Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced Kevin Fei from Westlake High School as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for California’s 26th Congressional District. Kevin’s app, Motio, promotes safe driving by providing real-time analysis and input on individual driving performance, alerting users to hotspots for bad driving, and encouraging community collaboration to improve overall safety on our roads.

“I am always impressed by the creativity, ingenuity, and problem-solving capabilities of the youth in our community who participate in this annual coding competition,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “This year, I am so pleased to congratulate Kevin on his development of Motio, an app that confronts the hazards of driving. Motio tackles safety shortcomings on our roads by keeping users apprised of weaknesses in their own driving performance and alerting them to hotspots for bad driving. Kevin’s app also integrates social media elements to promote safer driving habits among friends. Apps like Motio can not only save lives, but they can also better inform local leaders and law enforcement officials about how to make our roads safer.

“Without fail, my office receives outstanding submissions for the Congressional App Challenge every single year,” continued Brownley. I applaud all of this year’s applicants for their remarkable initiative and innovative solutions to some of the most pressing problems facing our world today. From improving disaster preparedness networks to bolstering our mental health support apparatus, these students have designed valuable online resources that strengthen our communities and collective well-being. Our district is very lucky to be home to these talented innovators.”

“In 2022, nearly 5000 people were killed or injured in Ventura County due to car-related accidents. Living in a world where cars are the main form of transportation, millions of lives are put at risk every day, simply by trying to get to work, school, or the local grocery store to buy snacks. My hope is that Motio can help reduce the likelihood of these accidents occurring. By utilizing the phone’s GPS and accelerometer data to offer insights and detect abnormalities in one’s driving, and by combining aspects of social media, Motio strives to create a culture of safe driving among friends, as well as collaborate with local governments in order to keep the roads secure. I aim to use my experiences participating in this competition to further improve Motio and continue to address pressing issues in our world,” said Kevin Fei, the first-place winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. 

“We are incredibly proud of Kevin and this remarkable accomplishment of winning the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. This is a testament to his innovation, creativity, and commitment to improving our community. Kevin has developed this app in order to analyze the key elements of the driving experience including velocity, acceleration, hard braking, and sharp turning while providing drivers with meaningful feedback to promote safer habits behind the wheel. Even more impressive is his forward-thinking vision to build a database of high-risk driving hotspots that could be shared with local departments to enhance community safety,” said Jason Branham, Principal of Westlake High School.

“It is always an honor to participate in this Challenge and see all the innovative and well-constructed solutions presented. It is important to note that the winner cannot just present the best-looking application. They need to provide the compelling value to the solution, demonstrate technical skill in how it was built, and formally present it like a Shark Tank presentation. Kevin exceeded my expectations on all of these with his Motio solution,” said Terry Theobald, Chief Information Officer for the County of Ventura and judge of the Congressional App Challenge.

“This year’s applications showed how accessible development tools are empowering more individual students to rapidly prototype solutions for local challenges, opening the door for a new generation of problem-solvers,” said Dr. Michael Soltys, Computer Science Professor at California State University, Channel Islands and judge of the Congressional App Challenge.

Below are the video submissions for the first-place, second-place, third-place, and honorable mention winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge: 

The Congressional App Challenge is a competition organized by Members of Congress across the country for middle school and high school students to create their own software applications and gain experience with computer coding.

Submissions from students across the 26th Congressional District were judged by a panel of local judges who work within the academic, software, and entrepreneurial fields. This year’s submissions were judged by Terry Theobald, Chief Information Officer for the County of Ventura; Joaquin Licea, Chief Technology Officer for the Ventura County Office of Education; and Dr. Michael Soltys, Computer Science Professor at California State University, Channel Islands. 

To learn more about the Congressional App Challenge, visit juliabrownley.house.gov/services/the-house-student-app-challenge/.

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Issues: 119th Congress

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), announced today that he voted yes on the bipartisan Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA) after signing the successful discharge petition that forced the bill onto the House floor. PAWA, authored by Rep. Jared Golden (ME-2) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), repeals an executive order that stripped union rights from roughly one million federal employees. The House passed PAWA by a bipartisan vote of 231 to 195. Twenty Republicans joined all Democrats to advance the bill.

“I supported this bill, and the original discharge petition, because federal workers deserve commonsense workplace protections,” said Dr. Cuellar. “These men and women show up every day to serve the American people. Their collective bargaining rights are essential to ensuring they have a voice on the job and protection from outside interference. I want to thank Representatives Golden and Fitzpatrick for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor and building a bipartisan coalition to move it forward.”

The Protect America’s Workforce Act repeals a presidential executive order that sought to eliminate collective bargaining at key federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and Energy. Many of the affected federal workers are veterans, and all are already limited in what they can bargain over under existing law.

