WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: * * * While Musk Peddles Fear and Mass Firing of Federal Workers, Republican Iowa Governor Touts State Reforms With "Absolutely No Layoffs * * * Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led Committee Democrats in calling out the Trump Administration for its   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Beyer On Resignation Of Marko Elez: "'DOGE' Should Be Deleted" Rep. Don Beyer, who represents a Northern Virginia congressional district with one of the largest concentrations of federal employees in the country, issued the following statement today on the reported resignation of racist "DOGE" employee Marko Elez, who had previously been granted access to U.S. Treasury payment systems: "This is a scan  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Beyer Statement On Federal Court Ruling Temporarily Blocking "Deferred Resignation" Rep. Don Beyer, who represents a Northern Virginia congressional district with one of the largest concentrations of federal employees in the country, issued the following statement today after a federal judge paused the Elon Musk-authored offer of "deferred resignation" to all federal workers: "The offer of so-called '  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Bicameral Delegation Reintroduces the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act for the 119th Congress Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) reintroduced the landmark, bicameral bill, Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, during the 119th Congress. This pivotal legislation would codify commonsense protections for immigrant communities at sensitive locations amid the   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12275) on Feb. 3, 2025, by agricultural policy specialists Renee Johnson and Lia Biondo. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Bill Primer: USDA Support for Aquaculture Operations Aquaculture operations that grow aquatic animal and plant species under controlled conditions - in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy and statutory definitions - are generally eligib  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12504) on Feb. 6, 2025, by transportation and industry analyst Rachel Y. Tang: * * * Reagan National Airport Slot and Perimeter Rules and Exemptions Authorized in 2024 The deadly midair collision on January 29, 2025, between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has prompted discussion over conge  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R41129) on Feb. 5, 2025, entitled "Navy Columbia Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Navy's Columbia (SSBN-826) class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) program is a program to design and build a class of 12 new SSBNs to replace the Navy's current force of 14 aging Ohio-c  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R41129) on Feb. 5, 2025, entitled "Navy Columbia Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Issues for Congress Impact of 12- to 16-Month Delay in Delivery of First Boat Overview One oversight issue for Congress concerns the impact of the estimated 12- to 16-month delay in the delivery of the first Columbia-class boat on  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Cruz, Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Supreme Court Justices from Intimidation WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced the Protecting Our Supreme Court Justices Act. The bill increases the maximum term of imprisonment for those who attempt to intimidate and influence the de  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: * * * FEBEX 25 prepares ANG for global challenges CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Fla. (AFNS) -- Approximately 250 Air National Guard and active-duty Airmen from five U.S. states converged on Camp Blanding Joint Training Center Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, for February Exercise 2025, a rigorous three-day exercise designed to test their readiness for global contingencies. Reinforcing the Agile Combat Employment Strategy, the exerc  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 6 -- Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Youngkin Announces Over $23.6 Million in Community Development Block Grants Funding will support housing rehabilitation, water and sewer improvements, and community service facility enhancements Funding will support housing rehabilitation, water and sewer improvements, and community service facility enhancements RICHMOND, VA - Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced more than   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Griffith and Latta Celebrate House Passage of HALT Fentanyl Act, Commend House GOP Leadership The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 27, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. This bill, of which U.S. Congressmen Morgan Griffith and Bob Latta are chief sponsors, would permanently classify lethal fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I substances, closing   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * House Democrats Introduce Bipartisan Scientific Integrity Act Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) -- joined by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Don Beyer (VA-8), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), and a total or more than 100 co-sponsors in the House -- today introduced the Scientific Integrity Act, bipartisan legislation that sets clear, enforceable standards for federal agencies and fed  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Brittany Dymond Murray, associate director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., from a Jan. 22, 2025, hearing entitled "Restoring Focus: Putting Veterans First in Community Care": * * * Chairman Bost, Ranking Member Takano, and members of the committee, on behalf of the men and women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) and its Auxiliary, thank you for the opportunity t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs released the following testimony by Jordan B. Cohen, an analyst in firearms policy at the Congressional Research Service, from a Jan. 23, 2025, hearing entitled "Correcting VA's Violations of Veterans' Due Process and Second Amendment Rights": * * * Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and distinguished Members of the Committee, my name is Jordan Cohen, and I am a CRS analyst in   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: * * * HSI Los Angeles, Cherry Hill, and Honolulu special agents arrest members of online neo-Nazi group on child exploitation enterprise charges LOS ANGELES -- On Jan. 30, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, in coordinated operations in New Jersey and Hawaii, arrested two individuals on federal charges of participating in a neo-Nazi child e  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Kaine Announces HELP Subcommittee Assignments for 119th Congress WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) announced his subcommittee assignments as a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Kaine will serve on the HELP Subcommittee on Education and the American Family and the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety: "I'm looking forward to se  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Kaine, Budd Introduce Bill to Incentivize Landowners to Participate in Military Land Use Program WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Ted Budd (R-NC) have introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Incentivizing REPI Sales Act of 2025, legislation which promotes military readiness by encouraging the land around military installations to be preserved for the military to train, test, and opera  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Kaine, Warner