Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)
WASHINGTON –Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Congressman Eugene Vindman (VA-07) reintroduced the REAP Modernization Act. This bipartisan bill makes improvements to the Rural Energy in America Program (REAP), which provides grants and guaranteed loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchasing and installing renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements.
“As a dairy farmer, I’ve seen firsthand how hard our producers work to improve energy efficiency and be responsible stewards of the land,”said Congressman Valadao.“The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) helps lower costs and makes it easier for recipients to become more energy independent, and this bill makes key updates to ensure the program meets the needs of our Central Valley communities. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Vindman on this bipartisan effort to help more farmers and rural small businesses take advantage of this successful program.”
“As the only Virginian on the House Agriculture Committee, I’ve heard firsthand how lower energy costs can really help farmers. We need to take real steps to make this a reality, cutting costs for agricultural producers and rural areas as they make smart investments in clean energy and storage,” said Congressman Vindman. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to cut red tape and lower energy costs. We’re not just helping farms — we’re strengthening our rural economies and investing in a more sustainable future for Virginia.”
The REAP Modernization Act would:
Expand eligibility for REAP to include agricultural producer cooperatives and nongovernmental organizations that serve rural energy needs.
Streamline applications for small-scale and bundled projects, reducing administrative barriers for producers and rural businesses.
Increase cost-share limits for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to help smaller farms and businesses afford upfront investment costs.
Require USDA to consider climate benefits, including greenhouse gas emission reductions, as a priority factor in project selection.
Enhance outreach and technical assistance for applicants and grantees.
Create a reserve fund of annual REAP resources to support underutilized renewable technologies such as geothermal, biomass, and combined heat and power systems.
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), Congressman Raul Ruiz, and nearly 100 Democratic members of Congress urging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Office of Budget and Management (OBM) Director Russell Vought to immediately release the highest possible amount of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under the November 2025 Continuing Resolution. The members emphasized the urgent need to restore energy assistance to millions of vulnerable households facing rising utility costs and extreme weather conditions nationwide.
“Without immediate action, millions of families across the country could lose access to essential energy services, leaving families exposed to severe health and safety risks as temperatures continue to fluctuate between dangerous heat and cold,” the lawmakers wrote. “Ensuring the immediate release of LIHEAP funds is therefore not only a matter of compassion, but one of public health, safety, and economic stability.”
LIHEAP is a federal program that helps eligible households afford heating in the winter and cooling during dangerously high summer temperatures. Last winter, more than 159,000 households across Massachusetts used the LIHEAP program to help afford their home heating bills.. However, recent administrative actions have placed the program and millions of Americans who depend on it at risk.
Earlier this year, the Trump Administration’s FY26 Budget Request proposed eliminating LIHEAP entirely, while reports in April indicated that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had dismissed all LIHEAP staff. These decisions have created confusion and delay, leaving it unclear who will approve state energy assistance plans or oversee disbursement of funds now that the Continuing Resolution has been enacted.
“Unfortunately, the Administration has shown a blatant disregard for the critical importance of LIHEAP. The FY26 President’s Budget Request (PBR) released earlier this year proposed completely eliminating the program without any plans to replace the needed assistance. Furthermore, during a flurry of chaotic firings at HHS in April, it was reported that the entirety of the LIHEAP staff was summarily fired,” the lawmakers continued. “These decisions have received bipartisan pushback, with Republicans in Congress disregarding the FY26 PBR, opting instead to increase LIHEAP funding in the FY26 Appropriations process. However, the pause in funding due to the government shutdown has delayed disbursement across the country, leaving seniors and families who usually receive LIHEAP assistance this time of year in jeopardy.”
Without swift action to release funds, millions of seniors and families could be left without critical energy assistance until early 2026.
Key Impacts of Delayed LIHEAP Funding:
Families face dangerous exposure to freezing winter temperatures and life-threatening summer heat.
Rising electricity and heating costs are straining household budgets, particularly in rural and low-income communities.
Administrative delays at HHS threaten to postpone LIHEAP disbursements by months.
