WASHINGTON, April 14 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: According to Recent News Reports, NYPD is Understaffed by Thousands and Officers are Leaving by the Hundreds Every Month; Towns and Cities Across New York State Facing Similar Unprecedented Workforce Shortages Today, as police departments across New York face unprecedented workforce shortages, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a press conference at the Detectives' Endowment Association in lower M  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12540) on April 15, 2024, by natural resources policy specialists Caitlin Keating-Bitonti and Carol Hardy Vincent. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: FY2024 Appropriations Introduction The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), has a mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and the  more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) led 29 members of Congress in calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to swiftly distribute funding from the Shelter and Services Program (SSP). "Utilizing SSP funding, which provides direct assistance through grants, border and interior communities across the nation hav  more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending a total of $4,459,297 in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to support 20 renewable energy projects in rural communities across the state. The investments will be used to help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses adopt renewable energy technologies, conduct critical ene  more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending a total of $4,459,297 in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to support 20 renewable energy projects in rural communities across the state. The investments will be used to help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses adopt renewable energy technologies, conduct critical energy  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on April 15, 2024: U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-07) - the only Michigan Representative on the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture - joined a bipartisan group of colleagues today to announce the launch of the Congressional Specialty Crops Caucus, which will support a key sector of Michigan agriculture. The bipartisan caucus will be dedicated to highlighting the issues specialty crop growers face and build  more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Peggy Bailey, vice president for housing and income security at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, involving a hybrid hearing in March 12, 2024, entitled "Examining Proposals to Address Housing Affordability, Availability, and Other Community Needs": * * * Chairman Brown, Ranking Member Scott, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before yo  more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Matt Josephs, senior vice president of policy at the Local Initiatives Support Corp., involving a hybrid hearing in March 12, 2024, entitled "Examining Proposals to Address Housing Affordability, Availability, and Other Community Needs": * * * Chairman Brown, Ranking Member Scott, and Members of the Committee: I thank you very much for the opportunity to speak with you today to di  more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Lori Moore-Merrell, administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency, involving a hearing on March 14, 2024, entitled "A Nation on Fire: Responding to the Increasing Wildfire Threat": * * * Chairman Peters, Ranking Member Paul, and Members of the Committee: My name is Lori Moore-Merrell and I serve  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), senior members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced legislation to reauthorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act which enables the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support conservation partners along migratory flyways throughout the Western Hemisphere. This is the only federal grant program that ensures the   more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $3,040,000 in federal funding for the Town of Leesburg to install new power generator systems for the town's potable water pumping station and pollution control center. This funding will help ensure reliable access to water and continued wastewater and pollution management services during emergencies, including natural disasters and widespread power   more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $3,040,000 in federal funding for the Town of Leesburg to install new power generator systems for the town's potable water pumping station and pollution control center. This funding will help ensure reliable access to water and continued wastewater and pollution management services during emergencies, including natural disasters and widespread powe  more