WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * "It is Blatantly Unconstitutional," King Declares in Response to Proposed Federal Grant, Loan Freeze Watch or download the full remarks here WASHINGTON, D.C.--In a press conference on Capitol Hill today, Senator Angus King (I-ME), declared that President Donald Trump's proposal to halt all federal grant and loan disbursement is unconstitutional. He cited Article 2 of the Constitution which clear  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 28 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General James Secures $450,000 from Companies Selling Home Security Cameras that Failed to Secure Private Videos January 28, 2025 NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James secured $450,000 from three companies that distribute eufy home security video cameras for failing to secure consumers' private home security videos. The companies, Fantasia Trading LLC, Power Mo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSFR) -- The Blockchain Security Standards Council, Inc. (BSSC) has announced changes to its membership following written notifications filed with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission on December 19, 2024. The updates, submitted under the National Cooperative Research and Production Act, extend the Act's provisions limiting antitrust liability. As part of this development, Turnkey Global, Inc., based in New York, and BitGo, headquartered in Palo Alto, Cal  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued the following news release: * * * CFPB Letter to Massachusetts State Legislature on Barring Medical Bills on Credit Reports The Honorable John J. Lawn, Jr. and the Honorable John J. Cronin Massachusetts State House 24 Beacon St. Boston, MA 02133 Dear Senator Cronin and Representative Lawn, I write on behalf of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding HD. 3503 and SD. 1878, which would, among oth  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * CLARKE RELEASES STATEMENT ON TRUMP'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL SUSPENSION OF DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING : January 28, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov c: 202.913.0126 Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on Donald Trump's unconstitutional suspension of Congressionally approved domestic and international   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11546) on Jan. 27, 2025, by Ben Wilhelm, government organization and management analyst: * * * Removal of Inspectors General: Rules, Practice, and Considerations for Congress In 1978, Congress passed the Inspector General Act (IG Act; P.L. 95-452) with the intent to improve oversight within certain executive branch agencies. During the floor debate on the legislation, Senator Th  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Tenney Opens Applications for 2025 Military Service Academy Nominations Oswego, NY - Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today announced that her office is now accepting applications for the 2025 Military Service Academy nominations. Students from New York's 24th Congressional District interested in attending one of these distinguished academies are invited to apply for a Congressio  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Duckworth Join Introduction Of Resolution Condemning Pardons Of Individuals Found Guilty Of Assaulting Capitol Police Officers On January 6 January 27, 2025 Resolution comes after Trump pardons 1,500 January 6 insurrectionists--including those convicted of violently assaulting police officers WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy D  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- The New York State Office of General Services issued the following news release: The Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center, known as "The Egg," and the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) announce a transformative capital improvement project to modernize and enhance the venue. Construction will begin in July 2025, with completion slated for early 2026. Architectural and aesthetic renovations encompass replacing the seating, ca  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * Fischer Joins "Mornings with Maria" to Discuss Delivering for Americans U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined Maria Bartiromo on FOX Business today to discuss how Republicans will deliver for the American people. Senator Fischer condemned the Democrats for stalling President Trump's Cabinet nominees, risking America's national security, and playing political games instead of serving their constitu  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Gillibrand Statement On ICC Sanctions Procedural Vote Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement regarding her decision to vote against ICC sanctions: "I strongly support legislation sanctioning the International Criminal Court, an antisemitic organization that has twisted the law to target Israel. Not only has the ICC consistently undermined its credibility and   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich, Lujan Introduce Resolution Condemning Pardons of Individuals Found Guilty of Assaulting Capitol Police Officers Resolution comes after Trump pardons 1,500 criminals convicted of violently assaulting police officers WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) introduced a new resolution condemning the pardons of individuals who were found gu  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich, Lujan Introduce Resolution Condemning Pardons of Individuals Found Guilty of Assaulting Capitol Police Officers Resolution comes after Trump pardons 1,500 criminals convicted of violently assaulting police officers WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) introduced a new resolution condemning the pardons of individuals who were found guil  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The House Financial Services Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-788) on the Bank Resilience and Regulatory Improvement Act (H.R. 8337), which aims to amend the Federal banking laws to improve the safety and soundness of the United States banking system. The report was advanced by Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-North