Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland

June 15, 2026                                                    202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON PASSING OF VIRGIN ISLANDS RADIO PERSONALITY SAM TOPP

U.S. Virgin Islands — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) issued the following statement:

“The Virgin Islands has lost one of its most trusted and enduring voices. For nearly two decades, Sam Topp showed up for this community every morning, as a radio broadcaster, and a man deeply committed to the people, politics, and the pulse of these islands. Topp Talk was more than a radio program. It was a public square, a place where Virgin Islanders could speak, be heard, and stay informed.

Sam brought integrity, passion, and an unwavering love for the Virgin Islands to every broadcast. He understood that a microphone in the right hands is a powerful tool, and he used his with purpose and care.

Our community will feel his absence deeply. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, his colleagues and all those who loved him.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore presented a $2,000,000 check to the City of Wheeling for the federal funding to complete the Northern Parkway Project, today. The Northern Parkway Project is a critical infrastructure investment Rep. Moore secured through his work on the House Appropriations Committee in Fiscal Year 2026.

The funding will allow for the complete reconstruction of an essential connector route between Main Street and several residential neighborhoods. The roadway serves families, school buses, emergency vehicles, and local commuters every day, making it a vital transportation corridor for the community.

Years of deterioration have threatened the safety and reliability of the route, creating challenges for residents and first responders alike. The project will restore dependable access, improve mobility, and strengthen public safety for Wheeling families.

Congressman Moore secured the funding as part of the Community Project Funding process to address one of the city’s most pressing infrastructure needs.

Congressman Riley M. Moore released the following statement:

“An investment in critical infrastructure projects is an investment in the safety and the future of our communities. The Northern Parkway is an essential route that thousands of Northern Panhandle residents rely on every day, from parents taking their children to school to emergency personnel responding to urgent service calls. As this corridor continued to deteriorate, it became clear that major investment was necessary. I was proud to secure $2 million through the House Appropriations Committee to help rebuild this roadway, improve public safety, and ensure the people of Wheeling have reliable transportation infrastructure for years to come.”

The reconstruction of the Northern Parkway will enhance connectivity between Main Street and surrounding neighborhoods while ensuring residents, businesses, and emergency services have safe and dependable access throughout the city.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Joe Wilson (2nd District of South Carolina)

Washington, DC – Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Ending Child Soldiers in Africa Act. This bill creates a formal reporting structure within the U.S. government on those African nations that recruit, train, and promote child soldiers both in national armed forces, and in insurgent and rebel groups. The legislation also promotes the opening of a Department of Defense Center to help nations de-transition from militant groups with child soldiers and help those children to more easily reintegrate into their home country societies. 

     “Throughout the African continent child soldiers remain prolific, some recruited to fight by war criminal Putin, for their home nation’s military, or even in local branches of ISIS or Al Qaeda. Ending practices of forced recruitment, kidnapping, and abuse of children to carry out vile military campaigns makes America a safer place,” said Rep. Wilson. “This legislation promotes a ‘center of excellence’ to end child soldiering and ensure every African child has the opportunity to return home and not be forced into global conflicts they did not choose.” 

     “Armed groups and terrorist organizations across the African continent exploit children as fighters, informants, and tools of violence to fuel instability, which can threaten regional and international security,” said Rep. Panetta. “Our bipartisan legislation would strengthen our understanding of how child soldier recruitment sustains extremist networks and ensure the United States is better equipped to confront these threats.” 

     “Combatting child soldiering is a national security necessity, not just a moral imperative. Rep. Wilson’s ‘Ending Child Soldiers in Africa Act’ directly targets the roots of regional instability by confronting how terrorist and criminal networks exploit religious narratives to weaponize youth and siphon resources out of African economies – while directing them into value chains connected to our adversaries and strategic competitors,” said Michael “Mick” Patrick Mulroy, Co-founder, Lobo Institute. “By disrupting these recruitment pipelines and transnational criminal and terrorist networks, this Act can protect children, stabilize critical regions, secure critical mineral supply chains, and advance U.S. national security.”