PAWA ensures that current union contracts remain honored and reinstates fundamental protections for the workforce that keeps the federal government running. “My message is clear – stand with workers and strengthen our middle class,” Dr. Cuellar added. “I will continue working across the aisle to protect the people who serve our nation and keep our government functioning every day.”

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Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. is a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — House Republicans today released the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act — legislation that lowers health care premiums, increases health care access, expands health care choices, and brings greater transparency to America’s health care system. The legislation will be considered in the House next week.

“Nearly 15 years ago, the Democrats’ Unaffordable Care Act broke the American health care system. Since its inception, premium costs have skyrocketed, networks have shrunk, and the system has become bloated, inefficient, and riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. While Democrats demand that taxpayers write bigger checks to insurance companies to hide the cost of their failed law, House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care, increase access and choice, and restore integrity to our nation’s health care system for all Americans,” Speaker Johnson said.

“Earlier this year, Democrats had a chance to help make life more affordable by supporting the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. Instead, they voted to raise taxes, protect waste and fraud, and continue providing free health care to illegal immigrants. Democrats’ ‘affordability’ charade has gone on long enough. Republicans are offering clear, responsible alternatives that will lower premium costs and increase access and health care options for all Americans. The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act will actually deliver affordable health care – and we look forward to advancing it through the House.”

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Act:

Lowers Premiums for all Americans

• Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency: Requires PBMs to provide employers with detailed data on prescription drug spending, rebates, spread pricing, and formulary decisions—empowering plans and workers with the transparency they deserve.

• Appropriates Cost Sharing Reduction Payments: Provides necessary funding for CSR payments beginning in 2027, lowering premiums and stabilizing the individual market while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Relief would be better directed towards low-income enrollees that need them.

Improves Health Care Options for America’s Workers

• Association Health Plans: Expands access to Association Health Plans by allowing employers—including self-employed workers—to band together across industries to purchase affordable, high-quality coverage.

• Access to Stop-Loss Insurance: Ensures small and mid-sized employers can protect themselves from catastrophic claims by clarifying that stop-loss insurance is not “health insurance coverage.” This would allow small businesses to offer their employees more tailored, affordable care.

• CHOICE Arrangements: Codifies and strengthens 2019 rules allowing employers to offer defined contributions for employees to purchase their own coverage—renamed as CHOICE arrangements—and permits employees to pay premiums pre-tax.

Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Education and Workforce advanced his bipartisan Student Financial Clarity Act to the full House yesterday, December 11, 2025, by a vote of 27 – 6.

“I am grateful for the support of the House Committee on Education and Workforce for advancing my bipartisan Student Financial Clarity Act to the House floor,” said Congressman Guthrie. “The creation of the Universal Net Price Calculator and the strengthening of the College Scorecard will benefit countless students as they navigate higher education. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill across the finish line and to the Senate for consideration.”

Congressman Guthrie introduced the Student Financial Clarity Act on Tuesday, December 10, 2025, alongside Congressman Bob Onder (MO-03) and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03). Below are quotes provided upon the bill’s introduction. 

“Too many college degree programs overpromise and underdeliver. In a time of declining trust in postsecondary education, now more than ever students deserve transparency so they know whether a program is worth the investment of their time and money. This bill is another strong step toward promoting sensible borrowing, driving down cots, and ending the hidden expenses that mire borrowers in student loan debt,” said Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI).

“I am proud to join Congressman Guthrie in leading the Student Financial Clarity Act. With the cost of higher education continuing to rise, it is crucial that we help students thrive by creating transparency around institutions, programs, and costs. This is exactly what the Student Financial Clarity Act will accomplish. By creating an accurate Universal Net Price Calculator, this bill will empower students to compare universities and programs to help identify the best option not only for their educational future but also for their financial future,” said Congressman Bob Onder.

“Families deserve clear, accessible information when making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The Student Financial Clarity Act builds on years of work to strengthen Net Price Calculators and expands those reforms through a modernized College Scorecard with transparency on costs, aid, and student outcomes broken down by institution and program. This bill delivers on the simple idea that every student should know what they are paying for and what they can expect in return. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to help students and parents navigate the path to higher education with confidence.”

Background:

 Congressman Guthrie introduced the Student Financial Clarity Act on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.

If enacted, the Student Financial Clarity Act would:

• Create a Universal Net Price Calculator, which would allow students to answer a set of financial and academic questions to receive personalized cost estimates for institutions and programs of study.
• Provide a central location for students to compare costs at one or more schools and programs of study, specific to their financial situation.
• Expand the College Scorecard to require additional information on program-level statistics, allowing students to compare student costs, outcomes, and financial aid at institutions and specific programs of study.

Full text for the Student Financial Clarity Act can be found here.
A one pager about this legislation can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

Washington, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) encouraged qualifying row crop farmers to ensure their 2025 acreage reporting, submitted to the Farm Service Agency (FSA), is accurate and factual for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmer Bridge Assistance Program by December 19, 2025, at 5 pm ET.

“After a difficult year for Kentucky farmers, I am glad to see the Trump Administration take an important step to help ease the strain of market disruptions,” said Congressman Guthrie. “To be able to receive compensation, eligible row crop farmers should ensure that their 2025 acreage reporting is accurate and factual with FSA by this fast-approaching deadline. Thank you to all our farmers who work tirelessly every day of the year to keep our nation fed and clothed.”

Important Information: 

On December 8, 2025, President Trump and the USDA announced the creation of the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, dedicating $11 billion in tariff revenue to provide one-time payments to support agricultural producers impacted by recent trade market disruptions and continued increased production costs from the Biden Administration.

This program is designed to provide relief for row crop farmers who grow Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower.

Additional information about these payments can be found below:

• The $11 billion awarded to this program is dedicated to the above row crop farmers.
• USDA also announced $1 billion in farmers’ bridge payments for specialty crops that will be outlined at a future date. 
• USDA will use a national loss average to calculate payments that is based on Farm Service Agency (FSA) reported planted acres, Economic
• Research Service cost of production estimates, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates yields and prices, and economic modeling.
• Farmers who qualify for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program can expect payments to be released by February 28, 2026. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5pm ET on December 19, 2025.

Questions about this program can be directed to my office, your local Farm Service Agency representative, or via email to farmerbridge@usda.gov. 

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

Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Maria Salazar (FL-27) reintroduced the Continuous Coverage for Flood Insurance Act, which would lower costs by ensuring that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allows consumers to exercise their right to maintain flood insurance outside of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

“Families, homeowners and small businesses across Florida – including across the recovering Tampa Bay area – deserve real financial stability, peace of mind and clarity when it comes to flood insurance,” said Rep. Kathy Castor. “Our bipartisan legislation empowers consumers with more options by allowing access to private flood insurance, without penalty. For coastal communities like Tampa Bay, healthy competition can lower costs, expand the insurance pool and help bring down flood insurance rates. I’m pleased to work with my fellow Floridian, Rep. Maria Salazar, to ease cost burdens on hardworking Floridians and expand consumer choice in continuous flood insurance coverage.”

“Now more than ever, Miami residents and Americans nationwide deserve real choice and affordable coverage in the flood-insurance market,” said Rep. Maria Salazar. “By opening the door to greater private-sector involvement, the Continuous Coverage for Flood Insurance Act will lower the burden on U.S. taxpayers and provide stronger, more reliable protection.”

In 2012, Congress enacted the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act to reform the NFIP. Among other reforms, the Biggert-Waters Act required federal lending institutions to accept certain non-NFIP insurance policies, reinforcing the fact that other non-NFIP insurance policies can be used to satisfy the NFIP’s mandatory purchase requirement. As a result of this law, in February 2019, a final rule was issued regarding the acceptance of non-NFIP insurance, which took effect on July 1, 2019.

Many consumers are unable to take advantage of these potentially beneficial and cost-effective non-NFIP insurance policies. Currently, the NFIP requires continuous coverage to be eligible for grandfathered rates, but only counts the time in an NFIP policy. If a policyholder chooses to leave the program and return later, the NFIP will charge the full, non-grandfathered rate – even if the policyholder decides to obtain a non-NFIP insurance policy that complies with the new rule. The prospect of higher insurance rates is not only a deterrent to the marketplace but also a barrier to more affordable flood insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

December 12, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced yesterday the Disposing of Inactive Structures and Properties by Offering for Sale And Lease Act or DISPOSAL Act. This bill would require the auction of unused and underutilized federal buildings. 
“Americans deserve a government with maximum efficiency and minimal waste,” said Rep. Steube. “It makes zero sense that the federal government continues to sit on vacant and underutilized buildings. I am grateful to partner with Senator Ernst on the DISPOSAL Act that will auction off the bloat of unused government facilities back to the private sector.”
“Despite President Trump calling federal employees back to work, government buildings still remain vacant,” said Senator Ernst. “For too long, the entrenched bureaucracy has used red tape to prevent these ghost towns from being sold off. I’m glad Congressman Stuebe is leading my DISPOSAL Act in the House to immediately put six prime pieces of D.C. real estate on the auction block and slash through pointless regulations. By fast-tracking selling off the government’s graveyard of lifeless real estate, we can generate hundreds of millions of dollars and save taxpayers billions.”
Background: The DISPOSAL Act would require the sale of federal buildings with less than 60% utilization, with exceptions for structures that qualify under either section 501 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act or the National Historic Preservation Act. It also would require the sale of six properties in Washington, D.C.: the Frances Perkins Federal Building, the James V. Forrestal Building, the Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building, the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, the Department of Agriculture South Building, and the Hubert H. Humphrey Federal Building.
Read the full bill text here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Calls Out Administration’s Broken Promise as Provision Covering Military Family’s Access to IVF Cut by Republicans

“This legislation gives more money to the so-called Department of War than to our Departments of Education, Transportation, and Health and Human Services, combined.”

