{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where year = 2013 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://collinpeterson.house.gov/rep-petersons-newsletter-1231", "Rep. Peterson's Newsletter 12/31", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "MN", "Collin Peterson", "P000258", "collinpeterson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Mark Hartsell  Library of Congress Christmas Tree\nDear Friends,\nThe 113th Congress will enter its second session on January 7th as 2013 comes to a close. Northland Community and Technical College will benefit from the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s recent decision to designate North Dakota as a test site for Unmanned Aerial Systems. The National Park Service is making national park entrance fees free for nine days next year, and Chippewa Forest will have a big role to play in next year\u2019s Christmas celebrations.\nSincerely,\nCongressman Collin C. Peterson  Minnesota 7th District\n 2014 House Legislative Calendar \nClick here to view the tentative legislative calendar for 2014.\n Unmanned Aerial Systems \nThis week the Federal Aviation Administration designated North Dakota as one of six test sites in the nation for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). This is also good news for northwest Minnesota and for Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls which offers a UAS maintenance-training program that was first in the nation. Thanks to the leadership team at Northland College, and all the other partners in the region who worked hard for many years to develop and implement this technology and the programs that are experiencing unprecedented growth, we will see this region as a leader in UAS.\nClick here to read a UAS article written by the Grand Forks Herald.\n National Park Service \nThe National Park Service announced that entrance to America\u2019s 401 national parks will be free to the public on nine days in 2014.\u00a0 Dates of free admission are:\u00a0\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 February 15-17: Presidents Day weekend\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 April 19-20: National Park Week\u2019s opening weekend\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 August 25: National Park Service\u2019s 98th birthday\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 September 27: National Public Lands Day\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 November 11: Veterans Day\nAccording to National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, more than 280 million people visit America\u2019s national parks each year. \u201cNational parks not only protect and preserve the places we most value; they also add enormous economic value to nearby communities and the entire nation.\u00a0Visitor spending represents a $30 billion annual benefit to the national economy and supports more than 250,000 jobs,\u201d said Jarvis. \u201cFee-free days are a great way to both thank those visitors and introduce parks to first-timers who can find a new place to call an old favorite.\u201d\u00a0\nVisitors should note that this is an entrance free waiver only, so it does not cover amenity or user fees for things such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.\nFor more information on Minnesota\u2019s National Parks, click here.\n 2014 Capitol Christmas Tree \nThe U.S. Forest Service announced that Minnesota\u2019s own Chippewa National Forest will provide the 2014 Capitol Christmas Tree.\u00a0According to the Architect of the Capitol, the tradition of displaying a Christmas tree on the Capitol Grounds is relatively recent.\u00a0Records of correspondence dating back to 1919 show that a Christmas tree was purchased that year, but it was not until 1964 that a procedure for tree selection and a tree-lighting ceremony was established.\u00a0The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has provided the trees since 1970.\u00a0Minnesota has supplied the trees three times since then.\u00a0\nThe last Minnesota tree that graced the Capitol lawn was in 1992.\u00a0I look forward to seeing a Minnesota tree return to our nation\u2019s capital next year!\u00a0\n This Week in American History \nOn December 31st, 1894, Roseau County, named for the lake and river within its region, was established by an order of Governor Knute Nelson. Roseau County borders Canada and Lake of the Woods in northwest Minnesota. According to the 2010 census, the population was 15,629 and covers a total area of 1,678 square miles.\nClick here to learn more about the history of Roseau County.\n  \u201cGuitar Painting\u201d  Brady Larson (CROOKSTON)  2013 Congressional Art Competition", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-releases-year-end-report-constituents", "Rep. Kelly Releases Year-End Report for Constituents", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) released the following letter today, to be e-mailed to his constituents throughout Pennsylvania\u2019s Third Congressional District, to serve as a year-end overview of his office\u2019s legislative achievements and constituent relations throughout 2013.\nDear Constituent:\nOver the past twelve months, I have had the enormous privilege of continuing to represent you in our nation\u2019s capital during the first session of the 113th Congress. As with my first term in office, all of my work in the House of Representatives is guided by your values, your voices, and your priorities.\nYour goals are my goals, and every day I work hard to accomplish them. The most important of these, of course, is creating an environment that strengthens our economy and generates more jobs with family-sustainable wages for our region and our country. I\u2019ve proudly supported every measure to secure this outcome, and opposed any obstacle to reaching it. You can learn more about every jobs bill passed in the House and follow their status here.\nWith every new challenge that 2013 brought us \u2013 and there were many \u2013 there also came many opportunities. My staff and I worked diligently to meet all of them head-on.\nFighting the IRS, Restoring Trust &amp; Accountability in Washington\nWhen the news broke that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was targeting and harassing Americans based on their political leanings, I joined the nation in outrage. As member of the House Ways and Means Committee (and member of the Subcommittee on Oversight), I made it my personal responsibility to get answers about what went wrong and hold those responsible fully accountable for abusing the American people\u2019s trust in such an unthinkable manner. Watch my remarks at two memorable committee hearings here and here.\nAs a result of this scandal, during the summer I re-introduced the Government Employee Accountability Act. The legislation would give all federal agencies the power to effectively deal with delinquent Senior Executive Service employees (such as disgraced former IRS official Lois Lerner), including the ability to conduct \u201cinvestigative leave without pay\u201d and to carry out immediate termination. In other words, no more paid vacations for violating the taxpayers\u2019 rights. The House eventually passed the legislation by a bipartisan vote of 239-176.\nStopping Asian Carp, Protecting Jobs &amp; Families in Western Pennsylvania \nBack home in the Third District, the threat of Asian carp are constantly on everyone\u2019s minds \u2014 and rightly so. This 70-pound invasive species threatens our regional economy, the fishing industry, and the wellbeing of all of us who rely on the water for work or recreation. This is a fish that is so aggressive and voracious that it can sometimes eat up to four times its own weight. When it emerges out of the water \u2013 flies, is more like it \u2013 it can inflict serious physical harm upon anyone it strikes, especially toddlers and young children.\nAs the co-chairman of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition, and as a grandfather to eight beautiful young grandchildren, I take this threat extremely seriously. This is not a Republican or a Democrat issue. This is an American issue, and the stakes are dangerously high.\nIf drastic action is not taken, this invasive species will utterly devastate the Great Lakes and Western Pennsylvania waterways and thereby cripple a $7 billion commercial and recreational fishing industry \u2014 along with all the jobs and livelihoods that go with it.\nThat is why this past fall I was proud to offer a bipartisan amendment to the Water Resources Reform &amp; Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA) which will establish a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries, including the assistance of\u00a0 the Army Corp of Engineers. In a stunning display of people before party, the House passed WRRDA \u2013 with my amendment attached \u2013 by an astounding bipartisan vote of 417-3.\nProtecting Americans from Obamacare, Standing up for a Patient-Centered Alternative\nEven before the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) became law, most Americans had a bad feeling about the federal government taking over one sixth of our economy. Now, after the first few months of its horrific implementation, and after hearing personal stories from countless constituents, there is no mistaking it: Obamacare is a national disaster.\nAs you know, since coming to Congress in 2011, I have seized every opportunity to repeal or at least reduce Obamacare so that fewer Americans are harmed by its mandates. I have also sought to shed light on areas surrounding the law that are uncertain, if not downright murky. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve sent the Obama administration two separate letters demanding to know why the construction process for Obamacare\u2019s official website was so poorly overseen and executed. American taxpayers, whose hard-earned money funded the website, deserve to know.\nAt the same time, I have long believed that effective health care reform is indeed a national imperative that, with the right guiding principles, can and should still be achieved. After all, the mantra \u201crepeal and replace\u201d only holds water if \u201creplace\u201d has a meaning. That is why I am co-sponsoring the American Health Care Reform Act, a patient-centered alternative to Obamacare that would make health insurance more accessible and affordable to the most vulnerable among us \u2014 and do so in a way that wouldn\u2019t damage the economy or disrupt anyone\u2019s existing plans. You can read more about this commonsense bill here.\nDefending the Second Amendment &amp; National Sovereignty\nAll year long, I was proud to lead the congressional opposition to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), an outrageous agreement which forces the United States \u2013 the world\u2019s most important defender of peace and democracy \u2013 onto equal footing with the world\u2019s worst dictatorships and terror-sponsors. Ominously, the treaty excludes any specific protection for, or even mention of, the fundamental right of individuals to keep and bear arms, which only opens the door wider to future gun control impositions.\nEarlier this year, I introduced a concurrent resolution (existing in both houses of Congress) to oppose the ATT and helped it earn the co-sponsorship of more than a third of the House and the Senate. We later sent two letters to President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry explaining our opposition and vowing to block ATT with every tool at our disposal.\nIn anticipation of the treaty being signed by the Obama administration (which ultimately occurred), I introduced an amendment to prohibit any federal funding for the implementation of the ATT in the Defense Departments\u2019 annual appropriations bill. On December 26th, President Obama signed the bill, with my amendment, into law. Needless to say, this fight will continue in 2014.\nMeeting the Needs of the Third District All Year Round\nHere is a run-down of how my offices and staff were able to help me assist and communicate with my constituents in 2013. We\u2026\n Expanded my social media presence, earning more than 5,000 \u201cfriends\u201d and 4,000 followers on Facebook and Twitter respectively; and\nToured more than 25 local businesses and factories to talk with both employers and employees about issues affecting their industries;\nHelped more than 1,900 constituents with their challenges to navigate the federal bureaucracy;\nAnswered more than 68,000 pieces of mail, email, faxes and calls;\nMaintained 3 full time constituent offices and 3 satellite offices;\nHeld 5 Tele-Town Hall Meetings to address a range of issues including help with filing tax returns and Medicare\u2019s Open Enrollment Period;\nOrganized or attended dozens of outreach meetings with constituency groups;\nSent more than 1,500 American flags to constituents and assisted with 242 tours of the U.S. Capitol;\nConducted hundreds of interviews with local, regional, and national press.\n As I\u2019ve said time and again, representing you and your neighbors in the House of Representatives is the honor of my lifetime. Anytime my staff can help you with a federal matter in any specific way, please do not hesitate to contact me via the information and locations listed below. I humbly thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and look forward to having your back in Congress in 2014.\nHappy New Year!\nSincerely,\nMike Kelly\n\u00a0\nERIE DISTRICT OFFICE\n208 E. Bayfront Parkway\nSuite 102\nErie, PA 16507\nPhone: (814) 454-8190\nFax: (814) 454-8197\n\u00a0\nBUTLER DISTRICT OFFICE\n101 East Diamond St\nSuite 218\nButler, PA\u00a0 16001\nPhone: (724) 282-2557  \n\tFax: (724) 282-3682\n\u00a0\nSHARON DISTRICT OFFICE\n33 Chestnut Street\nSharon, PA\u00a0 16146\nPhone: (724) 342-7170\nFax: (724) 342-7242\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC OFFICE\n1519 Longworth HOB\nWashington, DC 20515\nPhone: (202) 225-5406\nFax: (202) 225-3103\n\u00a0\nCRAWFORD COUNTY OFFICE\nEvery Wednesday\n9:00 a.m. \u2013 4:00 p.m.\n908 Diamond Park\nMeadville, PA 16335\n\u00a0\nARMSTRONG COUNTY OFFICE\nEvery Thursday\n9:00 a.m. \u2013 4:00 p.m.\n300 South McKean Street\nKittanning, PA 16201\n\u00a0\nLAWRENCE COUNTY\nEvery Friday\n9:00 a.m. \u2013 4: 00 p.m.\nLawrence County Courthouse\n430 Court Street\nNew Castle, PA\u00a0 16101\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://pittenger.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pittenger-announces-five-service-academy-nominations", "Pittenger Announces Five Service Academy Nominations", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Robert Pittenger", "P000606", "pittenger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nDecember 31, 2013\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n CONGRESSMAN PITTENGER ANNOUNCES FIVE SERVICE ACADEMY APPOINTMENTS \n\u00a0\nCHARLOTTE - As the New Year begins, several students from the Charlotte area are set to start lives of service to their country. \u00a0Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09) is honored to announce five young men have received appointments to United States service academies for the coming year.\n\u00a0\n Mr. Connor Calvin, a senior at Charlotte Christian School, will join the Naval Academy. \u00a0\"Every day I want to go to work leading people who seek to craft a better world for their families and liberate those under oppression,\" Connor stated. \u00a0He is the son of Leigh and John Calvin, and lives in Matthews.\n\tMr. Peter Hetzel, who is homeschooled and also attends Grace Academy, will be a cadet at West Point. \u00a0Peter has two brothers in the Naval Academy, and joins them in a tradition of service. \u00a0He is from Weddington, and is the son of Whitney and James Hetzel.\n\tMr. Ethan Mead, a senior at Charlotte Catholic, wanted to join the Air Force Academy. \u00a0\"I want to be able to put all of my efforts into making not only the United States a better place to live,\" Ethan said, \"but the rest of the world as well.\" \u00a0The son of Delaine and Mark Mead, Ethan is from Charlotte.\n\tMr. Mitch Renfrow, a senior at Providence Day School, plans to join the Air Force Academy. \u00a0As a lacrosse goalie and Sunday school teacher, Mitch believes \"the best leader must also be a good follower,\" and hopes to become an Air Force chaplain. \u00a0From Charlotte, he is the son of Georgene and William Renfrow.\n\tMr. Emory Walls, a senior at Providence High School, will join the Air Force Academy. \u00a0Emory has been interested in aviation from a young age, since his grandparents gave him a copy of The Encyclopedia of Modern Aircraft for his second birthday. \u00a0He is the son of Alison and George Walls, and is from Matthews.\n \"By serving a cause greater than their own self-interests, each of these young Americans are embarking on an inspiring course which will make America proud,\" Congressman Pittenger commented. \u00a0\"The Ninth District is blessed with many talented young individuals, and their willingness to step forward to answer freedom's call reflects their sense of duty, devotion, and resolve.\"\n\u00a0\nCongressman Pittenger has personally called all five appointees to congratulate them on this accomplishment. \u00a0The five appointees are a great start to the appointment process in the two weeks since Congressman Pittenger's office sent nominations to the service academies.\n\u00a0\nTo date, there have been five appointments for 2014, joining 14 appointments for 2013.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/editorial/rokita-report-2013-year-review", "Rokita Report 2013 Year-in-Review", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\nThank you for allowing me the opportunity to update you on my work in the 113th Congress. I trust this finds you and your family well.\nAs we are at the end of 2013, I wanted to use this Rokita Report as a quick \"Year-in-Review\" of some of the bigger accomplishments this year.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n  \u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\tIn September, I, along with\u00a0several Republican Study Committee colleagues, introduced the American Health Care Reform Act - a consumer-driven, commonsense health care reform bill designed to increase access and reduce costs for all Americans.\nWe introduced this legislation because we believe it is important to improve health care, not just repeal ObamaCare.\u00a0 This bill now has\u00a0nearly 120 cosponsors and I look forward to more of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle joining us in 2014.\nYou can view my remarks\u00a0from the press conference where we\u00a0rolled out\u00a0the legislation here.\nA brief summary of the bills reforms\n Encouraging a more competitive health care market - Allows Americans to purchase health care across state lines, increasing transparency in Medicare by making claims data public, and allowing small businesses\u00a0to pool together to lower costs.\nIncreasing access to portable, affordable health insurance - Implements an across-the-board standard deduction for all health insurance plans, and expanding access and options for Health Savings Accounts.\nImproving access to insurance for vulnerable Americans - Ensures affordable coverage for those with pre-existing conditions by funding state high-risk pools, and removing barriers that prevent continual insurance coverage.\nReforming medical liability law - Caps non-economic damages, and placing a statute of limitations on liability cases.\nRespecting human life - Prohibits taxpayer funding for abortion.\nRepealing Obamacare\n We continue to seek input from anyone that wishes to constructively contribute to meaningful and responsible health care reform.\nYou can read the full bill text, summaries of the bills, and learn more about the\u00a0American Health Care Reform Act here.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n  \u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\nIn August, the House considered and passed the Student Success Act.\u00a0 The Student Success Act, introduced in June, is a bill I authored\u00a0in my role as Chairman of the\u00a0Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education\u00a0that reforms No Child Left Behind and reasserts Indiana's explicit right to direct the education of Indiana's children.\nThe Student Success Act reforms our nation's K-12 education system by restoring local and state control to our schools.\u00a0 In particular, the Student Success Act gives states, not Washington, D.C., the authority and responsibility to set academic standards, to measure if students are meeting those standards, and to make changes if they are not meeting their own standards.\u00a0\u00a0\nRep. Rokita Responds to Student Success Act Criticism 7-19-13\nNo Washington bureaucrat cares more about a child than a parent does. And no one in Washington knows what is better for Indiana\u00a0students than Indiana families, teachers, and\u00a0school boards. That is why the Student Success Act (SSA) puts an end to the administration\u2019s National School Board by\u00a0returning control to state and local school districts.\n\u00a0\nMany Hoosiers will also be pleased to know that the Student Success Act prohibits the Secretary of Education from coercing states into adopting Common Core.\n\tI would like to thank my fellow Education and Workforce Hoosier colleagues - Reps. Larry Bucshon, Susan Brooks, and Luke Messer for their help with this legislation.\u00a0\nIt is my hope that the Senate considers\u00a0their reauthorization\u00a0legislation in 2014. I look forward to working with my Senate counterparts pass this plan next year.\u00a0\u00a0For more information on the bill, please\u00a0click here.\n  \u00a0\nProtecting your 4th Amendment Rights - Stopping the NSA from Spying on Americans\nLike many Hoosiers, I was greatly concerned when I learned about the\u00a0various National Security Agency spying scandals that\u00a0were reported this year.\u00a0\u00a0 As more and more revelations emerged about the NSA spying on Americans\u2019 phone calls and electronic communications, it was clear that the Obama Administration has been slow in taking responsibility for abuses and invasions of Americans\u2019 privacy.\u00a0\u00a0\nSince that news broke, I have continually been working on a bipartisan basis to rein in the NSA\u2019s domestic surveillance operations and protect Americans\u2019 privacy through legislation and congressional oversight.\u00a0\u00a0\nMost recently,\u00a0I co-authored bipartisan legislation called the\u00a0USA Freedom Act to address NSA abuses.\u00a0 The USA Freedom Act makes reforms to end the dragnet collection of Americans\u2019 phone records under Section 215 of the PATRIOT.\u00a0 This bill also provides more safeguards for warrantless surveillance.\nIn September, I introduced legislation to\u00a0establish a Select Committee to investigate and report on the surveillance operations of the National Security Administration.\u00a0\u00a0\nAlso this year, I introduced another bipartisan bill to curb unconstitutional surveillance, the Ending Secret Law Act, to require declassification of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) decisions.\u00a0 Read my op-ed regarding this bill from the UK's Guardian, which first broke the news of this surveillance, here.\nI am committed to continue and win this fight to uphold our constitutional Fourth Amendment rights.\u00a0\u00a0\n  \u00a0\n\u00a0\n\n\u00a0\nIn the spring of 2011, my office in conjunction with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce embarked on a critical initiative called \u201cRed Tape Rollback,\u201d\u00a0to identify and roll back unnecessary and overly burdensome federal regulations that kill jobs and hurt our economy.\u00a0\u00a0 The purpose of\u00a0Red Tape Rollback is to give businesses, individuals, and institutions across the Hoosier State one location to report information on these job-destroying rules and regulations.\nI\u2019m pleased to report that at the end of 2013\u2014just over two years into this effort\u2014we\u2019ve achieved 33 significant victories in our fight against excessive regulations, and we\u2019ve made major progress on dozens of other issues.\u00a0 From victories that will reshape the framework of regulation in America to more specific regulations that burden Hoosiers, we\u2019ve achieved victories across the federal government.\u00a0 We\u2019ve pushed back against regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and more.\u00a0 I will be releasing an annual report in early 2014 that contains stories about some of our successes and some of our ongoing work.\nHowever, our work is far from done.\nAs economic leaders across the Hoosier State, the\u00a0Red Tape Rollback program only works with your participation.\u00a0 The Constitution vests Congress with the duty to legislate, but equally important is our duty to provide oversight of the executive branch.\u00a0 As we in Congress investigate and debate the appropriateness of federal regulations, I invite you to join us in our efforts.\u00a0 If you know of any regulation that\u00a0is destroying jobs, inhibiting growth, or slowing our economy, I want to know about it.\u00a0\nIt is important that we act now to remove unnecessary and burdensome regulations that destroy jobs.\u00a0 It is time to put Hoosiers back to work and unleash our economy by tearing down the barriers that keep businesses from growing.\nTo learn more about this program and to share your stories of regulatory overreach visit\u00a0rokita.house.gov/redtape.  \n\t\u00a0\n  I appreciate your continued interest in Congress and for supporting my efforts in Washington. Take care and have a great 2014.\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\n\tTodd Rokita", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-of-sjc-chairman-leahy-on-chief-justice-roberts-year-end-report-on-the-federal-judiciary", "Comment Of SJC Chairman Leahy On Chief Justice Roberts' Year-End Report On The Federal Judiciary", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.31.13\n\t\t\t Comment Of SJC Chairman Leahy On Chief Justice Roberts' Year-End Report On The Federal Judiciary \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\u201cThe Chief Justice's annual year-end report again focuses on the significant financial strain on our Federal courts. \u00a0These cuts have a real impact for Americans seeking justice, and pose real threats to the dedicated public servants who work in our nation\u2019s Federal courts as well as to members of the public. \u00a0A return to regular order in our appropriations process will, I hope, ensure that our courts have the resources they require.   \u00a0   \u201cIn his report, Chief Justice Roberts warns against the danger of reduced funding to public safety. Congress earlier this month passed an extension of the Supreme Court Police\u2019s authority to protect Justices, their staff, and official guests when they are away from Supreme Court grounds. \u00a0Our courts must have the resources they need not just to process litigation, but to protect those seeking justice.    \u00a0   \u201cOne threat facing our courts which is unaddressed in the Chief's year-end report are the continuing vacancies plaguing the Federal courts.\u00a0 This year, the number of vacancies has hovered around 90 because obstruction in Congress has led to filibuster after filibuster of qualified nominees. We must not take for granted that we have the greatest justice system in the world, and ensuring this continues requires the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent.\u201d\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/photos/december-2013", "December 2013", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.31.13\n\t\t\t\t December 2013 \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tView photos from various events in December.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202135/http://mckinley.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=2109", "State Journal: WV population down from 2012, new census estimates show", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "WV", "David McKinley", "M001180", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "West Virginia was one of two states to lose population in the past year, according to estimates released by the Census Bureau on Dec. 30.\n\n\tBased on births, deaths and migration, the Census Bureau estimated the state's population as of July 1, 2013, as 1,854,304, a decrease of 2,376 from the 2012 estimate of 1,856,680, but still higher than the 1,852,994 people counted in the 2010 census.\n\n\tMaine was the other state to show a decrease, losing 199 people to drop to 1,328,302. Maine and Rhode Island are the only states whose most recent population estimates are lower than the 2010 census count.\n\n\tTo read entire article, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140307001348/http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=0e414404-d5e2-4216-bfdc-138a468e167b", "Alexander: Unhappy New Year for Tens of Thousands of Tennesseans Whose Health Insurance on the Job Will Change Because of Obamacare", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Lamar Alexander", "A000360", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "December 31 2013  - \nSays enforcement of mandate requiring employers to provide insurance will lead to more canceled plans, higher costs\n***\n\u201cThe president\u2019s broken promise that \u2018If you like your health insurance, you can keep it\u2019 was an unwelcome Christmas present for 82,000 Tennesseans\u00a0buying insurance on their own. Now, since nearly 13 times as many Tennesseans receive health insurance on the job, Obamacare threatens to bring an Unhappy New Year for tens of thousands more Tennesseans.\u201d \u2013 Lamar Alexander\u00a0\nMARYVILLE, Dec. 31 \u2013 U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that since nearly 13 times as many Tennesseans receive health insurance through their employers as purchase their own individual plans, new Obamacare mandates on businesses mean that now\u00a0Tennesseans receiving health insurance through employers will have to\u00a0worry\u00a0about\u00a0Obamacare cancellations bringing\u00a0an \u201cUnhappy New Year.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0\n\u201cDuring 2014, many of the burdensome Obamacare mandates on businesses that the Obama administration delayed will be in full force,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cWe\u2019ve already seen how the president\u2019s broken promise that \u2018If you like your health insurance, you can keep it\u2019 was an unwelcome Christmas present for 82,000 Tennesseans buying insurance on their own. Now, since nearly 13 times as many Tennesseans receive\u00a0health insurance on the job, Obamacare threatens to bring an Unhappy New Year for tens of thousands more Tennesseans.\"\u00a0\nAccording to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are more than 246,000 Tennesseans on the individual insurance market, and Alexander said at least 82,000 Tennesseans are scheduled to begin losing their current insurance because their plans were \u201coutlawed\u201d under Obamacare. About 3,175,000 Tennesseans get their insurance through their employers, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, or nearly 13 times as many as in the individual insurance market. Alexander said the \u201cburdensome mandates on employers\u201d could mean \u201ctens of thousands more\u201d Tennesseans will lose their current plans or see their costs increase, just as in the individual health insurance market.\nIn 2014, employers will begin to make employee insurance and work-hour changes to prepare for the employer mandate to be enforced by the Obama administration, which requires employers with 50 employees or more to provide health insurance or pay a penalty. Alexander said the employer mandate will limit the options employers have to provide affordable insurance for all employees \u2013 leading to some existing plans no longer being legal, and insurance being more expensive, just as Americans saw in the individual health insurance market this year.\u00a0\nThe senator also noted that many employers are already starting to reduce employee work hours and limit new hires and reconsider business expansions in order to lessen their burdens under Obamacare. The Obama administration in July of 2013 delayed enforcement until Jan. 1, 2015, instead of Jan. 1, 2014. Alexander continued, \u201cEnforcement of burdensome mandates on businesses will mean fewer choices as health insurance plans offered by employers are outlawed under Obamacare, as well as higher costs for both Tennesseans and businesses that are trying to create jobs.\u201d\nThe Obama administration is expected to release rules related to the employer mandate soon.\u00a0The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be releasing its final rule on the employer mandate, and the Internal Revenue Service will begin to reveal how much paperwork and personal information it will require businesses and employees to provide.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/tim-in-the-news/give-virginia-the-gift-of-strong-ethics-laws", "Give Virginia the gift of strong ethics laws", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Give Virginia the gift of strong ethics laws\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n                Washington Post Op-Ed\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Tuesday, December 31, 2013\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            The new year presents a superb opportunity to fix a major Virginia weakness: our lax ethical laws. Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe and the state legislature have a clear chance to do something right, popular and necessary. They should strike immediately and achieve a legacy accomplishment early in 2014.\r\nThe principal fix needed is a dramatic restructuring of gift laws. Under current law, anyone can give anything to an elected official so long as it is reported. If the gift is from a \u201cfriend,\u201d it need not be reported. If the gift is to an official\u2019s spouse or other family members, it need not be reported.\r\nVirginia\u2019s wide-open rule is justified by a smug attitude: We can trust ourselves to do the right thing, and transparency is all that is needed to keep the system honest. But since the 2011 prosecution of former Newport News delegate Phil Hamilton for bribery and extortion, the revelation that advocates of uranium mining in the commonwealth flew legislators to France and the recent controversy around gifts to the family of Gov. Bob McDonnell, we can no longer pretend Virginia\u2019s law makes sense.\r\nGifts to elected officials can create a subconscious sense of gratitude in even the most upright public servants. And the public probably will perceive such gifts as creating improper influence, whether or not that happens. With no limit on the amount of such gifts and with the exceptions for friends and family so broad, Virginia\u2019s system is all but guaranteed to create problems. Meanwhile, many people who advocate for important positions and perspectives cannot afford to give gifts to officials. This puts them at a disadvantage when compared with those who can.\r\nI served under the Virginia law for nearly 15 years and received gifts that were duly reported. But serving in the U.S. Senate, I must abide by a much tougher standard. Gifts from lobbyists are banned, as are gifts worth more than $50 from anyone else. All gifts, aside from a narrowly defined exception for friends, must be reported. Most states have similar rules, and some are even stricter.\r\nHaving served under both systems, I can say that the benefits of the federal rule are obvious. I regret that I didn\u2019t propose adopting it when I was governor of Virginia.\r\nIf a bipartisan group of Virginia\u2019s leaders were to propose a gift ban, it would have huge popular support. This would fix a problem that has become embarrassing for the commonwealth. A few legislators who have grown used to the current system may be reluctant to adopt such a ban, but most of them realize that our state\u2019s reputation needs a boost.\r\nThe real benefits of public office are the intangible joys of helping others rather than advancing oneself. Gifts to officials and their families need to be restricted to show that Virginia understands what public service is all about.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/dartmouth-alumni-magazine-profiles-king-as-man-in-the-middle", "Dartmouth Alumni Magazine Profiles King as &#x201c;Man In The Middle&#x201d;", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dartmouth Alumni Magazine Profiles King as \u201cMan In The Middle\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 31, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In case you missed it, the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine last Friday published a profile of U.S. Senator Angus King (Class of \u201966) entitled \u201cMan In The Middle\u201d in which author Matthew Mosk captures King\u2019s role in resolving the student loan crises, his thoughts on the October government shutdown, and his broader efforts at tackling partisanship in the U.S. Senate.\r\nIn addition to Senator King, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Rob Portman (R-OH) are also graduates of Dartmouth College.\r\nThe profile is below and can also be read by clicking here.\r\n+++\r\nMan In The Middle\u00a0\r\nIndependent Maine Sen. Angus King \u201966 went to Washington, D.C., hoping to help opposing parties find common ground. Frustration has set in.\r\nIt is the morning of September 11, 2013, and on this day, for a change, no one on Capitol Hill is talking about the looming impasse on the federal budget. Syria has been accused of using chemical weapons, and a fierce debate over the correct response is under way. On one side of Congress are the hawks who, like President Obama, say a red line has been crossed in a manner that demands a military response. On the other side, a sizable coalition that is weary of war and uneasy about the fallout of a strike in the Middle East. Then there is Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who finds himself in a familiar posture\u2014standing in the middle.\r\nKing arrived in Washington, D.C., last January as the newest of four U.S. senators from Dartmouth. After eight years as governor of Maine and an almost 10-year hiatus from public office, he won handily a tumultuous three-way Senate campaign with 53 percent of the vote, becoming only the second member of the chamber not affiliated with a major political party. (He caucuses with the Democrats.) King assumed the seat vacated by three-term moderate Republican Olympia Snowe, who left, she said, because Congress had become an impossible place from which to govern effectively.\r\nKing\u2019s campaign promised not just a moderate, business-friendly agenda that was left-leaning on social issues but also to do what Snowe considered impossible: provide a bridge between the increasingly factionalized parties to get things done. \u201cHe\u2019s independent and a problem solver,\u201d actor Sam Waterston of Law &amp; Order said in a television ad for King that aired in the closing weeks of the campaign. \u201cI think they\u2019re afraid of Angus in Washington, which might be the best reason to send him there.\u201d\r\nToday King is in his office suite for a weekly open house. Tall and lean, with the ruddy, stiff-jawed look of a Maine lobsterman, King smiles warmly as a staff member snaps photographs of the senator with organic dairy producers and members of the New England Farmers Union. A Los Angeles Times reporter briefly corners King in his conference room. The Syria question was the first one keeping him up at night since he took office, King says. \u201cI am trying to learn as much as I can to understand the ramifications of this question, which are enormous,\u201d he says. \u201cIs there more risk to the national interest in doing nothing, or is there more risk to the national interest in acting?\u201d\r\nWith the help of his staff King ends the interview quickly and returns his attention to the dairy farmers. The Syria question would resolve itself before King was forced to take a firm stance, and in a matter of days focus would be back on the issue that has most stymied Washington in recent times: the budget. Across the Capitol complex in the House, the first rumblings are emerging that a government shutdown is looming. In part because of the deep divisions it would emphasize, the shutdown would present an enormous opportunity for King. It could become the first test of his desire to snuff out gridlock and dysfunction.\r\nThe Real Thing\r\nKing\u2019s childhood in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington offers few clues to his political leanings. He describes his parents as Roosevelt Democrats but says he grew up a fan of President Eisenhower. King applied to Dartmouth, sight unseen, because between his junior and senior years in high school his sister married Dartmouth alum Jim Neff\u00a0 \u201959, \u201cand I liked the guys at the wedding,\u201d he says. King\u2019s interest in politics was immediate. He recalls, in detail, the lectures of longtime Dartmouth government professor Vincent Starzinger. \u201cI remember him using the movie The African Queen to explain the two different views of natural law,\u201d King says. \u201cHumphrey Bogart wakes up in the boat to see Katharine Hepburn dumping his gin out into the river, and he\u2019s very upset. He says to Hepburn, \u2018It\u2019s only natural, ma\u2019am, that a man should want to drink every now and then.\u2019 That\u2019s one view of natural law. Hepburn said, \u2018Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are here to rise above.\u2019 That\u2019s the other view of natural law. It has been 50 years and I remember every word of that lecture.\u201d\r\nLarry K. Smith, a former Dartmouth history professor now retired after a career in Washington, remembers \u201cGus\u201d in \u201cHistory 56,\u201d the political history of the United States since 1864. The class, which was a study in power and how it\u2019s used politically, Smith says, attracted ambitious students. When political discussions would get going, \u201cyou could feel the heat in the room,\u201d he recalls. King stood out: \u201cFor all of his prestige on campus, you never got the sense that he was a politician of any sort. And yet he was clearly recognized to be the class of his class. He carried himself with such ease and grace.\u201d\r\nDespite his clear interest in politics, King\u2019s involvement was largely as an observer. He worked at WDCR and traveled in 1964 to New York City to broadcast results from the Goldwater-Johnson election. \u201cWe were part of a national college radio election-night program, and it was like our own NBC,\u201d King says. \u201cWe got results. I was a commentator, talking about who was winning and who was losing and what it meant.\u201d A year earlier, Dartmouth students had learned of the Kennedy assassination listening to WDCR. They heard the news from King, who broke into a music program to report as the day\u2019s events came over a teletype machine. (King says he carried the printout announcing Kennedy\u2019s death in his wallet for decades until it finally crumbled into pieces.)\r\nThe radio job helped prepare King for the career he forged after law school and a brief stint on Capitol Hill with Maine\u2019s Democratic Sen. William Hathaway\u2014as a television interviewer and commentator on the public broadcast affiliate in Maine. He moved from there into the alternative energy industry. It was from this business perch that King followed a path into politics as an independent. Throughout his tenure as governor King\u2019s approval numbers in statewide polls never dipped below 50 percent. Still, competing views formed about him. One Maine Republican\u2014a Dartmouth alum who previously worked in government\u2014agreed to provide his view of King in a series of emails on the condition he not be identified. He says, \u201cKing seems the ultimate \u2018hail fellow well met\u2019 with the balm of an aphorism for every situation, even if he has never seen it before\u2026and really knows little about it.\u201d The GOP critic says he considers King \u201ca faux independent,\u201d a Democrat who does not want to admit his leanings.\r\nOthers, including his early mentor Smith, say the politician\u2019s independence comes from deep within. \u201cPeople will use the rhetoric of being a moderate and it\u2019s crap,\u201d says Smith. \u201cWith Gus it\u2019s a real thing. There are phony moderates or phony independents who are often unwilling to take positions. Gus takes positions and does so as a matter of conviction. It just happens that his convictions don\u2019t fit neatly into either party. Fortunately for him, he comes from a state that enables him to run as that person.\u201d\r\nKing says that when he arrived in Washington he knew there would be doubts about him on both sides of the aisle. When he first approached Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) to talk about his ideas on regulatory reform, King says he expected skepticism. At that point he was known only as the man the National Republican Senatorial Committee spent $1.2 million trying to defeat in 2012. \u201cI\u2019m sitting with Roy telling him my views on regulatory reform,\u201d King says, \u201cand I could see his expression change, like, \u2018This isn\u2019t the guy I thought he was. Why did we spend a million dollars to kill this guy?\u2019 \u201d\r\nAn Issue That Resonates\r\nKing\u2019s first real foray into the murky political waters of the U.S. Senate came almost by accident. It was May of 2013 and a member of his staff had flagged one of the Senate\u2019s many looming deadlines: Without congressional action the interest rate on federally subsidized Stafford student loans was poised to double on July 1 from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. \u201cIt seemed to fit philosophically with some of the things that the senator has taken issue with down here, these sort of artificial deadlines, lurching from year to year, without really coming up with long-term, sustainable solutions,\u201d one King staffer explains.\r\nIn many ways the student loan issue presented an ideal political opportunity for King. On one side were liberal Democrats led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who believed the government should support a subsidized loan program that would greatly relieve the financial burden facing college students, even if it came with a hefty price tag. On the other side were Republicans whose proposal, very similar to Obama\u2019s, was for a market-based loan program that operated much like traditional loans, giving students competitive borrowing rates while possibly turning a profit. King and a small coalition of senators including Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) decided they would try to create a revenue-neutral program that fell somewhere between the rival versions.\r\nIn June, when senators were presented with votes on the Democratic and Republican versions of the student loan bill, King and Manchin broke ranks and voted against both of them. King released a statement to the press saying he believed \u201cthat we can bridge the differences between the competing proposals to reach a compromise solution that can acquire wide support. We just need to set the politics aside and do the work.\u201d\r\nThe rogue group of senators drafted its proposal and introduced it in late June, just days before the loan rates would double. At first their attempts to bring more senators on board met with resistance. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the powerful committee chairman who oversaw education issues, was not happy with their proposal. A number of Republicans were also skeptical that rates could be brought down without costing the federal government. As the deadline passed, a second attempt was made to bring the Democratic plan to the floor for a vote, but it again fell short. Once that failed, the president got involved.\r\nKing, along with Manchin and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) were summoned to the White House, where they found Harkin and Burr waiting with Obama. The goal was to broker a compromise bill. \u201cThe president wanted this off his plate,\u201d King\u2019s staffer explains. After the meeting the number of senators willing to vote for the King-Manchin bill started to rise. During the course of several weeks King tried to keep an accurate count of his bill\u2019s support, but it was tough. Every time he would shave off a section to bring more Democrats on board, he risked losing support from Republicans.\r\nWhen the date for the vote finally came, King\u2019s staff had calculated they had just barely enough support for the measure to pass. When the vote got under way, Durbin, whose job as Senate majority whip is to muster and keep count of votes, walked up to King on the floor and handed him a small scrap of paper. It had a number on it: \u201c74\u201d\u2014a projected tally of \u201caye\u201d votes. The bill, King realized then, was going to pass.\r\nKing was near the center of a group of Republicans and Democrats hovering over Obama on August 9 as the president prepared to sign the bill into law. The president praised the \u201cextraordinary coalition\u201d that had led to the passage of the compromise bill, then noted wryly, \u201cIt feels good signing bills. I haven\u2019t done this in a while. Hint, hint. Hint, hint.\u201d\r\nShutdown\r\nThe government shutdown has been under way for two days and back in a plush Senate conference room King is speaking to representatives from a group of Maine credit unions who stopped in to visit him that day. He is offering his take on the Tea Party\u2019s budget maneuvers: \u201cI remember in college we heard a great way to make money. Do you know the story about how to make money with a cocker spaniel and a gun? You put a picture up that says, send $10 or I shoot the dog,\u201d King smiles. \u201cI didn\u2019t say that, did I?