WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- 22nd Century Group Inc., a North Carolina-based biotechnology company, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the proposed Tobacco Product Standard for Nicotine Yield of Cigarettes and Certain Other Combusted Tobacco Products. The company advocates for the FDA's proposed regulation, which aims to establish a non-addictive nicotine level in smoking products to significantly redu  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Thirty-five osteopathic specialty and state associations expressed serious concerns in a public comment letter sent to the U.S. Department of Education regarding proposed modifications to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The letter, supported by 34 affiliated osteopathic specialty and state associations representing nearly 200,000 osteopathic physicians and medical students, warns that the changes could adversely affect the nation's healthcare workforce  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Arrington Advances Groundbreaking Cancer Detection Bill * WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) celebrated his Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act ( H.R.842 ) being advanced unanimously out of the Ways and Means Committee (43-0). This legislation would ensure multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests are covered by Medicare i  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * BofA Securities Inc. Resolves Criminal Investigation with Justice Department Pursuant to Part I of the Criminal Division's Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy * BofA Securities, Inc. (BoAS) a North Carolina-based financial institution, has agreed to resolve a criminal investigation involving alleged market manipulation schemes by former BoAS employees pursuant to Part I of t  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Budd Joins Senate GOP Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Eliminate D.C. Soft-On-Crime Laws * Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in introducing the Just Incarceration of Criminal Elements (JUSTICE) in D.C. Act this week. The bill would eliminate two Washington, D.C. laws, the Incarceratio  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Cantwell Joins Colleagues in Calling for PSA Airlines Contract Agreement Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, joined her colleagues, led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), in sending a letter to PSA Airlines, Inc. urging them to continue c  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Edwards Leads Meeting with Governor Josh Stein, Urges Bipartisanship * Washington, DC - At a meeting about securing additional funding and continuing North Carolina's recovery, Congressman Chuck Edwards called on Governor Josh Stein to encourage Democrats in Congress to work across party lines to avert a government shutdown given the disastrous effect a halt in government operat  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Sept. 17 -- The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued the following news release: * * * DEQ awards $3 million for Helene debris removal, biochar for farms in Western NC * The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has awarded a total of $3 million to two local partners in Haywood County to support ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and to strengthen the region's resilience to future storms. DEQ is awarding $2 millio  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Sept. 18 -- The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued the following news release: * * * DEQ Issues Air Quality Permit to Duke Energy Emergency Generator Project in Johnston County * After reviewing public comments, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued a Title V air quality permit to Duke Energy Progress, LLC - Novo Nordisk. The permit will allow Duke Energy One's Energy Services, a bra  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2025: * * * Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Five Judicial Nominations, Nominee To Be The 'Drug Czar' U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the judicial nomin  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Questions Judicial Nominee, 'Drug Czar' Nominee In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing * September 17, 2025 Durbin pressed Ms. Carter Bailey, the nominee to be the "Drug Czar," on her plan to reduce the flow of drugs and weapons between the U.S. and the Mexican cartels despite the White House slashing the grant program to address high intensity drug trafficking areas WASHINGTON - U.  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2025: * * * Durbin Questions Judicial Nominee, 'Drug Czar' Nominee In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Durbin pressed Ms. Carter Bailey, the nominee to be the "Drug Czar," on her plan to reduce the flow of drugs and weapons between the U.S. and the Mexican cartels despite the White House slashing the grant program to address high intens  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Sept. 18 -- The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued the following news release: * * * Governor Stein, DEQ Announce $86 Million for Resilient Water Infrastructure Projects in Areas Impacted by Hurricane Helene * Governor Josh Stein announced today that five western North Carolina counties will receive more than $86 million in funding for 14 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects as part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pro  more

