U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate as well as the House and Senate leadership and House and Senate committees.
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Sens. Romney and Lee Introduce Resolution Recognizing Utah's Fight for Women's Suffrage
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a Senate resolution recognizing the leading role of Utahns in the fight for women's suffrage and celebrating the sesquicentennial of the first votes by women under the equal suffrage law of Utah on February 14, 1870. Congressman Bishop (R-UT) introduced a companion resolution in the House of Representatives that is being cosponsored by the other members of the Utah delegation.
"Utah led the charge in the women's suffrage movement by granting women
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a Senate resolution recognizing the leading role of Utahns in the fight for women's suffrage and celebrating the sesquicentennial of the first votes by women under the equal suffrage law of Utah on February 14, 1870. Congressman Bishop (R-UT) introduced a companion resolution in the House of Representatives that is being cosponsored by the other members of the Utah delegation.
"Utah led the charge in the women's suffrage movement by granting womenthe right to vote nearly 50 years before the rest of the country, and Utah was the first place where women cast ballots," Senator Romney said. "With this resolution we recognize the leadership of the women's suffrage movement in Utah and the right of every American citizen to vote."
"Utah has a proud but largely unknown history of being a leader in the women's suffrage movement," Senator Lee said. "Heroes like Martha Maria Hughes Cannon, first woman elected to a state legislature, deserve to have their stories shared more widely so they can inspire future generations to reach their potential."
Text of the resolution can be found here (https://www.romney.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2020-01/%5BUntitled%5D%5B7%5D.pdf).
Sen. Warner, Kaine, Luria Push for Inclusion of Study to Reduce Sea-level Rise in Hampton Roads
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Jan. 17:
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA), sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting that the Virginia Beach Regional Coastal Storm Risk Management Study be included in the Army Corps FY 2020 Work Plan. The study was authorized in the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which was supported by Sens. Warner and Kaine to analyze the flood risk threats from sea level rise, coastal
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Jan. 17:
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA), sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting that the Virginia Beach Regional Coastal Storm Risk Management Study be included in the Army Corps FY 2020 Work Plan. The study was authorized in the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which was supported by Sens. Warner and Kaine to analyze the flood risk threats from sea level rise, coastalstorm surge and rainfall events, and to develop watershed-based mitigation solutions to reduce flood risk in the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake.
"This study is crucial to the long-term vitality and resilience of the City of Virginia Beach and the entire Coastal Virginia region. This region is home to four critical military bases, which employ 33,000 military and civilian personnel and their families. If the Army Corps approves this study, the City of Virginia Beach will be able to continue its efforts in mitigating sea level rise and recurrent flooding, serving as a model to coastal cities in need of more resilient infrastructure, economies, and communities," wrote the members.
In their letter, the members of Congress also emphasized that the study will help reduce the risk of flooding for vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure in Hampton Roads, which includes critical military installations for the U.S. Navy. The Hampton Roads region is considered one of the country's most flood-prone areas, facing anywhere from 1.5 to 7 feet of sea level rise by the year 2100.
A copy of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear Director Vought and Assistant Secretary James:
We write today to express our support for the City of Virginia Beach's Comprehensive Regional Coastal Storm Risk Management Study, and ask that it be included in the FY 2020 Army Corps Work Plan.
The authority for this study is the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 Section 1201 (9) for Coastal Virginia. This study will analyze the flood risk threats from sea level rise, coastal storm surge and rainfall events, and will develop watershed-based mitigation solutions to reduce flood risk in the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, Currituck County, North Carolina, and the Joint Expeditionary Base at Little Creek- Fort Story. The City of Virginia Beach has support from the USACE North Atlantic Division and Norfolk Division, and has garnered additional support from the business and environmental communities.
This study is crucial to the long-term vitality and resilience of the City of Virginia Beach and the entire Coastal Virginia region. This region is home to four critical military bases, which employ 33,000 military and civilian personnel and their families. If the Army Corps approves this study, the City of Virginia Beach will be able to continue its efforts in mitigating sea level rise and recurrent flooding, serving as a model to coastal cities in need of more resilient infrastructure, economies, and communities. Specifically, the Regional Coastal Storm Risk Management Study advances the Corps' mission of building long-term coastal resilience as outlined in USACE's North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study: Resilient Adaptation to Increasing Risk.