     A copy of the full legislation is available here. 

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA) of the Committee on Natural Resources led a letter with their Democratic Committee colleagues demanding that National Science Foundation (NSF) Acting Director Brian Stone immediately stop the administration’s illegal plan to dismantle NSF’s Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). 

“We write to you regarding the report that the National Science Foundation (NSF) is illegally dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI),” wrote the Members. “On May 21, 2026, NSF quietly posted to its website its intent to remove four of the five currently operating arrays within the project. There was no process, no press, and no notification to Congress until the New York Times picked it up more than a week later. While NSF has referred to this action as ‘descoping,’ eliminating 80 percent of a project – represented by many hundreds of instruments spread across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans – amounts to nothing less than dismantling. This is a startling use of resources in a resource-strapped time for the agency, and it is not difficult to draw a line from this move to the broader Administration’s anti-science, climate-denialist modus operandi. We demand that you cease this expensive, destructive, and – crucially – illegal action at once.”

The Members emphasize the multifaceted importance of this system: 

“OOI observations provide crucial information to coastal communities, improving weather forecasts and ocean models. The real-time OOI observations on ocean currents and upwelling inform fishery management, supporting $319 billion in annual sales and 2.1 million jobs in the United States. In addition, Tribes use OOI data to monitor and protect Tribal resources. Unfortunately for these researchers, coastal managers, Tribes, and all Americans who paid for this system with their tax dollars and benefit from the insights it provides into our oceans, the OOI’s data is inconvenient for an Administration whose agenda to close our eyes to climate change comes above all else.”

The letter can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Grantee

Purpose

Amount

Upper Valley Snowsports Foundation

To replace the haul rope on Whaleback Mountain’s chairlift, the sole lift serving the upper half of the ski area. The project’s objectives are to ensure safe, reliable operations, preserve the nonprofit’s financial viability, and retain local winter recreation employment. Completion before the 2026–27 season helps sustain a key community asset and supports workforce retention in the Upper Valley.

$137,688

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

To rehabilitate and replace the deteriorated Belmont Forcemain, a 2.5-mile regional sewer pipeline experiencing corrosion-related failures and sanitary sewer overflows. The project will protect nearby drinking water sources, reduce disruptions to businesses and Route 140 traffic, and mitigate environmental and public-health risks. Modernizing this critical asset will restore resilience while helping avoid steep sewer-rate increases that could impede local growth in Belmont and Northfield.

$2,000,000

North Country Community Recreation Center

To construct a pre-engineered metal roof over the outdoor rink and walking track, creating a versatile, all-weather community gathering space. Objectives include foundations, lighting, bleacher area, and utility integration to host large events and leverage proximity to ATV/snowmobile trails, the rail trail, and downtown amenities. The project transforms a shuttered facility into a multi-use recreation hub that drives tourism and strengthens local economic vitality.

$1,000,000

IBEW Local 490 JATC

To upgrade training equipment and remove first-year financial barriers (standard toolkits and laptops) for New Hampshire’s only registered union electrical apprenticeship program. The initiative enhances hands-on participation, aligns instruction with modern jobsite standards, and supports an earn-while-you-learn model that trains at least 102 apprentices annually statewide. By improving retention and readiness, the project expands the pipeline of skilled electricians for rural communities and high-growth projects.

$368,000

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire

To construct a 5,400-square-foot childcare facility in West Lebanon that creates 50 new slots for infants through pre-K. The center includes water/sewer connections, parking, and a playground adjacent to district offices, supporting families’ workforce participation and employer retention. By addressing acute childcare shortages in the Upper Valley, the project strengthens economic vitality and public health.

$1,000,000

Collaborative Solid Waste Strategies

 

To conduct a feasibility study for an Advanced Materials Recovery Facility in Claremont’s Wheelabrator corridor. Using the STOMP framework, the study will assess site options, regional tonnage and processing capacity, material off-takers, and financial modeling to determine viability for a facility capable of substantial throughput, job creation, and revenue from recovered materials. It responds to diminishing landfill capacity and high tipping fees by evaluating an eco-industrial approach that combines advanced separation with onsite manufacturing, supported by a 36-month public education and engagement effort.

