MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Restore and Modernize Our National Laboratories Act. The bill would authorize $25 billion through Fiscal Year 2030 to support maintenance and infrastructure at the Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories.

Rep. Foster secured $14.7 billion for this effort through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. This new legislation seeks to build on that work, addressing the current needs of the National Labs. 

“An ongoing challenge at our national laboratories is the lack of sufficient funding for essential maintenance and upgrades. Right now, there’s a severe backlog of unfunded modernization projects,” said Rep. Foster, Co-Chair of the House National Labs Caucus. “Our national laboratories make remarkable contributions to technologies that improve everyday life and keep the U.S. on the cutting edge of innovation. Ensuring the necessary resources to make capital improvements will allow the labs to continue driving research and supporting our economy.”

“Across the country, our National Labs – including Sandia and Los Alamos in New Mexico – have positioned the U.S. as a global leader in cutting-edge research and scientific innovation,” said Senator Luján, Co-Chair of the Senate National Labs Caucus. “To meet the challenges of the 21st century – from driving innovation in emerging technologies like quantum and AI to strengthening national security – our Labs need strong, reliable infrastructure. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Restore and Modernize Our National Labs Act to upgrade outdated facilities and expand the capabilities of our world-class institutions. I’ll keep fighting to ensure our National Labs have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge technology, and a skilled workforce.”

This bill is cosponsored by Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Shri Thanedar (D-MI) and Adam Smith (D-WA). The bill is endorsed by the Federation of American Scientists.

The Senate companion bill is led by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM).

A full copy of the bill can be found here.  

