Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

The U.S. National Science Foundation grants will provide $600,000 for California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and $400,000 for the University of California, Riverside (UCR)
Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced $1 million in federal grant funding for California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), in collaboration with the University of California, Riverside (UCR), to expand and enhance artificial intelligence (AI) education and workforce development in the Inland Empire. The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program will provide a $600,000 grant to CSUSB and a $400,000 grant to UCR.
“As the artificial intelligence workforce rapidly expands and evolves, it is essential that students in the Inland Empire have the skills and knowledge they need to have successful careers in this growing field,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “This grant funding for CSUSB and UCR is an important investment in our students’ futures, our region’s workforce and our community’s economic development.”
“With this NSF grant, we will launch new academic programs in AI, establish a community-focused AI Help Desk, and expand research opportunities for all students in the Inland Empire,” said Dr. Yunfei Hou, Executive Director of the Leonard Transportation Center and Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at CSUSB. “These efforts will provide students with hands-on experience solving real-world challenges, strengthen the region’s workforce, and create flexible pathways into AI careers.” 
“We at UCR are delighted to partner with CSUSB on this grant and provide students in the Inland Empire with a world-class education in AI,” said Dr. Evangelos Papalexakis, Professor and Ross Family Chair in Computer Science at the Computer Science and Engineering Department at UCR. “This grant aligns with our ongoing efforts on interdisciplinary AI education and research and the campus-wide RAISE@UCR AI institute, which encompasses around 100 faculty from different departments and colleges and where AI serves as the connective tissue across disciplines.”
The funding comes as part of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Enriching Learning, Programs, and Student Experiences (HSI:ELPSE) grant program. The project, Promoting Regional Opportunities for Practical and Engaged Learning in AI (PROPEL AI), will allow CSUSB to develop new AI-focused academic programs, create an AI Help Desk that supports local businesses and organizations and build inclusive pathways into AI careers for first-generation and underrepresented students. Additionally, the grant funding will allow UCR graduate students to mentor CSUSB undergraduate students on innovative AI research and joint research projects.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

In a bipartisan, bicameral effort to provide vital assistance to farmers affected by toxic “forever chemicals,” also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) reintroduced the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act. The legislation would authorize grants for states to provide financial assistance to affected farmers, expand monitoring and testing, remediate PFAS, or even help farmers relocate.

“USDA must provide support to our nation’s farmers, who through no fault of their own are at risk of losing their livelihoods,” said Senator Collins. “In the past, the federal government’s response has failed to keep pace with this growing problem. Our bipartisan legislation would direct USDA to help by providing financial assistance and expanding PFAS monitoring and testing where it is needed most.”

“The PFAS crisis isn’t some theoretical or distant problem. It’s here, it’s growing, and it’s putting real pressure on farmers in Maine and across the country,” said Pingree, a longtime farmer and senior member of the House Agriculture Committee. “For farmers already navigating thin margins, discovering ‘forever chemicals’ on their land can mean lost income, unusable land, and questions about the safety of their crops and livestock. They deserve federal support that matches the scale of the crisis. Our Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act creates a dedicated USDA program to test for contamination, compensate affected farmers, and advance the research and remediation strategies we need to protect our food supply and rural economies. This bill is a critical step in giving farmers the tools to safeguard their operations while federal and state agencies work to fully confront PFAS.”

Specifically, the funds authorized by the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act could be used for a variety of purposes at the state level, including:

• Providing financial assistance to affected farmers;

• Building capacity for PFAS testing for soil or water sources;

• Monitoring blood for individuals to make informed decisions about their health;

• Upgrading or purchasing equipment to ensure a farm remains profitable during or after known PFAS contamination;

• Developing alternative production systems or remediation strategies;

• Developing educational programs for farmers experiencing PFAS contamination; and

• Researching soil and water remediation systems, and the viability of those systems for farms

The bill would also create a task force at USDA charged with identifying other USDA programs to which PFAS contamination should be added as an eligible activity.  This would help bring even more resources to farmers through existing programs.  Additionally, the task force would provide technical assistance to states to help them coordinate their responses effectively.

“Maine farmers, residents and policymakers are leading the country on tackling PFAS contamination in our food and water,” said Sarah Alexander, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). “Maine has created essential policies to help farmers who have suffered consequences of forever chemicals through no fault of their own. Senator Collins’ and Congresswoman Pingree’s bill signals a critical opportunity for the federal government to coordinate a response so that farmers across the country will have the support they need to address PFAS contamination.”