\u201d\r\nBack in his office King explains that he has given deep thought to this impasse and its causes. Because of the way congressional districts have been drawn, members of Congress for the most part occupy safe seats\u2014until they are threatened by primary opponents from the most orthodox wings of their parties. \u201cWe can have broad national consensus that this shutdown is a bad idea, and it\u2019s not going to affect an individual member as he or she looks to their district in Louisiana or Tennessee or Idaho or wherever it is. If that Republican electorate is fired up and wants to kill Obamacare or shut down the government, there\u2019s no political incentive for that person to sit down and talk,\u201d King says. \u201cThat\u2019s dangerous.\u201d\r\nMore than that, King has fixed his concern on what he sees as a new and dangerous approach to legislating that he believes Tea Party Republicans are employing. He pulls out a paper that he says contains a list of demands House Republicans have made in order to get them to pass a budget and reopen the government. He rattles them off, growing increasingly incredulous with each alleged demand.\r\n\u201cThis small group in the House is trying to create a new way of legislating that\u2019s not in the Constitution,\u201d King protests. \u201cYou legislate by passing a bill through the House, passing it through the Senate and sending it to the president. They\u2019re saying, \u2018We don\u2019t have the votes to do that, therefore we\u2019re going to grab the entire U.S. government or the credit of the entire U.S. government and say we won\u2019t do anything unless you legislate what we want\u2014unless you agree to what we want.\u2019 That\u2019s not the way the system was designed.\u201d\r\nKing insists he is not ready to give up. He has, for instance, joined a group of moderate House and Senate members who began meeting in hopes of cobbling together a budget document both sides could live with. He has also joined a group of 14 senators formed by his Maine colleague, Republican Sen. Susan Collins, to try to piece together a deal.\r\n\u201cRight now is a moment of maximum frustration,\u201d he says. \u201cMy whole deal is trying to find common ground and find solutions. What\u2019s holding me up is that I don\u2019t know if you want to find common ground in a situation where you\u2019re being held hostage. If you do, this will be the routine way we\u2019ll do business around here.\r\n\u201cIt goes against my basic orientation of trying to find solutions,\u201d he says. It is inescapable, King realizes now, that the nation\u2019s capital is different than it was 40 years ago, when he first came to town as a Senate staffer. In 1973, he says, there were probably 20 senators who overlapped ideologically\u2014moderate Republicans who were arguably more liberal than conservative Democrats. \u201cNow there are literally none,\u201d King says.\r\nThe 2013 federal government shutdown lasts for 16 days and, according to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, it is expected to have cost the U.S. economy between $2 and $6 billion in economic output. It is resolved not by diplomacy from moderate politicians looking to broker an agreement, but by wrenching public pressure and a short-term fix of the sort King has publicly protested.\r\nA month has passed when King, brimming with good cheer, arrives in the sleek television studio that is hidden away in the basement of the Capitol Visitor Center. Bright theater lights hang from the ceiling and a variety of sets include a fireplace, a Christmas tree with wrapped presents and a modern-looking TV news desk. King takes a seat in front of what appear to be French doors and an American flag. He is about to hold a 45-minute Skype conversation with social studies students at Mt. Ararat High School back home in Maine. The father of five is jovial and at ease. Such talks, which he calls \u201cCapitol Class with Angus,\u201d are a staple of King\u2019s tenure.\r\nHe explains to the students that, as a member of a committee tasked with finding solutions to the problems that led to the shutdown, he sits at the center of negotiations to develop a budget. \u201cWe had our first meeting last week,\u201d he says. \u201cThere are a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiations going on now as we try to arrive at an agreement that will make everyone equally unhappy, I guess is the best way to put it.\u201d\r\nStudents then rotate into a seat in front of the camera to ask how he juggles his work and personal life, whether he plans to seek reelection and what he considers his greatest challenges. A student named Emma takes the seat and asks King what it means for him to be an independent in Washington.\r\n\u201cIt gives me the opportunity to work across the aisle and try to find solutions,\u201d he continues. \u201cIt was amazing when I first got here and I went around meeting senators. A number of them said, sort of almost under their breath, \u2018Boy, you\u2019re in just the right place.\u2019 They really liked the idea that I could try to build bridges, and in fact that\u2019s what we\u2019ve tried to do.\u201d\r\nKing tempered that sunny view from the center shortly after the Skype conversation ended and he headed back to business. \u201cI\u2019m very optimistic that the partisanship can be overcome when the challenge is a small- or intermediate-sized issue,\u201d he says, hearkening back to his experience with the student loan legislation. \u201cBut on the big issues\u2026,\u201d he pauses. \u201cI\u2019ll be honest with you, on the big issues I\u2019m just not so optimistic.\u201d\r\nMatthew Mosk, an Emmy-winning investigative reporter for ABC News in Washington, D.C., lives in Annapolis, Maryland.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=8826bd89-1c86-470a-a14b-5099ebe326b6", "Senator Lee has 100,000 Followers on Twitter - Top Tweets of 2013", "2013-12-31", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Early this morning, my following on Twitter surpassed 100,000. I would like to thank everyone that has joined the dialogue with me on Twitter. I have compiled a list of my most popular tweets from 2013. As you read through this list of tweets, you will see the important role you have all played in this dialogue. This year we have had important debates about controlling federal spending, protecting constitutional rights, protecting Americans from the negative effects of Obamacare, reforming immigration, and a variety of other topics.\r\n\r\nOn January 1, 2013, I had ~15,700 followers on twitter.\u00a0 Surpassing 100,000 followers is a great benchmark, and it verifies that more and more Americans are becoming engaged in the debate about the future of our country.\u00a0 I am hopeful that we can continue to carry this dialogue forward into 2014 to even more people.\u00a0\u00a0 I look forward to being a part of this debate.\u00a0\r\nHere are the Twitter highlights from 2013.\u00a0 Retweet your favorites:\r\n \r\nEverything about the #fiscalcliff deal was a failure: what Congress did, how Congress did it, and what Congress failed to do.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 2, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nSenator Ted Cruz has created his official Twitter account @SenTedCruz. You should follow him. Please RT #tcot #tlot #tgdn #txpol #pjnet\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 15, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nUnfortunately, the president is using Newtown tragedy to advance proposals that would do little to prevent such acts: http://t.co/SX7SjSKe\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe president\u2019s approach is inconsistent w/ #2ndAmendment rights, and it encroaches on state and local governments: http://t.co/7cRF13GR\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#NLRB decision represents vindication of principled stand I've taken against President\u2019s disregard of Constitution: http://t.co/jTHPsxr4\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 25, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe Budget Act requires president to submit budget to Congress by today. Not surprisingly, he failed to do so: http://t.co/Y6RqI4cT #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) February 4, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAfter disappointing hearing, unanswered questions, failure to comply with transparency requirements I cannot support #Hagel for SECDEF.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) February 7, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nLet's cut improper food stamp payments before cutting aircraft carrier deployments. #CutThisNotThat pic.twitter.com/uHotSRDClS\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) February 27, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWe should look into getting rid of free government cell phones before cutting border security. #CutThisNotThat #tcot pic.twitter.com/iZmLzNBcNb\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) February 27, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI join @SenTedCruz in objecting to Senate consideration of any CR w/out a vote on delaying funding of #Obamacare. http://t.co/F9W90o19eF\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 6, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAs @SenRandPaul began his filibuster of Brennan, I was questioning Holder on #drone strikes: http://t.co/CoFbBMjUfz\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 6, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThis is what I was doing on March 7 at 12:18 a.m. What were you doing? #StandWithRand http://t.co/ojXrrWrYNG\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 7, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nSen. McConnell says he will support the Cruz/Lee amendment to CR to defund #obamacare: http://t.co/oYpPlcLkKd #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 8, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWe should cut USDA food tasting extravaganzas before food inspections. #CutThisNotThat #tcot pic.twitter.com/sumRy9kBRv\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 8, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nOur first priority to reduce spending should be to #DefundObamacare #CutThisNotThat pic.twitter.com/wsDQjbG4J0\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 12, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nRand Paul, MIke Lee, and Ted Cruz threaten filibuster on guns: http://t.co/nV4vGseZ3H #2A #tcot #tgdn #tlot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 26, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWe must ensure that Constitutional rights are not taken away casually: http://t.co/rDhWy4SNmc #2ndAmendment #tcot @SenTedCruz @SenRandPaul\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 28, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHere is my response to the president's #guncontrol address: http://t.co/cGE1nPnrp2 #2ndAmendment #tcot @SenRandPaul @SenTedCruz\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 28, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nPush RT button. I just received word @MarcoRubio &amp; Senator Inhofe have signed Paul, Cruz, Lee Letter to protect #2ndAmendment. @InhofePress\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 28, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nMomentum is Building to Protect #2ndAmendment in Senate: http://t.co/GVGLWan3Gl Please RT @SenRandPaul @SenTedCruz @MarcoRubio @Inhofepress\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 29, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nConstitution Wasn't Written to Maximize the Convenience of Government: http://t.co/YYyvAPasum #2ndAmendment #UniversalBackgroundCheck\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 30, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI have joined 34 senators to prevent ratification of UN Arms Trade Treaty, which undermines #2ndAmendment rights: http://t.co/0blxK8X02i\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 3, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#Guncontrol isn't about guns, it's about control. The right to bear arms isn't about the arms, it's about the right: http://t.co/bcXpQTWpKF\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 4, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#UniversalBackgroundCheck bill S.649 doesn't keep guns out of hands of criminals, it turns gun owners into criminals: http://t.co/tPBMtwkZRk\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 5, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nPresident doesn't want filibuster because it prolongs debate. #Protect2A Add your voice: http://t.co/z83jhlMWci pic.twitter.com/qXTQ1GWdcq\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 9, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nUniversal Background Check bill authorizes Eric Holder to create rules to require gun transfer records: http://t.co/UtXBveS1yb #Protect2A\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 9, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n.@SenateDems Here is the bipartisan list of 50 Senators who already voted to protect the #2ndAmendment. #Protect2A pic.twitter.com/mdr6vjnF2P\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 9, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI am headed to Senate floor right now to share #Protect2A submissions. Add your voice if you haven't already: http://t.co/V25SqXm65l #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 10, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe Senate is voting now on a gun control bill that senators haven't been able to read yet: http://t.co/FuWDvqE6uh #Protect2A\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 11, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nMT @sentedcruz: In statement w/ @SenMikeLee &amp; @SenRandPaul: http://t.co/noFN6t8cFY Why is Senate voting on bill no one has read? #Protect2A\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 11, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nIt's unfortunate that we will have so little time to #ReadTheBill before holding hearings on #immigration reform: http://t.co/89kvAkZsQk\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI voted NO on Toomey/Manchin background check proposal. The Amendment failed to receive 60 votes. #Protect2A\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAfter sequester, #FAA still has $9.2 billion to cover the $6.5 billion they need to operate #CutThisNotThat pic.twitter.com/N1HHMtwL1n\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 24, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe Senate should formally review public policies that led to the illegal abortion practices of #Gosnell and others: http://t.co/x4GQYioUUX\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 6, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAmericans should be able to exercise constitutionally protected rights w/out fear of political retribution from #IRS: http://t.co/azPhK5vMIf\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 13, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe #Gosnell trial is not about one man, it's about an unaccountable industry that preys upon vulnerable &amp; innocent: http://t.co/IMsW0DrEZj\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 13, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe #IRS scandal is the inevitable consequence of a government that has gotten too big &amp; too expensive to control: http://t.co/zqV0oBynP2\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 15, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWhen an agency like the #IRS can single out Tea Party groups, we are no longer citizens but subjects. http://t.co/h0uuGwv2Pc\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 15, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nFiring a few #IRS employees won't solve the problem. American people need to demand that government be less involved and less intrusive.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 15, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nSenate Democrats block @senrandpaul resolution condemning #IRS: http://t.co/6p4NSqZAUt #Protect1A\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 15, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI joined a press conference today to speak out against a government that has grown so large it can't be managed. #IRS pic.twitter.com/VtdNLKBfAV\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHelp share this --&gt; The Obama Scandals Aren\u2019t About Bad Government, but Big Government http://t.co/3kcrY9kCfc #TCOT #IRS\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nObama's recess appointments ruled unconstitutional again today by 3rd Circuit: http://t.co/9vGr3pf2jV #StopIgnoringTheConstitution\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nTo prevent the next abuse of government power, we need to reduce government power: http://t.co/gk5B4rPRP1 #Rush #tcot #IRS #Scandal\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nDon't be surprised that a $3.7 trillion government is corrupt. Be surprised that anyone expects a $3.7 trillion government not to be. #IRS\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 21, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI joined Senator Rubio and @SenTedCruz to oppose raising the debt ceiling through budget conference: http://t.co/aCQ8gkuIhN Please RT #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 22, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n\"The American people don\u2019t trust Congress \u2013 or either party, &amp; we have given them 17 trillion reasons not to.\" http://t.co/T4wLyVkpXF\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 23, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nVIDEO: Senator Lee Explains Why Senator McCain is Mistaken about Back Room #DebtCeiling Increase: http://t.co/CFm1xL1kV6 #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 25, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nPlease RT if you agree that US should at least track &amp; report the billions of taxpayer dollars we send to #UN: http://t.co/n3avOOmc0l\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 31, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#NSA surveillance of #Verizon cell phone records illustrates why I voted against Patriot Act: http://t.co/6G2PuvJICu #Protect4A\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 6, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nPlease RT if you think the government needs to #GetAWarrant: http://t.co/DqEcGB3gFr #Protect4A #NSA #Verizon\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 6, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#Gangof8 talking points don't match reality of Gang of 8 legislation: http://t.co/5wzH7dWWjY\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 10, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI voted against motion to proceed to #Gangof8 bill. I think it is a bad vehicle for reforming immigration system. pic.twitter.com/yc00tK4e93\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 11, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nS.744 surrenders control of #immigration law to the Secretary of Homeland Security and other unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats. #CIRfloor\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 12, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nS.744 authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security in hundreds of instances, to simply ignore #immigration law. #CIRfloor\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 12, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWe don\u2019t need another 1,000 page bill full of unintended consequences. We need real #immigration reform. http://t.co/5Mp6TyLsBp #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 12, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHere is the twitter version of my #immigration speech from today: http://t.co/Rlaf2DJigV Please help me RT these #tcot #Gangof8\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 12, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nPlease RT if you don't think President Obama should shut down energy development on public lands: http://t.co/FG3k6ocsXs\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 13, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nMike Lee and Ted Cruz challenge Obama with new military religious freedom amendments http://t.co/Ejj5v90i6g via @DCExaminer\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 18, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nCongress should have to approve DHS border security plans. Cutting out Congress means cutting out American people: http://t.co/NqXWSCy85r\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 19, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nPlease RT if you agree w/ me, @SenRandPaul, @SenatorTomUdall, &amp; @ChrisMurphyCT that we shouldn't send military funds to Syrian opposition.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 20, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nPlease RT if you agree w/ me, @SenRandPaul, @SenatorTomUdall, &amp; @ChrisMurphyCT that we shouldn't send military funds to Syrian opposition.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 20, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nFrom day one, the country was misled about what was in #Go8 bill. The talking points never matched bill's reality: http://t.co/8uM7N7bSFY\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 27, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nFrom day one, the country was misled about what was in #Go8 bill. The talking points never matched bill's reality: http://t.co/8uM7N7bSFY\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 27, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI support immigration reform. But #Go8 is not immigration reform. It is big government dysfunction. I am voting no: http://t.co/0Rx1s0lT78\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 27, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nRead &amp; RT if you agree that Americans need public answers on data government is collecting on them via #PatriotAct: http://t.co/KaSpgvFtjr\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 28, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nPlease RT if you agree that #Obamacare is unaffordable and unfair: http://t.co/VcsdvAGOp4 #DontFundIt\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) July 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nLabor Unions: Obamacare Will 'Shatter' Our Health Benefits, Cause 'Nightmare Scenarios': http://t.co/LK6RLy6dIF #ObamacareReadingList\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) July 21, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nRT if you agree: Since President admits he can't follow #Obamacare, then Congress shouldn't fund it. http://t.co/D7x9Ke27TG #DontFundIt\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) July 23, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAdd your voice to the effort to eliminate funding for #ObamaCare: http://t.co/YeYCKFTiH9 #DontFundIt Make this go viral w/ RTs\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) July 25, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nIf House passes bill to #DefundObamacare, will Senate Democrats fund government or shut it down to protect Obamacare? http://t.co/lAIYGRSrpP\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) August 5, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nIt's the president who is threatening to shut down government, though media won't cover it that way: http://t.co/9ruyoqlDOf #DefundObamacare\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) August 14, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nShare this clip of @SenTedCruz discussing #DefundObamacare if you are part of the grassroots tsunami: http://t.co/LwQwd7jSqi #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) August 26, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI need help to defeat the false narrative that the effort to #DefundObamacare is an effort to shutdown government: http://t.co/qQPo0tOrna\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) August 27, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nBefore taking action in #Syria, the president should present his plan's cost, objectives, and timeline to Congress and get authorization.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) August 28, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nIf the president believes the situation in #Syria presents a threat to U.S. national security, the right thing to do is call back Congress.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) August 30, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nIf the president can't convince Congress that #Syria crisis threatens our national security, military intervention should be off the table.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) August 30, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAfter participating in #Syria briefings yesterday, I do not believe that military action should be taken: http://t.co/Ta8BXGgI5g\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 5, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#DefundObamacareBecause it was unconstitutionally rewritten twice by the Supreme Court and multiple times by the president.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 19, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe House of Representatives has listened to the American people and just voted to #DefundObamacare.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 20, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nTake time today to thank your member of the House of Representatives if they voted to keep the government open and #DefundObamacare.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 20, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe American People Are Rallying Around the effort to #DefundObamacare: http://t.co/IvRSP2Zr0W RT if Republicans should hold our ground.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 22, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nIt is now time for the Senate to act to #DefundObamacare: http://t.co/h9av2tsffy via\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 24, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nJust today my office has received 1,093 emails, and almost every single one is asking me to do all I can to #DefundObamacare #MakeDCListen\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 25, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI don't understand why voting to give Harry Reid power to gut the House defund bill is a vote in favor of House bill. #MakeDCListen\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 25, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. #MakeDCListen\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 25, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI would like to thank @SenTedCruz for his extraordinary effort to #MakeDCListen. http://t.co/Px0pRUn1Zk\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 25, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nSenate Republicans can prevent Sen. Reid from funding #Obamacare in the House CR if they stay unified: http://t.co/oIl6iggvdk #MakeDCListen\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 26, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n\"The American people will always have the final word\" http://t.co/2KBRluXXSp RT if you agree #NoOnCloture #MakeDCListen #DefundObamacare\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 27, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n\"If #Obamacare is the law, why won't the president follow it?\": http://t.co/qOIVSZry7f #MakeDCListen @FoxNewsSunday\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) September 30, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWe shouldn't have to fund everything in order to fund anything: http://t.co/bqrTnxO7lY #Shutdown #MakeDCListen\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 3, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nToday Senate Democrats made it clear that unless we fund #Obamacare, they won't fund veterans' benefits: http://t.co/86bw3yNJsk\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 4, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHouse continues to pass bipartisan bills to fund government. Senate Democrats &amp; president still refuse to negotiate: http://t.co/kt2fsk0tOr\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 5, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nObama Admin\u2019s behavior during week 1 of #shutdown has been the best argument against #Obamacare anyone has ever made: http://t.co/EC4s0D4btl\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 7, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nGovernment will use \u2013 and misuse \u2013 its power to advance its own interests, even if that means punishing Americans: http://t.co/cMZJ6dYKaN\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 7, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe message behind Obama Admin\u2019s #shutdown bullying is the same message sent by IRS\u2019s abuses of political opponents: do what I say, or else\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 7, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe #shutdown is introducing us to the abusive, partisan, unaccountable bureaucracy that, will soon be running America\u2019s health care system.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 7, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nEach day of #shutdown brings a new and more vivid example of why it's critical that we not allow Washington to reach further into our lives.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 7, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWe now see how determined the president is to expand power of federal government &amp; use that power to harm the country to get what he wants.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 7, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nIt is time to stop using the word \"public\" when talking about land owned and managed by the federal government: http://t.co/9UGqVNnkhO\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 8, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAlmost 10k people signed my #DontFundIt letter during 1st day online. #Obamacare had 6,200 sign-ups on its first day: http://t.co/xTju20exB1\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 10, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nToday, @RushLimbaugh read one of my e-newsletters on his show. Many are asking where they can find it. Here's a link: http://t.co/Zk12tc2qTH\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 10, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHere is a link to the Values Voter Summit speech I delivered earlier today: http://t.co/M5QVifhXSn #VVS13\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 11, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nRead and share the letter I signed with 49 other senators to announce our opposition the UN Arms Trade Treaty: http://t.co/fx8GLTWs7n #UNATT\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 15, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHere we are again: A proposal that maintains status quo, very little time to read &amp; evaluate the bill, &amp; no time to explain it to Americans.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nIt appears that this fight will end the same way #Obamacare began: in a last-minute back-room deal forced on Congress &amp; the American people.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe media keeps asking, was it worth it? My answer is that it is always worth it to do the right thing: http://t.co/VIOhWj4zOA\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nFighting against an abusive government in defense of individual rights and freedoms is always the right thing: http://t.co/M77ByEtoe5 #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAvoiding difficult battles is how we ended up in this mess: $17 trillion in debt, a broken entitlement system, a tax code no one understands\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWhen the avoidance of political risk becomes our dominant motivation, only the Washington establishment wins. And the American people lose.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWe must remind the American people of the harmful effects of #Obamacare at every opportunity if we are ever going to see it repealed.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAmericans are realizing that with #Obamacare the Administration has either been dishonest or incompetent \u2013 or both: http://t.co/mlL5WHujv1\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThere will be very real consequences for people in both parties as a result of #Obamacare. American people will have the last word.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThis is not over. We have an obligation to fight for the American people. And I do not intend to let the people down.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHelp me RT this: It is always worth it to do the right thing: http://t.co/8bmygWEetA #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 17, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nWe've got to launch this website to find out what is in it: http://t.co/yg814leYHH #Obamacare\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 18, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHouse Leaders Must Shut Back Door To Comprehensive #Immigration Bill http://t.co/HRe6ZMx0u8 via @BreitbartNews @SenatorSessions\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 18, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThis is one of the best articles I have read about why the effort to #DefundObamacare was necessary: http://t.co/gw26A6M9cf #MakeDCListen\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 20, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nAmericans are spending more time reading health plan cancellation notices than Democrats spent reading #Obamcare pic.twitter.com/H1aHO5s7es\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 21, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#ButWaitTheresMore Aside from website problems &amp; policy cancellation notices, employers are cutting hours and jobs: http://t.co/zHcjHg0IgD\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 22, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#ButWaitTheresMore If website doesn't work, operators are standing by to redirect you back to the broken website: http://t.co/7gTZJe4pPE\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 22, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#ButWaitTheresMore You have no reasonable expectation of privacy on #Obamacare website: http://t.co/SLdhni0yil\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 22, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#ButWaitTheresMore Many believe technical problems plaguing #Obamacare website indicate the entire law is broken: http://t.co/1NaWssrEps\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 23, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\n#ObamacareInOneWord ShamWow ... without the wow.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 24, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe recent vote to fund government at current levels is touted as compromise, but it was really an act of collusion: http://t.co/0UQLz8VGBK\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 27, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI am announcing new proposals tomorrow as part of the conservative reform agenda referenced in this speech: http://t.co/mIm1FlUv38 #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 28, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHere's the text from my speech from yesterday: What's Next For Conservatives http://t.co/y1l5kVijep #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 30, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nIt is time for a new, unifying conservative reform agenda: http://t.co/HGg9zAXxSu #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 30, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nLearn more about my Family Fairness and Opportunity Tax Reform Act, that I introduced yesterday: http://t.co/yHt0zKZNQ6 #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 31, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe president is resorting to scripted acts of deception instead of trying to protect Americans from #Obamacare: http://t.co/Wc7LDltgSn\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 7, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nThe president now acknowledges that people relied on his promises about #Obamacare to their detriment: http://t.co/LRdvYDbTor\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 8, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nMay God continue to bless those who have blessed our nation with their service and sacrifice. Happy Veterans Day! http://t.co/PJRhFDKUv9\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 11, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nA new conservative agenda must speak to the challenges and aspirations of those left behind by big government: http://t.co/h8RhSHQOu0 #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 12, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nPeople are hungry for a debate about how conservative principles can be applied to solve the nation's problems: http://t.co/N2ukkFeIqP #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 13, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nFour cyber security experts warn Americans not to use #Obamacare website in House hearing: http://t.co/6oZHmyzat5 #MakeDCListen\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 19, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nToday's decision by the Democrats to break Senate rules is a partisan attack on the very purpose of this institution: http://t.co/jQC5RWxR53\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 21, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI am concerned that we are loosening Iran's sanctions. #Iran doesn't have an inspiring history of keeping its word: http://t.co/ufTN7rq6TB\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 25, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nHappy Thanksgiving! May God continue to bless our great nation.\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 28, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nClick to read why I can't support the #budget deal that was recently introduced: http://t.co/5kI5GFbM0s Please RT if you agree. #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 11, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nI can't vote for a bill I think is going to make our budgetary situation worse rather than better: http://t.co/NFcKf8immc #tcot\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 13, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nToday\u2019s court decision regarding #NSA highlights the constitutional concerns I have raised about metadata program: http://t.co/vKA82cA2dv\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 16, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nBlocking debate on #NDAA violates the rights of the American people to have this bill debated and amended: http://t.co/BRcbbVnmY5 #utpol\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 19, 2013 \r\n\r\n \r\nMerry Christmas from my family to yours! pic.twitter.com/Bj7i3ZzM0O\r\n\u2014 Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 25, 2013", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365154", "<span class=\"kicker\">Washington Post editorial</span>'In international abduction cases, quiet diplomacy is not working'", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SEAN GOLDMAN was 4 years old when his Brazilian-born mother took him from their New Jersey home for what Sean\u2019s father, David Goldman, thought would be a two-week vacation. Five years passed before the father again laid eyes on his son.\n\u201cIt was very painful,\u2019\u2019 David Goldman recalled. \u201cThe first time I saw him after nearly five years, he looked at me and asked me where have I been all this time. . . . He was told that I didn\u2019t love him, that I abandoned him, that I never wanted him.\u201d\u00a0\nThe only unusual feature of this story is that David Goldman eventually regained custody, though even after the boy\u2019s mother died in 2008 her Brazilian family continued to resist his efforts. He succeeded in part because Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.) relentlessly focused attention and pressure on the case. Now a bill written by Mr. Smith, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act, has been approved by the House, 398 to 0, and is set for consideration in the Senate. But the State Department doesn\u2019t want the additional diplomatic tools the bill would provide.\nAccording to State, 1,144 children were reported abducted from the United States in 2012. There were 1,367 in 2011 and 1,492 in 2010. State Department officials say they work hard to get those children back \u2014 or at least to get the cases fairly adjudicated \u2014 but they can\u2019t or won\u2019t say how many of those abducted children remain overseas. That raises questions about their claims for success for \u201cquiet diplomacy.\u201d\nIn a letter to Mr. Smith, Robert E. Wallace, executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), said the abduction of children by a separated spouse is a particular problem for service members, especially in Japan. Mr. Wallace said the service members\u2019 appeals for help \u201care too often met with bad legal advice, misinformation or indifference. . . . It is time for the U.S. government to take concrete action.\u201d An organization of victimized parents said that the result of quiet diplomacy is \u201cthat the Government of Japan has not once assisted in returning a single abducted child.\u201d Japan at least is in the process of acceding to an international treaty on the subject; most countries have not done so.\nThe House bill provides for a series of graduated sanctions against countries that demonstrate a pattern of non-cooperation; it also would encourage the United States to negotiate agreements with countries that have not ratified the treaty. In both cases, the executive branch would act only if it chose to do so; the bill provides for a presidential waiver. Nonetheless, a State Department official told us putting tools in the tool kit would be counterproductive because U.S. officials would face pressure to use them and other countries would resent the implied threat.\nGiven the administration\u2019s inability to quantify its success, or to report any results at all, the argument for the status quo is not persuasive. An aide to Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told us that the committee will take the measure up soon. We hope soon means soon. For thousands of parents deprived of the chance even to communicate with their children, quiet diplomacy isn\u2019t getting the job done. \u00a0http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/give-parents-more-tools-in-international-abduction-cases/2013/12/28/2d0a96aa-6c0e-11e3-aecc-85cb037b7236_story.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cole.house.gov/fiscal-times-five-members-congress-watch-2014", "Fiscal Times: Five Members of Congress to Watch in 2014", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Tom Cole", "C001053", "cole.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Fiscal Times - Eric Pianin\nCall it cockeyed optimism or simply battle fatigue, but we\u2019re beginning to hear some loose talk from Capitol Hill and the White House about the prospects for more bipartisan deal-making in 2014 springing from the budget deal. Congress, of course, just concluded one of its least productive sessions in history and inflicted a 16-day government shutdown on the country that sent lawmakers approval ratings tumbling. With an important mid-term election looming next fall, renewed partisan squabbling would seem the order of the day. Yet President Obama and congressional leaders departed Washington earlier this month voicing cautious optimism that there were other deals to made before the 2014 congressional and gubernatorial campaigns really heat up. While the first order of business will be converting the bipartisan budget agreement into major spending legislation before a Jan. 15 deadline, there are other legislative prospects as well \u2013 including an extension of the expiring supplemental unemployment insurance, reauthorization of farm legislation, tweaking of the Affordable Care Act, renewal of expiring tax provisions, and even an overhaul of the immigration system. The usual suspects, including House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, will have a lot to say about future legislative successes or failures. And we can expect to hear a great deal from Tea Party bomb throwers such as Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rand Paul (R-KY) Here are five other important House and Senate members to watch as events in 2014 begin to unfold. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)\u00a0 Wyden, 64, a veteran lawmaker and fiscal policy wonk with something of a maverick streak, is moving to center stage\u00a0 as the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which is responsible for writing tax, entitlement and trade legislation. Wyden is certain to bring as much\u2014if not more\u2014energy and fresh ideas to the debate over tax and entitlement reform as his predecessor, Max Baucus, who was recently tapped by President Obama to be the next ambassador to China. Wyden has repeatedly pressed for passage of creative bipartisan ideas, including an overhaul of the tax code that he initially jointly sponsored with then Republican senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire and later co-sponsored with Republican Dan Coates of Indiana. The Wyden-Coates plan would cut the corporate rate to 24 percent from 35 percent. It would end the ability of U.S. multinationals to defer tax on income earned abroad but would allow them a one-time opportunity to bring old earnings back to the U.S at a very low rate. Wyden ruffled Democratic feathers in late 2011 when he briefly joined forces with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) to draft major revisions to the Medicare law that would have given seniors a choice between a traditional plan and private insurance funded with a government voucher. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)\u00a0 In her first term, the highly telegenic former state attorney general has made a rapid ascent within the GOP ranks, thanks in part to a close alliance with two prominent conservative defense hawks\u2014Sens. John McCain (AZ) and Lindsey Graham (SC). Ayotte, 45, one of only four Republican women in the Senate, was blessed with a handful of high profile committee assignments\u2014including Armed Services, Budget, Commerce and Small Business\u2014that thrust her into virtually every key issue this year, from Obamacare to U.S. policy in the Middle East. She was highly critical of the Obama administration\u2019s handling of the terrorist attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya that killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador. And she recently dismissed the Affordable Care Act as a hopeless \u201cmess,\u201d even after the administration eliminated many of the technical problems with the online system. Unlike many of her GOP colleagues who have vowed to repeal or sidetrack Obamacare, Ayotte says she is working with Democrats on incremental changes to the law, such as expanding health savings accounts and repealing a medical devices tax. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)\u00a0\u00a0 The cerebral House Budget Committee chairman made his name in Washington and earned the No. 2 spot on the 2012 GOP presidential ticket by promoting\u00a0 a series of extraordinarily tough GOP spending and tax blue prints. The eight-term House veteran honed a conservative wish list of cuts and overhauls of Medicare and Medicaid, revisions of the tax code, and numerous cuts in other social safety net programs to energize his party\u2019s base. Amid the political rubble of this year\u2019s partisan budget warfare and the government shutdown, Ryan late this year finally sought common ground with Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) on a compromise budget. That plan, approved by both houses and signed by the president, lifted the sequester cuts for two years, boosted defense and domestic discretionary spending somewhat, and made modest progress in reducing the long term deficit. Now Ryan, 43, is angling to become the next chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, after Dave Camp of Michigan is forced to step down at the start of 2015 because of term limits. If Ryan gets his way, he will become the leading GOP voice on tax and entitlement reform in the coming years. The question many political analysts are asking is whether Ryan really has the fire in his belly to run for president in 2016, or whether he would be more content to steadily work his way up the House GOP leadership ladder\u2014possibly all the way to Speaker. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), a veteran Oklahoma House member, has emerged as a sage of the House Republicans.\u00a0 Cole is a cool head and thoughtful strategist for Boehner and other GOP leaders, and is a valuable counterweight to rabble-rousing Tea Party conservatives in the House. The 64 year old affable former State Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party has plenty of experience with fiscal matters, having served on both the House Appropriations and Budget Committees. He\u2019s also a familiar figure on cable TV news programs and likes to mix it up with reporters just outside the House chambers. Time Magazine identified him as \u201cone of the sharpest minds in the House.\u201d So it was significant when Cole recently asserted that some type of bipartisan compromise on immigration reform was possible in the House next year after disagreement within the House GOP led to a standoff on reform. According to The Hill, Cole said that House Republicans would likely vote on multiple reform measures next year, with the caveat that Boehner\u00a0\u00a0 refuses to bring up the Senate-passed comprehensive bill that includes a path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)\u00a0\u00a0 New York\u2019s junior senator is a shrewd, persistent and some say annoying player who is not afraid to step on the toes of her colleagues to raise money or get her way on legislative matters. The first-term senator and her allies made enormous headway this year in forcing the hidebound military to respond to sexual assaults.