Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (HVAC), is an original cosponsor of legislation introduced in December, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, H.R. 6047. On Thursday, the Committee passed the bill, along with four other Veterans bills to increase and improve services, for consideration by the full House of Representatives. 

Voting in the Veterans Committee

This legislation would increase the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) monthly compensation benefit for service-connected, catastrophically disabled veterans and the surviving family of 100% disabled or deceased veterans. This tax-free benefit, meant to financially support the loved ones for the loss of their disabled veteran, has not been increased in decades.

“With this bill, Congress keeps commitments to care for catastrophically disabled veterans and recognizes the sacrifices of their families, accounting for increased needs and costs,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you to our Gold Star families and these heroic veterans. It’s important to see this bill through for most substantial growth in these benefits in 20 years.” 

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) and among the original cosponsors are HVAC Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Vice Chairman Aumua Amata (American Samoa), Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.), HVAC Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs Chairman Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas), Rep. Kimberlyn King-Hinds (CNMI), and several others for a group of 12 at introduction.

Veterans Committee voted through five bills

H.R. 6047 is named after and supported by two proud Americans – Sharri Briley, the surviving spouse of Army veteran CW3 Donovan ‘Bull’ Briley – and catastrophically disabled Army veteran, Sergeant Eric Edmundson.

Sharri Briley is the surviving spouse of CWO3 Donovan Lee ‘Bull’ Briley, an Army Special Operations Blackhawk helicopter pilot who tragically lost his life in Mogadishu, Somalia during Operation Gothic Serpent (commonly known as the Black Hawk Down incident) in 1993. 

Army veteran Sergeant Eric Edmundson’s Humvee was hit by an IED on October 2, 2005, in Iraq. Eric sustained lifechanging injuries – including an anoxic brain injury – which changed the course of his life by ending his ability to speak or walk. Despite these challenges, Eric continues to lead a full life through enhanced medical technology and therapy. 

H.R. 6047 would increase VA’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefit, which currently provides $1,650 per month. For the next five years, this bill would increase DIC by an additional 1 percent each year on top of inflation, helping over 500,000 families with their living expenses.

Congresswoman Amata in Veterans Committee votes on Thursday

The bill would also significantly raise the monthly benefits rate for catastrophically service-connected disabled veterans with a traumatic brain injury or other severe disabilities that require regular, round the clock, in-home medical care, offering an additional $10,000 annually. This is the first significant increase for this cohort of veterans in decades.

H.R. 6047 has support from various veteran service organizations (VSOs) including the American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Gold Star Spouses of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart USA, Independence Fund, National Military Family Association, Gold Star Wives, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Quality of Life Foundation, and Veterans MS Alliance.

“This bill is more than legislation to me; it is a promise kept,” said Sharri Briley, surviving spouse of CW3 Donovan ‘Bull’ Briley, upon the bill’s introduction. “For thirty-two years, I have lived with the loss of my husband, Donovan, and I have seen firsthand how surviving families continue to bear the cost of war. The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act honors that sacrifice by providing real, tangible support to survivors and catastrophically disabled veterans. It shows that our nation hears us, sees us, values us, and will stand by us just as our loved ones stood for their country.”

“This Act is recognition of the veterans and families who wake up each morning adjusting to the long-term consequences of service,” said Edgar Edmundson, father of Sgt (Ret) Eric Edmundson, when the bill was announced. “The increase in benefits provided by the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act are not optional — they are essential. Our veterans’ needs evolve as they age, and our support must evolve with them. This legislation ensures that injured veterans and surviving families are not left struggling to meet changing realities alone.”

Also passed Thursday by the Committee were these bills:

• H.R. 3726 – Fisher House Availability Act of 2025.
• H.R. 785 – Representing our Seniors at VA Act of 2025.
• H.R. 3482 – Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act.
• H.R. 2148 – Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act.

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

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 12, 2026) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) today announced he secured $7.4 million for eight community projects in the 3rd Congressional District in a recently passed federal funding package.

“Bringing federal funding home for Philadelphians has always been one of my priorities in Congress, and I’ll keep pursuing more funding for our communities,” Evans said. 