 “PFAS contamination of agricultural land is a nationwide challenge that has been met with an inconsistent patchwork of policy and program responses to date. What is needed in response to the challenge of PFAS contamination of agricultural land is dependable and comprehensive support so that farm families, the agricultural sector, and our food system are not in jeopardy. This bill seeks to do just that. Maine Farmland Trust is grateful for the introduction of the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act and the strong federal safety net of support that it would provide.  Maine farmers stand with farmers nationwide who deserve comprehensive support and solutions,” said Shelley Megquier, Policy and Research Director of Maine Farmland Trust.

“American Farmland Trust (AFT) applauds the reintroduction of the bipartisan Farmers Hit with PFAS Act,” said Tim Fink, Vice President of Policy for AFT. “The discovery of PFAS contamination can be devastating for farms, farmers, and their families – all through no fault of their own. However, the experience of the Maine relief program has shown that with the right financial and technical support, most farms can return safely to operation. It’s time that this essential financial, technical, healthcare, and research support be available to impacted farmers across the nation.”

“PFAS contamination poses a significant threat to our farms, wildlife, and food,” said Rebecca Meuninck, Ph.D., Great Lakes regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. “Farmers are being put out of business because they unknowingly spread biosolids containing PFAS on their land or had their water contaminated from neighboring military or industrial sites. The reintroduction of this legislation is a big step forward in supporting farmers and ensuring their resilience against the impacts of PFAS.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

In light of the Trump Administration’s repeated actions to cut food assistance, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Members of Congress, and anti-hunger advocates are demanding better policies to combat hunger in America.

Joining U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Congressman Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, and advocates at a press conference today, Pingree condemned Republicans’ and the Administration’s cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the USDA’s decision to end a longstanding annual food insecurity survey. 

“The Trump Administration can try to bury the truth by canceling the annual food security report, spreading misinformation about SNAP fraud, and dismissing decades of research as ‘fear-mongering,’ but families across the country know all too well how real the hunger crisis is. And it’s only getting worse under Trump and Republicans, who have hollowed out the safety net and driven basic costs beyond reach,” said Pingree, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus. “Hunger Free America is doing what this Administration refuses to do: document the lived reality of millions of Americans with credible, independent data that exposes the crisis Republicans in power are desperate to ignore. In Congress, many of us are fighting to protect SNAP, strengthen anti-hunger programs, and invest in commonsense solutions to reduce food waste and expand access to healthy meals. We’re not backing down—no matter how hard this Administration tries to hide the reality of hunger in America.” 

Earlier this year, President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” cut the SNAP—the largest food assistance program in the country—by $186 billion. President Trump also refused to tap into the USDA’s contingency fund to provide SNAP benefits during the Republican government shutdown, disrupting food aid for millions of Americans.

To fill the gap created by the Administration when they ended the annual food insecurity survey, the nonpartisan nonprofit group Hunger Free America released its own survey on hunger in the U.S. The new report found that 81 percent of U.S. families earning between $75,000 to $100,000 per year—usually considered to be upper middle class—faced higher costs of living in the past year, which is why fully 64 percent of such families said it was harder for them to afford the amount and quality of food they and/or their household needed.

“Hunger Free America’s new reports show just how pervasive hunger is in our country. But instead of stepping in to help Americans, the Trump administration is doing the opposite—cutting the very programs that feed hungry families,” said Senator Gillibrand. “By cutting food aid programs like SNAP, the Trump administration is undermining a critical lifeline that nearly 3 million New Yorkers rely on to put food on the table. The administration must put the American people first and take action to curb hunger.”   

“Hunger Free America’s new study confirms what I’m hearing from people across New Jersey — costs are too high and it’s only getting harder to put food on the table,” said Senator Kim. “A trip to the grocery or the pharmacy should never break the bank. We can solve hunger, but not while the Trump administration continues to cruelly weaponize hunger as a political tool. We owe the American people better, and I look forward to working with advocates like Hunger Free America to deliver a future where hunger is a thing of the past.” 

The reports can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON—Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) introduced the Medical Foods and Formulas Access Act. This legislation would require Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program to cover specialized formulas, vitamins, individual amino acids, and other medically necessary foods prescribed by a physician for patients with specific gastrointestinal and inherited metabolic disorders. The legislation ensures state and federal protection for existing coverage.

Joining Senator McGovern in introducing this legislation are Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Representatives John Rutherford (R-FL) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI).