A copy of the letter sent today can be accessed HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California
WASHINGTON – Congressional Agriculture Trade Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Jim Costa (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Adrian Smith (R-NE), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) led 109 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, highlighting how the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) delivers for American agriculture.Since USMCA went into effect, overall U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico and Canada have increased by $10.7 billion and $7.6 billion respectively. The agreement’s binding provisions on technical barriers to trade, paired with its dispute settlement process, provide certainty for American agricultural producers. The Members emphasized the importance of fully enforcing the existing terms while addressing remaining barriers to U.S. agricultural products.
“USMCA was truly a landmark agreement for American Agriculture when it entered force, and its positive impact on U.S. agriculture has yet to reach its maximum benefit,” wrote the Members.“At a time when economic challenges threaten the livelihood of family farms, producers need the certainty provided under USMCA more than ever.”
“The USMCA agreement has delivered meaningful benefits for U.S. wine producers by supporting growth in Canada, our most important export market, and strengthening our competitiveness across North America,”said Robert P. “Bobby” Koch, CEO, Wine Institute. “While recent challenges persist, preserving USMCA’s framework is critical to ensuring the long-term success of the U.S. wine industry.”
“California Citrus Mutual (CCM)appreciates the Congressional Ag Trade Caucus and its bipartisan commitment to upholding USMCA’s value for California Citrus growers and U.S agriculture. Ensuring tariff-free access to two of our top markets for U.S. citrus is pivotal for our growers. Canada is a top export destination for fresh U.S. citrus – with approximately $215 million worth of exports each year. Mexico is another key export market for fresh U.S. citrus, with $93 million exported in 2024. We are grateful for Co-Chairs Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Jim Costa (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) for their leadership and support.”
Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation said, “USMCA has delivered real value for America’s dairy farmers. While several dairy compliance issues remain to be addressed in the 2026 Joint Review, the duty-free trade into Mexico that USMCA preserved has allowed U.S. dairy exporters to partner with Mexico to meet growing demand. We thank Reps. Smith, Costa, Johnson and Panetta for their leadership in highlighting the importance of preserving USMCA’s market access provisions for the U.S. agricultural industry and fine-tuning the areas that need reform.”
Krysta Harden, President and CEO, U.S. Dairy Export Council said,“Mexico and Canada are critical markets for U.S. dairy products with over 44 percent of last year’s exports destined for the two countries. USMCA has strengthened those ties with Mexico by providing certainty, clear rules, and a reliable path for growth. It is our hope that the Review will lead to just that result in our future USMCA trade with Canada as well. As dairy demand continues to rise across North America, it is vital that USMCA delivers strong trade ties and robust trade flows. USDEC strongly supports the bipartisan message coordinated by Reps. Smith, Costa, Johnson and Panetta today in support of maintaining and crucially further strengthening this important trade relationship in the 2026 Joint Review process.”
“USMCA is extremely important to America’s corn growers whose top trading partners are Canada and Mexico,”said National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower.“The agreement provides important tools that allow unfair actions to be challenged, as the United States successfully did when Mexico banned genetically modified corn. We need this agreement to be renewed to provide stability for our farmers.”
“The USMCA has provided a strong foundation for North American trade since its negotiation under the first Trump administration. ASA appreciates Congressman Adrian Smith and members of Congress for their continued commitment to this vital agreement,” said Caleb Ragland, President of the American Soybean Association. “At a time when soybean farmers face uncertain market conditions, the USMCA offers much-needed stability and predictability in our most important export markets — helping ensure reliable access to customers, smoother movement of goods, and a rules-based system that protects U.S. agriculture.”
“The unmatched productivity of American agriculture means market access and trade relationships are critical to rural communities, and no deal is more important to the farm economy than the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” said John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association.“We are proud to stand by the leaders of the Ag Trade Caucus in their strong support for USMCA. Securing the future of this agreement is vitally important for producers and consumers across North America, and we urge the deal’s renewal during the upcoming evaluation period.”
