Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rose (TN-06)

Rep. Rose stated in the letter, “More than four weeks have passed since the heinous shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, yet countless mothers and fathers I represent are still awaiting answers.” He argued in the letter that “transparency is essential for those still grieving” and that “discussions of changing state or federal policy are futile without having an accurate account of the shooter’s state of mind, motives, preparation, and planning.”

The verbatim reads:

I was just granted access to many documents relating to the Covenant School shooting tragedy investigation by the FBI. 

What I saw would disturb anyone, especially a parent. The documents are a painful reminder of the devastation that victims, including their families and friends, endure every day. Their lives are no doubt forever changed.

Today, as difficult as it was to view this material, it was also important for transparency in government. We must never accept the kind of censorship we saw surrounding this shooter. In no other mass tragedy do we see every piece of evidence shielded from the public.

While we certainly don’t want to enable copycat attempts or glorify mass killers, we also need the full scope of facts in situations such as this to prevent them in the future. 

Like many of you, I have long suspected some of this information was shielded from public view because this shooter considered herself to be transgender.  

After having read through the evidence, I remain convinced that there is no good justification for keeping most of the evidence from the public square. No reasonable person would object to certain redactions, just as no reasonable person who believes in the First Amendment would condone the widespread censorship we saw from the Biden FBI and frankly Metro Nashville Police. Weeks after this tragedy, I sent two letters calling on then-FBI Director Christopher Wray and Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake to release the documents or provide a written reason as to why not and a timeline on when it would be released.

At the time, there were a lot of discussions surrounding state and federal gun policy. I argued those discussions were premature without first knowing what happened. Countless Tennesseans still want to know about the mental state of the shooter and many other factors that contributed to this tragedy. The report from Metro Nashville, released about a month ago, calls the killer sane. I just read through about 2,000 pages of reasons why that is false.

Less than 100 days after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate, FBI Director Kash Patel is well on his way to fulfilling his goal of restoring confidence in the bureau. As our nation’s top law enforcement agency, trust and transparency are essential. I want to thank him for his leadership on behalf of each and every Tennessee family I represent and beyond.

And I want to thank President Trump for following through on his promise to end woke policies in government and restore trust in our institutions. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rose (TN-06)

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) released the following statement on Tuesday, which marked the 100th day of the Trump Administration:

“We’ve seen what true leadership looks like over the last 100 days. Our borders are secure. Manufacturing jobs are on the rise. Waste, fraud, and abuse are being exposed and slashed,” Rep. Rose said. “President Trump is doing what 77 million Americans – including the vast majority of Tennesseans – elected him to do last November. I couldn’t be more pleased with his progress so far.”

U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his fourth term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides on his family farm in Lancaster with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rose (TN-06)

WASHINGTON, DC—On Thursday, U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN) reintroduced H.R. 2808, the “Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act”. The legislation, which is being co-led by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), would dramatically reduce the number of unwanted calls and messages potential homeowners across the country experience during the homebuying process. 

Credit bureaus are typically notified when a consumer applies for financing,. That information (which is commonly referred to as a trigger lead) is then often sold by the credit bureaus to data brokers (including other lenders) without the consumer’s knowledge or approval. Consumers are then often bombarded with hundreds of unwanted solicitations. 

The “Homebuyers Privacy Protect Act” would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to prohibit a consumer reporting agency from furnishing a trigger lead unless an individual chooses to opt-in while also preserving the use of trigger leads in appropriately limited circumstances. 

Rep. Rose released the following statement: 

“The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act strikes the right balance in my view,” Rep. Rose said. “It protects potential homebuyers from unsolicited, predatory, sales tactics while preserving fair competition. Once signed into law, it will make a big difference for those Tennesseans who are attempting to buy a home. 

Rep. Torres released this statement: 

“The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act will serve as a crucial and transformative step in safeguarding American consumers from unwanted and invasive credit solicitations,” Rep. Torres said. Too often, homebuyers find themselves bombarded with unsolicited offers beginning the moment they apply for a mortgage that persist indefinitely. This bill will ensure that consumers maintain greater control over their personal financial information, preventing predatory practices and strengthening data privacy. I am proud to join Congressman Rose in reintroducing this bipartisan legislation, which will provide much-needed protections for American homebuyers.”

