Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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

Headline: Scott, Connolly Statement on Trump Destroying Union Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, and Congressman Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement on President Trump’s union busting Executive Order:

“This executive order is another example of the Trump-Musk Administration’s war on working people. These two billionaires busted unions in their day jobs and now they’re bringing these same attacks to our government in the biggest presidential attack on unions in history. Since the enactment of the National Labor Relations Actnearly 90 years ago, workers have been empowered to come together and form unions to win higher pay, better safety standards, and claim a voice in their workplaces as they protect workers from abuse and misuse by unscrupulous employers.

“President Trump’s brazen attempt to strip the majority of federal employees of their union rights robs these workers of their hard-fought protections. This will only give Elon Musk more power to dismantle the people’s government with as little resistance from dedicated civil servants as possible—further weakening the federal government’s ability to serve the American people.  The United States government was built to be by the people for the people – not by billionaires for other billionaires.”

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

Headline: Scott Statement on Trump’s Recession Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on countries across the world:

“President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs are reckless and will raise costs on Americans without making the long overdue investments in American manufacturing capacity that would create jobs. This carelessness is a new chapter in his trade wars, that have no rules and no alliances and will just create more chaos and instability.

“President Trump was elected based on his promise to immediately lower costs for families, but economic experts have said cost will go up as a direct result of these tariffs. Economic experts have also warned us how President Trump’s tariffs and other economic policies risk throwing the economy into a recession. Instead of working with Democrats to protect workers and invest in America, Trump and Republicans are slowing our economic growth and accelerating inflation.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) introduced new legislation to force Elon Musk — who has a well-documented history of drug use — and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees to pass a drug test, and participate in random drug testing in order to retain their Special Government Employee status with the United States government. 

“Donald Trump has given billionaire Elon Musk the keys to our government, and with it, access to highly sensitive information — from Treasury and Social Security data to even our most guarded military plans. Those with access to sensitive information must be thoroughly vetted, clear-eyed, and exercise good judgment. Elon Musk and his DOGE employees should be held to the same standard as other executive branch employees, whether that’s for conflicts of interest or passing a drug test to maintain employment or a security clearance.

“In the wake of Trump’s top national security officials sharing classified information on an unsecured Signal group chat — putting our service members’ lives at risk — it’s more important than ever to protect the American people from the Trump Administration’s reckless incompetence and blatant disregard for national security,” said Rep. Sherrill.

Typically, government officials with access to highly sensitive information are required to pass a drug test and are subject to intermittent random testing as a condition of their employment. This ensures that officials who have access to our government’s most sensitive information are following the law and cannot be blackmailed for their illegal drug use. Sherrill’s bill would require Elon Musk and other Special Government Employees like him to consistently pass these same drug tests in order to maintain access to sensitive information.

Rep. Sherrill continues to lead the fight to protect New Jerseyans against Donald Trump and Elon Musk. She has called on eight Inspectors General to conduct investigations into Musk’s conflicts of interest and self-dealing at federal agencies, supported legislation to restrict his access to sensitive Social Security information at the Treasury Department, and stood with federal employees fired by Musk and DOGE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

The president promised to drastically lower prices on day one; he’s done the opposite and hit families with a new round of tariff taxes.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Contact: Alexis.Torres@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Danny K. Davis (D-IL), ranking member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support, Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax, and Randy Feenstra (R-IA) introduced the bipartisan Tax-Free Pell Grants Act to remove a financial and logistical barrier impairing students from securing higher education opportunities. Specifically, the legislation expands the usage of Pell Grants on a tax-free basis, improves coordination with the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), and ensures students do not lose out on any AOTC benefits. An incredibly timely solution as ongoing cuts to postsecondary institutions and research labs across the country result in lost revenue and financial gaps in operating costs, potentially leading to increases in tuition and fees for students and their families.

“Everyone deserves a chance at success, and we should be simplifying our tax code to unlock more support for students interested in going to college but who may need a little financial help to get there,” said Rep. Doggett. “This legislation would also expand eligible expenses under the existing tax credit to include computers and childcare, which for many is essential to achieving their dreams and growing our economy.”

“Education is fundamental to our democracy,” said Rep. Davis. “I am proud to join Representatives Doggett, Kelly, and Feenstra in leading this bill that helps low-income students get the most from the American Opportunity Tax Credit. In my District, relatively few taxpayers use the AOTC because many attend community colleges and can’t claim their childcare and computer costs. Ensuring that students can fully benefit from the AOTC credit without worry about being taxed on the Pell grant helps educate our citizenry and strengthen them economically.” 

“Pell Grants are an important way for more lower-income Americans to get an education and work toward a successful career,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax. “More than 216,000 Pennsylvania students benefitted from Pell Grants last year. I’m again proud to join Congressman Doggett on this bipartisan legislation that will expand what these grants can be used for – including child care and computers — so many more Americans, particularly single mothers, have the ability to access higher education to achieve long-term financial stability for themselves and their families.”

