url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at http://carson.house.gov/newsroom/past-e-newsletters/thank-you-for-a-great-2015,Thank You for a Great 2015,2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,IN,André Carson,C001072,carson.house.gov,,,legacy,"December 31, 2015 Dear Friend, As your representative, itis a privilege torepresent you in Congress.Everyday Im working to bring your voice to our nations capital and make government work for you. With 2015 drawing to a close, here are afew highlights of what we were able to accomplish together over the past 12 months.It is an honor to work hard on behalf of you, your family, and our community. HELPING HOOSIERS IS MY BIGGEST PRIORITY: My office is committed to be a place of service where your needs come first. Over the course of 2015, I am proud to let you know that we: Helped over 900 Hoosiers who were having difficulties with federal or state agencies Responded to over140,000 of your letters, phone calls, and emails Helped secure over $7,000,000 in federal grant money for nonprofit and community organizationswithin the 7th Congressional District Hosted over 140 community meetings and events with residents including my annual job fair and youth opportunities fair On the80th Anniversary of Social Security in August, Congressman Carson met with constituents to discuss ways his office could help with social security benefits. PUTTING HOOSIERS BACK TO WORK: Creating jobs and putting Hoosiers back to work remains a priority for me. Earlier this year, my office hosted its sixth annual job fair that connected over 1200 residents with 138 employers from across Central Indiana.I have already heard from several participants who were able to get jobs as a result of this year's fair. In Washington, I am a strong supporter of the Make It In America agenda, which looks to strengthen American manufacturing and bring back jobs that were shipped overseas.Indianas economy has been improving, but we still need to make sure that all Hoosiers have an opportunity to find stable, well-paying jobs. KEEPING HOOSIERS SAFE: As your representative and as a former law enforcement officer, keeping you and your family safe has always been my top priority.That is why I was so honored to be appointed to the House Intelligence Committee earlier this year.This appointment gives me an inside view of our efforts to protect our country and allows me to play a critical role in the fight against terrorism. It is an honor and a privilege to serve you. If I can do anything to assist you, please do not hesitate to contact my office.Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2016. Your Friend, Andr",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-leads-house-effort-fully-fund-blackstone-river-valley-national-park,Cicilline Leads House Effort to Fully Fund Blackstone River Valley National Park,2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"PAWTUCKET One year after leading the effort in the U.S. House to establish the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) helped secure full funding for the new National Parks operations in 2016. The creation of the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park will help preserve the legacy of Rhode Islands role as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, said Cicilline, who led a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committees Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies to request robust funding for the National Park Service. I am delighted that the Federal government will provide full funding to support our new National Park in 2016. I look forward to continuing to work with community leaders in Rhode Island as this process moves ahead. Earlier this month, Congress passed legislation to fund the federal government through September 2016. Included in the bill, which President Obama has signed into law, is $927,000 in funding to fully support operations at the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. Last year, Cicilline introduced and the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources later approved the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Establishment Act (H.R. 706). The legislation was later included as part of the National Defense Authorization Act that President Obama signed into law in December 2014. The Blackstone River Valley National Park is comprised of sites and districts in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts including the Blackstone River and its tributaries; the Blackstone Canal; the non-contiguous nationally significant historic districts of Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket; the villages of Slatersville (in North Smithfield) and Ashton (in Cumberland) Rhode Island; and Whitinsville and Hopedale in Massachusetts. Spanning from Worcester, MA to Providence, RI, the Blackstone River Valley is the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. The Valleys beauty and history embodies a landscape rich in natural, historic, and cultural treasures. The new Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park will help preserve these icons of industry, environment, and history for generations to come.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/increased-funding-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-research-federal-spending-bill-will-benefit-rhode-island,Increased Funding for Alzheimers Research in Federal Spending Bill Will Benefit Rhode Island,2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"PAWTUCKET During negotiations over federal spending for 2016, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) successfully advocated to significantly increase funding for Alzheimers disease research. The increase in available funding will also create new opportunities for colleges and universities in Rhode Island, including the University of Rhode Island, which received nearly $14 million in 2012 to improve care for individuals with Alzheimers disease. Currently, available treatments for Alzheimers disease are only able to provide modest relief of symptoms over time, while effective long-term treatments and preventative measures are not yet available. Funding for Alzheimers research is not keeping pace with Medicare and Medicaid spending, Cicilline wrote in a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee. The federal spending bill passed by Congress earlier this month expanded funding for Alzheimers research from $586 million in 2015 to $936 million in 2016 an increase of nearly 60%. The increase in funding for Alzheimer's initiatives will expand resources available through theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including theNational Alzheimer's Project. The Secretary of Health and Human Serviceswill be required to coordinate Alzheimer's disease research and services across all federal agencies to accelerate the development of treatments that would prevent, halt, or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease. This includes vital NIH research efforts to identify research priorities andmilestonesas well as expand research aimed at preventing and treating Alzheimer's. According to the Alzheimers Association, more than 5.3 million Americans, including 22,000 Rhode Islanders, are living with Alzheimers disease today. By 2025, the number of Americans with Alzheimers disease is expected to increase to 7.1 million. Experts believe robust funding for Alzheimers research could help develop a cure by 2025. The development of a treatment by 2025 could save the United States as much as $220 billion over the first five years, according to the Alzheimers Association. During his time in office, Cicilline has fought to increase resources for Alzheimers research and ensure Rhode Islanders suffering from this disease get the treatment and care they need. In September, Cicilline announced that Seven Hills Rhode Island would receive nearly $1 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to strengthen care for older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), as well as Alzheimers disease and related disorders.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://kathleenrice.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=259,"On New Years Eve, Rep. Rice & Anti-DWI Advocates Introduce New Legislation Requiring Advanced DWI-Prevention Technology in All New Cars",2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NY,Kathleen Rice,R000602,kathleenrice.house.gov,,,legacy,"GARDEN CITY, NY U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice held a press conference today with anti-DWI advocates to introduce new legislation requiring that within 10 years, all new cars sold in the U.S. come equipped with advanced DWI-prevention technology that detects a drivers blood alcohol content (BAC) and prevents the car from moving if the drivers BAC is at or above the legal limit. The advanced technology is currently being developed through the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program, a research partnership between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS), which represents 17 leading automobile manufacturers. In June, 2015, NHTSA and ACTS unveiled prototypes of touch-based and breath-based technologies, which will be integrated into vehicles for further testing as researchers work to develop final products. The touch-based technology responds to the touch of a drivers fingertip and uses infrared light to measure the drivers BAC. Unlike a breathalyzer, the DADSS breath-based technology does not require a driver to breathe into a tube a driver simply enters the vehicle and breathes normally, and sensors detect the drivers BAC using infrared light. Rices legislation, the End Drunk Driving Act, will require the technology to be installed in all new cars sold in the U.S. within 10 years of the bills enactment. The legislation significantly boosts funding for the DADSS program to help ensure that the technology will be fully developed, tested and ready for commercial use within 10 years. More information about the DADSS program, including a video demonstration of how the technology works, can be found here. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan found that requiring DWI-prevention technology in all new cars sold in the U.S. could prevent an estimated 85% of all drunk driving-related fatalities over 15 years, saving more than 59,000 lives. It could also prevent an estimated 1.25 million nonfatal drunk driving-related injuries over the same 15 year period, a reduction of 84-89%. The study also found that preventing these deaths and injuries would save nearly $343 billion over 15 years, and the cost of installing the technology would be recovered within the first three years. New Years Eve is a celebration of the hope that each new year brings, the hope that we can keep improving ourselves and our society and keep striving towards a better future, said Representative Kathleen Rice. My hope is that we can put an end to drunk driving once and for all, that we will no longer lose 10,000 lives each year to this crime, and passing this bill will help make that future a reality. Advanced DWI-prevention technology has the potential to save thousands of lives and billions of dollars by keeping drunk drivers off the roads, and Im going to keep fighting to make it standard safety equipment in all new cars sold in this country. The full text of Rices legislation can be found here. The End Drunk Driving Act: Requires that within 10 years, all new cars sold in the U.S. must be equipped with advanced technology that prevents the car from moving if the drivers BAC is at or above the legal limit. Boosts funding for the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program to help ensure the technology is fully developed within 10 years. (The recently enacted Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which reauthorized our nations transportation and traffic safety programs, included $21 million for DADSS over the next five years. Rices legislation would provide DADSS with $76 million over the next five years, and a total of $176 million over 10 years.) Withholds highway funding from states that dont have mandatory use of ignition interlock devices for all offenders. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://visclosky.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/visclosky-announces-2016-town-forum-schedule,Visclosky Announces 2016 Town Forum Schedule,2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,IN,Peter Visclosky,V000108,visclosky.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Today, Congressman Pete Visclosky announced the following 2016 schedule for Town Forums that will be held throughout Indianas First Congressional District. Thursday January 14, 2016 10:00 a.m. Crown Point Community Library 122 North Main Street Crown Point, Indiana 46307 12:00 p.m. Dyer Town Hall One Town Square Dyer, Indiana 46311 2:00 p.m. East Chicago City Hall Council Chambers 4525 Indianapolis Boulevard East Chicago, Indiana 46312 4:00 p.m. Wicker Park Social Center 2215 Ridge Road Highland, Indiana 46322 6:00 p.m. Purdue University Calumet Student Union Library Building Room with a View 2200 169th Street Hammond, Indiana 46323 Friday January 15, 2016 10:00 a.m. Michigan City City Hall Council Chambers 100 East Michigan Boulevard Michigan City, Indiana 46360 12:00 p.m. Chesterton Town Hall 726 Broadway Chesterton, Indiana 46304 2:00 p.m. Porter County Government Center County Commissioners Chambers 155 Indiana Avenue Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 4:00 p.m. Portage City Hall 6070 Central Avenue Portage, Indiana 46368 6:00 p.m. Hobart Community Center 111 East Old Ridge Road Hobart, Indiana 46342 Saturday January 16, 2016 12:00 p.m. Gary Public Library Woodson Branch 501 South Lake Street Gary, Indiana 46403 2:00 p.m. Merrillville Town Hall 7820 Broadway Merrillville, Indiana 46410 Please note that all times listed are Central Standard Time. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=3DE01CDD-69C8-2FFE-24E4-307D7AE55664,Bennet Announces Recommendations from Advisory Committee to Fill Federal Court Vacancies,2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CO,Michael Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced that the bipartisan advisory committee he convened to recommend applicants to fill an upcoming vacancy on the U.S. District Court of Colorado has selected three nominees. After interviewing 11 candidates the committee chose Magistrate Judge Kristin Mix, Regina Rodriguez, and Sam Walker. ""We are very grateful to the committee for all of their work to select the most highly qualified candidates to serve,"" Bennet said. ""We look forward to having the opportunity to review their applications and speak with each candidate in person."" The upcoming vacancy is created by Judge Robert Blackburn's taking senior status in April of 2016. Given the overwhelming dockets currently faced by the courts, the advisory committee was formed in October in advance of Judge Blackburn's departure, to ensure the seat was filled in a timely manner. The committee was co-chaired by Hal Haddon, former co-chair of previous advisory panels and a Denver lawyer, and Candy Figa, a prominent attorney in the Denver metro area, who has also been active in civic affairs, including serving as a City Councilmember and Mayor Pro tem of Greenwood Village and on the 18th Judicial Nominating Commission. The bipartisan nature of the committee reflects Senator Bennet's interest in a nonpartisan, merit selection system that is consistent with the University of Denver's Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System's (IAALS) recommended process. ""The entire applicant pool was exceptional. Each candidate had solid credentials and a unique set of experiences that would make them strong additions to Colorado's Federal Bench,"" said committee co-chair Candy Figa. ""While it was difficult to make final selections, we feel very confident in our recommendations and are eager to see the process move forward."" # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-bonuses-for-ge-workers-in-erie,Casey Statement on Bonuses for GE Workers in Erie,2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington DC U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement following GEs decision on bonuses for local GE workers. On November 18th, Casey urged GE Transportation CEO Jamie Miller to follow through on awarding the bonuses. Caseys original letter is attached. GE has made the right decision by agreeing to pay all of its workers the bonuses they earned. I called on GE to pay these bonuses this November because the workers in Northwestern Pennsylvania, who have made GE a successful company over the years, have earned them. GE made $934 million in profit through the first three quarters of this year. There should never have been a question about paying hardworking employees a couple of thousand dollars each in earned bonuses. In the new year Ill continue to press GE to commit to returning work to its Erie facility when orders increase. An increase in orders should result in the rehiring of workers in Erie instead of jobs being shipped to Texas. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=953433ca-dba4-46a1-adbc-256d0a4bc7fb,Sen. Murray & Rep. Larsen Applaud Department of Navy Decision to Keep Whidbey Island WIC Office Open,2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"For months, Murray and Larsen urgedtheDepartment of the Navyto reconsider closure of WIC office, calling closure unacceptable WIC office will continue to serve close to 700 people connected to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (Washington, D.C.) Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA) applaudednews from the Department of Navy, which reversed its decision to close the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) office at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI). The WIC officehas been offered the opportunity to operate under a five-year lease directed by the Secretary of the Navy, without paying exorbitant building lease fees. Close to 700 people connected to NASWI use the servicesatthe WIC office, which offers supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for pregnant women, infants, and children up to age five. The announcement that this vital assistance wont be shut down is great news for hundreds of servicemembers and military families who rely on this program to give their children a healthy start, Senator Murraysaid.I was proud to fight for this decision to be reversed for the military community that sacrifices so much for their country. Making sure our military families have the support they need to put food on the table is the least we should be doing, and this WIC office is an important part of making that happen for so many people in the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island community. ""I am glad that the Navy has come to this common sense decision. Community Action provides critical services in Skagit and Island Counties, including WIC, and I am pleased that military families will continue to have access to these nutrition programs on the base,""Congressman Larsensaid. ""As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will continue to fight for military families. Those who sacrifice for our country should not have to worry about whether they can afford their next meal."" ""On behalf of the Navy WIC families we serve, Community Action owes a debt of gratitude to Senator Murray and Congressman Larsen for their steadfast support of young military families, and the way they have prioritized providing young children the best start possible,"" Bill Henkel, Executive Directorsaid. ""We also appreciate the leadership and our partners at NAS Whidbey Island for continuing to welcome us there. After serving Navy families on base for over 27 years we look forward to continuing to provide accessible support and services to our militarys families."" This springSenator Murrayand Congressman Larsen both wrote letters to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter asking for a reversal in the decision. In October, Murray and Larsen sent a second letter to Secretary Carter, urging him again to avoid closing the WIC office.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-releases-2015-year-end-report,Cicilline Releases 2015 Year-End Report,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"PAWTUCKET U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline today released a 2015 Year-End Report that highlights some of the work his office completed this year in four key areas: getting Rhode Islanders back to work, promoting efficiency in government, delivering federal resources to Rhode Island, and leading on critical policy issues. As 2015 draws to a close, I am extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity you have given me to represent you in the Congress of the United States, wrote Cicilline. The progress we have made would never have been possible if it werent for the active support and engagement I have received from folks all across Rhode Islands First District. I want to sincerely thank you for the work that you do. It is an honor to serve on your behalf. A copy of Congressman Cicillines 2015 Year-End Report can be downloaded by clicking here. Among the highlights included in the report are: Helped deliver $335.5 million in federal funding back to Rhode Island. Introduced and passed the Brickle Amendment into law, requiring the Departments of Defense and State to publicly document their work to notify American manufacturers regarding overseas procurement opportunities. Worked with Republican Congressman Steve Chabot to introduce and pass the Small Business Investment Company Capital Act through the House to expand access to capital for small businesses. Assisted with 1,437 constituent requests for casework, including help with Social Security benefits, IRS tax refunds, health care services, and more. Responded to 20,883 letters and emails from constituents. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cohen.house.gov/press-release/cohen-commends-mayor-wharton-city-memphis-completion-restoration-airways-boulevard,"Cohen Commends Mayor Wharton, City of Memphis on Completion of Restoration of Airways Boulevard Bridge",2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[MEMPHIS, TN] Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) commended Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. and the City of Memphis today on the completion of the restoration of the Airways Boulevard Bridge over Noncannah Creek, bringing to a close the $5.5 million project that will grant Memphians safer and more expedient access to the Memphis International Airport, and that will keep the surrounding area active and accessible. The project to replace the Airways Boulevard Bridge was a collaborative effort between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the City of Memphis, and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). The Airways Boulevard Bridge is an important fixture in our Memphis economy, said Congressman Cohen. The airport is the gateway to Memphis, and the Airways Boulevard Bridge is the pathway many travelers rely on to transport them safely to and from that gateway. I am pleased that the City of Memphis was able to secure such robust federal funding through FEMA in order to restore the bridge to safe, working order, and that the citizens of Memphis will be able to utilize the restored bridge having used only a small portion of city funds. The City of Memphis must continue to work to receive its fair portion of federal dollars. I was pleased on December 18th to have voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus federal spending bill, which included the $4 million increase I requested for funding to end the rape kit backlog, made permanent the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, the education tax credit for college students and teachers, and included funding to federal agencies such as FEMA so that they can continue to provide much-needed federal dollars to cities like Memphis for vital restoration projects such as the Airways Boulevard Bridge. Completion of the bridge will help Memphians and visitors travel to and from the Memphis International Airport, and I am pleased that the City of Memphis was able to work with state and federal agencies to complete this important restoration project. The $5.5 million project to replace the Airways Boulevard Bridge over Noncannah Creek began in late 2013. The City of Memphis was awarded a grant covering 75% of the construction costs of a replacement bridge through the FEMAs Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in 2011. TEMA awarded a grant covering a further 12.5% of construction costs, leaving the City of Memphis responsible for the remaining 12.5% of construction costs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-asks-fta-to-help-give-wmata-a-fresh-start-with-a-new-financial,Norton Asks FTA to Help Give WMATA a Fresh Start with a New Financial Monitoring Regime That Relieves Agencys Short-Term Borrowing,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,DC,Eleanor Norton,N000147,norton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee and one of the Big Four leaders who wrote the recently signed surface transportation legislation, today released her letter to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator Therese McMillan inquiring whether the new year should bring changes in the current form of FTA monitoring of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to help relieve the transit agency from dependence on short-term borrowing. Norton asked FTA to look into whether a new infusion of federal funding for WMATA, WMATAs new leadership and its new budget and financial controls could lead FTA to use a form of financial monitoring that does not cause WMATA to seek short-term borrowing for its daily operations in the new year. For the past 21 months, FTA has required WMATA to submit all requested federal reimbursements through paper rather than the electronic methods typically used after FTA found serious weaknesses in WMATAs budget and financial controls. In her letter, Norton detailed the material weaknesses FTA found and the extensive changes WMATA has made, but said that she believed WMATA must continue to be under a FTA monitoring regime for now. Norton wrote, As one of the four bipartisan House leaders of the recently enacted FAST Act, I was able to get a 25 percent increase in federal transit funding for the District of Columbia, most of which will go to WMATA for state of good repair capital projects. In addition, working with regional Members, we got the full $150 million capital spending restored. WMATA must take full advantage of this unusual increase....[T]his fundingshould be used as a springboard, not a back-fill. Now would be a good time to encourage a new start, considering whether changes at WMATA, including new leadership, should lead to some changes in the nature of the monitoring process other than paper procedures that have contributed to short term borrowing for operations. I believe that it is too early to relieve WMATA of strict monitoring, but even with the new funding and the changesWMATA may lose any headway effect and continue to tread water, with its riders continuing to pay the price. Nortons full letter is below. Therese McMillan Acting Administrator Federal Transit Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Acting Administrator McMillan: I very much appreciate the Federal Transit Administrations (FTA) oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The need for oversight over WMATA remains clear. To reinforce your oversight, as the lead Highways and Transit Subcommittee Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, my bill, the Protect Riders of Metrorail Public Transportation (PROMPT) Act, was included in the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and broadened to include other jurisdictions as well, and just approved by Congress. I write now concerning the FTA action that placed WMATA on drawdown restrictions for its federal reimbursements after the FTAs regularly scheduled Financial Management Overview (FMO) found a number of material weaknesses in WMATAs budget controls and significant weaknesses in its management of FTA funded assets. FTAs FMO found material weaknesses in WMATAs budget controls, controls over reporting of federal expenditures, and controls over procurement. FTA found significant deficiencies in WMATA audit committee oversight of compliance and internal controls, cash and grant management controls, management and disposition of FTA funded assets, access controls over the financial management system, controls over job order contracts, and implementation of the federal financial reporting process and procedures. FTA also issued advisory comments with regard to improving documented procedures for payroll and human resources, organizational structure, an entity-wide risk assessment, and risk assessment of WMATAs financial management system. I have been pleased to read often of FTAs work to change the safety regime at WMATA. WMATA has concurred with all of the FTA findings and has steadfastly undertaken corrective actions. To address the FMO, WMATA has done the following: hired Deloitte to conduct an internal controls analysis of the asset management and financial accounting life cycle processes, created and implemented a Standard Operating Procedures document, revised procurement manuals, and restructured management so that the Chief Procurement Officer is elevated to the Executive Leadership Team. FTA has approved WMATAs corrective action plan. As you know, for the past 21 months, WMATA has been subject to drawdown restrictions requiring every requested reimbursement to be filed and reviewed by the FTA through a paper method, rather than the electronic, automatic method that other transit agencies use. While the FTA has placed similar drawdown restrictions on other large transit agencies with similar financial management issues, the reimbursement process faced by WMATA is lengthy, adding days if not weeks to what would take one day electronically. What concerns me most now is that because of the delay in reimbursements, WMATA has had to go to the marketplace to obtain short-term credit on three occasions simply to sustain its operations, adding costs to a transit system that is already in need of funding. As I have indicated, I understand and am grateful for FTAs FMO which has led to a new set of budget and financial controls. Through its work with the FTA, WMATA has brought in a new financial team and has worked with apparent success to address every finding and recommendation of the FTA. Further, I understand that the new Chief Financial Officer has been responsive and cooperative to FTAs requests. WMATA submitted its 2014 audit this August and will be submitting its 2015 audit in the near future. On November 30, 2015, WMATA brought on board an entirely new financial team and now a new general manager. I have not heard complaints from WMATA about its drawdown procedures, which were plainly necessary when they were imposed, and I believe close monitoring of WMATAs financial procedures remains necessary. WMATAs problems are comprehensive from management and operations to finances. That is why as one of the four bipartisan House leaders of the recently enacted FAST Act, I was able to get a 25 percent increase in federal transit funding for the District of Columbia, most of which will go to WMATA for state of good repair capital projects. In addition, working with regional Members, we got the full $150 million capital spending restored. WMATA must take full advantage of this unusual increase in funding to build upon as the agency moves forward. I believe that this funding, to the greatest extent possible, should be used as a springboard, not a back-fill. Now would be a good time to encourage a new start considering whether changes at WMATA, including new leadership, should lead to some changes in the nature of the monitoring process other than paper procedures that have contributed to short term borrowing for operations. I believe that it is too early to relieve WMATA of strict monitoring, but even with the new funding and the changes outlined above, WMATA may lose any headway effect and continue to tread water, with its riders continuing to pay the price. Does FTA believe that contributing to WMATAs borrowing is still necessary whatever its progress and should continue until there is no need of monitoring whatsoever? Is there any form of monitoring other than the current paper method that would do the job and might reduce the need for borrowing for current operations? I am pleased that WMATA is not raising fares but instead is contemplating unprecedented relief for riders, to allow WMATA to recover from a 5 percent decrease in ridership over the last five years. This is probably a smart strategy considering the current estrangement of riders, but in the short term, such relief for riders will likely mean further losses. I am not in a position, as you are, to know whether changes in monitoring are advisable or, if so, what form the process should take. I write only to suggest a fresh look by FTA as to whether or not paper drawdown procedures are the only way FTA can monitor WMATA. Sincerely, Eleanor Holmes Norton ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-marc-veasey-s-two-terms-in-review,Congressman Marc Veaseys Two Terms in Review,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,TX,Marc Veasey,V000131,veasey.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey, TX-33, released the following statement reviewing his key legislative accomplishments since being sworn into office in 2013 and work he has done on behalf of the residents in the 33rd Congressional District: As 2015 draws to a close, I would like to take some time to reflect on some of the key legislative goals we have accomplished for the 33rd Congressional District since 2013. After hearing your concerns regarding affordable and reliable transportation for seniors through Handitran in Arlington, I offered an amendment to the long-term transportation and infrastructure bill which was approved by 363-64 vote to reinstate funding for transit services for the elderly and disabled. Transit providers that offer paratransit service in our community, like Handitran, ensure that our elderly and disabled neighbors can remain independent by giving them access to employment, education, healthcare, shopping, and the other services they need. Of great importance to the DFW Metroplex is the recent passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation is very important to the local economy as it will fund vital security programs and increase funding for Lockheed Martins F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I was a key author of the NDAA that passed through Committee and the full House on a bipartisan basis. The passed bill included six of my amendments, including my amendment that evaluated how recent Executive Actions regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and prosecutorial discretion for undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S. impact our nations military readiness if these individuals are made eligible for enlistment. As a strong advocate for North Texas Families, I voted in favor of the two-year Bipartisan Budget Deal and FY2016 Omnibus to help grow our economy and build economic security by investing in job training programs, advanced manufacturing, education, and research. As your U.S. Congressman, I serve as your liaison to the federal government. If you have an issue or problem with a federal government agency, my staff and I are ready to assist you. As of December 18, 2015 my staff and I have helped 1,359 DFW residents cut through the red tape and we will continue to provide services to assist you. As the nations economy continues to rebuild, I continue to fight to sustain and create well-paying jobs right here in our community. Since 2013, I have visited 167 businesses in the Metroplex and have invited local businesses that are actively hiring to participate in my annual job fair. This years 3rd Annual Job Fair on November 20, 2015, brought over 80 participating companies actively hiring for 3,000 positions. I look forward to hosting many more. I am proud to represent the 33rd Congressional District but we can only be as successful if we work together. I welcome your calls, letters, and emails so I can learn how to improve the daily lives of Texans. There is still much to accomplish, including passing comprehensive immigration reform, ensuring well-paying jobs by raising the wage for many hard-working families, and ensuring that all Texans have quality affordable health care. I look forward to working hard on behalf of the DFW Metroplex in the future. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-murphy-himes-pool-safety-grants-for-bridgeport-and-stamford,"Blumenthal, Murphy, Himes Applaud over $206,000 in Pool Safety Grants for Bridgeport and Stamford",2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal, Murphy, Himes Applaud over $206,000 in Pool Safety Grants for Bridgeport and Stamford Print Tweet U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Grants Awarded to Combat Pool and Spa Drownings and Drain Entrapments Wednesday, December 30, 2015 (HARTFORD, CT)- Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-4) applauded $206,225 in grants for the cities of Bridgeport and Stamford from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to provide assistance for education, training, and enforcement of pool safety requirements aimed at preventing pool and spa drownings and drain entrapments. The City of Bridgeport will be awarded $74,973 for the Bridgeport Water Safety Awareness Project to expand on current water safety education and compliance efforts, including regular inspections of all public pools by city inspectors and on-site enforcement personnel to ensure compliance with current rules and regulations. The Project will also include free-to-the public swimming instruction. The City of Stamford will be awarded $131,252 for Stamfords Pool Safety Program and will partner with the Stamford Family YMCA to segment their current learn- to- swim curriculum with the YMCA of the USAs Safety Around Water program, increase the amount of youth receiving water safety education, and expand training and education opportunities for staff and Certified Pool Operators. Drowning is the number one cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 4 nationwide tragedies that we can and must do more to prevent, said Blumenthal, Murphy and Himes. This critical federal funding will help ensure that the cities of Bridgeport and Stamford can expand on their current water safety initiatives to support more robust pool safety education and compliance, increase access to swimming instruction, and provide meaningful training opportunities for staff and pool operators. We applaud this wise investment that will keep our children and families safe while enjoying the recreational and health benefits of swimming. My husbandBrian and I are very proud that two cities in our home state of Connecticut -- Bridgeport and Stamford -- decided to pursue and secure federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety grants. Not a day goes by where we at The ZAC Foundation aren't working to achieve our mission of ensuring no other family suffers from a water-related tragedy. We applaud Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy and Representative Himes for their commitment to water safety and the pursuit of these grants, which will go a long way to advance water safetyeducation, training and inspections to more Connecticut pools, community centers and families. The ZAC Foundation stands ready to support and partner with these communities to advance this mission, said Karen Cohn, water safety advocate and co-founder of The ZAC Foundation. The ZAC Foundation was established in 2008 by Brian and Karen Cohn after the loss of their 6-year-old son Zachary Archer Cohn in a pool drain entrapment in their backyard swimming pool in Greenwich. Through education and advocacy, the Foundation is dedicated to preparing children and their families for a lifetime of swimming safety. The Pool Safety Grant program, a first-of its kind grant program aimed at preventing pool and spa drownings and drain entrapments, is authorized through the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, (VGB Act) that was signed into law December 2007. