WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 -- Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., has introduced legislation (H.R. 6720) to prohibit the slaugher of dogs and cats for human consumption. The bill was introduced on Sept. 6 and has eight co-sponsors. Co-sponsors include Reps. Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla., Dave Brat, R-Va., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Dina Titus, D-Nev., Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., Ted Lieu, D-Calif., Daniel M. Donovan, R-N.Y., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. The legislation was referred to the House Agriculture Committee. F  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 -- Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., has introduced legislation (H.R. 6711) to "provide an allowance to offices of Members of the House of Representatives which shall be available for the compensation of interns." The bill was introduced on Sept. 5 and has 21 co-sponsors. Co-sponsors include Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Robert C. Scott, D-Va., Mark Pocan, D-Wis., Nydia M. Velazquez, D-N.Y., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Don S. Beyer, D-Va., Judy Chu, D-Calif., Denny Heck, D-Wash., Betty Mc  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., has introduced legislation (S. 3417) to "require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to increase efficiency in the recruitment and hiring by the Department of Veterans Affairs of health care workers that are undergoing separation from the Armed Forces, to create uniform credentialing standards for certain health care professionals of the Department." The bill was introduced on Sept. 6 and was co-sponsored by Sens. Thom Tilli  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., has introduced legislation (S. 3424) to amend title 5, U.S. Code, "to provide for an investment option under the Thrift Savings Plan that does not include investment in any fossil fuel companies." The bill was introduced on Sept. 6. It was referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. For more information, Sen. Jeff Merkley, 313 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510; 202/224-3753; or in the state at 12  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 -- Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has introduced a resolution (S.Res. 622) "supporting renaming NATO Headquarters after the late United States Senator John Sidney McCain, III." The resolution was introduced on Sept. 6 and has 13 co-sponsors. Co-sponsors include Sens. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Todd Young, R-Ind., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., John Kennedy, R-La., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Ro  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 -- Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., has introduced legislation (S. 3411) to ensure medications are affordable. The bill was introduced on Sept. 5 and has 14 co-sponsors. Co-sponsors include Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Margaret Wood Hassan, D-N.H., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Tom Udall, D-N.M., El  more