WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service is proposing a rule to lower the assessment rate for sweet onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. This action would implement a recommendation from the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee to decrease the assessment from $0.20 to $0.17 per 50-pound bag or equivalent. The proposed rate would apply to the 2025 and subsequent fiscal periods, remaining  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Ahead of Government Shutdown, Alsobrooks, Elfreth Introduce Legislation to Protect Essential Federal Workers WASHINGTON, DC - At a press conference yesterday, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.-03) released legislation, the Help FEDS (Federal Employees During a Shutdown) Act, to support federal employees who would be required to work without pay during a g  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland issued the following news: * * * Air Force broadens career development opportunities for Airmen through new developmental duties process * ARLINGTON, Virginia - The Air Force has transformed its developmental duty process to offer Airmen more flexibility and control over their career while ensuring high-quality personnel fill positions critical to the future of the force. Beginning Oct.  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland issued the following news: * * * Air Force, VA preserve vital Vietnam, Korean War veteran biospecimens for future study * FALLS CHURCH, Virginia - The Department of Air Force transferred more than 178,000 biological samples from Vietnam and Korean War veterans to the Department of Veterans Affairs in August, concluding an 18-year effort to safeguard them for future studies. The samples,  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Beyer To Honor Former Career USAID Civil Servant at Annual Women's Conference * Rep. Don Beyer today announced that Nancy Eslick, who most recently served as Senior Deputy Assistant to the Administrator of the Resilience, Environment & Food Security (REFS) Bureau at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will receive the Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award at  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 30 -- The National Credit Union Administration issued the following news release: * * * CDRLF Grant Round Offers More Opportunities * More than $3.4 Million Available; Credit Unions Should Review Their Eligibility ALEXANDRIA, Va. (September 30, 2025) - Today, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) announced the availability of funding for low-income-designated (LID) credit unions through the Community Development Revolving Loan Fund (CDRLF). This year,   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news release: * * * Coast Guard offloads nearly $94.5 million in illegal narcotics in Fort Lauderdale from Operation Pacific Viper * Editor's note: See related U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Seneca interdicts suspected drug smuggling vessel in the Pacific Ocean MIAMI - Coast Guard Cutter Seneca's crew offloaded more than 12,750 pounds of cocaine and marijuana with an approximate street value of $94.5  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Democrats Introduce CRA Resolution to Overturn Harmful ACA Marketplace Rule * WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and 38 of their Senate colleagues have introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn a Trump administration rule making it harder and more expensive f  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Elfreth, Beyer, Hoyer, Alsobrooks and Van Hollen Introduce Legislation to Help Federal Workers During Shutdowns * Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) and Senator Angela Alsobrooks (MD-D) introduced the Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns (Help FEDS) Act. The bill ensures federal employees who are required to work during a government shutdown are eligible to apply for unemployment insurance  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * EPA announces $48 million for southeastern states to repair water systems impacted by Hurricane Helene * ATLANTA, Georgia (Sept. 30, 2025) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $48 million in disaster relief supplemental funding to support water systems in southeastern states impacted by Hurricane Helene. "These funds are on their way to communities working hard to r  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Following Comey Indictment, Durbin Slams Trump Administration's Blatant Politicization Of DOJ * September 30, 2025 "Is there one Republican Senator in this chamber who gives a damn?" Durbin said in his speech on the Senate floor WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, repriman  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 30, 2025: * * * Following Comey Indictment, Durbin Slams Trump Administration's Blatant Politicization Of DOJ In a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reprimanded the Trump Administration for weaponizing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to attack   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release: * * * FTC Sues Zillow and Redfin Over Illegal Agreement to Suppress Rental Advertising Competition * Today, the Federal Trade Commission sued Zillow and Redfin over an unlawful agreement that eliminates Redfin as a competitor in the market for placing advertising of rental housing on internet listing services (ILSs)--the websites that millions of Americans use to find their next rental home. Zillow Grou  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Griffith Announces $47,000 Pipeline Emergency Response Grant to Franklin County * The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has awarded Franklin County a $47,000 grant. The funding will support the purchase of gas detectors and related equipment as well as the training of career and volunteer responders. