Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation met with leaders from the Maryland Public Service Commission, the Maryland Energy Administration, the Office of People’s Counsel for the State of Maryland, and PJM Interconnection to discuss efforts to lower Marylanders’ electricity costs and strengthen the reliability of the regional electric grid. Video of the members’ press availability following the meeting is availablehere.
“At a time when Marylanders are facing financial strain at the hands of the Trump Administration, it is critical that we continue to combat rising energy prices for working families. I was glad to join my colleagues in the Maryland Congressional Delegation and leaders of the Maryland energy sector to discuss the critical issue of lowering costs while also strengthening the reliability of our regional electric grid. We will keep working with our state and regional partners to lower electricity costs for working families across our state,”said Congressman Hoyer.
“Too many Marylanders are already struggling to make ends meet and pay their electric bills, and the surge of data center development across our region is only making things worse. To address these rising costs – and to shore up our power grid – I’ll keep working alongside Federal Team Maryland with our regional, state, and local partners, and I’ll continue fighting to pass my Power for the People Act. Consumers should not have to pay one dime in additional electricity costs to support data centers for the richest companies on the planet,”said Senator Chris Van Hollen.
“This Administration lied when they said they would lower our costs. Rent, groceries, and utilities are skyrocketing and Marylanders are struggling to get by. I am so glad Team Maryland met with state leaders to discuss how we can actually lower Marylanders’ electricity costs,”said Senator Angela Alsobrooks.
“The urgent issue of energy affordability is hurting my constituents and their families,”said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “I remain angry – that energy providers continue to rake in huge sums of money while the regulators fail to regulate. Working families cannot wait for another study, plan or proposal to address our skyrocketing electricity costs. The Maryland Public Service Commission must act swiftly to prevent any further utility rate increases moving forward, and PJM Interconnection must move swiftly to connect clean, affordable power sources to the grid that will help lower expensive utility rates. Congress must pass the POWER FOR THE PEOPLE ACT.”
“Marylanders should not be forced to shoulder skyrocketing energy costs. Large energy users like data centers should be responsible for building or securing the electricity they need instead of shifting those costs onto Maryland ratepayers. In addition, Maryland leadership should place a moratorium on the state taxes and fees that continue to drive up energy bills. Maryland families deserve reliable, affordable power, not policies that make their electricity more expensive,”said Congressman Andy Harris.
“The Trump economy is crushing Marylanders, especially as energy costs soar,”said Congressman Jamie Raskin. “Together, Team Maryland is taking matters into our own hands, working to invest in affordable and reliable energy solutions for all our families.”
“People in my district and across Maryland have seen their energy bills soar by over 20% in the past year, and this situation is not getting better. We are paying for data centers that are not located in Maryland nor in the interest of our constituents. We need common sense regulations that save us from this affordability crisis and prevent rolling blackouts on the grid that would put lives and livelihoods at risk,”said Congressman Glenn Ivey.
“Every day I hear concerns about affordability and rising energy costs, and frankly, I share those concerns every time I open my own BGE bill. The data backs up what families are telling us: utility inflation has risen three times faster than general inflation, one in six households is carrying utility debt, and energy demand is expected to grow by 40 percent by 2032. All of this is happening while the President has effectively taken half of our future generation capacity off the table by cutting renewable energy projects,”said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. “Two things can be true: we can compete with China without abandoning critical environmental safeguards, and we can achieve energy and water independence without passing the costs directly onto consumers. But right now, that’s not what’s happening. Billions in data-center-driven transmission upgrade costs have already fallen onto ratepayers. That’s why Team Maryland is working together on real solutions so our neighbors aren’t caught footing the bill.”
“Energy affordability is a major challenge right now as Marylanders continue to face crushing costs across the board. Rising demand from data centers, extreme weather, and the President’s disruptive energy policies are only driving prices higher for working families while benefiting the wealthy. Addressing this issue is a key part of my‘Costs Down, Opportunity Up’affordability agenda, and I’m proud to stand alongside Team Maryland’s delegation and our Governor as we work together to lead on solutions,”said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney.
“Maryland families are struggling with ever-increasing utility bills. Lowering the cost of living has to be the top priority for all levels of government. I will continue fighting to protect Maryland consumers and ensure we’re building out a reliable, sustainable and — most importantly — affordable energy future,”said Congressman Johnny Olszewski.
