WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: The Defense Health Agency announced 15 military hospitals got an "A" rating in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade Fall 2024 assessment. This grade reflects the DHA's ongoing dedication to transparency and to providing high-quality, safe care to service members and their families. 81st Medical Group, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi 673d Medical Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska Alexander T. Augu  more

MOBILE, Alabama, Nov. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama issued the following news release: Seven defendants from Florida were sentenced for their roles in an organized fraud and identity theft scheme spanning multiple states. One of the leaders of the scheme was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison. According to court documents, Dominique Lamar Campbell, 43, of Miami, Florida, was one of the leaders of a ring of individuals from south Florida who pa  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following opening remarks on Nov. 19, 2024, by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke at an event on the 15th anniversary of the Enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act: * * * As Prepared for Delivery Good afternoon. My name is Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department. I am honored and proud to be with you for this important comme  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) today introduced the Security Clearance Review Act to reform the process by which security clearances are approved for political appointees in the Executive Office of the President (EOP), amid reports that President-elect Donald Trump and his advisors intend to bypass traditional background checks to grant security clearances to political appointees. The bill would co  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 97 House Democrats in a letter to the House Ethics Committee requesting the immediate release of its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz. "Given the seriousness of the charges against Representative Gaetz, withholding the findings of your investigation may jeopardize the Senate's ability to provide fully informed, const  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) participated in a full Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing, where Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell served as the sole witness to testify on the agency's response to recent devastating hurricanes and natural disasters that impacted parts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, an  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: Today, U.S. Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11) joined Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) and 96 House Democrats in sending a letter to the House Ethics Committee requesting the immediate release of its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz. "Given the seriousness of the charges against Representative Gaetz, withholding the findings of your investigation may je  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSrep) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued the following report on November 13, 2024 entitled "Matched-Pair Testing in Small Business Lending Markets." Here are excerpts: * * * The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB") and the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") conducted matched-pair testing to test for and detect differential treatment of fictitious well-qualified Black and white small business owners seeking credit at large bank lenders in two co  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division issued the following news release: * * * National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. paid US workers in pesos in violation of federal law * * * SAN DIEGO - The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $1.4 million for 36 Mexican engineers employed in San Diego by a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corp., one of the world's largest defense contractors, that paid them in Mexican pesos below the federal minimum wage rate i  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: BRISTOL, Va. Winter is on its way to the Blue Ridge Mountains. As temperatures continue to drop, take this time to check your heating system, water heater, furnace, and other electrical appliances that might have been damaged by Hurricane Helene. If your appliance isn't working and isn't covered by your insurance, you may be eligible to receive help from FEMA to  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations: Marine Corps Col. Timothy S. Brady Jr. for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Brady is currently serving as assistant chief of staff, G-3, Marine Forces Pacific, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. Marine Corps Col. Dustin J. Byrum for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Byrum is currently   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) addressed the House Floor to celebrate the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week. She called for stronger workforce development programs that will help job creators and increase apprenticeship opportunities in order to address the nation's ski  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: Last night, the House of Representatives passed the Not Just a Number Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take a more comprehensive look at the factors that best prevent veteran suicide. The legislation passed as part of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act by   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Washington, ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: The following are opening remarks from Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Dina Titus (D-NV) during today's hearing titled, "In the Eye of the Storm: Over  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: Dell Technologies Inc. and Dell Federal Systems L.P. (collectively Dell), located in Austin, Texas, have agreed to pay $2,300,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting and causing the submission of non-competitive bids to the Army and thereby overcharging the Army under the Army Desktop and Mobile Computing 3 (ADMC-3) contract. Iron Bow Technologies LLC (Iron Bow), loc  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: A Virginia man pleaded guilty today for committing insider trading and making false statements about his trading to his employer, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (FRBR). According to court documents, Robert Brian Thompson, 43, of Mosley, worked as a bank examiner and senior manager with supervisory duties for the FRBR. Due to his position, Thompson was privy to confidential informatio  more

