WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 114 civil right organization has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Census Bureau expressing concerns regarding the 2026 Operational Test in support of the 2030 Census. The coalition, which includes diverse civil rights organizations, has articulated fears that the proposed testing methodology will undermine the accuracy and reliability of the census, primarily affecting underreported communities. The letter underscores the importance of conducting  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 16 state attorneys general have issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services demanding the immediate withdrawal of a recent proposed rule that modifies the definition of "disability" under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Proposed Rule, which aims to exclude "gender dysphoria not resulting from physical impairments" from disability protections, has drawn intense scrutiny from legal officials across the nation.  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 20 state attorneys general submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Census Bureau expressing their opposition to proposed changes for the 2026 Operational Test, which is intended to support plans for the 2030 Census. The group argues that the adjustments threaten to undermine the accuracy and integrity of future census counts, particularly among historically undercounted populations. The comment letter addresses multiple issues raised by the Census Bu  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 42 health organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing concerns regarding proposed changes to regulations affecting access to medically necessary formulas and foods for individuals with gastrointestinal (GI) and inherited metabolic disorders. The letter highlights the essential role that specialized nutrition plays in the health management of patients suffering from these conditions. The p  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 20 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: * * * Administrative Simplification; Adoption of Standards for Health Care Claims Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures Final Rule CMS-0053-F * Overview The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized the Administrative Simplification; Adoption of Standards for Health Care Claims Attachments Transactio  more

ROCKVILLE, Maryland, March 20 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news news wrapup: * * * The ASAM Weekly for March 17, 2026 The total consumption model (TCM) is a theory proposing that the prevalence of problematic behavior follows closely with that of population-level behavior, driven by social network effects and exogenous influences. This model of collectivity has been demonstrated in alcohol consumption, gambling, and now adolescent   more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 20 -- North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Jeff Jackson Challenges EPA Rollback That Will Raise Gas Prices for North Carolina Families * EPA's own data shows the rollback will raise fuel prices and cost consumers $1.5 trillion RALEIGH -Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general in challenging an EPA rollback that the agency's own analysis shows will raise fuel cost  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, March 20 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Tong Secures Federal Court Order Protecting Gender Affirming Care * (Hartford, CT) - Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 21 states and The District of Columbia yesterday secured a federal court order blocking an unlawful attempt by the Trump Administration to pressure healthcare providers into ending care for youth with gender dysphoria. The Cour  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Aviation Spectrum Resources Inc. submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration addressing proposed requirements for interference-tolerant radio altimeter systems, supporting the safety objectives while urging refinements to improve clarity and long-term effectiveness. In its correspondence, ASRI applauds the FAA's initiative to establish minimum performance standards for these critical systems. However, the org  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Beyer, Norton, Thompson Demand NPS Halt Removal of Critical Commuter Bike Lanes * Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Congressional Bike Caucus Co-Chair Mike Thompson (D-CA) led a group of House Democrats in demanding that the National Parks Service (NPS) immediately halt or block any plans to remove the two-way protected bike lane running from the Tidal Basi  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 21 (TNSLrpt) -- Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for the Regions December 2025 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Southwest Region - March 20, 2026 * * * Private industry employer costs for employee compensation among the four regions of the country ranged from $41.21 per hour in the South to $53.99 in the Northeast in December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In the other two regions, hourly employer costs   more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The law firm Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services voicing its opposition to a proposed rule that seeks to omit gender dysphoria from the definitions of "individual with a disability" and "disability" under federal regulations. This proposed revision, as outlined in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, has raised concerns among advocacy groups and legal experts, who argue that such a change could h  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addressing proposed changes within the annual Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027. The organization expressed its support for certain policies while raising concerns about others that could negatively affect enrollees and the stability of insurance exchanges. As one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare providers in the nation, serving approxi  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Census Quality Reinforcement Task Force has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Census Bureau expressing concerns regarding the design of the 2026 Operational Test in support of the 2030 Census. The organization warns that the currently revised testing framework may severely compromise the integrity and efficiency of the upcoming census operations, potentially leading to inflated costs and decreased data quality. In its letter, the task force emphasizes the  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, March 20 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release: * * * Center for Vein Restoration to Pay $4 Million to Resolve False Claim Allegations Arising from Billing Government Health Programs for Unnecessary Medical Procedures * (Hartford, CT) -Attorney General William Tong today announced Connecticut has joined with other states and the federal government to reach a $4 million settlement with CVR Management, LLC, resolving allegations t  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 20 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: * * * CMS Rule Phases Out Fax Machines, Snail Mail to Save Taxpayers $781.98 Million a Year * The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is slashing wasteful spending and antiquated paperwork by swapping out faxing and mailing for streamlined electronic transactions. This action lets providers spend less time on administrativ  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Glenn Ivey's Statement on the Deadly Minneapolis Shooting by ICE Agent * Washington, DC - "The news out of Minneapolis today is heartbreaking. A woman is dead after being shot by an ICE officer during a federal enforcement operation, and behind every headline is a person: a life cut short, a family now living a nightmare, and a community left searching for answers. My prayers are with   more