“Access to health care is a human right—no one should have to worry about whether they’ll be able to access the medically necessary food they need to live,” said Congressman McGovern. “I’m disgusted by the stories I hear from many of my constituents who are struggling to get medically necessary food for their child or family member because predatory insurance companies are refusing to cover prescribed foods and formulas just to pad their bottom line. Our bill breaks down barriers to care and ensures that Americans with inherited metabolic diseases or gastrointestinal conditions get the nutrition they need.”

For full text of the legislation, click here. 

Background:

• Medically necessary nutrition must be specially formulated and processed as opposed to naturally occurring food for the partial or exclusive feeding of an individual by means of oral intake or enteral feeding by tube. Additionally, this food must only be used for an individual receiving active and ongoing medical supervision.
• Nearly 40 states require coverage of medically necessary nutrition, but coverage is highly variable from state to state.  
• Approximately 2,000 infants every year are diagnosed with an inherited metabolic disorder through the newborn screening program. When these conditions are left untreated in both children and adults, food can become toxic, or the body can fail to absorb necessary nutrients.  
• Risks in pediatric populations are particularly profound and include inadequate growth, abnormal development, cognitive impairment, and behavioral disorders. These individuals must turn to medically necessary nutrition, such as highly specialized formulas, both as a treatment for their condition and as sustenance. These conditions cannot be solely managed by avoiding certain foods.  Specialized medically necessary nutrition prescribed by a health care provider is standard-of-care treatment for these patients and is essential to healthy development.  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON—Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), along with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and John Garamendi (D-CA) reintroduced the bicameral Hastening Arms Limitation Talks (HALT) Act, legislation outlining a vision for a twenty-first century freeze on the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons. The reintroduction of the HALT Act comes at a time of reckless nuclear policy from the Trump administration, with President Trump threatening to resume nuclear testing and the last U.S.-Russian arms reduction treaty—New START—on the verge of extinction.

“The world is still moving in the wrong direction when it comes to nuclear disarmament and arms control. If we want to avoid catastrophe, the United States must take the lead in pushing for a global freeze on nuclear testing, production, and deployment,” said Congressman McGovern. “Every dollar poured into nuclear weapons pushes humanity closer to the brink and strengthens the hand of evil in the world. Senator Markey and I are calling for a renewed, 21st-century nuclear freeze movement—one that slows this dangerous arms race, upholds our treaty obligations, redirects resources toward improving people’s lives, and ultimately eliminates these weapons before they eliminate us.”

Specifically, the HALT Act would make it U.S. policy to seek negotiated steps to reduce the number and salience of nuclear weapons, including:

• An agreement on a verifiable freeze on the testing, production, and further deployment of all nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles;
• An agreement by the U.S. and Russia on a follow-on New START agreement to reduce nuclear arsenals and cover new kinds of strategic weapons;
• U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); and
• Prohibition of funds to prepare for or to conduct U.S. explosive nuclear-weapon testing in fiscal year 2026 or any future year.

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

Speaker Johnson Statement on Arrest in Connection with January 6 Pipe Bombs

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

Rep. Cline Statement on ICE Arrest of ISIS-K Terrorist in Waynesboro

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

Pressley Speaks to the Love of Parents Trying to Care for a Child as 16,500 Palestinians are Waiting to be Evacuated from Gaza for Medical Treatment

Pressley Led Over 100 Colleagues in Calling on State Department to Urgently Surge Humanitarian Aid and Infant Formula to Families in Gaza, Doubles Down on Demands

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) took to the House floor to make an urgent and emotional plea for humanitarian action to save children in Gaza in need of essential medical treatment and humanitarian aid after suffering a horrific genocide perpetrated by the Israeli military and ahead of the winter months.

Drawing commonality between parents in the United States and Palestinian parents whose children lack shelter, food, and medical care, Congresswoman Pressley shared the story of Hadeel, a mother in Gaza whose daughter Lana suffers from a kidney condition and is among the 16,500 people waiting to be evacuated for medical treatment.

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

Transcript: Pressley Makes Urgent Plea for Humanitarian Action to Save Gaza’s Children in Powerful Floor Speech
House of Representatives
December 4, 2025

Mr. Speaker, every parent hopes that no harm, heartbreak or hardship finds their child.

We want our children, especially when they are babies, to know safety, warmth, full bellies and a peaceful slumber. 

When they are young, especially during the fall and winter months, in the throes of cold and flu season, little ones carry raspy coughs and runny noses home from the playground. 

Dads tuck their little ones in at night under a warm blanket, hoping they will sleep okay. 

They hold their babies to their chest and listen for the threat of labored breathing, wondering if they’ll have to make an ER run in the middle of the night.

