DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 29 -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Bird Defends Iowa Pork Producers Against Radical California Proposition 12 DES MOINES-- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird today led 23 states in a brief supporting Iowa pork producers against California's strict-hog-housing regulations. In 2018, California passed Proposition 12, a law that requires out-of-state pork producers to comply with strict farming regulations if t  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Chair Ernst Delivers Opening Remarks at Kelly Loeffler Nomination Hearing WASHINGTON - Today, at the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing on the nomination of former Senator Kelly Loeffler to serve as the Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator, Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) highlighted how Loeffler's track record as a successful business leader provides the exact experien  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Schakowsky Introduce Mentoring To Succeed Act January 29, 2025 WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), today introduced the Mentoring to Succeed Act in recognition of January as National Mentoring Month. U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL-04), and Lori Tra  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * Employment up in 33 states in 2024 January 29, 2025 Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 33 states and was essentially unchanged in 17 states and the District of Columbia from December 2023 to December 2024. * Chart* Chart Data Change in nonfarm employment by state, December 2023 to December 2024 # Change in nonfarm employment by state,  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Ernst Snaps Back at Billions in Overpayments WASHINGTON - In her latest fight to prioritize taxpayers in Washington, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is addressing growing concerns about mismanagement within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is supposed to help feed hungry families, but sloppy state administration of the program is costing taxpayers nearly $1 billion per month.   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Ernst's Sarah's Law Signed by President Trump WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined President Donald Trump at the White House for the signing of her Sarah's Law. The bill was included as an amendment to the Laken Riley Act to strengthen the legislation by requiring illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes against Americans to be detained. Senator Ernst with Sarah Root  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Reserve is reviewing multiple applications submitted under the Bank Holding Company Act seeking approval for proposed acquisitions and the formation of new bank holding companies. The Lindsey Family Trust of Lennox, Georgia, has applied to become a bank holding company by acquiring Trust Holding Company, Inc., and The Trust Bank, both based in Lenox, Georgia. Additionally, Morning Sun Bank Corp. of Morning Sun, Iowa, seeks to acquire First Trust and Sa  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Feenstra Thanks President Trump for Signing Laken Riley Act with Sarah's Law Included WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Laken Riley Act, which includes Feenstra's Sarah's Law as an amendment. Feenstra attended the signing ceremony with Scott Root, Sarah's father. "I'm thrilled that Preside  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Feenstra, Ernst Introduce Legislation to Promote Fiscal Responsibility by Preventing Overpayments of SNAP Benefits HULL, IOWA - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Red Oak) introduced the Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act, which would strengthen the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - commonly referred to as SNAP - by cutting down on ov  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 29 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Reynolds introduces bill to reform unemployment insurance, stop overcollecting on Iowa businesses Today, Governor Kim Reynolds introduced the Unemployment Insurance Reform Bill to the Iowa House and Senate. Gov. Reynolds proposes lowering the maximum tax rate to the lowest allowed by federal law (5.4%), cutting the taxable wage base by half, and simplifying the unemployment insurance system  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Grassley Secures HHS Nominee Kennedy's Support for Rural Health Care, Ag, Key Agency Issues WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, laid out his priorities and expectations for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during a hearing to consider Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be HHS Secretary. Grassley discussed the impo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Grassley, Cruz Seek to Boost Penalties for Repeat Criminal Illegal Immigrants WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in introducing the Stop Illegal Reentry Act. The legislation would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for any person who illegally enters the country with multiple convictions, or a conviction for an ag  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2025: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) announced the committee will hold a hearing titled, "Rightsizing Government," on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. At the hearing, the Oversight Committee will examine the dramatic growth in the size and complexity of the federal government, which has le  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * LaHood Introduces Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing the Benefits that Fraternal Organizations Provide in Our Communities Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) introduced a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies (fraternals) have historically provided and continue to provide critical benefits in our communities. Rep. LaH  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Zachary Nunn, R-Iowa, posted the following statement in the extensions of remarks section of the Congressional Record on Jan. 28, 2025: * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deputy Frank Courtney of the Polk County Sheriff's Office for his tremendous service to his community and to congratulate him for earning the 2024 Law Enforcement Professional of the Year award from the West Des Moines Elk Lodge. A trusted and respected pillar of his community, Deputy Co  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: * * * Rosen, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Affordable Child Care Availability, Support Child Care Providers WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Committee Chair Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Small Business Child Care Investment Act. This bipartisan legislation would increase the availability of a  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Rounds Joins Department of Government Efficiency Caucus WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has joined the Senate's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus. The DOGE Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of members ready to work hand-in-hand with the Trump administration to identify and eliminate wasteful spending and resources in the federal governm  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Schakowsky, Garcia, Trahan, Durbin, Duckworth, Booker Introduce Legislation to Support Youth Through Mentorship Programs Full Text of Bill (PDF) WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), and Lori Trahan (MA-03) introduced the Mentoring to Succeed Act in recognition of January as National Mentoring Month. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckwor  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2025: Today, at the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing on the nomination of former Senator Kelly Loeffler to serve as the Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator, Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) highlighted how Loeffler's track record as a successful business leader provides the exact experience needed t  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2025: Today, at the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing on the nomination of the Honorable Kelly Loeffler to serve as the Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator, Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) highlighted the need to reform the agency. Ernst asked Loeffler about her plans to refocus the SBA on its miss  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa's 99 counties. * * * RED OAK, Iowa - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Myers Tree Farm of Des Moines County. Throughout the 119  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Senators Markey and Cruz Reintroduce Bill to Keep AM Radio in New Vehicles Bill Text (PDF) Washington (January 29, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today reintroduced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. This legisl  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in introducing the Stop Illegal Reentry Act. The legislation would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for any person who illegally enters the country with multiple convictions, or a conviction for an aggravated felony. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) introduc  more