Congressman Gerry Connolly has had to cancel a Senior Issues Forum Aug. 22 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Westminster at Lake Ridge senior community. 12191 Lake Ridge Drive, Woodbridge VA 22192.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports it has reached agreement with Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply to allow access for U.S. beef and beef products to the Brazilian market for the first time since 2003. In a separate decision, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) also recently determined that Brazil's food safety system governing meat products remains equivalent to that of the United States and that fresh (chilled or frozen) beef can be safely imported from Brazil.

Seven Virginia colleges and universities will receive $2 million+ from the US Dept. of Education to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to and graduate from college as part of the Talent Search program, which identifies and assists students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education.

On July 13, 2016, Manassas City Police met with a resident for a report of a suspicious phone call. The reporting party told officers that she had received a phone call from an unknown male who claimed to represent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The U.S. Senate is honoring the courage and sacrifice of the men and women of the U.S. intelligence community by designating July 26, 2016 as “United States Intelligence Professionals Day.”

US House of Representatives has finished four of 12 appropriations bills, and Congressman Wittman has written Speaker Paul Ryan, cautioning against adjournment. Said Wittman, who represents part of the Prince William County area, "it is now becoming a habit for Congress to abandon a long 'to do' list in the rush to get out of town."

Virginia's senior Senator Mark Warner was among 28 Senators who have written to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler calling for the agency to prioritize new mobile broadband deployment in these areas as well as preserve and upgrade mobile broadband where it is currently available.

Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1), Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, has been named to the congressional conference committee that will resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). VA-1 includes part of Prince William County.