\u00a0 She has vowed to press on for changes that the military brass and even some senior Democrats oppose. Congress passed a broad set of changes to U.S. military personnel policy late last week as part of the annual defense authorization bill that will force the Pentagon to revamp how it deals with cases of sexual assault and rape. Angered by the sharp increase in cases and the lack of reporting them, Gillibrand, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and a bipartisan coalition in the House drafted proposals to address the problem. The legislation would end the statute of limitations for cases of sexual assault or rape; bar military commanders from overturning jury convictions in sexual assault and rape cases; and make it a crime to retaliate against people who report such crimes. But that\u2019s still not good enough for Gillibrand, 47. She is pushing to remove military commanders from any involvement in assault and rape cases and have the cases assigned to specialized, independent military prosecutors. The hard-charging Gillibrand has met with or button-holed nearly every other senator to seek their support for her plan. Even Rand Paul, a noted libertarian, and Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz have signed on to her proposal.\u00a0 And she is expected to get a vote on it in 2014.\nOnline: The Fiscal Times", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cole.house.gov/looking-back-and-ahead", "Looking Back and Ahead", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Tom Cole", "C001053", "cole.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It\u2019s hard to believe that 2013 is already reaching an end. While Congress didn\u2019t solve everything we could\u2019ve hoped for this year, there were numerous victories for the country. Most importantly, I was encouraged to watch both sides work together on several occasions to find common ground and display true bipartisanship. It\u2019s a reminder that when we start where we agree, we can function in divided government. We started off the year on the verge of a \u201cfiscal cliff,\u201d caused by the terms of the Budget Control Act of 2011. Without any congressional action, all Americans would have experienced a tax hike and reimbursement rates for doctors of Medicare and Medicaid patients would have seen severe cuts. In addition, sequestration, across-the-board spending cuts on every program in government, regardless of merit or efficiency, was scheduled to take place. I was pleased that we were able to pass the American Taxpayer Relief Act, which made the Bush tax cuts permanent for 98 percent of taxpayers. It also delayed devastating military cuts for two months and prevented other damaging tax policies. I wish we could\u2019ve achieved more, but this agreement was a major victory for American workers and for the economy. In mid-January, just a couple months after Hurricane Sandy I supported legislation that would provide relief assistance for victims of the storm. At the time, the vote was a no-brainer, especially given our own state\u2019s history and risk for severe weather. Little did we know, a few months later, Oklahoma would experience a horrific round of tornadoes that leveled entire neighborhoods, claimed precious lives and shook several communities, including my hometown of Moore. In the days that followed the disastrous tornadoes in Oklahoma, never once were we lacking assistance. Oklahoma felt the immediate support and prayers of individuals across the nation\u2014a reminder that, in times of crisis, Americans of all parties and political points of view come together to help their fellow Americans. The same night that Moore was hit by the deadly storm, I was contacted by the president, who directly offered and issued assistance from FEMA. Shortly after that, President Obama, Homeland Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Director Fugate personally came to Moore to survey the damage, offer support and ensure Oklahoma received adequate recovery aid. In addition, colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the House extended their condolences and offered assistance in relief efforts. Throughout the entire emergency, state and local officials led with great skill, strength and compassion. I am thankful for Governor Mary Fallin, Civil Emergency Director Albert Ashwood, Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis, Moore City Manager Steve Eddy, Newcastle Mayor Karl Nail and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, whose tireless work pulled us through a nightmare. As a member of the Chickasaw Nation, I was especially proud to support reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) earlier this year. This legislation, which passed through both chambers and was signed into law by the president, preserves the existing authority of tribal courts and allows them to have jurisdiction over non-Indian sex offenders on Indian lands. I am pleased that VAWA helps tribal women see justice served more quickly. Since the beginning of the year, problems with Obamacare have been numerous, causing even more Americans to doubt the president\u2019s so-called plan for affordable healthcare. Not one House or Senate Republican voted in favor of the law, and since its passage, House Republicans have voted more than 40 times to repeal the law partially or completely. In fact, seven of these bills passed the Senate and were signed into law by the president. Unfortunately, as long as the law\u2019s namesake is in the White House, full repeal of the Obamacare is unlikely. I\u2019ve never been supportive of Obamacare and have remained a constant critic of the law, and as we\u2019ve noticed especially in the last few months with its website failures, it was and is not ready for primetime. Even the Obama Administration has admitted that the law is unworkable by choosing to delay key portions of it. Earlier this fall, in a worthy effort to help Americans, some Senate and House Republicans proposed we refuse to pass a government funding bill if it included funding for Obamacare. While I supported the desire to stop the unworkable and unfair law, I warned against this doomed tactic that would surely lead to a government shutdown and still not solve anything. Unfortunately, due to the expiration of appropriated dollars, government shutdown occurred on October 1. While I wish shutdown would\u2019ve been avoided in the first place, I was relieved when both sides eventually agreed on a short-term funding measure to reopen the government and protect the full faith and credit of the United States. Along with the short-term funding agreement, 29 lawmakers from both chambers were appointed to a budget conference committee and tasked with reconciling two very different budgets by December 13. As a member of the conference, I was encouraged by the willingness of Chairman Paul Ryan and Chairman Patty Murray to negotiate real reforms. But most importantly, I was pleased to watch both sides reach across the aisle, focus on areas of agreement, rather than disagreement, and ultimately restore regular order. After weeks of discussion with each other and with the input of other conferees, Chairmen Ryan and Murray announced a two-year budget deal on December 10. The Bipartisan Budget Act passed both chambers with strong, bipartisan support and was signed into law by the president. When I remember the pain caused by the recent shutdown, I am encouraged that this conference was able to reach a deal that finds savings, eases sequester, brings down the deficit and removes the threat of shutdown in the near future. It doesn\u2019t solve all our fiscal problems, but it brings promise of future reform. \u00a0 I was also pleased to see both chambers work together in reconciling their versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that funds our vital military and ensures they have the resources they need to defend our country. This year marks the 52nd consecutive year that the NDAA has passed Congress and been signed into law by the President. \u00a0 Overall, this has been a productive year. Through the fiscal cliff agreement at the beginning of the year and the recent bipartisan budget deal, I am pleased that lawmakers showed they can work together and find common ground with each other and the president. I hope that this willingness to negotiate and find real reforms will continue into 2014, even in the midst of divided government.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E71FF577-B64F-4BA4-A19F-07C1C496D7ED", "Weekly Column: A Resolution to Succeed", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\t\u2018Tis the season for resolutions!\u00a0\r\nJanuary 1 is a new beginning, so it\u2019s no surprise that setting New Year\u2019s resolutions has become a holiday tradition for many.\u00a0 While we all know that commitment to upholding many of these resolutions often fades, Abraham Lincoln reminds us that \u201cyour own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.\u201d\u00a0\r\nI join many South Dakotans in being frustrated with the progress made in Washington over the last few years.\u00a0 But it is a new year, and I am coming to the table with a renewed resolution to succeed.\r\nToward the end of 2013, Congress gained significant momentum on a number of issues that matter to South Dakota.\u00a0 That momentum has not been lost.\u00a0 First and foremost, Farm Bill negotiations continued through the holidays.\u00a0\r\nThe lead negotiators \u2013 Rep. Frank Lucas (a Republican) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (a Democrat) \u2013 have come to a consensus on an outline of the reforms they agree can be made in the Farm Bill.\u00a0 Right before Christmas, they were able to get estimates back to see how much these reforms would cost \u2013 or in some cases, save.\u00a0\r\nNow, it is a matter of tweaking the bill to make sure all the numbers add up, but we are on track to finish a comprehensive five-year farm bill during the first part of 2014.\r\nWe also began to make progress on new sex trafficking legislation.\u00a0 Sadly, this is an issue South Dakota has seen more of in recent years.\u00a0 Local law enforcement officers have done a good job of identifying and bringing into custody those who are selling the victims of human trafficking.\u00a0 Many of the convicts are brought to justice under federal law, as there are harsher penalties \u2013 namely, life in prison \u2013 for sex trafficking at that level.\r\nTo ensure local law enforcement officers have all the tools they need and that there are no gaps in federal law, I\u2019ve been driving the End Sex Trafficking Act in Washington.\u00a0 This legislation addresses sex trafficking from the demand side by strengthening the federal law when it comes to those who solicit, patronize or obtain the services of a trafficked victim.\u00a0 As President George W. Bush stated during a Justice Department training on sex trafficking, \u201cWe cannot put [human traffickers] out of business until and unless we deal with the problem of demand.\u201d\r\nAdditionally, this year, I\u2019ll be working to reform the level of influence the government can wield over our local school lunches.\u00a0 Under current law, South Dakota schools face significant limitations when it comes to what they can serve our kids.\u00a0 In fact, the law says that schools can only serve an average of 2 oz. of meat per meal.\u00a0 That\u2019s just three chicken nuggets for a high school student.\r\nYes, we all want our kids to be healthier, but we don\u2019t want them to go hungry either.\u00a0 In mid-December, I introduced a new bill to lift the law\u2019s onerous meat and grain limitations, giving schools more flexibility to decide what they will feed our kids at lunchtime.\u00a0 Simply put \u2013 bureaucrats in Washington shouldn\u2019t be able to dictate what goes on our kids\u2019 plates here in South Dakota.\u00a0 This is an issue that is gaining momentum and will be a focus of my attention over the next year.\r\nCongress ended 2013 with a refreshing level of cooperation that I hope will be carried on throughout the next year.\u00a0 And as I prepare to return to Congress, I am determined to again instill in Washington something that President Abraham Lincoln spoke about: a resolution to succeed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://sablan.house.gov/press-release/kilili-congratulates-alejandro-mayorkas-new-dhs-deputy-secretary", "Kilili congratulates Alejandro Mayorkas, new DHS Deputy Secretary", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Independent", "Senate", "MP", "Gregorio Sablan", "S001177", "sablan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan says he applauds the recent promotion of Alejandro Mayorkas to be Deputy Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security.\u00a0 Mayorkas previously served as Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and has had a critical, decision-making role in the transition to federal management of immigration in the Northern Marianas. He was sworn in as Deputy Secretary on December 23.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI congratulate Mr. Mayorkas on his nomination by the President and applaud the Senate for agreeing to fill this top leadership position at the Department of Homeland Security with someone who understands the challenges facing the Northern Mariana Islands,\u201d said Congressman Sablan.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI also extend my deepest appreciation to Mr. Mayorkas for all he has done as USCIS Director over the last five years to help make the immigration transition as least difficult as possible.\u201d\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mayorkas played a critical role in the decision to extend humanitarian parole to persons who were born in the Northern Marianas between 1974 and 1978 but who did not have U.S. citizenship, to persons with Northern Marianas Permanent Resident status and their immediate relatives, and to the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. People in these situations previously had legal status under Commonwealth immigration law.\nThe parole policy Mayorkas approved allowed these individuals the opportunity to remain and work in the Northern Marianas legally. Without parole they would have been forced to leave the after November 28, 2011.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDirector Mayorkas called me personally on Thanksgiving Day in 2011 to tell me about that decision,\u201d Sablan said.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI thought of all the families I had knew, who were facing separation until that moment. It is a Thanksgiving Day I will always remember.\u201d\nOriginally, the parole for these people was to be available through the end of 2012.\u00a0 At Congressman Sablan\u2019s request, however, Mayorkas later provided a two-year extension of the parole eligibility.\nProtection for caregivers\nMayorkas can also be credited for the parole policy for caregivers in the Northern Marianas.\nUnder local immigration law, families had been able to employ in-house caregivers to tend to older parents or to younger family members with disabilities. But the federal regulations on foreign workers issued in September 2011 did not provide any immigration status for these caregivers.\nCongressman Sablan arranged for USCIS officials from Washington and from the Honolulu regional office to meet with him and some of the caregiver families in the Saipan congressional office in September.\nThat face-to-face meeting had an impact. One month later Mayorkas announced that caregivers, too, would be eligible for humanitarian parole.\n\u201cThe Northern Mariana Islands could not ask for anyone more knowledgeable about our immigration issues or more compassionate in executing the law of the land to serve as second in command at Homeland Security than Alejandro Mayorkas. I wish him every success in his new role.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scottpeters.house.gov/media-center/op-eds/an-attitude-of-cooperation", "An Attitude of Cooperation", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Scott Peters", "P000608", "scottpeters.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As seen in UCCA December Newsletter - http://www.universitycitynews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Dec-Jan-201314.pdf\nDuring my time on the San Diego City Council and as a Commissioner for the Port of San Diego, I was proud to work with members of both parties to address difficult problems facing the region. We worked with the mentality that while we wouldn\u2019t always agree on every issue, we would put the interests of constituents above all else to reform our local government.\nSince taking office in January to represent San Diego in the U.S. House of Representatives, I have worked to bring that same attitude of cooperation to Washington to cut through gridlock, change the culture of dysfunction, and reform Congress.\nOne major change that needs to be made in Congress is making our representatives live by the same rules as everyone else. That\u2019s why one of the first pieces of legislation I supported was \u2018No Budget No Pay,\u2019 a bill that applies the commonsense concept that if members of Congress don\u2019t do their job and pass a budget, they don\u2019t get paid.\nTo help fix Congress, I also became a member of the \u2018No Labels Problem Solvers\u2019 coalition made up of more than 80 Republican, Democrat, and Independent members of the House and Senate. I also joined the bipartisan United Solutions Caucus made up of newly elected House members. These groups are working to build the kind of bipartisan coalitions we expect in San Diego and need in Washington.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-announces-selection-of-nevada-as-uas-test-site", "Titus Announces Selection of Nevada as UAS Test Site", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 30, 2013\nLas Vegas, NV - Today the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Nevada as one of the six sites selected to test integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into the national airspace. Congresswoman Dina Titus, a member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, has long-advocated for Nevada\u2019s application for this vital program.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cFrom the development of the U-2 spy plane in the 1950\u2019s, to the MQ-1 and MQ-9 systems stationed at Creech Air Force Base, just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada has a decades-long, proud history advancing our nation\u2019s aerospace industry,\u201d said Congresswoman Dina Titus. \u201cThe selection of Nevada as a test site for the integration of UAS technologies is a perfect fit and I am proud to have advocated on behalf of our state. This decision will help grow local businesses already working in the UAS industry, as well as attract new ventures to Nevada.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=e775431b-bf47-4ba9-9363-e4912b854e56", "HOEVEN, HEITKAMP, CRAMER AND DALRYMPLE: FAA SELECTS GRAND FORKS TO BE UAS TEST SITE", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "ND", "John Hoeven", "H001061", "www.hoeven.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.13\n\t\t\t Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer and Dalrymple: FAA Selects Grand Forks to be UAS Test Site \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t ND Leaders Worked to Secure Designation to Build GF as Premier Northern UAS Hub\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, Congressman Kevin Cramer and Governor Jack Dalrymple today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected Grand Forks as one of six sites to test unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for integration into the National Airspace. The announcement comes after years of work by North Dakota\u2019s leaders to position Grand Forks as the premier northern UAS hub.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe FAA Reauthorization bill passed by Congress in February 2012 includes an amendment introduced by Hoeven that directed the agency to establish the test sites and integrate UAS into the National Airspace System. Hoeven\u2019s amendment instructed the FAA Administrator to consider factors including geographical and climatic diversity, as well as the location of ground infrastructure, in selecting the test sites.\r\n\u00a0\r\nHoeven has worked, both as governor and now as U.S. Senator, with the state\u2019s UAS community to establish and maintain North Dakota\u2019s leadership in UAS technologies and to grow UAS operations in the Grand Forks region. In 2006, Hoeven and former Senator Byron Dorgan worked to seed the Center for UAS Research, Education and Training on the UND campus. Dorgan got the center designated as Department of Defense Center of Excellence for UAV Education. The same year, the North Dakota Centers of Excellence Program, initiated by then-Governor Hoeven, awarded the center $2.5 million, which it matched and leveraged to $15.8 million in federal and private-sector funding.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cWe\u2019ve said all along that Grand Forks is an ideal location to test UAS integration, and now the FAA has agreed with us,\u201d Hoeven said. \u201cThis test site designation, combined with Grand Sky, the Grand Forks region\u2019s new aerospace technology and business complex on Grand Forks Air Force Base, is tremendously important and enables the entire region to advance the work it has been doing to become the premier northern hub for unmanned aerial systems. As a test site, Grand Forks will be integral in developing the future commercial use of UAS for our nation and the world.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe selection of Grand Forks as a UAS test site is an affirmation that the Grand\u00a0Forks area is an ideal location for military installations, and unmanned aerial systems in particular,\u201d said Senator Heitkamp. \u201cThis designation is the result of collaboration between community leaders, the University of North Dakota, and local, state and federal officials. The test site will help grow the UAS industry throughout the nation and help make sure it can become a key part of North Dakota\u2019s economy.\u00a0Grand Forks is very deserving of this program, and I look forward to continuing to support the community and program throughout its implementation.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSince taking office, Heitkamp has relentlessly advocated for the selection of Grand Forks as a UAS test site. Heitkamp has held numerous meetings with top military and Administration officials, including FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, to urge them to select Grand Forks. Heitkamp, who co-founded the Defense Communities Caucus, also helped facilitate an Enhanced Use Lease between the Air Force and Grand Forks County, which will help grow the UAS industry in the area.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cNorth Dakota\u2019s UAS Team did an outstanding job highlighting the superior assets of the Grand Forks area. In addition to the obvious advantages of uncongested air space, climate diversity and a culture of aviation, it is clear the unified voice of the many partners was a major factor in the FAA\u2019s decision,\u201d said Congressman Cramer. \u201cState and local officials from North Dakota and Minnesota working with education, business and military leaders presented a unified front giving confidence to the decision makers.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nCramer is directly involved with UAS development as a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus.\r\n\u00a0\r\nGov. Dalrymple and Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley have led the state\u2019s efforts to establish a national UAS test site in North Dakota. The state has invested more than $14 million to establish a national UAS test site and to advance UAS research and development. In May, Dalrymple established the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems Authority and appointed Lt. Gov. Wrigley to lead the state\u2019s efforts to land a test site and to pursue other UAS opportunities. Following Dalrymple\u2019s recommendation, the 63rd Legislative Assembly also supported the state\u2019s pursuit of a national UAS test site by appropriating $5 million, with $4 million in operations funding contingent on North Dakota being selected one of six test sites.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe FAA\u2019s decision to locate one of only six national UAS test sites in North Dakota is good news for our state and for the entire nation,\u201d Dalrymple said. \u00a0\u201cWe have worked very hard to make sure North Dakota is well positioned for this designation and to make sure that the FAA recognizes the many strengths that we offer in helping to safely integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace. With this test site designation, we have a great opportunity to become a national hub for UAS research and development, to expand our national leadership in aerospace sciences and to further diversify our state economy.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe North Dakota leaders, along with the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC), North Dakota Airspace Integration Team (AIT) and Grand Forks leaders have held meetings with the FAA regarding the site selection process to make the case for Grand Forks.\r\n\u00a0\r\nIn addition, Hoeven and Heitkamp worked to help Grand Forks County secure an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) with the U.S. Air Force for the development of Grand Sky, a cutting-edge UAS technology and business park the county plans to build on approximately 217 acres at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). Last year, Hoeven brought senior Northrop Grumman officials, including Tom Vice, Northrop Grumman\u2019s Corporate VP and President of Aerospace Systems, to Grand Forks to see firsthand the tremendous synergies that are developing between Grand Forks BRIC, UND, the UND Aerospace Foundation and Northland Aerospace Foundation. He also worked to get Northrop Grumman, one of the world\u2019s premier aerospace and defense technology companies, to commit to be the park\u2019s first tenant. Northrop Grumman makes the RQ-4 Global Hawk, which is operated by the Air Combat Command unit at GFAFB.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cWe envisioned collaborations here in practical and original ways to create a dynamic environment for the military, industry and education,\u201d Hoeven said. \u201cNow all of those elements are coming together in a coordinated way to spur innovation, boost our economy and create jobs in the Grand Forks region.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=60d716f6-0e15-444d-b30a-ff915ffabd93", "Sen. Moran Calls on OSHA to Stop Unlawful Regulation of Family Farms", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) have called on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to immediately stop their unlawful regulation of family farms. Sens. Moran, Johanns and a bipartisan group of 41 their Senate colleagues have also directed OSHA to issue updated guidance correcting their misinterpretation of current law. The request was made in a joint letter to Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, who oversees OSHA.\r\n\"This is not the first time this administration has proved that Washington\u2019s values are not rural America\u2019s values through regulatory over-reach into the family farm,\" Sen. Moran said. \"I am committed to working with my colleagues to protect the individual rights of farmers and make certain OSHA does not continue to misinterpret the law.\"\r\nSince 1976, Congress has exempted small, family-run farms from OSHA regulations, but in a 2011 memo OSHA asserted that on-farm grain storage and handling was not part of farm operations. The memo essentially expanded OSHA\u2019s regulatory scope to nearly every farm in the country without going through the established rule making process that allows Congressional review and public comment, in defiance of the law.\r\nA copy of the senators\u2019 bipartisan letter is below:\r\nDecember 20, 2013\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable Thomas E. Perez\r\nSecretary\r\nU.S. Department of Labor\r\n200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.\r\nWashington, DC 20210\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Secretary Perez:\r\nWe write to you regarding reports that regulators at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have begun taking regulatory actions against farms that are specifically exempted by Congress from regulatory enforcement conducted by OSHA. Since 1976, Congress has included specific language in appropriations bills prohibiting OSHA from using appropriated funds to apply requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1976 to farming operations with 10 or fewer employees.\u00a0\r\nIt has come to our attention that OSHA is now interpreting this provision so narrowly that virtually every grain farm in the country would be subject to OSHA regulations.\u00a0 OSHA\u2019s interpretation defies the intent of Congress in exempting farming operations from the standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.\u00a0\r\nIn viewing a farm\u2019s \u201cgrain bin operation\u201d as somehow distinct from its farming operation, OSHA is creating an artificial distinction in an apparent effort to circumvent the Congressional prohibition on regulating farms.\u00a0 The use of grain bins is an integral part of farming operations.\u00a0 Without grain bins, farmers must sell corn and soybeans immediately after harvest, when prices are usually low.\u00a0 Storing grain in bins is thus a fundamental aspect of farming.\u00a0 Any farm that employs 10 or fewer employees and used grain bins only for storage prior to marketing should be exempt, as required by law, from OSHA regulations.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nA memo issued by the Director of Enforcement Programs on June 28, 2011, stated that \u201cmany of these small farm employers mistakenly assume that the Appropriations Rider precludes OSHA from conducting enforcement activities regardless of the type of operations performed on the farm.\u201d\u00a0 The memo declares that all activities under SIC 072\u2014including drying and fumigating grain\u2014are subject to all OSHA requirements (the memo did not even mention grain storage).\u00a0 There are many farms that have grain dryers on-farm to address wet harvest conditions or fumigate grain to prevent pests from ruining a crop prior to marketing.\u00a0 These are basic, common, and responsible farming activities that OSHA has arbitrarily decided are non-exempt.\u00a0\r\nWorker safety is an important concern for all of us\u2014including the many farmers who probably know better than OSHA regulators how to keep themselves and their employees safe on farms.\u00a0 If the Administration believes that OSHA should be able to enforce its regulations on farms, it should make that case to Congress rather than twisting the law in the service of bureaucratic mission creep.\u00a0 Until then, Congress has spoken clearly and we sincerely hope that you will support America\u2019s farmers and respect the intent of Congress by reining in OSHA.\u00a0\r\nWe would ask that you direct OSHA to take the following three steps to alleviate this concern.\u00a0 First, OSHA should cease all actions predicated on this interpretation, which is inconsistent with Congressional intent.\u00a0 It is important that OSHA also issue guidance correcting this misinterpretation of the law.\u00a0 We suggest consulting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and organizations representing farmers to assist with this guidance.\u00a0 Finally, we ask that OSHA provide a list and description of regulatory actions taken against farms with incorrectly categorized non-farming activities and 10 or fewer employees since the June 2011 memo.\u00a0 Given the nearly four decades of Congressional prohibition of OSHA enforcement against farms, this should be a simple request to fulfil.\u00a0\r\nWe would appreciate your response by February 1, 2014, to include a copy of the corrected guidance, the data regarding enforcement actions on farms, and confirmation that OSHA will cease such enforcement.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ron-kind-calls-congress-extend-unemployment-benefits", "Rep. Ron Kind Calls on Congress to Extend Unemployment Benefits", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Ron Kind", "K000188", "kind.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) is calling on Congress to immediately return to Washington to vote on an extension of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, which expired for 1.3 million job-seeking Americans on December 28th.\nCongress needs to reconvene immediately and extend the benefits that so many job-seeking Americans and their families rely on, said Rep. Kind. Allowing UI benefits to lapse doesn't just hurt long-term unemployed workers; it directly harms entire communities, too. When families can't afford to buy groceries and other necessities at our Main Street businesses, our local economies feel the impact.\nIn Wisconsin, approximately 23,700 people lost their benefits when the federal UI program expired last weekend. It's estimated that almost 100,000 people across the state will be affected by the loss of benefits over the course of the next year.\nThe average job hunter in America needs 8 months to find employment, and nationwide there are three unemployed workers available for each job opening.\nEven though we are seeing positive changes in the economy, the job market has not recovered sufficiently to absorb all the job seekers who are trying to join the workforce, concluded Rep. Kind. And we know that if UI benefits aren't extended, almost 250,000 jobs could be lost due to reduced spending in our local economies. Job seekers are getting hit from all sides, and it's time for Congress to step up and fix this.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://price.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/price-praises-etheridge-appointment-head-nc-fsa", "PRICE PRAISES ETHERIDGE APPOINTMENT TO HEAD NC FSA", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NC", "David Price", "P000523", "price.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Representative David Price (D-NC) issued the following statement today after President Obama appointed former North Carolina Representative Bob Etheridge as the next North Carolina State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency. Bob Etheridge worked tirelessly in Congress to help farmers in his district and across North Carolina. A farmer himself, Bob will bring a wealth of practical and policy experience to bear as the State Executive Director of the FSA, a position that provides critical support to our state's largest industry. I applaud the Obama Administration for appointing not just a qualified individual, but a dedicated and diligent public servant. The Administration announcement is included below. We are pleased to make the following personnel announcement: Bob Etheridge  State Executive Director (North Carolina), Farm Service Agency Bob Etheridge was born in Sampson County, North Carolina but spent all of his school-age years in Johnston County. He attended Cleveland School, a union school that housed grades K-12. He graduated with the class of 1959. The son of tenant farmers, Etheridge worked for two years after high school graduation saving enough money to enter Campbell College. In 1978, Etheridge was elected to the N.C. House of Representatives and served as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 1984-1988. He introduced the Basic Education Plan, which focused on providing millions of dollars to the public school budget for North Carolina and establishing a core curriculum for all students in K-12, in both rural and urban areas of the State. In 1988, Etheridge was elected as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, becoming the first non-educator since 1856 to hold that post. In eight years as superintendent, Etheridge quickly cut the state bureaucracy in the Department of Public Instruction by 25% and instituted an accountability system that has greatly improved student test scores. In 1996, Etheridge was elected to Congress from N.C.'s second district. He served fourteen years in Congress where he served for twelve years on the House Agriculture Committee and as Chairman of the General Farm Commodity and Risk Management Subcommittee for two years. Etheridge then moved to the House Ways and Means Committee for two years, the first North Carolinian to serve on that committee for 60 years. In the spring of 2011, Etheridge was appointed by Gov. Beverly Purdue to monitor federal stimulus recovery funding. Following a devastating tornado in central NC and a devastating hurricane in eastern North Carolina, he was asked to identify and secure funding for the victims of those natural disasters. Four institutions of higher learning have conferred honorary doctor degrees to Etheridge: Campbell University, Fayetteville State University, Pfeiffer College and Shaw University. He is also a member of the Campbell Sports Hall of Fame and the Johnston County Sports Hall of Fame. Etheridge and his wife, Faye, have been married for 48 years and have three children and eight grandchildren. Bob is an active member of Leaflet Presbyterian Church where he is an elder, president of the Presbyterian men and a long-time Sunday School teacher. Bob still spends as much time as he can on the family farm where he has beef cattle. # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://stabenow.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1238", "Senator Stabenow Nominates 33 Michigan Students to Service Academies", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Debbie Stabenow", "S000770", "stabenow.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Upper Peninsula Office \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1901 W. Ridge  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuite 7  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarquette, MI 49855  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (906) 228-8756  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Northern Michigan Office \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3335 S. Airport Road West  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuite 6B  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTraverse City, MI 49684  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (231) 929-1031  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t West Michigan Office \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3280 E. Beltline Court NE  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuite 400  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrand Rapids, MI 49525  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (616) 975-0052  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Mid-Michigan Office \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t221 W. Lake Lansing Road  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuite 100  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEast Lansing, MI 48823  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (517) 203-1760  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Southeast Michigan Office \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t719 Griswold St.  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuite 700  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDetroit, MI 48226  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (313) 961-4330  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Flint/Saginaw Bay Office \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t432 N. Saginaw St  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuite 301  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFlint, MI 48502  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (810) 720-4172  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Washington DC \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t731 Hart Senate Office Building  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington, D.C.  20510-2204  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (202) 224-4822", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140104063829/http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-files-amicus-brief-supporting-medical-associations-in-lawsuit-against-uhg_-", "Blumenthal Files Amicus Brief Supporting Medical Associations In Lawsuit Against UHG", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "In The Brief, Blumenthal Argues That Connecticut Patients Are Facing A \u201cHobson\u2019s Choice\u201d As A Result Of UHG\u2019s Actions\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 30, 2013\n\t\t\t(Hartford, DC) \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) filed an amicus brief in support of the Fairfield County Medical Association and Hartford County Medical Association, both of whom filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare Group (UHG) in November alleging the nation\u2019s largest insurer is breaking its contractual obligation with association members by dropping them from its Medicare Advantage network. In the brief, Blumenthal argues that Connecticut patients are facing a \u201cHobson\u2019s Choice\u201d as a result of UHG\u2019s actions.\n\u201cIn the absence of an injunction, the patients of the over 2,200 terminated physicians will face irreparable harm by being effectively denied access to their long-standing and chosen physicians,\u201d the brief states. \u201cConnecticut patients will immediately face the Hobson\u2019s choice of having to give up their current physicians, thereby risking medical errors arising from lack of continuity of care, or paying much higher rates to retain their current physicians.\u201d\nIn the brief, Blumenthal lists 11 examples of patients and providers who are facing \u201cirreparable harm\u201d as a result of UHG\u2019s actions. In one example, a 75-year-old Branford, CT resident was informed that he would no longer be able to receive his medically necessary cancer treatment as a result of UHG dropping his treatment team from its network. In another example, a provider in Stafford Springs, CT states that his full-time family practice, the only one in Stafford Springs, is at risk of financial devastation, and that many of his patients, 38 percent of whom are Medicare beneficiaries, will be left without a primary care physician close to home as a result of UHG dropping him from its network. In all cases, the patients and providers reached out to Blumenthal\u2019s office for help.\n\u201cThese examples confirm the District Court\u2019s finding of irreparable harm inasmuch as \u2018the disruption of the physician-patient relationship can cause irreparable harm that justifies issuing preliminary injunctive relief, particularly when the patient belongs to a vulnerable class or may have a deep trust relationship with the physician because of the serious nature of the patient\u2019s illness or medical needs,\u201d the brief states. \u201cThe examples related above are just the tip of the iceberg.\u00a0 The termination of 2,200 physicians from a health care plan in a state the size of Connecticut creates enormous risks to patient safety on a state-wide basis.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\nFull text of the brief can be found here.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tKamara Jones - 202-224-0309 Kamara_Jones@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140104063839/http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-ct-veteran-job-training-report", "Blumenthal Statement On CT Veteran Job Training Report", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Monday, December 30, 2013\n\t\t\t(Hartford, CT) \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued a statement following the release of a Connecticut Veterans Legal Center report calling for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to share military job training data with state and local occupational licensing boards in an effort to expedite the credentialing process for recent veterans seeking employment.\n\u201cThis report provides powerful evidence \u2013 and a roadmap for reform \u2013 for opening more job opportunities to veterans with specific skills gained through military training. This report could make Connecticut a national model in tailoring veteran job programs and targeting occupation and professional licenses that match military skills. \u00a0More comprehensive data is needed from the Department of Defense and the VA in order to make veteran training programs more effective and to better assist veterans to find jobs.\u00a0 As a member of the Senate's Veterans Affairs Committee, I will use this report to help shape new national veterans employment efforts.\u201d\nBlumenthal has long advocated for improving the credentialing process for recently returned veterans, having led the successful push to pass the Veteran Skills to Jobs Act, which requires acceptance of military training for all federal credentials.\nA link to the full report can be found here; key recommendations can be found below:\n1. The DoD should share its MOS data with DoL, the VA, and the public to permit an analysis to determine which federal, state, or local occupational or professional licensing requirements should be reformed to maximize Gulf War II veteran employment by more fully crediting military training and experience. Stakeholders should also use these data to identify MOSes that are at risk for civilian unemployment.\n2. In the absence of DoD cooperation, state departments of veterans\u2019 affairs should survey Gulf War II veterans by MOS and share the results with state policymakers, employers, and the public, so that all can better understand the skills and experience of Gulf War II veterans and how to reform licensing regimes to credit more fully this military training and experience. The Connecticut study suggests that health care and commercial driver\u2019s licenses may be among the most fruitful for reform.\n3. The DoD, VA, and DoL should collaborate to identify unemployment rates for Gulf War II veterans by MOS in order to better inform service members about post-service employment prospects when they make decisions regarding which military specialty to pursue. As a result, service members would know whether they are entering an MOS with a high risk for civilian unemployment.\n4. The DoD branches with Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL), or COOL equivalent, websites should coordinate with the DoL\u2019s Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide service members access to information in one website regarding civilian licenses and occupational outlooks for states in which they reside, or plan to return to upon completion of their service obligation. As of December 20, 2013, the Marine Corps does not have a COOL website, and the Air Force Credentialing and Education Research Tool (CERT) site is not operational. Both the Air Force CERT and the planned Marine Corps COOL site should emulate the content and functionality of the Army and Navy COOL websites.\n5. The Connecticut MOS Task Force, created pursuant to Connecticut Special Act 13-5, should examine whether the licensing requirements related to 29 of the 32 most common MOSes held by Gulf War II veterans can be reformed to more fully credit military training and experience. Additionally, the Task Force should include this analysis in its report to the Connecticut Legislature\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik \u2013 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011918/http://farenthold.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365158", "U.S. Congressman Blake Farenthold Calls TAMUCC Designation as FAA Test Site for UAS a \u201cHuge Win\u201d", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Blake Farenthold", "F000460", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced its selection of Texas A&amp;M University Corpus Christi as one of six public entities that will develop unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) research and test sites around the country.\u00a0 U.S. Congressman Blake Farenthold (TX-27) praised the FAA\u2019s selection of Texas A&amp;M University Corpus Christi.\n\u201cThe combination of expertise from Texas A&amp;M University Corpus Christi and wide open airspace in Texas make this an excellent choice for UAS research and development,\u201d said Congressman Blake Farenthold, a member of the Congressional Caucus on Unmanned Systems and Congressional Privacy Caucus.\u00a0 \u201cThis is a huge win for TAMUCC and the whole state of Texas.\u00a0 It gives our region the opportunity to take a leadership role in both the technology and policy challenges that will arise as these unmanned systems are developed, refined and deployed.\u201d \u00a0\n\u201cAs a longtime supporter and advocate for the use of unmanned systems along the border, I congratulate Texas A&amp;M Corpus Christi for this victory in becoming one of only six national test sites for UAS,\u201d said Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Unmanned Systems.\u00a0 \u201cIt has been a long process bringing this test site to Texas and we in the caucus have had several conversations with the FAA.\u00a0 It has been my pleasure to work alongside Congressman Farenthold and the other members of the Caucus to secure this site.\u201d \nCongressman Farenthold, along with Congressmen Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), Gene Green (D-TX-29), Pete Olson (R-TX-22), and John Carter (R-TX-31), have sent letters to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, the most recent in December highlighting Texas\u2019 commitment to the promising technology of unmaned aircraft.