WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following news release: $60 Million in 'Quick Release' Emergency Relief funds are a down payment on Maryland's initial costs for emergency repairs, design, and reconstruction of the bridge Within hours of receiving the request, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the immediate availability of $60 million in "quick release" Emergency Relief (ER) funds for the Maryla  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Projects Funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act Will Lower Energy Costs and Create Revenue for Rural Business Owners and Farms OMAHA, Neb., March 28, 2024 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $124 million in renewable energy and fertilizer production projects in 44 states to lower energy costs, generate new income and create   more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 28 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking yet another action to lower health care costs and protect consumers from being scammed into purchasing lower quality insurance, or "junk insurance". The Biden-Harris Administration is closing loopholes to prevent health insurance companies from misleading consumers into buying health plan  more

OAKLAND, California, March 29 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release on March 27, 2024: California Attorney General Rob Bonta led 19 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth (BAGLY), et al. v. United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), et al. in support of the plaintiffs' motion to vacate the Trump Administration's 2020 federal rule (the Rule), which strips nondiscriminati  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: Indian Head, Maryland - U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Expeditionary Exploitation Unit One (EXU-1) EOD1 Peter Harig was awarded the Naval Surface Warfare Center/Naval Undersea Warfare Center Sailor of the Year for Fiscal Year 2023. Over the past year, Harig supported EXU-1's Prepare-to-Deploy Order (PTDO) mission and rapidly deployed to the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) Area of Ope  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: Within hours of receiving the request, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the immediate availability of $60 million in "quick release" Emergency Relief (ER) funds for the Maryland Department of Transportation to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge after a cargo container ship struck the bri  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 28 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: On March 28, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule (CMS-1810-P) that would update Medicare hospice payments and the aggregate cap amount for fiscal year (FY) 2025 in accordance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements. This rule also proposes to adopt the most recent Office of Mana  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 28 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: On March 28, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update Medicare payment policies and rates for the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2025. CMS is publishing this proposed rule consistent with the legal requirements to update Medicare  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 28 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: On March 28, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2025. CMS is publishing this proposed rule consistent with the lega  more

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, March 29 -- Gov. Wes Moore, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: Today, during the middle of the third inning of the Baltimore Orioles' Opening Day game three Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police Officers were honored for their bravery during the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Below is an statement from Sergeant Paul Pastorek, Corporal Jeremy Herbert, Officer Garry Kirts - three Maryland Transportation Authority Police Offi  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 28 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: HHS Extends Special Enrollment Period to Help People Transition to the Marketplaces, Issues New Resources for Partners, and Publishes Guidance Reinforcing Key Federal Requirements Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced additional actions it is  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 29 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of today a coalition of 19 attorneys general, today filed an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts supporting a motion to vacate a 2020 federal rule that strips nondiscrimination protections from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In the brief (https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/News-Room/Current-News/  more

TRENTON, New Jersey, March 29 -- Gov. Phil Murphy, D-New Jersey, issued the following joint statement on March 28, 2024, with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on minimizing supply chain disruptions following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge: * * * "The tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has touched every corner of the nation, and we are ready to support Governor Moore and the people of Maryland in any way. "We have seen over the past several years that indefini  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: The Justice Department today urged taxpayers to choose their return preparers wisely as the April 15 federal tax filing deadline approaches. Unscrupulous preparers who include errors or false information on a tax return could leave a taxpayer open to liability for unpaid taxes, penalties and interest. "Taxpayers must look out for unscrupulous preparers, who often will promise refunds tha  more

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, March 29 -- The Maryland Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: The Maryland Department of Agriculture's Mosquito Control Program is urging residents to act now to reduce mosquito populations by reducing standing water on their properties. Aside from being nuisances, mosquitoes can also carry a number of diseases that are harmful to humans and animals, including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. "Now is the time to be proactive about pr  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 28 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Approximately 50 percent of Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio's military and support personnel is comprised of women. Therefore, it is fitting that the 2024 theme of Women's History Month be "Women Who Have Made Great Achievements." One of the highly professional women within Navy Medicine is Cmdr. Rachel Werner, Dental Corps, NAMRU Sa  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D., has named Kathleen M. Neuzil, M.D., as the 13th director of the Fogarty International Center (FIC) and NIH associate director for international research. Dr. Neuzil will be the first woman to hold the permanent FIC directorship since the center's founding in 1968. She  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 28 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: On March 28, 2024, the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments) released final rules regarding short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) and independent, noncoordinated excepted benefits coverage. These final rules finalize some of the amendments set forth in the July 1  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 29 -- The University System of Maryland issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: The Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics and Student-Athlete Health and Welfare, a committee of the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents, will meet at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 1. Public access to the meeting is via the following dial-in information: 301-715-8592 Conference ID: 952 9323 2367 Password: 186000 The committee will vote on a proposed amendment   more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- The White House issued the following readout of the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force Meeting on March 27, 2024: * * * Yesterday, the National Economic Council convened a meeting of the Biden-Harris Administration Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to discuss potential impacts on regional and national supply chains from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and partial closure of the Port of Baltimore. The Task Force, launched in 2021 to monitor and address n  more

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, March 29 -- The White House issued the following transcript of a press gaggle on March 28, 2024, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre while en route to Queens, New York: * * * MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right, guys. So much fun. So much memories. Okay, let me just say a couple of things at the top. So, first, President Biden spoke to Mayor Adams and gave his condolences about the tragic killing of Officer Jonathan Diller. The President offered Mayor Adams, the city of New Y  more