CHARLOTTE, N.C.–The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) (NYSE: BWC) announced today that Nuclear Production Partners, LLC (NP2) filed a new protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) related to the combined management and operating contract at the Y-12 National Security Complex and Pantex Plant. NP2 has expressed concern over the fairness of the procurement and selection process and the form and scope of the revised Request for Proposals (RFP) issued to bidders on June 6, 2013. (more…)

WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senator Kay Hagan has joined Republican Senator Jim Inhofe, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to introduce an amendment reinstating the Tuition Assistance program for servicemembers. In the wake of sequestration, the Air Force, Army and Marine Corps have decided to suspend Tuition Assistance benefits, which are designated for active duty servicemembers. Earlier this week, Hagan sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel expressing her deep concern about the decision.   (more…)

RALEIGH, N.C.–The Office of State Controller today released North Carolina’s 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The CAFR is prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. North Carolina is one of the first states to complete and submit its CAFR. In fiscal year 2011, only three states (New York, Utah, and Washington) and the District of Columbia submitted their CAFR prior to North Carolina’s submission. In addition, OSC recently received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The 2011 award marked the 18th consecutive year that OSC’s CAFR received this noteworthy recognition. The OSC believes the 2012 CAFR will meet or exceed the Certificate of Achievement Program requirements and have submitted it to the GFOA for review. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) The federal government’s fiscal year 2012 has come to a close, and CBO estimates that the federal budget deficit for the year was about $1.1 trillion, approximately $200 billion lower than the shortfall recorded in 2011. The 2012 deficit was equal to 7.0 percent of gross domestic product, CBO estimates, down from 8.7 percent in 2011, 9.0 percent in 2010, and 10.1 percent in 2009, but greater than in any other year since 1947. CBO’s deficit estimate is based on data from the Daily Treasury Statements; the Treasury Department will report the actual deficit for fiscal year 2012 later this month. The estimated deficit is $38 billion below what CBO projected in its August Budget and Economic Outlook because revenues were higher and outlays were lower than expected near the end of the fiscal year. (more…)

(Washington, D.C. ) U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, who has been traveling across the state on her North Carolina Back to Work Jobs Tour for months, will host a Jobs Summit on Friday, July 20 at 10:30 a.m. with the state’s top leaders in business, economic development and education to discuss current and future job creation efforts. Hagan’s jobs tour has taken her to small businesses, manufacturing plants, workforce development offices and community colleges around the state – as well as online for a Twitter town hall with constituents – to gather ideas and initiatives that will put North Carolina back to work. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $971 million to continue improving preparedness and health outcomes for a wide range of public health threats within every state, eight U.S. territories, and four of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, including more than $25 million for North Carolina health care and public health preparedness. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released a report highlighting the ways in which infrastructure investments in rural communities help create jobs and boost economic development, and he announced additional investments that will create jobs and promote economic growth across the nation. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that rural electric cooperative utilities in 10 states will receive loans to install smart grid technologies and make improvements to generation and transmission facilities. Examples of funding announced include a $102.8 million guaranteed loan to the Jackson Electric Membership Corporation in Jefferson, GA, to build and improve over 850 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan also includes $7.2 million in smart grid projects. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) has voiced her support for Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations to strengthen responses to environmental exposures at military installations. Yesterday, the GAO released the report titled DOD Can Improve Its Response to Environmental Exposures on Military Installations, which recommends measures for the Department of Defense to improve identification of and responses to environmental exposures. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Saturday it now spends as much effort and resources on surveilling a drug after it is approved as it does in the pre-approval process. The FDA was responding to critics who say the agency is toothless when it comes to tracking the safety of drugs already on the market, when industry funds that supported pre-approval reviews tend to dry up. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) Tobacco control company Radal Technology USA has announced its inclusion as an Approved Supplier to the Government Supply Agency (GSA). Radal Technology USA is the hub of operations in the USA for the Cig-Arrête® Tobacco Control and SpeechPOD Voice Warning Systems. Designed to provide an alarm in the event of illicit smoking in washrooms and restrooms, the Cig-Arrête® system has been installed in over 50,000 facilities in 25 countries around the world. The products have found favour in providing a deterrent to tobacco smoking in school restrooms, hospitals and businesses throughout the USA, especially amongst younger children who feel intimidated in using the restroom facilities within school. (more…)

(Winston-Salem, N.C.) U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC), a member of the Senate Small Business Committee, has announced that she is introducing legislation that will reduce paperwork burden on small businesses, freeing them to concentrate on growing the economy and creating jobs. Hagan made the announcement today during the 8th stop on her North Carolina Back to Work Jobs Tour. (more…)