Trump's Christmas Gift to Big Oil: Killing Hopes of Electric Car Tax Credit Extension

Ecowatch | December 19, 2019

The oil industry, a staunch opponent of electric vehicles (EVs), received an early Christmas present from the White House as President Trump reportedly intervened to quash an EV tax credit expansion from inclusion in a government spending package. The tax credit is meant to help offset the upfront cost of electric vehicles and boost the EV market. Consumers who purchase an EV can currently claim a credit up to $7,500, and the credit phases out once auto manufacturers sell 200,000 qualifying vehicles. Tesla and General Motors have both hit the 200,000-vehicle cap and had lobbied for an extension. A bipartisan proposal called for allowing a $7,000 credit for an additional 400,000 vehicles sold.

Spotlight

Spotlight

Related News

Cybersecurity

The Virtru Data Security Platform Achieves FedRAMP Authorization

Globenewswire | August 11, 2023

Virtru, the global leader in data-centric security and privacy, today announced that the Virtru Data Security Platform received Authorization to Operate (ATO) at the Moderate level under theFederal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP®). This authorization was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. TheVirtru Data Security Platformunderpins a holistic suite of data protection products that empower public- and private-sector organizations to scale data-centric security across sensitive data workflows. The Virtru platform first achieved FedRAMP ATO at the Moderate level in 2019, and since that time, Virtru has continued to expand the platform to provide the federal government and its contractors with secure encryption, access controls, and key management capabilities. This includes the addition ofVirtru Secure Share, an encrypted file-sharing solution that equips organizations to securely send and receive sensitive data while retaining complete, continuous control over that shared data, with data owners having the ability to revoke access at any time. “Federal organizations are realizing the urgent need for data-centric security, embracing strategies that enhance rather than impede the mission by prioritizing control and secure access to data at a granular level first, while also protecting the systems and networks that store and transmit it,” said Will Ackerly, co-founder and CTO, Virtru. “This includes the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which recently announced its intent toimplement a data-centric frameworkto address rapidly emerging cybersecurity challenges, highlighting the value and urgency of data-centric security to enable mission success.” Ackerly added, “Virtru’s Data Security Platform gives federal organizations the critical foundations needed to execute against advanced data-centric cybersecurity strategies. The ATO was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which utilized our Data Security Platform to control and govern sensitive data both in motion and at rest. Virtru’s FedRAMP Moderate ATO could not have come at a more critical time for our nation, and we look forward to our continued technology deployments for our federal customers.” Virtru’s FedRAMP Moderate authorization expedites procurement and solution authorization for Virtru’s federal customers. Additionally, the authorization validates the strength and trustworthiness of Virtru’s commercial solutions, which are built on the same robust and secure platforms that safeguard sensitive data flowing through email, file-sharing platforms, and SaaS apps. Virtru applications arealso compliant with FIPS 140-2, an encryption security requirement for cryptographic modules used by federal government agencies and contractors. These organizations can additionally leverage the FedRAMP-authorized Virtru Data Security Platform and suite of applications to improve security and meet compliance requirements, such as those outlined by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS), and more. About Virtru At Virtru, we empower organizations to easily unlock the power of data while maintaining control everywhere it’s stored and shared. More than 8,000 global customers trust Virtru to power their data-centric, Zero Trust strategies and safeguard their most sensitive data in accordance with the world’s strictest security standards. Creators of TDF (Trusted Data Format), the open industry standard for persistent data protection, Virtru provides encryption technology for data shared through email, collaboration tools, cloud environments, and enterprise SaaS applications.

