WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: Coral reefs are the most diverse habitats on the planet. They are homes for fish, crabs, seahorses, sea turtles, and more. They provide coastal protection for communities and millions of dollars in recreation and tourism. There are both shallow coral reef habitats and deep-sea coral habitats. Despite their great economic and recreational value, corals are severely threatened by rapidly worsenin more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued the following news release: Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action to address unlawful student loan debt collection practices by Performant Recovery, Inc. against defaulted borrowers. The CFPB found that Performant delayed borrowers' loan rehabilitation processes, generating fees for itself and costing individual borrowers thousands of dollars. The CFPB's order requires Performant to pay a $700,000 more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: NEWARK, N.J. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark officers, with assistance from FBI Newark, arrested a total of 12 noncitizens from Chile, Colombia and Peru connected to South American theft groups. These groups are sophisticated crime rings known for using advanced technologies. All were arrested on immigration  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following record on Dec. 9, 2024: * * * Florida has scheduled special elections to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat in the 1st Congressional District, vacated by Representative Matt Gaetz, and in the 6th Congressional District, being vacated by Representative Michael Waltz. If Special Primary Elections are necessary, they will be held January 28, 2025, and the Special General Elections will be held April 1, 2025. If a more PR

TAMPA, Florida, Dec. 10 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found James Patrick Sychowski (48, Tarpon Springs) guilty of possessing ammunition by a convicted felon. Sychowski faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Sychowski was indicted on May 17, 2023. According to testimony and eviden more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 9, 2024: Last week, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN); Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Chairman Dan Bishop (R-NC); and Emergency Management and Technology Chairman Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY) sent a letter to Disaster Survival Assistance Task Force Lead Chad Hershey, requesting he sit fo more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 --The House Education and the Workforce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-739) on the College Cost Reduction Act (H.R. 6951), which aims to lower the cost of postsecondary education for students and families. The report was advanced by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, on Nov. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose The purpose of H.R. 6951, the College Cost Reduction Act, is to lower the cost of postsecondary education for students and families. Committee Acti more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 --The House Education and the Workforce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-739) on the College Cost Reduction Act (H.R. 6951), which aims to lower the cost of postsecondary education for students and families. The report was advanced by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, on Nov. 18, 2024. * * * (Continued from Part 4 of 6) H.R. 6951 Guts Federal Accountability Framework, Leaving Students and Taxpayers Vulnerable RISK SHARING AGREEMENTS H.R. 6951 proposes a risk-shar more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs issued the following news release on Dec. 9, 2024: Secretary Deb Haaland today applauded the 400 co-stewardship agreements signed by the Biden-Harris administration with Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations and consortiums in remarks at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit. The annual event, re-initiated by President Biden, provides an opportunity for Administration and Tribal leaders from the 574 federall more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: On Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs (SVAC) and Armed Services Committees (SASC), released his latest episode of "Answering the Call: Maine's Veteran Voices." In the 16th interview of the series, produced in partnership with the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project, Senator King spoke with U.S. Navy veteran Bob Miller of Millinocket, who more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- NASA issued the following news release: With a look back at 2024, NASA is celebrating its many innovative and inspiring accomplishments this year including for the first time, landing new science and technology on the Moon with an American company, pushing the boundaries of exploration by launching a new mission to study Jupiter's icy moon Europa; maintaining 24 years of continuous human exploration off the Earth aboard the International Space Station, and unveiling the fi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The White House issued the following news release on Dec. 8, 2024: Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the State of Florida by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures undertaken in the State of Florida as a result of Hurricane Helene. Under the President's order today, Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- President Biden issued the following proclamation on Dec. 9, 2024, on the establishment of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument: * * * For a century and a half spanning the early 19th and mid- 20th centuries, the Federal Government removed American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children (Native children) from their families, Tribes, and homelands, often by force or coercion, and transported them to institutions across the United Stat more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced that President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the state of Florida to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene from Sept. 23 to Oct. 7, 2024. The President authorized the federal cost-share to be increased to 100% for debris removal and emergency meas more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Austin Scott, R-Georgia, issued the following news release on Dec. 9, 2024: U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) today penned an op-ed in Agri-Pulse emphasizing the importance of disaster relief for our farmers after Hurricane Helene. "Hurricane Helene caused a devastating blow to Georgia's number-one industry, with over $6.4 billion in agricultural economic loss alone," Scott wrote. "If we fail to provide agriculture-specific appropriations to help our farmers  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, issued the following weekly column on Dec. 9, 2024: * * * We Must Help Our Communities Unfortunately, natural disasters, accompanied with human hardship and tragedy, were not scarce over this past year in our country. From floods to droughts to wildfires to hurricanes to tornadoes, many communities across the United States suffered this year due to major weather events. Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused devastating blows to North Carolina, more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. W. Greg Steube, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * While Floridians and Carolinians struggle to rebuild, Biden's $1 Billion Announcement for Africa's Disaster Victims is 'egregious' * * * U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced the Securing Taxpayer Assistance during Natural Disasters (STAND) Act to defund foreign aid during times of domestic natural disasters. "After one of the deadliest hurricane seasons on record, Floridians are st more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21) called on the United States Army Corps of Engineers to reverse its decision to release harmful Lake Okeechobee water into the St. Lucie Estuary. In a letter, Rep. Mast pressed the Corps to reconsider its plans to discharge toxic-laden water through the St. Lucie Lock and Dam. "We can't let our foot off the gas until we cross the finish line: ending all discharges to the east coas more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Dec. 9, 2024: Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2672, the FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act, introduced by Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. (FL-02). This landmark legislation provides critical financial assistance to local governments and electric cooperatives by reimbursing interest payments on loans used for disaster recovery activities under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the following news release: Secretary Deb Haaland today applauded the 400 co-stewardship agreements signed by the Biden-Harris administration with Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations and consortiums in remarks at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit. The annual event, re-initiated by President Biden, provides an opportunity for Administration and Tribal leaders from the 574 federally recognized Tribes to discuss ways the fede more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Social Security Administration has released the following public communication dated Nov. 30, 2024, from Daniel Hatcher, professor of law at the University of Baltimore School of Law: * * * Memorandum To: Commissioner, Social Security Administration; Secretary, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services From: Daniel Hatcher, Professor of Law, University of Baltimore School of Law Re: Docket No. SSA-2024-0038 - Request for Information: Use and Conservation of Social more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Florida, issued the following statement on Dec. 9, 2024, with Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, and Byron Donalds, R-Florida: * * * Congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-26), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), and Byron Donalds (FL-19), Florida members of the House Republicans' Steering Committee, issued the following statement regarding the selection of Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21) as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee during the 119th Congress: "Congra more PR

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted dozens of precision airstrikes targeting known ISIS camps and operatives in central Syria, Dec. 8. The strikes against the ISIS leaders, operatives, and camps were conducted as part of the ongoing mission to disrupt, degrade, and defeat ISIS, in order to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure th more PR

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, Dec. 9 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. Today, Gen. Kurilla met with Maj. Gen. Yousef Al-Hunaiti, Chairman of the Jordanian Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Amman, Jordan, and discussed efforts to enhance regional cooperation and security, strengthening U.S.-Jordanian military cooperation, as well as the rapidly changing situation on the ground in Syria. Jordan has long served as a reliable strategic partner for peace and stabi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 9, 2024: Today the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider the Water Resources Development Act: bipartisan, bicameral legislation that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works Program for projects to improve the nation's ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and  more PR