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) to discuss Republicans delivering for hardworking families, as the House, Senate, and White House work to reverse the damage left by Biden’s four years of failure. Leader Scalise countered the Democrats’ lies with the truth about how the One Big Beautiful Bill is the most transformative legislation for the middle and working class in this country in a generation, by enacting no tax on tips or overtime, preventing tax hikes, keeping energy production in America, and securing our border. Leader Scalise emphasized how the Democrat party is out of touch with the needs of Americans.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
On President Trump delivering for American families:“It’s been a very busy first six months working with the Trump Administration to deliver critical wins for hardworking families across America, to deliver wins on those issues that we all ran on, the things we said we would do if we got a Republican White House, Republican Senate, and Republican House. Of course, the One Big Beautiful Bill really is the epitome of so many of those victories, but that’s not all we’ve done. The President has already signed or has on his desk 31 different bills that have been passed by the House and Senate on the desk of the President, almost all of which have been signed into law. After today, maybe all 31 will have been signed into law to continue delivering and getting our country back on track, reversing the damage that was done by Joe Biden in four years, what the Democrats did working with Joe Biden, not just to increase inflation, increase interest rates, to increase regulations and rules that stifled the ability for small businesses to grow. We’ve been working hard to reverse all of that. And while we are celebrating all of these wins, we are not tired of winning. And the American people aren’t either.”On House committees passing appropriations to the Senate: “That’s why this week, we still have more bills on the House floor, but we also have a lot of work being done in our committees. The Appropriations Committee this week is taking up three more appropriations bills in full committee. [Rep.] Tom Cole and his members have been doing an incredible job getting their bills out of committee. The House has already passed over 60% of all government funding over to the Senate. This week, we’re going to see something that hasn’t happened in years. The United States Senate is finally taking up a House appropriations bill. That should be something that’s always going on in Congress, where you see the House and Senate doing their jobs together. But Chuck Schumer, for years, refused to participate in a normal appropriations process because he wanted shutdowns. He wanted chaos. It’s one of the reasons that Democrats lost the Senate is because the American people didn’t want that dysfunction. [Majority Leader] John Thune promised there would be a new day in the United States Senate, and Leader Thune is delivering on that. One of those commitments he made is that we would have a normal working appropriations process, and they’re actually doing that this week, moving the Milcon VA Appropriations Bill and continuing to move more of the bills that we’re sending over from the House.”On Republicans promoting transparency:“As the American people see Washington working for them for a change, we’re also going to be going during this district work period and explaining to the American people what’s been in a lot of those bills because the Democrats have been lying over and over and over again about tax cuts for billionaires. They’re talking about hospitals closing. ‘Everybody in America is going to die,’ according to every Democrat. Of course, when the American people look at what’s in those bills, they’re going, ‘Wait a minute. The waiter and waitress in America who averages $32,000 a year is going to get about $1,700 more in their pockets.’  That’s real money for working people.’Every Democrat voted no. While they’re going back home and explaining and lying about the bills, we’re going to start panning out across the country, telling the truth about what really is happening in the economy for working families. We’re proud of that.“We’re not done delivering, but I think it’s important that we take some time to talk about what we’ve already done and delivered as we continue to move more bills. Like I said, a lot of work being done this week in committees. Energy and Commerce has taken up the NIL Bill. You’re seeing Judiciary [Committee] focus on that report. It’s been covered pretty well, but I think there’s a lot more to the story about the Russian collusion hoax that started under President Obama, and some of those facts are finally starting to come out. “It’s interesting to see Democrats want to talk about Jeffrey Epstein all of a sudden. For four years, Democrats hid and covered up the Epstein files. They did. They had it for four years. Trump is in the courts right now trying to get a lot of that information unsealed so the American public can see it. But we’re going to continue pushing for that transparency. Our committees are going to keep working to deliver more results for American families. That’s what we’ve been doing.”On the disarray of the Democrat party:“That’s what we’re going to continue to do while Democrats just vote no, they hide, they lie, they try to talk about what they would do if they were in power. Of course, everybody knows what they did when they were in power. They moved a far-left socialist agenda.They’re about to elect, as their new party leader, a socialist, marxist mayor of New York City. Half the Democrats, they all want to meet him and take selfies with him, and yet they’re not sure if they’re going to endorse him or not.“The bottom line is that’s where their party has moved in Washington, in New York. But that’s not where America is. Republicans are delivering for Americans, for hardworking families all across the political spectrum. That’s why this economy is finally starting to move in the right direction. Our Speaker, who’s never slowed down, who’s never accepted failure as an option, the man who continues to work and is so patient, listens to our members, and then ultimately delivering with President Trump on this great agenda is our Speaker Mike Johnson.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025:“Protecting taxpayer dollars and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse is a top priority of our House Republican majority. Democrats spent the last four years under President Biden spending like drunken sailors, leading to skyrocketing inflation and lower wages for workers. Thankfully, Congress has passed my Rescissions bill to start cutting waste, fraud, and abuse so we can start restoring fiscal sanity to government spending.“Under the leadership of President Trump, DOGE uncovered shocking amounts of waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer money. American families were shocked to learn that billions in foreign aid slush funds were being used to fund transvestite operas in other countries, as well as countless other abuses of taxpayer dollars. Taxpayers are also tired of using money borrowed from our children to subsidize far-left groups like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), including NPR and PBS.“Americans shouldn’t be paying for politically biased CPB productions or woke foreign aid initiatives. Our hard-earned taxpayer dollars should be spent carefully to make our nation a better place for all Americans. My legislation, which codifies President Trump’s rescissions request, cuts $9 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse from the federal government.“I’m excited to see this legislation pass through the House once again and now head straight to President Trump’s desk, taking a major step toward reversing Washington’s wasteful spending and building on the success of the One Big Beautiful Bill.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) spoke on the House Floor in support of his legislation, H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025. Leader Scalise highlighted that House Republicans are fighting to put money back in the pockets of American families and workers, while Democrats oppose cutting even the most shocking examples of wasteful government spending that fuels inflation. 

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s remarks:“House Republicans said we’re going to just focus on doing the work of the American people, and anybody that just wants to go root for failure and continue to try to keep inflation high, interest rates high, and vote no on every bill that puts power back in the pockets of families, let them have to answer for that back home. Mr. Speaker, we’re going to keep working. This bill tonight is part of continuing that trend of getting spending under control. Does it answer all the problems? No. $9 billion I would say, is a good start, and hopefully we do more things like this….“Let’s talk about what’s in the bill. [Democrats] are going to be voting against [cutting] the $6 million that was spent for Net Zero Cities in Mexico; $8 million for the anti-Israel U.N. Human Rights Council, a group that is anti Israel. Why should $8 million of American tax dollars that are being borrowed from other countries be going to that organization? How about we actually get spending under control. $300,000 to hold a Pride Parade in Lesotho – if Lesotho wants to hold a Pride Parade, let them do it with their tax dollars, not with American tax dollars. A million dollars for voter ID in Haiti. This is rich: they’re angry that we’re cutting that money off, but those same Democrats that are going to vote no on that will oppose voter ID in America. They’re okay with voter ID in Haiti, but they’re against it in America. But we’ll continue. $3 million – they keep talking about Sesame Street – $3 million going to Iraqi Sesame Street….“The list goes on and on, Mr. Speaker. Let’s finally get control over waste, fraud, and abuse. We started in the One Big Beautiful Bill, we’re continuing it here, and we’re going to continue it through the appropriations process. […] We’re going to fight for those hard working families who want to get our great country back on track. Let’s pass this bill, keep moving, and keep working towards a better, stronger America.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Congressman Jimmy Patronis (R-Fla.), and Rep. Patronis’ constituent, Frank Patti Jr., to discuss the One Big Beautiful Bill’s impact on real Americans. Leader Scalise touted the wins in the OBBB, highlighting air traffic control reform, school choice, and no tax on overtime. 