\n\u201cWe believe Texas would be a strong partner with the FAA in carefully managing the research and development of the UAS technology,\u201d the Congressmen said in the letter.\u00a0 \nThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving steadily ahead to safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the largest, most complex air traffic systems in the world. The agency\u2019s activities must address the needs of a diverse aviation community while ensuring current users both in the air and on the ground remain safe.\nThe testing sites will allow the agency to develop research findings and operational experiences to help ensure the safe integration of UAS into the nation's airspace as we transition to NextGen air traffic control technologies and procedures.\nTexas A&amp;M University Corpus Christi plans to develop system safety requirements for UAS vehicles and operations with a goal of protocols and procedures for airworthiness testing. The selection of Texas A&amp;M contributes to geographic and climactic diversity.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221185436/http://maloney.house.gov/enewsletter/looking-back-2013", "Looking back on 2013", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Carolyn Maloney", "M000087", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Saving consumers $21 Billion by Stopping Credit Card Industry Abuses\nA team of researchers, including one from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, has found that the 2009 Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD) I authored and worked to pass is saving consumers $21 billion every year. Thanks to the CARD Act, consumers have saved billions of dollars, young people are better protected from predatory practices, and people all across the country are more satisfied with their credit cards than they\u2019ve been in years.\nRenewing the Violence Against Women Act\nA renewal of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was long delayed by conservatives in the House and Senate. n March, we finally passed an improved VAWA that includes the SAFER Act language I authored to reduce the nation\u2019s untested DNA rape kit backlog. The legislation also included provisions of the Campus SaVE Act I authored to aid colleges in reducing sexual violence on campuses.\nProviding Resources for Hurricane Sandy Recovery\nAfter months of hard work, we secured $60 billion in federal funding that was desperately needed to help New Yorkers recover from Superstorm Sandy. The funds are being used to help people who lost their homes and assist business owners who suffered large losses. They will also help pay for repairing subway and commuter rail lines, fixing bridges and tunnels, and to undertake initiatives that will mitigate the effects of future natural disasters.\nMonitoring Progress on the 2nd\u00a0Avenue Subway\nBuilding the Second Avenue Subway has been one of my top priorities since I was first elected to Congress. New York City\u2019s subway system has not added capacity in over 60 years, and we need to expand. I secured $1.3 billion in federal funding for Phase I of this project, and all but $16.8 million has already been appropriated. We\u2019re making progress\u2014the MTA has completed all tunnel boring, awarded all ten of the project contracts, fulfilled three of the contracts, completed all blasting, and initiated dismantling of muck houses. The overall project has remained on time and on budget for four straight years.\nKeeping Tabs on the East Side Access Project\nLast year, I celebrated the news that tunnel-boring had been completed on the East Side Access project, which will connect Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Grand Central Terminal. This is the largest mass transit initiative under construction anywhere in the United States. When it is finished the ESA will carry LIRR passengers directly to Grand Central Terminal in the core of Manhattan\u2019s Central Business District. It will also create a new LIRR stop in Sunnyside, Queens, helping commuters reach the business district in Long Island City\u2014the fourth largest business district in New York City and the largest in Queens. The federal government is providing $2.6 billion of the project\u2019s cost, currently estimated at $7.3 billion.\n\t\tSecuring High Speed Rail Funding to Improve Harold Interlocking\nAfter Florida declined Federal funds for high-speed rail as part of the Recovery Act, I urged President Obama to direct a portion of that funding to New York. The administration responded by directing $295 million of those funds to improve the \u201cHarold Interlocking,\u201d a century-old intersection of 14 tracks in the Sunnyside, Queens rail yards where hundreds of Northeast Corridor trains converge each day.\nFixing the Kosciuszko Bridge\nIn May, I released a report highlights new data on the Kosciuszko Bridge\u2019s increasingly decaying conditions. The bridge is notorious for accidents and traffic delays and inspectors have flagged several problems that need to be addressed. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to move forward with the New York State Department of Transportation\u2019s $800 million Kosciuszko Bridge Project. Roughly 85 percent of the funding, or $670 million, will be provided by the federal government. The project will create thousands of new jobs, including 1,000 to 1,200 full time construction jobs.\nReducing Overcrowding in our Schools\nAs more New York City families choose to raise their children in our communities, class sizes have risen resulting in the need for new public schools.\u00a0The average elementary school classroom in America has about 20 students, but many of the classrooms in New York\u2019s 12th\u00a0Congressional District have more than 28 students. I have engaged in a multi-year effort to address this problem, and the task forces I initiated have led to the creation of more than half a dozen new schools, including the Eleanor Roosevelt High School, PS 151, PS 267 and PS 527. This year I was delighted to join Department of Education officials and many of my colleagues for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at PS 281, which opened in September at the old Con Ed Waterside site, the largest undeveloped site on the East Side of Manhattan.\u00a0I was also pleased to join elected officials and residents of Western Queens for the PS 312/IS 404 ribbon-cutting ceremony at Hunters Point South this fall.\nExpanding Senior Housing\nOlder New Yorkers should have the option of living in supportive housing that will be affordable and provide the services they need as they age, but the demand for such housing far exceeds the supply.\u00a0This fall I was pleased to join HANAC to celebrate the opening of PCA Residence, a 66-unit affordable housing development for seniors. The $23 million development received $22 million in federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a loan through HUD\u2019s HOME investment partnership program, low income housing tax credits and a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank.\u00a0In addition, residents will receive Section 8 subsidies. Since being elected to Congress, I have worked with local developers to obtain federal funding for six senior housing developments.\nStein Senior Center\nOne of New York City\u2019s largest senior centers, Stein Senior Center, recently lost its space and urgently needed funding to renovate a new space at the Uniformed Firefighters Association headquarters building at 204 East 23rd Street in Manhattan. I worked to ensure that the NYC Department for the Aging would allocate more than $750,000 from the federal Community Development Block Grant to support the rehabilitation of the Center\u2019s new home. This elegant new facility will allow Stein to serve a larger group of seniors, hold a greater variety of classes, and offer even better programs.\nOpposing Garbage Dumps in Residential Communities\nSince my early days in Congress, I have opposed garbage transfer stations in residential areas. Nonetheless, the city\u2019s current solid waste transfer plan calls for the development of a transfer station at 91st\u00a0Street on the East River (MTS).\u00a0The site is adjacent to two public housing developments, three public parks, several schools and a senior center. This area flooded badly during Superstorm Sandy, raising concerns that a similar storm could result in trash running through local streets.\u00a0In fact, new flood maps recently released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency show that the transfer station is located six feet below\u00a0the flood plain.\u00a0The mitigation called for by the Department of Sanitation is woefully inadequate.\u00a0I have authored legislative language, testified at hearings and repeatedly written and spoken with representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) to express these concerns. This fall, I worked to attach an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act reauthorization bill on the House floor. My amendment would have required the ACE to review permits issued in areas devastated by Sandy to make sure flood risks were properly understood and evaluated.\u00a0Unfortunately, the House Rules Committee rejected my amendment on a party line vote. I\u2019ll continue working to resolve this issue in the coming year.\nFighting for Stronger Gun Safety Laws  \n\t\tA year after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School little has been done at the federal level to prevent gun crimes. I have supported several measures to stop the bloodshed on our streets, in our schools and other public spaces, including introducing the first bipartisan bill that would make firearms trafficking a federal crime and impose stronger penalties on those who buy guns for convicted felons or others who are prohibited from buying guns on their own. I also cosponsored a bipartisan bill to strengthen background checks. We owe it to the victims of Sandy Hook to take commonsense actions that will prevent future tragedies.\nStanding Against Cuts to Food Assistance  \n\t\tWe should focus on reducing poverty, not nutrition assistance, but the House majority has not relented in their effort to slash SNAP assistance for needy families. After their first attempt at cutting $20 billion in benefits failed, Republicans doubled down with a proposal to cut $40 billion. I\u2019m working to make sure these reductions in food aid are rejected. These cuts are driven by an ideological agenda that benefits nobody and harms those struggling to put food on the table.\nLeading a Bipartisan Effort to Bring a National Women\u2019s History Museum to DC  \n\t\tI am working with Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, to bring a National Women\u2019s National History Museum to Washington, DC. Our bill would form a commission to study the best way to move this project forward. We recognize money is tight, that\u2019s why the entire project, the commission and the study would be funded through private contributions. Bipartisan support is growing in Congress and throughout the country for a museum that acknowledges and commemorates the deep and lasting contributions women have made throughout our history.\nReintroducing the Equal Rights Amendment  \n\t\tMany people today take for granted that equal rights between men and women are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution \u2013 and are shocked when they learn that they are not. To this day, the right to vote is the only constitutionally guaranteed right to the women who make up more than 50 percent of the population. That is why I have reintroduced the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to give women the constitutional protection they need and deserve.\nPromoting Women in STEM Careers  \n\t\tIn February, I hosted a forum and career fair that promoted women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. The two-part event was held at the CUNY Graduate Center and was attended by about 400 high school and college-aged students. The forum featured six prominent female leaders from different STEM fields who shared their thoughts on the future of STEM, the importance of encouraging women to enter STEM fields, and how students can best prepare themselves for professional careers in STEM.\nProtecting Access to Affordable Mortgages\nAs the senior Democrat on the House panel that oversees the housing market, I am working to ensure that middle-class families continue to have access to affordable ways to purchase a home. In November, I hosted roundtable discussions in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan to get feedback from real estate, mortgage and housing experts. I\u2019m continuing to stand against proposals that would make it harder for New Yorkers to own their own homes.\nIntroducing the Overdraft Protection Act\nTo build on the success of the CARD Act, I\u2019ve reintroduced the Overdraft Protection Act to stop banks from charging exorbitant overdraft fees. The bill would require fees to be reasonable and proportional to the amount of the overdraft, limit overdraft fees to one per month and six per year, require banks to get a consumer\u2019s permission before opting them in to an overdraft protection program, and stop banks from manipulating the order of transactions to maximize overdraft fees. If you\u2019ve been a victim of overdraft fee abuse, please contact my office today.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222035637/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-applauds-faa-selection-new-jersey-virginia-partnership-national-test-site", "LoBiondo Applauds FAA Selection of New Jersey-Virginia Partnership for National Test Site of Unmanned Aircraft Systems", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "MAYS LANDING, N.J. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02), Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, today applauded the announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the joint application by the states of New Jersey and Virginia has been selected as one of the six national test sites for integrating commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace. LoBiondo, working closely with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, led the New Jersey\u2019s Congressional efforts to secure the designation.\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement is a GREAT way to kick off the New Year, promising significant economic opportunities in the aviation field particularly for South Jersey,\u201d lauded LoBiondo, chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee. \u201cA years-long effort has been spent on putting forth the strongest application - including forming a solid working partnership with Virginia - to ensure the FAA recognized our existing assets for this project. I appreciate Governor Christie\u2019s unwavering support throughout the process as well as the efforts of my Congressional colleagues and those working on the ground in South Jersey on our proposal.\u201d\nThe states\u2019 joint application was put forth by Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) and Rutgers University with support from the Governors of New Jersey and Virginia. The other 5 test sites selected by the FAA are in: Alaska-Hawaii-Oregon; Nevada; North Dakota; Texas; and New York. UAS test sites will operate until February 2017 with the first site being operational within 180 days of today\u2019s announcement. There is no federal funding from the FAA for any test site.\nThe William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center will be the lead facilitator of data collected from each of the six test sites, working to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace as mandated by the 2012 FAA Authorization Act \u2013 a provision LoBiondo advocated for inclusion during the bill\u2019s drafting and debate. While each test site will have specific regulations to protect the privacy of surrounding residents and businesses, Congress continues to evaluate further legislative options to address civil liberty concerns.\n\u201cThe outstanding partnership between New Jersey and Virginia, between Governors Christie and McDonnell, between Rutgers and Virginia Tech and various state and private entities made for a winning result. Our cooperative efforts, in conjunction with the FAA Tech Center in Egg Harbor Township, will continue as our test site takes off and commercial unmanned aircraft systems open up new economic opportunities for our states,\u201d concluded LoBiondo.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202200/http://mckinley.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=2105", "Exponent-Telegram: About 7,000 state resident set to lose federal jobless benefits Saturday", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "WV", "David McKinley", "M001180", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Federal unemployment benefits are set to expire on Saturday for nearly 7,000 West Virginians, officials said.\n\n\tIn North Central West Virginia, 341 people are expected to be affected in the Clarksburg area, while 231 people in the Fairmont area would lose benefits, according to WorkForce West Virginia.\n\n\tThose individuals are among approximately 1.3 million Americans unemployed for 26 weeks or more whose benefits come from an account that is almost empty.\n\n\tTo read entire article, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202209/http://mckinley.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=2104", "Charleston Gazette Mail: Photos show &#39;the other West Virginia&#39;", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "WV", "David McKinley", "M001180", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Betty Rivard's upcoming lecture based on her book of photos of the state during the 1930s and '40s will focus on \"the other West Virginia\" -- not the one that garners mostly negative national attention.\n\n\t\"When I say the other West Virginia, I'm talking about the positive part of West Virginia,\" Rivard said. \"The book does include some images of people in very destitute situations, but that's not the major part of the book, and that was deliberate.\"\n\n\tRivard's book, \"New Deal Photographs of West Virginia: 1934-43,\" was produced by 10 professional photographers who visited the state as part of the Farm Security Administration Project.\n\n\tTo read entire story, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140228010514/http://kinzinger.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=600", "Morris Daily Herald: Kinzinger kicks off District 16 Agriculture Advisory meeting", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "IL", "Adam Kinzinger", "K000378", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "OTTAWA \u2013 U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, met this month with representatives from throughout the 16th District in the first meeting of a new Agriculture Advisory Committee.  The committee will serve as a forum for Kinzinger to hear from members of the agriculture community on policy issues that affect them most directly, according to a news release.  \u201cWith Washington debating a whole host of issues affecting Illinois farmers, from the farm bill to renewable energy, this committee will be a great way to ensure the voices of Illinois\u2019 farmers are heard,\u201d Kinzinger said in the news release.  Held Dec. 19 in Ottawa\u2019s City Hall building, the meeting covered topics that included the reauthorization of the farm bill, pending legislation to streamline waterway projects, renewable energy mandates, crop insurance provisions and immigration reform, according to the news release.  The committee, which consists of farmers and producers from all 14 counties of the 16th District, plans to meet once annually, with teleconference and local meetings throughout the year.  For the full posting, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301024731/http://reed.house.gov/press-release/reed-highlights-district-successes-2013", "REED HIGHLIGHTS DISTRICT SUCCESSES IN 2013", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Tom Reed", "R000585", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Reflecting on the past year, Congressman Tom Reed pointed to the many community wide successes and the day to day stories of families and individuals helped through his office.\n\u201cWorking with constituents to provide solutions on problems big and small is what we are here to do and it is by far the most important part of the job,\u201d Congressman Reed said. \u201cWe\u2019ve held more than 110 town halls throughout our eleven counties and helped constituents work through more than 5,000 constituent cases as we continue to make their priorities our priorities.\u201d\nReed reflected on some of the district\u2019s major victories in the past year, including keeping the NRG plant in Dunkirk, awarding Salamanca School District impact aid, maintaining the Elmira Psychiatric Center, working with the FAA and Corning Hospital to expedite construction, strides combating the invasive species Hydrilla and efforts to keep the tower at the Ithaca Tompkins airport open. \u00a0\nHe also reflected on working with families on the day to day issues that Reed says are so critical to the role of the office. \u201cWe were able to help one constituent who because of a medical condition, her father was not able to recall where he put his mortgage discharge paperwork in order to sell the business. In another instance, we helped a local organization recently get their 501c3 status that had been stalled since 2007.\n\u201cIt\u2019s these kinds of issues we tackle on a daily basis that have the biggest impact and really stand out,\u201d Congressman Reed continued. \u201cThere will undoubtedly be plenty of talk about politics but despite all of that talk, I will continue to focus on what really matters: constituents of the 23rd district and their needs and concerns.\u201d\n#####", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/comunicado-de-prensa?ContentRecord_id=3aaf7260-065d-4191-a55b-803272a86c10", "Heller responde al anuncio de FAA nombrando Nevada un sitio de prueba de aviones no tripulado", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NV", "Dean Heller", "H001041", "www.heller.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 El Senador de los Estados Unidos, Dean Heller, Republicano por Nevada, hoy respondi\u00f3 a la Administraci\u00f3n Federal de\u00a0 \u00a0Aviaci\u00f3n (FAA) anuncio que Nevada ha sido designado como un sitio para sistemas de aviones no tripulado con la siguiente declaraci\u00f3n:\r\n\u201cTeniendo en cuenta que Nevada contin\u00faa liderando a la naci\u00f3n en el desempleo, la decisi\u00f3n de la FAA es bienvenido y oportuna. Nevada ha sido un l\u00edder en el desarrollo de sistemas de aviones no tripulado y tambi\u00e9n pruebas de esos sistemas. Dada la ubicaci\u00f3n geogr\u00e1fica de nuestro estado, mano de obra muy calificada y s\u00f3lidas alianzas con universidades, Nevada est\u00e1 bien posicionada para asegurar el \u00e9xito de estos programas.\r\nEstoy seguro que el FAA, el Congreso y el estado de Nevada pueden lograr un equilibrio entre la oportunidad y el desarrollo de normas de privacidad y las salvaguardias que garanticen los derechos constitucionales de los ciudadanos de Nevada y los estadounidenses en todo el pa\u00eds,\" dijo el senador Dean Heller.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=6be35a83-83a2-4edb-930f-caf166d127d6", "Heller Responds to FAA Announcement Naming Nevada a Drone Test Site", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NV", "Dean Heller", "H001041", "www.heller.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) today responded to the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA\u2019s) announcement that Nevada has been designated as an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) test site with the following statement: \r\n\"Considering that Nevada continues to lead the nation in unemployment, the FAA\u2019s decision is both welcome and well-timed. Nevada has long been a leader in UAS development and testing. Given our state\u2019s geographic location, extremely qualified workforce, and strong partnerships with universities, Nevada is well-positioned to ensure the success of these programs. \r\n\u201cI am confident that the FAA, Congress, and the State of Nevada can strike a balance between this opportunity and the development of privacy standards and safeguards that will guarantee the constitutional rights of Nevadans and Americans across the country,\u201d said Senator Dean Heller.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-heitkamp-cramer-and-dalrymple-faa-selects-grand-forks-to-be-uas-test-site", "Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer and Dalrymple: FAA Selects Grand Forks to be UAS Test Site", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "ND", "John Hoeven", "H001061", "www.hoeven.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.13\n\t\t\t Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer and Dalrymple: FAA Selects Grand Forks to be UAS Test Site \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t ND Leaders Worked to Secure Designation to Build GF as Premier Northern UAS Hub\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON  Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, Congressman Kevin Cramer and Governor Jack Dalrymple today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected Grand Forks as one of six sites to test unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for integration into the National Airspace. The announcement comes after years of work by North Dakota's leaders to position Grand Forks as the premier northern UAS hub.\r\n\r\nThe FAA Reauthorization bill passed by Congress in February 2012 includes an amendment introduced by Hoeven that directed the agency to establish the test sites and integrate UAS into the National Airspace System. Hoeven's amendment instructed the FAA Administrator to consider factors including geographical and climatic diversity, as well as the location of ground infrastructure, in selecting the test sites.\r\n\r\nHoeven has worked, both as governor and now as U.S. Senator, with the state's UAS community to establish and maintain North Dakota's leadership in UAS technologies and to grow UAS operations in the Grand Forks region. In 2006, Hoeven and former Senator Byron Dorgan worked to seed the Center for UAS Research, Education and Training on the UND campus. Dorgan got the center designated as Department of Defense Center of Excellence for UAV Education. The same year, the North Dakota Centers of Excellence Program, initiated by then-Governor Hoeven, awarded the center $2.5 million, which it matched and leveraged to $15.8 million in federal and private-sector funding.\r\n\r\nWe've said all along that Grand Forks is an ideal location to test UAS integration, and now the FAA has agreed with us, Hoeven said. This test site designation, combined with Grand Sky, the Grand Forks region's new aerospace technology and business complex on Grand Forks Air Force Base, is tremendously important and enables the entire region to advance the work it has been doing to become the premier northern hub for unmanned aerial systems. As a test site, Grand Forks will be integral in developing the future commercial use of UAS for our nation and the world.\r\n\r\nThe selection of Grand Forks as a UAS test site is an affirmation that the GrandForks area is an ideal location for military installations, and unmanned aerial systems in particular, said Senator Heitkamp. This designation is the result of collaboration between community leaders, the University of North Dakota, and local, state and federal officials. The test site will help grow the UAS industry throughout the nation and help make sure it can become a key part of North Dakota's economy.Grand Forks is very deserving of this program, and I look forward to continuing to support the community and program throughout its implementation.\r\n\r\nSince taking office, Heitkamp has relentlessly advocated for the selection of Grand Forks as a UAS test site. Heitkamp has held numerous meetings with top military and Administration officials, including FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, to urge them to select Grand Forks. Heitkamp, who co-founded the Defense Communities Caucus, also helped facilitate an Enhanced Use Lease between the Air Force and Grand Forks County, which will help grow the UAS industry in the area.\r\n\r\nNorth Dakota's UAS Team did an outstanding job highlighting the superior assets of the Grand Forks area. In addition to the obvious advantages of uncongested air space, climate diversity and a culture of aviation, it is clear the unified voice of the many partners was a major factor in the FAA's decision, said Congressman Cramer. State and local officials from North Dakota and Minnesota working with education, business and military leaders presented a unified front giving confidence to the decision makers.\r\n\r\nCramer is directly involved with UAS development as a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus.\r\n\r\nGov. Dalrymple and Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley have led the state's efforts to establish a national UAS test site in North Dakota. The state has invested more than $14 million to establish a national UAS test site and to advance UAS research and development. In May, Dalrymple established the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems Authority and appointed Lt. Gov. Wrigley to lead the state's efforts to land a test site and to pursue other UAS opportunities. Following Dalrymple's recommendation, the 63rd Legislative Assembly also supported the state's pursuit of a national UAS test site by appropriating $5 million, with $4 million in operations funding contingent on North Dakota being selected one of six test sites.\r\n\r\nThe FAA's decision to locate one of only six national UAS test sites in North Dakota is good news for our state and for the entire nation, Dalrymple said. We have worked very hard to make sure North Dakota is well positioned for this designation and to make sure that the FAA recognizes the many strengths that we offer in helping to safely integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace. With this test site designation, we have a great opportunity to become a national hub for UAS research and development, to expand our national leadership in aerospace sciences and to further diversify our state economy.\r\n\r\nThe North Dakota leaders, along with the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC), North Dakota Airspace Integration Team (AIT) and Grand Forks leaders have held meetings with the FAA regarding the site selection process to make the case for Grand Forks.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Hoeven and Heitkamp worked to help Grand Forks County secure an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) with the U.S. Air Force for the development of Grand Sky, a cutting-edge UAS technology and business park the county plans to build on approximately 217 acres at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). Last year, Hoeven brought senior Northrop Grumman officials, including Tom Vice, Northrop Grumman's Corporate VP and President of Aerospace Systems, to Grand Forks to see firsthand the tremendous synergies that are developing between Grand Forks BRIC, UND, the UND Aerospace Foundation and Northland Aerospace Foundation. He also worked to get Northrop Grumman, one of the world's premier aerospace and defense technology companies, to commit to be the park's first tenant. Northrop Grumman makes the RQ-4 Global Hawk, which is operated by the Air Combat Command unit at GFAFB.\r\n\r\nWe envisioned collaborations here in practical and original ways to create a dynamic environment for the military, industry and education, Hoeven said. Now all of those elements are coming together in a coordinated way to spur innovation, boost our economy and create jobs in the Grand Forks region.\r\n\r\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/sens-warner-and-kaine-applaud-faas-selection-of-virginia-tech-proposal-to-test-unmanned-aircraft-systems", "Sens. Warner and Kaine Applaud FAA&#x2019;s Selection of Virginia Tech Proposal to Test Unmanned Aircraft Systems", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sens. Warner and Kaine Applaud FAA\u2019s Selection of Virginia Tech Proposal to Test Unmanned Aircraft Systems\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRegion to be one of six U.S. sites chosen to test and research variety of UAS issues\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 30, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released this statement today following the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) selection of Virginia Tech\u2019s proposal to spearhead a regional research effort on \u00a0the safest and most effective ways to incorporate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the existing airspace.\u00a0 Virginia Tech\u2019s proposal, one of six from across the country selected by the FAA today, \u00a0includes a cooperative agreement to work with research institutions and facilities across\u00a0 Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.\r\n\u201cWe want to congratulate Virginia Tech and its partners for this success. Virginia\u2019s selection provides an opportunity for the mid-Atlantic region to become a major hub for UAS research and testing, leveraging the growing private sector interest in UAS as well as incorporating military and NASA assets across our region. That\u2019s why we have long supported Virginia's selection, and have worked to highlight the strengths of a Virginia-Maryland-New Jersey partnership with the FAA,\u201d Sens. Warner and Kaine said. \u201cWe hope this FAA research and testing also helps sort-out the legitimate public concerns about privacy and air safety as we move toward a safe and responsible integration of unmanned aircraft.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=0fcf598a-e91b-42fb-9f5c-f2162f42e672", "Klobuchar Calls for Action to Crack Down on Cell Phone Thefts", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Nearly one-in-three robberies involve phone theft and consumers lose more than $30 billion each year to lost and stolen phones; in Minnesota, recent cell phone thefts at the Mall of America and the University of Minnesota have threatened public safety \r\n In a letter to wireless industry leaders, Klobuchar urges companies to take action to stem mobile device thefts by ensuring consumers have access to the most advanced security features such as a \u201ckill switch\u201d\u00a0 \r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today called on the wireless industry to take action to crack down on cell phone thefts. The thefts are becoming a growing problem across the country with nearly one-in-three robberies involving phone theft. It\u2019s estimated that each year consumers lose more than $30 billion to lost or stolen phones. In Minnesota, recent cell phone thefts at the Mall of America and the University of Minnesota have threatened public safety. In a letter to wireless industry leaders, Klobuchar urged companies to take action to stem mobile device thefts by ensuring consumers have access to the most advanced security features, such as a \u201ckill switch\u201d that would deter criminals who intend to illegally resell the devices.\r\n\u201cMobile devices aren\u2019t just telephones anymore \u2013 increasingly people\u2019s livelihoods depend on them,\u201d Klobuchar said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we need to do more to crack down on criminals who are stealing and reselling these devices, costing consumers billions every year. The wireless industry needs to step up to the plate and address these thefts, and make sure consumers have the most advanced security technology at their fingertips.\u201d\r\nKlobuchar is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and chairs the Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, and has been a leader in standing up for consumers and boosting competition in the marketplace. She authored legislation\u2014the Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment Act and the Wireless Consumer Choice Act\u2014to strengthen consumer protections in the wireless industry, including looking at allowing consumers to unlock their phones. Klobuchar has also pushed the FCC to examine the competitive impact on consumers from the wireless carriers\u2019 exclusive arrangements with cell phone manufacturers. Klobuchar also cosponsored legislation led by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that adds criminal penalties of up to five years in jail for tampering with cell phones in order to circumvent the service ban on a stolen phone.\r\nThe full text of the letter is below:\r\n\r\nDecember 30, 2013\r\n\r\nMr. Lowell McAdam\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr. Dan Hesse\r\nChairman and Chief Executive Officer\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chief Executive Officer\r\nVerizon Communications, Inc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sprint Communications, Inc.\r\n140 West Street\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0200 Sprint Parkway\r\nNew York, New York 10007\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Overland Park, Kansas 66351\r\n\u00a0\r\nMr. Randall Stephenson\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mr. John Legere\r\nChief Executive Officer \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 `\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 President and Chief Executive Officer\r\nAT&amp;T, Inc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 T-Mobile USA, Inc.\r\n208 South Akard Street\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a012920 Southeast 38th Street\r\nDallas, Texas 75202\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bellevue, Washington 98006\r\n\u00a0\r\nMr. Kenneth Meyers\r\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\r\nU.S. Cellular Corporation\r\n8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 700\r\nChicago, Illinois 60631\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Messrs. McAdam, Stephenson, Hesse, Legere, and Meyers:\r\nI am writing to express my concern regarding the increase in crimes involving the theft of mobile devices across the country.\u00a0 As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, I understand that consumers are utilizing more mobile technology and this is spurring growth in our economy.\u00a0 Unfortunately, more and more consumers are also at risk of being targeted by criminals looking to steal cell phones and other devices for illegal resale.\u00a0 I appreciate the work the industry has done in creating a database to keep stolen phones from being reactivated, but more action is needed.\r\nAccording to the Federal Communications Commission, almost one-in-three robberies involve phone theft and the cost to consumers of lost or stolen phones is more than $30 billion each year.\u00a0 I\u2019ve heard from local law enforcement officials about the continued call for the wireless industry to engage with them further and to adopt \u201ckill switch\u201d technologies on devices.\u00a0 Additionally, state Attorneys General have suggested that wireless carriers have not taken adequate steps to fight cell phone theft.\u00a0\r\nAs Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, I expect wireless carriers to compete against one another to ensure consumers are offered the most advanced security features and offerings.\u00a0 Your five companies are the nation\u2019s leading wireless carriers, collectively serving more than 90 percent of the nation\u2019s wireless subscribers. With that market share comes an obligation to do all you can to utilize technologies available to protect consumers.\r\nWhile I understand your companies are continuing to work with law enforcement on the stolen cell phone database, it is clear that consumers want and deserve a comprehensive strategy to prevent mobile device thefts.\u00a0 That is why I respectfully request that each of your companies provides my Judiciary Subcommittee detailed information on the following issues by January 9, 2014:\r\n \r\nInformation explaining whether you have had offers by handset manufacturers to install \u201ckill switch\u201d technology, and, if so, why your company has or has not adopted such technology.\u00a0\r\nInformation about whether you have considered including this solution on handsets made by manufacturers now competing with Apple\u2019s activation lock technology that operates as a \u201ckill switch\u201d on iPhones.\u00a0 If not, please describe your reasoning behind the decision made by your company.\u00a0\r\nHow your company will include such technology options at no cost to consumers in the future and how your phone security offerings differ from your competitors.\u00a0\r\n \r\nIdentifying ways to curb mobile device theft is a top priority of mine and I will continue to advocate for the American wireless consumer. \u00a0I also believe additional action to protect wireless consumers is necessary and that's why I am asking you for this information. \u00a0The status quo is not acceptable.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=458f0cfe-49d1-4835-bd37-cf49cc55f1da", "Portman Statement on Federal Aviation Administration's Decision Regarding Unmanned Aerial System Test Site Locations", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today released the following statement in response to the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) decision not to select Ohio as a location for an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) test site:   \u00a0  \u201cI am deeply disappointed by the FAA\u2019s decision not to select the Ohio/Indiana UAS Center as the location for one of the FAA\u2019s six UAS test sites across the country. Ohio is a national leader in aerospace, and would have been an ideal location for one of the sites.\u00a0 Over one hundred thousand Ohioans work in aerospace, where they develop and build cutting-edge technologies and world-class commercial and military equipment. In addition, assets like Dayton\u2019s U.S. Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and industry partners throughout the state provide outstanding technical expertise and more than $9 billion in Research and Development and testing every year. I have worked extensively to strengthen these unique capabilities and increase Ohio\u2019s leadership in defense and aerospace.  \u00a0  \u201cI remain committed to advancing Ohio\u2019s leadership role in aerospace and unmanned systems.\u00a0 The Ohio/Indiana UAS Center will move forward with its plans to serve the needs of federal, state, local, and private entities as they continue research and development of UAS.\u00a0 Keeping Ohio\u2019s aerospace industry strong and competitive is critical not only to our state\u2019s economy, but to the national security of the United States.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=0d57aa3a-821b-431a-acda-e3e1b79e1e93", "Sens. Warner & Kaine Applaud FAA Selection of VaTech Proposal on Unmanned Aircraft", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released this statement today following the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) selection of Virginia Tech\u2019s proposal to spearhead a regional research effort on the safest and most effective ways to incorporate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the existing airspace. Virginia Tech\u2019s proposal, one of six from across the country selected by the FAA today, includes a cooperative agreement to work with research institutions and facilities across Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.\r\n\u201cWe want to congratulate Virginia Tech and its partners for this success. Virginia\u2019s selection provides an opportunity for the mid-Atlantic region to become a major hub for UAS research and testing, leveraging the growing private sector interest in UAS as well as incorporating military and NASA assets across our region. That\u2019s why we have long supported Virginia's selection, and have worked to highlight the strengths of a Virginia-Maryland-New Jersey partnership with the FAA,\u201d Sens. Warner and Kaine said. \u201cWe hope this FAA research and testing also helps sort-out the legitimate public concerns about privacy and air safety as we move toward a safe and responsible integration of unmanned aircraft.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=a61cf7b4-5603-49bb-b0b0-9578e6756aa1", "Sen. Warner Calls for Hearing into Target Consumer Data Breach", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today requested a hearing by the Senate Banking Committee to examine whether companies and financial service providers are taking all actions necessary to safeguard consumer data and protect against fraud and identity theft, and whether stronger industry-wide cybersecurity standards are needed.\r\nIn the wake of Target\u2019s recent account data breach affecting some 40 million U.S. customers, Sen. Warner and Banking Committee colleague Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) wrote to Chairman Tim Johnson and Ranking Member Mike Crapo:\u00a0 \u201cWith our economy and financial sector becoming increasingly information-based and data-reliant, consumers depend on the companies and financial service providers with whom they do business to protect their sensitive information.\u00a0 As companies collect, store, and process ever-greater quantities of consumer data, they\u2014and our regulators\u2014must become even more vigilant against breaches and improper use.\u201d\r\nJust days before Christmas, Target announced that a data breach occurred between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, affecting about 40 million credit and debit card accounts, compromising customers' names, card information and security codes. Target has yet to disclose how the hackers penetrated its data security.\r\nThe Warner/Menendez letter follows:\r\n\u00a0\r\nDecember 30, 2013\r\nThe Honorable Tim Johnson\r\nChairman\r\nSenate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs\r\nWashington, DC 20510\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable Mike Crapo\r\nRanking Member\r\nSenate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs\r\nWashington, DC 20510\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Crapo:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We write to request that the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hold a hearing as soon as reasonably possible regarding consumer financial data security.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As you know, earlier this month, Target Corporation announced a data breach that affected roughly 40 million customer credit and debit card accounts \u2013 one of the largest such corporate security breaches in history.\u00a0 Thieves reportedly gained access to information including cardholders\u2019 names, card information, and security PIN codes, potentially exposing millions of consumers to the risk of fraud, identity theft, and other hardships during the peak of the holiday shopping season.\u00a0 Breaches such as this also expose businesses, banks, and card companies to losses from fraudulent charges or withdrawals using stolen information.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With our economy and financial sector becoming increasingly information-based and data-reliant, consumers depend on the companies and financial service providers with whom they do business to protect their sensitive information.\u00a0 As companies collect, store, and process ever-greater quantities of consumer data, they\u2014and our regulators\u2014must become even more vigilant against breaches and improper use.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We believe it would be valuable for the Committee to examine whether market participants are taking all appropriate actions to safeguard consumer data and protect against fraud, identity theft, and other harmful consequences, and whether we need stronger industry-wide cybersecurity standards.\u00a0 Some industry experts, for example, have called for faster and more uniform adoption of technologies such as EMV \u201csmart\u201d chips to improve credit and debit card transactional security, among other proposals.\u00a0 We also believe it would be helpful for the Committee to hear from our financial regulators as to whether they have the necessary tools, information, and authority to ensure that financial companies and service providers are doing enough to protect consumer data, and, in the event that a breach does occur, to minimize the harm to affected parties and take appropriate enforcement actions.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When it comes to data security, consumers\u2019 interests must come first.\u00a0 We appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to working with you to address it.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\u00a0\r\nMark Warner\r\nUnited States Senator\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nRobert Menendez\r\nUnited States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://gosar.house.gov/editorial/healthy-forests-key-averting-tragedies", "Healthy forests key to averting tragedies", "2013-12-29", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Paul Gosar", "G000565", "gosar.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "When it comes to wildfires, recent years have proven devastating to Arizona and many of the western states. The tragic Yarnell Hill Fire, which claimed the lives of 19 elite Hotshot firefighters, is still a fresh and painful wound throughout Arizona. \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Healthy forests key to averting tragedies By Paul Gosar When it comes to wildfires, recent years have proven devastating to Arizona and many of the western states. The tragic Yarnell Hill Fire, which claimed the lives of 19 elite Hotshot firefighters, is still a fresh and painful wound throughout Arizona. Fires in other western states like Colorado's Black Forest wildfire and California\u2019s Rim Fire also caused great destruction. We must ensure that we are doing everything we can to prevent future tragedies. Although it is impossible to prevent all fires, federal, state and local land management policies can make them less frequent and less intense when they burn. By maintaining healthy forests, we can improve public safety, save endangered species and put people back to work. As a rural Arizonan and a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I am fighting for policies that facilitate more active forest management on federal lands. This means smarter spending and better, more effective tools to implement ecological health projects like the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) and the White Mountain Stewardship Project.