CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 24 -- Appalachian Power issued the following news release: Appalachian Power announced it is donating $50,000 to local and regional economic development organizations across its three-state service area to assist with expenses during the pandemic. Appalachian Power has a long history of providing support for local, regional and state economic development efforts. "This funding is another step in helping our economic development partners and communities adapt to   more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46384) entitled "Energy and Water Development: FY2021 Appropriations". Here are excerpts of the report issued on June 3 and written by Mark Holt, specialist in energy policy and Corrie E. Clark, analyst in energy policy: SUMMARY: The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies appropriations bill provides funding for civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); the Department  more

HANOVER, New Hampshire, July 23 -- Dartmouth College issued the following news release: A citizen science program that began over a decade ago has confirmed the use of dragonflies to measure mercury pollution, according to a study in Environmental Science & Technology. The national research effort, which grew from a regional project to collect dragonfly larvae, found that the young form of the insect predator can be used as a "biosentinel" to indicate the amount of mercury that is present in f  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, July 24 -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Northeast Tennessee is home to a large number of museums, state parks and heritage sites, and cultural heritage tourism is one of the most important segments of the region's economy. This fall, students at East Tennessee State University will be able to enroll in a new undergraduate minor or in a graduate certificate in heritage interpretation and museum studies. The programs are offered through the   more

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- The House Agriculture subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations issued the the following testimony by Matt Habash, CEO for the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, in a hybrid hearing entitled "An Overview of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program" on July 21: Thank you for the invitation to testify at today's hearing on how USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program's Farmers to Families Food Box Program is working in Ohio. My name is Matt Habash and I serve  more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on July 22: The House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act, bipartisan legislation that previously passed the Senate and is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide mandatory funding for deferred maintenance on public lands. The LWCF helps preserve and maintain critical la  more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on July 22: The House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act, bipartisan legislation that previously passed the Senate and is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide mandatory funding for deferred maintenance on public lands. The LWCF helps preserve and maintain critical l  more

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, July 23 -- The Municipal Association of South Carolina issued the following news release: Delegates at the Municipal Association of South Carolina's Virtual Annual Meeting elected officers and board members to the Association's board of directors. Mayor CorneliDus Huff of the City of Inman was elected president. All officers were elected to a one-year term. "I'm excited for the opportunity to continue to serve all cities and towns in South Carolina," said Huff. "We wi  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 22 -- Policy Matters Ohio, a 501(c)3 non-profit and nonpartisan state policy research institute, issued the following news release: Policy Matters Ohio joined a broad and diverse coalition of thought leaders and organizations from West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Ohio to release a policy blueprint. By expanding economic opportunity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the blueprint outlines a vision for vibrant Appalachian communities where everyone is paid en  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) voted to pass the first fiscal year 2021 "minibus" appropriations package on the House floor. "This bill promotes public health and safety, supports our economy, protects the environment, and takes care of our servicemembers," said Cartwright, a member of the Appropriations Committee. "It also funds Northeastern Pennsylvania priorities like rural developme  more

WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: The House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) -- the Great American Outdoors Act -- to preserve and protect our country's public lands and National Parks, like the Fifth District's Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and all 72 miles of the Appalachian Trail that run through the Garden State. The bill will provide permanent a  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: In advance of Floor consideration next week, the House Appropriations Committee released a division-by-division summary of the second minibus of fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills. The House is expected to consider the legislation, H.R. 7617, beginning next week. The package includes seven FY 2021 spending bills: Defense, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energ  more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) helped pass the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, one of the most significant investments in conservation passed by Congress. The bill will fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and create the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which provides funding to the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S.   more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on July 22: Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) voted to pass the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act to preserve New Hampshire's natural environment for generations to come by providing permanent, full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and creating the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. This legislation will fully fund the LWCF at $900 million annually, well   more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, one of Congress' most significant investments in environmental conservation in a generation. The legislation would direct much-needed funds to help address $337,178,843 in deferred maintenance costs at National Park sites in Virginia's 10th District, and is estimated to help create or support more than 10,000 j  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $250,000 grant to the city of Steubenville for sewer improvements in the University Boulevard District. These funds will go toward the installation of more than 300 linear feet of sewer line near the intersection of University Boulevard and Dean Martin Boulevard. The new sewer line will improve services for  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $250,000 grant to the city of Nelsonville to build a new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The new WWTP will have a 1.2 million gallon daily (MGD) flow capacity, improving sewer service for 1,543 households and 170 businesses in the area. The plant will operate as a regional provider for residents in north  more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins to provide full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and to address the deferred maintenance backlog at our national parks, national wildlife refuges, and national forest lands. The legislation, which passed the Senate by a vote of 73 to 25 last month, now hea  more

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, July 23 -- The Southern Environmental Law Center issued the following statement on July 22: The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) released the following statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Great American Outdoors Act. The legislation, which passed 310 to 107, signals strong bipartisan support to ensure our national parks and public lands receive necessary funding for maintenance and additional protections needed for years to c  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $400,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, Inc., Frostburg, Maryland, to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "The Trump Administration is eager to all  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $400,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Appalachian Council of Governments, Greenville, South Carolina, to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "The Trump Administration is eager to all  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, July 24 -- The University of Tennessee's Institute of Agriculture issued the following news release: The State of Tennessee wants to make Tennesseans aware, that in several western states, there is currently an outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2). At present, RHDV2 has not been found in rabbits in Tennessee or any neighboring states. The virus is highly contagious and lethal to wild and domestic rabbits and hares. In Tennessee, eastern cottontails,  more