They whisper a prayer every parent of every faith knows, “I hope my baby is okay.” 

But for parents in Gaza, as the weather turns, heavy rainfall and freezing temperatures present new threats. 

Palestinian families have endured a genocidal campaign for years. Their homes reduced to rubble. Many have no warm jacket to wrap their child in, or a dry blanket to tuck them under.

And still they whisper the same prayer, “I hope my baby is okay.”

Mr. Speaker in Gaza, children have been murdered as US bombs deployed by the Israeli army have rained down on civilians. Children have been murdered by sniper fire and starvation.

Every one of those, more than 20,000 children, every single one of them murdered was someone’s whole world. 

Since a cease fire was declared in the media and the world have shifted their gaze, but families and Gaza still live under the constant threat, the threat of violence, of the elements, of starvation. 

Earlier this year, my colleagues, Congresswoman Pettersen and Senator Gallego and I led over 100 members of Congress in urging the State Department to immediately surge humanitarian aid and ready-to-feed infant formula to families in Gaza to save lives. 

In a written response, the State Department expressed concern about the crisis, but words without action are not only empty, they are deadly. 

We have doubled down on our calls and demand the State Department send members of Congress a weekly update on exactly how much aid is entering Gaza and reaching desperate families. 

But Mr. Speaker, aid alone is not enough, especially not for our children who have suffered injuries, especially not for children with disabilities and complex medical conditions. 

Medical evacuation is a critical aspect of life saving humanitarian work, and right now, over 16,500 people are waiting to be medically evacuated from Gaza for essential treatment. 

I recently heard from a mother named Hadeel. Seven months ago, her six-year-old son died. He died while awaiting medical evacuation. He suffered from a kidney condition, and the decimated medical system in Gaza could not provide him the care he needed to survive. 

Now her daughter, Lana, who suffers from the same kidney condition is on the wait list for medical evacuation. Each day that goes by without adequate treatment, Lana’s life is in danger. 

Hadeel is no different from the parent in Boston who clutches their child in their arms and listens for labored breathing as they ride out the flu. 

Just like that parent, she would do anything for her baby. Just like that parent, she whispers a prayer, “I hope they will be okay.” 

Every child deserves to live and thrive. In the timeless words of James Baldwin, “the children are always ours, every single one of them all over the globe. And I’m beginning to suspect that whomever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.”

Mr. Speaker, the United States of America built, bought and sold the bombs that killed Palestinians throughout this horrific genocidal campaign carried out by the Israeli military. 

The United States of America once claimed to be a moral and just authority, but today, all the globe sees is the blood on the hands of this nation. 

It is not too late to appeal to our better angels, to act with urgency to save lives, to support medical evacuations, to surge baby formula and aid, to chart a path forward to save lives. 

Every child is someone’s whole world. Every life is a universe. And our destinies are tied. 

I yield.

—

In August, Reps. Pressley and Pettersen, along with Senator Gallego, led their House and Senate colleagues, respectively, in sending letters to Secretary Rubio urging that the Trump administration use its full power to prioritize the additional surge of humanitarian aid, including the pallets of ready-to-feed baby formula that are sitting at the border, by facilitating the distribution by the Israeli government, alongside the United Nations and our allies. After receiving a response, Pressley, Pettersen and Gallego requested real-time, weekly updates on aid distributed to starving families.

Since the horrific October 7^th attack, Congresswoman Pressley has consistently and stridently called for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and surge humanitarian aid to Gaza. Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she called for urgent de-escalation in the region and renewed her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel to prevent a broader regional war.  Rep. Pressley introduced a pair of amendments to increase funding to global humanitarian assistance and place a one-year moratorium on the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military.

• Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and their colleagues on a resolution condemning Hamas’ brutal attack and hostage-taking, and demanding Hamas immediately release all hostages.
• Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), James P. McGovern (MA-02), and 50 colleagues on a letter condemning the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel, calling for Israeli military operations to follow the rules of international humanitarian law, and continuing to work toward peace in the region.
• Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in announcing a resolution urging the Biden Administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, to send humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza, and to save as many lives as possible. She later joined her colleagues and a multi-faith, multiracial coalition of faith leaders and organizers for a prayer and press conference to renew their calls for a ceasefire. Rep. Pressley also joined dozens of rabbis and Members of Congress for a press conference to renew calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Instead of attending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress, Rep. Pressley spent the day centering people directly impacted by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza
• Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she condemned antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate on college campuses.
• Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of nearly 100 interfaith clergy and faith leaders on a joint statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and nearly 150 colleagues in urging the State Department to use all tools at its disposal help get Americans out of Israel and back home to the United States. She applauded the State Department for heeding her calls on October 12, 2023 and continues to press for the urgent evacuation of Americans in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement following the safe evacuation of Massachusetts constituents Wafaa and Abood Okal and their one-year-old Yousef from Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley and Rep. Jamie Raskin led a group of 60 House lawmakers in urging the State Department to affirm the United States’ strong opposition to the forced and permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, and to support an increase in humanitarian aid to the region.
• Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Mark Pocan (WI-2), Betty McCollum (MN-4) and 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden, asking him to support a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza to protect the one million children living there.
• Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of interfaith clergy and faith leaders for a vigil to mourn the tens of thousands of Palestinians, Israelis, and innocent civilians killed since October 7^th, and to renew calls for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and deliver humanitarian aid to the region.
• Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues at a press conference to condemn the Israeli government’s pending invasion of Rafah and continued her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in calling for full funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide urgent humanitarian relief to Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Joaquín Castro, Jamie Raskin, Jan Schakowsky and 33 House Democrats to President Biden urging him to prevent an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah.
• Rep. Pressley, amid heightened tensions in the region, delivered a floor speech in which she called for urgent de-escalation in the Middle East and renewed her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent a broader regional war.
• Rep. Pressley filed a pair of amendments to increase funding to global humanitarian assistance and place a one-year moratorium on the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military. The amendments were not adopted in the final legislation. 
• Rep. Pressley voted against HR 8034 to send more offensive weapons and funding to the Israeli military, citing the Israeli military’s callous disregard for human life in Gaza and significant human rights violations.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the peaceful student protests taking place in Massachusetts and across the country.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Boston City Council for passing a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and 54 additional lawmakers in calling on the Biden Administration to use all tools possible to dissuade the Israeli government from moving forward with an offensive invasion into Rafah.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement in response to the escalating situation in the Middle East.
• Rep. Pressley joined impacted families, faith leaders, and advocates to observe the anniversary of the horrific October 7, 2023 attack and commemorate the 1,200 Israelis killed by Hamas, the hostages killed and those still kidnapped, and the over 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza killed by the Israeli military over the past year.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the horrific October 7^th attack.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement urging the Senate to support Senator Bernie Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval that would block the sale of offensive arms to the Israeli government.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the ceasefire-hostage deal reached between Israel and Hamas in January 2025.
• Rep. Pressley is a co-sponsor of the Block the Bombs Act, which would withhold the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli government and demand the Israeli military’s compliance with U.S. and international law.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

December 3, 2025

Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov

Barragán, Matsui, Carter to FCC: Don’t Deny Millions of Non-English Speakers Access to Clear Internet Price and Service Information

Washington, D.C. — Today, Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02) led a letter to demand that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr protect multilingual broadband consumer labels, a necessary tool to ensure working American families can choose the most affordable Internet services package for their household. The letter responds to the FCC’s recent vote to seek comment on a proposal that would eliminate the requirement that internet service providers offer broadband labels in the same languages they use to market services. 

Broadband consumer labels clearly communicate the internet speeds, costs, data limits, and fees at the time of purchase so that families can compare different internet plans and choose the most cost-effective one for them. Ensuring that these labels are provided in different languages means that the 68 million Americans across the country that speak a language other than English can access the same, essential information they need to make fair and informed decisions about their internet service. 

“Internet access is a basic necessity of working American families across the country, regardless of the language they speak,” said Rep. Barragán. “People use the internet throughout their daily lives, children use it to complete their schoolwork, professionals use it to find job opportunities, and families use it to find the most affordable health care services for them. But they can’t do any of this without the help of the internet, which is why it is so important that Congress makes sure that the tens of millions of Americans who speak a language other than English are able to select the internet package that best works for their finances. A difference in language should not mean a difference in access to this crucial resource.” 

“Americans deserve to understand exactly what they’re paying for when they sign up for broadband,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Eliminating multilingual labels doesn’t just create confusion, it shuts millions of Americans out of the basic information they need to make informed choices and save money. Providers already market in multiple languages—giving consumers the same clarity in those languages is the bare minimum. The FCC should be expanding access to information, not creating new barriers.”

