Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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

WASHINGTON – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced the Brand USA Restoration Act, legislation to restore $80 million in federal funding for Brand USA, the nation’s public-private tourism partnership. The bill replenishes the Travel Promotion Fund to offset drastic cuts made in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which slashed Brand USA’s federal match by 80 percent. Brand USA plays a critical role in marketing the United States to international travelers, supporting millions of American jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors. The organization is especially vital as the country prepares for global events like the America 250 celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Restoring Brand USA’s funding is about protecting American jobs and strengthening our economy,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “When we attract visitors from around the world, we support American workers, small businesses, and communities in every state. This bill ensures that the United States continues to compete globally and remains a top destination for international travel.”

The legislation has been strongly endorsed by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents thousands of hotel owners across the United States.

“Restoring full funding to Brand USA was a top priority at our Fall National Advocacy Conference because this is about keeping international travelers coming to the United States and protecting our members’ businesses,” said Kamalesh (KP) Patel, AAHOA Chairman. “Brand USA has generated $140 billion in economic impact and supported over 300,000 American jobs, yet recent funding cuts threaten to slow this momentum. Ensuring full funding is critical to sustaining hotel occupancy, supporting communities, and keeping America competitive in the global travel market.”

Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA President and CEO, added: “Restoring Brand USA’s full funding is exactly what we were advocating for at our Fall National Advocacy Conference. Brand USA drives millions of international travelers to the U.S., generating tens of billions in visitor spending and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. For AAHOA Members, who own over 60 percent of U.S. hotels, this funding is a major step forward—every $1 dollar for Brand USA creates $20 in visitor spending. We thank Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi for championing this effort and helping America remain fiercely competitive in the global travel market.”

The text of the Brand USA Restoration Act is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, where he emphasized that less than one month away from the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits, Democrats remain committed to working to end the Republican healthcare crisis and lower the high cost of living. 

LEADER JEFFRIES: The clock is ticking on the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. In just 30 days, tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatically-increased healthcare costs because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.From the very beginning of this presidency, Republican control of the House and the Senate, as well as the administration, has been a disaster for the American people. These extremists promised all last year that costs were going to go down on day one. Cost haven’t gone down in America, costs have gone up. The Trump tariffs are increasing expenses on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. Housing costs are out of control. Grocery costs are out of control. Child care costs are out of control. Electricity bills are through the roof. 

And now, Republicans refuse to do a thing to prevent healthcare costs from dramatically increasing in a way that will deprive tens of millions of Americans of the ability to go see a doctor when they need one. Republicans have done nothing over the last several months to address the healthcare crisis that they have created, and they continue to refuse to take yes for an answer. Democrats have an active discharge petition, and all we need are a handful of House Republicans to join us and we can trigger an up-or-down vote on a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits to save the healthcare of the American people in every single state in this country, and protect the healthcare of people who these so-called Republican Members allegedly represent, but who have failed to do a single thing to make their life better.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

Seventy years ago today, Rosa Parks was arrested for courageously refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of protest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 381 days of strategic nonviolent direct action against Jim Crow segregation. Taking a stand was nothing new for Mrs. Parks, who spent years investigating cases of racist and sexual violence against African-Americans.

Rosa Parks is an American hero. During her lifetime, she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The United States Capitol is home to a statue in her honor with a permanent seat that no one can ever take away. Unfortunately, Donald Trump and unqualified sycophants like Pete Hegseth want to erase stories like that of Rosa Parks from the history books and wipe out the progress that we have made as a nation. Their small-minded vision of America will not prevail.

House Democrats will never stop fighting to tell the unvarnished truth of the American journey and protect freedoms that heroes like Rosa Parks put everything on the line to make possible. Our struggle continues until victory is won.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced that the White House signed the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act into law, a bipartisan victory that will make air travel safer, more consistent, and more comfortable for parents traveling with breast milk, formula, and feeding equipment.  

