Category: 3. Business

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled Examining Legislative Options to Strengthen Motor Vehicle Safety, Ensure Consumer Choice and Affordability, and Cement U.S. Automotive Leadership.

Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome. Today we will be examining legislation aimed at modernizing motor vehicle safety. Thank you to our witnesses for joining us.

“Whether it is protecting our kids online or ensuring the safety of the cars in our driveways, we have always understood that there is no partisan way to save lives. In 2024, nearly 40,000 people died on our roadways.

“We often talk about these numbers as statistics, but every single one of them represents an empty chair at a dinner table. We cannot accept this as the cost of doing business.

“That is why we must focus on solutions to strengthen motor vehicle safety and empower NHTSA to succeed in its mission to save lives. I would like to highlight several solutions to bolster motor vehicle safety and enable innovation.

“First, we are considering a bipartisan discussion draft of the SELF-DRIVE Act, which establishes a federal framework for the safety deployment of autonomous vehicles. I want to commend Mr. Latta and Ms. Dingell for their hard work over many years to produce this discussion draft.

“AVs are not just a luxury; they can be a lifeline. By reducing human error, which causes the vast majority of crashes, we can prevent tragedies before they happen. AVs can also empower seniors and people with disabilities to be mobile and regain their independence.

“This legislation is also necessary to successfully compete against communist China, who are seeking to flood the world with Chinese self-driving technology. We cannot let America fall behind.

“Second, we are considering the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act, which makes substantial reforms to NHTSA to improve the agency’s operations, ensure the agency is accountable to Congress, and empower the agency to better advance automotive safety and innovation.

“These include reforms to NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, which provides market incentives for automakers to compete on safety.

“The bill ensures accountability to providing Congress and stakeholders a defined roadmap of the agency’s research and rulemaking priorities. The bill also revamps NHTSA’s general exemption process to allow for the deployment novel vehicle technologies so America can lead in safety and innovation.

“Finally, as we consider proposals to ensure motor vehicle safety, we must keep in the mind the high costs of motor vehicles, which reached a record high of $50,000 for an average new vehicle. If consumers cannot afford new vehicles, they will not be able to take advantage of the innovative safety features in these vehicles, which will have adverse impacts on highway safety.

“I am confident that, working together, we can advance legislation that prioritizes safety and American automotive leadership. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses on how we can achieve that dream together.”

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Webcasts  |  January 13, 2026

Join partners from our Consumer Protection and White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice Groups for a recorded webcast on emerging consumer protection enforcement trends. The panel explores the intersection of U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission enforcement priorities, the expanding role of State Attorneys General, and key developments at the nexus of consumer protection and data privacy. The discussion highlights what companies should expect in the evolving enforcement landscape and strategies for mitigating risk.

MCLE CREDIT INFORMATION:

This program has been approved for credit in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 1.0 credit hour, of which 1.0 credit hour may be applied toward the areas of professional practice requirement. This course is approved for transitional/non-transitional credit.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 1.0 hour.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is authorized by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to provide in-house CPD training. This program is approved for CPD credit in the amount of 1.0 hour. Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (Number 324652).

Neither the Connecticut Judicial Branch nor the Commission on Minimum Continuing Legal Education approve or accredit CLE providers or activities. It is the opinion of this provider that this activity qualifies for up to 1.0 hour toward your annual CLE requirement in Connecticut, including 0 hour(s) of ethics/professionalism.

Application for approval is pending with the Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Virginia, and Washington State Bars.

PANELISTS:

Gustav Eyler is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Washington, D.C. office and Co-Chair of the firm’s FDA & Health Care and Consumer Protection Practice Groups. Leveraging years of experience as Director of the U.S. DOJ Consumer Protection Branch — where he led enforcement actions involving drugs, medical devices, food, deceptive marketing, and public health statutes — he defends clients in government investigations and counsels on the design and implementation of compliance programs.

Amanda M. Aycock is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s New York office who represents multinational companies and senior executives in complex litigation, regulatory investigations, and crisis matters. Her cross-disciplinary practice spans consumer protection, data privacy and cybersecurity, white-collar defense, and enforcement actions brought by state attorneys general and federal regulators, including high-stakes consumer and regulatory investigations.

Ryan T. Bergsieker is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Denver office and a former federal cybercrimes prosecutor whose practice focuses on government investigations, complex civil litigation, and cybersecurity and data privacy counseling. He represents clients in high-stakes enforcement matters with the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and state attorneys general, with deep expertise in federal, state, and international consumer protection, privacy, and cybersecurity laws.

Debra Wong Yang is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office and Chair of the firm’s Crisis Management Practice Group. Debra has a strong background in addressing and resolving problems across the white collar litigation spectrum, including through corporate and individual representations, internal investigations, crisis management and compliance. She previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, where she led significant criminal prosecutions and enforcement initiatives.

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Date: Wednesday 28 January 2026 at 10am

Venue: 2 Royal Avenue

Category: Employability and skills, Free

Come to the jobs fair and get information on our JobStart Apprenticeship Pathway Programme.

The Job Apprenticeship Pathway Programme is open to 16 to 65 year olds who are unemployed.

At the fair, you can ask us for advice on your steps to an apprenticeship. You can also meet employers and get information on paid opportunities available in:

• technology
• business administration
• construction, and
• other sectors.

You don’t need qualifications or experience to apply to the programme.

It is free to attend the job fair and you don’t need to register. 

JobStart Apprenticeship Pathway Programme

National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG) today announced it will release its first quarter fiscal 2026 earnings results on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 after market close.

