WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11879) on June 17, 2024, by section research manager Lauren R. Stienstra: * * * National Level Exercises: History, Authorities, and Congressional Considerations Every two years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducts a National Level Exercise (NLE) to evaluate the nation's progress toward preparedness for catastrophic events. These exercises have multiple components, and  more

WASHINGTON, June 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42603) on June 20, 2024, entitled "Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies: History, Membership and Inaugural Activities" by Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Every four years, at noon on January 20, the President-elect is scheduled to be sworn in as President of the United States. The year before the inauguration, Congress establishes the Joi  more

OMAHA, Nebraska, June 19 -- Creighton University issued the following news: The Rev. Greg Boyle, SJ, founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation program in the world, will be the keynote speaker at Creighton University's fall 2024 Mission Week celebration. Mission Week is scheduled for Aug. 23 through Sept. 5, with activities and events planned on both Creighton's Omaha and Phoenix campuses. The theme of this year's celebration is Companions in Mission. Fr. B  more

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Human Rights Campaign issued the following news release on June 17, 2024: The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, today announced the death of Bruce Bastian, tech entrepreneur, HRC board member and fierce advocate for equality, who passed away peacefully Sunday at the age of 76, surrounded by his four sons, his husband, Clint Ford, and friends and other family members. Bastian joined the HRC board in 2003. The following  more

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Richmond, VA - Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement in honor of Juneteenth: "President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring 'all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever  more

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following news release: In celebration of Pride Month, we're highlighting the wins that President Biden and Vice President Harris have secured for LGBTQ+ Americans - including protecting marriage equality and advocating for anti-discrimination laws. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are campaigning on blocking doctors from providing gender-affirming care, undermining civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, and  more

WASHINGTON, June 21 -- Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-California, issued the following statement on June 20, 2024: * * * Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragan (CA-44) issued the following statement in response to President Biden's Executive Orders that provide protections for non-citizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens who have lived in America for a decade or longer and allow qualified, college-educated Dreamers to obtain work visas. "This is a great day for hundreds-of-thousands of immigran  more

HOUSTON, Texas, June 17 -- Rice University issued the following news release: According to recent research by sociologists at Rice University, Black nationalism now finds broader support among different segments of the Black community, though the characteristics of Black nationalists have changed over time. Black nationalism is a belief system that promotes the best ways to achieve racial equality. Black nationalists believe that working with whites, integrating racially and participating in m  more

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release on June 17, 2024: Rhonda K. (Schnare) Schmidtlein today becomes Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). She succeeded outgoing Chairman David S. Johanson, whose term as Chair expired on June 16, 2024. Schmidtlein, the senior Democrat on the Commission, became Chairman by operation of law in the absence of a Presidential designation. Chairman Schmidtlein was nominated to the U.S  more

HOUSTON, Texas, June 17 -- Rice University issued the following news release: According to recent research by sociologists at Rice University, Black nationalism now finds broader support among different segments of the Black community, though the characteristics of Black nationalists have changed over time. Black nationalism is a belief system that promotes the best ways to achieve racial equality. Black nationalists believe that working with whites, integrating racially and participating in m  more

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Urban Institute issued the following news release on June 18, 2024: The trustees of the Urban Institute have elected seven new leaders to join its board: Margaret Anadu, senior partner and head of real estate at The Vistria Group; Roy Austin, vice president for civil rights and deputy general counsel at Meta; Raphael Bostic, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Alexandra Reeve Givens, CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology; John Goodman, C  more