WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Department of Education (DOE) is seeking applications from parent organizations for its Special Education Parent Information Centers (PTIs) program. This initiative aims to empower parents of children with disabilities by providing them with essential training and resources. Funding Available for Parent-Led Organizations The program prioritizes applications from parent organizations with diverse leadership encompassing parents of children with disabilities, special e more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) to prevent the spread of devastating foreign animal diseases is on its way to the president's desk to be signed into law after passing the House of Representatives today. The Beagle Brigade Act provides backing for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Detector Dog Training Center, which trains beagles more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: After her telework report revealed a chronically absent federal workforce, Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) released her DRAIN THE SWAMP Act, which relocates at least 30% of Washington's federal workforce, requires the rest of the employees to show up to the office 100% of the time, and facilitates the sale of excess office space. Last week, Senator Ernst, the incoming chair of the Senate Small Busin more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed, the Beagle Brigade Act. "Keeping foreign animal diseases out of our country is critical to the security of Iowa agriculture and our food supply. As we've seen with bird flu, our farmers have faced serious financial losses and uncertainty over the spread of this disease, and African Swine Fever has the potential  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today welcomed the Senate's overwhelmingly bipartisan passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), a legislative package that reauthorizes key infrastructure projects to improve ports and harbors, inland waterways navigation and flood and storm protection in Iowa and across the country. The bill now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. "Iowa more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today applauded Senate passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support our military and fund critical national security priorities. The legislation, which includes several Grassley-backed provisions, now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. "National security is the number one responsibility of the federal government," Grassley sai more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced today that his Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden. Co-led with U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), this legislation will make it easier for "Good Samaritans," such as state agencies, nonprofits, and other groups, to clean up and improve water quality in and around abandoned hardrock mines. Heinr more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Boston, MA One year after a shooting in Lewiston, Maine killed 18 people and wounded 13, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) secured bipartisan provisions in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY25 NDAA) to protect servicemembers exposed to blast overpressure and provide them the necessary care. The legislation passed by Congress builds upon many years of Senator Warren's  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 13, 2024, entitled "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rayed Bean, Sheepnose, Snuffbox, and Spectaclecase Mussels". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the rayed bean ( Villosa fabalis), sheepnose ( Plethobasus cy more ST

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 19 -- The Iowa Farm Bureau issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: With farm incomes down nearly 25% since 2022, Iowa farmers are feeling the strain of market volatility. To help them prepare for the challenges ahead, Iowa Farm Bureau in collaboration with Iowa State University, invites farmers to attend its Ag Market Outlook meeting series, scheduled as follows: * Thursday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Lakin Community Center in Malvern * Wednesday, Feb more PR

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa issued the following news release: A Sioux City man was sentenced yesterday to 106 months in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine and a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. According to public court documents, Rodney Lamard Hall, II, 31, was found in possession of a distribution quantity of pills containing approximately 37 grams of methamphetamine,  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, issued the following news release: Vermont experienced devastating flooding, severe storms July 2023 & July 2024 Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement: "This comprehensive disaster aid is the result of months of bipartisan work. It is vitally necessary to Americans in red states and blue states alike and will help folks in Vermont who were hit by catastrophic flooding, just as it will help folks in North Carolina, Iowa more PR