WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12828) on Nov. 25, 2024, by social policy specialist Alexandra Hegji. Here are excerpts: * * * Direct Loan Program Student Loans: Loan Types and Limits The U.S. Department of Education (ED) estimates it will make about $135 billion in new loans through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) program - the primary federal student loan program - to approximately 14 more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12093) on Nov. 25, 2024, by financial economics analyst Raj Gnanarajah and defense logistics and resource management policy analyst Cameron M. Keys: * * * Defense Primer: FY2024 Department of Defense Audit Results The Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-576) requires annual audits of financial statements for federal executive agencies, among other requirements. Under more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10967) on Nov. 26, 2024, by natural resources policy specialist Eva Lipiec. Here are excerpts: * * * Marine Debris: NOAA's Role Researchers have found marine debris, especially plastic items, to have some effects on humans, wildlife, and the environment, but the extent of these impacts is currently unclear. Congress has directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrati more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12608) on Nov. 26, 2024, by natural resources policy specialist Caitlin Keating-Bitonti: * * * U.S. Interest in Seabed Mining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Brief Background and Recent Developments In 1980, Congress passed the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA; P.L. 96-283) as an interim measure to allow U.S. citizens to proceed with seabed mining activities  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 -- Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-New York, issued the following news release: Approximately 49 Million Food Insecure Americans Rely on Food Banks and Meal Programs for Nutrition Each Year Read the Resolution Here(link is external) New York, NY Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) in his resolution declaring the House of Representatives' support and gratitude for the work done by food banks, food pantries, and other community-based organizations  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs released the following written testimony by Shawn P. Buck, director of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, from a Nov. 13, 2024, hearing entitled "Our Nation's Hallowed Grounds: Review of America's National Cemetery Funeral Operations for Veterans and Servicemembers": * * * The NH State Veterans Cemetery (NHSVC), established on July 1, 1997, is in Boscawen, NH, eleven miles nort more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs released the following testimony by Ronald E. Walters, acting under secretary for memorial affairs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration, from a Nov. 13, 2024, hearing entitled "Our Nation's Hallowed Grounds: Review of America's National Cemetery Funeral Operations for Veterans and Servicemembers": * * * Good morning, Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Mem more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health released the following testimony by Christopher Saslo, assistant under secretary for patient care services and chief nursing officer at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration, from a Nov. 20, 2024, hearing entitled "Life After Limb Loss: Examining VA Amputee Prosthetics Care": * * * Good afternoon, Chairwoman Miller-Meeks, Ranking Member Brownley, and members of the Subcommittee on Health. more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement on El Salvador's recent decision to approve another month-long extension of President Nayib Bukele's national state of exception. Originally developed to address gang violence, the policy violates civil  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 -- Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: MADISONVILLE, La. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $9,468,698 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid. "Hurricanes Laura and Ida left behind massive damage to key utilities across south Louisiana. This $9.5 million will help Louisianians cover the costs of restoring education facilities, streetlights, utility pol more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today a total of $758,810 in funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)'s Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) for two projects that will increase and improve western monarch butterfly and pollinator habitats in Oregon. "We've all experienced the moment of excitement when we spot a monarch butterfl more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- Rep. Alma S. Adams, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Nov. 26, 2024: CHARLOTTE - This past week, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) voted for the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371), a bipartisan bill containing numerous provisions designed to support American veterans in accessing healthcare, employment, homecare, legal protections, education, housing, and other benefits. "Service more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washington, issued the following news release on Nov. 26, 2024: Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) helped secure a $454,436 grant through the Department of Transportation's United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP) to support Columbia River barge service on Marine Highway 84 (M-84). With the funding, Tidewater Barge Lines will acquire a low emissions container handler to help divert an estimated 3,800 containers of municipal so more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 -- Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: Ohio set to receive billions for New Albany plants, creating thousands of good-paying, union jobs Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) celebrated the news that the U.S. Department of Commerce is set to award $7,865,000,000 in funding from the CHIPS and Science Act to Intel to strengthen the U.S. supply chain and reestablish American leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. This includes bil more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, issued the following news release on Nov. 26, 2024: SAN JOSE, CA - Today, U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, along with her colleagues, U.S. Representatives Anna Eshoo (CA-16), Ro Khanna (CA-17), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that the San Jose State University (SJSU) Research Foundation will receive $3,923,247 from the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Dep more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (Sen.) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: Schumer Is Pushing To Unlock Bipartisan Infrastructure $$ To Pilot A Network of Smart Traffic Signals Along Genesee Street Which Is Heavily Traveled Each Day By Thousands Of Vehicles & Pedestrians Senator Personally Called & Wrote Transportation Sec Buttigieg To Urge Funding To Support Utica's Street-Safety Upgrade Plan Schumer: Fed $$ Can Greenlight Safer & More Efficient  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Grants includes many accountability measures in Senator Markey's recent letter to Commerce Department Washington (November 25, 2024) Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the finalized the terms of a $6.6 billion grant to the Taiwan Semiconductor  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 -- Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: HATTIESBURG U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., joined state and local officials at the opening of the Hall Avenue East Overpass in Hattiesburg. In some cases, ambulances, fire support, and the city's police force have been stuck at the intersection when a train is on the track, blocking the rail crossing. The project will decrease traffic congestion and increase efficiency for rail movement. Senator Wi more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 26, 2024: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today a total of $758,810 in funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)'s Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) for two projects that will increase and improve western monarch butterfly and pollinator habitats in Oregon. "We've all experienced the moment of excitement when we spot a mo more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 -- Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman and vice chairman, of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * SCHATZ LED EFFORTS ON SENATE FLOOR TO UNANIMOUSLY PASS THREE BILLS * * * U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, released the following statements on Senate passage of three bil more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 -- Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: FRAMINGHAM, MA Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined United Way of Tri-County at their Framingham food pantry to collect and distribute meals ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Whip Clark also celebrated a $500,000 Community Investment Grant awarded to the United Way of Tri-County's food security program by the Greater Boston Food Bank. "In America, 47 million people are struggling more PR