GOLDEN VALLEY, Minnesota, Jan. 28 -- The Center of the American Experiment, a civic and educational organization that says it creates and advocates policies, issued the following commentary: * * * North Dakota to participate in new tax-credit scholarship program -- and that's a win for families By Catrin Wigfall Something important is happening in education policy, and it isn't coming from Washington mandates or teachers' union talking points. It's coming from states embracing a landmark e  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Collins, a fifth-generation family-owned company, has issued a public comment letter addressing the U.S. Forest Service concerning the Environmental Assessment for Post-Fire Recovery Actions on National Forest System Lands. The organization expressed support for the agency's efforts to establish a consistent framework for post-fire recovery. They emphasized the importance of timely and effective restoration policies that are suited to specific regional needs. In their lett  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Durango, Colorado, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Forest Service addressing the agency's Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed post-fire recovery actions on National Forest System lands. The organization highlights the importance of a thorough examination of ecological impacts stemming from various recovery strategies, particularly concerning sustainable land management practices. The p  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The Intertribal Timber Council, Portland, Oregon, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, indicating strong support for a proposed nationwide Environmental Assessment (EA) aimed at post-fire recovery actions on National Forest System Lands. Founded in 1976, the ITC represents over 60 federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native corporations involved in forest management and timber production. The organization highlighted  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- A coalition of marine and environmental scientists has called upon the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to refrain from issuing leases for seabed mining in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) adjacent to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In a public comment letter, the scientists highlighted the potential harm to marine ecosystems and the need for thorough scientific assessment of these areas before any minin  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Markey, Merkley, Van Hollen, Wyden Urge Trump to Keep Longstanding Ban on South Korean Nuclear Enrichment, Reprocessing * Letter Text (PDF) Washington (January 30, 2026) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chairs of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, along with Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today wrote to President Trump ur  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 [Category: Sociological] -- MomsRising Executive Director and CEO Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner issued a statement objecting to the Justice Department's arrest of Don Lemon, Georgia Fort, and other journalists who were covering an immigration protest at Cities Church, Minnesota. Rowe-Finkbeiner argued that the arrests undermine First Amendment protections and warned against efforts to intimidate members of the media. She pointed to demonstrations in multiple cities as evidence th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- No Labels, a political organization that advocates for centrism and bipartisanship, issued the following commentary on Jan. 30, 2026: * * * What Are Sanctuary Cities? Definitions, legal boundaries, and the range of local immigration enforcement policies What "Sanctuary City" Means By Austin Milks "Sanctuary city" is not a legal term. There is no single official definition. The phrase is commonly used to describe cities, counties, or states that restrict the extent to   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 [Category: Education] -- Stacy Michaelson, government relations and communications director for the Oregon School Boards Association, called on the governor and Legislature to access the state's Education Stability Fund to shield K-12 schools from mid-biennium budget cuts, citing mounting revenue shortfalls tied to federal tax and program changes. Michaelson warned that projected gaps of hundreds of millions of dollars could trigger reductions to the State School Fund and e  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * PASSED: Murray Secures Hundreds of Millions for Transportation & Housing Projects Across WA in Final Appropriations Bills; Boosts Funding for Medical Research, Housing, Child Care & More * In a major victory for Seattle's biomedical research hubs and Washington families, Senator Murray prevents Trump's devastating cuts to NIH and research into lifesaving cures and treatments Murray led efforts  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, Jan. 29 -- VoteVets issued the following news release: * * * VoteVets PAC Endorses Luke Bronin for Congress in CT-01 Today, VoteVets PAC is announcing that it is endorsing Luke Bronin in Connecticut's First Congressional District. A Rhodes Scholar, Luke volunteered to serve in Afghanistan in 2010 and worked as a Navy intelligence officer on the U.S. military's anti-corruption task force. From 2016 to 2024, Luke served as the mayor of Hartford, where he tackled the city's big  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: * * * Wicker Questions Commandant of the Coast Guard at Commerce Hearing * Click here for video WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., questioned Admiral Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. Senator Wicker asked Admiral Lunday about the service's plans for implementing the historic investment Congress provided the Coast Guard in 2025. The foll  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Probe Collapse in IRS Investigations of Wealthy Tax Cheats Under Trump * Senators: IRS investigations into abusive tax schemes plummeted last year to lowest levels in the past decade Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues to demand answers on how Republican funding clawbacks and DOGE staff cuts have gutted the Internal R  more