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Milliman annual Public Pension Funding Study finds public pensions shifted portion of equity, fixed income assets to private equity and real estate

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 18, 2023
Insurance, Human Resources, Labor, Finance, Consulting, Banking, Congressional News, Views, Professional Services, Public Policy, Government, Other Policy Issues, Milliman, Pension fund

Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released the results of its annual Public Pension Funding Study (PPFS), which explores the funded status of the nation’s 100 largest public defined benefit pension plans.

Key Points: 
  • Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released the results of its annual Public Pension Funding Study (PPFS), which explores the funded status of the nation’s 100 largest public defined benefit pension plans.
  • It includes detailed analysis of cash flows, cost of benefits, and total pension liability, as well as funding projections through November 30, 2023.
  • “From 2013 through 2022, the PPFS asset allocation was largely stable, but our 2023 study saw a noticeable move from equity and fixed income into private equity and real estate,” said Becky Sielman, co-author of Milliman’s PPFS.
  • “In addition, the 2023 study found a 10% increase in retiree population.”
    To view Milliman’s annual Public Pension Funding Study, go to http://www.milliman.com/ppfs .

Endangered Species Act at 50: Almost 60% of Claimed Species ‘Recoveries’ Were Falsely Listed, Western Caucus Foundation Report Shows

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Environment, Climate Change, Environmental Policy, Environmental Issues, Environmental Health, Congressional News, Views, Public Policy, Government, White House, Federal Government, Other Policy Issues, Congressional Western Caucus, House, Science, ESA, Congress, WCF, Endangered species, Hunting, D.C

The WCF analysis puts the number of actual recoveries at less than 2%.

Key Points: 
  • The WCF analysis puts the number of actual recoveries at less than 2%.
  • “This report documents that the Endangered Species Act in its present form is ineffectual at best, and that its dismal record has been hidden,” said Rob Gordon, an ESA expert and the report’s author.
  • “With a less than 5% success rate, it’s clear that the ESA as enacted has failed its mission of actually recovering species.
  • Updating the ESA for the better would only turn its long-term failures into successes for truly endangered or threatened species.”

Niman Ranch Statement on FDA Report Showing Rising Antibiotic Use for Livestock

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 8, 2023
FDA, White House, Federal Government, Health, General Health, State, Local, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Animal Welfare, Congressional News, Views, Fitness & Nutrition, Public Policy, Government, Chicken, Animal, Meat, Annual report, Food, Niman Ranch, Environment, Livestock, Cattle, Poultry farming

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released their annual report tracking sales of antibiotics for livestock .

Key Points: 
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released their annual report tracking sales of antibiotics for livestock .
  • Overall, medically important antibiotic sales for meat production increased 4% between 2021 and 2022, with pigs accounting for 43% of sales, cattle 41%, turkeys 12% and chickens 2%.
  • “As a longtime leader in the no antibiotics ever sector, it is dispiriting to see the use of medically important antibiotics on the rise for livestock production.
  • Raising livestock without antibiotic overuse is paramount to the future efficacy of these life-saving drugs and reducing the world health crisis of antibiotic resistance.

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes’ Statement on Decision to Not Seek Re-election in 2024

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 8, 2023
Professional Services, Congressional News, Views, Public Policy, Government, State, Local, Legal, Elections, Campaigns, Empowerment, Sleep, Woman, Human, Guilt, Violence, Safety, DNA, OUR, Herbal cigarette, Federation, Gold, Multimedia, Patient, Police, Culture, Male, HERE, Small business, AG, Theft, Democrat, COVID, City, Social media, Friends, Gold Star, Refugee, Trauma, AGO, DEA, Operation Underground Railroad, Survivor, Lawyer, Environment, Apple, Growth, Republican, Bias, Congress, Family, Hearing, AI, Female, American Dream, Crime, Suicide, Volunteering, Face, Meta, ESG, Drug, Tourism, Island, Blockchain

Today, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes released a statement of his accomplishments as Utah Attorney General over three terms since 2014, and his decision not to run for re-election in 2024.

