WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47639) on Jan. 23, 2025, entitled "Presidential Medal of Freedom" by senior research librarian Ben Leubsdorf. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Presidential Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the U.S. government's highest civilian honor. Awarded by the President, it is often presented to individuals to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, p  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for Jan. 31, 2025 AIR FORCE Linquest Corp., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $970,000,000 for advanced solutions for collaborative engineering and digital development. This contract provides for the operationalization of the digital engineering and decision support techniques required   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for Jan. 31, 2025 AIR FORCE Linquest Corp., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $970,000,000 for advanced solutions for collaborative engineering and digital development. This contract provides for the operationalization of the digital engineering and decision support techniques required t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Jan. 21, 2025, from Iowa Renewable Fuels Association: * * * To: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA Docket Center Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0411 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20460 RE: IRFA Comments on Proposed Partial Waiver of 2024 Cellulosic Biofuel Volume Requirement and Extension of 2024 Compliance Deadline * * * Iowa Renewable Fuels Association  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Ernst Leading for Iowa as Chair of Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) will be the top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit in the 119 th Congress. This important subset of the Senate Agriculture Committee oversees rural development loan and grant programs, renewable e  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Ernst Works to Expand Child Care Access for Families and Small Businesses WASHINGTON - As Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) to increase the availability of affordable, high-quality child care for working families. This bill would allow non-profit child care providers  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 2 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Reynolds announces disaster proclamation for highly pathogenic avian influenza in O'Brien County Gov. Kim Reynolds today authorized a disaster proclamation for O'Brien County, Iowa effective immediately through March 5, 2025. The USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial layer chickens. This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Home  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 2 -- The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued the following news: * * * Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in a Commercial Layer Flock in O'Brien County DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 2, 2025) - The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a commercial layer flo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Ernst-led Sarah's Law is Law of the Land WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst's (R-Iowa) Sarah's Law was signed into law by President Donald Trump at the White House this week. Ernst has been calling for the passage of Sarah's Law since 2016 to honor the life of young Iowan Sarah Root, who was killed by an illegal immigrant driving drunk. Ernst's bill was included as an ame  more

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 1 -- The Iowa Farm Bureau issued the following news release: * * * Iowa Farm Bureau programs and members recognized at 106th American Farm Bureau Annual Convention Farm Bureau members from all 50 states and Puerto Rico gathered at the 106th American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Annual Convention this week in San Antonio, Texas to set the organization's national policy direction for 2025 and recognize and celebrate the achievements of state Farm Bureaus. Several Io  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division has released the following public communication dated Jan. 15, 2025, from Disability Rights California, Sacramento: * * * To: Daniel Navarrete Director, Division of Regulations, Legislation, and Interpretation Wage and Hour Division (WHD) U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue NW Room S-3502 Washington, DC 20210 RE: Employment of Workers with Disabilities Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Ac  more