Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) released the following statement after she voted NO on House Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill. The bill will cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and take health care away from millions of Americans. 

“Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill is a disaster. It rips away health care coverage from millions of Americans, targeting the most vulnerable among us. From kids to parents, grandparents, cancer patients and people with disabilities – Medicaid represents hope and a healthier future. It represents the ability to be proactive about their health. It represents living with dignity and independence. That’s what this bill will take away. At the same time, it forces hospitals, emergency medical services, birthing centers, and other care facilities across the country to close. It forces Americans on private insurance to pay more in premiums, copays, and deductibles.

“Bottom line: this bill is an all-out assault on American families. It takes food away from millions of kids, older Americans, and people with disabilities by gutting SNAP. It jeopardizes our future by halting clean energy projects and next-generation manufacturing in communities across the country. That means less jobs, less investment in our communities, and a less prosperous future. And, it sabotages our ability to support public safety communications, protect national security, and close the digital divide. That means delaying lifesaving 9-1-1 upgrades and blocking affordable internet access.

“Republicans have been pushing their extreme agenda under the cover of darkness for a reason. They are ashamed of what is in this bill – and they should be. They don’t want the American people to find out what they just frantically pushed through the House – but I will not stop exposing the lies and deceit. This bill does permanent, irreversible damage all to give tax cuts to the ultra-rich. With the health and future of my constituents at risk, I will not back down. This battle is not over.” 

                                               

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, environmental champions in the House of Representatives held a press conference at the Capitol blasting House Republicans’ Tax Scam as a massive giveaway to billionaires and mega-polluters, funded entirely by selling out our health, economy, and children’s future. This corrupt Republican scheme is an attack on every American who values reducing costs, clean air and water, public health, and a thriving American economy. 

These members included Rep. Doris Matsui, House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Co-Chair and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Rep. Paul Tonko, House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Co-Chair and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment; Rep. Don Beyer, SEEC Vice Chair; Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, SEEC Vice Chair; Rep. Sean Casten, SEEC Vice Chair; Rep. Mike Levin, SEEC Vice Chair; Rep. Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee; Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, Ranking Member of the House Rules Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process; and Rep. Mike Thompson, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax. 

WATCH: The full press conference here.

“This bill is not reform. It’s legalized bribery,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “The Republicans are auctioning off our public lands to the highest bidder, prioritizing profit over our environment, and sacrificing the health and future of our communities. You’d think that would be enough, but no. In addition, they have chosen to wreck our economy and end billions of dollars in federal investments that were working to ensure that our infrastructure doesn’t collapse. To this I ask my Republican colleagues: is your endgame really permanent and irreversible damage for the sake of temporary tax cuts for the rich?”

“This bill is a lose-lose. It’s bad for people’s wallets, and it’s bad for building a strong, competitive economy,” said Congressman Tonko. “It sells out current and future generations of Americans to fund tax cuts for billionaires and undermine fossil fuels’ biggest competition— clean energy. Americans will pay more down the road through higher energy bills, dirtier air, worsening climate disasters, and rising health care costs.”

“Let’s be clear about what’s happening: the billionaire-backed reconciliation bill is the single most extreme, anti-environment piece of legislation Congress has ever seen,” said Congressman Huffman. “And here’s the kicker: the same Republicans who claim to be fiscally responsible — the same ones who wring their hands about deficits when it’s time to fund food assistance or climate resilience — are about to add $3.8 trillion to the national debt according to CBO to bankroll billionaire tax cuts and fossil fuel handouts. The same folks who say they’re putting the conservative back in conservation are destroying national parks, public lands, and sacred Tribal sites just to please the oil lobby. The hypocrisy is staggering — and the American people see right through it.”

“This bill is going to raise energy costs for every American household,” said Congressman Beyer. “It’s a bad deal for America. It’s a bad deal for our climate. It’s a bad deal for economic growth. It’s a bad deal for our future government. And it’s a bad deal for all those people that voted for Donald Trump.”

“This massive big bad bill, advanced in the dead of night, is a blueprint to bulldoze many of the natural resources Oregonians treasure and rely on for their livelihoods,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “Oregonians know what’s at stake – our coast, forests, and future. We will not back down from the fight for our planet and our people.”

“We had the fastest-growing economy in the world just a couple months ago. We had surges of manufacturing in America. We’ve now got people saying, if I build a factory in America am I going to be able to plug into a grid that’s going to have reliable supply? Can I build resources in America and know that the price of energy is going to come down,” said Congressman Casten. “This is a self-inflicted wound. We’re going to fight with every fiber of our being to make sure that we do the policy right, that we look out for the dignity of this institution the way that Gerry Connolly taught us to.”