In addition, the study will lead to a reduced risk to vulnerable populations, property, ecosystems, and infrastructure - including significant military installations - in one of the country's most flood-prone population centers and augments existing federal resiliency investments in Virginia Beach and the greater Hampton Roads region.
As the Army Corps works with the Office of Management and Budget to develop its FY20 Work Plan, we encourage you to include the Virginia Comprehensive Regional Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. The City of Virginia Beach is a long-standing civil works partner with the Corps of Engineers and is prepared to provide the matching non-federal cost share to move this vital project forward.
Thank you again for your attention to this issue. We look forward to your response.
Sen. Risch Announces Senior Outreach Schedule for January - March
BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release:
U.S. Sen. Jim Risch announced that representatives from his Boise regional office will hold outreach hours at senior centers throughout the southwestern region of the state in January, February and March to answer seniors' questions and provide resources. Representatives from the other Idaho congressional offices and local Area Agencies on Aging have also been invited to attend.
Tuesday, January 21st at 12:00pm - Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend Senior Center
109 South Riverside Drive
Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629
Thursday,
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BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release:
U.S. Sen. Jim Risch announced that representatives from his Boise regional office will hold outreach hours at senior centers throughout the southwestern region of the state in January, February and March to answer seniors' questions and provide resources. Representatives from the other Idaho congressional offices and local Area Agencies on Aging have also been invited to attend.
Tuesday, January 21st at 12:00pm - Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend Senior Center
109 South Riverside Drive
Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629
Thursday,January 23rd at 12:00pm - Emmett
Gem County Senior Center
719 South Johns Avenue
Emmett, ID 83617
Wednesday, January 29th at 12:00pm - Mountain Home
Mountain Home Senior Citizens Center
1000 North 3rd East Street
Mountain Home, ID 83647
Friday, January 31st at 12:00pm - Parma
Parma Senior Center
410 North 8th Street
Parma, ID 83660
Monday, February 3rd at 12:00pm - Glenns Ferry
Three Island Senior Center
492 East Cleveland Avenue
Glenns Ferry, ID 83623
Thursday, February 6th at 12:00pm - Grandview
Rimrock Senior Center
525 Main Street
Grandview, ID 83624
Tuesday, February 11th at 11:30am - New Plymouth
New Plymouth Senior Center
126 North Plymouth Avenue
New Plymouth, ID 83655
Wednesday, February 19th at 12:00pm - Payette
Payette Senior Center
137 North Main Street
Payette, ID 83661
Tuesday, March 10th at 12:00pm - Idaho City
Boise Basin Senior Center
102 Bear Run Street
Idaho City, ID 83631
Wednesday, March 11th at 12:00pm - Weiser
Weiser Senior Center
115 East Main Street
Weiser, ID 83672
Wednesday, March 11th at 5:30pm - New Meadows
New Meadows Senior Center
102 Peterson Memorial Avenue
New Meadows, ID 83654
Thursday, March 12th at 12:00pm - Cascade
Cascade Senior Center
409 School Street
Cascade, ID 83611
Thursday, March 12th at 6:00pm - McCall
McCall Community Center
701 North 1st Street
McCall, ID 83638
Friday, March 13th at 12:00pm - Council
Council Senior Center
103 Main Street
Council, ID 83612
Friday, March 13th at 5:30pm - Cambridge
Cambridge Senior Center
40 Superior Street
Cambridge, ID 83610
Sen. Portman Joins Bipartisan Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Establish Cybersecurity Coordinator in Every State
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced a bipartisan bill to require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator program. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that each state would have its own federally funded Cybersecurity Coordinator, who would be responsible for helping to prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats by working with federal, state, and local governments as well as schools, hospitals,
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced a bipartisan bill to require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator program. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that each state would have its own federally funded Cybersecurity Coordinator, who would be responsible for helping to prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats by working with federal, state, and local governments as well as schools, hospitals,and other entities.
"Cybersecurity for state and local governments is just as important as federal cybersecurity, and frequently, they lack the resources, technical know-how, and situational awareness to secure their systems, or respond in the event of an attack," Senator Portman said. "This bipartisan bill, which creates a Cybersecurity State Coordinator position, would help bolster state and local governments' cybersecurity by facilitating their relationship with the federal government to ensure they know what preventative resources are available to them as well as who to turn to if an attack occurs. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass this important legislation."