$100,000

Moreno Valley Cultural Arts Foundation

To complete renovations, equip an Entrepreneur Resource Center and Small Business Incubator/Accelerator, and enhance outreach from its Northumberland location. The project delivers technology, office pods, 3D printing and scanning, a food prep station, and volunteer training leading to certifications that support logistics, agriculture, and small business careers. With the ERC operational since February 2026, these investments accelerate workforce re-engagement and entrepreneurial participation in a highly distressed rural area.

$273,696.40

Evergreen Start

To deploy shared back-office infrastructure that stabilizes and expands licensed childcare capacity across Coös, Grafton, and Carroll counties. The three-year project onboards 2–4 providers in Year 1, scaling to 6–10 providers and supporting approximately 200–300 slots, with services including financial management, compliance tracking, cash-flow forecasting, and workforce-linked reporting. By reducing volatility and enabling measured expansion, the initiative protects workforce participation and strengthens employer retention in rural New Hampshire.

$500,000

North Country Education Services Agency

To launch TeachNorth, a two-year internship stipend program designed to reduce financial barriers for 25 preservice teachers completing full-time student teaching in northern New Hampshire. Objectives include cohort-based professional development, mentor networking, and retention supports to lower current internship attrition from 25–33% to below 5% and increase licensure completion. The project strengthens educator workforce pipelines and improves long-term regional economic stability by addressing shortages in distressed and rural districts.

$268,205

Mountain Village Charter School

For the Mountain Village Community Commons, a dual-use outdoor recreation and education site along the Baker River in Plymouth, New Hampshire. The project delivers trails, river access, and shared gathering spaces designed for school-day programming and year-round public use, fostering tourism, health, and community connection. Shovel-ready site improvements advance NBRC priorities by strengthening local quality of life and rural economic resilience.

$600,000

Town of Westmoreland

To transform Town Hall into a fully accessible, multi-use hub that supports small business activity, workforce training, and community events. Objectives include installing an ADA lift, accessible restroom, commercial kitchen, high-speed Wi-Fi, and stage improvements to enable instructional programs and civic gatherings. Building on more than $218,995.00 already invested, the project ensures a year-round anchor for economic and social participation.

$218,995

Franklin Opera House

To install theatrical lighting, sound, and AV systems and to complete balcony seating as part of facility improvements coordinated with the City of Franklin. The upgrades professionalize performance capability, enhance accessibility, and support cultural programming that drives downtown visitation. By leveraging an established community arts asset, the project stimulates tourism and local business activity.

$197,215

The Keene Downtown Group

For “Dig Into Keene,” a construction disruption mitigation initiative supporting 95 downtown businesses and approximately 825 jobs during a three-year, $499,749.73.8 million infrastructure rebuild. Objectives include coordinated marketing and PR, wayfinding, business support services, a festival series to drive foot traffic, and a spending-data platform to track outcomes. The project stabilizes revenue and preserves small businesses throughout the multi-year construction period, building a replicable model for rural economic resilience.

$499,749.73

St. Kieran Community Center

To install modern sound and lighting systems with staff and volunteer training in its main performance and gathering space. The upgrades ensure safe, reliable operations for arts, education, workforce events, civic forums, and community meetings. A one-time capital investment delivers long-term benefits and supports downtown Berlin’s cultural and economic ecosystem.

$131,000

Granite State Adaptive

To complete Phase II infrastructure at its adaptive equestrian and recreation facility in Wolfeboro. The project funds a tractor, utility UTV, and specialized waterless arena footing to maintain ADA-accessible trails, enhance safety, and assure year-round operations with reduced environmental impact. These improvements expand capacity to serve youth, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and the broader community.

