Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01), House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Ranking Member Jahana Hayes (CT-05), House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), and 212 House Democrats sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, urging the agency to use contingency reserve dollars to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown. With no resolution to a bipartisan path forward to reopen the government, SNAP funding is set to lapse on November 1, putting 42 million children and families at risk of experiencing hunger, including 900,000 Washingtonians.

There is enough in the SNAP contingency reserve to cover nearly two-thirds of the amount needed for a full month of benefits. The Members also advocate for the agency to use statutory transfer authority or any other legal means to supplement shortfalls the contingency reserve cannot cover.

“Now more than ever, millions of families across the country depend upon the SNAP to make ends meet. For far too many veterans, seniors, and children, SNAP benefits are the difference between having food or not,” wrote the Members. “Now, due to the government shutdown, they are facing crippling levels of uncertainty about whether they will be able to afford food next month. A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country.”

“We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance. Additionally, while the contingency reserve will not cover November benefits in full, we urge USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority at its disposal to supplement these dollars and fully fund November benefits. There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people,” the letter continues.

Full text of the letter is available here.             

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Yesterday, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) personally led two U.S. Capitol tours for students from Willard High School in Huron County and Upper Sandusky Middle School in Wyandot County. 

During the ongoing government shutdown, many federal operations, including public Capitol tours, are suspended until the government reopens. However, Members of Congress are still permitted to lead tours themselves, allowing students and visitors to continue experiencing the U.S. Capitol. Last week, Congressman Latta led two Capitol tours for Marion Local Schools and Coldwater Middle School in Mercer County. On Tuesday, Congressman Latta led two tours for Fort Recovery Middle School and Antwerp Middle School.

Both Willard High School and Upper Sandusky School were in Washington, DC, for a field trip, but many of their planned activities were cancelled due to the shutdown. Congressman Latta was glad to welcome the students and ensure they could still visit the Capitol during their trip.  

“Capitol tours are an engaging and important way for students to experience American history and civics firsthand. I enjoyed leading tours for Willard High School and Upper Sandusky Middle School, who traveled all the way from Ohio to visit Washington, DC. It’s always great to see students curious about American government, and I hope they learned a lot and enjoyed their time at the Capitol,” Latta said.  

“Touring the U.S. Capitol has always been an important and meaningful part of our school trip to Washington, DC. When we learned the building would be closed due to the shutdown, we were obviously disappointed to think our students might miss out on that experience. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Latta for arranging and personally leading our tour of the Capitol. What an awesome surprise and incredible opportunity for our students,” said Cathy Weaver, Teacher at Willard High School.  

“Congressman Latta’s personal tour of the U.S. Capitol was a standout highlight of our 8th-grade students’ field trip. His willingness to provide this experience during the federal government shutdown gave our students a rare opportunity to explore one of our nation’s most important institutions at a time when so many others were closed or unavailable,” said Greg Moon, a chaperone for Upper Sandusky Middle School’s trip.

“Upper Sandusky Middle School’s 8th graders had a once in a lifetime experience as Congressman Bob Latta was so gracious to provide a personal tour of our Capitol building in Washington, DC on Wednesday, October 29th. The government shutdown has impacted many tours in Washington, DC, but Congressman Latta took the time out of his week to bring the class onto the House Floor of the Capitol building and explain our legislative branch along with historical points about the Capitol building. This experience will forever be remembered by our students and we all want to thank Congressman Latta for all his time and efforts to support our local community as well as our country,” said Jason Hoffbauer, a chaperone for Upper Sandusky Middle School’s Trip.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Headline: Amata Highlights Significance of First Female Prime Minister of Japan, Congratulates Prime Minister Takaichi

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific in the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), is congratulating Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, and highlighting the significance of the first ever female Prime Minister of Japan. 

On October 21, 2025, a vote to designate the Prime Minister was held in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. Prime Minister Takaichi became the 104th Prime Minister. A new Cabinet was announced and the investiture ceremony for the Prime Minister was held at the Imperial Palace. 

“My congratulations to Prime Minister Takaichi in honor of this historic occasion,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Prime Minister Takaichi’s leadership is another inspiration point for the young people of the Pacific region. Japan is an important ally of the United States and an essential partner in diplomacy, trade, and security between our countries, and with other Pacific neighbors.”

“As a Member of the U.S. Congress from the South Pacific, and the first elected woman representative to Congress from our territory, I am delighted to highlight to the young people of American Samoa that one of the world’s leading economies has chosen the first ever female Prime Minister, who will have a central role in the next chapter of the US-Japan alliance and elsewhere on the world stage.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability, where he emphasized that while Donald Trump and Republicans are choosing to rip nutritional assistance and healthcare from the American people, Democrats will continue to fight to end the shutdown and support everyday Americans.

LEADER JEFFRIES: This is day 29 of the Trump-Republican shutdown, and Republicans have continued to show zero interest in reopening the government, enacting a bipartisan agreement that meets the needs of the American people and addressing the Republican healthcare crisis. In just a few days, on November 1st, open enrollment will begin, and tens of millions of Americans are going to more completely understand that their premiums, co-pays and deductibles are going to skyrocket by thousands of dollars per year because of Republicans’ continued refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for working-class Americans. At the same period of time, on November 1st, about 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP in order to put food on the table are at risk of losing their benefits because Donald Trump and Republicans want to cruelly rip them away. Let’s be clear. The administration has the funding to make sure that not a single American on November 1st or beyond goes hungry. Not a single American. They have the money, but they are choosing to withhold funding for SNAP because they want to punish hungry children, hungry veterans, hungry seniors, hungry women and hungry families as part of their continued effort to hurt everyday Americans.

