WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)--a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation--joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to celebrate the new finalized rule to expand the rights of passengers with disabilities in air  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: Yesterday, the Senate passed the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act, bipartisan legislation by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.). The BADGES for Native Communities Act will support the recruitment and retention of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers, bolster federal missing persons resources, and more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan outlining significant concerns regarding massive EPA spending on new programs arising out of the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). "This rush on the part of your staff increases the ris more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, announced a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the Town of Poca, W.Va. This award, which was secured through a CDS request made solely by Senator Capito in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12850) on Dec. 16, 2024, by foreign assistance analyst Nick M. Brown. Here are excerpts: * * * Millennium Challenge Corporation Overview The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an independent agency established in 2004 by the Millennium Challenge Act (Title VI of Division D, P.L. 108-199). It was created amid intense congressional debate over U.S. foreign aid effectivene more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12845) on Dec. 11, 2024, by economic development policy analyst Adam G. Levin: * * * The Minority Business Development Agency's Rural Business Center Program According to the Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), there are over 544,000 minority business enterprises (MBEs) in rural parts of the United States. MBEs are defined statutorily as busines more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10036) on Dec. 16, 2024, by social policy specialist Gene Falk. Here are excerpts: * * * The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant Introduction The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant was created in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA, P.L. 104-193). That law was the culmination of a se more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Today, members of the bipartisan House Paid Family Leave Working Group, co-chaired by Representatives Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), released two discussion drafts designed to provide more families with more paid leave. The co-chairs are joined in releasing these drafts by the full membership of the Working Group, Representatives Colin Allred (D-TX), Mariannette Miller more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The House Oversight and Accountability Committee released the following written testimony by U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert L. Santos from a Dec. 5, 2024, hearing on the oversight of the agency: * * * Chairman Comer, Ranking Member Raskin, and members of the committee: it is an honor to be here today to highlight the importance of the U.S. Census Bureau's work. I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you about challenges and opportunities facing the Census Bureau in  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Florida, issued the following news release: As the 118th Congress draws to a close, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) continues to build support for the Dignity Act (H.R. 3599(link is external)), the only major bipartisan immigration bill in Congress. With conversations about Congress tackling immigration next year, many recognize the Dignity Act as the most consequential piece of immigration legislation that not only secures our southern border but a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. C.A. 'Dutch' Ruppersberger, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md) announced $398,000 in federal funding to support five Maryland-based projects focused on environmental, cultural, and historical conservation efforts within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. "The Chesapeak more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vermont, issued the following news release: * * * Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) introduced the Combating Loneliness Act (CLA) to address the acute mental health and loneliness crisis in America. The Combating Loneliness Act is co-led by Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), chair of the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus. The CLA tackles the mental health crisis through community-focused approaches. To truly bring communities together, it is essential  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced a new bipartisan, bicameral effort to bolster the workforce of skilled construction workers to increase the supply of housing units and lower costs. Ciscomani was joined by Reps. Ryan Zinke (MT-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Don Davis (NC-01). A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Dan Meuser (R-PA) sent a letter to Interim President J. Larry Jameson of the University of Pennsylvania, raising serious concerns about the recent actions of Assistant Professor Julia Alekseyeva, a faculty member in UPenn's English Department. Professor Alekseyeva's social media posts, which appear to celebrate the alleged actions of a murder suspect, have sparked outrage among students more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Today, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee member Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced the introduction of their bill, the All Aboard Act. This bill does not include any mandates, it simply dedicates $200 billion over five years to build high-speed rail, ex more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washington, issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Yesterday, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), along with Reps. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Don Davis (NC-01), and Ryan Zinke (MT-01), introduced the bipartisan Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural and Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act. The legislation will expand training in the construction trades in order to increase the supply of housi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced legislation along with Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani, Washington Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez, and North Carolina Congressman Don Davis to address the housing workforce shortage in an effort to increase housing supply and lower costs. The Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural and Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (Sen.) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: Schumer Vowed To Visit Every Single NY County Each Year During His First Senate Election In 1998 & The Tradition Continues For An Historic 26th Year With This Year As The Apex Of Decades-Long Vision He Has Had To Deliver On Investment Across NY State Schumer Believes Visiting Every County Is Imperative To His Work In DC And Inspired Legislation He Passed As Majority Leader In more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (Sen.) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: Utica Has Been Trying For Years To Pilot A Network of Smart Traffic Signals Along Genesee Street Which Is Heavily Traveled Each Day By Thousands Of Vehicles & Pedestrians And Feds Finally Deliver Funding Needed Following Schumer's Advocacy & Personal Call To Secretary Buttigieg Funding Comes From U.S. Transportation Department's Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Tra more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) released the following statements after their Jenna Quinn Law, which would allow current grant funds to be used to train and educate students, teachers, caregivers, and other adults who work with children in a professional or volunteer capacity on how to prevent, recognize, and report child sexual abuse, passed the House and now heads to t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: New All Aboard Act would make $200 billion investment in rail Bill Text (PDF) | One Pager (PDF) | Section By Section (PDF) Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today introduced the All Aboard Act, legislation that would dedicate $200 billion over five years to build high-speed rail, expand existing passenger rail service, and more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: Atlanta, Ga. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is expanding emergency medical care for kids across Georgia. Last week, the Senate passed the bipartisan Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation backed by Sen. Ossoff to improve the pediatric medical care for severely ill and injured child. The bipartisan bill reauthorizes the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMS more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: MINNEAPOLIS, MN As access to emergency medical services (EMS) continues to be a top issue for leaders in Minnesota, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) announced federal funding to bolster rural EMS services in the Southwest Metro region and the Arrowhead counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis in Northeastern Minnesota. The funding was made availab more PR