Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Lauren Underwood introduced legislation to extend the popular tax credits from her legislation, the Health Care Affordability Act, to December 31, 2028.

The tax credits are currently set to expire on December 31, 2025. Republicans have failed to make them permanent, and tens of millions of working families are now facing skyrocketing health care costs for next year. Open enrollment is currently underway, and families should visit HealthCare.gov through December 15th to review their options.

“Republicans cannot continue to ignore the health care crisis that they’ve created. These popular tax credits will expire in just 42 days, and the cost increases that millions of Americans have been getting notices of will become reality,” said Rep. Underwood. “Health care is a human right, and House Democrats will not give up this fight. A three-year extension of these tax credits will give families peace of mind and certainty that their coverage will remain affordable and within reach. We are out of time, and Congress must pass this legislation immediately.”

The cost savings from the Health Care Affordability Act have led to a record-breaking and historic expansion of health care coverage.

More than 24 million people signed up for health care through the Affordable Care Act this year, including 3.2 million new enrollees. Four in five Americans have found health coverage for $10 or less per month and families of four with Marketplace plans are saving an average of $2,400 on their annual health care premiums.

But Republicans have refused to extend these savings, and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 4.2 million Americans will lose their coverage as a direct result of the associated cost increases.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Kathy Castor (FL-14), and Yvette Clarke (NY-09) reintroduced the Frack Pack, a set of five bills aimed at closing loopholes that allow the oil and gas industry to skirt key environmental and public health protections. The legislative package would hold the industry accountable for pollution that threatens clean air, safe drinking water, and the health of communities across the country.

The Frack Pack includes the SHARED Act, FRAC Act, FRESHER Act, CLEANER Act, and CLOSE Act. 

“Hydraulic fracking is a serious risk to our water, no matter how much Big Oil and Gas insist it is safe. The truth is, these companies are not even required to report when their fracking activity contaminates the local water supply,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “The SHARED Act is commonsense legislation that would require oil and gas companies to regularly test nearby water sources and disclose the results. Families deserve to know that the water coming out of their tap is safe to drink and use. I am committed to holding the fossil fuel industry accountable. Protecting our clean water is not optional, it is essential.” 

“For too long, oil and gas companies have enjoyed special exemptions from our nation’s bedrock environmental laws that no other industry gets,” said Congresswoman Diana DeGette. “The Frack Pack would finally put an end to that double standard. These commonsense reforms will protect our air, water, and communities while ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the fracking process. I’m proud to work with leaders like Reps. Huffman, Castor, Schakowsky, and Clarke on these important bills.” 

‘”The fossil fuel industry gets to dump their runoff into stormwater thanks to special exemptions for no good reason – polluting our water supply and putting communities at risk,” said Congressman Jared Huffman. “Why should Big Oil billionaires get to skirt the rules? They shouldn’t. The FRESHER Act closes this loophole to even the playing field and stop them from destroying communities so we can get this public health and environmental crisis under control.” 

“Families deserve clean air to breathe and clean water to drink, and the CLEANER Act is a practical step to make that a reality,” said Congresswoman Kathy Castor. “By holding polluters accountable and closing loopholes that let dangerous toxins seep into our waterways and neighborhoods, we can make communities healthier. Encourage Congress to move this bill and build a healthier, safer future for every community.” 

“When a regulatory loophole within the Clean Air Act enables fracking and other environmentally harmful practices to bring dangerous toxins and climate-changing emissions into our communities unimpeded, it’s clear legislative action is necessary to correct the shortcoming and protect the public health. The ‘aggregation exemption’ has, for too long, allowed for an unacceptable status quo in climate policy in America, and it is past time for that to change,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. “I am proud to introduce my legislation, the CLOSE ACT, to address this destructive exemption, just as I am proud to support the Frack Pack as a comprehensive solution towards amending the loopholes that put polluters first and leave the American people last.” 

The SHARED Act would require testing for water contamination near fracking sites. 

The FRAC Act would eliminate the “Halliburton Loophole,” established under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, under which fracking fluids are exempted from regulation under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The FRAC Act would require fracking companies to publicly disclose the chemicals they are pumping into the ground and give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate the process under its Underground Injection Control program. The oil and gas industry remains the only economic sector exempt from this important program. 

The FRESHER Act closes the loophole for oil and gas companies in the Clean Water Act and creates a study to better understand the effect of storm water runoff from oil and gas companies. 

