WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release: * * * 200 Days of EEOC Action to Protect Religious Freedom at Work * WASHINGTON - For more than six decades, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has enforced Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits religious discrimination in the workplace. In the past 200 days of the Trump Administration, the EEOC has taken a series of enforcement actions to defend the  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- A coalition of state and city attorneys general have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requesting an extension of the comment period for its draft Climate Working Group report. The letter highlights concerns regarding procedural irregularities in the preparation of the report, which assesses the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on U.S. climate. The attorneys general argue that the current 32-day comment window is inadequate for st  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- Three hundred seventy-two organizations, members and allies of the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expressing strong opposition to the agency's recent decision to rescind the 1998 interpretation of "federal public benefit" under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). The coalition, which includes various organizations and advocates for   more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Aug. 18 -- The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued the following news release: * * * Buxton Woods Reserve closed to visitors due to risks to public safety from storm impacts * The Buxton Woods Reserve site of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will close to visitors beginning Aug. 19 at 8 a.m. until further notice due to the threat of damage from Hurricane Erin, and to protect public safety from the potent  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, and Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina, chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, issued the following news release: * * * Chairmen Bilirakis and Hudson Encourage Investigation into Spain Wiretap Deal with CCP-Aligned Huawei Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- Rep. Jim Costa, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Costa, Edwards Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Fast-Track Emergency Water Aid for Rural Communities * FRESNO, Calif. \- U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21) and Chuck Edwards (NC-11) introduced the Emergency Rural Water Response Act (link is external), bipartisan legislation to cut the red tape and deploy emergency federal water funding to rural communities. "In the San Joaquin Valley, water emerge  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (TNSFR) -- The Expeditionary Missions Consortium-Crane has expanded its membership submitting notifications to both the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission. This move, made on July 28, 2025, is aimed at ensuring the consortium remains covered by a 1993 act designed to limit antitrust penalties to actual damages under specific circumstances. The filings adhere to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act, which grants cert  more

PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command issued the following news release: * * * FRCE adds second F-35 lift system component to repair capabilities * Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) recently achieved another first in its support of the F-35B Lightning II platform by completing the depot's first overhaul of a key lift system component. FRCE artisans completed work on the depot's first three-bearing swivel module, an integral component of the F-35B lift sys  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- Rep. Brad Knott, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Rep. Brad Knott Joins Anna Kooiman on NewsNation * JOHNSTON COUNTY, NC - Congressman Brad Knott joined host Anna Kooiman on NewsNation to discuss President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the latest news regarding immigration.Watch the full segment here (link is external). Press Contact: Quinn Slaven quinn.slaven@mail.house.gov (link sends email)   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- MountainTrue, Asheville, North Carolina, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation urging the federal agency to enhance support for public transit systems. The organization emphasizes the essential role of transit in promoting economic success and improving quality of life across communities in North Carolina and beyond. According to MountainTrue, the significant reliance on personal vehicles exacerbates problems in transportation syst  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news on Aug. 18, 2025: * * * Uncrewed Vehicle Helps Fill Data Gaps in Northeast's Difficult-to-Reach Areas Scientists used a DriX to collect mission-critical data throughout southern New England, including in marine development areas. This data could complement long-term surveys by filling gaps in places that are inaccessible to NOAA vessels and aircraft. * Between April 16 and May 5, 2025, a tea  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality State Energy Office submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration expressing concern over an application from the National Propane Gas Association. The association is seeking a five-year exemption for its member company drivers from hours-of-service regulations. The department's letter argues that the industry already has ways to respond to emerg  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the following news release: * * * Over the Weekend ICE Arrests More Worst of the Worst Including a Criminal Illegal Alien from Cuba with 23 Criminal Convictions * Additional ICE arrests this weekend included criminal illegal aliens with convictions for child sex crimes, trafficking cocaine, and soliciting prostitution WASHINGTON - While Americans were enjoying their weekends, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcment (ICE  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- A coalition of public health, consumer advocacy, and food allergy organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) advocating for the finalization of proposed regulations that would require on-package labeling of alcohol content and nutritional information on alcoholic beverages. The proposed rule aims to enhance consumer knowledge and safety regarding alcohol consumption. In their letter, the organizations stresse  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- RAI Services Co., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has submitted a public comment letter addressing concerns about the methodology of the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The letter focuses on the need for enhanced precision and accuracy in the information collected by the NYTS, a survey that monitors youth tobacco and nicotine use across the United States. In the letter, RAI Services Company emphasizes   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of State has taken action against 17 individuals convicted of violating or conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). This action, termed "statutory debarment," is a measure against those found guilty in a United States court. The ITAR restricts the department from issuing export licenses for defense goods or services to individuals with such a conviction. This establishes a presumption of denial for any related approvals. The p  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (TNSFR) -- The Utility Broadband Alliance has informed the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission about changes to its membership, a step taken to maintain provisions that can limit antitrust lawsuits to actual damages. The group filed written notifications detailing the additions of nine organizations and the withdrawal of one on July 14, 2025,. This action is part of the organization's ongoing compliance with the National Cooperative Research and Prod  more