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
On passing President Trump’s agenda across the finish line:“We are not done innovating, and we’re not done winning. We are just getting started. This House majority keeps delivering for the American people. I know nobody in this room did, but there were some who doubted whether we could pull off passing the One Big Beautiful Bill. There were days when maybe more members than we could lose were out there, saying maybe they might not vote for the bill. But this leadership team, led by our Speaker and especially led by our coach, you think about Donald Trump and the work that he’s done to get this country back on track. Donald Trump was all in on making sure that the One Big Beautiful Bill passed. He made phone calls that he needed to make. He was directly involved in helping usher that bill to his desk. And then we were all there for that great signing on July Fourth in the White House to celebrate what’s going to be a great American comeback story to get this country back on track.”On the OBBB’s impact on hardworking Americans:“It’s great to welcome the Pattys here. Great family business, multi-generational business. Almost 100 years. I’ll come see you all if [Rep. Jimmy] Patronis will have me for the 100-year celebration of what is part of the American Dream. What they describe – come to this country legally. Let’s help start a business. We’ve got to figure out how to make ends meet. So let’s meet demands and help in our community. And then as that demand was met, they found other needs, and they grew into a maritime company, and they just keep serving the great community of Pensacola and creating jobs. “This bill delivers for so many working families in America. If you just spent all your days listening to the lies told by the Democrats, you would be living in a parallel universe because they’re rooting against the success of this bill, which means they’re rooting against the success of working families across America. The good news is we, as House Republicans, focus on how to deliver wins for the families who have been struggling because of those failed Democrat policies, because of what the far-left has done to increase inflation, increased interest rates, make it harder for the waiter or waitress to get by working two shifts at a diner. Well, now they don’t have to pay tax on tips. As Democrats are lying about billionaires, what they actually did was vote against those waiters and waitresses. They voted against those shift workers at the Patty shipyard who are working overtime and are wondering how much time they’re spending away from their family, and they have to pay so much in taxes. Well, now they won’t anymore. They’re going to have $1,700 more every year in their pockets to go and maybe take a family vacation, to put away for their college, for their kids.”On combating Democrats’ lies:“Every Democrat voted against that. How are they going to reconcile that when they fan across America? And I know [Rep.] Hakeem [Jeffries] has taken this traveling roadshow around the country to try to keep lying about the bill. The problem is he is flying in the face of Americans who know how good this bill is going to be for them. As he’s lying about billionaires, every senior citizen who gets a benefit from this bill is saying, ‘Wait a minute, why’d you vote against a $6,000 deduction for me?’ That’s what every Democrat did. We’re talking about the wins in this bill that a lot of people don’t know about. We, of course, know about lower rates for everybody. Every Democrat voted to raise rates on everybody. I’m curious to see, as they’re traveling around the country, will they answer the question, will [Rep.] Hakeem [Jeffries] and all of his friends pay the higher tax rate that they voted to impose on every American family? They actually did that. They voted to raise every American’s taxes. But now that the bill’s passed, are they going to be hypocritical and take the lower rate? Or they can actually send more money in. They believe in taking more of your money, but they can send in more of their money. Will they do that and pay that higher rate that they voted to impose on everybody? I think probably not, but it’s a fair question to ask.”On air traffic control reform and school choice wins in the OBBB:“In the meantime, all of those families who are going to benefit. An air traffic control system, as Congressman Patronis just talked about, we saw the floppy disks are running airports like LaGuardia – floppy disk drives. I’m a computer science major. I learned in the ’80s how to program a computer on floppy disks. We got rid of the floppy disks in the ’90s. They’re still running airports off that old technology. President Trump and Sean Duffy, who are doing such a great job, said, ‘We’re not going to look the other way like Biden did and [Pete] Buttigieg did for four years.’ We’re going to modernize this great system so that when people get on an airplane, they have the confidence that the air traffic control system at their airport and the airport they’re going to land at are now run off of modern 21st-century technology, not 1980s technology.“You think about school choice. First time ever, the federal government passed a school choice bill to give families an option now. It’s available to every state. States have the ability to opt in. Gavin Newsom likes attacking people who go visit his state. He likes attacking the millions of people who leave his state because he’s such a failed leader. I’m wondering, is Gavin Newsom going to stand in front of the schoolhouse steps and deny the ability for every low-income family in the State of California, the ability to send their kid to the school of their choice if the local school is failing those kids? That’s a dilemma now that people like Gavin Newsom will have to face. Will he bow to the teachers unions and tell those low-income families ‘no your kids got to stay in a failing school’, or will he take advantage of the great opportunity presented in this One Big Beautiful Bill to allow those low-income families to send their kids to any school to have the opportunity to seek the American Dream like every kid in this country deserves. That’s in this bill, President Trump’s Golden Dome, so many other great things. But we’re going to keep talking about it.”On Republicans delivering on the House floor this week:“We’re going to pass great digital currency legislation this week to continue modernizing our laws to keep up with the technology of today. We’re going to pass the DOD Appropriations Bill this week to make sure that our men and women in uniform at all those great military bases that are in Congressmen Patronis’ and so many other districts will be able to have the ability to keep up, to keep recruiting, to keep being the best and brightest and strongest fighting force in the world. That’s what we’re going to do this week.“We’re going to keep delivering. We’re going to keep fighting for those families who have been left behind for way too long. Those days are no longer – President Trump is in the White House. Republicans are running Congress. We’re getting things done and we’re delivering results for hardworking families. And the man who never allows failure, who has said, ‘No, we are not going to accept, even when the numbers don’t look right, we’re going to figure out a way to get it done’ and we got it done because we’ve got a strong, bold leader as our Speaker, Mike Johnson.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., is applauding the arrival of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Ocean City Inlet, calling on its vital effort to maintain safe passage for commercial and recreational vessels and support the region’s economy.