BURLINGTON, MA – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley visited the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Boston Field Office in Burlington, to conduct oversight of the operations and conditions of the facility. Rep. Pressley engaged with ICE staff and leadership in a closed-door tour and discussion in the facility.
Following the visit, Rep. Pressley held a press availability to share what she learned and reiterate her commitment to fighting for the human rights and dignity of our neighbors and holding agencies accountable.
During the press availability, Rep. Pressley engaged with local organizers who have held weekly protests over the last several months at the Burlington ICE facility to support immigrant community members and their families.
A transcript of Congresswoman Pressley’s remarks at the press availability is available below, and the full video is available here.
Transcript: Pressley Conducts Oversight Visit at Burlington ICE Facility, Gets Answers, Demands Protections for Detained Community Members and Families Burlington ICE Facility
March 12, 2026
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley here in my capacity as a Member of Congress and as a member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to conduct some real-time oversight.
I came here to observe the facilities and to ask questions and to demand answers on behalf of my constituents.
I’m leaving here with my position unchanged—that we need to defund and abolish ICE.
And, you know, it’s really important that we continue to conduct vigorous oversight.
I’ve had a number of constituents who have been unlawfully processed and detained.
And because of the dedicated work of my staff and working cooperatively with organizations like LUCE and other advocacy and immigrants’ rights organizations, we’ve been able to get a lot of people freed and reunited with their families and back home.
That being said, the trauma for what they’ve experienced will remain.
At the end of the day, ICE has only been in existence since 2003.
Immigration enforcement should not be happening under DHS.
This work has nothing to do with law and order if you are actively violating people’s constitutional rights of due process and, in many instances, their civil and human rights.
And it certainly has nothing to do with public safety if we are sowing terror and trauma and chaos.
And so, this is one tool available to us in the work of oversight writ large.
Appreciate you all being here because you recognize that our freedoms and our destinies are tied. And these are our neighbors.
As immigrant communities have been under siege by the Trump administration, Rep. Pressley has been a leading voice in pushing back and defending our immigrant neighbors.
In recent weeks, Rep. Pressley has shone light on the inhumane attacks by ICE on immigrant communities and pushed back against the reckless agency. During Oversight Democrats’ bicameral shadow hearing on the use of violence by ICE, Rep. Pressley highlighted the urgency of the moment by uplifting stories of traumatized community members she met with during her trip to Minnesota with Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and invoking the horrifying detention case of five-year-old LiamRamos.
In February 2025, Rep. Pressley convened immigrant entrepreneurs and small business owners, community advocates, and municipal leaders to hear of the essential role that immigrant-owned small businesses play in Massachusetts’ economy and communities and how they are suffering under Trump’s attacks.
Rep. Pressley also leads a discharge petition that could compel the House vote on a bill to require the Trump Administration to extend TPS for Haiti for three years.
In February 2026, during Oversight Democrats’ bicameral shadow hearing on the use of violence by ICE, Rep. Pressley demanded Congress end qualified immunity to ensure federal law enforcement officers are held accountable for breaking the law and murdering civilians. Rep. Pressley called on her colleagues not to settle for bare minimum reforms in funding negotiations for the Department of Homeland Security, instead urging them to fight to rebalance power and restore accountability.
Following the ICE murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026, which builds on the lawmakers’ prior work by granting victims the right to sue federal law enforcement officers—not just state and local—for civil rights violations and abolishing the defense of qualified immunity in these suits. The expanded legislation would help deliver accountability for families abused by law enforcement, including ICE agents.
Congresswoman Pressley delivered a floor speech on the need to end qualified immunity for federal law enforcement, including immigration officers. Watch the floor speech here.
In January 2026, Congresswoman Pressley condemned the ICE murder of Renee Good in Minnesota and motioned to subpoena all records and footage related to the shooting, but Republicans obstructed it. Footage of Congresswoman Pressley’s motion to subpoena is here.
impacted by the cruel and unlawful ICE raid at an Allston car wash in November. Rep. Pressley delivered a powerful speech on the House floor condemning the Allston ICE raid and defended the vibrant immigrant communities who are being maliciously stolen from their homes, ripped from their families, and unlawfully detained and deported by the Trump Administration and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In June 2025, Congresswoman Pressley convened immigrant justice advocates, local leaders, and impacted families to tell Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Hands off our immigrant neighbors.
