WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Del. Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release: Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata released the following statement welcoming the confirmation of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper: "I'm happy to congratulate Secretary Mark Esper upon becoming Secretary of Defense. I first met Secretary Esper in Tafuna when he came through as Secretary of the Army. I headed out to our airport in the night to make sure I met him that first time, since he had a lead more PR

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-157) on legislation (H.R. 1941) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the secretary of the Interior including in any leasing program certain planning areas. The report was advanced by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, on July 16. Excerpts of the report follow: Purpose of the Bill The purpose of H.R. 1941 is to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior including in any leasing program certai more ST

WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-156) on legislation (H.R. 205) to amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to permanently extend the moratorium on leasing in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The report was advanced by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, on July 16. Excerpts of the report follow: Purpose of the Bill The purpose of H.R. 205 is to amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to permanently extend the mor more ST

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Research and Technology issued the following testimony by John C. Warner, president and Chief Technology Officer of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, at a hearing entitled "Benign by Design: Innovations in Sustainable Chemistry": "Thank you for this opportunity to discuss the subject of Green Chemistry, and its importance to protect our nation's environment while maintaining and growing our industrial more PR

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) introduced legislation today renaming the post office located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit after the late national recording artist and Detroiter Aretha Franklin. Signed by every member of the Michigan Congressional Delegation, the official name of the post office would become the "Aretha Franklin Post Office Building." "It is my pleasure to honor this more PR

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * - Bill would close 'Halliburton Loophole,' allow EPA to regulate fracking * * * In an effort to better protect the nation's water supply, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced legislation Thursday to close a notorious loophole in the law that has prevented the federal government from regulating a highly controversial drilling process known as "fracking." The legislation - known as the FRAC Ac more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement on the confirmation of Mark Esper to serve as Defense Secretary: "It has never been more important that we have a strong, proven leader at the helm of the Department of Defense. "We must continue to modernize our military and leverage new technological advancements to remain agile against our nation's adversaries. Dr. Esper is extremely well-qualified to fi more PR

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Solar Energy Industries Association issued the following statement by President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Paul Cook (R-CA), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) today introduced companion bills with a five-year 30% extension of Section 48 and Section 25D Solar Investment Tax Credits (ITC). The Renewable Energy Extension Act will call for the extension of the tax credits. "These bills are clear more PR

KINGSTON, Rhode Island, July 24 [TNSscienceresearch] -- The University of Rhode Island issued the following news: University of Rhode Island Professor of Oceanography Robert Ballard and his team aboard the E/V Nautilus will begin a quest in August to find Amelia Earhart's airplane, National Geographic has announced. Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared more than 80 years ago during her around-the-world flight. Earhart's plane was reported missing July 2, 1937, during the second- more PR