WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), a member of the bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, today issued the following statement on the release of the Task Force's comprehensive report and key findings, including guiding principles and forward-looking recommendations to advance American leadership and innovation on AI: "This report is a series of timely, productive, bipartisan recommendations on artificial more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the Protecting Global Fisheries Act to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. By creating unfair competition for fishermen who abide by international fishing laws, predatory IUU fishing hurts the U.S.--especially Louisiana--which is a major harvester, importer, and consumer of seafood. This practice disrupts international more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11826) on Dec. 12, 2024, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy has been procuring Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998. The Navy's envisaged successor to the Virginia-class design is the Next-Generation more PR

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Education Activity issued the following news release: Sembach, Germany -- Dr. Michelle Howard-Brahaney, Department of Defense Education Activity-Europe director for student excellence, announced that Dr. Sara Schmidt was selected as the next community superintendent for the Wiesbaden/Sembach/Baumholder DoDEA-Europe Central District. "Dr. Schmidt is an accomplished leader and dedicated professional. I am pleased to announce her se more PR

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: YOKOSUKA, Japan The U.S. Navy qualified the first Royal Australian Navy officer on a nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarine at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Dec. 12. In a pier-side ceremony, Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, commander, Submarine Group 7 awarded Royal Australian Navy Lt. Cmdr. James* the first U.S. Navy Submarine Warfare Device earned by a Royal A more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $1,296,061 to STEP, Inc., based out of Rocky Mount, Virginia, to support the group's Head Start programs. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: "Solutions that Empower People, known as STEP, offers different programs and services to local communities in Franklin and Patrick Counties, including Head Start more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $289,995 to Clinch Valley Community Action, Inc., based out of North Tazewell, Virginia, to support the group's Head Start programs. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: "Clinch Valley Community Action offers different programs and services to local communities in Southwest Virginia, including Head Star 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. 19 -- 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), on the House Floor, criticized the Biden-Harris Education Department for spending $1 billion in taxpayer money on so-called "diversity, equity, and inclusion" initiatives. Chairwoman Foxx's Remarks: "A new report from Parents Defending Education (PDE) revealed that t 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) and Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) released the following statements regarding the inclusion of the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act within the House's continuing resolution: "Meeting the demands of the 21st century economy requires a targ more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: A jury convicted Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, 35, of Springfield, Virginia, on Dec. 13 for charges relating to his efforts to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least October 2019 through October 2022, Chhipa collected and sent money to female ISIS members in Syria to  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced the Protecting Global Fisheries Act, bipartisan legislation to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Predatory IUU fishing disrupts international trade and undermines maritime security, marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and fo more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chair of the SASC Subcommittee on Seapower, applauded the Senate's passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As a member of SASC, Kaine worked to secure key provisions in the legislation to advance U.S. national security, support servicemembers and their families, benefit Virginia's more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, along with U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-CT), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) reintroduced the Magnet Schools Accessibility, Growth, and Nonexclusionary Enrollment Transformation (MAG more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued a notice in the Federal Register on Dec. 10, 2024, entitled "National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before November 30, 2024, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places. DATES: C more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The National Science Foundation issued a notice and request for comments involving an information collection on Dec. 12, 2024, entitled "National Science Foundation's Education and Training Application". AGENCY: National Science Foundation. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request establishment and clearance of this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reducti more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: The U.S. Senate today voted to proceed toward a final vote on U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger's Social Security Fairness Act, which would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). According to a nonpartisan 2024 report, the WEP denies earned benefits to more than 42,000 Virginians, and the GPO hurts approximately 3,700 Virginians. Additionally, more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Michelle Steel, R-California, issued the following news release: Representative Michelle Steel today delivered her final speech as a member of Congress on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Steel's remarks reflected on her accomplishments in Congress and expressed gratitude to her constituents for the opportunity to serve. "Only in America can a first-generation immigrant who speaks English as a third language rise to become a member of this body. Whe more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: ~ Within the FY25 NDAA, Hirono secured over $2 billion for infrastructure in Hawaii and over $9 billion for projects, capabilities, and exercises to support the Indo-Pacific region ~ Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, voted to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Au 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

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 19 -- Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * OAG's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Assisting In Investigating Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center * * * Attorney General Jason Miyares today announced charges against 18 individuals in connection with an ongoing investigation into elder abuse and neglect at the Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Colonial Heights, Virginia. On Oc more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 19 -- The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation issued the following news release: Owners of the commonwealth's more than 2,500 regulated dams may now apply for matching grants from the Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund. A total of $5 million is available for dam safety projects. The fund is managed by the Virginia Resources Authority on behalf of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. "These grants wil more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: This morning, Governor Glenn Youngkin unveiled his proposed "Keeping Virginia Winning" budget amendments during a presentation to the General Assembly's Joint Money Committee. The "Keep Virginia Winning" budget is a series of proposed amendments to the 2024-2026 biennial budget bill. The Governor's amendments to the biennial budget prioritize tax relief for working Virginians, exp more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * Fund to Provide Support for Hurricane Helene Recovery * * * Governor Glenn Youngkin today proposed a $127 million investment to establish the Disaster Assistance Fund at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). This one-time funding will address critical recovery needs by leveraging existing resources to fill gaps left by federal and private re more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 19 -- The Virginia Department of Health issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * Nationwide Search Yields State Director with Extensive Experience in EMS and Fire Services to Lead Virginia's EMS System * * * The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is pleased to announce that Maria Beermann-Foat, PhD, NRP, will be the new director of the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). VDH conducted a nationwide search to fill this key leadershi more PR

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: An Arlington-based business owner pled guilty yesterday to wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud eight companies of over $2 million. According to court documents, from at least January 2020 through December 2022, Kiel Brendan Brandt, 34, owned and operated Epsilon Acquisition Services, a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm. F 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. 17 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA), alongside U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), spoke on the Senate floor and pushed for a unanimous consent agreement in the Senate to pass the Saving the Civil Service Act, legislation led by Kaine to prevent any position in the federal civil service from being reclassified outside of merit system principles without the express consent of Congres more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) celebrated the inclusion of their bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 in the continuing resolution to fund the government. The bill reauthorizes federal funding for the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First), which has supported lifesaving researc more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) celebrated the inclusion of their bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 in the continuing resolution to fund the government. The bill reauthorizes federal funding for the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First), which has supported lifesaving research of t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Throughout her six years in Congress, U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger has been a steadfast advocate for Virginia's small businesses and workforce -- earning widespread recognition from Virginia organizations and community leaders committed to fostering economic growth and supporting the success of Virginia's businesses and workers. In Congress, Spanberger has advanced bipartisan legislation an more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Throughout her six years in Congress, U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger has been a champion for education -- earning recognition from Virginia organizations and community leaders committed to improving educational opportunities and supporting students and teachers. As a product of Viginia public schools and a mom of three kids in Virginia public schools, Spanberger believes that dedicated teache more PR