WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- A coalition of 119 civil rights, labor, economic justice, and consumer advocacy organizations have raised concerns regarding the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that mandates states to provide sensitive data collected by their unemployment insurance agencies. In a public comment letter, they urged the DOL to withdraw the proposed rule to address critical questions about data usage, privacy protections, and the overall necessity f  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Eighteen Attorneys General submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) demanding the withdrawal of the agency's recent Request for Public Comment regarding "gender-affirming care" for minors. They assert the inquiry undermines the autonomy of states to regulate medical practice and mischaracterizes the safety and effectiveness of gender-affirming treatments. The letter addresses the FTC's call for commentary to investigate potential consumer dec  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * Bacon Issues Statement on Government Shutdown * Washington, D.C. - Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement after Democrat Leadership failed to pass a clean Continuing Resolution (CR): "Republicans passed a clean, short-term CR with no additional funding except for security for Members of Congress and Federal office holders such as judges. Schumer and Jeffries catered to their far-left  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, issued the following news release: * * * Barrasso: Senate Democrats Have Officially Dragged Our Nation into a Schumer Shutdown * "Today, Senate Democrats face a clear choice. They can govern in the best interest of the American people or they can continue to grandstand for retweets and likes from their liberal base. Republicans are united in our commitment to reopen the government. How long that takes, and how costly it is, is entirely up   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Golden statement on government shutdown * WASHINGTON -- Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement regarding the government shutdown, which began at 12:01 a.m. today because of Congress' failure to enact legislation funding continued government operations: "This government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democrati  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Marshals Service issued the following news release: * * * Justice Breaches the Door: Fugitive's Run Ends in Lewiston with U.S. Marshals * Portland, ME - The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Maine announces the arrest of Dominque Bailey in Lewiston, Maine. Bailey was wanted on multiple warrants one being out of the State of Massachusetts, for three counts of Assault and Battery on a Family or Household Member and Strangulation or Suffocation  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King Votes to Block Trump Administration Attempt to Gut the Federal Government and Essential Services * WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) voted to keep the government open because a shutdown will give President Trump the ability to do far greater damage - plans he shared in public comments earlier today. A full statement can be found below: "I just came from the Senate f  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (Rep.) -- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * LEADER JEFFRIES ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA: "REPUBLICANS HAVE SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TO WORKING-CLASS AMERICANS" * Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on ABC's Good Morning America where he emphasized that Democrats are ready to find a bipartisan agreement that funds the government in a way that improves th  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * LEADER JEFFRIES ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA: "REPUBLICANS HAVE SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TO WORKING-CLASS AMERICANS" * Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on ABC's Good Morning America where he emphasized that Democrats are ready to find a bipartisan agreement that funds the government in a way that improves the quality of life and prot  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has expressed strong opposition to a petition from the America First Legal Foundation urging the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to adopt a rule requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration. The letter emphasizes that Maine's current voter registration process adequately ensures that only citizens can vote in federal elections. The proposed documentary proof requirement raises concerns about accessibility  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Markey Joins Warren, Sherrill, 40+ Lawmakers in Renewing 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 (September 30, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today joined Senator El  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * OMB Releases $5 Million for PRAC Following Push by Grassley, Collins * WASHINGTON - Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chairs of the Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees, respectively, welcomed the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) decision to apportion $5 million for the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), ensuring it can continue operations  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * OMB Releases $5 Million for PRAC Following Push by Grassley, Collins Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chairs of the Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees, respectively, welcomed the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) decision to apportion $5 million for the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), ensurin  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 1, 2025: * * * Wyden, Warner, Schumer, Ossoff Lead Senate Resolution to Overturn Harmful Marketplace Rule that Will Drive Up Health Care Costs and Threaten Coverage for 1.8 Million Americans Sykes leads effort in the House to block rule that will raise premiums and out-of-pocket costs for working families by billions of dollars * Today, U.S. Sens. Finance  more