FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, Dec. 18 -- The Defense Health Agency issued the following news: * * * 13 military hospitals, clinic receive Leapfrog's top annual awards for patient safety and quality * The Defense Health Agency had 12 military hospitals and one clinic receive the 2025 Leapfrog Top Hospital award and Top Ambulatory Surgical Center award, respectively, annual accolades for the nation's highest-performing medical facilities, during an awards dinner Dec. 15. While less than 6% of hosp more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Ceratizit USA LLC Agrees to Pay $54.4M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Evaded Customs Duties * Ceratizit USA LLC (Ceratizit), a Charlotte, North Carolina-based distributor of tungsten carbide products, has agreed to pay $54.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly and improperly failing to pay duties owed on tungsten carbide products imp more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Edwards Votes to Cut Health Care Costs for Western North Carolina Families * Washington, D.C. \- Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) voted to advance the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act to reduce premiums and lower health care costs for families across Western North Carolina. The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act puts families first instead of prop more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Hudson Releases Statement on the Passing of Greg, Cristina Biffle and Their Children * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Congressional Motorsports Caucus, released the following statement following the passing of Greg and Cristina Biffle and their children: "I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Pat Harrigan Helps Launch First-Ever Congressional Trucking Caucus * Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408 WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) joined a bipartisan group of House members to launch the Congressional Trucking Caucus, the first caucus of its kind in U.S. history, focused on strengthening road safety, supply chains, and the trucking workforce. The cauc more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Pat Harrigan Introduces Legislation to Target Cartels and Organized Crime Through COPS Grants * Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) introduced the COPS Anti-Organized Crime and Cartel Enforcement Act (link is external), legislation to expand the Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant pro more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Pat Harrigan Votes to Protect Children and Refocus Medicaid on Those Who Truly Need It * Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) voted to pass H.R. 498 (link is external), the Do No Harm in Medicaid Act, legislation that prohibits federal Medicaid funds from being used to pay for irreversible gender transition procedures for  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Pat Harrigan Votes to Protect Children From Irreversible Medical Procedures * Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) voted to pass H.R. 3492 (link is external), legislation that establishes clear federal standards to protect minors from undergoing permanent, life-altering medical procedures before they are legally and develo more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Pat Harrigan Votes to Streamline Federal Permitting and Get Projects Moving * Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) voted to pass H.R. 4776 (link is external), the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (SPEED Act), legislation that reforms the federal environmental review process to reduce unneces more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Tim Moore, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Tim Moore Introduces Bill to Expand American Nuclear Leadership and Energy Innovation * WASHINGTON, D.C. Recently, Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) introduced the Next Generation Nuclear Deployment Act to advance America's leadership in next-generation nuclear energy and ensure the United States remains at the forefront of clean energy innovation. "Energy dominance begins with innovat more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Tim Moore, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Tim Moore Votes to Pass Bipartisan Housing Affordability Legislation Out of Financial Services Committee * WASHINGTON, D.C. Yesterday, the House Committee on Financial Services advanced the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act (H.R.6644). Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) voted to pass this legislation out of the committee, recognizing the importance of this legislation to streaml more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Deborah Ross, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * During Holiday Shopping Season, Congresswoman Ross, Senator Reed Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Predatory Practices for 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Purchases * Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced a new bill, the Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act, to protect consumers from predatory practices when making purchases using 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) servic more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has issued a proposal to update Class E airspace over Franklin, North Carolina. The action aims to ensure the safety and management of instrument flight rules operations for aircraft in the region. The proposal includes changes to the legal descriptions for Macon County Airport and Angel Medical Center. Specifically, the FAA intends to update geographic coordinates for both locations to reflect  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Foushee, Quigley, Jayapal, McBride Lead Legislation to End Trump Use of Police for Immigration Enforcement * Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Sarah McBride (DE-At Large) re-introduced the Protecting the Rights of Towns against federal Enforcement contrary to Constitutional Tenets for (PROTECT) Immigra more PR