“The National Turkey Federation is grateful for Congressional support reaffirming USMCA’s value to U.S. agriculture,”said Leslee Oden, President and CEO of National Turkey Federation. “This agreement has provided a strong foundation for North American trade, and we look forward to working with USTR to build on that success and explore opportunities that further enhance the benefits for U.S. turkey producers.”
“The USMCA has played a vital role in strengthening North American horticulture by ensuring that essential inputs move freely across our borders and giving growers the predictability they need to operate with confidence. As the agreement enters its formal review, it is critical that policymakers maintain the duty-free, integrated framework that has allowed the horticulture sector to thrive. Protecting these benefits is key to preserving the stability, affordability, and economic vitality that USMCA provides to our industry,” stated Ken Fisher, AmericanHort President & CEO.
“We thank these Members for their commitment to preserving and expanding the benefits that USMCA delivers to American agriculture and homegrown biofuels,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “This agreement benefits consumers, strengthens rural communities, and enhances energy security. Growth Energy is pleased to lend our support to consistent USMCA enforcement and a level playing field for American farmers and biofuel producers.”
“NGFA applauds the Congressional Agriculture Trade Caucus’s efforts to ensure that the USMCA can continue to be one of the most successful trade agreements in our sector’s history. This landmark trade deal delivers predictable, rules-based market access that strengthens American agriculture and supports hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs,” said Mike Seyfert, President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association.”As the United States undertakes this review, we must build on a success story that has benefited the grain and feed markets. NGFA strongly encourages the administration to ensure that USMCA’s core benefits are protected and expanded to keep the agriculture competitive and secure.”
“We appreciate the Caucus Co-chairs’ leadership advocating on behalf of a broad base of agricultural stakeholders supporting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as we move into the review next year. One of the advantages of this agreement is the enforcement mechanisms available to deal with violations that restrict free and fair trade,” said Kent Swisher, President & CEO of the North American Renderers Association (NARA). “For example, NARA is urging trade negotiators to spotlight an unfair value-added tax that Mexico is applying retroactively to imported feed ingredients such as rendered animal protein meals. It amounts to a de facto tariff that violates USMCA. Full enforcement of the existing agreement will resolve this issue.”
The Organic Produce Association (OPA) appreciates the leadership of Congressmen Adrian Smith, Jimmy Panetta, Dusty Johnson, and Jim Costa for highlighting the importance of USMCA to U.S. agriculture. USMCA serves as a critical trade agreement for organic produce, enabling U.S. growers to access top produce export markets of Mexico and Canada tariff-free, and ensuring consumer access to organic produce year-round. OPA is grateful for the broad bipartisan recognition of USMCA’s positive impacts on U.S. agriculture ahead of the Joint Review of this key trade agreement.
Read the full letter down below.
Dear Ambassador Greer:
As Members of Congress representing a diverse range of communities reliant on the success of agriculture, we strongly support the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) due to its positive impact and benefit to U.S. agriculture. As the Administration develops its priorities for the six-year “joint review” of USMCA, we urge you to work closely with Congress and consider the significant positive impact North American agricultural trade has on our communities. Any changes to the agreement should be carefully examined to ensure U.S. agriculture is not negatively impacted. Further, as you consider updates to the agreement, we support efforts to fully enforce the existing terms and to address the few remaining barriers impacting U.S. agriculture, such as Canada’s barriers to U.S. dairy.
This agreement provides vast benefits to our constituents, including farmers, ranchers, producers, growers, grain handlers, exporters, and the broader rural economy. The United States is the world’s largest agricultural exporter, with total agricultural exports valued at $176 billion in 2024. Over a third of these exports were destined for Mexico and Canada. Overall U.S. agricultural exports have significantly increased since implementation of USMCA, with exports to Mexico and Canada increasing by $10.7 billion and $7.6 billion respectively. For most individual U.S. agricultural products, Mexico and Canada are the largest and/or second largest export markets.