$175,000

 

Milan & Dummer Ambulance Service

To launch the Coös County EMS Career Catalyst Initiative addressing severe provider shortages in New Hampshire’s North Country. The project’s objectives are to recruit unlicensed residents into emergency medicine and remove financial barriers by covering instruction, certification materials, and clinical supplies while embedding an “earn-while-you-learn” preceptorship for supervised, on-the-job training. By building local licensure pathways and real-world competencies, the initiative strengthens rural healthcare resilience and stabilizes the regional emergency response workforce.

$320,000

Discover Sugar River Region

To establish a Rural Experience Enterprise Development & Coordination Initiative that trains local hosts, standardizes offerings, and deploys a digital platform to market revenue-generating experiences. Objectives include cohort-based training and individualized technical assistance to launch 8–12 contract-ready enterprises rooted in regional assets—heritage, agriculture, arts, and outdoor recreation—plus integrated searchability, booking, and stewardship messaging. The coordinated system enables micro-enterprise participation in the visitor economy, diversifies rural revenue, and creates replicable infrastructure for county-wide expansion.

$418,316

Mill City Park at Franklin Falls

To construct a revenue-generating campground facility and improved recreational amenities that complement New England’s only whitewater park on the Winnipesaukee River. The project includes an outdoor kitchen, bath/shower facility, lighting, access road, and 20 campsites, expanding lodging capacity near downtown Franklin. These improvements boost tourism, sustain park operations, and enhance the visitor experience tied to competition and daily whitewater use.

$390,151

Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission

To conduct Phase 3 investigations identifying a third well location for the Epsom Village Water District. Activities include geophysical surveys in Groundwater Development Zone EPS-SG7, installation of three-inch test wells, and preliminary hydrogeologic testing to select a preferred production site. The project expands source capacity to support planned growth along Routes 202/4 and 28, building on investigatory work completed since 2020.

$40,000

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

This week Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) signed a discharge petition to force a House floor vote on the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would guarantee by law the right to contraception. In two days, the petition collected nearly 200 signatories.

“Women have a right to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion and contraception,” said Congressman Pappas. “It’s clear that the far right will not stop at the Dobbs decision to turn back the clock on women’s rights, from their attacks on family planning services to access to birth control. I will never stop fighting to restore and protect access to reproductive health care and ensure all individuals can make their own private health care decisions.”

The discharge petition coincides with the anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut.  This week in 1965, the Supreme Court struck down a state law that banned married couples from using birth control, establishing that Americans have a fundamental right to privacy. A discharge petition is a legislative tool in the House of Representatives that allows a majority of members (218) to force a bill to the floor for a vote by the full chamber, even if the Speaker of the House opposes it.

The Right to Contraception Act would: 

• Create a federal right for people to obtain contraceptives; 
• Establish a right for health care providers to provide contraceptives and information related to contraception; 
• Allow the Department of Justice, as well as providers and individuals harmed by restrictions on contraception access made unlawful under the legislation, to go to court to enforce these rights; and 
• Protect access to a range of contraceptive methods, devices, and medications used to prevent pregnancy, including but not limited to oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).

“The Right to Contraception Act reflects the position of the vast majority of Americans who rely on contraception of all kinds to plan their families and their lives,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “Contraception is essential healthcare. But what we are seeing from Republicans across the country and the Trump administration are efforts to restricts access to family planning, violating the autonomy and right to privacy of Americans that the Supreme Court recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut. If Republicans are serious about reflecting the will of the people and protecting contraception, they will join us in signing this discharge petition.”

“Over six decades of progress for birth control rights and access have passed since the Supreme Court made their decision in Griswold v. Connecticut. Yet, the right to contraception is still not signed into law,” said Reproductive Freedom Caucus Co-Chairs Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “The House passed this critical bill in 2022, and House Democrats are ready, demanding we pass it again. We are proud to fight alongside Vice Chair Fletcher, and we urge our Republican colleagues to join us and stand with the people.”

