WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: The United States is mired in a research and development (R&D) "recession" made worse by the expiration of the Trump tax cuts. Due to the expiration of immediate R&D expensing, domestic R&D investment shrunk in 2023. Immediate expensing not only helps American innovators discover the next game changing idea, but it ensures that America remains competitive with  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The House Ways and Means Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-745) on the Protecting American Seniors' Access to Care Act (H.R. 7513), which aims to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from finalizing a proposed rule regarding minimum staffing for nursing facilities and to establish an advisory panel on the skilled nursing facility workforce. The report was advanced by Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, on Nov. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * I. SUMMARY A more ST

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 20 (TNSres) -- The Illinois Policy Institute issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: * * * The state curbed its population loss, adding an estimated 67,899 residents this year * * * Illinois ended 9 years of population loss, adding an estimated 67,899 residents from July 2023-June 2024, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Additionally, last year's data was updated to reflect population growth when it initially showed a loss. Illino more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 13, 2024, entitled "Endangered Species Status for Eastern Hellbender". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the eastern hellbender ( Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis), a salamander subspecies from Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Y more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Chemonics International Inc. (Chemonics), a private international development firm based in Washington, D.C. has agreed to pay $3,119,582 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting fraudulent claims for payment to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Chemonics disclosed the fraudulent billing to the United States in 2020. The settlement (ht more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: A Missouri man pleaded guilty to federal civil rights offenses for setting fire to a house of worship. According to court documents, Christopher Scott Pritchard, 48, pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with arson for setting fire to the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on April 28, 2021. Pritchard admitted that he intentionally set fire to t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: WATCH Excerpts: "You have never won a government shutdown. And you won't win this one either. Your currency in this institution is your word. We reached an agreement. We came to modest achievements. And a tweet changed all of it? Can you imagine what the next two years are going to be like if every time the Congress works its will and then there's a tweet? ... "This institution has a separate r more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO) introduced the Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act, a crucial step toward protecting the personal privacy of American vehicle owners. The bill ensures consumers maintain control over the data generated by their automobiles, prohibits unauthorized data sharing, and strengthens safeguards against misuse by manufacturers and foreign entities. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) introduced the Reliable Grid Act of 2024 to protect the electric grid from damaging, energy killing regulations implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This bill prohibits the EPA Administrator from enforcing rules and regulations that restrict power plant operation and impact the electric grid unless its security and reliability are guaranteed. Accordi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-7) proudly announces that the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate and now heads to the President's desk. The final bill includes critical language he championed to safeguard the rights of property owners along Table Rock Lake. "This legislation brings much-needed clarity for families and property owners at Table  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) voted for passage of the Servicemember Quality of Life and National Defense Authorization Act which allocates billions to Missouri defense projects, including updates to Fort Leonard Wood's training barracks and new weapons systems for Whiteman Air Force Base. Senator Hawley led the charge to strip a preliminary provision in this year's defense bill that would have registere more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Today, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06) commended the U.S. Senate for approving the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), legislation to improve the nation's ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of the nation's water resources infrastructure. The measure was previously ap more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Eric Schmitt released a statement following a successful effort to allocate critical resources to Missouri military installations, ensure cyber resiliency across the Department of Defense, spark critical geospatial work, and focus our efforts on countering China. In an effort to reorient the Military's focus away from distractions like divisive DEI, Senator Schmitt championed numerous provisi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: Today, Speaker Johnson, House GOP Leadership, Chairman Jason Smith, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, Chairman Jim Jordan, Chairman James Comer, Chairman Mike Bost, and Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Chairman Morgan Griffith unveiled findings and recommendations originating from a more than 7-months long investigation into antisemitism on American college campuses.  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (TNSfact) (TNSres) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet: * * * Biden-Harris Administration Marks Progress Strengthening America's Supply Chains Upon taking office in 2021, President Biden and his Administration immediately got to work addressing the shocks that were roiling global supply chains and moved swiftly to secure key industries for America's economy and national security. Everything in our lives--the food we eat, the medicines in our hospitals, the e more PR