The seamless integration provided under the agriculture provisions of USMCA facilitates the flow of goods by streamlining compliance measures and harmonizing regulations. Cost savings generated by the efficiencies in USMCA directly benefit American farmers, producers, and ranchers, which helps them make a living and support their local communities. The agriculture section of the USMCA provides much needed certainty within North America through its tough and effective rules on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, agricultural biotechnology, intellectual property, and technical barriers to trade. U.S. agricultural exporters depend on the binding nature of these provisions to access our closest markets and make sales, which has directly benefitted the farmers, ranchers, and producers that we represent. Further, these rules-based, science-driven commitments set a strong example for other trading partners hoping to achieve similar access to the U.S. market.
USMCA was truly a landmark agreement for American agriculture when it entered into force, and its positive impact on U.S. agriculture has yet to reach its maximum benefit. At a time when economic challenges threaten the livelihood of family farms, producers need the certainty provided under USMCA more than ever. We appreciate your attention to the views of our constituents and look forward to working together as the 2026 Review process commences.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)
For Immediate Release Contact: Alayah Phipps
November 21, 2025 202-813-2793
PRESS RELEASE
CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT ANNOUNCES OFFICE CLOSURES FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
U.S. Virgin Islands— The offices of Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett will be closed from Tuesday, November 25 until Friday, November 28, 2025, in St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Washington, D.C. in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. All offices will reopen on Monday, December 1, 2025.
“This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the people of the Virgin Islands—your resilience, your strength, and your unwavering spirit. I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve you in Congress, to fight for our islands every single day, and to work alongside so many dedicated individuals who are committed to building a better future for our community.
“To our families gathering around tables, to those working through the holiday to keep our islands running, to our service members far from home, and to everyone who makes the Virgin Islands the remarkable place it is—thank you.
“As we give thanks for our blessings, let us also recommit ourselves to lifting each other up and moving our territory forward together. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving.”
For non-urgent matters, please email the offices or call after Friday, November 28, 2025. For assistance, please call 202-225-1790 (Washington, D.C.), 340-778-5900 (St. Croix), or 340-774-4408 (St. Thomas). Messages left will be responded to when the offices reopen on Monday, December 1, 2025.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)
WASHINGTON, DC—Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) today announced the introduction of a bipartisan resolution designating November as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Awareness Month to raise awareness about this rare neuro-inflammatory syndrome and ensure individuals living with this condition have access to early detection as well as safe and effective treatments.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is characterized by persistent, regional pain that is disproportionate to any known trauma or lesion, and is accompanied by sensory, motor, vasomotor, and/or trophic changes in the affected limb.
“For the millions of Americans living with a rare or ultra-rare disease, reliable information is scarce and treatment options are even more limited, leaving patients and their families with few paths forward and even fewer reasons for hope.”Rep. Tonko said.“That’s why I am incredibly proud of my work alongside advocates to have passed the HEART Act. This law amplifies the voices of those living with a rare disease as well as healthcare professional who care for them, while also accelerating the development and approval of new treatments. But my work to uplift the needs of those living with these rare conditions is far from over. Today, I’m honored to introduce a new resolution on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome alongside Representative Miller-Meeks and am deeply grateful to all those who have helped raise awareness on this often-overlooked condition. I pledge to continue working to ensure Congress meets the needs of those living with a rare disease.”
“As a physician, I know how devastating Complex Regional Pain Syndrome can be for patients who often spend years searching for answers,” Rep. Miller-Meeks said. “Early detection and access to effective treatment are critical, yet too many Americans face delays, misdiagnosis, or a lack of awareness. I’m proud to join Rep. Tonko in leading this bipartisan effort to shine a light on CRPS and ensure that patients, families, and providers have the tools and support they need.”