Rep. Pressley has also been an outspoken critic against the unlawful detention of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts PhD student, Somerville resident, and constituent of the Congresswoman’s who was unlawfully detained for weeks in retaliation for her protected speech. After weeks of advocacy and Congressional oversight, including a visit to detention centers in Louisiana, Rep. Pressley and Senator Ed Markey welcomed Ms. Öztürk to Massachusetts following her arrival from ICE detention in Louisiana.
Rep. Pressley has also spoken out against reports of ICE activity in the MA 7th and other municipalities in Massachusetts.
As a leading voice and legislator, Rep. Pressley’s advocacy to protect children from abuse and trauma dates back to her days as a Boston City Councilor. In her first term in Congress, she partnered with the late Chairman Elijah Cummings to hold the first Congressional hearing on childhood trauma on the Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Rep. Pressley leads the STRONG Support for Children Act, which would support communities in addressing childhood trauma through healing-centered, neighborhood-based, gender-responsive, culturally specific, and trauma-informed approaches that acknowledge the impact of systemic racism and inequities over generations. She has called for such trauma-informed and child-centered approaches to every issue, including: surging baby formula to Gaza, addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, addressing sexual harassment targeting children and women girls, committing to end gun violence, and more.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is delighted to announce that Alek Timuialatogo West of Vatia has been accepted for admittance to both the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He has accepted his first choice to attend the Naval Academy, with interest in being a Navy Psychiatrist.
“I’m so pleased to announce Alek has been accepted to these two prestigious Service Academies,” said Congresswoman Amata. “He now has a fully qualified appointment to the Naval Academy. Congratulations on this excellent achievement, and all the hard work and dedication through his high school years to achieve this outcome. A special thank you and congratulations to his family, teachers, Samoana High School, and most of all his proud parents. It’s always a thrill to congratulate our outstanding students as they choose their pathways to higher education.”
A Service Academy acceptance requires high grades from beginning to end of high school. The Service Academies require strong academics, high test scores, and additionally, the demonstration of extracurricular activities, volunteering, or other roles that show leadership and motivation.
Congresswoman Amata nominated Alek this January among a group of six student nominees who sent in nine total Service Academy applications this year from American Samoa. His extra-curricular efforts include Finafinau environmental efforts, such as clean up and planting, as well as youth athletics coaching and volunteering.
Congresswoman Amata’s Chief of Staff, Col. Leafaina Tavai (Ret.), was the first service academy graduate from American Samoa, graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She recommends that motivated students consider applying to multiple Academies, recognizing that the applications are time-consuming, but students cannot be nominated without a completed application on file with the Academy.
The Service Academies are selective and highly competitive, and she notes prospective applicants should not forget there are five total Service Academy possibilities, including the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. The Coast Guard Academy does not include a congressional nomination process, but the Congresswoman will be very happy to highlight and congratulate any Academy acceptance, as American Samoa takes pride in each of these students.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Larsen Announces $17.5 Million Investment in Skagit Transit
Washington, D.C., March 12, 2026
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:
“Finally! Trump’s Department of Transportation (DOT) released $17.5 million it was holding hostage that will now allow Skagit Transit to move forward with its new Operations facility. I have been working with Skagit Transit leadership for several years to get these dollars out the door and put to work for local transit. So great to be part of this local victory.”
Larsen helped secure the $17.5 million DOT award to Skagit County last year. He is the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
DOT released 123 grants today, including nine totaling over $183 million for Washington state communities:
$17.5 million for Skagit Transit’s Maintenance, Operations, and Administration Facility in Burlington;
$3.84 million for Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)’s Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor Reliability – Landslide Mitigation Phase IV Project to reduce landslide blocking events along Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF)’s Scenic Subdivision at three locations between Seattle and Everett;
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas and emphasized that Democrats are pushing back against Donald Trump and Republicans to keep our nation out of another forever war and to tackle the real problems American families are facing.
