Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, will be introducing the No Round Up Act, legislation to repeal the long-dormant immigration law that allowed for Japanese internment during World War II (WWII) as the Trump administration prepares to use it as a means of mass deportation. 

“This policy is associated with some of the most shameful stains on our country’s history, including the reactionary and xenophobic internment of more than 120,000 people of Japanese descent in concentration camps across the United States during WWII, as well as racist and xenophobic profiling in the wake of September 11th,” said Jayapal. “Now, the Trump administration is aiming to use this policy as a tool to force immigrants to register and subject themselves to a mass deportation scheme.”

In addition to Japanese internment, previous attempts to use this registration system have also included the post-September 11th National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS). This action put 13,000 people, largely from Muslim-majority, Arab, African, and South Asian countries, into deportation proceedings but resulted in zero terrorism convictions and was later determined by the Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General to be inefficient and a waste of resources. 

The Trump Administration’s proposed use of this policy would put a target on the backs of immigrants, many of whom are undocumented and have lived in this country for upwards of 16 years as contributing members of our economy and communities.

Individuals who do not register could face fines, jail time, and removal from the country. However, if passed, Jayapal’s legislation would repeal sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act, removing provisions that allow for such a registry.

The bill is sponsored by Judy Chu (CA-28), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).

It is also endorsed by 18 Million Rising; Acacia Center for Justice; ACLU; African Communities Together (ACT); America’s Voice; American Families United; American Immigration Lawyers Association; Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; Arab American Institute; Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC; Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP); Bend the Arc: Jewish Action; Borderlands Resource Initiative; Care in Action; Caring Across Generations; CASA; Center for Constitutional Rights; Center for Gender & Refugee Studies; Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law; Church World Service; Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA); Defending Rights & Dissent; Doctors for Camp Closure; End SIJS Backlog Coalition; Equal Rights Advocates; Family Equality; First Focus Campaign for Children; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Global Exchange; Grassroots Asians Rising; Haitian Bridge Alliance; HIAS; Human Rights First; Immigrant Defense Project; Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC); Immigration Equality Action Fund; Immigration Hub; ImmSchools; International Mayan League; International Refugee Assistance Project; Japanese American Citizens League ; Just Detention International; Justice for Migrant Women; Labor Council for Latin American Advancement; Latin America Working Group (LAWG); Lawyers for Good Government; Make the Road NY; Make the Road States; Marianist Social Justice Immigration Team; MomsRising; Muslim Advocates; Muslims for Just Futures; National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum; National Center for Youth Law; National Council of Jewish Women; National Domestic Workers Alliance; National Education Association; National Employment Law Project; National Immigrant Justice Center; National Immigration Law Center; National Immigration Project; National Korean American Service and Education Consortium; National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice ; National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR); National Organization for Women; National Partnership for New Americans; National Women’s Law Center Action Fund; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; Popular Democracy; Project South; Quixote Center; Refugee Council USA; Refugees International ; Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign; Shriver Center on Poverty Law; Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF); Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Western Province Leadership; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, and Pax Christi; T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights; Tahirih Justice Center; The Advocates for Human Rights; The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC United); The Sikh Coalition; Union for Reform Judaism; Unitarian Universalist Association; Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice; United SIKHS; United We Dream Network; USAHello; Vera Institute of Justice; Witness at the Border; Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights; Adhikaar for Human Rights and Social Justice; African Advocacy Network; Ahri Center; Al Otro Lado; Aldea – The People’s Justice Center; Angry Tias and Abuelas ; Arkansas United; ASATA Power; Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL); Asian Law Alliance ; Asian Pacific American Legal Resorce Center; Asylum Program of Ariy; Ayuda; Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center Inc.; Borderlands for Equity; CAIR-Washington; California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice; Central American Resource Center of Northern California  – CARECEN SF; Coalición de Derechos Humanos; Colorado Asylum Center; Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition; Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Washington DC; East Bay Sanctuary Covenant; El Vínculo Hispano; Estrella del Paso; Faith in New Jersey; FEA Foundation Ministries; First Friends of NJ & NY ; Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project; Florida Health Justice Project; Florida Immigrant Coalition; GALEO Impact Fund; Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights; Hispanic Services Council, Inc.; Humanitarian Outreach for Migrant Emotional Health (H.O.M.E.); Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef); Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project; Immigration Center for Women and Children; Immmigration Services and Legal Advocacy (ISLA); Indivisible Howard County, Maryland; Inwood Indivisible; Jewish Activists for Immigration Justice; La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc.; La Raza Community Resource Center (San Francisco); Latino Action Network Foundation; Levine Center To End Hate- Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester NY; Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA); Make the Road Nevada; Make The Road New Jersey; Mariposa Legal, Inc.; Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition ; Miami Valley Immigration Coalition; Midwest Immigration Bond Fund; Mobile Pathways; National Lawyers Guild – St. Louis Chapter; New York Immigration Coalition; Northwest Immigrant Rights Project; Oasis Legal Services; OC Action; OneAmerica; OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership; Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition; Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network; Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN); South Asian Network; Sur Legal Collaborative; The Black & Brown Coalition of North Carolina; The Center for Growing Justice; The Sidewalk School ; Unidos MN; Voices for Progress; Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center; Women Watch Afrika.

