WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Rep. C.A. 'Dutch' Ruppersberger, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Two members of the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee have been awarded the Association of the U.S. Army's 2024 Legislator of the Year award for their staunch and effective support of the Army and soldiers, veterans and their families. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Democrat from Maryland, and Republican Rep. Steve Womack from Arkansas were honored on Capitol Hill by AUSA Pres more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48304) on Dec. 11, 2024, entitled "F-35 Lightning II: Background and Issues for Congress" by defense policy analyst Jennifer DiMascio. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The F-35 Lightning II is a strike fighter aircraft and the Department of Defense's (DOD's) largest procurement program. Lockheed Martin manufactures the aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and international par more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Rep. Pat Ryan, D-New York, issued the following news release: Ryan, Wittman Deliver Key Defense Modernization Caucus Wins in NDAA to Bolster Defense Innovation Ecosystem Ryan and Wittman led efforts to streamline and accelerate the Department's ATO process, expand rapid hire authority for DoD innovation engines, and increase access to classified space for startup and scaleup companies Next meeting of House Defense Modernization Caucus planned for February 2025, in conce more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New York, issued the following news release: Cleveland, NY Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today announced that her legislation, which would require the Department of Defense to purchase domestically produced stainless-steel flatware and dinnerware, was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House of Representatives on December 11, 2024. Since Rep. Tenney's first term in 2017, she has been at the more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Durbin announces plans to introduce legislation next Congress that establishes a federal antifraud baseline for Bitcoin ATMs Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor highlighting how Bitcoin ATMs frequently contribute to financial fraud against elderly Americans. Reporting in the Illinois Times and New York Times outlines egregious examples of criminals cont more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Chairman of the National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), sent a letter calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately deploy advanced resources to address the escalating concerns over unidentified unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sightings operating near critical in more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (Sen.) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: After months of advocacy, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has selected the historic Hudson-Athens Lighthouse for their protection program and identified the Lighthouse as a priority for the Corps opening the desperately needed federal funding to help restore this beloved site. Schumer explained the historic lighthou more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Harriet Hageman called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide immediate transparency and accountability regarding the surge of unidentified, unmanned aerial system (UAS) sightings near sensitive military sites and across the country, including reports from Wyoming. The current situation is reminiscent of the Biden administration's mishandling of the Chinese Communist Party  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government released the following testimony by District of Columbia Council Chairman Phil Mendelson from a Dec. 10, 2024, hearing entitled "District of Columbia Budget for Fiscal Year 2025": * * * Thank you, Chairman Joyce, Ranking Member Hoyer, and members of the Subcommittee. I am Phil Mendelson, Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia (Council). I am pleased to testify today. Thank you more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Florida, chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, released the following opening statement from a Dec. 4, 2024, hearing entitled "Back to Basics: America's Founding, Civics, and Self-Government in K-12 Curricula": * * * Jim Rohn one of the pioneers of personal development, once said: "Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waste it, kill it, and spend it rather than  more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release: A federal judge in Chicago has sentenced a Chinese national to a decade in prison for laundering $62 million in illegal drug proceeds on behalf of traffickers in Mexico. From 2016 to 2018, HAIPING PAN schemed with others to launder up to $3 million per month in drug proceeds using secretive money pickups in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and other parts of the more PR

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 17 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following statement on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement on medication abortion in light of the Attorney General of Texas' lawsuit against a New York doctor for providing telehealth abortion care: "Medication abortion has been used by millions of people since it was first approved by the FDA nearly 25 years ago. For years, we have seen un more PR

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 17 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * Formula Donation Resolves AG's Investigation of Formula Supplier Marine Park for Price Gouging During 2022 Shortage Initial Donation of Baby Formula will be Delivered to Foodlink in Rochester * * * NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that her office secured $675,000 worth of baby formula for New Yorkers from formula supplier Marine Par more PR

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued the following news on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * Agreement Provides Wage Increases and Bonuses to Members, Secures Fair Deal for NYC Taxpayers, Improves Recruitment and Retention Administration Has Now Settled Contracts with Unions Representing Over 97 Percent of Municipal Employees * * * New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion today announced a tentative five-year contract agreement w more PR

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 17 -- The New York State Public Service Commission issued the following notice (Case No. 24-G-0447) on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * TO: Corning Natural Gas Corporation FROM: Secretary to the Commission SUBJECT: Proceeding on Motion of the Commission as to the Rates, Charges, Rules and Regulations of Corning Natural Gas Corporation for Gas Service. RECOMMENDATION: Further Suspension of the Effective Date of the Major Rate Change. On July 31, 2024, Corning Natural Gas Corporat more PR

