No early releases for violent federal prisoners during pandemic, say Cassidy, GOP colleagues

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 27, 2020

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) joined more than two dozen of his U.S. Senate Republican colleagues in urging the government against allowing early releases for violent offenders incarcerated in federal prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have serious concerns about Read more…

Kinzinger sponsors two bills aimed at fighting social media fraud

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 27, 2020

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) last week introduced two bills to help combat social media scams by holding violators more accountable and requiring platforms to take more responsibility with user protections. “Technology is critical to our everyday life, especially right now Read more…

Latta: Congress continues streamlining bureaucratic red tape to meet public health demands

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 27, 2020

During the current pandemic, Congress continues to address the obstacles around public health emergencies through legislation, U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) wrote in a recent opinion piece published in the American Healthcare Journal. The newly signed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Read more…

LaHood legislation reducing drug costs signed into law as part of CARES Act

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 27, 2020

A bipartisan bill unveiled by U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) to reduce medication costs became law as part of the recently signed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Rep. LaHood in March signed on as an original cosponsor Read more…

Capito announces release of water infrastructure improvement draft bills

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 24, 2020

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), who serves on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW), on April 21 announced the committee’s release of two draft bills that would authorize approximately $17 billion in new federal funding to invest Read more…

Portman requests CARES Act funding flexibility for states, local governments

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 24, 2020

Sen. Rob Portman

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) called on the U.S. Treasury Secretary to provide the funding flexibility that states and local governments need to continue providing critical services during and after the coronavirus pandemic, particularly to replace any lost revenue. “Local Read more…

Lucas leads Okla. lawmakers who seek CARES Act clarifications for publicly owned hospitals

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 24, 2020

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) recently led an Oklahoma congressional delegation in requesting that publicly owned hospitals be deemed eligible for financial assistance programs under the recently signed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “It is imperative that Read more…

Senior citizen caregivers must be included in HHS guidelines for federal funds, Collins says

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 24, 2020

America’s caregivers for senior citizens should not be overlooked in forthcoming guidelines being set to disburse federal funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), chairman of the Senate Special Committee Read more…

Ernst: End U.S. taxpayer funding of China’s Wuhan virus lab, wet markets

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 24, 2020

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) called on Congress to end U.S. taxpayer funding of both China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) laboratory and the country’s unregulated wet markets. Sen. Ernst and several colleagues expressed concerns over past federal funding to Read more…

Stefanik’s bipartisan bill aims to provide student loan relief

By Ripon Advance News Service | April 24, 2020

Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers would receive zero interest rate benefits and payment suspensions under bipartisan legislation introduced on April 22 by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) that seeks to help students during an uncertain time. While the Coronavirus Read more…