WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Blumenthal & Colleagues Call on Duffy to Provide Immediate Transparency on FAA Personnel Firings & Safety Concerns [HARTFORD, CT] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined his colleagues, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, expressing deep c  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS21048) on Feb. 24, 2025, entitled "U.S. Special Operations Forces - Background and Considerations for Congress" by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert: * * * Summary Special Operations Forces (SOF) play a significant role in U.S. military operations. In 1986, Congress, concerned about the status of SOF within overall U.S. defense planning, passed legislation (P.L. 99-661) to str  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2025: * * * Congressman Suhas Subramanyam Blasts Republican Budget Scheme and Warns of Its Devastating Consequences Washington, DC - On Monday, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) spoke on the House floor to address the proposed Republican budget and paint the disaster it would be for working families. In exchange for tax cuts for their billionaire friends, Republicans are torpedoing Medi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * Connolly Statement on the Republican Budget Betrayal Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement in opposition to the House Republican budget that benefits billionaires at the expense of American families: "If you're wondering why House Republicans have been so quiet in the face of the cruelty  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * Connolly, Valadao, Budzinski, Bacon Reintroduce Federal Retirement Fairness Act Today, Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA), David Valadao (R-CA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), and Don Bacon (R-NE) reintroduced the Federal Retirement Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation to address a gap for federal employees who began their careers as temporary workers and were thus unable to make retirement contribut  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for Feb. 24, 2025 AIR FORCE A&M BERS JV LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma (FA8903-25-D-0023, awarded Jan. 27, 2025); Ahtna Engineering Services, Anchorage, Alaska (FA8903-25-D-0014, awarded Jan. 22, 2025); Arcadis US Inc. Highlands Ranch, Colorado (FA8903-25-D-0025, awarded Jan. 29, 2025); AECOM Technical Services Inc. Austin, Texas (FA8903-25-D-0002, awarded Jan. 23, 2025); Aerostar SES LLC. Oak Ridge, Tenn  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for Feb. 25, 2025 AIR FORCE Stocks-Mann Architects PLC, Little Rock, Arkansas (FA4460-25-D-0003); SCM Architects PLLC, Little Rock, Arkansas (FA4460-25-D-0005); Architecture Plus Inc., Fort Smith, Arkansas (FA4460-25-D-0006); and Gurri Matute Cromwell JV LLC, Miami, Florida (FA4460-25-D-0007), were awarded a $15,000,000 ceiling, firm-fixed-price, multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-qu  more

ROANOKE, Virginia, Feb. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia issued the following news release: * * * Danville Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Jacquelyn Farrish Stole More Than $116,000 from Medicaid DANVILLE, Va. - A Danville, Virginia woman, who claimed to receive almost 10,000 hours of personal care services from her estranged husband, but never actually received those services, resulting in a loss to Medicaid of over $116,000, pled guilty to  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * Dems press agencies to ignore Musk: 'Reckless, cruel, unlawful, and unenforceable' House Democrats are pressing every major agency head in Washington to reject the recent demand from Elon Musk that federal workers must detail their recent work accomplishments or be fired. More than 100 Democrats endorsed a Monday letter to the leaders of 24 federal agencies characterizing Musk's missive -- and   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich, Lujan Demand VA Secretary Collins Put Veterans First, Reverse Mass Firings of VA Workforce Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) are calling on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to immediately reinstate the more than 1,000 VA employees terminated last week who serve veterans and their families nationwide, including   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Scott Seeks Answers on DOGE's Access to Sensitive Data The breach may include sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, driver's license details, and other private data of millions of Americans. WASHINGTON - House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) is   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, issued the following news on Feb. 25, 2025: * * * Kiggans and Virginia Colleagues Honor Fallen VBPD Officers WASHINGTON, DC - Last night, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) delivered remarks and led the Virginia Congressional Delegation in a moment of silence on the U.S. House Floor to honor the memory, service, and sacrifice of fallen Virginia Beach Police Officers Christopher Reese and Cameron Girvin. Congresswoman Kiggans was joined by Re  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following news story: * * * NAS Oceana personnel keep master jet base mission-ready during record snowfall Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia -- As winter weather blanketed the region, mission-essential personnel at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana worked around the clock to ensure the installation remained safe and operational. From clearing roads to securing aircraft and facilities, their efforts were critical to maintaining readiness. "Our top  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- NASA issued the following news release: * * * NASA's Europa Clipper Uses Mars to Go the Distance This artist's concept depicts NASA's Europa Clipper as it flies by Mars, using the planet's gravitational force to alter the spacecraft's path on its way to the Jupiter system. NASA/JPL-Caltech The orbiter bound for Jupiter's moon Europa will investigate whether the moon is habitable, but it first will get the help of Mars' gravitational force to get to deep space. On   more

