WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Bipartisan Duckworth-Daines-Cruz-Hirono Bill to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk Signed into Law * December 01, 2025 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After unanimously passing the Senate in May and passing the House in November, bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding s  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following report (No. USDL-25-1527) on Dec. 2, 2025, entitled "State Job Openings and Labor Turnoever - August 2025": * * * Job openings rates increased in 2 states in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires rates decreased in 1 state. Total separations rates decreased in 6 states and increased in 2 states. Nationally, the job openings, hires, and total  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Crapo, Shaheen Reintroduce Bill to Expedite Recovery of Missing Servicemembers * Washington, D.C. On the heels of the news Idaho welcomed home the remains of 2 nd Lieutenant Charles Atteberry after more than 80 years missing in action, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) have again introduced legislation that would eliminate obstacles preventing families and caseworker  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The House Judiciary Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-337) on the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38), which aims to amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code to allow a nonresident of a state to carry a concealed firearm in that state if they are legally allowed to do so in their home state. The report was advanced by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, on Oct. 3, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Recipro  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-343) on the Ensuring Veterans' Final Resting Place Act (H.R. 647), which aims to amend Title 38 of the U.S. Code to authorize the provision of additional burial benefits for individuals for whom an urn or plaque is furnished. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Oct. 17, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 647, the "Ensuring Veterans' Final Resting Place Act of 202  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-339) on the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act (H.R. 3123), which aims to amend Title 38 of the U.S. Code to make improvements to laws relating to the payment of certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that are affected by death. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Oct. 8, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 3123, the "Ernest Pel  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-348) on the Forcing Real Accountability for Unlawful Distributions Act (H.R. 3483), which aims to amend Title 38 of the U.S. to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use an information technology system to detect fraud, waste and abuse regarding claims for payment under the Veterans Community Care Program. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Oct. 21, 2025. Here are excerpts: * *   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-349) on the Protecting Veteran's Claim Options Act (H.R. 3834), which aims to amend Title 38 of the U.S. Code to clarify the jurisdiction and rules of evidence of the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Oct. 21, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 3834, the "Protecting Veteran's Claim Options Act," was introduced by Representative Mike   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-340) on the Veterans Affairs Distributed Ledger Innovation Act (H.R. 3455), which aims to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a comprehensive study on the use of distributed ledger technology in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Oct. 10, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE AND SUMMARY H.R. 3455, the "VA Distributed Ledger   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-344) on the Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act (H.R. 1336), which aims to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to furnish hyperbaric oxygen therapy to a veteran who has a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Oct. 17, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 133  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-350) on the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Act (H.R. 1663), which aims to amend Title 38 of the U.S. Code to establish a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The report was advanced by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, on Oct. 21, 2025. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 1663, the "Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Act of 2025," was introduced by   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a report analyzing maternal deaths among women during pregnancy or within one year postpartum, drawing on data from 2021-2022 and retrospective review by its two state maternal-mortality review committees. The report documents the tragic loss of 219 women over the two-year period, underscoring persistent disparities and systemic challenges that continue to shape maternal outcomes across the state. It also offers reco  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 3 -- The Illinois Supreme Court issued the following news release on Dec. 2, 2025: * * * Illinois Supreme Court Announces Illinois Will Accept Transferred Scores From Nextgen Uniform Bar Examination The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) will begin offering a new version of the bar examination, known as the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (NextGen UBE), beginning in July 2026. The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar (Board of Admissions) has previously  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * In A Speech On The Senate Floor, Durbin Honors The Two National Guard Members Who Were Shot In DC Before Thanksgiving * December 01, 2025 On the Senate floor, Durbin offered condolences to Specialist Sarah Beckstrom's family who tragically passed away, and prayed for Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe's recovery WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Joaquin Guzman Lopez -- Son of 'El Chapo' and a Leader of Sinaloa Cartel -- Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges in Chicago * Joaquin Guzman Lopez, who succeeded his father, Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as "El Chapo," as one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, pleaded guilty yesterday to federal drug charges. "The Sinaloa Cartel is a terrorist organization that has spent decades d  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, Chicago, Illinois, has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice concerning its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the Application for Relief From Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws With Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportation, or Possession of Firearms. Representing over 45 member organizations in the Chicagoland area, The Network focuses on protecting su  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following news release: * * * Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Semi-Finalists in Innovation Challenge with $1 Million Prize * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has selected 15 semi-finalist teams to advance to the next stage of the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Infrastructure (ARPA-I) Ideas and Innovation Challenge (the "Ideas Challenge"). Through the Ideas Challe  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency issued the following news release: * * * USDA Designates 8 Illinois Counties as Natural Disaster Areas * Stakeholder Notification This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various re  more