WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Budd, Welch Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Foreign Robocalls Passes Commerce Committee and Heads to Senate Floor * Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), issued the following statements after the passage of their bipartisan legislation, the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act, which  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- D. Sunshine Hillygus, professor of political science and public policy at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, has expressed opposition in a public comment letter to the Election Assistance Commission regarding a petition that seeks to require documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) for voter registration. The petition, submitted by the American First Legal Foundation, calls for amending federal regulations to mandate that individuals provide specific documents confirm  more

GREENSBORO, North Carolina, Oct. 22 -- The city of Greensboro issued the following news on Oct. 21, 2025: * * * Greensboro Fire Department Welcomes New Therapy Canine to Support Firefighters' Mental Health The Greensboro Fire Department is adding its newest member -- a female therapy canine. With a generous donation from the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation, the Greensboro Firefighters Foundation purchased the canine for the Greensboro Fire Department. This initiative marks a major step forward in  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-276) on the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act (H.R. 528), which aims to require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a program for Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Program and for other purposes. The report was advanced by Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, on Sept. 15, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION The purpose of H.R. 528 is to require the Secret  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-310) on the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act (H.R. 2605), which aims to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to nonprofit organizations to assist such organizations in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Sept. 26, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 2605, the "Service Dogs  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Mark Ezzell, director of the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program, Raleigh, issued a public comment letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advocating for a simplification of the public participation and engagement reporting requirements in the proposed rulemaking concerning State Highway Safety Grant Programs. The agency has taken steps to update its processes, but feedback from North Carolina emphasizes the need for further modifications   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: * * * Warnock Advances Bipartisan Bill to Establish National Scenic Trail Connecting Southern States * The bipa rtisan Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025 would authorize review of the regionally renowned trail to be designated a National Scenic Trail The legislation is first step toward granting federal designation of nearly 300-mile-long walking path along the Ap  more