BEN MEISELAS: Leader Jeffries, it’s great to see you here live with everybody. I showed a clip there of Donald Trump in Cincinnati. We also saw Donald Trump’s speech in Kentucky. And in that speech, he was barely coherent. He claimed that the war was won. He said the Strait of Hormuz is excellent and that everything’s going according to plan. He looked and behaved demented, and we know everything’s a lie. I want to get your reaction to that, Leader Jeffries.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump is a disaster. This guy has been completely and totally unqualified since the moment he first burst onto the national stage, unfortunately, about 10 years ago, and it’s only gotten worse. And certainly, the context of what the country and the world are now dealing with is toxic and extreme. This war is a failure. It’s a war of choice. We’ve already lost seven service members, heroes and patriots. Billions of dollars are being spent to drop bombs in the Middle East. The President is unwilling to spend a dime to actually make healthcare more affordable or reduce the grocery bills of everyday Americans. School children have been killed because of erroneous information. We also know gas prices are through the roof, and war has exploded all across the Middle East from a person, Donald Trump, who, as a candidate, said he was not going to get us into another endless war of choice in the Middle East. And so he’s been a failure. Republicans have been a failure. And to the extent that we need regime change at this moment in time, it is going to come in November.
BEN MEISELAS: I think that’s what a lot of people are saying and are happy to hear you say that the real regime change that is needed is the Trump regime. And frankly, the GOP regime as well. They’re on a retreat right now, or they’ve been on a retreat in Doral in Miami at Donald Trump’s resort, where they’ve been partying right now during this disastrous war. They’ve been living it up in the Trump ballroom out there, which is just so utterly offensive. And I think, though, a lot of people have been paying attention, though, to this retreat and what’s been going on there and saying, you know, it’s not only tone deaf, it’s consistent with their behavior in the past. But I just think even some MAGA people or Republican people looking at this, like, what the hell is going on here? What do you make of this GOP retreat, Leader Jeffries?
LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s incredible to me. They’re down at Donald Trump’s luxury golf club, partying with each other and denying reality. Donald Trump continues to pretend as if the affordability crisis is a hoax. And now they’re trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people by suggesting that they should no longer talk about mass deportation. Republicans are the party of mass deportations. They are the ones who’ve actually decided that they’re going to spend taxpayer dollars not to make life more affordable for the American people, but to brutalize and kill them, as was the case with Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, and to violently target law-abiding immigrant families. It’s one of the reasons why their immigration policies are now perceived to be a failure, along with, of course, the failure on the economy, the failure on healthcare, the failure on nutritional assistance, the failure to uphold the rule of law, as you’ve consistently pointed out, Ben. This is a Trump cartel. This is the largest pay-to-play scheme that any presidential administration has ever run. And so that’s why we’re determined to make sure we do something meaningful to lower the high cost of living, on affordability, but at the same time, continue to bring about accountability, as was recently done with the termination of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, although that’s not over, because we’re going to continue to pursue the corruption that she clearly engaged in as well.
BEN MEISELAS: You mentioned that this entire Trump regime, by the way, which, as you mentioned, there needs to be a regime change right there. But this entire regime is a pay-to-play scheme. But even the people who paid to play in the Middle East are saying, when do we get to play? We paid. Where the hell is the defense? You wanted us to do World Liberty Financials, so we gave you hundreds of millions. You wanted us to do this. You wanted to do that. You wanted the Trump hotels. We gave you all of that. And now you rushed into this war without listening to us, without consulting us. And now we’ve heard that these Middle East nations are talking about security arrangements with Iran and with China. So we have a reordering of a world order post World War Two, except right now America’s being cut out because, despite having the most powerful military in the world, undisputed that we had that or that exists, but the fact that it was done in such an unprepared Trumpian way has turned the whole world against us right now.
LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s absolutely correct. And as we’ve seen in prior conflicts, including, of course, Iraq and Afghanistan, military might is not enough if the people who are actually directing the war don’t know what the hell they’re doing in terms of the civilians in suits in Washington, D.C. And that’s what we see as it relates to Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth and all the people who have gotten us into this war of choice without any justification. They’ve got no plans, no objective and no idea how to get us out of this situation that they themselves got us into. And as you’ve pointed out, you now have a dozen countries in the Middle East who are under attack from Iran and are trying to figure out, okay, if the United States doesn’t really know how to deescalate a conflict that they raced into, they’re considering other options. So Donald Trump, as the American people know, hasn’t made this country safer. The American people correctly have come to the conclusion he’s actually making us more vulnerable. And this guy, by the way, doesn’t even know the difference between friend or foe. He seems like he had a friendly conversation with Vladimir Putin of all people, who apparently is providing intelligence to Iranians to be able to target U.S. military servicemen and women. And rather than admonish, punish, make sure they have consequences for what Vladimir Putin and Russia appear to be doing, this guy, Donald Trump, continues to go after Ukraine, who’s our ally, partnering with Western Europe, trying to push back against Russian aggression. The whole thing is extraordinary and out of control. It’s one of the reasons why, though, the American people have been rising up, and Republicans have been losing elections literally for 15 consecutive months. Because the American people are done with the extremism, and we, as Democrats, are gonna continue to lean in to focusing on the issues that matter, driving down the high cost of living, fixing our broken healthcare system and yes, cleaning up corruption wherever it may be found.
