Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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

Congresswoman Dina Titus, Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, introduced legislation today to ensure freight rail safety through communities by instituting comprehensive human and automated track inspection requirements. 

“Trains carrying hazardous materials run right through my District in the heart of Las Vegas,” said Congresswoman Titus. “The Secure Tracks Act will help ensure that any track defects that put our safety at risk are identified and addressed right away, protecting rail workers and our community from the health and environmental risks associated with derailments. This common-sense legislation will save lives and protect our property and the environment. It is a win-win-win.” 

Congresswoman Titus and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the Secure Tracks Act which would require that visual track inspections be conducted by a human track inspector at least twice a week. Under this bipartisan legislation, if an inspector finds a track defect, the inspector would need to immediately address it. 

This legislation also requires railroads to use Automated Track Inspection (ATI) technology at regular intervals to supplement and support visual track inspections. The Secure Tracks Act leverages safety technology while safeguarding the vital role visual track inspections play in protecting communities surrounding railroad tracks.

This legislation has been endorsed by Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED-IBT); the Teamsters Rail Conference; the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); the National Conference of Fireman and Oilers (NCFO, SEIU); the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Division (SMART-MD); the Transportation Communications Union (TCU); and the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA). 

“Wisconsin families and businesses depend on safe and reliable railroads to get them to work, to get their products to customers, and for things they buy at the store. Railroads run through their cities and towns, and they deserve to know that every track is up to snuff and safe,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am all for using technology to keep our trains on the tracks and communities safe from derailments, but what we have learned is that technology can’t do it all alone. It misses things that humans see and hear, and if we want to make sure our railroads are safe, we need both technology and real people who have the experience and knowledge.”

“Safety must be our top priority when it comes to our nation’s railroads,” Senator Hawley said. “Technology can help us monitor our railways but there is no substitute for in-person inspections conducted by railroad professionals. We can’t cut corners, especially when it comes to keeping our trains on the tracks. Technology must serve workers—not the other way around.” 

BMWED President Tony Cardwell said, “I want to commend Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) as well as Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV, 1^st District) for coming together to introduce the bipartisan Secure Tracks Act.

“The country’s largest freight railroads, increasingly consolidated in their stranglehold of America’s rail network, are actively attempting to reduce visual track inspections by 50 to 75 percent through what they’re branding as ‘automated track inspection’ (ATI). They are shamelessly putting the safety of communities and rail workers at risk of more track-caused derailments in the name of profit when they are already making more money than ever.

“Sens. Baldwin and Hawley and Rep. Titus recognize that fact. They all understand that ATI is nothing more than a tool — one that can enhance the imperative work that BMWED track inspectors perform daily, but which cannot replicate, let alone replace, the intuition, insight, expertise, and instinct that they have honed through decades of committed professionalism and stewardship of public safety.

“The Secure Tracks Act is a commonsense bill to protect union railroaders and the communities we serve. It will maintain the current twice weekly visual inspections that have kept our rail tracks and communities safe for decades and the requirement that inspectors start fixing track defects immediately when they are found — all while responsibly incorporating technological advancements.

“Rail safety is not a contentious partisan issue. Americans trust the railroads to be safe. The men and women of the BMWED take that public confidence sincerely. Let’s pass the Secure Tracks Act into law so that every American can sleep soundly at night knowing that a professional human track inspector ensured that every inch of our country’s railroad is safe.”

Background: 

As the Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, Congresswoman Titus has been a champion for rail safety. In June, she wrote a letter to Secretary Duffy urging him to deny a waiver request to drastically reduce the number of visual track safety inspections required of Class I railroads. 

Ranking Member Titus has also made it clear that addressing rail safety is a top priority for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. In particular, she is advocating for provisions that take the lessons learned from the East Palestine train derailment to prevent another environmental and health disaster of that magnitude. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) co-sponsored “The Dalilah Law,” which cracks down on states, including Pennsylvania, that give out commercial driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

In February, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) finalized a rule to stop unqualified foreign drivers from obtaining licenses to drive commercial trucks and buses citing public safety threats. Previously, a nationwide audit by the U.S. DOT exposed Pennsylvania as one of six states with systemic non-compliance in issuing non-domiciled CDLs.

In his State of the Union Address, President Donald Trump announced his support for Dalilah’s Law.

“From top to bottom, this is common sense legislation that will secure our roads, protect American citizens, and enforce our immigration laws,” said Rep. Kelly. “If you’re in this country illegally, you shouldn’t be given the keys to the largest, most powerful vehicles on the road. Plain and simple.”

