QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, thank you so much for your time. We heard you earlier today talk about Iran shipping ballistic missiles to Russia. You said they’re going to be used on Ukrainians in the next few weeks. SECRETARY BLINKEN: That’s right. QUESTION: We’re also hearing about economic sanctions being imposed on Iran. I guess it makes me think, are you just kicking the can down the road? What exactly is the Iran strategy? Because it doesn’t feel like economic sanctions is going to cut it. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, two things. First, let’s look at what they’re doing, which is providing…
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Federal court resolves 2023 Department of Labor suit against Hall Drive-Ins, Luke HallFORT WAYNE, IN – A federal lawsuit has recovered $178,000 in back wages, damages and penalties from Hall Drive-Ins Inc., operator of 10 Fort Wayne-area restaurants, to resolve U.S. Department of Labor litigation filed in 2023 in light of the employers’ violations of tip-pool requirements in the Fair Labor Standards Act. A consent judgment and order entered in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in Fort Wayne on September 4, 2024, requires The Factory Restaurant and Luke Hall to pay 28 employees $74,626 in back wages…
FOREIGN SECRETARY LAMMY: It’s very special to host you, Tony, here today and to open this new bilateral Strategic Dialogue together. In many ways it’s remarkable; this is a new format. We’ve been close partners for a very, very long time. A century ago, Foreign Secretary Ramsay MacDonald was committed to a consistent friendship and cooperation with the people of America, and that has endured and holds true today. But I believe that this format gives us an opportunity in a difficult, volatile, insecure world to remain strategically aligned on a whole range of issues. You know how personal to me…
Will continue studying lifetime income, QDIAs; accessibility of claims appeal proceduresWASHINGTON – The Department of Labor will hold its next meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, Sept. 10-12 at the department’s headquarters in Washington.The meeting is open to the public and accessible online and via teleconference.During the meeting, the council will continue its review of two 2024 study topics, “Making Welfare Plan Claims and Appeals Procedures More Accessible to Participants” and “Lifetime Income and Qualified Defined Investment Alternatives.” Representatives of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administrationwill provide an update…
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma met today in Vienna, Austria with senior officials to discuss international support for Ukraine and its recovery. He met OSCE permanent representatives and heard firsthand about the organization’s commitment to Ukraine and regional security. He also met International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi to discuss the Agency’s activities in Ukraine, including the IAEA mission at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Grossi updated the Deputy Secretary on his recent visits to Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in Russia, Kyiv, ZNPP,…
WASHINGTON – As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to ensure more than 150 million people with private health coverage have greater access to mental health and substance use disorder care, the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury took significant action today by issuing final rules to clarify and strengthen protections to expand equitable access to these benefits as compared to medical and surgical benefits and reduce barriers to accessing these services. “Like medical care, mental health care is vital to the well-being of America’s workers,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “The final rules issued today make it easier…
On September 4-6, 2024, China hosted in Beijing a meeting of the U.S.-China Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s, which is co-led by U.S. Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta and China Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin and includes their respective colleagues. Both sides continued their discussions on addressing the climate crisis, including implementation of respective 2030 NDCs and preparation of 2035 NDCs. Both sides welcomed the technical and policy exchanges that have been conducted to date under the U.S.-China Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s, including…
Executive Order shows commitment to ensuring Americans’ access to good, safe jobs, benefitsWASHINGTON – As part of its continued efforts to expand opportunities for all, the Biden-Harris administration has announced the “Investing in America and Investing in Americans” Executive Order to drive more federal dollars toward good-paying, safe jobs offering the right to organize and providing critical benefits like childcare.President Biden made the announcement today in Michigan at a United Association union hall in Ann Arbor, joined by Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.“A good job is a job with security and benefits, where…
The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma met yesterday in Krakow, Poland, with Polish Special Plenipotentiary for the Reconstruction of Ukraine Pawel Kowal, private sector businesses, and NGOs to discuss Ukrainian recovery plans. In addition, Deputy Secretary Verma met with leaders of the Jewish Community Centre, one of the largest U.S.-privately funded Ukraine refugee assistance organizations. The Deputy Secretary also visited the European Rover Challenge event, recipient of a U.S. grant, to meet leaders in computer engineering and artificial intelligence research and development, with multiple leading U.S. companies present.…
Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division Consulate of Mexico in San Jose, CaliforniaThe U.S. Department of Labor announced the renewal of the partnership between its San Jose Wage and Hour Division District Office and the Mexican Consulate in San Jose. The collaboration between the countries helps inform the greater San Jose community about workers’ rights under federal labor laws, bring employers into compliance and combat abuses against vulnerable workers.Background: Reaffirming the ongoing partnership is a valuable way to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico and promote outreach activities designed to make workers aware of their rights and employers aware…