Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and House and Senate colleagues to call on President Trump to prioritize gaining market access for U.S. fresh potatoes during Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s upcoming visit to the United States. Ending Japan’s restrictions on U.S. fresh potatoes would result in an estimated $150 million a year in new American exports, benefitting farming communities in states across the country.  

“U.S. potato growers produce the best potatoes in the world. International trade and foreign export markets are critical to the U.S. potato industry,” wrote the legislators.  

Washington state grows over 23% of all potatoes in the United States, making it the second largest potato-producing state in the country. Washington’s potato industry is responsible for roughly $7.35 billion in economic activity and supports 32,000 jobs. Up to 70% of Washington’s potatoes are exported in the form of French fries to global markets.

“With low commodity prices and increased input costs this year, the potato sector, and specialty crops more broadly, are facing a major economic crisis. Japan represents a massive market with significant export opportunities for American potato growers,” continued the legislators. “Securing this long-delayed market access petition and unlocking the critical Japanese export market would make a meaningful difference for potato growers in our states and across the country.”

The letter was joined by Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Angus King (I-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Montana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) and Ted Budd (R-North Carolina).

The letter was also joined by Representatives Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Jeff Hurd (R-Colorado), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Michigan), Suzan DelBene (D-Washington), Bryan Steil (R-Wisconsin), Andrea Salinas (D-Oregon), Julie Fedorchak (R-North Dakota), Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), Jack Bergman (R-Michigan), Shri Thanedar (D-Michigan), Tony Wied (R-Wisconsin), Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), Jeff Crank (R-Colorado), Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin), Marilyn Strickland (D-Washington), Cliff Bentz (R-Oregon), Gabe Evans (R-Colorado), Dan Meuser (R-Pennsylvania), Michael Baumgartner (R-Washington), Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin), Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska), Val Hoyle (D-Oregon), Brittany Pettersen (D-Colorado), Robert Bresnahan (R-Pennsylvania), Kim Schrier (D-Washington), Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pennsylvania), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washington), Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wisconsin), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minnesota), Joe Neguse (D-Colorado), John Moolenaar (R-Michigan), Jason Crow (D-Colorado), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon), Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado), Adam Smith (D-Washington), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan), John James (R-Michigan), Brad Finstad (R-Minnesota), Janelle Bynum (D-Oregon), Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan) and Diana DeGette (D-Colorado).

The lawmakers’ full letter to President Trump is available HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Washington, DC — Following the introduction of the No Getting Rich in Congress Act, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens released a new video detailing the bill’s strong accountability measures to restore public trust, including a ban on Congressional stock trading.

Watch the video here.

Key Excerpts:

• Too many people are getting rich in Congress. That has to stop. I’ve been in Congress for eight years. I’m not a millionaire, I don’t trade stocks.
• Today I’m introducing a new bill to ban corruption, insider trading, and yes—getting rich while in Congress. Here’s what it does:
• It bans stock trading by Members of Congress and their families.
• It bans lobbying for foreign adversaries after you leave Congress.
• It bans Members of Congress and their spouses from serving on corporate boards while they’re in office.
• So no more getting rich in Congress. Our leaders should be focused on serving their communities, not their stock portfolios.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar Works for Michigan

Congressman John Moolenaar did not miss a vote in the House of Representatives last year. Moolenaar was one of just twenty-three Members of Congress to cast a vote in each of the 361 roll-call votes in 2025. 

“The hardworking people of Michigan’s Second District trust me to represent them in Washington every day. It is an honor to serve them and deliver results for Michigan families by supporting critical legislation to get our country back on track. I will continue my work to represent our district the best way I know how: showing up, listening to constituents, promoting policies in our nation’s best interest, and giving them a voice on every vote,” said Moolenaar. 

 

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Statement on February Jobs Report

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats

WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy lost 92,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.3 percent to 4.4 percent.

“Hardworking Americans are finding that a comfortable, affordable life is increasingly out of reach. The cost of health care, groceries, child care, student loans, and rent continues to rise, while workers are being left behind. According to a new report from Vanguard, a record number of Americans are raiding their 401(k) savings to cover their living expenses.