In a statement, the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) said, “Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDS.org) supports CRPS Awareness as a great step forward in giving comfort and hope to all those afflicted with CRPS. We are deeply grateful to Representative Tonko and Representative Miller-Meeks for their continued commitment to raising awareness. The nature, and even the existence of CRPS, is too little known. Increasing awareness of CRPS will motivate wider education about this painful disease among healthcare professionals as well as among the lay public. It will promote support for those who suffer with CRPS, and it will encourage research into the mechanisms of the disease of CRPS, which will lead to better treatments, and, ultimately, for a cure for CRPS.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) released the following statement after the Trump administration announced plans to allow new oil and gas drilling off the California Coast for the first time in decades.
“The Trump administration has made its priorities unmistakably clear: rolling back protections, dismantling safeguards, and putting the interests of wealthy donors and powerful corporations before the health, safety, and future of the American people. That includes dragging our nation back to a time when rivers caught fire, smog choked our cities, and California’s iconic coastline was wide open to offshore oil and gas drilling, and we know all too well what that means.
“Oil spills have caused some of the worst environmental catastrophes in our nation’s history. While the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill occurred just north of California’s 26th Congressional District, its devastation is part of our region’s collective memory. That disaster was so profound that it transformed how our government oversees environmental protection for the offshore energy industry. It helped spark the modern environmental movement and led to longstanding restrictions on offshore drilling along California’s coast.
“The threat posed by offshore drilling is not just environmental. Offshore oil and gas leasing poses serious health and safety risks to our communities. It endangers local economies that rely on clean water and healthy ecosystems, including tourism, fishing, outdoor recreation, and the jobs that come with them. It also threatens the backbone of Ventura County’s $2 billion agricultural economy. Our farmers and farmworkers depend on clean water, healthy soil, and stable ecosystems to grow the crops that feed our country.
“An offshore spill could contaminate irrigation sources, damage coastal farmland, and jeopardize thousands of jobs across California’s Central Coast, and these harms are not borne equally. Low-income communities, communities of color, and the workers who power our agricultural and coastal economies, like Oxnard, the largest city in my district and one of the larger coastal cities in California, suffer first and worst from pollution, toxic exposure, and environmental degradation.
“Environmental justice demands that we prevent new harms — not repeat the failures of the past. At a time when the U.S. is already the world’s leading producer of oil and gas, when major oil companies are raking in record profits, and when most federal acres leased to industry sit unused, there is no justification for putting California’s coast back on the chopping block — except to serve corporate interests.
“Let me be absolutely clear: my Democratic colleagues and I stand united. We are committed to confronting this administration’s assault on our environment and standing up to the corporate interests trying to write our nation’s energy policy.
“We will fight back, not quietly, not halfway, but with the full force of our values and our conviction, because our coast, our communities, and our climate are worth every ounce of that fight.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Brownley (CA-26) and Congressman George Whitesides (CA-27) announced new Congressional action urging the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to strengthen its methane reduction policies for landfills to protect public health and reduce climate-related costs for Californians. This action comes as CARB considers updates to its landfill methane regulations. The lawmakers emphasized that while the current draft is a step in the right direction, it does not go far enough to protect frontline communities or meet the scale of California’s climate commitments.
“As Members of Congress committed to addressing the climate crisis and protecting the health of Californians, we urge the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to strengthen its regulations on landfill methane emissions and prioritize the well-being of frontline communities,” wrote the lawmakers.
As organic waste decomposes in landfills, it generates methane, a climate super pollutant with roughly 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, and more than 60 percent of the methane produced by landfilled food waste escapes into the atmosphere as fugitive emissions.
“California has long led on environmental policy, but its landfill methane rules are outdated and allow significant fugitive emissions. The issue is not a lack of solutions, but a lack of action. Proven, effective measures already exist, and California can again lead by deploying them,” the lawmakers added.
“We encourage CARB to pursue comprehensive methane reduction standards that employ current detection and mitigation technologies. Requiring advanced monitoring tools such as satellite and remote-sensing systems would significantly cut emissions, improve public health, and reduce climate-related costs borne by Californians in the form of higher medical bills, lost workdays, and rising insurance premiums.”
