Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Frankel Calls on House Oversight Committee to Advance Long Overdue Epstein Hearing in Palm Beach County

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Washington, DC) — On Friday, June 12, 2026, Congressman Al Green delivered remarks on the House floor stating the President sets the tone for racist rhetoric in public discourse.

You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s speech on his official YouTube page or by clicking here. The floor speech highlighted is also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter). 

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

WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) introduced a resolution recognizing Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) as a serious feeding and eating disorder and calling for urgent action to advance awareness, early identification, research, and equitable access to care.

“Far too many children and families are struggling with ARFID without a diagnosis, without answers, and without access to the specialized care they need,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “This is a serious, clinically recognized eating disorder, yet it remains widely misunderstood, even among health care providers. Our resolution commits Congress to  advancing the research, screening, and treatment infrastructure needed so that no family has to navigate AFRID alone.”
 
“ARFID is a serious, misunderstood eating disorder that affects people from all walks of life and can have lasting effects on both physical and mental health,” Congressman Tonko said. “Despite the known, grave impacts of this disorder, many Americans across the country remain undiagnosed and face significant barriers in accessing appropriate screening and treatment services. I’m proud to join Representative Velázquez to bring attention to this issue and call on Congress to recognize the need to improve diagnosis and expand access to life-saving multidisciplinary care.”
 
ARFID is clinically recognized in the DSM-5 as an eating disorder characterized by a persistent failure to meet nutritional or energy needs. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not driven by body image concerns. Instead, it may stem from heightened sensory sensitivities, a lack of interest in eating, or fear of consequences such as choking or vomiting. The disorder typically emerges in early childhood and, without timely intervention, can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies, impaired growth and development, and dependence on feeding tubes.
 
Converging scientific evidence demonstrates that ARFID has a strong biological and genetic basis. The Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden found the disorder’s heritability to be as high as approximately 79 percent. ARFID is also closely associated with neurodevelopmental conditions: children with ARFID are 14 times more likely to have autism, and 11 percent of autistic children meet the criteria for ARFID.
 
Despite the seriousness of the disorder, lack of awareness among health care providers, educators, and the public contributes to delayed diagnosis, mischaracterization of symptoms, and barriers to evidence-based treatment.
 
The resolution recognizes ARFID as a serious eating disorder and calls for improved early recognition, expanded research into its biological and neurodevelopmental roots, and greater access to multidisciplinary care. It urges federal, state, and local governments to strengthen screening, clinical training, and referral pathways in pediatric and primary care; calls on schools to provide appropriate accommodations for affected students; and supports expanding community-based services such as feeding therapy, nutrition services, and behavioral health care.
 
The resolution is endorsed by the National Alliance for Eating Disorders and the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action.
 
“The National Alliance for Eating Disorders applauds Congresswoman Velázquez for this resolution. ARFID is a serious, clinically recognized eating disorder that affects individuals of all ages and backgrounds — and so often, it goes unrecognized, misunderstood, and undertreated. ARFID deserves the awareness, research, and equitable access to care that every person struggling deserves. We are deeply grateful to the Congresswoman for her leadership and her commitment to helping ensure that no one has to navigate this disorder alone. Together, we can help build a future where individuals affected by ARFID are seen, supported, and given a real pathway to healing.” — Johanna Kandel, Founder & CEO, National Alliance for Eating Disorders

“We thank Congresswoman Velazquez on her leadership to raise awareness for AFRID, which is a type of eating disorder that is frequently misunderstood and often undiagnosed,” said Allison Ivie, MPP, Government Relations Representative for the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action. “This resolution will continue to support efforts to educate the public about all eating disorders and ensure this mental illness remains a public health priority.”

For a copy of the resolution, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

“I’m thrilled to announce this significant award that will bring new recreational opportunities and lasting infrastructural improvements to the City of Rensselaer,” Congressman Tonko said. “With this new bridge, residents and visitors to the City will have a safe, permanent point of access to The Hollow, improving connectivity to nearby businesses by linking existing trails to other natural assets in the area. I’m proud to celebrate this grant, and I’m eager to see the benefits this project will bring to the City of Rensselaer and to our region as a whole.”

“The Rensselaer Hollow Trail Project will create a nearly 2-mile paved off-road trail through the Hollow Preserve, connecting several residential neighborhoods with the Rensselaer City School District campus.  We are most grateful to Congressman Tonko and the Northern Border Regional Commission for the Timber-For-Transit funded bridge that will enable the trail to cross the Quackenderry Creek which runs from East Greenbush, through Rensselaer, to the Hudson River,” said John DeFrancesco, Mayor of the City of Rensselaer. “Also, with the help of Congressman Tonko, we are seeking funding for a welcoming Trail Head into the Hollow that will have parking, a play area and informational kiosks as well as on-road connections to several existing trails in the community (the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail, the Empire State Trail, the Rensselaer Waterfront Trail and the Multi-Use Path being added to the new Livingston Avenue Bridge) that will make the Hollow Trail an accessible resource for the broader community,” concluded Mayor DeFrancesco.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

The Hands Off Elections Act would prohibit Administration officials from meddling in federal elections

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

FAIRFIELD, CA — Today, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) issued the following statement after the shooting at Sem Yeto High School’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday night that left one person dead and three people injured:

“My team and I are aware of the shooting at Sem Yeto High School during their graduation ceremony. Law enforcement has my full support as they continue the search for the shooter.

