WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has introduced legislation (S. 5570) that will establish a new federal grant program under the U.S. Department of Transportation to assist with waterfront redevelopment in major cities like Baltimore for resilience and economic development. The Constructing Resilient and Enduring Waterfronts program (CREW) A more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) released the following joint statement on the Continuing Resolution and cost-share provisions for the replacement of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore: "Following the tragic collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore in March, we led a federal response that was both immediate and all-encompassing. Working alongside Governor Wes Moore, Congressma more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Dec. 9, 2024, from Commonwealth Care Alliance: * * * CCA RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITIES: PROPOSED COLLECTION; COMMENT REQUEST: MEDICARE HEALTH OUTCOMES SURVEY (OMB CONTROL NUMBER: 0938-0701) To: Dr. Meena Seshamani, Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare Department of Health and  more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 16, 2024, from Community Legal Aid: * * * To: Stephanie Valentine PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division Office of the Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave. SW LBJ, Room 4C210 Washington, D.C. 20202 RE: Docket ID ED-2024-SCC-0128, Agency Informa more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 16, 2024, from the Council of Administrators of Special Education: * * * To: Stephanie Valentine. PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4C210 Washington, DC 20202-1200 Re: Docket No. ED-2024-SCC-0128 * * * Dear Ms. Valentine: The Council of Administrators of Special Ed more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 16, 2024, from the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies: * * * To: Stephanie Valentine PRA Coordinator Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, LBJ, Room 4C210 Washington, DC 20202-1200 Attention: Sa more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 12, 2024, from LatinoJustice PRLDEF. Here are excerpts: * * * To: The Manager of the Strategic Collection & Clearance Governance U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20202-1200 Re: Docket No. ED-2024-SCC-0128 Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection * * * LatinoJustice PRLDEF ("LatinoJustice") writes in support of the Department's data coll more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 16, 2024, from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator: * * * To: U.S. Department of Education Docket ID ED-2024-OPE-0135 Office of Postsecondary Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, 5th floor Washington, DC 20202 * * * On behalf of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) and our 3,000 member institutions, we respectfull more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 16, 2024, from the National Center for Learning Disabilities: * * * To: Ms. Stephanie Valentine PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division Office of the Chief Data Officer Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue SW Washington, DC 20202 RE: Mandatory Civil Rights Data Co more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 16, 2024, from the National Education Association: * * * To: Stephanie Valentine PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW LBJ, Room 4C210 Washington, DC 20202-1200 Re: Docket ID ED-2024-SCC-012 more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 13, 2024, from the National Women's Law Center. Here are excerpts: * * * To: Manager of Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave. SW LBJ, Room 4C210 Washington, DC 20202-1200. Re: Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection (Docket No. ED-2024-SCC- more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 16, 2024, from the Southern Education Foundation: * * * To: Assistant Secretary of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Catherine Lhamon U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202 Re: Docket No.: ED-2024-SCC-0128, Comments in Response to Request for Information Regarding the Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection * * * Dear Assistant Secretary more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 13, 2024, from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Professor Michael Pinard: * * * To: Stephanie Valentine, PRA Coordinator Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division Office of Chief Data Officer Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 4C210 Washingto more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has released the following public communication on Dec. 10, 2024, from the Montgomery County Quiet Skies Coalition of Maryland: * * * The Montgomery County Quiet Skies Coalition of Maryland advocates on behalf of communities in Montgomery County, MD that are subjected to untenable levels of noise from commercial aircraft approaching and departing Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Communities bo more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration has released the following public communication dated Dec. 5, 2024, from AbbVie, Rockville, Maryland: * * * To: Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305) Food and Drug Administration 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061 Rockville, Maryland 20852 Re: Docket No. FDA-2015-D-1580 Incorporating Voluntary Patient Preference Information Over the Total Product Life Cycle; Guidance for Industry, Food and Dr more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration has released the following public communication dated Dec. 9, 2024, from the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the U.S.: * * * To: Division of Dockets Management Food and Drug Administration 5630 Fishers Lane Room 1061 Rockville, Maryland. 20852 Response to the Request for Comments on the Food and Drug Administration's Pre-Market Animal Food Ingredient Review Programs. Docket more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Government Publishing Office issued the following news release: The U.S. Government Publishing Office's (GPO) print procurement program awarded $469.2 million in contracts with private-sector printing companies across the country to meet the printing and publishing needs of Federal agencies in fiscal year 2024. This work represented more than 73,000 orders. Nearly 75 percent of all printing ordered by Federal agencies from GPO is performed by private sector firms more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a notice involving an information collection on Dec. 16, 2024, entitled "Hospice Information for Medicare Part D Plans". AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect informa more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: * * * Defendant Fraudulently Obtained Over $1.5M of $12M Requested from IRS * * * A federal grand jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, returned an indictment, unsealed last week, charging a Maryland woman with tax fraud and theft of government funds. According to the indictment, from 2014 to 2024, Monica Patricia McGinley assisted with the preparation and filing false tax returns, so that McGin more PR

