WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- A coalition of 18 attorneys general has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education expressing opposition to the proposed "Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement" (ACTS) survey component for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) covering the academic years 2024-25 through 2026-27. The states argue that the new requirements would place an unreasonable burden on institutions of higher education (IHEs), compromise studen  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston issued the following Beige Book on Oct. 15, 2025: * * * Summary of Economic Activity Economic activity ticked up overall, led by modest increases in consumer spending and manufacturing sales. Commercial real estate activity increased slightly, beating expectations. Software and IT services firms reported small increases in revenues and strong demand. Home sales were flat, while housing inventory increased notably. Employment was unchan  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Padilla Joins Bipartisan Push Warning Trump Administration to Obey Law on Back Pay for Furloughed Federal Workers * WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-Va.-08) and Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05), and 160 o  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Pingree: Trump's EPA is Failing to Protect Americans from 'Forever Chemical' Contamination * Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, is calling for transparency and immediate action from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after it was reported the Agency is withholding a long-delayed "forever chemic  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Risch, Colleagues Reaffirm Support for Taiwan on 114th Taiwan National Day U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) led their colleagues in a show of strong support for Taiwan on Taiwan's 114th National Day. The senators issued a joint letter celebrating Ta  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Collins' Statement on Democrats' Vote Blocking National Defense Funding U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after Democrats voted to block consideration of the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bill: "Today Senate Democrats blocked the consideration of the Fiscal Ye  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Collins' Statement on the Nomination of David St. Pierre to Serve as U.S. Marshal for the District of Maine * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement on the nomination of David St. Pierre, who served as Chief of Police for the City of Lewiston, to be the U.S. Marshal for the District of Maine. Chief St. Pierre's nomination requires confirmation by the  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Collins' Statement on the Passing of Neal Williams * Neal Williams and Senator Collins - 2002 Click HERE for a full-resolution image. WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement in response to the passing of Neal Williams, a Vietnam War veteran and longtime leader in Maine's veteran community: "A decorated Vietnam veteran, Neal Williams served our nat  more