WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Forty-nine organizations have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding its proposal to reissue and modify Nationwide Permits (NWP). The groups express appreciation for the proposal's increased focus on nature-based solutions (NBS) but emphasize the need for adjustments to ensure that authorized activities inflict minimal harm on the environment, as mandated by legal standards. In their correspondence, the organizations call for a str  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-147) on the American Cargo for American Ships Act (H.R. 2035), which aims to amend Title 46 of the U.S. Code to direct the Secretary of Transportation to ensure that all cargoes procured, furnished or financed by the Department of Transportation are transported on privately-owned commercial vessels of the U.S. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 6, 2025. Here are   more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-144) on the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act (H.R. 188), which aims to require that the Amtrak Board of Directors comply with the open meetings requirements of section 552b of Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 6, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 188, as a  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-146) on the Baby Changing on Board Act (H.R. 248), which aims to require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 6, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 248 is to require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars. Backgr  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-139) on a bill (H.R. 1948), which aims to authorize the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission to accept funds for activities relating to wastewater treatment and flood control works. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 5, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION The purpose of H.R. 1948 is to authorize the United States Se  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-149) on a bill (H.R. 2351), which aims to direct the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard to update the policy of the U.S. Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 6, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 2351 is to direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-141) on the Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety and Oversight Improvements Act (H.R. 1182), which aims to require the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations relating to the approval of foreign manufacturers of cylinders. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 5, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION The purpose of H.R. 1182 is to require   more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-145) on the Maritime Supply Chain Security Act (H.R. 2390), which aims to amend Title 46 of the U.S. Code to clarify that port infrastructure development program funds may be used to replace Chinese port crane hardware or software. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 6, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 2390 is to amend t  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-150) on a bill (H.Res. 137), which aims to designate the House Press Gallery, Rooms H-315, H-316, H-317, H-318 and H-319 in the U.S. Capitol as the "Frederick Douglass Press Gallery". The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 6, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION The purpose of H. Res. 137, as amended, is to designate the House Press Gallery (Rooms  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-148) on the Secure Our Ports Act (H.R. 252), which aims to require the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations relating to the approval of foreign manufacturers of cylinders. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on June 6, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 252, as amended, is to amend title 46, United States Code, to  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-140) on the Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act (H.R. 1373), which aims to require certain meetings of the Tennessee Valley Authority to be transparent and open to the public. The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 1373, as amended, is to require cer  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Montana Natural Resource Coalition of Counties Inc. (MtNRC), Lewistown, Montana, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior, requesting a 60-day extension to the June 20, 2025, deadline for comments on the agency's Regulatory Reform Request for Information. The coalition aims to thoroughly review historical policy and regulatory submissions and gather input from other state and local governments before preparing a substantive response. Th  more

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received a public comment letter from a coalition of state officials expressing strong support for the proposal to reissue and modify Nationwide Permits (NWPs) under the Clean Water Act. The states involved include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and the A  more