BEN MEISELAS: You know, Leader Jeffries, when, look, I obviously am no fan of Donald Trump’s, but when America is in a war, even if it’s a war that I believe is unlawful and I believe is disastrous, I still want to see, I still root for leadership qualities and clarity. Like let me say that, like, so that American people know what’s going on. And so when Donald Trump was giving the speech in Kentucky, and people are looking for just some level of clarity, a fraction of a fraction of moral clarity, this is what we hear. Salty, let’s play this clip.
RECORDING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP: The only thing I admired about Barack Hussein Obama, which was nothing, actually. But the only thing is the way he bobbed down. Remember, he’d bob, hey, if you talk about unpresidential, he’s bobbing. And I couldn’t believe that he made it without at least a noticeable major fall. But Biden was the opposite. Biden couldn’t even walk up the stairs. He fell.
BEN MEISELAS: So, Leader Jeffries, when I watch this speech, in my opinion, there’s something seriously wrong with this person cognitively, physically. This person’s not right, you know. And I say this in the utmost seriousness. There’s truly something, and it’s staring us in the face. Before we go, I just want, you know, you to maybe just address like what we’re observing right now because I feel like we’re just being gaslit by a lot of media to believe that this is like normal. And it isn’t.
LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s absolutely abnormal. You know, from the perspective of someone who’s a New Yorker, we’ve known there’s something seriously wrong with this individual for decades. He’s been in our face, but the deterioration has certainly accelerated. And now it’s frightening for the American people, understandably, because this guy is the Commander-in-Chief at this moment. And it’s just going to be incumbent to make sure that we can erect as many ironclad guardrails around this guy and as you know you’ve pointed out, look, when we’re at war, we are going to continue to pray for the safety and security of our troops, our brave servicemen and women, all who are in harm’s way. But at the same period of time, we have a responsibility to make sure we’re defending the best interests of the American people, the country, the rule of law, the Constitution, all of which Donald Trump continues to run over. And he’s not offering a single coherent reason for the policies, the extremism, that he’s jamming down the throats of the American people causing folks to reasonably question what’s wrong with this guy.
BEN MEISELAS: Leader Jeffries, I know you got to go in 90 seconds. Address the midterms, though. A lot of people want to hear your perspective of it, you know. It’s so critical, I think, that Article One behave like Article One and be a check against this regime. Talk to us about it.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Absolutely. You know, James Madison once made the observation when they were contemplating the creation of the House of Representatives, that it should be an intimate sympathy with the American people and to function—Congress—as a rival to the executive branch. And that’s not what’s happening right now. House Republicans continue to bury their heads in the sand and they act like reckless rubber stamps to Donald Trump’s extreme agenda. Enough. In order for us to have a check and balance, for us to block and tackle on behalf of the American people, push back against this extremism and actually spend taxpayer dollars in ways that are designed to make the lives of the American people more affordable, Democrats are going to need to rout Republicans and take back control of the House. And the good news is we’re only three seats short. Narrowest majority that Republicans have since any party since 1930. We’re going to take back the House with the support of the American people and then put the American people first, not the Trump cartel.
BEN MEISELAS: Democratic Leader Jeffries, appreciate you joining us on this live. Thank you very much. And a lot of people are paying attention right now, these midterms especially. And I think you mentioning regime change of Trump is something that I saw in the chat that people are saying. I mean, for real, like this is something that I think in our worst nightmare, you know, people would say, it’s this bad. It’s worse than people say. Leader Jeffries, thank you so much.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)
March 12, 2026
More Than 35,000 People Die Annually from Bacterial Infections That are Resistant to Antibiotics; Bill Would Create a Global Strategy to Fight “Superbugs”
Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) and Rep. David Valadao (CA-22) announced the reintroduction of the bipartisan Saving Us from Pandemic Era Resistance by Building a Unified Global Strategy (SUPER BUGS) Act. The bill, H.R. 7879, would help prepare for future pandemics by directing the Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to coordinate a federal strategy for working with foreign countries, multilateral organizations, and other appropriate entities to help develop and commercialize new pandemic products, including antimicrobials. These new antimicrobial products would fight the rapid global spread of pathogens resistant to treatment, which are considered “superbugs.”