“While working families fight to stay afloat, the Trump Administration’s economic policies are funneling money into the pockets of the wealthy. The top 10 percent of Americans accounted for a record 49.2 percent of all spending in 2025, while the rest of America is being forced to cut back. Regrettably, the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans have only deepened this divide by driving up health care costs to provide tax cuts for the wealthy in their ‘Big, Ugly Bill.’

“The total number of jobs created in President Trump’s first year since returning to office was only 290,000 — a number the Biden Administration exceeded on average in a single month during his term in office. In fact, since President Trump returned to office, there has not been a single month in which the economy created as many jobs as President Biden’s average monthly job performance of 321,000 jobs.

“This is not the kind of economic performance working families were promised. During President Trump’s most recent State of the Union he repeatedly bragged about the strength of the economy. The truth is, this is the fifth month of job loss since President Trump returned to office.

“The American people deserve a government that prioritizes everyone— not just the wealthy few. Our economy is only strong when workers are strong. Democrats will continue to fight for policies that put working people first, create good jobs, and lower everyday costs for all Americans.”

To see a chart comparing the cumulative seasonally adjusted job change by month between President Trump’s first and second terms, and President Biden’s presidency, click here.

To see a chart comparing the total job change between President Trump’s first 13 months in office and President Biden’s first 13 months in office, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) demanded the immediate release of a 14-year-old Marlborough resident who was detained yesterday by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents:

“Yesterday, a 14-year-old girl from Marlborough was detained by federal immigration agents. A child with no criminal history was taken into custody in an apparent overnight attempt to use her as a hostage to coerce her father into turning himself in for deportation. As a mother to 15- and 11-year old daughters, I am furious. This is not immigration enforcement. It’s the deliberate targeting of a child to inflict maximum pain on her family.”

“Two months ago, ICE detained five-year-old Liam Ramos in Minnesota under similar circumstances. The nation watched in horror as a little boy with a blue bunny hat and Spiderman backpack was taken into custody by federal immigration authorities. The ordeal was so heinous that a federal judge ordered his release and called it ‘cruel’ and ‘bereft of human decency.’ But now, federal immigration agents seem to be doing it again, this time here in Massachusetts.”

“I am demanding her immediate release. She should be returned home to her family this afternoon and able to go back to school tomorrow. In the meantime, DHS must abandon its clearly adopted policy of using children as bait to detain and deport family members and instead focus its efforts on violent criminals.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, is announcing $12,101,000 in federal funding has been awarded to local projects throughout Massachusetts’ Second Congressional District.

McGovern secured the money through the FY2026 appropriations process, partnering with community stakeholders and local officials to develop strong proposals and bring federal dollars back to the Bay State.

“Every one of these awards is tied to a specific, tangible improvement folks here at home will see and feel—more childcare slots in Whitinsville, safer streets on Route 20 in Shrewsbury, cleaner drinking water in Leicester, a new fire truck for Conway, affordable housing in Worcester, and new resources to address economic injustice in Amherst and Northampton,” said McGovern. “These are concrete things that will make life better for all of us. My team and I worked closely with mayors, town managers, nonprofits, and community leaders before doing the work in Congress to get this funding across the finish line.”

McGovern worked with stakeholders in communities throughout the Second District of Massachusetts to secure funding for the following local projects:

• $1,500,000 for Worcester Polytechnic Institute to build a continuous flow reactor to destroy PFAS in contaminated soils and plants in Worcester County.
• $1,200,000 for Worcester to support utility separation and lead/asbestos remediation at 128 Providence Street, enabling development of affordable, accessible housing for older adults.
• $1,092,000 for Holliston to build wastewater infrastructure in its downtown sewer district, supporting smart growth, environmental management, and local economic development.
• $1,015,000 to renovate a historic building and expand childcare capacity at the Whitin Community Center in Whitinsville.
• $1,000,000 for Princeton to support construction of a new public safety building for firefighters, police, and EMTs.
• $1,000,000 for Colrain to support construction of a shared wastewater disposal system.
• $1,000,000 for Amherst to design and construct a 35-bed shelter with supportive housing.
• $950,000 for Leicester to build a water interconnection with Worcester, strengthening drinking water reliability and addressing capacity constraints.
• $879,000 to expand Stop It Now! child sexual abuse prevention programming in Northampton.
• $850,000 for Shrewsbury to advance Route 20 corridor improvements, including design work for traffic safety upgrades, new and improved signals, and shared-use paths.
• $700,000 for Conway to purchase a replacement pumper fire truck for its volunteer fire department and strengthen emergency response capacity.
• $500,000 for Northampton to create a Community Resilience Hub that provides daily access to shelter, meals, and hygiene facilities.
• $250,000 for Ashfield to reconstruct a century-old retaining wall near Sanderson Academy.