In addition to the warming impacts, landfill gas contains hazardous air pollutants, precursors to ozone and particulate matter, odors, and other dangerous gases that degrade air quality, health, and quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods, many of which are already disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 70 percent of California’s highest-emitting landfills are located in communities where more than half of the residents are people of color, compounding longstanding environmental inequities.
In addition to Congresswoman Brownley and Congressman Whitesides, the letter was signed by five other members of the California Congressional Delegation, including Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Doris Matsui (CA-7), and Maxine Waters (CA-43).
The letter is endorsed by Full Circle Future.
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
November 19, 2025
Chair Lauren Sanchez California Air Resources Board 1001 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Chair Sanchez and Members of the Board,
As Members of Congress committed to addressing the climate crisis and protecting the health of Californians, we urge the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to strengthen its regulations on landfill methane emissions and prioritize the well-being of frontline communities. While CARB’s proposed rules are a step in the right direction, they can go further, particularly in landfill data transparency, reducing temperature thresholds, and adoption of the best available technology.
By implementing the nation’s most comprehensive methane standards, CARB can protect more than 30 million Californians living near landfills from harmful air pollution, reduce costly health impacts, and help slow the pace of global warming.
Poorly controlled landfills pose an immediate threat to communities and fuel costly climate change. As organic waste decomposes, it generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas driving extreme events such as wildfires, drought, and flooding. These disasters endanger lives, raise insurance costs, and destabilize local economies.
Landfill gas also contains hazardous pollutants and smog-forming compounds that worsen respiratory illness, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, especially among vulnerable populations and children. Alarmingly, 70% of California’s highest-emitting landfills are located in communities where over half of the residents are people of color, compounding longstanding environmental inequities.
California has long led on environmental policy, but its landfill methane rules are outdated and allow significant fugitive emissions. The issue is not a lack of solutions, but a lack of action. Proven, effective measures already exist, and California can again lead by deploying them.
We encourage CARB to pursue comprehensive methane reduction standards that employ current detection and mitigation technologies. Requiring advanced monitoring tools such as satellite and remote-sensing systems would significantly cut emissions, improve public health, and reduce climate-related costs borne by Californians in the form of higher medical bills, lost workdays, and rising insurance premiums.
Accelerated methane reduction is the fastest way to slow near-term warming and is essential to keeping the 1.5°C target within reach. Curbing landfill methane should be a cornerstone of California’s climate strategy, ensuring progress toward the Global Methane Pledge and California’s economy-wide emissions goals. To achieve these outcomes and protect Californians, we encourage CARB to consider strengthening its draft rule by:
Requiring the use of advanced technologies for efficient monitoring and emissions reduction;
Prioritizing community safety through fenceline monitoring and transparent data reporting; and
Going beyond federal standards with proactive fire prevention measures, including lower temperature thresholds and faster regulatory responses.
Stronger methane rules will reaffirm California’s role as a national model for integrating climate action and public health. As federal policymakers, we have been working to address methane emissions at the national level and secured significant investments in the Inflation Reduction Act to fund financial and technical assistance to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. We were disappointed that the so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ rescinded unobligated balances from the methane reduction program and delayed implementation of the methane emissions fee. While President Trump and Congressional Republicans are taking us backwards, continued state leadership is critical to demonstrating the feasibility and impact of ambitious climate action, delivering swift and comprehensive protections for communities living near landfills.
We applaud CARB’s progress and urge the Board to adopt the strongest possible landfill methane regulations. Doing so will safeguard public health, lower healthcare and insurance costs, and protect our most vulnerable communities, all while cementing California’s leadership in responsible climate action.
Thank you for your leadership and your full and fair consideration of our comments, consistent with applicable statutes and regulations.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s alarming comments calling for political violence against six Democratic Members of Congress.
“Donald Trump has called for the prosecution and even the hanging of Members of Congress for standing up for our democracy and honoring the oath they swore to uphold in defense of our country. This is an outrageous and disgraceful assault on true public servants and on the very ideals that define our nation.
