LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, Dec. 20 -- Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: On Thursday, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Division of Higher Education Commissioner Ken Warden, and Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers, awarded 14 recipients nearly $26 million in HIRED training grants to support workforce development efforts. "There's no one-size-fits-all approach to education and the HIRED Grant Program helps us meet Arkansas students,  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 16, 2024, from the National Disability Rights Network and 30 collaborators: * * * To: Stephanie Valentine PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Office of the Chief Data Officer Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development U.S. Department of Education Washington, DC 20002 RE: Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection: Docket ID: ED-2024-SCC-0128 Submitte more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The House Education and the Workforce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-742) on the Transparency in Coverage Act (H.R. 4507), which waims to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to promote transparency in health coverage and reform pharmacy benefit management services with respect to group health plans. The report was advanced by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, on Nov. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose H.R. 4507, the Transparency more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Today, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with unanimous support. The bill now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response: "Today, Congr more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-752) on a bill (H.R. 6070), which aims to amend the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 to clarify the authority of Department of Defense to conduct certain military activities at the Nevada test and training range. The report was advanced by Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, on Nov. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of the Legislation The purpose of H.R. 6070 is to amend the Military Lands Wi more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-747) on a bill (H.R. 4377), which aims to amend the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 with respect to extensions, additions and revisions to the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Arizona. The report was advanced by Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, on Nov. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of the Legislation The purpose of H.R. 4377 is to amend the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 with respec more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-753) on the America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8811), which aims to reauthorize the America's Conservation Enhancement Act. The report was advanced by Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, on Nov. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of the Legislation The purpose of H.R. 8811 is to reauthorize the America's Conservation Enhancement Act, and for other purposes. Background an more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-750) on the Fire Department Repayment Act (H.R. 3396), which aims to require the standardization of reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreements. The report was advanced by Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, on Nov. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION The purpose of H.R. 3396 is to require the standardization of reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreements, and for othe more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-748) on the Forest Information Reform Act (H.R. 200), which aims to amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to provide that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior are not required to reinitiate consultation on a land management plan or land use plan under certain circumstances. The report was advanc more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-751) on the Promoting Accessibility on Federal Lands Act (H.R. 5665), which aims to require a comprehensive assessment of certain Federal trails, campsites, boat docks, and outdoor recreation facilities to determine the accessibility options for individuals with disabilities. The report was advanced by Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, on Nov. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION  more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-749) on the Protecting America's Rock Climbing Act (H.R. 1380), which aims to require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to issue guidance on climbing management in designated wilderness areas. The report was advanced by Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, on Nov. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION The purpose of H.R. 1380 is to require the Secretary o more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Today, House Committee on Natural Resource Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior's Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Martha W more PR

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 20 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -- A homeowner in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the proud owner of a storm-resistant roof thanks to a $14,653 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), awarded through its member Gulf Coast Bank & Trust. Lorraine Taylor-Smith suffered damage to her roof from devastating hurricanes including Hurricane Ka more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Last week, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and House Committee on the Judiciary Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent a letter to the Director of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) Howard Cantor requesting information about the office's revenue collection activities. In part, the members wrote: "The more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: * * * $16.1 million for Arizona, $10.1 million for Arkansas, $12.3 million for Colorado, $13.4 million for Maryland, $4.5 million for North Dakota, $2.1 million for American Samoa, and $2.1 million for the U.S. Virgin Islands * * * The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) tod more PR

FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, Dec. 20 -- Defense Health Agency issued the following news: This is your reminder that changes are coming to TRICARE's regional contracts in 2025. These changes will affect you if you live in the U.S. TriWest Healthcare Alliance will replace the current West Region contractor, Health Net Federal Services, LLC, in 2025. While there will still be two TRICARE regions, six states currently in the East Region (Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin) will m more PR

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Little Rock District issued the following news release: RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Russellville Site Office will suspend shoreline activity requests beginning February 1 to establish a baseline for officials to use while updating the lake's 12-year-old shoreline management plan. Shoreline activity requests will not be accepted during the shoreline management plan update and all zoning and shoreline m more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, applauded Senate passage of legislation to strengthen water resources in Arkansas and across the country. The measure has already passed the House of Representatives and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. The Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) authorizes water more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (TNSfact) (TNSres) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet: * * * Biden-Harris Administration Marks Progress Strengthening America's Supply Chains Upon taking office in 2021, President Biden and his Administration immediately got to work addressing the shocks that were roiling global supply chains and moved swiftly to secure key industries for America's economy and national security. Everything in our lives--the food we eat, the medicines in our hospitals, the e more PR