Statement from Congressman Harris: 

“This emergency dredging is critical to keeping the Ocean City Inlet safe and navigable during peak boating season. With the White Marlin Open approaching and commercial and recreational boat traffic increasing, it was essential to act quickly. I’m grateful to the Army Corps for responding to our concerns and working closely with my office to ensure the dredge Merritt was deployed in time to protect public safety and the local economy,” Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. said.

Statement from Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan: 

“On behalf of all the Ocean City residents, business owners, and visitors I would like to thank Congressman Harris for his work and dedication in keeping the Ocean City inlet open and accessible for navigation. Even though the vessel that is normally used by The US Army Corps of Engineers to dredge our inlet was out of service, Congressman Harris worked with the Corps to make sure another vessel was available which will be coming to Ocean City in July to dredge the inlet,” Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan said.

Statement from Commissioner President Ted Elder:
“Despite the annual maintenance dredging that took place earlier this year, sediment deposits are already creating serious navigational challenges for Worcester’s commercial and recreational fishing communities. Fishing is vital to Worcester’s economy, and we are grateful to Congressman Andy Harris and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for quickly responding to our emergency call,” Commissioner President Ted Elder said.

Statement from Senator Mary Beth Carozza: 
“I join with local community and business leaders to thank Congressman Harris for arranging this critical dredging in time for Ocean City’s premier White Marlin Open, bringing a huge economic boost to the local economy and State of Maryland as the largest billfish tournament in the world,” Senator Mary Beth Carozza said.

Statement from Delegate Wayne Hartman:
“The USACE Dredge Merritt is a welcomed sight in Ocean City. I have heard complaints from many constituents and personally navigated the inlet a few days ago. The growing shoals were alarming. Dredging is much needed for the safety of boaters, and I appreciate Congressman Harris’s efforts to make it happen,” Delegate Wayne Hartman said.

Statement from Waterman’s Association:
“The Waterman’s Association of Worcester County is pleased that the army Corps of Engineers will be coming in to dredge the inlet. It is very important to keep the inlet open and clear and navigable for all types of boats, both commercial and recreational. The Waterman‘s Association would like to thank Congressman Harris for all his hard work and diligence in getting the inlet dredged,” the Waterman’s Association said. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), along with Congressmen Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Department of Justice to launch a national security review of offshore wind projects with significant foreign ownership and control.