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Nov. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky issued the following news release: A Louisville man was sentenced this week to 16 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Hu  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswomen Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04) and Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-02) led 11 Members in sending a letter to House and Senate Armed Services leadership calling on them to include provisions to protect servicemembers from toxic PFAS chemicals. The lawmakers urged House Armed Services Chair Rogers and Ranking Member Smith and Senate Armed Services Chair Reed and Ranking Member Wicker to incl  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswomen Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-02), Anna Eshoo (D-CA-16), and Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) reintroduced H.Res. 1581, a bipartisan resolution to designate November 2024 as Prematurity Awareness Month. The introduction follows the March of Dimes recently released 2024 Report Card: The State of Maternal and Infant Health for American Families(link is external), where  more

PASADENA, California, Nov. 20 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news: A team of researchers identified this decrease in freshwater using observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites. An international team of scientists using observations from NASA-German satellites found evidence that Earth's total amount of freshwater dropped abruptly starting in May 2014 and has remained low ever since. Reporting in Surveys in Geophysics, the   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum issued the following news release: The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will offer an evening program exploring what it takes to create a museum exhibition and sharing stories behind the artifacts on display. "Air and Space After Hours: Innovating Galleries" will take place Thursday, Dec. 12, 6 to 8 p.m. at the museum's flagship building in Washington, D.C. Free tickets are required and can be reserved  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release: The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will offer an evening program exploring what it takes to create a museum exhibition and sharing stories behind the artifacts on display. "Air and Space After Hours: Innovating Galleries" will take place Thursday, Dec. 12, 6 to 8 p.m. at the museum's flagship building in Washington, D.C. Free tickets are required and can be reserved on the museum's website (https:  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency issued the following news: At first glance, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's Public Affairs Officer Army Maj. Patrick Sorensen may appear to be a Caucasian male with a long, braided ponytail. Born to a Caucasian mother and Native American father in Northern California, Sorensen is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grande Rode, Oregon, despite never living on a reservation. Sharing his heritage, the A  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- President Biden issued the following letter to House on Nov. 18, 2024: * * * Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Requesting for Additional Funding for Disaster Relief Dear Mr. Speaker: With the Congress now back in session, I write to request urgently needed emergency funding to provide for an expeditious and meaningful Federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters. In the weeks since these deadly storms tore through com  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2024: Last week, Congressman Vern Buchanan led a coalition of Republican lawmakers calling for swift and decisive action to address the stunning revelations that a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supervisor instructed staff to avoid providing storm assistance to homes displaying campaign signs for President-elect Trump. Read what congressional leaders are saying about the need for acc  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. John P. Sarbanes, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman John Sarbanes and Senator Chris Van Hollen and (both D-Md.) applauded the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's unanimous, bipartisan approval of an amended version of the lawmakers' Chesapeake National Recreation Act. The bipartisan, bicameral bill, introduced in July 2023 by Congressman Sarbanes and Senator Van Hollen, would unite a series of voluntarily contributed sites   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and 14 Senate colleagues demanded greater accountability and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after a stunning multi-billion-dollar budget debacle in recent weeks in a letter to SVAC Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT). The senators are urging the SVAC chairman to ensure the Protecti  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following news release: Representatives from nearly 50 U.S. agribusinesses and trade groups and 14 state departments of agriculture will travel to Casablanca, Morocco, Dec. 2-5, as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture trade mission to expand U.S. farm and food exports to Morocco and other West African markets. "This mission offers a crucial opportunity for U.S. agribusinesses to enter into M  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Nov. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2024: A Mosley man pled guilty today to committing insider trading and making false statements about his trading to his employer, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (FRBR). According to court documents, Robert Brian Thompson, 43, worked as a bank examiner and senior manager with supervisory duties for the FRBR. Due to his position, Thompson was pri  more

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia, Nov. 20 -- The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center issued the following news on Nov. 19, 2024: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center's newest changing exhibit, Emotions at Play with Pixar's Inside Out, opens on January 19, 2025, to the public. This changing exhibit is filled with interactive experiences to help guests understand the important role emotions, memory, and imagination play in our everyday lives. Hands-on and digital experiences focus on th  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) led a congressional delegation to the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (most commonly known as COP29) to showcase the innovation and impact of U.S. energy on the global stage. "I am proud to have led a congressional delegation to COP29 to show that the United States is leading the way in energy innovation and is open for business," said Congressman Pfluger. "E  more