WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following delivers farewell address on Dec. 17, 2024, by Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter: * * * As Prepared as Delivery In the fall of 2023, I had the privilege of meeting with a rural farming community in Minnesota. On one hand, you might say that I was out of place. There I was, a kid from humble beginnings in Queens, New York (and a lifelong New York Mets fan), standing as the U.S. government's senior competition  more PR

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 19 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 18, 2024, entitled "Oklahoma Job Openings and Labor Turnover - October 2024": * * * Oklahoma had 116,000 job openings in October 2024, compared to 90,000 openings in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the job ope more PR

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 19 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 18, 2024, entitled "Texas Job Openings and Labor Turnover - October 2024": * * * Texas had 583,000 job openings in October 2024, compared to 506,000 openings in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the job openings more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: EAGLE PASS, Texas U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at Eagle Pass Port of Entry seized more than $372,000 in narcotics in a single enforcement action. "I commend the continuous dedication that our officers exhibit as they hold the line against the trafficking of illicit narcotics as part of our border security mission," said Po more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued a notice in the Federal Register on Dec. 16, 2024, entitled "Authorization of Production Activity; Voestalpine High Performance Metals LLC d/b/a Voestalpine Specialty Metals; (Specialty Metal Products); Houston, Texas". On August 12, 2024, voestalpine High Performance Metals LLC submitted a notification of proposed production activity to the FTZ Board for its facilities within FTZ 84, in Houston, Texas. Th more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12719) on Dec. 17, 2024, by American national government specialist R. Eric Petersen: * * * Smithsonian Institution: Selected Legislation, 118th Congress The Smithsonian Institution is a complex of museum, education, research, and revenue-generating entities primarily located in the Washington, DC, region, with additional facilities and activities across the United States and w more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) is moving his D.C. office from 1541 Longworth House Office Building to 1605 Longworth House Office Building, effective immediately. Congressman Moran's phone number for his D.C. office will remain the same. Congressman Moran's updated D.C. contact information is below: 1605 Longworth House Office Building D.C. 20515 (202) 225-3035 Congressman Moran's district offic more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) members of the Senate Finance Committee and the bipartisan Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) Working Group introduced draft legislation to improve the Medicare GME program, which makes payments to teaching hospitals for training residents and fellows in approved tra more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, secured passage of his bipartisan legislation yesterday, alongside Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), to provide for the permanent appointment of temporary district judgeships located in Texas and elsewhere. The Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act now heads to the President's desk for his  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration issued a final rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 10, 2024, entitled "Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Youngstown/Warren, OH". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace and revokes Class E airspace at Youngstown/Warren, OH. This action is the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration issued a final rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 13, 2024, entitled "Establishment of Class E Airspace; Zeeland, MI". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace at Zeeland, MI. This action is due to the development of new public instrument procedures at the Ottawa Executive Airport, Zeeland, MI, and to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations. DATES: Effec more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency posted a rule in the Federal Register on Nov. 21, 2024, signed by Earthea Nance, Regional Administrator, Region 6. Here are excerpts: * * * Texas: Incorporation by Reference of State Hazardous Waste Management Program AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This rule codifies in the regulations the prior approval of Texas' hazardous waste management program and incorporates by reference authorize more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Dec. 4, 2024, from Clarios LLC, Austin, Texas. Here are excerpts: * * * To: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA Docket Center Superfund Docket EPA-HQ-OLEM-2024-0376 Mail Code 28221T 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 Re: Comments by Clarios, LLC on Proposed Listing of Exide Technologies - Vernon, California Site on National Priorities List - EPA-HQ-OL more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has released the following public communication on Dec. 10, 2024, from Farm&City: * * * Thank you for your service to the American people, for all that you have done to reduce the number of people killed or injured on Texas streets and roads, and for all that you have done to move us toward a more perfect transportation planning, funding, and design system that seeks to provide all people greater access more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has released the following public communication dated Dec. 7, 2024, from the Greater Houston Partnership, Texas: * * * To: The Honorable Pete Buttigieg Secretary of Transportation United States Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 * * * Dear Secretary Buttigieg, The Greater Houston Partnership, representing the for profit and non-profit employers in the 12  more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has released the following public communication on Dec. 10, 2024, from LINK Houston, Texas: * * * On behalf of LINK Houston, thank you for the opportunity to voice our concerns about the proposed second renewed MOU between the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). LINK Houston is a nonprofit organization that advocates for a robust and equitable trans more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has released the following public communication on Dec. 12, 2024, from MoboTrex, Pflugerville, Texas: * * * MoboTrex: Support to End the FHWA Buy America Waiver Background on MoboTrex and our Commitment to Buy America Requirements * * 8 MoboTrex is a leading manufacturer and distributor of intelligent transportation systems in North America serving state and local department of transportation offices more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has released the following public communication dated Dec. 8, 2024, from the Green Club at West Brook Senior High School, Beaumont, Texas: * * * To: U.S. Department of Transportation Docket Operations M-30 Room W12-140 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: Docket No. FHWA-2019-0013 - Notice of Proposed MOU - Renewal Package from the State of Texas to the Surface Transportation Delive more ST