The lawmakers raised concerns about the Maryland Offshore Wind and NY/NJ Empire Wind projects, which are backed by foreign companies and located near sensitive military operations, coastal radar systems, key infrastructure, and major shipping lanes. They warned these projects could interfere with defense radar, weaken maritime security, interrupt critical supply chains, and introduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities through foreign-made components, particularly from adversarial nations like China. 

Statement from Lawmakers: 

“The Biden administration rushed these foreign-controlled offshore wind projects through the permitting process without proper oversight, ignoring the serious national security risks they pose,” the lawmakers said. “Placing critical offshore energy infrastructure in the hands of foreign entities, including those owned by foreign governments, poses grave threats to military operations, radar systems, and the overall security of the power grid. We respectfully urge the Department of Justice to seek immediate corrective action through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews foreign involvement in U.S. infrastructure for national security concerns. Immediate action is needed before the negligence of the previous administration leads to catastrophic consequences.”

The full letter can be read HERE.  

  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), delivered opening remarks at the House Appropriations Full Committee Markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior and Environment Bill. Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:

Click here to watch a full video of his remarks.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have referred to many of these bills over the last number of years as the product of the ‘YOYO’ philosophy. ‘YOYO’ philosophy says, ‘You’re On Your Own,’ you take care of yourself; we’re not going to help you. This bill, in many respects, reflects that philosophy. I say that with extraordinary respect and affection for the chairman of the subcommittee, who I believe is one of the most responsible Members of the Congress, but that’s the message this bill sends to the American people.

“You’re on your own if you want to save money on electricity with this legislation, cutting funding from green energy projects that generate a fifth of America’s energy. You’re on your own in your
community — if your community lacks access to clean water with a 62% cut in this bill to drinking water and sewage infrastructure projects. You’re on your own if you want your families to have clean air to breathe, as this bill includes dozens of riders that roll back the federal government’s ability to crack down on pollution. Crucially, you’re on your own if you want to protect our public lands. These cuts affect every corner of the country. In Maryland, for instance, I’m concerned about what the nearly 5% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency’s geographic program will mean to the Chesapeake Bay, not only an extraordinary asset for the state of Maryland, but an extraordinary asset for our country.
 
“This bill, Mr. Chairman, will also have a severe impact on the National Park Service, cutting it by roughly 6% below the Fiscal Year ‘25 budget, which was, of course, the Fiscal Year ‘24 budget. My office has been in contact with the team down at Piscataway Park in my district, and they’re rightfully worried about what the cut to the Park Service will mean for their institution and the community it supports. Same is true of the parks across the country in your districts, especially at a time when the Trump Administration has illegally purged some 1,000 National Park Rangers. One of them used to work at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore [and] said this in a letter to me: ‘My skills were not looked into. The work that I had been doing was not looked into. It was just an arbitrary slash and burn.’ I’ve said this before. DOGE had no idea of the consequences of their actions; it was sort of like a ‘3,000 a week’ objective. It was not based upon analysis, it was based upon a number.

“I urge my colleagues to help stop that slash and burn by voting against this legislation, and very frankly, allowing Mr. Simpson and Ms. Pingree to bring a bill to the Floor, bring the bill to this committee, that would get votes on both sides. That was true at one time, some of you have never been here when that’s been true and that’s a shame, because it was a productive process. The chairman said when we left after the last bill last week, that these numbers were not going to be the same, this language was not going to be the same, it’s going to be different. I think that’s true, but it’s going to be much more difficult and much more probable that we’ll have a CR or maybe an omnibus in December or maybe March 15th of 2026, halfway through the fiscal year, past the 2026 Appropriations Bill. That’s unfortunate. We ought to be working together, and this bill deals with, as the Ranking Member [Pingree] said, the legacy we will leave our children and our obligation as stewards of our land, our water, and our air. Sadly, I’m going to be voting against this bill. And I do mean that because this is an important bill for the country, for the future, for the legacy that we will leave. I yield back.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered opening remarks at the House Appropriations Subcommittee Markup of the FY26 Financial Services and Government (FSGG) bill. Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:

Click here to watch a full video of his remarks.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Let me start by making an observation, and I know I sound like a broken record. We have almost a full committee here, and we have people who have listened to all the testimony and have become more knowledgeable on this bill than other Members of the Congress of the United States on either side of the aisle. The reason for having subcommittees is to accomplish that objective. As you know, I don’t consider this a markup because we don’t mark it up. We don’t take actions that offer amendments on both sides which feel – perfect – the chairman’s mark, but that is as how it’s operated for some time now and I really believe that we ought to return to a time when the subcommittees really did work, as opposed to waiting for the full committee. In any event, that’s the way it’s done.