The CLEANER Act would make oil and gas companies responsible for cleaning up and disposing of hazardous waste that comes from their operations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Subtitle C, the country’s hazardous waste management law. 

The CLOSE Act would decrease toxic air pollution that comes from oil and gas exploration and production activities and add hydrogen sulfide to the list of hazardous air pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act. Hydrogen sulfide is an air toxic released during oil and gas exploration and production. Additionally, it would reverse the exemption of oil and gas companies from the Clean Air Act’s aggregation requirement, which allows multiple activities or facilities to be collectively permitted as one single source. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she voted to release files associated with Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific crimes:

“Jeffrey Epstein was an evil man, full stop, and I hope he is rotting in Hell for what he did to all those girls.  I have said from day one I support releasing any files related to Jeffrey Epstein as part of our efforts to hold him and any his associates accountable for their horrific crimes, as long as the privacy of the victims is protected.  Over the past several months, my colleagues on the Oversight Committee have carefully released tens of thousands of files, and today’s vote will support those ongoing efforts to hold accountable the criminal associates of Jeffrey Epstein, bring light to the evil deeds of the powerful men and women involved, and help the innocent victims find the justice they deserve.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

The meeting comes as part of Rep. Wagner’s efforts to address systematic failures with local mail delivery

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), a cosponsor of H.R. 4776, the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, released the following statement after the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the comprehensive permitting reform package:

“I am proud to stand with Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) in advancing the bipartisan SPEED Act out of the Natural Resources Committee. Our nation’s permitting system is broken. It’s been weaponized for over 50 years to block projects rather than build them. This isn’t a partisan issue. From critical minerals in Northern Minnesota to clean water infrastructure and roads that every community needs, endless delays hurt families, raise costs, and kill American jobs.

“The SPEED Act does not weaken bedrock environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, or Endangered Species Act. It simply streamlines the NEPA process and closes loopholes that have been exploited from day one to stop good projects through endless litigation and red tape.

“In Northern Minnesota, we face some of the worst impacts. Projects like Twin Metals, NewRange, and Talon Metals are stalled, costing us the chance to mine the critical minerals the world needs for batteries and national security. Even basic water and road projects miss our short construction window because of delays—adding hundreds of thousands of dollars that local taxpayers end up footing for these critical infrastructure projects.

“I am appreciative of the committee for adopting the amendment I offered alongside Rep. Golden, which reflects months of bipartisan collaboration to provide certainty for project sponsors and protect approved projects from being yanked away for political reasons when administrations change. It takes politics out of permitting, something both sides say they want.

“I urge the full House to quickly pass the SPEED Act and finally deliver real permitting reform.”
 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), in partnership with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, today announced $20 million in federal funding for the construction of a new air traffic control tower at the Duluth International Airport. 

This critical investment closely follows a recent visit by Congressman Stauber and Secretary Duffy to the Duluth Airport, home to the nation’s third-oldest operational air traffic control tower. During the visit, both officials emphasized their commitment to securing the full funding needed to move the project forward. 

Of this funding, Stauber stated, “The Duluth International Airport connects the Northland to the rest of the world, making it an important economic driver for our region. Since arriving in Congress, I have worked to secure the funding necessary to replace this aging tower, not just to ensure safety, but also to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of our airport. I’m proud to have worked closely with Secretary Duffy to deliver this significant investment, and I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for recognizing the importance of this project for Minnesota’s Eighth District.”

This $20 million builds on the $10 million in federal funding Congressman Stauber secured for the project in 2024. Once this latest funding is formally awarded, roughly $10 million more will be needed to begin construction.

Congressman Stauber will continue to work with federal partners to secure the remaining funds and get this project across the finish line.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement announcing that she will not seek reelection in 2026:

“For more than three decades, I have had the privilege of a lifetime serving the people of New York City in the United States Congress. After much reflection, I have decided that this will be my last term in Congress. This was not an easy decision, but I believe that the time is right for me to move on and for a new generation of leaders to step forward.
 
I grew up in a small town of sugar cane fields in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. My family did not have much. Nine children in a wooden house. Politics in Washington felt a world away. If you had told that little girl she would one day be the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, she would never have believed it.
 
As a teenager, I came to New York to pursue a master’s degree, and this city changed my life forever. New York took me in, welcomed me, and presented opportunities I never thought possible. I fell in love with its energy and with the people who make this city what it is. In New York, I found my voice, discovered my purpose, and dedicated myself to the fight for justice and opportunity. There is truly no city like it in the world.
 