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-confirmation-that-puerto-rico-will-default-on-portion-of-debt-obligations-due-january-4,Blumenthal Statement on Confirmation That Puerto Rico Will Default on Portion of Debt Obligations Due January 4,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal Statement on Confirmation That Puerto Rico Will Default on Portion of Debt Obligations Due January 4 Print Tweet Wednesday, December 30, 2015 (Hartford, CT) U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after top officials from Puerto Rico confirmed that the commonwealth will default on a portion of the nearly $1 billion in debt obligations due to its bondholders on January 4. With Puerto Rico now on the verge of defaulting on tax revenue-backed bonds, the island is open to messy, costly, and completely avoidable lawsuits. Todays announcement is just the latest reminder that Puerto Rico has neither the money to pay off its creditors nor access to an orderly process for restructuring its debt. Congress cannot continue to bury its head in the sand while 3.5 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico suffer we must act now. This summer, Blumenthal introduced the Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act which would address the growing fiscal crisis by granting Puerto Rico the authority to allow its municipalities and public utilities to restructure their debts under the supervision of a bankruptcy court, authority which is already currently granted to all U.S. states. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=577,Prince William Living: Connolly's Thoughts on Transportation Issues,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,VA,Gerald Connolly,C001078,connolly.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Connolly shared his thoughts on transportation issues facing Prince William County, and efforts to begin the conversation on extending Metro to Prince William. Read more. share: f t Peter LineberryMetrorail service along the I-95 and I-66 corridors, extending south to Woodbridge and west to Manassas, might be the ultimate revitalization project for Prince William. County officials are clearly in favor of it. But how likely is it to happen, and in what time frame?Gerald “Gerry” Connolly represents Virginia’s Eleventh Congressional District, which encompasses most of Fairfax County and eastern Prince William, as well as part of the Route 66 corridor.  He graciously and exclusively shares his thoughts about Metro and related transportation issues with our online readers.“Community revitalization efforts can breathe new life into a neighborhood and its residents, whether it is as simple as sprucing up a store front or a more grand scale transformation that includes improving how people get to and from the places they want to go. Few things trigger such a visceral reaction in our region as traffic and the amount of time spent stuck in it, and I have spent most of my life in public office advocating for increased investments in transportation.“During my tenure on the [Fairfax] Board of Supervisors, and now in Congress, I have been proud to partner with Prince William County to advance improvements for interstates 95 and 66 and for expanding mass transit services. For example, the Recovery Act alone invested millions of dollars in Prince William to purchase new locomotives for VRE, new buses for PRTC, widen the Prince William County Parkway, and to make other road repairs across the county.“Based on my experience in local government, revitalization efforts that were paired with road and/or transit improvements proved to be the most successful, and, in some cases, those improvements fueled the revitalization itself. Just look at the success of the new Mosaic District in Merrifield, where new commercial and residential developments are thriving thanks to road improvements that unclogged a notorious bottleneck and development that better ties into the nearby Dunn Loring Metro Station. Of course, the arrival of the Silver Line in Tysons sparked more transit-, pedestrian-friendly redevelopment years in advance based on the anticipation of Metro’s arrival in the region’s “downtown.” There is a synergy and excitement that is palpable when people begin to realize the return these transportation investments have on their quality of life and in delivering new amenities for them to enjoy.“There are multiple revitalization opportunities, large and small, across Prince William. I have pushed to have a robust community discussion about the possibility of using a Metro expansion as a catalyst for those opportunities, whether it’s in the I-95 or I-66 corridors. The Silver Line had been discussed since the 1960s, but the real effort began in earnest with a feasibility study in the mid-1980s. We may be a number of years away from trains running in Prince William, but thousands of our residents already are driving into Fairfax to hop on Metro, and there is growing interest across the county for another commuting choice. Doing nothing is not an option.“The recent action by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors to endorse this legislation is another important step towards determining whether Metro to Prince William County is in our future. I introduced HR 779 because we needed to start a conversation about studying the extension of Metro to Prince William now, so that we’re ready when the opportunity arrives. Since then, I have worked to build local support, and we’ve been successful — more than 200 people attended a community forum I organized and the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, the Dale City Civic Association, and the Town of Dumfries have all endorsed the idea. That local support is a necessary prerequisite to secure state support for going forward with the federal process.“I know Metro is facing some very real challenges due to a lack of investment in maintenance and capital improvements. That’s why I’m proud to have fought successfully in each of the last six years to deliver $150 million in federal capital funding that will help Metro to upgrade its network and purchase new rail cars. With the right investments and the right management, Metro has said it could be ready for an extension as soon as 2025. The question is: Will we be ready? The potential return on this investment in terms of revitalization and quality of life are significant. For the sake of Prince William commuters, we have to try.”http://princewilliamliving.com/2015/12/connollys-thoughts-transportation-issues/",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://costa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costa-says-hate-crime-against-fresno-sikh-man-inexcusable-and,Costa Strongly Condemns Hate Crime Against Fresno Sikh Man,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,,,legacy,"Fresno, CA Rep. Jim Costa released the following statement strongly condemning the hate crime against Amrik Singh Bal, a Sikh man from Fresno, California. The hate crime that took place in Fresno on Saturday is both inexcusable and intolerable. Sadly, since September 11, 2001, the Sikh community has endured discrimination because of the lack of understanding about Sikhism, which is based on equality and love. As a nation of immigrants, we have the opportunity to learn and benefit from thousands of different cultures, and that is part of what makes the United States special. We must never forget that. Every American citizen regardless of race, creed, or gender has the right to live free of discrimination and fear. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Singh and his family. I commend all of the agencies that are working diligently to find the two individuals who are responsible for the attack. In 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice added Sikh to the categories they track for hate crime offenses in the United States, and Rep. Costa applauded that decision. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-announces-veterans-will-stay-seacrest-retirement-home,DeLauro Announces Veterans Will Stay at Seacrest Retirement Home,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"NEW HAVEN, CT (December 30, 2015) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today announced that Connecticut veterans living in the Seacrest Retirement Center and similar facilities are able to remain in the facility, without the threat of losing benefits or care. The change comes as part of the omnibus bill passed by Congress earlier this month. Veterans living at Seacrest now have the assurance that they will continue to receive the care they deserve. Forcing these veterans to lose their benefits because of an error that was not their fault would have been wrong, and in some cases may not have been in the best interest of their mental or physical well-being, said Rosa DeLauro. After serving our nation, no veteran should ever have to worry about not receiving care, especially in retirement when additional health issues may arise. This legislation gives these veterans the certainty that they deserve, and I applaud Congress for taking action to address this critical issue. On behalf of the men and women who live at Seacrest, and who have protected and defended our country, thank you to Congresswoman DeLauro for working to correct an administrative error by the Veterans Administration, said Lewis Bower, owner of Seacrest. We at Seacrest are forever indebted to the veterans that have served our country, and we are privileged to provide them care. The veterans at Seacrest can now live with assurance from the federal government that their care will be providedfor as result of this legislation. In 2013, 23 veterans at the Seacrest Retirement Center in West Haven, HighVue Manor in Hamden, and Mattatuck Health Care in Waterbury were notified by the VA Connecticut Healthcare System that, due to a VA error, care in these homes has been erroneously covered. The 10 who are being granted another year at Seacrest and HighVue are part of that original group of 23. DeLauro has been working with the VA to ensure that the veterans who would like to stay at Seacrest are able to do so. Earlier this year, DeLauro introduced theVeterans Residential Care Choice Act, which would allow the VA to pay for eligible veterans to live at residential care facilities, such as Seacrest. However, while the omnibus bill directs the VA to make this payment for veterans currently living at these facilities, DeLauro will continue to push for passage of the Veterans Residential Care Choice Act to ensure that other eligible veterans also receive the same benefit. The language in the omnibus bill states:Equitable Relief It is understood that VA is working to implement new systems and protocols to eliminate instances of administrative error. However, as VA enacts system-wide reforms, ending equitable relief for veterans who were deemed eligible for benefits in error would place an unfair burden on veterans and their families. The Secretary is directed to continue to grant or extend equitable relief to eligible veterans initially deemed eligible in instances of administrative error. Not later than April 1, 2016, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees a report containing a statement as to the disposition of each case recommended to the Secretary for equitable relief under 38 U.S.C 503 during the preceding calendar year. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1685,"Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge Appoints New 11th Congressional District Director, Kevin L. McDaniel",2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, OH - Today, Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) announced the appointment of Kevin L. McDaniel as 11th Congressional District Director. Mr. McDaniel will oversee the Summit County and Cuyahoga County offices starting January 4, 2016. Prior to joining the office, Mr. McDaniel served as Program Director at the United Way of Greater Cleveland, Program Officer at the Cleveland Foundation, and Director of Admissions at Cuyahoga County Community College. Mr. McDaniel has an extensive record of public service and has demonstrated his dedication to the greater Cleveland community. He has the experience and leadership skills necessary to direct and work with my local staff as they continue to serve the people of Ohio's 11th District, said Congresswoman Fudge. Current District Director John Hairston will be retiring after more than four years with the Congresswomans office. Mr. Hairston has had a distinguished career focused on improving the lives of others. He began as an English teacher and later assumed leadership roles as Chief of Communications for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Director of External Programs at NASA John H. Glenn Research Center. Congresswoman Fudge continued, ""John Hairston has served the 11th Congressional District with honor and distinction, and I thank him for his service. John is a public servant, community leader, and a dear friend. He has guided my staff and their District outreach and casework for more than four years and will be missed. I wish him well in retirement! ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=93C34490-DECB-4AF5-F958-620DD10290E9,Bennet Statement on Water Clause in Ski Area Permits,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CO,Michael Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Denver, CO - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement in response to today's announcement from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on water in ski area permits: ""Water is a precious resource on which Colorado's ski areas rely for economic sustainability and growth. We are lucky to live in a state with world class skiing right in our back yard and we want to keep it that way. The final directive, published today, seems more balanced than the Forest Service's original directive. We are hopeful that it will be workable for all sides by protecting private water rights and keeping Colorado's ski resorts sustainable long into the future."" According to recent study by Colorado Ski Country USA and Vail Resorts, Inc., Colorado's ski industry generates $4.8 billion each year for our economy and supports more than 46,000 year-round equivalent jobs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-finishes-2015-with-major-legislative-wins,Casey Finishes 2015 With Major Legislative Wins,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. As the 2015 legislative year comes to an end, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced several major legislative wins and public laws he led to passage on behalf of Pennsylvanians. 13 Casey led bills were enacted into law in 2015; 7 bills introduced by Casey, and 6 bills on which he served as the lead Democratic sponsor. These public laws will help improve the lives of Pennsylvanians across all spectrums, creating jobs, keeping kids in school by creating a more positive school climate, and keeping drivers safe by providing $73,796,694 annually to fix off-system bridges. I was pleased to guide into law a number of bills that will help Pennsylvanians and the economy of the Commonwealth, especially efforts to create jobs, keep kids in school, and improve our infrastructure, said Senator Casey. Theres much more to be done in the coming year to make sure children learn more early in life so they earn more later and so middle class incomes increase. The full list of bills Senator Casey led as well as bills he was the lead Democrat on can be found below. Casey Lead Depreciation Fairness Act S.394- The bill makes permanent the 15-year depreciation period for qualified leasehold improvement property, qualified restaurant property, and qualified retail improvement property. It ensures the depreciation schedule permanently reflects the economic useful life of these types of investments. This change will provide businesses with the certainty they need to undertake capital expenditures, which will fuel economic activity and create jobs. Major portions of this bill were incorporated into Section 123 of the PATH Act, H.R. 2029, which became public law on December 18, 2015. Keep Kids in School Act S 672. This legislation requires states and school districts to report on the use of exclusionary discipline and create plans to reduce its use. The bill also provides funding to implement activities that have been proven to create a more positive school climate. Major portions of this bill were incorporated into Sections 1005 and 4304 of the Every Student Succeeds Act, S. 1177, which became Public Law 114-95 on December 10, 2015. Better Educator Support and Training (BEST) Act S 882. This bill reforms the educator professional development pieces within the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. With the passage of the Every Student Achieves Act (ESSA) ESEA reauthorization, states and districts are now required to implement evidence-based activities that help keep teachers in the classroom, strengthen the teaching profession, and ensure principals have the skills they need to be effective by setting aside specific resources for their professional development. Major portions of this bill were incorporated into Title IIA of the Every Student Succeeds Act, S. 1177, which became Public Law 114-95 on December 10, 2015. Empowering Parents and Students Through Information Act S 528. This legislation helps ensure that Americas six million K-12 students with disabilities and their families have access to necessary information to make informed decisions on their childs education and future opportunities for pursuing college and career goals. This is accomplished by clarifying clear guidelines for the use of alternate academic assessments, provides greater access to the standard academic curriculum for all students, and provides additional data transparency on the use of assessments. Major portions of this bill were incorporated into Title IA of the Every Student Succeeds Act, S. 1177which became Public Law 114-95 on December 10, 2015. Continuum of Learning Act S 643.This legislation updates ESEA to strengthen connections between existing early learning programs and elementary grades. This bill helps educators from Head Start, child care, other early childhood education programs, and elementary schools work together so young children have successful continuity of learning and development that sets a strong foundation throughout the K-12 school years and beyond. Major portions of this bill were incorporated into Sections 4624 and 9212 of the Every Student Succeeds Act, S. 1177, which became Public Law 114-95 on December 10, 2015. Computer Science Education and Jobs Act S 671. Adds computer science as a core academic subject within the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and adds supports for teachers who specialize in this subject area. These key provisions, included in the ESSA ESEA reauthorization as part of a definition of well rounded education, will provide support and clarity to states and school districts to expand this discipline, ultimately helping to keep the nation competitive in the global high-tech market. Major portions of this bill were incorporated into Title IIA, Section 4107, and Title VIII of the Every Student Succeeds Act, S. 1177, which became Public Law 114-95 on December 10, 2015. Clean Vehicles Corridor Act - S 1581.The principles and goals of the Clean Vehicles Corridor Act were included in section 1413 of HR 22, the DRIVE Act. Under this section, the Secretary of Transportation would designate transportation corridors to encourage fueling infrastructure for natural gas, electric, hydrogen and propane vehicles. HR 22, the DRIVE Act, the surface transportation reauthorization bill, which was signed into Public Law 114-94 on December 4, 2015. Casey Lead Democrat The Protecting Our Infants Act (w/ Senator McConnell) S 799.The Protecting Our Infants Act, which was signed into Public Law 114-91on November 25, 2015. This bill addresses the rise of prenatal opioid abuse and infants suffering from opioid withdrawal. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a departmental review to identify gaps in research and any duplication, overlap or gaps in prevention and treatment programs related to prenatal opioid abuse and infants born with opioid withdrawal. It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to work with stakeholders to develop recommendations both for preventing prenatal opioid abuse, and for treating infants born dependent on opioids. Finally, this measure encourages the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to work with states and help improve their public health response to this epidemic. Small Business Fairness Act (w/ Senator Enzi) S 958. This bill was included in section 867 of S. 1356, the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was signed into Public Law 114-92 on 11/25/2015. This bill allows federal agencies to enter into contracts with small businesses that are service disabled veteran owned, economically disadvantaged, women-owned or a qualified HUBZone small business, even if they are part of a teaming agreement. Current law does not allow these designated small businesses to be part of a teaming agreement and also claim a socioeconomic designation. Support for Bridges Act/FAST Act (w/ Senator Blunt) S 1370. The goals of the Support for Bridges Act were included in The FAST Act. The Fast Act continues to provide $73,796,694 annually for off-system bridges in Pennsylvania which adds up to $369 million over 5 years. The bill makes an additional $4.9 billion (FY 16-20 total) available for highway bridges nationwide that lost predictable funding under MAP-21. Incorporated into Section 1106 of the FAST Act, H.R. 22, which became Public Law 114-94 on December 4, 2015. Small Business Tax Certainty and Growth Act of 2015 (w/ Senator Collins) - S.1141.Legislation includes 15-year recovery period for qualified leasehold improvement property, qualified restaurant property, and qualified retail improvement property (Depreciation Fairness Act S.394). Provisions extending bonus depreciation, and a provision making permanent section 179 expensing ($500,000 expensing with $2,000,000 phase out) indexed for inflation. Major portions of this bill were incorporated into Sections 123, 124, and 143 of the PATH Act, H.R. 2029, which became public law on December 18, 2015. 529 Enhancement Act (w/ Senator Grassley) S 335.The provision expands the definition of qualified higher education expenses for which 529 accounts are eligible to include computer equipment and technology, modifies 529 account rules to treat any distribution from a 529 account as coming only from that account. It also treats a refund of tuition paid with amounts distributed from a 529 account as a qualified expense if such amounts are re-contributed to a 529 account within 60 days. This legislation was incorporated into Section 302 of the PATH Act, H.R. 2029, which became public law on December 18, 2015. Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act (w/ Senator Portman) S. 2425 This bill does three key things. It implements a one year delay of the CMS proposal to apply competitive bid pricing to complex rehab accessories. It freezes the current payment rates for certain radiation therapy services for 2017 and 2018. This provision would ensure that cancer patients have the option to receive care in their preferred setting. It gives CMS the ability to process physician and hospital applications for a hardship exemption from complying electronic health record meaningful use requirements more efficiently. An increase in the submission of hardship applications from requirements in effect for 2015 is expected for reasons beyond provider control. This bill was passed in the Senate and the House on December 18, 2015 and became public law on December 28, 2015 ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=c7c25813-0535-40ab-96c7-743b1852ccb8,"On Two-Year Anniversary of Casselton Derailment, Heitkamp Honors North Dakota First Responders",2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"CASSELTON, N.D. Two years after the derailment of a crude oil train near Casselton, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp toured the Casselton Volunteer Ambulance Service today to thank volunteer first responders and underscore the need to provide federal support for volunteer ambulance services, fire departments, and other emergency responders. To make sure firefighters and ambulance workers have the training and equipment they need, Heitkamp fought to increase federal funding to support first responders in the year-end spending bill Congress passed earlier this month. Today she encouraged North Dakota fire departments and first responders to apply for the increased federal funding. Heitkamp also presented Ken Habiger, president of the Casselton Volunteer Ambulance Service, with an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of Habigers commitment to the safety and wellbeing of his community. From local fire departments to volunteer ambulance services, we need to do everything we can to make sure our first responders are prepared and safe as they work to protect us, said Heitkamp. The derailment in Casselton two years ago was a blunt reminder that we have a duty to support first responders like Ken, who work hard every day to make their communities stronger and safer. Congress needs to do its part to give first responders knowledge and training to protect our communities. Thats what I pushed for in the spending bill, and what Im also trying to do with my RESPONSE Act. Community service is a way of life here in Casselton and throughout our state, and we need to do everything we can to protect and prepare those who answer that call to serve. The spending bill Congress passed provides $690 million for first responder grants for equipment and staffing in 2016, which is a $10 million increase from 2015. Eight North Dakota fire departments including Fargo, Buffalo, Cavalier, and Bismarck benefited from Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) funding totaling nearly $1 million in 2014. The AFG and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants that Heitkamp fought to include in the spending bill are available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Since the derailment near Casselton in December 2013, Heitkamp has focused on finding ways to provide first responders in North Dakota and throughout the country with tools, training, grants, and other resources to make sure theyre well equipped to do their jobs. In February, Heitkamp reintroduced her Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Act, aimed at prioritizing support for first responders to make sure they have tools and skills to protect communities when responding to hazmat incidents on the rails, like crude oil derailments. Heitkamp first introduced her RESPONSE Act in June 2014 to address concerns about first responders safety and preparedness that were raised following the Casselton derailment in December 2013. After specifically pressing a top FEMA official, Heitkamphelped secure $5 million in federal funding in 2014 to support a one-of-a-kind federal training facilityin Pueblo, Colorado that prepares first responders to handle to hazmat incidents on the rails. Nearly 90 North Dakota first responders participated in training at the Pueblo facility in 2014 and 2015. In March, Heitkamp brought U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to North Dakota, and led a discussion in Larimore with North Dakota volunteer firefighters and Mayorkas so that the second in command at DHS could hear volunteer first responders concerns about equipment, training, and resources. In North Dakota, 96 percent of firefighters are volunteers. Heitkamp also launched her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative following the derailment, bringing together North Dakota leaders to address the states emerging challenges from rail safety to human trafficking in the wake of the oil and gas boom. In October, more than 150 community leaders from across the state including fire and first response officials gathered in Fargo for her first Strong & Safe Communities Summit.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-local-advocates-announce-expansion-of_charitable-deductions-of-food-donations,"Leahy, Local Advocates Announce Expansion of Charitable Deductions of Food Donations",2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,VT,Patrick Leahy,L000174,www.leahy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.30.15 Leahy, Local Advocates Announce Expansion of Charitable Deductions of Food Donations BURLINGTON, Vt. (WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30, 2015) Joined by local advocates to end hunger and food insecurity, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday announced at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington that a provision incentivizing donations of surplus food to local food pantries was recently signed into law, helping efforts to cut back on food waste and supporting communities help those in need across the country. During this congress, Leahy successfully led a bipartisan effort to expand and make permanent tax deductions for businesses and farms for donated food to community food shelves this year. As much as 40 percent of food that is produced, grown and transported in the United States will never be used because some businesses find it too costly to donate. This amounts to an estimated 70 billion pounds of wasted food each year. Leahy said: The burden of hunger threatens the livelihood and wellbeing of communities across Vermont. Hunger leads to malnourishment, obesity, diabetes and academic and social difficulty among children, and we all know a hungry child cannot learn.Vermont is a leader in the fight against hunger, and I was proud support this common sense provision to cut down on food waste and redirect resources to those in need. The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf serves over 12,000 Vermonters each year, and continues to see an increase in visitors seeking food assistance. Rob Meehan, Executive Director of the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf said, Many of the people we serve face difficult choices including skipping meals so their children will have enough to eat, choosing between food and medicine, food and housing, food and healthcare simply because they do not have enough money. We need more help from our federal government to feed vulnerable Vermonters and this is a valuable step in that direction. The provision, the House companion of Leahy's Senate legislation the Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Extension Act, was included within a broader tax extension package passed in the year-end spending bill. This provision builds on a proven tax incentive to encourage businesses and farms to donate surplus food to their local food banks. It also permanently extends the same tax incentives to donate food, now available to corporations, to small businesses, farmers, ranchers and restaurant owners many of whom have large amounts of fresh food to donate. According to the Vermont Foodbank, 153,000 Vermonters rely on meals provided through food shelters, meal sites, senior centers and after-school programs each year. Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles said, Many of our neighbors are working hard and still can't make ends meet. Federal assistance is the first line of defense against hunger, but it has been decreasing in the past several years. We appreciate Senator Leahy getting a win for hunger relief this year, and we'll work hard to leverage that win for hungry Vermonters and continue to push for more federal, state and private support to end hunger. Community members were also in attendance to lend support for this enhanced opportunity for public-private partnership. Former Co-Chair of the Chittenden County Hunger Council and City Market Director of Community Engagement Allison Weinhagen said, Vermont's food co-ops, farms and food retailers all value the partnership with our local food banks and pantries. This extension further supports the impactful work that is being done throughout the state. The statistics on food insecure families in our community have not significantly decreased over the past several years and leadership like Senator Leahy's at the federal level is an important step in making a positive difference in the lives of our neighbors. As the most senior member and former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Leahy has helped to lead the fight in Congress against hunger and is a longtime supporter of federal nutrition programs. This year he successfully advocated for an increase in federal funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal program which provides states with commodity food products to fill food shelves. Earlier this year, he also introduced the Farm to School Act of 2015 to bolster nutrition education in schools, while increasing economic benefits for our local farmers. Also in attendance were Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz, Hunger Free Vermont, the Vermont Farm Bureau and members of the Chittenden County Hunger Council. # # # # # Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Press Contact Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-himes-applaud-over-206000-in-pool-safety-grants-for-bridgeport-and-stamford,"MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL, HIMES APPLAUD OVER $206,000 IN POOL SAFETY GRANTS FOR BRIDGEPORT AND STAMFORD",2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL, HIMES APPLAUD OVER $206,000 IN POOL SAFETY GRANTS FOR BRIDGEPORT AND STAMFORD U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Grants Awarded to Combat Pool and Spa Drownings and Drain Entrapments Wednesday, December 30, 2015 HARTFORD- Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), andU.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-4) applauded $206,225 in grants for the cities of Bridgeport and Stamford from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to provide assistance for education, training, and enforcement of pool safety requirements aimed at preventing pool and spa drownings and drain entrapments. The City of Bridgeport will be awarded $74,973 for the Bridgeport Water Safety Awareness Project to expand on current water safety education and compliance efforts, including regular inspections of all public pools by city inspectors and on-site enforcement personnel to ensure compliance with current rules and regulations. The Project will also include free-to-the public swimming instruction. The City of Stamford will be awarded $131,252 for Stamfords Pool Safety Program and will partner with the Stamford Family YMCA to segment their current learn- to- swim curriculum with the YMCA of the USAs Safety Around Water program, increase the amount of youth receiving water safety education, and expand training and education opportunities for staff and Certified Pool Operators. Drowning is the number one cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 4 nationwide tragedies that we can and must do more to prevent, said Murphy, Blumenthal, and Himes. This critical federal funding will help ensure that the cities of Bridgeport and Stamford can expand on their current water safety initiatives to support more robust pool safety education and compliance, increase access to swimming instruction, and provide meaningful training opportunities for staff and pool operators. We applaud this wise investment that will keep our children and families safe while enjoying the recreational and health benefits of swimming. My husbandBrian and I are very proud that two cities in our home state of Connecticut -- Bridgeport and Stamford -- decided to pursue and secure federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety grants. Not a day goes by where we at The ZAC Foundation aren't working to achieve our mission of ensuring no other family suffers from a water-related tragedy. We applaud Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy and Representative Himes for their commitment to water safety and the pursuit of these grants, which will go a long way to advance water safetyeducation, training and inspections to more Connecticut pools, community centers and families. The ZAC Foundation stands ready to support and partner with these communities to advance this mission, said Karen Cohn, water safety advocate and co-founder of The ZAC Foundation. The ZAC Foundation was established in 2008 by Brian and Karen Cohn after the loss of their 6-year-old son Zachary Archer Cohn in a pool drain entrapment in their backyard swimming pool in Greenwich. Through education and advocacy, the Foundation is dedicated to preparing children and their families for a lifetime of swimming safety. The Pool Safety Grant program, a first-of its kind grant program aimed at preventing pool and spa drownings and drain entrapments, is authorized through the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, (VGB Act) that was signed into law December 2007.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cohen.house.gov/press-release/cohen-cleveland-chicago-police-shootings-are-more-evidence-we-need-independent,"Cohen: Cleveland, Chicago Police Shootings Are More Evidence That We Need Independent Prosecutors",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,TN,Steve Cohen,C001068,cohen.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN), the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Civil Justice, today said that recent police shootings in Cleveland and Chicago are further evidence that Congress needs to push states to require independent prosecutors by passing H.R. 2302, the Police Training and Independent Review Act a bill recently endorsed by the Chicago Tribune, following investigative coverage on ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV). People arent marching in the streets because they think the system is fair, said Congressman Cohen. We need reform. Asking local prosecutors to investigate the same local police with whom they work so closely is a conflict of interest. Even if they handle such investigations appropriately, there will continue to be a perception of bias. These kind of cases need independent prosecutors, and thats why we are seeing growing support for our bill. Earlier this year, Congressman Cohen along with Congressman Lacy Clay (D-MO)(whose district includes Ferguson, MO) introduced H.R. 2302, the Police Training and Independent Review Act. The bill would withhold full federal funding for law enforcement if independent prosecutors are not used for cases in which police use of deadly force results in death or injury. The bill would also withhold full federal funding if police are not trained on a variety of issues including mental health. The bill currently had 53 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. Earlier this year, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo began requiring the use of an independent prosecutor for police killings. See NY Times: Cuomo to Appoint Special Prosecutor for Killings by Police H.R. 2302 addresses a key recommendation included in President Obamas Taskforce on 21st Century Policings final report: (See Action Item 2.2.3in https://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/taskforce/TaskForce_FinalReport.pdf -- on p. 21 of the final report): 2.2.3 Action Item: The task force encourages policies that mandate the use of external and independent prosecutors in cases of police use of force resulting in death, officer-involved shootings resulting in injury or death, or in-custody deaths. Strong systems and policies that encourage use of an independent prosecutor for reviewing police uses of force and for prosecution in cases of inappropriate deadly force and in-custody death will demonstrate the transparency to the public that can lead to mutual trust between community and law enforcement.