“For 61 years, Americans have relied on the constitutional right to contraception recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut and the broader right to privacy that decision helped establish, said Dr. Dara Kass, MD, Emergency Medicine Physician and Board Member, Americans for Contraception. “But after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Justice Thomas called on the Court to ‘reconsider’ precedents like Griswold, those protections can no longer be taken for granted. Congress must pass the Right to Contraception Act and provide lasting federal protections for the right to contraception, personal privacy, and the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies, families, and futures.”

“Contraception is truly a modern miracle and the foundation for people’s ambitions, education, the family that they want, and the life they want to live,” said Clare Coleman, President & CEO, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA). “Just days after members on the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee advanced a proposal to eliminate funding for the Title X program, which provides a critical source of contraceptive care for millions of people, I applaud Rep. Fletcher for launching her discharge petition to advance the Right to Contraception Act. Everyone, regardless of income, insurance status, or where they live, should be able to access affordable contraception from providers they trust.”

“The Trump administration has made it clear that they will chip away at reproductive rights until they have total control over our bodies, our lives, and our futures,” said Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center.  “Attacks on reproductive health care, including contraception, are clearly laid out in Project 2025, and we have already seen the devastating consequences of these attacks.  To protect our bodily autonomy and freedom, Congress must act quickly to stand with the vast majority of Americans who believe contraception is vital health care, not with the extremists who seek to take it away.  We commend Representative Fletcher and her colleagues for championing the Right to Contraception Act and urge all members of Congress to support this critical bill.”

“As an organization of physician advocates providing care to communities around the country, Physicians for Reproductive Health calls on Congress to listen to the critical health care needs of people who desire to stay safe and healthy as they consider whether or not to grow their families,” said Dr. Jamila Perritt OB/GYN in Washington, D.C. and President & CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health. “The Right to Contraception Act aims to protect the basic rights of patients looking to access the contraceptive method that is best for them. Where you live, your income, or your insurance coverage should never dictate whether or not someone can access the care they need, including contraceptive care. Everyone is deserving of access to the information necessary in order to decide what contraception is in alignment with their goals and values, and access to that method without barrier or delay.” 

“Everyone, everywhere should be able to get the birth control they need, when they need it,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund.  Instead of passing bills like the Right to Contraception Act, congressional Republicans continue to push their anti-sexual and reproductive health agenda. Just this week, we saw them attacking access to contraception.  With these threats, it is critical for Congress to protect the right to birth control. Thank you to Rep. Fletcher for introducing this bill to ensure patients can get the care they need.”

“Contraception is basic health care that millions of people rely on,” said Rachel Fey, Interim Co-CEO, Power to Decide.  Not surprisingly, it’s extremely popular, and the right to obtain contraception and to provide it should not be remotely controversial. And yet it’s only getting harder to access as Medicaid restrictions and efforts to defund the Title X Family Planning Program continue, and mis and disinformation proliferate.  In this environment, we applaud Rep. Fletcher and congressional champions for this discharge petition and call on all members to support it.”

“The Right to Contraception Act is a critical step to ensuring birth control access is accessible to those who need it, without exceptions or barriers,” said Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju.  “Where you live and how much money you make should not determine whether you can make decisions about your health and future. We thank Rep. Lizzie Fletcher for continuing to take action to protect our reproductive freedom as the Trump administration continues to escalate attacks on our rights every day.”

The effort comes as the Trump administration continues to target family planning resources, including recent funding cuts to Title X, the country’s only federal program dedicated to providing domestic family planning services for people with low incomes.

Background:

Pappas helped introduce the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act earlier this year, legislation that would safeguard and increase funding for Title X—the nation’s only federal program dedicated to providing comprehensive family planning and preventive health services. He has continually advocated for resources to support New Hampshire family planning services and health providers in the face of both state and federal efforts to cut or freeze Title X funding and defund these providers.

Pappas also helped reintroduce three pieces of legislation vital to protecting access to reproductive care this year: the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would enshrine into law vital protections previously guaranteed by Roe v. Wade and secure the right to reproductive care for everyone across America, the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, which would reaffirm the right to travel for abortion care including traveling across state lines, and the EACH Act, which would guarantee women access to abortion coverage regardless of how they get their health insurance. He has helped pass these bills through the House in prior Congresses.

