Government

Congressman French Hill (AR-02) introduced H.R. 4620, the Preserving Access to CRE Capital Act of 2016. H.R. 4620 modifies Dodd-Frank’s risk retention requirements for prudently underwritten, low-risk commercial real estate loans, the current Dodd-Frank rules are set to take effect in December 2016.

Effective today, hours are changing at two mobile disaster recovery centers serving those whose homes or businesses were affected by the late December – January storms.

Just under half of the more than 55,000 Idahoans eligible for a reduction in their property taxes actually apply for the Idaho Property Tax Reduction Program. The Idaho State Tax Commission wants to make more people aware of this property tax credit th...

This week, Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. and 204 members of Congress filed an amicus brief supporting petitions filed by 27 states, including Indiana, seeking to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan.

During Appropriation Committee hearings in both the Pennsylvania House and Senate today, State Treasurer Timothy Reese highlighted the department’s key accomplishments during the past year, discussed operational challenges associated with the budget ...

Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch today joined 34 of their Senate colleagues in filing an amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) in support of a challenge being brought by against ...

Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released a report stating that the wind production tax credit (PTC) and the solar investment tax credit (ITC) will drive a net increase of 48-53 gigawatts of energy from renewable sources by 2020 and also lower CO2 emissions

Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10) guided H.R. 3620, a bill to amend theDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act, to unanimous bipartisan passage in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation allows access for certain vehicles s...

Congressman Todd Young (R-IN)issued the following statement after joining an amicus brief filed today in the case of State of West Virginia, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, et al. A copy of the amicus brief can be found

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Howison Heights Water District located in Saline County. The advisory was issued because of a failure to maintain required chlorine residual levels. Fai...

Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) joined Representative John R. Carter (R-TX-31) in his fight to close a loophole in the current law regarding unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. illegally by filing companion legislation in the Se...

Led byU.S.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and House Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed...

Jim Inhofe in an amicus brief urging the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to vacate EPA’s so-called “Clean Power Plan.” The proposed rules are a clear overreach of regulatory authority and part of the Obama Administration’s plan to shut down coal-fired power plants and continue its war on the poor and those on fixed incomes.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith today joined over 200 colleagues in both the House and Senate to file an amicus brief supporting petitions filed by 27 states seeking to overturn the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.

Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV) issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to stop implementation of President Obama’s power plant rules until it considers legal challenges to the plan:

Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV) issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to stop implementation of President Obama’s power plant rules until it considers legal challenges to the plan:

Sen. Cruz (R-Texas) along with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and House Energy and Power Sub...

U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis, all R-Wyo., joined a bipartisan group of 34 senators and 171 representatives in signing a friend-of-the-court brief supporting petitioners challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) so-called Clean Power Plan. On Feb. 9, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay on President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, stopping the plan from being enforced while lower courts consider challenges to the plan. The case before the D.C. circuit court is West Virginia v. EPA. The amicus brief argues that the EPA’s expanded regulations usurped Congress’s legislative role, and has placed unlawful and expensive mandates on states and the public. “The EPA’s ‘Clean Power’ Plan is a direct attack against coal and Wyoming,” Enzi said. “I am proud to support states in their lawsuit against the EPA. Coal makes up almost 40 percent of our nation’s energy, and about 40 percent of that coal is produced in Wyoming. America runs on coal and without it the U.S. won’t be able to keep the lights on. We will keep fighting this bad rule on every possible front.” “The Obama administration overstepped legal bounds with its so-called clean power plan,” said Barrasso. “If left unchecked, this multi-billion dollar carbon mandate will crush jobs, devastate coal country and raise energy prices for American families. This amicus brief is just one of the ways Congress is fighting to make sure this rule is eliminated for good.” “I am proud to stand beside Wyoming and the other states and litigants against the EPA’s costly, overreaching rule that would kill jobs in coal country, drive up the price of electricity for all Americans, and increase manufacturing costs for American-made products,” said Lummis. “We will continue fighting this rule legislatively while supporting the states’ case in the courts and using any other means at our disposal to stop this rule dead in its tracks.” Petitioners in West Virginia v. EPA include Wyoming and 26 other states, 24 national trade associations, 37 rural electric cooperatives, and three labor unions representing 900,000 members. A copy of the brief can be found here.

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) has issued the following statement on Congressional Republicans’ amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in support of the plaintiffs in State of West Virginia et al v. EP

Private landowners interested in helping maintain or improve Upper Peninsula deer wintering habitat can learn more about the subject, and cost-share programs available to aid in those efforts, at a March 3 meeting the Michigan Department of Natural Res...

The Boston Public Library celebrates the first anniversary of Phase One of the Central Library Renovation this month. It opened its doors to the new second floor of the Johnson building at the Central Library in Copley Square in February 2015. In the p...

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today led a congressional delegation to Flint, Mich., and spoke at a press conference following a series of on-the-ground meetings focusing on the ongoing Flint water crisis. A full transcript of his remarks, as delivered...

Gov. Rick Snyder issued the following statement regarding today’s final passage of his proposed $30 million plan to help cover a portion of Flint residents’ water bills

Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (Ga-01) released the following statement today regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to halt a controversial energy rule proposed in the Obama Administration’s climate agenda:

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson signed an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court” brief in support of 27 states that challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule on existing power plants. The Clean Power Plant rule was recently stayed by ...

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Davis, Yuba City) announced his intention to introduce legislation in the House of Representatives that would address California’s prolonged drought. The bill, which mirrors legislation introduced by Senator F...

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that during the fourth quarter of 2015, it issued Notices of Violation to 40 home improvement contractors, seeking $481,477 in consumer restitution and civil penalties.

U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) visited Flint, Michigan with Rep. Dan Kildee and other Congressmembers to meet with residents and local business owners affected by the city’s ongoing water crisis. Rep. Peters, who spent much of his childhood in...

Aiming to be a leader in clean energy access, utility regulators in Maryland today voted to advance a set of forward-thinking proposed policies that will help remove barriers to renewable energy under the state’s new community solar initiative. The M...