Issues: Civil Rights, Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding more information on reports that federal prisons are being used to detain immigrants during civil immigration proceedings.

“The detention of noncitizens in criminal prison facilities contradicts the civil nature of immigration law, risks further criminalizing immigration enforcement, and diverts critical resources away from the intended purpose of the federal prison system,” wrote Jayapal.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), immigration detention “is non-punitive.” It is not intended for punishment but rather to ensure that individuals comply with immigration proceedings. Recent reports indicate that ICE is detaining individuals in multiple Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities under disturbing conditions that are unfit for any person, regardless of whether it is for civil or criminal purposes, including in one that was slated for closure due to widespread sexual abuse.

This letter requests detailed information on the scope of this practice, including which facilities are being used, the criteria for selecting these facilities, the conditions of detention, reports of mistreatment or abuse, and whether detained individuals are subject to the same restrictions as those convicted of federal crimes.

Jayapal has been a staunch advocate for detained immigrants, having, on multiple occasions, called to end the use of private, for-profit prisons, which are often rife with abuse, and to move toward humane, community-based alternatives to detention for immigrants who pose no public safety risk. She is also the lead sponsor of the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, legislation that would end the use of private, for-profit detention centers, improve detention conditions, and protect the civil and human rights of immigrants.

The letter was also signed by Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Summer Lee (PA-12), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18),  James P. McGovern (MA-02), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).

The full text of the letter can be read here.

Issues: Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, led Democratic immigration leaders in challenging the constitutional basis of President Trump’s sham “invasion” proclamation, which the President has argued would allow his Administration to circumvent domestic immigration law.

In a letter to the President, the legislators begin by putting this proclamation in context of Trump’s broader, radical immigration initiatives, writing: “Since you came into office, you have attempted to expand the scope of presidential power beyond that which is permitted by the United States Constitution and applicable federal laws. This Proclamation is no different.”

The legislators continue by characterizing the President’s desperate attempts to use emergency authorities as a pretext to avoid complying with immigration laws passed by Congress, writing: “These statements, and your Proclamation, appear to be a part of a larger attempt to invoke any available authority—including extraordinary wartime, public health, and counterterrorism authorities—to circumvent domestic immigration laws and the U.S. Constitution, without factual or legal basis. For example, experts have found no connection between increased migration and crime, and studies have shown that for the past 150 years, immigrants have been convicted of crimes at a far lower rate than U.S.-born citizens. Prior attempts by your previous Administration to apply Title 42 authorities to migrants had no basis in public health. Similarly, there is no factual basis for the statements in your Proclamation.”

The legislators then analyze the President’s incorrect interpretation of the term “invasion,” which is contradicted by long precedent from previous executives involving Presidents Roosevelt, Polk, and Lincoln, writing: “As a legal matter, migration is not an invasion.’ As courts have consistently held, an ‘invasion’ under the Constitution requires ‘armed hostility from another political entity, such as another state or foreign country that is intending to overthrow the [] government.’ Courts’ requirement of an armed attack is consistent with how the term ‘invasion’ is used throughout the Constitution, alongside language like ‘insurrection’ and ‘rebellion.’ Proclaiming a rhetorical ‘invasion’ would degrade protections throughout the Constitution—lowering the bar for suspending the writ of habeas corpus and even expanding the circumstances in which states may ‘engage in War’ without the approval of the federal government. Under our constitutional design, these exceptional powers are reserved for times of armed conflict; they are not available to respond to migration or other non-military matters.”

