WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- A coalition of 44 state and regional banking associations representing thousands of community banks has submitted a public comment letter to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) applauding their efforts to address the growing issue of payments fraud, which has become a pressing challenge for community banks. The ICBA emphasizes that community banks are in  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA), a coalition of over 90 organizations advocating for the interests of communities affected by aviation policy, has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressing significant concerns regarding the agency's proposal for normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The coalition argues that while such operations could have industry bene  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Baylor University Medical Center Breast Disease Committee Chair Joyce O'Shaughnessy submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), requesting a change to the agency's proposed payment rule for scalp cooling treatments. The writer stated that the change is needed to ensure greater access to the therapy for cancer patients. The letter urged the agency to un-packa  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * Cantwell Calls on Sinclair Broadcasting to Quit Blocking Public's Ability to Watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! * 09.24.25 "Your decision not to reinstate comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show appears contrary to the inherently local aspects of your station licenses..." WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transp  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: * * * CBP officers seize more than $200K in cocaine at Del Rio Port of Entry * DEL RIO, Texas-- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at Del Rio Port of Entry seized more than $200,000 in cocaine. "This significant narcotic seizure is a direct reflection of the dedication and vigilance of our officers," said Port Director Lilian  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- City of Lewisville (Texas) Mayor TJ Gilmore submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in favor of the proposed rulemaking on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations. The writer spoke to the benefits of drone delivery and urged the agency to adopt regulations that support its growth. The letter stated that the community of Lewisville has experienced the benefits of drone delivery firsthand, including the safe, fast, and en  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Escobar Reacts to Latest Data on Republican Healthcare Premium Increases * Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement after data was published by the House Budget Committee on the impacts of Republicans choosing to let Affordable Care Act tax credits expire: "Donald Trump and Republicans swore to the American people that they would lower costs y  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Celebrates Completion of Sugar Land Training Facility for First Responders * Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) celebrated the completion of Sugar Land's Public Safety Training Facility with a ribbon cutting and walk through of the facility with Sugar Land Mayor Carol McCutcheon, Sugar Land Police Chief Pete Lara, and Sugar Land Fire Chief Mark Campise. The   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Deborah Ross, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Ross Statement on Reported NC Redistricting Plans * Raleigh, N.C. -- Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on reported Republican redistricting plans in the North Carolina General Assembly: "If reports are true, North Carolina Republicans have truly stooped to a new low. Accepting a political endorsement in exchange for engaging in partisan gerry  more

DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 24 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas issued the following news release: * * * Dallas Fed Energy Survey: Activity declines slightly, uncertainty remains elevated * DALLAS--Oil and gas activity decreased slightly in third quarter 2025, according to oil and gas executives responding to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Energy Survey. The business activity index--the survey's broadest measure of conditions facing Eleventh District energy firms--came in at -6.5, sugges  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- enCore Energy Corp. CEO Robert Willette submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior urging the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to include uranium on the 2025 Draft List of Critical Minerals. The company stated that uranium is indispensable to American energy and national security, powering 20 percent of the electrical grid. The writer emphasized that the mineral is an essential requirement for defense programs, including the nuclear Navy and nu  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSdok) -- The Federal Communications Commission Wireline Competition Bureau has denied a "Request for Review and/or Waiver of Decision of the Universal Service Administrator filed by the Grayson County Library Consortium of Grayson County, Texas" (WC Docket No. 21-93). The decision, issued in an order (No. DA 25-900) on Sept. 25, 2025, upholds a previous decision by the Universal Service Administrative Co. to reduce the funding amount for an "Emergency Connectivity Fund" a  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: * * * Fizzled: CBP seizes more than $13 million in methamphetamine at Roma Port of Entry in shipment of carbonated soft drinks * ROMA, Texas --U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at the Roma Port of Entry cargo facility intercepted $13 million in alleged methamphetamine concealed in a tractor trailer hauling a shipment of carbon  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is waiving requirements for Texas's Community Development Block Grant mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds. The waiver allows Texas to discontinue its citizen advisory committees, which were previously required to provide transparency and public input on the use of CDBG-MIT funds. According to a notice in the Federal Register, the State of Texas requested the waiver, citing a decline in participation and engagement over  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, issued the following news release: * * * Husted backs bill to expand access to early cancer screenings for seniors Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) has joined Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Ron Wyden's (D-Ore.) Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill would make sure Medicare beneficiaries can access Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) tests that can diagnose multiple types  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- INDECA Crude Xpress President Steve Williamson submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) raising concerns about the agency's requirement for deploying three reflective triangles when a truck becomes disabled, arguing the practice is unsafe for drivers. The writer, whose company operates a fleet of 80 tanker trucks, stated that safety is paramount given the challenging conditions on high-volume Texas roads. The commenter   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Johnson Announces $585,000 in Federal Funds to UT Dallas to Support Biomedical Research * DALLAS, TX -- Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) announced today that Mosaic Family Services in Dallas has received a $750,000 grant from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women. The funding, awarded through the Legal Assistance for Victims program, will help Mosaic continue its work provi  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Johnson Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Overuse and Abuse of Prior Authorization * Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), along with Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) introduced the bipartisan Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments Act, which limits prescription drug prior authorizations used by Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans to once per year for patients with autoimmune diseases  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) addressing the agency's 2025 draft List of Critical Minerals. In the letter, NFTC emphasizes the critical role that access to these minerals plays in U.S. national security and trade policy, particularly in supporting domestic manufacturing and technology sectors. In its communication, NFTC restated its support for the administration's national security objec  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * NEW REPORT: ACA Marketplace Plan Customers in 29 States Face a Health Insurance Premium Hike of 20% or More in 2026 * 09.25.25 Cantwell tells Trump, Congressional leaders in a letter: "Unless Congress acts within the next few weeks, millions of Americans will collectively pay an estimated $23b more next year just to maintain the same level of coverage they currently rely on."; Case study: In  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * NEWS: Sen. Schiff Joins Colleagues in Raising Alarm on USDA's Plans to Reorganize the Food and Nutrition Service * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, and eight other collea  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics issued the following news: * * * North American Transborder Freight decreased 1.1% in July 2025 from July 2024 * BTS 58-25 This release is published on a fixed schedule as required by the Office of Management and Budget, and statistics in this release may be revised when inputs to the statistics are corrected or updated. Data on the program page of this website are the most up-to-date and comp  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * Pallone, Stanton Call on Trump to Fire DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, FEMA Head Following Blockbuster GAO Report on Mismanagement * GAO Report found FEMA violated federal law six times by withholding or delaying funds approved by Congress for lifesaving shelter programs WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Con  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Pharmacy Owner and Pharmacists Sentenced for Pill Mill Scheme Involving Hundreds of Thousands of Opioid Pills * A Texas pharmacy owner and three Texas pharmacists were sentenced today in Houston for unlawfully distributing more than half a million opioid pills and other commonly abused prescription drugs, including to individuals paid to pose as patients by black market drug traffickers. "While   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Project Civica Inc. President and Co-founder Kim Hermance submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) urging the commission to amend the federal voter registration form to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship as a condition for registering to vote in federal elections. The writer stated that relying on a self-checked box leaves the system open to illegal voting and erodes public trust. The letter cited evidence from several  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump's Missing in Action FEMA Head Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on media reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 'Acting' Administrator was unreachable in the a  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Chip Roy Demands Answers from AEP Transmission and CPS Energy on Proposed Transmission Line * September 25, 2025 Press Release Washington, D.C. -- Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) demands answers from AEP Transmission and CPS Energy on the proposed routes of the Howard-Solstice Transmission Line project that would cut through the Texas Hill Country. "One of the proposals for the transmission li  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Kennedy Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Overuse and Abuse of Prior Authorization * WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03), along with Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), introduced the bipartisan Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments Act (link is external), which limits prescription drug prior authorizations used by Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans to once per y  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Pfluger Invites High School Students to Apply for Congressional Youth Advisory Council * WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) announced the re-launch of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) for high school juniors and seniors in the 11th Congressional District of Texas. This esteemed program offers a unique opportunity for passionate and driven young leaders t  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice: * * * Southwind Foods Recalls Frozen Shrimp Because of Possible Health Risk Summary Company Announcement Date: September 23, 2025 FDA Publish Date: September 23, 2025 Product Type: Food & Beverages Shellfish Contaminants Reason for Announcement: Potential Foodborne Illness - possible radionuclide (Cesium-137) contamination Company Name: Southwind Foo  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (TNSFR) -- The Surface Transportation Board is tentatively approving the acquisition of BTM Coaches Inc., Cocoa, Florida, an interstate motor passenger carrier, by TBL Group Inc., Houston, Texas. The board is authorizing the control transaction, but it is subject to public comment. The board's approval will be final if no opposing comments are filed. TBL Group, a holding company that operates five interstate motor passenger carriers, filed an application on August 25, 2025,  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Texas Democratic Delegation Releases Statement on ICE Facility Shooting in Dallas * WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Veasey (TX-33), Congresswoman Crockett (TX-30), Congresswoman Johnson (TX-32), Congresswoman Fletcher (TX-07), Congresswoman Escobar (TX-16), Congressman Doggett (TX-37), Congressman Casar (TX-35), Congressman Gonzalez (TX-34), Congresswoman Garcia (TX-29), and Congressman Castro (TX-20)   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Warren, Van Hollen, Raskin, Thompson, Carter, Ramirez Launch New Probe into Trump Administration's Potential Violation of U.S. and International Law * Lawmakers warn Trump admin is coercing countries into accepting noncitizens from other parts of the world, without proper protections to prevent persecution and torture "We are concerned that the Trump administration is offshoring the imm  more