WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- The Chamber of Progress, McLean, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation providing feedback on the agency's request for information regarding research ideas to promote the nationwide deployment of Automated Vehicles (AVs). The tech industry association emphasizes the need for a coordinated approach that aligns research, regulation, and standards to advance Automated Driving Systems (ADS) safely and equitably. In its corresp  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Commerce Committee Advances ROTOR Act, PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 Also approves three nominees for Commerce and Transportation Departments * Senators Cruz and Cantwell reached a bipartisan agreement on the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, which will make flying safer in light of January's fatal pla  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- The American Conservative Union Foundation dba Conservative Political Action Coalition Foundation's Center for Regulatory Freedom (CRF), Alexandria, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) concerning its proposed rulemaking on transportation workplace drug testing programs. The letter addresses the addition of fentanyl and its metabolite, norfentanyl, to the Department's drug testing panels, as outlined in the notice p  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 21, 2025: * * * Democratic Committee Leaders Condemn Trump Administration's Illegal Mass Firings of Federal Workers During Shutdown Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, joined by 20 Democratic Ranking Members of House Committees, wrote to Office of Management and Budget (O  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Andrea Bayer, a co-lead of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Republican Committee Election Integrity Working Group, has submitted a public comment letter to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) urging the agency to grant a petition that would amend the federal voter registration form. The advocate requested that the form include a requirement for applicants to provide documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) as a prerequisite for registration to vote in federal elections.   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Christine Brim, a co-lead of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Republican Committee Election Integrity Working Group, has submitted a public comment letter to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) urging the agency to grant a petition for rulemaking that would amend the federal voter registration form. The advocate requested that the form require Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC) when an applicant registers to vote. The individual, who serves in a volunteer position   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- FMI - The Food Industry Association, Arlington, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation urging stronger measures to address the escalating threat of cargo theft affecting the food supply chain. The organization underscores the complexity of security challenges facing the food industry due to organized crime and the need for enhanced federal oversight and coordination. In the letter, FMI highlights the vital role of transpor  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Government Employee Arrested for Unlawful Retention of National Defense Information * Ashley Tellis, 64, a U.S. citizen residing in Vienna, Virginia, was arrested on Oct. 11 in connection with his alleged unlawful retention of classified national defense information. Tellis appeared today in the Eastern District of Virginia for a detention hearing. "Safeguarding our country's national defense inf  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-306) on the State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act (H.R. 3628), which aims to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to add a standard related to state consideration of reliable generation and for other purposes. The report was advanced by Rep. S. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, on Sept. 19, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 3628, the "State Planning for  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * House GOP Vets Asks Senate Democrat Vets to Pay Our Troops * Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01), both U.S. Navy veterans, led a group of House Republican veterans in asking Senate Democrats who are veterans to support the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR). This CR would ensure pay for U.S. servicemembers while Congress continues negotiating annual appropriations. In   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. 21 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-273) on the VA Hospital Inventory Management System Authorization Act (H.R. 3494), which aims to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out an information technology system and prioritize certain requirements to manage supply chains for medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Sept. 15, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * *   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-308) on the Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act (H.R. 1458), which aims to amend Title 38 of the U.S. Code to modify the criteria for approval of independent study programs for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Sept. 26, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R.  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Eric Teoh, director of statistical services at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Arlington, Virginia, submitted a public comment letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nominating himself for the Motorcyclist Advisory Council. Teoh, who has conducted safety research for over 15 years, stated that his experience meets the eligibility requirements for the council, which advises the Administration on matters related to motorcycle safety. Teoh   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * Kiggans and Van Drew Urge Speaker Johnson to Act on ACA Tax Credit Extensions Post Shutdown * Read the exclusive from Liz Elkind here Today, Reps. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02) led a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, signed by 11 other lawmakers, regarding the expiration of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. Rep. Kiggans said, "As a nurse practitioner, I've spent my career car  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) oversaw committee approval of a slate of bills to enhance public use of U.S. Forest Service lands. "I'm proud to support commonsense solutions to ensure the U.S. Forest Service lands are managed efficiently, create recreation opportunities a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Scott Schloegel, senior vice president of government relations for the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), Arlington, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation to nominate himself for a position on the Congressionally mandated Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC). Schloegel is seeking the position designated for a member of a national motorcycle manufacturing association. The executive, citing more than 40 years of on-road expe  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * New Report: Expiration of ACA Tax Credits Will Have Disastrous Effects on Virginia * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) underscored the urgent need to extend the enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) after a new analysis from the Commonwealth Fund showed that the expiration of these tax credits will have disastrous effects on Vir  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * New Report: Expiration of ACA Tax Credits will have Disastrous Effects on Virginia * WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) underscored the urgent need to extend the enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) after a new analysis from the Commonwealth Fund showed that the expiration of these tax credits will have disastrous effects on Virginia:   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-California, ranking member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 21, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Lofgren Commends University Leaders Rejection of Trump Attempt to Control and Intimidate Academia through Compact Agreement As of today, the majority of the universities that were initially offered a "compact" by President Trump formally rejected the offer of preferential treatment and funding in ex  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, issued the following news release: * * * Senators Coons, bipartisan colleagues renew U.S. commitment to combating food insecurity on World Food Day * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) introduced their bipartisan resolution today designating October 16, 2025, and 2026, as World Food Day, reaffirming the fight against hunger in the face of rising f  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * Speaker Johnson on Day 21 of the Democrat Shutdown: Do Not Be Distracted, The American People Would Have an Open Government if Democrats Weren't Afraid of Their Far-Left Base * WASHINGTON -- On Day 21 of the Democrat Shutdown, Speaker Johnson held a press conference alongside House GOP Leadership and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer to highlight the unnecessary pain Washington Democr  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce Patent and Trademark Office issued the following news release: * * * Trilateral Offices meet to discuss ways to enhance patent quality and improve efficiency * ALEXANDRIA, VA--Today at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, the Trilateral Offices--the European Patent Office (EPO), the Japan Patent Office (JPO), and the USPTO--convened for their 43rd annual meeting. Under Secretary of Commerce  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), Alexandria, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) calling for action to address the escalating threat of cargo theft that jeopardizes the trucking industry. The TCA, which represents the truckload segment of the trucking industry, highlighted that organized cargo theft has become a significant issue, leading to billions of dollars in annual losses. In their letter, the TCA o  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Vindman, Lawler Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Organic Farming Research and Support America's Farmers * Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Representatives Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.-17) introduced the Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025, legislation that strengthens America's organic agriculture sector by expanding federal research, improving coordination acr  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Walkinshaw Leads House Colleagues in Demanding Answers from Trump's DHS Secretary on Illegal Cyber Firings That Weaken U.S. Security Congressman James Walkinshaw (VA-11), joined by Reps. Shontel M. Brown (OH-11), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), and Eugene Simon Vindman (VA-7), demanded answers from Trump's Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding th  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner & Kaine Applaud Unanimous Committee Passage of Virginia Wilderness Bills * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry's unanimous passage of their two bills to protect lands and watersheds in Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, and Bath counties. Both bills are the result of years of Virginia  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner & Kaine Applaud Unanimous Committee Passage of Virginia Wilderness Bills * WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry's unanimous passage of their two bills to protect lands and watersheds in Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, and Bath counties. Both bills are the result of years Virginia stakehold  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * With No-Cost Contraception on the Line in Republican Shutdown, Rep. McClellan Joins Advocates, Doctors and Virginia Women for World Menopause Day Roundtable * Richmond, Va. -- With no-cost contraception for thousands of Virginia women on the line in the Republican shutdown, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) on Friday joined advocates, doctors and impacted Virginians for a World Menopau  more