The legislators then refute the President’s incorrect statement that he can suspend or disregard the laws Congress passed, writing: “[T]he idea that the president has broad inherent power over immigration that allows him to override duly-enacted laws is unfounded and damaging. Congress, not the president, has the authority to make laws, including our immigration laws. And as the courts have long recognized, Congress has created a ‘comprehensive scheme governing all aspects of immigration and naturalization.’ The president has no authority to abandon or rewrite this comprehensive scheme; to the contrary, the president’s constitutional role is to take care that our immigration laws are faithfully executed.”

The legislators conclude with a call to rescind his sham proclamation and instead work toward bipartisan immigration reform in Congress, writing: “The United States is not being invaded, it is not at war with migrants, and you must uphold our duly-enacted immigration laws. We have full faith that the courts will stand firm in the face of your attacks on the separation of powers. We call on you to rescind your Proclamation and work with Congress to pass much-needed, overdue bipartisan immigration reform that respects immigrants’ dignity and the rule of law.”

Click here for a PDF copy of the letter to President Trump.

Issues: Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Congresswomen Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Debbie Dingell (MI-06) introduced the Pay Federal Workers and Servicemembers Act to allow states to make unemployment benefits available to unpaid federal workers and servicemembers who, despite a government shutdown, are required to show up to work without receiving a paycheck.  

The government runs out of funding on March 14, 2025. Currently, federal workers, which include over a million servicemembers, who are deemed essential and continue to report to work are prohibited from collecting unemployment benefits. The Pay Federal Workers and Servicemembers Act permanently allows unpaid federal workers to become eligible for unemployment benefits, bringing them into parity with furloughed workers.

“During a government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are required to work without a paycheck. This includes service members, law enforcement, and public safety officers. Bills still need to be paid and groceries still need to be put on the table no matter how long a shutdown lasts. These essential public servants shouldn’t pay the price for Congress’ inability to do its job. This legislation will make sure that federal workers and service members aren’t used as political pawns,” said DelBene.

“Public servants and servicemembers are working tirelessly to keep us safe, and they shouldn’t be treated as political pawns,” said Dingell. “For many of these essential federal workers, even one missed paycheck can be financially catastrophic. Food, gas, childcare, healthcare, and mortgage payments don’t stop when the government is shut down, and asking our federal workforce to bear the brunt of these costs while they aren’t getting paychecks is simply not right. In the event the government shuts down, we must extend unemployment benefits to the hard-working men and women who keep our lives running smoothly and our country safe.”  

The Pay Federal Workers and Servicemembers Act is cosponsored by Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), and Terri Sewell (AL-07).  

Text of the bill may be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

DelBene, Beyer Blast Republicans’ Hidden Tariff Provision

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Dan Newhouse (WA-04) reintroduced the National Landslide Preparedness Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan legislation will help save lives, protect communities and property, and improve natural disaster emergency preparedness by targeting key gaps in science and mapping critical landslide hazards. 

Following the 2014 Oso tragedy, DelBene shepherded the passage of the National Landslide Preparedness Act which funded critical programs that protect lives and communities from landslide risks. Reauthorizing this funding would help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards, update the nation’s topographical maps, and better inform public safety, national security, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resources management through 2028.

“Washington knows too well the devastating effects of landslides and communities across the country also see the severe impacts of natural disasters. We must provide safeguards to prevent future tragedies and mitigate risks when possible. This legislation will help ensure our communities are better prepared and able to employ the best science and technology to prevent, plan, and respond to natural disasters,” said DelBene.

“Our communities felt the devastating impact of landslides firsthand when the SR 530 Landslide claimed 43 lives, making it the deadliest in U.S. history,” said Schrier. “This bill will make crucial investments to further our understanding of landslides, improve our preparation for these natural disasters, and ultimately safeguard our communities.” 

“Landslides are dangerous and damaging, so we need the tools to protect life, property, and our local economies. Recently, Southwest Washington experienced several landslides which affect local small businesses, transportation, and recreation and require significant resources to overcome,” said Gluesenkamp Perez. “Our bipartisan legislation will extend commonsense, proactive measures to keep our communities prepared and identify landslide-prone areas before it’s too late.”

“Washington state is no stranger to landslides and the devastation they bring. To better prepare for these natural disasters, we need the best science and technology that ensures our communities are able to prevent and respond when the time comes. This legislation is a step in the right direction towards saving lives and protecting our local communities from the unpredictable threats of landslides,” said Newhouse.