Rep. Rose and Torres were joined in sponsoring the bill by Reps. Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Mark E. Amodei (R-NV-02), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), Cleo Fields (D-LA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02), Michael Guest (R-MS-03), Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL), Trent Kelly (R-MS-01), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), Frank D. Lucas (R-OK-03), John Moolenaar (R-MI-02), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Zach Nunn (R-IA-03), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Adrian Smith (R-NE-03), Bryan Steil (R-WI-01), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), William Timmons (R-SC-04), Rob Wittman (R-VA-01)

The legislation also has overwhelming bicameral support. In fact, a Senate version of Rep. Rose’s legislation, introduced by Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Jack Reed (D-RI), passed just last December. Sens. Hagerty and Reed also reintroduced their bill on Thursday. 

Senator Hagerty released this statement: 

“Unsolicited phone calls caused by trigger leads have become an intolerable nuisance to many Tennesseans,” said Senator Hagerty. “I’m pleased to join this bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will protect Americans’ data and help reduce endless spam calls.”

Senator Reed released this statement: 

“Buying a home is already a complex and stressful process. Consumers should not get needlessly ‘spammed’ with unsolicited, predatory offers just because they take a necessary step in the homebuying process. This bill would halt abusive trigger leads,” said Senator Reed. “The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act will put consumers back in the driver’s seat and help cut down on the spam. It will help reduce predatory practices and provide much needed relief from unwanted industry calls, texts, and emails.”

The ”Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act” is supported by a broad coalition of financial trades and consumer groups, including the Independent Community Bankers of America, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Mortgage Brokers, American Bankers Association, and the Broker Action Coalition. 

“The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) would like to thank Congressmen John Rose and Ritchie Torres for reintroducing trigger leads legislation. We believe this bill is tailored to give consumers more control over the information they receive as part of the homebuying process and eliminates trigger lead abuses while preserving their use in appropriately limited circumstances. As President of NAMB, I will always support any legislation that ensures the protection and privacy of homebuyers, and I applaud Congress for leading this effort,” said Jim Nabors, NAMB President.

“The Broker Action Coalition (BAC) applauds Congressmen John Rose and Ritchie Torres, as well as Senators Hagerty and Reed, for reintroducing this vital legislation to improve data privacy standards. Consumers should have complete control over their financial data, and the Homebuyers Privacy Act is a huge step in the right direction.” said Brendan McKay, Chief Advocacy Officer & Co-Founder of the Broker Action Coalition.

U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his fourth term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides on his family farm in Lancaster with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rose (TN-06)

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN), a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, eighth generation farmer, and former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture reintroduced H.R. 2462, the Black Vulture Relief Act. The bipartisan legislation is being co-led by Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL), who serves on the Committee on Natural Resources. 

The legislation will allow livestock producers and their employees to take black vultures without a permit if they believe the vulture will cause death or injury to their livestock. It is currently illegal to take black vultures without a sub-permit from the authorizing state agency, encasing the issue in bureaucratic red tape and limiting producers’ ability to combat these predators.

Rep. Rose released the following statement: 

“I am proud to reintroduce this important bill. Black vultures are a nuisance to livestock farmers and ranchers, and they pose a deadly threat to young calves and other animals,” Rep. Rose said. “I’ve heard from many Tennessee farmers who say the permitting process is too cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly. This bill is a commonsense measure.”

Rep. Soto released this statement: 

“Our farmers and ranchers are facing many obstacles as they work to care for their livestock,” Rep. Soto said. “By allowing them to take black vultures without a permit before they harm their livestock, we are improving the likelihood of their success.”

Background:

In 1916, the United States and Canada entered into a treaty aimed at protecting birds that migrate between the two countries, which led to the enactment of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918 to implement the treaty in the U.S. The law makes it illegal to take nearly 1,100 species of migratory birds, including black vultures, without a permit. 

The bill is supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, American Sheep Industry Association, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Farm Bureau Federation, and Florida Cattlemen’s Association. 

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation President Eric Mayberry: 

“We appreciate Congressman Rose’s efforts to help cattle producers more effectively protect their herds and, ultimately, their livelihoods. This legislation takes a crucial step in alleviating the burden farmers face with growing black vulture populations and depredation of livestock across Tennessee.” 

President Gary Dering, President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association: 

“Black Vultures continue to attack newborn livestock, causing significant losses for Tennessee livestock producers. We appreciate Congressman Rose’s efforts to address the issue on behalf of cattle producers across the country.”

Steve Clements, American Sheep Industry Association Board Member and South Dakota sheep producer: 

“ASI encourages support for this legislation as vultures are a growing predator of lambs in America, and farmers and ranchers have few options today to address these losses. Predator losses of sheep and the associated management costs are the second-largest expense of many sheep operations in America.”