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 17 -- The New York State Public Service Commission issued the following notice (Case No. 24-G-0668) on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * TO: Liberty Utilities (St. Lawrence Gas) Corp. FROM: Secretary to the Commission SUBJECT: Proceeding on Motion of the Commission as to the Rates, Charges, Rules and Regulations of Liberty Utilities (St. Lawrence Gas) Corp. for Gas Service. RECOMMENDATION: Initial Suspension of the Effective Date of the Major Rate Change and Initiation of Proceedi more PR

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 17 -- The New York State Public Service Commission issued the following notice (Case No. 18-E-0138) on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * Proceeding on Motion of the Commission Regarding Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment and Infrastructure. NOTICE OF RESCHEDULED TECHNICAL CONFERENCE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Department of Public Service (DPS) staff technical conference, previously scheduled for Tuesday, December 17, 2024, will now be convened on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 1 more PR

NEW YORK, Dec. 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York issued the following news release: * * * Rui-Siang Lin Used the Identity of 'Pharoah' to Operate Incognito Market, Which Sold More Than $100 Million of Illegal Narcotics to Customers Around the World * * * Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that RUI-SIANG LIN, a/k/a "Ruisiang Lin," a/k/a "Pharoah," a/k/a "faro," pled guilty to narcoti more PR

BROOKLYN, New York, Dec. 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York issued the following news release: * * * When Watson Needed to Prove His False Claims To Investors, He Directed Conspirators to Forge Documents and Impersonate Executives from Other Companies * * * Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Carlos Watson, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Ozy Media, Inc. (Ozy), was sentenced by United States District Judge Eric R. Komitee to  more PR

BROOKLYN, New York, Dec. 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York issued the following news release: Today, in federal court in Central Islip, Klaus Pflugbeil was sentenced by Judge Joan M. Azrack to 24 months' imprisonment for conspiring to send trade secrets that belong to a leading U.S.-based electric vehicle company (Victim Company-1). Pflugbeil, a resident of the People's Republic of China (the "PRC" or "China") and a Canadian and German national, and his  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-New York, issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: Today, Congressman Joe Morelle, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced he has helped secure more than $5.6 million in federal funding to support the creation of a new water district in the Town of Rush. The completion of this project will provide public water to the town and help improve the overall health, welfare, and safety of residents. "Reliable access to clean wa more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-New York, issued the following news release: Representatives Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) and Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) this evening urging them to address the recent spate of drone sightings and activity by including the bicameral counter-drone legislation in the Continuing Resolution currently being negotiated as the 118th Congress draws to a close. The Safeg more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission's Accounting and Auditing Enforcement issued the following order (No. 4547) on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * In the Matter of BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY, Respondent. ORDER INSTITUTING CEASE-AND-DESIST PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION 8A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND SECTION 21C OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING A CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER I. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission" or "SE more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following news release: NEWPORT, R.I. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that a future Constellation-class Guided Missile Frigate, FFG 69, will be named USS Joy Bright Hancock, Dec. 16. Secretary Del Toro made the announcement at the 11th Women, Peace and Security Symposium, hosted by the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I. The future USS Joy Bright Hancock honors her namesake's trailblazing service beginning as a Yeoman in Wor more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the following news release: President Joe Biden today established the Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine as the 433rd addition to the National Park System at a signing ceremony at the Department of Labor with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and leaders of the labor and women's rights communities. The new national monument reflects efforts under the President's Executive more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the following transcript of a foreign press center briefing on Dec. 16, 2024 featuring Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs: * * * Summary * In this on-the-record briefing, Assistant Secretary Nichols provides an overview of U.S. priorities in the Western Hemisphere. Topics of discussion include how the U.S. is working with regional partners on migration, inclusive economic prosperity, and long more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) clarified his firm opposition to the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the following statement: "Last week, I mistakenly voted 'YES' for the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA has historically served as a non-partisan bill to reinforce our commitment to our service members and protect our national security. Unf more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-New York, issued the following news release: GUILDERLAND, NY Congressman Paul D. Tonko visited Guilderland High School on Friday to recognize Atri Dey, Anthony Egan, and Joshua Ko, members of the winning team for the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for New York's 20th Congressional District. During the visit, Tonko delivered congratulatory remarks and presented each winning student with a Congressional Certificate of Achievement and a letter of reco more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-New York, issued the following news release: Today, on the 50-year anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act, U.S. Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials, and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) introduced the AQUA Act, legislation that fixes America's drinking water systems. The bill provides needed federal in more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (TNSfact) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet: * * * Celebrating U.S.-Africa Partnership Two Years After the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit In the two years since the December 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the Biden-Harris Administration significantly expanded engagement and partnership with African nations, driven by the conviction that the future of Africa and the United States depends on what we can achieve together. At the Summit, the United States p more PR