“I have long supported Pell Grants because they offer academic opportunities to our students and ensure that Iowans who might otherwise skip higher education because of the cost can pursue advanced studies. These grants are an important investment in the next generation of leaders, farmers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who will support our communities and power our economy forward,” said Rep. Feenstra. “However, current law still requires some students to pay taxes on their Pell Grants, reducing the financial support that these grants are intended to provide. That’s why I’m glad to help introduce legislation to make Pell Grants completely tax-free so that our kids can focus on their studies without worrying about the cost.”

While Pell Grant awards used to pay for tuition and fees are already treated as tax-free income, any portion of a Pell Grant used for other education-related items like living expenses is taxed. Currently, using Pell Grants to cover tuition reduces potential AOTC eligibility and creates complications for students in maximizing their educational benefits. As a result, many students simply forgo the AOTC, leaving an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars unclaimed each year. By increasing compatibility with the AOTC, we can ensure that Pell Grants are not treated as taxable income, even if they are used for non-tuition education expenses.

Since enacted in 2009, the AOTC has helped millions pay for college, and more than a decade ago, Rep. Doggett authored provisions to ensure the tax credit allows a tax cut of up to $10,000 on education expenses, such as tuition, textbooks and fees. The AOTC covers up to $2,500 in annual college tuition, fees, and other education-related expenses — 40% of the credit, up to $1,000, is refundable. With more than 3 million undergraduate students in the United States being parents—nearly one in five college students—access to affordable childcare can be the difference between completing a degree program or not. The Tax-Free Pell Grants Act meets this need by adding childcare and computer costs as qualifying expenses for the AOTC.

Endorsing organizations: American Association of Community Colleges, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

The bill text is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives unanimously passed, H.R. 1155, the Recovery of Stolen Checks Act, introduced by Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Terri Sewell (D-AL). This bipartisan legislation would give victims of mail theft the option to receive their payment from the Department of Treasury electronically.
 
Click here to watch Congressman Kustoff remarks during debate or read them as prepared below:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 
 
And I do want to thank Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) for his leadership on this issue and this important piece of legislation, as well as the leadership of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and Terri Sewell (D-AL). 
 
Over the last several years, the number of government checks stolen from the mail has increased dramatically. 
 
If I could, I would like to share a few statistics: 

• Between 2019 and 2022 there was an 87% increase in theft from mailboxes, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
• According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), reports of check fraud doubled from 2021 to 2022.
• FinCen’s most recent report on check fraud (published September 2024) found that between February to August 2023, the bureau received 15,417 individual reports about mail theft-related check fraud.

This has been an ongoing problem in my district in West Tennessee, as it has been throughout the country. It is well past time that we get mail theft in the United States under control.
 
That starts with giving federal law enforcement officers the tools and resources they need to detect, investigate, and prosecute the criminals behind these thefts.
 
We also have to ensure that victims of mail theft are taken care of, and that they can access timely relief.

That’s why this bill H.R. 1155, the Recovery of Stolen Checks Act, is so important.
 
Right now, it can take up to four months for the IRS to issue a replacement for a stolen check. That’s a long time. 
 
And due to the sheer frequency of mail theft that is happening right now, many taxpayers are having their replacement checks get stolen as well. 
 
This is truly unacceptable – and outdated IRS regulations are partially to blame.
 
Frankly, the IRS’s current process makes no sense.
 
It exacerbates check fraud, it creates more bureaucratic hurdles for U.S. taxpayers, and it ultimately makes it more difficult for Americans to access their hard-earned dollars.
 
For many American families, a delay in getting their tax refund has the potential to cause serious financial strain. 
 
The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act will give victims of mail theft the option to receive their replacement payment through direct deposit, instead of having to risk mailing another check.
 
This is a simple fix that will help expedite relief to affected taxpayers, keep government checks out of the hands of criminals, and ultimately make our government more efficient.
 
I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, commonsense piece of legislation which passed out of the Ways and Means Committee unanimously by a vote of 41 to 0.
 
 
The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Ways and Means on February 12, 2025. Click here for the full text of the bill. 
 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 517, the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act, that was introduced by Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Judy Chu (D-CA). This bipartisan legislation will provide relief to taxpayers impacted by natural disasters and emergencies. 

Click here to watch Congressman Kustoff’s remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives. 
 
“When disaster strikes, victims should be focused on rebuilding, recovering, and caring for their loved ones. They should not have to worry about complying with bureaucratic red tape from the IRS,” said Congressman Kustoff. “I am proud to see the House of Representatives pass my bill, the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act. This commonsense legislation will make much needed changes to the tax code and ensure communities have the flexibility they need to start the recovery process.”

“A slow Washington bureaucracy should not stand in the way of recovery after a hurricane, tornado, or other natural disaster destroys a community. Victims of such catastrophes should be able to have their tax filing deadlines postponed regardless of whether the federal or state government declares a disaster first. I want to thank Representative Kustoff for putting forward a common-sense idea that helps the people of West Tennessee and all Americans hit by a natural disaster,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO). 
 
Background:
Currently, the U.S. Department of Treasury has the authority to postpone tax filing deadlines to taxpayers affected by federally-declared disasters. However, this does not extend to state-level emergencies. The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act would authorize the Treasury, in consultation with FEMA, to extend relief to impacted taxpayers as soon as the governor of a state declares a disaster or state of emergency. This legislation would also expand the current mandatory extension following a federally-declared disaster declaration from 60 to 120 days.