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/after-getting-capitol-opened-for-sledding-norton-pushes-for-more-public,"After Getting Capitol Opened for Sledding, Norton Pushes for More Public Access with Bill to Allow Commercial Filming on Capitol Grounds When Congress is Out of Session",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,DC,Eleanor Norton,N000147,norton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that when Congress returns from recess she will introduce a bill to permit commercial filming and photography on the U.S. Capitol Grounds beyond Union Square, the single area where it is currently permitted when both chambers of Congress are out of session. The expanded filming would be subject to the same terms and conditions as filming in Union Square (the area just below the west side of the Capitol, near the Botanic Gardens), which Norton got codified in the fiscal year 2014 omnibus appropriations bill. Filming could be permitted when Congress is not in session and subject to the usual police and security restrictions. Norton has consistently sought expanded public access to public space, particularly around the Capitol, and this month got language included in the omnibus bill for non-enforcement of a law that prohibits sledding on Capitol Grounds. This Norton bill would allow commercial film and photography crews to apply for permits for exterior shots of the Capitol and its grounds. Norton said permitting commercial filming would meet a hunger in the industry for authentic shots of our Capitol can also provide a boost to the Districts economy. Hollywood and other commercial filmmakers should not have to go to fake capitols for movies and films about the capital of the United States, Norton said. The current policy permitting filming near the Botanic Gardens shows that the Capitol police can handle filmmaking on the grounds when Congress is not in session. However, filming from that vantage point shows the least familiar view of the Capitol. At a time when the reputation of Congress is particularly low, filming the Capitol could bolster the image Congress prefers of a building that represents American democracy. It is neither business-friendly nor true to the nations democratic traditions to arbitrarily exclude filming of the Capitol. Encouraging commercial photography and filming at the Capitol would help spread the story of our national legislature around the world. The current policy may be unconstitutional. No policy or security reason exists to justify current limits on commercial filming and photography of the Capitol complex to only one location, Union Square, particularly considering that permits are necessary.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://pallone.house.gov/press-release/pallone-secures-over-600000-6th-district-constituents-year,"Pallone Secures Over $600,000 for 6th District Constituents this Year",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NJ,Frank Pallone,P000034,pallone.house.gov,,,legacy,"LONG BRANCH, NJ Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that he helped secure $636,002 in 2015 for constituents seeking assistance through his district office. His work on behalf of constituents includes help with Veterans Affairs claims, tax return issues with the Internal Revenue Service, Sandyrelated FEMA grants and claims, SBA loans, Social Security payments, and more. Over the past year, Congressman Pallones constituent outreach representatives have made it possible for constituents to cut through red tape in order to receive money that is rightfully owed to them. I want all of my constituents know that were here to help, said Congressman Pallone. I am grateful so many residents of the 6th District turned to us for assistance this year. Whether my constituents need assistance navigating the federal bureaucracy or are concerned about a federal policy, I encourage them to stay in touch and hope that they continue to use my office as a resource. The funds secured by Congressman Pallone and his staff are part of a long list of constituent services that his district offices offer. For example, constituents who have issues with their Social Security benefits, federal pensions, Medicare eligibility, and U.S. citizenship are eligible for help. Additionally, Pallone and his staff frequently assist veterans obtain back pay, GI Bill benefits, VA disability claims, as well as assistance to widows who are eligible to receive pensions. Staff can also be helpful in locating low-income housing options, energy assistance and other benefits or resources that may be helpful to residents of the 6th District. For help on any of these services or other issues, constituents should not hesitate to contact either of Congressman Pallones district offices: New Brunswick Office -67/69 Church Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, Phone: (732) 249-8892 Long Branch Office -504 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740, Phone: (732) 571-1140",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://dankildee.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-congressman-dan-kildee-gov-snyder-apology-over-flint-water-crisis,Statement by Congressman Dan Kildee on Gov. Snyder Apology Over Flint Water Crisis,2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MI,Dan Kildee,K000380,dankildee.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) issued the following statement today on the ongoing Flint water crisis: Governor Snyder's apology over the Flint water crisis is appropriate, as are personnel changes announced today at the Department of Environmental Quality. Through this ongoing crisis, the people of Flint did nothing wrong they are victims of this failure of government. The State of Michigan must not only acknowledge its role in this crisis, but also take responsibility and act right away to make it right. The state can immediately step up to help the children of Flint who have suffered lead exposure. Today, the Governor alluded to more actions' in the coming days to help Flint residents. These actions by the state should include the establishment of a fund to ensure that kids who are at the greatest risk for health problems from lead poisoning receive the developmental, educational and nutritional support they need to help overcome the challenges associated with lead exposure. The State of Michigan can help these kids. If the state helps them now, they will have a better future. But we cannot delay every day kids in Flint lose without support is a day they cannot get back.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://norcross.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mourning-loss-valued-member-local-law-enforcement,Mourning the Loss of a Valued Member of Local Law Enforcement,2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NJ,Donald Norcross,N000188,norcross.house.gov,,,legacy,"Cherry Hill, NJ-Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today mourns the loss of Camden County Police Department K9 officer Zero, a decorated service dog that died last night at age 12. Zero was a distinguished member of South Jersey law enforcement. He faithfully served and protected the people of Camden County for years. He was also a wonderful ambassador for the Police Department & the City of Camden and he will be missed, said Rep. Norcross.Congressman Norcross expressed his condolences to Zeros partner, Camden County Police Lt. Zsakhiem James and the officers family in a telephone call this afternoon. I know how painful it is to lose a dog. But Zero represents so much more than just a pet. He was a trusted member of Lt. James' family and his long-time partner on the job. I know the loss of Zero will be felt for a long time to come, added Rep. Norcross. Zero, a German Shepherd, was Camdens oldest police dog, joining the police force in 2007 to become highly skilled in bomb detection. Sgt. James and Zero were honored in 2014 by then New Jersey State Senator Donald Norcross for setting a New Jersey record for the most suspect apprehensions by a K9 officer. Congressman Donald Norcross is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Budget Committee, and serves as Assistant Whip in the 114th Congress.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-comfort-women-agreement-announced-by-republic-of-korea-and-japan,Cardin Statement on Comfort Women Agreement Announced by Republic of Korea and Japan,2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 29, 2015 Cardin Statement on Comfort Women Agreement Announced by Republic of Korea and Japan BALTIMOREU.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee, issued the following statement regarding today's announcement by the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan in reaching a breakthrough agreement to resolve their long standing dispute regarding comfort women during World War Two. I welcome this agreement and the leadership exhibited by both Prime Minister Abe and President Park to settle this longstanding issue in a way that recognizes the suffering of the comfort women and that is appropriate for both sides. This is a painful and difficult issue in Korea that will forever stir heart-wrenching emotions. It is vital that both nations never forget the past, and while the scars of a painful period in human history will remain, it is my sincere hope that Korea and Japan will build toward a prosperous future together in order to deepen and strengthen their relations in a rapidly changing Asia-Pacific region. Both nations have demonstrated tremendous bravery and fortitude in forging this agreement. This development has the potential to pave the way for a new path forward between two close U.S. allies and I stand ready to work alongside our partners in Seoul and Tokyo to advance this relationship. Up to 200,000 women were estimated to have been forced to serve as comfort women for Japanese soldiers during World War Two, many of them Korean. In Maryland which is home to a dynamic and vibrant Korean-American community, this issue remains a deeply personal one and though I know this announcement can never fully heal the pain caused during that period, the actions taken today by the Korean and Japanese governments demonstrates true courage and I hope will allow for future generations in the region to flourish and thrive. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=53dfef5a-dbfd-405f-834d-a6447d4c64e4,"Carper Statement on DuPont's Announcement of Job Reductions, Specialty Products Division Headquarters",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WILMINGTON, Del. Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement on DuPonts announcement that approximately 1,700 Delaware-based positions will be eliminated and that its corporate headquarters for the post-merger Specialty Products division will remain in Delaware. The news of the Dow-DuPont merger was a shock to all of us, and todays announcement is very troubling. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the job losses here in Delaware. These DuPont employees are our longtime friends, our family, and our neighbors. At this time of hardship for so many Delaware families, we, as the states elected officials, cant sit back, wring our hands and bemoan our fate. Weve got to roll up our sleeves and work together, and I will continue to work with the Governor and Congressional delegation to do everything we can to help those affected and make sure good job opportunities are available here in the First State. For more than two centuries, the DuPont Company has made Delaware its home, and Delawareans have been responsible for many of its most successful and profitable products. From life-saving innovations to market-changing discoveries in research, these products have been sold under the DuPont name and made it one of the most respected American companies in the history of our country. The announcement made today that Dow-DuPonts Specialty Products division will remain in Delaware comes as a small but welcome break in the clouds. The fight, however, isnt over. Its also absolutely critical that the agriculture business is headquartered here in our state, and the Congressional delegation will work alongside Governor Markell, the Delaware legislature, and business and community leaders to do our part to ensure it is.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ff74e7e0-7a59-4403-9bfd-ed9c339494cf,Heitkamp Announces Senate Passed Pilots Bill of Rights 2 Supporting General Aviation in ND,2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate General Aviation Caucus, today announced the Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation she cosponsored which will support general aviation in North Dakota by making sure pilots are treated fairly and reducing burdensome requirements currently in place. The Pilots Bill of Rights 2 will decrease unnecessary bureaucracy pilots currently face, cut costs, improve protections for pilots, and reform certain medical requirements. The bill had 70 cosponsors in the Senate. The House of Representatives needs to pass the bill before it goes to the President for his signature. General aviation pilots in North Dakota understand the importance of safety while in flight, said Heitkamp. Yet for too long, pilots have faced onerous and costly rules, preventing them the fair treatment they deserve. This overwhelmingly bipartisan bill will reform many of these outdated regulations so they work better for pilots while still making sure safety is the top priority. Details about the Pilots Bill of Rights 2: Reforms the FAAs overly burdensome medical certification process by expanding an existing FAA medical standard to include more qualified, trained, general aviation pilots. Outlines specific requirements that pilots need to meet to qualify for the expanded medical standard, including completion of a medical education course every two years, self-certification by the pilot that they are being treated by their physician for any medical diagnosis that could impact their ability to fly, and the use of a checklist to guide the discussion between pilots and their physicians during a health examination, which must occur once every four years. Enhances the due process rights established in the first Pilots Bill of Rights by making sure airman have the right to appeal an FAA decision through a new, merit-based trial in Federal Court. Increases transparency for airman subject to an investigation or enforcement action by requiring the FAA to articulate the specific activity under investigation to parties involved in the investigation and provides specific documentation relevant to its investigation. Expedites updates to the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Improvement Program required in the first Pilots Bill of Rights and directs the FAA to include the effective duration of temporary flight restrictions in NOTAMs. This makes sure the most relevant and important information reaches the pilot prior to a flight taking place. The legislation also mandates that the FAA certify the accuracy of posted NOTAMs. Makes sure the accessibility of flight data, such as air traffic communication tapes and radar information produced by contract towers, and flight service stations and controller training programs, which gives certificate holders the ability to use this information to defend themselves during an enforcement action proceeding. The bill builds on Heitkamps work to cut red tape in the federal government by making federal regulations more efficient and effective. In March, Heitkamp and Republican Senator James Lankfordof Oklahoma who are the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate subcommittee that oversees the management of federal regulations launched their#CutRedTape Initiativeto gather stories about how federal regulations are impacting Americans across the country every day, and help make federal regulations work better for families and businesses by reducing waste, stopping backlogs, and cutting red tape. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/latest-headlines/most-have-a-positive-outlook-on-st-josephs-business-climate,Most have a positive outlook on St. Joseph's business climate,2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MO,Claire McCaskill,M001170,www.mccaskill.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Most have a positive outlook on St. Joseph's business climate Tuesday, December 29, 2015 By: Alan Van Zandt As the year 2015 comes to an end, it's time to look back at the last 12 months at some of the stories that affected us most. The KQ2 news staff have compiled a list of the five biggest stories of the year. Here's Number 4 on our list: An Optimistic Local Business Economic Outlook It's a scene repeated dozens of times this past year: a ribbon cutting sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce as another business puts its support behind the local economy. ""We're really looking forward to this opportunity. It seems to be a really good fit for Daily's Premium Meats,"" said David Eaheart earlier this year, as his company began groundbreaking on its new facility in south St. Joseph. In 2015, St. Joseph was named as the 4th strongest farming and agribusiness region in the country. That level was reached in part thanks to companies like Boeringer-Ingleheim, which in the past year announced a major facility upgrade and expansion in the city. That drew the attention of Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, who recently toured the site. ""They have chosen St. Joe area for this major facility and expansion. I'm here to learn about the challenges they face in the global economy,"" she said. With a stronger climate for business, it also helped out retail. The long dormant Tuscany Village project got back off the ground with the promise of more shops for the area. ""I couldn't believe it when they brought up that it was 2005 when Tuscuny Village first approached the city,"" said City Council Member Donna Jean Boyer after a city council meeting where project developers got the go-ahead to re-start their project. East Hills Mall, under new ownership, showed increased sales as it celebrated it's 50th anniversary. ""To see over the years the growth and development to go along with the changing needs of the community has been amazing,"" said owner Erica Feingold. Even downtown St. Joseph showed signs of coming to life. A plan years in the making to shape downtown as an arts and entertainment district started to take shape, with visible signs of activity. SOT: Teresa Fankhauser, Allied Arts Association: ""We wanted to add to the renaissance that is happening in downtown with so many shops and businesses coming in,"" said Teresa Fankauser, executive director of the Allied Arts Association. ""We wanted to be a part of that and help with bringing new people into the area."" Downtown revitalization efforts were further boosted when Mosaic Life Care also announced a $20 million plan to renovate the German-American building downtown and eventually move 200 employees to that location. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/mccaskill-statement-on-missouri-flooding-december-2015,McCaskill Statement on Missouri Flooding,2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MO,Claire McCaskill,M001170,www.mccaskill.senate.gov,,,legacy,"McCaskill Statement on Missouri Flooding Tuesday, December 29, 2015 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today released the following statement on the historic flooding affecting Missouri: I'm praying for the safety of all Missourians, and those in affected communities should please pay close attention to guidance from local officials and first responders. I stand ready to assist with any request for federal disaster resources to help get our families and businesses quickly back on their feet. ### Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-in-old-saybrook-today-murphy-courtney-celebrate-new-opportunities-to-preserve-land-and-open-space,"IN OLD SAYBROOK TODAY, MURPHY, COURTNEY CELEBRATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESERVE LAND OPEN SPACE",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"IN OLD SAYBROOK TODAY, MURPHY, COURTNEY CELEBRATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESERVE LAND & OPEN SPACE End-of-year tax and funding package permanently extends conservation easement tax incentive and boosts federal conservation funding Tuesday, December 29, 2015 OLD SAYBROOK Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) celebrated the permanent renewal of the conservation easement tax incentive as well as significant federal funding for land preservation. Murphy and Courtney joined State Senator Art Linares, State Rep. Devin Carney, First Selectman Carl Fortuna, Mike Urban of the Old Saybrook Land Trust, and other community leaders at the town hall in Old Saybrook, which recently completed one of Connecticuts largest land conservation projects. Today, we announced a pretty amazing set of wins for land conservation in Connecticut and across the country, said Murphy. I have been working on the issue of land conservation since my time in the U.S. House of Representatives as the chair of the Land Conservation Caucus, and Ive never seen successes like weve achieved this year. The end of the year budget and tax bill will help preserve millions of acres of land across the country and will make Connecticut eligible to receive more federal land conservation funding to partner with state and private funds than ever before. Its easy for us to advocate for this bipartisan commitment because of the strong support for conservation here in Eastern Connecticut and across the state. We really are a national leader for land preservation, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the best ways to preserve land and open space for generations to come. ""I was very pleased to see so many important conservation initiatives addressed in the end-of-year agreement to fund the government and extend certain tax credits, said Courtney. From extending the Conservation Easement Tax Credit, to the reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the omnibus appropriations bill, Congress clearly showed that making targeted investments to preserve open space and protect our natural resources is a top priority. We are in Old Saybrook today to highlight these programs because the recent establishment of a protected forest area here, known as the Preserve, has made Old Saybrook a great example of a locality benefiting from this type of funding. The Preserve is a tangible example of local, state and federal collaboration, using Land and Water Conservation Funds to leverage additional investment for the purchase of this irreplaceable site. After years of effort, the Preserve will permanently protect 963 acres of pristine oak woodlands, making this the most important stretch of protected costal forest between Boston and New York."" The permanent tax credit will give landowners much-needed predictability and will allow them to afford to conserve land throughout Connecticut for generations to come. By incentivizing the voluntary conservation of land while preserving private property rights, conservation easements have been a successful, cost-effective incentive to help preserve watersheds and farms for future generations across the nation. With the enhanced incentive in place, conservation of land increased by about 33% nationwide, exceeding one million acres per year. In Connecticut alone, 11,344 acres were preserved in the first five years that the incentive was enacted a 44% increase in conservation compared to when the incentive was not in place. Additionally, according to the Land Trust Alliance, every dollar of tax incentives leverages $2.80 worth of land conservation. The budget bill also increased federal funding for land conservation, including funding $900 million through Fiscal Year 2018 for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and $10 million for the Highlands Conservation program, which serves Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-casey-seek-to-raise-student-achievement-by-improving-teacher-preparation,"Reed, Casey Seek to Raise Student Achievement by Improving Teacher Preparation",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,RI,Jack Reed,R000122,www.reed.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12/29/2015CRANSTON, RI In an effort to boost student achievement in the classroom, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bob Casey (D-PA) have introduced the Educator Preparation Reform Act, aimed at better preparing teachers, principals, librarians, and other school leaders by developing the skills and knowledge they need to be effective and profession-ready on day one. The Educator Preparation Reform Act would overhaul federal laws governing teacher preparation, including reporting requirements, accountability provisions, and the TEACH Grant scholarship program. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that many high poverty schools struggle to fill their teaching positions and rely on a rotating cast of substitutes. The report went on to explain that inner-city schools tend to employ teachers who are more inexperienced than the hires at affluent schools, and the teachers often are not adequately trained for the intense environments they will face. We need to help motivated teachers and principals so they hit the ground running, especially in our highest need schools. We know that quality teachers and principals make a real positive difference for kids and help raise student achievement in the classroom. If we want to improve our schools, it is essential that teachers, principals, and other educators have a comprehensive system that supports their preparation, professional growth, and development, before the first day of school and continuing throughout their careers. There is a looming shortage of fully-prepared teachers and we must do better by our students and our schools. The legislation were introducing today encourages an increased level of investment in our teachers for the sake of our students, said Senator Reed. When children learn more at an early age they earn more later in life. One of the keys to helping our children learn more at a young age is a teacher who is ready to enrich students from day one, Senator Casey said. Giving our nations teachers the tools to succeed is an essential part of helping students get off to a strong and smart start to their lives. This legislation will help teachers grow their skills and ultimately help students achieve. Reed and Casey teamed up earlier this year on the Better Educator Support & Training (BEST) Act, an effort to equip educators with the necessary resources through additional, targeted funding. The Senators worked behind the scenes to include the BEST Act language in the Every Student Succeeds Act, signed into law this month. The Educator Preparation Reform Act will build on that reform, and the success of the Teacher Quality Partnership Program, which Reed helped author in the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The Educator Preparation Reform Act places specific attention and emphasis on principals with the addition of a residency program for new principals. The bill better connects teacher preparation with principal preparation, and the legislation would also allow partnerships to develop preparation programs for other areas of instructional need, such as for school librarians, counselors, or other academic support professionals. The bill streamlines the accountability and reporting requirements for teacher preparation programs to provide greater transparency on key quality measures such as admissions standards, requirements for clinical practice, placement of graduates, retention in the field of teaching, and teacher performance, including student learning outcomes. All programs whether traditional or alternative routes to certification will be asked to report on the same measures. Under the legislation, states will be required to identify at-risk and low-performing programs and provide them with technical assistance and a timeline for improvement, and states would be encouraged to close programs that do not improve. The Educator Preparation Reform Act is supported by: Alliance for Excellent Education; American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; American Association of State Colleges and Universities; American Council on Education; Association of American Universities; Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities; Association of Public and Land-grant Universities; Council for Christian Colleges and Universities; First Focus Campaign for Children; Higher Education Consortium for Special Education; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Association of State Directors of Special Education; National Center for Learning Disabilities; National Disability Rights Network; National Education Association; Public Advocacy for Kids; Rural School and Community Trust; and Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. -end- Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://chu.house.gov/press-release/rep-chu-statement-japans-apology-comfort-women,"Rep. Chu Statement on Japan's Apology to ""Comfort Women""",2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,,,legacy,"PASADENA, CA - On Monday, Japan and South Korea announced an historic agreement regarding the issue of ""comfort women"" - women who were captured and used as sex slaves by the Japanese Army during World War II. Under the agreement, Japan will apologize to the Korean women for the physical and emotional pain and contribute approximately $8.3 million to a fund for the survivors. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) has repeatedly called on Japan to acknowledge this wrong, most recently during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Washington in April. Rep. Chu welcomed the agreement and released the following statement: ""This is an historic apology for an historic wrong by Japan. For the women who were forced into sex slavery by the Japanese Army during World War II, the wounds have stayed open for decades. Unfortunately for these women, Japan has often denied responsibility and blamed their suffering on war. This has made it difficult for the survivors to recover and offers a shield to those who would repeat these horrors in the future. We have a responsibility to close this painful chapter and help the survivors move forward. By acknowledging both Japan's role and remorse, and by contributing to a fund for the survivors, Japan is setting an example for the world that such crimes cannot be forgotten, ignored, or repeated. I hope that this will help the survivors and the people of Korea and Japan to move forward in peace.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://pallone.house.gov/press-release/pallone-decries-noaa%E2%80%99s-restrictive-summer-flounder-quota,Pallone Decries NOAAs Restrictive Summer Flounder Quota,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NJ,Frank Pallone,P000034,pallone.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) decried the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) final rule on 2016 summer flounder catch limits released today. Under the rule, the summer flounder acceptable catch limit is being reduced by 30 percent, from 23 million pounds to 16 million pounds. I am most disappointed in the restrictive rule for our commercial and recreational fishermen in New Jersey. They depend on a sufficient summer flounder quota and without one, New Jerseys economy faces a threat as it continues to rebound from Superstorm Sandy, said Congressman Pallone. I am fully committed to working with my New Jersey colleagues and pressing NOAA for more favorable catch limits in the future. Earlier this year, Pallone submitted a letter to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), which reviews the quota process prior to NOAA. In his letter, which was signed by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), Pallone requested less restrictive quota limits for summer flounder stock. The letter is available HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://pallone.house.gov/press-release/president-signs-pallone%E2%80%99s-bill-ban-microbeads-cosmetics,President Signs Pallones Bill to Ban Microbeads in Cosmetics,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NJ,Frank Pallone,P000034,pallone.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced that President Obama today signed into law Pallones Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015. The legislation will prohibit the manufacture and sale of personal care products that contain plastic microbeads. These small bits of plastic, used as exfoliants in personal care products, like face wash and toothpaste, can slip through water treatment systems after they are washed down the drain. As a result, these microbeads often end up in local streams, rivers and larger bodies of water. The law will ban themanufacturing of personal care products containing plastic microbeads effective July 1, 2017. Pallone introduced the bill earlier this year with Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI-06). The Presidents signature on this legislation is a major victory for U.S. waterways and the environment, said Congressman Pallone. Without the ban, an estimated eight trillion plastic microbeads pollute U.S. waterways each day, threatening the environment and ultimately our health. My bill is a commonsense, bipartisan solution to this little-known but serious problem. Scientists have found evidence of microbeads in numerous bodies of water in the United States, including increasingly in the Great Lakes, the worlds largest source of freshwater. In addition to contributing to the buildup of plastic pollution in waterways, microbeads can be mistaken by fish and other organisms as food. If consumed by fish, the chemicals found in synthetic plastic microbeads can then be passed on to other wildlife and humans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://pascrell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pascrell-south-korea-japan-deal-marks-progress,Rep. Pascrell: South Korea-Japan Deal Marks Progress,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NJ,Bill Pascrell,P000096,pascrell.house.gov,,,legacy,"PATERSON, N.J. Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) issued a statement on the historic accord reached between South Korea and Japan regarding so-called 'comfort women' who were held in sexual slavery by Japans Imperial Army during World War II. ""I want to applaud the governments of both South Korea and Japan for completing this historic joint announcement, a giant step forward for relations between two key allies across the Pacific,"" Rep. Pascrell said. ""While not an end to the suffering that these women endured, with the formal apology from Japan, the historical truth of this atrocity can no longer be denied or forgotten. That is at the heart of the progress made today."" Pascrell represents the Borough of Palisades Park, which is home to the first monument dedicated to the comfort women in the United States. He is also a former member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and has been critical of Japan's recognition of the issue over the years. Pascrell proudly cosponsored the comfort women resolution, H. Res. 121, which called for the Japanese government to acknowledge and apologize for their Imperial militarys coercion of young women into sexual slavery during the 1930s and 1940s. This resolution was passed by voice vote on July 30, 2007. Pascrell was also one of only a few members of Congress that spoke at a reception in Washington hosted by Japanese American Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA-17) and Korean American Civic Empowerment (KACE) commemorating the fifth anniversary of H.R. 121. Last June, Pascrell and 17 colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to the Ambassador of Japan to the United States calling the timing and contents of a Japanese government report on the Kono Statement about the sexual enslavement of over 200,000 women by the Japanese Army during World War II regrettable and unfortunate. The Kono Statement, issued by the Japanese government in 1993, acknowledged the Japanese Armys sexual enslavement of women, but did not offer a formal apology. The 2014 report investigated the circumstances of the crafting of that statement. ""I will continue my work with my colleagues in Congress to strengthen our relationships with South Korea and Japan and to work for the cause of human rights around the world,"" Pascrell said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-on-historic-comfort-women-agreement-between-south-korea-and,Pelosi Statement on Historic Comfort Women Agreement Between South Korea and Japan,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,,,legacy,"Contact: Drew Hammill/Evangeline George,202-226-7616 San Francisco Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement today following the agreement between South Korea and Japan that accepts the latter government's formal acknowledgment and apology for the Imperial Armed Forces' coercion of young women, known as 'comfort women', into sexual slavery during Japan's occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands during the World War II era: Today, so-called comfort women who lived in terror during the Second World War have finally received the apology they have demanded for decades. This historic agreement between South Korea and Japan represents a victory for the survivors and a victory for global human rights. By formally acknowledging and apologizing for this World War II-era atrocity, Japan atones for its past and asserts that human dignity and liberty are universal human rights. May the hundreds of thousands of women forced by the Japanese Imperial Army into sexual slavery know that the world will forever remember their courage and determination to win justice. For the women who survive, may this agreement bring peace. For the South Korean and Japanese people, may this agreement signal the start of a new era of brotherhood. Following years of international efforts, including the Comfort Women Resolution passed by the House in 2007, the global community applauds this agreement. As we work together with our allies to transform a painful past into a brighter future, we commend the determined, bold leadership of South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. This agreement brings honor to both the South Korean and Japanese people and hope for a better, more harmonious future. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390458,Schrader ranked among top 10 most effective lawmakers in the U.S. Congress,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,OR,Kurt Schrader,S001180,schrader.house.gov,,,legacy,"Public approval of Congress is near historic lows. Journalists, scholars, and presidential candidates regularly express frustration with Congresss inability to get anything done. So which members of the U.S. House are skilled at overcoming gridlock and successfully making laws?Building on our existing research on legislative effectiveness in the United States Congress, we have updated our Legislative Effectiveness Scores (LES) to include those House members who served in the 113th Congress (2013-14). As described in our recently published book, the Legislative Effectiveness Score is constructed to measure how successful a given representative is at moving his or her own legislative agenda items (meaning, sponsored bills) through different stages of the legislative process, where each of those bills is also coded for its substantive significance. The specific formula for the LES can be found here. Drawing on these updated scores, the following tables identify the five most effective representatives from the Republican and Democratic Parties, respectively. Most Effective Republican Representatives (Name/State and District) Dave Camp (MI-4) Darrell Issa (CA-49) Ed Royce (CA-39) Doc Hastings (WA-4) Don Young (AK) Most Effective Democratic Representatives (Name/State and District) Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) Richard Nolan (MN-8) Elijah Cummings (MD-7) Kurt Schrader (OR-5) Derek Kilmer (WA-6) All of them except Camp and Hastings are now serving in the current 114th Congress. Our research suggests that effective lawmakers in one Congress are more likely to produce landmark laws in the next. Given the success of these representatives, should we be optimistic that the current Congress can tackle major issues? On the Republican side, we see that these most-effective representatives have introduced many bills (H.R.s) into the House. Despite an arguably contentious environment, they have had a good deal of success. Issa, for example, sponsored the FOIA Act (H.R. 653) and the First Responders Passport Act of 2015 (H.R. 3750), both of which were acted upon in committee (with hearings and amendments considered) and have been ordered to be reported from committee (moving toward a vote of the full House). Royce has seen nine of the 18 House bills that he sponsored treated substantively, with such actions as committee markups and hearings. His Global Anti-Poaching Act (H.R. 2494) passed the House and is currently being considered in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 (H.R. 2297) passed the House and also recently passed the Senate (with amendment). As he has in previous Congresses, Young continues to be a strong advocate for his home state of Alaska, the beneficiary of almost all of the more than 40 bills that he has introduced into the 114th Congress. Two of these bills, H.R. 336 and H.R. 1335, have already passed the House and have been referred to the relevant Senate committees for consideration. Several others have been the focus of various committee and subcommittee markups and hearings. Since the Democrats are in the minority, the five highly effective Democratic representatives have been less successful in moving bills forward. But even they have made headway. For example, the Tribal Coastal Resilience Act (H.R. 2719), sponsored by Kilmer, has been the subject of subcommittee hearings. More impressively, the Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2015 (H.R. 1557), sponsored by Cummings, unanimously passed the House and has been making progress in the Senate. In these bills, Congress is tackling important local, national, and international issues. Their success tells us that even in these contentious times, members of both parties can move bills forward, especially when they adopt the habits of highly effective lawmakers. Read this article on The Washington Post.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-boyle-death-staff-sergeant-peter-taub-montgomery-county,"Congressman Boyle on the death of Staff Sergeant Peter Taub, a Montgomery County Native",2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,PA,Brendan Boyle,B001296,boyle.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Today, Representative Brendan Boyle (PA-13) released the following statement on the death of an American soldier and Montgomery County native in Afghanistan: I was saddened today to hear that Staff Sergeant Peter Taub, a Wyncote, PA native, was among the six americans killed in an attack in Afghanistan earlier this week near Bagram Airfield. Staff Sgt. Taub was a truly dedicated soldier and public servant. We are grateful to him for giving the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, daughter, family and fellow service members at this most difficult time.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=575,NY Times: Americans Held Hostage in Iran Win Compensation 36 Years Later,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,VA,Gerald Connolly,C001078,connolly.house.gov,,,legacy,"After spending 444 days in captivity, and more than 30 years seeking restitution, the Americans taken hostage at the United States Embassy in Tehran in 1979 have finally won compensation. Read more. share: f t By DAVID M. HERSZENHORNAfter spending 444 days in captivity, and more than 30 years seeking restitution, the Americans taken hostage at the United States Embassy in Tehran in 1979 have finally won compensation.Buried in the huge spending bill signed into law last Friday are provisions that would give each of the 53 hostages or their estates up to $4.4 million. Victims of other state-sponsored terrorist attacks such as the 1998 American Embassy bombings in East Africa would also be eligible for benefits under the law.“I had to pull over to the side of the road, and I basically cried,” said Rodney V. Sickmann, who was a Marine sergeant working as a guard at the embassy in Tehran when he was seized along with the other Americans by a mob that overran the compound on Nov. 4, 1979. “It has been 36 years, one month, 14 days, obviously, until President Obama signed the actual bill, until Iran was held accountable,” he said.The law now stands to bring closure to an episode that riveted the nation and ruptured America’s ties with Iran. The very agreement that won the hostages’ release in 1981 barred them from seeking restitution. Their legal claims were repeatedly blocked in the courts, including an appeal denied by the Supreme Court. Congress tried but failed to pass laws granting them relief.But this year, vindication came in a decision that forced the Paris-based bank BNP Paribas to pay a $9 billion penalty for violating sanctions against Iran, Sudan and Cuba. Some of that money was suddenly available for victims of state-sponsored terrorism. Congress was also motivated by many members’ anger over the Iran nuclear accord.Some of the hostages were subject to physical and psychological torture during their long ordeal, and many regarded the thaw as frustrating and premature.Like most of the hostages, Mr. Sickmann learned of the imminent legislation in a conference call with their main lawyer, V. Thomas Lankford, on Dec. 16.“It became clear that we were sort of inextricably linked to the nuclear negotiations,” Mr. Lankford said in an interview. “Those negotiations resulted in an understanding that an inevitable next step in securing a relationship was to address the reason for the rupture, which was our kidnapping and torture.”“As valuable as stopping the spread of nuclear arms is,” he added, “it’s equally important to establish the precedent that in one way, shape, form or another, a state sponsor of terrorism will not be permitted to walk away.”It is not clear whether all the former hostages or their families will receive full payments. In large measure that is because the $4.4 million total authorized by Congress depends on the outcome of efforts to collect on judgments won in earlier court rulings involving victims of terrorist attacks, as well as on the number of victims who file claims.The law authorizes payments of up to $10,000 per day of captivity for each of the 53 hostages, 37 of whom are still alive. Fifty-two hostages were released on Jan. 20, 1981; a 53rd hostage had been released earlier because of illness. Spouses and children are authorized to receive a lump payment of as much as $600,000.Of the $9 billion penalty paid by BNP Paribas, about $1 billion will be put into a compensation fund for victims of terrorism, with more money and assets potentially added as a result of continuing litigation. An additional $2.8 billion will aid victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and their family members.Initial payments are to be disbursed within one year, according to a formula that will be overseen by a special master appointed by the Justice Department and that imposes limits on payments to victims who have won judgments in excess of $20 million. The initial payments are expected to fall well short of the maximum.Several of the surviving hostages and their families said that reparations were long overdue. Many said they felt their ordeal had been long forgotten by the general public until the 2012 movie “Argo,” directed by Ben Affleck, which focused on six people who managed to escape from the besieged embassy and take refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador, Ken Taylor.Some of the hostages also said the compensation award would serve as a reminder of the perils still faced by United States diplomatic personnel working in dangerous locations overseas, such as the diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, where Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in 2012.“Time and time again, we thought we’d get a bill,” said David M. Roeder, a retired Air Force colonel who was an attaché at the embassy in Tehran when he was taken hostage. “We were pushing toward the goal line, and our portion would get stripped out.”Mr. Roeder called the experience “the epitome of the roller coaster ride.” He added, “We were sent into harm’s way by our government and then nobody seemed to want to do anything about it.”Over the years, the former hostages had numerous champions in Congress. In recent years, some of their strongest advocates included the Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, Representative Sean Duffy, Republican of Wisconsin, and Representative Gerald E. Connolly, Democrat of Virginia. All had pushed for stand-alone legislation to compensate the ex-hostages.In a statement, Mr. Reid said that the action by Congress was long overdue. “These Americans, held hostage for 444 days in 1979, deserved to finally be compensated for the horrors that they and their families have survived,” he said.Mr. Sickmann said that he would have preferred that Iran pay compensation directly, as Libya did for victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, but that he did not expect an apology from Iran. “I don’t believe that they will ever, ever apologize,” he said. “They don’t believe that they did anything wrong.”Some former hostages and their family members had expressed frustration at the Justice and State Departments for blocking efforts over the years to get compensation. In a sense, the spending bill represents Congress’s taking control of the BNP Paribas money back from the Justice Department.Some hostages did not want to discuss the legislation. “It’s enough,” said Barry Rosen, who was a press attaché at the embassy. “We’ve gone through enough.”http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/25/us/politics/americans-held-hostage-in-iran-win-compensation-36-years-later.html",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=576,"Connolly Statement on Prime Minister Abe's Apology and Compensation Offer to South Korean ""Comfort Women"" Victims",2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,VA,Gerald Connolly,C001078,connolly.house.gov,,,legacy,"Connolly Statement on Prime Minister Abe's Apology and Compensation Offer to South Korean ""Comfort Women"" Victims f t # e Washington, DC, December 28, 2015 Congressman Gerry Connolly, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, released the following statement in response to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's apology and compensation offer to South Korean ""Comfort Women"" victims. Read more. share: f t Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, released the following statement in response to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s apology and compensation offer to South Korean “Comfort Women” victims:“I welcome the long overdue apology for the “Comfort Women” and hopefully the beginning of a new chapter in South Korea-Japan relations. The plight of the “Comfort Women” is a matter of historical record, and Prime Minister Abe’s actions today should help offer these women and their families the dignity and respect they deserve.”Congressman Connolly is co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Korea and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittee on the Asia-Pacific. Connolly has supported legislation that called on the Government of Japan to accept responsibility for World War II era transgressions, namely the coercion of women into sexual slavery. The legislation also urged the Prime Minister to issue a public statement in his official capacity apologizing for the enslavement and trafficking of women. In 2014, Connolly wrote to the Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. to express his profound disappointment that the Government of Japan had conducted a review of a statement issued by Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono in 1993 acknowledging the coercion of “Comfort Women” into sexual servitude by the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces. In the letter, Connolly noted that any effort to diminish the suffering experienced by the “Comfort Women” or undermine the Japanese government’s subsequent contrition is deeply regrettable. f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1684,Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge Statement on the Tamir Rice Decision,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,OH,Marcia Fudge,F000455,fudge.house.gov,,,legacy,"WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, OH Today, Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) released the following statement after Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty announced the grand jury decision in the case of the shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice: ""My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Tamir Rice and the greater Cleveland community. Despite today's grand jury decision not to indict the police officers in the shooting death of Tamir Rice at the request of Prosecutor McGinty, I ask the community to continue to support the Rice family and remain calm. ""This is no indictment against the grand jury or the police officers, and I thank both for their service. However, it is an indictment against Prosecutor McGinty whose handling of this case in my opinion tainted the outcome. Although the grand jury decision may be the right one, we will never know because the prosecutor refused to step down and allow an independent review. Further, his decision to try the case in the public in an effort to ""be transparent"" did not allow for questions to be raised or answered by his independent experts. The prosecutor conducted the investigation in a manner that I believe inappropriate and as a result he has lost the trust and confidence of our community, and, indeed, mine as well. I accept the decision, but the means do not justify the end."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congress-passes-school-bill-that-includes-environmental-education,Congress Passes School Bill that Includes Environmental Education,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"On more than one occasion, Ive been walking in the Annapolis 4th of July Parade, and people have yelled out to me, No Child Left Inside, said Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland, who became one of the causes earliest champions in Congress. So it definitely hit a nerve out there. In December, the work paid off. Congress replaced No Child Left Behind with the new Every Student Succeeds Act. Although other agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have long had environmental education programs, the new law is the first time a bill covering primary and secondary education even mentioned environmental education. It seemed to me to be a grand omission, Sarbanes said. Those other agencys involvement is fine and good and important, but educators look to the Department of Education. They are in large part driven by the grant opportunities that are available from the Department of Education.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/latest-headlines/this-parent-trap-involves-71-billion-of-federal-education-debt,This parent trap involves $71 billion of federal education debt,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MO,Claire McCaskill,M001170,www.mccaskill.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The U.S. government is sitting on a growing pile of debt backed by little more than parental love. That's because parents can borrow tens of thousands of dollars a year for their kids' college education without showing they can pay it back. About 3 million parents have $71 billion in loans, contributing to more than $1.2 trillion in federal education debt. As of May 2014, half of the balance was in deferment, racking up interest at annual rates as high as 7.9 percent. ""It's deeply problematic that the federal government is making relatively high-interest loans without thinking about, much less checking, whether the people they're lending to will be crippled by this debt,"" said Toby Merrill, a Harvard Law School lecturer who has counseled defaulted parents through the school's Project on Predatory Student Lending. ""We're impoverishing the less-privileged population who are aging. That's a terrible policy."" The U.S. Education Department, which administers the parent PLUS loan program, doesn't regularly provide performance data, even though taxpayers will have to foot the bill for any unpaid debt. The last time the agency released default rates for parent loans, in 2014 for the group that deferred payment until their kids left school and began repaying in 2010, the rate was 5.1 percent, up from 1.8 percent four years earlier. It has projected that loans originated in 2014 will default over their lifetime at a rate of 10.2 percent. In August and October, the department deniedFreedom of Information Actrequests by Bloomberg News seeking parent default and deferment numbers by college, saying it ""has yet to complete its analysis"" by institution. The agency provides default data annually, broken out by school, for most student borrowers. Those rates help determine which schools can continue to access the loan program. ""We can't fix problems in the student-loan programs if researchers, policymakers and consumers don't have access to the information they need,"" Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in an emailed response to questions. Sen.Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, plans to look at ways to improve the disclosure of loan information in forthcoming legislation, according to a spokeswoman. Denise Horn, an Education Department spokeswoman, said the government is committed to keeping college accessible and affordable, while helping families make informed choices about borrowing, including parent loans. ""As part of those efforts, the department offers loan counseling to all PLUS loan applicants to empower parents with additional details on their loans,"" Horn said in an email. ""We believe this is an important component to ensuring borrowers are aware of and understand their repayment obligations."" Maria Correa, a 63-year-old secretary and breast-cancer survivor, is one of those parents being crushed by debt. Correa, who moved to Chicago from Manila in 1982, began borrowing from the government in 2009 to help send her daughter toDePaul University, a private college in Chicago. She took out $120,000 in parent PLUS loans over four years, in addition to the $27,000 her daughter borrowed from the government. Parents like Correa can borrow the entire cost of a child's college education -- in some cases more than $50,000 a year -- without having to provide income data. The government requires only that they don't have ""adverse credit"" for two years, a duration reduced from five years by the Education Department last year. Applicants can have loan balances of $2,100 that are delinquent 90 days or more, are in collection or charged off and still qualify for a PLUS loan. ""It was so easy to get the loan,"" Correa said over lunch at a Macy's store in downtown Chicago, near the office where she has worked for the past 27 years. ""I tried my best to help out with my daughter's needs."" Correa's family budget ""spiraled down,"" she said, after her husband, Marc, now 68, suffered a stroke in 2010 that left him paralyzed on his right side and permanently disabled. He previously was employed by a restaurant group at Chicago's O'Hare Airport repairing equipment. Now his Social Security checks mostly go to pay for medication, Correa said. Correa deferred repayment while her daughter was in college, as a law passed by Congress in 2008 allowed her to do. Now she's in the second year of a maximum three-year hardship deferment. Meanwhile interest has been accruing on her 7.9 percent loans, swelling her debt to almost $170,000. ""Every day it's on my mind,"" said Correa, who lost her house in 2012 because she couldn't afford the monthly mortgage payments of more than $2,000. ""How am I going to pay it?"" Correa, who moved with her husband to their daughter's home in Bolingbrook, a Chicago suburb, said she plans to use the third year of her hardship deferral and then enter a 25-year repayment plan that will lower her monthly bill to about $1,500 based on her current balance, instead of $2,000. If she makes every payment, she would be at least 90 when the debt is paid off. ""I don't know if I will default,"" said Correa. ""I don't know when I'll retire."" Correa's daughter, who requested that her first name not be used, majored in journalism and public relations at DePaul, graduating in 2013. She works for a nonprofit organization in Chicago and said she pays about $400 a month on her loan. DePaul, the largest Catholic university in the United States, cautions parents and students to borrow only what is prudent, Jon Boeckenstedt, associate vice president of enrollment and marketing, said in an email. ""We cannot control how much a parent borrows on a PLUS loan for an undergraduate,"" he said. Parents can borrow to cover tuition, room, board and books, minus grants or loans the student receives. PLUS loans also carry an origination fee of 4.3 percent. The current interest rate is 6.8 percent, and it was almost 8 percent from July 2006 to June 2013. ""When money comes from the government, a trusted source, parents do have good reason to borrow,"" said Merrill, the Harvard lecturer. ""But the problem is their income is not going to change based on their kids' education."" Parents aren't eligible for most programs that offer reduced payments for struggling student borrowers based on income. For older borrowers like Correa, the burden can be onerous. About 17 percent of parent loans held by borrowers 65 to 74 were in default in 2013, according to Education Department data provided for a 2014 Government Accountability Office report. Older borrowers who default on education debt can have Social Security payments garnished. The practice is of such concern to Sens. Warren andClaire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, that they asked the GAO in April to study the impact. Congress doesn't require data on parent loans to be reported annually by school, the same way it is for student borrowers. While the Obama administration has pushed for transparency by publishing data about cumulative loans and repayment rates for student borrowers, it doesn't apply to parents. The Education Department, which said last year it would release performance measures for parent PLUS loans ""where appropriate,"" hasn't made such information available. ""It's dangerous that the program is opaque about its likely future losses,"" said Deborah Lucas, a former chief economist for theCongressional Budget Officeand now a professor of finance at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ""That's a situation that really needs to change given the magnitude of the potential losses in this program.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-commissioner-redeker-state-rep-adams-celebrate-more-than-1-billion-to-improve-amtrak-safety-and-reliability-for-connecticut-residents-,"MURPHY, COMMISSIONER REDEKER, STATE REP. ADAMS CELEBRATE MORE THAN $1 BILLION TO IMPROVE AMTRAK SAFETY RELIABILITY FOR CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS",2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, COMMISSIONER REDEKER, STATE REP. ADAMS CELEBRATE MORE THAN $1 BILLION TO IMPROVE AMTRAK SAFETY & RELIABILITY FOR CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS Murphy fought to secure new funding in year-end budget deal as member of Senate Appropriations Committee Monday, December 28, 2015 STAMFORD Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined Commissioner Jim Redeker of the Connecticut Department of Transportation and State Representative Terry Adams at the Stamford Train Station to applaud more than $1.4 billion of investments in Amtrak and rail safety along the Northeast Corridor. Murphy highlighted the current dire state of repair along Connecticuts rail lines and outlined how the newly allotted funding will make rail travel safer and more reliable for Connecticut residents. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, Murphy fought to ensure that the federal budget passed by Congress earlier this month includes $1.4 billion for Amtrak, which is an increase of $19 million from last year and includes a new $19 million fund dedicated to the Northeast Corridor. Congress just passed a federal budget that has in it a lot of good news for rail construction here in Connecticut, said Murphy. On the Appropriations Committee, I fought very hard to build into this budget a substantial increase for transportation funding and to break a string of budget cuts in the transportation account. Because of it, were getting $50 million to perform safety upgrades, and for the first time ever, were getting an account of $19 million dedicated just to the Northeast Corridor. Its a foot in the door that will help us address the specific needs of Connecticut residents and commuters for a long time to come. Rail in Connecticut is the lifeblood of our economy, and Id like to thank Commissioner Redeker and Representative Adams for their instrumental efforts in this fight. Murphy has been a vocal advocate on behalf of Connecticuts transportation priorities, and recently launched the new Fed Up campaign to hear directly from Connecticuts commuters how a more reliable commute could improve commerce, productivity, and quality of life for Connecticut commuters and residents.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-newly-passed-tax-benefits-will-help-working-riers-businesses-and-long-term-unemployed,"Reed: Newly Passed Tax Benefits will Help Working RIers, Businesses, & Long-Term Unemployed",2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,RI,Jack Reed,R000122,www.reed.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12/28/2015PROVIDENCE, RI In an effort to help working families keep more of the money they earn, boost Rhode Islands economy, and provide local businesses with the financial stability and certainty they need to succeed, U.S. Senator Jack Reed helped pass legislation earlier this month to enhance and extend several targeted tax benefits. Attached to the omnibus appropriations bill that Congress passed on December 18 was a tax extenders package that includes several provisions supported by Senator Reed designed to help working families and grow our economy. The extenders package includes an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and improvements to the Child Tax Credit (CTC), the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. And in an effort intended to spur innovation, the bill also permanently extends the Research and Development Tax Credit and extends tax credits for investments in clean, renewable energy that will support green jobs in Rhode Island. We need a multi-faceted approach to growing our economy and increasing living standards for working families, said Senator Reed. Congress recently passed a law providing significant tax relief for hardworking Rhode Islanders. I hope businesses will follow through on the bill's provisions which are intended to encourage more hiring and wage growth. Although I did not support every provision in the tax extenders package, I voted for the bill because it helps working families keep more of their hard earned money and provides the financial certainty businesses need to better plan for the future. Senator Reed, who earlier this year cosponsored the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2015, outlined several key provisions he supported that will benefit Rhode Island, including: Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): The new law provides $30 billion to permanently extend an increased credit for working families. The EITC for low- and moderate-income workers rewards work, offsets federal payroll and income taxes, and helps families meet their basic needs. The new law makes permanent the enhanced credit for families with three or more children and increased phase-out range for married couples filing jointly. According to a December 2015 report by the Middle Class Prosperity Project, the permanently expanded EITC would help 29,000 Rhode Island families and individuals, and boost the local economy by $19.4 million. Child Tax Credit (CTC): The new law provides $88 billion to permanently extend and expand the CTC, which is critical to helping middle- to low-income families with the cost of raising a child. In addition to a $1,000 credit per qualifying child, since 2009 parents have been granted an additional refundable credit equal to 15% of earned income in excess of $3,000. This threshold was set to revert back to $10,000 in 2017. But the new law makes the lower threshold permanent, putting additional cash in the pockets of thousands of Rhode Islanders. According to the latest estimates from the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities, 84,000 Rhode Island households received the EITC in 2012, while 54,000 Rhode Island households received the low-income part of the CTC in 2012. And 29,000 Rhode Islanders were lifted out of poverty by the EITC and CTC, including 14,000 children, each year, on average, during 2011 to 2013. The EITC put about $181 million into Rhode Islands economy in 2012. Reed noted that if the EITC and CTC were allowed to expire, it would have meant a loss of about $940 per year to the average Rhode Island family that currently receives the benefit. American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC): The new law provides $80 billion to permanently extend the AOTC, which helps students and families afford postsecondary education. First established under the Recovery Act in 2009, the AOTC provides many middle-class families with $1 back on their taxes for every $1 spent on undergraduate college education expenses for the first $2,000 and 25% of the next $2,000 for a total of up to $2,500 per year. The American Opportunity Tax Credit is designed to help make college more affordable for middle-class families. I want to ensure that all eligible Rhode Islanders are taking advantage of this opportunity to help pay for college, stated Reed, who helped inform hundreds of families about the AOTC at his annual financial aid workshop last month. Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a tax incentive program designed to encourage employers to hire and retain individuals from specific target groups with employment barriers. These groups include veterans, Empowerment Zone residents, and SNAP recipients. The new law adds a long-term unemployed category. Long-term unemployed recipients are defined as individuals who are unemployed for not less than 27 consecutive weeks and received unemployment compensation for a period of time under State or Federal law. This new category is effective for employees who start work after December 31, 2015. The national economy has made great strides, but there are still more than two million Americans who have been out of work for more than six months. It is imperative that we keep working to strengthen our economy, create jobs, and provide a fair shot for everyone. This provision will encourage more companies to give applicants whove experienced long-term unemployment a second look by providing a $2,400 incentive to hire them, said Reed. Research & Development Tax Credit: The new law provides $113 billion to permanently extend the Research and Development Tax Credit, which helps encourage business innovation and research. Starting in 2016, businesses with under $50 million in gross receipts will be free to use the credit to offset the alternative minimum tax. Also, certain start-up businesses which may not have an income tax liability will be able to offset payroll taxes with the credit. Energy Tax Provisions: In an effort to keep America on track toward a more sustainable energy future, Senator Reed cosponsored the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act and the new law contains key elements of that bill, providing multi-year extensions of wind, solar, and alternative fuel credits. It provides a 10 percent tax credit, up to $500, for qualified energy-efficiency improvements to homes. So Rhode Islanders adding insulation or weatherizing homes may be eligible to get rebates. The $500 limit includes any amount claimed previously under the same tax credit. The new law also includes new deductions for qualified conservation contributions based on provisions from the Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2015, which Senator Reed cosponsored. This federal tax deduction for people donating conservation easements could make it easier to protect open space and farm land from development. Educator Expense Deduction for Teachers Buying School Supplies: K-12 teachers who purchase classroom supplies for their students out of their own pockets will now be eligible for an above-the-line deduction of up to $250. And the deduction will be indexed to inflation so its value will increase over time. Professional development costs will be eligible too, starting in 2016. Tax-Free Transfers to Charity Renewed for IRA Owners 70 or Older: The new law includes several charitable giving incentives that could benefit Rhode Islanders, including allowing taxpayers over 70 years old to make tax-free donations of up to $100,000 directly from an individual retirement account (IRA). -end- Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://meng.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/meng-says-new-tax-measures-will-help-queens,Meng Says New Tax Measures Will Help Queens,2015-12-27,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NY,Grace Meng,M001188,meng.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) praised the passage of tax breaks that she said will benefit individuals and small businesses in Queens, including a commuter tax credit for mass transit commuters and increasing expense limits for businesses for equipment costs. These were part of a $1.1 trillion spending package approved in Washington last week. The tax measures, passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Barack Obama Dec. 18, will make permanent several tax breaks that Congress has traditionally only renewed on a temporary basis. This package of tax breaks is a great holiday gift for residents and entrepreneurs in Queens and New York City, and I was proud to vote for it, Meng said. It will send critical tax relief to our region, helping not only with our wallets, but with jobs and the economy. Also, by making these tax breaks permanent, residents and small business owners in the borough will be better able to plan for the future. They will have certainty about the tax breaks for which they qualify.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://norton.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/norton-makes-2016-predictions,Norton Makes 2016 Predictions,2015-12-27,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,DC,Eleanor Norton,N000147,norton.house.gov,,,legacy,"Norton Makes 2016 Predictions *Pages in Parentheses Correspond to Nortons End of the Year Newsletter Representing the District of Columbia, I can afford only conservative assumptions when predicting the unknown 2016. So, here goes. Paul Ryan, the new House Speaker, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have both been anxious to show that they can govern, and, by 2017, would like to control the executive as well. In 2015, we established good relationships with Senate Republican appropriators and authorizers, whose voting records were the opposite of the prior Democratic-controlled Senate, and also got assistance working closely with Democratic leaders and Members in both chambers. Yet, D.C.s results were not different under Republican control than under Democratic control, except for significant increases in funding in the 2015 Republican-controlled Congress (pg. 2). No New Anti-Home-Rule Riders With so much at stake in 2016 for the Republican Senate, I am assuming that it will not be the year Republican senators, who represent entire states, score with their home states by bringing home D.C. riders (we are well known to be strike back with both local and social media outreach), or buy into Republican House extremism by adopting House riders as the Senates own. However, Republican House Members have serially attacked D.C.s gun safety laws and will likely do so again. Only Senate Republican Senate presidential candidates tried this year, and may again, but the Republican Senate, like this year, will probably not be seeking to favor one Senate presidential candidate by adopting a particular senators rider (pg. 3). We will need a Democratic Senate and House to get the rider that bars D.C. from spending local funds to provide abortion services to low-income women removed, as we did in 2009. The marijuana commercialization rider will be tough to remove as well, but the absurdity of legal possession in D.C. that drives residents to the illegal market for purchases will be acknowledged as more states embrace regulated commercialization. The Department of Homeland Security Consolidation in Ward 8 Will Be Completed We got the full requested funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Ward 8 campus in 2015 (pg. 2). This amount is enough for design funding for a new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) building on the St. Elizabeths West Campus and completion of the Center Building, now under construction, for the DHS Secretary and his top 700 staff members. Many thought the DHS project would be a lost cause, but getting a little pregnant at a time worked. I predict that, considering FEMA is the last building to be constructed, the DHS consolidated headquarters will be completed. Statehood Will Be Strengthened This year, instead of adding cosponsors after I introduced our statehood bill, I asked Democrats to become original cosponsors with me and 93 Democrats agreed, which set a new record. Now, a record total of 128 cosponsors have signed on to the bill (pg. 3). In the Senate, a record 17 Democrats introduced our statehood bill as original cosponsors with Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), the ranking member of the committee of jurisdiction, including the top four Democratic leaders. I will keep adding to that record in 2016. Building on this increased interest in Congress for statehood, I will be working with residents on new strategies, among them finding creative ways to use HBOs Last Week Tonight D.C. statehood segment lampooning Congress for denying D.C. residents equal rights. More Economic Development In 2015, we got an unprecedented increase in federal economic development funding for D.C. because of my role as one of the Big Four House transportation and infrastructure leaders, who wrote the first long-term surface transportation bill in 10 years (pg. 2). Although our federal funding will not be as great in 2016, I expect increased economic development because of private sector funding at development sites I have gotten for the District The Wharf (SW Waterfront), The Yards (SE Waterfront), and the old Walter Reed Hospital site (pg. 2). More National Legislation to Help D.C. We should be able to get bills through the House on airplane noise and synthetic drugs. In 2015, I searched and found Republican and Democratic allies troubled by these same issues (pgs. 5, 6). In 2016, I will collaborate with them to pass bills on airplane noise and synthetic drugs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://algreen.house.gov/press-release/congressman-al-green%E2%80%99s-statement-concerning-christmas-day-fire-savoy-mosque,Congressman Al Greens Statement Concerning the Christmas Day Fire at the Savoy Mosque,2015-12-26,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Houston, TX)--On Saturday, December 26, 2015, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement concerning the Christmas Day fire at the Savoy Mosque (also known as the Wilcrest Masjid operated by the Islamic Society of Greater Houston): I received a phone call from a concerned constituent informing me of the fire that occurred at the Savoy Mosque on Christmas Day, December 25, 2015. The Savoy Mosque is located in our highly-diverse Ninth Congressional District with a commendable Muslim population. We appreciate our diversity, and we are proud to live in Houston. We are always concerned (especially in light of recent comments and events regarding the Muslim community) when an unexplained fire occurs at a place of worship: be it a chapel, church, mosque, synagogue, temple, or other place of worship. Hence, we join all people of good will in encouraging a thorough investigation. We also request that information concerning the cause of the fire be made public as soon as is feasible, so as to thwart mounting speculation. My thoughts and prayers are with the Savoy Mosque worshippers and the Muslim community during this difficult time.