“Every family in America deserves clear, accessible information about the internet service they rely on, no matter what language they speak. Internet providers already market and support customers in multiple languages, so there is absolutely no excuse for denying consumers the same clarity when it comes to the actual terms of their service.  Stripping away these protections would leave Louisianians at a disadvantage. I’m proud to lead this effort to ensure every household can make informed, empowered decisions about the connectivity they depend on,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).

The letter asks the FCC to:

• Maintain the current multilingual broadband label requirement;
• Ensure providers follow the requirement; and
• Make sure all Americans, no matter what language they speak, can understand broadband services, compare plans, and make informed choices.

The letter was also signed by the following 28 Representatives: André Carson, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Herbert Conaway, J. Correa, Dwight Evans, Lizzie Fletcher, Jesús García, Robert Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Jennifer McClellan, LaMonica McIver, Robert Menendez, Grace Meng, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Norton, Nellie Pou, Luz Rivas, Raul Ruiz, Darren Soto, Marilyn Strickland, Shri Thanedar, Paul Tonko, Marc Veasey, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE. 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) applauded the unanimous passage of the Mikaela Naylon ‘Give Kids A Chance Act,’ which she introduced alongside Reps. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Randy Weber (R-Texas). The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act will accelerate pediatric cancer treatments and expand access to life-saving therapies for children battling rare diseases.

This legislation combines two critical initiatives — the original Give Kids a Chance Act and the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act — to spur drug development for pediatric rare diseases, improve patient outcomes and close gaps in pediatric drug research.

“By passing the bipartisan Give Kids a Chance Act, the House has taken a meaningful step forward in improving health outcomes for kids fighting cancer and rare diseases,” said Rep. Castor. “This bipartisan legislation eliminates unnecessary red tape, prioritizes life-saving pediatric therapies and re-energizes pediatric drug research at no additional cost to taxpayers. As co-chair of the Childhood Cancer Caucus, I’m pleased to see the House come together to remove barriers to care. Working together is how we strengthen families, expand opportunity and build a healthier, more hopeful future for our young neighbors in Florida and across the country.”

“As a founder of the childhood cancer caucus, I’ve met with countless cancer patients and advocates who have asked me for one thing: to give kids their best chance of beating cancer. Today, the House of Representatives shined a beacon of hope for those children and their families by unanimously passing the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act,” said Congressman McCaul. “Mikaela represents all the children who have advocated for this bill and suffered with this heartbreaking disease. Losing some of these kids has been the hardest part of my career, but today, I’m encouraged because I know Mikaela’s legacy — and all of their legacies — will live on in this bill forever and help save countless lives.”

“Today, the House delivered long-overdue hope for the millions of Americans and their families struggling with a rare disease,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “I’m proud my RARE Act is included in this bipartisan package. It will prevent pharmaceutical companies from abusing their orphan drug status to keep other innovative drugs from coming to market. As Co-Chair of the Rare Disease Caucus, I’ve met far too many families who have been told there are no options for their child’s care. This legislation brings them real hope by ensuring investment into pediatric therapies and getting promising treatments to patients faster. Now the Senate must act quickly, because for the rare disease community, every single day matters.”

“Today, we celebrate the House passage of this critical, bipartisan effort to give children battling cancer and rare diseases a real chance at life. By strengthening incentives for pediatric drug development, restoring essential programs such as the FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher, and ensuring that life-saving therapies reach the children who need them most, we are making meaningful progress. I am proud to have contributed to this important work and will continue fighting for children and families across our nation,” said Congressman Bilirakis.

“It’s impossible to know the pain and devastation a family experiences when their child is diagnosed with cancer,” said Rep. Dingell. “Children respond to cancer treatments differently than adults, but there is not enough research to fully understand how therapies impact them. These children and their families deserve better. This bill will expand pediatric cancer research, offering more children a fighting chance. Mikaela Naylon, for whom this bill is named, fought for this until the day she died. I’m proud to pass this legislation in her honor, to show pediatric cancer patients and their families that they are not alone in their fight.”

Background:

Each year, nearly 16,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer. In fact, children comprise as many as half of those living with rare diseases, yet treatment options for children remain extremely limited compared to those for adults. The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act would reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration priority review voucher (PRV) program, which allows pharmaceutical companies to expedite FDA review of more profitable drugs in return for developing treatments for rare pediatric diseases. Since the bill’s passage in 2011, 63 PRVs have been awarded for at least 39 different rare pediatric diseases.

Additionally, thousands of successful drug combination therapies are now being studied and developed for adults, but not for children. The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act also authorizes the FDA to direct companies to study combinations of cancer drugs and therapies in pediatric trials. 

Click here to view the full text of the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act.