Each year in the United States, at least 2.8 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, and more than 35,000 of them die from these infections. Antimicrobial drugs are intended for short-term use, making the development of new ones less attractive to drug developers. In December 2018, there were 42 antibiotics in the global clinical pipeline, of which only 11 were being developed to treat superbugs on the World Health Organization (WHO) critical threat list.
“There is scientific consensus on the fact that our world will experience another global pandemic, and the next one is likely to be connected to antimicrobial resistance. It’s not a matter of if it will happen, it’s a matter of when,” said Rep. Levin. “In order to protect Americans and people across the world, we need international cooperation and a global strategy to fight superbugs that have become resistant to modern medicine. Our bill would direct the development of drugs and other products to fight superbugs by entering into partnerships with other countries and multilateral organizations. I thank Rep. Valadao for his partnership on this bill and look forward to it moving through the legislative process quickly.”
“In the Central Valley, we see firsthand the growing threat of superbugs like Valley Fever, which are becoming harder to treat,” said Rep. Valadao. “The bipartisan SUPER BUGS Act strengthens coordination with our international partners to accelerate new treatments and tools to combat drug-resistant pathogens, and I’m proud to partner with Congressman Levin to help prevent the next global pandemic.”
The SUPER BUGS Act would strengthen the United States’ ability to combat antimicrobial resistance and prepare for future pandemics by expanding collaboration with international partners and encouraging parallel investments in the development of antimicrobials and other pandemic countermeasures. The bill’s coordinated strategic approach would aim to ensure equitable contributions among participating entities and consider a range of mechanisms to accelerate development and access, including securing contracts with the private sector, establishing public-private partnerships, implementing alternative payment models, and streamlining regulatory approval processes.
The bill is endorsed by the Partnership for Fighting Infectious Disease, American Society of Microbiology, Global Health Technologies Coalition, American Public Health Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Sepsis Alliance, Treatment Action Group, and IAVI.
“National public health emergencies are a threat to every American. Infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance are the root cause, and right now, the nation is unprepared to prevent them. U.S. health care requires a national strategy to get, and stay, ahead of the next pandemic. We applaud the sponsors for introducing the SUPER BUGS Act and for their commitment to addressing these very serious health and national security concerns,” said Candace DeMatteis, Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease (PFID).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)
WASHINGTON –Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) in reintroducing the Saving Us from Pandemic Era Resistance by Building a Unified Global Strategy (SUPER BUGS) Act. This bipartisan bill would help prepare for future pandemics by directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Department of State, to coordinate with foreign countries and other entities on the development and commercialization of new antimicrobial drugs, diagnostics, and other products to fight the global spread of pathogens resistant to treatment, also called “superbugs.” In the Central Valley, Valley Fever is a superbug that is resistant to antifungal treatment and has become more common in recent years.
“In the Central Valley, we see firsthand the growing threat of superbugs like Valley Fever, which are becoming harder to treat,”said Congressman Valadao.“The bipartisan SUPER BUGS Act strengthens coordination with our international partners to accelerate new treatments and tools to combat drug-resistant pathogens, and I’m proud to partner with Congressman Levin to help prevent the next global pandemic.”
“There is scientific consensus on the fact that our world will experience another global pandemic, and the next one is likely to be connected to antimicrobial resistance. It’s not a matter of if it will happen, it’s a matter of when,”said Rep. Levin.“In order to protect Americans and people across the world, we need international cooperation and a global strategy to fight superbugs that have become resistant to modern medicine. Our bill would direct the development of drugs and other products to fight superbugs by entering into partnerships with other countries and multilateral organizations. I thank Rep. Valadao for his partnership on this bill and look forward to it moving through the legislative process quickly.”
Supporting organizations include the American Society of Microbiology, Global Health Technologies Coalition, American Public Health Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Sepsis Alliance, Treatment Action Group, and IAVI.
