WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization, Oregon, has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) addressing essential infrastructure funding as part of the Request for Information related to advancing surface transportation proposals. The organization, which serves over 115,000 residents in Oregon, aims to prioritize local transportation needs amid projected growth in the region. In the letter, BMPO emphasizes that local governments  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Cliff Bentz Responds to Governor Tina Kotek's Partisan Take on the "One Big Beautiful Bill" * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz issued the following statement in response to Governor Tina Kotek's recent comments regarding the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) on SNAP and Medicaid: "Governor Kotek recently discussed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). Her comment  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release: * * * Logic Staffing to Pay $217,500 in EEOC Religious Discrimination, Retaliation Lawsuit * Staffing agency refused to hire Muslim applicant asking to attend Friday prayer SEATTLE - Logic Staffing, a Washington-based staffing and recruiting agency, agreed to pay $217,500 after failing to hire a Muslim job applicant after he asked about a religious accommodation to attend Friday prayer. Th  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency urging the agency to reject proposals aimed at rescinding the 2023 rule concerning the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). NCRC argues that reversing this rule would hinder the CRA's effectiveness by neglecting modern banking practices and limiting transparency in the financial services sector. In the letter, the NCRC stresses that  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The Salem Area Mass Transit District, Oregon, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation expressing strong support for maintaining funding for the Bus and Bus Facilities Program (Section 5339) at its current authorized level of $2.208 billion in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. The organization emphasized the importance of robust competitive grant programs that are crucial for replacing aging buses and modernizing facili  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: * * * Secretary Rollins Announces USDA Presidential Appointments, Naming More State Directors * (Washington, D.C., August 21, 2025) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the latest slate of presidential appointments for key Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development (RD) State Director roles. "When rural America succeeds, our entire country is stronger. These newly   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Markey and Representative Trahan to Reintroduce Legislation to Improve Pipeline Safety, Accountability, and Public Engagement * Bill Text (PDF) Washington (August 20, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, alongside Representative Lori Trahan (MA-03), member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, today announced r  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Trahan, Markey Reintroduce Legislation to Improve Pipeline Safety, Accountability, and Public Engagement * LOWELL, MA - Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, reintroduced the Pipeline Accountability Act, comprehensive legislation t  more