The federal funding is designated for these projects:

• Ana Blakiston Day School – schoolyard improvements and equipment upgrades – $717,593
• James G. Blaine School – schoolyard improvements – $850,000
• Richard R. Wright Elementary School – schoolyard improvements, infrastructure, upgrades, and equipment – $850,000
• Build-out of the Temple University Public Health Simulation Center – $1,031,000 – Evans said, “This project has great potential to improve the quality of health care.” Health-care education is increasingly adopting implicit bias training to increase awareness among their students of how inaccurate assumptions and beliefs about a patient can impact care. To make a difference in health care and improve health outcomes, health-care professionals need to translate their heightened awareness into tangible behavioral change. Simulation-based education is a novel approach to teach behavioral skills to help eliminate bias and achieve health equity.
• Community College of Philadelphia – housing development and renovations – $850,000 – The project addresses housing affordability and insecurity, two important issues in Philadelphia. By removing a barrier to success, the project will help improve students’ outcomes and provide significant benefit to communities. An estimated 17 percent of CCP students are housing-insecure, the highest figure for a higher education institution in the city.
• Temple University’s Community Kitchen – $1,500,000. This project addresses existing levels of geographic, racial, and socioeconomic inequalities by providing access to essential nutrition education and cooking classes. Through targeted outreach efforts, underserved people in North Philadelphia will gain invaluable knowledge and skills to navigate food insecurity and combat obesity-related health risks, reducing their reliance on processed foods and fostering a culture of healthier eating habits, Evans said.
• Healing Our Community (EMIR-Every Murder Is Real) – $1,031,000. Evans said EMIR Healing Center will collaborate with other organizations to offer meeting space that is safe, reliable, convenient, and comfortable in which to hold joint community events that foster healing and wholeness in Germantown, a predominantly Black neighborhood.
• Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology – lipid nanoparticle manufacturing equipment – $619,000. Evans said this grant will benefit both the local and regional scientific community by increasing access to this new and important technology. Access to lipid nanoparticle manufacturing capacity has been very limited in the Greater Philadelphia tri-state region, and the technology has the potential to generate novel delivery systems for a diverse range of therapeutic applications.

Each of the three school projects will serve and benefit the schools’ low-and moderate-income students and families and the surrounding communities by constructing an outdoor space at each school that supports and promotes high-quality learning experiences and healthy living. All three were also supported by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA).

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. The committee oversees taxes, trade, Social Security and Medicare. 

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 – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Co-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) and her fellow SEEC Leadership Members, released the following statement in response to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin’s final decision to repeal the landmark Endangerment Finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare, alongside the determination to gut vehicle tailpipe pollution protections. Last year, SEEC submitted a 154-Member public comment letter condemning EPA’s proposal to rescind the Endangerment Finding. 

“The Environmental Protection Agency’s job could not be more clear: protect the health of our families and the environment we live in. Yet, after months of the American people and businesses alike warning EPA of the dangers of rolling back our nation’s life-saving pollution standards, Administrator Lee Zeldin has unleashed an ‘all-you-can-pollute’ assault on the American people. 

“At the top of the list is the reckless decision to repeal the Endangerment Finding, which is part of the Trump EPA’s outrageous attempt to assert fossil fuel propaganda as fact that climate change isn’t affecting Americans’ health and safety. This is a gut punch to every American who has already experienced the costs of worsening natural disasters, the lack of attainable and climate-resilient homes in their zip code, the numerous health impacts of worsening heatwaves and wildfires, the inability to find affordable home insurance, high costs at the grocery store, and more. The evidence is all around us, and yet Trump’s EPA continues its single-minded mission to deliver on Trump’s promises to big polluters.

“As if this wasn’t enough, EPA today also gutted pollution standards for vehicles. Apparently, this EPA does not care about the 40,000 lives that were expected to be saved by these standards. This is in keeping with their decision last month to no longer consider the value of saving lives when setting air pollution rules for soot and ozone. Trump’s EPA has deliberately turned its back on the people whose lives would be saved by keeping harmful air pollution out of the air we breathe.

“There will be a time when this Administration’s yes-men will need to explain to our children why they rolled back every possible pollution protection just to make their friends richer while the American people suffered.” 

SEEC is Co-Chaired by Reps. Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko, with Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree serving as Vice Chairs.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting Presidents’ Day: 

“Happy Presidents Day! This year’s federal holiday is during America’s 250^th year and honors a heritage spanning 47 U.S. presidents. Under federal law, the holiday is officially designated George Washington’s Birthday, giving special honor to the first President of the United States for his importance to the establishment of the new nation in the late 1700’s.