Background:
Antimicrobials—including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitic medicines—are essential tools used to prevent and treat infections. However, the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance is making many of these treatments less effective. As bacteria and other pathogens evolve to withstand existing drugs, infections that were once easily treatable are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
In the United States alone, antibiotic-resistant bacteria infect at least 2.8 million people each year and cause more than 35,000 deaths. Despite the rising threat, the pipeline for new antimicrobial drugs remains limited. Because antimicrobial medicines are typically intended for short-term use, they often generate lower long-term revenue compared with drugs for chronic conditions, making them less attractive investments for pharmaceutical developers.
As of December 2018, there were 42 antibiotics in the global clinical development pipeline. Of those, only 11 were being developed to target “superbugs” identified on the World Health Organization’s critical threat list, highlighting a significant gap between the growing public health need and the pace of new drug development.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Roger Williams (25th District of Texas)
ARLINGTON, TX –Today,Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25),Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, held a roundtable in Arlington, Texas to discuss the economic opportunities surrounding the Arlington Grand Prix. Local small business owners joined Chairman Williams to examine how Main Street is taking advantage of the economic growth generated by the Grand Prix.
“Texas is the best place in the country to own and operate a small business, and events like the Arlington Grand Prix bring incredible opportunities for our local entrepreneurs,”said Chairman Williams.“Small businesses across North Texas will benefit from the increased tourism and economic activity this event will bring. I appreciate the local stakeholders who joined today’s conversation, and I will continue working to ensure Washington supports policies that allow Main Street to thrive.”
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Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) released the following statement in response to Governor Wes Moore proclaiming March 20, 2026, as “MeatOut Day in Maryland,” which encourages Marylanders to reduce meat consumption in favor of plant-based diets.
The Moore Administration is encouraging Marylanders to reduce or eliminate meat consumption in favor of plant-based diets as part of a national campaign led by the Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), an advocacy group that promotes eliminating meat from people’s diets through annual outreach campaigns.
Statement from Congressman Harris:
“Maryland farmers and watermen have been under siege from the Moore Administration since his first day in office. The mass-covering of farm fields by subsidized and state-mandated solar panels is threatening livestock and poultry production across the state. And now, in the midst of a historically challenging year for Maryland’s oyster industry, instead of extending a helping hand to promote “Maryland’s Best,” he openly encourages Marylanders to even further cut down their consumption of meat products.
This is yet another demonstration by “Governor IDGAF” that he does not care about the Eastern Shore, or any rural communities that rely on these critical industries. Perhaps the Governor needs a reminder of what industries are represented on the State Seal, unless he plans on changing that too.”
For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, was joined by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Representatives Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Richard E. Neal (MA-01) in demanding immediate answers from the Trump Administration following reports that the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has issued a stop-work order and notice of intent to terminate and wind down the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub.
In a letter to President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the lawmakers called for an immediate explanation and justification for the decision, warning it could disrupt lifesaving biomedical innovation and waste years of federal investment.
“Terminating the Investor Catalyst Hub’s work at this stage would be a profound mistake and a blatant waste of taxpayer dollars and federal investment,” the lawmakers wrote. “Halting this work now would squander years of progress, disrupt momentum across multiple ARPA-H programs, and undermine the agency’s core mission of translating high-impact research into treatments and cures that reach the American people.”
The Investor Catalyst Hub, based in the greater Boston area, plays a central role in ensuring promising innovations successfully transition from federal research investment into real-world treatments and cures. The Hub was strategically located in Massachusetts because of the Commonwealth’s globally recognized life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem, and unmatched concentration of research institutions, hospitals, and health innovators.
Congress recently reaffirmed its commitment to ARPA-H by appropriating $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2026 funding to accelerate high-impact biomedical innovation and strengthen pathways that move breakthroughs from discovery to deployment. The delegation noted that the Investor Catalyst Hub has been fully operational for two years and is already supporting projects focused on improving cancer surgery, expanding hospital-level care to rural communities, and advancing the diagnosis and treatment of lymphatic diseases.
“With Congress’ support, the Investor Catalyst Hub was created precisely to ensure that ARPA-H–funded breakthroughs do not stall out in the lab but instead move efficiently toward real-world deployment,” the lawmakers continued.
The members requested a congressional briefing, a clear justification for the decision, and a detailed contingency plan explaining how ARPA-H will maintain continuity of the Investor Catalyst Hub’s work. They asked the Administration to respond no later than February 13, 2026.
A copy of the letter sent today can be accessed HERE.