WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12650) on May 3, 2024. The report is written by natural resources policy specialists Mariel J. Murray, Laura B. Comay and Anthony R. Marshak: * * * Offshore Wind: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Engagement with Federally Recognized Tribes The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), within the Department of the Interior (DOI), administers offshore wind leasing on the U.S. outer c  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12024) on May 3, 2024, by Megan Stubbs, agricultural conservation and natural resources policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Bill Primer: Conservation Title The conservation title of a farm bill generally contains reauthorizations, amendments, and new programs that encourage farmers and ranchers to voluntarily implement resource-conserving practices on private land. Starting i  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The House Education and the Workforce Committee released the following testimony by Columbia University Claire Shipman, co-chair at the Columbia University, from a hearing dated April 17, 2024, entitled "Columbia in Crisis: Columbia University's Response to Antisemitism": * * * Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Scott, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to be here today and discuss Columbia University's efforts to combat antisemitism. Antisemitism is  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The House Education and the Workforce Committee released the following testimony by Columbia University President Minouche Shafik from a hearing dated April 17, 2024, entitled "Columbia in Crisis: Columbia University's Response to Antisemitism": * * * Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Scott, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss Columbia University's efforts to address the rising antisemitism on our campus and within our community. Columbia s  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions released the following written testimony by Karen L. Handorf, a senior counsel at Berger Montague, from a hearing dated April 16, 2024, entitled "ERISA's 50th Anniversary: the Path to Higher Quality, Lower Cost Health Care." ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. * * * Chairperson Good, Ranking Member DeSaulnier, and members of the Subcommittee. I am a Seni  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development released the following testimony by Justin S. Draeger, President and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, from a hearing dated April 10, 2024, entitled "FAFSA Fail: Examining the Impact on Students, Families, and Schools." FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. * * * Chairman Owens, Ranking Member Wilson, and distinguished mem  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development released the following testimony by Kim Cook, CEO of the National College Attainment Network, from a hearing dated April 10, 2024, entitled "FAFSA Fail: Examining the Impact on Students, Families, and Schools." FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. * * * Chairman Owens, Ranking Member Wilson and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the invitation to speak  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The House Financial Services Committee released the following written testimony by Robert Stebbins, ex-general counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission, from a hearing dated April 10, 2024, entitled "Beyond Scope: How the SEC's Climate Rule Threatens American Markets": * * * Chairman McHenry, Ranking Member Waters and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today about the climate rules recently adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchang  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Examining Employment Opportunities for Veterans: An Analysis of Veteran Services Provided by Department of Labor - Veterans' Employment and Training Service" at 10 a.m. on May 7, 2024, at 360 Cannon House Office Building: Witnesses * Mr. James Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor * Ms. M  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections released the following testimony by Gabriella Hoffman, a senior policy analyst of the Center for Economic Opportunity at the Independent Women's Forum, from a hearing dated April 11, 2024, entitled "Unlocking Opportunity: Allowing Independent Contractors to Access Benefits": * * * Chairman Kiley, Ranking Member Adams, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to participate in   more

WASHINGTON, May 3 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, issued the following news release: Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), joined Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and fourteen of their colleagues this week to reintroduce the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), legislation that would end the harmful federal prohibiti  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, issued the following news release: Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $11,394,337 in grant funds to the following: Recipient ... Amount ... Program Hinds County Human Resource Agency ... $9,377,680 ... CH-Head Start Projects Delta Health Alliance, Inc. ... $1,008,324 ... H49 - Healthy Start Initiative-Eliminating Racial/Ethnic Dispari  more

WASHINGTON, May 3 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: PROVIDENCE, RI -? Today, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation announced that the Ocean State is getting $1,482,715 in federal funding from AmeriCorps to support key community projects in Providence and Woonsocket. Specifically, this federal funding will support programs managed by TerraCorps, an environmental nonprofit committed to land protection and stewardship, and the Woonsocket Neighborhood Developme  more