U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) Jan. 17 report Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has been awarded $1,884,992 by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to improve track safety and protect employees who repair and maintain the Metro system. The grant will support a Metro program to outfit track workers with technology bands that will alert them of incoming trains so they have enough time to move to safety.

Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) who represents part of Prince William County released the following statement Jan. 13 after voting in favor of a budget resolution allowing the House and Senate to begin the Obamacare repeal and replacement process.

.S. Sen Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued a statement today on the 51-48 FY 2017 Budget Resolution vote by the Senate, which would begin the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without providing a viable replacement:

Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Judge Ted Poe (R-TX) reintroduced Jan. 12 the Cameras in the Court Act, which they say would ensure transparency and accountability in the judicial branch by televising open proceedings before the United States Supreme Court.

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is surveying 900+ cattle operations in Virginia to provide an up-to-date measure of cattle inventories, Survey results are due out on Jan. 31.

Hoping to bring down the cost of generic drugs, Virginia's Attorney General Mark R. Herring on Dec. 16 joined with 18 other state attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against six generic drug-makers. The suit alleges that the firms conspired to artificially inflate and manipulate prices and to reduce competition in the market for two drugs in the United States: doxycycline hyclate delayed release, an antibiotic, and glyburide, an oral diabetes medication.

Today marks the 225th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights in Virginia’s historic State Capitol on December 15, 1791. Drafted by Virginian and founding father, James Madison, who was inspired by his colleague George Mason’s revolutionary Virginia Declaration of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution were penned in direct response to calls from the states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties.

Classes begin Jan. 23 in Woodbridge on path to United States citizenship.