WASHINGTON, March 18 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: The American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (AmCham), on St. Patrick's Day 2022, awarded its highest honour - the Kennedy-Lemass Medal - to Chairman Richard E. Neal, in recognition of his tireless work to bring peace to the island of Ireland and deepen the bonds of friendship between the US and Ireland. The Kennedy-Lemass Medal honours US citizens of Irish heritage who have made a significant contrib  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 (TNSRep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45997) updated on March 25, 2022, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Structural Features and Function" by economic development policy analyst Julie M. Lawhorn: * * * SUMMARY This report describes the structure, activities, legislative history, and funding history of the seven federal regional commissions and authorities: * the Appalachian Regional Commission; * the Delt  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- The Peace Corps issued the following news release on March 24, 2022: The Peace Corps announced that 35 Peace Corps volunteers have arrived in the Dominican Republic and Zambia, and are among the first volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency's unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020. The Peace Corps suspended global operations and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is a histor  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., has introduced legislation (S. 3906) to "improve certain programs of the Small Business Administration to better assist small business customers in accessing broadband technology." The bill was introduced on March 23 and was co-sponsored by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., John Kennedy, R-La., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, James Risch, R-Idaho, and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass. The legislation was referred to the Senate Small Bu  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has introduced the Future of Water Act (S. 3886) "to amend the Commodity Exchange Act to prohibit trading of water and water rights for future delivery." The bill was introduced on March 18 and was co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. It was referred to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. The full text of the bill is available fr  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued the following testimony by Jessica Lewis, assistant secretary of State for political-military affairs, involving a hybrid hearing on March 10, 2022, entitled "Examining U.S. Security Cooperation and Assistance": * * * It's an honor to appear before you and it is great to see all the familiar faces I worked with for so many years. I am pleased to be here to discuss United States security sector assistance with Dr. Mara Karlin  more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following statement by Claire Manning-Dick, national vice president of Gold Star Wives, involving a joint hybrid hearing with the House Veterans' Affairs Committee on March 8, 2022, on benefits and support for surviving spouses and children of military members: * * * I am pleased to be here today to testify on behalf of Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. (GSW) to share our legislative priorities. My name is Claire Manning  more