WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Big, Beautiful Success Story: Small Business Optimism Hits Fresh High After 20 Percent Tax Deduction Becomes Permanent On the heels of The One, Big, Beautiful Bill becoming law on the Fourth of July, small business optimism hit its highest level in five months, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)'s small business optimism  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * BOST RESPONDS TO RESULTS OF ST. LOUIS POSTAL PROCESSING CENTER AUDIT * W ASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) highlighted the results of an audit release d today by the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General of the St. Louis and Hazelton, Missouri, p rocessing and distribution facilities serving Southern Illinois. The independent report confirmed widespread problems th  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, Aug. 14 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics - Western Regional Information Office issued the following report: * * * Business Employment Dynamics in Alaska - Fourth Quarter 2024 * From September 2024 to December 2024, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Alaska were 25,948, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 24,328, the U.S. Bureau of Labor St  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 14 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Midwest Regional Information Office issued the following report: * * * Business Employment Dynamics in South Dakota -- Fourth Quarter 2024 * From September 2024 to December 2024, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments were 25,412, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments in South Dakota were 22,744, the U.S. Bureau of L  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following commentary on Aug. 13, 2025, to the Cedar Rapids Gazette: * * * Chairman Smith, Rep. Feenstra Op-Ed: Americans have been liberated from high taxes On Independence Day, as Americans were celebrating our nation's 249th birthday with fireworks, barbecues, and road trips, President Donald Trump liberated hardworking taxpayers from government bl  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- EEO Consulting LLC, St. Louis, Missouri, has issued a public comment letter opposing proposed changes to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act urging federal regulators to maintain current affirmative action measures that promote employment for individuals with disabilities. The organization, led by an experienced consultant with over four decades in affirmative action compliance, highlights how recent updates introduced in 2014 have led to substantial improvements in hiri  more

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Aug. 15 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis issued the following news release on Aug. 14, 2025: * * * Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr to Give 2025 Community Banking Research Conference Keynote ST. LOUIS -- Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr will give keynote remarks at the 2025 Community Banking Research Conference, taking place Oct. 7-8, 2025. The 13th annual conference brings together community bankers, academics, policymakers and bank regulators to discuss the l  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Justice Department Charges Five Senior Leaders of the United Cartels, a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization * Today the Justice Department announced criminal charges against five high-ranking members of the United Cartels. Those charged are Juan Jose Farias Alvarez ("El Abuelo); Alfonso Fernandez Magallon ("Poncho"); Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez ("Wicho / R5"); Edgar Orozco Cabadas ("El Kamon  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Nunn, Cleaver Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Modernize USDA Programs and Preserve Affordable Housing in Rural Iowa * DES MOINES, IA -- Today, Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) introduced the bipartisan Rural Housing Service Reform Act to preserve affordable housing, improve program oversight, and expand access to safe homes for families, seniors, and workers across rural Iowa.   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- Ozarks Area Community Action Corp., Springfield, Missouri, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expressing deep concerns regarding the agency's new interpretation of the "Federal Public Benefit" under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). The organization, which operates Head Start services across several counties in southwest Missouri, argues that the reinterpretatio  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Reps. Cleaver, Nunn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Modernize USDA Programs and Preserve Affordable Housing in Rural Communities * (Kansas City, MO) - Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced the bipartisan Rural Housing Service Reform Act to preserve affordable housing, improve program oversight, and expand access to safe homes for families, seniors, and  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release: * * * SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Missouri Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by July Storms and Flooding * WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to Missouri businesses, private nonprofits and residents to offset physical and economic losses from severe storms  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, issued the following news release on Aug. 13, 2025: * * * Smith Highlights Major Wins for Missouri Families, Workers, and Seniors in The One Big Beautiful Bill Today, U.S. Representative Jason Smith (Mo.), chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, touted several provisions he secured in the recently enacted One, Big, Beautiful Bill that provide significant tax relief to families, seniors, and workers in southeast and south-centr  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Smith Statement on the 90th Anniversary of Social Security Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) issued the following statement marking the 90th anniversary of the establishment of Social Security: "It has been ninety years since a solemn promise was made to America's seniors that they should be able to retire with dignity and security.  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Leaders Throughout the Country Commend EPA's Announcement on Diesel Exhaust Fluid * WASHINGTON - On Tuesday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency is issuing manufacturer guidance to address widespread concerns from truckers, farmers, and other diesel vehicle operators about power loss and other issues caused by sele  more