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Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that WrightGrid, the leading provider of solar-powered charging stations for mobile devices, has installed two WrightGrid Model Z charging stations at City Hall Plaza, providing Boston's residents and visitors with free, secure, and sustainable charging. The announcement builds on the Mayor's commitment to establishing City Hall Plaza as a more welcoming and vibrant space.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., made the following statement regarding yesterday’s passage of his “Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act,” S. 611, by the House Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy

Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, joined the majority of his colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy in advancing S. 611, Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Act. The legislation advanced by a voice vote and will now move to the full Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Power, chaired by Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-01), has scheduled a markup for Tuesday, November 3, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The subcommittee will consider Chairman Whitfield’s two resolutions, H.J. Res. 71 and H.J. Res. 72, disapproving of the two final rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for new and existing power plants

U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today introduced legislation in the House and Senate to ensure seniors and individuals with disabilities have access to affordable in-home companion care. H.R. 3860, the Ensuring Access to Affordable and Quality Home Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act, would reverse harmful Department of Labor rules that place costly regulations on families and caregivers.

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson has cosponsored a resolution intended to stop the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from implementing the Obama Administration’s controversial Clean Water Rule. In spite of widespread opposition in Congress and among the public, in June the Administration implemented a new rule broadly expanding its jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. H.J.Res. 59 would use the Congressional Review Act to prevent the rule from being enacted and bring the agency’s actions back in line with congressional intent

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Reps. John Larson (D-1), Joe Courtney (D-2), Rosa DeLauro (D-3), and Elizabeth Esty (D-5) announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $836,688 to Connecticut rural small businesses and agricultural producers through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help reduce energy usage and costs in their operations

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-3), John Larson (D-1), Joe Courtney (D-2) and Elizabeth Esty (D-5) announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $836,688 to Connecticut rural small businesses and agricultural producers through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help reduce energy usage and costs in their operations.

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) released the following statement applauding a new rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that improves home mortgage data collection and reporting. CAPAC Members have been advocating for this new rule to better understand the housing needs of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities for a number of years

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), the former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Interior Department, today sent a letter to water leaders in the 3rd District about the upcoming deadline for public comment on the Delta water tunnels. The text is below

U.S. Senator John Boozman and Congressman Steve Womack today delivered statements about the importance of the Assuring Private Property Rights Over Vast Areas to Land (APPROVAL) Act before Congressman Bruce Westerman and members of the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

The Department of Housing and Human Concerns has begun accepting online applications for its Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) waitlist and will continue accepting online applications until 11:59 p.m. on November 8, 2015. Hardcopy pre-applications will only be available through first class mail by advanced written request to the County of Maui as a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities by Friday, October 30th. No applications will be provided at the agency.

The National Institute of Building Sciences, through its Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC) and Council on Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (CFIRE), has released a new white paper to promote the use of private and public incentives to achieve resilience in U.S. communities.

Tom Woods, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Blue Springs, Mo., today issued the following statement on Rep. Paul Ryan’s election as the 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

Congress is poised to approve a federal budget this week that would include a dramatic overhaul of the way real estate partnerships are audited, including multifamily. Specifically, this two-year bipartisan budget deal approved by the White House and congressional leaders would set discretionary spending levels through 2017 and increase the nation’s debt ceiling. With this overhaul, lawmakers are trying to address the fact that large real estate partnerships are audited at much lower rates than their C corporation counterparts. They have simplified the audit process in the budget deal because they believe it will capture more tax revenues.

A compliance officer with the Union City Community Development Agency (UCCDA) was indicted today for allegedly manipulating the contractor selection process for federally-funded residential rehabilitation and sidewalk replacement projects, causing losses of at least $250,000, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CEASAR ANQUILLARE, 88, of Orange, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to two years of probation for paying nearly $300,000 in bribes to the former Executive Director of the West Haven Housing Authority in exchange for government contracts and business. ANQUILLARE also was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and $291,033.91 in restitution.

In its ongoing efforts to protect the Cape Cod aquifer from contamination from historical military training activities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued final cleanup strategies for two contaminated areas at Camp Edwards.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld presented the Federal Green Challenge award to the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery for reducing water consumption by more than 22% -- nearly 14 million gallons -- in 2014. The award presentation was followed by a turf moisture sensor demonstration and a tour of the cemetery’s irrigation monitoring system.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced San Francisco’s intention to become the first city to “get to zero” in the battle against HIV/AIDS. Once the epicenter of the AIDS crisis and now a world leader in HIV/AIDS response, San Francisco is well-positioned to reach zero new HIV infections, zero deaths and zero stigma.