Carolina, on Dec. 3, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary Introduced on May 10, 2024, by Representative Andy Barr, H.R. 8337, the Bank Resilie  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The House Financial Services Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-787) on the Earned Wage Access Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 7428), which aims to regulate the business of offering and providing earned wage access services to consumers. The report was advanced by Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-North Carolina, on Dec. 3, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary Introduced on February 20, 2024, by Representative Bryan Steil, H.R. 7428, the Earned Wage Access Con  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * Job openings rates increased in 2 states in November 2024 January 28, 2025 Job openings rates increased in 2 states, decreased in 2 states, and were little changed in 46 states and the District of Columbia in November 2024. The national job openings rate (4.8 percent) was little changed over the month. The increases in job openings rates occurred   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: A California woman was sentenced today to nine years in prison for her role in fraudulently submitting claims to governmental and private insurance programs during the COVID 19 pandemic for expensive respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests that were medically unnecessary and never ordered by health care providers. According to court documents, Lourdes Navarro, 66, of Glendale, and Imran Sha  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Malliotakis Statement on New York City ICE Raids (NEW YORK, NY) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today released the following statement regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting raids in New York City: "I thank President Donald Trump, Border Czar Tom Homan, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem for their leadership and wasting no time t  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York State's ongoing proactive measures to prevent the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and facilitate early detection, particularly on New York farms. Following the detection of HPAI in poultry on a farm in Suffolk County and in several wild and domestic birds at a learning center in Putnam County, the State is encouragi  more

NEW YORK, Jan. 29 -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued the following news on Jan. 28, 2025: New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced new appointments and elevations within multiple offices at City Hall, including in the offices of the first deputy mayor, the deputy mayor for administration and chief of staff, the deputy mayor for intergovernmental affairs, and City Hall chief counsel -- promoting current team members, as well as bringing in new talent to further strengthen the adminis  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a settlement agreement with Atlantic Energy, LLC, requiring the energy company to pay a $100,000 penalty and issue refunds to customers. The agreement resolves allegations that Atlantic Energy violated the Commission's Uniform Business Practices, including enrolling customers on non-compliant products with inappropriate inducements and transferring customers to new plans without their consent. The PSC investi  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) has revoked the Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCNs) of 159 telecommunications companies that are no longer operating in New York State. The PSC also cancelled the associated tariffs of these companies. The PSC's action follows a review of companies listed as "Inactive" in the Commission's Telecommunications Critical Information Database (TCID). The TCID is a database of regulated telecommunications co  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) has revoked the eligibility of Long Island Solar Solutions to operate as a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) provider in New York State. This action follows the company's failure to comply with the Commission's Uniform Business Practices for DER Suppliers, including the submission of required annual reports. The PSC issued an Order to Show Cause in July 2024 after Long Island Solar Solutions failed to submit its 2023 Annu  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) has revoked the eligibility of Monolith Solar Associates, LLC to operate as a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) provider in New York State. This action follows the company's failure to comply with the Commission's Uniform Business Practices for DER Suppliers, specifically by failing to submit required annual reports. The PSC issued an Order to Show Cause in July 2024 after Monolith Solar Associates failed to submit its 20  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) has issued an order terminating Liberty Utilities (New York Water) Corp.'s role as the temporary operator of the Battisti Water Supply Corporation. The order also authorizes Liberty to recover $336,938 in costs incurred during its temporary operation, including operating expenses and legal fees. The PSC appointed Liberty as the temporary operator of Battisti in 2019 after concerns arose about the continued provision of sa  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- The New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) will be convening a meeting of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Interconnection Working Group (EVIIWG) on Wednesday, February 12th, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a summary of the comments received in response to the Modified Proposal for Streamlined Vehicle to Grid Queue Management in Electric Vehicle Make-Ready Program and Other Programs - Amendment 1 that was filed by staff  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) has announced that it will oversee the Battisti Water Supply Corporation (Battisti) following the termination of Liberty Utilities (New York Water) Corp.'s (Liberty) role as the temporary operator. The PSC determined that this change in oversight will not have a significant impact on the environment. The PSC is the lead agency for environmental review in this matter and has classified the action as "Unlisted" under state  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York issued the following news release: Drasana Johnson, age 27, of Albany, has been indicted for laundering over $850,000 in stolen government funds, approximately $200,000 of which she used to purchase a residential property. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Charmeka Park  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 29 -- Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new investments of more than $100 million for projects located in certified Pro-Housing Communities, part of a total $123 million allocated as part of the latest round of the State's Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Governor Hochul's Pro-Housing Communities initiative allocates up to $650 million each year in discretionary funds f  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael Cloud (R-TX) introduced the 287(g) Program Protection Act, a bill to help state and local law enforcement work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and deport illegal immigrants. The 287(g) program, created by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, allows local law enforcement agencies to sign agreements with ICE, giving their officers  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Laura Gillen, D-New York, issued the following statement on Jan. 28, 2025: * * * Today, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) released the following statement in response to an Office of Management and Budget memo (https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=NY04LG&crop=14230QQQ5015375QQQ5006883QQQ7653511&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2fdocuments%2fdeb7af80-48b6-4b8a-8bfa-3d84fd7c3ec8.pdf&redir_log=730369560086523) that would   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: * * * In the face of new and continued threats to the program, Morelle highlights action he supports to protect and bolster the program for generations to come * * * (Rochester, N.Y.)--Today, Congressman Joe Morelle was joined by Lifespan of Greater Rochester to discuss threats Social Security faces from Republican leaders in Washington. Congressman Morelle detailed legislation he supp  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. John Mannion, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2027: SYRACUSE, NY - Representative John W. Mannion (NY-22) today sent the following letter to Acting Director Vaeth at the Office of Management and Budget regarding memo M-25-13 which orders all federal agencies to pause funding which could harm public safety, health care, rural communities, schools, child care, and other essential services in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley. Dear Acting  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) joined 153 House Democrats in sending a letter to the Trump Administration after President Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office that could pause all disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding immediately. Neither the vaguely worded executive order nor a follow-up  more

GREENVILLE, South Carolina, Jan. 29 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina issued the following news release: Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz, 24, of Bronx, New York and Destiny Shannon Mercado, 28, and Daquasia Catherine Mercado, 25, both of Spartanburg, were sentenced for their roles in a gun trafficking conspiracy. Evidence presented to the court showed that, between January of 2020 and January 2021, Destiny Shannon Mercado purchased a large number of firearms (mo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Sen.) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * SCHUMER: STANDING AT ALTON'S RESTAURANT IN CHEEKTOWAGA WITH EGG & GROCERY PRICES RISING DUE TO BIRD FLU OUTBREAK CALLS ON FEDS TO SURGE 'BIOSECURITY' AND GET ALL HANDS ON DECK TO HELP FARMS CONTAIN... Schumer Says Egg Prices Already Increased $2 Per Dozen In Last Two Months And Could Get Worse If New Admin Doesn't Surge Efforts To Beat Bird Flu; Farmers Do Not Have Res  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Sen.) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * SCHUMER: STANDING AT ROCHESTER'S JINES RESTAURANT WITH EGG & GROCERY PRICES RISING DUE TO BIRD FLU OUTBREAK CALLS ON FEDS TO SURGE 'BIOSECURITY' AND GET ALL HANDS ON DECK TO HELP FARMS CONTAIN BIRD... Schumer Says Egg Prices Already Increased $2 Per Dozen In Last Two Months And Could Get Worse If New Admin Doesn't Surge Efforts To Beat Bird Flu; Farmers Do Not Have Res  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Tonko Slams Unlawful, Reckless Freeze to Federal Aid WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement strongly opposing the Trump Administration funding freeze on all federal loans, grants, and aid: "President Trump continues to blatantly ignore the law. His sweeping pause of all federal funding will do nothing but sow chaos while threatening hundreds of billion  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Brian Schatz, Ted Cruz, Chris Murphy Introduce Bill to Protect Kids on Social Media Bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act would set minimum age to 13, prohibit use of algorithms to feed addictive content to teens under 17 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Chris M  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spearhead a trade mission to Bangkok, Thailand, from Feb. 3 - 6, 2025, to expand agricultural exports and strengthen trade ties in Southeast Asia. The mission includes nearly 40 agribusinesses, trade organizations, and representatives from five state departments of agriculture. "Our farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses are the back  more

TACOMA, Washington, Jan. 29 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: * * * Defendant defrauded Americans for a decade with trove of over 14,000 stolen identities * * * The second of two Nigerian men residing in Canada who defrauded pandemic aid programs of millions was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 54 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft announced U.S. Attorney   more