AUSTIN, Texas, July 17 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Abbott Appoints Tirey To State Cemetery Committee * Governor Greg Abbott appointed Andrea Tirey to the State Cemetery Committee for a term set to expire on February 1, 2029. The Committee works with the State Preservation Board to adopt rules to manage oversight of the Texas State Cemetery. Andrea Tirey of Lubbock is the senior associate athletics director at Texas Tech University (TTU) and is a partner at Primitive, a marketing agency b more PR

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 17 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: * * * What Pennsylvanians Are Saying About the Historic Investments in Education that Governor Shapiro Secured in the 2026-27 Budget "The 2026-27 Pennsylvania Budget made historic investments in our students and educators, and I am so proud of the leadership of Governor Shapiro as we held the line on public school funding this year." - Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa "When we invest in students today, we're also investing in the teach more PR

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The Capital Research Center posted the following commentary on July 17, 2026, by The Federalist senior correspondent Chris Bray: * * * The nonprofits that ate the California Dream From the birth of Hollywood to the rise of Silicon Valley, California in the 20th century was the headquarters of the American Dream and what seemed like limitless prosperity. But 21st century California has been replacing profitable industries with politicized nonprofits and trading its prosperity for poverty. - California was America, fea more PR

DENVER, Colorado, July 16 -- Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * Colorado State Land Board Reaches Major Renewable Energy Milestone with Approval of Mirasol Solar Lease * DENVER - The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners (State Land Board) announced a major milestone for advancing renewable energy with the approval of a solar production lease for the Mirasol Energy Center in Pueblo County. The lease authorizes Mirasol Energy Center to construct and operate solar facilities on approximately 1,140 ac more PR

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, issued the following news release: * * * Curtis, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Support Young Men's Community Involvement, Mentorship * Bill strengthen s national service programs by better recruiting and training mentors for young men WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Building Community in America Act, bipartisan legislation to expand pathways for Americans to serve as mentors, volunteers, and community leaders. The bill expands serv more PR

AUSTIN, Texas, July 17 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Abbott Appoints Estes, Ward To State Board For Educator Certification * Governor Greg Abbott appointed Cassidy Estes and Kathy Ward to the State Board for Educator Certification for terms set to expire on February 1, 2029 and February 1, 2031, respectively. The board oversees certification, continuing education, and standards of conduct of public-school educators. Cassidy Estes of Amarillo is an educator at Amarillo Independent School Di more PR

LANSING, Michigan, July 18 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on July 17, 2026: * * * John James Once Again Begging for DeVos Cash at Swanky Fundraiser As two-time statewide loser John James is facing backlash from grassroots primary voters across the state, he is once again set to beg for money from the DeVos family and their billionaire friends at a swanky fundraiser at the DeVos Residence in northern Michigan this evening. It's the second fundraiser the DeVos family have hosted for James this year. Pamell more PR

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Murkowski, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Boost Health Care Workforce * Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act, legislation to address health care workforce shortages in Virginia and across the country. The bill would help internationally educated health care profess more PR

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * Smith and Krishnamoorthi Reintroduce Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act to Strengthen America's Health Care Workforce * WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 17, 2026) -Today, Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act, legislation to help address the nation's persistent health care workforce shortage by helping internationally educated health care professionals more PR

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * Smith Announces Bipartisan Effort to Increase Male Educators and Mentors * WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 16, 2026) -Today, Washington Congressman Adam Smith introduced a two-bill package-the Educators for America Act and the Building Community in America Act -to expand pathways for Americans to serve as teachers, mentors, and volunteers. The bills bolster paid teaching opportunities and national service programs to boost recruitment, with a focus on in more PR

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: * * * Stanton, Ansari, Grijalva Introduce Bill to Redirect ICE Funding to Public Schools, Require Sale of Detention Warehouses * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), and Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) introduced the Fund Schools, Not ICE Act. The legislation would redirect billions of dollars in funding passed as part of Republicans' second reconciliation bill for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following remarks on July 16, 2026, by Secretary Marco Rubio, Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Deputy of Staff and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller at the opening of the Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism: * * * DEPUTY SECRETARY LANDAU: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the State Department. It's an honor and a privilege to have you here. For those of us who grew up in the 1970s, the topic that we more PR

LANSING, Michigan, July 18 -- The Michigan Department of Education issued the following news release: * * * Students in 31 Michigan Districts to Benefit from $224M Awarded by MDE for Infrastructure Work Additional State Funding Needed to Address Critical Needs - Students in more than 80 schools in 31 Michigan districts will benefit from improved learning environments due to $224 million in state grants being awarded for projects to address critical needs that include heating, ventilation and air conditioning and roofs. The Michigan Depart more PR

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued the following news release: * * * VA awards $2.2 million in grants to memorialize Veterans * WASHINGTON -The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced eight grants to educational and research institutions totaling $2,199,686 to memorialize Veterans interred in VA and VA grant-funded cemeteries as part of the National Cemetery Administration's Veterans Legacy Program. These grants help fund opportunities for educators and students to conduct research and visit cemet more PR

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 17 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: * * * What Pennsylvanians Are Saying About the Historic Investments in Education that Governor Shapiro Secured in the 2026-27 Budget "The 2026-27 Pennsylvania Budget made historic investments in our students and educators, and I am so proud of the leadership of Governor Shapiro as we held the line on public school funding this year." - Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa "When we invest in students today, we're also investing in the teach more PR