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, in a speech on the House floor, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) rose in opposition to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and urged her Republican colleagues to consider the harmful impact the $900 military spending bill would have on servicemembers, their families, and the safety of the country.

Rep. Pressley underscored the cruelty of this bill, which includes blocking healthcare coverage for IVF for active-duty members, banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that support military readiness, and expand the Trump administration’s power to attack immigrant communities.

A full transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks is available below and the video is available here.

Transcript: On House Floor, Pressley Opposes NDAA, Condemns Harmful Impact on Servicemembers, Families, Safety of the Country
House of Representatives
December 11, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this year’s massive $900 billion military spending bill.

This legislation gives more money to the so-called Department of War than to our Departments of Education, Transportation, and Health and Human Services, combined.

Mr. Speaker, can you ask my Republican colleagues to get serious about helping the American public?

I know you seek to be judged by the content of your character.

It is certainly poor character to be not support our military service members and their families, and this mammoth bill does not do that.

Certainly, it is poor character to block health care coverage for IVF, despite the fact that IVF is critical for helping active-duty personnel grow their families.

Certainly, it is poor character to ban initiatives associated with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, even though these cuts will undermine military readiness.

This bill, this mammoth bill, expands the administration’s power to attack immigrants, including for our Haitian neighbors.

The few good things in this legislation do not outweigh the cruelty and the harm that will undoubtedly come if it is signed into law.

The public does not support this bill, and neither do I, and that is why I am a NO vote.

I yield back.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — A recent investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has exposed extraordinary levels of fraud and abuse inside the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace — including fake identities receiving subsidies, widespread misuse of Social Security numbers (SSN), billions in unreconciled payments, and insurers collecting tax credits on behalf of deceased individuals.

These findings validate long-standing Republican warnings: Obamacare’s subsidy system lacks even the most basic guardrails and has created an environment where criminals, identity thieves, and unscrupulous brokers can exploit taxpayers with ease.

GAO FINDINGS: A BROKEN SYSTEM FUELED BY FRAUD

GAO investigators created fictitious identities using fake or never-issued Social Security numbers. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved them anyway.

• 100% of fake applicants were approved in late 2024.
• 18 out of 20 fake applicants are still receiving subsidized coverage for 2025.
• CMS approved coverage with no documents or with fake ones, including fake citizenship papers.
• Brokers bypassed verification requirements simply by calling the call center and enrolling applicants without their presence.
• Monthly subsidies paid to insurers on behalf of GAO’s fake identities exceeded $12,300 per month.

These findings show that criminals armed with nothing more than fabricated paperwork — or no paperwork at all — can easily extract taxpayer subsidies.

Shocking Misuse of Social Security Numbers

GAO uncovered rampant SSN abuse that CMS failed to detect or block.

• One SSN was used on applications totaling over 125 insurance policies — the equivalent of 71 years of subsidized coverage.
• In 2024, 66,000 SSNs had more than one year’s worth of subsidized coverage in a single year.
• CMS has no mechanism to stop duplicate applications using the same SSN.
• $21 billion in subsidies were paid in 2023 with no evidence of tax reconciliation — representing 32% of all advanced premium tax credits (APTC) paid to identifiable SSN holders.

“No reconciliation” means no verification, no accountability, and likely billions in improper payments.

Insurers Still Collecting Subsidies for the Deceased

GAO matched ACA enrollment data with Social Security death records — and found a shocking overlap.

• 58,000 SSNs receiving subsidies matched individuals listed as deceased.
• At least 7,000 of those individuals died before coverage even began, meaning their identities were used to submit applications.

As a result, health insurers received $94 million in taxpayer-funded subsidies for deceased individuals.

Bottom Line:

GAO proved the ACA marketplace is a magnet for fraud—and Democrats’ answer is to extend subsidies without fixing a single failure. Republicans will not hand out billions more in taxpayer dollars to fake identities, duplicate SSNs, and the deceased. We’re restoring the guardrails, protecting working families, and ending the era of Democrats’ no-questions-asked subsidies.

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