WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 23, 2026: * * * Advancing American Strength: President Trump Signs H.R. 6938 Into Law Today, with the swipe of his pen, President Donald J. Trump enacted H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, into law. Following the signing ceremony held at the White House, Chairman   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 [Category: Environment] -- The Sierra Club posted the following news release: * * * Arkansas PSC Opens Door For Higher Electricity Bills * Little Rock, Ark. - Today, as the region focuses on an impending winter storm, the Arkansas Public Service Commission approved a move to raise customers' electricity costs in much of Northwest Arkansas. With the go-ahead from the three governor-appointed PSC commissioners, SWEPCO will increase bills by 23% at current fuel costs, in par  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (TNSLrpt) -- Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnessess 2023-2024 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics - Jan. 22, 2026 (7 pages) * * * Private industry employers reported 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2024, down 3.1 percent from 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This is the lowest number of employer-reported injuries and illnesses for this data series going back to 2003. The decrease   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 -- Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Rogers Applauds House Passage of Final Four Federal Funding Bills * Includes Nearly $95 Million More in Rogers' Requests for Community Project Funding in Eastern Kentucky WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) voted for the final four federal funding bills for fiscal year 2026, including Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Defense; Labor, Health and Human S  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Duckworth Secure Support For Illinois Priorities In Recently Passed Package Of Three Government Funding Bills The package included Commerce, Justice, and Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment government funding bills  * U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, Jan. 23 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2026: * * * Environmental, Consumer Groups Challenge Trump's Unlawful Coal Plant Extensions Extending the lives of unreliable, dirty, and expensive coal plants hurts consumers * Washington, D.C. -- Today, seven environmental and consumer advocacy groups filed rehearing requests after Donald Trump's Department of Energy unlawfully invoked Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act and forced two coa  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its weekly notification of environmental impact statements filed between Jan. 12, 2026, and Jan. 16, 2026. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission filed a draft supplemental statement for the Hydropower License for the Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Project in Oregon. The public comment period for this project concludes March 2, 2026. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers submitted a draft statement for the Lower Miss  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its final approval of Indiana's plan to improve air quality and visibility in national parks and wilderness areas. The decision confirms that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has met federal requirements to reduce the atmospheric haze that obscures scenic views in protected federal lands. The approval covers the second implementation period of the Regional Haze Rule, a program established   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule fully disapproving Colorado's 2022 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision. The decision centers on the state's attempt to mandate the closure of the Nixon Unit 1 power plant without the owner's consent, raising significant legal and constitutional concerns. The Conflict Over Nixon Unit 1 The disapproval marks a rare instance where the EPA has rejected a state's air quality plan based on   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The House Foreign Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Matt Pottinger, chairman of the China Program at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, from a Jan. 14, 2026, hearing entitled "Winning the AI Arms Race Against the Chinese Communist Party": * * * Chairman Mast, Ranking Member Meeks, and other distinguished members of the committee, I'm privileged to have the opportunity to testify  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 [Category: Environment] -- The League of Conservation Voters posted the following news wrap up, This Week in Climate Action - Jan. 23, 2026: * * * Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. This week, we're covering state officials making good on campaign promises to lower energy bills, and efforts from the federal government to pollute our air and water. Be sure to follow LC  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 -- Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Omar Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Protecting Miners' Health and Safety Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) delivered the following opening statement at a Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing entitled, " Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Mine Safety and Health Administration." "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, everyone. "And thank you, Assistant Secr  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13159) on Jan. 22, 2026. The white paper is written by energy policy specialist Michael Ratner, international trade and finance analyst Michael D. Sutherland and Russian and European affairs specialist Cory Welt. Here are excerpts: * * * Russia-China Natural Gas Trade The Russian Federation (Russia) is a major energy exporter, while the People's Republic of China (PRC) is the  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 [Category: Environment] -- The Sierra Club posted the following news release: * * * A Year of Oversight and Accountability: Sierra Club FOIAs Have Uncovered Oil & Gas Handouts, Canceled Grants, Opposition to Whitewashing of History, and More Today, the Sierra Club is highlighting the transparency generated by the organization's Environmental Law Program in the first year of Donald Trump's second term in office. Sierra Club lawyers launched a robust Freedom of Information A  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The House Education and Workforce Committee released the following written testimony by Kevin Frazier, AI innovation and law fellow at the University of Texas, from a Jan. 14, 2026, hearing entitled "Building an AI-Ready America": * * * I. Introduction: The Portfolio Economy Artificial intelligence (AI) will inevitably and permanently alter the nature of work.1 Where, how, and to what extent is unknown and, critically, unknowable.2 Economists do not have a definitive t  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, issued the following opening remarks on Jan. 22, 2026, at a hearing entitled "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Mine Safety and Health Administration": * * * "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, everyone. Thank you so much, Assistant Secretary Palmer, for being here today. "Since its inception in 1977, the Mine Safety and Health Administ  more