“My message to you today is simple: House Republicans want to raise your energy bills, cut jobs, and kill the planet to give bigger tax breaks to polluters and billionaires like Elon Musk. That’s not what House Republicans want you to believe, but it’s the truth,” said Congressman Levin. “Over the past year, Donald Trump and the Republican Party have been talking about how the cost of living is too high. But they’ve been all talk and no action. Instead of working to lower costs and pass policies that uplift Americans, they are pushing one of the most harmful, misguided, and backward bills I’ve ever seen.”

“I’ve been here since one o’clock in the morning because House Republicans wanted to make sure that — in the dark of night — they could push through the rule. But Democrats have shown up and made sure that this bill sees the light of day, so that we can shine a light on what House Republicans are actually doing,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández. “They are focused on making sure we keep the dirtiest energy dominant. When they say energy dominance, it’s not about energy, which includes the sun, and geothermal, and the wind, and those things that we know can power our homes cheaper, more affordable, while also creating the kinds of jobs communities like mine need and want.”

“It’s important to note that over half of the new clean jobs created by those provisions in the IRA are in red states and Republican districts,” said Congressman Thompson. “So House Republicans’ one big, ugly bill that we’ve been debating nearly around the clock, cuts all the clean energy production. It’ll raise electric costs by about $110 per year per household. And I did the math quickly. People making under $50,000 are going to get about $260 in tax cuts. If you subtract the energy cost increase, that just about cuts their tax cuts in half. So talk about giveth with one hand and taketh with the other.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

Program brings healthy food, grocery stores to both urban & rural communities; Evans helped create Pa. program that became national model

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA (May 22, 2025) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) said the fight isn’t over to stop a bill pushed by President Trump that would kick more than 50,000 Philadelphians off Medicaid health coverage. The House of Representatives passed it Thursday morning.

“This bill now goes to the Senate, and if they change it, the bill will have to survive another vote in the House. All of that provides more time for Americans to find out what’s in this ‘Reverse Robin Hood’ bill that would steal from the working class to give the richest another tax cut,” Evans said. “So I and my Democratic colleagues are going to KEEP fighting!”

“I fought this bill in a nearly 18-hour committee markup that went overnight, and I voted against it repeatedly in the overnight House session where Republicans narrowly passed it. A House Republican 31 years younger than me missed the vote because he fell asleep, but I stayed up to fight for the 26,000 people in my district who would lose Medicaid coverage. Denying health coverage for 259,000 Pennsylvanians will NOT ‘make America healthy again!’”

Evans said the Center for American Progress estimated the bill would take Medicaid coverage away from more than 50,000 people in Philadelphia and about 259,000 Pennsylvanians overall. CAP also estimated the Medicaid denials would result in more than 150 deaths per year in Philadelphia and 819 deaths statewide.

“Trump and his House Republican enablers’ bill would pile on work documentation requirements – basically, more paperwork – that would kick millions of Americans off Medicaid. This program is vital for kids, seniors, and many people who are unable to work because of disabilities, illness, school, or serving as a caregiver for children or other relatives. And the Republican cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food aid in the bill roughly equal their $1 trillion in tax cuts for people making over $500,000 per year.”

“The Trump-Republican bill would also force $500 billion in cuts to Medicare, which covers nearly 3 million Pennsylvania seniors. I think protecting health care for kids, seniors, and other vulnerable Pennsylvanians – and keeping our hospitals open – are both more important than giving another tax cut to Elon Musk and others who don’t even need it!” Evans said. 

Evans urged Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators, John Fetterman (D) and David McCormick (R), to oppose the bill.

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He recently announced that his office returned to or saved $4.5 million for constituents in 2024 in cases involving federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2024 figure brings Evans’ office’s total to more than $45.5 million returned to or saved for constituents during his first eight years in Congress.

Evans serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. The committee oversees Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and trade. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on YouTube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, DC [5/22/25] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici condemned the House Republican reconciliation bill, which passed the house on a partisan vote.

Bonamici denounced the legislation on the House floor ahead of the vote. The video can be found here, and the full remarks are below.

“The news today is about a bill. It’s a big bill. The Republican’s big, bad bill, which is cruel, cold-hearted, and completely unnecessary. And it’s not even fiscally responsible; it’s actually going to add to the deficit.