American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President of Public Policy Sam Kieffer: 

“America’s farmers and ranchers know all too well the impact black vultures can have on livestock, particularly when they attack young or vulnerable animals. Farmers and ranchers take seriously their responsibility to keep their livestock safe, and additionally, this is a financial burden for our members. The Black Vulture Relief Act will help farmers and ranchers protect their animals while responsibly managing migratory birds, including black vultures. We’re grateful to Rep. Rose for his commitment to addressing this challenge.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Director of Government Affairs Garrett Edmonds:

“Cattle producers across the South and Midwest face the emotional and financial strain of livestock deaths due to overabundant black vultures. At a time when the U.S. cattle herd is at the lowest number since 1951, producers cannot afford to have vultures killing newborn calves. My family’s cattle operation faces the burden of black vultures daily, with them roosting on nearby service towers overlooking surrounding pastures.

Being in the middle of Spring calving season back home, these predators target the newborns – the weakest animals who cannot defend themselves. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act has been overwhelmingly successful but makes it extremely difficult for producers to properly protect their cattle herds from these predators. It is time to recognize that success and give producers more flexibility in managing black vulture populations. NCBA appreciates Congressmen Rose and Soto for introducing this commonsense bill to properly manage an exploding population of predators.”

Florida Farm Bureau Federation President Jeb S. Smith released this statement: 

“The Florida Farm Bureau Federation strongly supports the reintroduction of the Black Vulture Relief Act, which provides much-needed relief for livestock producers struggling with black vulture predation. Florida’s farmers and ranchers are committed to responsible stewardship of our natural resources, but the increasing black vulture population has caused significant economic losses, particularly for cattle producers.

Under current regulations, the federal permitting process is slow and burdensome, often leaving livestock owners without timely options to protect their animals. This legislation takes a common-sense approach by allowing producers to take necessary action to prevent livestock losses while maintaining proper reporting and oversight.

Florida Farm Bureau appreciates the leadership of both Congressman John Rose of Tennessee and Florida’s own Congressman Darren Soto, working to address this issue and urges swift passage of this bill to ensure our farmers and ranchers have the tools they need to protect their livelihoods.”

Bill cosponsors include:Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO), Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX), Rep. Garret Graves (R-MO), Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK), Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN), Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH), Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO);

Additional Background:

According to a report compiled by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, black vulture populations have been increasing in the U.S. from 1996 to 2015 by an average of 4.77% per year. Although they are native to the eastern and southeastern portions of the U.S., they have been expanding their range northward and westward over the past several decades. Black vultures are not only scavengers but will sometimes devour live prey, including newborn calves, lambs, goat kids, and piglets. They will also attack/injure female adults during or after birth, when they are more vulnerable to attacks, to the point where farmers are left with no other choice than euthanasia.

Read the full text of the bill here.

U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his fourth term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides on his family farm in Lancaster with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

The Office of U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06 is seeking a customer service oriented, high performing individual to serve as a Green and Gold fellow/Constituent Advocate in our satellite office in Reading, Pennsylvania.A Green and Gold fellow is a veteran or Gold Star Family member. To qualify, veterans must meet all the following requirements: Veterans must be Honorably discharged, released from active duty within the last six years, pay grades at or below E-5, O-3, or W-2. Veterans promoted to the pay grades of E-6, O-4, or W-3 within 6-months of separation from active duty are eligible, granted they meet ALL other eligibility requirements. Veterans who are in receipt of a 20-year or Temporary Early Retirement Authorization (TERA) retirement are not eligible for the program. Interested veterans should go to https://www.usajobs.gov/ and search “Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program” for more information and how to apply. Gold Star applicants must be the spouse, parent, sibling, child or step-child of a service member who died in the line of duty, or died from a service-connected disability within four years of separation from the service. The fellowship is a two-year, full-time, paid position with an annual salary range of $55,000-$67,000.As a Constituent Advocate for an award-winning congressional district office, you will be a liaison between constituents and federal government agencies. You will respond to constituent requests for assistance – from individuals, businesses, and nonprofits – and resolve casework issues through inquiries, facilitation, and problem solving. You will represent the Congresswoman in meetings and at events in the district while building and maintaining productive, supportive working relationships with local government, business groups, non-profit, and other stakeholder groups within our community of PA-06. Constituent Advocates also identify local problems that can be solved by federal action and are knowledgeable of the impact of proposed and enacted federal legislation on stakeholders in our community.The right candidate will serve as a critical part of a close-knit team. Applicants should have an enthusiastic interest in public service, superior attention to detail, and motivation to serve our community. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential as well as the ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and work well under pressure. Spanish language skills are a plus. Job responsibilities include outreach to relevant stakeholder groups in our community and successful candidates must have their own reliable transportation. Optimistic demeanor and a good sense of humor are a must. Connections to Pennsylvania and the 6th district are advantageous.Our office hours are 9:00am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Our staff in Reading works in-person Wednesday through Friday and works remotely or conducts outreach meetingson Mondays and Tuesdays. Additionally, you must be able to attend work duties on some evenings and weekends for events as needed.THIS OFFICE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. The office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, disability, military status, age, marital status, or parental status.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

