WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * As Gas Prices Remain High from Trump's War in Iran, Senator Markey Introduces Legislation to Protect Americans from High Costs at the Pump Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and Environmental and Public Works Committee, today introduced the Gas Money Saved Act, legislation that would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to examine whether it can strengthen Corporate A more PR

RALEIGH, North Carolina, June 25 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party posted the following news: * * * As Inflation Hits A New High, Whatley Keeps Lying About It * New data reveals "price increases continued to grow in May" - with PCE inflation at "4.1%, its highest reading" in years. But DC Insider and Big Oil Lobbyist Michael Whatley has repeatedly lied that inflation is down and promised "a strong first quarter, second quarter" in 2026. Michael Whatley : "There is no inflation. Inflation has fallen off a cliff. " Michael Whatley :  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 [Category: ThinkTank] (TNSxrep) -- Groundwork Collaborative, a think tank and progressive advocacy group, posted the following news release: * * * Birthday Bust: America's 250th Celebration Soured by Trump's Inflation Data shows soaring prices coupled with limited growth spoil summer fun for working families - Today's Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that the PCE Price Index climbed to 4.1% between May 2025 and May 2026, the highest in three years. The BEA a more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pennsylvania, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement on June 25, 2026: * * * Boyle Statement on May 2026 PCE Inflation Data Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement after the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported an annual personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index of 4.1 percent for May 2026: "When Trump told Americans he doesn't think about their financial situation,  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 24 [Category: Political] -- Public Citizen issued the following news release: * * * Congress Must Reject Trump's Iran War Funding * President Trump has requested an $88 billion supplemental funding package from congress, in part to fund his illegal war on Iran.  In response, Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, issued the following statement: "It's clear enough what's going on. Hegseth and Trump are jumping from one legislative option to another as their desperate attempts to shove a $1.5 trillion Pentagon bu more PR

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Courtney Statement After President Trump Requests Billions to Pay for His War of Choice with Iran * WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, released the following statement on President Trump's $67.1 billion defense funding supplemental request to Congress, which is in addition to the President's $1.5 trillion annual defense budget request. The majority o more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following report on June 23, 2026 by Kate Koren, Patrick Panjeti, Emma Surnow, Kevin Kurland and Omar Al-Ghusbi entitled "Preventing Iran's Military Reconstitution." Here are excerpts: * * * The full extent of damage to Iran's military from U.S. and Israeli strikes in 2026 remains unclear. What is clear is that absent regime change, Iran will move quickly to reconstitute. Iran's military industrial base depends on foreign dual-use and commercial it more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following report on June 23, 2026 by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park entitled "The War May Be Ending. What Did Epic Fury Cost?." Here are excerpts: * * * With a ceasefire agreement signed, negotiations ongoing, and the Strait of Hormuz open, the latest U.S. campaign against Iran that began in February 2026 may be ending. Congressional attention now turns to the war's cost--it needs to be covered, as neither the FY 2026 Department of Defense (DOD) more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: * * * Deluzio Leads Coalition of Democratic Veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, Labor Unions in Opposition to GOP Veterans Bill That Cuts VA Benefits * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman and Iraq War veteran Chris Deluzio (PA-17) led a press conference in opposition to H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, which cuts veterans benefits and further privatizes the VA. Congressman Deluzio and his colleagues-House Veterans Affai more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news on June 25, 2026: * * * Ramaswamy Highlights Endorsement From Extreme Group That Opposes All Forms of Contraception New reporting from NBC News reveals that "Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, a group that not only favors restricting abortion in all cases, but also opposes all forms of contraception," has endorsed Ramaswamy's campaign. The group's leaders said Ramaswamy "assured us that he was totally with us," on their extreme agenda that "opposes abo more PR

DUBLIN, Ireland, June 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Economic and Social Research Institute issued the following research on June 12, 2026 by Maxime Bercholz, Karina Doorley, Claire Keane and Cian Mowlds entitled "The distributional impact of energy price increases in Ireland and the policy response." Here are excerpts: * * * In late February 2026, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic in response to coordinated military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel. The Strait is one of the world's most important trade routes, thr more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13255). The white paper is written by agricultural policy specialist Zachary T. Neuhofer, international trade and finance specialist Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs and Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter: * * * Foreign Investment in U.S Agricultural Land: Current Issues In general, U.S. federal law does not restrict foreign investment in or ownership of U.S. agricultural land. Foreign persons are required to disclos more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 (TNSres) -- Gallup, a research-based and performance-management consulting company, issued the following news on June 25, 2026: * * * Gas Prices Hitting Americans' Finances, Travel Plans Economic confidence remains weak but has improved modestly in June - Two-thirds of Americans surveyed in a June 1-15 Gallup poll say the cost of fuel has caused financial hardship for their household, similar to the level recorded when gas prices were similarly high in 2022 and at other times over the past two decades when gas prices we more PR

HONG KONG, June 25 -- The Hong Kong Trade Development Council issued the following news release: * * * Global AI Boom Drives Strong Growth in Hong Kong's May Exports * HKTDC's response to Hong Kong's May export figures 2 5 June 2026 - Hong Kong's merchandise exports rose by 40.8% year-on-year to HK$611.2 billion in May, according to data released today by the Census and Statistics Department. For the first five months of 2026, total exports of goods reached HK$2,776.6 billion, representing robust growth of 36.2% compared with the same per more PR

