WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Ahead of Vote-a-rama, Durbin Sounds The Alarm On Republicans' So-Called "One Big, Beautiful Bill" * June 29, 2025 In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlights how Senate Republicans' bill will slash health care coverage for more than 16 million Americans to provide massive tax breaks for billionaires WASHINGTON - Ahead of an upcoming vote-a-rama, where Senate Democrats will expose th  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: * * * Department of Commerce Announces 2025 Appointments to the Regional Fishery Management Councils * The U.S. Department of Commerce announces the appointment of 20 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils. Council members represent interested groups including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental organizations, and academia, alo  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Files Amendments To Republicans' Reconciliation Bill To Protect Rural Hospitals And Medical Research * June 30, 2025 WASHINGTON - Ahead of an upcoming vote-a-rama, where Senate Democrats will expose the truth about Republicans' harmful scheme to cut health care and food assistance to provide billionaires with tax breaks, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) filed two motions  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- A coalition of environmental organizations and stakeholders has submitted a public comment letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), opposing the 11th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The coalition, which includes the Acadia Center and New England for Offshore Wind, emphasizes the risks associated with oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Maine and its potential environmental and economic impact. In the letter, Barbara Beblowski, Coalition Manager of   more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Administrator Loeffler Pens Op-Ed in Support of One Big Beautiful Bill * WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), published an op-ed (Link is external) in Fox News - highlighting how President Donald J. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill will benefit America's 34 million small businesses. Her piece underscores specific   more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King on Senate Floor: This Tax Bill is "Irresponsible, Regressive, and Downright Cruel" * WASHINGTON, D.C. --U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) spoke on the Senate Floor to share remarks on the so-called GOP 'Big Beautiful Bill' and the potential harm it would do to Maine people. In the next hour, the bill is scheduled for an extended series of votes on amendments before a final Senate vote is held.   more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: * * * US Department of Labor awards $2M to help workers affected by layoffs, business closures in Maine's coastal region * The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $2 million to Coastal Counties Workforce Inc. to support employment and training services for workers affected by layoffs and multiple business closures in Maine.  Between January and December 2024, companies with locations in  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: * * * US Department of Labor awards nearly $84M in grants to expand Registered Apprenticeships * The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of nearly $84 million in grants to 50 states and territories to increase the capacity of Registered Apprenticeship programs, representing an important step toward meeting the Administration's goal of expanding the program to 1 million active apprentices.    more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan, Heinrich, Leger Fernandez, And Over 40 Members of the House and Senate Tell the Trump Administration: Reverse Course and Fully Implement Broadband * Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with Representative Terese Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) and   more

AUGUSTA, Maine, June 25 -- The Maine House Democrats issued the following news release: * * * Governor signs Kuhn legislation to protect Mainers from deceptive artificial intelligence On behalf of the United States of America, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Madagascar as you celebrate your 65th Independence Day. The United States values our strong partnership with Madagascar, which is built on mutual respect and cooperation, and is marked this year by the 150th anniver  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, July 1 -- The Maine Judicial Branch issued the following news on June 30, 2025: * * * Criminal and Juvenile Case Types Launch as Part of Maine eCourts in Lewiston and Auburn Courts On Monday, June 16th, the Lewiston and Auburn Courts became the first in the state to fully implement all case types in Maine eCourts, replacing the aging MEJIS docketing system and most paper filings in criminal and juvenile cases with the new Maine eCourts case management system. Lewiston District  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, July 1 -- The Maine Secretary of State issued the following news release on June 30, 2025: * * * Maine Permanent Commission on the Status of Women approves 5-year strategic plan Secretary of State Shenna Bellows welcomed attendees to MePCSW annual meeting * BANGOR, MAINE - The Maine Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (MePCSW) annual meeting was held on Friday, and the group voted to approve a new strategic plan. Secretary Shenna Bellows was the opening speaker at th  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The Maine Society of Land Surveyors (MSLS) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation, expressing strong opposition to the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) proposed rule aimed at rescinding geodetic marker requirements. This proposed rule threatens to dismantle critical advancements made by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), the agency responsible for maintaining the United States' high-accuracy coordinate network system. The letter,  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 324 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $14.6 Billion in Alleged Fraud * Largest Justice Department Health Care Fraud Takedown in History More than Doubles Prior Record of $6 Billion The Justice Department today announced the results of its 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants,  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 30 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: * * * National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 324 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $14.6 Billion in Alleged Fraud * The Justice Department announced the results of its 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants, including 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmac  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: * * * Navy veteran leads the charge in troubleshooting electromagnetic compatibility challenges * DAHLGREN, Va. -When Bob Nees first enlisted in the Navy in 1979, he didn't realize he was kicking off a career that would span decades, cross industries and firmly establish him as a trusted expert in solving the seemingly unsolvable. From his early days as an aviation fire control technician to his current role as   more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Cantwell Says Blackburn-Cruz AI Moratorium Amendment Does Nothing to Protect Kids and Consumers WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, spoke out against the last-minute deal between Senators Cruz and Blackbur  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Republicans Reject Sen. Markey Effort to Protect Rural Hospitals from Republican Cuts * Over 300 Rural Hospitals at Disproportionate Risk of Closure, Conversion, or Service Reductions Due to GOP Cuts Watch: Senator Markey forces vote on Senate floor Washington (June 30, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subco  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 (TNSrpt) -- Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, ranking minority member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news: * * * Sanders Releases New Report Detailing Devastating Impact of Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" on Health Care in America As Senate Republicans attempt to ram through legislation to cut health care for 16 million Americans in order to give tax breaks to billionaires without a single hearing or substantive debate, Sen.  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Schatz Testimony at Hearing on President Trump's Rescission Package Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, testified on President Trump's $9.4 billion rescission request during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with Office of M  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pennsylvania, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, issued the following news release on June 30, 2025: * * * Thompson and Boozman: FY24 SNAP Error Rate Underscores Need for State Cost Share House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR), released the following statement on the FY 2024 SNAP Payment Error Rate: "Another year,   more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: * * * Tlaib Leads Colleagues in Opposing Israeli Government's Use of Starvation as a Weapon * DETROIT -- Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) led 19 Members of Congress in a letter to the Trump Administration opposing the Israeli government's weaponization of humanitarian aid and escalating use of starvation as a weapon of war. For months, the Israeli government has blocked nearly all humanitari  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- A coalition of attorneys general from across the nation has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education, expressing deep concerns over its proposed priorities for educational grants. The letter critiques the omission of previously established commitments to equity and inclusion, which they argue are crucial for fostering educational opportunities for all students. Andrea Joy Campbell, Massachusetts attorney general, states, "We urge the Department  more