Wilmington, DE – Today, the New Democrat Coalition made the third stop on its New Dems on the Road Tour, an initiative spearheaded by Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) to get New Dem Members out of DC to hear from American workers, businesses, industry experts, nongovernmental organizations and local leaders about how to improve policy in Washington. 
New Dem Care Economy Task Force Chair Sarah McBride (DE-AL) hosted House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) and Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) in her district for a care economy roundtable discussion with medical professionals, advocates, non-profit leaders, labor representatives, and care providers.
Attendees talked through some of the biggest challenges facing the care economy, and discussed strategies for building the bipartisan support needed to advance nationwide Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) reforms and expand access to high-quality and affordable childcare and elder care.
“Every family, in every zip code, deserves access to affordable child care, elder care, and paid leave—and today’s conversation made clear that the need is urgent, the solutions are real, and the time to act is now,” said Task Force Chair Sarah McBride. “These investments don’t just support families—they strengthen our economy and stabilize our communities. As Chair of the New Dem Care Economy Task Force, I’m committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to build on Delaware’s leadership and advance comprehensive, nationwide policies that uplift caregivers and working families. I’m grateful to Whip Clark and Rep. Houlahan for joining me for this important conversation.”
“America runs on child care — it enables kids to thrive, parents to work, and our economy to grow. But the reality is that too many families struggle to find and afford care. We can solve this crisis by investing in our child care system, providing paid family leave, and putting the needs of working families ahead of the billionaire class,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “I am grateful for the opportunity to join Reps. McBride and Houlahan for this important community conversation. House Democrats stand together in the fight to lower the costs for families and ensure everyone has the resources they need to get ahead.”
“I am thrilled to join my friend Rep. McBride in discussing a topic near and dear to me and so many Americans: access to child care and paid leave,” said Working Group Chair Chrissy Houlahan. “Neighboring Delaware has led the charge in innovative solutions, and I hope Pennsylvania follows soon. Thanks to New Dems for highlighting the importance of the care economy and bringing us together to find solutions for working families here and across the country.”
Full list of roundtable attendees:

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06)
Rep. Sarah McBride (DE-AL)
Delaware Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay
First Lady of Delaware Lauren Meyer
Pennsylvania State Senator Maria Collett (12th District)
Jan White, Small Business Owner, New Castle County Chamber of Commerce 

Chris Otto, Executive Director, Delaware Nurses Association
Joe Diagle, CEO, Mallard Financial Partners, Inc.
Shawn Colleran, Vice President, Delaware Association of Letter Carriers
Dr. Margaret Chou, Obstetrician, Nemours & ChristianaCare
Liz Richards, Executive Director, Delaware Cares                
Dr. Melanie Thomas Price, CEO, A Leap of Faith Child Development Center, Inc
Kirsten Olson, CEO, Children & Families First
Dr. Dannae Orisomolade, Early Childhood Academic Initiatives Officer, Delaware State University
Julie Bieber, Director of Operations, Kingswood Community Center
Jamie Schneider, Owner, Educational Enrichment Center DE
Alisa Morkides, Owner, Brew Haha
Dab O’Brien, Children’s First PA