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

Washington, D.C – In case you missed it, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens led five members of the Michigan delegation in demanding that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reverse its decision to open a new ICE facility in Michigan. She’s leading the push against new ICE facilities and holding ICE accountable for their abuses of power.

Here’s what Michiganders are seeing about Rep. Haley Stevens fighting back against new ICE facilities in Michigan:

Michigan Advance: Five Democratic U.S. Reps. send letter to DHS secretary opposing ICE detention center in Romulus

By: Katherine Dailey

• Five Democratic U.S. Representatives from Michigan sent a letter on Thursday to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin to oppose the development of a planned ICE detention facility in Romulus.
• Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham led the letter and was joined by Reps. Debbie Dingell of Ann Arbor, Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids, Kristen McDonald Rivet of Bay City, and Shri Thanedar of Detroit — almost the entire Democratic delegation to the U.S. House from Michigan.
• The letter lays out a number of arguments that have been well-worn against the detention center — including local opposition and zoning concerns and environmental regulations for the area’s floodplain and wetlands.
• “Given these dynamics, it is clear DHS must not move forward with the planned Romulus detention facility,” the letter continues, noting that Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the City of Romulus have already sued in federal court to stop or slow the detention center’s development.
• Stevens and Scholten have also been vocally opposed to the major ICE detention facility in Michigan that is currently operating, the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, a facility privately owned by GEO Group and contracted as an ICE detention center, especially in the wake of the December 2025 death of Nenko Gantchev at the Baldwin facility.

MLive: Michigan lawmakers seek to stop plan to turn warehouse into ICE detention center

By: Rose White

• A coalition of five Michigan Democrats are urging the federal government to reverse its plan to turn a warehouse in a Detroit suburb into an immigration detention center.
• They sent a June 11 letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, pushing for the agency to “reverse the decision” to convert a Romulus warehouse into a 500-bed federal facility.
• The letter cites concerns about North Lake Processing Center, a 1,400-bed ICE detention facility in Baldwin that has faced scrutiny over conditions, alleged medical neglect and a recent hunger strike.
• “Since DHS announced its proposed facility in Romulus, the local community has been clear that they do not want what is happening in Baldwin to be replicated in other parts of our state,” the lawmakers wrote.
• The proposed Romulus facility has faced fierce backlash from the community and advocacy groups which has protested the scale of the project.

CBS News Detroit: MI Representatives Send Letter to DHS

• Here at home, Representative Haley Stevens is stepping up her fight to stop an ICE detention facility from being placed in the area.
• Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would be opening a facility in Romulus. Representative Stevens, as well as other local members of Congress, have now sent a letter to DHS calling on it to reverse that decision.
• Right now, Michigan’s only other ICE detention facility is in Baldwin. The Representatives claim there have been repeated reports of “dangerous conditions” there.
• The letter says in part, “Since DHS announced its proposed facility in Romulus, the local community has been clear that they do not want what is happening in Baldwin to be replicated in other parts of our state”
• They also claim DHS overlooks multiple issues about the Romulus site, including zoning laws.

 

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

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced Middlesex School student and Littleton native Rebecca Fusco as a winner of the Congressional Award. 
“Rebecca represents the very best of our district,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “As a former athlete and the mother of two young girls, I’m especially grateful for Rebecca’s leadership and her mission to ensure more girls have the chance to compete, grow, and succeed through sports. Congratulations Rebecca!” 
Rebecca’s project involved over 400 hours of voluntary public service focused on creating opportunities for girls to play basketball, and over 200 hours of personal development focused on increasing her educational growth. Her mission of expanding opportunities for girls to play basketball took her to Ecuador where she worked with local advocates united in the mission of making the game more accessible to all. 
The Congressional Award is a non-partisan charity founded by Congress in 1979 that aims to recognize and promote excellence in young people. The program’s goal is to encourage youth to set and achieve goals in four areas: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. By setting and achieving these goals, young people are empowered to take charge of their own lives and become active and responsible citizens.
To date, over 9 million hours of service have been contributed to communities across the country as a part of the Congressional Award program. There are currently over 45,000 youth enrolled.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

