WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- A coalition of 81 environmental organizations has raised strong objections to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Forest Service's (Forest Service) interim final rule (IFR) regarding National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. The public comment letter, submitted via the USDA's public participation portal, emphasizes concerns over potential adverse impacts on national forestlands and the communities that depend on them. The coalition,   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- AIHA, Falls Church, Virginia, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency providing feedback on the agency's draft risk evaluations for the chemicals DBP and DEHP. The letter offered suggestions on how the agency could improve its methods for estimating dermal exposure, defining exposure groups and developing occupational exposure values. AIHA addressed the agency's use of a flux-based approach for estimating dermal exposure. The organiza  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Central Virginia Health Services Inc. (CVHS), New Canton, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expressing grave concerns over the agency's reinterpretation of "Federal Public Benefit" under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). The organization, which represents 20 community health center sites across Virginia, argues that the new definition could severely u  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency issued the following news: * * * Commentary: DLA's F-16 support began before fielding, continues today * Those who know the Defense Logistics Agency won't be surprised to learn it provides parts for the F-16 Fighting Falcon. What may be surprising is that DLA has been supporting the lightweight fighter for half a century. Before the F-16 became operational Oct. 1, 1980, the U.S. Air Force launched initial prod  more

FORT BELVOIR, Virginia, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Contract Audit Agency issued the following news: * * * David Van Dingenen and his experience with the Executive Leadership Development Program The Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) is a unique leadership development opportunity hosted by the Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service. The 10-month program involves direct contact and involvement with senior leaders, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines   more

FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, Aug. 13 -- Defense Health Agency issued the following news: * * * Digital tools give Military Health System medics real-world skills before the battle Tools such as AI and digital simulation support how the military trains its medical workforce, allowing adequate repetition of each task until it feels natural. By Robert Hammer, OASD for Health Affairs/Military Health System Artificial intelligence and digital simulation tools are transforming how the military trains   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency issued the following news release: * * * DPAA and South Korea's MAKRI Forge Stronger Partnership in Recovering Missing Korean War Heroes * WASHINGTON - The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and the Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification, MAKRI, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Arlington, Virginia, Aug. 6, solidifying their commitment to recover  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Dutchman's Store * RED OAK, Iowa - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Dutchman's Store of Van Buren County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa's 99 counties. "Since 1985, Dutchman's Store has been a staple o  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, posted the following news release: * * * Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Dutchman's Store Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa's 99 counties. * RED OAK, Iowa - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Dutchman's Store of Van Bu  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Aug. 13 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond issued the following economic brief (No. 25-31) in August 2025 entitled "Five Decades of Decline: U.S. Construction Sector Productivity." Here are excerpts: * * * Historically, the U.S. economy has displayed robust, positive productivity growth. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, labor productivity (that is, real output per worker) has more than tripled over the period 1948-2023. Moreover, this   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Aug. 13 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond issued the following economic brief (No. 25-30) in August 2025 entitled "Forecasting U.S. Productivity". Here are excerpts: * * * Trend aggregate labor productivity growth is estimated to be 2.5 percent at the beginning of the sample. This estimate then gradually declines to around 1.4 percent in 2021. Since our sample ends in 2021, we begin forecasting the trend growth rate of labor productivity after that point an  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Griffith Announces HHS Grants to Virginia Tech for Research * The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, multiple grants for research. The awards include: * $395,248 for research of the causes of cancer and ways to prevent cancer related to episodic future thinking and smoking. * $452,769 for allergy, immunology and tran  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Aug. 12 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland issued the following news: * * * How a death in the family may affect your TRICARE coverage * FALLS CHURCH, Virginia - Note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. This resource connects you with trained counselors who can help you get the help you need, 24/7. When a family member passes away, it can feel overwh  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Kaine Statement on President Trump Placing D.C. Police Department Under Federal Control and Deploying National Guard * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement after President Trump signed executive orders to place the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under federal control and allow the deployment of the D.C. National Guard: "If President Trum  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: * * * Learning to lead, learning to fail: SEAP interns grow through hands-on challenge * DAHLGREN, Va. - When Brody Kester landed a selective spot in the 2025 Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), he thought he'd spend the summer behind a desk. But he soon found himself working side by side with Dahlgren scientists and engineers and gai  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- NASA issued the following news release: * * * NASA Awards Second Human Health, Performance Contract NASA has selected KBR Wyle Services, LLC of Fulton, Maryland, to provide services to the Human Health and Performance Directorate at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston, which focuses on astronaut health, occupational health, and research that could help mitigate health risks for future human spaceflight missions. The Human Health and Performance Contract 2 is a  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * National Capital Region Delegation Statement On Trump's Police Actions In The District Of Columbia * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Jennifer McClellan (VA-4), Don Beyer (VA-8), Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Jamie Raskin (MD-8), Glenn Ivey (MD-4), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Sarah Elfreth (MD-3), Eugene Vindman (VA-7), and April McClain Delaney (MD-6) today issued the following statement on Pres  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the following news release: * * * NHTSA Launches Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Enforcement Campaign One person is killed every 42 minutes in an impaired-driving crash * The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) kicked off its annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign. As millions of Americans prepare for road tri  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: * * * NSWC Indian Head Division Employees Recognized at Command Honorary Awards Ceremony * INDIAN HEAD, Md. -- Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) recognized individuals and teams who made significant contributions to the command's mission during the annual Honorary Awards ceremony hosted at College of Southern Maryland's Velocity Center in Indian Head, Maryland, August 6. "We have high  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release on Aug. 12, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Scott, Workforce Community Defend Importance of Job Corps on Virginia's Local Economy Yesterday, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, delivered the following remarks at a workforce community forum on the impact of the Trump Administration's decision  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Coast Guard awards $32 million contract for runway reconstruction at Base Elizabeth City, North Carolina * NORFOLK, Va. - The U.S. Coast Guard's Facilities Design and Construction Center in Norfolk, Virginia, has awarded RQ Construction a $32 million design-build contract for the reconstruction of crosswind Runway 1-19 and the restoration of taxiways Kilo and Golf at Base  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Marshals Service issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Marshals Alert Public of Scam Spoofing Official Phones * Alexandria, VA - The U.S. Marshals Service for the Eastern District of Virginia is alerting the public again of a phone scam where con artists are spoofing the district office's real phone numbers to trick people into sending money. The tactic is known as neighbor spoofing, where scammers use technology to modify what   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service issued the following news release: * * * USDA Forecasts U.S. Corn Production Up and Soybean Production Down from 2024 Aug. 12, 2025 - The Crop Production report issued today by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) forecasted corn production up from 2024 and soybean production down from last year. Corn production is up 13% from last year, forecast at 16.7 billion bushels; soyb  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Vindman Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Hold Fraudsters and Cheats Accountable, Root Out Pandemic Waste, Fraud, and Abuse * Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) introduced the Accountability Doesn't Expire Act, bipartisan legislation to extend the authority of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) through Fiscal Year 2030. The legislation ensures that both   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner & Kaine Announce Over $8 Million to Lower Energy Costs for Virginian Households * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $8,235,920 in federal funding to reduce energy costs for Virginian households and expand access to reliable, affordable energy across the Commonwealth. Awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), this funding is alloca  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner & Kaine Applaud Senate Passage of 3 Funding Bills * WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded Senate passage of legislation to fund a number of major priorities, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Fiscal Year 2026. "Especially after Congress failed to pass a   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner & Kaine Applaud Senate Passage of Three Funding Bills * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded Senate passage of legislation to fund a number of major priorities, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Fiscal Year 2026. "Especially after Congress failed  more