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Dec. 19 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * Complaint Alleges That the Company Released Toxic "Forever Chemicals" for More Than Half a Century, and That the Company Knew About the Associated Dangers but Concealed Them * * * Attorney General Brown announced the filing of a complaint today in the U.S. District Court for Maryland against W.L. Gore & Associates for putting residents' health at risk with cont more PR

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Dec. 19 -- The Maryland Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: The Maryland Department of Agriculture has released new guidance urging Maryland dairy cattle and poultry farmers to remain vigilant and practice enhanced biosecurity on their farms due to the continued circulation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) detections in wild birds in the Atlantic Flyway. First detected in poultry in early 2022, HPAI has also been confirmed in lactating da more PR

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Wes Moore, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Governor Wes Moore today announced $129.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025 awards to support seven state revitalization programs administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The historic level of investment in county and municipal governments, community development organizations, and other community institutions and partners will fund 304 projects and activ more PR

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Wes Moore, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Governor Wes Moore today signed an executive order to deliver process improvements and efficiencies to Maryland's procurement system, promote accountability and transparency, and strengthen the state's commitment to its socioeconomic procurement programs. The executive order, signed during the final meeting of the Board of Public Works for calendar year 2024, represents the most robus more PR

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Dec. 19 -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources issued the following news on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * Funding approved for DNR's Program Open Space Local and Rural Legacy programs * * * The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources items totaling $2.7 million in grants to local governments to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements. About $2.1 million in Program Open Space - Local was approved for five more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding inclusion of a provision committing the federal government to cover 100% of the rebuild costs for the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the continuing resolution that will be considered by the U.S. House and Senate ahead of a December 20, 2024 deadline to avoid a government shutdown. "This has been a nine-month fight to make sure that Bal more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- NASA issued the following news release: A rendering of Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander and a rover developed for the company's third mission to the Moon as part of NASA's CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Credit: Firefly Aerospace NASA continues to advance its campaign to explore more of the Moon than ever before, awarding Firefly Aerospace $179 million to deliver six experiments to the lunar surface. This fourth task order for Firefly will target l 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 U.S. Navy issued the following news release: NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MD The U.S. Navy announced today that it has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation a $3.549B contract to conduct the mission-systems integration for the E-130J, which will be the successor to the E-6B Mercury for the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation of Melbourne, Florida, will serve as the prime contractor to integra more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Ban Gambling on Elections Act to prohibit betting on U.S. elections. The bill is the House companion to Senator Jeff Merkley's (D-OR) legislation in the Senate. The legislation would amend the Commodity Exchange Act--a law that regulates the trading of commodities and futures in the U.S.--to prohibit political election wa more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Andy Harris, R-Maryland, issued the following statement: * * * Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., released the following statement in response to Worcester County Commissioners announcing plans to use eminent domain to prevent US Wind from purchasing two seafood wholesale properties in West Ocean City's Commercial Maritime Harbor. The statement comes as US Wind's parent company, Renexia SpA, is looking to demolish the harbor's only commercial seafood wholesaler more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Andy Harris, R-Maryland, issued the following news release: Today, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, M.D. (R-MD) and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to Senate Republican Leader-Elect John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson on the need to prioritize the prompt passage of a border security-focused reconciliation bill at the beginning of the 119th Congress. "Following President Trump's decisive victory," the lawmakers wrote, "House and Senate Republ more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) was elected Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee for the 119th Congress. He first received the endorsement of House Democrats' Steering and Policy Committee and was then elected by unanimous vote of the House Democratic Caucus. "I am honored that my colleagues have placed their faith in me to lead Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee in the 119th Co more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) as the incoming Ranking Member of the Committee for the upcoming session of the 119th Congress. "Senator Shaheen's historic leadership as the first woman to serve as Ranking Member for Senate Foreign Relatio more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the Senate's passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which marks the fourth consecutive year the Department of State Authorization Act will be enacted into law and includes Chair Cardin more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the American Foreign Affairs Talent Expansion (FATE) Act: Diversity in Diplomacy and Development. This legislation modernizes the international affairs workforce, promotes global equity initiatives, and creates fellowships and programs to incr more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: This week, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led leaders of European foreign affairs committees in a statement of democratic solidarity, pledging continued support for Ukraine, Belarus' democratic forces, and the Georgian people in their efforts against authoritarianism. Chair Cardin was joine more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the United States to press for decisive action on Sudan at the Ministerial-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on December 19. Chair Cardin's letter emphasized the urgency of protecting Sud more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the Preventing the Undermining of Lebanon's Sovereignty and Economy (PULSE) Act, which aut more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The White House issued the following transcript of a news call via teleconference by senior administration officials on the U.S. nationally determined contribution: * * * MR. FERNANDEZ HERNANDEZ: Hi. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining today's embargoed press call. This press call will begin with on-the-record remarks from White House National Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi and Senior Adviser to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta. After  more PR