Read More

Emerging Technology

Bloomberg Government Unveils Enhanced State Monitoring and Analysis

PR Newswire | August 10, 2023

Bloomberg Government announced today the release of several enhancements geared toward improving how its subscribers monitor and analyze state policy changes. These enhancements allow state-focused policy professionals to easily track and visualize legislation across multiple jurisdictions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These new features will be showcased at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit, taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana from August 14 to 16. The latest enhancements to the Bloomberg Government include: Bill Tracking, which enables users to monitor change and follow activities related to legislation across all 50 states andWashington, D.C. Heatmaps, which visualize legislation being considered across the country to identify opportunities and threats to policy initiatives. Session Timeline,which delivers up-to-date legislative and committee calendars for all 50 states, making it easier to keep track of which chambers are in and out of session. "Bloomberg Government's enhancements make searching state legislation very intuitive," said Research Specialist Meredith Heaps of Nelson Mullin. "Simple tabs and dedicated search boxes make it easy to find targeted information. I also love the legislative timeline at the top of each bill - the visual data representation makes it easy to determine key stages and status." "State-focused policy professionals turn to Bloomberg Government to easily track and visualize issues across multiple jurisdictions so they can quickly engage the appropriate legislators on the key issues that matter to them," said Arielle Elliott, president of Bloomberg Government. "We're committed to continually enhancing our platform to provide our clients the most timely and actionable data and content to help make sense of - and react to - legislative developments. For more information or to request a demo of Bloomberg Government, please visithttps://aboutbgov.com/9N3. About Bloomberg Government Bloomberg Government is a premium, subscription-based service that provides comprehensive information and analytics for professionals who interact with – or are affected by – the government. Delivering news, analytics, and data-driven decision tools, Bloomberg Government's digital workspace gives an intelligent edge to government affairs and contracting professionals. For more information or a demo, visit Bloomberg Government.

Read More

Emerging Technology, Cybersecurity

OwnBackup Achieves FedRAMP® Authorized Designation

Businesswire | July 20, 2023

OwnBackup, the leading SaaS data protection platform, today announced it has achieved FedRAMP® authorization for its OwnBackup Government Cloud solution. With this authorization, OwnBackup is now listed on the FedRAMP® Marketplace, and is eligible to provide data protection services to all U.S. Federal Government customers. Established in 2011, FedRAMP® is a government-wide program that promotes the adoption of secure Cloud services across the Federal Government, forming a public-private partnership to promote innovation and the advancement of more secure information technologies. By achieving FedRAMP® authorization, OwnBackup has demonstrated that it meets the rigorous security and compliance requirements of the program to host sensitive information in the Cloud. “FedRAMP® authorization is a significant milestone for OwnBackup, and reaffirms our position as the market leader in SaaS data protection,” said Sam Gutmann, Chief Executive Officer at OwnBackup. “This designation allows us to bring our best-in-class solutions to Federal Government agencies, partnering with these vital organizations to accelerate their digital transformation goals, while ensuring that critical Federal Data and Metadata remains secure.” OwnBackup’s FedRAMP® announcement comes at a time when the U.S. Government is making cybersecurity a clear priority. Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a new National Cybersecurity Strategy focused on strengthening the Nation's digital infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of Cloud security and resilience, and protecting citizens and businesses from cyber threats. While no individual or company is immune to cyber threats, these attacks disproportionately target the public sector. The public sector manages a wide array of sensitive information, making it a popular target for cyber criminals. According to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), the public sector had the second most attacks of any industry. With OwnBackup, U.S. Government Agencies can be better prepared to avoid disruption to critical services, ensure a continuity of operations, and uphold trust and confidence with the citizens that they serve. OwnBackup’s Data Protection Platform, which is used by over 6,000 customers across critical SaaS ecosystems, was designed with security in mind from its inception. OwnBackup’s solutions are architected with a variety of security controls across multiple tiers to address a range of security risks. About OwnBackup OwnBackup is a leading SaaS data protection platform for some of the largest SaaS ecosystems in the world, including Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and ServiceNow. Through capabilities like data security, backup and recovery, archiving, and sandbox seeding, OwnBackup empowers thousands of organizations worldwide to manage and protect the mission-critical data that drives their business. Co-founded by seasoned data recovery, data protection, and information security experts, OwnBackup is a trusted independent software vendor (ISV) partner on the Salesforce AppExchange, AWS Marketplace, and Microsoft Marketplace. The Company is headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, with research and development (R&D), support, and other functions in Israel, EMEA and APAC. OwnBackup has raised over $500 million in venture funding, is ranked on the Forbes Cloud 100 as one of the world's top private cloud companies, and is the partner of choice for some of the world’s largest users of SaaS applications.

Read More