WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34273) on April 30, 2025, entitled "Federal Land Ownership: Acquisition and Disposal Authorities." The report is written by natural resources policy specialists Carol Hardy Vincent, Laura B. Comay, Eric P. Nardi and Anne A. Riddle: * * * SUMMARY The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres, more than a quarter of the land in the United States. Four agencies - the Bureau of Land Management (BL more PR

PHOENIX, Arizona, May 1 -- The Arizona House Republicans issued the following news release on April 30, 2025: * * * Arizona Legislature Leads in Ninth Circuit to Defend States' Rights and Election Integrity Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro today announced that the Arizona Legislature, alongside Montana and 18 other states, filed a legal brief at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals supporting Idaho's voter ID law, which excludes student ID cards as an acceptable form of identification at  more PR

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, May 1 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news: * * * Arkansas State Representative Dalby to Speak at School of Law Commencement Arkansas State Rep. Carol Dalby will be the featured commencement speaker when the U of A School of Law celebrates its graduates at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, inside Barnhill Arena. The ceremony will be livestreamed on the U of A YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person. "We are honored that our alumna, Representa more PR

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, May 1 -- Baker Donelson, a law firm, issued the following news release: * * * Baker Donelson's Jane H. Downey Named to 2025 South Carolina Super Lawyers List Jane H. Downey of the national law firm Baker Donelson has been named to the 2025 edition of South Carolina Super Lawyers. With more than 30 years of experience representing individual and business debtors and creditors in commercial and consumer bankruptcy matters, Ms. Downey serves as of counsel in Baker Donelson's more PR

PLANO, Texas, May 1 [Category: Sociological] -- The First Liberty Institute, an organization that says it is dedicated to defending liberty for all Americans, issued the following news release: * * * Breaking: Michigan Elementary School Threatens to Censor Popular Brandon Lake Song From Student Talent Show Allegan, MI-- Late yesterday, First Liberty Institute sent a letter to officials at West Ward Elementary School in Michigan urging that they allow two elementary school students to sing pop more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11297) on April 30, 2025, by legislative attorney L. Paige Whitaker: * * * Redistricting: A Circuit Court Split Over Whether the Voting Rights Act Permits Vote Dilution Claims By Multiple Minority Groups There has been a long-standing split in the federal circuit courts of appeals over whether Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) permits multiple racial and language minority grou more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Henry C. 'Hank' Johnson Jr., D-Georgia, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Johnson Introduces TRUST Act To Hold Judges Accountable for Misconduct "Transparency and Responsibility in Upholding Standards in the Judiciary Act (TRUST Act)" Ensures Misconduct By Federal Judges Investigated Even If They Resign, Retire WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Propert more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Nellie Pou, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Pou Votes Against Partisan Budget after Republicans Block Litany of Common Sense Amendments Pou's own amendment to protect FEMA funding for New Jersey blocked by Republicans WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, today opposed providing $69 billion - free from guardrails and crucial oversight - in funding for President Tru more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Council for Innovation Promotion issued the following news release on May 1, 2025: * * * Council for Innovation Promotion Applauds the Reintroduction of PERA Today, the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) applauded Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE) and Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-CA) and Scott Peters (D-CA) for reintroducing the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA). For over a decade, a series of Supreme Court decisions have created uncer more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Delivers Remarks Honoring Fred Wertheimer As He Receives The Senator Paul H. Douglas Award For Ethics In Government April 30, 2025 In his remarks, Durbin praised the Paul Douglas Award recipient, Fred Wertheimer, for his dedication to strengthening American democracy WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered remarks honoring Fred Wertheimer, this ye more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11296) on April 30, 2025, by legislative attorney Adam Vann: * * * Federalism and the Electricity Markets: Balancing National and Local Interests The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) sought to enable and encourage infrastructure projects throughout the United States. Section 40105 of the IIJA addressed a particular type of infrastructure: the nation's electricity grid. S more PR

MADISON, Wisconsin, May 1 [Category: Religion] -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation posted the following news release: * * * FFRF rebukes Franklin Graham's Dept. of Education-endorsed blog * * * * * The Freedom From Religion Foundation upbraids the U.S. Department of Education for using its official platform to promote a sectarian message from evangelist Franklin Graham. Graham is a religious extremist with a long track record of exclusionary rhetoric. By featuring his blog post,  more PR

PLANO, Texas, May 1 [Category: Sociological] -- The First Liberty Institute, an organization that says it is dedicated to defending liberty for all Americans, issued the following news release: * * * First Liberty Institute's Kelly Shackelford Appointed to President Trump's Religious Liberty Commission Washington, DC-- Today, at a White House ceremony celebrating the National Day of Prayer, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating the President's Religious Liberty Commission, more PR