• $165,000 to support renovations at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls, helping preserve and improve Franklin County’s only large, publicly owned performing arts venue.

“These are targeted, practical investments that will strengthen public safety, expand opportunity, and improve people’s lives,” added McGovern. “And we’re investing in the next generation by making smart choices now—paying it forward with safer neighborhoods, healthier communities, and the infrastructure and services that our commonwealth needs to grow and thrive for years to come.”

A full list and detailed descriptions of all the projects that McGovern requested federal funding for can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Votes to Advance Homeland Security Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse released the following statement after passage of H.R. 7744, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026. The legislation passed by a vote of 221-209. 

“Once again, House Republicans are advancing legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security for the remainder of the fiscal year and end the shutdown perpetrated by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle.” said Rep. Newhouse. “With increased domestic threats due to military action in the Middle East, we must act swiftly to fund counterterrorism, cybersecurity, border security, TSA, and emergency management agencies. Partisan games that threaten the safety of American citizens are dangerous, and we must fund the Department of Homeland Security immediately.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Statement on Iran War Powers Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse made the following statement after the vote on H. Con. Res. 38. The resolution failed by a vote of 212-219.   

“The Islamic Regime in Iran has supported terrorist groups targeting Americans for nearly 50 years. The War Powers Act is clear that the President may deploy U.S. armed forces against hostilities abroad for a brief period of time so long as reports are made to Congress. President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and General Caine have followed the requirements of the War Powers Act, and I believe the strength of our military will bring a swift end to the conflict. Our Nation is grateful to have sons and daughters who are willing to commit the ultimate sacrifice, and my condolences are with their families.”

The War Powers Resolution (War Powers Act) of 1973 requires the President to report to Congress within 48 hours of deploying U.S. forces against enemy forces if Congress has not declared war. 

After 60 days, the President may certify in writing to Congress the need for continued forces for an additional 30 days. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed the Gang of Eight ahead of the strikes in accordance with the consultation requirement of the War Powers Resolution. 

Subsequently, on March 2, President Trump sent a letter to Senator Chuck Grassley, President Pro Tempore, notifying him of the strikes. 

Tragically, six American troops have been killed during Operation Epic Fury. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Votes to Advance Farm Bill from Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse voted to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 from the House Agriculture Committee. The legislation advanced with a bipartisan vote of 34-17. 

“Rural America is facing an affordability crisis. Throughout central Washington, I have heard from farmers and ranchers who are struggling due to high input costs and market uncertainty,” said Rep. Newhouse. “The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 strengthens support for specialty crop growers, invests in agricultural export programs, and improves forest health to reduce the risk of wildfire. As a third-generation farmer in the Yakima Valley I know firsthand the challenges facing farm country, and I am proud to support this critical piece of legislation to deliver assistance to Rural America when it is needed most.” 

Bill text for the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 can be found here. 

Section by section can be found here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Statement on Court Order Impacting Columbia River System Operations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement regarding U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon’s ruling in the Columbia River System Operations (CRSO) litigation: 

“Our dams remain under attack. This latest ruling increasing spill throughout the year will harm salmon populations while straining our electric grid. Once again, environmental activists are using judicial allies to threaten our hydroelectric system, which provides clean, baseload energy to millions in our region. These vital pieces of infrastructure allow irrigation and navigation for farmers, their commodities, and many other products that move on the rivers. The dams and salmon can, and do, coexist, and I remain committed to ensure the system has the resources needed to improve fish passage at lower spill levels.”