Background
Through New Dems on the Road, New Dem Members will hold conversations across the country to hear from the American people, with each meeting organized under the policy goals of one of the Coalition’s nine Working Groups. New Dems will meet with local leaders, stakeholders, small business owners, industry experts, and more to hear about the cost of President Trump’s chaos and what New Dems can do to fight back and make progress on the issues that really matter to the American people.
The first New Dems on the Road event was held on April 23rd in Phoenix, AZ, where New Dem Immigration and Border Security Working Group Members Reps. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Lou Correa (CA-46) held an immigration roundtable discussion with industry and union representatives, members of the Arizona business community, and DACA recipients.
The second New Dems on the Road event was held on May 9th in Metro East, IL, where Vice Chair Nikki Budzinski hosted Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy Working Group Chair Scott Peters (CA-50) and Rep. Wesley Bell (MO-01) for a clean energy roundtable discussion with business owners, industry and union representatives, academic researchers, and utility service providers.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.), Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee; Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus (CEC); Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Vice Chair of the CEC; and Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), Co-Chair of the CEC introduced the Fit To Serve Act today, which affirms the rights of transgender people to serve in the United States Armed Forces by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity, including a diagnosis or potential diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
The bill was filed in response to Executive Order 14183 issued by President Trump on January 27, 2025which effectively bans transgender people from serving in the United States military. On February 20, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued guidance to implement President Trump’s military transgender ban, which resulted in the filing of legal challenges. On March 27, a federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the DoD from enforcing the ban. On May 6, the Supreme Court stayed the injunction, allowing the Trump Administration to enforce the ban as the lawsuit proceeds.
“Any person who is willing to put their life on the line to protect and defend the United States of America deserves our honor and respect—full stop,” said Rep. Houlahan. “The Trump Administration’s hateful and discriminatory attack on transgender service members, who serve effectively in positions across our Armed Forces, is reprehensible and will undoubtedly weaken our national security. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to introduce The Fit to Serve Act, which will put an end to the President’s culture wars against our transgender service members.”“As I have said repeatedly, thousands of transgender service members have served openly with honor and distinction in combat zones and carrying out high-stakes missions for nearly a decade. They are held to the exact same rigorous standards as every other Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Guardian, or Coast Guardsman. Banning them simply because they are transgender will not strengthen our military—it will weaken it. Enforcing this bigoted policy for the sake of cruelty and to score partisan points is antithetical to what the United States of America and our Armed Forces stand and fight for,” said Rep. Smith. “Transgender service members have put their lives on the line in defense of our freedom—we in Congress must now fight for their ability to serve and their fundamental right to exist.”
“Every person that steps up to serve our nation in uniform should be treated with the utmost respect, yet the Trump-Vance Administration has continuously attacked our nation’s transgender service members for daring to serve openly. These service members have continuously shown they are fit, qualified, and willing to serve, but Trump still wants to kick them out—purely for political purposes,” said Rep. Takano. “I believe strongly that Trump’s transgender military ban is unconstitutional and will ultimately fail in the courts, but as a co-equal branch of government, Congress has a duty to protect those who protect us. I’m proud to join Ranking Member Smith in introducing this bill to ensure long-lasting, explicit protections for our transgender service members.” 
“Our transgender service members just want to do their jobs – and we should let them. They’re equally qualified as all other service members and have proven their talent, expertise, and experience are invaluable. But by kicking out thousands of transgender service members from our military, Donald Trump is prioritizing discrimination over our national security. That’s why I’m proud to stand with those who’ve already sacrificed so much for us and to co-lead the Fit To Serve Act,” said Rep. Jacobs.
“Our country should be supporting anyone willing to answer the call to serve our country, protect our freedoms, and defend our national security,” said Rep. Sorensen. “Ending gender-identity discrimination makes our military stronger and helps fill our ranks with qualified service members who deserve to serve with dignity.”
On May 8, DoD set a June 6 deadline for transgender Active Component service members and a July 7 deadline for transgender Reserve Component service members to self-identify for voluntary separations. The military is expected to then initiate involuntary separation procedures for transgender service members once the voluntary self-identification eligibility window concludes.
The Fit to Serve Act seeks to thwart these efforts by affirming the rights of transgender people to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces by:

Prohibiting the denial of accession, reenlistment, or continuation of service on the basis of gender identity, including a diagnosis or potential diagnosis of gender dysphoria;

Prohibiting the involuntary separation of a service member on the basis of gender identity, including a diagnosis or potential diagnosis of gender dysphoria; and

Ensuring access to medically necessary health care coverage for service members.