This is what we’ve seen from Donald Trump and Republicans from the very beginning of this Congress. The Republican One Big Ugly Bill included the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. It also included the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history. Republicans cut $186 billion from SNAP in July, which is why we’re facing this crisis right now. And they did all of this back in July. Why? So they could provide massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors. That’s what Republicans have done during this presidency. And now, because of their continued refusal to even sit down and have a conversation with Democrats, despite us repeatedly making clear that we will sit down with Republicans anytime, anyplace, anywhere, here at the Capitol or back at the White House, to have a serious conversation about reopening the government, supporting our hardworking federal employees and addressing the healthcare crisis that Republicans have created, the affordability crisis that Republicans have created and now the hunger crisis that Republicans are creating by threatening to withhold SNAP benefits, even though the Trump administration has the money to make sure that not a single American goes hungry.

Full press availability can be watched here.

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

Washington, D.C. – Today Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement calling on the Trump administration to advance policies which support American beef producers and consumers.

“The hardworking families who raise cattle in Nebraska and all across our great country deserve policy which fights as hard as they do to put food on the table. The commonsense initiatives announced by USDA help provide current and future generations with the certainty they need to provide American families with affordable, nutritious protein. Certainly, these policies are welcome. However, our agriculture industry has been hit by historic setbacks in recent years, and policy and statements which unduly influence and undermine the domestic cattle market threaten our domestic food security and are not helpful.

“I am particularly concerned about the announcement regarding Argentine beef, as it appears to contradict President Trump’s efforts to fight tooth and nail to ensure American producers and workers receive fair treatment and prices for their products all around the world.”

Download audio here.

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

Washington, D.C. – Today Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the passing of former President of Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry Barry Kennedy:

“Nebraska lost a true leader with the passing of Barry Kennedy. His heart of service, drive to grow Nebraska’s economy, and dedication to family defined his life. Barry’s integrity and care for others will continue to inspire all of us who knew him.”

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

Washington, D.C. – Today Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chair Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced it had reached trade deals with Malaysia and Cambodia and established frameworks for agreements with Vietnam and Thailand to lower tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. 

“President Trump and his trade team are taking pivotal strides to secure access in global markets for U.S. goods and services to the benefit of America’s farmers, ranchers, workers, and innovation drivers. The Agreements on Reciprocal Trade signed with Malaysia and Cambodia, as well as the frameworks announced with Vietnam and Thailand, represent meaningful progress for U.S. industry as we work to diversify our input supply chains and export markets. By strengthening strategic economic and national security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, the United States is better poised to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s influence throughout the region. I look forward to working with the President and Ambassador Greer to ensure the full benefits of these deals and purchase commitments are realized.”

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

Washington, D.C. – Today Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chair Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced initiation of a Section 301 investigation into China’s implementation of the Phase One Agreement.

“Since negotiation of the China Phase One Agreement during President Trump’s first term, China has failed to meet their purchase commitments, provide real intellectual property protections, or approve science-proven technology and production standards for our agricultural products. Rather than engaging in productive negotiations with the current administration to right the relationship, China has taken to eliminating purchases of our agricultural products, blocking exports of critical minerals, and further escalating tensions. I appreciate Ambassador Greer’s action to investigate implementation of the agreement and look forward to working with the administration to fully realize its benefits.”

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

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) led 20 House Republicans in sending a letter urging President Donald Trump to address Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) during his visit to Japan. The MSCA targets American digital companies through unfair regulatory barriers which hamper innovation and threaten productivity. 

Key excerpts of the letter include:

We applaud your Administration’s tireless efforts to address longstanding trade barriers that negatively impact U.S. companies operating in foreign markets.

…

As you embark on your first trip to Asia of your current term, we wish to draw your attention to an area of ongoing concern in the U.S.-Japan bilateral trade relationship – the digital economy….Apparently drawing direct inspiration from the European Union’s highly problematic Digital Markets Act (DMA), Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) targets solely U.S. companies for special rules and obligations that restrict how these companies can conduct business and interact with customers in Japan…No Japanese, Chinese, or other third-country companies are subject to the law.

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We encourage you to raise this issue in your upcoming meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, and we stand at the ready to support your efforts to keep bringing down barriers for our world-leading digital companies.

Read the full letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

Headline: Congressman Veasey Releases Statement on Fort Worth ISD Takeover by TEA

Fort Worth, TX — Congressman Veasey released the following statement in regards the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) announced takeover of the Fort Worth Independent School District (Fort Worth ISD): 

“Let’s be clear: this takeover has nothing to do with improving the lives of low-income, children in Fort Worth ISD. This hostile takeover is about one thing: paving the way for underperforming charter schools and private school vouchers to dominate public education in Fort Worth.

As a Member of Congress, my job is to work with our city to strengthen neighborhoods. The school district’s job is to educate our kids. But it is not the job of politicians to play educator – ever.

This is 100% about politics. And if I’m wrong, then show just one initiative from the governor’s office that’s actually helping communities of color anywhere in Texas.

And let’s talk about hypocrisy. If these same folks are so worried about student performance in southeast Fort Worth, then where were they when the BIG UGLY BILL passed? That bill stripped Fort Worth families of health care and the ability to put food on the table. You think test scores and attendance won’t suffer when parents are choosing between groceries and medicine?

I didn’t hear a single word from Gov. Abbott, the TEA, or any of these so-called “education reformers” about how the BIG UGLY BILL would devastate the families I represent.