WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Verde Clean Fuels, Inc., a company focused on converting waste methane into low-carbon gasoline, has called on the U.S. Department of Treasury to swiftly issue guidance and finalize regulations regarding the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Verde emphasized the need for clarity to unlock the full potential of clean fuel technologies and support domestic energy production. The company's communication, submi  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11309) on May 8, 2025, by legislative attorney Kate R. Bowers: * * * The Clean Air Act (CAA) has been described as a model of cooperative federalism, whereby states share authority with the federal government by regulating within a federally established legal framework. In particular, under Title I of the CAA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets nationwide standards r  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Crapo, Risch Join MOMS Act to Help Build Culture of Life, Support Women, Strengthen Families WASHINGTON, D.C. \-- Ahead of Mother's Day this Sunday, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) are co-sponsoring the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act, led by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Alaska), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) and Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri). This legislation would  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Newtrient, a coalition representing the U.S. dairy industry's biogas initiatives, has submitted a detailed letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury, outlining crucial recommendations for the forthcoming regulations of the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. The organization, which represents over 300 operational dairy digesters nationwide, emphasized the potential of dairy-derived biogas to become a "cornerstone of America's clean energy future" if the regulations ar  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11312) on May 9, 2025, by legislative attorneys Dorothy C. Kafka and Wen W. Shen: * * * On March 31, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ruled - in two consolidated cases, American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) v. FDA and Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) v. FDA - that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lacks statutory authority under   more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12991) on May 8, 2025, by energy policy analyst Ashley J. Lawson: * * * Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. Sec.824a(c)) grants the Secretary of Energy certain authorities over the temporary operation of the electricity system during emergencies. An executive order issued by President Trump in April 2025 has highlighted this authority and raised questions about its future im  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Monument Chemical has submitted comments to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), raising concerns about the implementation of the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. The company, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with multiple locations in Kentucky and Texas, is seeking clarification on how the credit will apply to certain fuel production processes. In a letter submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, Sarves Peri, Business  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The House Homeland Security Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-87) on the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act (H.R. 881), which aims to establish Department of Homeland Security funding restrictions on institutions of higher education that have a relationship with Confucius Institutes. The report was advanced by Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, on May 5, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE AND SUMMARY H.R. 881, the "DHS Restri  more

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan Reintroduces Bill to Improve Access to Quality, Affordable Maternity Care Lujan's Legislation Would Combat Infant and Maternal Mortality Across United States Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) announced the reintroduction of the Birth Access Benefiting Improved Essential Facility Services (BABIES) Act, legislation that increases access to quality, affordable mate  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan Reintroduces Bill to Improve Access to Quality, Affordable Maternity Care Lujan's Legislation Would Combat Infant and Maternal Mortality Across United States Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) announced the reintroduction of the Birth Access Benefiting Improved Essential Facility Services (BABIES) Act, legislation that increases access to quality, affordable mate  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Doggett Honors Austin Students Headed to Our Nation's Military Service Academies Contact: Alexis.Torres@mail.house.gov Austin, Texas --Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) honored 13 Austin students whom he nominated for our nation's military service academies. In a highly competitive selection process, these students have been admitted to the U.S. Military, Air Force, and Naval Ac  more

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Cruz Resolution Overturning Biden Appliance Regulation Signed into Law WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued a statement after President Trump signed into law his Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to rescind a consumer appliance regulation on natural gas water heaters, which was imposed by the Biden-Harris administration in December 2024. If left in place, the regulation would   more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The U.S. Senate conducted nine committee hearings on May 8, 2025: * * * APPROPRIATIONS: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, after receiving testimony from Kash Patel, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice. * * * APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMEN  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) has submitted comments opposing the proposed listing of the Monarch butterfly as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, TFB argues that the Species Status Assessment (SSA) used to inform the listing decision is incomplete and ignores scientific literature. TFB, representing 546,000 member families, contends that Monarchs are not a fragile species "teetering on  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12945) on March 17, 2025, by defense policy analysts Jennifer DiMascio and Anya L. Fink: * * * The U.S. Air Force deploys three strategic (or heavy) bombers - the B-52, B-1B, and B-2 - to carry bombs or air-to-surface missiles for conventional and nuclear missions. Bombers carry heavy ordnance loads across long distances, for long periods of time, to strike adversary targets of tactical an  more