“Last week, OMB Director Russell Vought said, and I quote, ‘The appropriations process has to be less bipartisan.’ That’s in the context of the brief discussion the chairman – the big chairman and I had – as we closed our last markup. If it’s less bipartisan, it will be less successful. That’s the bottom line. When we had a four-vote majority and you have a four-vote majority, you know, there’s some things you’re going to have to have bipartisan support for and you’re not going to get them done, and they need to be done. I imagine Vought is awfully pleased with what he has seen from the Appropriations Committee recently, however, where we have votes [and] on very few of them we have bipartisan agreement, but most of them are ‘yes’ on our side and ‘no’ on your side, or ‘no’ on our side and ‘yes’ on your side. We keep seeing partisan bills come out of a broken appropriations process.

“I don’t know, Mr. Chairman, Chairman Cole, whether you saw John Kennedy’s quote – who’s a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he said this just days ago: ‘We don’t have an appropriation process. It’s broken. It’s been broken for a while.’ I would agree with Senator Kennedy on that observation. Our subcommittees have become largely irrelevant, with markups like this one being a little more than a pro forma ritual. This deterioration started long before Trump, but it has accelerated under his administration. He and Vought are trying to turn the entire appropriations process into an irrelevant rubberstamp. Frankly, I’m not sure what the purpose of the Appropriations Committee is if the administration is just going to impound, withhold, and redirect funding illegally as it sees fit, and then send rescissions package for the rest. I know we just passed rescission bill, it’s the first one in 30 years, Republicans and Democratic presidents have been present, they have sent some rescissions down, but they haven’t passed because we had passed bills in a bipartisan way, and we thought the levels were correct. I know some of my colleagues across the aisle agree with me in principle, but we need to take action to stop this perversion of constitutional law and intent to the benefit of presidential sovereignty.
 
“Congress, it seems to me, should not and must not sit idle as DOGE chainsaws through the federal government and as Trump politicizes and weaponizes agencies under this subcommittee’s jurisdiction, including the FCC, OPM, GSA, and others. While I’m pleased, as I told you, Mr. Chairman, that this bill leaves certain vital areas of funding largely intact. Notably, as you pointed out, judicial security, public defender services, and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. But that is little comfort if the Administration can now just withhold funding at will. Ours is not a suggestion, it is the law when the president signs it, we have passed it in a bipartisan way. There are also cuts in this bill that will have consequences for the American people. This committee funds 96% of the federal government through the Internal Revenue Service, and yet our allocation accounts for less than 1% of the non-defense discretionary budget. Yet our allocations have shrunk even further for Fiscal Year 2026 by [turns to Chairman David Joyce (OH-14)], as you pointed out, 1.7%, and I know that you struggled with that, and I appreciate the efforts you have made and the staff has made. Larger agencies under the purview of other subcommittees can trim back grant programs and shift funding around to make ends meet when facing cuts. The only committee that has less money than we do is the Leg [Branch] committee. Our agencies, however, have smaller budgets and thus have to pare back their most basic operations just to make ends meet, all to the detriment of the American people. I am particularly worried, as I’m sure the chairman is not surprised, about the $2.7 billion cut, or 23%, to the already insufficient Fiscal Year 2025 level for the Internal Revenue Service. That includes more than $2.4 billion, or 45%, cut below the Fiscal Year 25 enacted for IRS enforcement.

“Now you’ve given people a huge tax cut, particularly at the upper end. Evidently, it wasn’t enough, however, to just cut taxes for the wealthiest individuals in America with their ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ they want to continue to make it easier for those same high earners and those who don’t – like average working people in America [to] – have us take the taxes out every week, every biweek, every month. These high earners to evade their taxes to the detriment of the hardworking middle Americans. IRS data suggests that every $1 invested in the enforcement yields $7 of revenue return. That’s across the board. For the wealthiest Americans, Harvard and Treasury economists found that when targeted at the top 10% of earners, $1 invested in IRS enforcement yields $12 in revenue. My colleagues across the aisle claim they’re acting in the interest of fiscal responsibility, but the IRS cuts in their bill will cost taxpayers billions, billions of dollars more than it will save. Some estimates of nonpayment of owed taxes being owed is over $600 billion. That’s not raising taxes, that’s taxes owed, or more than the non-defense discretionary spending combined for every agency. These cuts will also undermine customer service for Americans trying to contact IRS about questions on their taxes.