George Washington

“When he was inaugurated, there were no traditions to follow so his presidency created lasting protocol. In 1789, he issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation, calling for a national day for prayer and giving thanks. Then, in 1790, he gave a message to Congress that later became the tradition of the State of the Union address. He voluntarily left office after two terms, though he was in good health at 65 years old, setting each of those important precedents. 

“President Abraham Lincoln also had a February birthday and is the other of the two great historic presidents associated most often with Presidents Day. 

“In American Samoa, President Lyndon Johnson is the only President to set foot in our territory while in office, in 1966, and the Tropical Medical Center that has served our people since 1968 is named for him. President Dwight Eisenhower has a special place in our history for first appointing a Samoan Governor in 1956.  

“The President of the United States has enormous responsibility with a leadership role for 340 million people.  May God bless the United States and American Samoa!”

(I Timothy 2:1-3) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after cosponsoring legislation to fully fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and every other agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Office of Secretary Kristi Noem:

“Congress must ensure that FEMA, the Coast Guard and critical aviation security functions remain fully funded and operational while my Democratic colleagues and I fight for reforms to ICE and accountability for Secretary Noem.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, ICE’s reckless enforcement agenda has brutalized communities in Northwest Washington and killed U.S. citizens. I will not vote to fund ICE unless DHS agents follow the same rules as every other law enforcement agency.”

The legislation provides full-year funding for:  

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); 

• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); 

• U.S. Coast Guard; 

• Transportation Security Administration (TSA); 

• U.S. Secret Service; 

• Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC); 

• Science & Technology Directorate (S&T); 

• Office of Inspector General (OIG); 

• Federal Protective Service and a variety of other programs within the DHS funding bill that are not related to ICE or CBP. 

Rep. Larsen is the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and aviation security and safety.

The bill excludes ICE and CBP from DHS’s transfer authority, meaning funds cannot be transferred to those agencies. Additionally, it would prohibit Secretary Noem from using two luxury private jets she procured when the government was shut down in October of last year, at a cost of nearly $200 million to the taxpayer, reserving them for use by the Coast Guard. Full text of the bill can be found here.

Rep. Larsen supports impeaching Secretary Noem and negotiating a full-year funding bill for ICE and CBP that creates accountability and oversight of immigration enforcement operations and detention facilities.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement after successfully forcing and winning a House vote to terminate Trump’s national emergency declaration and tariffs on Canada.

“Last year, American families paid nearly $1,700 more as a direct result of Trump’s tariffs. The price of goods from Canada rose by as much as 35%, while U.S. exports to Canada fell by 21%, further harming U.S. small businesses and farmers. The American people sent us to Congress to lower their cost of living, not drive it up.

“For months, Republicans blocked a vote on Trump’s illegal tariffs, choosing procedural games over their responsibility to the people they represent. Today, Democrats, joined by several Republicans, were able to force that vote and put Republicans on record. The question was simple: stand with working families and lower costs, or keep prices high out of loyalty to Donald Trump? House Democrats will continue fighting to lower costs, even if most Republicans won’t.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Roger Williams (25th District of Texas)

STEPHENVILLE, TX – Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) is proud to announce that $3.575 million in Community Project Funding has been secured for Tarleton State University’s Innovation and Incubation Hub site preparation project through the fiscal year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill.

The funding will support the demolition of blighted property and site preparation for the future Innovation and Incubation Hub. This facility is designed to serve Tarleton State University, Stephenville, and the surrounding rural counties.

“I am proud to announce this more than $3.5 million investment in Tarleton State University and the Stephenville community,” said Congressman Williams. “This project will lay the foundation for an Innovation and Incubation Hub that strengthens rural economic development, supports entrepreneurship, and creates high-quality jobs in the area. This is exactly the kind of investment our district deserves to help promote economic growth.”

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Benefits:

Job creation: Growing businesses create jobs in high-tech sectors, boosting the local economy.

Community development: Revitalizes the downtown area and fosters a vibrant, innovative ecosystem.

Rural growth: Increases opportunity for rural small business development and growth, in partnership with Tarleton State, to provide internships and employment opportunities for newly graduated students.

Entrepreneurship: Creates a culture of entrepreneurship, encouraging local residents to pursue their business ideas.

Investment: The facility positions Stephenville as a hub for innovation, attracting external investment and talent.

Local leaders have expressed strong support for the project. Tarleton State will work with them to ensure the facility meets the needs of Stephenville, Erath County, and the surrounding region.