Key Points: 
  • Today, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes released a statement of his accomplishments as Utah Attorney General over three terms since 2014, and his decision not to run for re-election in 2024.
  • That’s why I have been endorsed over several re-elections by hundreds of Utah leaders — from sheriffs and commissioners to CEOs and small business owners.
  • When Utah child abuse cases increased, especially during COVID, my team expanded the safety net of Children’s Justice Centers statewide.
  • For more information about Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, visit www.seanreyes.com.

Triple-I: Plaintiffs Should Disclose Third-Party Funding Arrangements

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Public Policy, Government, Legal, Insurance, State, Local, Professional Services, Elections, Campaigns, Advocacy Group Opinion, Congressional News, Views, Investment, Insurance Information Institute, Cost, John Carbone Porfilio, TPLF, Swiss Re, DCC, P&C

Third-party litigation funders (TPLF) provide billions of dollars each year to U.S. plaintiffs and their legal counsel, yet only a handful of U.S. states, such as Indiana and Montana , have required plaintiffs to disclose in court whether a TPLF is financially supporting a civil lawsuit.

Key Points: 
  • Third-party litigation funders (TPLF) provide billions of dollars each year to U.S. plaintiffs and their legal counsel, yet only a handful of U.S. states, such as Indiana and Montana , have required plaintiffs to disclose in court whether a TPLF is financially supporting a civil lawsuit.
  • “Without transparency, we are not able to provide deep data-driven insights about TPLF’s impacts on consumers and the insurance industry.
  • GL products are where more of the complex and high-limit litigation occurs for large corporations.
  • Legal system abuse contributes to higher costs for insurance operations and policyholder pricing, Triple-I’s chief insurance officer concluded.

NMHC, NAA Testify Before Congress on Housing Affordability Solutions

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Commercial Building & Real Estate, Construction & Property, Advocacy Group Opinion, Urban Planning, REIT, Congressional News, Views, Public Policy, Government, Other Construction & Property, Residential Building & Real Estate, Policy, Housing, National Apartment Association, House, Committee, Insurance, NAA, Congress, Hearing, Knowledge, NMHC, Human, Property management, Lease

The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and National Apartment Association (NAA) today testified before the House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance for their hearing titled “Housing Affordability: Governmental Barriers and Market-based Solutions.”

Key Points: 
  • The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and National Apartment Association (NAA) today testified before the House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance for their hearing titled “Housing Affordability: Governmental Barriers and Market-based Solutions.”
    Arianna Royster, president of Borger Residential, testified on behalf of the 100,000 combined members of NAA and NMHC to support sustainable policy solutions that improve housing affordability and protect the nation’s rental housing infrastructure for future generations of renters.
  • “To sustainably address the nation’s housing affordability challenge, policymakers should prioritize long-term solutions that will increase the supply of affordable rental housing.
  • Both solutions have been long supported by NAA and NMHC, and bipartisan and bicameral legislation to accomplish both of these have already been introduced in Congress this term.
  • It is clear that there is broad agreement between rental housing providers, renters and other housing stakeholders on what are effective solutions.

Eastern N.C. Chooses Fiber Broadband Association’s OpTIC Path™ Fiber Technician Training Program

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
5G, IOT (Internet of Things), Other Technology, State, Local, Telecommunications, Urban Planning, Other Policy Issues, Networks, Internet, Other Construction & Property, Technology, Congressional News, Views, Public Policy, Government, Construction & Property, Utilities, Energy, University, Training, Education, Public service, FBA, Employment, Organization, Workforce, Optical path length, College, Path, Edenton-Chowan Schools, College of The Albemarle, Albemarle County Public Schools, Workforce development, Optics, Internet service provider, Nursing, Research

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced that College of The Albemarle is the latest education institution to offer FBA’s Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path™) program.

