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In the News

January 31, 2025

Protection of access to care for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly in rural and underserved areas, has drawn a proposal from a North Carolina congressman in part combatting a 2024 rule finalization from the Biden administration. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in November finalized the rule implemented Jan. 1, cutting Medicare reimbursement to physicians by 2.83%. The agency projected a 3.6% increase in practice cost expenses in 2025, meaning a 6.43% cut for physicians. 

January 28, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump's order freezing federal grants and loans while they're reviewed for ideological consistency sowed confusion in Congress, one central Washington Democratic legislator said.

 

January 27, 2025

Kim Schrier, D-WA, introduced legislation to improve the quality and nutrition of school lunches by allowing public schools to serve reduced fat and whole milk. 

January 24, 2025

Bipartisan members from both chambers of Congress have introduced the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would allow for unflavored and flavored whole and reduced fat (2 percent) milk to be offered in school cafeterias.

January 24, 2025

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, which would allow schools to serve whole and reduced-fat milk through the National School Lunch Program.

Led by U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Peter Welch (D-VT), and Representatives G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Kim Schrier (D-WA), the bill seeks to improve children’s nutrition by addressing the nearly 90% of Americans who fail to meet daily dairy intake recommendations.

January 16, 2025

Nearly two months after a bomb cyclone weather event swept across the Pacific Northwest, killing four people (two in Washington) and knocking out power for nearly one million customers in Oregon, Washington and parts of Canada, Washington representatives are asking for financial assistance from the federal government.

U.S. Senators Patty Murray  (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell  (D-WA) sent a letter to President Biden asking for the federal government to declare the event as a major disaster, echoing former Governor Jay Inslee’s request.

January 11, 2025

Native Americans are twice as likely as others to have overdue medical bills in collection, and major problems within the Indian Health Service are a key reason, a new federal report shows.

December 11, 2024

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-The Kroger-Albertson's grocery store merger has been blocked by a federal judge, and now Albertson's is suing Kroger for a breach of contract.

“Between letters, phone calls, conversations, hearings, I have been on this for about two years now, pushing the FTC to deny this merger," said Democratic Congresswoman Kim Schrier of the 8th Congressional District.

Congresswoman Schrier thinks that there is no chance that the Kroger-Albertson’s merge deal will happen after a Judge blocked the deal on Tuesday.

December 11, 2024

Two of the country's preeminent grocery giants are now at odds.

Federal and state judges on Tuesday halted the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons in Washington. Following the decision, Albertsons reneged on the $25B merger and filed suit, accusing Kroger of breach of contract.

December 5, 2024

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) recognized six distinguished individuals for their exceptional contributions to food, nutrition, agricultural policymaking and ongoing support of the dairy industry.

During IDFA’s annual Celebration of Dairy, held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., presented the prestigious IDFA Leadership Award to: