Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

The U.S. House today passed, with bipartisan support, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Dina Titus to safeguard Southern Nevada’s water security while enhancing environmental conservation efforts.

The Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act would allow a portion of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Horizon Lateral water pipeline project to tunnel beneath the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), increasing water reliability for over a million Southern Nevadans, fortifying the region’s water infrastructure against potential outages, and minimizing disruptions and impacts to the surrounding communities from water infrastructure projects. 

The legislation also would expand the 48,438-acre Sloan Canyon NCA by 9,290 acres to enhance the preservation of the desert landscapes and habitat unique to Southern Nevada. The Sloan Canyon NCA contains the Sloan Petroglyph Site, which includes thousands of petroglyphs created by native cultures.

Congresswoman Titus stated, “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of the climate crisis with rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. Our precious water supply must be protected. The Horizon Lateral pipeline strikes an important balance. It will protect and enhance water access for District One residents and businesses while preserving more of the unique habitat and cultural history of Sloan Canyon.”  

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has affirmed its support for the legislation, emphasizing the significance of ensuring water service reliability for the Las Vegas Valley. “This legislation increases water service reliability for more than one million residents and hundreds of businesses in Southern Nevada, helping ensure the long-term viability of our regional water system while also expanding and protecting environmental resources for our community,” said John Ensminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority

Background:

The proposed underground route beneath Sloan Canyon NCA is estimated to save Southern Nevadans at least $200 million while minimizing disturbances to both residents and the local environment.

Additionally, this route ensures the water delivery system’s redundancy in emergency situations and offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today announced the introduction of a measure to assert Congress’ full responsibility and control of key legislative branch positions to counter the Trump administration’s efforts to remove Congressional agency leaders.

In May of this year, the administration fired Carla Hayden, head the Library of Congress (LOC), a Congressional entity, the de facto national library of the United States and the world’s largest library. It also sought to remove Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights, whose was appointed by Hayden and whose office is part of the LOC.

“The executive branch has no business selecting or removing the leaders of agencies which are part of the legislative branch and key to its independent operations,” said Case, a member of the House Appropriations Committee who served four years on its Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.

“My bill (H.R. 6517) would amend the appointment processes for three key legislative branch positions – the Librarian of Congress, the Comptroller General and the Director of the Government Publishing Office (GPO) – to provide that appointment and removal of their leaders are the exclusive purview of Congress. These three agencies are critical to the independent operations of Congress and should not be subject to direction by the executive branch or any other external organization.”

The Librarian of Congress is also the main research arm of Congress, managing the Congressional Research Service which is Congress’ dedicated source of information, research and legislative development. The Comptroller General leads the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which conducts government-wide audits and reviews government programs to provide nonpartisan oversight for Congress. The GPO prints and distributes official Congressional and federal publications. “To ensure their independence from the executive branch, there must be no question that Congress has complete authority to dictate the appointment as well as the removal of the leaders of these organizations,” said Case.

“Thus, my proposal would remove the President from the appointment process for all these positions and change it to a commission structure. The commissions would be made up of House and Senate leadership, as well as members from the relevant Congressional committees. The House would now also have a say in the appointment process, since its appointees would have to be confirmed by the adoption of concurrent resolutions. Additionally, removal would be the exclusive purview of Congress.”

·        Case’s remarks on introduction of his bill are here.

·        Bill text is attached.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

Last week, U.S. Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) reintroduced the Executive Action Cost Transparency Act. This bill would mandate that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provide a comprehensive and centralized list of final administrative actions in order to increase transparency and streamline information flow, providing lawmakers with needed information on spending. This would include proposed rules, final rules, executive orders, memoranda, and judicial actions since the last baseline and would further require CBO to provide updated estimates for scores that meet a threshold of $50 billion over 10 years.

This common sense reform would ensure that the CBO, the designated scorekeepers of legislation, provide lawmakers with accurate and timely information on the spending of the executive branch, regardless of who is in the White House. 

“This common sense legislation takes steps to change course on the debt crisis that no American taxpayer wants to see from the federal government. Providing transparency on these costs is what the American people deserve,” Rep. Estes said. “Improving the information that CBO provides to Congress and the public is one crucial step that will help ensure we know the true cost of D.C. spending.” 

Congress has a duty to ensure the CBO is fulfilling its mission of providing lawmakers with accurate and timely information and analysis on legislation and the economy. 

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressional Fusion Energy Caucus Co-Chairs Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) introduced bipartisan legislation to formally establish the Office of Fusion at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. 

“Fusion energy holds enormous promise to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable power while strengthening America’s competitiveness and security,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Formally establishing an Office of Fusion at the Department of Energy will give this rapidly advancing field the focus and coordination it needs to move from breakthrough science to real-world deployment. With world-class fusion companies and researchers here in Massachusetts and across the country, this bipartisan legislation helps ensure the United States leads the way in bringing fusion from the lab to the grid.”

With energy costs soaring across the nation, the office would advance fusion energy and accelerate research, development, demonstration, deployment, and market adoption of fusion technologies. In partnership with the private sector, this office would also advance near-term and long-term fusion energy science and technology to meet the growing energy, environmental, and economic demands of the United States.

Last month, DOE released their reorganization plans which included an “Office of Fusion.” This bipartisan bill would complement these plans, codify the office, and urge DOE to move forward with their plans to ensure that the United States can continue leading the way on fusion energy and eventually reach commercialization.

Fusion has been described as the “energy of the future” with the potential to harness the power of the sun to manufacture near limitless energy for American homes, technology, and the economy. It has the potential to be a nearly limitless and sustainable source of electricity that can help meet the demand of tomorrow.

“Establishing an Office of Fusion at the Department of Energy is a critical step toward unlocking one of the most promising clean energy solutions,” said Congressman Beyer. “Fusion research and development is advancing toward commercialization, and we need a coordinated federal effort dedicated to getting fusion energy on the grid as quickly as possible. An established Office of Fusion would provide the focused leadership and technical expertise necessary, in coordination with the private sector, to accelerate decades of scientific progress, give the United States the momentum it needs to lead the world in fusion energy development and deployment, and finally supply fusion power to the grid.”

“Fusion energy represents one of the most promising breakthroughs of our time, with the potential to deliver abundant, reliable, carbon-free power while strengthening America’s economic and national security,” said Congressman Obernolte. “By reestablishing the Office of Fusion at the Department of Energy, this bill accelerates commercialization through public-private partnerships, positions our workforce and supply chains to compete and win against adversaries like China, and ensures the United States remains the global leader in fusion technology. Congress must provide clear direction and a coordinated federal strategy to move fusion from the lab to the grid, and this legislation does exactly that.”

“A clean energy future powered by fusion has the potential to bring nearly unlimited, dependable, and carbon-free electricity across our country, slashing energy costs for millions of Americans,” said Senator Padilla. “California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is leading the industry with repeatable fusion ignition breakthroughs, and Republicans and Democrats agree that now is the time to support further progress to cement the United States’ energy dominance and establish fusion’s market viability. Establishing the Office of Fusion is a bipartisan priority to support advancements in fusion technology to lower Americans’ electric bills and meet the evolving energy needs of our nation.”

“As energy demand continues to skyrocket, the United States must implement innovative solutions quickly to maintain reliability and safeguard national security,” said Senator Cornyn. “By establishing the Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy, this legislation would accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge fusion energy as an abundant and reliable power source to help meet surging demand and bolster grid stability.”

Last year, Congresswoman Trahan’s Fusion Energy Act was signed into law as part of the Fire Grants and Safety Act. The law streamlines the creation of clear federal regulations to support the development of commercial fusion facilities by codifying the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s regulatory authority over commercial fusion energy systems.

“The restoration of the Office of Fusion, first by the Trump Administration, and now Congress, is the newest powerful signal that fusion is rapidly evolving from its scientific origins to a commercial endeavor that will power the global economy for generations,” said Bob Mumgaard, CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems. “I applaud the sponsors of the bill for the vision and leadership in helping to ensure the Department of Energy’s fusion efforts are organized and, ultimately, funded around driving commercial deployment and scaling of fusion power.”

“A dedicated office of fusion at the Department of Energy was a priority for the FIA from the beginning. We thank Senators Padilla and Cornyn for their leadership on the introduction of this bipartisan legislation and look forward to supporting its passage. This bill will codify the DOE’s plan to create an office of fusion. The prioritization of fusion through a dedicated office will advance the path to commercial deployment,” said Andrew Holland, CEO, Fusion Industry Association.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on Sunday’s antisemitic terrorist attack in Australia.

“It is unfathomable that on the first night of Hanukkah, lives were lost, and families were forced to flee because of a horrific terrorist attack in Sydney, Australia. I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Australia and around the world during what is supposed to be a time of peace, light, and joy.

“Antisemitism has been on the rise across the country and abroad. That is unacceptable. Jewish people, and individuals of all faiths, deserve to celebrate and practice their beliefs without fear of violence.

“We must come together to condemn the scourge of antisemitism in the strongest terms possible –– and may the lights of Hanukkah shine through this darkness and bring peace and strength to all of us.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on Saturday’s tragic shooting at Brown University.

“My heart breaks for the students, families, and all those affected by the shooting at Brown University. I join the Brown community in mourning the lives lost and hold them in my thoughts during this difficult time.