Key Points: 
  • The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced that College of The Albemarle is the latest education institution to offer FBA’s Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path™) program.
  • Partnering with broadband internet provider Fybe , the two organizations will leverage the OpTIC Path course to produce a pipeline of expertly-trained fiber broadband technicians that will connect rural, eastern N.C. communities to high-quality fiber broadband networks.
  • Like in many areas of the country, the need for fiber infrastructure in eastern N.C. continues to increase.
  • “It is thrilling to see the OpTIC Path program grow and help communities across the nation build high-speed fiber broadband networks,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association.

Cory Simpson Appointed CEO of Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT)

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Congressional News, Views, White House, Federal Government, Public Policy, Government, Defense, Other Policy Issues, Other Defense, Contracts, Policy, Organization, Food, Multimedia, National security, Heart, Clemson University, Weldon Humble, Saint, Army, Water, Nation, Military reserve force, Management, Tourism

The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), a Washington D.C. based 501(c)3 think tank, is honored to announce the appointment of national security executive Cory Simpson as its new Chief Executive Officer effective immediately.

Key Points: 
  • The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), a Washington D.C. based 501(c)3 think tank, is honored to announce the appointment of national security executive Cory Simpson as its new Chief Executive Officer effective immediately.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130985232/en/
    The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) is honored to announce the appointment of national security executive Cory Simpson as its new Chief Executive Officer.
  • Mr. Simpson said, “I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary organization.
  • Together, Mr. Eftekhari, Mr. Simpson, and Ms. Hunter will realize a vision for ICIT that places emphasis on the human impact of critical infrastructure security and resiliency.

Job Corps Selects Fiber Broadband Association’s OpTIC Path™ Technician Training Program

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Technology, Congressional News, Views, Professional Services, Public Policy, Government, Web3, IOT (Internet of Things), Other Education, Other Technology, Training, State, Local, Telecommunications, Other Policy Issues, Networks, Education, Internet, Human Resources, Labor, FBA, Optical fiber, Workforce, Optical path length, Student, Corps, Path, School, Job Corps, Partnership, Optics, Nursing, Research

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced that its Optical Telecom Installer Certification ( OpTIC Path™ ) program has been approved as the primary Fiber Optic Technician Credential for Job Corps .

Key Points: 
  • The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced that its Optical Telecom Installer Certification ( OpTIC Path™ ) program has been approved as the primary Fiber Optic Technician Credential for Job Corps .
  • Piloting the program at its Oneonta, N.Y. campus first, the partnership would significantly broaden the availability of the OpTIC Path program across the nation as more Job Corps campuses adopt it.
  • Job Corps is the nation’s largest free residential career training and education program for income-eligible adults ages 16 through 24.
  • “We look forward to launching OpTIC Path and helping train the next generation of fiber broadband technicians.”
    FBA created the OpTIC Path program in 2021 to develop a trusted training credential and strengthen the fiber broadband workforce.

National Black Farmers Association Launches #SupportBlackFarmers Petition Urging White House to Stop Menthol Ban

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Public Policy, Government, Agriculture, Natural Resources, White House, Federal Government, Tobacco, Advocacy Group Opinion, Congressional News, Views, Retail, Sale, Pressure, Heated tobacco product, Food, Census of agriculture, White, Federation, Public, National Black Farmers Association, Multimedia, Change.org, FDA, Farmer, NBFA, Deportation, Unemployment, Black

Founded by John Boyd, Jr., a 4th generation black farmer, businessman, and farmers rights activist, the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) is calling on the Biden Administration to end its proposed ban on menthol tobacco products, calling it a misguided federal policy that will devastate Black farmers and rural communities.

Key Points: 
  • Founded by John Boyd, Jr., a 4th generation black farmer, businessman, and farmers rights activist, the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) is calling on the Biden Administration to end its proposed ban on menthol tobacco products, calling it a misguided federal policy that will devastate Black farmers and rural communities.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231116346741/en/
    John Boyd, Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association (Photo: Business Wire)
    “The White House is about to hand down another mandate that will put more Black farmers out of business,” said John Boyd, Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association.
  • “The proposed federal ban targets adult use of menthol tobacco products – the kind of tobacco products preferred and grown by Black farmers.
  • The association previously represented one million Black farmers across the country, a figure which now stands at over 130,000 across 47 states.