WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12160) on Feb. 5, 2025, by Agricultural Policy specialist Renee Johnson. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Bill Primer: Support for Tribal Food and Agriculture The 2018 farm bill (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018; P.L. 115-334) expanded federal farm program support for tribal agricultural producers and communities. Congress further enhanced community and economic development for  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Crapo Reintroduces Hearing Protection Act Washington, D.C. \--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) led a group of 28 additional Senate colleagues in reintroducing S. 364, the Hearing Protection Act (HPA). The HPA would reclassify suppressors to regulate them like a regular firearm. "Federal red tape continues to follow the false Hollywood narrative that suppressors are silent, and ignores the reality that   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, ranking member of the of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: * * * Democrats Call Out Republican Scapegoating While California Still Reels from Tragic Fires * * * Today, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, led Subcommittee Democrats in debunking reckless misinformation surrounding the deadly fires in Southern Cal  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Feb. 6 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release: * * * Drummond demands answers from BlackRock, other asset managers about Chinese investments OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 6, 2025) - Attorney General Gentner Drummond wants answers from the world's top asset managers to determine if they are misrepresenting and omitting essential disclosures regarding Chinese investments. His concerns and those of 16 other attorneys general are outlined   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release: * * * Lankford Highlights Record Speed of Senate Confirmations, Supports Work of POTUS' Nominees Washington, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Republican Conference Vice Chair, delivered a floor speech applauding the record-breaking speed of Senate confirmations for President Donald Trump's nominees. Lankford also pointed to the important work the Secretaries are doing as soon as they are sworn in. E  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release: * * * RELEASE: Mullin, Crapo, Colleagues Reintroduce Hearing Protection Act Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and 27 of their Senate GOP colleagues reintroduced S. 364, the Hearing Protection Act (HPA). The HPA would reclassify suppressors to regulate them like a regular firearm. "Every law-abiding American must have the freedom to protect their hearing while  more

LONGMONT, Colorado, Feb. 7 -- The First Nations Development Institute issued the following news release: * * * Native Youth Nationwide to Benefit from Programs Focused on Strengthening Identity and Intergenerational Connections First Nations Development Institute awards nearly $2 million to Native nonprofits and Tribes leading innovative, youth-focused programs LONGMONT, Colo. (February 6, 2025) - First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) today announced the awarding of $1.925 mill  more

TULSA, Oklahoma, Feb. 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma issued the following news release: A federal jury convicted Morgan Ashley Kirby, 20, of Drug Conspiracy and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. "Conspiring with others to deliver drugs onto the streets of the Northern District of Oklahoma will never be tolerated," said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. "I commend the law enforcement in Texas and Tulsa for working together   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: DALLAS (February 6, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that President Donald J. Trump has appointed Scott Mason IV to serve as the 14th regional administrator of the EPA's South Central Region, also known as Region 6. Mason will lead the implementation of President Trump's environmental agenda in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas and   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma, issued the following statement on Feb. 6, 2025: Today, Congresswoman Bice issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 27, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act, a critical piece of legislation aimed at permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. In 2024, 1,181,939 Fentanyl pills were seized in the region. The Congresswoman met with the Association   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, issued the following statement on Feb. 6, 2025: Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 27, the HALT Fentanyl Act, which makes the temporary class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances permanent, equips law enforcement with the tools they need to keep fentanyl off our streets, and ensures practitioners can research fentanyl-related substances so we can better understand th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release: Representatives Kevin Hern (OK-01) and Kevin Kiley (CA-03) introduced the Promoting Responsible Oversight to Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids (PROTECT Our Kids) Act, legislation to prohibit federal funding through the Department of Education for any school which continues to host a Confucius Classroom. Confucius Classrooms are Chinese language and learning centers in elementary and secondary school  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release: Representatives Frank Lucas (R-OK), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Bill Foster (D-IL), and Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced H.R. 1013, the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2025. The legislation ensures that teachers, charity employees, and other non-profit sector employees participating in 403(b) retirement plans have the same access to cost effective options that are available to ot  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released the following testimony by Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's nominee to be director of National Intelligence: * * * Aloha, Chairman Cotton, Vice Chairman Warner, and Members of the Committee -- it's an honor to appear before you today. I've appreciated meeting with so many of you. I want to first start by offering my prayers to those who lost their lives last night in the tragic accident at DCA, including three Army sol  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * The big game: barbecue, cheesesteaks, and sports bars Got plans for the big game this weekend? A few hours of TV watching are on tap for many. While all sorts of eating and drinking establishments might be showing the event, a sports bar is a sure thing. The highest concentration of establishments in the United States with "sports bar" in the name w  more