WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Akron Zoological Park, a leading wildlife conservation organization, has submitted comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), strongly opposing a proposal to rescind the long-standing definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In its letter, the Akron Zoo, located in Akron, Ohio, argues that the proposed rule would "eviscerate one of the ESA's essential protections" and represents a "damaging departure" from decades of established practic  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Beatty Announces Winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition COLUMBUS, OH -- Yesterday, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) hosted an evening celebrating student participants in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Held at The King Arts Complex, the event featured an exhibition of artwork submitted by high school students from Ohio's Third Congressional District and the announcement   more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Beatty's Statement on the Firing of Dr. Carla Hayden WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) released the following statement regarding President Trump's abrupt firing of Dr. Carla Hayden, the first African American and first woman to serve as Librarian of Congress: "Dr. Carla Hayden is a trailblazer and a devoted public servant who transformed the Library of Congress   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 U.S. House of Representatives conducted 17 committee hearings on May 7, 2025: * * * APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Department of Agriculture. Testimony was heard from Brooke Rollins, Secretary, Department of Agriculture. * * * APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. ARMY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on De  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12438) on March 17, 2025, by South Asian affairs specialist K. Alan Kronstadt: * * * Since 2008, defense trade has emerged as a major pillar of the U.S.-India security partnership, and bilateral military exercises across all services are now routine. The U.S. Congress designated India a "Major Defense Partner" in 2016, reflecting certain defense trade and security cooperation privileges.   more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- MasterBrand, Inc., North America's largest residential cabinet manufacturer, has urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to exempt certain imports from proposed Section 232 tariffs on timber and lumber. In a detailed comment submitted on March 31, 2025, the company warned that tariffs on Mexican cabinetry and specific lumber components could undermine U.S. manufacturing and exacerbate the impact of unfairly traded Chinese imports. MasterBrand, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohi  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Three Rivers Waterkeeper, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to protecting the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, has urged federal agencies to reject a proposed rule that would rescind the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The water quality advocacy group argues that removing consideration of habitat and indirect impacts would severely weaken the ESA's ability to protect endangered species. Heather Hulton VanTassel, PhD, Executive D  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: * * * WATCH: Beatty Blasts Sec. Bessent for Failing to Address Her Saying His Staff Would Respond WASHINGTON, DC - In a tense exchange during today's House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) confronted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on two critical issues: enforcement gaps in the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) rule and the years-long delay of the Harriet Tubman $2  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN10979) on May 9, 2025, by Kelsi Bracmort, agricultural conservation and natural resources policy specialist: * * * E15 - a fuel blend of up to 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline - generally cannot be sold during the summer driving season (June 1 - September 15) because it does not meet the gasoline Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements, which limit fuel volatility under the Clean Air Act (CAA).   more