“During this time of year, students should be focused on preparing for finals, not hiding behind barricaded doors and sending painful text messages to loved ones. It is devastating that more young Americans and families have been scarred by the epidemic of gun violence in this country.

“We need to do more to put an end to gun violence. We cannot continue sticking our heads in the sand while more lives are lost in senseless shootings.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) announced that Sharan Santharam Srinivasan, Ammar Omar and Sujay Korada, 12th graders from Robinson High School, were awarded the top prize in her annual congressional app challenge with their app “SunScreened.” The app was created with JavaScript and AI image processing and aims to help Americans understand the harms of UV rays and the importance of sunscreen for overall skin health. The winner will be recognized at the U.S. Capitol during the House of Code celebration in the spring, alongside other winners of congressional app competitions from across the country.

“Encouraging students to explore STEM fields through the app challenge is a great way to help younger generations learn about science and technology in a creative manner and spark their interest in the STEM workforce. It is incredible to see students across the Tampa Bay area combine public good with technology. I am proud that this app will represent the 14th District, and I know it will help not only our neighbors in the Sunshine State but Americans across the country. I’m grateful for Sharan, Ammar and Sujay’s dedication to science, technology, and the well-being of their neighbors in the Tampa Bay area and look forward to them representing our community in the halls of the U.S. Capitol in the spring,” said Rep. Castor.  

The Congressional App Challenge has inspired tens of thousands of students nationwide to learn to code. With the support of their Member of Congress, these students have produced apps that address problems locally, nationally, and globally. The numbers don’t lie: each year, they have more Congressional hosts and more diverse student participants from underrepresented communities. According to the National Science Foundation, in 2021, nearly a quarter (24%) of individuals in the U.S. workforce were employed in STEM occupations.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, released the following statement in response to the House passage of the Improving Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act (H.R. 3668), State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act (H.R. 3628), and Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act (H.R. 3898). 

“The promise of permitting reform has always been that, if done properly, it could unlock cheaper, cleaner energy to the benefit of all Americans. Unfortunately, House Republicans have chosen to use the guise of ‘permitting reform’ as an excuse to pursue their pro-polluter agenda. The bills they brought to the floor this month do nothing to actually address the primary challenges holding back cheap and reliable energy here in America. The biggest threat to affordable energy in America is Donald Trump’s all-out assault on solar and wind, but House Republicans have proven too scared to push back against him.

“Electricity prices have now increased by 13% since Trump took office, yet he continues to lie and dismiss the cost-of-living crisis as a ‘scam’. Trump can try to ignore the very real concerns of the American people, but we all know that life is more expensive thanks to Donald Trump, his billionaire polluter donors, and his army of Congressional yes-men.

“We remain willing to engage in good-faith bipartisan negotiations on true ‘permitting reform’. Hopefully, Congressional Republicans will heed the wake-up call of the ever-worsening energy affordability crisis and join us in that effort.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hosted a roundtable with agency leaders and public officials to discuss public health policies and efforts that address Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz headlined the roundtable. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, participated in the roundtable and lent his support to policies that combat and treat Lyme disease.

Following the Lyme disease roundtable, Congressman Griffith issued the following statement:

“Today’s roundtable shows we have solid commitment from Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz and lawmakers to address Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses in the United States.

“As someone who has Alpha-Gal Syndrome, I have some understanding of the health challenges that result from tickborne illnesses. In Southwest Virginia, we likely know somebody with a tickborne illness. 

“It is important to research potential treatments and to educate the public on these illnesses. As Health Subcommittee Chairman, I will continue pushing for policies that help us accomplish these goals.”

One bill discussed during the roundtable was H.R. 4348, the TICK Act. The TICK Act is meant to reauthorize key programs that increase the development of a national strategy to address tickborne diseases, improve surveillance and coordinate federal programs.

Video coverage of today’s roundtable can be viewed here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. House of Representatives voted favorably on S. 356 – the Secure Rural SchoolsReauthorization Act of 2025. These funds from the “Secure Rural Schools” program are essentially meant to supplement Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT). This bill now heads to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

Following passage of the bill, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), who voted for the bill, issued the following statement:

“Thanks to the ‘Secure Rural Schools’ program, Virginia’s Ninth District receives access to federal funds from the National Forest Service. This is a bipartisan, commonsense piece of legislation that directly delivers funds to rural communities with ties to national forest property.

“I am proud to support the reestablishment of the ‘Secure Rural Schools’ program.”

BACKGROUND

Starting in 2000, Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Community Self Determination Act to help stabilize funds available to rural counties.

The SRS program helps rural counties that possess tracts of federally owned forest land that are tax-exempt. SRS projects reward localities as a result of various Forest Service activities on these lands, like grazing and timber, that produce revenue.

Funding for the SRS program lapsed in September of 2023. The last authorized SRS payments distributed to counties took place in early 2024.

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