WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: * * * Cortez Masto, Grassley Continue Bipartisan Push to Invest in Local Law Enforcement Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to increase grant funding for small law enforcement agencies in Nevada and across the country. The Invest to Protect Act would set aside $250 million to help local police invest in training, mental health support, and recruit more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Ernst Unmasks Biden's Green Energy Mandates, Fights for Transparency WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), chair and founder of the Senate DOGE Caucus, blasted Washington's overreach on the Senate floor, unmasking the Biden administration's green energy agenda as a major driver behind the record-breaking 110,000 pages of regulations issued last year that hurt hardworking Americans. Ernst emphasized her Regulations Evaluated to Determine more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Feenstra Votes to Increase Pensions for Medal of Honor Recipients WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed, the Medal of Honor Act, which would increase pensions for Medal of Honor recipients from $16,880 per year to $67,500 per year. More than 3,500 Americans have been awarded the Medal of Honor with approximately 60 currently living. "Our troops and veterans are incr more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Feenstra Votes to Overturn Biden-Era Ban on Gas-Fired Water Heaters WASHIGNTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives approved, a joint resolution overturning a Biden-era ban on gas-fired water heaters. "Alongside my Republican colleagues, I voted to overturn a Biden-era ban on gas-fired water heaters. This mandate only increases prices, reduces consume choice, and makes everyday life costlier for n more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 27 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Reynolds issues statement on Iowa House committee passing bill limiting cell phone use in schools Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement in response to the Iowa House Education Committee passing HSB 106, a bill to set a floor restricting cell phone use during classroom instruction: "Iowa teachers agree that smartphone distraction is a problem in their classrooms," Gov. Reynolds said. "Cell phone addiction is not only unh more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 26, 2025: * * * Grassley Opening Statement on DOJ Nominees John Sauer, Harmeet Dhillon and Aaron Reitz Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on "The Nominations of John Sauer (Solicitor General), Harmeet Dhillon (Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division) and Aaron Reitz (Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy) Wednesday more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Grassley, Bennet Launch Bill to Improve Kids' Access to Life-Saving Medical Care Download video HERE WASHINGTON - Senate Finance Committee Members Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve health care access for children with complex medical conditions. The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act simplifies out-of-state Medicaid screening and enrollment processes for pediatric care provider more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2025: * * * Grassley, Cortez Masto Seek to Boost Investment in Local Police Departments WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today reintroduced the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act to increase local law enforcement's access to training, mental health support, and recruitment and retention resources. "Law enforcement in I more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 26, 2025: * * * Grassley, Ossoff Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Curb Prison Contraband WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to stem the flow of contraband in federal prisons. The Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act would enhance safety and accountability measures in federal pr more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Grassley Secures Argentine President Milei's Partnership in Credit Suisse Investigation into Nazi-Linked Accounts WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is welcoming Argentine President Javier Milei's commitment to support Grassley's ongoing investigation into Credit Suisse and its historic servicing of Nazi-linked accounts. This includes providing archival reco more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 27 -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued the following news release: * * * Iowa Attorney General's Office Concludes Des Moines Officers Acted with Legal Justification in Shooting DES MOINES-- In a report issued today, the Iowa Attorney General's Office has concluded that the January 24, 2025, fatal shooting of Brandon Mitchell by two Des Moines police officers was legally justified. The Attorney General's conclusion was based on a review and investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. The inve more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 28 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2025: * * * Iowa Legislature Passes Barbaric Bill to Allow Discrimination Against Transgender People The following statement can be attributed to ACLU of Iowa Executive Director Mark Stringer. "Today, the Iowa Legislature took the barbaric measure of passing a proposal to remove gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. For nearly two decades, Iowa law has protected people from discrimination based on their gender identit more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 28 -- Progress Iowa, an organization that says it focuses on research, education and advocacy, issued the following news on Feb. 27, 2025: * * * Iowa Republicans Disgrace State Rights and Liberties Today, Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic and press secretary Parker Williamson issued the following statements in response to a gender discrimination legislation moving through the Iowa House and Senate. Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic: "How do Governor Reynolds and Iowa Republicans justify rush more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (Rep.) -- The Congressional Western Caucus issued the following news release: * * * LaMalfa, Lummis Applaud Trump Administration's NEPA Rule Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) and Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statements supporting the White House Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) interim final rule. The rule removes CEQ's authority from NEPA implementation. "Far too often the NEPA permitting process more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Bolster Local Meat Processing Capacity, Support Local Producers Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Expanding Local Meat Processing Act, legislation that would remove regulatory roadblocks to increase meat processing capacity and allow livestock auction m more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Miller-Meeks, Dingell Reintroduce Bill to Expedite Broadband Expansion Washington, D.C. -U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and Debbie Dingell (MI-06) reintroduced the Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act, legislation that would require National Telecommunications and Information Administration to periodically report to Congress on whether the Departments of Interior and Agriculture have established an online portal for  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- President Trump issued the following remarks ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Feb. 26, 2025: * * * THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Thank you very much. We appreciate you being here. And we've put together a great Cabinet. And we've had tremendous success. We've been given a lot of credit for having a very successful first month, and we want to make that many months -- and years, actually. But we're going to have many good months, and we're going to have many good years, I hope. And we're going to solve a lot of problems. We're doing more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Rep. Zachary Nunn, R-Iowa, posted the following statement in the extensions of remarks section of the Congressional Record on Feb. 26, 2025: * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the extraordinary work delivered by Nicole Schmitt, our Director of Operations and Scheduler. Throughout her tenure in our office, she helped direct a dynamic and highly effective professional team, including recruiting and supervising staff assistants and Congressional interns. During her tenure, Nicole executed many top-tier enga more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Cruz Reintroduces the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reintroduced the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. The bill would allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and would pull taxpayer-funded grants to sanctuary cities. Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, "Sanctuary cities continue to defy the law by releasing d more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following opening statement on Feb. 27, 2025, at an executive business meeting on the Department of Justice nominations and the HALT Fentanyl Act: * * * Good morning. Today, we have three items on our agenda: Todd Blanche's nomination to serve as Deputy Attorney General, Gail Slater's to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, and S. 331, the HALT Fentanyl Act. Last week, Committee Democrats exercised their  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Senate Judiciary Committee Advances HALT Fentanyl Act WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to advance the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act. The bipartisan legislation, led by Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), would permanently classify fentanyl-related substances before their temporary Schedu more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2025: * * * Senate Judiciary Committee Advances HALT Fentanyl Act The HALT Fentanyl Act passed by a bipartisan vote of 16-5. WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to advance the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act. The bipartisan legislation, led by Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La. more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: * * * Senators Marshall and Fischer Introduce the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, which would allow the year-round, nationwide sale of E15, a gasoline blend that contains 15% ethanol. Increasing the availability of biofuels like E15 would benefit the economy by lowe more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Senator Katie Britt Continues Efforts to Protect Border Patrol Agents, Local Law Enforcement WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act. Their legislation would make it a crime to flee from agents or officers in the performance of their duties. "Our border patrol agents and law enforcement officers put their  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: * * * WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Strong Support for USDA's Actions to Combat Avian Flu Agriculture and Government Leaders Applaud USDA's Plan to Address Avian Flu Washington, D.C., Feb. 27, 2025 -- Following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement of new measures to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), elected leaders and industry stakeholders from around the country are applauding the five-pronged strategy. U.S. Secretary of Agr more PR

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Feb. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa issued the following news release: * * * Woman Who Distributed Fentanyl Resulting in Two Deaths Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison A woman who sold purported heroin containing fentanyl in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison. Alysha Michelle Dittmar, age 28, of Denver, Colorado, received the prison term after a September 11, 2024 guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 26, 2025: * * * Wyden Opposes the Nomination of Greer to be USTR Ahead of Floor Vote As Prepared for Delivery I rise in opposition to the nomination of Jamieson Greer to serve as United States Trade Representative. If confirmed, Mr. Greer would be the top official on one of Donald Trump's signature issues - trade and tariffs. Trump was elected president largely on the promise of lowering prices for Ame more PR