WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- A coalition of 46 agricultural organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) expressing strong opposition to proposed revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices. The proposed changes include significant modifications to Conservation Practice Standard (CPS) 359, which governs the design and operation of waste treatment lagoons used for animal manure. The proposed rev more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12981) on Aug. 7, 2025, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink: * * * Defense Primer: U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM or STRATCOM) is a Department of Defense (DOD) functional (as opposed to geographic) combatant command (CCMD) responsible for deterring "strategic attack through a safe, secure, effective, and credible, global combat capability more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Aug. 9 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond issued the following Regional Matters analysis by R. Andrew Bauer, Renee Haltom and Matthew Martin: * * * Why Businesses Say Tariffs Have a Delayed Effect on Inflation Ever since new tariffs were enacted in early 2025, a key policy question has been what is the extent to which businesses will pass tariff costs through to prices, and when? The effects of a tariff are rarely straightforward, given, among other things, competitiv more PR

RESTON, Virginia, Aug. 9 -- The First Responder Network Authority, an independent agency within the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration that oversees the nation's communications network dedicated to emergency responders and the public safety community, issued the following news release on Aug. 8, 2025: * * * FirstNet is Transforming Communications for First Responders in Alamance County, North Carolina Today, AT&T*, the National Telecommunications  more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Graves Introduces Bill to Protect Landowner Rights * WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) introduced the Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act today. The bill strengthens landowner rights to stop federal land seizures. "Our right to own property, to farm, and to provide for our families is sacred," said Graves. "The Founding Fathers sought to protect landowners from government land grabs w more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Griffith Announces Series of HHS Grants to Virginia Tech for Research * The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, multiple grants for research. The awards include: * $567,977 for brain imaging research related to parent-infant interaction * $832,818 for research project exploring expanded safe water access to improve hea more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release on Aug. 6, 2025: * * * Labor Leaders Demand Oversight Hearing on the Abrupt Firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), reque more PR

NORFOLK, Virginia, Aug. 9 -- The U.S. Navy's U.S. Fleet Forces Command issued the following news: * * * LSE 2025 Concludes: A New Benchmark in Global Naval Integration Sailors and Marines from across the globe participated in the U.S. Navy- and U.S. Marine Corps-led Large Scale Exercise (LSE) 2025, July 30-Aug. 8. LSE 2025 marks the most comprehensive demonstration of global maritime coordination to date, testing the services' ability to command and control forces across the full spectrum of more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation Inc., Springfield, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor opposing proposed changes to filing thresholds for labor organization annual reports. The foundation contends that increasing these thresholds would reduce transparency and deprive workers of crucial information regarding union finances and operations. In their letter, the foundation called for the elimination of current fil more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11826) on Aug. 7, 2025, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy has been procuring Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998. The Navy's envisaged successor to the Virginia-class design is the Next-Generation  more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association (PTNPA), Alexandria, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raising concerns regarding the agency's Draft Guidance on sanitation programs for low-moisture ready-to-eat foods. The association, representing a wide array of members from large global enterprises to small family-owned operations, is advocating for revisions to the Draft Guidance based on their commitment to foo more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Press Secretary Outlines Detention Center Plans, Commends National Guard in L.A. * The Defense Department began construction in mid-July on a detention center at Fort Bliss, Texas, in response to a request for assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, said Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, during a wide-ranging briefing at the Pentagon today. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved DHS  more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Representatives Subramanyam and McGuire Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Safeguard U.S. Against Emerging Quantum Cybersecurity Threats * Washington, D.C. -Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and Congressman John McGuire (R-VA-05) introduced the Quantum Encryption Readiness and Resilience Act, along with Representatives Haley Stevens (D-MI-11) and Pat Harrigan (R-NC-10). This critical b more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Scott Statement on Latest Trump Administration Attack on Veterans Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it would terminate collective bargaining agreements for most VA bargaining- more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Warner Statement on Further Political Purges of Experienced FBI Agents * WASHINGTON - Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on press reporting that more experienced Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) leaders - including a former acting FBI director and the acting director of the Washington field office - have been fired wi more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- SNAC International, Arlington, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter responding to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Draft Guidance regarding sanitation programs for low-moisture ready-to-eat (LMRTE) human foods. The letter, which addresses the agency's proposals released on January 6, 2025, emphasizes the importance of practical, facility-specific applications for managing sanitation practices. The organization, representing over 400 companies globally, h more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Statement of Sen. Warner on Netanyahu Plan to Expand Control Over Gaza * WASHINGTON - Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today released the following statement: "Prime Minister Netanyahu's plan to take over Gaza is a dangerous and counterproductive move that will not secure the release of the remaining hostages or bring an end to the fighting that has alread more PR

LONDON, England, Aug. 9 -- The U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Navy and Royal Navy Unite: ONR Global's London Tech Bridge Fuels Transatlantic Leap in Naval Readiness In a first-of-its-kind transatlantic hybrid event, the Royal Navy and U.S. Navy recently converged at His Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Portsmouth and Downtown Norfolk, Virginia, to explore how cutting-edge computer vision technologies can revolutionize the maintenance and sustainm more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation responding to the recently announced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This NPRM proposes new minimum safety standards aimed at enhancing Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) for transit workers operating on or near rail tracks. In its letter, the DRPT expressed appreciation for  more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) released by the Federal Transit Administration. The NPRM, announced on July 1, 2025, proposes modifications to the reporting requirements for the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program. The proposed changes include an annual reporting requirement that mandate more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration urging the agency to finalize its proposed exemption from specific regulations for pre-2010 portable conveyors used in the aggregate industry. The letter emphasizes the critical role these specialized machines play in supporting Virginia's construction sector. In the letter, the alliance highlights the growing construction aggregates se more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner & Kaine Push Back Against Trump Over Planned Cancellation of Program to Lower Virginia Home Energy Bills * WASHINGTON - As Virginians continue to struggle to pay their rising electricity bills, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) are pushing back against the Trump administration's plans to terminate a program designed to lower energy costs and support the deployment of affordab more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner & Kaine Respond to Rising Cost of Virginia Health Care Premiums * WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) reported that premiums for Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage are projected to rise by an average of 20.5% next year - a spike driven largely by the expiration of enha more PR