GREENSBORO, North Carolina, Dec. 19 -- The city of Greensboro issued the following news on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * GPF Partners with GCVM to Support Memorial Enhancements The Greensboro Parks Foundation is partnering with the Guilford County Veterans Memorial (GCVM) Board of Directors to support the enhancement and restoration of the GCVM located at Greensboro's Country Park. The partnership establishes GCVM as one of the Foundation's Community Impact Partners, providing fiscal sponsorship and f more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Hudson, Issa Reintroduce HERO Act to Protect Service Members Harmed by Medical Malpractice * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative's Richard Hudson (NC-09) and Darrell Issa (CA-48) have reintroduced the Healthcare Equality and Rights for Our Heroes (HERO) Act, legislation to make sure service members and their families can seek justice in federal court when they are victims of medical malp more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Justice Department Highlights Nationwide Crackdown on Tren de Aragua * WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice announced the unsealing of multiple indictments against more than 70 individuals, including leaders and members of designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), linked to various violent crimes inside and outside the United States, including murder, robbery, extortion, kid more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Addison McDowell, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * McDowell Moves to Bar Foreign Doctors Who Perform Irreversible Procedures on American Minors * Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Addison McDowell (NC-06) introduced the Protecting Children from Foreign Mutilation Act, legislation endorsed by the American Principles Project and designed to close a dangerous loophole that allows foreign doctors and clinics to perform irreversible gender more PR

FORT BRAGG, North Carolina, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command issued the following news: * * * MRTC, USAREC team up during ACTE CareerTech VISION 2025 * NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Three U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the San Antonio-based Medical Readiness and Training Command and the greater Pinellas Park, Florida-based Army Reserve Medical Command hierarchy, as well as one civilian contractor for the Fort McCoy, Wisconsin- based Regional Training Site - Medical, took part in the annual A more PR

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 18 -- The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued the following news release: * * * DEQ modifies air quality permit for Domtar Paper Co. * After reviewing public comments, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued a modified Title V air quality permit to Domtar Paper Co. in Martin County. The permit authorizes Domtar to increase the amount of green logs processed at its woodyard from 2.2 more PR

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 19 -- The North Carolina Department of Insurance issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * Insurance Commissioner calls for a hearing on proposed dwelling insurance rate increase North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has set May 4, 2026, as the hearing date for the North Carolina Rate Bureau's proposed 68.3% dwelling insurance rate increase. "We are not in agreement with the Rate Bureau's proposed increases filed earlier this fall," s more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * NDAA Wins for Fort Bragg, Military Families, and President Trump's Peace Through Strength Agenda Passes the Senate * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09) released the following statement after the Senate's final passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law: "As Fort Bragg more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * On Senate Floor, Durbin Announces Criminal Referral To DOJ Regarding Trump Officials' Unconstitutional Immigration Enforcement Activity * December 18, 2025 Durbin: Today, I am putting those participating in "Operation Midway Blitz" on notice; you will be held accountable for unlawful actions WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranki more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * On Senate Floor, Durbin Announces Criminal Referral To DOJ Regarding Trump Officials' Unconstitutional Immigration Enforcement Activity In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced he, along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), h more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * REPS. CARTER, EZELL, FIELDS, LETLOW, FLETCHER, AND HIGGINS INTRODUCE THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM AUTOMATIC EXTENSION ACT OF 2025 * NFIP Lapses Aren't a Partisan Problem - they're a People Problem WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), alongside Reps. Julia Letlow (R-LA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Mike Ezell (R-MS), and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), int more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * Scalise, Westerman: The SPEED Act: Helping America Build Again * Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman published an op-ed in the Washington Times highlighting the importance of the SPEED Act, legislation that will simplify and streamline America's overly burdensome permitting process. The legislation will allow A more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * Scalise, Westerman: The SPEED Act: Helping America Build Again * WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman published an op-ed in the Washington Times highlighting the importance of the SPEED Act, legislation that will simplify and streamline America's overly burdensome permitting process. The legislation will allow A more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Budd Releases Statement Opposing Marijuana Rescheduling * "We should not be handing tax breaks to bad actors and foreign drug cartels to advertise a drug that will harm Americans." Washington, D.C. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order that would reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a lower classification, ea more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the following news release: * * * This Christmas, These Worst of Worst Murderers, Pedophiles, and Violent Assailant Criminal Illegal Aliens Are Off American Streets * Americans can now see the heinous criminals ICE is removing from their communities by visiting wow.dhs.gov WASHINGTON U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of more worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from across the cou more PR