ROCKVILLE, Maryland, March 20 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news release: * * * COSAM Supports Legislation to Establish Alcohol Recovery Enterprises and New Sports Betting Consumer Protections * On March 17, the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine (COSAM) sent letters to the leadership of key committees in support of two priority bills: HB26-1271 and SB26-131. HB26-1271 would establish enterprises to collect fees on the alcoho  more

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, March 21 -- Demand Progress issued the following news release on March 20, 2026: * * * Speaker Johnson Delays FISA Vote After Public Outcry Congress Must Stop Mass Data Collection for AI Surveillance Before Renewing Government Spying Powers * Washington, D.C. -- On Friday, Politico reported that the House will not vote next week on a renewal of the federal government's controversial and sweeping warrantless surveillance authority, also known as Section 702 of the Fo  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Denounces Republicans' Voter Suppression Legislation On The Senate Floor * March 20, 2026 Durbin: "This legislation is Trump's crown jewel in a grand scheme to rig the results of the upcoming midterm election" WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, denounced Republicans' SAVE Am  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on March 20, 2026: * * * Durbin Denounces Republicans' Voter Suppression Legislation On The Senate Floor In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, denounced Republicans' SAVE America Act, legislation that is designed to prevent Americans from exercising their fund  more

WASHINGTON, March 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Denounces SAVE America Act & Republicans' Efforts To Restrict Americans' Fundamental Right To Vote * March 19, 2026 The SAVE America Act would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters with extreme voting requirements WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor denounci  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Outlines Various Obstacles Americans Would Face When Attempting To Register To Vote Under The Republicans' SAVE America Act * March 20, 2026 WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, outlined the various obstacles that Americans would face when attempting to register to vote under Re  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Outlines Various Obstacles Americans Would Face When Attempting To Register To Vote Under The Republicans' SAVE America Act In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, outlined the various obstacles that Americans would face when attempting to register  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 20 -- Morgan State University issued the following news release: * * * Executive Alliance Recognizes Morgan State for Exceeding Goals for Placement of Women in Top Higher Education Roles With More Than Half of Its Senior Leadership Posts Held by Women, Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University Continues to Realize Equity at the Highest Levels of Academia * In a time when women remain underrepresented in the highest ranks of higher education leadership  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the following news release: * * * Summaries | March 2026 Commission Meeting These are summaries of orders voted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at its March 19, 2026, public meeting. Links to each order will be provided below once the order is issued. The summaries are produced by FERC's Office of External Affairs and are intended to provide only a general synopsis of the orders. These summaries are not intend  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Reauthorize And Expand The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program * U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with eight Senate Democratic colleagues, introduced the Delaware River Basin Restoration Reauthorization Act, legislation to reauthorize the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP), which provides key funding to improve w  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Hoyer: To the Ukrainian People, We Have Been with You, We're with You Now, and We Will Be with You in the Future. * WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks after receiving the Star of Ukraine Award at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation's Star of Ukraine Awards & Benefit Gala. Below is a transcript of his remarks: "Look, I know why all of you came. I came to hear the intr  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 19 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on March 18, 2026, by Director Maureen H. Lavery and research attorneys Hannah T. Stilley and Joe St. James: * * * Ones To Watch: Legislation Landscape for 2026 At a Glance This article provides an overview of the thousands of labor and employment-related bills introduced in the United States in the first quarter of the year and looks at trends that appear to be emerging. * Ones To Watch is back wi  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative has issued a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services raising alarm over a proposed rule that could substantially decrease enrollment in the Marketplace. The organization, which has worked to promote access to affordable health care in Maryland since 1999, fears that changes outlined in the proposal may adversely affect millions of individuals seeking health insurance coverage. In its letter to the fed  more

WASHINGTON, March 19 -- Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Maryland Congressional Delegation Holds Meeting to Discuss Future of NASA, Maryland's Role in Space Innovation * WASHINGTON - Yesterday, members of Maryland's Congressional Delegation met with NASA officials and stakeholders to discuss protecting and supporting Maryland-based efforts to advance American leadership in space science and innovation. They received updates on and discussed the importance  more

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, March 21 -- The Maryland Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: * * * Maryland Department of Agriculture Celebrates Proclamations Honoring Maryland's Farming Communities The Maryland Department of Agriculture is proud to announce that Governor Wes Moore has officially issued three proclamations celebrating the essential contributions of the state's farming community: National Agriculture Week (March 15-21); National Poultry Day (March 19); and Nation  more