\u00a0 Overgrown forests are susceptible to wildfire, so prevention starts with responsible thinning. Approximately 80 million acres of forest across the West are overgrown. There are now hundreds of trees per acre on lands that once contained only 10 to 25 trees per acre. Our budgets should prioritize wildfire prevention instead of focusing primarily on response. Although the need to suppress fires is never going to go away, we must shift our priority towards proactive management of our federal lands.\u00a0 My bipartisan legislation, the Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act, addresses many of these issues. It passed the House earlier this year as part of a larger forest health package, the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, and the Senate already held a hearing on it.\u00a0 My bill eliminates red tape, streamlines wildfire-prevention projects, improves local coordination and brings more accountability to the process. \u00a0It will expedite the review and approval process for thinning and grazing projects, so that wildfire-prevention projects can move forward quickly when the public is at-risk. It also gets the government out of the way and empowers the private sector to create rural jobs by resurrecting the timber industry, as loggers thin millions of acres of overgrown forests. Congress can fight fires on federal lands before they even start through pro-active land management policies like those included in my Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act. I\u2019m optimistic that Congress will enact comprehensive forest health legislation next year that will help prevent destructive wildfires as well as stimulate our rural economies. This op-ed appeared in the print edition of The Arizona Republic on December 29, 2013.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://juliabrownley.house.gov/media-center/op-eds/julia-brownley-urgent-need-to-extend-lifeline-to-unemployed", "Julia Brownley: Urgent need to extend lifeline to unemployed", "2013-12-29", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Julia Brownley", "B001285", "juliabrownley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Everyone remembers what happened five years ago when our economy fell into the worst recession since the Great Depression.\n\t\t\t\t\tEveryone knows someone \u2014 or knows of someone \u2014 who lost their job through no fault of their own during this severe economic downturn.\n\t\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s not just our families and friends who have suffered, but our local businesses who depend on their customers doing a little home improvement, replacing an old refrigerator, getting their car fixed, or buying some new clothes for their kids.\n\t\t\t\t\tYet, while we are still climbing back during this long and slow recovery, we have an extreme tea party faction in Congress who \u2014 despite the facts and history \u2014 refuses to help the 1.3 million Americans whose unemployment insurance was cut off just three days after Christmas.\n\t\t\t\t\tFor 214,000 Californians, it\u2019s anything but a happy holiday season. Families should be coming together to celebrate and enjoy the holidays, but they are worrying about whether they can afford to pay for food, rent or electricity.\n\t\t\t\t\tTo most of us, $303.37 per week \u2014 the average weekly benefit \u2014 doesn\u2019t seem like a lot. We can\u2019t pay our monthly bills on that. But for our 4,600-plus friends and neighbors in Ventura County who rely on the benefit, it helps them make ends meet so they can look for work.\n\t\t\t\t\tWe\u2019ve all heard the statistics: there are three people looking for work for every job opening. Our country faces a jobs shortage, and the only way to solve it is to create more jobs and to prepare our workers for the jobs that do exist.\n\t\t\t\t\tOpen up the classified section of this newspaper and others around the country.\n\t\t\t\t\tEvery week, there are lots of job listings in computer programming, network administration, high-tech manufacturing, and nursing and medical support roles. Those are the very sectors for which we need to train those looking for work.\n\t\t\t\t\tMost people who depend on unemployment insurance can\u2019t find employment because the jobs they once had will never return. We need to help them retool and retrain so they can go from where the good-paying jobs of the 20th century were to where the good-paying jobs of the 21st century are.\n\t\t\t\t\tBut when Congress adjourned for the year, it left without extending a lifeline to those who simply cannot find work before their unemployment benefits run out, despite the fact that the rate of Americans unemployed for longer than six months remains near historic highs due to a slow and fragile economic recovery still underway.\n\t\t\t\t\tIn addition, another 325,000 people in the Golden State will lose their benefits in the first six months of 2014 if Congress fails to act.\n\t\t\t\t\tSpeaker John Boehner is giving into the extreme right-wing tea party faction of his party by not allowing the House to vote to extend this vital relief for people who worked hard, played by the rules, and lost their jobs largely due to a Wall Street-fueled real estate binge.\n\t\t\t\t\tWhere\u2019s the holiday spirit in that? Where\u2019s the goodwill toward men (and women) in that?\n\t\t\t\t\tBoehner and the tea party extremists in his own party would rather continue to give tax breaks to Big Oil and hedge fund managers than to help middle class families that fell on hard times. Merry Christmas to these special interests, they say, while giving lumps of coal to the most vulnerable among us.\n\t\t\t\t\tBut what about the 240,000 jobs in the U.S. \u2014 46,000 of them in California \u2014 that would be lost if extended unemployment insurance is ended? Should we just turn a blind eye on our friends and neighbors as they go from making a middle-class living to having to work two minimum-wage jobs just to make ends meet?\n\t\t\t\t\tThese may be the values of Boehner and his tea party colleagues, but they are not Ventura County values and they are not the values of the vast majority of the American people.\n\t\t\t\t\tAfter we recover from the holiday festivities, let us once again find the bipartisan consensus that finally reopened the government after the disastrous tea party-led shutdown, and resolve to help our friends and neighbors find their footing in 2014.\n\t\t\t\t\tWe cannot adequately grow our economy, expand the middle class and stay true to our values as a nation if we do not.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/roby-news/congress-could-reconsider-military-pension-cut-january", "Congress could reconsider military pension cut in January", "2013-12-29", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A cut to military retirement pay in the budget signed Thursday by President Obama has already triggered such a backlash that Congress may vote in January to toss it out.\nSome lawmakers who represent districts with a military presence \u2014 and who voted for the overall budget \u2014 are vowing to overturn the pension change as soon as the House and the Senate reconvene Friday. Several House and Senate lawmakers in both parties, responding to heavy lobbying from advocates for service members and veterans, already have introduced bills that would restore full cost-of-living increases for military retirees of working age.\nReps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Michael G. Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) have introduced a bill that would restore the annual cost-of-living adjustment for about 800,000 enlisted troops and officers who retire in their early 40s, then take other jobs outside the military. In the budget passed this month, the COLA for working-age retirees was reduced by 1 percentage point; once the retirees turn 62, they go back to receiving the full increase.\nThe cut is expected to save the government about $6 billion over 10 years, and it is set to be phased in over three years. Davis and Fitzpatrick\u2019s bill would find the savings instead by asking the Internal Revenue Service to crack down on Americans who file fraudulent claims for child tax credits.\n\u201cI think we need to make the fix right now,\u201d said Davis, whose Illinois district includes many former service members and employees at nearby Scott Air Force Base.\nAt a meet-and-greet with constituents in his district recently, many voters were livid at the pension cut, Davis said. To them and him, he said, the federal government is unfairly breaking a promise it made to service members.\n\u201cA lot of people joined the military and made huge sacrifices because they were promised a benefit,\u201d he said. \u201cTo go back on that is wrong.\u201d\nRep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.) said she is partnering with Fitzpatrick on the legislation.\n\u201cI believe that this is a fix the Republican conference can rally around,\u201d she said in a statement one day after the budget was approved. \u201cIn my opinion, it should be the first item on the docket for 2014.\u201d\nSen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is up for reelection next year, has introduced a bill to replace the $6 billion saved by the COLA cut by instead \u201celiminating a tax loophole for offshore corporations,\u201d a news release from her office said.\nRepublican Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), James M. Inhofe (Okla.), Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) and others also have come out against the COLA cut.\nOn Dec. 23, Reps. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) and Ted Poe (R-Tex.) introduced similar measures that would repeal the provision.\n\u201cAs a member of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, I believe our servicemembers, veterans, and their families must receive the benefits they have earned and deserve,\u201d Brownley said in a statement. \u201cThese benefits are owed to them without equivocation. That is why I have introduced legislation to repeal the military retiree COLA reduction.\u201d\nIt is unclear whether either proposal includes cuts to offset the elimination of the COLA savings.\nEven lawmakers who support the COLA cut agree that the provision should be changed to exempt at least disabled veterans who were forced to retire for medical reasons, as well as survivors.\nThe budget legislation also requires newly hired civilian federal employees to contribute more to their pensions.\nTo read this article on the publication's website, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://sablan.house.gov/dod-budget-has-293m-divert-airfield-nmi", "DoD budget has $29.3M for divert airfield in NMI", "2013-12-29", "2013", "2013-12", "Independent", "Senate", "MP", "Gregorio Sablan", "S001177", "sablan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Barack Obama signed into law on Thursday (Friday, CNMI time) the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2014 that provides $29.3 million for the development of a U.S. Air Force divert airfield in the CNMI. The new law also requires the Pentagon to report to Congress by June 25 the feasibility of having a National Guard in the CNMI and American Samoa. The defense bill also includes almost $495 million in spending for military construction projects in Guam. \u201cOur economy could definitely use that money,\u201d Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) told Saipan Tribune, referring to the $29.3 million for the development of a divert airfield in the CNMI. The divert airfield is intended to be an alternative landing base for Air Force planes if Andersen Air Force Base in Guam becomes unavailable because of weather or war.\u00a0 Sablan worked with the U.S. House Armed Services Committee to place some limits on the Air Force, because there is still a question about where to put this facility: on Tinian or Saipan.\u00a0 \u201cI think that Northern Marians officials decided long ago that Tinian would be the preferred location for military expansion in the Northern Marianas, but the Air Force has other ideas. So, at my request, the Committee report directs the Air Force to work with the governor to find a mutually agreeable resolution to this siting issue,\u201d Sablan said. The delegate added that the Air Force is also barred from spending any of the $29.3 million until it reports to Congress on all the alternatives that have been considered, the overall construction requirements, and the cost/benefits of options for the land needed. Gov. Eloy S. Inos said last week that the CNMI remains unified in its voice to have a divert airfield on Tinian where two-thirds of lands are already leased to the U.S. Department of Defense, instead of Saipan where the U.S. military had planned on placing it. The governor told the Air Force that its request to lease 33 acres of land on Saipan for the next 50 years \u201cis quite an undesirable conclusion as it would impede future commercial development in the area.\u201d H.R. 3304 or the 2014 NDAA also moves the Commonwealth toward possibly having its own National Guard.\u00a0 DoD now has 180 days to report to Congress on the feasibility of having the CNMI\u2019s own National Guard, just like Guam and all of the other states and territories, except American Samoa.\u00a0 \u201cWe have 16 of our people deployed with the Guam National Guard\u2014and returning safely home soon. So, clearly, there is an interest. But do we have enough people for a full Guard unit? Do we have the needed infrastructure? Will our local legislature support establishing a Northern Marianas National Guard? These are the questions the report will answer. And we should know by June 25,\u201d Sablan said. Sablan introduced legislation in 2011 to set up a CNMI unit of the National Guard. Besides the CNMI-specific provisions, the annual Defense authorization makes some other changes worth noting. Sablan said military personnel will be getting a 1-percent raise.\u00a0 \u201cAnd the new law addresses the issue of sexual assault in the military, which is a problem that seems to be increasing and puts anyone in the armed service\u2014men and women\u2014including our people from the Northern Marianas, at risk. The new law bars commanders from overturning jury convictions in assault cases; and it mandates dishonorable discharge for anyone convicted\u2014all steps in the right direction,\u201d he said. Obama, in a statement, said the defense measure is a \u201cwelcome step\u201d toward closing Guantanamo Bay prison. \u201cThe detention facility at Guantanamo continues to impose significant costs on the American people. I am encouraged that this Act provides the Executive greater flexibility to transfer Guantanamo detainees abroad, and look forward to working with Congress to take the additional steps needed to close the facility,\u201d the president said.\nhttps://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=152580&amp;cat=1", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/in-the-news/las-cruces-sun-news-op-ed-tom-udall-and-martin-heinrich-monument-will-preserve-lands-for-future-generations", "Las Cruces Sun-News: OP-ED: Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich: Monument will preserve lands for future generations", "2013-12-29", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Las Cruces Sun-News: OP-ED: Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich: Monument will preserve lands for future generations\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Sunday, December 29, 2013\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            The Organ Mountains and surrounding area form a beautiful and iconic backdrop for Las Cruces and are beloved by New Mexicans who visit Do\u00f1a Ana County to hunt, picnic, hike, and explore. This month, we were proud to introduce legislation to ensure that future generations of New Mexicans can continue those traditions, while boosting tourism and recreation opportunities.\r\nOur Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act would designate the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, putting a star on recreation maps around the world, highlighting the area's unique culture and history, and drawing tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. The most recent study estimates that a national monument designation would generate $7.4 million in new economic activity every year.\r\nThere's a reason a recent survey found that 83 percent of people in Do\u00f1a Ana County support the creation of a monument. The biologically and culturally rich terrain stretches from the granite peaks of the Organ Mountains, to the cinder cones, lava flows, and increasingly rare grasslands of the Potrillo Mountains, and from the caves, limestone cliffs, and winding canyons of the Robledos to the Uvas Mountains and the secluded Broad Canyon.\r\nThese landscapes define southern New Mexico. The protected habitat for deer, quail and javelina guarantees some of the best hunting in the state. The canyons are home to species of birds, cacti, daisies, grasshoppers and other plants and animals, some found nowhere else in the world. And the region has been important throughout history -- Billy the Kid and Geronimo hid in these hills, and World War II soldiers and astronauts from the Apollo space mission trained here.\r\nWithin the proposed national monument, eight wilderness areas would be guaranteed permanent protection. The monument would continue to be managed by the Bureau of Land Management, as it is today. And the BLM would be directed to ensure that grazing continues under the exact same rules as it does today, while the state would continue to manage wildlife and game within the monument. We've written the legislation to require that ranchers can continue to use all existing roads necessary to access stock improvements, including all roads leading to water troughs, pipelines and corrals. And the wilderness provisions allow primary roads to remain open so that the public can continue to use them, ensuring that you are never more than four miles from a road within the wilderness areas.\r\nFirst introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman, the current bill is the result of years of work. It reflects the help and comments of ranchers, nearby communities, stakeholders, recreation groups and area businesses, and other stakeholders, as well as state agencies, White Sands Missile Range, Fort Bliss and the U.S. Border Patrol.\r\nWe want to thank everyone who has provided insight; the proposal is better for it. For example, our bill increases the operational flexibility of Border Patrol beyond existing law, and creates new opportunities for expanded surveillance, pursuit and patrol. By releasing 30,000 acres from existing wilderness study area designation, the bill increases the current 0.3 -mile buffer between the Mexican border and protected lands to a full five-mile buffer. It also designates an east-west vehicular route within the Potrillo Mountains Wilderness to allow Border Patrol and other law enforcement to conduct border security operations.\r\nThe legislation further supports county and local government efforts to implement early warning systems for extreme weather and flood prevention. It makes explicit the Bureau of Land Management's authority to issue new rights-of-way for flood prevention and watershed restoration projects within the monument. It also clarifies that the BLM must include a full assessment of opportunities for watershed restoration as a part of its plan to manage the monument.\r\nWith this legislation, we honor the countless individuals who have made their way to the Organ Mountains and surrounding desert peaks to build a life and enjoy the abundant resources of this magnificent region. From those who left their marks carved into the cliff walls centuries ago, and the early homesteaders and travelers on the Butterfield Stagecoach Trail, to the modern business owners, ranchers, and families who use and explore the cliffs and grasslands of the proposed Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument today.\r\nWe all have the same goal. We all want to ensure that these natural and cultural treasures are preserved for future generations and that communities in Do\u00f1a Ana County can continue to grow and prosper.\r\nTom Udall and Martin Heinrich both represent New Mexico in the U.S. Senate. Both are Democrats.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=41ca79c9-be97-49db-9947-e020e5cca9de", "Manchin named Statesman of the Year for willingness to compromise | Clarksburg Exponent", "2013-12-29", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2013\n\t\t\t Manchin named Statesman of the Year for willingness to compromise | Clarksburg Exponent \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2014 Sen. Joe Manchin built his reputation at home in West Virginia as a politician who didn\u2019t subscribe to the ideals of either major national party.\r\nWith more than three years in the U.S. Senate now under his belt, Manchin, D-W.Va., is a fixture in national news for his efforts to bridge the gap between Democrats and Republicans.\r\nIn both roles, the constant theme has been putting constituents first, according to those who\u2019ve worked with him.\r\n\u201cHe has done a fantastic job in putting a face on West Virginia as a state where we care about people,\u201d said West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Tim Miley, D-Harrison. \u201cWe care about balancing our budget. We care about doing the right thing, regardless of differences on the issues. ... He is a great ambassador for the state of West Virginia.\u201d\r\nMiley, who was elected to the House of Delegates the same year Manchin was elected governor, said he\u2019s learned a lot over the years from Manchin.\r\nWhen Miley was elected speaker, Manchin called him up.\r\n\u201cThe most poignant thing that he shared with me is that good policy always makes for good politics and good policy and good politics transcend party lines,\u201d Miley said.\r\nWest Virginia Senate Clerk Joe Minard described some other achievements from Manchin\u2019s days in state politics, including work on medical malpractice reform and tort reform.\r\n\u201cHe\u2019s always been fairly independent,\u201d Minard said. \u201cHe never was a straight party man. I guess you might say he was always an independent thinker.\u201d\r\nNow that the backdrop is one of the most fiercely divisive political landscapes of recent memory, Manchin\u2019s attempts can sometimes seem like wishful thinking.\r\nBut sometimes they work.\r\nMost recently Manchin, The Exponent Telegram Statesman of the Year, worked with a group of bipartisan senators on a proposal to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling.  Manchin teamed up with Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine to find common ground, and the resulting template was used to draft the final bill that ended the shutdown.\r\nManchin used that accomplishment as an example of when compromise can work.\r\nBut that doesn\u2019t mean he won\u2019t get discouraged, especially as other initiatives, including a bill to expand the gun sale background check system, have stalled.\r\nThe reaction to that bill showed how disillusioned citizens are with Washington, according to Manchin.\r\n\u201cI get very frustrated,\u201d he said. \u201cI really do. I keep thinking, \u2018how come it\u2019s not so plain to everyone else to see what we\u2019re doing to our great country?\u2019 How can we not see that and not take more positive steps? ... I guess the thirst of power and all the money that\u2019s involved. We\u2019ve got to work past it.\u201d\r\nState and Washington, D.C., politics are different beasts, in Manchin\u2019s eyes.\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s the city itself of Washington, D.C.,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s the power and the money that goes with this city \u2014 the prestige, the world stage we\u2019re on. It makes it a little more challenging to get people to look to put our country before them or their party or their purpose that they\u2019re here. It should be all about country.\u201d\r\nBut the junior senator from West Virginia also has a lot of bipartisan successes to be proud of, including an agreement on stronger federal regulation of toxic chemicals.\r\nBefore an update to the Toxic Substances Control Act, which had not been improved in more than 30 years, thousands of chemicals were allowed to remain on the market without being tested for safety.\r\nManchin was credited for helping broker a deal between New Jersey Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who advocated for a tougher bill, and Louisiana Republican David Vitter, who supported a more lenient, industry-backed proposal.\r\nManchin also worked with a bipartisan group of senators on a bill to reduce student loan interest rates after they doubled to 6.8 percent on July 1\u2014 to 3.86 percent for subsidized and unsubsidized loans for undergraduate students, 5.41 percent on unsubsidized loans for graduate students and 6.41 percent on PLUS loans for parents and graduate students.\r\nTo prevent dramatic increases in the future, the bill also required that for each academic year, all newly-issued student loans be set to the U.S. Treasury 10-year borrowing rate, and that interest rates never exceed 8.25 percent for undergraduate students, 9.5 percent for graduate students and 10.5 percent for PLUS borrowers.\r\nManchin was proud of the FDA\u2019s recent announcement that it will recommend rescheduling hydrocodone combination drugs from a Schedule III to a Schedule II controlled substance.  He had fought for stricter control of the drug for years, including sponsoring the \u201cSafe Prescribing Act\u201d with Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and Representatives Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and Ed Markey, D-Mass.\r\n\u201cThat\u2019s not going to win the war on drugs,\u201d Manchin said. \u201cBut it\u2019s going to help us have a better tool in the arsenal to fight it, and I think it will save a lot of lives.\u201d\r\nManchin said he will continue working on more bipartisan efforts because that\u2019s why he was sent to Congress in the first place.\r\n\u201cWhen I take that oath of office, I take the oath to represent and to serve everybody, not just the Democrats or the people that voted for me. ... I take it very seriously,\u201d he said.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t    By:\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t    Erin Beck", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365150", "Hastings' Statement on the Expiration of Unemployment Benefits", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hastings' Statement on the Expiration of Unemployment Benefits \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Fort Lauderdale, FL,\r\n        December 28, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement after emergency unemployment benefits lapsed for the first time since 2008:  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cRepublicans should be ashamed of themselves for having left so many Americans out in the cold this holiday season.  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cStarting today, an estimated 1.3 million Americans will face new hardships because of Republicans\u2019 failure to extend unemployment benefits. Millions more may lose their unemployment in the upcoming year, if Republicans do not allow Congress to extend these vital benefits.  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cUnemployment compensation is neither reckless nor wasteful spending \u2013 it is a lifeline for millions of families struggling to recover from the worst economic recession of our time. Congress\u2019 first order of business in the new year must be to address this failure, and to ensure that Americans facing difficult times are provided with the support they need as they continue to look for work.\u201d  \r\n\u00a0  \r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-statement-expiration-unemployment-insurance", "Cicilline Announces Bill to Extend Federal Unemployment Insurance and Calls on Speaker to Act Immediately", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "David Cicilline", "C001084", "cicilline.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PAWTUCKET \u2013\u00a0\u00a0Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) stressing the urgency of extending federal emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) at a press conference in his Pawtucket office this afternoon, announced that he will introduce a bill to extend EUC and called upon the Speaker to Act immediately. Cicilline was joined by\u00a0several First District residents who discussed the impact this loss will have on them and their families. \u00a0As of today, 1.3 million Americans including 4,900 Rhode Islanders will no longer received federal emergency unemployment benefits. \u00a0\n\u201cThe day the Republican-led Congress skipped town for the holidays it left behind 1.3 million Americans who rely upon this assistance to survive as they continue to look for work. Nearly 5,000 Rhode Islanders who have already exhausted their state benefits are now without their last safety net,\" said Cicilline. \u00a0\"I'm not giving up this fight until we renew emergency unemployment benefits for people struggling to find work. \u00a0We can't turn our back on more than a million Americans, especially in Rhode Island where our unemployment rate is the highest in the nation.\"\nUntil today Rhode Islanders\u00a0who had exhausted their 26 weeks of unemployment benefits from the state were eligible to receive an additional 47 weeks of federal benefits. \u00a0 If Congress fails to extend federal EUC,\u00a04.9 million Americans, including 21,700 Rhode Islanders over the course of 2014 will be affected\u00a0according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Analysis of Budget Deal.\u00a0\u00a0 The Economic Policy Institute has estimated that failure to extend Unemployment Insurance could cost the national economy 310,000 jobs over the course of the coming year.\n\"I voted against the budget, which was the last vote Congress took before adjourning for the year because it failed to include an extension of these critical benefits. \u00a0 The minute Congress is back in session\u00a0on January 7th\u00a0I will introduce a bill to retro-actively extend these benefits and make sure it is paid for by eliminating unnecessary subsidies and closing corporate tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas. I have written a letter to Speaker Boehner asking that he take up this bill immediately upon our return.\"\nRhode Islanders in the First District can contact Cicilline\u2019s Pawtucket Office at\u00a0729-5600\u00a0to receive more information regarding the expiration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation and to find other ways to receive state and federal aid.\u00a0\nBelow is a copy of the remarks Cicilline delivered at his press conference this afternoon:\nToday I am standing with my constituents to talk about the importance of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation that expires today and that lawmakers in Washington left town without addressing or renewing.\nThe day the Republican-led Congress skipped town for the holidays it left behind 1.3 million Americans who depend on this assistance to survive as they continue to look for work. Nearly 5,000 Rhode Islanders who have already exhausted all of their state benefits\u00a0are now without any income to meet their basic needs, no safety net at all. These are individuals who have worked hard, played by the rules, but have been hard hit by the Great Recession. There are just not enough jobs for those looking for work\nI am here today to make it clear that I'm not giving up this fight until we renew emergency unemployment benefits for people struggling to find work. \u00a0We can't turn our back on more than a million Americans, especially in Rhode Island where our unemployment rate is the highest in the nation.\nUntil today Rhode Islanders\u00a0who had exhausted their 26 weeks of unemployment benefits from the state were eligible to receive an additional 47 weeks of federal benefits. \u00a0\nConstituents like Rhonda from Rumford who has worked all her life, sometimes with more than one job, to make ends meet. She needs our help and she needs it today. Constituents like Rhonda don\u2019t need a fix from Congress in a few weeks, they need help to buy groceries and keep a roof over their children\u2019s heads.\nIf Congress fails to extend federal EUC, 4.9 million Americans, including 21,700 Rhode Islanders over the course of 2014 will be affected\u00a0according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Analysis of Budget Deal.\u00a0\u00a0\nFailure to extend Unemployment Insurance is not only devastating for individuals, but will hurt our economic recovery. The Economic Policy Institute has estimated that failure to extend Unemployment Insurance could cost the national economy 310,00 jobs over the course of the coming year.\nThese people have written to me and called my office with stories of hard work and dedication and their efforts to support themselves and their families. Erica of North Providence wrote saying:\n\u201cOne month of help can be the difference between someone getting a job and getting back on their feet or falling further into debt and hopelessness. I know this from repeated personal experience. I have hope that someday I will be able to help others instead of needing that help. But right now, I need help. I am genuinely terrified.\u201d\nI voted against the budget, which was the last vote Congress took before adjourning for the year because it failed to include an extension of these critical benefits. \u00a0\nThe minute Congress is back in session\u00a0on January 7th\u00a0I will introduce a bill to retro-actively extend these benefits and make sure it is paid for by eliminating unnecessary subsidies and closing corporate tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas. I have written to Speaker Boehner today, asking that he take this bill up immediately upon our return to Congress.\nI want to thank my constituents gathered here today for taking the time to tell their stories and I want you to hear what I have heard over the past months. Lawmakers in Washington need to understand the urgency and essential nature of these benefits and act now to help the more than one million Americans who are fighting for their lives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-statement-on-2013-defense-authorization-becoming-law", "Cramer Statement on 2013 Defense Authorization Becoming Law", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "cramer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today Congressman Kevin Cramer released the following statement on the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) being signed into law by President Obama:\n\u201cThe new defense authorization law is the result of a compromise reached by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The House passed the NDAA with a bipartisan majority in June including an amendment I sponsored to keep the active Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos at Minot Air Force Base in a warm status. It is disappointing this protection against unilateral nuclear disarmament by the Obama Administration was stripped by Senate negotiators. \n\u201cThe defense appropriations bill passed by the House in July added even more protection by prohibiting the Obama Administration from going forward with an environmental impact study on deconstructing ICBMs, the first step\u00a0toward reducing the fleet. Unfortunately the Senate has not passed a defense appropriations bill.\n\u201cHowever, I am pleased the NDAA supports increased troop pay, rejects the Administration\u2019s proposals to increase military medical fees, prohibits base closure, and addresses sexual assault. It also includes the new KC-46 tanker to be potentially stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, the new Long Range Strike Bomber to replace the B-52 bomber currently stationed in Minot, and prevents the premature retirement of the Global Hawk Bock 30 unmanned aircraft.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=966", "Gwen Moore Pushes for Unemployment Insurance Extension", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Jamil Smith, @JamilSmith\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tEven after facing backlash for effectively killing an act historically seen as a bi-partisan non-issue, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is short on answers explaining precisely why he and a number of his fellow Republicans opposed the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cMajority Leader Cantor has worked hard seeking to move the bill forward so we can protect all victims and prosecute offenders,\u201d Cantor\u2019s office told Melissa Harris-Perry Thursday in a written statement. \u201cThe majority leader has been working with our members and directly with Vice President Biden to seek common ground across party lines and put an end to violence against women.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tBut the House version Cantor supports, by definition, does not protect \u201call victims.\u201d That description would apply more accurately to the more inclusive version, which added provisions granting legal protections to American Indians, undocumented immigrants, and lesbian and trans women, and passed with a supermajority in the Senate. But per a new report today from Talking Points Memo\u2018s Sahil Kapur, what happened when it got to the House was vintage GOP obstructionism:\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tRepublican leaders deployed their female members to make the case for it, notably Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA), a leadership member, and Rep. Sandy Adams (FL), herself a victim of domestic violence. Over the objections of advocates for abused victims, but with the support of a so-called men\u2019s rights group, House GOP leaders passed their version on a partisan vote, despite a White House veto threat.\r\n\r\n\tAnd that\u2019s when the legislation stalled, never to recover.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tA Republican source who complained of House Democratic tactics to TPM pointed to a Dec. 7 letter from the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women applauding Cantor\u2019s \u201cgood faith\u201d negotiations with Democrats like Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont concerning the new VAWA provisions. Dec. 7 was a while ago; what are they saying now?\r\n\r\n\tIn a statement posted on their site Thursday expressing their \u201canger\u201d over the failure to pass a new VAWA, it appears the national task force has run out of patience.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThe U.S. House of Representatives continued to voice strong opposition to offering basic protections to certain vulnerable populations\u2026\u201d the task force wrote. \u201cThere is no time to waste in addressing the needs of victims. \u00a0We call on the 113th Congress to act immediately on VAWA this month and pass a bill that safely and effectively meets the needs of all victims.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tOne member of that new Congress, Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, has been one of the more vocal advocates for passage of the Senate version of VAWA. She was the author of a December letter signed by ten House Republicans urging that passage, and delivered to Cantor\u2013among others. On Thursday, her office released this statement to Melissa Harris-Perry, seeking to show that the VAWA isn\u2019t \u201cdead,\u201d in the purest sense:\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tHowever, reports that VAWA is \u201cdead\u201d are untrue; VAWA\u2019s authorization expired over a year ago, but its programs and services continue to operate under language last updated in 2005. Still, VAWA\u2019s current form is in serious need of the updates and enhancements suggested by the domestic violence and sexual assault community.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tWe must continue to fight for funds for VAWA through the appropriations process, and we absolutely must make sure that the sequester doesn\u2019t hit at the end of February. The sequester\u2019s cuts to VAWA programs would be incredibly harmful, particularly at the state and local level.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tOur goal for the next few weeks and months is to speak out on behalf of VAWA and ensure it doesn\u2019t get lost in the shuffle of the debt ceiling and ongoing budget-related discussions.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tWe must reauthorize VAWA, and we must do it now.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tHouse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi echoed Moore in her statement, but is passage of a new VAWA likely in this new Congress? Moore, a survivor of sexual assault, is one of a record 80 women now\u2013as of today\u2019s swearings-in\u2013serving in the House of Representatives. A record 20 now serve in the Senate. But as both Tara Culp-Ressler in The Atlantic and The Cycle co-host Krystal Ball noted today, the problem may lie in the fact that those numbers aren\u2019t nearly high enough. After listing the new Senate protections referenced above, Ball wrote, \u201cI don\u2019t know how you could object to any of those things. The only explanation is a lack of personal connection to the problem.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tTo view this article online, please click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://meeks.house.gov/press-release/end-year-report", "End of the Year Report", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Gregory Meeks", "M001137", "meeks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NY State of Health\nNew York State\u2019s official health plan marketplace, NY State of Health, is in full swing! As of last week over 350,000 New Yorkers have completed their applications and over a hundred thousand have chosen their plans and coverage will begin for them on January 1, 2014. This is a 34% increase in the enrollment rates from December 9 and those who have purchased their health plan have seen a 53 percent decrease in their premium rates.\u00a0 In addition to this cost savings, it is estimated that nearly three-quarters of individual enrollees will qualify for financial assistance.\nIf you have not done so already please visit https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov, call toll-free 1-855-355-5777, or in-person through a navigator and sign up for healthcare today!\nFarm Bill and Food Stamps\nThe House and Senate both passed their versions of the Farm Bill this year and now conference committee deliberations are underway to come to an agreement between these bills.\u00a0 A major point of contention in conference is undoubtedly the major disparity in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps.\u00a0 Over the 10-year budget window, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Senate bill would cut spending for SNAP by approximately $4 billion and that the House\u2019s version would reduce spending by approximately $39 billion.\u00a0 SNAP currently helps more than 48 million Americans, nearly half of whom are children, meet their basic food needs. This program has suffered enough already due to sequestration and at the expense of millions of children and working families.\u00a0 The deep cuts to SNAP whether in the form budgetary reductions, categorical eligibility calculations, new work-related requirements, or mandatory drug testing are all unnecessary and unfair attacks against millions of Americans who rely on these benefits to feed their families.\nBelow is a statement I made on the House floor earlier this year on the issue.\nSandy Related News and Flood Insurance\nFEDERAL FUNDS APPROVED TO REBUILD ELEVATE AND REIMBURSE HURRICANE SANDY STORM VICTIMS\nIn response to Hurricane Sandy, Congress appropriated funds to deal with several critical relief programs.\u00a0 This included almost $16 billion for New York City Community Development Block Grants, which will enable disaster recovery funds.\u00a0 I am pleased that the first tranche of CDBG funding was allocated, and will finally be disbursed.\u00a0 I to thank, Sean Donovan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, who headed the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force set by President Obama for the input and their approval.\nThe Mayor's Housing and Recovery Operations - New York City Build it Back Program\nThe New York City Build It Back Program which falls under the New York City's Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG), provides communities with resources to address a wide range of community development needs as well as, to support recovery from Hurricane Sandy, and to build resilience to the challenges of climate change and New York City infrastructure and other city services. I am encouraged to hear that all New Yorkers and interested parties have taken the initiative to become better acquainted with this process. However, I feel the pace of this program needs to be accelerated to meet the existing needs.\nFEMA Releases Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for New York City\nI am pleased the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for New York City that reflect the latest refinements to the ongoing analysis of flood hazards. This release is the next step in the coastal Flood Insurance Study update. The Preliminary FIRMs replace the Preliminary Work Maps for New York City that were released earlier this year in June as an interim product. The new maps are extremely important as FEMA and the City continue to work in partnership to support resilient communities, and to avoid or reduce the loss of life and property, and the financial impacts of flooding. The Preliminary FIRMs reflect the same coastal flood risks as the Preliminary Work Maps and have now been updated to include river flooding in the Bronx and Staten Island. The release of the Preliminary FIRMs indicates the first step in the official regulatory review process. The next step is a statutory 90-day appeal and comment period, which is expected to begin in Spring 2014.\u00a0 Property owners and interested parties will have the opportunity to appeal the Preliminary FIRMs by submitting technical documentation to New York City during this period.\u00a0 Once the appeal period is over, and all appeals are resolved, FEMA will issue a Letter of Final Determination (LFD) to the City that initiates the six-month adoption period before the maps become effective.\u00a0 Upon becoming effective, expected to occur in 2015, the new FIRMs will determine flood insurance rates. In the meantime, to promote higher standards for building performance and reduce potential future flood insurance costs, New York City has revised the building code to require the standards reflected in the Preliminary FIRMs for the construction of new and substantially improved structures. Information on the comment and appeals process and New York City\u2019s updated building code is available on www.nyc.gov\nAlong with a bipartisan coalition in Congress, I have negotiated and introduced a solution to fix the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).\u00a0 \u201cThe Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013\u201d delays rate increases for about four years for primary residences that are currently grandfathered; for all properties sold after July 6, 2012; and for all properties that purchased a new policy after July 6, 2012.\u00a0 In addition, as mandated by the Biggert-Waters bill, the bill directs FEMA to complete an affordability study to ensure that the program remains widely accessible and affordable to the many who are at risk of having their payments skyrocket.\u00a0\nJFK Airport\nJFK Airport is an incredible economic engine for our community, but something must be done about the noise.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I recently cosponsored legislation that would greatly reduce noise pollution created by aircraft.\u00a0 The bill, known as the Silent Skies Act, phases out louder aircraft engines and supports the introduction of new technology that significantly reduces the environmental impact of aircraft engine noise.\u00a0 This will help diversify and increase investment in the district, add value to our homes, and improve the overall quality of living in Queens.\nGun Reform\nNeglecting overwhelming public opinion and widespread acknowledgement that our nation desperately needs to reform our gun laws, I believe the Republican majority has chosen not to bring any significant gun legislation to a vote. They have ignored every proposal aimed at improving our nation\u2019s gun laws, from expanding background checks to closing the \u201cgunshow loophole.\u201d One bipartisan bill in particular introduced in the House, H.R. 1565, the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Act, addresses most of these shortcomings and has 186 bipartisan cosponsors. The bill would provide much needed improvements to the background check system including an upgrade to the criminal history record program that will better identify violent individuals with a criminal history attempting to purchase firearms, it would also institute the inclusion of mental health records in background checks. Further, it would finally close the \u201cgun show loophole\u201d requiring those that purchase weapons at gun shows undergo background checks as well. Unfortunately, this legislation has not been moved out of the Judiciary Committee.