“Jason Crow, Chris DeLuzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Mark Kelly have worn the uniform. Maggie Goodlander and Elissa Slotkin have served in critical national security roles. Every one of them is a true American patriot. They have defended this country on the battlefield, in national security service, and in the halls of Congress. They continue to serve with duty and honor. To question their loyalty to this country is offensive, dishonest, and beneath even the lowest standard of leadership.
“Trump, who has never served a single day in uniform, continues to attack the institutions that safeguard our freedoms and to lash out with incendiary rhetoric against anyone who challenges him. His words are unhinged, reckless, and dangerous. He has already incited violence before, and he is once again putting the lives of Americans at real and immediate risk.
“This conduct is beneath the Office of the President of the United States. Leaders should defend American values, not betray them. Political violence has no place in America, and Trump should unequivocally condemn all acts of political violence rather than provoke them. And the refusal to stand up to this rhetoric enables it, normalizes it, and puts more Americans in danger.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)
Bacon, Beyer Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Fix Broken House Disciplinary Process
Washington – Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced a bipartisan resolution that would raise the required vote threshold to punish Members of the House with censure, disapproval, or removal of committee assignments from a simple majority to 60 percent. This measure would reform the process by which the House disciplines its Members, in response to the sharp increase in introductions of punitive resolutions in the House.
“A U.S. House ruled by mob mentality cannot function. The institution and American people deserve better than what we’ve seen this week. The vast middle must stand up to the extremes and put commonsense safeguards in place,” saidRep. Bacon. “This resolution with Rep. Beyer, which requires a 60 percent threshold before the House can censure or penalize a Member, will force future censures to have bipartisan support, restore stability, protect the institution, and get the House back to working for the American people.”
“The process of censures and disciplinary measures in the House is broken, and all of us know it. These measures were historically reserved for rare and exceptional cases after a lengthy process that allowed time for investigations and due process, but that precedent has deteriorated. Our resolution would break the cycle of censures to help return focus in the House to solving problems for the American people,” saidRep. Beyer. “The proliferation of resolutions to punish our fellow Members with censure, disapproval, or the revocation of committee assignments has become unsustainable, to the point that they now impair our ability to work together to address serious issues. I fear this is inflicting lasting damage on this institution. Our legislation would implement desperately needed reform by creating a threshold high enough to require significant consensus between the parties that the process has been fair and that any wrongdoing rises to the level of the punishment. I thank my colleague, Congressman Bacon, for working with me on this solution and urge my colleagues to support this measure and raise the level of sanity in the People’s House.”
Article I of the Constitution establishes that “Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour.” Historically measures punishing Members of the House were reserved for rare, unique cases following investigations; during the 20th Century the House voted to censure its members just six times, most after lengthy ethics investigations that established criminal activity or serious misconduct. At least five resolutions to punish Members of the House have been brought forward just this week, and dozens of Members have been targeted with such measures this year.
In addition to Congressmen Bacon and Beyer, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Angie Craig (D-MN), Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Michael Turner (R-OH), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Nikema Williams (D-GA), James Walkinshaw (D-VA), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Ami Bera (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Jared Huffman (D-CA).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Headline: Watch: Carter denounces the horrors of socialism
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today spoke in favor of Representative Maria Elvira Salazar’s (R-FL) resolution, Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism, which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives.
Read Rep. Carter’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery, in favor of this resolution:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution denouncing the horrors of socialism, and there are horrors.
“Socialism has no place in our country.
“Unfortunately, the so-called ‘woke’ liberals in New York City don’t seem to understand that socialism is nothing more than mutually assured poverty and recently voted to bring these failed policies to their own once great city.
“While I am saddened that New Yorkers will be willing victims of Zohran Mamdani’s designed-to-fail socialist policies, I have filed legislation ensuring not one dime goes to fund his un-American agenda.
“The rest of the country should not be forced to subsidize one mayor’s destructive actions.
“Today’s resolution builds on those efforts, making it clear that the United States does not stand for, does not support, does not condone a system of government that makes people poorer, less free, and less safe.
“With this resolution, we reiterate our nation’s commitment to remaining a free, a prosperous society.