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 19 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release: In response to the challenges faced by small businesses impacted by flooding and wildfires in New Mexico, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) is offering $1 million in grants through the Small Business Recovery Grant (SBRG) program to support recovery efforts in affected counties. The program will be available to eligible small more PR

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 17 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release: LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), along with Community 1st Bank, provided $9,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP) funding to the Las Vegas Arts Council to promote economic and artistic development in Las Vegas, New Mexico. In this case, FHLB Dallas member institution Community 1st Bank provided a $1 more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * Latest federal funding represents one of the largest transit investments in the region * * * The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a $267.8 million construction grant award in the city of San Antonio, Texas, which will support the construction of the new VIA Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) Nor more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The Federal Labor Relations Authority issued the following decision (Case No. 0-NG-3645) on Dec. 17, 2024: * * * AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES LOCAL 0906 (Union) and UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EASTERN KANSAS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TOPEKA VA MEDICAL CENTER TOPEKA, KANSAS (Agency) 0 NG 3645 DECISION AND ORDER ON A NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE December 17, 2024 * * * Before the Authority: Susan Tsui Grundmann, Chairman, and Colleen Duffy Kiko a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Congressman August Pfluger (R-Texas) today introduced a bicameral Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to block implementation of the Biden administration's Natural Gas Tax, which was passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats' reckless tax-and-spend legislation in 2022. "American households and businesses depend every day on access to a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following news release: Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) celebrated House passage of three bills to help children and students: S. 3448, the Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023; S. 1147, the Jenna Quinn Law; and S. 5355, the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) Improvement Act. S. 3448, the Nev more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on Dec. 17, 2024: * * * House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issued the following statement after the Department of Energy (DOE) released its anti-liquefied natural gas (LNG) study, which aims to hamstring the incoming Presidential administration. "Let's call this 'study' what it is: A clear attempt to cement Joe more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, issued the following news release: House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Pat Fallon (R-Texas) issued the following joint statement after the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an interim report exposing the Biden Administrat more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed his bill designating the United States Post Office located on Main Street in Bastrop, Texas as the "Sergeant Major Billy D. Waugh Post Office." The bill memorializes the service of Sergeant Major Waugh, a Silver Star, and eight-time Purple Heart recipient, and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. U more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: * * * Arrests Result from Joint Task Force Alpha's Expanded Coordination with Colombian Law Enforcement * * * On Dec. 13, Colombian authorities arrested two men charged with human smuggling conspiracy for moving migrants through Colombia en route to the United States. In the course of that conspiracy, the defendants are alleged to have put lives in jeopardy, including by placing some of  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: A Texas physician pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a $5.5 million over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 test fraud scheme. According to court documents, Mark Mazzare M.D., 57, of Tyler, purchased Medicare beneficiary identifiers (BINs) that were used to bill Medicare millions of dollars for OTC COVID-19 test kits, many of which had not been requested by the beneficiaries. Mazzare entered into  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Three individuals were sentenced yesterday for their roles in founding and operating an illegal pyramid scheme. Alex Dee, 50, of Fate, Texas, was sentenced to 36 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,845,600 in forfeiture; Brian Kaplan, 53, of Fort Collins, Colorado, was sentenced to 22 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,838,700 in forfeiture; and Jerrold Mauer, 58, of North Bellmore,  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: LAREDO, Texas U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at the Colombia Solidarity Port of Entry this week seized more than 757 pounds of methamphetamine valued at $6.9 million in a single enforcement action. "This seizure highlights the dedication and vigilance of our officers who work tirelessly to safeguard our borders. Their hard w more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 2:24-CV-10745; C.D. Cal. filed Dec. 13, 2024) involving Historic Asset Placement Services Global LLC, Sovereign Debt Solutions LP, Ocean Park Partners, Christopher W. Abshier, Billy W. Abshier, Frederic A. Gladle, Ronald Josh Pendley and Kevin E. Scannell: * * * Fraud Based on Non-Existent Process for Redeeming Bonds Issued by the German Weimar Republic and Pre-Revolutionary China and Rus more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release: The recently introduced Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025 includes several pieces of bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), including: the TAKE IT DOWN Act, the TICKET Act, and the Informing Consumers About Smart Dev more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued a notice in the Federal Register on Dec. 12, 2024, entitled "Inventory Completion: Indiana University, Bloomington". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Indiana University has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: Senator Jon Ossoff's bipartisan bill to crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the Southern Border is headed to the President's desk to become law. Today, Sen. Ossoff's bipartisan DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives to strengthen the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s capacity to detect fentanyl and xylazine at ports of entry and better prevent it from crossing t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a notice, proposed incidental harassment authorization, request for comments on proposed authorization and possible renewal in the Federal Register on Nov. 19, 2024, entitled "Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to a Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the University of Texas at Austin (UT) for a more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, issued the following news release: The House passed Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) and Senator John Cornyn's (R-TX) legislation to prevent child sexual abuse, sending it to the President's desk to be signed into law. The bipartisan Jenna Quinn Law authorizes existing grant funds to be used to train and educate students, teachers, school employees, caregivers, and other adults who work with children on sexual abuse prevention. The legi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) and Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced a bicameral Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to block implementation of the Biden Administration's Natural Gas Tax, which was passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats' reckless tax-and-spend legislation in 2022. New fees or taxes on energy companies will raise costs for customers, creating a  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education issued the following news release: The White House and the on Tuesday co-hosted a roundtable on addressing chronic absenteeism in schools. During this roundtable, White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, and Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten led a discussion with education leaders as well as researchers, philanthropic, private sector and non-profit leaders to discuss actions they are taking to support states, districts,  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced $21 billion in disaster assistance and $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers and ranchers across the country, including South Texas, in the upcoming government funding bill. He also announced that he helped secure language to provide economic support for farmers in South Texas: "We need to show more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Last Week, Congressman Wesley Hunt introduced the Carla Walker Act of 2024. The bill will create two $5 million pilot programs to support Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) DNA analysis to help solve previously unsolvable cold cases. FGG DNA analysis provides a significant opportunity to bring answers to crimes that have remained unsolved for far too long utilizing traditional DNA analysis metho more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Monica de la Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) today announced a critical victory for South Texas farmers with the inclusion of language in the Continuing Resolution (CR) granting the Secretary of Agriculture authority to provide block grants for economic relief to agricultural producers in South Texas. This measure addresses significant economic losses caused by Mexico's ongoing failure to meet more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Today, U.S. Representative Summer Lee (D-Penn.) and Representative Greg Casar (D-Texas), along with 18 of their colleagues, are calling on the Biden Administration to uphold U.S. law and immediately suspend offensive military transfers to Netanyahu's government. The call comes after the Administration's Oct. 13, 2024 letter to Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and Israeli Minister more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after language to increase transparency and prohibit investments by American entities in sensitive technologies in China, an effort he has led in the Senate with Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), was included in the government funding bill: "China will stop at nothing to win the global power competition, and certain investments - includ more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Angus King (I-ME), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) released the following statements after their Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, which would help ensure life insurance packages for service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living and inflation, passed the Senate: "As the nation continues to feel the effects of inflat more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement securing passage of eight provisions in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), securing critical wins for Texas military communities, service members, and national security. Upon passage, Sen. Cruz said, "The FY25 NDAA includes many significant provisions for Texas and our national  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, held a hearing titled "Continuing a Bipartisan Path Forward for Antitrust Enforcement and Reform." The hearing focused on areas of bipartisan agreement in antitrust enforcement, including cases brought under the past two administrations to address consolidation and mono more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, released a first-of-its kind public dataset and accompanying staff report that expose the scale of the climate change-driven crisis in homeowners' insurance. With this release, the Committee makes publicly available--for the first time--an accounting of insurance non-renewals more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Bill Text (PDF) | Section By Section (PDF) Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, along with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02), today introduced the Nautical Oversight Safety and Protection of Inflammable Liquids by Law in the Sea (NO SPILLS) Act, which would strengthen the review process by whi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Bill Text (PDF) | Section By Section (PDF) Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, along with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02), today introduced the Nautical Oversight Safety and Protection of Inflammable Liquids by Law in the Sea (NO SPILLS) Act, which would strengthen the review process by which the Mari more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Surface Transportation Board issued the following notice (Docket No. FD 36820) entitled "Puerto Verde Industrial Railroad LLC - Operation Exemption - Line in Maverick County, Texas": * * * Puerto Verde Industrial Railroad, LLC (PVIR), a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to operate approximately 2.43 miles of private railroad track located within the property of a former coal mine in Maverick  more PR

