letter to Energy Department employees Friday, Energy Secretary Steven Chu highlighted the “tremendous progress” of the last four years, and announced his decision to not serve a second term as Secretary. Text of the letter is below.

Dear Colleagues:

Serving the country as Secretary of Energy, and working alongside such an extraordinary team of people at the Department, has been the greatest privilege of my life. While the job has had many challenges, it has been an exciting time for the Department, the country, and

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Udall & Heinrich: COOL Rules Must Put Americans First

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U.S. SENATE News:
  • Senators tell USDA to ensure consumers know meat origin

 

Sen. Martin Heinrich
 
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative to work with consumers, ranchers and meatpackers to make sure that American families know where their meat comes from.
 
The World Trade Organization (WTO) recently required the USDA to adjust its rules requiring American retailers to clearly label where meat was raised and processed.
 
The WTO said that while the U.S. can require meat
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Udall Bill Increases Federal Contracting Opportunities

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U.S. SENATE News:
  • First bill of new congress would help New Mexico small businesses

WASHINGTON – In his first bill of the 113th Congress, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall is seeking to expand opportunities for small businesses to secure federal contracts, and make the reporting requirements for those awarded more transparent.

 
The Assuring Contracting Equity (ACE) Act of 2013, would raise the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) government-wide small business contracting level from 23 to 25 percent.
 
It would also increase the contracting goal from 5 to 10 percent for businesses owned
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Senators Introduce Bill Cracking Down on Online Payday Loans

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Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Jan. 29, Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., Oregon’s Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT introduced the Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic (SAFE) Lending Act.
 
The SAFE Lending Act would crack down on the worst practices of the online payday lending industry and give states more power to protect consumers from predatory loans.
 
Sen. Jeff Merkley
 
“We threw the payday lenders, who prey on families when they’re at their most vulnerable, out of Oregon back in 2007,” Merkley
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Drell Named Winner of National Medal of Science

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Sidney Drell. Courtesy/LLNL

LLNL News:

Sidney Drell, physicist, arms control expert and adviser, is one of 12 eminent researchers recently named by President Obama as a recipient of the National Medal of Science.

In addition, 11 inventors are recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Both awards represent the highest honors bestowed by the United States Government upon scientists, engineers and inventors.

“I am proud to honor these inspiring American innovators,” President Obama said. “They represent the ingenuity and imagination that has Read More

Bipartisan Immigration Reform Outline Released

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U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. issued the following statement today after a bipartisan group of senators released an outline for comprehensive immigration reform legislation:
 
“I am very encouraged by the bipartisan framework that has been unveiled in the Senate to modernize our broken immigration system. Reform is long overdue.
 
“The proposal contains the elements necessary to overhaul the system, including securing our borders, a roadmap to earned citizenship and employment verification to hold employers accountable.
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‘Nanotubes on a Chip’ May Simplify Optical Power Measurements

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The circular patch of carbon nanotubes on a pink silicon backing is one component of NIST’s new cryogenic radiometer, shown with a quarter for scale. Gold coating and metal wiring has yet to be added to the chip. The radiometer will simplify and lower the cost of disseminating measurements of laser power. Photo by Tomlin/NIST

NIST News:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has demonstrated a novel chip-scale instrument made of carbon nanotubes that may simplify absolute measurements of laser power, especially the light signals transmitted by optical fibers in telecommunications Read More

Luján Cosponsors Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act, Calls for Swift Passage

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U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján joined as an original cosponsor of legislation introduced today to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA.)

Passed 19 years ago, this landmark legislation focused the resources, time, and energy of federal, state, and local law enforcement on the task of preventing and stopping domestic abuse, while providing victims of violence with critical services and assistance.

“It was with great disappointment that the 112th Congress came to an end without action on a bipartisan reauthorization that addressed Read More

NYT Backs Udall’s Filibuster Reform Efforts

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Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
Today, The New York Times came out in support of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall‘s efforts to end Senate gridlock and filibuster abuse in its editorial, “A Chance to Fix the Senate.”
 
Read the full editorial here.
 
“For six years, Democrats in the Senate have chafed at an unprecedented abuse of the filibuster by Republicans, who have used the practice to hold up nominees high and low and require a supermajority for virtually every bill. But now that they finally have an opportunity to end much of this delay and abuse,
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Today Marks Nation’s 57th Presidential Inauguration

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In a ceremony today marking the start of his second term, President Obama addressed the nation about acting together to move America forward. Upcoming activities throughout today include at 2:35 p.m. ET (estimated), the Inaugural Parade, Pennsylvania Ave., and at 7 p.m. ET (estimated), the Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball … available at: www.pentagonchannel.mil. Courtesy/whitehouse.gov Read More