The BABES Act is co-led in the House by U.S. Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL). U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced companion legislation in the Senate, co-led by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI).

This law requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to strengthen and streamline its screening protocols for breast milk, formula, and related feeding equipment. These improvements will ensure parents can navigate airport security without unnecessary delays, confusion, or the risk of contaminating essential nutrition products.

“I’m thrilled to say that the BABES Act is officially the law of the land,” said Congressman Swalwell. “As a husband and father, I know how challenging it can be to fly with a newborn. That’s why this is such an important victory for traveling mothers and families everywhere. With this law now in place, TSA officers will receive the proper training and follow strong, hygienic standards so parents can travel with confidence and babies get the nutrition they need without stress or uncertainty. This is about dignity, peace of mind, and protecting families at one of the most vulnerable moments of parenthood. I’m proud to see this bipartisan bill not only pass Congress but be signed into law for millions of families who deserve better when they travel.”

“This is a hard-won victory for so many moms who have been mistreated by TSA while traveling with breastmilk and the breastfeeding equipment they need to pump and feed their babies,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m thankful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and champions like Emily Calandrelli who spoke out on this issue for families everywhere. Our bipartisan law will make it easier for new moms to travel by ensuring the TSA keeps its employees up to speed on their own policies and updates those policies as necessary. It marks important progress to ensure parents can travel through airports with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

Background & Need for the Legislation

Unsanitary screenings of breast milk and formula put infants at risk. Lactating parents must breastfeed or pump every few hours to avoid complications like clogged ducts or mastitis. Clear standards and consistent TSA training are essential to keeping traveling families safe. 

The BABES Act will require TSA to:

1. Develop clear, updated guidelines for screening breast milk, formula, and feeding equipment in consultation with nationally recognized maternal health organizations;

2. Ensure TSA officers receive enhanced and consistent training on these procedures;

3. Improve communication with parents about their rights at security checkpoints;

4. Update its guidance every five years to reflect changing needs and technology.

The bill also directs an independent government watchdog to audit TSA’s compliance with these policies to ensure accountability and prevent improper handling, like the incident experienced by Emily Calandrelli, host of Emily’s Wonder Lab, whose story helped inspire this legislation.

The BABES Enhancement Act is endorsed by March of Dimes, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, MomsRising, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

It is also cosponsored by Reps. André Carson (D-IN), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Luis Correa (D-CA), Nellie Pou (D-NJ), George Latimer (D-NY), Tom Souzzi (D-NY), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Josh Gotteimer (D-NJ). 

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

FRESNO, Calif. – U.S. Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) invites all community members of California’s 21st Congressional District to participate in “Holiday Cards for Vets” program. During these challenging times, everyone can use some love and kindness, through heartfelt and homemade cards; especially our Veterans. Residents are encouraged to participate by dropping off or mailing homemade cards to Costa’s offices in Fresno and Visalia. Deadline for submission is Wednesday, December 10th, 2025, at 5:00 P.M. 
Ahead of the holidays, Costa’s office will deliver the submitted cards to local veterans at the Fresno VA Hospital, Fresno Vets Home, Coffee with a Veteran in Visalia, and our local Posts.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: 

Grab your art supplies and write a heartfelt note to a local Veteran.  
No glitter or sealed envelopes.
Participating schools and organizations with a large volume of holiday cards for Veterans may contact our office to arrange a pick-up.  

MAILOR DROP OFF CARDS:

Fresno District Office: 2440 Tulare Street, Suite 420, Fresno, CA 93721
Visalia District Office: 425 E. Oak Ave, Suite 202, Visalia, CA 93291

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Named One of Most Effective Lawmakers in 118^th Congress

Washington – The Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL), a partnership between the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and Vanderbilt University, released its Interest & Legislative Effectiveness Scores for the 118^th Congress, ranking Representative Don Bacon (NE-02) as the most effective Republican House Member in the Defense policy area.