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-sewell-issues-statement-tornado-damage-southwest-birmingham,Rep. Sewell Issues Statement on Tornado Damage in Southwest Birmingham,2015-12-26,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,AL,Terri Sewell,S001185,sewell.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell released the following statement on the heavy storms and tornadoes that affected the Southwest Birmingham area on Christmas Day. My heart is with those impacted by the tornado that swept across parts of Southwest Birmingham on Christmas Day. We have been through similar tragedies together, and we know what is possible when communities come together in times of need. I have been in touch with local officials throughout the affected area, and my staff is working with local and state officials to help assess the extent of the damage and to assist with any recovery efforts. I am especially thankful for the work that Hopewell Baptist Church, Pastor E. E. Rodgers, Commissioner Sandra Little Brown and countless others have done to provide immediate assistance to those in need. ""My office and I are in contact with the Governor's office and the State EMA to monitor the situation. We are working with local, state, and federal officials to bring assistance to those affected."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/latest-headlines/river-letter-just-the-facts-,River letter: Just the facts,2015-12-26,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MO,Claire McCaskill,M001170,www.mccaskill.senate.gov,,,legacy,"River letter: Just the facts Saturday, December 26, 2015 Someone in the federal bureaucracy may take offense, but our regional congressional delegation simply spoke the truth in a letter delivered in recent days to an assistant secretary of the U.S. Army. Twenty lawmakers including Northwest Missouri Rep. Sam Graves and Missouri Sens. Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill took the occasion to remind Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy that her oversight of civil works must extend to protecting all Missouri River stakeholders, not just two species of birds. The officials were restrained in their language but direct in stating the threat they see from a new initiative of the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designed to restore the habitats of the least tern and the piping plover. It has come to our attention that the Corps and FWS have presented a list of proposed alternative recovery actions (that) call for significant changes to the operation of the mainstem reservoir system (of the Missouri River) including alterations to the spring pulse, addition of a fall pulse, and addition of a low summer flow. These actions could threaten water supply for municipal use and agricultural irrigation, create difficulties for controlling flood risks, eliminate the navigation season, and reduce recreational opportunities. In short, revising the Master Manual (which governs management of the river) to adhere exclusively to a single purpose would be to the detriment of the other authorized purposes. The representatives and senators speak with a voice of reason when they note the interest to explore alternatives to current strategies for boosting populations of the two bird species. But they add that such an agenda should be guided by the best available science, should seek to minimize risk to stakeholders, and should be constrained by the guidelines set out in the current Master Manual. That document, by the way, last was subject to a full-scale revision following what the lawmakers said was a 17-year process that cost $30 million. Then, in 2006, it was revised to balance the eight congressionally authorized purposes for management of the river and in line with Fish and Wildlifes scientific findings about river wildlife. We concur with our representatives in Washington that the Corps and FWS should be governed by existing polices and not be allowed to pursue a disruptive single-issue agenda that almost certainly would have negative impacts on downstream landowners, businesses and communities. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-increases-federal-resources-to-confront-heroin-crisis-and-overcome-barriers-to-treatment-and-recovery,Reed Increases Federal Resources to Confront Heroin Crisis & Overcome Barriers to Treatment and Recovery,2015-12-26,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,RI,Jack Reed,R000122,www.reed.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12/26/2015PROVIDENCE, RI In an effort to prevent heroin and prescription drug addiction from cutting short more lives in Rhode Island and nationwide, U.S. Senator Jack Reed is working to increase resources for Rhode Island and expand access to life-saving treatment for those in need. Whether it is helping an individual recover from addiction or helping entire communities overcome this opiate epidemic, they both require a multi-faceted, sustained approach. It also takes a real investment in resources. That is why I am working at the federal level to deliver additional funding to help communities across Rhode Island reduce abuse of opioids and prescription drugs. We need to improve addiction recovery outcomes and ensure people who need help have access to life saving treatments, said Reed. No community is immune to this problem and we have to overcome barriers to treatment."" This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report showing that drug overdose-induced deaths reached a record high last year, with 47,000 Americans lives being cut short. In Rhode Island, 241 people died from overdoses last year, an increase from 232 fatal overdoses in 2013, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, helped include a provision to provide $7 million to fund anti-heroin task forces within the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. Rhode Island may compete for competitive grants from this pot of funding for improving drug prevention strategies, including investigations and activities related to stopping the distribution of heroin or unlawful diversion and distribution of prescription opioids. The bill also provides $12 million in funding for residential drug treatment, $13 million for prescription drug monitoring, and $42 million for drug courts and the CDCs state-based anti-drug program. We need coordinated action to save lives and help people struggling with addiction to heroin and drugs. This federal funding will strengthen programs that provide needed services to Rhode Islanders struggling with substance abuse and help the state develop more effective approaches to treatment and prevention, said Reed, who supported efforts to ensure Rhode Island is eligible for additional federal funding through the CDCs Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention for States program. This program will invest a total of up to $20 million in 16 eligible states around the country, giving them additional resources and expertise to help prevent overdose deaths related to prescription opioids. The other states who may apply for a share of the federal funding include: Arizona, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin. Federal grants through the program will be distributed during the next four years and Rhode Island is projected to receive about $940,000 annually. Just this week, Brown Universitys medical school and Rhode Island Hospital were awarded $916,851 and $788,403 respectively to integrate extensive training in substance abuse screening and intervention into the curriculum to help future doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers better address opioid addiction and overdose. The federal funds were awarded through the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). According to the Naloxone and Overdose Prevention Education Program of Rhode Island (NOPE-RI), Rhode Island has the 7th highest fatal overdose rate in the nation and overdoses cost the state $280 million last year. Reed is also urging Congress to focus on the issue and hold votes when they return in the new year on measures like the Overdose Prevention Act, which Reed authored to help decrease the rate of drug overdose deaths by improving access to naloxone. The bill would also encourage the implementation of overdose prevention programs, improve surveillance of overdose occurrences, and establish a coordinated federal plan of action to address the epidemic. He is also backing a vote on the bipartisan Treatment and Recovery Investment Act, which could increase funding for states so they can better assist individuals with substance use disorders. The legislation is designed to expand the ability of addiction medicine specialists and other clinicians to prescribe life-saving medication to patients struggling with addiction to heroin and other opioids. The bill will expand access to medications that have been proven effective at treating opioid addiction by increasing the number of patients a provider is initially allowed to treat from 30 to 100 patients per year, and removing the patient cap entirely after one year for qualified physicians. Specifically, the bill allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to treat up to 100 patients per year as long as they are licensed in a state that already allows them to prescribe controlled substances, complete approved training on opioid addiction treatment and are supervised by a physician or work with a physician who is also approved to prescribe opioid addiction medication. In addition to immediately expanding access to treatment for patients suffering from heroin and opioid addiction, the legislation also requires the GAO to examine changes in treatment availability, the quality of treatment programs, integration with routine healthcare services, prevalence of diversion, the impact on the state-policies and legislation and the use of nurse practitioner and physicians assistant prescribers. Rhode Islanders struggling with drug abuse may call United Ways 2-1-1 hotline to connect with help and recovery services. -end- Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-celebrates-christmas-us-troops-serving-iraq,Cicilline Celebrates Christmas with U.S. Troops Serving in Iraq,2015-12-25,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"PAWTUCKET U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline spent the Christmas holidays in Baghdad, Iraq where he thanked American troops for their service and sacrifice during the holiday season. During his visit, Cicilline met and had dinner with Rhode Islanders who are among the 3,000 American troops currently serving in Iraq. Cicilline, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also participated in multiple briefings on the status of American military operations in the region. It was an incredibly humbling experience to spend Christmas in Iraq with the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces and to have the opportunity to thank them on behalf of all Rhode Islanders. Our troops and their families are making extraordinary sacrifices in service to our nation and their example is an inspiration to us all, said Cicilline. Those who have served our country in uniform embody the very best that our country has to offer. They deserve our strong support and deep gratitude. I wish all of our troops, their families, and loved ones a safe and happy holiday.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delbene.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/best-of-2015-devilish-dealing-in-washington-s-wilderness-expansion,Best of 2015: Devilish dealing in Washingtons wilderness expansion,2015-12-24,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Join me in Skagit County! November 14, 2017 Dear Friend, As your representative in Congress, one of the most important aspects of my job is to stay informed of the thoughts and opinions of my constituents, and I appreciate the time you take to share them with me. Thats why Im hosting a series of community forums in Skagit County on Saturday, November 18. I wil... Read More",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ellison-mccollum-emmer-send-letter-to-secretary-of-state-kerry-regarding,"Ellison, McCollum, Emmer Send Letter to Secretary of State Kerry Regarding Protests in Ethiopia",2015-12-24,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Keith Ellison,E000288,ellison.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON DC Reps. Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, and Tom Emmer sent the following letter to Secretary of State John Kerry regarding the student protests in the Oromia region of Ethiopia calling for stronger action against human rights violations: Full text of letter: December 23, 2015 The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State United States Department of State Washington, D.C. 20520 Dear Secretary Kerry: We are writing in regards to the recent student protests in the Oromia region of Ethiopia that have erupted in response to the Ethiopian governments Master Plan to expand Addis Ababa into surrounding farmland. Minnesota is home to the largest Oromo population in the United States and we have been contacted by hundreds of constituents concerned about the violence and intimidation these protesters have faced from government security forces. We would like to commend youfor condemning the recent killings and violence against peaceful Oromo protesters.However, our constituents feel that stronger action is required to address the deteriorating human rights situation in the region. The United States and Ethiopia have shared a long, fruitful relationship and are partners on a number of issues important to the region. This ongoing relationship, coupled with the extensive foreign assistance that the United States provides Ethiopia each year, should be used to leverage the United States position that inclusive democracy be practiced in Ethiopia. Numerous reports from organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Committee on the Protection of Journalists have revealed the growing practice of government security forces using arbitrary arrests and prosecution to silence journalists and Ethiopian citizens who are simply exercising freedom of expressiona fundamental right and the cornerstone of a democratic society. These individuals are often charged under the draconian 2009 anti-terrorism proclamation. The continued mistreatment and displacement of the Oromo ethnic group in the Oromia region is especially troubling. Furthermore, the Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO law), enacted in 2009, has made it nearly impossible for non-profits to operate in Ethiopia. Similar protests last year left dozens of Oromos dead and hundreds arrested. This year, there have already been five officially recorded deaths, although constituents close to the issue have informed us the true number of deaths is much higher with a death toll of at least 75. Recently, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that authorities will take merciless legitimate action against any force bent on destabilizing the area. This aggressive approach to peaceful protesters is cause for major concern by the United States and we therefore urge you to engage the Ethiopian leadership in a serious dialogue in order to prevent further loss of life and to ensure that Ethiopia is adhering to democratic principles. The United States Congress has already sent a strong message regarding Ethiopias response to protests. The2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill has provisions to ensure that the U.S. funding to Ethiopia cannot be used to support forced evictions in the country.Furthermore, the bill requires U.S. assistance to be used to support local community initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and be subject to prior consultation with affected populations. The bill also opposes U.S. funding to international financial institutions such as the World Bank for programs that could lead to forced evictions in Ethiopia. We respectfully ask you to conduct a full, thorough review of this ongoing situation.We cannot look the other way when our allies are violating the human rights of their citizens. If during your investigation you find violations of the Leahy Law, we ask that you respond by taking appropriate action. Thank you for your attention to this important human rights matter. Sincerely, Keith Ellison Member of Congress Betty McCollum Member of Congress Tom Emmer Member of Congres Cc: Susan Rice, National Security Advisor, White House Samantha Power, United States Ambassador to United Nations Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, United States House of Representatives Congressman Elliot Engel, Ranking member of Foreign Affairs Committee, United States House of Representatives",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/amtrak-completes-ptc-installment-on-dc-nyc-corridor,Blumenthal Statement on Amtrak’s Completed PTC Installment on DC-NYC Corridor,2015-12-24,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal Statement on Amtraks Completed PTC Installment on DC-NYC Corridor Print Tweet Senator urges Metro-North to expedite installation of life-saving technology on New Haven Line Thursday, December 24, 2015 (Hartford, CT) U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement on Amtraks completion of Positive Train Control (PTC) installation on its Northeast Corridor line from Washington, DC to New York City: With life-saving positive train control technology now in place from DC to New York City, the only section of the Northeast Corridor without this safety enhancement is the track from New York City to New Haven. Metro-North must redouble its efforts to quickly install PTC on the New Haven Line, putting passenger safety first. Connecticut commuters deserve nothing less. Amtrak has demonstrated that meeting the original deadline for installing this critical technology is possible, even on a dense, congested corridor like the track between DC and New York City. It is troubling that the New Haven Line and other major portions of our nations rail network remain vulnerable to preventable crashes and collisions. All railroads should follow Amtraks lead and implement PTC now, ahead of the recently extended schedule. And Congress must do its part by providing more funds to assist railroads in installing PTC. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hirono.senate.gov/press-releases/-hirono-encourages-cofa-citizens-in-hawaii-to-utilize-extended-health-care-insurance-enrollment-period,Hirono Encourages COFA Citizens In Hawaii To Utilize Extended Health Care Insurance Enrollment Period,2015-12-24,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,HI,Mazie Hirono,H001042,www.hirono.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hirono Encourages COFA Citizens In Hawaii To Utilize Extended Health Care Insurance Enrollment Period Thursday, December 24, 2015 Senator Mazie K. Hirono encourages eligible Hawaii residents from the Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations to enroll in health care coverage following the announcement that the enrollment period has been extended to February 15, 2016. Earlier this month, Senator Hirono led a Hawaii delegation letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell (http://1.usa.gov/1m8ddXl) to request a special enrollment period for COFA citizens in Hawaii due to the challenges experienced with the enrollment process on healthcare.gov. Senator Hirono spoke with Acting Administrator for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Andy Slavitt about how the call center hours and site maintenance downtime disadvantaged Hawaiis COFA citizens because of the time difference and the need to approve certified language translators. CMS today announced the special enrollment period with retroactive coverage. It is critical that residents from COFA nations have the ability to sign up for health care insurance to take care of themselves and their families. This extension is just the latest effort in our state's long-standing tradition of providing health care coverage for all, said Senator Hirono. I thank everyone who has diligently worked on this issue, particularly Governor Ige, my colleagues in the Hawaii congressional delegation, and especially Secretary Burwell and Acting CMS Administrator Slavitt for addressing the issues that Hawaiis COFA citizens face during this transition. We will continue our efforts to facilitate the process to help these individuals and their families to make sure everyone has health care coverage.And while the enrollment period has been extended by 60 days, I am encouraging our Micronesian community to sign up without delay. This is truly a Christmas gift to those families who missed the enrollment deadline. On behalf of our Micronesian community here in Hawaii, mahalo nui, said Josie Howard, program director for We Are Oceania. We are very grateful for the support and initiative from Senator Hirono. It is great to know that we have leaders who understand the needs of the community and go the extra mile to address those needs, said Dr. Emmanuel Kintu, executive director of the Kalihi Palama Health Clinic. We Are Oceania has 11 certified kokua assistors who have been working non-stop to enroll COFA citizens in Hawaii. Each individual application takes between two to four hours to complete. Kalihi Palama Health Clinic serves some 6,000 patients from the Pacific Islands. Of those, 3,500 are impacted by the ongoing enrollment challenges. Click on the following link for the CMS guidance on the Special Enrollment Period for Compact of Free Association Migrants in Hawaii: https://www.regtap.info/uploads/library/ENR_GuidanceSEP_HI_COFA_Migrants_122415_5CR_122415.pdf",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/-president-signs-reed-backed-bill-to-improve-access-to-bone-marrow-and-cord-blood-treatments-and-transplants,President Signs Reed-backed Bill to Improve Access to Bone Marrow & Cord Blood Treatments and Transplants,2015-12-24,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,RI,Jack Reed,R000122,www.reed.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12/24/2015WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help thousands of patients suffering from diseases requiring bone marrow and cord blood transplants, President Obama signed the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2015 into law. This critical measure, which was co-authored by U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Jack Reed (D-RI), reauthorizes the National Marrow Donor Program and the National Cord Blood Inventory, renewing until 2020 these federal programs for using bone marrow and cord blood to treat diseases and conduct research. This bipartisan law builds upon the highly successful National Marrow Donor Program that has been a lifeline for thousands of transplant patients over the last several decades. It helps bring hope and a second chance at life to thousands of patients in need this year, said Senator Reed. Bone marrow and cord blood transplants continue to offer effective treatments for a number of diseases and disorders, and renewal of this bipartisan law marks a critical step forward in expanding access to lifesaving therapies to millions of patients with conditions that can be treated and even cured with bone marrow or cord blood. Reauthorization of this significant, life-saving bill will advance the important work of the bone marrow and cord blood programs to promote new discoveries within the fields of cellular therapy and regenerative medicine, said Senator Hatch. Enacting this bill will also reaffirm the commitment that Congress made three decades ago to help patients with blood cancers and other life-threatening diseases by increasing access to life-saving transplants. Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and in the attached umbilical cord after childbirth. It is collected and used in research because it is rich in blood-forming stem cells, which can be used to treat a range of diseases. The bill also reauthorizes the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, which houses the National Registry, known as Be the Match; the Office of Patient Advocacy; and the Stem Cell Therapeutic Outcomes Database. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), about 12,600 people annually depend on programs made available by this law to find an unrelated adult marrow donor or cord blood unit for treatment. Today, Americans have access to more than 12 million adult volunteer donors and over 200,000 cord blood units through Be The Match. Transplants involving these adult stem cells are often the only hope for patients battling blood cancers like leukemia and can cure sickle cell anemia and other bone marrow disorders and conditions. Since the inception of the registry, the program has successfully facilitated 68,000 transplants. In Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Blood Center holds bone marrow drives on a weekly basis. Since 1994, Roger Williams Medical Center has been home to Rhode Island's only Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program. In this comprehensive transplant center, autologous, allogeneic (related and unrelated) and cord blood transplantation services are offered. The Hatch-Reed law reauthorizes funding from fiscal year 2016 through fiscal year 2020, with $23 million annually for the National Cord Blood Inventory and $30 million a year for the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation program. In the U.S. House of Representatives the bill was cosponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA). It passed Congress with bipartisan support on December 16 and was signed by President Obama on December 18. -end- Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/bonamici-prepares-holiday-meals-homebound-seniors-meals-wheels,Bonamici Prepares Holiday Meals for Homebound Seniors with Meals on Wheels,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,,,legacy,"Portland, Ore. [12/23/15] Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and her staff volunteered with Meals on Wheels People to prepare meals for homebound seniors in the First Congressional District. The meals will be delivered on December 24th to approximately 4,000 seniors. The holidays are a time for giving back to the community, and we enjoyed being part of the great work that Meals on Wheels People does to support seniors, said Congresswoman Bonamici. At this celebratory time of year, its important to remember that some of our neighbors are struggling with illness, aging, and poverty. When Congress is back in session, I will continue to advocate for reauthorizing the Older Americans Act. This important law funds vital programs like Meals on Wheels and services like family caregiver support and protection from elder abuse. Our seniors have contributed greatly to our country, and reauthorizing the Older Americans Act is an essential part of ensuring that they can live their lives with dignity. Since 1970, Meals on Wheels People has provided a nutritional and social lifeline for seniors through 30 meal sites in Multnomah, Washington, and Clark counties and Meals on Wheels food delivery to homebound seniors. With the help of nearly 8,000 volunteers, the nonprofit organization now serves approximately 5,000 meals daily and 1.3 million meals each year. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1335,Moore Expresses Concern Over Abuse Allegations at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake School,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"By Cristina Marcos The House early Friday passed the third 2015 appropriations bill that would fund the Departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as federal science programs. Passed in a 321-87 vote, the bill would provide $51.2 billion in funding through September 2015, a reduction of nearly $400 million below the current spending level. The legislation was considered under an open rule, which allowed members to offer an unlimited number of amendments. In total, the House considered more than 80 amendments over the course of two days. Immigration entered the fray during debate of the wide-ranging measure. Late Wednesday, the House gave voice vote approval to an amendment from Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) that would boost funding for the Justice Department's Executive Office of Immigration Review, which handles immigration court proceedings. Earlier Thursday, the House adopted, 218-193, an amendment offered by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) that would provide $5 million for the Justice Department to investigate the Obama administration's release of illegal immigrants facing deportation who are also criminals. King said the current policy amounted to ""de facto amnesty."" Consideration of the measure further included heated debates over drug policy. Shortly before final passage, the House adopted 219-189 an amendment from Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) that would prohibit the Justice Department from allowing states to implement their own medical marijuana laws. And earlier Thursday evening, the House rejected an amendment from Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), whose state has legalized marijuana, that would cut funding to the Drug Enforcement Administration by $35 million. About $2 billion is allocated for the DEA in the legislation. The controversy over the Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals' mishandling of wait times for medical care also made its way into the Commerce-Justice-Science bill. At nearly midnight Wednesday, the House gave voice vote approval to an amendment offered by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) that would provide the Justice Department $1 million to conduct a criminal investigation into the VA. The legislation would also provide $17.9 billion for NASA, which is $250 million above the current spending level. Additionally, it includes $7.4 billion for the National Science Foundation, which is $232 million more than the 2014 level. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), the retiring chairman of the House Appropriations Commerce-Justice-Science subcommittee, warned that the increased science funding should only be used for ""scientifically meritorious"" research grants. ""With increased funding comes increased responsibility,"" Wolf said. ""No funny grants is what I'm trying to say."" Passing all 12 of them before the end of September, the end of the current fiscal year, will be tough, especially in an election year. But House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) nonetheless said his panel would try to pass as many of the individual appropriations bills as possible. ""We're moving at a very fast clip on the committee that should allow us to complete our appropriations work for the 2015 fiscal year on time. And I promise my committee will do everything it can to make that a reality,"" Rogers said. The Senate, meanwhile, has yet to pass any 2015 appropriations bills. To view this article online, please click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://lujangrisham.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lujan-grisham-outlines-efforts-improve-disability-access-social-security,Lujan Grisham Outlines Efforts to Improve Disability Access to Social Security Office,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NM,Michelle Lujan Grisham,L000580,lujangrisham.house.gov,,,legacy,"ALBUQUERQUE Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today that city and federal officials are making progress to improve parking, including new metered parking and a drop-off zone for people with disabilities, at the Social Security Administration building in Downtown Albuquerque. Rep. Lujan Grisham had asked Social Security Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin for assistance to make the building, which was designed to serve as a call center, more accessible to the public. Officials from the Social Security Administration are working with the federal General Services Administration to design a drop-off zone that will give people, particularly clients with disabilities, easier access to the building. The federal officials are also working with city Planning Department officials who have agreed to install parking meters around the Social Security building, located between 5th and 6th streets and Lead and Coal avenues. The metered parking will give clients more parking options closer to the entrance of the building. Individuals with a handicapped placard will be able to park for free at the metered spaces. I appreciate the cooperation between federal and city agencies to get together and do the right thing on behalf of the thousands of people who need services from the Social Security office, Rep. Lujan Grisham said. I wish these details would have been considered and finalized before moving to the Downtown location. I will continue to push for federal legislation that requires federal agencies to analyze the impact on the public before changing locations. The Social Security Administration moved its Albuquerque office in August from a building in Midtown to the Downtown facility that previously served as a teleservice center for SSA. Rep. Lujan Grisham sent a letter and spoke on the phone with Commissioner Colvin, who agreed to pursue a secure drop-off zone for the disabled or wheel-chair bound clients. She also spoke with regional and local officials about parking and other concerns. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://lujangrisham.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/udall-heinrich-lujan-lujan-grisham-secure-pledge-dhs-real-id-enforcement,"Udall, Heinrich, Lujan, Lujan Grisham Secure Pledge from DHS on REAL ID Enforcement",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NM,Michelle Lujan Grisham,L000580,lujangrisham.