HELENA, Montana, May 1 -- Gov. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Gianforte Provides Certainty to Montana's Energy Sector Signs into law five environmental policy reform bills * May 01 2025 HELENA, Mont. - Joining House Speaker Brandon Ler, R-Savage, legislators, and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Sonja Nowakowski, Governor Greg Gianforte today signed into law five bills to reform the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) t more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 [Category: Political] -- Heritage Action for America posted the following news release: * * * Heritage Action Praises South Carolina General Assembly's Restoration of the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, Providing Education Freedom to Families WASHINGTON - Heritage Action, a conservative grassroots organization with over 2.5 million grassroots activists nationwide, praised the South Carolina General Assembly for passing Senate Bill 62, legislation that restores and expands  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Kentucky, issued the following news release: * * * House Democrats' Litigation Task Force Urges Supreme Court to Protect Constitution, Defend Birthright Citizenship This week, Congressman Morgan McGarvey and other House Democrats' Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force members elevated their fight against the Trump administration's illegal attacks on the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship to the highest court in the land--filing a more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 (Rep.) -- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * House Democrats' Litigation Task Force Urges Supreme Court to Protect Constitution, Defend Birthright Citizenship Washington, D.C. -- This week, House Democrats' Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force elevated their fight against the Trump Administration's illegal attacks on the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship to the highest court in the land--filing a more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * House Democrats' Litigation Task Force Urges Supreme Court to Protect Constitution, Defend Birthright Citizenship Washington, D.C. -- This week, House Democrats' Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force elevated their fight against the Trump Administration's illegal attacks on the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship to the highest court in the land--filing an amicus brief for the thr more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Rick Allen, R-Georgia, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions released the following opening statement from an April 30, 2025, hearing entitled "Investing for the Future: Honoring ERISA's Promise to Participants". ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. * * * Today's hearing is about protecting the retirement savings of American workers from the previous administration's attempt to wat more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, ranking member of the of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * House Judiciary Republicans Rubberstamp Trump's Lawless Assault on America, Spend $81 Billion in Taxpayer Funds to Hand Trump More Unchecked Power Republicans Refuse to Discuss Their Own Bill During Markup, Remain Totally Silent as They Vote to Deport U.S. Citizens, Including Veterans and Children with Cancer Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2025)-- Tod more PR

DALLAS, Texas, May 1 -- Hunton Andrews Kurth, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * Hunton Represents U.S. Chamber of Commerce As Amicus in Appeal to Delaware Supreme Court on Musk Compensation Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has filed an amicus brief on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce before the Delaware Supreme Court. The brief supports the position of Tesla, Inc. in its appeal of the Delaware Court of Chancery's judgment rescinding the compensation package for its CEO, Elon Musk.  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * In Senate Floor Speech, Senator Murray Calls Out Trump's Staggeringly Lawless and Inhumane Immigration Policy 60 Minutes : U.S. sent 238 migrants to Salvadoran mega-prison; documents indicate most have no apparent criminal records WATCH : Senator Murray's remarks on the Senate Floor Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, t more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The AFL-CIO issued the following news release on May 1, 2025: * * * Labor Leaders Urge Salvadoran Government to Release Illegally Deported Union Member Kilmar Abrego Garcia On International Workers' Day, U.S. labor leaders called on the Salvadoran government to immediately release illegally deported union member Kilmar Abrego Garcia. In a new letter sent to Ambassador Milena Mayorga of El Salvador, Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO; Jimmy Williams Jr., general preside more PR