A conference call to discuss the results will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026 beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET and will include prepared remarks from the executive team followed by a question and answer session.

All participants must pre-register to join this conference using the Participant Registration link.

A webcast link to the conference call will be provided under the Events Calendar on the NFG Investor Relations website at investor.nationalfuelgas.com.

A replay will be available following the call through the end of the day, Thursday, February 5, 2026. To access the replay, dial 1-866-813-9403 and provide Access Code 870164.

National Fuel is an integrated energy company reporting financial results for three operating segments: Integrated Upstream and Gathering, Pipeline and Storage, and Utility. Additional information about National Fuel is available at www.nationalfuel.com.

Access work from any device

Provide a secure browser that connects users to enterprise resources based on user identity and real-time risk, not just device trust. This will enable remote employees, contractors, and third-parties to work securely from any device — managed or unmanaged/BYOD, including mobile, regardless of location.

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that Solstice Advanced Materials Inc. plans to invest over $220 million in multiple projects to expand operations at the company’s existing ballistic fiber manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County. Upon completion, the expansion will create 100 new jobs in the Commonwealth. The plant, located on Woods Edge Road in South Chesterfield, produces a variety of fibers used in ballistic body and vehicle armor. These lightweight materials are 15 times stronger than steel by weight. 

“Solstice Advanced Materials’ expansion in Chesterfield underscores Virginia’s leadership in the advanced manufacturing and materials industry,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Their ballistic fibers help protect those who protect us, and this growth reflects the strength of the Commonwealth’s talent. Partnerships like this will ensure Virginia remains the best place to build and innovate.” 

“Solstice’s commitment to Chesterfield is a win for the Commonwealth and for our advanced manufacturing ecosystem,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura. “Virginia’s reliable infrastructure, pro-business climate, and world‑class workforce give innovators the confidence to scale critical technologies right here at home.” 

“Solstice Advanced Materials has a long history of investment and innovation in Virginia, and these investments reflect the confidence we have in the Commonwealth as a partner,” said Solstice Advanced Materials President and CEO David Sewell. “Our ballistic fiber technologies play an essential role in protecting service members and first responders across the country. We deeply appreciate Governor Youngkin’s strong support for an increased investment in the talented Virginia workforce that enables us to meet growing customer demand for that offering.”  

Solstice Advanced Materials is a leading global specialty materials company that advances science for smarter outcomes. Solstice offers high-performance solutions that enable critical industries and applications, including refrigerants, semiconductor manufacturing, data center cooling, nuclear power, protective fibers, healthcare packaging, and more. Solstice is recognized for developing next-generation materials through some of the industry’s most renowned brands such as Solstice®, Genetron®, Aclar®, Spectra®, Fluka™ and Hydranal™. Partnering with over 3,000 customers across more than 120 countries and territories and supported by a robust portfolio of over 5,700 patents, Solstice employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide. 

“We are thrilled to share in this exciting announcement from our long-term partners at Solstice Advanced Materials,” said Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Chair Mark S. Miller, Ph.D. “This significant reinvestment in our community will further strengthen our local workforce and our significant advanced manufacturing base. We look forward to their continued success as they expand their footprint in our community.” 

“This investment from Solstice Advanced Materials brings new, high-quality jobs and long-term opportunities for our local workforce,” said Lieutenant Governor-elect and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi. “This new economic development opportunity is helping cement Chesterfield County as a hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation. Investments like this ensure the region remains competitive, attracts top talent, and drives the kind of development that keeps central Virginia growing.” 

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Youngkin approved a performance-based grant of $2,000,000 from the Virginia Investment Performance Grant, an incentive that encourages continued capital investment by existing Virginia companies. The Governor also approved a $1,500,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Chesterfield County with the project.  

VEDP will support Solstice’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens.

Chris Wheaton is the latest Senior Director hire for Pegasus Group as its growth strategy continues with an expanded Economics offering

13 December 2025 – Leading multidisciplinary development consultancy, Pegasus Group, has today announced the appointment of Chris Wheaton as a Senior Director in its Economics team, leading on its growth in Development Viability services, as part of its expanding Economics offering.

Chris’ appointment signals a move by Pegasus to expand its economics and development consultancy services with the introduction of viability, development appraisal and financial analysis expertise. In the midst of a ‘perfect storm’ of economic and legislative challenges for property developers and investors, Chris’ experience in Development Viability will expand Pegasus’ capacity to support clients navigating these issues and finding deliverable solutions.

He joins Pegasus’ London office from specialist development consultancy Quod, bringing 25 years’ of experience in Development Viability, supporting landowners, developers, housebuilders and public bodies in advancing their development projects. He has advised on some of the country’s largest and most complex developments, including ‘garden towns’ of up to 20,000 homes, town centre redevelopments, and high-density urban regeneration.

His appointment follows a series of senior hires at Pegasus throughout 2025 as the group continues with its ambitious growth strategy. In his new role, Chris will build Pegasus’ Development Viability practice over the course of 2026, while providing crucial viability services to clients nationwide.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris Wheaton said: “It’s great to be joining Pegasus at a time of exciting growth. I look forward to working closely with the wider Economics and Development Consultancy teams, combining my Development Viability expertise with Pegasus’ existing strengths, further building the team’s personnel, and adding to what is already a market-leading suite of planning and development services.”

Also commenting, Richard Cook, Head of Economics at Pegasus Group said: “In the current climate of economic uncertainty, Development Viability is an especially important factor across our client base. Chris’ experience is a perfect complement to our existing economic and development expertise and our Economics team will continue to go from strength to strength in 2026 with his arrival.”