“This should’ve been a day of celebration for graduates, but instead it was marked by violence and tragedy. I’m praying for all the students, teachers, and their families, as well as the wider Fairfield community as they navigate this difficult period.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Congressman Derek Tran (CA-45) led 34 members of the California Congressional Delegation in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries raising the alarm about a section in the surface transportation reauthorization bill, the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), that would give rideshare companies immunity from any injury, sexual assault, or fatality that happens during a ride.

For a full copy of the letter, click here.

“Our constituents deserve better. Drivers trying to earn a living and riders who want to get to their next destination all deserve a safe ride – and the ability to be made whole if they are injured along the way,” wrote the members.

Introduced by Representative Fong (CA-20), the relevant section of the BUILD America 250 Act would ensure that rideshare companies “shall not be liable under the law of any State or political subdivision thereof […] for any harm to persons or property that results or arises out of the use, operation, or possession of a motor vehicle by an app-based driver,” protecting companies from legal liability even when presented with concerning information about a driver in a criminal background check, motor vehicle background check, customer complaint, safety test, or internal complaint. This would allow individuals who do not meet criminal or safety standards to continue operating as drivers. In the event of an incident, the company would not be held accountable, no matter its obligations to adequately screen drivers. H.R. 8870 was reported out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on May 22, 2026, with this language included, and awaits a floor vote by the full House.

Representatives Lofgren and Tran were joined by 32 members: Representative Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Representative Mike Thompson (CA-04), Representative Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Representative Jim Costa (CA-21), Representative Doris Matsui (CA-07), Representative Judy Chu (CA-28), Representative John Garamendi (CA-08), Representative Ami Bera (CA-06), Representative Julia Brownley (CA-26), Representative Jared Huffman (CA-2), Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02), Representative Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Representative Mark Takano (CA-39), Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52), Representative Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Representative Norma Torres (CA-35), Representative Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Representative Lou Correa (CA-46), Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Representative Mike Levin (CA-49),  Representative Sara Jacobs(CA-51), Representative Robert Garcia (CA-42), Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Representative Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Representative Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Representative Laura Friedman (CA-30), Representative Sam Liccardo (CA-16),Representative Dave Min (CA-47), Representative Luz Rivas (CA-29),  Representative Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Representative George Whitesides (CA-27).

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries,

We write to urge you to strip out a provision in Title I of the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), that would endanger consumers across the United States. The provision, which faced bipartisan opposition in markup, would shield rideshare companies from liability for crashes and sexual assaults caused by their negligence. This provision must be removed from the BUILD America 250 Act before it is considered on the House Floor.

The rapid expansion of the rideshare industry has introduced significant safety vulnerabilities, often putting consumers at the risk of physical harm. Uber alone faces more than 3,000 sexual assault claims in Federal Court nationwide for allegedly failing to implement adequate safety protections, driver screenings, or rider safeguards. In California, Uber is facing roughly 550 cases for allegedly failing to protect female drivers from sexual assault, stalking, kidnapping, or false imprisonment.

Victims may soon face a heavily restricted path to legal recourse. Uber is currently funding a California ballot initiative designed to cap damages for medical care and restrict a consumer’s ability to retain legal counsel following an accident. This initiative would functionally protect all negligent drivers and defective car manufacturers. Common product liability suits involving airbag defects, braking failure, steering issues, battery failure, or electronic control system and software defects would be judicially handicapped.

The BUILD America 250 Act, as amended, would further hinder victims’ ability to seek recourse. Currently, rideshare companies face legal accountability if their negligence causes harm–such as allowing a driver onto the platform despite a known dangerous criminal history. If that driver later assaults a passenger or causes a crash, the company can be held liable for failing to protect the public.

H.R. 8870 threatens to dismantle these vital safety incentives. The bill as currently written would provide rideshare companies with immunity from any injury, sexual assault, and fatality case no matter the red flags from any criminal background check, motor vehicle background check, customer complaint, safety test, or internal complaint. Moreover, it expressly preempts State law. Though a rideshare company would still have to follow local laws regarding background checks, it would be immune from liability if it chose to ignore red flags in the background check.

Our constituents deserve better. Drivers trying to earn a living and riders who want to get to their next destination all deserve a safe ride – and the ability to be made whole if they are injured along the way.

