DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 18 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 17, 2024, entitled "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for the Regions - September 2024": * * * Private industry employer costs for employee compensation among the four regions of the country ranged from $39.37 per hour in the South to $53.75 in the Northeast in September 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, issued the following news release: Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today announced his nominees to the United States Service Academies.Members of Congress may nominate applicants who meet eligibility requirements set by federal law. Golden nominated nine young Mainers from across the state, all of whom were interviewed by a panel of veterans to learn more about their academic record, test scores, leadership ability, involvement in extracurricu more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is urging Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to rein in damaging pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices that hurt patients and pharmacies. PBMs are intermediaries that negotiate and manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurance companies, self-insured employers, and government programs. Currently, thre more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Bipartisan Bill Now Heads to President's Desk Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), to reauthorize the Autism CARES Act. The bill renews and expands federal support for research, services, and training related to autis more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it will revisit a previous final rule related to the transport of dogs across the U.S. Canada border following continued pushback from U.S. Senator Susan Collins and other northern border state senators and stakeholders. When previewing the new rulemaking process with Senator Collins, the CDC Director acknowledged the agency had erred in n more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, issued the following news release: Decision would require some Mainers to travel 550 miles for in-person tax help from the IRSSenators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representative Jared Golden today urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to reverse its closure of the Bangor Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). In a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, the Delegation shared the reality that the misguided decision which went into effe more PR

AUGUSTA, Maine, Dec. 17 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following statement on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * Governor Janet Mills released the following statement today praising President Biden's designation of the Frances Perkins National Historic Landmark in Newcastle as a National Monument: "President Biden's designation is a tremendous tribute to Frances Perkins' extraordinary work and a recognition of Maine's special place in her life and in our history. "With this historic designation, more PR

AUGUSTA, Maine, Dec. 18 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission issued the following order (No. 2024-00279) on Dec. 17, 2024: * * * UNION RIVER TELEPHONE COMPANY, Request for Approval of Reorganization ORDER BARTLETT, Chair; SCULLY and GILBERT, Commissioners I. SUMMARY By this Order, and pursuant to 35-A M.R.S Sec. 708 (Section 708), the Commission approves the reorganization described in the Application for Approval (Application) filed by Union River Telephone Company (Union River or the more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and 14 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing the End the Threat of Default Act, legislation that would permanently remove the threat of a default by repealing the national debt ceiling, an arbitrary limit restricting the amount that the United States Treasury can borrow to pay its deb more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: Today, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has recommended for award more than $276 million to 44 Tribal entities to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption. The funding from the nearly $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is part of the Biden-Harris Adm more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- President Biden issued the following remarks on Dec. 16, 2024, honoring the nation's labor history and establishing the Frances Perkins National Monument: * * * THE PRESIDENT: Hello. (Applause.) It's a good day. (Applause.) Thank you, Acting Secretary Su. AUDIENCE: Thank you, Joe! Thank you, Joe! Thank you, Joe! THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I -- I had no choice. (Laughter.) My grandfather would come down from Heaven if I didn't do this. (Laughter.) (Coughs.) Excuse me more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: 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  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, the Chairman of the Senate National Parks subcommittee, are applauding the official designation of the Frances Perkins Homestead in Newcastle as a National Monument. The announcement was made today by President Biden, who signed a proclamation honoring the historic contributions of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a Presidential Cabinet and the country's l more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, the Chairman of the Senate National Parks subcommittee, are applauding the official designation of the Frances Perkins Homestead in Newcastle as a National Monument. The announcement was made today by President Biden, who signed a proclamation honoring the historic contributions of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a Presidential Cabinet and the country's  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: The U.S. House of Representatives moved to intervene in a case currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, Doe v. Austin. After the House filed a brief in federal court, Speaker Johnson released the following statement: "Tax dollars should not support procedures and treatments that could permanently harm and sterilize young people. This year's NDAA takes a critical and necess more PR