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffi  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Griffith Presides over Pro Forma Session of House * U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to preside over a Pro Forma session. Tonight, pending developments in the U.S. Senate, funding to the federal government will lapse and cause a shutdown. As of this writing, Senate Democrats have refused to keep the government open. Congressman Gri  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news: * * * Hegseth Announces War Department Reforms in Sweeping Speech to Top Military Brass * Secretary of War Pete Hegseth today announced a series of 10 new directives aimed at strengthening the War Department's people and culture during an in-person speech in Quantico, Virginia, to the U.S. military's most senior leaders. The wide-ranging, 45-minute speech before nearly every O-7 and above nonstaff military office  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news: * * * Hegseth Says Promotions, Retention to be Based on Meritocracy, Not Quotas * The War Department will focus on lethality and merit, not on political correctness and diversity, said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who spoke today to an audience of hundreds of generals, admirals and senior enlisted personnel at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. "Real toxic leadership is endangering subordinates with low stan  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Meeks Reacts to Trump and Hegseth Gathering of Military Leaders to Wage Culture Wars * Washington, D.C. -- Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's decision to force senior military leaders away from their posts to attend partisan, culture-war speeches from him and   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its National Geospatial Program, released Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5031, the 'User's Guide for the National Hydrography Dataset Plus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR)', authored by Richard B. Moore, Lucinda D. McKay, Alan H. Rea, Timothy R. Bondelid, Curtis V. Price, Thomas G. Dewald, and Laura Hayes. The report, issued in 2025 from Reston, Virginia, describes a powerful new hydrologic geospatial framework designe  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 30, 2025: * * * Judiciary Witnesses Expose Manipulated Crime Data, Anti-Victim Judges and Harmful Soft-on-Crime Policies in Democrat-Run Cities In response to questioning from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), witnesses at today's hearing - including the grandmother of a victim of violent crime, a local policeman, federal off  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Kaine Statement on Meeting of Military Officials at Quantico * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump's meeting with military officers at Quantico: "Ordering America's best military leaders to leave their duty stations at the same tim  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * Kiggans, Ryan Introduce Bipartisan TRICARE Transition Transparency Act * WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representatives Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Rob Wittman (VA-01), and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), introduced the TRICARE Transition Transparency Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to ensure military families and retirees receive clear, timely notices when their TRICARE coverage is about to change. The b  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-New York, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Meeks Reacts to Trump and Hegseth Gathering of Military Leaders to Wage Culture Wars Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's decision to force senior military leaders away from their posts to attend partisan, culture-war speeches from him and Preside  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Murphy: The Senate Should Not Fund Democracy's Destruction * WASHINGTON--U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Monday took to the floor of the U.S. Senate ahead of Tuesday's government funding deadline, arguing that amidst President Trump's authoritarian use of the federal government to suppress political speech, prosecute political enemies, and send in the military to Democrat-run citie  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSrpt) -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release: * * * Tourism to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Contributes $24,310,000 to Local Economy MIDDLESBORO, Ky. -- A new National Park Service report shows that 729,249 visitors to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in 2024 spent $23,973,000 in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $24,310,000. "Cumberland Gap   more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 30 -- The National Credit Union Administration issued the following news release: * * * NCUA Prohibits Five Individuals from Participating in the Affairs of Any Federally Insured Depository Institution * ALEXANDRIA, Va. (September 30, 2025) - The National Credit Union Administration issued four consent-based prohibitions orders and one conviction-based prohibition order in September 2025. The individuals named below are permanently prohibited from participating in  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Members Subramanyam, Garcia Demand Answers from Secretary Pete Hegseth on Military Leadership Mystery Gathering at Quantico, Virginia * Washington DC - Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversights Subcommittee, and Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia (CA-42) sent a letter to Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding ac  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Reed Condemns Trump-Hegseth Quantico Military Gathering * WASHINGTON, DC - Today, after President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered hundreds of U.S. military leaders from across the world to gather in Quantico, Virginia, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement: "This event was an expensive, da  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * Rep. Kiggans Votes to Keep the Government Open and Working for Americans * WASHINGTON, D.C.--Today, Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) released the following statement on the eve of the government shutdown: "Government shutdowns are bad for national security and bad for Hampton Roads. That's why I voted to keep the government open. The responsible, short-term measure House Republicans passed is designed to keep th  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following transcript: * * * Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Addresses General and Flag Officers at Quantico, Virginia * SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Mr. Chairman, the joint chiefs, generals, admirals, commanders, officers, senior enlisted, NCOs, enlisted and every member of our American military, good morning. UNKNOWN: Morning. SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH: Good morning and welcome to the War Department because the era of the  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following news release: * * * Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Celebrates Restoration of Historic "Christ on the Water" Painting at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy * Painting was returned to Wiley Hall--where it first hung--with midshipmen and Academy leadership in attendance KINGS POINT, N.Y. - U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced the newly restored "Christ on the Water" painting has  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news: * * * Trump: Military Will Protect Nation With Focus on Merit, Reawakened Warrior Spirit * The U.S. military, said President Donald J. Trump, is strong again, with a focus on merit and a warrior spirit. This morning at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, hundreds of general and flag officers from around the War Department sat shoulder to shoulder in an auditorium to listen to two of the very few collection of p  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Education issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Announces New Members and Names Next Chair of the National Assessment Governing Board * Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon named Tennessee Representative Mark White as Chair of the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB). Secretary McMahon also announced the appointment of two education leaders to NAGB: early literacy expert Kymyona Burk  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Trustee Program Obtains More Than $392,000 in Penalties and Three-Year Suspension Against National Consumer Bankruptcy Firm * The Justice Department's U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained a judgment against a nationwide consumer bankruptcy law firm imposing more than $392,000 in penalties and a three-year suspension based on the firm's false and misleading disclosures in more than 20  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news: * * * Unfit, Undertrained Troops No Longer Tolerated * Physical fitness and combat training standards will be raised, said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who spoke today to an audience of hundreds of generals, admirals and senior enlisted personnel at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Those same standards will apply to both genders, he said, be it for the combat fitness test or weapons qualification. Every   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released Techniques and Methods 2-A22, a report titled 'Long Term Resource Monitoring Procedures--Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring', authored by Danelle M. Larson, Eric Lund, Alicia M. Carhart, Seth Fopma, and Stephanie Szura. The document, prepared in cooperation with the Long Term Resource Monitoring (LTRM) element of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program and various state agencies, provides an updated standard operating   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs proposes amending its Schedule for Rating Disabilities to remove the requirement that an endometriosis diagnosis be confirmed by laparoscopy for disability rating purposes. This action is intended to align the VA's criteria with current medical practice and hasten the process for granting service connection to veterans with the condition. Currently, the rule under diagnostic code 7629, Endometriosis, requires the diagnosis to  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Video: Kaine Speaks on Senate Floor in Opposition to Trump Nomination of William White to Be Ambassador to Belgium * FULL VIDEO OF THE SPEECH IS AVAILABLE HERE WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Ranking Member of the SFRC subcommittee responsible for human rights, spoke on the Senate floor to express his strong oppo  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Sept. 29 -- The Virginia Department of Education issued the following news release: * * * Virginia Board of Education Unanimously Adopts Higher Expectations for Student Proficiency * Richmond, VA - In a momentous vote on Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Virginia Board of Education unanimously approved a set of elevated academic expectations for K-12 students, signaling a renewed commitment to rigor, transparency, and higher student outcomes across the Commonwealth. This   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Sept. 30, 2025: * * * Walkinshaw Demands Vought Provide Answers and Protections for IGs Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, today condemned the Trump Administration's decision to defund the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), warning that the move represents a direct attack on independent oversigh  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner & Kaine Announce Funding for the Rex Theater Revitalization Project in Galax * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $700,000 in funding awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Rex Theater Revitalization project to help the City of Galax preserve and highlight its unique cultural heritage as well as improve the long-term econom  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner & Kaine Announce Funding for the Rex Theater Revitalization Project in Galax * WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $700,000 in funding awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Rex Theater Revitalization project to help the City of Galax preserve and highlight its unique cultural heritage as well as improve the long-term economic impa  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner Pushes Trump Administration to Address U.S. Companies Enabling PRC Technology Advances * WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote to Jeffrey Kessler, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, urging the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) - which administers the nation's export controls - to addres  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Demand Explanation and Reversal of State Department Decision to Suspend Medical & Humanitarian Visas for Civilians in Gaza * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, (both D-VA), and 40 of their Democratic colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an explanation regarding the  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Demand Explanation and Reversal of State Department Decision to Suspend Medical & Humanitarian Visas for Civilians in Gaza * WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, (both D-VA), and 40 of their Democratic colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an explanation regarding the State   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Warren, 100+ Members of Congress Warn: Trump Ripping Away Temporary Protected Status for Immigrants Will Devastate Health Care Workforce * Sens. Van Hollen, Markey, along with Reps. DeGette, Auchincloss, Kelly, Ross join Warren in leading new letter to Trump administration warning of the dangerous impacts of its immigration policies "At a time when President Trump and Republicans in Con  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Warren, Sherrill, 40+ Lawmakers Renew Push To Lower Child Care Costs * The Child Care for Every Community Act would ensure half of families nationwide would pay no more than $10 a day for child care and cap child care costs for all families. Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF) Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) led over fo  more