The bill would reauthorize key pieces of the National Landslide Preparedness Act:

• Expanded early warning systems. The law expanded existing early warning systems for post-wildfire landslides in recently burned areas across the United States. It also required procedures to be developed for federal monitoring of stormwater drainage in areas with a high risk of landslides, in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.
• Federal program focused specifically on landslide hazards. The law established a National Landslides Hazard Reduction program through the U.S. Geological Survey, which is identifying risks and hazards from landslides to protect at-risk communities and improve communication and emergency preparedness.
• New maps to help communities prepare for landslide risk. The law directed the USGS to implement a 3D Elevation Program to increase data collection and landslide threat identification across the country. Enhanced elevation data, such as LIDAR, is critical for numerous reasons—to help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards; to update the nation’s topographical maps; and to inform a myriad of uses including public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resource management.
• Landslide-related grant programs. The law authorized new programs to provide funding to state, territorial, local, and tribal governments for landslide research, mapping, assessment, and data collection.
• Committees that focus on landslide risks. The law established an advisory committee on landslides and creates an interagency committee to coordinate better landslide responses from the multiple government agencies with jurisdiction.

The National Landslide Preparedness Reauthorization Act is cosponsored by Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Emily Randall (WA-06), and Rick Larsen (WA-02).

A copy of the bill can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) have reintroduced the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, which extends a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) to U.S. hydroelectric projects aimed at improving power production, delivering environmental benefits, or removing outdated dam infrastructure, lasting through 2031.

“Washington is a leader in harnessing hydropower to provide reliable and affordable clean energy. This legislation builds on that progress by creating new incentives to improve dam safety, protect fish habitats, and enhance grid resilience. These changes will help Washington families save on energy costs while advancing our commitment to a cleaner future,” said DelBene.

“The ability to harness the power of moving water has paid tremendous dividends for Nebraska’s economy and many other regions of the country,” said Smith, “To meet growing energy demands for the future, we must capitalize on the benefit of sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy sources like hydroelectricity. This legislation will promote development of hydropower and appropriate stewardship of our water resources. I thank my colleagues for joining me to reintroduce this important bill.”

“Hydropower is a powerful bridge between America’s energy past and its clean energy future. This bipartisan bill ensures we maximize its potential—investing in modern infrastructure, strengthening grid security, and restoring vital waterways. By pairing innovation with environmental responsibility, we are building a more resilient and sustainable energy system for generations to come,” said Fitzpatrick.

“Hydropower is the largest source of electricity in Washington state, comprising 67% of the energy generation mix. It’s important we invest in the safety of this reliable, affordable resource to achieve our emissions goals while restoring river health and safe passage for salmon and steelhead populations,” said Schrier. “This legislation will incentivize safer hydroelectric energy production while also enhancing aquatic ecosystems, water quality, and public use upgrades.”  

“Hydropower is at the heart of lowering energy costs for hardworking Granite Staters and making America the world’s clean energy superpower,” said Goodlander. “I’m proud to be working to get this important bipartisan legislation across the finish line.”

“Hydropower is well-positioned to help America meet our bold energy goals — with the right federal support. America’s first electricity resource is reliable, dependable, domestically-sourced, and capable of bolstering our grid at a moment’s notice, but a lack of investment in these “forever assets” threatens those capabilities. NHA is proud to support this bipartisan legislation because we know that it will help preserve this critical resource at a time when America needs every megawatt to power our continued prosperity,” said Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO, National Hydropower Association.

“We support this bipartisan legislation which aligns well with President Trump’s previous comments on the importance of clean water. Rivers are the lifeblood of our nation, providing drinking water, sanitation, power generation, and the transport of millions of tons of American industrial and agricultural products. Hydropower plays a special role in safeguarding our waters and this legislation will help in that regard,” said Jeff Kupfer, President, ConservAmerica.

 “We support legislation that incentivizes the removal of dams that no longer serve a beneficial purpose, while also promoting essential investments in fish passage, dam safety, public access to waterways, and overall river health improvements where dams continue to impact rivers,” said Thomas O’Keefe, Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director, American Whitewater.

“We applaud the bipartisan leadership behind this timely bill, which promotes dam safety and advances river restoration. This legislation is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between conservation groups and the hydropower industry to find common-sense solutions that benefit both river ecosystems and renewable energy generation while also lowering costs for consumers. We look forward to working with Congress to get this critical legislation across the finish line and enacted into law,” said Tom Kiernan, President, and CEO of American Rivers.