BACKGROUND

“The Dalilah Law,” named for Dalilah Coleman — who was critically injured in a 2024 collision involving a commercial truck — was formally introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) and U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) following a call to action from President Donald J. Trump during the 2026 State of the Union address.

The Dalilah Law would:

• Require that states limit commercial driver’s licenses to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and certain temporary work visa holders as a condition of receiving Department of Transportation funding.
• Mandate English-only CDL testing to ensure that all commercial drivers possess the language skills necessary for safe operation on U.S. roads.
• Require states to revoke CDLs issued to undocumented immigrants or individuals without qualifying legal status, even if they previously had work authorization.
• Strengthen verification processes and recertification requirements to ensure ongoing compliance with eligibility and safety standards.

Learn more about the bill here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and her colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee participated in a hearing to discuss this year’s tax filing season and how the implementation of the Working Families Tax Cuts will positively affect working-class Americans across the nation. A video and full transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks can be found below.

Congresswoman Miller began by discussing her legislation, the Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act, which was included in the Working Families Tax Cuts bill. She then questioned a witness, Frank J. Bisignano, Chief Executive Officer, Internal Revenue Service, on IRS guidance and resources for gig workers who do not have a traditional wage income.

“Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. And thank you so much for being here, Mr. Bisignano, so that people can hear what you have accomplished in the short period of time you’ve been here. And what a great job you’ve been doing.

The Working Families Tax Cuts is a major win for gig workers who support local economies through their products and services.

I was pleased that my legislation which reverts the 1099-K reporting threshold, to $20,000 and 200 transactions, was finally signed into law through the Working Family Tax Cuts. This will keep gig workers like hairdressers, uber drivers, and craftsmen who sell products online from being harassed by the IRS for taxes they really don’t owe.

Mr. Bisignano, for taxpayers, who may not have traditional wage income, such as those gig workers or small-business owners, what guidance and tools are the IRS providing so they can fully benefit from the Working Families Tax Cuts?” asked Congresswoman Miller.

“I appreciate your hard work and I appreciate the question. Thank you. Thank you for having me here.

Obviously, the gig economy over the past ten years has turned into something that Americans rely on. I’m proud to say that during the course of this year, we put out more than 900 pieces of policy and guidance, and we will continue doing that.

I applaud the work that you do. I will ensure that we continue the work on the gig economy, communication of guidance and policy. We’ve ensured that tax preparers understood it as well as we communicated to the American public. And, we’ll go back and ensure that it’s as good as humanly possible. And any recommendations your office may have to improve it, we’re happy to hear it,” responded Mr. Bisignano.

Congresswoman Miller concluded by highlighting the 2026 filing season, noting that average refunds are up and families, especially in West Virginia, are seeing greater financial flexibility, showing the impact of the Working Families Tax Cuts on middle-class households before again questioning Frank J. Bisignano.

“For most Americans, the clearest sign that the system is working for them is the size of their refund. As of February 14 in the 2026 filing season, the average refund amount is up by an impressive 14.2 percent over the same period last year, and the average direct deposit refund is up 13.1 percent, meaning families are seeing noticeably larger deposits hit their bank accounts compared to this time in 2025.

This provides Americans with well-deserved financial flexibility and is particularly important to my home state of West Virginia.

What exactly is driving these double digit increases in the average refund and average direct deposit refund amounts so early in the 2026 filing season? What does this signal about how the Working Families Tax Cuts and other reforms are reaching middle class households?” asked Congresswoman Miller.

“Well, you know, the fact that we have 56, as of [March 2nd] we have 56 million returns. And 23 million, 43%, have schedule 1-A’s. And Schedule 1-A when I think about it, is all the hard work that you did for the American public, right? If you look at the 1s-A’s, you know, I like saying overtime filers are the largest individual category. There’s no harder-working Americans than people who work overtime, right?  And then you think about the senior deduction, which I know many of you were very, very interested in having happen. And I think that’ll probably be the largest form of it. We also see that people under 100,000 are fundamentally the largest beneficiaries on a percentage basis. And when you look at it, I just think it’s important to think about no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on car loan interest, new tax deductions for seniors. Let’s not forget 4547, which has 2 million forms. That’s the Trump Accounts. And 3 million dependents already enrolled.