The Build America 250 Act must be amended, and this provision stripped, before it is considered on the House Floor.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, penned an op-ed in The Boston Globe underscoring the need for a strong national strategy on artificial intelligence. In the piece, she argues that Congress should not sit on the sidelines but rather lead this push as AI evolves and the risks to American workers and national security evolve with it.
“AI is moving at breakneck speed, producing newer and more powerful models that pose real risks to safety, national security, and the nation’s workforce,” Congresswoman Trahan wrote. “Each day that passes without a comprehensive federal standard puts us further behind, and puts every American at greater risk.” 
The op-ed follows Trahan’s release of the Great American Artificial Intelligence Act (GAAIA), a bipartisan discussion draft to create a federal framework for how the United States governs artificial intelligence. The discussion draft was co-authored by Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) and released alongside Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), and Erin Houchin (R-IN-09).
Trahan addressed states’ role directly in today’s piece.
“In the lack of federal action, states have stepped in to fill the void. States like California, New York, and Illinois have passed laws to target potential catastrophic risks when AI models are developed,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “Massachusetts lawmakers are targeting the harms of AI usage, including by chatbots and AI-generated sex abuse imagery. This is important progress, and the leadership of our state lawmakers has finally spurred the early stages of a federal response.”
Trahan also laid out the consequences if Congress fails to act on AI, comparing it to the federal government’s inability to pass regulations on large social media companies.
“In the absence of a federal regulatory framework, power concentrates in the hands of a small number of companies racing to build the most potent technology in human history,” Congresswoman Trahan argued. “They ask us to trust them while they write the rules of the road themselves. We’ve seen this movie before. Lawmakers spent the last two decades playing catch-up to social media giants, and the public is still paying the price.”
Since announcing The Great American AI Act discussion draft, Trahan has stated that the federal government must set uniform safety rules for how the most powerful models are developed and tested. The draft legislation proposes a federal standard for three years, that would elevate the very best of the handful of state laws in place and make them the federal standard. While states retain full power to determine how AI is deployed and used, from hiring and housing to health care, education, chatbots, and more.
GAAIA was released as a discussion draft, and Trahan has spent the past week calling for stakeholders, researchers, and members of the public to submit feedback. Those interested in weighing in on the bill are encouraged to reach out at GAAIA@mail.house.gov.
Text of the discussion draft can be accessed HERE.
A section-by-section summary can be accessed HERE.
A frequently asked questions document prepared by the Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan can be accessed HERE.
The full op-ed is available at The Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/12/opinion/ai-state-regulations/ 
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman DianaDeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after voting no on the Republicans’ second hyper partisan reconciliation package:

“At a time when families in Denver are struggling to afford health care, groceries, and rent, Donald Trump and his Congressional allies decided that the best use of taxpayer dollars is to give $70 billion more to fund Trump’s cruel immigration agenda,” said DeGette. “I voted hell no because I refuse to support any funding that goes to the hateful policies that have led to Americans being shot in the streets, children being detained for 200 days, and neighborhoods in Denver being terrorized. I’m focused on clawing back this funding and the $100 billion remaining from the Big Bad Bill to fund affordable housing and accessible health care.”

The Big Bad Bill, signed into law last summer, provided $140 billion to ICE and CBP. Roughly $100 billion remains as of April 2026. 

• ICE: Roughly $63 billion remained unspent out of its initial $75 billion.
• CBP: Roughly $37 billion remained unspent out of its initial $65 billion.

The second reconciliation package includes:

• ICE: $39 billion
• CBP: $26 billion 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), author of the bipartisan 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act and a Vice Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, received a June 9th response letter from the Trump Administration to a bipartisan request he led urging the Department of Health and Human Services to restore the 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” option for LGBTQ+ youth by February 28th. In the letter, the Administration acknowledged Congress directed the restoration of the specialized crisis service but said it is still determining how to implement it while complying with Executive Order 14168. Congressman Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement in response:

“Congress could not have been clearer: the Trump Administration must restore the 988 Lifeline’s ‘Press 3’ option, the specialized crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth. Yet in response to concerns I raised, the Administration acknowledged Congress directed the restoration of these lifesaving services but said it is still determining how to do so in compliance with President Trump’s executive order targeting so-called ‘gender ideology.’ Executive orders cannot override federal law, and Congress already settled this question: the Trump Administration must restore these services, including for transgender young people. This is not a political question. It is about making sure that when LGBTQ+ young people reach out for help in their darkest moment, they can connect with trained counselors who understand what they are going through and can provide the support they need.”

In the June 9th letter, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration acknowledged that Congress directed the restoration of specialized LGBTQ+ youth services through fiscal year 2026 appropriations language, including the 988 “Press 3” option. However, despite lawmakers urging restoration by February 28th, the Administration said it is still assessing implementation while seeking to comply with Executive Order 14168.

On February 11th, Congressman Krishnamoorthi joined Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Michael Lawler (R-NY), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) in urging Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restart specialized LGBTQ+ youth services within the 988 Lifeline and ensure they were fully operational no later than February 28th. The lawmakers emphasized that Congress directed $33.1 million for the services and warned that continued discontinuation undermines congressional intent and suicide prevention efforts.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has led congressional efforts to restore and permanently protect LGBTQ+ youth crisis services following the Trump Administration’s decision to end the program in 2025. He introduced the bipartisan 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act to codify the specialized services into law.