\u00a0 In 2014, I hope Congress is given the opportunity to vote on meaningful gun reform legislation that the nation supports.\nImmigration Reform\nThe Senate passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill earlier this year, S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, by a substantial margin. However, Speaker of the House John Boehner has not brought a comprehensive immigration bill to the floor even though there is bipartisan support in Congress to pass one. He adjourned the House of Representatives for the remainder of the year without bringing a single piecemeal immigration reform bill to the floor for a vote. I was inspired to see movement on immigration reform on the Senate side, only to become sorely disappointed when the Republican majority in the House refused to move forward with this issue. In the upcoming year, I hope the Speaker of the House will finally allow the House of Representatives to take a vote that will address our nation\u2019s flawed immigration system.\nBudget and Unemployment Insurance\nI voted in support of H.J. Res 59, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, in spite of it\u2019s many flaws.\u00a0 The bill lifts the sequester on government spending which made indiscriminate and damaging cuts to programs like childhood education, public housing, and other vital government services and replaces it with $63 billion dollars in additional spending split almost evenly between non-defense and defense spending over the next 10 years.\u00a0 The budget agreement provides a welcome departure from the recent 16-day government shutdown that slowed our economic output and cost the economy $24 billion. My support of the bipartisan budget resolution is not without deep reservations.\u00a0 One of its most critical shortcomings is its failure to extend unemployment insurance for millions of struggling Americans. I urge Republican leadership to act in time to prevent devastation to the many unemployed Americans who need continued support as they look to recover from difficult economic times.\u00a0 Now is not the time to turn our backs on those in our nation who are most in need.\nForeign Affairs\nI have cosponsored a Resolution, H. Res 443, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the September 23, 2013 decision of the Dominican Republic Constitutional Court that places hundreds of thousands of Dominican born persons (majority of which are of Haitian descent) at risk of statelessness.\nOver 240,000 Dominican-born people of Haitian descent are at risk of harm from statelessness. This ruling, if fully implemented, could greatly destabilize an already vulnerable region.\u00a0 I am deeply concerned about this potential humanitarian crisis and hope that through the work of regional partners and nations, a resolution is reached that respects international standards for basic human rights.\nStrengthening Transatlantic Relations\nNovember 25- 26 I traveled to Brussels and Berlin with Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) to meet members of the German Bundestag and the European Parliament. \u00a0During these visits, my colleagues and I discussed the importance of maintaining a strong transatlantic alliance. We also discussed the scope of U.S. intelligence collection and addressed a broad spectrum of issues that represent the longstanding cooperation between the United States and Europe, including current negotiations towards a comprehensive, high-standard trade agreement.\nEngagement with a Rising Power - China\nAlong with other members in the Congressional Black Caucus, I participated in a trip to China, to discuss CBC priorities in foreign policy.\u00a0 We raised tough issues head on including China\u2019s poor human rights record that involves suppressing challenges to the communist party, as well as concerns about commercial cyber spying, and the intentions behind China\u2019s military modernization.\u00a0 We also discussed important areas of cooperation, including U.S.-China efforts to revive the global economy, and multilateral efforts to address tough issues like Iran and Syria \u2013 some of which are bearing fruit today in the form of the P5+1 interim agreement on Iran\u2019s nuclear program.\u00a0 I witnessed clear signs of China\u2019s rapid transformation, and their commitment to continuing to deepen ties between the U.S. and China through people to people exchanges.\nHonoring a World Legend\nI was deeply honored to be part of the official Congressional delegation representing the United States at the memorial services of former South African President, Nelson Mandela on December 11, 2013. \u00a0As I remember the legacy of Nelson Mandela, I will always remember his electrifying visit to New York shortly after his release from prison.\u00a0 And I will always cherish having met Nelson Mandela on several occasions \u2014 especially the laughter, stories, and insight he shared with me and other members of a congressional delegation during a wonderful lunch at his home.\u00a0 Thank you Madiba for all you have done not only for South Africa but for the world.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/fourth-deadly-and-unprovoked-attack-camp-liberty-residents-underscorres-need", "Fourth Deadly and Unprovoked Attack on Camp Liberty Residents Underscores Need for Administration to Push Iraqi Government and the UN to Do More for their Protection, Says Ros-Lehtinen", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen", "R000435", "ros-lehtinen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Fourth Deadly and Unprovoked Attack on Camp Liberty Residents Underscores Need for Administration to Push Iraqi Government and the UN to Do More for their Protection, Says Ros-Lehtinen\nMiami, Florida \u2013 U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement today following the latest deadly, unprovoked attack against Camp Liberty yesterday that killed two and left a number more in critical condition. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:\n\u201cThis latest attack is the fourth of its kind on Camp Liberty this year, and those responsible must be swiftly brought to justice. For over a year now, I have urged the Administration to take immediate action to ensure that the residents of the camp are provided the safety and the security they were guaranteed in a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Iraq and the UN. Sadly, neither party has been willing to live up to its obligations and the vicious and unprovoked attacks continue, both on Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf.\nBoth the UN and the Iraqi government must take the steps necessary to protect the residents of Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf until they can be safely relocated. This includes the installation of t-walls and other measures that can be done to make the Camps more secure. Last month I pressed Secretary Kerry to use the full leverage of the State Department and the Administration to press the Iraqi government's swift action on this installation, and will continue to do so until these residents are sufficiently protected.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stivers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=366351", "Only a few serve U.S. in office and in uniform", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Steve Stivers", "S001187", "stivers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 About two days out of every month, Rep. Brad Wenstrup gets a gut check when he leaves Capitol Hill for his other job: surgeon for the Army Reserve.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON \u2014 About two days out of every month, Rep. Brad Wenstrup gets a gut check when he leaves Capitol Hill for his other job: surgeon for the Army Reserve.\r\nHe travels the 12 miles to Bethesda, Md., where the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has treated servicemen and women since 2011, and he pitches in where he can.\r\nSometimes, that means talking to residents; other times, it means helping in surgery.\r\nBecause he serves two days a month, he can\u2019t develop long-term relationships with patients.\r\nOn Memorial Day, he had planned to enjoy a recess from his congressional duties. Then he got a call: Many casualties were coming in from Afghanistan, could he help? The Cincinnati Republican changed his plans, staying Friday and Saturday to help with sometimes complicated surgeries that required multiple surgeons.\r\nWenstrup, 55, is a rarity, one of just 14 members of the U.S. House who still serve in the military through the Guard or Reserves.\r\nOne senator also serves in the Reserves, according to the Congressional Research Service.\r\nAnd yet Wenstrup isn\u2019t the only Ohio lawmaker who balances military and congressional duties. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Upper Arlington, is a member of the Ohio National Guard. He graduated from the Army War College last year and drills one weekend a month plus two weeks in the summer.\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s Congress that has the ultimate authority to decide whether to declare war,\u201d Stivers said. \u201c So having someone who understands what that means, and what that means in a human price for all these soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, is a good thing.\u201d\r\nOthers in Ohio\u2019s congressional delegation also have served. House Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester, enlisted in the Navy in 1968 but was honorably discharged after eight weeks because of back problems, and Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, served in the Air Force from 1973 to 1999.\r\nStill, the number is shrinking, according to the Congressional Research Service: At the beginning of the 113th Congress, there were 108 members who had served or were serving in the military, 10 fewer than at the beginning of the 112th Congress and 12 fewer than in the 111th Congress.\r\nAccording to CQ Roll Call, the House currently has 88 veterans while the Senate has 18. Congressional veterans served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo.\r\nStivers and Wenstrup both came to Congress after serving on active duty in the Middle East.\r\nStivers joined the Ohio National Guard in 1985. He was called up while serving in the Ohio Senate in October 2004, and went to Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti as battalion commander overseeing mail delivery. He returned home in December 2005 and was awarded a Bronze Star for his work. Currently, he runs the Ohio Regional Training Institute, which is the training academy inside the Ohio Air National Guard.\r\nStivers was selected for the Army War College before he became a member of Congress. He began attending the War College in May 2010 and was elected to Congress six months later.\r\nEven as he was putting his congressional staff together, his War College classes were becoming more demanding. Most of the classes were distance learning. Typically, Stivers read three or four books for a specific course, posted on online forums as late as 1 a.m., then woke up early to read the replies. In July 2011, he went to Carlisle, Pa., for two weeks of on-campus training.\r\nOthers in his class have dropped out; Stivers did not. Six-hundred began War College; roughly 400 completed it.\r\n\u201cWhen I commit to do something, I think it\u2019s important to follow through and finish up,\u201d he said.\r\nHis education, he added, helped him become more informed as a member of Congress about war strategies. For example, when there is talk of entering a military conflict, Stivers is sure to ask about exit plans and what outcome would be considered a success. When Congress was weighing action in Syria, Stivers drew upon his War College education and ultimately spoke against military involvement.\r\nHis military service, he said, has given him sympathy for other public servants, especially fellow members of Congress.\r\n\u201cBeing in the military, regardless of the branch, helps you understand service,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd this job is a public service.\u201d\r\nWenstrup signed up to serve in 1998. He kept seeing reports of attacks on the United States \u2014 the flight over Lockerbie, the conflict in Lebanon \u2014 and he felt moved to help. He\u2019d heard of local doctors who were serving and liked the idea. But instead of signing up immediately, he waited; he was a bone-marrow donor for his sister, who had leukemia, and wanted to wait until she\u2019d reached the five-year survivorship mark before he joined.\r\nWenstrup was called up in 2005 and 2006, serving in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, after the notorious scandal involving the torture of military prisoners. At Abu Ghraib, he treated service members and prisoners alike.\r\n\u201cMy commitment was eight years,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd after that experience, while I was in Iraq, I came home and said, \u2018I\u2019m not leaving now.\u2019 \u201d He re-enlisted, but spoke about his experience in front of crowds. Eventually, he was recruited to run for Congress and defeated Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, in the 2012 primary election.\r\nWhile the more dramatic injuries have died down as troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan, Wenstrup\u2019s first few months at Walter Reed were a harsh reminder of the toll troops can pay. On his first day helping out, he worked on a man with several fingers and both legs gone.\r\nNow, Wenstrup treats wounded veterans, but in a different way. He recently helped an amputee who had hurt himself piloting a Sea-Doo from New York to Key West. The veteran wins pull-up contests. \u201c He\u2019s just blowing everyone away,\u201d Wenstrup said.\r\nDuring one visit, he met the vet\u2019s 4-year-old son and asked the boy what he wanted to be when he grew up. \u201cA Navy SEAL like my dad,\u201d the boy replied.\r\nBeing in Congress, Wenstrup said, is a different sort of challenge. As a soldier, he\u2019d get his mission and complete it. As a doctor, he examines a patient, makes a diagnosis, talks with the patient about options, decides on a course of action and follows it. Congress, he said, hardly works so neatly.\r\nHis trips to Walter Reed, he said, are a telling reminder of what determination can do.\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be there and see these troops,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019ll see a guy for the first time trying to go up the steps with two prosthetics, and he\u2019s just determined and he\u2019s sweating. And he just keeps going.\u201d\r\njwehrman@dispatch.com", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2138", "Gwen Moore Pushes for Unemployment Insurance Extension", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After the New Year, I urge my colleagues to act in the best interests of our constituents and make this extension a priority. \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n        Contact: Staci Cox  (202) 225- 4572   Milwaukee, WI  Today, approximately 1.3 million Americans will lose their unemployment insurance. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released this statement:  This holiday season, Congressional Republicans have given Americans a gift' of uncertainty they did not ask for and did not deserve. Today approximately 23,700 Wisconsinites will lose their unemployment insurance benefits. In the first six months of 2014, these benefits will expire for approximately 41,800 more Wisconsinites.  \"Each day, struggling families across our nation wonder how they will feed their families and warm their homes. Unemployment insurance helps to reduce this anxiety and increase the well-being of many. In our slowly recovering economy, the decision to extend these benefits to assist our families, friends and neighbors should not be difficult.  \"After the New Year, I urge my colleagues to act in the best interests of our constituents and make this extension a priority. As lawmakers, we should give a hand to struggling American families, not remove their resources.\" To watch Rep. Moore support unemployment insurance on MSNBC, please click here.  ###  For Moore News Updates", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221184342/http://bass.house.gov/press-release/statement-calling-ugandas-president-veto-anti-homosexuality-legislation", "Statement Calling on Uganda's President to Veto Anti-Homosexuality Legislation", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Africa, released the following statement calling on Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to veto the recently passed Anti-Homosexuality Bill:\n\"I join with Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) in calling on Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to veto the Uganda's parliament recently passed Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Rights of LGBT people around the world are human rights, and I am deeply concerned regarding the harassment, discrimination and violence that Uganda's LGBT community will certainly face should this legislation become law.\n\"As the world moves forward on ensuring equality under the law of the LGBT community, this proposed law is a giant step backwards. It sets a 14-year jail term for a first-time conviction for men who are convicted of engaging in sexual relations with other men, and a life imprisonment for committing aggravated homosexuality. The bill also criminalizes 'promotion and recognition' of homosexuality that will cause unnecessary harassment to health care workers who are working in Uganda to provide services to those living with HIV/AIDS.\n\"One of the great lessons of human history-- and one certainly that the United States knows all to well-- is that any government which legalizes the subjugation of a portion of its citizenry ultimately regrets that decision and will have to face the judgement of the world.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/tim-in-the-news/time-to-pass-a-farm-bill", "Time To Pass A Farm Bill", "2013-12-28", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Time To Pass A Farm Bill\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n                Daily News-Record Op-Ed\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Saturday, December 28, 2013\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            As we give thanks this holiday season, it\u2019s important to remember the family farms that produce the food we will enjoy with friends and relatives. But farmers\u2019 hard work deserves more than recognition \u2014 Congress owes it to farmers here in the Valley and across the country to swiftly pass a final farm bill.\r\nAmong all sectors of our economy, agriculture, the largest industry in Virginia, is unique for a simple reason \u2014\u00a0 its output supports our very lives. The market may wax and wane, but we will always need food.\r\nA drought or a heavy flood means a bad year for the farmer, whose output is reduced, and a bad year for the consumer, who has to pay more for groceries. In any given year, the impact of unpredictable events on agriculture could send a domino effect of either prosperity or hardship through the economy.\r\nThis inherent volatility means it is in everyone\u2019s interest to ensure there is a stable, predictable market for agricultural goods. That is why farm bills have traditionally maintained a system of payments tailored to the varying needs of different regions and crops along with federal support for crop insurance premiums. Clear flaws in this system have emerged, such as direct payments to millionaires, or to property caretakers who aren\u2019t even farmers but qualify for payments through legal loopholes.\r\nI\u2019m pleased that along with other important reforms, both the Senate and House farm bills end direct payments, expand crop insurance, and restructure the commodity title. But that won\u2019t help if we fail to pass a final bill \u2014\u00a0 or if we pass another one-year extension. Whether it\u2019s peanut and cotton farmers in Southside or poultry growers in the Valley, farmers deserve certainty from their government.\r\nThat\u2019s why I was proud to support a farm bill in the Senate last summer that passed with 66 bipartisan votes. I\u2019m disappointed that negotiators won\u2019t be able to work out the differences between the Senate and House bills before the end of the year, but it\u2019s critical we pass a final package in early January to restore this certainty for Virginia farmers and to protect consumers from possible price increases.\r\nOne major area in which the Senate and House bills differ is in treatment of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps. The Senate bill I voted for saves approximately $4 billion by tightening loopholes in the SNAP benefit calculation, while the House bill cuts $40 billion by reducing SNAP eligibility.\r\nThe difference is between curbing program misuse and curbing actual use by the neediest Americans. I hope the final bill maintains SNAP benefits that keep millions of children, disabled, and elderly people out of hunger. Moreover, nutrition support makes economic sense as a way that food commodities produced by American farmers reach hungry people at home and abroad.\r\nAdditionally, the final farm bill will likely contain incentives to bolster support for local food networks. Consumers deserve to know where their food is coming from, and farmers deserve policies that enable them to sell to local consumers and businesses. I support expanding farmers markets and access to local, healthy, and organic foods. This issue resonated with me this year when a report found that my hometown of Richmond contains the most \u201cfood deserts\u201d \u2013 areas without easy access to fresh food \u2013 of any city of its size in the nation.\r\nCongress must do all it can to support farmers as they put quality local food on the tables of Virginians, over the holidays and every day. For the sake of our family farmers and consumers across the country, it is time to pass a farm bill.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-calls-for-extension-of-unemployment-benefits-as-first-order-of", "CASTRO CALLS FOR EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AS FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaqu\u00edn Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "San Antonio, TX \u2013 1.3 million Americans, including over 64,000 Texans, are losing all of their federal unemployment insurance tomorrow, December 28. An additional 106,900 Texans will lose their unemployment insurance in the first 6 months of 2014. Rep. Joaquin Castro is calling on Speaker Boehner to bring up this important piece of legislation for debate as the first order of business in the new year. U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro along with 173 other members of Congress urged Speaker Boehner to not adjourn before extending this crucial program for millions of struggling Americans.\n\u00a0\n\u201cAs the economy recovers, the American people deserve a Congress that puts their needs first. As folks continue to look for jobs and strengthen our economy, we must ensure that they are supported. Yet, at a time when families should be coming together to celebrate and enjoy the holidays, hundreds of thousands are seeing their entire lifeline cut-off because the \u00a0Speaker decided to adjourn before dealing with this important program,\u201d said Rep. Joaquin Castro. \u201cI am calling on Speaker Boehner to make extending this vital program the first order of business when Congress returns in January. This will restore hope for folks who have worked hard, played by the rules, and continue to look for a job.\u201d\n\u00a0\nThe federal unemployment insurance program \u2013 formally called Emergency Unemployment Compensation \u2013 took effect in 2008 and has been reauthorized several times since as the economy continues its recovery. Despite the real progress the economy has made since its near collapse in 2008, there are still 1.3 million fewer jobs than there were before the recession began and long-term unemployment as a percentage of the unemployed is 37 percent, far higher than during previous recessions. On average, nationwide, the program provides about $300 a week to recipients.\n\u00a0\nFailure to extend federal unemployment insurance would also hurt job growth locally and throughout the nation, costing the economy 240,000 jobs, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisers.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramers-first-bill-signed-by-president-obama", "Cramer&#039;s First Bill Signed by President Obama", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "cramer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 President Barack Obama signed Congressman Kevin Cramer's first bill into law yesterday, December 26. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Streamlining Act, House Resolution 767, passed the House of Representatives on May 15 and the Senate on December 20.\nThe bill will improve the efficiency of processing federal oil and natural gas permits in North Dakota while retaining all existing standards for approval. While the legislation first passed the Senate after being introduced by Senator Hoeven in the 112th Congress and again by Hoeven with Senator Heitkamp in the 113th Congress, it was never considered by the House until Cramer introduced it in the 113th Congress.\n\u201cNorth Dakota will join other states in a streamlining pilot project to alleviate the increased workload of federal permit review,\u201d said Cramer. \u201cI am pleased the President accepted these modest improvements and am hopeful we can build on this achievement to find more common ground in the future.\u201d\nCongressman Cramer is a member of the Natural Resources and Science, Space and Technology Committees, including the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Subcommittee on Energy of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-applauds-enactment-kelly-amendment-ban-funding-un-arms-trade-treaty", "Rep. Kelly Applauds Enactment of Kelly Amendment to Ban Funding for UN Arms Trade Treaty", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Amendment included in final NDAA bill signed by president\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued the following statement today commending the signing of the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014 which included his amendment to ban funding for the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The Kelly amendment requires a one year ban on the use of funds by the Department of Defense to implement the ATT unless the treaty receives the advice and consent of the Senate and is the subject of implementing legislation, as required, by the Congress. The NDAA agreement was passed by the House on December 12, 2013, by 350-69; passed by the Senate on December, 19, 2013, by 85-14; and signed by President Obama on December 26, 2013.\n\u201cAs I and many others have long stated, the ATT is a clear threat to our national sovereignty and the Constitutional rights of all Americans and should never have been signed. I am therefore glad to say that a major victory has been achieved in the fight to make sure this dangerous treaty never affects the United States in any capacity. Earlier this month, the House and Senate acted in a bipartisan manner to affirm my amendment\u2019s resistance to the treaty by including it in the NDAA\u2019s final passage. Now that the NDAA has been signed by President Obama, the White House has joined Congress in taking a belated stand for American strength and sovereignty by making this crucial amendment the law of the land.\u201d\nNOTE: Rep. Kelly is a national leader of the movement to stop the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). On March 15, 2013, he introduced H. Con. Res. 23, a bipartisan concurrent resolution expressing opposition to the treaty on behalf of members of Congress. The resolution currently has 149 co-sponsors in the House and 36 supporters in the Senate.\nOn May 30, 2013, Rep. Kelly submitted a bipartisan letter with 130 co-signers from Congress to both President Obama and Secretary Kerry urging them to reject the treaty. He sent a similar bipartisan letter to the president following Secretary Kerry\u2019s signing of the treaty on October 15, 2013, which was signed by 181 members of Congress, including multiple committee chairmen.\nOn June 14, 2013, Rep. Kelly introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014 to prohibit federal funding for the implementation of the ATT for one year by the Department of Defense. The amendment was adopted unanimously by a voice vote and included in the final passage of the NDAA by the House of Representatives. The House-Senate compromise NDAA, which included an updated version of the Kelly amendment, was passed by the House on December 12, 2013; passed by the Senate on December, 19, 2013; and signed by President Obama on December 26, 2013.\nOn July 24, 2013, the House Appropriations Committee approved the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2014 which imposes a one-year ban on the use of federal funds for the implementation of the ATT by the State Department. The ban is based on language from a bipartisan letter which Rep. Kelly authored and submitted to the State and Foreign Operations subcommittee on April 18, 2013.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364759", "Blaine's Bulletin: Preserving Your Privacy", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As I reflect on 2013, one of the issues that seemed to be of great concern to the people of the 3rd District was the government\u2019s ever-growing presence in the private lives of American citizens. And over the course of the last 12 months, I have sought to work on your behalf to protect your privacy form the prying eyes of government.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      As I reflect on 2013, one of the issues that seemed to be of great concern to the people of the 3rd District was the government\u2019s ever-growing presence in the private lives of American citizens. And over the course of the last 12 months, I have sought to work on your behalf to protect your privacy form the prying eyes of government.\nThe first test we faced came earlier this spring when I met personally with U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Inspector General Patrick O\u2019Carroll, Jr. That meeting confirmed there was a violation of normal agency protocol when the agency requested and received sensitive data for more than 100,000 Missouri driver\u2019s licenses and concealed carry permits. The admission was a stark one and I appreciated the quick work of the Social Security Administration, especially after it was learned that the information provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in the fall of 2011 was unreadable on the SSA investigator\u2019s computer and the data was destroyed.\nIt was not long after, however, that we faced another privacy challenge that resurfaced amidst a national scandal involving the Internal Revenue Service. In May, the IRS confessed that it was targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status while rubberstamping similar requests from liberal groups. At the same time, it seemed clear to me the IRS was refusing to look at similar liberal groups like the Humane Society of the United States. For three years, the IRS had stonewalled my attempts to get to the bottom of constituent concerns that HSUS was involved in political and lobbying activities that were in direct violation of its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status that prohibits such activities. We are still waiting for answers on that issue and we have received assurances the IRS is finally investigating the issue.\nMore recently, I have sponsored and co-sponsored legislation dealing with the protection of your privacy. For example, I am the lead sponsor of the Protecting Education Privacy Act (PEPA) that would strengthen\u00a0federal student privacy policy and keep student records by rolling back regulatory changes made by the current administration. This legislation will keep parents minds at ease because they will have the ultimate control over whether or not third parties can access their children\u2019s information.\nI also have recently co-sponsored the USA FREEDOM Act that aims to reign in the dragnet collection of data by the National Security Agency (NSA) and other government agencies.\u00a0 The bill specifically would ensure that different authorities cannot be used to support bulk collection of information of American citizens and it increases transparency of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), among other things. Finally, I am also co-sponsoring the NSA Inspector General Act that calls for the creation of an Inspector General (IG) of the NSA and requires that both the IG and the NSA Director be appointed by the president with the consent of the U.S. Senate.\u00a0 \nThe American people are guaranteed a right to privacy and in recent years, it has become clear that those rights have been violated and continue to be under attack. This is unacceptable and I have spent the better part of the last year working to protect Americans from their government\u2019s prying eyes. As we look ahead to 2014, I will continue to support legislation that will protect your privacy and restore perhaps some of your faith and trust in the American government. With that said, I want to wish you a very Happy New Year.\nCONTACT US: As always, for those of you with Internet access, I encourage you to visit my official website. For those without access to the Internet, I encourage you to call my offices in Jefferson City (573-635-7232) Washington, Mo. (636-239-2276), or Wentzville (636-327-7055) with your questions and concerns. If you want even greater access to what I am working on, please visit my YouTube site, Facebook page, and keep up-to-date with Twitter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://sablan.house.gov/press-release/divert-field-nmi-national-guard-pay-raise-sexual-assault-all-part-new-defense-law", "Divert field, NMI National Guard, pay raise, sexual assault all part of new defense law", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Independent", "Senate", "MP", "Gregorio Sablan", "S001177", "sablan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Thursday, the President signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, which contains important provisions specific to the Northern Mariana Islands. $29.3 million will be available for a divert airfield in the NMI to use if Guam\u2019s Andersen Air Force Base is closed by weather or war. But I also worked with the House Armed Services Committee to place limits on the money because of the question of siting: Tinian or Saipan? I think we decided long ago that Tinian is the preferred location for military expansion in our islands, but the Air Force has other ideas. So, at my request the Committee report directs the Air Force to work with the Governor to find a mutually agreeable resolution to this siting issue; and the law bars any expenditure of the $29.3 million until Congress gets a look at all the alternatives that have been considered. The NDAA also gives the Defense Department 180 days to report to Congress on the feasibility of a Northern Marianas National Guard, just like Guam and all of the other states and territories, except American Samoa, have. We have 16 of our people deployed with the Guam National Guard \u2013 and returning safely home soon. So, clearly, there is an interest. But do we have enough people for a full Guard unit? Do we have the needed infrastructure? Will our local legislature support establishing a Northern Marianas National Guard? These are the questions the report will answer. I introduced legislation in 2011 to set up an NMI unit. If the feasibility study comes back positive, we could push towards that goal. We should know by June 25. Besides these Northern Marianas specific provisions the annual defense authorization makes some other changes worth noting: Our military personnel will be getting a 1 percent raise. And the new law addresses the issue of sexual assault in the military, which is a problem that seems to be increasing and puts anyone in the armed service \u2013 men and women, including our people from the Northern Marianas \u2013 at risk. The new law bars commanders from overturning jury convictions in assault cases; and it mandates dishonorable discharge for anyone convicted \u2013 all steps in the right direction.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://thompson.house.gov/press-release/thompson-military-transition-telemedicine-amendment-signed-law", "Thompson Military Transition Telemedicine Amendment Signed into Law", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BELLEFONTE, Pa. \u2013 President Obama Thursday signed into law the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act. The bipartisan measure, which recently passed the House by a vote of 350 to 69 and the Senate by a vote of 84 to 15, authorizes funding and sets policy for the U.S. Department of Defense.\u00a0 Thompson, who voted to support the bill, successfully included an amendment that will expand health care coverage through telemedicine for service members transitioning to civilian life.\n\t\u201cI am very pleased that members of the House and Senate were able to find common ground and pass this important bill that offers critical support to the military, our service members and their families,\u201d stated Rep. Thompson.\n\tUnder the previous policy, service members and their families could utilize 180 days of health care coverage during the transition from military to civilian life through what is known as the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP).\n\tThompson\u2019s amendment is designed to protect individuals coping with Post-Traumatic Stress, which may not present symptoms in some cases until 8-10 months after leaving the military (see: here and here).\u00a0 The amendment extends TAMP coverage by an additional 180 days for all services rendered through telemedicine.\n\t\u201cFor those who are burdened by physical and psychological injuries as a result of their service in uniform, we must take every action to help them rebuild,\u201d Thompson added. \u201cThis bill takes meaningful steps to improve the support we offer these brave men and women as they transition to civilian life, especially those coping with behavioral health injuries, while also making it easier to access care.\u201d\n\tThe amendment builds on Thompson\u2019s 2011 STEP Act, now Public Law 112-81, Section 713, which expanded service member health care services and the use of telemedicine at the Department of Defense.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://swalwell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-swalwell-urges-immediate-extension-federal-unemployment-insurance", "Rep. Swalwell Urges Immediate Extension of Federal Unemployment Insurance", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Eric Swalwell", "S001193", "swalwell.house.gov", "swalwell", "https://swalwell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", null, 0, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140113181229/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/carper-coons-carney-to-host-kent-county-job-fair", "Carper, Coons, Carney to host Kent County job fair", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Christopher Coons", "C001088", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, December 27, 2013\n                    CONTACT: Brian Cunningham at 302-573-6054 \n\t\t\t\t\t Carper, Coons, Carney to host Kent County job fair \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Delegation will host first job fair of 2014 at Delaware Technical Community College Terry Campus \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDOVER, Del. \u2013 Committed to continuing to help out-of-work Delawareans find employment, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney in partnership with Brandywine Counseling and Community Services, announced Friday that they will host their first job fair of the year in Kent County.\u00a0\nThe job fair will take place on Thursday, January 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Delaware Technical Community College on the Terry Campus (North Delaware Tech Drive, Dover, DE 19904) at the Education Technology Building Conference Center. Interested companies seeking to fill positions can contact Senator Coons\u2019 office at 302-573-6345 or via email at workshop@coons.senate.gov.\u00a0\nBusinesses will be on hand at the fair to interview potential new employees. Delawareans are encouraged to come dressed for success with resumes in hand.\n\u201cLast year, we held job fairs in all three counties to connect out-of-work Delawareans with good-paying jobs, and we\u2019re doing it again in 2014,\u201d said Senator Tom Carper. \u201cI always say the role of government is not to create jobs, but to provide a nurturing environment for job creation and job growth, and I\u2019ll continue my work to do just that in Washington each and every day.\u201d\n\u201cWith continued gridlock in Washington making it harder and harder to pass legislation that would meaningfully help the tens of thousands of Delawareans still looking for work, this job fair is a small way to make a difference in our neighbors\u2019 lives,\u201d Senator Coons said. \u201cLike the job fairs we've hosted in previous years, our goal for these fairs is to help Delawareans connect with real job opportunities.\u201d\n\u201cPutting Delawareans back to work is my top priority.\u00a0Too many qualified Delaware workers are having trouble finding the jobs they need to support themselves and their families,\u201d said Congressman Carney.\u00a0\u201cJust as we have the last few years, Sen. Carper, Sen. Coons, and I are organizing job fairs to connect Delawareans with employers ready to hire.\u00a0I hope that all those looking for their next job opportunity can make it to Dover next month.\u201d\nSince 2011, the Congressional delegation has hosted 16 job fairs in Delaware, including four specifically for veterans.\nFor more information on how to participate as an employer or job seeker, please call Senator Coons\u2019 office at 302-573-6345, or email workshop@coons.senate.gov. Pre-registration is not required.\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n                    \n        \n        \n\t\t\n                    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags:\n                            \n                                \n                                Job Fair,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Delaware Technical Community College,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Jobs", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365109", "Arkansas Delegation Supports Disaster Assistance for State Following Snow and Ice Storms", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3), along with U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman and Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1), Tim Griffin (AR-2), and Tom Cotton (AR-4), today sent letters to President Obama and FEMA Administrator Fugate supporting Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe\u2019s request for a disaster declaration following devastating snow and ice storms in the state.\r\nThe full text of the letters can be found below:\r\nWe are writing in support of Governor Mike Beebe\u2019s request for a major disaster declaration for the following counties in Arkansas: Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Polk, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Sharp, and Van Buren.\u00a0\r\nBeginning on December 5, 2013, and continuing through December 8, 2013, these counties experienced overwhelming amounts of snow and ice.\u00a0 The winter storms brought freezing rain and sleet that covered entire roadways and created hazardous conditions.\u00a0 The winter storms caused power outages for 62,000 electrical customers, contributed to the loss of one life, and left the affected communities overwhelmed with tremendous amounts of storm debris. Preliminary assessments indicate that the most severe impact was to roadways and public facilities.\r\nThis year has been a particularly difficult year for Arkansans impacted by natural disasters, and Governor Beebe\u2019s request is the fourth major disaster declaration request for Arkansas in 2013. The compounded nature of the disasters across the state makes recovery efforts particularly difficult. Arkansas is working tirelessly to mitigate loss and recover from the winter storm, but further assistance is needed.\r\nPursuant to the provision of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. \u00a7\u00a7 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR \u00a7 206.36, we ask that Arkansas receive a major disaster declaration for these counties due to the damage assessed.\u00a0 We would also like to specifically request Public Assistance (Categories A-G) for the counties listed above and Hazard Mitigation statewide.\r\nAs you know, the State of Arkansas and its rural districts are working tirelessly to save lives and begin the process of cleaning up and ultimately rebuilding.\u00a0 All available resources at the state and local level, including the Arkansas National Guard, are being used, but greater federal assistance is needed to help our communities recover.\u00a0 Arkansas is a predominantly rural state and this series of disasters has exceeded the ability of our local government to respond.\u00a0 The past several years have been particularly difficult for Arkansas residents due to numerous severe weather events.\u00a0 We appreciate the financial assistance received as a result of several federal disaster and emergency declarations, many of which impacted the same communities still in the recovery process, and the quick, comprehensive response of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.\u00a0 We hope that a similar response will follow this disaster.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=358dd626-a17f-443c-8953-f009ae9a18a0", "Wreaths Across America", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It\u2019s hard not to be in the Christmas spirit when you smell the cookies baking, see the neighborhoods twinkling with lights and find yourself humming the familiar holiday tunes. This season of giving illustrates that we have a lot for which to be thankful.\u00a0\r\nDuring the rush of the season as we check off our long \u2018to-do- list\u2019 it can be easy to forget about the men and women who gave us the gift of freedom.\u00a0 To show appreciation for the people who selflessly sacrificed for our way of life, communities across the country are joining in a new Christmas tradition to pay tribute to these heroes by placing a wreath on the graves of fallen servicemembers and veterans.\u00a0\r\n\u201cWreaths Across America\u201d started at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992 and continues to grow nationwide. Since 2008, Congress has recognized the second Saturday in December as \u201cWreaths Across America Day.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThis is a great opportunity to show our gratitude to the men and women who proudly served our nation. I\u2019m proud to support this tradition that honors our veterans, fallen troops and their families. These events in Arkansas and throughout the country are sponsored by individual and corporate donations and there is overwhelming support. This is a testament to the sacrifice of those who wore our nation\u2019s uniform and demonstrates our appreciation for their courage, service and commitment to protecting our nation.\u00a0\r\nIt\u2019s inspiring to join veterans, families and volunteers, to place the wreaths on the graves. For families, it can be especially difficult knowing that their loved ones can\u2019t celebrate Christmas with them.\u00a0\r\nThese Christmas symbols transformed cemeteries across the state at the Little Rock, Fort Smith and Fayetteville National Cemeteries and the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Oaklawn Cemetery in Jonesboro and the State Veterans Cemetery in Birdeye into a truly inspiring holiday scene.\u00a0\r\nWe commemorated this tribute at the U.S. Capitol with a wreath dedicated to honor the sacrifice of our veterans and remember the men and women who serve in the military will area separated from their families this holiday season.\u00a0\r\nThanks to the generosity and spirit displayed by volunteers, generous contributors and families, we have a fitting honor for our veterans during the Christmas season that demonstrates our appreciation for their courage, service and commitment to protecting our nation. We are helping \u201cWreaths Across America\u201d accomplish its mission: Remember. Honor. Teach. We will remember and these brave men and women, honor their sacrifice and teach that doing something for the greater good makes the world a better place.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/article/man-in-the-middle", "Man In The Middle", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Man In The Middle\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n                Independent Maine Sen. Angus King \u201966 went to Washington, D.C., hoping to help opposing parties find common ground. Frustration has set in.\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Matthew Mosk\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Friday, December 27, 2013\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            It is the morning of September 11, 2013, and on this day, for a change, no one on Capitol Hill is talking about the looming impasse on the federal budget. Syria has been accused of using chemical weapons, and a fierce debate over the correct response is under way. On one side of Congress are the hawks who, like President Obama, say a red line has been crossed in a manner that demands a military response. On the other side, a sizable coalition that is weary of war and uneasy about the fallout of a strike in the Middle East. Then there is Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who finds himself in a familiar posture\u2014standing in the middle.