WASHINGTON, June 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * Unemployment rates under 3.0 percent in 77 metropolitan areas in April 2025 Unemployment rates were higher in April 2025 than a year earlier in 286 of the 387 metropolitan areas, lower in 72 areas, and unchanged in 29 areas. A total of 77 metropolitan areas had unemployment rates of less than 3.0 percent and 8 areas had rates of at least 8.0 percent  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, June 5 -- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources posted the following news release on June 4, 2025: * * * Dana-Thomas House Foundation Donates $48,874 to Illinois Conservation Foundation for Historic Site Restoration SPRINGFIELD - The Dana-Thomas House Foundation has donated $48,874 to the Illinois Conservation Foundation to facilitate the purchase and installation of historically appropriate rugs at the Dana-Thomas House, a state historic site and national histor  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting * June 05, 2025 During his remarks, Durbin condemned the systematic gutting of the Department of Justice under AG Bondi WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during today's Senate Judiciary Comm  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on June 5, 2025: * * * Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting During his remarks, Durbin condemned the systematic gutting of the Department of Justice under AG Bondi * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an openi  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on June 4, 2025: * * * Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings On Five Judicial Nominations U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Whitney Hermandorfer to the U.S.   more

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Joint Subcommittee Hearing On District Court Judges & The Trump Administration During his opening, Durbin emphasized President Trump's dangerous rhetoric toward district court judges, Republicans' inability to stand up for the federal judiciary * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick  more

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Meets With Giffords, Brady To Discuss Gun Trafficking Amid New Foreign Terrorist Organization Designation By Trump Administration WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after meeting with representatives from gun violence prevention gro  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on June 4, 2025: * * * Durbin Meets With Three Federal Judges To Discuss Judicial Security WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after discussing judicial security with Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida, Judge Mark Norris of the W  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin On Republicans' Reconciliation Bill: The American People Did Not Vote For This Disaster * June 05, 2025 In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin slammed the Republican reconciliation plan that will kick 16 million Americans off their health care coverage, close rural hospitals WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor exposing t  more

WASHINGTON, June 4 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Questions Five Judicial Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing * June 04, 2025 Durbin pressed the nominees on whether the Executive Branch is required to follow federal court orders WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned five judicial nominees in a Senate Judiciary Committee nominations h  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on June 4, 2025: * * * Durbin Questions Five Judicial Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Durbin pressed the nominees on whether the Executive Branch is required to follow federal court orders * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned five judicial nomin  more

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Questions Witnesses On Nationwide Injunctions During Senate Judiciary Joint Subcommittee Hearing U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Joint Subcommittee hearing entitled "The Supposedly 'Least Dangerous Branch': District Judges  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Slams White House Rescissions Package That Slashes Critical Foreign Aid And Public Broadcasting Funding * June 05, 2025 In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin calls out the Trump Administration's proposal to slash $9.4 billion in funding from strategic foreign aid programs and public broadcasting WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech o  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision In SMITH & WESSON V. MEXICO * June 05, 2025 WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of gun manufacturers in Smith & Wesson v. Mexico : "Gun trafficking from the United States to Mexico is fueling  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on June 5, 2025: * * * Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision In SMITH & WESSON V. MEXICO WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of gun manufacturers in Smith & Wesson v. Mexico: "Gun traffickin  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin: I Implore Our Israeli Allies To Purse A Renewed Ceasefire That Sees The Release Of All Remaining Hostagaes, Allows Sufficient Aid To Flow, And Advances A Serious Post-War Vision For Two States * June 05, 2025 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor reflecting on the tragic war in Gaza, the need for increased humanitaria  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced its decision to grant continued recognition to the Joint Commission as a national accrediting organization for hospices. This approval allows hospices accredited by the Joint Commission, an independent healthcare accreditation organization located in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs. The renewed recognition is effecti  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 (TNSFR) -- The Office of Personnel Management is proposing a rule to abolish the Hennepin, Minnesota, nonappropriated fund Federal wage system wage area. This action is necessary due to declining NAF FWS employment and the inability of local activities to conduct wage surveys in the area. The proposed rule would redefine most of Hennepin's counties to the nearest NAF FWS wage areas, with counties lacking NAF FWS employment no longer being defined to a NAF wage area. Currentl  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Rep. Bill Foster, D-Illinois, issued the following floor remarks on June 3, 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 congratulate the free people of South Korea for their commitment to democracy following today's election of Lee Jae-myung. Like us, the people of South Korea have witnessed the mortal danger to democracy posed by lies, by corruption, and   more