June 15, 2026 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the House companion to Senator Todd Young’s (R-Ind.) Government Bailout Prevention Act, legislation that establishes clear safeguards against federal bailouts and prevents taxpayers from being forced to rescue financially troubled state and local governments.
“Taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for poorly run state and local governments,” said Rep. Greg Steube. “When politicians spend beyond their means and make reckless financial decisions, they shouldn’t be able to turn around and expect a federal bailout. If states and local governments get themselves into a financial mess, taxpayers in other parts of the country shouldn’t be stuck paying for it.”
“When state and local governments spend more money than they bring in or rack up dangerous levels of debt, hard-working Americans shouldn’t be forced to bail them out,” said Senator Young. “It is unfair to expect Hoosiers to bail out fiscally irresponsible states or communities outside of Indiana. Our bill will ensure federal taxpayer dollars aren’t used to reward these bad fiscal choices.”
“With numerous states and localities marching towards insolvency, taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bail out fiscally irresponsible jurisdictions that have spent beyond their means for years. Thankfully, Representative Steube’s Government Bailout Prevention Act establishes clear safeguards against federal rescues of insolvent governments, reduces moral hazard, and protects hardworking Americans from assuming the costs of poor financial management. We look forward to helping this important legislation reach President Trump’s desk before it’s too late,” —Thomas Aiello, Vice President of Federal Affairs at National Taxpayers Union.
This legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Keith Self (R-Texas). 
The Government Bailout Prevention Act is endorsed by the National Taxpayers Union.
The Government Bailout Prevention Act would prohibit the use of federal funds, including assistance from the Federal Reserve System and the U.S. Treasury Department, to purchase, guarantee, or otherwise support the obligations of state and local governments that have defaulted, filed for bankruptcy, or face imminent insolvency.
The legislation also prohibits the Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve banks from providing loans, guarantees, bond purchases, or other forms of financial support. The bill preserves federal assistance provided in response to declared disasters and does not apply to discretionary appropriations, direct spending, or grants awarded by the United States government.
Background: Currently, state and local governments have been spending beyond their means, accumulating unsustainable pension liabilities and making long-term spending commitments they are increasingly unable to finance.
Compounding this problem is the implicit expectation that federal taxpayers will ultimately serve as a backstop if these governments face fiscal collapse. There is no incentive to pursue responsible budgeting at the state and local levels.
Read the bill text here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

GILBERT, ARIZONA– Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) recently announced the results of his office’s annual Congressional Art Competition, which was themed to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. The winning piece, a painting titled Moment of Reflection by Hamilton High School student Elaine Huang, will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. 

“I am always blown away by the artistic talent of the students in Arizona’s Fifth District, and this year’s competition was no exception,” said Congressman Biggs. “Each submission this year uniquely encapsulated the best of America and filled me with immense hope, patriotism, and gratitude for our great nation as it approaches its 250th birthday. I congratulate Elaine on winning first place, and I thank the judges, teachers, and schools for encouraging and supporting youth participation in the arts. These mentors contribute to our nation’s strength and success.” 

Overall Results: 
*Second-Place: Monumental Memories, a photograph by Joselyn Franzone

*Third-Place: The Feathers of Freedom, a computer-generated image by Penelope Carter

Peoples’ Choice Award:
*Photograph: Superstition Mountains, by Drew Schneder

Best of Medium: 
*Mixed-Media: Citizen, by Leah Kim

*Drawing: The American Dream, by Joanna Hu

Background: 
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students who reside in Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District. Hundreds of students have entered the contest during Congressman Biggs’s five-terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. This year’s competition is the last sponsored by Congressman Biggs’s office before his retirement from Congress in January 2027.

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