AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 12 -- Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Aaron M. Frey Sues Trump Administration for Defunding Medical and Public Health Innovation Research Coalition of 22 Attorneys General Challenge NIH Funding Cuts for Universities and Research Institutions AUGUSTA -Attorney General Aaron M. Frey and 21 other attorneys general today sued the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Ins  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * Bennet, Murray, Tillis, Bipartisan Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Ensure Purple Heart Recipients Can Transfer Benefits to Dependents Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), alongside nine of their Senate colleagues, to reintroduce the bipartisan Purple Heart Veterans Education Act. This legislation would clo  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release on Feb. 11, 2025: * * * Bice Joins Feenstra & Senate Colleagues to Reintroduce Legislation to Help America's Working Families Today, Rep. Bice joined Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-IA), & Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) to lead in the introduction of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This bill will help small businesses offer paid family and medical leave (PFML  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * Blackburn, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Help Cosmetologists Recognize & Respond to Domestic Violence WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ahead of Valentine's Day, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the bipartisan Supporting the Abuse  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Defense Secretary Renames Fort Liberty as Fort Bragg, Honoring WWII Soldier Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth yesterday signed a memorandum directing that Fort Liberty, North Carolina, be renamed to Fort Bragg. The new name honors Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a native of Sabattus, Maine, who enlisted in July 1943 at age 23. He served during World War II with the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Golden, Blue Dogs push House GOP leaders to prioritize fiscal sustainability, not tax cuts for the wealthy WASHINGTON -- With many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set to expire this year, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and the House Blue Dog Coalition are urging House GOP leaders to reject deficit funding, prioritize targeted tax benefits to working- and middle-class families, and let   more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 11 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following news: * * * Governor Mills and Northeast Delta Dental Announce Extension of Maine Veterans' Dental Network Generous $300,000 grant from Northeast Delta Dental will allow popular program to serve more Maine veterans Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Maine Veterans' Dental Network (MVDN) will continue to serve Maine veterans this year thanks to a generous $300,000 grant from Northeast Delta Dental. The MV  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 11 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following news: * * * Governor Mills Calls for Bipartisan Passage of Supplemental Budget Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement today on the Legislature's consideration of the supplemental budget: "Despite operating under the illusion that they worked in 'good faith' on the supplemental budget, Republicans reneged on their part of the unanimous, bipartisan approval given by the Appropriations and Financial Affairs  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich, Lujan Demand VA Secretary Collins Step Up and Defend Veterans' Private Information from Elon Musk WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) joined 25 Senate Democrats to urge Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to immediately secure veterans' personal information provided by the VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his "Department of   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich, Lujan, Colleagues Call on Trump Administration to End Harmful Freeze on Health Communications and Funding Senators emphasize the damage Trump's freeze on funding has already inflicted on patient care and public health oversight WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) joined 34 Senate Democrats to call on Acting Secretary of the Department of Hea  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Kids from the Harmful Impacts of Social Media WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to help protect youth from the harmful impacts of social media. The Kids Off Social Media Act would enforce minimum age limits to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding algorithm  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King, Golden introduce bipartisan, bicameral bill to develop future workforce in Maine's forest products industry WASHINGTON -- Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today reintroduced the Future Logging Careers Act, which would develop the next generation of Maine's forest products workforce by allowing young Mainers to safely train in their family's logging business. Senators  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division has released the following public communication dated Jan. 16, 2025, from the Pennsylvania Employment First Oversight Commission: * * * RE: Strong Support for Proposed Rulemaking to End Subminimum Wage under Section 14(c) of the FLSA * * * Dear Acting Secretary Su and to Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed rulemaking to end subminimum wage under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labo  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 12 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a limited exemption from reorganization requirements for the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS). The decision, issued February 11, 2025, grants PNGTS a partial reprieve from the stringent regulations outlined in 35-A M.R.S. Sec.708, while still maintaining oversight over key transactions. PNGTS, which operates a 295-mile interstate pipeline, transports natural gas across Maine, New Hampshire, and M  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 12 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has dismissed a petition filed by Franklin ME 1, LLC, seeking a "good cause exemption" under 35-A M.R.S. Sec. 3209-A. The dismissal order, issued on February 11, 2025, closes Docket No. 2024-00207. Franklin ME 1 filed its initial petition on or about August 12, 2024. However, on January 29, 2025, the petitioner submitted a Notice of Withdrawal, voluntarily requesting to withdraw its petition. While the PUC's rules typically   more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 12 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has dismissed a petition from Lincoln ME 2, LLC, seeking a "good cause exemption" under 35-A M.R.S. Sec. 3209-A. The order, issued February 11, 2025, closes Docket No. 2024-00208. Lincoln ME 2 filed its petition around August 12, 2024. On January 29, 2025, the company filed a Notice of Withdrawal, voluntarily withdrawing its request. While the PUC's rules generally allow petition withdrawals without prejudice, meaning a simi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Padilla, Colleagues Push Trump Administration to Exempt Seasonal Firefighters From Federal Hiring Freeze WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and 13 other Democratic Senators in urging senior Trump Administration officials to reverse the hiring and onboarding freeze of federal seasonal firefighters that threatens the safety of communities in C  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Members Merkley, Pingree: Health Care in Tribal Communities in Danger Under Trump's Hiring Freeze Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), the top Democrats on the subcommittees that oversee funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS), demanded urgent action from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to stop dangerous cuts to the IHS work  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Washington, issued the following news release on Feb. 9, 2025: * * * Representative Schrier Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Support Local Farmers and Growers Yesterday, Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) introduced the bipartisan Agriculture Export Promotion Act. This legislation would support Washington farmers and producers by increasing investment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Market Development Program (FMDP) and Mark  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Risch, King, Thompson, Golden Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Future Logging Careers Act WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Angus King (I-Maine) and U.S. Representatives Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-Pa.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) introduced the Future Logging Careers Act to support America's family-run timber industry. This legislation would allow teenage members of logging families to ga  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news on Feb. 11, 2025: * * * Sens. Moran, King Introduce Legislation to Improve Care Coordination for Veterans Using VA and Medicare WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs - and Angus King (I-Maine) - member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs - introduced legislation to better coordinate an  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: * * * Sens. Ossoff, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Forest Management Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing a bipartisan bill to help grow Georgia's forestry industry. Sen. Ossoff and Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced the bipartisan Forest Data Modernization Act, which would modernize and improve the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Inventory and Analysis prog  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley Join 32 Senators on Bipartisan Legislation to Make High-Quality Job Training More Accessible Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined their Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that would make high-quality job training more accessible. "The last thing hardworking students should have to worry about is not being able to afford a pathway   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Exempt Seasonal Firefighters from Federal Hiring Freeze Washington D.C. -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined their Senate colleagues to urge the Trump Administration to exempt seasonal firefighters from the federal hiring freeze that's reportedly preventing the hiring and onboarding of seasonal firefighters, a workforce that alre  more