This recognition follows CEL’s announcement earlier this year naming Rep. Bacon one of the top effective legislators overall for the 118^th Congress. Rep. Bacon was ranked second overall in the Republican Party for effectiveness, scoring high in defense, Native Americans, banking and commerce, and law, crime and family issue areas.

CEL’s Legislative Effectiveness Scores methodology combines fifteen metrics capturing how many bills each member of Congress sponsors in a given issue area, how far those bills advance through the lawmaking process, and the substance of their policy proposals. In the Defense category, Rep. Bacon earned a score of 36.1 compared to 10.6 for his Democrat colleague Mark Takano (CA-39).

You can view CEL’s complete Interest & Legislative Effectiveness Scores here.

“Since coming to Congress in 2016, I have embraced cooperation and creativity to get things done for Nebraskans and I thank the Center for Effective Lawmaking for this recognition,” said Rep. Bacon. “I am willing to work with anyone who shares my desire to make life better for Americans, and I look forward to continuing that level of effectiveness in the 119^th Congress.”

The Center for Effective Lawmaking said the following in their announcement: 

“Our analysis found that Representative Bacon ranked as the most effective Republican House Member in the policy area of Defense in the last Congress. This is in addition to our previous analysis showing him as one of the most effective Republican House Members in the last Congress overall, as well as the most effective Representative in terms of having their sponsored standalone bills substantially incorporated into the laws of other members of Congress. We congratulate the Representative for his hard work and setting an example for promoting the importance of effective lawmaking.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) reintroduced the Strengthening Election Cybersecurity to Uphold Respect for Elections through Independent Testing (SECURE IT) Act. This bipartisan bill would require that voting systems undergo simulated cyberattacks as part of their standard certification process to help bolster the security of our election systems from foreign and domestic bad actors.

“Ensuring trust in our nation’s elections is vital, and in order for people to have confidence in our democratic process, we need to be doing everything we can to secure any vulnerabilities,” said Congressman Valadao. “The SECURE IT Act would proactively help discover potential flaws in our electoral system by outlining robust system security check requirements, and I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to strengthen our election infrastructure.”

“We’ve got to do everything we can to shore up America’s cybersecurity and voting systems and help make sure they remain strong and secure,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I’m proud that this bipartisan bill will help identify and fix voting system vulnerabilities and conduct important system testing. We must make sure America’s democratic infrastructure can weather any and all attacks from our adversaries.”

Background:

The security of America’s election infrastructure is central to maintaining voters’ confidence in the democratic process. While federal law requires the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to test and certify voting system hardware and software, current regulations under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 do not explicitly mandate penetration testing—a key cybersecurity practice that helps identify system vulnerabilities. The SECURE IT Act strengthens election security by directing the EAC to incorporate penetration testing into its certification process and establish a voluntary coordinated vulnerability disclosure program, enabling independent researchers to examine election systems for potential cybersecurity risks.

Read the full bill here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: WATCH: Carter supports research and development to improve outcomes for children with rare diseases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today spoke on the House floor in favor of H.R. 1262, the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act, which boasts bipartisan support and invests in research and development of cures and treatments for children with rare diseases, including cancer. 

Watch and read his full speech here: 

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bipartisan Give Kids a Chance Act, which supports research and development of drugs for children with cancer and other rare diseases.

“Nearly 70% of rare diseases start in childhood, and most still have no approved treatments. The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher program has been a catalyst for developing therapies for these vulnerable populations. 

“Thanks to this program, treatments have reached children suffering from nearly 40 rare diseases, many of which previously had no FDA-approved options and often led to severe disability or death before adulthood.

“Since 2012, the Rare Pediatric Disease PRV Program has helped bring more than 60 new treatments to market and has driven investment in hundreds of additional therapies for rare pediatric diseases that would otherwise be financially unviable.

“The Give Kids a Chance Act restores this critical program, ensuring that we continue to spur innovation, improve outcomes for young patients, and close gaps in pediatric drug research.

“Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.”

Read full bill text here.