WASHINGTON, April 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12766) on March 28, 2025, by specialist telecommunications policy Jill C. Gallagher: * * * 4.9 GHz Public Safety Band: Competing Views on Use During the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, public safety agencies could not communicate with one another because of the high volume of calls that overwhelmed radio systems and the lack of interoperability among agencies. The 9/11 Commissio  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 2 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida issued the following news release on April 1, 2025: * * * ACLU of Florida Statement on Passage of Bill Imposing Civil Lawsuits for Abortions Tallahassee, FL - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 1284, sponsored by Senator Erin Grall. SB 1284 seeks to deceptively erode reproductive freedom in Florida by amending wrongful death statutes in a way that could pave the path to civil lawsuits tied to   more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Bilirakis and Veasey Introduce Legislation to Identify and Address Kids' Vision Impairments Washington, DC: Earlier today, Congressional Vision Caucus Co-Chairs, U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Marc Veasey (TX-33), reintroduced the Bipartisan Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children (EDVI) Act. The EDVI Act will establish grants for states and communities to improve child  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * Employment up in 38 metro areas, down in 1 area, over the year ended January 2025 From January 2024 to January 2025, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 38 metropolitan areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 348 areas. The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Barnstable Town, Massachusetts (6.1 p  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on April 1, 2025: * * * Chairman Mast Issues Warning to Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast delivered a message to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran to kick off a full a full committee hearing on countering the Iranian regime's malign activities. -Remarks- President Trump will work with you to p  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for April 1, 2025 AIR FORCE Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $12,213,406,028 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the operation of Lincoln Laboratory Federally Funded Research and Development Center. This contract provides for research, development, and rapid prototyping of advanced technology to meet Department of Defense and na  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: * * * Cotton, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Repeal Tax on Certain Firearm Purchases Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353 April 1, 2025 Washington, D.C. -- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today reintroduced the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act, legislation that would remove a burdensome tax imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act. Se  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Leads Letter To AG Bondi On Appointment Of Kash Patel As ATF Acting Director March 31, 2025 Durbin, Senators to AG Bondi: "Mr. Patel is, quite simply, not the right person to lead the ATF." WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led 15 Senate Democrats in a letter to U.S. Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi in  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 2 -- The Florida Chamber Foundation issued the following news on April 1, 2025: * * * Florida's 1.74T Economy Has the 2nd Fastest Growth Rate in the U.S.; Florida Sees Largest Housing Market Supply in Years Part one of a two-part April series of research Florida By The Numbers is now available. Florida Chamber Foundation Vice President of Research, Dr. Keith Richard, takes us on a journey through some of the recently released Florida 2030 Blueprint metrics impactin  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 1 -- Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis Highlight Expanded Partnership of Hope Florida and Florida's 67 Sheriffs TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that each of Florida's 67 sheriffs now have a Hope Florida liaison in their office. These liaisons now serve as a dedicated person on staff who acts as a point of contact between t  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Graham, Blumenthal Lead 50 Senators In Introducing Hard-Hitting Russia Sanctions WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) led 50 U.S. Senators - evenly divided by party affiliation - to introduce primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia's aggression in Ukraine. These sanctions would be impo  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * Hirono, Colleagues Urge Attorney General Against Appointment of Kash Patel as Acting ATF Director Lawmakers: "Mr. Patel is, quite simply, not the right person to lead the ATF." WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 14 colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi inqu  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Daily Caller Highlights Grassley's Oversight of Wasteful DEI Spending at DOJ EXCLUSIVE: GOP Sens Seek Answers For Taxpayers Who Picked Up Tab For Biden's DEI Initiatives Adam Pack March 31, 2025 Senate Judiciary Republicans are seeking accountability for taxpayers who footed the bill for the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives under for  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Whitehouse Column Slams 'Weaponization' of Department of Justice Against Climate Groups Washington, DC - In case you missed it, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) published a column in The Contrarian on Friday detailing the Department of Justice and FBI's politically-motivated, improper investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). Wh  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- The U.S. Marine Corps issued the following official news: * * * Marine Corps Launches Attack Drone Team MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - On Jan. 3, 2025, the Commanding Generals of Training Command, Maj. Gen. Anthony M. Henderson, and the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Brig. Gen. Simon M. Doran, established the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team in response to the rapid proliferation of armed first-person view drone technology and tactics. The creation of MCADT com  more

PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland, April 1 -- The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command issued the following news release: * * * Marines, Air Force fight as a joint force for the first time in the Navy's Joint Simulation Environment For the first time, U.S. Marine Corps F-35 and Air Force F-22 pilots trained as a joint fighting force in the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division 's (NAWCAD) Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, March 24-27. The training event brought e  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, issued the following news release on April 1, 2025: * * * MAST INTRODUCES THE NO TAX ON MILITARY BONUSES ACT WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) today introduced the No Tax on Military Bonuses Act, which would exempt all enlistment and reenlistment bonuses paid to members of the U.S. Armed Forces from taxation. Under current law, service members are taxed at their marginal tax rate for these bonuses, while those deployed in  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on April 1, 2025: * * * Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee Chairman Lawler Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on Iran WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee Chairman Michael Lawler delivered opening remarks at a full committee hearing titled, "A