WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission has released the following public communication dated Dec. 2, 2024, from the National Program for Play Area Safety, Cedar Falls, Iowa: * * * The National Program for Play Area Safety (NPPAS) for children appreciates the time and effort you all have given to playground safety. Furthermore, I would like to thank you for the opportunity for public comment on the Public Playground Safety Handbook. NPPAS represents researchers, faculty,  more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration issued a notice of application in the Federal Register on Nov. 29, 2024, entitled "Importer of Controlled Substances Application: Cambrex Charles City". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: Cambrex Charles City has applied to be registered as an importer of basic class(es) of controlled substance(s). Refer to Supplementary Information listed below for further drug information. DATES: Registered bulk manufac more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 2, 2024, from 23 attorneys general: * * * To: The Honorable Miguel A. Cardona, Ph.D. Secretary of Education U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave. SW Washington, DC 20202 CC: Linda McMahon, Nominee for Secretary of Education Re: Comment by States of Missouri, Kansas, and 21 other States on Student Debt Relief for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direc more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: The Senate passed bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) to expand access to broadband in rural areas and ease the burden of regulatory costs for smaller broadband providers that rural communities rely on. "Iowans need quality broadband to access high-speed internet in today's world," said Senator Ernst. "I'm grateful my bipartisan effort to cut regulations, re more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: RED OAK, Iowa U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Sully Locker & Market of Jasper County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa's 99 counties. "Steaking claim in Sully for over 70 years, Sully Locker & Market is meating the needs of families and fa more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a combat veteran, issued the following statement: "I appreciate Pete Hegseth's responsiveness and respect for the process. Following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women based on quality  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) praised passage of the VETS Safe Travel Act, which would make disabled veterans eligible for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck Program at no cost. "As grateful Americans, it is critical that we provide our veterans with the benefits that they have earned and deserve. From high-quality healthcare to other helpful resources, I believe that we sho more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The Food and Water Watch issued a 3-page fact sheet in December 2024 entitled "In Hot Water: Iowa's Animal Agriculture Has a Spill Problem." Here are the excerpts: Iowa's waterways are severely polluted, held hostage by factory farming and industrial agricultural practices across the state. Food & Water Watch (FWW) reviewed a decade of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) discharge enforcement reports from animal agriculture operations and found a state in c more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued the following statement regarding his meeting today with Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The meeting follows Grassley's letter this morning expressing his 'vote of no confidence' in current FBI Director Christopher Wray. "Transparency ought to be the North Star of government. Over the past several year more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson announced that Sophie Seid, her current Deputy Chief of Staff, will take over the role of Chief of Staff for the 119th Congress. Sophie helped launch Hinson's office in 2021 as Communications Director before serving as her Deputy Chief of Staff. Prior to working for Hinson, Sophie worked on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Hinson's current Chief of Staff, Sam Pritchard, w more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2024: Today the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), legislation to improve the nation's ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of the nation's water resources infrastructure. The measure approved today is the House A more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 11 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: The first snow of the season is a popular event with pheasant hunters because it often sends the birds to cover where hunters expect to find them. And while a little snow is good, too much snow can be bad, burying waste grains that are an important food source and collapsing marginal habitat. This was the scenario Iowa experienced from 2007 to 2011 when winters were averaging 30-50 inches o more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 10 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa issued the following news release: A Des Moines man was sentenced on November 8, 2024 to 12 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl. According to public court documents, Luca Joseph Roberts, 25, provided pills containing fentanyl to a victim on October 20, 2022. The victim used the pills, overdosed, and died. Law enforcement identified Roberts as the source of supply for those pills and  more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 10 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa issued the following news release: A Des Moines woman was sentenced on November 15, 2024 to 12 years in federal prison for distribution of a pill containing fentanyl that resulted in a victim's death. According to public court documents, Nevaeh Simone Botts, 21, sold pills containing fentanyl to a 16-year-old victim who subsequently overdosed and died. Botts also sold fentanyl pills to an undercover  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2024: Today Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) introduced the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act, legislation that increases access to costly medications out of reach for severely disabled veterans in State Veterans Homes. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not pay State Veterans Homes for high-cost medications for severely disabled veterans, which are co more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Martin Heinrich's (D-N.M.) legislation, the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, today passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would make it easier for "Good Samaritans," such as state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and other groups, to clean up abandoned hardrock mines. Risch and Heinrich applauded the Senate's unanimous  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Funding Will Improve Access to a Clean, Reliable Electric Grid and Safe Drinking Water for Millions in Rural and Tribal Communities U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $6.3 billion in rural and Tribal communities across 44 states to expand access to a clean and reliable electric grid, provide safe drinking water and create good-paying jobs. more PR