WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34273) on April 30, 2025, entitled "Federal Land Ownership: Acquisition and Disposal Authorities." The report is written by natural resources policy specialists Carol Hardy Vincent, Laura B. Comay, Eric P. Nardi and Anne A. Riddle: * * * SUMMARY The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres, more than a quarter of the land in the United States. Four agencies - the Bureau of Land Management (BL  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Bonamici Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Educate Students About Danger of Accidental Fentanyl Poisoning WASHINGTON, DC [5/1/25] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced bipartisan legislation based on a successful Oregon program to protect students from accidental fentanyl poisoning. The Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act is modeled on the Beaverton Scho  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security has released the following public communication dated April 1, 2025, from the Wilderness Society: * * * To: Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Reference: X-RIN 0694-XC117, Docket No. 250310-0030 RE: National Security Investigation of Imports of Timber and Lumber * * * The Wilderness Society (TWS) is submitting these comments in response to the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry   more

WASHINGTON, May 2 (TNSFR) -- The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled has issued a notice proposing to delete a wide range of products and services from the federal Procurement List, affecting multiple nonprofit agencies that employ individuals who are blind or have severe disabilities. The proposed deletions span critical supplies across various federal contracting activities, potentially impacting both nonprofit operations and federal procurement channels. Amo  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Cliff Bentz Joins Oversight Hearing on the Importance of Protecting and Advancing Hydropower WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR-R) joined the Natural Resources Subcommittee on the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries which held a hearing yesterday. During the hearing, it was noted that while actual dam removal may not proceed directly, there remains fear that dams will be functionally  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Waters, Senator Merkley Launch New Effort to Boost Congress' Oversight of Trump's Mass Firings Washington, D.C. - As the Trump Administration continues mass firings of federal employees, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, today introduced first-of-its-kind legislation to strengthen Congress' authority to protect workers and overrid  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Duckworth, Durbin Join More Than 100 Congressional Democrats in Demanding Social Security Head Keep Field Offices Open Across the Nation April 30, 2025 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in a coalition of ove  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a notice updating the procedural schedule for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) concerning the Hells Canyon Project (Project No. 1971-079) operated by Idaho Power Company. The revised schedule follows several years of filings, including a 2003 application by Idaho Power for a new license to continue operations at the Hells Canyon Project, located in the Snake River on the border between   more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Lee Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Save Taxpayers' Money by Eliminating Penny Production Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Utah's Senator Mike Lee introduced bipartisan legislation today that would advance responsible spending by ending production of the penny. Striking the penny has become increasingly costly, and the Make Sense Not Cents Act would permanently el  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Waters Launch New Effort to Boost Congress' Oversight of Trump's Mass Firings Washington, D.C. - As the Trump Administration continues mass firings of federal employees, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today introduced first-of-its-kind legislation to strengthen Congress' authority to protect workers and override federal staffing cuts implemented without consultation. The Reduction in Forc  more

SALEM, Oregon, May 2 -- Gov. Tina Kotek, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Kotek, Mayor Wilson Announce 5,000 Unit Challenge This early action from the Multifamily Housing Workgroup will bolster development of 5,000 units of housing Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson announced a city initiative to usher in the development of 5,000 new units of housing in Portland as an early action of their Multifamily Housing Workgroup launched earlier this year. I  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following floor remarks on April 30, 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 to condemn the decision of my colleagues to block the House from considering resolutions of inquiry, a procedure that is designed to get Members of Congress factual information from the executive branch. Education Committee Ranking Membe  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 (TNSFR) --The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced that Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc. (WPRR), a Class III railroad, has filed a verified notice of exemption to amend and extend its lease with Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP). The original lease, which was entered into with UP's predecessor, Southern Pacific Transportation Company (SP), in 1993, governs several key rail lines across Oregon. This amendment seeks to extend the lease's term and introduce other co  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Van Hollen Joins Merkley, Waters in Launching New Effort to Boost Congress' Oversight of Trump's Mass Firings Today, U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in introducing first-of-its-kind legislation to strengthen Congress' authority to protect workers and override federal staffing cuts implemented without consultation as the Trump Administration continues mass  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Warren, Merkley, Blunt Rochester Lead 19 Senators Pressing Trump on How His Chaotic Tariffs are Raising Americans' Housing Prices "America is in the midst of a nationwide housing shortage... your reckless trade policies will only make the crisis worse." Read letter here Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs   more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on May 1, 2025: * * * Wyden Reiterates Opposition to Customs Nominee Following New Report On Death of Migrant in CBP Custody Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today renewed his opposition to Rodney Scott to serve as commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), following a new decision by an independent tribunal fin  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on May 1, 2025: * * * Wyden, Markey, King Introduce Resolution to Demand Public Input on Radical Upheaval at Federal Health Agencies Senate Resolution Calls on Trump Administration to Reverse Course on Richardson Waiver, Mirroring 1980s Effort to Boost Transparency Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Senator Edward J. Marke  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Reverse Public Safety Cuts in Oregon and Nationwide Citing loss of a federal grant for the Union County DA's Office, Oregon senators write that "poorly thought out and rash cuts like this will only serve to embolden fentanyl traffickers and decrease public safety." Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded the Trump administra  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Halt Illegal Student Visa Revocations Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined Senate colleagues to demand the Trump Administration stop its illegal slashing of student visas. After learning federal agencies have been revoking student visas and terminating Student and Exchange Visitor Info  more