"Cyberattacks can be devastating for communities across our country, from ransomware attacks that can block access to school or medical records to cyberattacks that can shut down electrical grids or banking services," said Senator Hassan. "When New Hampshire's Strafford County and Sunapee School District were hit by ransomware attacks this past year, officials had systems in place to mitigate damage. But as they made clear to me, the federal government needs to do more to ensure that state and local entities have the resources and training that they need to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. The bipartisan bill I introduced would take a big step forward in improving communication between the federal government, states, and localities, as well as strengthening cybersecurity preparedness in communities across the country."
"With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated and formidable every day, it's vital that states have a point person responsible for coordinating cybersecurity efforts with experts in the federal government," said Senator Peters, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. "These coordinators would help states better understand relevant threats, access federal cybersecurity resources and respond to potential attacks. I'm proud to cosponsor this commonsense, bipartisan legislation, which will help to ensure that all levels of government are prepared to combat cyber criminals and protect their networks."
The Cybersecurity State Coordinator program would be housed in the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The State Coordinators would:
* Improve coordination within federal entities and between federal and non-federal entities, including state and local governments and other organizations
* Support preparation, response, and remediation efforts relating to cybersecurity risks and incidents, including ransomware
* Facilitate the sharing of cyber threat information
* Raise awareness of financial, technical, and operational resources that the federal government offers to non-federal entities to help prevent cyber threats
Senator Portman has led efforts to address state and local cybersecurity threats as a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the bipartisan Senate Cybersecurity Caucus. Bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Portman and Hassan to bolster cybersecurity in the public and private sector was signed into law as part of the final bipartisan budget agreement last month. Senators Portman and Hassan's bipartisan Hack Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Act and Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act were included in a package of bills that were signed into law in 2018.
Read the text of the legislation that Senators Portman, Hassan, Cornyn, and Peters introduced HERE (http://www.portman.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2020-01/CyberStateCoordinatorAct.pdf).
Rep. Schiff Announces Nominations of Local Students to U.S. Service Academies
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release:
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced the nomination of seventeen students from the 28th Congressional District to U.S. service academies for the class of 2024.
"Each of these students has a stellar resume of accomplishments, participated in a variety of extracurricular activities and sports, and demonstrated academic excellence, which make them outstanding nominees for this great honor," said Rep. Schiff. "This group of students has a commitment to serving our country, and I am proud to have nominated
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release:
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced the nomination of seventeen students from the 28th Congressional District to U.S. service academies for the class of 2024.
"Each of these students has a stellar resume of accomplishments, participated in a variety of extracurricular activities and sports, and demonstrated academic excellence, which make them outstanding nominees for this great honor," said Rep. Schiff. "This group of students has a commitment to serving our country, and I am proud to have nominatedthem for our U.S. service academies. Their hard work and dedication will make them future leaders, and I join our entire community in expressing gratitude for their decision to serve our country."
The four academies requiring a Congressional nomination are the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, the Military Academy at West Point, and the Naval Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a Congressional nomination. All five academies offer young men and women a free college education at a highly-ranked, nationally-recognized academic institution, while preparing them for an officer's commission in the armed forces.
The nominees for U.S. service academies from the 28th Congressional District are:
* Christopher Rogers Benson (Burbank resident, Burbank High School) - Air Force Academy
* Jordan Michael Corpuz (Glendale resident, graduate of Hoover High School, currently attends Naval Academy Prep School) - Naval Academy
* Drake Anthony DiPaolo (La Canada Flintridge resident, Loyola High School) - Air Force, Military and Naval Academies
* Dylan Tyler Effle-Hoy (Burbank resident, graduate of Burbank High School) - Air Force Academy
* Maximus Alexander Fan (La Canada Flintridge resident, La Canada High School) - Air Force and Naval Academies
* Jacqueline Marie Garrity (Glendale resident, Polytechnic High School) - Naval Academy
* Jonathan Paul Arthur Haley (Sun Valley resident, graduate of Valley Christian High School) - Military Academy
* Patrick Richard Kalb (Glendale resident, La Canada High School) - Naval Academy
* Christopher George Kim (Hollywood Hills resident, attends Harvard-Westlake High School) - Naval Academy
* Moses Janghan Kim (La Crescenta resident, Crescenta Valley High School) - Military Academy
* Nathaniel Sung Woo Lee (Glendale resident, Crescenta Valley High School) - Air Force Academy
* Thomas Hamilton Link, Jr. (Pasadena resident, Loyola High School) - Naval Academy
* Christopher Shion Lynn (Silver Lake resident, Don Bosco Technical Institute) - Air Force Academy
* Alexandra India McGowan (La Crescenta resident, International School of Los Angeles) - Air Force Academy
* David John Miketta (La Canada Flintridge resident, La Canada High School) - Military Academy
* Kevin Vincent Taix (Glendale resident, graduate of Crescenta Valley High School) - Air Force and Naval Academies
* Kyle Gabriel Donor Vargas (Los Feliz resident, graduate of Providence High School) - Air Force Academy
Students interested in applying to a Service Academy for the Class of 2025 should contact Congressman Schiff's District Office at 818-450-2900 or 323-315-5555, or visit https://schiff.house.gov to obtain an application form. The application deadline for next year's class is November 20, 2020.