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Representatives Ben Ray Lujn and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has informed them that the state of New Mexico can still get an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement if Gov. Susana Martinez and the leadership of the N.M. House and Senate can verify to DHS that they agree on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance. Seeking answers on behalf of New Mexicans about the standards and procedures that DHS will follow to enforce REAL ID, the state's Democratic congressional delegation recently held a joint meeting with DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. As of Jan. 10, 2016, New Mexico drivers' licenses will no longer be considered valid forms of identification to enter federal facilities because the governor and the legislature have not agreed to pass a law bringing the state's drivers' licenses into compliance with the the REAL ID Act of 2005. But Mayorkas pledged to the congressional leaders that DHS would delay enforcement if New Mexico takes steps before Jan. 10 to prove that the governor and legislators are committed to complying with the law this year. ""It is still possible for the State of New Mexico to request, and receive, an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement,"" the congressional lawmakers wrote in a letter to Martinez on Dec. 18, informing her of Mayorkas' promise. ""Mr. Mayorkas stated that DHS will grant the state an extension if the Department receives a letter stating that your administration and the leadership of the state House and Senate have an agreement on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance; that the leadership will bring the bill up for a vote at the upcoming legislative session; and that you will sign the bill into law if it passes."" ""Our offices remain in close contact with DHS and we stand ready to support a request for an extension that allows the legislature time to pass a bipartisan, pragmatic solution that ensures New Mexicans can continue to access federal facilities and airports in the months to come,"" Udall, Heinrich, Lujn and Lujan Grisham continued in their letter. ""The ongoing uncertainty about accessing federal facilities is an undue burden on the men and women who work at these facilities. We hope that your administration and the legislature will act expeditiously to resolve this issue."" The congressional lawmakers added that DHS has granted extensions to other states -- including New Hampshire -- based on anticipated actions in upcoming legislative sessions. Also during their conversation with DHS officials, Udall, Heinrich, Lujn and Lujan Grisham urged DHS to clear up confusion about what form of identification will be required after Jan. 10 to enter a military base in the state of New Mexico. Numerous constituents have contacted the congressional offices reporting that the state's military bases are planning on following conflicting procedures. Mayorkas agreed to contact the Department of Defense (DoD) immediately to ensure that DoD provides the proper guidance to the states military installations about what form of identification will be needed for entry once REAL ID goes into effect. Finally, the congressional lawmakers asked Mayorkas for clarification about whether New Mexico residents will be able to board commercial flights with a New Mexico driver's license after Jan. 10. DHS clearly stated that residents traveling by air from any state, including New Mexico, will still be allowed to use a drivers license, or any of the various other forms of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration. The agency also pledged to provide clear guidance about when REAL ID enforcement will be implemented for boarding commercial aircraft, with a minimum of 120 days notice before enforcement begins. The lawmakers' letter to Martinez is available HERE and below: The Honorable Susana Martinez Governor of New Mexico 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501 Dear Governor Martinez: With the upcoming deadline for enforcement of the REAL ID Act of 2005, we wanted to inform you that we recently spoke with Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to discuss the standards and procedures that will be used as of January 10, 2016 for entering federal buildings and facilities in New Mexico. Because our state is the home to many secure federal facilities, we requested that DHS immediately contact the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that DoD provides the proper guidance to our states military installations. DHS has clearly stated that residents traveling by air from any state, including New Mexico, are still able to use a drivers license, or any of the various other forms of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration. However, to address misinformation, we requested that DHS provide further clarification about the timeline for REAL ID enforcement for boarding commercial aircraft. Deputy Secretary Mayorkas assured us that he will direct his office to work with DoD to ensure the states military installations receive immediate guidance regarding entry and alternate procedures to be made available by each facility. Additionally, the Deputy Secretary informed us that DHS will provide an update for enforcement for boarding aircraft with adequate time for compliance with federal agency procedures. During our discussion, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas also informed us that it is still possible for the State of New Mexico to request, and receive, an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement. Mr. Mayorkas stated that DHS will grant the state an extension if the Department receives a letter stating that your administration and the leadership of the state House and Senate have an agreement on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance; that the leadership will bring the bill up for a vote at the upcoming legislative session; and that you will sign the bill into law if it passes. Other states, such as New Hampshire, have requested and been granted extensions based on anticipated actions in upcoming legislative sessions. Our offices remain in close contact with DHS and we stand ready to support a request for an extension that allows the legislature time to pass a bipartisan, pragmatic solution that ensures New Mexicans can continue to access federal facilities and airports in the months to come. The ongoing uncertainty about accessing federal facilities is an undue burden on the men and women who work at these facilities. We hope that your administration and the legislature will act expeditiously to resolve this issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, U.S. Senator Tom Udall U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich U.S. Representative Ben Ray Lujn U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-federal-law-enforcement-nominating-commission-accepting-4,Norton Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission Accepting Applications for Upcoming Vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,DC,Eleanor Norton,N000147,norton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that her Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission is accepting applications for an upcoming vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Reggie B. Walton will take senior status on December 31, 2015, creating a vacancy. Applications are due before 5:00 p.m. on January 11, 2015. The Commission, chaired by Pauline Schneider, a past president of the D.C. Bar and consisting of 17 D.C. residents, will vet and interview applicants for the vacancy and will send several applicants to the Congresswoman, who will then make her recommendation to President Obama. Applications are available online on Nortons website at: https://norton.house.gov/sites/norton.house.gov/files/US%20District%20Court%20Judge%20Questionnaire%20and%20Waiver.doc. Applicants must submit two completed hard-copies of the application and one USB flash drive (thumb drive) containing the application to: Leslie Freeman, Ballard Spahr LLP, 1909 K Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20006-1157. Applicants who have submitted an application within the past 12 months may simply provide a cumulative update of relevant information since the date of their last application. If there is no update, applicants must so indicate to the Commission. President Obama, like President Clinton, granted Norton senatorial courtesy to recommend candidates for federal district court judges and other important federal law enforcement officials in the District. President Obama has nominated and the Senate has confirmed all ten of Nortons recommendations for district court judgesAmit Mehta, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Amy Berman Jackson, James E. Boasberg, Rudolph Contreras, Beryl A. Howell, Casey Cooper, Tanya Chutkan, Randolph Moss, and Robert Wilkins, who was the first of Nortons recommendations to President Obama for a vacancy on the district court and who has since been elevated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-announces-more-than-300000-in-emergency-funding-for-harrison-county,"Brown Announces More Than $300,000 in Emergency Funding for Harrison County",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,OH,Sherrod Brown,B000944,www.brown.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Funding Will Help Construct an Emergency Waterline for the Village of Cadiz Wednesday, December 23, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced $319,560 in new federal emergency funding for Harrison County. The funding from the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Rural Development Agency will help construct an emergency waterline in Cadiz in response to high levels of microcystina byproduct of toxic algae bloomsin local drinking water. The funding comes from the Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Program. When toxic algal blooms and other threats to our water supply make water unsafe to drink, we must provide assistance to local communities for relief, said Brown. This emergency water line will give thousands in Cadiz needed access to safe drinking water. The Village of Cadizs drinking water source is an above ground reservoir. During this past summer, the reservoirs microcystin levels from a toxic algal bloom made the reservoirs water temporarily unsafe. With the funding, Harrison County will be able to provide an alternative safe water source to more than 3,000 residents. ### Press Contact Lauren Kulik/Rachel Petri(202) 224-3978",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-celebrates-holiday-season-new-haven-community,DeLauro Celebrates the Holiday Season with the New Haven Community,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"NEW HAVEN, CT (December 23, 2015) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)today joined the New Haven community to celebrate the holidays and give back to local organizations. After participating in the Easter Seals Goodwill Industries' 21st Annual Fantasy of Lights last night, DeLauro visited Columbus House to highlight the organization's work with the local homeless population. Many organizations, including Columbus House and the Easter Seals Goodwill Industries, rely on donations and volunteers to serve communities throughout Connecticut. These organizations work year-round to serve our neighbors and I would like to take a moment to thank the many dedicated volunteers who work to keep these organizations running, said Rosa DeLauro. While the holidays are a time to celebrate, they are also a time to give. And as you gather with your family, please consider making a donation or taking the time to volunteer with organizations that serve our neighbors. May you and your family have a joyful holiday and a happy and health new year. Today, DeLauro delivered donations and toured Columbus House, which first opened its doors in 1982 to provide shelter for homeless men and women. The organization now provides not only shelter, but also housing assistance and services designed to help people who are homeless move toward independence. Congresswoman DeLauro has been a champion for the people of Connecticut, and especially for people who are homeless. We know we can count on her to support our efforts by supporting the funding necessary to provide housing and services for people in need, said Allison Cunningham, Executive Director of Columbus House. This year was no different. In the recently passed federal omnibus spending bill, funding for McKinneyVento Homeless Assistance Grants was increased, additional funding was included for new housing vouchers for Veterans, and an increase in funding was approved for the Homeless and Runaway Youth Act. These important federal programs will help us in our efforts to end chronic homelessness in 2016 while we continue to address all forms of homelessness. We are grateful for Congresswoman DeLauro always standing up for these important issues. Columbus House's vision is to one day end homelessness in Connecticut by providing people with the tools they need to become and stay housed.Programs include: outreach & engagement; shelter services; rapid re-housing; permanent supportive housing; and population-specific programs for families with children, seniors, Veterans, and those living with HIV/AIDS, as well as people with behavioral health disorders and histories of incarceration. DeLauro visit to Columbus House comes after she and her grandchildren joined Easter Seals Goodwill volunteers last night to greet visitors at the 21st Annual Fantasy of Lights. All proceeds from the Fantasy of Lights support the programs of Easter Seals Goodwill Industries, which help people with disabilities and other challenges to become more self-sufficient, giving them a sense of fulfillment and pride. The organization offers employment, educational, social and recreational opportunities to those in need right here in Connecticut. For more information on Columbus House or to make a contribution, please contact John Brooks, Director of Development at (203) 401-4400 x108 or jbrooks@columbushouse.org For more information on the Fantasy of Lights, click here: https://eastersealsgoodwill.org/event/fantasy-of-lights/ ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2241,Moore Expresses Concern Over Abuse Allegations at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake School,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"I fear that, without swift intervention, these inmates are at serious risk of becoming another faceless member of our seemingly endless school-to-prison pipeline. I am determined to fulfill our promise to help these youth become productive and successful members of our society. share: f t Washington, D.C. In response to alarming allegations of abuse at Lincoln Hills School for Boys and the Copper Lake School for Girls, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) sent the following letter to FBI Director James Comey: The Honorable James B. Comey Director Federal Bureau of Investigation 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20535 Dear Director Comey, I write to express my grave concerns about recent news reports documenting what seems to be a dangerous environment at Lincoln Hills School for Boys and the Copper Lake School for Girls in Wisconsin. I understand that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has now joined what's been described as a sweeping probe into the matter. I thank you for your attention to this matter and ask that you keep me updated on any actions taken by federal authorities. Recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel articles have described a serious situation at Lincoln Hills and the Copper Lake School for Girls. According to the Sentinel's reporting, staff members at Lincoln Hills have apparently been placed on leave after having been involved in incidents where inmates have had their arms or wrists broken. Another article by the Sentinel reported on a November 29th event in which a juvenile inmate's foot was slammed so hard in a door frame it actually required an amputation of the toes. Other troubling events have also come to light, including allegations of sexual abuse, improper use of force by staff, and violence amongst the youth population. There have also been reported incidences of suicide attempts and violence at the sister school Copper Lake School for Girls at the facility. It is paramount that a safe environment is restored for those youth and staff who are presently in this facility. Moreover, many of these youth are particularly vulnerable, living through traumatizing events, poor socioeconomic conditions, and a lack of quality educational opportunity. I fear that, without swift intervention, these inmates are at serious risk of becoming another faceless member of our seemingly endless school-to-prison pipeline. I am determined to fulfill our promise to help these youth become productive and successful members of our society. This situation is particularly concerning to me because many of these youth hail from southeastern Wisconsin and my congressional district. In 2011, budget cuts by Governor Walker caused the closure of the Ethan Allen School and Southern Oaks Girls School, which housed many juveniles in southeast Wisconsin. This led to many youth in and around my district to move to this facility north of Wasau - far away from easy access to family members, which is a critical factor in reducing recidivism. I ask the Bureau to monitor these developments as they unfold and I request a briefing on efforts that you have currently undertaken or plan to take. Sincerely, Gwen Moore MEMBER OF CONGRESS",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lawrence.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/officials-interfairth-and-civil-rights-activists-condemn-bigotry,"Officials, interfairth and civil rights activists condemn bigotry",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MI,Brenda Lawrence,L000581,lawrence.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congress members Brenda Lawrence (L), John Conyers and Debbie Dingell stand at the podium in front of a group of activists and officials at Charles Wright Museum of African American History, Dec. 21 DETROIT Heads of civil rights organizations, interfaith activists, government officials and religious leaders gathered at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American history to condemn the rising tides of Islamophobia, which are manifesting as hate crimes across the nation. Speakers from the group dubbed ""One Nation, One Voice Against Bigotry and Hate Coalition"" took turns denouncing xenophobia and promoting unity at a press conference on Monday morning. Nabih Ayad, chairman of the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL), said those on the path of hate are on the wrong side of history. ""We know very well that diversity inherently is very strong for this nation and for this community,"" he said. Democratic U.S. Reps speak out U.S. Reps. John Conyers (D-Detroit), Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) and Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield) took part in the event and voiced support for the local Muslim community. ""How wonderful it is to see in this important hall a group of men and women, leaders of many different organizations, coming together to speak out and encourage the diversity that marks us a great area,"" Conyers, the dean of the House of Representatives, said. Congresswoman Lawrence urged Americans to speak up against discrimination. ""History has taught us that the biggest threat to our democracy is silence,"" she said. She said allowing bigotry to go on against one group puts the entire society at risk. ""Collectively, if we raise our voices and not be silent, we can make a difference,"" Lawrence added. ""We can show those who are misinformed that hatred will not be tolerated; not in this country, not in southeast Michigan."" Rep. Dingell stressed that metro Detroit residents are united. She described Arab and Muslim Americans as friends and colleagues. ""They are our neighbors; they are our small business owners; they are our doctors,"" she said. ""Steve Jobs father was a Syrian and he [Jobs] was one of the greatest inventors of this country."" She said anti-Muslim sentiments violate the fundamental founding principles of the United States. ""Stop,"" Dingell said, addressing those who promote anti-Muslim bigotry. ""Enough is enough. It's not who we are as Americans."" The congresswoman said she will scream if she is asked about Muslims' denouncing terrorism again. ""They're speaking out every day, but the media is not covering it,"" she added. Barbara McQuade ""False narrative"" Barbara McQuade, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said the backlash against Arab and Muslim Americans harms national security. ""We know that terrorist organizations like ISIS use this rhetoric as propaganda,"" she said. ""They love to use that false narrative that America is at war with Islam."" McQuade said ""misguided stereotypes"" about Arabs and Muslims are spreading because people are afraid to interact with others who are different.""Why is it when Timothy McVeigh commits a terrorist attack in Oklahoma City, no one blames all Catholics?"" she asked. ""When a White supremacist shoots up a Black church, no one blames all Whites. Yet, when there is a terrorist attack committed by a Muslim, we paint with a broad brush. Why is that? Because we demonize that which is different."" McQuade said during World War II German Americans were not put in internment camps, but Japanese Americans were ""because they look different."" To suggest that Muslim Americans are less American than the rest of us is insulting to all of us,"" McQuade said. ""When it comes to national security, united we stand; and divided we fall."" Wayne County Executive Warren Evans acknowledged the contributions of local Arabs and Muslims to the county. ""Diversity is important to being successful,"" he said. Evans said bigotry and lack of respect are a problem for the development of the county, state and nation. Steve Spreitzer, president of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, said people should come to know the larger human family around them. ""Dr. King marched to Selma for voting rights and to Washington for human rights,"" he said. ""What we need in southeast Michigan is to march across these artificial barriers for human relations and for people to come to know people who are different."" Nabby Yono, vice president of community relations at the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC), said prejudice is the same whether against Arabs, Chaldeans, Christians or Muslims and should be condemned. ""We're in it together,"" he said. ""Did you get it?"" The Arab American News Publisher Osama Siblani, who emceed the conference, reiterated Arab Americans' stance on terrorism. ""Just in case you did not hear it before, here it is again we, the Arab and Muslim communities in the United States, condemn terrorist acts, whether they are acted by individuals, groups or governments,"" Siblani said. ""Did you get it?"" he asked reporters. ""Did everybody hear it? Should I repeat it again. Stop asking us to apologize for the terrorists, because we are their first victims."" Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly paid tribute to the Charles H. Wright Museum, which chronicles African Americans' historic struggles with slavery and segregation. The mayor said it was fitting to hold the press conference at the museum because it details some of the greatest mistakes the United States has committed. ""We can't go back and we can't slide back,"" O'Reilly said. ""What I'm most concerned about particularly is our citizens who feel threatened and are afraid."" The mayor added that politicians with supposed credibility are promoting xenophobia at the national level, adding that Muslim citizens fear for their constitutional rights. ""We just can't let that happen,"" O'Reilly said. ""We have to protect everyone."" Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad stressed public safety, reaffirming his department's commitment to protecting the civil rights and liberties of all residents. ""I'm proud to stand here with our group,"" Haddad said. ""We're going to make sure that from a public safety perspective we do all we can."" Brenda Rosenberg, the founder of Pathways to Peace Foundation in Action, emphasized the importance of dialogue between ethnic and religious groups. Rosenberg said she sent an email last week with a list of 12 Jewish civil rights, religious and political organizations that stood with the Muslim community. ""We have to come together and stand together like we're doing today,"" she said. The message against Islamophobia was also reiterated by Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, president of Detroit Chapter of the NAACP; Fatina Abdrabboh, executive director of ADC-Michigan; Shirley Stancato, president of New Detroit; Najah Bazzy, of Zaman International; and former State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, campaign manager of Take on Hate.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=E47FCB30-A060-CB05-5314-FD7625D7DFAC,Bennets Service Bill Offers New Opportunity to Make College More Affordable,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,CO,Michael Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Denver, CO Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has introduced a bill to help put college back in reach for middle class families by giving students the opportunity to earn grant money or loan forgiveness by completing community or national service. A higher education is becoming a prerequisite to success in today's rapidly changing economy, Bennet said. Unfortunately, college is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many families. This bill can help by offering an earned benefit to students who commit to working hard, giving back to their community, and the betterment of their country. Along with steps we must take to drive down the costs of school, it puts a higher education and the chance at financial security and economic mobility back in reach. Bennet's Service for School bill builds upon the AmeriCorps program. Under Bennet's bill, students who complete 2,000 hours of service would become eligible for $10,000 in funding for college, roughly the average in-state tuition for four-year schools in the country. Each additional 2,000 hours would earn that student an additional $10,000, up to $40,000 maximum, or roughly four years of tuition. Students would have to complete their hours of service at an eligible organization certified by the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS). Types of service could include: teaching, tutoring and mentoring in high-need communities, building affordable housing, helping communities respond to disasters, and environmental stewardship. CNCS would determine if a given service opportunity meets the eligibility definition. The Service for School bill is one of Bennet's proposals to make college more affordable and accessible as Congress prepares to reauthorize the Higher Education Act in 2016. They include simplifying the FAFSA, creating incentives to help create higher quality and lower cost options through competency based education and accreditation reforms as well as measures to help families save and pay for school before, during, and after college. This announcement comes on the heels of the recent bill-signing ceremony at the White House where the President signed into law a bill to rewrite No Child Left Behind. The bill, which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the chief federal law addressing K-12 education, reforms many of the broken policies from No Child Left Behind, the previous version of the bill, while maintaining several key provisions that have proved successful. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press/donnelly-calls-for-senate-aging-committee-to-investigate-exploitation-of-seniors-on-social-media,Donnelly Calls for Senate Aging Committee to Investigate Exploitation of Seniors on Social Media,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,IN,Joe Donnelly,D000607,www.donnelly.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Donnelly Calls for Senate Aging Committee to Investigate Exploitation of Seniors on Social Media Recent report revealed nursing home workers posting embarrassing photos of seniors on social media networks Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Granger, Ind. Following a report that nursing home workers across the country have posted embarrassing and degrading photos of seniors on social media networks, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly today called on the Senate Aging Committee to investigate the issue. The ProPublica report found that since 2012 there have been approximately three-dozen cases around the country, including in Indiana, that violated the privacy and dignity of seniors, and in some instances, the law. Donnelly, who serves on the Senate Aging Committee, said, It is troubling and disturbing that some seniors are unwillingly and unknowingly victims of exploitation and abuse on social media by some nursing home workers. That is why I am asking the Aging Committee to use all appropriate tools and resources to investigate this issue. Among the incidents cited in the report was the case of a former nursing assistant in Indiana. The formernursing assistant pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism and served three days in jail for sharing an explicit photo of an elderly resident on Snapchat. The report was based on court cases, government inspection reports, and media reports. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/2015/12/23/gillibrand-secures-47-million-in-federal-aid-for-national-physical-education-program-in-omnibus-deal-signed-by-president-1,Gillibrand Secures $47 Million In Federal Aid For National Physical Education Program In Omnibus Deal Signed By President,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NY,Kirsten Gillibrand,G000555,www.gillibrand.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 23, 2015 Gillibrand Secures $47 Million In Federal Aid For National Physical Education Program In Omnibus Deal Signed By President Omnibus Spending Bill Includes Approximately $47 Million in Federal Aid to the Carol M. White Physical Education Program For FY2016 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that, after her push the Omnibus spending bill signed by the President last week includes $47 million for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) for Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16). The funding Gillibrand pushed to include will allow the Department of Education to provide federal grants to school districts and community-based organizations to initiate, enhance, and expand physical education programs for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The appropriations bills that the Senate and House appropriations committees passed earlier this year eliminated funding for PEP. In March, Senator Gillibrand wrote to the Senate Appropriations Committee and again in November urging the committee to secure funding for this program. Without funding, current grantees including school districts and community-based organizations would have lost grants for the 2016 fiscal year. The Omnibus bill that passed secures this program's funding. This push to secure this critical funding for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program will enable the Department of Education to improve physical education in schools and communities in New York and across the country, said Senator Gillibrand. We need to continue to prioritize the health of our children and help them develop skills and practices that promote a healthy, active lifestyle. The funding secured in the omnibus will help ensure our school districts have the resources they need to implement effective physical education programs and teach our kids healthy habits that they can carry with them the rest of their lives. We are so pleased to see this investment in our nation's future, said American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown. Funding for physical education helps kids perform better in the classroom and stay healthy. We're thrilled that Congress has made the commitment to fund the PEP grant for FY16. This funding is vital to innovative physical education programs across the country. SHAPE America's members are grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her leadership on sustaining funding for this program, said SHAPE America CEO Paul Roetert. Gillibrand explained that school district officials have cited budget cuts and inadequate facilities as the major barriers to providing physical education opportunities to students. The purpose of PEP is to promote the best practices in physical education and lay the groundwork for communities to invest in high-quality physical education programs for their students. Recipients use the funds to develop programs that address state standards for physical education and create an environment supportive of physical activity. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends that school-age children and adolescents engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. One in three children and adolescents (ages 2-19) in the United States is now estimated to be overweight or obese. The health impacts of childhood obesity include higher risk of diseases like diabetes and several types of cancer as well as social and psychological problems. Gillibrand fought to secure the funding in this Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus bill because quality physical education programs provide students with a safe environment for regular physical activity. Senator Gillibrand's most recent letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee included below. November 25, 2015 The Honorable Thad Cochran The Honorable Barbara Mikulski Chairman Vice Chairwoman Senate Committee on Appropriations Senate Committee on Appropriations Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Roy Blunt The Honorable Patty Murray Chairman Ranking Member Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Human Services, and Education Senate Committee on Appropriations Senate Committee on Appropriations Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Cochran, Vice Chairwoman Mikulski, Chairman Blunt and Ranking Member Murray: We write to express our strong support for funding in the final appropriations legislation for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP), the only federal funding source dedicated to improving physical education in the United States. We were disappointed that funding for this program was eliminated in the appropriations bill approved by the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Since that time, the Senate has demonstrated support for PEP by including the reauthorization of the program in the Every Child Achieves Act, bipartisan legislation that passed the Senate in July 2015. We urge you to reconsider the elimination of funding for PEP for Fiscal Year 2016 so that this program can continue to spur innovation and improve physical education in schools and communities across the county. One in three children and adolescents (ages 2-19) in the United States is now estimated to be overweight or obese. The health impacts of childhood obesity include higher risk of diseases like diabetes and several types of cancer as well as social and psychological problems. The annual direct costs of childhood obesity in the United States are estimated to be $14.3 billion. To combat this epidemic, regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing obesity and helps to control weight. In addition, regular physical activity helps to build healthy bones and muscles, promotes psychological well-being, and may improve students' academic performance and classroom behavior. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends that school-age children and adolescents engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Quality physical education programs provide students with a safe environment for regular physical activity and help students develop skills and behaviors for a healthy, active lifestyle. However, in 2013, just 29% of high school students in the U.S. regularly met HHS's daily physical activity guidelines and over half of high school students did not attend a single physical education class in an average week. School district officials have cited budget cuts and inadequate facilities as the major barriers to providing physical education opportunities to students. PEP provides grants to school districts and community-based organizations to initiate, expand, or enhance physical education programs for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Grantees use PEP funds to develop high-quality physical education programs that address state standards for physical education and create an environment supportive of physical activity. The purpose of PEP is to promote best practices in physical education and lay the groundwork for communities to invest in high-quality physical education programs for their students. It is critically important that the federal government continue to prioritize the health and physical fitness of students, and we urge you include funding for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program in the final Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations legislation. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/gillibrand-announces-more-than-27-billion-in-federal-funding-for-child-care-and-development-program-in-omnibus-bill-signed-by-president,Gillibrand Announces More Than $2.7 Billion In Federal Funding For Child Care And Development Program In Omnibus Bill Signed By President,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NY,Kirsten Gillibrand,G000555,www.gillibrand.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 23, 2015 Gillibrand Announces More Than $2.7 Billion In Federal Funding For Child Care And Development Program In Omnibus Bill Signed By President Omnibus Spending Bill Secures about $2.7 Billion in Federal Aid to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program For FY2016 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that, after her push the Omnibus spending bill signed by the President last week includes $2.761 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program (CCDBG) for Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16). The funding Gillibrand pushed to include would provide assistance to low-income families across the United States to gain access to quality, affordable child care while parents work or attend school. The CCDBG program helps over 1.4 million children from nearly 900,000 low-income families across the United States. The $2.761 billion secured by Gillibrand is an increase of $326M over FY15 levels. Gillibrand wrote to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging that without this additional federal funding to supplement state resources, states would have been faced with cutting the number of low-income children and families receiving reliable, affordable child care assistance through this program. I pushed to secure this funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program so that New York and states across the country have the resources necessary to implement child development programs without reducing the number of low-income children and families served by the program, said Senator Gillibrand. The funding I pushed to secure in the omnibus will help over one millions children and thousands of families in New York and across the country. Last year, Congress passed a reauthorization of the CCBDG program that strengthens health and safety standards for child care providers, requires mandatory background checks for all child care staff members, and implements new training requirements for child care providers. Without additional federal funding to supplement state resources, several states would have been faced with cutting the number of low-income children and families receiving reliable, affordable child care assistance through this program. Many states already have waiting lists for the CCDBG program as a result of funding shortfalls. The CCDBG program is the primary federal funding source to promote families' economic self-sufficiency and foster healthy child development and school success by improving the overall quality of early learning and afterschool programs. Senator Gillibrand's most recent letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee included below. December 1, 2015 The Honorable Thad Cochran The Honorable Barbara Mikulski Chairman Vice Chairwoman Senate Committee on Appropriations Senate Committee on Appropriations Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Roy Blunt The Honorable Patty Murray Chairman Ranking Member Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Human Services, and Education Senate Committee on Appropriations Senate Committee on Appropriations Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Cochran, Vice Chairwoman Mikulski, Chairman Blunt and Ranking Member Murray: As you work to finalize the Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) appropriations legislation, we urge you to appropriate funding at the highest possible level for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. The CCDBG program helps over 1.4 million children from nearly 900,000 low-income families across the United States gain access to quality, affordable child care while parents work or attend school. The dual purposes of the program are to promote families' economic self-sufficiency and foster healthy child development and school success by improving the overall quality of early learning and afterschool programs. The CCDBG program is the primary federal funding source dedicated to these purposes. Last year, Congress passed a reauthorization of the CCBDG program with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation instituted important reforms to the CCDBG program, including strengthened health and safety standards for child care providers, mandatory background checks for all child care staff members, and new training requirements for child care providers. These reforms will require significant additional federal investment to implement. Without additional federal funding to supplement state resources, states will be faced with cutting the number of low-income children and families receiving reliable, affordable child care assistance through this program. Many states already have waiting lists for the CCDBG program as a result of funding shortfalls. The recently enacted Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 increased domestic budget caps and made more funding available for critical programs funded through the appropriations process. Therefore, we urge you to use this opportunity to increase funding for the CCDBG program to the highest possible level to ensure that states receive adequate resources to implement the new CCDBG program requirements without reducing the number of low-income children and families served by the program. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/in-the-news/albuquerque-journal-85m-approved-for-upgrade-of-columbus-port-of-entry,Albuquerque Journal: $85M approved for upgrade of Columbus Port of Entry,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NM,Martin Heinrich,H001046,www.heinrich.