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 19 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Attorney General Ken Paxton took action following reports that the Biden Administration is illegally selling segments of the border wall at the United States-Mexico border. Recent reports suggested the Biden Administration may be auctioning off up to half a mile per day of border wall sections for a mere fraction of the original purchase cost. In some cases, the government is allege more PR

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Missouri City, having completed the multi-step training and certification process, has been designated as a Film Friendly Texas Certified Community by the Texas Film Commission. "Congratulations to Missouri City on earning the Film Friendly Texas designation and joining more than 175 other Texas communities that have received this recognition," said more PR

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Governor Greg Abbott today announced that his Public Safety Office (PSO) will administer over $500 million in grant funding for a variety of public safety programs and services in Texas, including victims services, anti-human trafficking efforts, border security, and law enforcement support. This grant funding is made possible through a combination of federal and state dollars. "Ensuring th more PR

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan, Senate Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman, and House Appropriations Chair Dr. Greg Bonnen today pledged to allocate funding to stabilize minimum unemployment insurance rates for businesses across the state during the 2025 legislative session. Due to higher wages and an evolving job market in Texas, the Unemployment more PR

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: A 42-year-old resident of San Benito has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Salvador Cortez-Nava aka Chava pleaded guilty Aug. 24, 2023. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Cortez-Nava to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately  more PR

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: * * * Three gun buyers identified in investigation also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to straw purchase firearms * * * A 45-year-old Cypress resident has been sentenced for aiding and abetting engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Nicah Anderson pleaded guilty Aug. 9. U.S. District Judge Keit more PR

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas issued the following news release: Lafayette RE Management LLC, a private asset manager based in New York City, and Thibault Adrien, Lafayette's founder and majority owner, have agreed to pay $680,000 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly making false certifications to the government in applying for, and receiving forgiveness of, a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lo more PR

DEL RIO, Texas, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: A federal grand jury in Del Rio returned an indictment today charging a Stafford man with four charges related to trafficking methamphetamine. According to court documents, Yobany Vega, 24, attempted to enter the United States from Mexico through Eagle Pass Camino Real Bridge 2 on Dec. 6. The indictment alleges that Customs and Border Protection Offic more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Navy's U.S. Fleet Forces Command issued the following news: By Lt. Cmdr. Peter Pagano NEWPORT, R.I. -- The U.S. Naval War College hosts the 11th annual Women, Peace and Security symposium. The symposium, themed "Rethinking Global Security in a Complex World," aimed to broaden understanding of complex global security challenges and the critical importance of gender perspectives across the continuum of national and international security. "In addition to forging more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: The U.S. Navy recently achieved its final key milestone in the development of Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) integrated capabilities by successfully completing a continuous 720-hour power demonstration on an engine system for use aboard future USVs. This demonstration is part of a larger USV testing effort to assess the capability and resilience of engine systems to operate autonomously for extended periods. The late more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education issued the following news release: On Thursday, Dec. 19, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will host the "Creating Pathways for Multilingualism for All" convening. At the event, the Office of English Language Acquisition will release four Dual Language Immersion Playbooks and a call to action to governors across the nation. This convening will showcase high-quality dual language immersion programs in California, New York, Texas, U more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) recently joined Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Congressman August Pfluger (R-Texas), and 11 of their Republican colleagues to introduce a bicameral Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to block implementation of the Biden Administration's Natural Gas Tax, which was passed as part of Democrats' so-called Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). "Over the past four years,  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development issued the following news release: Today, Administrator Samantha Power welcomed the release of USAID's 2024 Biodiversity Policy, marking ten years since the launch of the Agency's first policy on biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity the enormous variety of all life on Earth is the foundation for human development and survival. But nature is in crisis, with 75 percent of the planet's land and 40 percent of the ocean signif more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has released the following public communication dated Dec. 9, 2024, from the City Bar Justice Center, New York: * * * To: Jonathan Taylor Staff Attorney Office of the General Counsel (022) Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 RE: RIN 2900-AR94; Comment to Improving Accreditation Process and Strengthening Legal Education Requirements for Accredited Agents and Attorneys * * * Dear Mr. Tayl more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) urged the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to finalize rules to curb overpayments to private insurers in Medicare Advantage (MA). The nonpartisan Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) estimates that private insurers in MA will overcharge taxpayers $83 billion this year alone. Most of these overpay more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (TNSfact) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * The United States and India Advance Growing Space Partnership On December 17, U.S. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor (PDNSA) Jon Finer, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, and Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra traveled to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to mark the significant progress the United States and India have made to strengthen space coo more PR