WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12419) on Feb. 5, 2025, by American national government analyst Taylor R. Knoedl. Here are excerpts: * * * The U.S. Census Bureau Overview The United States Census Bureau is a federal agency that provides statistical data about the nation's people and economy. Article I, Section 2, clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution mandates a decennial census count of the population. The first   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minnesota, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Today, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee Ranking Member Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02) demanded answers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over the Trump administration's illegal federal funding freeze - whic  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials released the following testimony by Chuck Baker, president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, from a Jan. 23, 2025, hearing entitled "America Builds: Examining America's Freight and Passenger Rail Network": * * * Thank you for the opportunity to testify to this subcommittee as you examine America's freight rail network and discuss the future  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit released the following testimony by Dennis Dellinger, president and CEO of Cargo Transporters Inc., on behalf of the American Trucking Associations, from a Jan. 22, 2025, hearing entitled "America Builds: Highways to Move People and Freight": * * * Chairman Crawford, Ranking Member Norton, and members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today on behalf of t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending Feb. 1, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 219,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 207,000 to 208,000. The 4-week moving average was 216,  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 7 -- Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: * * * Funding expected to create over 1,400 new child care slots * * * Governor Tim Walz today announced $6.1 million in grants to expand access to child care across the state. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded 25 organizations with Child Care Economic Development Grants, expected to expand child care capacity by 1,400 slots statewide.  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 7 -- The Minnesota Utilities Commission issued the following decision involving Xcel Energy: * * * INTRODUCTION DECISION ITEMS 1. Details 2021-331 * E999/Cl-16-521 Northern States Power Co. d/b/a Xcel Energy In the Matter of Updating the Generic Standards for the Interconnection and Operation of Distributed Generation Facilities Established Under Minn. Stat. Sec. 216B.1611. Should the Commission approve the Technical Subgroup's proposed changes to the State of M  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. 6 -- Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Angie Craig Demands Answers on Musk's Access to Americans' Sensitive, Personal Data WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig joined 154 of her House colleagues in expressing concern about Elon Musk's access to the federal government's payments system that stores Americans' sensitive personal data. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the lawmakers demanded answers rega  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Angie Craig Introduces Legislation to Protect Access to Contraception WASHINGTON, DC - This week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig introduced legislation to protect access to contraception and defend health care providers' ability to distribute contraceptives no matter where they live. The Right to Contraception Act would create a statutory right for people to obtain and use contraceptives - li  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Today, the House passed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, or the HALT Fentanyl Act. This legislation would make the currently temporary Schedule I category for fentanyl, or anything mixed with it, permanent. "Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 - 49. It affects every income level in every demographic in every corner of the country. Even in   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), joined by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Peter Welch (D-VT), introduced the Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act to prevent companies from using algorithms to collude to set higher prices. As recent reporting, a Justice Department lawsuit,   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, led all Committee Democrats in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding answers and clarity following the Trump Administration's funding freeze. The Senators wrote to USDA Acting   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) led a group of 34 Senators calling on Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Dorothy Fink to end the unprecedented freeze on all external communications and funding. This freeze has disrupted clinical trials, prevented the National Institutes of Health and other agencie  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * The big game: barbecue, cheesesteaks, and sports bars Got plans for the big game this weekend? A few hours of TV watching are on tap for many. While all sorts of eating and drinking establishments might be showing the event, a sports bar is a sure thing. The highest concentration of establishments in the United States with "sports bar" in the name w  more