MADISON, Wisconsin, May 1 [Category: Religion] -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation posted the following news release: * * * Mayday, Mayday! -- Supreme Court case endangers secular public schools "Mayday, Mayday!" is an internationally recognized maritime signal of distress indicating a grave and imminent danger to life. After oral arguments yesterday, on the eve of May 1, at the U.S. Supreme Court over the constitutionality of a Catholic virtual charter public school, it unfortunately app more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 [Category: Business] -- NetChoice, a coalition of trade associations that says it makes the internet safe for free enterprise and expression, posted the following news release: * * * NetChoice Fights Georgia Law That Creates a Cybersecurity Nightmare & Restricts Free Speech and Parental Choice ATLANTA--Georgia's government passed yet another unconstitutional law, this time violating its citizens' First Amendment rights, compromising their security and their children's digita more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 [Category: Biology] -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release: * * * North Carolina Town Responds to Duke Energy's Bid to Kill Climate Deception Lawsuit CARRBORO, N.C.-- Duke Energy Corporation is sidestepping detailed allegations about its role in a decades-long campaign to deceive the public about the dangers of fossil fuels, worsening the climate crisis and costing a North Carolina town millions of dollars in damages, according to a legal fi more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions released the following testimony by Max Schanzenbach, a law professor at the Northwestern University, from an April 30, 2025, hearing entitled "Investing for the Future: Honoring ERISA's Promise to Participants." ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. * * * Chairman Allen, Ranking Member DeSaulnier, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity t more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Oversight Democrats Escalate Investigation into Elon Musk's Conflicts of Interest and Demand Mr. Musk's Financial Disclosure Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2025)-- Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led Oversight Democrats in sending a letter to White House Couns more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The White House issued the following news on May 1, 2025: * * * President Trump Announces Religious Liberty Commission Members Today, the President signed an Executive Order establishing the Religious Liberty Commission during the National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden. President Trump designated the following individuals to serve on the Religious Liberty Commission. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (Chair). Dan Patrick was first elected Lt. Governor of Tex more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- President Trump issued the following executive order on May 1, 2025: * * * ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose and Policy. It shall be the policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law. The Founders envisioned a Nation in more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Connolly Opposes OPM's Scheme to Purge and Politicize the Federal Workforce Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2025)--Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Charles Ezell, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), opposi more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Rick Allen, R-Georgia, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions , issued the following news release on April 30, 2025: * * * Allen Holds Hearing on Honoring ERISA's Promise to Participants Today, Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chairman Rick Allen (R-GA) delivered the following statement, as prepared for delivery, at a hearing titled "Investing for the Future: Honoring ERISA's Promise to more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Arizona, issued the following floor remarks on April 30, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, last week, I traveled to El Salvador, along with three of my colleagues, to see firsthand the chaos unleashed by the Trump administration through its unconstitutional and illegal deportations of U.S. residents to third-party countries. I represent a  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Troy A. Carter, D-Louisiana, issued the following floor remarks on April 30, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great concern regarding our First and Fifth Amendment rights. Our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and right to due process are under attack by the Musk-Trump administration. You don't have to like what someone says ph more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following floor remarks on April 30, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, Americans are sounding the alarm about the crisis that our country is in. It is not just an economic crisis, as we see our country sinking very quickly into an economic crisis, which is being reflected in Donald Trump's poll numbers. In fact, his sinki more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, issued the following floor remarks on April 30, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, there is no issue right now that should concern Americans more than the elimination and destruction of due process, not just now for U.S. citizens but for people who are here whether it is a legal status or because they have been invited to this coun more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, issued the following floor remarks on April 30, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I am here today as a Representative of a community that is deeply alarmed by the actions of this administration. Just weeks ago, the Trump administration defied a unanimous--we didn't think this was possible--but a unanimous Supreme Court order by refus more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Mark Takano, D-California, issued the following floor remarks on April 30, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the House for a Special Order hour with my Congressional Progressive Caucus colleagues. I do so on the 100th day of the Trump administration, and I note that this is a day when we received the news that our economy has contracted and  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, issued the following floor remarks on April 30, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe that it has only been 13 weeks. President Trump's first 100 days in office have eroded constitutional rights, illegally and lawlessly dismantled Federal agencies, and consolidated power into the hands of the billionaire class. I l more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 [Category: Political] -- The Independent Women's Forum posted issued the following news release: * * * The SAFE Act Protecting Minors From Irreversible Sex-Change Treatments Remains Law in Ohio Pending Appeal WASHINGTON D.C. -- Independent Women's Law Center (IWLC) filed an amicus brief in Madeline Moe v. David Yost to the Supreme Court of Ohio, urging the court to accept review of the case. The 10th District Court of Appeals in Ohio held that the state's ban on puberty bloc more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Tillis, Coons, Kiley, and Peters Reintroduce Landmark Legislation to Restore American Innovation WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, and Chris Coons (D-DE) and Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-CA) and Scott Peters (D-CA) reintroduced the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legi more PR

AUSTIN, Texas, May 2 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release on May 1, 2025: * * * TPPF Challenges Biden Administration's Chuckwalla National Monument Designation Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Biden administration's creation of the 624,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument in January. This lame duck land grab by the federal government makes public lands less accessible for recreation, amateur  more PR

EVANSTON, Illinois, May 1 -- Northwestern University posted the following news release: * * * U.S. Circuit Judge Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. to address Northwestern Law graduates CHICAGO --- Judge Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. (JD '98) will deliver the convocation address to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Class of 2025 on Friday, May 16, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St. "We are thrilled that Judge Scudder will deliver the convocation address to the Class of 2025 and share his insights  more PR

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, May 2 -- The University of Notre Dame Law School issued the following news: * * * Catholic Educators Urge Supreme Court to Uphold Their Freedom to Serve Communities in Need Court Hears Oral Arguments for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond On Wednesday, April 30, attorneys presented oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond--a case challenging the exclusion of schools of all faiths fr more PR

LOS ANGELES, California, May 2 -- The University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine issued the following news: * * * New research analysis predicts that reductions in Medicaid access could result in poorer health outcomes, including increased deaths Eliminating the provision in the Affordable Care Act that expanded Medicaid access could also drive millions to delay needed care, according to a new research letter in the Lancet by investigators from the Keck School of Medicine of US more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The National Community Reinvestment Coalition, an organization that works to uphold fair housing, fair lending and consumer protection laws, issued the following news release: * * * Van Tol: Trump Administration's Small Business Loan Data Blackout Abandons Rule of Law In response to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) leadership's announcement that the agency will no longer "prioritize enforcement of" Section 1071 small business lending rule, the National Communit more PR

ATLANTA, Georgia, May 1 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release: * * * Why Georgia is celebrating Microschool Week Last week, educational entrepreneurs from around the country attended the 4th Annual National Hybrid Schools Conference hosted by Kennesaw State. Featured topics included everything from different learning models to financial considerations to media and messaging. And this week, we celebrated Microschool Week here in Georgia, and nationwide. So more PR