GREENSBORO, North Carolina, Sept. 19 -- The city of Greensboro issued the following news on Sept. 18, 2025: * * * Greensboro History Museum Awarded Highest National Recognition The Greensboro History Museum has achieved re-accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to the nation's museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum-going public, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum community. The Greensboro His  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich Blasts Trump Admin's Plan to Undo the Roadless Rule, Strip Protections for Millions of Acres of Public Lands * WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor, raising the alarm on the Trump Administration's efforts to rescind the Roadless Rule, and urging the A  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2025: * * * Heinrich Blasts Trump Admin's Plan to Undo the Roadless Rule, Strip Protections for Millions of Acres of Public Lands Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor, raising the alarm on the Trump A  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (Rep.) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * House Republicans Codify President Trump's Successful Crackdown on D.C. Crime * WASHINGTON -- Speaker Johnson issued the following statement after the House passed four key pieces of legislation this week to codify President Donald Trump's Executive Order confronting the crime crisis in our nation's capital. "Every American deserves to ride public transportation, walk their neig  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * House Republicans Codify President Trump's Successful Crackdown on D.C. Crime * WASHINGTON -- Speaker Johnson issued the following statement after the House passed four key pieces of legislation this week to codify President Donald Trump's Executive Order confronting the crime crisis in our nation's capital. "Every American deserves to ride public transportation, walk their neighborhood or pick  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, issued the following opening remarks at a hearing to consider a continuing resolution related to government funding and a resolution (H.Res. 719) honoring the life and memory of Charlie Kirk: * * * As prepared for delivery: Good afternoon, the Committee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. Today, the Rules Committee is convening to   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Larson Introduces Election Reform Bill to End Partisan Redistricting Gamesmanship with Texas, California, and North Carolina Democratic Leaders * Washington, D.C. - Today, as the Trump White House continues to pressure Republican-led states to pass new Congressional maps diluting the voices of Black and Hispanic voters, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) introduced the Redistricting Reform Act with   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: * * * Lee, McDonald Rivet, Battleground House Members Call on Congressional Leadership to Protect Affordable Health Care for Americans * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswomen Susie Lee (NV-03) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) led three dozen of their House Democratic colleagues in a letter urging Congressional leadership to immediately extend ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits. "As working families in ou  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Lofgren, Padilla Re-Introduce Redistricting Reform Act * Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Senator Alex Padilla (CA) led a bicameral group of colleagues in re-introducing the Redistricting Reform Act of 2025. This legislation, which Lofgren has championed since 2005, would prohibit mid-decade redistricting nationwide and require every state to establish independent redistricting.  Th  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Sept. 19 -- The North Carolina Department of Commerce issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2025: * * * 90 Small Businesses Receive State Grants to Accelerate Innovation Latest round of One North Carolina Small Business Program Grants continues push to broaden innovative technology development and production statewide * Addressing a well-known gap that many innovative companies face, today the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation announc  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (TNSrep) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: * * * NOAA Announces Confirmed U.S. Large Whale Entanglement Numbers for 2024 There were 95 large whale entanglement cases documented in 2024--an increase from 2023 and higher than the historical average. * NOAA Fisheries has released the National Report on Large Whale Entanglements Confirmed in the United States in 2024 (https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/71359). There  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Don Davis, D-North Carolina, ranking member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Don Davis Opening Statement at Rural Development Subcommittee Hearing Today, House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Ranking Member Don Davis (NC-01) delivered the following opening statement at a sub  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the following news release: * * * Secretary Noem Announces Nearly $35 Million in Additional Federal Disaster Relief Funding * These funds will support states and local communities recovering from recent natural disasters WASHINGTON - Today, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced nearly $35 million in disaster relief funding to support ongoing recovery relief efforts from recent natural disasters. "Together  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following opening statement on Sept. 17, 2025, at a nominations hearing for the Director of National Drug Policy and judicial appointments: * * * Good morning, I'd like to welcome everyone to today's hearing. Our first panel features Rebecca Taibleson, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On panel two, we'll hear from four district court nominees: Matthe  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Senators Budd, Cortez Masto Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Foreign Cyberattacks Targeting American Agriculture * Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the bipartisan Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act today to enhance the cyberattack readiness, response, and recovery of American agricultural infrastructure. The legislation would pri  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * Trump EPA Announces Next Steps on Regulatory PFOA and PFOS Cleanup Efforts, Provides Update on Liability and Passive Receiver Issues * WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced next steps regarding regulatory efforts to address cleanup of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). "When it comes to PFOA and PFOS co  more