Rep. Scalise Welcomes LSU Champions to the U.S. Capitol
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release:
House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) welcomed the LSU Tigers football team to the U.S. Capitol to congratulate them for winning the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship. Whip Scalise led the LSU football team on a tour of the U.S. Capitol and the House Floor. The team visited the White House earlier in the day to celebrate their victory and meet with President Trump.
This week, Whip Scalise submitted a statement for the Congressional Record and co-sponsored a resolution commending
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release:
House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) welcomed the LSU Tigers football team to the U.S. Capitol to congratulate them for winning the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship. Whip Scalise led the LSU football team on a tour of the U.S. Capitol and the House Floor. The team visited the White House earlier in the day to celebrate their victory and meet with President Trump.
This week, Whip Scalise submitted a statement for the Congressional Record and co-sponsored a resolution commendingthe LSU Tigers for winning the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship.
"Congratulations to the LSU football team for winning the 2020 College Football National Championship following their perfect, record-breaking season! Led by Louisiana-native Coach Ed Orgeron and the 2019 Heisman Trophy Winner, Joe Burrow, the LSU Tigers displayed determination and excellence throughout this entire historic season. They have staked their claim as one of the all-time best teams in the history of college football and have made the entire state of Louisiana very proud," said Whip Scalise.
See highlights from the visit here (https://scalise.house.gov/media/press-releases/scalise-welcomes-lsu-champions-us-capitol).
Rep. Dingell Stands With Students Defrauded by For-Profit Colleges
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, issued the following news release:
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) supported legislation to block changes to the Borrower Defense Rule by the Trump Administration's Department of Education.
Thursday, the House passed an action that if also passed by the Senate would reverse the Trump Administration's actions to deny relief to students defrauded or mislead by predatory colleges.
"We should not be protecting fraudulent institutions that prey on students. We should be working to prevent fraud in education in the first place," said Dingell.
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, issued the following news release:
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) supported legislation to block changes to the Borrower Defense Rule by the Trump Administration's Department of Education.
Thursday, the House passed an action that if also passed by the Senate would reverse the Trump Administration's actions to deny relief to students defrauded or mislead by predatory colleges.
"We should not be protecting fraudulent institutions that prey on students. We should be working to prevent fraud in education in the first place," said Dingell."It is vital that defrauded students have a process that is fair and easy to understand, and this new guidance makes it substantially more difficult for these students to receive the relief that they desperately need. Denying debt relief to defrauded students is wrong."
Video of Dingell speaking on the House floor on Borrower Defense is available here. (https://debbiedingell.house.gov/uploadedfiles/01.16.2020_defrauded_students_full_floor_speech.mp4)
Students defrauded by predatory, for-profit colleges are often left with crushing debt, useless degrees, and none of the job opportunities they were promised. Under the Higher Education Act, student borrowers who are defrauded by predatory colleges are entitled to relief from the loans they took out to attend that school.
In 2016, following the collapse of Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute - two major for-profit college chains that consistently defrauded students - President Obama issued the Borrower Defense rule, creating a streamlined process to help defrauded borrowers access relief and move forward with their lives.
The Department of Education under the Trump Administration has made changes to Borrower Defense for Repayment Rules making it harder for students to get relief, even when the students have been defrauded or their school closed before they finished their degree.
