WASHINGTON, July 20 -- A coalition of attorneys general representing 15 states and the District of Columbia has formally filed a public comment letter opposing a proposal by the U.S. Department of Energy to rescind existing water use standards for residential dishwashers. The proposed changes, initially announced in May, would revert to previous standards that are believed to have less stringent water efficiency requirements. The coalition, which includes attorneys general from California, New  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The Attorneys General from several states and local governments have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) urging the agency to withdraw its proposed rescission of amended water conservation standards for commercial clothes washers. The group, which includes representatives from California, New York, Connecticut, and many others, argues that the proposed changes would violate federal law and undermine conservation efforts. According to t more ST

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The attorneys general from multiple states and local governments have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) opposing the agency's proposed rescission of existing amended water use standards for residential clothes washers. The letter, dated July 15, 2025, expresses concerns that this action undermines efforts to conserve energy and water, impacts public health, and violates key federal laws. The proposed rescission seeks to remove curren more ST

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Education and Workforce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-142) on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 649), which aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow schools that participate in the school lunch program under such Act to serve whole milk. The report was advanced by Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, on June 5, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow scho more ST

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Financial Services Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-164) on the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management Act (H.R. 2702), which aims to curtail the political weaponization of Federal banking agencies by eliminating reputational risk as a component of the supervision of depository institutions. The report was advanced by Rep. French Hill, R-Arkansas, on June 20, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE AND SUMMARY Introduced on April 8, 2025, by Repres more ST

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Rules Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-152) on a resolution (H.Res. 499), which aims for the consideration of the Rescissions Act (H.R. 4). The report was advanced by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, on June 11, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, under a closed rule. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of  more ST

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-146) on the Baby Changing on Board Act (H.R. 248), which aims to require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 6, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 248 is to require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars. Backgr more ST

WASHINGTON, July 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued several significant rulings concerning the incidental taking of marine mammals, following their publication in the Federal Register. The series of decisions address broad-ranging activities from environmental filming to scientific surveys and critical infrastructure upgrades reflecting NOAA's ongoing efforts to balance marine protection with scientific progress and industrial more PR

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Peterson Center on Healthcare, New York, New York, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality and affordability, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and National Coordinator for Health (ASTP-ONC). The organization's response addressed building a seamless, secure, and patient-centered digit more ST

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 119-26) on the Tornado Observations Research and Notification Assessment for Development Of Operations Act (S. 258), which aims to improve forecasting and understanding of tornadoes and other hazardous weather. The report was advanced by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on June 2, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of the Bill The purpose of S. 258, the Tornado Observations Research and Notifi more ST

WASHINGTON, July 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of State has announced its determination regarding the importation of culturally important objects from abroad for temporary display. These pieces are destined for the "Ideas of Africa: Portraiture and Political Imagination" exhibition, primarily hosted by The Museum of Modern Art in New York with potential for further display at other venues. The State Department's action underscores the cultural value of these items and the national interest  more PR