VICKSBURG, Mississippi, June 25 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Vicksburg District issued the following news release: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, has announced a 15-day extension of the public comment period for the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) related to the Pearl River Basin, Mississippi Federal Flood Risk Management Project. Originally set to conclude on July 22, 2024, the new deadline for submitting comments is now August 6, 2024. The DEIS, the   more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, issued the following news release on June 27, 2024: U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (IL-12) and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) raised concerns today over the recent acquisition of the Cahokia grain terminal by COFCO International Ltd, a Chinese state-run company. In a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Bost and Budzinski urged an immediate review of the acquisition   more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on June 26, 2024: The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today approved the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), legislation that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works Program for projects to improve the nation's ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other as  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today spoke in favor of and then voted for the Water Resources Development Act of 2024. The vote to move the measure to the House floor was 61 to 2. In opening remarks on the bill, Congressman Cohen said in part: "This WRDA bill improves critical water resources infrastructure, empowers communities to eng  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today discussed the need for a new Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi River at an oversight hearing with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Congressman Cohen also raised Memphis-specific issues including its nation-leading pedestrian fatality rates, this week's announcement of a $21.8 million Re  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that nine more of his community projects he sought for the 9th Congressional District, worth $12,150,000, are included in the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act released today. Congressman Cohen announced the inclusion of six community projects in two appropriations bills worth $4.9 million on Wednesday. More appropriations b  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement: * * * Dear Friend, This week, I discussed Memphis priorities, including the need for a new Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi River, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. I also announced a $21.8 million grant to complete the final mile of the Wolf River Greenway, held an event in Memphis focusing on the use of bankruptcy to avoid civil liability, met with the new Ambassador to the United Stat  more

DUBUQUE, Iowa, June 29 -- The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium issued the following news: The Dubuque County Historical Society, which operates the Mathias Ham House, was awarded a $270,000 Challenge Grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation after completing its fundraising efforts for the matching $540,000 for the project through the Preserve the Wonder Capital Campaign. The $810,000 will support the restoration, preservation, and interior improvements to the house and its mechani  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $42,454,810 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant funding for five Illinois-based transportation projects, ranging from planning freight rail connection to constructing electric   more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, issued the following news release on June 26, 2024: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), along with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC), and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Grace Napolitano (D-CA) introduced H.R. 8812, the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRD  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Washington, ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC), and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Grace Napolitano (D-CA) have announced a Commi  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: Army Corps Releases Draft EIS for New Plan to Alleviate Yazoo Backwater Area Flooding, Rules Out Do-Nothing & No-Pumps Approaches Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today welcomed the release of a key draft environmental impact statement (EIS) to address the recurring backwater flooding in the south Mississippi Delta. The Yazoo Backwater Area Water Management Project, prepared by the U.S. Army Corp  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, June 27 -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued the following news on June 26, 2024: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) today announced a $500,000 investment to help eight communities in Greater Minnesota better understand how to prepare their infrastructure for extreme weather caused by climate change. The grants, which range from $27.000 to $156,000, will support cities' plans to improve and upgrade stormwater and drainage systems and prevent flooding.  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: As promised, following Governor Walz's request for a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities that are working to recover from severe weather and flooding, the Minnesota delegation has sent a letter to the Biden Administration to approve this request quickly. Once this disaster declaration is approved, the federal government will be able to provide disaster assistance for various recovery and r  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Rep. Troy Carter, D-Louisiana, issued the following news release on June 27, 2024: Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). WRDA is passed by every session of Congress and authorizes and funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's activities for flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration. The legislation now heads to the full House for   more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on June 27, 2024: Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12) sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen raising their concerns over the recent acquisition of the Cahokia grain terminal by COFCO International, a Chinese state-run company. In the letter, Budzinski and Bost urged the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to immediately rev  more

DUBUQUE, Iowa, June 27 -- The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium issued the following news: The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium received a $5,000 grant award from Alliant Energy to support River Discovery Center phase one gallery renovations in the River Museum's William Woodward Mississippi River Center. Funding from Alliant Energy will support five new exhibits, a refreshed interpretation grounded in environmental history, integrate living and historic collections, a  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Rep. David Rouzer, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: Today, Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC-07) joined Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders in announcing a Committee markup of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), legislation they will introduce when the House of Representatives is next in session on Tuesday. As Chairman of the Subcommittee, Rouzer played a key role in drafting this l  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- The National Wildlife Federation issued the following news release: Ryan Lambert, a Louisiana-based conservationist, sportsman and small business owner, has received the National Wildlife Federation's annual Conservation Leadership Award. A champion of coastal restoration in the Mississippi River Delta, Lambert has played a foundational role in delivering policy victories and educating politicians, media members and the public on the importance of conservation efforts in   more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee released the following testimony by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan from a June 12, 2024, hearing entitled "The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Supporting Efforts to Meet the Needs of Youth, Workers, and Employers": * * * Good morning. I am Monty Sullivan, President of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, a market-aligned system of twelve pu  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: MINNEAPOLIS - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and U.S. Representatives Brad Finstad (R-MN-01), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-07), and Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) urged the Biden Administration to approve Minnesota's request for a Major Disaster Declaration to help communit  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and U.S. Representatives Brad Finstad (R-MN-01), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-07), and Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) urged the Biden Administration to approve Minnesota's request for a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities that are work  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, June 27 (TNSres) -- The University of Minnesota issued the following news release: The University of Minnesota recently published its first Twin Cities campus Climate Resilience Plan -- the only one of its kind in the Big Ten. The new plan is an addendum to the 2023 Climate Action Plan. Other universities have climate action plans, but few include resilience plans, which go beyond carbon emissions reduction strategies to respond to climate change and analyze how they af  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey issued the following news release: Camille Stagg, a USGS research ecologist who led the study titled "Accelerating elevation gain indicates land loss associated with erosion in Mississippi River Deltaic Plain tidal wetlands," explained that this information sheds new light on the way researchers study wetland loss. Wetlands are a vital wildlife habitat for thousands of species and provide flood protection by b  more

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisconsin, issued the following news release: PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, W.I. - Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement on the excessive rainfall and flooding in Wisconsin's Third District: "My office is coordinating closely with all pertinent agencies, companies, and local officials to prepare for any potential adverse effects from the flooding we are  more