WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48179) on March 11, 2025, entitled "Gender and School Sports: Federal Action and Legal Challenges to State Laws" by legislative attorneys Madeline W. Donley and Jared P. Cole: * * * SUMMARY Policymakers have debated how schools should respond when transgender students (students who are assigned one sex at birth but identify with the opposite sex) seek to use facilities or participate in school activit  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Amid Coast Guard Recruitment Challenges, Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Calling for Increased Funding for Great Lakes Workforce April 29, 2025 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)--a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans' Affairs (SVAC) Committees--led four of her fellow Senate Democratic colleagues in calling on the Trump Admin  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Amid Trump Administration's Threats To Defund Public Broadcasting, Durbin Meets With CEO Of Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association April 29, 2025 WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the CEO of the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association (WETA), Sharon Percy Rockefeller, to discuss the need to fund the Corpora  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Bill to Support Special Resources Study on Cahokia Mounds April 29, 2025 By conducting a Special Resources Study on the site, Cahokia Mounds can then be considered for a National Historical Site designation [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reintroduced the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Blast Trump Administration's Attacks on Head Start, Demand RFK JR. Immediately Release Funding and Reverse Firings April 29, 2025 42 lawmakers write to RFK Jr. demanding answers on Trump admin's actions undermining Head Start as Trump reportedly plans to eliminate the program [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whi  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Push Trump Administration to Reconsider Student Visa Revocations April 28, 2025 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with 35 Senate Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration to reconsider recent decisions to revoke student visas i  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Honors Four American Service Members Who Died In Lithuania April 29, 2025 Durbin also announced he will introduce a resolution recognizing the soldiers' service and sacrifice to our nation and NATO allies WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor to honor the four American soldiers--including one Illinoisan--who were sta  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Blast Trump Administration's Attacks On Head Start, Demand RFK Jr. Immediately Release Funding And Reverse Firings April 29, 2025 42 lawmakers write to RFK Jr. demanding answers on Trump admin's actions undermining Head Start as Trump reportedly plans to eliminate the program WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate A  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * EPA Releases Strategy to Better Protect Endangered Species from Insecticides Using Commonsense Practices, Provides Flexibilities to States and Growers WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Insecticide Strategy that identifies practical protections for federally endangered and threatened species from the use of insecticides, while providing flexibilit  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, April 30 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis issued the following analysis on April 29, 2025, by Erik Hembre entitled "Roofs, repairs, and rodents: How housing quality has climbed in the Twin Cities": Here are excerpts: * * * Roofs, repairs, and rodents: How housing quality has climbed in the Twin Cities Alongside paying higher housing costs, Twin Cities area households have bigger, better places to call home than they did in in 1997 Article Highlights * Hous  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 29 -- Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Honoring Illinois' Fallen The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor JB Pritzker that all person or entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act are to fly the flags at half-staff in honor and remembrance of: The students' lives lost in Chatham, Illinois on April 28, 2025. Please lower the United States flags and the State flags at all bui  more

ARGONNE, Illinois, April 28 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory issued the following news release: * * * How generative artificial intelligence is changing work at a national laboratory Generative artificial intelligence ( AI ) is becoming an increasingly powerful tool in the workplace. At science organizations like national laboratories, its use has the potential to accelerate scientific discovery in critical areas. But with new tools come new questions. How can   more

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, April 30 (TNSres) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news on April 29, 2025: * * * New hazardous weather warning system proves its mettle during March 2025 tornado outbreaks From March 13 to March 16, 2025, a historic and deadly tornado outbreak swept across the central United States, unleashing severe weather from the Gulf Coast to central Illinois. The storm system produced more than 115 confirmed tornadoes, and resulted in $  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida, issued the following floor remarks on April 28, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2444, the Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2025, led by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James), my good friend and a very effective Member of Congress. I thank my colleagues, Representative James, Repr  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, issued the following floor remarks on April 28, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, this evening, along with several colleagues, I am here to discuss Ukraine and the necessity of Ukraine winning the war against Russia's invasion. I will be joined by Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania.   more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following floor remarks on April 28, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. President refers to the presiding officer of the Senate at the time of the speech): * * * Madam President, everyone enters public service hoping that they can make a difference, but few have the ability or the fortune to do as much good as Senator Dick Durbin has over his long and storied career. Since stepping into these Halls of Congress more than  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following floor remarks on April 28, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. President refers to the presiding officer of the Senate at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. President, last week, our dear friend, the senior Senator from Illinois and the Senate Democratic whip, announced he will not seek reelection next year. I will have a lot more to say about Dick Durbin--one of my close, close friends and someone I ro  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice: * * * Trader Joe's Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon Voluntarily Recalled Due to Undeclared Milk Allergen Company Announcement FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 28, 2025 - A limited quantity of Trader Joe's Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon is voluntarily being recalled because the topping packet may potentially contain an undeclared milk allergen. The product may cont  more