PASADENA, California, Feb. 25 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news: * * * NASA's Europa Clipper Uses Mars to Go the Distance On March 1, NASA's Europa Clipper will streak just 550 miles (884 kilometers) above the surface of Mars for what's known as a gravity assist -- a maneuver to bend the spacecraft's trajectory and position it for a critical leg of its long voyage to the Jupiter system. The close flyby offers a bonus opportunity for mission scientists, who w  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Feb. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release: * * * Newport News drug trafficker sentenced to over six years in prison for cocaine and firearm charges NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A Newport News man was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. According to court documents, on Jul  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Connolly Demands OPM Rescind the Redesignation of SES Chief Information Officers Top Oversight Committee Democrat Requests Briefing from OPM on Future Plans to Reclassify Critical IT Personnel Washington, D.C. (February 25, 2025)--Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * Ranking Member Connolly Investigates Interim U.S. Attorney for District of Columbia's Potential Abuse of Public Office Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Edward R. Martin Jr. requesting documents and information to investigate whether Mr. Martin is abusing   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Connolly Investigates Interim U.S. Attorney for District of Columbia's Potential Abuse of Public Office Washington, D.C. (February 25, 2025)-- Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Interim United States Attorney for the Distri  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Connolly, Oversight Democrats Introduce Legislation to Modernize Financial Management of Public Funds and Tackle Improper Payments Washington, D.C. (February 25, 2025)--Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Committee Democrats introduced t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Members Connolly, Brown, Stansbury Call on President Trump to Cease All DOGE Activities that Endanger America's Cybersecurity Following Cyber Exposures, Top Oversight Democrats Demand a Briefing from DOGE on Efforts to Protect Sensitive Government Systems Washington, D.C. (February 25, 2025)--Today, Rep. Geral  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. John McGuire, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2025: * * * Rep. John McGuire's Statement on the FY25 Budget Resolution WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative John McGuire (VA-05), today released the following statement about the FY25 Budget Resolution: "The American people gave President Trump a historic mandate, and this Budget Resolution delivers the framework for the President's 'one big, beautiful bill' to the American people. I am pro  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Virginia, posted the following statement in the extensions of remarks section of the Congressional Record on Feb. 21, 2025: * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend John C. Egertson, County Administrator of Culpeper County, Virginia, on his retirement after a remarkable career in public service. Mr. Egertson began his career in public service in 1986 as a planning technician, quickly advancing to the role of zoning administrator a   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee issued the following information for an executive session at 10 a.m. on Feb. 27, 2025, at 253 Russell Senate Office Building: Agenda Items: * Nomination of Steven Bradbury, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation (PN13-2) * Coast Guard Promotion (PN10) * * * Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/executive-session-5  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Senators Call on Duffy to Provide Immediate Transparency on FAA Personnel Firings and Safety Concerns Today, U.S. Sensators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, expressing deep concerns about the recent firings of Federal Aviation Adminis  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Statement from Ranking Member Connolly on the Republican Budget Betrayal Washington, D.C. (February 25, 2025) -- Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement in opposition to the House Republican budget that benefits billionaires at the ex  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: * * * Top Oversight Dem goes after Trump's Washington prosecutor Rep. Gerry Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, plans to investigate Washington's top prosecutor for making threats against the Trump administration's political adversaries -- including one of his own members. In a letter shared first with POLITICO, Connolly, a Virginia lawmaker, announced h  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: * * * USS Minnesota (SSN 783) advances AUKUS with port visit to HMAS Stirling USS Minnesota (SSN 783) arrived in Western Australia on February 25, 2025, kicking off the first of two planned U.S. fast-attack submarine visits to HMAS Stirling in 2025. Port visits support the first pillar of the Australia, United Kingdom, United States trilateral security agreement, known as AUKUS, that is delivering a sovereign conv  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following news story: * * * USS Minnesota (SSN 783) Advances AUKUS with Port Visit to HMAS Stirling USS Minnesota (SSN 783) arrived in Western Australia on February 25, 2025, kicking off the first of two planned U.S. fast-attack submarine visits to HMAS Stirling in 2025. Port visits support the first pillar of the Australia, United Kingdom, United States trilateral security agreement, known as AUKUS, that is delivering a sovereign conventionally  more

HILLSBORO, Virginia, Feb. 26 -- The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2025: * * * Public information meetings for Sweet Run State Park to be held in March Help shape the park's future and learn about existing resources HILLSBORO, Va. - The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation will host a public information meeting in person on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. and virtually on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. The in-person meeting will be  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Rep. Gabe Amo, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Vice Ranking Member Amo Defends Global Partnerships to Promote American Influence Abroad WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (RI-01) participated in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific hearing where he highlighted the Biden Administration's work to build up critical alliances like the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) security pact to c  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Warner Sponsors Bipartisan Legislation to End Government Payments to Deceased Americans WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) has joined Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) in sponsoring the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act to save billions of federal dollars by curbing erroneous payments to individuals who have passed away. The legislation would make permanent the   more