And then expensing qualified factories. On top of that, you have domestic R&D expensing. You have expense for capital investments. Full expensing. 199A pass through. And I hesitate because I think about the small businesses, the lifeblood of America, you know? Double Standard Deduction, double Debt Tax Exemption, Child Tax Credit expanded and permanency.

These are all permanencies, and then Opportunity Zone. And a SALT extension until 2030. So the power of it and we talk about fundamentally a thousand. And I think that’s what our research group shows 775 today. And it will trend upward as time goes on. Powerful, powerful legislature, great adherence and hard work by the American public in getting their tax returns in at the rate they are,” responded Mr. Bisignano.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Washington D.C. – In response to Kristi Noem’s firing, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens issued the following statement: 

“Under Kristi Noem, ICE killed Americans, used children as bait to detain their parents, lied to Congress, and terrorized our neighborhoods. She should have been fired a long time ago. We still must address the chaos and lawlessness Donald Trump’s ICE has unleashed across our country.

“Before the Senate considers any replacement, the American people demand serious reforms at ICE that will keep people safe. I won’t stop fighting for a complete overhaul that focuses on transparency, accountability, getting the facts of what’s unfolding at the detention facility in Baldwin, and keeping Michiganders safe.”

Stevens has been leading the fight to hold ICE accountable in Congress and to rein in Donald Trump’s repeated abuses of power during his Administration.

• Stevens called for the immediate removal of Secretary Kristi Noem and cosponsored an effort to impeach her in the House of Representatives.

• Stevens and her Michigan colleague, Rep. Hillary Scholten visited an ICE detention facility in Baldwin, Michigan, to tour conditions and demand answers to their letter over the death of detainee Nenko Gantchev in ICE custody in December.

• Following their visit, Stevens and Scholten doubled down on their demands for answers from ICE and Secretary Noem.

• Stevens cosponsored H.R. 7163, a proposal to divert ICE’s $75 billion slush fund to state and local law enforcement agencies.

• Stevens voted against the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, refusing to fund ICE’s operations without major reforms or accountability measures.

• Last year, Stevens cosponsored the VISIBLE Act to prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks and concealing their identities.

• Stevens joined over 150 of her colleagues in demanding that ICE end its surge of officers in Minnesota and conduct a thorough investigation into the death of Renee Nicole Good at the hands of an ICE agent.

• Stevens and her Michigan colleague, Rep. Hillary Scholten, demanded an investigation into the death of Nenko Gantchev, an individual who died in ICE custody in Baldwin, Michigan.

• Stevens voted against the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which gave ICE its nearly $75 billion windfall.

• Stevens introduced the Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act, legislation to prevent the President from deploying the military against Americans without express consent from state officials, an authoritarian tactic this President has used repeatedly to fuel fear and intimidation during aggressive ICE crackdowns.

• Stevens voted against the Laken Riley Act, which would sweep thousands of people into jails and detention centers at enormous taxpayer expense while diverting key law enforcement resources and potentially violating civil liberties.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — On March 5th, over 3,500 residents joined Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) for another live Telephone Town Hall to discuss the escalating U.S. conflict with Iran, Congress’s constitutional authority over war powers, and growing concerns over what Sherman described as President Donald Trump’s reckless and extreme policies.

“At a time when the United States is being drawn toward a dangerous conflict, it’s more important than ever that the American people stay informed and engaged,” said Congressman Sherman. “That’s why I’m grateful to the thousands of constituents who joined last night’s Town Hall and who continue to join our Town Halls, proving that even in a chaotic moment in Washington, our communities remain deeply engaged in the decisions that affect our country and future.”

During the event, Congress Sherman — a senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East — provided updates on the rapidly evolving situation involving Iran and ongoing military actions in the region. Earlier that day, Sherman voted in favor of a War Powers Resolution to reaffirm Congress’s constitutional authority over decisions of war and peace. Sherman emphasized that Congress — not the President — has the constitutional authority to declare war and warned against unilateral actions that risk dragging the United States into a broader and potentially devastating conflict in the Middle East.

Sherman also addressed broader concerns surrounding the direction of the country under the Trump administration, pointing to what he described as a pattern of reckless decision-making, extreme policies, and disregard for constitutional norms. He warned that such actions could increase instability at home while undermining America’s alliances abroad.

Participants had the opportunity to ask live questions and respond to interactive survey prompts about their top concerns. Issues raised by callers included the growing conflict with Iran, Congress’s role in authorizing military force, the potential impact of a wider war in the Middle East, and broader concerns about the direction of the country.