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, March 20 -- Gov. Wes Moore, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Maryland Department of Commerce Programs Supported 24,000 Jobs in FY 2025 * ANNAPOLIS, MD -Governor Wes Moore today announced that Maryland Department of Commerce finance and tax incentive programs helped support an estimated 24,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs during FY 2025. This figure includes creating and retaining 13,000 direct jobs in Maryland during the fiscal year. More than 8  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 20 -- The University of Maryland Baltimore campus issued the following news: * * * State Gives Final Approval For West Lexington Corridor Plan Alex Likowski "Early in the Moore administration, Governor Moore came to visit UMB to see about our plans and how he could help. We told him about our vibrancy plan, which was an initiative to enliven the northern end of our campus, the Vibrancy Initiative," University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 21 -- The Maryland Department of Health issued the following news on March 20, 2026: * * * State agencies, partners discuss potential impact of federal funding on Maryland's rural health care workforce and agriculture industry $168 million investment will advance health care in rural Maryland communities * Maryland's health, agriculture and labor leaders today joined industry representatives, community partners, health departments, care providers, retailers, empl  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration expressing concerns regarding the agency's proposed modification of the Buy America requirements for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The comment pertains to the FHWA's Notice of Proposed Modification of the Waiver of Buy America Requirements, published on February 12, 2026, which seeks to raise the domestic content thre  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 21 -- The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor issued the following news release: * * * Guiding Principles Unveiled for North Carolina's Campaign Finance Reform The Modernization of Election Data Systems (MEDS) Commission held its second meeting on Wednesday, where commission members heard from elections leaders in Mississippi and Maryland, and discussed a new set of guiding principles for campaign finance reform. During the meeting, the co-chairs of the   more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) expressing its support for a proposed rule aimed at clarifying emergency exemptions. NPGA highlights the challenges faced by the propane industry due to current regulations and emphasizes the necessity for a policy change to improve operational efficiency and safety. Representing approximately 2,400 member companies including retail  more

CLEMSON, South Carolina, March 20 -- Clemson University posted the following news: * * * New Undergraduate Student Government leaders take office * An intimate crowd of about 100 gathered in Carillon Garden on the Friday before Spring Break as Clemson Undergraduate Student Government (CUSG) election results were announced. The crowd roared to an approval as Rosie Hanna and Brady Young were announced as the newly elected student body president and vice president, respectively. Their term in o  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Penn Law Firm, Columbia, Maryland, has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration expressing its opposition to the Federation of Professional Truckers' application for an exemption from electronic logging device (ELD) requirements outlined in federal law. The law firm, which represents victims of accidents involving large commercial trucks, argues that the exemption would undermine critical safety measures designed to address   more

COLUMBIA, Maryland, March 21 (TNSrpt) -- Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association issued the following news: * * * OIG Flags Inappropriate Antipsychotic Use in Nursing Homes A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that some nursing homes inappropriately administered antipsychotic drugs to residents with dementia, exposing them to serious health risks. Based on 40 focused inspections conducted by the Centers for Medicare &   more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Protecting U.S. Biodefense and Pandemic Preparedness: Rep. McClain Delaney, Maryland Senators Demand Answers about NIAID Lab Readiness at Fort Detrick * WASHINGTON - This week, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (all D-Md.) sent a letter () pressing the Trump Administration to address concerns about the status and future of a labor  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 21 (TNSrpt) -- World Relief issued the following news release on March 20, 2026: * * * Refugee Council USA, Refugee Congress, and World Relief release a new report on the Chicago-based pilot of the Refugee Integration Self-Assessment Washington, D.C. - This week, Refugee Council USA, Refugee Congress, and World Relief released the report Measuring What Matters: Piloting a Self-Assessment by and for Forcibly Displaced Populations. The Measuring What Matters report p  more

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland, March 20 -- The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command issued the following news: * * * Solving The Wrong Problem: Lessons From The ATEC AI Challenge * In 2025, my team within the Soldier Evaluation Directorate won the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC)'s AI Challenge with a tool that could draft the first version of an ATEC Evaluation Plan (AEP). The tool worked-and worked well-but the experience left me questioning whether we had been solving the  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Spectrum Support Inc., an organization dedicated to assisting over 200 individuals with disabilities in Maryland, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy opposing two proposed rules that would rescind vital accessibility regulations. The organization emphasizes that these changes would negatively impact the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities seeking access to fully usable facilities. The comment letter expresses strong opp  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland posted the following news release: * * * Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Tampering With Evidence After Helping Boyfriend Charged With Snap Benefits Fraud A Virginia woman pled guilty to a superseding indictment in federal court today. The charges stem from her attempt to help her boyfriend tamper with evidence after authorities arrested him for participating in a SNAP benefits fraud scheme. Dominiqu  more

OLYMPIA, Washington, March 20 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release: * * * Washington to win summary judgment protecting health care for transgender youth * A federal court said on Thursday that it would rule for Washington, 20 other states, and the District of Columbia, turning back an unlawful attempt by the Trump administration to pressure health care providers into ending transgender health care for youth with gender dysphoria. In an oral sta  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Fund for American Studies issued the following news: * * * Why Freedom and Tradition Still Matter: A New Book from TFAS Senior Scholar Donald Devine The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is pleased to announce the release of a new book by Senior Scholar Dr. Donald J. Devine, "Thinking About Freedom and Tradition: Understanding the Philosophers Who Make the Case for Western Civilization." At a time when civic literacy and historical understanding are increasingly fra  more