“This legislation also, Mr. Chairman, maintains the pay freeze for civilian federal workers, which Russell Vought instituted as part of his campaign to traumatize the people who make the federal government function and call them villains. What an absurd personnel policy that is.
He slanders them. These civilian employees work side by side with their military counterparts, often performing the exact same task. They deserve a 3.8% cost of living adjustment and to maintain pay parity with our military service members. They’re, after all, not Members of Congress who, of course, don’t deserve a COLA adjustment, as we’ve seen.

“We are not going to find common ground on every issue, of course, that I have mentioned, but we need to find consensus on preserving this institution. When Russell Vought says he wants a less bipartisan appropriations process, what is he really saying? It’s that he wants a weaker, more compliant, less functional Congress. I don’t care if there’s a Democrat or Republican in the White House. I will always, hopefully, stand up for Congress’s power under Article I. I want to say something in addition to that about the riders, as you know, you pointed out a lot of them have been in there before. We’ve opposed them before, we’re going to oppose them again, but, I would hope that we could have a discussion about some of them. Thank you.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC — In honor of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act becoming law, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), the American Association of People with Disabilities, and disability rights leaders to host a panel discussion and screening of American Experience’s Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act. The panel discussion was moderated by Judy Woodruff and featured guest speakers Former Congressman Tony Coelho, Former Congressman Steve Bartlett, and Chana Gazit, Producer and Director at American Experience.

Watch the film and panel discussion here.

The discussion centered around the making of the documentary and how lawmakers and disability rights activists helped shape the ADA. The panelists reflected on how the ADA changed the civil rights landscape for people with disabilities, as well as the challenges posed by the Trump Administration’s cuts to health care and employment assistance programs.

“The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a story of profound civic engagement, faithful bipartisanship, and fearless activism,” Congressman Hoyer said. “As one can see from this feature documentary and our panel discussion, the ADA did not just widen doors, build ramps, install audible warnings, and require Braille translations. It was a call to action, and we are a better nation because of those who answered it. Passing the ADA will always be one of my proudest accomplishments during my time in public service and it remains my inspiration as we work to hold the Trump Administration accountable and ensure equal employment opportunities and affordable health care access. We have more work to do to welcome people with disabilities into public life with the dignity and respect they deserve. I thank my friends and colleagues for joining me and for elevating this necessary and important law – one that I hold dear and will cherish forever.”

“The ADA has been tremendously successful in providing millions of individuals with a better quality of life, to other initiatives to empower people with disabilities to fully participate in American life. It has helped remove barriers to access to employment, transportation, communications, recreation, and more. We have continued to make great progress since the passage of the ADA, but we have a lot more to do. Disability rights are civil rights, and we must keep up the work to to protect all people living with disabilities in every area of their lives, and ensure equal access to all the same spaces, resources, and opportunities,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06).

“The Americans with Disabilities Act expressed one simple, but revolutionary truth: that disabled people belong in every aspect of public life. Thirty five years after its passing, disability advocates are still working to make this truth a consistent reality. This film is a great reminder that at every stage of its development, from idea to draft language, from legislation to becoming law, the ADA has had to be defended, just as disabled people have constantly defend our existence. We will keep fighting to defend, protect, and advance the promise of the ADA over the next thirty years so that our nation’s future is more inclusive than its past,” said Maria Town, President and CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities 

“The story of passing the ADA is a reminder of how powerful we can be when we are united. Disability does not impact Republicans or Democrats. It impacts people, families and communities. In 1990, Representatives and Senators saw the need for civil rights protections for people with disabilities based on their personal experiences – and they also saw a community ready to fight for their rights right in front of them on the Capitol Steps. I could not be more proud of what we accomplished together and hope this film sparks the next generation of advocates to protect it and make it stronger.” said Former Congressman Tony Coehlo.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act was the most consequential civil rights bill ever enacted since the monumental civil rights legislation of 1964 and 1965. It ushered in profound changes for people with disabilities and society at large. It serves as a shining example of what government can do to lift up the lives of all Americans,” said Chana Gazit, Producer and Director, American Experience.

See photos from the event below. See the photo album from this event here.