During the Town Hall, Sherman requested input from residents by asking a series of survey questions about their thoughts and concerns.

The results of the survey questions are as follows:

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How should your Congressman vote on a House Resolution that prohibits military action against Iran without Congressional approval? 

– Vote to Support: 86%

– Vote Against: 10%

–  Unsure: 5%

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Should we do extensive research to prevent A.I. systems from obtaining self-awareness and consciousness? 

– Yes: 87%

– No: 5%

– Unsure: 8%

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How much of a priority should it be for the United States to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon? 

– A high priority: 51%

– A moderate priority: 26% 

– A low priority: 9% 

– Not a priority: 6%

– Not sure: 7%

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump expressing grave concern over reports that individuals working in coordination with the Administration are circulating a draft executive order to declare a national emergency and assert sweeping presidential authority over federal elections.

 

Congressman Krishnamoorthi made clear that any attempt to manufacture an “emergency” to seize control over elections would cross a fundamental constitutional red line.

In his letter, he warned that such a move “would represent an extraordinary and unlawful expansion of executive power” and underscored that “The President does not have a role in federal elections.”

“The Constitution is clear,” Krishnamoorthi wrote. “Article I, Section 4 explicitly assigns the authority to regulate federal elections to the states and to Congress.” He further emphasized, “The Constitution does not grant the executive branch any power to rewrite election laws, ban lawful voting methods, or override state-certified systems.”

According to public reporting, proponents of the draft order believe it could be used to mandate voter identification nationwide and ban mail-in ballots ahead of the midterm elections. Krishnamoorthi stressed that invoking emergency powers to prohibit mail-in ballots, restrict voting machines, or impose nationwide voter identification requirements “would be unprecedented.”

“A national emergency cannot be declared simply to circumvent constitutional limits or to accomplish policy objectives that have not been enacted through the legislative process,” he wrote.

The letter also underscores that there has been no credible finding that foreign interference altered the outcome of the 2020 election at the ballot box. The Intelligence Community assessed that it had “no indications that any foreign actor attempted to interfere in the 2020 US elections by altering any technical aspect of the voting process,” and courts across the country found no evidence of irregularities that could have changed the results.

Krishnamoorthi further noted that federal courts have already blocked significant portions of a prior executive order related to election administration — reinforcing the principle that election administration cannot be governed by unilateral executive mandate.

“Mail-in voting has long been a lawful and secure method relied upon by seniors, military servicemembers, and working families,” he wrote, warning that eliminating that option nationwide by executive decree “would be illegal and would undermine both the rule of law and public trust in our democratic institutions.”

Krishnamoorthi concluded by urging the President “to not proceed with any proposal that would aim to nationalize elections or attempt to assert emergency powers that our Constitution clearly does not provide.”

The letter is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) introduced the Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026 along with Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Courts Subcommittee Ranking Member Hank Johnson (GA-04), and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10). The legislation would transition the nation’s immigration court system into an independent judiciary. Currently, immigration judges are appointed by  the Attorney General. As employees of the Department of Justice, immigration judges may be directed to adjudicate cases based on the policies and priorities of the governing administration.

“Our immigration court system simply cannot be effective or impartial as long as it remains under the Department of Justice and the executive branch,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, former Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. “The cases that these courts are hearing have life-altering consequences, and we need to do everything to ensure that the system is independent of whichever Administration is in power at the time, Democratic or Republican. This is landmark legislation that will create a new immigration court system defined by transparency and integrity.”

“The Real Courts, Rule of Law Act takes a major step toward ensuring that our immigration courts operate with the judicial independence necessary for fair and impartial decision-making that is free from political pressure,” said Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin. “Today, the system is drowning in millions of backlogged cases awaiting adjudication. As the Trump Administration intensifies pressure to accelerate immigration enforcement, that backlog will only grow, further burdening a system long denied the independence and resources it needs. Congress must act to safeguard due process by establishing an independent immigration court system—one that empowers judges to operate efficiently and rule impartially in cases with profound humanitarian stakes.”

“Our immigration courts are suffering from an overwhelming backlog that’s approaching four million cases and overt politization,” said Courts Subcommittee Ranking Member Hank Johnson. “The Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026 would help create an independent immigration court system that would ensure our immigration judges are no longer subject to the whims of any particular administration and provide the resources it needs to address the growing caseload. I’m proud to join Rep. Lofgren in introducing this commonsense proposal.”