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ALBUQUERQUE 400 Gold Avenue SW, Ste. 1080 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102 p: (505) 346-6601 f: (505) 346-6780 Get Directions FARMINGTON 7450 East Main St., Ste. A Farmington, NM 87402 p: (505) 325-5030 f: (505) 325-6035 Get Directions LAS CRUCES Loretto Towne Center 505 South Main St., Ste. 148 Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001 p: (575) 523-6561 f: (575) 523-6584 Get Directions ROSWELL 200 East 4th St., Ste. 300 Roswell, New Mexico 88201 p: (575) 622-7113 f: (575) 622-3538 Get Directions SANTA FE 123 East Marcy St., Ste 103 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 p: (505) 988-6647 f: (505) 992-8435 Get Directions WASHINGTON, D.C. 303 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 p: (202) 224-5521 f: (202) 228-2841 Get Directions",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/press-releases/udall-heinrich-lujn-and-lujan-grisham-secure-pledge-from-dhs-that-nm-can-get-delay-of-real-id-enforcement-if-governor-and-legislature-agree-on-real-id-fix,"Udall, Heinrich, Luján and Lujan Grisham Secure Pledge from DHS that NM Can get Delay of REAL ID Enforcement if Governor and Legislature Agree on REAL ID Fix",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NM,Martin Heinrich,H001046,www.heinrich.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Udall, Heinrich, Lujn and Lujan Grisham Secure Pledge from DHS that NM Can get Delay of REAL ID Enforcement if Governor and Legislature Agree on REAL ID Fix Also at Congressional lawmakers' urging: DHS will act immediately to work with DoD and provide clear guidance on how REAL ID will apply to military installations Wednesday, December 23, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Representatives Ben Ray Lujn and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has informed them that the state of New Mexico can still get an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement if Gov. Susana Martinez and the leadership of the N.M. House and Senate can verify to DHS that they agree on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance. Seeking answers on behalf of New Mexicans about the standards and procedures that DHS will follow to enforce REAL ID, the state's Democratic congressional delegation recently held a joint meeting with DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. As of Jan. 10, 2016, New Mexico drivers' licenses will no longer be considered valid forms of identification to enter federal facilities because the governor and the legislature have not agreed to pass a law bringing the state's drivers' licenses into compliance with the the REAL ID Act of 2005. But Mayorkas pledged to the congressional leaders that DHS would delay enforcement if New Mexico takes steps before Jan. 10 to prove that the governor and legislators are committed to complying with the law this year. ""It is still possible for the State of New Mexico to request, and receive, an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement,"" the congressional lawmakers wrote in a letter to Martinez on Dec. 18, informing her of Mayorkas' promise. ""Mr. Mayorkas stated that DHS will grant the state an extension if the Department receives a letter stating that your administration and the leadership of the state House and Senate have an agreement on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance; that the leadership will bring the bill up for a vote at the upcoming legislative session; and that you will sign the bill into law if it passes."" ""Our offices remain in close contact with DHS and we stand ready to support a request for an extension that allows the legislature time to pass a bipartisan, pragmatic solution that ensures New Mexicans can continue to access federal facilities and airports in the months to come,"" Udall, Heinrich, Lujn and Lujan Grisham continued in their letter. ""The ongoing uncertainty about accessing federal facilities is an undue burden on the men and women who work at these facilities. We hope that your administration and the legislature will act expeditiously to resolve this issue."" The congressional lawmakers added that DHS has granted extensions to other states -- including New Hampshire -- based on anticipated actions in upcoming legislative sessions. Also during their conversation with DHS officials, Udall, Heinrich, Lujn and Lujan Grisham urged DHS to clear up confusion about what form of identification will be required after Jan. 10 to enter a military base in the state of New Mexico. Numerous constituents have contacted the congressional offices reporting that the state's military bases are planning on following conflicting procedures. Mayorkas agreed to contact the Department of Defense (DoD) immediately to ensure that DoD provides the proper guidance to the states military installations about what form of identification will be needed for entry once REAL ID goes into effect. Finally, the congressional lawmakers asked Mayorkas for clarification about whether New Mexico residents will be able to board commercial flights with a New Mexico driver's license after Jan. 10. DHS clearly stated that residents traveling by air from any state, including New Mexico, will still be allowed to use a drivers license, or any of the various other forms of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration. The agency also pledged to provide clear guidance about when REAL ID enforcement will be implemented for boarding commercial aircraft, with a minimum of 120 days notice before enforcement begins. The lawmakers' letter to Martinez is available HERE and below: The Honorable Susana Martinez Governor of New Mexico 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501 Dear Governor Martinez: With the upcoming deadline for enforcement of the REAL ID Act of 2005, we wanted to inform you that we recently spoke with Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to discuss the standards and procedures that will be used as of January 10, 2016 for entering federal buildings and facilities in New Mexico. Because our state is the home to many secure federal facilities, we requested that DHS immediately contact the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that DoD provides the proper guidance to our states military installations. DHS has clearly stated that residents traveling by air from any state, including New Mexico, are still able to use a drivers license, or any of the various other forms of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration. However, to address misinformation, we requested that DHS provide further clarification about the timeline for REAL ID enforcement for boarding commercial aircraft. Deputy Secretary Mayorkas assured us that he will direct his office to work with DoD to ensure the states military installations receive immediate guidance regarding entry and alternate procedures to be made available by each facility. Additionally, the Deputy Secretary informed us that DHS will provide an update for enforcement for boarding aircraft with adequate time for compliance with federal agency procedures. During our discussion, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas also informed us that it is still possible for the State of New Mexico to request, and receive, an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement. Mr. Mayorkas stated that DHS will grant the state an extension if the Department receives a letter stating that your administration and the leadership of the state House and Senate have an agreement on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance; that the leadership will bring the bill up for a vote at the upcoming legislative session; and that you will sign the bill into law if it passes. Other states, such as New Hampshire, have requested and been granted extensions based on anticipated actions in upcoming legislative sessions. Our offices remain in close contact with DHS and we stand ready to support a request for an extension that allows the legislature time to pass a bipartisan, pragmatic solution that ensures New Mexicans can continue to access federal facilities and airports in the months to come. The ongoing uncertainty about accessing federal facilities is an undue burden on the men and women who work at these facilities. We hope that your administration and the legislature will act expeditiously to resolve this issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, U.S. Senator Tom Udall U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich U.S. Representative Ben Ray Lujn U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a319b85f-03f5-465a-a1ad-7670b5e9fbae,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding for Rural Water in St. John,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced more than $50,000 in federal funding for emergency water assistance for the city of St. John to make sure community members have critical access to water. The $50,430 in federal support will be used to bolster rural connectivity to better, more reliable water sources by helping the St. John community find new water sources, drill a new well, and to connect to an existing water main to provide the families and neighborhoods in St. John with the water resources they need. Towns and communities in rural areas across North Dakota make up the heart of our state, and its absolutely critical that we make sure they can rely on the same level of access offered in bigger cities, said Heitkamp. One of those crucial resources rural North Dakotans need to depend on is readily available water for their homes, farms and ranches year-round. Thats why todays federal investment in St. John is so critical by continuing to build up our federal partnerships, we can work to make sure all of North Dakotas communities no matter how rural or remote are connected to the critical resources, like water, they need every day. These funds are authorized by the United States Department of Agricultures Rural Development agency. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-retirement-of-congressman-robert-hurt,Kaine Statement On Retirement Of Congressman Robert Hurt,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,VA,Tim Kaine,K000384,www.kaine.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Kaine Statement On Retirement Of Congressman Robert Hurt Wednesday, December 23, 2015 RICHMOND, VA U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on Congressman Robert Hurts retirement: From his start in local politics on theChatham Town Council to his tenure in the General Assembly and three terms in Congress, Robert Hurt has made a strong mark on his community. I'm proud of our work across the aisle to help move projects like Commonwealth Crossing Business Center and Berry Hill Mega Park forward, and I'm grateful for his partnership as we continue to fight back against attempts to derail the construction of an embassy security training facility at Fort Pickett. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=351a6144-eb1c-4c8e-b2ab-0832633d2767,Manchin Condemns Delay of New CDC Draft Guidelines for Opioid Prescribing,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WV,Joe Manchin,M001183,www.manchin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 23, 2015 Manchin Condemns Delay of New CDC Draft Guidelines for Opioid Prescribing In letter to Secretary Burwell, Senator Manchin urges Department of Health and Human Services to support release of new CDC guidelines Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell urging the agency to support the release of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Draft Guidelines for Opioid Prescribing, which have been delayed in response to pressure from outside groups, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Senator Manchin wrote in part: The CDC very recently released alarming new statistics that show that there was a 16% increase in the number of prescription-opioid related deaths between 2013 and 2014. 18,893 people died in 2014 due to prescription drugs; thats 51 people dying every day.Given these numbers and the human toll they represent in West Virginia and around the country, I am frustrated that the CDC has decided to delay the release of these guidelines. I am particularly disturbed by the role that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) played in this decision to delay. At a recent meeting, the FDAs Director of the Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Addiction Products, Sharon Hertz, was one of the strongest voices against the guidelines. While the President of the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and every other agency of the federal government has been actively working to save lives and stop this epidemic, the FDA is working against these efforts and further endangering the public. Please read the full text of the Senator letter below or here. Dear Secretary Burwell, As the senior Senator from West Virginia, I have seen firsthand the devastating effects of prescription drug abuse on individuals, families, and communities in my state, and I believe strongly that we need to do everything we can to stop this epidemic. One critical step that we must immediately take is to encourage the responsible prescribing of opioids. This is why I and many of my Senate colleagues have expressed strong support for the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Draft Guidelines for Opioid Prescribing, and why I am very disappointed that these guidelines are being delayed. The CDC very recently released alarming new statistics that show that there was a 16% increase in the number of prescription-opioid related deaths between 2013 and 2014. 18,893 people died in 2014 due to prescription drugs; thats 51 people dying every day. Since 1999, weve lost almost 200,000 Americans to prescription opioid abuse. This is an epidemic that requires all Americans to unite in order to stem the tide. Given these numbers and the human toll they represent in West Virginia and around the country, I am frustrated that the CDC has decided to delay the release of these guidelines. I am particularly disturbed by the role that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) played in this decision to delay. At a recent meeting, the FDAs Director of the Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Addiction Products, Sharon Hertz, was one of the strongest voices against the guidelines. While the President of the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and every other agency of the federal government has been actively working to save lives and stop this epidemic, the FDA is working against these efforts and further endangering the public. In 2013, health care providers wrote 207 million prescriptions for prescription opioid painkillers, almost quadruple the number written in 1999. This is enough for almost every American to have a bottle of pills. According to the CDC, this increase has come without a corresponding increase in reported pain, but it does correspond with a 400% increase in overdose deaths. Still, the FDA continues to approve ever stronger and more dangerous opioid medications, including Zohydro. It is appalling to see an FDA official actively work against an effort intended to clarify that these are dangerous drugs that must be prescribed carefully. The CDCs draft guidelines represent a reasonable, commonsense approach to help doctors take into account the very real and prevalent danger of addiction and overdose death when prescribing opioids. They will help us reduce opioid addiction and diversion and save lives without compromising access to needed treatment. As the CDC moves forward with the prescribing guidelines, I hope that you and all of HHS will stand behind the CDC in pushing for the strongest possible set of recommendations to help end prescription opioid abuse and overdose deaths. Too many people in our communities are losing their lives, families, and futures to prescription opioids. We must not delay or weaken our efforts to help them. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=61a488d5-f81f-4343-ac23-4319531d363b,Manchin Family Wishes All West Virginians a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WV,Joe Manchin,M001183,www.manchin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 23, 2015 Manchin Family Wishes All West Virginians a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today issued the following statement wishing all West Virginians a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. On behalf of my wife Gayle and the entire Manchin family, I would like to wish all West Virginians and Americans a very merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. There is no time like the holidays to celebrate the love of families and friends and reflect on our countless blessings. I have always said that if you can count your blessings, you can share your blessings. During this most spiritual time, each and every one of us should share our blessings by helping those in need. As you come together with your families, remember that we would not be able to enjoy our blessings without the brave men and women who have served and who continue to serve our country. Many of our dedicated service members will not be celebrating Christmas with their loved ones this year because they are serving our great nation, both at home and abroad. Not just during the holidays, but every day of the year, let us keep them and their families in our prayers and our hearts. Again, Gayle and I wish you all a merry Christmas and we pray that each of you enjoy the holidays filled with hope, peace and joy. With the start of a New Year, let us all recommit to building a future of freedom and prosperity for ourselves, our families, our communities and our country. May God watch over and bless us all and may God continue to bless America, and the great state of West Virginia. To view a YouTube video of Senator Manchins Christmas greeting, please click here. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blumenthal-markey-on-nhtsa-recall-completion-rates-completely-unacceptable-and-a-massive-disappointment,"Blumenthal, Markey on NHTSA Recall Completion Rates: “Completely Unacceptable and a Massive Disappointment”",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MA,Edward Markey,M000133,www.markey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal, Markey on NHTSA Recall Completion Rates: Completely Unacceptable and a Massive Disappointment Wednesday, December 23, 2015 (Washington, DC) U.S. SenatorsRichard Blumenthal(D-Conn.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) issued the following statement on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) current completion rates for replacing recalled Takata airbags: Todays update from NHTSA reiterates what we already know: the current pace of recall efforts is completely unacceptable and a massive disappointment. While they have increased somewhat in the last few weeks, these completion rates are dismal NHTSA and automakers deserve a lump of coal this year for failing to get their act together to get every potentially deadly airbag off the road. As the holiday season brings increased travel, Americans on the road to visit family or friends should not be at risk because of NHTSAs lethargic recall. The coordinated remedy and appointment of an independent monitor are helpful steps, but are largely required because NHTSA has moved too slowly and ineptly for years, allowing a patchwork of recalls too confusing for consumers to follow. Automakers have dragged their feet and failed to quickly and clearly communicate the extent of the risk to NHTSA and the public. While NHTSAs appointment of John D. Buretta, an experienced litigator with a track record of protecting consumers, as independent monitor of the recall is a positive step, NHTSA must ensure that Mr. Buretta has all resources necessary to effectively oversee this critical task. While we appreciate Honda, Subaru, and Mazdas recall expansions to ensure an adequate safety margin, there remain many un-recalled vehicles on the road that still contain potentially defective Takata airbags. The identification of yet another preventable death this time a young boy and well after when this safety defect was first made known reiterates the urgent need for swift recall of all cars with these potentially defective airbags, which we have been urging NHTSA to require for months. The longer it takes to require and complete this recall, the more drivers and passengers are at risk of injury or death. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-heinrich-luj-and-aacuten-and-lujan-grisham-secure-pledge-from-dhs-that-nm-can-get-delay-of-real-id-enforcement-if-governor-and-legislature-agree-on-real-id-fix,"Udall, Heinrich, Lujn and Lujan Grisham Secure Pledge from DHS that NM Can get Delay of REAL ID Enforcement if Governor and Legislature Agree on REAL ID Fix",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NM,Tom Udall,U000039,www.tomudall.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 23, 2015 Udall, Heinrich, Lujn and Lujan Grisham Secure Pledge from DHS that NM Can get Delay of REAL ID Enforcement if Governor and Legislature Agree on REAL ID Fix Also at Congressional lawmakers' urging: DHS will act immediately to work with DoD and provide clear guidance on how REAL ID will apply to military installations WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Representatives Ben Ray Lujn and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has informed them that the state of New Mexico can still get an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement if Gov. Susana Martinez and the leadership of the N.M. House and Senate can verify to DHS that they agree on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance. Seeking answers on behalf of New Mexicans about the standards and procedures that DHS will follow to enforce REAL ID, the state's Democratic congressional delegation recently held a joint meeting with DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. As of Jan. 10, 2016, New Mexico drivers' licenses will no longer be considered valid forms of identification to enter federal facilities because the governor and the legislature have not agreed to pass a law bringing the state's drivers' licenses into compliance with the the REAL ID Act of 2005. But Mayorkas pledged to the congressional leaders that DHS would delay enforcement if New Mexico takes steps before Jan. 10 to prove that the governor and legislators are committed to complying with the law this year. ""It is still possible for the State of New Mexico to request, and receive, an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement,"" the congressional lawmakers wrote in a letter to Martinez on Dec. 18, informing her of Mayorkas' promise. ""Mr. Mayorkas stated that DHS will grant the state an extension if the Department receives a letter stating that your administration and the leadership of the state House and Senate have an agreement on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance; that the leadership will bring the bill up for a vote at the upcoming legislative session; and that you will sign the bill into law if it passes."" ""Our offices remain in close contact with DHS and we stand ready to support a request for an extension that allows the legislature time to pass a bipartisan, pragmatic solution that ensures New Mexicans can continue to access federal facilities and airports in the months to come,"" Udall, Heinrich, Lujn and Lujan Grisham continued in their letter. ""The ongoing uncertainty about accessing federal facilities is an undue burden on the men and women who work at these facilities. We hope that your administration and the legislature will act expeditiously to resolve this issue."" The congressional lawmakers added that DHS has granted extensions to other states -- including New Hampshire -- based on anticipated actions in upcoming legislative sessions. Also during their conversation with DHS officials, Udall, Heinrich, Lujn and Lujan Grisham urged DHS to clear up confusion about what form of identification will be required after Jan. 10 to enter a military base in the state of New Mexico. Numerous constituents have contacted the congressional offices reporting that the state's military bases are planning on following conflicting procedures. Mayorkas agreed to contact the Department of Defense (DoD) immediately to ensure that DoD provides the proper guidance to the state's military installations about what form of identification will be needed for entry once REAL ID goes into effect. Finally, the congressional lawmakers asked Mayorkas for clarification about whether New Mexico residents will be able to board commercial flights with a New Mexico driver's license after Jan. 10. DHS clearly stated that residents traveling by air from any state, including New Mexico, will still be allowed to use a driver's license, or any of the various other forms of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration. The agency also pledged to provide clear guidance about when REAL ID enforcement will be implemented for boarding commercial aircraft, with a minimum of 120 days notice before enforcement begins. The lawmakers' letter to Martinez is below: The Honorable Susana Martinez Governor of New Mexico 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501 Dear Governor Martinez: With the upcoming deadline for enforcement of the REAL ID Act of 2005, we wanted to inform you that we recently spoke with Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to discuss the standards and procedures that will be used as of January 10, 2016 for entering federal buildings and facilities in New Mexico. Because our state is the home to many secure federal facilities, we requested that DHS immediately contact the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that DoD provides the proper guidance to our state's military installations. DHS has clearly stated that residents traveling by air from any state, including New Mexico, ""are still able to use a driver's license, or any of the various other forms of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration."" However, to address misinformation, we requested that DHS provide further clarification about the timeline for REAL ID enforcement for boarding commercial aircraft. Deputy Secretary Mayorkas assured us that he will direct his office to work with DoD to ensure the state's military installations receive immediate guidance regarding entry and alternate procedures to be made available by each facility. Additionally, the Deputy Secretary informed us that DHS will provide an update for enforcement for boarding aircraft with adequate time for compliance with federal agency procedures. During our discussion, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas also informed us that it is still possible for the State of New Mexico to request, and receive, an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement. Mr. Mayorkas stated that DHS will grant the state an extension if the Department receives a letter stating that your administration and the leadership of the state House and Senate have an agreement on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance; that the leadership will bring the bill up for a vote at the upcoming legislative session; and that you will sign the bill into law if it passes. Other states, such as New Hampshire, have requested and been granted extensions based on anticipated actions in upcoming legislative sessions. Our offices remain in close contact with DHS and we stand ready to support a request for an extension that allows the legislature time to pass a bipartisan, pragmatic solution that ensures New Mexicans can continue to access federal facilities and airports in the months to come. The ongoing uncertainty about accessing federal facilities is an undue burden on the men and women who work at these facilities. We hope that your administration and the legislature will act expeditiously to resolve this issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, U.S. Senator Tom Udall U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich U.S. Representative Ben Ray Lujn U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5727dc51-80e9-4d86-ab7a-2b096c6c88da,Statement of Sen. Warner on Today's Announcement by Rep. Hurt,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,VA,Mark Warner,W000805,www.warner.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on todays announcement by U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt (R-5th) that he will not seek reelection next year: I have respected and enjoyed working alongside Robert Hurt for 13 years. When Robert was a state delegate and I served as Virginia governor, we worked together to improve schools and strengthen the economy across southside. Today, as colleagues in Virginias congressional delegation, Rep. Hurt has been a strong partner and a reliable advocate for the people of the Fifth District and across Virginia. I thank him for his public service and offer my best wishes. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.warren.senate.gov?p=news&id=1055,"Associated Press: Warren, Markey: Let States Allow Partial Opioid Prescriptions",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MA,Elizabeth Warren,W000817,www.warren.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BOSTON (AP) - Several U.S. senators are urging federal regulators to make it clear that partially filling prescriptions for opioid drugs is permitted under federal law. Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey said in a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration that officials in many states - including Massachusetts - have pushed for the change as a way to combat the opioid addiction problem. Read the full Associated Press article here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.warren.senate.gov?p=news&id=1056,Springfield Republican: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and colleagues press feds for more answers on medical marijuana research,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MA,Elizabeth Warren,W000817,www.warren.senate.gov,,,legacy,"A group of U.S. senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, is still seeking answers on federal barriers to research on medical marijuana and hit U.S. agencies for a lack of coordination with states on the issue. Warren, Markey and six other senators sent a letter in July asking for information on federal agencies' efforts on medical marijuana research. Medical marijuana is currently legal in 23 states, including Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. Read the full article here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.warren.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1042,Bipartisan Group of Senators Urges DEA to Clarify 'Partial Fill' Policies to Help Address Opioid Crisis,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MA,Elizabeth Warren,W000817,www.warren.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Full text of the letter available here (PDF) Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) sent a bipartisan letter asking the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to clarify that partial filling of Schedule II opioid drugs is permitted under federal law. ""States like Massachusetts are considering policies that would give patients, their providers, and pharmacists the option to dispense opioid medication a few days' supply at a time, up to the total amount in the prescription, so that patients don't receive more drugs than they will use,"" wrote the senators. ""These partial-fill' policies could empower patients to work with their doctor and pharmacist to achieve the desired level of pain control while also limiting the amount of unused medication in their home."" But the Controlled Substances Act and the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act are both silent with regards to the partial filling of prescriptions. ""While these regulations do not specifically prohibit partially filling prescriptions for Schedule II substances in other scenarios, the lack of clarity has deterred states from moving forward with partial fill policies,"" the senators wrote. The letter requests that the DEA ""issue guidance or undertake the rulemaking process to clarify that Schedule II opioid drugs are permitted to be partially filled under federal law. This modest change can make a big difference in our fight against the opioid epidemic."" Read a PDF copy of the letter here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-kicks-off-new-year-with-town-halls,Wyden Kicks Off New Year With Town Halls,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Schedule Includes Senators Landmark 750th Town Hall Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Portland, Ore. Senator Ron Wyden next month will hold town halls starting on Jan. 3, including his 750thtown hall. Fulfilling his promise to hold annual town halls in each of Oregons 36 counties, Wyden will kick off 2016 with town halls between Jan. 3 and Jan. 6 in Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Wasco, Wheeler, Gilliam, Sherman and Hood River counties. On Jan. 5, Wyden will be in Wheeler County for his 750thtown hall the location of his first town hall 20 years ago in Fossil when he first won election to the Senate. My promise to Oregonians of town halls each year in each county began in Wheeler County, which is why there is no better place to hold this landmark 750thtown hall,Wyden said.I am so proud to represent the entire state in the true Oregon tradition by throwing open the doors of government so we can get beyond sound bites and have substantive discussions with Oregonians about their ideas to make our state and our country an even better place. Senator Wydens upcoming town hall schedule is as follows: Sunday, Jan. 3 CROOK COUNTY:4:30 pm, St. Charles Prineville Hospital Ochoco Conference Rooms 384 Combs Flat Road, Prineville Monday, Jan. 4 DESCHUTES COUNTY: 9:45 am, Ridgeview High School Auditorium 4555 SW Elkhorn Ave. Redmond JEFFERSON COUNTY: 12:30 pm, Madras City Hall 125 SW E. Street, Madras Tuesday, Jan. 5 WASCO COUNTY: 9:15 am, The Dalles-Wahtonka High School Auditorium 220 E 10thSt. The Dalles WHEELER COUNTY: 1:30 pm, Wheeler High School, 600 B Street, Fossil GILLIAM COUNTY:4:30 pm, Condon Chamber of Commerce, 307 S. Main St., Condon Wednesday, Jan. 6 SHERMAN COUNTY: 10 am, Sherman Jr. Senior High School 65912 High School Loop, Moro HOOD RIVER COUNTY:1:30 pm,Hood River High School Auditorium 1220 Indian Creek Rd, Hood River",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-statement-on-passage-of-fy-2016-omnibus,CONGRESSMAN BISHOP STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF FY 2016 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,GA,Sanford Bishop,B000490,bishop.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Ranking Member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, released the following statement regarding his support of the bipartisan Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Omnibus Appropriations government spending bill. The bill was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 316 to 113, was approved by the U.S. Senate, and has been signed into law by the President. The House of Representatives came together with a balanced compromise to provide the resources needed to create jobs, boost our economic growth, bolster education, invest in our infrastructure, and support our working families. Overall, the bill achieves a number of victories for Georgia and the American people, especially in providing foreducation, job training, medical research, worker safety, child care, and food security. Regarding the MilCon/VA section of the bill, anumber of the bills highlights will have a profound impact on the lives of our nations veterans. For example, the amount of funding for Hepatitis C treatment to was raised to $1.5 billion in an effort to eliminate the disease among the veteran population. Additionally, in order to combat veterans homelessness, suicide, and PTSD, we have also included $7.5 billion for mental health care services. Additionally, I am confident that the FY2016 bill provides our military the resources it needs to defend our country and fund the services our veterans may need to carry out successful, productive lives. ""Within the Agriculture section of the Omnibus, we worked to prioritize support for American farmers and ranchers, approving $21.75 billion in discretionary funding and $925 million above last year's enacted level. The strong funding for agriculture production, safe food and medicines research, and rural development will go far to promote U.S. agriculture, create jobs, and strengthen our economy. That being said, it is high time Congress returns to regular working ordera process that starts with a realistic allocation, rejects the omnibus model, returns to passing individually tailored spending bills, and utilizing the entire legislative process to determine how our government responsibly invests in the American people. Truly, regular order is better for the governmental process, the Members, and this august institution in which we serve. BACKGROUND: GEORGIAPROJECTS: $113.7 million to complete the remaining design and construction of the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory in Athens, Georgia. This is in addition to the FY2015 appropriation which provided $45 million to begin a phased design and construction project for the facility, which is the highest priority facility recommended for modernization. It will be the primary research laboratory studying the avian flu, which has devastated the US poultry industry, particularly in the west and Midwest regions of the country $90 million for a command and control facility at Fort Gordon $7.851 million for ground source heat pumps for the Navy in Albany $8.099 million for industrial control system infrastructure for the Navy at Kings Bay $48.279 million for a bombing range expansion (Phase 2) for the Navy at Townsend $10.9 million to replace a pump-house and truck fill stands at Moody Air Force Base $9 million for a C-130 squadron operations facility at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport for the Air National Guard $770 thousand for the Army Corps of Engineers construction on Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake $8.663 million for the Army Corps of Engineers construction on Savannah Harbor disposal areas $21.050 million for the Army Corps of Engineers construction on Savannah Harbor Expansion For more information regarding the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs section of the FY2016 Omnibus,please click here. For more information regarding the agriculture section of theFY2016 Omnibus,please click here.For more information about the wholeFY2016 Omnibusappropriations bill,please clickhereandhere. