American contract growers, who raise chickens for poultry processing companies, have not yet received federal assistance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers. “As the U.S. Department of Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) on May 27 sponsored legislation that would exempt individuals diagnosed with certain terminal illnesses from the 10-percent penalty imposed on early distributions from qualified retirement plans. “Americans who have been diagnosed with ALS and other Read more…
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on May 19 signed on as an original cosponsor of a comprehensive bipartisan reform bill to prop up and improve the finances of the United States Postal Service (USPS). “Americans rely on the U.S. Postal Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) on April 15 proposed a bipartisan bill to categorize public safety telecommunicators as a protective service occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification System (SOC), a federal statistical standard used by federal agencies to classify workers Read more…
The U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan resolution led by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) that designated April 5 as Gold Star Wives Day to honor the sacrifices made by the families of fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Read more…
U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) joined a bipartisan contingent of his Senate colleagues in providing President Joe Biden with a bipartisan, comprehensive diplomatic strategy on Iran that would garner overwhelming support in Congress. “Democrats and Republicans may have tactical differences,” Read more…
Individuals who deliberately target local, state or federal law enforcement officers with violence would face federal penalties under legislation recently proposed by U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jerry Moran (R-KS). “Law enforcement officers in North Carolina and across the Read more…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) on March 10 introduced legislation that would reauthorize federal funding for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA), a federally designated National Heritage Area encompassing the 25 westernmost counties of North Read more…
A group of GOP senators will reintroduce the Protect Act, which would ensure Americans with pre-existing conditions are not denied healthcare coverage or charged more due to a pre-existing condition. Among the Republicans who plan to reintroduce the measure are Read more…
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) to create a task force that will assist states in implementing federal work requirements for childcare workers is on the president’s desk to be signed into law. The Child Care Protection Read more…
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Richard Burr (R-NC) joined a bipartisan contingent of lawmakers to unveil legislation on Dec. 8 that supports American public servants who have incurred brain injuries while stationed at overseas embassies. “Public servants who work Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) commends a newly issued final rule from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that amends its regulation under the Air Carrier Access Act regarding the air transport of service animals. The final rule is intended Read more…
Bipartisan, bicameral legislation offered by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) to improve information for Americans seeking to adopt children from foreign countries became law on Oct. 30 with the president’s signature. “As co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I’ll Read more…
As the U.S. State Department searches for new accrediting entities for intercountry child-placement adoption service providers, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and a bipartisan group of colleagues last week requested that the department prioritize policies to promote intercountry adoption. “Since Read more…
U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and several other Republicans called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its biogenic carbon emissions rulemaking and provide regulatory clarity to the nation’s farmers, businesses and entrepreneurs who want to Read more…
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) led a bipartisan group of colleagues to request changes to certain hospital reporting requirements published last month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Specifically, the lawmakers said that they “grave concerns” Read more…
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should get back to its regular schedule of conducting fisheries research surveys, which have been cancelled since May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and several colleagues. Additionally, Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) offered bipartisan legislation to promote access to life-saving therapies for Medicaid enrollees who want to join clinical trials. “This legislation reflects the good work already underway in North Carolina, and allows Medicaid to keep pace Read more…
Bipartisan legislation introduced this week by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) would reauthorize a debt-for-nature-swap program that allows eligible developing countries to be relieved of debt they owe to the United States in exchange for protecting and preserving tropical forests Read more…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) on July 29 introduced legislation to continue federal support for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA), a federally designated National Heritage Area encompassing the 25 westernmost counties of North Carolina Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) on July 22 introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow eligible small employers to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) so that their workers could remain Read more…
Losses felt throughout the cotton supply chain due to the COVID-19 pandemic must be addressed in the next federal funding relief legislation, said U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues. “Given the severe pressures facing Read more…
America’s livestock and poultry producers would receive federal relief to tackle the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic under a Republican bill introduced on July 2 by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). The senator is among four original cosponsors of Read more…
U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Steve Daines (R-MT) on Wednesday commended U.S. Senate passage of what is considered the most significant conservation legislation in decades, the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act. “Years of bipartisan work have Read more…
U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) introduced two bipartisan bills to improve America’s diagnostic testing capabilities. “These bills will provide much-needed funding to hospitals, physicians and public health labs to acquire diagnostic testing platforms with a rapid turn-around time, as well Read more…