A copy of the bill text can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

Washington, D.C. — Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Representative August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced the Comprehensive Operations for Unmanned-System Neutralization and Threat Elimination Response (COUNTER) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance airspace security at military bases. A companion bill was also introduced today in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK).
“In recent years, there has been a disturbing increase in threats posed to U.S. military bases by unmanned aircraft systems, including from systems controlled by foreign adversaries. Despite this, our armed forces continue to tell us that they lack the authority to protect the skies over some of our most sensitive military installations,” said Rep. Houlahan. “Today’s introduction of the bipartisan COUNTER Act marks the next step towards delivering the expanded authorities our military needs to address the threats of unmanned aircraft systems and keep these facilities safe.”“Unauthorized drone activity near and over U.S. military installations has become a persistent and growing national security concern. In the past year alone, there were more than 350 drone detections at 100 different military installations,” said Rep. Pfluger. “This is why I am proud to help lead the bipartisan COUNTER Act, which gives our armed forces the clear authority they need to take down hostile drones and defend our most sensitive installations. As a fighter pilot with hundreds of hours in combat experience, I know firsthand how critical airspace security is — and how urgent this action has become.”“Leaving American military facilities vulnerable to drone incursions puts our service members, the general public, and our national security at risk. Our bill will expand the Department of Defense’s authority to neutralize unauthorized drones,” said Senator Cotton. “As commercial drones become more commonplace, we must ensure that they are not being used to share sensitive information with our adversaries, to conduct attacks against our service members, or otherwise pose a threat to our national security. This legislation will enable DoD to more effectively mitigate threats from drones and allow for better interagency cooperation to keep Americans safe. I am proud to be introducing this important piece of bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get it passed,” said Senator Gillibrand. Full text of the legislation can be found here.The COUNTER Act would:

Expand the definition of a “covered facility” as it is in current law, enabling more bases to apply for approval to detect, track, and, if necessary, neutralize drones.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) hosted a roundtable discussion with local law enforcement officers and first responders focused on recruitment, retention, and public service. At the event, Rep. Houlahan announced the reintroduction of her Public Service Student Loan Payment Completion Fairness Act to make a long-overdue modernization to the PSLF Program and simplify the loan forgiveness process for public servants. This legislation, co-led by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police.  

At present, the law requires applicants to be employed in a public service job at the time of student loan forgiveness. That means public servants who have dutifully completed their 120 payments and spent 10 years in public service may become ineligible for forgiveness if they change employers. Houlahan and Fitzpatrick’s legislation would simplify the process, improve applicant success rate, and incent more Americans to become public servants by removing the provision requiring individuals to be employed in public service at the time of forgiveness.  

“When Pennsylvanians and Americans dedicate a decade or more of their lives to serving our communities, they deserve our support to cut through bureaucratic delays and receive the student loan forgiveness we have promised,” said Representative Houlahan. “Our community, Commonwealth, and country are made stronger because of dedicated public servants, and as a former AmeriCorps teacher, I’m proud to introduce this commonsense reform to help our nation’s teachers, law enforcement officers, first responders, nurses, and others.”  

“Those who choose public service—whether in a classroom, a squad car, or a hospital ward—do so out of a sense of duty, not personal gain. They sacrifice, they serve, and many take on student debt to do it. Our bill ensures they’re not denied loan forgiveness because of a technicality. If we want to recruit and retain the best in public service, we must show service is respected, and commitments made will be commitments kept,” said Representative Fitzpatrick. 

In a letter written to Representatives Houlahan and Fitzpatrick, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police Patrick Yoes endorsed the bill, adding, “An officer’s route for advancement is highly dependent on education, which can be a large hurdle for entry level officers who may not be able to afford higher education. Correcting the statute in this way would enable our nation’s public servants, who serve and protect their communities, to receive a better education and, in turn, will help them to be better law enforcement officers, first responders, and teachers.” 

Reps. Houlahan and Fitzpatrick hope their bipartisan, commonsense legislation will improve applicant success. Data from the Department of Education demonstrates how the many ancillary requirements of the PSLF program significantly impede the applicant success rate. Out of the 442,277 individuals who met employment certification and Direct Loan requirements and submitted program forms through September 2021, 98% did not immediately qualify because they did not meet other PSLF requirements, such as the onerous provision addressed in this legislation.  

Read bill text here. 

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, educator, and nonprofit leader. She is serving her fourth consecutive term representing the people of Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. Houlahan is the first female veteran to be named as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Personnel Subcommittee and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Houlahan is also chair of the Economic Growth and Cost of Living Task Force on the New Democrat Coalition. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement after Republicans passed their budget bill in the House:  

“It is devastating that in the wealthiest country in the world, Republicans have chosen to target the most vulnerable Americans by cutting the programs that help them — all so that the wealthiest in our nation can get massive tax cuts.

“Communities across the country will suffer. Thousands of El Pasoans will have less money in their pockets and less access to health care and nutrition programs. 

“Instead of helping hardworking Americans, this legislation – the centerpiece of the Trump domestic agenda – will make our country poorer, sicker and hungrier.”