“We applaud the bipartisan leadership for this bill that provides critical incentives that will enable hydropower to invest in new energy generation, dam safety, and river health. Hydropower is an energy source that has been powering communities across America for generations and remains essential for a reliable and secure electricity grid. We are grateful to Reps. Smith and DelBene along with Sens. Cantwell and Murkowski for advancing solutions that will promote environmental stewardship, enhance public safety, and strengthen our energy security,” said Shannon Ames, Executive Director, Low Impact Hydropower Institute.

For text of the legislation click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and August Pfluger (TX-11) and Senators Marsha Blackburn (TN) and Mark Warner (VA) introduced the United States Leadership in Immersive Technology Act, legislation that would establish an advisory panel tasked with creating a national immersive technology strategy.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), collectively known as immersive technology (XR), allow us to blend the digital and physical worlds into one integrated experience. From automatically generated closed captions of live conversations for the hearing impaired to creating personalized, hands-on training modules for students, the benefits of XR are limitless.

Despite being home to some of the world’s largest XR content and hardware producers, the U.S. lags behind other countries in applying them to commercial and personal use. Already, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and China have strategies that allow them to embrace immersive technologies. The U.S. is relinquishing its role on the international stage to guide the creation of XR standards without a strategy.   

“As technology evolves, we must stay ahead in the XR field to remain competitive on the global stage,” said DelBene, who serves as Co-chair of the Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Caucus. “This legislation is a crucial step toward ensuring we protect our interests and establish ourselves as leaders in shaping national standards.”

“Immersive technology is a critical tool that allows users to blend the digital and physical worlds and is utilized by thousands of Americans, businesses, and even our military to enhance simulation and training capabilities. While the capabilities are seemingly endless, the U.S. continues to fall behind in our investment and development of this technology. In contrast, our adversaries, such as the CCP, continue to advance their investments in it aggressively. This poses a serious threat to our national security, which is why I am proud to support this commonsense legislation to safeguard the United States and re-establish our position as a global leader in this emerging technology by creating a national immersive technology strategy,” said Pfluger.

“We need to stay two steps ahead of our adversaries when it comes to applying immersive technology in American industries and stimulating economic growth,” said Blackburn. “Our United States Leadership in Immersive Technology Act would make certain we can compete with adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party and safeguard national security as virtual reality and augmented reality become more prevalent on the world stage.”  

“As the use of immersive technology continues to rapidly rise, it’s essential that we do not get left behind. I’m proud to introduce this legislation that will help to create a national strategy surrounding XR to ensure that the United States remains competitive globally in this crucial industry,” said Warner.

“The Trump administration has made it clear that American technology leadership is a top priority, and the XR industry is poised for immense growth. This bill is an important step towards achieving that goal,” said Liz Hyman, CEO, XR Association. “XR is being rapidly adopted to tackle challenges in various sectors including workforce training, healthcare, education and agency operations. We are excited by the efforts of this Congress to recognize XR’s potential as a tool to increase efficiency and meet challenges across a broad range of issues.”

The United States Leadership in Immersive Technology Act is endorsed by Google, Meta, HTC, Sony, University of Wyoming, ReframeXR, Qualcomm, NC East Alliance, Transfr, Mynd, Immersive, MediView, Lakeside Metaverse, CareerViewXR, Chocolate Milk & Donuts, XR Association, and the George Washington University’s Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub.

A copy of the bill can be found here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Welcomes EPA, Zeldin Efforts to Revisit WOTUS Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that the agency will review the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) and begin repealing regulations put in place by the Biden administration.

“I applaud the EPA and Administrator Lee Zeldin’s decision to ensure the definition of “waters of the United States” is aligned with the Sackett decision to provide long-term certainty for landowners,” said Rep. Newhouse.

“The Administrator’s efforts to overturn the harmful regulations of the previous administration is a critical step towards achieving American energy dominance and eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens on farmers, landowners, and businesses. I will continue to be an advocate for protecting the rights of private landowners against federal government overreach.”

The EPA announced on Wednesday that the agency will work with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to deliver on President’s Trump’s promise to review the definition of “waters of the United States.” Revising the definition will cut red tape and eliminate uncertainty for farmers and landowners in Central Washington who have been burdened by unnecessary overregulation.

The EPA will begin the process by hearing from stakeholders, whose input was not sought by the previous administration, in the new rulemaking process.

The United States Supreme Court’s decision in the 2023 Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency case stated that the Clean Water Act’s use of “waters” encompasses only those relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water forming streams, oceans, rivers and lakes. The Sackett decision also clarified that wetlands would only be covered when having a continuous surface connection to waterbodies that are “waters of the United States” in their own right.  

See EPA’s announcement here.

###