“This massive bill, which is more than a thousand pages, was – and is being – negotiated behind closed doors. The debate started at 1 o’clock in the morning in the darkness of night. This bill is going to strip health care and food assistance from millions of Americans so billionaires can get trillions of dollars in tax breaks. Mr. Speaker, who’s afraid of the big, bad bill? Well a lot of people are, and for good reason.

“Make no mistake, if you rip health care away from millions of Americans, people will die. Right now, this is the largest Medicaid cut in history. In fact, the headline today summarizing the score on this bill from the Congressional Budget Office said, ‘Wealthy gain, low-income people lose from GOP megabill.’ They’re right. There are about 1.4 million Oregonians on Medicaid, including 1 in 3 children. I challenge my colleagues to go to a pediatric cancer wing and tell a child with leukemia and their parents that they can’t afford life-saving treatment. If you don’t have the courage to tell them to their face, then don’t support this bill. 

“This bill takes food from hungry children. SNAP helps more than 775,000 Oregonians, 50 percent of whom are children, to put food on their table. This bill would lead to a significant reduction in food benefits for families. 

‘I tell you, billionaires can eat caviar in their mansions, on their yachts, and while launching celebrities in rockets on vanity tours of space, but everyday Americans will be left unsure about whether they’ll have enough to feed their families.  

“The top 20 percent of income earners will get at least 68 percent of the benefits in this bill while Oregonians and Americans who benefit from Medicaid and SNAP will be left to suffer.  

“Because of this big bad bill for billionaires, student loan borrowers could be in debt until they die. Many students who get Pell grants will be harmed. This bill will raise monthly student loan payments for working and middle-class borrowers, affecting 15 million people across the country. That includes more than 50,000 Oregonian students and families who with this bill will have limited options for repayment relief. And no question – unless they are from a wealthy family, this bill will close the doors of opportunity for the next generation to access affordable college education. 

“Families will pay more for groceries, gas, insurance, and utilities, but oil companies and corporate executives will be getting tax breaks.

“This bill will hike the average household electricity bill by about 10 percent, forcing families to pay more while corporate polluters get a windfall. Nationwide, families would pay an extra $6 billion.  Republicans are going to make it easier for corporate polluters to poison our water and air. We’ll see an increase in the number of wildfires and floods that devastate communities, and that will lead to continued skyrocketing insurance premiums and property damage. 

“Farmers and ranchers are collateral damage. This bill greenlights more drilling and mining that will spoil water supplies used for irrigation and livestock – poisoning the land while fossil fuel CEOs profit. 

“Public lands belong to all Americans – not billionaire donors. But Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are going to privatize, drill, and destroy them for profit and that will eviscerate the very spaces that make us ‘America the beautiful.’  

“And finally, tucked into this bill is a 10-year block on state regulation of artificial intelligence, which might make sense if we had policies at the federal level for safety, security, and bias, but we don’t. And the public will face unchecked harm.

“For all these reasons and more, I oppose this misguided legislation and urge my every one of my colleagues to vote no.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), the House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. 

Stauber made the following statement after the vote: 

“The American people gave us a mandate in November, and today, House Republicans delivered. This big, beautiful bill will put working Minnesotans first by providing real tax relief for families and job creators, protecting Medicaid for the most vulnerable, unleashing American energy and mineral dominance, securing our borders, and restoring peace through strength. I was proud to support it and help craft the energy portion of this legislation. Rest assured, we will not stop working until we get this critical legislation onto the President’s desk.”

Specifically, this legislation will do the following: 

• Increases wages by $6,100-11,600 per worker, and a typical family with 2 kids will see take-home pay rise by up to $13,300.
• Makes the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, protecting the average taxpayer from a 22% increase.
• Increases the Child Tax Credit to $2,500 per child, establishes an optional savings account for newborns with a $1,000 credit added, and strengthens paid family leave.
• Implements no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and slashes taxes on Social Security.
• Unleashes American manufacturing dominance by rewarding companies that build new factories in the U.S. and lowering taxes for businesses producing domestically.
• Reverses Biden-era policies that locked up American resources, ensuring affordable energy and creating jobs across the nation. 
• Funds the completion of a border wall, additional frontline personnel, and technology to close the exploitable gaps and assist officers in intercepting deadly illicit drugs.
• Enhances our national security by providing the funding for at least one million annual removals and 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.
• Protects Medicaid and SNAP for every eligible American by removing waste, fraud, and abuse within these programs.
• Funds President Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense shield to protect American families, invests in American shipbuilding using American steel, and modernizes our military.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

Spending package would increase costs for Mainers and make the largest health care cut in history to fund tax breaks for the rich

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Morgan Luttrell (TX-08) today introduced the Supporting our Surviving Spouses Act, which would eliminate the six-year statute of limitations on survivor benefits for Gold Star spouses. 