I first ran in 1993, because I believed the voices of my community, immigrants, workers, families struggling to get by, were not being heard. I made history that year as the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, representing a newly drawn district that finally reflected the people who lived in it. Back then, there were only three Latinas in the House. One of the greatest honors of my career has been helping open the doors for those who came after us.
 
Over 33 years, I have poured my heart into this work and am proud of all we have achieved together. I became the first Latina to chair a full committee in Congress, and as the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee, I worked to expand access to capital and open doors in the federal marketplace for women, minorities, and veterans. One of my proudest accomplishments was creating the Women-Owned Small Business contracting program, which became law in 2001 and has helped thousands of women entrepreneurs get ahead.
 
As Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I worked with President Obama to confirm Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the first Latina on the Supreme Court. I helped craft major reforms after the Great Recession and led efforts to support small businesses during COVID.

I have fought for a more humane immigration system that treats people with dignity. When the Muslim Ban was announced in 2017, I joined Congressman Jerry Nadler at JFK to help free two detained travelers. Moments like that remind me why I entered public service.
 
I have always sought to be a consistent voice for peace in Washington. I was proud of my opposition to the War in Iraq and other interventions during the Global War on Terror. In 2023, I was one of 13 House members to call for an immediate ceasefire in the horrific war in Gaza.
 
I have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in New York to clean up our environment, improve transportation, and support public housing residents. And throughout my career, I have championed Puerto Rico’s right to self-determination, including passage of the Puerto Rico Status Act in 2022.
 
There is still so much work to be done, and I feel the urgency of this moment every day. Our country faces crises on multiple fronts. Every day the Trump administration is working to undermine civil rights and our democracy. At the same time, the American Dream is slipping further away for working people as wealth inequality worsens and life becomes less affordable. But I believe in the resiliency of the American people and the ability of a new generation of leaders who are ready for these great challenges. New York’s recent mayoral election showed that Americans are hungry for change and determined to build a better future. My district is home to so many dedicated elected officials, community leaders, and activists, and I have complete confidence that NY-7 will remain in good hands.
 
I want to express deep gratitude to my family, my friends, and the dedicated staff who have stood with me every step of the way. None of my accomplishments over the course of my career were possible without your support. Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and pushing me to be better.
 
I do not yet know what the next chapter holds, but I know I will continue fighting for the city I love and for an end to Puerto Rico’s colonial status. Serving New York has been the honor of my life. I will always be grateful for the trust my constituents placed in me over all these years.”
 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Vice Chair of the Congressional Western Caucus, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced their proposed rule to define waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. The proposed rule will provide needed clarity and reduce permitting barriers while ensuring EPA fulfills its mandate to protect navigable American waters.

“Today’s announcement is a win for farmers, ranchers, and landowners across the United States. For years, overreaching and inconsistent WOTUS definitions have created burdensome red tape and threatened property rights in rural America. I applaud Administrator Zeldin for taking the necessary action to restore certainty and common sense.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adrian Smith released the following statement after voting for H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act:

“The crimes of Jeffrey Epstein are appalling. The American people deserve transparency into who else participated, who else knew, and why Epstein received the treatment he did from prosecutors.

“Today’s vote is another small step towards accountability and justice for the survivors of these heinous crimes. I appreciate the work which the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has already done to release more than 65,000 documents relating to Epstein, and I hope further accountability will be the result as additional files are reviewed and released.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) today released the following statement applauding the passage of H.R. 6019:

“Included in the Senate’s version of the continuing resolution to reopen the government was a self-serving provision designed to enrich several sitting United States senators using taxpayer dollars.

I condemned this provision in the Rules Committee and, before we voted to reopen the government and end a 43-day shutdown, introduced H.R. 6019, which will repeal the provision and ensure that it cannot be abused.

While several of these senators have announced that they do not intend to sue the federal government, one continues to express his intent to do so, for tens of millions in taxpayer dollars. This is wrong, and it cannot be allowed to happen.

I am grateful for House Republican leadership’s quick work to schedule a vote on H.R. 6019, and I call upon the Senate to immediately take up and pass this legislation.

Americans are tired of politicians using their power to grow their own wealth. I am proud the House voted 426 – 0 to repeal this language and will continue working to ensure that Congress serves the American people, not the other way around,” said Rep. Scott

###