The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act unanimously passed out of the House Committee on Ways and Means on February 26, 2025. Click here to read the full text of the bill.
 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Kustoff recently penned an op-ed for the Washington Examiner titled, “Swatting: A frightening hoax demanding serious attention.” In the op-ed, Congressman Kustoff highlights his bill that will impose strict penalties for swatting.

“As a former United States Attorney, I have seen firsthand the chaos swatting creates, the danger it presents to everyone involved, and the fear it instills in families and communities,” said Congressman Kustoff. “That is why I introduced the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act of 2025 in the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation would impose strict penalties for swatting, including up to 20 years in federal prison if someone is seriously hurt as a result of a swatting attack.”

Click here for the full op-ed or read below:
In an era where technology connects us like never before, it is both shocking and disheartening that this same connectivity is being weaponized to create chaos and fear in communities across the nation with the advent of swatting. 

The Department of Homeland Security defines swatting as “making malicious hoax calls to emergency services to falsely report an ongoing emergency such as a violent crime or explosive device at a certain location.” The intent is to prompt a large-scale response from law enforcement. This dangerous trend has escalated into a national crisis, warranting immediate attention from policymakers, law enforcement, and the public.

Swatting incidents have surged in recent years, with schools being a primary target. According to reports, the 2022-2023 school year saw a staggering 546% increase in false active shooter calls compared to just four years prior. These hoaxes disrupt educational activities, sow panic, and place students and staff in potentially life-threatening situations. In 2023, at least 723 swatting hoaxes targeted K-12 schools, with 210 incidents occurring in just one month.

Meanwhile, businesses and political officials on both sides of the aisle are also increasingly targeted. High-profile executives and organizations across industries have faced swatting attacks, causing significant operational disruptions and emotional distress.

One of my constituents was asleep when their phone rang loudly just after 1:00 AM. It was the local police asking them to step outside. When my friend opened the door, they saw police officers and SWAT team members surrounding the house.

The police explained that someone had called a suicide hotline, claiming to be inside the house. The caller reported wearing a bulletproof vest and said they had three children tied up in their rooms. They also claimed that their spouse had a bomb strapped to them and threatened to harm everyone unless the police arrived immediately.

Thankfully, authorities quickly determined that the call was a hoax.

The consequences of swatting extend far beyond temporary panic. These incidents strain law enforcement resources, diverting attention from genuine emergencies. Financially, the costs of a single swatting event can range from $10,000 to $25,000, encompassing police deployment, property repairs, and follow-up investigations. More importantly, the emotional toll on victims — students, employees, and families — is immeasurable. In worst-case scenarios, swatting has resulted in tragic loss of life, as split-second decisions in high-pressure situations can lead to fatal mistakes.

As a former United States Attorney, I have seen firsthand the chaos swatting creates, the danger it presents to everyone involved, and the fear it instills in families and communities. 

That is why I introduced the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act of 2025 in the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation would impose strict penalties for swatting, including up to 20 years in federal prison if someone is seriously hurt as a result of a swatting attack. 

Right now, our ability to deter and crack down on swatting is not working. Implementing strict penalties will send a clear message that intentionally deceiving law enforcement will not be tolerated. Swatting endangers lives, wastes critical emergency resources, and undermines public safety. We have an urgent need for robust legal recourse to crack down on swatting. 

The Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act represents a critical step toward holding perpetrators accountable and deterring future incidents. We can no longer afford to let this dangerous trend go unchecked. Swatting affects everyone, including our children. I call on my colleagues in Congress to support this critical legislation. The time for action is now.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

Prohibits Secret Service from spending federal dollars for lodging or meals at a facility owned or controlled by a president

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, today discussed President Trump’s efforts to upend the judicial system at a hearing entitled “Judicial Overreach and Constitutional Limits on the Federal Courts.” Trump’s efforts include extorting law firms, damaging independent agencies, and proposing to end national injunctive relief, and impeaching judges who make rulings with which he disagrees.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“The judicial branch in our country plays a critical role in checks and balances, which the Constitution mandates. Our president doesn’t understand that or respect it. In my opinion he is, accordingly, the one doing the ‘overreach,’ not the judiciary…He can’t with an executive order – a press release on nice stationery – overrule the Constitution. Nor can he declare a third term for himself, which he’ll probably do eventually…

“He’s also gone after lawyers and law firms and it’s no mystery why he did it…If lawyers are afraid to bring actions against the administration or the president, then the courts won’t be able to do anything…I’m a member of the bar. I respect the bar and I understand its importance to the American jurisprudence system…”

See his entire statement and questions to hearing witnesses here.

Witnesses at today’s hearing were:

• Kate Shaw, Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School;
• Newt Gingrich, former Georgia Congressman (1979-1999) and former Speaker of the House (1995-1999);
• Paul J. Larkin, Senior Legal Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation; and
• Cindy Romero, former resident of Aurora, Colorado

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