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-welcomes-fort-valley-state-university-president-dr,CONGRESSMAN BISHOP WELCOMES FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. PAUL JONES,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,GA,Sanford Bishop,B000490,bishop.house.gov,,,legacy,"Fort Valley, GA Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) welcomes Dr. Paul Jones as the new President of Fort Valley State University (FVSU). The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia named Dr. Jones as FVSUs president after the strong recommendation by the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, Hank Huckaby. Giving our students the ability to receive a quality education is vital in todays competitive society, said Congressman Bishop. I have faith Dr. Jones will build upon the 1890 Land Grant institutions exceptional legacy at Fort Valley State University by continuing his proven track record of supporting meaningful opportunities for learning, growth, and service through the higher education system of Georgia. Dr. Jones has served in numerous senior roles at Georgia College & State University, including vice president and interim president. Additionally, he has held positions on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and of the Central Savannah River Area as well as on the Executive Committee of Washington County Archway. Dr. Jones has been serving as the interim president of Darton State College (DSC) since 2013. During his presidency, Dr. Jones focused on improving DSCs administrative functions, legal affairs, and internal audit departments. Furthermore, he successfully increased the number of online degrees offered at DSC and worked to improve the transfer process between Darton and Albany State University for students to earn their degree. An 1890 Land Grant institution with strength in the STEM fields, agriculture research, and extension services, Dr. Jones new challenge will be building upon FVSUs rich history of agriculture research and community development. For more information about on FVSU, please click here. For more information about Dr. Paul Jones, please click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://crowley.house.gov/press-release/vice-chair-crowley-announces-funding-new-maritime-academy-training-vessel-design,Vice Chair Crowley Announces Funding for New Maritime Academy Training Vessel Design Included in Government Spending Bill,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NY,Joseph Crowley,C001038,crowley.house.gov,,,legacy,"Funds Will Benefit Nations 6 Maritime Academies, Including SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx (Bronx, NY) Today, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, applauded the inclusion of $5 million for the design of a new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel for the countrys six State Maritime Academies in the bill funding the federal government for FY2016 recently signed by President Obama. For over a year, Crowley has championed the need for updating our nations aging training ships, spearheading multiple bipartisan letters to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the White House Office of Management and Budget. Our maritime industry continues to play an essential role in our nations economy and national security, said Rep. Crowley, whose district includes SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx. Yet, our maritime academies the institutions that produce the next generation of mariners are stuck with an aging, outdated fleet of vessels. We need to ensure that SUNY Maritime College and other academies have the resources necessary to continue developing highly skilled mariners and that means replacing the vessels where they are being trained. We are extremely grateful to Congressman Joe Crowley who spearheaded this initiative over the past several years. His leadership and enthusiastic support have been outstanding. I appreciate Congressman Crowleys keen understanding of the nations need to maintain a strong maritime workforce, said RADM Michael A. Alfultis, (USMS) Ph.D, President, State University of New York, Maritime College. Last year, Crowley led 25 bipartisan members of Congress in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget with the initial request that the agencies to develop and support a plan to replace the aging ships used by our nations State Maritime Academies. In February, President Obama designated $5 million in his budget to design and replace aging ships. In April, Crowley announced that the bill to fund the Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban Development would include these funds, which was just signed into law as part of the larger bill funding the entire government.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cuellar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399393,Rep. Cuellar Announces Additional $26.8 Million in Federal Funding for Bridge I Renovations,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,TX,Henry Cuellar,C001063,cuellar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) announced the awarding of $26.8 million for long-awaited renovations to the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge, also known as Convent Avenue Bridge I in Laredo. In June of 2015, Congressman Cuellar announced a $62 million in federal funding for renovations to the Jurez-Lincoln International Bridge, also known as Bridge II. The combined funding for renovations to both bridges in Laredo are approximately $88.8 which Congressman Cuellar secured during the U.S. House Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year 2014 Budget. A press conference will be held in Laredo in the near future. Long overdue, the current Bridge I is 70 years old and is the oldest of Laredos four ports. Its last major renovation was more than 25 years ago. This new funding will allow for a complete internal renovation of the main building to optimize the space to improve pedestrian flow through the port. Currently, the bridge has 8 pedestrian booths (three indoor, five outdoor) and 4 automobile booths. U.S.-bound traffic statistics for 2014 show Bridge I had approximately 3.5 million pedestrian crossings and 1.3 million automobile crossings, with an estimated 2.5 million estimated automobile passengers. The facility is in need of an updated design to improve wait times, waiting conditions and accessibility for visitors with disabilities or other physical impartments. As part of this project, improvements will be made to increase the number of pedestrian processing lanes to 14 and add a dedicated bicycle lane, reconfigure the primary car inspection lanes, upgrade and modernize the secondary area for further inspection, modernize security systems so drivers and pedestrians can flow through the port faster and renovate the pedestrian canopy to shade them from the sun while waiting in line. All of these improvements will make the process of moving pedestrians and automobile passengers faster, safer and more efficient. This should reduce peak automobile wait times from 33 to 15 minutes, and peak pedestrian wait times from 49 to 21 minutes. The renovations for Bridge I will begin in April 2016 and will last approximately 22 months. Mexico-bound traffic, along with U.S.-bound bicycle and pedestrian traffic will not be affected during this process. However, all U.S.-bound automobiles will be re-routed to the Jurez-Lincoln Point of Entry (Bridge II), for an estimated 14-18 months. Construction for the $62 million Bridge II renovation began in September 2015 and is expected to be completed by Spring 2018. Bridge II ranked as the busiest crossing for bus passengers in Fiscal Year 2014, with an average of 2,796 passengers per day (125-150 bus crossings per day). The layout of Bridge II is outdated, which contributes to long wait times. Currently, bus processing occurs in an outdoor area that is ill-equipped for the massive bus traffic the port receives. Both the bus and automobile inspections currently occur in exterior spaces, which subjects travelers to uncomfortable and extreme temperatures common to our area. The new design will include a new bus and automobile inspection canopies and the construction of a new combined bus and passenger vehicle inspection facility, which will improve the flow and processing of bus and automobile traffic. It will also provide a very positive first impression of Laredo and the United States for travelers while providing for their safety and national security. The improved bus configuration is expected to reduce peak transit times from 160 to just 40 minutes. Laredo is strategically located between two great powerhouses for commerce. This project, along with the current improvements that are already underway at the Jurez-Lincoln International Bridge, represents an enormous $88.8 million federal investment in our community, Congressman Cuellar said. These international bridges provide a vital service to our area by increasing commerce and tourism and connecting families across the border. By enhancing traveler experience, shortening wait times and increasing both efficiency and security at our ports, we are investing heavily in a more modern and business-friendly Laredo that will aid us tremendously in our future growth. Families, travelers and businesses will be able to soon reap the benefits of these newly-improved layouts with state-of-the-art technology. Sylvia Hernandez, the Regional Administrator for the General Services Administration stated, GSA is pleased to announce the award for the modernization of the Convent Avenue Bridge in Laredo. The project will increase efficiency and improve safety and security for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. It will also help CBP to accomplish its mission to safeguard Americas borders. I thank Sylvia Hernandez, GSA Regional Administrator, and David Higgerson, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Director of Field Operations for the Laredo Field Office, for their tremendous work on these projects, as well as Mayor Pete Saenz, City Manager Jesus Olivares, and the Laredo City Council for their support continued Congressman Cuellar. In addition, we will work with the City of Laredo, the City of Nuevo Laredo, CBP, Mexican Customs and the private sector to minimize disruption to the flow of traffic and surrounding businesses during construction. An artist rendering (above) shows the point of view of U.S.-bound automobile traffic on the Gateway of the Americas International Bridge. (Images courtesy of GSA) A wider view of the north-bound traffic with images of the pedestrian walkway on the right. (Images courtesy of GSA) Inside the automobile traffic processing booths at the Gateway of the Americas International Bridge. (Images courtesy of GSA) A view of the proposed bicycle lane at Gateway of the Americas International Bridge. (Images courtesy of GSA) A view of the pedestrian passageway in between CBP offices at the Gateway of the Americas Port of Entry and La Posada Hotel. Once clearing customs, pedestrians will use this passageway which leads to an exit on Convent Street in downtown Laredo. (Images courtesy of GSA) A remodeled customs building at the Gateway to the Americas Port of Entry will allow for more efficient processing of pedestrian traffic, while allowing providing protection from intense heat and other elements. (Images courtesy of GSA) The Plaza de Amistad, seen here from Convent Street in downtown Laredo, will provide an inviting presence and design for travelers crossing through the Gateway of the Americas Port of Entry. (Images courtesy of GSA) A map shows the current automobile, pedestrian and bicycle traffic flow of the Gateway to the Americas Bridge. (Images courtesy of GSA) A map shows the new proposed design for automobile, pedestrian and bicycle traffic flow at the Gateway of the Americas International Bridge. (Images courtesy of GSA) A rendering shows an exterior view of an improved bus and passenger vehicle processing center at the Jurez-Lincoln International Bridge. (Images courtesy of GSA) An interior view of the new bus and passenger vehicle inspection facility at the Jurez-Lincoln International Bridge. (Images courtesy of GSA) An aerial view of the newly-renovated Jurez-Lincoln International Bridge, as seen from downtown Laredo, Texas. (Images courtesy of GSA) ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-says-new-cdc-guideline-on-opioid-prescriptions-is-important-step,Higgins Says New CDC Guideline on Opioid Prescriptions Is Important Step in Fighting the Epidemic,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NY,Brian Higgins,H001038,higgins.house.gov,,,legacy,"Last week the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced plans for new guidelines for prescribing opioids. The recommendation comes the same week as the CDC announced new data indicating overdose deaths reached over 47,000 in 2014, a record high. Given widespread over-prescription and the potentially deadly consequences, the CDC is asking medical professionals to think twice before prescribing opioids, said Higgins. Pain management is an important part of a physicians practice; however, it is vital for prescribers to understand when options other than these highly addictive drugs may be available. According to the CDC, prescription opioid sales in the United States have increased by 300% since 1999 despite published reports that pain among the general population is no more prevalent today. The CDC guidelines provide voluntary recommendations that serve as a tool for medical professionals. The CDC guidelines are not intended to apply to patients in treatment for active cancer or palliative care. Earlier this year Higgins introduced (HR 2536) the TREAT Act, legislation that enhances access to medication assisted treatment for those addicted to opioids and heroin.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://jacksonlee.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/texas-justice-fails-sandra-bland,TEXAS JUSTICE FAILS SANDRA BLAND,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,TX,Sheila Jackson Lee,J000032,jacksonlee.house.gov,,,legacy,"HOUSTON, TEXAS Today, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, released the following statement after a Texas grand jury returned no indictments in the jailhouse death of Sandra Bland: I was deeply saddened by the death of Sandra Bland, a 28 year old woman who died in Waller County Jail in Hempstead, Texas. The facts and circumstances of Ms. Blands death shocked the nation, warranting independent investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice. Too many questions remain surrounding the death of this young, vital and dynamic woman, who was stopped for allegedly failing to signal a lane change, arrested for allegedly being uncooperative, and is then found hanging in her jail cell three days later. It is disappointing that the local officials have not produced answers that Ms. Bland family and the rest of this country expect and deserve. The Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation must take a closer look. At a minimum, the practices and policies that have led to the deaths of multiple persons in custody at Waller County Jail call for immediate and thorough corrective action. Additionally, we cannot forget the deep racial divides that exist in Hempstead, Texas and the continued concern over racially discriminatory practices that may exist in the Waller County Sherriffs Office. In particular, I am urging the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough and vigilant investigation into the operations of the Waller County Sherriffs Office. Racism has no place in law enforcement and should not be tolerated at any level or under any circumstances. We have an obligation to the American people to maintain transparency in our federal system and to respond appropriately when citizens raise questions. I remain hopeful that justice will prevail in exposing and uprooting any and all bad actors, policies, practices, or cases that have resulted in unlawful and unjust loss of liberty and life. I continue to express my condolences to the family and will continue to keep them in my thoughts during this very difficult time. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-statement-uss-nimitz-homeporting-decision,Larsen Statement On USS Nimitz Homeporting Decision,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, released the following statement today after the U.S. Navy announced that the USS Nimitz will remain homeported in Bremerton until two ship maintenance periods are completed. While I am deeply disappointed in the Navys decision not to homeport the USS Nimitz at Naval Station Everett again until 2019, I remain as committed as ever to the base and its sailors and families. Naval Station Everett is a strategically situated deep water port that offers the Navy unique and valuable access to the Pacific Ocean, a critical asset as our country increasingly engages in the Asia-Pacific region. The base also provides sailors and their families with a high quality of life, which led to its nickname of the Sailors Choice. Throughout my time in Congress I have worked hard to strengthen the base, and I will continue my efforts with leaders in our local communities and in the Navy to ensure Naval Station Everett remains one of our countrys preeminent naval assets for our carrier fleet, Larsen said. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://lynch.house.gov/press-release/funding-veterans-and-drug-courts-top-rep-lynch%E2%80%99s-agenda,Funding for Veterans and Drug Courts Top Rep. Lynchs Agenda,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MA,Stephen Lynch,L000562,lynch.house.gov,,,legacy,"Funding for Veterans and Drug Courts Top Rep. Lynchs Agenda Dec 22, 2015 BOSTON, MA Last week, the Congress passed and President Obama signed a bipartisan omnibus appropriations bill funding the government through Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 316-113. As local communities struggle to provide veterans with the services they have earned, I am very pleased that Congress recognized the need to invest heavily in efforts to end veterans homelessness and support suicide prevention programs. In addition, many families in the 8th District are faced with the devastating impacts of a loved one struggling with addiction and increased support for the drug courts program is a critical way to help halt the cycle of addiction, said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-Boston) who voted in favor of the legislation. While the spending package was imperfect, it makes critical investments to promote economic growth and assist the hardworking families of the 8th District. My concerns about lifting the oil export ban were outweighed by the substantial funding for alternative energy, which will create jobs across the country. From increased support for medical research into debilitating diseases to investing in updates for our aging infrastructure, the federal government has prioritized funding for many issues close to the hearts of residents of Massachusetts, Congressman Lynch added. Important priorities for Massachusetts families and businesses in the omnibus package include: $1.4 billion for Ending Veterans Homelessness: As the VA works with local communities to reduce the number of veterans living on the streets, this funding will help support efforts to end veterans homelessness. In addition, funding for rental assistance programs for veterans was included in the $11.3 billion for housing programs. $26.7 million for Defense Suicide Prevention Office: Funding to support suicide prevention is included in the $50 billion for VA Medical Services. With high suicide rates among veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan, the omnibus directs the VA to move forward with implementation of the community-oriented peer support suicide prevention network established by the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which was signed into law earlier this year. $42 million for the Drug Courts Program: Drug courts are proven to save taxpayers money, reduce crime, and restore families. Earlier this year, Congressman Lynch advocated for an increase in funding for the drug courts program during the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations process. $32 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH): The $2 billion increase for medical research at NIH will fund projects seeking to improve the health of American families, including cancer and Alzheimers disease research. NIH funding plays a significant role in the medical research ongoing at local hospitals and research institutions. $2.1 billion for Alternative Energy: The omnibus invests heavily in renewable and clean energy with a $149 million increase for Fiscal Year 2016. Extending the wind production and solar investment tax credits for five years is expected to create good jobs in both industries. $500 million for TIGER Grants: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and municipalities will be able to seek funding from the TIGER grant program for long overdue infrastructure enhancements, improving safety and access to transportation in the Commonwealth. Cadillac Tax Delay: The tax on high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans, also known as the Cadillac tax, is delayed until 2020. This is a much needed delay as the Cadillac tax is expected to have a negative impact on union health plans. Congressman Lynch is an original cosponsor of H.R. 2050, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015, which repeals the Cadillac tax. 9/11 First Responders and Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism: The omnibus reauthorizes health benefits for 9/11 first responders and renews the Victims Compensation Fund for five years. Congressman Lynch was an original cosponsor of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://pallone.house.gov/press-release/pallone-kicks-final-phase-beach-replenishment-project,Pallone Kicks Off Final Phase of Beach Replenishment Project,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NJ,Frank Pallone,P000034,pallone.house.gov,,,legacy,"DEAL, NJ Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6) kicked off the start of the final phase of a federally funded beach replenishment project from Sea Bright to Manasquan. He was joined at the press conference by Col. David Caldwell, Commander of the New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers. This final phase will cover the area stretching from Lake Takanassee in Elberon to Philips Avenue in Deal. The $86,722,210 in funding for this project is part of the Sandy aid package that Congressman Pallone fought for in Congress. The completion of this project will not only replenish, protect and maintain our beaches, it will be an encouraging marker of our ongoing efforts to rebuild our coastline stronger and more resilient than before Sandy hit, said Congressman Pallone. We waged a hard fight in Congress for Sandy relief funding, and I am glad that significant and well-deserved funds have come home to help our beaches a fundamental part of life for residents and the tourist economy. The project will cover the placement of 3 million cubic yards of sand for reconstruction of the shoreline. It also includes lengthening 10 existing stormwater outfalls, and notching a groin at Phillips Avenue. Earlier this year, the first phase of the replenishment project from Philips Avenue in Deal to Loch Arbour began and is now being completed. Originally, the Army Corps had planned to notch six groins, also known as jetties, between Elberon and Loch Arbour. However, after meeting with Congressman Pallone and concerned citizens, including fishermen, surfers and recreational users in the area, the Army Corps agreed to only notch three groins within the project area. In addition to the groin that will be notched at Phillips Avenue, two groins, one at Deal Casino and the other at Marine Place, were notched as a part of the southern Deal to Loch Arbour contract.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://payne.house.gov/press-release/payne-menendez-booker-deliver-holiday-gift-nj-transit-riders-tax-breaks-money-back,"Payne, Menendez, Booker Deliver Holiday Gift for NJ Transit Riders: Tax Breaks, Money Back in Their Pockets",2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,NJ,Donald Payne,P000604,payne.house.gov,,,legacy,"MONTCLAIR, NJ Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) joined U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and U.S. Senator Cory Booker at New Jersey Transits (NJT) Walnut Station in Montclair to urge transit commuters to take advantage of new federal tax benefits to help pay the cost of rising bus and train fares. The federal spending and tax package, approved by Congress and signed into law last week, included a provision co-authored by Sen. Menendez that increases the maximum monthly commuter tax benefit for transit riders, and brings it permanently in line with the benefit enjoyed by those who drive to work. Beginning Jan. 1, those who rely on public transportation can set aside up to $255 per month in pre-tax earnings to pay their commuting expenses, amounting to an estimated annual savings of over $1,000 for transit riders who recently were forced to absorb a 9% NJT fare hike. Mass transit is a lifeline for so many people in my district who depend on it every single day to go about their lives, said Rep. Payne, Jr. So expanding and making permanent the transit tax break is a huge victory for commuters in our state. They deserve, and can now rightfully benefit from, the same tax break as people who drive. By making transit and parking benefits equal, we will not only encourage more commuters to take public transportation, we will no longer penalize people for choosing mass transit over driving. Transit parity is real, substantive tax relief for middle and working class Americans. It is real money back in the pockets of cash-strapped transit riders, said Sen. Menendez, the ranking member of the Senate Banking mass transit subcommittee and a member of the Senate Finance Committee that handles federal tax policy. Incentivizing mass transit is the right thing to do, especially in such a densely populated state like New Jersey. It gets people out of their cars and off our roads. It reduces traffic congestion and air pollution, and it improves the overall quality of life for residents. As transit users are forced to bear the brunt of fare hikes, this transit tax credit could put more than $1000 back in commuters pockets annually while finally providing some much-needed parity with those who drive to work, said Sen. Booker, the top-ranking Democrat on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, which has jurisdiction over passenger rail in the U.S. While this bill is far from perfect, I am pleased to see it include provisions that save New Jersey commuters hard-earned dollars while increasing investments in our regions crumbling infrastructure. Continued robust funding like this for the New Starts program bodes well for critical infrastructure projects like Gateway that will provide much-needed relief for commuters and help boost our economy. With the monthly maximum transit benefit increased to $255 in 2016, it will cover 100% of a $210 monthly rail pass between Montclair and New York Penn Station, and similarly will cover 100% of a $254 monthly pass from Metropark to Princeton. Had parity not been restored, these percentages would have been 62% and 51% respectively. It will also cover 100% of a $181 monthly bus pass between Glassboro and Philadelphia, compared to just 72% without parity. Until now, commuters who drive to work have traditionally received disproportionately greater tax relief than their counterparts who take public transportation. This year, motorists were able to set aside up to $250 monthly in pre-tax earnings to cover their commuting expenses, compared to just $130 a month for bus, train and ferry riders. Annual Tax Savings for a Worker Making $50,000 Without Commuter Benefits With Commuter Benefits Salary $50,000 $50,000 Commuting Costs $3,060 $3,060 Taxable Income $50,000 $46,940 Federal Taxes Paid(25% bracket) $12,500 $11,735 Payroll tax $3,825 $3,591 Take Home Pay $33,675 $34,674 Savings $0 $999 Sen. Menendez has co-sponsored the Commuter Benefits Equity Act in the last four Congresses to permanently correct the disparity between the transit and parking tax benefit, and successfully introduced it with Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) as a provision of the final federal spending and tax package. We thank our tri-state federal delegation for pushing to create permanent parity to the commuter tax benefit for transit riders. Providing the same tax benefit to transit riders that drivers receive with a parking benefit is balanced and progressive fiscal policy. It also provides another monetary incentive to use buses, subways and rails. This makes sense for our environment and economy, said Veronica Vanterpool, executive director Tri-State Transportation Campaign. The federal lawmakers also touted several other provisions contained in the so-called omnibus legislation to improve New Jerseys and the nations transportation infrastructure: New Starts Transit Program Provides $2.2 billion, a $57 million increase over current funding levels to fund the design and construction of new transit lines, or extensions of existing lines. NJT could apply for this funding in the coming months to fund the planned Hudson-Bergen Light Rail West Side extension in Jersey City, and its a program that could be a significant source of funding for the Gateway Hudson River rail tunnel project once it receives design and environmental clearances. Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants Provides $500 million for TIGER grants, which go to our nation's infrastructure projects that make communities more livable and sustainable. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation (USDOT) this year awarded $16 million towards constructing the 105-year-old Portal Bridge replacement. Airport Improvement GrantsProvides $3.35 billion for the Airport Improvement Grant program, which distributes grants to airports across the state, such as Newark, Teterboro Airport, and Atlantic City International Airport, for critically-needed infrastructure projects to enhance capacity and reduce congestion, as well as to improve safety and reduce aircraft noise and emissions. These airport projects also support thousands of contractor jobs in the state. Amtrak Provides $1.39 billion for Amtrak, which is chosen by 78 percent of passengers traveling between New York and Washington, D.C. over air travel. FAST Act Fully funds highway and transit programs at levels provided for in the recent transportation billincluding $600 million next year in guaranteed transit funding for New Jersey, and $1 billion in guaranteed highway funding. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-lee-baldwin-warren-respond-to-fda-policy-change-to-blood-donor,"Quigley, Lee, Baldwin, Warren Respond to FDA Policy Change to Blood Donor Deferral Policy for MSM",2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, and Barbara Lee (CA-13) and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement regarding the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) policy change of the blood donor deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM) from lifetime ban to one-year deferral: This past year, we saw tremendous progress for the LGBT community with the legalization of same sex marriage nationwide. Unfortunately, today's official policy change by the FDA on blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM) from a lifetime ban to one-year deferral does not keep up with that same progress, said. Rep. Quigley. A time-based deferral focusing solely on men who have sex with men is still discriminatory and fails to exclude donors based on actual risk factors. However, I remain encouraged by the ongoing conversation to change this outdated policy. As the leader of the bipartisan, bicameral effort to reverse the FDAs discriminatory policy, I will continue to fight for a deferral policy based on behavioral risks, commensurate with the rest of the population and based on sound science, bringing equality for the LGBT community while still protecting the U.S. blood supply. I am encouraged that the FDA swiftly finalized this guidance to move forward and revise the discriminatory lifetime ban on blood donations. However, this is just the first step toward ending an outdated policy that is medically and scientifically unwarranted, said Senator Baldwin.This revision doesnt go far enough and I expect the FDA to maintain its commitment to work with stakeholders to develop better blood donor policies based on science. I will continue to push the Administration to move forward to achieve our ultimate goal of blood donation policies that are based on individual risk factors, that dont unfairly single out one group of individuals, and that allow all healthy Americans to donate. The FDAs long-overdue decision to overturn the lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM) is an important step forward, but a one-year deferral policy for all MSM remains discriminatory, said Senator Warren. The FDA says it will continue to reevaluate its policy, and the agency needs to commit to developing a risk-based framework for all blood donors that is based on current science. I will continue to press the agency to move in this direction in order to improve the safety and robustness of the blood supply. I applaud todays decision from the Food and Drug Administration to lift the discriminatory lifetime blood donation ban for members of the MSM community. However, the policy of one year deferral still maintains the long outdated policies concerning blood donations from the MSM community without scientific justification, said Rep. Lee. Blood and blood products are critical to the treatment of many medical conditions and blood supplies are chronically low, especially around the holidays. Our blood donation policies should be based on science, not fear. I have called and will continue to call for blood donation policies that are based on the best possible science, data and technical capacity to ensure public health. The previous lifetime ban on MSM donating blood was put in place during the rise of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, but is no longer scientifically justified with current blood screening technology. In 2010, the HHS Advisory Committee on Blood & Tissue Safety & Availability (ACBTSA) found the ban to be suboptimal and asked for re-evaluation of this policy. In response to a letter from legislators in 2013, HHS indicated that the Department will finish deliberations on a policy change to the blood ban by the end of 2014. In 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) passed a resolution opposing the current lifetime ban as discriminatory and not based on sound science. Instead, the AMA supports new donation deferral policies that are based on an individuals level of risk. The blood banking community, including the American Red Cross and Americas Blood Centers, has also long-supported a change in policy. Reps. Quigley and Lee and Senators Warren and Baldwin have been bicameral leaders in the fight to change this outdated and discriminatory policy. This summer, along with 79 of their congressional colleagues, the members sent a letter to the FDA requesting that the FDA implement the one year deferral policy ""in a way that ensures that this is only a first step toward implementing a risk-based blood donation policy for MSM,"" and requests that the agency consider amending the draft guidance document to clarify the agency's policy regarding donations from transgender individuals, to clearly delink the establishment of the Transfusion Transmissible Infections Monitoring System from the change in the MSM blood donation policy, and to take action to reform and correct deficiencies in the Uniform Donor History Questionnaire.Last year in a letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, the members, along with 75 of their colleagues, asked for additional information regarding the timeline for reversing the lifetime deferral policy, actions being taken to work towards a risk-based deferral policy, and plans for implementing the long-overdue blood safety surveillance system. Previously, they urged HHS Secretary Burwell to reevaluate the current discriminatory, inconsistent blood, organ and tissue donation policies for MSM. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398539,Bipartisan Task Force on Anti-Semitism Issues Statement on Cancellation of Hungarian Monument to Nazi Collaborator,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,FL,Ted Deutch,D000610,teddeutch.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Anti-Semitism released a statement after the announcement of the cancelation of construction of a statue in Szkesfehrvr, Hungary memorializing Blint Hman, a known anti-Semite and Nazi-collaborator. On December 4th, 2015, the co-Chairs sent a joint letter to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn urging him to intercede and cease construction of the Hman statue. The Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Anti-Semitism is co-chaired by U.S. Reps. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Nita Lowey (NY-17), Eliot Engel (NY-16), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27), Kay Granger (TX-12), Steve Israel (NY-03), Peter Roskam (IL-06), and Ted Deutch (FL-21). We have learned through Hungarys Embassy in Washington that the civil-society organization responsible for the Hman statue has canceled the project. We applaud this decision and hope it serves as a reminder that the history of the Holocaust must be neither revised nor forgotten and the memory of the millions of victims must never be disrespected. We are also pleased by the advocacy of the U.S. government, as well as many U.S. civil-society organizations, in conveying Americas principled and unambiguous stand against anti-Semitism and objecting to the plans for constructing the statue. Background: Hungarys government provided the majority of funds for a local statue honoring Blint Hman, a wartime political leader whose actions led to the near destruction of Hungarys Jewish population during the Holocaust. On December 4, 2015, the Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Anti-Semitism sent a letter to Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orbn urging him to publicly condemn Hmans role in the persecution and deportation of innocent Hungarians and to withdraw government funding for the construction of the statue. The full text of the letter to Prime Minister Orbn can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-announces-akron-jp-morgan-chase-employees-will-receive-trade,Congressman Tim Ryan Announces Akron JP Morgan Chase Employees Will Receive Trade Adjustment Assistance,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,OH,Tim Ryan,R000577,timryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Akron, Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan is pleased to announce the certification petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Akron JP Morgan Chase & Companys Anti-Money Laundering analysts whose positions were outsourced to a foreign country. Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) will assist workers in their search for re-employment through income support, training, assistance with healthcare premium costs, employment and case management services, and may include job search and relocation allowances. Unfair trade laws are impacting men and women throughout our region, and this goes to show that they are not just negatively affecting our manufacturing industry, but also our financial institutions. As the holiday season approaches and Congress continues to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, we must make sure that we are protecting workers from all industries from unfair trade laws, said Congressman Ryan. Im pleased that JP Morgan Chase employees in our community who lost their jobs through no fault of their own will have the resources and services they need to get back on their feet. I stand ready to do everything in my power to assist them during this difficult transition. The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program is a federal program that assists US workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade. The program provides trade-affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, resources, and support they need to become reemployed. For example, Trade Readjustment Allowances will provide income support while workers are participating in full-time training, which may include classroom and/or on the-job training, customized training, post-secondary education, prerequisite education or coursework and remedial education. The cost of training is paid to the training provider by the State with TAA Program funds. In addition, the Health Care Tax Credit makes health insurance more affordable for trade-affected workers by paying 72.5% of health insurance premiums.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z