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Quotes from Stakeholders:

“Congressman Roger Williams continues to be a steadfast champion for Tarleton State University, and we are grateful for his leadership and investment,” said Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley. “The $3.575 million commitment to the Innovation and Incubation Hub project reflects a shared belief in the power of education and the lifelong pursuit of knowledge, as well as workforce development and the long-term economic growth across Texas.”

“This project exemplifies the best of what the A&M System offers our students and communities.  I thank Congressman Williams for his support and congratulate Tarleton State University on this funding,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar.  “This project underscores the A&M System’s commitment to empowering rural Texans through educational and entrepreneurial endeavors.  The Innovation and Incubation Hub will bring together the outstanding expertise of Tarleton State’s faculty and staff with visionary community leaders to create an ecosystem that fosters growth and establishes a pipeline for tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and leaders.” 

“Projects like this demonstrate what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal partners work together,” said Erath Co. Judge Brandon J. Huckabee. “The Innovation and Incubation Hub will create opportunities in our region that benefit students, businesses, and our community for years to come.”

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

Contact: Luis Botello Faz

Washington, D.C.— U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin), a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), released the following statement following today’s reversal of the EPA’s endangerment finding.

“Few actions of this horrendous Trump regime endanger us more than terminating the endangerment finding— ignoring the science that greenhouse gases endanger human health,” said Rep. Doggett. “You don’t need to be a sailor to understand that turning off the lighthouse does not move the rocks.”

By rolling back decades of science-based protections, the Trump Administration is prioritizing corporate polluters over the American families who will ultimately pay the price for the many ways an overheated planet endangers us. 

Last year, Rep. Doggett led most Texas Democratic Congressmembers in opposing EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s initial proposal to effectively eliminate any federal ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and resultant protections.

You can find the full letter here.

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig joined Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) in introducing legislation to ease the burden of medical debt on Minnesotans by protecting individuals from predatory debt collection practices and requiring hospitals to offer more manageable repayment options.

The Patient Debt Relief Act would establish a grant program under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allow nonprofit organizations to purchase medical debt from hospitals. This program would be available to those whose medical debt exceeds 5 percent of their income and those whose household income is below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill would also require hospitals to provide affordable repayment options and prohibit hospitals and collection agencies from foreclosing on homes or seizing wages in order to collect medical debt.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous that in America, folks are being forced to choose between putting food on the table and paying their medical bills – and in the worst cases, debt collectors are going after patients who are just trying to get back on their feet,” said Rep. Craig. “It’s about time we offer working folks some relief from crippling medical debt and prevent companies from exploiting sick Minnesotans.”  

More than 20 million people in the U.S., and hundreds of thousands in Minnesota alone, struggle with medical debt. This number is only expected to increase as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act takes effect.

More than 143,000 Minnesotans received their health coverage through MNSure at the end of 2025, and of those, about 62% relied on the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits. When the tax credits expired at the end of last year, 90,000 Minnesotans saw their health care premiums increase an average of $177 per month and 20,000 Minnesotans were expected to lose access to coverage completely.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

FRESNO — Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) announced $3.15 million in federal funding for Fresno Yosemite International Airport through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Airport Improvement Program, bringing the total federal funding he has secured for the airport in recent years to more than $85 million. This funding will help the City of Fresno plan and design infrastructure improvements that enhance how the airport serves travelers and the broader region, supporting its ability to meet growing demand for air travel. 
“Fresno Yosemite International Airport has received unprecedented federal support over the years,” said Congressman Costa. “I’m proud to continue that work with this latest $3.15 million in FY26 funding. Following last year’s terminal expansion, this investment will help the City of Fresno plan and design the next phase of airport improvements, ensuring the airport continues to meet the needs of travelers and the region. Building on past Community Project Funding and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants, these resources strengthen regional connectivity and fuel economic growth that benefits families across the Central Valley.”
“Our airport has been growing steadily, and this investment allows us to build on that momentum,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer. “We are deeply grateful to Congressman Jim Costa for his leadership and advocacy on behalf of our community. This funding is a major win for our airport and the entire region. It enables us to move forward with critical expansion projects, enhance the passenger experience, and support long-term economic growth. The result will be improved travel options, new jobs, and a stronger local economy.”
“Securing this federal funding helps to support Fresno Yosemite International Airport in advancing infrastructure projects that expand regional connectivity and strengthen economic vitality,”said Interim Director of Aviation Francisco Partida. “These projects deliver a world-class airport that meets the needs of our community and supports continued progress.”