Golden began work on the bill following outreach from a constituent whose husband passed away while on active duty in 2012, who said she was not informed of her eligibility for a portion of survivor benefits until more than a decade later. The constituent applied for the benefits owed, but was denied by the Department of Defense, which said her eligibility window had expired. 

“Gold Star families should never lose out on survivor benefits because of arbitrary red tape,” Golden said. “This is a serious problem that’s hurting people who’ve already lost so much. Getting them the resources they’re entitled to is a basic responsibility of our government, and I’m glad to work across the aisle to remove barriers that prevent it from happening.” 

“Our commitment to Gold Star families shouldn’t expire on a timeline, especially when some families don’t even know they’re eligible until it’s too late,” Luttrell said. “I’m proud to co-lead the Supporting our Surviving Spouses Act to ensure surviving spouses of those killed after 9/11 can claim the benefits they’re owed no matter when they apply.” 

Under the current Barring Act, any claims against the federal government — including those by military spouses to receive survivor benefits — must be made within six years. If that statute of limitations passes without a claim being completed, agencies no longer have jurisdiction to process it. While a waiver system for extenuating circumstances does exist, veterans service organizations have told Golden that successful waivers are extremely rare — a reality which has denied Gold Star families of the benefits they’d otherwise receive.

The bill has been endorsed by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and Disabled American Veterans. 

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:

“The Department of Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars is proud to support this bill which will remove the six year statute on these claims,” Steven SanPedro, state commander of the Department of Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars said. “We feel that a surviving spouse deserves all benefits to include monetary for the sacrifice their loved ones gave to their country. By passing this, the country will be “Honoring Their Contract” to our veterans, our military, and their families.” 

“There shouldn’t be a time limit for families to access the survivor benefits they’re entitled to after the loss of a loved one. But the current law prevents many spouses from ever being able to do so,” Maine Legionnaire Matthew Jabaut said. “Making survivor benefits payable, no matter when claims are made, is the right thing to do — plain and simple. I’m appreciative to Congressman Golden for leading the charge on fixing this real problem.” 

“The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) greatly appreciates Congressman Jared Golden and Morgan Luttrell, Chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee for introducing the Supporting our Surviving Spouses Act,” Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of TAPS said. “This important legislation will allow military surviving families more time to file a claim for survivor benefits, by removing the six-year statute of limitations on line of duty deaths. Ensuring our surviving families the support and benefits they deserve is our nation’s sacred obligation and we urge swift passage of this critical legislation.” 

“Families of fallen service members should never be burdened with unnecessary legal obstacles and arbitrary timeframes to receive the benefits they rightfully deserve,” Joy J. Ilem, national legislative director of Disabled American Veterans said. “By eliminating restrictive statutes of limitations, the Supporting our Surviving Spouses Act acknowledges the lasting impact of service and sacrifice, reinforcing our nation’s unwavering commitment to those who bear the ultimate burden. DAV applauds Rep. Golden for introducing and championing this critical legislation.” 

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) has submitted an amendment to the House GOP’s budget reconciliation bill to create accountability for proposed health care cuts, should they be passed into law. 

“The health care cuts Congress is considering would be devastating, particularly in rural districts like mine,” Golden said. “Should the GOP succeed in taking health care away from millions of Americans, they should have to reckon with the harm they cause. Accountability requires data, so my amendment will ensure we have hard figures on how many Americans have lost coverage, seen health outcomes decline, or even died as a result of these cuts.” 

The amendment would require the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) to conduct a study one year after enactment, and annually thereafter, on the effect on rates of uninsurance, health outcomes and deaths among residents of rural areas.

Residents of rural America are more likely to use Medicaid/CHIP for health care than those who live in urban areas, according to a study from the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Rural hospitals are particularly dependent on payments from Medicaid/CHIP, 

“Medicaid plays a significant role in sustaining the viability of rural healthcare systems, including hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and long-term care,” said National Rural Health Association CEO Alan Morgan in February. “A strong relationship exists between Medicaid coverage levels and the financial viability of rural hospitals, of which about half are currently operating on negative margins and cannot sustain further cuts. Reductions in Medicaid funding will force rural providers to reduce or eliminate essential services or close their doors, limiting access to care for rural residents.”

Medicaid provides health coverage to 236,000 people in CD2 — more than one-third of the population — according to KFF. 

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