WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * 'Silencing Voices, Erasing History': Ranking Member Pingree Slams Trump Admin for Humanities Grants Purge Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, released a scathing statement in response to the Trump Administration's mass termination of National  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * Bennet, Schatz, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Highlighting Importance Of Local News Amid Threats To Free Press Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) led a group of 16 senators in introducing a resolution designating April 2025 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month." The resolution underscores the vital role of local journalism in Americ  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Blumenthal, Connecticut Delegation Introduce Legislation to Protect Small Farms [Hartford, CT] - Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), John Larson (D-CT-01), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), and Jim Himes (D-CT-04) reintroduced the Save Our Small (SOS) Farms Act of 2025. This legislation improve  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Blumenthal, Murkowski, Pingree Lead Bipartisan Push to Support Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are teaming up to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: * * * Clam Survey Dredges Up Ice Age Find Scientists participating in our 2024 Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Survey aboard the F/V ESS Pursuit made an amazing once-in-a-lifetime discovery! It happened during their second dredge haul. As usual, scientists brought the dredge sample aboard the vessel, deposited it onto a series of whirling conveyor belts, and delivered it to the processing area for   more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Davis, Bonamici, Moore, Plaskett, Horsford Champion Bill to Increase Guaranteed Child Care Funding while GOP Plans to Cut Federal Child Care Dollars Building Child Care for a Better Future Act expands Building Child Care for a Better Future Act expands guaranteed child care funding and creates grants to improve child care workforce, supply, quality, and access. In contrast, Republican-proposed  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated March 17, 2025, from Center for Food Safety: * * * TO: Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20460 RE: Docket EPA-HQ-OW-2024-0504 Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) * * * To Whom it May Concern: On behalf of itself and its 970,000 members and s  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * FACT SHEET: Trump Imperils Program to Help Working Americans Heat and Cool Their Homes Trump and RFK Jr. fired entire staff running LIHEAP--putting program that helps 6 million American households heat and cool their homes in grave jeopardy $378 million due to go out to help Americans avoid sweltering heat this summer now at risk Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), an agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, has accepted for filing a request from Hydro Kennebec, LLC to temporarily amend its license for the Hydro Kennebec Hydroelectric Project, located on the Kennebec River in Kennebec and Somerset counties, Maine. The request involves lowering the project's reservoir by three feet-- from 81 feet to 78 feet--through the installation of shorter, 3-foot-high flashboards in p  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * From the Senate Floor, Senator Collins Opposes Emergency Tariffs on Canadian Goods Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of her full remarks Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of a resolution authored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would end the emergency declaration that President Trump signed in February to implement   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich, Lujan Join Senate Democrats in Demanding Trump Rescind Illegal Executive Order Threatening Federal Employee Collective Bargaining Agreements Washington, D.C. - Wednesday, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in urging President Donald Trump to rescind his March 27 executive order to end collective bargaining agree  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich, Lujan Join Senate Democrats in Demanding Trump Rescind Illegal Executive Order Threatening Federal Employee Collective Bargaining Agreements Washington, D.C. - Wednesday, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in urging President Donald Trump to rescind his March 27 executive order to end collective bargaining agreeme  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King Releases Statement on New Tariff Proposals, Emergency Tariffs on Canadian Goods WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today, U.S. Senator Angus King released the following statement after the White House announced sweeping new tariffs, and the Senate voted on a resolution dissolving the national emergency at the northern border imposing tariffs placed on Canada in February. The bill passed the Senate in a 51-48  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King Spotlights Importance of Local News, First Amendment Amid Threats to Free Press WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring a resolution designating April 2025 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month." The resolution underscores the vital role of local journalism in American democracy, especially as the First Amendment faces mounting threats. "Local news is the  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King Statement on Vote Against Blocking Weapons Sales to Israel WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Intelligence Committees (SSCI) released the following statement after the Senate voted on two joint resolutions to block weapons sales to Israel: "While I have been sharply critical of Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza, and, in fact,   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King: "Looming Threat" of Arctic Aggression Must Be National Priority WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Co-Chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus, in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned General Christopher Cavoli, Commander of the United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, about the United States' position as an Arctic nation -- and th  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Leger Fernandez, Kiggans, and Pingree Re-Introduce Bipartisan Women in Agriculture Act WASHINGTON -- Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03) joined by Congresswomen Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), and Deborah Ross (D-NC-02) introduced the bipartisan Women in Agriculture Act. The Women in Agriculture Act would create a Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison a  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan, Padilla, Warnock Lead Group Demanding Reversal of Mass Firings of Head Start, Office of Child Care Employees Lujan and Warnock are the only two Head Start alumni to serve in the U.S. Senate Senators to Secretary Kennedy: "The termination of staff is alarming and will compound the challenges already facing these programs and services...with no clear planning nor considerations for how ear  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, April 3 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has appointed Emillie Lemire, the Town Manager of Corinna, as receiver for the Corinna Water District, following the resignation of all three of the district's trustees. The decision aims to ensure the continued operation of the water district until a new board of trustees can be established. The PUC's action comes after the Corinna Water District's Board of Trustees filed a request on March 5, 2025, seeking the appointmen  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, April 3 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has conditionally approved an interim adjustment to Maine Natural Gas Corporation's (MNG) Index Price Option (IPO) Gas Cost Reconciliation Mechanism, resulting in a rate increase of $0.1358 per therm, effective April 1, 2025. This decision aims to address a substantial under-collection of gas costs incurred by MNG. The PUC's order stems from MNG's filing on March 14, 2025, which reported a significant under-collection of $  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, April 3 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved the Maine Water Company's (MWC) request to create a new affiliated interest, National Water Utility Service, LLC, and amend its Affiliated Interest Agreement (AIA) and Cost Allocation Manual (CAM). The decision comes with specific conditions to protect ratepayers from potential cost increases. The reorganization is triggered by MWC's parent company, SJW Group, creating National Water Utility Service as a new s  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, April 3 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has denied Fox Islands Electric Cooperative, Inc.'s (FIEC) request for a waiver of state requirements regarding net energy billing (NEB) arrangements. The decision addresses FIEC's claim that it has exceeded the cumulative NEB capacity limit, leading to unsustainable costs for non-NEB customers and operational grid challenges. FIEC had requested a waiver of obligations under 35-A M.R.S. Sec. 3209-A and Chapter 313 of the P  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * Schatz, Wicker Lead Bipartisan Group Of 60 Senators In Introducing Legislation To Expand Telehealth Access, Make Permanent Telehealth Flexibilities Current Flexibilities Set To Expire September 30 Without Congressional Action WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and John Barrasso (R-W  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Collins, Bipartisan Group Urge Administration to Reverse Course on LIHEAP Staffing Cuts Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Jack Reed (D-RI), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), led ten of their Senate colleagues, including Senator Angus King, in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging the Trump Administration to re  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Markey Joins Senate Democratic Caucus in Letter Demanding Trump Rescind Illegal Executive Order Threatening Federal Employee Collective Bargaining Agreements Washington (April 2, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Marshall and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Telehealth Access Washington - U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Mark Warner (D-Virginia), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) Peter Welch (D-Vermont), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), and 53 of his Senate colleagues in introducing the Creating Oppo  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Sullivan, Graham, and Blumenthal Introduce Hard-Hitting Russia Sanctions WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) this week introduced legislation with primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and global actors supporting Russia's aggression in Ukraine. ~~ ~~ These sanctions wo  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Senate Moves to Make Trump Tax Cuts Permanent Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, as early as today, we expect to take up a budget resolution that will lay the groundwork for delivering on the Republican agenda. "Th  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * VA Firings "Not Rational," King Tells Terminated Veterans at Investigative Hearing WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a special hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) hosted by Ranking Member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), spoke with Shernice Mundell, a veteran and former Office of Personnel Management (OPM) employee, who was terminated during the mass fede  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: * * * WICKER, HYDE-SMITH & SCHATZ LEAD EFFORT TO EXPAND TELEHEALTH ACCESS, PERMANENTLY SECURE FLEXIBILITIES Bipartisan Group of Senators Renews Push to Enact Most Extensive Telehealth Legislation in Congress WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) on Wednesday led 60 of their colleagues in a bipartisan effort to reintroduce   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden Co-Sponsors Resolution Underscoring Crucial Role of Local News Amid Threats to Free Press Washington D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced he is co-sponsoring a resolution designating April 2025 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month" to highlight local journalism's vital role in U.S. democracy, particularly as news outlets face mounting threats and intimidation from the Tru  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on April 3, 2025: * * * Wyden, Warren Lead Colleagues to Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Quality, Affordable Child Care for American Families Meanwhile, Republican-proposed funding cuts to pay for tax breaks for billionaires would eliminate child care for 40,000 children, according to recent CLASP analysis Mass layoffs at HHS will also make child care   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, issued the following news release: * * * Young, Colleagues Introduce Sanctions Against the Russian Federation WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined 49 of his Senate colleagues in introducing primary and secondary sanctions against the Russian Federation and actors supporting Russia's aggression in Ukraine. These sanctions would be imposed if Russia refuses to engage in good faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine   more