\r\nKing arrived in Washington, D.C., last January as the newest of four U.S. senators from Dartmouth. After eight years as governor of Maine and an almost 10-year hiatus from public office, he won handily a tumultuous three-way Senate campaign with 53 percent of the vote, becoming only the second member of the chamber not affiliated with a major political party. (He caucuses with the Democrats.) King assumed the seat vacated by three-term moderate Republican Olympia Snowe, who left, she said, because Congress had become an impossible place from which to govern effectively.\r\nKing\u2019s campaign promised not just a moderate, business-friendly agenda that was left-leaning on social issues but also to do what Snowe considered impossible: provide a bridge between the increasingly factionalized parties to get things done. \u201cHe\u2019s independent and a problem solver,\u201d actor Sam Waterston of\u00a0Law &amp; Order\u00a0said in a television ad for King that aired in the closing weeks of the campaign. \u201cI think they\u2019re afraid of Angus in Washington, which might be the best reason to send him there.\u201d\r\nToday King is in his office suite for a weekly open house. Tall and lean, with the ruddy, stiff-jawed look of a Maine lobsterman, King smiles warmly as a staff member snaps photographs of the senator with organic dairy producers and members of the New England Farmers Union. A\u00a0Los Angeles Times\u00a0reporter briefly corners King in his conference room. The Syria question was the first one keeping him up at night since he took office, King says. \u201cI am trying to learn as much as I can to understand the ramifications of this question, which are enormous,\u201d he says. \u201cIs there more risk to the national interest in doing nothing, or is there more risk to the national interest in acting?\u201d\r\nWith the help of his staff King ends the interview quickly and returns his attention to the dairy farmers. The Syria question would resolve itself before King was forced to take a firm stance, and in a matter of days focus would be back on the issue that has most stymied Washington in recent times: the budget. Across the Capitol complex in the House, the first rumblings are emerging that a government shutdown is looming. In part because of the deep divisions it would emphasize, the shutdown would present an enormous opportunity for King. It could become the first test of his desire to snuff out gridlock and dysfunction.\r\nThe Real Thing\r\nKing\u2019s childhood in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington offers few clues to his political leanings. He describes his parents as Roosevelt Democrats but says he grew up a fan of President Eisenhower. King applied to Dartmouth, sight unseen, because between his junior and senior years in high school his sister married Dartmouth alum Jim Neff\u00a0 \u201959, \u201cand I liked the guys at the wedding,\u201d he says. King\u2019s interest in politics was immediate. He recalls, in detail, the lectures of longtime Dartmouth government professor Vincent Starzinger. \u201cI remember him using the movie\u00a0The African Queen\u00a0to explain the two different views of natural law,\u201d King says. \u201cHumphrey Bogart wakes up in the boat to see Katharine Hepburn dumping his gin out into the river, and he\u2019s very upset. He says to Hepburn, \u2018It\u2019s only natural, ma\u2019am, that a man should want to drink every now and then.\u2019 That\u2019s one view of natural law. Hepburn said, \u2018Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are here to rise above.\u2019 That\u2019s the other view of natural law. It has been 50 years and I remember every word of that lecture.\u201d\r\nLarry K. Smith, a former Dartmouth history professor now retired after a career in Washington, remembers \u201cGus\u201d in \u201cHistory 56,\u201d the political history of the United States since 1864. The class, which was a study in power and how it\u2019s used politically, Smith says, attracted ambitious students. When political discussions would get going, \u201cyou could feel the heat in the room,\u201d he recalls. King stood out: \u201cFor all of his prestige on campus, you never got the sense that he was a politician of any sort. And yet he was clearly recognized to be the class of his class. He carried himself with such ease and grace.\u201d\r\nDespite his clear interest in politics, King\u2019s involvement was largely as an observer. He worked at WDCR and traveled in 1964 to New York City to broadcast results from the Goldwater-Johnson election. \u201cWe were part of a national college radio election-night program, and it was like our own NBC,\u201d King says. \u201cWe got results. I was a commentator, talking about who was winning and who was losing and what it meant.\u201d A year earlier, Dartmouth students had learned of the Kennedy assassination listening to WDCR. They heard the news from King, who broke into a music program to report as the day\u2019s events came over a teletype machine. (King says he carried the printout announcing Kennedy\u2019s death in his wallet for decades until it finally crumbled into pieces.)\r\nThe radio job helped prepare King for the career he forged after law school and a brief stint on Capitol Hill with Maine\u2019s Democratic Sen. William Hathaway\u2014as a television interviewer and commentator on the public broadcast affiliate in Maine. He moved from there into the alternative energy industry. It was from this business perch that King followed a path into politics as an independent. Throughout his tenure as governor King\u2019s approval numbers in statewide polls never dipped below 50 percent. Still, competing views formed about him. One Maine Republican\u2014a Dartmouth alum who previously worked in government\u2014agreed to provide his view of King in a series of emails on the condition he not be identified. He says, \u201cKing seems the ultimate \u2018hail fellow well met\u2019 with the balm of an aphorism for every situation, even if he has never seen it before\u2026and really knows little about it.\u201d The GOP critic says he considers King \u201ca faux independent,\u201d a Democrat who does not want to admit his leanings.\r\nOthers, including his early mentor Smith, say the politician\u2019s independence comes from deep within. \u201cPeople will use the rhetoric of being a moderate and it\u2019s crap,\u201d says Smith. \u201cWith Gus it\u2019s a real thing. There are phony moderates or phony independents who are often unwilling to take positions. Gus takes positions and does so as a matter of conviction. It just happens that his convictions don\u2019t fit neatly into either party. Fortunately for him, he comes from a state that enables him to run as that person.\u201d\r\nKing says that when he arrived in Washington he knew there would be doubts about him on both sides of the aisle. When he first approached Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) to talk about his ideas on regulatory reform, King says he expected skepticism. At that point he was known only as the man the National Republican Senatorial Committee spent $1.2 million trying to defeat in 2012. \u201cI\u2019m sitting with Roy telling him my views on regulatory reform,\u201d King says, \u201cand I could see his expression change, like, \u2018This isn\u2019t the guy I thought he was. Why did we spend a million dollars to kill this guy?\u2019 \u201d\r\nAn Issue That Resonates\r\nKing\u2019s first real foray into the murky political waters of the U.S. Senate came almost by accident. It was May of 2013 and a member of his staff had flagged one of the Senate\u2019s many looming deadlines: Without congressional action the interest rate on federally subsidized Stafford student loans was poised to double on July 1 from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. \u201cIt seemed to fit philosophically with some of the things that the senator has taken issue with down here, these sort of artificial deadlines, lurching from year to year, without really coming up with long-term, sustainable solutions,\u201d one King staffer explains.\r\nIn many ways the student loan issue presented an ideal political opportunity for King. On one side were liberal Democrats led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who believed the government should support a subsidized loan program that would greatly relieve the financial burden facing college students, even if it came with a hefty price tag. On the other side were Republicans whose proposal, very similar to Obama\u2019s, was for a market-based loan program that operated much like traditional loans, giving students competitive borrowing rates while possibly turning a profit. King and a small coalition of senators including Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) decided they would try to create a revenue-neutral program that fell somewhere between the rival versions.\r\nIn June, when senators were presented with votes on the Democratic and Republican versions of the student loan bill, King and Manchin broke ranks and voted against both of them. King released a statement to the press saying he believed \u201cthat we can bridge the differences between the competing proposals to reach a compromise solution that can acquire wide support. We just need to set the politics aside and do the work.\u201d\r\nThe rogue group of senators drafted its proposal and introduced it in late June, just days before the loan rates would double. At first their attempts to bring more senators on board met with resistance. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the powerful committee chairman who oversaw education issues, was not happy with their proposal. A number of Republicans were also skeptical that rates could be brought down without costing the federal government. As the deadline passed, a second attempt was made to bring the Democratic plan to the floor for a vote, but it again fell short. Once that failed, the president got involved.\r\nKing, along with Manchin and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) were summoned to the White House, where they found Harkin and Burr waiting with Obama. The goal was to broker a compromise bill. \u201cThe president wanted this off his plate,\u201d King\u2019s staffer explains. After the meeting the number of senators willing to vote for the King-Manchin bill started to rise. During the course of several weeks King tried to keep an accurate count of his bill\u2019s support, but it was tough. Every time he would shave off a section to bring more Democrats on board, he risked losing support from Republicans.\r\nWhen the date for the vote finally came, King\u2019s staff had calculated they had just barely enough support for the measure to pass. When the vote got under way, Durbin, whose job as Senate majority whip is to muster and keep count of votes, walked up to King on the floor and handed him a small scrap of paper. It had a number on it: \u201c74\u201d\u2014a projected tally of \u201caye\u201d votes. The bill, King realized then, was going to pass.\r\nKing was near the center of a group of Republicans and Democrats hovering over Obama on August 9 as the president prepared to sign the bill into law. The president praised the \u201cextraordinary coalition\u201d that had led to the passage of the compromise bill, then noted wryly, \u201cIt feels good signing bills. I haven\u2019t done this in a while. Hint, hint. Hint, hint.\u201d\r\nShutdown\r\nThe government shutdown has been under way for two days and back in a plush Senate conference room King is speaking to representatives from a group of Maine credit unions who stopped in to visit him that day. He is offering his take on the Tea Party\u2019s budget maneuvers: \u201cI remember in college we heard a great way to make money. Do you know the story about how to make money with a cocker spaniel and a gun? You put a picture up that says, send $10 or I shoot the dog,\u201d King smiles. \u201cI didn\u2019t say that, did I?\u201d\r\nBack in his office King explains that he has given deep thought to this impasse and its causes. Because of the way congressional districts have been drawn, members of Congress for the most part occupy safe seats\u2014until they are threatened by primary opponents from the most orthodox wings of their parties. \u201cWe can have broad national consensus that this shutdown is a bad idea, and it\u2019s not going to affect an individual member as he or she looks to their district in Louisiana or Tennessee or Idaho or wherever it is. If that Republican electorate is fired up and wants to kill Obamacare or shut down the government, there\u2019s no political incentive for that person to sit down and talk,\u201d King says. \u201cThat\u2019s dangerous.\u201d\r\nMore than that, King has fixed his concern on what he sees as a new and dangerous approach to legislating that he believes Tea Party Republicans are employing. He pulls out a paper that he says contains a list of demands House Republicans have made in order to get them to pass a budget and reopen the government. He rattles them off, growing increasingly incredulous with each alleged demand.\r\n\u201cThis small group in the House is trying to create a new way of legislating that\u2019s not in the Constitution,\u201d King protests. \u201cYou legislate by passing a bill through the House, passing it through the Senate and sending it to the president. They\u2019re saying, \u2018We don\u2019t have the votes to do that, therefore we\u2019re going to grab the entire U.S. government or the credit of the entire U.S. government and say we won\u2019t do anything unless you legislate what we want\u2014unless you agree to what we want.\u2019 That\u2019s not the way the system was designed.\u201d\r\nKing insists he is not ready to give up. He has, for instance, joined a group of moderate House and Senate members who began meeting in hopes of cobbling together a budget document both sides could live with. He has also joined a group of 14 senators formed by his Maine colleague, Republican Sen. Susan Collins, to try to piece together a deal.\r\n\u201cRight now is a moment of maximum frustration,\u201d he says. \u201cMy whole deal is trying to find common ground and find solutions. What\u2019s holding me up is that I don\u2019t know if you want to find common ground in a situation where you\u2019re being held hostage. If you do, this will be the routine way we\u2019ll do business around here.\r\n\u201cIt goes against my basic orientation of trying to find solutions,\u201d he says. It is inescapable, King realizes now, that the nation\u2019s capital is different than it was 40 years ago, when he first came to town as a Senate staffer. In 1973, he says, there were probably 20 senators who overlapped ideologically\u2014moderate Republicans who were arguably more liberal than conservative Democrats. \u201cNow there are literally none,\u201d King says.\r\nThe 2013 federal government shutdown lasts for 16 days and, according to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, it is expected to have cost the U.S. economy between $2 and\u00a0$6 billion in economic output. It is resolved\u00a0not by diplomacy from moderate politicians looking to broker an agreement, but by wrenching public pressure and a short-term fix of the sort King has publicly protested.\r\nA month has passed when King, brimming with good cheer, arrives in the sleek television studio that is hidden away in the basement of the Capitol Visitor Center. Bright theater lights hang from the ceiling and a variety of sets include a fireplace, a Christmas tree with wrapped presents and a modern-looking TV news desk. King takes a seat in front of what appear to be French doors and an American flag. He is about to hold a 45-minute Skype conversation with social studies students at Mt. Ararat High School back home in Maine. The father of five is jovial and at ease. Such talks, which he calls \u201cCapitol Class with Angus,\u201d are a staple of King\u2019s tenure.\r\nHe explains to the students that, as a member of a committee tasked with finding solutions to the problems that led to the shutdown, he sits at the center of negotiations to develop a budget. \u201cWe had our first meeting last week,\u201d he says. \u201cThere are a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiations going on now as we try to arrive at an agreement that will make everyone equally unhappy, I guess is the best way to put it.\u201d\r\nStudents then rotate into a seat in front of the camera to ask how he juggles his work and personal life, whether he plans to seek reelection and what he considers his greatest challenges. A student named Emma takes the seat and asks King what it means for him to be an independent in Washington.\r\n\u201cIt gives me the opportunity to work across the aisle and try to find solutions,\u201d he continues. \u201cIt was amazing when I first got here and I went around meeting senators. A number of them said, sort of almost under their breath, \u2018Boy, you\u2019re in just the right place.\u2019 They really liked the idea that I could try to build bridges, and in fact that\u2019s what we\u2019ve tried to do.\u201d\r\nKing tempered that sunny view from the center shortly after the Skype conversation ended and he headed back to business. \u201cI\u2019m very optimistic that the partisanship can be overcome when the challenge is a small- or intermediate-sized issue,\u201d he says, hearkening back to his experience with the student loan legislation. \u201cBut on the big issues\u2026,\u201d he pauses. \u201cI\u2019ll be honest with you, on the big issues I\u2019m just not so optimistic.\u201d\r\nMatthew Mosk, an Emmy-winning investigative reporter for ABC News in Washington, D.C., lives in Annapolis, Maryland.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-introduce-legislation-to-assist-maine-veterans-who-trained-at-cfb-gagetown", "Senators Collins, King Introduce Legislation to Assist Maine Veterans Who Trained at CFB Gagetown", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Collins, King Introduce Legislation to Assist Maine Veterans Who Trained at CFB Gagetown\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 27, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have introduced legislation that would help Maine veterans with claims made to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contending they have suffered from health problems as a result of being exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange during military training at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Gagetown.\u00a0 For years, veterans who trained at Gagetown have attempted to gain recognition from the VA that their health problems stem from exposure to Agent Orange, which was previously sprayed there in 1966 and 1967.\u00a0    \u00a0   The bill would direct the VA to establish a registry of U.S. veterans who have served or trained at CFB Gagetown and who have subsequently experienced health problems, which may be related to this chemical exposure.\u00a0\u00a0 The establishment of a registry will provide veterans with a way to make their claims known to the VA and to identify commonalities among their shared experiences.\u00a0 It also provides the VA with a mechanism to reach out to veterans concerned with this specific issue.   \u00a0   In addition, the Collins-King bill requires the VA to commission an independent study tasked with investigating the linkage between service at Gagetown and the development of health problems and disease associated with exposure to Agent Orange.\u00a0 Unfortunately, a previous study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relied exclusively on previous Canadian studies and included no new research, such as interviews with those who trained at CFB Gagetown.   \u00a0   \u201cProtecting the health of those who have served our nation is a solemn responsibility, and I have raised this issue directly with Secretary of the VA Eric Shinseki,\u201d said Senator Collins.\u00a0 \u201cJust as the Government of Canada found a way to offer compensation to service members exposed to toxic herbicides at Gagetown, the VA should likewise be able to find a way to recognize the similar concerns voiced by Maine veterans.\u201d   \u00a0   \u201cThrough their service, our veterans have demonstrated an unyielding commitment to our nation, and in return, our country has a duty to protect their health and well-being,\u201d Senator King said.\u00a0\u201cI am hopeful that this piece of legislation will bring us a step closer to providing more robust answers for Maine\u2019s veterans who served at Gagetown, and I am proud to join Senator Collins in that effort.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=ccd5642e-829f-4b91-81ef-ff69a81ca47c", "STATEMENT BY SENATOR McCAIN ON THE GOVERNOR OF OKINAWA\u2019S DECISION TO SIGN LANDFILL PERMIT FOR FUTENMA REPLACEMENT FACILITY", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "John McCain", "M000303", "www.mccain.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today released the following statement on the Governor of Okinawa's decision to sign the landfill permit for construction of the Futenma replacement facility at Camp Schwab-Henoko Bay in Okinawa:\r\n\u201cGovernor Nakaima's decision to sign the landfill permit is a major achievement for  Okinawa, for Japan, and for the U.S.-Japan alliance \u2013 an achievement for which  Prime Minister Abe and his Administration also deserve much credit.\r\n\u201cAfter 17 years of hard work and setbacks, today's action paves the way for the  construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility at Camp Schwab, the  redeployment of U.S. Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, and the  broader realignment of U.S. forces on Okinawa and in the Asia-Pacific region.\r\n\u201cIt is all the more important now for the Congress and the U.S. Department of  Defense to continue working together to ensure that the necessary military  plans and force requirements are in place to carry out and sustain the realignment  of U.S. forces in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also essential, in this time  of constrained resources and increased scrutiny on spending, that the cost  estimates for this realignment be responsible and strictly adhered to over the  years ahead. I was pleased to continue working with my colleagues in the  Congress this year to make additional progress toward these goals in the Fiscal  Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act.\r\n\u201cThe U.S.-Japan alliance is the foundation of the enduring U.S. commitment to the  peace, prosperity, and freedom of the Asia-Pacific region. The United States  will continue to work with Japan and our other friends and allies to maintain a  favorable balance of power in this vital region. I commend Governor Nakaima and  Prime Minister Abe for bringing us one important step closer to achieving our  mutual vision of regional security.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=9c3f1633-3315-4701-8b3b-4863fc292fc8", "New Opportunities, New Priorities in a New Year", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tAs we reflect on the highs and lows of 2013, we begin to chart course for the start of a new year. Theodore Roosevelt once said, \"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.\" While the partisan divides of Washington remain a barrier to stimulating the lagging economy and reining in federal spending, more can be done in the new year to solve short-term problems and achieve long-term goals that will keep America secure and financially stable.\r\nSouth Dakota ranchers and farmers are in urgent need of a new five-year Farm Bill. An unfinished Farm Bill creates uncertainty for agriculture producers, ag-related businesses, consumers, rural economies, and the stewardship of our land and water. Numerous western South Dakota ranchers were hard-hit by the early October snowstorm, many losing high percentages of their breeding herds as well as the current year\u2019s calf crop. The passage of a five-year Farm Bill, including the livestock disaster programs, will provide critically important economic assistance to these producers. I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee and members of the conference committee to ensure the passage of a defensible five-year Farm Bill.\r\nCongress needs to create incentives for good jobs through a pro-growth tax structure. Comprehensive tax reform can make American businesses more competitive in the global economy and can benefit families who are dealing with a growing and increasingly complex tax code. Tax reform can also help to address our ever-expanding budget deficit by unleashing economic activity that will ultimately raise federal tax receipts, even at lower tax rates. I will continue my work in the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee to fight for a tax structure that will create wealth and improve take-home pay for the people of our state and nation.\r\nThe new year holds important opportunities for our men and women stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The Air Force record of decision is expected to reach a conclusion on the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex by March of 2014. This would be the largest terrestrial airspace training range expansion in U.S. history. Following my request for a swift decision, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Air Force are currently working together to finalize the FAA record of decision by the summer of 2014.\r\nFor two years, Hot Springs\u2019 Black Hills Health Care System has been waiting in limbo for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reach a decision on the future of the VA facility. On December 13, 2013, I sent a letter along with Senator Johnson and Representative Noem to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki calling for him to return Hot Springs\u2019 Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) to full operation following the lack of leadership and breach of good faith by the VA over the past two years. I will continue to work with the Hot Springs community and stakeholders to fight for the VA to withdraw its proposal to reconfigure the BHHCS and return the Hot Springs VA campus to its former levels of operation and staff.\r\nWhile we are certain to face many challenges in the new year, the year also holds the promise of new opportunities to improve conditions in South Dakota and around the country. I look forward to new opportunities to serve South Dakota in the coming year and wish all South Dakotans a happy, safe, and healthy new year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-expresses-concern-over-allegations-misconduct-against-fishery-council", "Kilili expresses concern over allegations of misconduct against fishery council", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Independent", "Senate", "MP", "Gregorio Sablan", "S001177", "sablan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "THE Western Pacific Fishery Management Council has not acted on recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office and U.S. Congressmen Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan and Henry A. Waxman have expressed concern over allegations of misconduct.\nIn a letter to National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration acting administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, and acting administrator for fisheries Samuel D. Rauch III, Kilili and Waxman wrote:\n\u201cWe understand that the Council has taken some positive steps, such as clarifying its record-access policy in their Statement of Organization and Practices and Procedures guidelines. Unfortunately, in the four years since the GAO report, the Western Pacific Council has failed to comply with all the GAO recommendations.\u201d\nThey said they are troubled by reports that WESPAC is not adequately fulfilling its responsibilities to the people of the territories.\nIn 2009, GAO issued a report that looked into the allegations and made the following recommendations: (1) GAO recommended that NOAA direct the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council or WESPAC to maintain documentation of all requests for information from federal and state legislators. This was to help ensure compliance with OMB Circular A-122 requirements governing federal grant recipients.\nGAO also stated that to reduce the risk of loss or unauthorized use associated with reimbursing meeting participant expenses with cash, it asked that NOAA direct WESPAC to pay per-diem costs for meeting participants by check to the extent practicable.\nIt also called for WESPAC to implement actions such as (1) notifying NOAA regional counsel before meeting with federal or state legislators or testifying before one of their committees; (2) asking NOAA regional counsel to provide an annual briefing to council members and staff on the rules governing their conduct, including limits on contacts with legislators; (3) adopting procedures that require council meeting minutes to include not only a council member\u2019s statement of recusal from voting, but also the nature of the financial interest that would be affected; (4) maintaining current and archived copies of the council\u2019s administrative records, including council meeting minutes, on the council\u2019s Web site; (5) developing and making available the council\u2019s policy regarding the types of records that are available to the public at the council office, the types of records that are available through a Freedom of Information Act or FOIA request, and the procedures for reviewing or requesting these records; (6) communicating directly with a council member who has requested council information and, if necessary, negotiating a timely response so that council members needing information do not have to file FOIA requests; and (7) clarifying the council\u2019s advisory role by not describing itself as a policy-making body.\nIn their letter to NOAA, Sablan and Waxman cited the council\u2019s failure to make available on its website the briefing materials used by Council members to make decisions.\n\u201cThis is a notable deficiency, as all seven of the other Regional Fisheries Management Councils have extensive documentation online,\u201d Sablan and Waxman said.\nTheir letter also said the lack of documentation \u201cis a particular concern in the case of the Western Pacific, where currently a concerned citizen of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or Guam would have to spend $2,000 and travel 4,000 miles to Hawaii to review documents in person.\u201d\nThe U.S. congressmen said the council should follow the lead of other fishery management councils and make their documents accessible on the website.\n\u201cThe Western Pacific Council\u2019s lack of transparency has led to continued allegations of financial and ethical misconduct, most notably from the nonprofit group Environmental Hawaii,\u201d said Sablan and Waxman.\nThey said the GAO report in 2009 did not examine the council\u2019s activities in the Northern Marianas, Guam or American Samoa.\nThey said allegations of misconduct that may have occurred in the CNMI have never been investigated.\n\u201cWe urge NOAA to conduct a thorough analysis of the Western Pacific Council\u2019s conduct and to require that the council immediately comply with the GAO recommendations,\u201d the letter said.\nThey asked that WESPAC respond to their questions.\nThey asked if there is an itemized account of how federal funds allocated to the Western Pacific Council are spent.\nThey asked what oversight NOAA has over grants and contracts let by WESPAC.\nThey asked if there are accountability and performance standards in place.\nThey also raised the issue of conflicts of interest by council members and whether NOAA reviews the decisions.\nThey also asked if NOAA has investigated WESPAC executive director\u2019s role in developing and promoting the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs\u2019 petition to remove the green sea turtle from the endangered species list.\nVariety was unable to get a comment from WESPAC.\n- See more at: https://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/61599-kilili-expresses-concern-over-allegations-of-misconduct-against-fishery-council#sthash.qexBPpfY.dpuf", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-old-moe-formula-remains-intact-pss", "Kilili: Old MOE formula remains intact for PSS", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Independent", "Senate", "MP", "Gregorio Sablan", "S001177", "sablan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan says the central government is still required to give the Public School System $7 million in unremitted maintenance-of-effort funds, pursuant to the mandates of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This comes after Sablan confirmed that the U.S. Department of Education issued no response or action to the proposal of the CNMI government to change the formula in calculating the MOE award.\u00a0 The CNMI received in 2009 $44 million in SFSF funds, of which $32.3 million is for public education. When the CNMI was awarded the SFSF grant, one of the conditions was that PSS must be given a specific amount of the overall budget of the CNMI government\u2014at the time equivalent to 40 cents to $1 dollar or 25 percent of the overall CNMI government budget. The issue over the MOE formula came to light after the CNMI government filed a waiver application for it in 2012. The USDOE has not issued a response up to now. \u201cThe fact that there\u2019s no decision [by USDOE] means we have to live with the first decision, which is good for PSS. The MOE\u2019s first formula remains and that has not changed,\u201d Sablan told Saipan Tribune. Saipan Tribune learned that in PSS books, the central government owes it $7 million in unremitted MOE for fiscal years 2010 and 2011. Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan just wants the whole matter done and over with. \u201cFor me, I wanted it resolved. I just want that MOE issue out of the way. The whole issue here is that the central government owes us millions of money that is badly needed in our classrooms. It\u2019s the government\u2019s responsibility to pay us,\u201d she said.\u00a0 Once they receive the funds, it will all be utilized for the classroom and instructional needs of schools. She is firm that there\u2019s no way all or a portion of this unremitted MOE will be used to pay CUC arrears. \u201cWhatever federal money we get from MOE will go to the classrooms where it belongs,\u201d she added. As to when this money will go to PSS is uncertain up to this time. Saipan Tribune learned that the original amount of unremitted MOE for PSS was $11 million. However, in the late part of school year 2010-2011, the central government remitted some $2.6 million to pay for personnel salary.\nhttps://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&amp;newsID=152550", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/feinstein-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=c9d00393-37ca-45da-a1cd-b06da8afd09a", "Transfer of planes a good start against wildfire - Oakland Tribune", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Being from opposing parties as well as opposite ends of the political spectrum, it is not surprising that Sens. Dianne Feinstein and John McCain don't agree on many issues. But when they do agree on one, it should warrant our close attention.\r\n\r\nSuch is the case when the pair co-sponsored language -- inserted into a defense bill by Feinstein -- that will double the size of the U.S. Forest Service fleet of large air tankers used to help fight wildfires.\r\n\r\nIt is an upgrade that is desperately needed. The Government Accountability Office reports that federal air tanker fleet that had once topped 40 planes had dwindled to eight.\r\n\r\nThose of us who live in the West know that the nation's wildfires have not waned in a like manner. We know firsthand the devastation that can be caused by wildfires and know what tremendous benefit air tankers bring to firefighting, especially in rugged terrain.\r\n\r\nJust last week the 500-acre wildfire in Big Sur destroyed more than a dozen homes, but it was tiny compared to the 250,000-acre Rim Fire that scorched parts of Yosemite National Park for two months, leaving more than $50 million in damage.\r\n\r\nIn the East Bay, we saw a fire that engulfed the southside of Mt. Diablo as it burned more than 3,000 acres and cost more than $5.3 million to extinguish. Air tankers were used in fighting that blaze and we can only image how much more devastating it would have been without them.\r\n\r\nBut property damage and equipment costs are trivial compared to the death of the 19 members of an elite firefighting crew last June near Prescott, Ariz.\r\n\r\nIt is important to be clear that this bill is not some government spending boondoggle. In fact, we believe it is smart fiscal policy.\r\n\r\nInstead of purchasing new aircraft, the bill merely transfers seven HC-130H Hercules U.S. Coast Guard aircraft that have been deemed surplus to the Forest Service. The transfer effectively doubles the size of the air tanker fleet virtually overnight.\r\n\r\nThat should be of significant help to the service. Feinstein says the planes can carry a combined 21,000 gallons of water or fire retardant.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the transfer includes 15 smaller C23-B Sherpa aircraft, which are essential for transporting cargo and are used to deploy the legendary smoke jumpers, who parachute into difficult fire areas.\r\n\r\nWhile this bill is smart policy, it clearly is not enough. We believe that Congress must do more to bolster federal firefighting efforts throughout the country, especially in the West. But we applaud this first step.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=A5C4F809-604D-4C84-AF6E-F7890D13C378", "Dent Works to Protect Pennsylvania Children from the Presidents Health Care Law", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Charlie Dent", "D000604", "dent.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15th) spearheaded an effort to protect and preserve Pennsylvania\u2019s Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (PA CHIP) from the effect of President Obama\u2019s Health Care Law. Rep. Dent organized a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking her to accede to Governor Corbett\u2019s request that the Department work with him to help preserve the program. \r\n  \u201cThe practical impact of the Health Care law has been to compel thousands of families with income levels between 100% and 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to lose their PA CHIP coverage and be forced into a comparatively substandard Medicaid program,\u201d Rep. Dent stated. \r\n  \u201cCHIP in Pennsylvania is a clear success story,\u201d said the Congressman. \u201cIt is lauded as a national model by other states and consistently receives extremely high marks in customer satisfaction surveys,\u201d Dent noted. \u201cForcing people out of this program and into the comparatively substandard Medicaid program is yet another harmful impact of the President\u2019s Health Care law.\u201d \r\n  Rep. Dent was joined by ten fellow Pennsylvania Republicans on the letter. Some of them, including Rep. Dent, voted to establish the PA CHIP law in 1992. Rep. Dent also voted to strengthen and enhance the State Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) at the federal level. \r\n  \u201cPresident Obama heard the outcry of millions of Americans who lost their coverage as a result of the health care law and was forced to act and grant them the ability to maintain existing coverage. I, and my fellow Representatives, want the same opportunity for the thousands of Pennsylvania families that have received superior care through PA CHIP,\u201d Dent concluded. \r\n  Currently, PA CHIP covers over 188,000 children. \r\n Contact: \u00a0Shawn Millan (610) 770-3490 \r\n  \r\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frankel.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=112", "President Obama Signs Frankel Provision on Military Sexual Assault into Law", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Lois Frankel", "F000462", "frankel.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Barack Obama today signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes Congresswoman Lois Frankel's provision that directs the military to examine the need for a new definition of rape and sexual assault in cases when someone abuses their position in the Military Chain of Command.\r\nFrankel's provision was inspired by constituent Elisha Morrow, a former Coast Guard recruit and victim of sexual harassment in the military, who brought her harrowing story to Frankel and they worked together to try to strengthen the flawed military justice system. The measure in the national defense bill seeks to address a flaw in current military law, which requires proof of physical harm or threat of life in order to prosecute a commanding officer for serious sexual crimes. The current law does not account for situations in which the superior abuses his or her position to take advantage of victims. Senator Bill Nelson introduced a companion measure to Frankel's. The National Defense Authorization Act passed the House earlier this month and the Senate last Thursday night.\r\nOur sons and daughters who put on the military uniform deserve a new day for justice, said Frankel, who is the mother of a Marine war veteran. No military recruit or service member should endure what Elisha and countless other men and women have. This national defense bill is a significant step forward, however we cannot rest until the men and women who protect us know that we will protect them.\r\nI cannot put into words how much it means to see this bill signed into law, said Elisha Morrow, a Boynton Beach resident. Though the opportunity for justice in our case has passed, it is truly healing to know future military members will now be able to receive the justice due to them.\r\nAdditional resources on Frankel's provision:\r\nSun-Sentinel Boot-camp hell leading to new law\r\nWFLX-Elisha Morrow's Quest for Justice for Military Sexual Assault Victims with Rep. Frankel\r\nFrankel's Floor Speech on the Provision Inspired by Elisha Morrow\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-supports-plan-protect-volunteer-firefighters-and-emergency", "Greg Walden supports plan to protect volunteer firefighters and emergency responders from health law mandate", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden supports plan to protect volunteer firefighters and emergency responders from health law mandate  December 26, 2013  HOOD RIVER U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) announced today that he has signed on as a co-sponsor of a bill to exempt volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians from the employer mandate in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act (H.R. 3685) was introduced in the U.S. House on December 10 with bipartisan support. Volunteer fire firefighters and emergency responders serve their communities every day to protect lives and property and keep their neighbors safe. Their units shouldn't be forced to choose between buying life-saving equipment and complying with IRS mandates under the new health care law. I'm co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to protect these volunteer units from Obamacare's mandate so they can focus on their mission: keeping Oregonians safe, Walden said. Hood River Fire Chief Devon Wellsapplauded Walden for his support. I believe it is critically important that emergency service agencies not be required to offer health insurance to their volunteer personnel. Most of those agencies do not have the financial resources to provide that type of benefit to their volunteers. Also, most volunteers have no expectation of receiving health insurance from their fire agency, Wells said. The financial impact this could have on volunteer agencies would be devastating, potentially reducing the number of volunteers and the level of service provided to the citizens they are sworn to protect. The bill that has been introduced to exempt volunteer emergency service workers from the ACA provides an opportunity for volunteer fire agencies to continue providing exceptional service without worrying about the loss of volunteers or financial difficulties. The IRSwhich is charged with enforcing many of the mandates contained in the new health care lawconsiders volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians working 30 hours per week as full time employees, forcing them to provide health insurance or pay a fine if they are large enough. These IRS regulations could have a big impact on fire departments in Oregon. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 90% of Oregon's 297 fire department are classified as all volunteer or mostly volunteer agencies.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walorski.house.gov/walorski-military-sexual-assault-provisions-signed-into-law/", "WALORSKI MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT PROVISIONS SIGNED INTO LAW", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Jackie Walorski", "W000813", "walorski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, December 26, 2013\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFreshman HASC Member Authors Measures in NDAA to Encourage Reporting\nMISHAWAKA, IN  Earlier today President Obama signed bipartisan provisions into law, authored by Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, to extend whistleblower protections to military sexual assault victims as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\nThis year's defense bill contains historic provisions to combat the growing military sexual assault epidemic and create an environment for safe reporting.  I am pleased to see these bipartisan measures signed into law to begin eradicating this horrific problem, said Walorski, a freshman member of the House Armed Services Committee.  \nWalorski's military sexual assault provisions specifically designate reports of sexual assault as a form of communication under existing whistleblower protections.  Her provisions also require an Inspector General investigation into allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken against victims who have reported alleged instances of rape, sexual assault, or other forms of sexual misconduct in the military.\nEarlier this year, H.R. 1864 was passed as a standalone bill in the House by a vote of 423-0.  Companion legislation was introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Claire McCaskill and included in both the House and Senate versions of the NDAA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131231153442/http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-on-ups-to-provide-refunds-to-customers-whose-christmas-shipments-did-not-arrive-on-time", "Blumenthal Calls On UPS To Provide Refunds To Customers Whose Christmas Shipments Did Not Arrive On Time", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, December 26, 2013\n\t\t\t(Hartford, CT) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today called on United Parcel Service (UPS) to provide refunds to consumers across the country who were quoted arrival dates before Christmas, but whose packages and gifts did not arrive at their destinations on time.\n\u201cI am disappointed to learn that so many consumers in Connecticut and across the country made purchases this holiday season expecting their gifts to arrive in time for Christmas, but instead were left empty-handed. The men and women of UPS \u2013 as well as the United States Postal Service and FedEx \u2013 do tremendous work this time of year, putting in grueling, long hours delivering gifts, and we are all grateful for their efforts. It is incumbent upon these companies, however, that when a customer is quoted a delivery date ahead of Christmas, gifts arrive on time. In a very real sense, Christmas is on the line. I call on UPS to do the right thing and provide refunds to people whose Christmases were a little less cheery as a result of their late deliveries.\u201d\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik \u2013 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202435/http://mckinley.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=2101", "Charleston Gazette: DOE: Gas to outpace coal by 2040", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "WV", "David McKinley", "M001180", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Natural gas will overtake coal to provide the largest share of U.S. electrical power generation by 2040, according to the latest projections from the federal Department of Energy.\n\n\tNatural gas will produce about 35 percent of total U.S. generation, compared to 32 percent for coal, in 2040, according to the department's Energy Information Administration estimates.\n\n\t\"Projected low prices for natural gas make it a very attractive fuel for new generating capacity,\" the agency said in a preview of its 2014 Annual Energy Outlook. \"In some areas, natural gas-fired generation replaces generation formerly supplied by coal and nuclear.\"\n\n\tJust last year, the EIA had projected coal to maintain its dominance over natural gas, with 35 percent of generation in 2040, compared to 30 percent for natural gas.\n\n\tTo read entire article, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301153307/http://frankel.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-obama-signs-frankel-provision-on-military-sexual-assault-into", "President Obama Signs Frankel Provision on Military Sexual Assault into Law", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Lois Frankel", "F000462", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "President Barack Obama today signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes Congresswoman Lois Frankel\u2019s provision that directs the military to examine the need for a new definition of rape and sexual assault in cases when someone abuses their position in the Military Chain of Command.\nFrankel\u2019s provision was inspired by constituent Elisha Morrow, a former Coast Guard recruit and victim of sexual harassment in the military, who brought her harrowing story to Frankel and they worked together to try to strengthen the flawed military justice system. The measure in the national defense bill seeks to address a flaw in current military law, which requires proof of physical harm or threat of life in order to prosecute a commanding officer for serious sexual crimes. The current law does not account for situations in which the superior abuses his or her position to take advantage of victims. Senator Bill Nelson introduced a companion measure to Frankel\u2019s. The National Defense Authorization Act passed the House earlier this month and the Senate last Thursday night.