Return to Maximum Pressure: Comprehensively Countering the  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 (TNSFR) -- The National Park Service has released a new list of properties under consideration for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. These nominations, submitted before March 15, 2025, span multiple states and include historic districts, homes, churches, and industrial sites. The potential listings reflect a broad effort to preserve the nation's architectural, cultural, and historical heritage. Among the notable nominations is the Libertyville Downtown H  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 (TNSFR) -- The National Park Service has announced a new round of nominations for properties to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, spanning 16 states across the country. These nominations, submitted before March 22, 2025, highlight historic buildings, districts, and sites that reflect the architectural, cultural, and historical heritage of the United States. Among the nominated sites are historic districts in Connecticut and Massachusetts, religious landma  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: * * * NUWC Division Newport employees support FIRST Robotics Competition at University of Rhode Island NEWPORT, R.I. - Team 78 AIR STRIKE, sponsored by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport and mentored by its scientists and engineers, reached the final round of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) New England regional event held March 13-15 at the University of Rhode Island (URI). FRC is a  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Oversight and Intelligence Subcommittee Hearing on Consequences of Biden Administration's Far-Left Foreign Policy Priorities WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Intelligence will hold a public hearing titled, "Deficient, Enfeebled, and Ineffective: The Consequences of the Biden Administration's Far-Left Priorities o  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, issued the following news release on April 1, 2025: * * * Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), chairwoman of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, today opened the panel's hearing on the JFK Files. She underscored the significance of newly declassified documents related to President John F. Kennedy's   more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Rick Scott Announces Bill to Establish a Secretary for the U.S. Coast Guard WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Rick Scott introduced his Coast Guard Improvement Act to establish a Secretary of the Coast Guard, which will oversee Coast Guard operations and report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. This will allow the U.S. Coast Guard to adapt to its ever-evolving mission and challenges,  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Roger Marshall and Colleagues to Introduce the SHORT Act WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Roger Marshall and their colleagues in announcing the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act. This bill removes short-barreled rifles (SBRs) from the burdensome registration, regulation, and taxation requirements of the National Firearms Act (NFA), u  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Rick Scott Leads Introduction of BOLIVAR Act to Hold Illegitimate Maduro Regime Accountable WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Rick Scott led the introduction of the Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act. This legislation holds Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro accountable by prohibiting federal agencies from doing business with anyone th  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Senador Rick Scott lidera introduccion de Ley Bolivar para responsabilizar al regimen ilegitimo de Maduro WASHINGTON, D.C. - El Senador Rick Scott encabezo la presentacion de la Ley de Prohibicion de Operaciones y Arrendamientos con el Regimen Autoritario Ilegitimo Venezolano (BOLIVAR ). Esta legislacion responsabiliza al dictador venezolano Nicolas Maduro al prohibir a las agencias federales hacer neg  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Marshall Joins Judiciary Committee Chairman Grassley in Introducing Legislation to Stop Abuses of Federal Injunctions Against President Trump Washington - U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 20 of their Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Judicial Relief Clarification Act of 2025 (JRCA). This legislat  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following transcript of the 19th Annual International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony on April 1, 2025: * * * Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the 19th Annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards Ceremony MS FOTOVAT: Good afternoon. Please, everyone, be seated. Thank you so much. So good afternoon, everyone. I have to say I'm so excited. Thank you, all, for being here in this historic setting of the Benjamin Franklin Room h  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. W. Greg Steube, R-Florida, issued the following news release on April 1, 2025: * * * Steube Reintroduces Iranian Terror Prevention Act to Designate IRGC-Linked Militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations WASHINGTON -- U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today reintroduced the Iranian Terror Prevention Act, legislation that requires the Secretary of State to designate and codify 29 Iranian-backed militias and terror groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FT  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Florida, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs, issued the following news release: * * * Subcommittee Ranking Member Frost's Opening Remarks at Hearing on Trump's Efforts to Rush AI Without Guardrails Washington, D.C. (April 1, 2025). Below is Ranking Member Maxwell Alejandro Frost's opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at today's Subcommittee on Ec  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 (TNSFR) -- The University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, has announced plans to repatriate thousands of Native American funerary objects recovered from a submerged archaeological site in Sarasota County, Florida. In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the university has determined a cultural affiliation between the 3,826 artifacts and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and The Seminole Nation of  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Waterman Nominated to be U.S. Attorney for Iowa's Southern District WASHINGTON - Iowan David C. Waterman was nominated today by President Donald Trump to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) endorsed his nomination. "I'm proud to endorse Mr. Waterman for the U.S. Attorney post in Iowa's   more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The White House sent to the Senate on April 1, 2025, the nominations of 18 individuals for positions in the federal government: * * * * Marc Andersen, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army. * Gregory Autry, of Florida, to be Chief Financial Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. * Donald Bergin III, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Congressional and Legislative Affairs). * Marc Berkowitz, of Virginia, to b  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- House Republican Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release on April 1, 2025: * * * WTAS: Whip Emmer Announces Stakeholder Support for CRA to Safeguard Overdraft Services for Americans WASHINGTON - Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) today announced key stakeholder support for S.J. Res. 18, which nullifies a Biden administration rule that would have burdened banks and credit unions, led to fewer options for American consumers, and taken away critical f  more