“The Trump Administration has weaponized our immigration system for its own political ends and taken a sledgehammer to the concept of judicial independence and due process – a hallmark of our democracy,” said Rep. Dan Goldman.  “This legislation will protect both immigration judges who rule on matters of life or death and immigrants pursuing lawful pathways from the whims of an increasingly radical president who continues to target immigrants with masked, secret police roaming the hallways outside courtrooms across the country. The Real Courts, Rule of Law Act would ensure decisions are made fairly and impartially. We must pass it immediately.”

Click here for a one-page explanation of The Real Courts, Rule of Law Act.

Click here for a section-by-section summary of The Real Courts, Rule of Law Act.

Click here for full text of The Real Courts, Rule of Law Act.

The Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026 is supported by the American Bar Association (ABA), Federal Bar Association (FBA), National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ), and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

“The American Bar Association strongly supports judicial independence. The creation of an independent Article I immigration court system would aid in that goal. Every judge must be free to decide cases on the facts and the law and not be influenced by the priorities of other branches of government,” said American Bar Association President Michelle A. Behnke.

“Having collaborated over the course of many years with other prominent legal associations to develop this solution, the Federal Bar Association commends Chair Lofgren and her colleagues for introducing legislation that would improve access to justice and due process for individuals appearing before immigration judges. The Constitution gives Congress the ability to create new federal courts, and with a current backlog of approximately 3.6 million cases, it is clear to our members that it is long past time to fix an ineffective system,” said Stacy King, CEO of the Federal Bar Association.

“The National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) supports Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren’s Real Courts, Rule of Law Act, establishing an independent immigration court,” said Jeremiah Johnson, Executive Vice President of the National Association of Immigration Judges Executive Vice President. “An Article I court protects judicial independence, shields decision-making from political pressure, strengthens public trust, and ensures that every case is decided fairly and impartially under the rule of law, not based on political preferences. It is time to stabilize the Rule of Law in an unstable and ever-changing immigration system. Now is the time to secure the integrity of our legal immigration system. The stakes are too high to ignore. We need Real Courts and Real Law.”

“Four years after the Real Courts, Rule of Law Act was first introduced, it is even more urgent for Congress to restore integrity, independence, and fairness to America’s immigration court system. Controlled by a Department of Justice that itself operates completely at the behest of the President, the immigration courts have been stripped of the ability to deliver fair and just outcomes that comply with the law.  Life-and-death decisions are now vulnerable to political interference as scores of judges have been fired without cause and the remaining judges are subject to quotas and intense scrutiny. The solution is the creation of an independent Article I court that is no longer under the thumb of the Attorney General and can deliver impartial decisions, free from partisan influence, and worthy of the public’s trust,” said AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Randy Weber’s (TX-14) H.R. 7272 Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act advanced out of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously and is now eligible for consideration on the U.S. House Floor.

Rep. Weber introduced the legislation in February 2026 alongside Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) to strengthen cybersecurity coordination across the nation’s pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure.

“Cyberattacks targeting our nation’s critical infrastructure are not hypothetical threats, and the consequences would not be limited to one region,” said Rep. Weber. “A disruption to a pipeline in Texas can be felt by families at the gas pump in Virginia. Americans saw that reality during the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, when fuel shortages spread across the eastern seaboard. In the event of an attack on our energy infrastructure, we need a coordinated, whole-of-government response to restore operations quickly and protect our energy supply. The Department of Energy is best positioned to lead that effort.”

Background

The need for stronger coordination and preparedness across America’s energy infrastructure became clear during the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack in May 2021, one of the most significant cyber incidents targeting U.S. energy infrastructure.

• Colonial Pipeline operates a 5,500-mile pipeline system that transports gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from the Texas Gulf Coast to the East Coast.
• Following the cyberattack, the company shut down operations across the entire pipeline system, disrupting fuel deliveries across multiple states.
• The disruption triggered widespread fuel shortages, panic buying, and price spikes, leaving many gas stations across the United States without fuel.
• The incident demonstrated how a single cyberattack on critical energy infrastructure can have cascading effects across multiple regions of the country.

The Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act seeks to strengthen coordination and preparedness across the energy sector to ensure the federal government and industry partners can respond quickly and effectively to cyber threats targeting critical energy infrastructure.

Rep. Weber’s opening remarks:

“I want to thank my friend from Michigan, Representative Dingell, for co-leading H.R. 7272, the Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act, which unanimously passed through the Energy Subcommittee in February.

“The Department of Energy (DOE) currently serves as the government’s energy sector lead, coordinating efforts across energy infrastructure owners and operators, states, and federal agencies.