Landmark legislation proposed by U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) to preserve and protect the nation’s public lands this week received support from more than 800 conservation groups. “Congress should hear their call and pass the Great American Outdoors Act to Read more…
Nonprofits must be considered for additional federal financial assistance in the next COVID-19 emergency funding relief package, said U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and several of his colleagues. “As we work to build on the CARES Act in the next Read more…
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) this week led a bipartisan contingent of U.S. senators in requesting that any forthcoming emergency spending package make local trade and professional associations eligible for federal assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which is Read more…
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and 20 other senators recently urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to craft policies in the forthcoming COVID-19 pandemic response recovery bill that will aid each segment of the U.S. cotton industry. “We understand Read more…
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues this week sought enhanced federal cooperation with America’s international partners in stymying future zoonotic disease outbreaks by closing down unregulated wildlife markets. While the origin of the novel Read more…
U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) on March 5 introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would federally regulate in vitro clinical tests (IVCTs). Rep. Bucshon is the lead original cosponsor of the Verifying Accurate, Leading-edge IVCT Development (VALID) Act of 2020, H.R. Read more…
The U.S. Senate on March 5 approved the bipartisan Child Care Protection Improvement Act of 2020, coauthored by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC). “I’m proud to see the Senate unanimously pass this important legislation to give working parents peace of Read more…
U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Martha McSally (R-AZ) on Feb. 13 introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to honor the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. “Iwo Jima is hallowed ground Read more…
In light of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) must prioritize a comprehensive trade agreement with the country, wrote U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) in a Feb. 14 letter sent to the USTR. Read more…
U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) on Feb. 13 sponsored a bipartisan, bicameral resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which started on Feb. 19, 1945 when U.S. military forces landed on and eventually captured the island Read more…
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) on Feb. 12 proposed the bipartisan Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects (HELP) Act to hasten recovery projects following natural disasters. Sen. Tillis sponsored S. 3285 with six cosponsors, Read more…
The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence last week released the third of five volumes in its bipartisan investigation into Russia’s interference with U.S. elections, according to U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Susan Collins (R-ME). “I hope this committee’s Read more…
U.S. Sens. Martha McSally (R-AZ), Susan Collins (R-ME) and nearly a dozen members of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging recently requested information on whether federal Social Security scam protections are in place for America’s senior citizens. “The committee Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) last week applauded a new notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to amend the definition of a service animal in air transportation. The NPRM also includes safeguards to Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said he’s pleased with the federal government’s “significant improvements” to reform the nation’s security clearance process. “The investigation backlog has come down from 725,000 cases in Read more…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) this week commended action by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fund storm damage reduction projects in their home state, where many local communities continue recovery efforts from recent hurricanes. Read more…
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted 86-8 to approve the final version of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, which includes a bipartisan bill offered by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) to support the nation’s Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) joined his colleagues on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee in proposing a bipartisan amendment to pending higher education legislation that would benefit Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Read more…
Legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Richard Burr (R-NC) would ensure their North Carolina constituents and Americans around the country recover more quickly following a natural disaster. “North Carolina families are unfortunately all too familiar with the Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) on Oct. 16 sponsored a bipartisan bill to exclude vehicles used solely for sporting competitions from provisions of the Clean Air Act. “This legislation upholds Congress’ intent of the Clean Air Act and protects motorsports, Read more…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) took issue with how the North Carolina governor handled a recent request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) seeking individual assistance for North Carolina counties suffering from September’s Hurricane Dorian. Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, earlier this week released the committee’s second volume in its bipartisan investigation into Russia’s attempts to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election that includes numerous Read more…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) on Sept. 25 introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide tax relief for the victims of Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael, and certain California wildfires last year. “This legislation will continue to provide Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) on Sept. 18 sponsored bipartisan legislation to permit Americans who are battling terminal illnesses to use retirement savings without incurring an additional 10 percent penalty if funds are withdrawn early. “This is a problem we Read more…
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Intelligence Committee, on July 25 released the first volume of a bipartisan report detailing recommendations resulting from Russia’s interference with America’s 2016 presidential elections. “It is my hope that Read more…