\n\u201cOur sons and daughters who put on the military uniform deserve a new day for justice,\u201d said Frankel, who is the mother of a Marine war veteran. \u201cNo military recruit or service member should endure what Elisha and countless other men and women have. This national defense bill is a significant step forward, however we cannot rest until the men and women who protect us know that we will protect them.\u201d\n\u201cI cannot put into words how much it means to see this bill signed into law,\u201d said Elisha Morrow, a Boynton Beach resident. \u201cThough the opportunity for justice in our case has passed, it is truly healing to know future military members will now be able to receive the justice due to them.\u201d\nAdditional resources on Frankel\u2019s provision:\nSun-Sentinel Boot-camp hell leading to new law\nWFLX-Elisha Morrow\u2019s Quest for Justice for Military Sexual Assault Victims with Rep. Frankel\nFrankel\u2019s Floor Speech on the Provision Inspired by Elisha Morrow\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140328084221/http://brady.house.gov/creativity-2013", "Creativity 2013", "2013-12-26", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Robert Brady", "B001227", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Creativity 2013                                           \n              Dec 26, 2013      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    [...]\nApril\nU.S. Rep. Robert Brady, who maintains an office at 1907-1909 S. Broad St., was on hand at Horace Furness High School, 1900 S. Third St., to dole out Congressional Award medals to area students for achievements in service. The Pennsport institution fostered many of the day\u2019s honorees and all of them participate in the Migrant Education Program that operates out of United Communities Southeast Philadelphia, 2029 S. Eighth St. The medals are given out based on a student\u2019s accumulated hours of service and horizon-broadening adventures: bronze medal winners are responsible for collecting 200 hours of service in three areas (voluntary community service, tending to personal development and physical fitness, and executing an expedition or exploratory adventure), with silver medal recipients doubling those totals, and gold medal winners tripling them. The Congressional Medal Act of 1979 has been celebrating 14- to 23-year-olds for decades, and over the last 34 years the Congressional Award Foundation has honored more than 50,000 youths.\n[...]\nDecember 26, 2013, Bill Chenevert, South Philly Review", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cook.house.gov/media-center/newsletter/a-special-holiday-message", "A Special Holiday Message", "2013-12-25", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Paul Cook", "C001094", "cook.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\u00a0 On behalf of myself, my family, and my staff, Merry Christmas and best wishes to your family in the coming New Year!\u00a0 Please keep our service members and their families in your thoughts and prayers as you gather with loved ones in the coming weeks. They\u2019re serving our nation far away from their families and in harm\u2019s way. They put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and for this we're especially grateful.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Please click here to watch my holiday messageAs always, you can follow everything I'm working on in California and Washington, DC, through my website https://cook.house.gov/, on Twitter\u00a0@RepPaulCook, and through Facebook at Congressman Paul Cook.\u00a0 Happy Holidays,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=366428", "The Laker/Lutz News: Mobile Office Hours for Rep. Ross", "2013-12-25", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Dennis Ross", "R000593", "dennisross.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Laker/Lutz News: Mobile Office Hours for Rep. Ross \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Florida,\r\n        December 25, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      The Laker'Lutz News  \r\nMOBILE OFFICE HOURS FOR REP. ROSS  \r\nDecember 25, 2013   \r\nBy Mary RathmanU.S. Rep. Dennis Ross\u2019s staff will host mobile office hours across Florida\u2019s 15th Congressional District with a stop at the Lutz Library, 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road on Jan. 14 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The staff will be on hand to assist with questions on seniors\u2019 Social Security and disability, veterans\u2019 VA claims and military service problems, students\u2019 financial aid, small business loan applications, and taxpayers\u2019 tax problems. For information, call (813) 752-4790.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/blog/?postid=365087", "Merry Christmas!", "2013-12-25", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,As we celebrate Christmas, close out 2013, and look toward the New Year, I feel it\u2019s appropriate to reflect on the blessings the year has brought.\r\n\r\nWe live in the greatest country the world has ever known.\u00a0 And though we\u2019ve been through a lot of tough times \u2013 wars, civil unrest, economic turbulence, acts of nature, acts of man \u2013 we\u2019ve always landed on our feet.\u00a0 That\u2019s what great countries do.\u00a0 That\u2019s what Americans do.\u00a0 And I\u2019m blessed with the comfort of knowing that, even in the times of uncertainty we face today, we will do so yet again.\r\nAmerica faces many challenges.\u00a0 But the greatest challenge we face is leaving our country better than we found it so our children and grandchildren \u2013 like my new grandson, Kaden \u2013 can live the American dream, too.\u00a0 As we fight to restore fiscal responsibility and government accountability in Washington, I could not be more grateful to represent you and the people of Arkansas\u2019s Third District.\r\nI look forward to serving you as we work toward getting America back on track and preserving our great nation for our children and grandchildren.\r\nMerry Christmas and best wishes for a prosperous, healthy, and blessed 2014.\u00a0\r\nCongressman Steve Womack\r\nArkansas Third District", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365091", "<span class=\"kicker\">Trentonian Page 1</span>'Plainsboro mother seeks help from Congress to bring her kidnapped sons home'", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Sherrina Navani, The Trentonian - All Bindu Philips wants for Christmas are her two young sons back, and thanks to a new bill passed by the House of Representatives, she may be closer than ever to getting her wish granted.\r\nMembers of the House voted unanimously, in early December, to pass a bill to help bring home American children abducted to overseas destinations. The legislation, dubbed, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013, will help left behind parents of American children abducted to India, Japan, Egypt, India, Brazil, Russia, England and other countries where most are forced to live overseas and never return, according to Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) \u2014 the author of the legislation and chairman of the House congressional panel which oversees human rights. \r\nNot all countries have signed The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the standing international treaty which addresses parental abductions via the justice system. The treaty provides for the quick return of abducted children, and access rights to both parents. Sadly, even Hague signatories, like Brazil, often don\u2019t enforce its provisions. \r\n\u201cWhat we are asking the State Department to do with this bill, is to start accounting for all the children who have been abducted to other countries,\u201d said Jeff Sagnip, District Director for Smith, noting the State Department would be required to issue an annual report. \u201cIf this bill is passed, it cannot force abducting parents who have already taken their children to other countries, to bring them back, however it will start taking account of the thousands of U.S. children who are taken and held overseas. Also, local congressional leaders will become aware of all the children who are being kidnapped from their districts; it will help keep our government\u2019s attention on the cases and work to bring them home.\u201d\r\nThe Plainsboro township mother, Philips, has not seen her five-year-old twin sons, Albert Philip Jacob and Alfred William Jacob, since 2008. Her husband, Sunil Jacob, took the family on an impromptu vacation to India and decided to keep the kids there despite the mother\u2019s wishes. \r\nPhilips believes, her husband Sunil Jacob, was being investigated by the FBI regarding his official role as a Wealth Management Specialist for CitiBank and may have spooked the United States Naturalized Citizen, to run back to his homeland of Kerala India. \r\n\u201cIt was all a big shock to me, I had no idea what was going to happen when we left in December 2008 for the family vacation,\u201d said Phillips. \u201cThrough an investigation the Plainsboro Police and the FBI learned that he had been planning this for months in advance and he even had all of our belongings shipped to India, so when I got home there was nothing left, no car, no clothes, nothing.\u201d \r\nPhilips, whose husband banned her from having any contact with her children shortly after they arrived in India, decided to leave the county in the hopes that the United States legal system would expedite bringing her children back. However, her nightmare, which she believed would only last a month, has turned into a five-year battle that has taken her to the Indian Supreme Court, to her Legislators and now to the State Department. \r\nSmith, the FBI and a slew of lawmakers have listened to Philip\u2019s ordeal and have been champions of the proposed bill, which hopes to circumvent any future abductions. \r\nAs of late, Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th), has reached out to Taranjit Singh Sandhu , Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Washington D.C., asking Sandhu to bridge the legal gap between the two countries. \r\nIf passed by the Senate, the law will recommend that the president withhold exchanges with countries that harbor kidnapped children. For example, U.S. development assistance, foreign aid or cultural exchanges may be delayed or withheld if the defiant country does not accept legal initiatives to return the child to their parent, based in the United States. \r\n\u201cI\u2019m completely cut-off from the children, they\u2019ve only seen me for 15 minutes in the last five years,\u201d said Philips as tears began to trickle from her eyes. \u201cBut I refuse to give up hope, I am clinging on, with the hope of being reunited with my children, and I cannot think anything else. I cannot give up on my hope.\u201d Above text was printed Dec. 24, 2013, and edited for clarity.  \r\nOriginal can be read at:  \r\nhttp://www.trentonian.com/government-and-politics/20131223/plainsboro-mother-seeks-help-from-congress-to-bring-her-kidnapped-sons-home", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://lowenthal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365266", "Holiday Greetings from Congressman Lowenthal", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Alan Lowenthal", "L000579", "lowenthal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Holiday Greetings from Congressman Lowenthal \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        December 24, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      The holiday season is a time when most of us find it just a little easier to smile, perhaps a little easier to give of ourselves, and a little easier to think the best of each other. But let us not forget that there are too many Americans who may pass this time of year worrying about where the most basic things might come from: a solid meal, a warm bed, or a change of clothes. Be fortunate for the love and compassion in your life, and, please, consider sharing that same love and compassion with the people in your community. It will mean a happier and more joyous season for everyone.\u00a0Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://sablan.house.gov/press-release/26677-awarded-diesel-emission-reduction", "$26,677 awarded for diesel emission reduction", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Independent", "Senate", "MP", "Gregorio Sablan", "S001177", "sablan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "$26,677 awarded for diesel emission reduction                                            \n              Dec 24, 2013      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n            \n    \n  \n    \n    \n    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation $26,677 to reduce unsafe diesel emissions in the Northern Marianas Islands. CUC will use the money to help retrofit its generators, improving efficiency and cutting pollution. Congratulations to CUC.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scottpeters.house.gov/media-center/op-eds/progress-in-dc-but-hold-off-celebrating", "Progress in D.C., but hold off celebrating", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Scott Peters", "P000608", "scottpeters.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Pomerado News Chieftan - http://www.pomeradonews.com/2013/12/24/guest-column-progress-in-d-c-but-hold-off-celebrating/\nWhen I ran for Congress, I was tired of the crisis-to-crisis pattern that Congress had adopted. I called for \u201cNo Budget \u2013 No Pay\u201d \u2014 if Congress didn\u2019t pass a budget, they shouldn\u2019t get a paycheck. Well, maybe we weren\u2019t the only ones who felt that way. For the first time in four years, Congress passed a budget, and it looks like we\u2019ll avoid another irresponsible shutdown that cost our economy jobs.\nThis budget is not the solution to every problem facing our country nor is it perfect, but it is a step in the right direction. Most important, the budget provides stability and predictability for the next two years to agencies, the military and the large and small businesses that interact daily with the federal government.\nFinally the two sides are talking, and working, together. To San Diegans that\u2019s not a novel concept, but bipartisan collaboration has been sadly uncommon in Washington, D.C. There is optimism that Congress may avoid further self-inflicted crises, a fact that should give the economy a chance to grow and expand at a greater rate.\nIt\u2019s not yet time to celebrate, however. Everyone knows that Congress has significant issues to address, but this Congress remains on pace to be among the least productive in history and was in session fewer hours in 2013 than in any recent year.\nLogic and common sense would bring both sides together to address the overly burdensome tax code, replace the foolish across-the-board sequester cuts with smarter ones that don\u2019t undercut our future competitiveness or national security, cut waste and fraud, ensure a fair and sustainable safety net and fix the broken immigration system. These are areas where a vast, bipartisan majority of Congress agrees action is needed, and finding productive solutions to any of them would yield huge economic benefit for the country.\nIt is no secret that I have been frustrated with the gridlock and lack of bipartisan progress in Washington. The D.C. weather is not why I fly cross-country twice a week. San Diego is poised to lead in science, technology, and innovation, and our businesses and community could teach a lot to Washington about collaboration and cooperation.\nThat\u2019s what I have seen in the last year, through meetings with constituents in Poway, Coronado, and San Diego, on-site visits to local businesses, research facilities and military bases, and in dialogues with students at local universities. Life-changing things are happening here every day.\nFurther, my district office here in San Diego is working to bring due benefits and navigate federal agencies for thousands of constituents by hosting workshops and handling casework claims.\nOver the next year, I will continue to be a vital advocate for San Diego\u2019s interests in Congress. I hope that the recent budget deal is the beginning of a thaw in the D.C. gridlock. San Diegans, and all Americans, deserve a government that works for them and gives a clear path to economic growth, not a series of politically generated, manufactured crises.\nScott Peters, D-San Diego, represents the 52nd District, which includes much of inland North County.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365153", "Christmas Thanks and Hope for the New Year", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As we celebrate the season\u2019s holidays, I\u2019d like to take a moment to reflect on the blessings in our lives and say thank you to all those who make them a bit easier and a lot safer. In particular, I hope everyone will take a few minutes to think of the brave men and women in our armed services, especially those serving in hot spots around the globe, who help keep the peace and allow us to be safe during these troubled times. I want us to remember, too, their families, especially those living near us, who can\u2019t be with their loved ones for Christmas. It\u2019s my wish that all of us will let them know how much we appreciate the work they do to keep the home fires burning. And how grateful we are of the work these courageous service men and women do. We thank them for their work and sacrifice. I am so proud of them all. There are so many folks to thank for their work, from the cop walking the beat, to the bus driver who delivers passengers safely to their destinations,\u00a0to the teacher who opens up a new world to a child as he or she masters a new skill.\u00a0Even the barista at the coffee shop deserves an extra smile and thanks \u2013 that cup of joe may be the little extra boost that keeps you alert as you drive the family to the next Christmas gathering. Amidst all the hoopla, it can be challenging for some of us who have lost someone dear to our hearts. I can only hope that you find a moment of solace, a moment when something sparks a reminder of those earlier happy times and you can smile. Amey and I extend our best wishes to you and your loved ones and pray that the spirit of the season brings joy and happiness to your heart now and throughout the new year. May God bless us all.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/yoho-introduces-bill-to-repeal-aca-if-enrollment-numbers-are-not-met", "YOHO INTRODUCES BILL TO REPEAL ACA IF ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ARE NOT MET", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Ted Yoho", "Y000065", "yoho.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Yoho has introduced legislation to hold the Obama Administration accountable to the enrollment goals they set for the Affordable Care Act. According to estimates put out by the Congressional Budget Office, seven million people need to be enrolled in the healthcare exchanges\u00a0 by the end of the 2014 open enrollment period. The costs of insurance plans can be expected to increase if this figure is not hit, further burdening the American taxpayer. In order to hold the Administration accountable to these enrollment numbers, Congressman Yoho has introduced H.R. 3784, the Nullifying the Unconstitutional Mandate By Evaluating Results (NUMBER) Act. This legislation fully repeals the healthcare law if seven million people are not enrolled in the exchanges by March 31st. Congressman Yoho was joined by Reps. Bridenstine (OK), Duncan (SC), Franks (AZ), Graves (GA), Hall (TX), Hudson (NC), Hultgren (IL), Jones (NC), LaMalfa (CA), Massie (KY), Messer (IN), Pittenger (NC), Rice (SC), Salmon (AZ), Scott (GA), Stockman (TX), Weber (TX), Westmoreland (GA), and Wilson (SC). Upon introduction Congressman Yoho said, \u201cThe Obama Administration likes to claim that this healthcare law is hugely popular and is wanted by the American people. I disagree. If the Administration can\u2019t even make their own target numbers then the American taxpayer should not be further burdened by this terrible law. This commonsense bill simply holds the Administration accountable to those numbers, and if they are not met the Affordable Care Act is fully repealed.\u201d Congressman Yoho is also a cosponsor of H.R. 2300 and H.R. 3121, two alternative proposals to the Affordable Care Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221213512/http://adamsmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365089", "Congressman Smith Urges Extension of Unemployment Benefits", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Smith released the following statement on unemployment insurance:  \u201cDespite consecutive months of job growth, our economy is still recovering from one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression. Through no fault of their own, millions of hardworking Americans continue to struggle to find employment.\u00a0 Yet, even with rates of long-term unemployed Americans near historic highs, federal unemployment insurance is set to expire three days after Christmas for 24,400 Washingtonians and for 40,000 more in the first half of 2014 if Congress does not act. That is unacceptable.   \n\u00a0  \n\u201cUnemployment insurance benefits provide essential support for individuals and families while they are searching for work. Congress should extend unemployment benefits for hardworking Americans, not stand idly by as they expire.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062516/http://lorettasanchez.house.gov/2014-fafsa-workshops-making-college-affordable", "2014 FAFSA Workshops - Making College Affordable", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Loretta S\u00e1nchez", "S000030", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Applying for federal aid for college can be overwhelming and complicated, which is why our office will be hosting workshops across Orange County in January and February to help students and families file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and explore scholarship opportunities.\u00a0\nThere is no registration is necessary. For more information, please contact Beatriz Fern\u00e1ndez in my Garden Grove office at (714) 621-0102.\u00a0\nThursday, January 16\n6:30 pm\nGodinez Fundamental High School\n3002 W Centennial Rd,\nSanta Ana, CA 92704\n\u00a0\nTuesday, January 21\n6:00 pm\nValley High School\n1801 S Greenville St\nSanta Ana, CA 92704\n\u00a0\nWednesday, January 22\n6:30 pm\nSegerstrom High School\n2301 W MacArthur Blvd\nSanta Ana, CA 92704\n\u00a0\nThursday, January 23\n6:00 pm \nSaddleback High School\n2802 South Flower Street\nSanta Ana, CA 92707\n\u00a0\nMonday, January 27\n5:30 pm\nCentury High School\n1401 S Grand Ave\nSanta Ana, CA 92705\n\u00a0\nThursday, February 6\n6:00 pm \nAnaheim High School\n811 W Lincoln Ave\nAnaheim, CA 92805\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=0986c8c9-01e5-412a-b293-69ef5d837547", "Manchin: Democratic Success in Republican State | The Associated Press", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 24, 2013\n\t\t\t Manchin: Democratic Success in Republican State | The Associated Press \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFRIENDLY, W.Va. (AP) \u2014 Many locals around here see Sen. Joe Manchin as one of them, so much so they greet the 30-year veteran of West Virginia politics by his first name more often than by his title.\r\nBut in the Senate, the 66-year-old upstart stands out as a rare breed: A back-slapping, gun-owning Democrat who attracts widespread support from working class whites in an increasingly Republican state.\r\nLast November, two years after winning a special election to succeed the late Robert Byrd, Manchin won his first full term with more than 60 percent of the vote. He ran 25 percentage points ahead of President Barack Obama, posting the Senate's top crossover spread in two election cycles.\r\nThat success could offer Democrats a road map in other GOP strongholds, particularly Southern states that share West Virginia's conservative makeup.\r\nThe grandson and great-grandson of immigrants, Manchin \u2014 taken from the Italian \"Mancini\" \u2014 calls his delicate walk between his party and his own identity a journey of \"balance\" and \"common sense.\" And he attributes his success to his small-town upbringing and experience as a state legislator, secretary of state and governor dating back to 1982.\r\nIn a whirlwind of stops across the state, Manchin praises federal programs, implemented under Democratic presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Lyndon Johnson, which helped West Virginia over the years; but he's also quick to tout the work ethic of beneficiaries of such programs, telling one crowd, \"If you think government should do everything for you, I'm the wrong person for you.\"\r\nHe turns questions about party and philosophy into indictments of Washington acrimony: \"I'm a proud West Virginia Democrat, but I'm willing to work with anybody.\"\r\nOn the revolving fiscal fight in Congress, Manchin bemoans Republicans who reject all tax hikes and Democrats who blast most spending cuts. \"They're both right and they're both wrong,\" he says, offering his own solution that seems to combine a little of both. He's also open to reviewing the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-wage workers, while calling for increasing the minimum wage to at least $10 per hour.\r\nHe insists that environmentalists and the energy industry can reconcile, if government sets \"reasonable and attainable\" pollution limits and fossil fuel plants embrace them. As governor he sued Obama's Environmental Protection Agency and still hammers the administration for \"pie-in-the-sky\" environmental standards. Those are necessary tactics for any statewide elected official in this leading coal state, but they're also true to the Manchin form: \"We can balance the economy and the environment.\"\r\n\"Balance\" is also his defense when he's chastised \u2014 and it happens often \u2014 for a gun compromise he pushed after last year's Connecticut elementary school massacre. The measure didn't include new weapons or ammunition bans. Instead, it would have extended existing background checks to more gun sales, but not to private transactions between parties who know each other.\r\nPerhaps Manchin's deftest tightrope walk concerns the president himself. Obama got walloped twice in West Virginia, and a recent poll suggested that almost half the state's voters want him impeached. Manchin says Obama's poor standing isn't about him being the first black president, even though about 19 out of 20 West Virginia residents are white. Manchin contends that Democrats have a more general cultural problem on everything from guns to abortion, and that Obama's environmental positions escalate the distrust. \"People have to like you and trust you,\" he said.\r\nManchin insists that \"the White House and I don't exactly get along,\" but he nonetheless defends the president on some matters. Almost pre-emptively, he says at several stops, \"Whether he's a Republican or Democrat, we should always respect the president and want him to succeed, because we want the nation to succeed.\" When one woman in Moundsville blasted Obama as an insufficient defender of Israel, Manchin interrupted her: \"I don't think that's true.\"\r\nManchin supported the immigration overhaul that Obama backed and that has been stymied in the GOP-run House. \"You can't just deport 11 million people,\" he told people angry about his vote. The Affordable Care Act passed before he took office, but Manchin tells voters \"the intentions were right\" and insists that a full repeal isn't practical or beneficial. Even as he criticized implementation of the health care law, Manchin said Congress' job is to make it work.\r\nBut he also reminds his more partisan critics that he opposes the confirmation of Janet Yellen, Obama's nominee for Federal Reserve chairman. He voted, too, against a Senate rules change that allows Democrats to confirm certain nominees with a simple majority of 51 votes, rather than the 60 previously required when the minority party objected.\r\n\"Most people know he doesn't just follow the party line,\" said Republican Bob Miller, a Marshall County commissioner. Although he supported Manchin's Republican opponent in the last two Senate elections, Miller said he's \"never looked at Joe as Satan.\"\r\nManchin said he operates as he did at the statehouse in Charleston, where he remains an influential figure. State Sen. Larry Edgell, a Democrat, said then-Gov. Manchin met regularly with both party caucuses and also hosted small, bipartisan groups of lawmakers. Manchin now uses the same strategy inviting groups of senators out on a boat he keeps docked near Washington. The social outings have produced pairings like Republican Ted Cruz of Texas and Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York, according to Manchin's staff. \"You've got to find leverage\" on issues, Manchin said, \"and have the relationships to use it.\"\r\nManchin said he's not trying to amass influence to \"be a lifer\" in the Senate. He also didn't reject the possibility of looking beyond West Virginia, should an opportunity arise. \"I'm not sure I'd put my family through that,\" he said of his own national campaign. But he added, \"I'm happy to help wherever I can.\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t    By:\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t    Bill Barrow", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://bera.house.gov/media-center/amis-updates/grateful", "Grateful", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ami Bera", "B001287", "bera.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I sent an e-mail update today to express my thanks for such an incredible year and give an update about my office during the Holidays. \u00a0Join my e-newsletter\u00a0now so you don't miss out on any future updates!\n\u00a0\nWith Christmas almost here and 2013 quickly coming to an end, I want to thank you for such an incredible year. I am grateful for all of your letters and emails, your questions at my Congress on Your Corner meetings, your input on my surveys and social media, and most of all, for allowing me to serve as your representative. Listening to you is my most important job. It\u2019s your advice, suggestions, and constructive criticism that inform my work for you in Washington. If you should need help from my office between Christmas and New Years Day (December 25th through January 1st) or if you would like to share your views with me, please call my Rancho Cordova office at (916) 635 0505 or my Washington DC office at (202) 225 5464. \u00a0My staff will be checking messages frequently throughout the holidays so that we can continue serving you, but like many local businesses and government offices, my offices will be closed during this time. Best wishes for a happy holiday season, and a happy and healthy 2014! Be well,\nAmi Bera, M.D.\u00a0  \n\tMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://bera.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bera-applauds-local-manufacturer-siemens-usa-in-win-for-a-multi", "Rep. Bera applauds local manufacturer, Siemens USA, in win for a multi-state contract to build new locomotives, creating jobs in Sacramento", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ami Bera", "B001287", "bera.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sacramento \u2013 The Siemens USA's facility in Sacramento has won a contract from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to build and assemble approximately 35 new electronic locomotives for several Midwestern and West Coast states, the company announced Friday. The high-performance, 125 mile per hour, diesel-electric locomotives will be built using funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation.\nCongressman Ami Bera, M.D. visited Siemens in July during the Congress at your Company tour and advocated for the project with the U.S. Department of Transportation.  \n\t\u201cThis is a huge win for Sacramento County and exactly the kind of project that both creates jobs, and improves our infrastructure safety for the American people,\" said Bera. \"It will bring jobs to our region, and help spur our local economy. As we continue to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families, we must work to attract high-tech jobs to the region,\u00a0 improve our infrastructure, and invest in education that prepares our children for the jobs of the 21st century economy.\"\nMichael Cahill, president of Siemens Rail Systems in the U.S., said \"We are extremely proud to have been selected as a rolling stock partner to help bring the next era of passenger rail service to Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, California and Washington State. Leveraging Siemens\u2019 proven rail expertise and technology, we look forward to building the most energy-efficient, advanced technology, diesel-electric locomotives in North America at our solar-powered transportation manufacturing facility in Sacramento, California.\u201d\nSiemens Rail Systems is bringing one of the most modern and efficient passenger rail, diesel electric locomotives in the world to the U.S. marketplace.\u00a0 Cummins' QSK95 diesel engines will be used in Siemens' diesel electric locomotives in the U.S., resulting in one of the most energy-efficient, lightweight, smart, diesel electric locomotives available today in North America.\nLeveraging Siemens proven rail technology, these locomotives will be designed and built specifically for today's new train passenger, providing a smoother, more reliable and more energy-efficient riding experience.\u00a0 The state-of-the-art locomotives will also deploy a new engine after treatment system that will deliver a cleaner ride with better air quality and reduced emission rates.\u00a0 Importantly, these smarter, lighter trains are being developed with passenger and crew safety top-of-mind.\nCongressman Ami Bera, M.D. represents Sacramento County. Born and raised in California, Bera is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He\u2019s fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country\u2019s debt in a responsible way. One of Bera\u2019s first acts in Congress was to help lead the effort to pass the No Budget No Pay Act, which says if members of Congress don\u2019t pass a budget, they don\u2019t get paid. As a co-chair of No Labels' Problem Solvers, he\u2019s working with people from both parties to find bipartisan solutions to our nation\u2019s challenges. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Rep. Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit https://www.bera.house.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365088", "South Sudan Fighting Endangers Many", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The expanding fighting in the Republic of South Sudan has killed more than 500 people in recent days and injured four U.S. military personnel who were evacuating Americans and other foreigners from the country. The conflict endangers not only citizens of that country but threatens to negatively impact the country\u2019s neighbors and the international community, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAlready more than 500 people are reported dead,\u201d said Smith. \u201cMore could be killed or injured, and not only in South Sudan\u2014the conflict may spread, threatening people in neighboring countries. The escalating fighting in South Sudan could likely lead to more terrorist activities in an already-volatile region. The Administration\u2019s call for a Christmas season cease-fire must be augmented by intense diplomacy with both sides.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0South Sudan, the world\u2019s newest nation, borders countries already troubled with terrorist activity by the Lord\u2019s Resistance Army (LRA) and various Islamic radical and other militia groups in the Central African Republic, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Analysts fear that a South Sudan distracted and divided by civil war would provide an easier operating ground for terrorist groups. The LRA terrorist group, notorious for kidnapping children and forcing them to serve as child soldiers, still operates in the region and poses a danger to the lives of civilians in all four countries. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Meanwhile, Islamic radicals have infiltrated countries in the region, most notably Somalia, but also Ethiopia and even Uganda. An unstable South Sudan will only further empower them by providing the kind of chaos in which the radicals thrive. The entire Sahel region of north-central Africa has been targeted, with Mali having been torn apart by their violent activities and nations such as Niger, Chad and Central African Republic continuing to be adversely affected by their militant and terroristic actions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Last year\u2019s nine-month oil dispute between South Sudan and Sudan cut oil production from a combined 450,000 barrels per day to what amounted to a mere trickle, and isn\u2019t predicted to return to pre-crisis levels until 2017 at the earliest. The fighting in South Sudan further endangers that timetable as the northern hemisphere heads into winter, and therefore greater oil consumption. Because oil is the only major export for the South Sudanese economy, the economic impact of losing more of its oil production could bring additional suffering to the already-impoverished people of South Sudan.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cohen.house.gov/press-release/cohen-announces-more-13-million-help-prepare-shelby-county-children-school", "Cohen Announces More Than $13 Million to Help Prepare Shelby County Children for School", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that Shelby County has been awarded a $13,161,380 grant from the Department of U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) to support Head Start projects that help promote school readiness of children from birth until the age of 5 by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development.\n\u201cToday\u2019s funding is an investment in our children, an investment in our families, and an investment in our future,\u201d said Congressman Cohen. \u201cBecause of this important funding, children from low-income families throughout Shelby County\u2019s will be healthier and better prepared to learn when they enter school. We will see countless benefits down the line as today\u2019s children grow into tomorrow\u2019s entrepreneurs, doctors, scientists, and productive members of our society. This is an important program that I am proud to support.\u201d\nHead Start is a federal program that provides comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families, which include health, nutrition, social services and other services determined to be necessary by family needs assessments, in addition to education and cognitive development services. Shelby County Head Start provides these services to over 3,000 children in Memphis and Shelby County.\nToday\u2019s funding will complete the funding needed for the school year that ends in May 2014. An announcement about who will administer the Head Start grant for the 2014-1015 school year is expected within the next few months, along with additional funding for this vital program.\nThe Head Start program was founded as part of Lyndon B. Johnson\u2019s War on Poverty in 1965 as an eight-week demonstration project. Since its founding, Head Start has served over 30 million children and their families in urban and rural areas in every corner of the nation and has grown to include full day as well as year services and numerous program options.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://duffy.house.gov/press-release/hunger-homelessness-summit-focuses-on-awareness", "Hunger & Homelessness Summit Focuses on Awareness", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Sean Duffy", "D000614", "duffy.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wausau, WI \u2013 More than 100 registered participants joined\u00a0U.S. Congressman Sean Duffy (WI-07)\u00a0for his first Hunger &amp; Homelessness Summit held in Wausau this past Wednesday. The daylong summit brought together volunteers and representatives from dozens of organizations from across the 7th\u00a0Congressional District. The event included several panel discussions, a keynote address from Steve Berg from the National Alliance to End Homelessness and concluded with a \u201cbright spots\u201d session that challenged participants to implement\u00a0a takeaway from the event. In his opening remarks to the attendees,\u00a0Rep. Duffy\u00a0offered: \u201cMy team and I wanted to do what we could to try to make a difference with those who have fallen on hard times and make sure we can collaborate together on community resources. Also collaborate on the Federal and state side to make sure resources don\u2019t just flow to the urban parts of the country but can actually come to the parts of the country that have real problems but don\u2019t have huge staffs to cut through the red-tape.\u201d Offering his thoughts on the summit, Rep. Duffy said, \u201cWe found that by reaching out to each other and building a coalition within our community we can be more effective in our efforts to serve the neediest in our area.\u201d Rep. Duffy\u2019s office plans to post the entire summit on YouTube. Click\u00a0here\u00a0to watch and check back for updates from the daylong event. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-higgins-presents-family-of-wwii-veteran-simon-zulia-with", "Congressman Higgins Presents Family of WWII Veteran Simon Zulia with Bronze Star", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Brian Higgins", "H001038", "higgins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Brian Higgins presented the family of United States Army veteran Simon Zulia with a Bronze Star and additional military recognitions for his exemplary service in two of World War II\u2019s most prominent campaigns. \u00a0Also, in a surprise to the family, Simon\u2019s son, Steve Zulia was presented with a medal he never received for sustaining life threatening injuries while on duty as a Niagara County Sheriff\u2019s Deputy. \u00a0\n\u00a0\n\n\u00a0\n\u201cSimon Zulia demonstrated great courage and commitment as a member of the United States Army and it is our honor to pay tribute and express gratitude for the contributions he made to this great nation,\u201d said Congressman Brian Higgins, a member of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security. \u00a0\u201cSimon\u2019s love for his country was matched only by his love for his family and the medals they are receiving today will stand as a lasting legacy of this patriarch\u2019s noble character.\u201d\n\u00a0\nCity of North Tonawanda Mayor Robert Ortt added, \u201cIt is great to see Simon Zulia receive the recognition he deserves due to his service and sacrifice for our country. \u00a0It is never too late to say thank you to our veterans. \u00a0As a recipient of the Bronze Star, I know what it takes to earn this medal and am proud that our government has finally recognized Simon for his service to our nation. \u00a0We should all be proud of North Tonawanda veterans and Americans such as Simon.\u201d \u00a0\n\u00a0\nSenator George Maziarz said, \u201cEarning the Bronze Star is no easy feat, and today\u2019s presentation shows that Simon played a notable role in helping to win the Second World War. \u00a0This is the season of giving, and Simon Zulia gave so much to our country and our community that he deserves to be recognized and honored.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBorn December 4, 1925 in Lockport, NY, Simon Zulia, \u201cSlim\u201d to those who knew him best, attended Lockport High School before entering into the United States Military service on July 28, 1944 amidst the nation\u2019s involvement in World War II. \u00a0Simon completed basic training at Ft. McClellan in Alabama and then went to Ft. Meade in Maryland before being sent overseas. \u00a0\n\u00a0\nAssigned to an Infantry Unit, Zulia participated in both the Rhineland and Ardennes campaigns, the latter of which became notable as the site of two major battles that helped to define the outcome of the war \u2013 the Battle of France and the Battle of the Bulge. \u00a0Due to its concealed, hilly terrain, Allied generals felt the Ardennes region could not be navigated by armored vehicles and therefore did not need to be heavily fortified. However, Nazi Germany tested the maneuverability of the region, twice using it as an invasion route into Northern France and Southern Belgium. \u00a0Zulia once recalled a time he was in a bunker in Germany with other soldiers that were wounded and close to death. \u00a0German soldiers saw them and Simon pretended he was dead just to stay alive.\n\u00a0\nZulia served in a combat infantry unit as a rifleman until he was wounded in action but that did not stop his commitment to his country. He then became a truck driver and drove all types of vehicles that carried troops and supplies over various terrains. Zulia was honorably discharged on April 24th, 1946 from Fort Dix, New Jersey.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nSimon\u2019s two brothers, John and Sam, also served in World War II. \u00a0John served in the Air Corps and was stationed in the South Pacific. \u00a0Sam, Simon\u2019s twin, proudly served in the Navy and served four tours overseas. \u00a0\n\u00a0\nSimon Zulia was married to his wife, Evelyn, for 44 years before he passed away in 1995. \u00a0In the early years of their marriage he ran the Lake Breeze Inn in Olcott and Slim\u2019s Dinette in Lockport before working at Harrison Radiator for over 20 years. \u00a0The couple had four children, Marina Zulia Fery of Brockport, NY; Regina Zulia Sullivan of Lockport, NY; Steve Zulia of North Tonawanda, NY; and Peter Zulia from Cincinnati, Ohio. \u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nFor his commendable conduct and courage throughout his military service, Congressman Brian Higgins presented Simon Zulia\u2019s widow and all four children with: the Bronze Star, European-African- Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, and Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII. \u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe Bronze Star is awarded to members of the military distinguishing themselves by heroic service while engaged in an action against an armed enemy. \u00a0It is one of the highest awards presented to the military for acts of merit.\n\u00a0\nSimon\u2019s son Steve, a former Niagara County Sheriff Deputy, was ambushed and shot in the face and upper body while answering a domestic call in Middleport on Saturday, November 7, 1987. \u00a0After many months of surgeries and rehabilitation, Steve went on to complete\u00a0\n\u00a0\nMaster\u2019s Degree from Buffalo State College and continued his doctoral work at Albany State. He currently works as a professor at Niagara University, teaching Criminal Justice.\n\u00a0\nNiagara County Sheriff James Voutour presented Steve Zulia with the Police Combat Cross medal, which is given to public safety officers who have successfully and intelligently performed an act of extraordinary heroism, while engaged in personal combat with an armed adversary under circumstances of imminent personal hazard to life.\n\u00a0\nNiagara County Sheriff James R. Voutour said, \u201cOn December 16, 1944, the Battle of the Bulge was launched with deadly ferocity. \u00a0 The largest and bloodiest battle fought by the United States in World War II, it was to become Simon Zulia\u2019s crucible. \u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201c15,666 days later and 3,793 miles west of his father\u2019s bitter Belgian battlefield, Steven Zulia was drawn into his own combat zone. \u00a0But time and distance did not write different scripts for them. \u00a0They were both wounded. \u00a0They both moved on to prominence in new roles. \u00a0Both have made a difference in other people\u2019s lives.\n\u00a0\n\u201cSimon Zulia returned home to Niagara County determined to give his family the opportunity to live the American Dream, a dream he willingly risked his life for. \u00a0He became a respected owner of businesses and a loyal and valuable worker in his community. \u00a0Jarred by the sudden end to his career in law enforcement, Steven Zulia persevered, studied and ascended to acclaimed status of college professor at Niagara University, also in Niagara County.\n\u00a0\n\u201cYears and miles cannot keep Simon and Steven Zulia apart. \u00a0Simon\u2019s gifts of love of family, courage, integrity and sense of service course through Steven even to this day. \u00a0Father and son, one and the same, united forever.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://jeffries.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-jeffries-lauds-decision-to-keep-interfaith-medical-center-open", "Rep. Jeffries Lauds Decision To Keep Interfaith Medical Center Open", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Brooklyn, NY \u2013 Today, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) released the following statement on the postponement of Interfaith Medical Center\u2019s closure:\n\u201cThe community is thankful that Governor Cuomo and the State Department of Health have recognized the need to continue supporting Interfaith Medical Center at this difficult moment. The hospital remains on life support, but today we have taken a significant step forward by avoiding closure. Bedford-Stuyvesant and the communities of Central Brooklyn deserve a thriving medical institution, and we will not rest until that vision becomes a reality.\u201d\u00a0\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 38222, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"year\" = :p0 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "2013"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?year=2013", 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