Lead Colleagues in Raising Concerns about Virginia Community Health Centers' Delays in Accessing Funding WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) led 20 of their colleagues in writing a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Secretary Dorothy A. Fink, M.D. regarding reports that Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) gr  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (Sen.) -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: * * * McConnell, Warner Introduce Vital Bill To Support Bourbon Production And Environment WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced today the introduction of the White Oak Resilience Act of 2025, which will mobilize greater federal resources and direct research into safeguarding our nation's White Oak tree population  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (TNSFR) -- The National Science Board's Committee on Awards and Facilities (A&F) has scheduled a meeting on February 10, 2025, to address critical topics related to research infrastructure and federal funding. The meeting, which will take place at the National Science Foundation headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and via videoconference, will consist of an open session followed by a closed session. The open session will focus on the Summit Station Recapitalization, a proj  more

LONGMONT, Colorado, Feb. 7 -- The First Nations Development Institute issued the following news release: * * * Native Youth Nationwide to Benefit from Programs Focused on Strengthening Identity and Intergenerational Connections First Nations Development Institute awards nearly $2 million to Native nonprofits and Tribes leading innovative, youth-focused programs LONGMONT, Colo. (February 6, 2025) - First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) today announced the awarding of $1.925 mill  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Below is Ranking Member Shontel Brown's opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at today's Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation hearing on animal research and testing. Opening Statement Ranking Member Shontel Brown Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Te  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * Ranking Members Connolly, Brown, and Rep. Ansari, Lead Oversight Democrats to Urge Government Watchdogs to Investigate Potential Threats to National Security Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Shontel Brown, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, and Rep. Yassamin   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Shontel Brown, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, and Rep. Yassamin Ansari led all Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Deputy Inspec  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Dina Titus Reintroduces Legislation to Stop Overseas Animal Abuse Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-01), a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, today reintroduced bipartisan legislation with Congressman Troy Nehls (R-TX-22) to stop animal abuse in overseas scientific experiments funded with U.S. taxpayer dollars. The Cease Animal Research Grants Overseas (CARGO) Act of 2025 would pro  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. John McGuire, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: U.S. Representative John McGuire (VA-05), today voted in favor of H.R. 27, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act, legislation that permanently extends President Trump's 2018 Schedule I classification of fentanyl-related substances. "Fentanyl is crushing lives and families in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District, our Commonwealth, and across our country," said Rep. John Mc  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, issued the following news on Feb. 6, 2025: Yesterday, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) participated in a ceremony at the White House as the President signed a new Executive Order to protect safety, fairness, and dignity in women's sports. This commonsense Executive Order upholds the promise of Title IX and gives women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports. The Congresswoman celebrated this historic mom  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release: Reps. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee alongside Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, issued the following news release: * * * Senators Coons, Lankford, Kaine, and Tillis reintroduce bipartisan resolution supporting international religious freedom WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced a bipartisan resolution to express support for international religious freedom as a fundamental right and a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy amid concern over increased attacks on religio  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Craig Eastman, 21, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 165 months in federal prison for participating in a massive fentanyl trafficking conspiracy that distributed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills from Southern California to destinations throughout the United States, including the District. Eastman   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute parafluorofentanyl and fentanyl. According to court documents, on the evening of September 17, 2023, Jaron James Starkey, 35, of Charlotte, and formerly of New Castle County, Delaware, was driving erratically southbound on I-95 in Caroline Coun  more

ROANOKE, Virginia, Feb. 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia issued the following news release: A pair of Roanoke fentanyl traffickers were sentenced recently to substantial federal prison sentences. Dejuan Lemons, 35, pled guilty to possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced to 195 months. Kelvin Robertson, 47, pled guilty to distribution of fentanyl. He was sen  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Video: Kaine Joins Senate Democrats in Holding Senate Floor to Protest Russell Vought's Nomination to Lead OMB, Citing Chaos Unleashed on Federal Workers WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last night, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined his Democratic colleagues in holding the Senate floor to protest Russell Vought's nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), citing stories he has collected from fed  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner and Kaine Announce $540,000 in Federal Funding for Floyd County WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $540,000 in federal funding for Floyd County to expand high-speed broadband in the region. The funding was awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner and Kaine Announce $540,000 in Federal Funding for Floyd County WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $540,000 in federal funding for Floyd County to expand high-speed broadband in the region. The funding was awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments that inn  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner Joins Colleagues In Demanding Secretary Bessent Meet With Senate Democrats To Bring Transparency And Clarity To "DOGE" Chaos At Treasury WASHINGTON - Today, Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chair Mark Warner (D-VA) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Banking, Housin  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Wittman Reappointed to Select Committee on China WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) announced his reappointment to serve on the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for the 119th Congress by Speaker Mike Johnson. The committee is responsible for assessing the threats to the economy and national security posed  more