LONDON, England, June 25 -- His Majesty's Treasury issued the following news: * * * Great British Summer Savings: Tax cut on kids' meals and days out goes live * * Every family across the UK will pay less tax on meals and days out as new VAT cut helps families enjoy trips to the seaside and making memories with loved ones. * "I cannot think of a simpler and more accessible way to bring some affordable treats into family life this summer" - more businesses back the scheme and commit to passing on savings to customers including Butlin's,  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * Hickenlooper Rips Into Trump's Backwards Priorities on Senate Floor * Hickenlooper: "[Trump] corrupts everything he touches" WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper took to the Senate floor to call out President Trump for wasting taxpayer dollars on vanity projects and unwanted wars instead of fixing the cost-of-living crisis crushing Americans, including refusing to sign the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act into l more PR

NEW YORK, June 26 -- Hughes Hubbard and Reed, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * Jeremy Paner Explains Limits on Iran's Access to Frozen Assets Significant barriers remain for financial institutions navigating sanctions risk. Highlights * Paner shares that legal and banking complexities will determine whether Iran can access frozen funds. * He notes that unfreezing assets will require detailed, months-long coordination. * Paner predicts any release will be "piecemeal" and tightly controlled. - Jeremy Paner analyzed the practi more PR

NEW YORK, June 26 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following commentary by United Nations Director Louis Charbonneau: * * * China Pressures UN to Slash Human Rights Funding in Haiti Beijing, Moscow Targeting Key UN Posts - China is pressing the United Nations budget committee to defund numerous human rights posts in negotiations on the 2026-2027 UN peacekeeping budget, including essential personnel for the newly established UN Support Office in Haiti. China is recommending against funding for staff to monitor co more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Fischer Prescribes U.S. Strategic Deterrence Strategy for Indo-Pacific * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) delivered the keynote address at the Washington Times' Threat Status 2026 INDOPAC event. In her speech, she outlined her policy agenda on how to deter China by investing in our nuclear triad, revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base, and supporting Golden Dome for America. Watch Fischer's speech here or by clicking the more PR

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Kaine Statement on Trump Iran Temper Tantrum * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after tonight's vote on an Iran War Powers Resolution: "After both Republican-majority Houses took the historic step of voting that additional war against Iran is illegal without congressional authorization, President Trump came to the Capitol and tr more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: * * * Kelly Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Remove Wildfire Fuel from Arizona's Forests * Read in Arizona Daily Sun : Sen. Kelly introduces bill to bolster wildfire fuel reduction efforts Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Curtis (R-UT), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act to help communities and forest managers remove woody biomass-material more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan, Kelly, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Remove Wildfire Fuel from New Mexico's Forests * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Curtis (R-UT), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act to help communities and forest managers remove woody biomass-material left behind from forest thinning operations meant to p more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement on June 24, 2026: * * * Merkley Statement on Trump's Request for Nearly $88 Billion To Fund His Illegal War and Illegal Tariffs Today, President Trump formally requested that Congress spend an additional $88 billion in the form of a supplemental request. The majority of these funds would be spent to cover the costs and replenish wasted ammunitions from Trump's war of choice with Iran while also covering the cost o more PR

NEW YORK, June 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft issued the following brief (No. 100) on June 9, 2026 by Laura Mahrenbach, Gedaliah Afterman, Maximilian Mayer and Narayanappa Janardhan entitled "Workarounding While the International Order Fractures." Here is the executive summary: * * * In an increasingly multipolar world, middle powers are resisting their relegation to pawns in the US-China rivalry. Instead, they are forging a path independent of great power competition by building mutual networks of middle pow more PR

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Reed: Trump Scrapping Signing of Housing Affordability Bill is Another Unforced Error That Exposes His Indifference to High Prices * WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to lower housing costs and increase the U.S. housing supply by easing regulations, encouraging building, and preventing large investors from outbidding families for single-family homes, Congress overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan housing bill earlier this week. The 21st Century ROAD t more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz, Lawmakers, and Veterans Groups Oppose H.R. 9237, the "Take Care of America's Veterans Act," Demand for Clean Major Richard Star Act * WASHINGTON, D.C. \- Today, Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) joined House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39), Reps. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Mike Thompson (CA-04), and Gil Cisneros (CA-31), alongside the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Republicans Advance Largest Pentagon Budget in History while Cutting Billions from Domestic Investments * WASHINGTON -Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee today advanced their 2027 funding bill during the full committee markup. The bill sets the Pentagon budget at more than $1 trillion - the largest in U.S. history and a $234 billion increase over 2026. The excessive increase in Defense spending comes as Republicans propose nearly  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * Schatz Condemns Disastrous Consequences Of Iran War * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday spoke on the Senate floor about the disastrous consequences of President Donald Trump's war in Iran. "Not only was this war reckless and illegal and unnecessary, but it also didn't get us anything. It's made a lot of things worse," said Senator Schatz. "The mistake is not ending the more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following opening statement from a June 16, 2026, confirmation hearing for Hal Duncan to be deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget: * * * Thank you, Chairman Graham. And thank you, Mr. Duncan, for joining us. Today, we will consider your nomination to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. This is a position of immense responsibility. The Deputy Director serves as the Number Two official at OM more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release on June 25, 2026: * * * STATEMENT: Sens. Schiff, Padilla Condemn White House's Continued Stonewalling on California Disaster Relief After New Supplement Request Omits Overdue Funding for Eaton and Palisades Fires * Senators: "Donald Trump's desire to punish Los Angeles and the state of California for not voting for him, means once again that thousands of Angelinos are left watching this administration fight for anything but them, their businesses, and t more PR

WASHINGTON, June 24 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget posted the following news release: * * * Supplemental Funding Should Be Carefully Reviewed and Fully Offset * The White House recently requested an $87.6 billion supplemental appropriations package. Their request includes over $70 billion for military and related expenses, including funding for the war in Iran and replenishing military stockpiles. The Administration is also requesting over $11 billion in farm aid and several bi more PR