“In this role, DOE maintains visibility across the entire energy value chain, an essential part of its mission, while providing the technical expertise necessary to coordinate security and hazards response across the sector.

“As the threat landscape evolves, cyber-attacks on U.S. systems from adversarial nations and rogue actors alike are on the rise. Given the unique risks that cyber threats pose to our energy infrastructure, we must strengthen information sharing and coordination practices in law.

“And we must do so quickly. 

“That is why it is critical to advance H.R. 7272. This bill would improve how the DOE works with others in the energy sector to ensure the security and resilience of pipelines and LNG facilities that our nation depends upon for the reliable supply of fuels and electricity.

“This bill leverages the Department’s vast technical capabilities to develop a program that improves the coordination and the technical support needed to ensure timely, efficient, and effective efforts to secure our energy systems and response to disruptions.

“As I said in the Subcommittee markup, let me be crystal clear—H.R. 7272 does not create or authorize a regulatory program.

“Collaboration with agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration, and utilizing their expertise will remain key, however it is important to remember that the Department of Energy retains responsibility over the whole energy and power sector. It also already leads federal coordination on this front.

“For any American watching this today, an attack on our infrastructure is not merely a hypothetical scenario.  And the impacts would not be isolated.

“An attack on a pipeline in Texas can be felt in Virginia at the gas pump. We experienced this firsthand when many gas stations along the eastern seaboard quite literally ran out of fuel in the aftermath of the Colonial Pipeline cyber-attack.

“In the wake of a cyberattack, we need a direct, cohesive, whole-of-government response to cut through the chaos, and there is no better entity to lead that effort than DOE.

“With that, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7272, and I yield back the balance of my time.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) appeared on NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich Tonight to discuss President Trump confronting Iran, Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to Secretary of Homeland Security, and Democrats refusing to fully fund the government while America is on high alert. 

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview. 
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview:On President Trump standing up to Iran:“We’ve all been clear: everybody knows Iran has been the largest state sponsor of terror. They’ve been engaging in war against us for decades. Katie, you know about this. You’ve talked about it. They’ve killed hundreds of Americans. And so a lot of presidents have talked about not only stopping Iran from engaging in a nuclear weapons program – they’ve still, even after Operation Midnight Hammer, they were trying to enrich uranium. They started to rebuild the program. They made it crystal clear, even in the recent negotiations. They did not want peace. They did not want to stop working towards a nuclear weapon. And at the same time, they killed tens of thousands of their own people. And President Trump looked at all this and said, why would we want these crazy people having a nuclear weapon? They will kill us. And they chant ‘death to America.’ We ought to take them at their word. We ought to make sure the President has all the capabilities he needs to protect America. And that’s exactly what President Trump is doing.”On Senator Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to Secretary of Homeland Security:“Markwayne Mullin has been strongly with us on all the border security measures we’ve done. Working Families Tax Cut, he put a lot of provisions in to strengthen the President’s ability to build a wall, to give our Border Patrol agents tools they need to go secure the border, and to compete with the drug cartels, which they were not able to do under Biden.So all of that’s in place now. He’s going to inherit a really strong agency with a task to keep us safe and secure our border.”On Democrats’ putting politics ahead of the safety of America:“Katie, it just shows you right now, the Democrat Party has lost their way. And they wake up every day, and if Donald Trump wakes up in the morning with a pulse, they want to stop everything he does. They want chaos in America. They’re rooting against America on so many fronts. It’s unbelievable and reckless. “It’s dangerous that they are voting – we just had the vote on the House floor today. Almost every Democrat voted to keep the Department of Homeland Security shut down when we’re under heightened threat. That is a dangerous action for Americans. They don’t want to keep Americans safe because they hate Donald Trump.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after again voting against a funding package for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the federal agency that includes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“The proposed legislation provides billions more for ICE without a single meaningful reform or safeguard. At a time when this agency has become increasingly lawless and unaccountable—tearing families apart, destabilizing businesses, spreading fear in communities, and killing American citizens—Congress should not be writing a blank check.”

“I will not support funding ICE until the Trump Administration implements basic, common-sense reforms—including requiring agents to be identifiable, protecting local law enforcement resources from being diverted to ICE operations, and requiring judicial warrants before agents can enter people’s homes,” said Rep. Frankel.

“In the meantime, DHS will still have the resources it needs to respond to real threats. Democrats have proposed legislation to fund the rest of the department while negotiations on these reforms continue.”