MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below:

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) reintroduced the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act which would provide up to five years of credits credit for caregivers who spend at least 80 hours per month providing care to a dependent relative. By allowing caregivers to earn Social Security Credits while they are out of the workforce, this legislation recognizes the essential value of caregiving and helps protect Americans’ long-term financial security.

“The cost of a care facility or in-home nurse is simply out of reach for many American families caring for a relative in need. Too often, families must risk their own financial security when doing what we all would do – providing essential care for spouses, parents, grandparents, or children,” said Schneider. “The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would help ensure that people who step away from the workforce to care for loved ones aren’t penalized in retirement.”

According to a joint report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, sixty-three million American adults – representing almost one quarter of all adults in the US – provide care to adults or children with a medical condition or disability. Tens of millions of Americans leave the workforce entirely or reduce their hours significantly to care for loved ones at some point in their career. The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would give retirement credit to unpaid caregivers providing care to a dependent relative under the age of 12 or to a chronically dependent individual. 

“Caregivers shouldn’t lose out on Social Security benefits because they step away from the workforce to care for a loved one. Caregiving is work, and it’s time we start treating it that way. This legislation would make clear that the selfless decision to care for a family member no longer jeopardizes if and when you can retire,” said Murphy.

“Caregiving for an aging parent, relative with a disability, or ailing loved one is a full-time job,” said Gillibrand. “Individuals who leave the workforce to care for their loved ones should receive compensation for that critical work. This commonsense bill would ensure eligible caregivers receive essential Social Security benefits in retirement, helping them to continue to provide for themselves and their families after leaving their jobs. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I am committed to getting this legislation passed.”

“Every day, spouses, partners, and loved ones give up their own jobs, savings, and retirement security to care for someone living with ALS. Even children are often called upon to be caregivers. The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act helps address these issues by allowing caregivers to earn social security credits while they are out of the workforce caring for their loved ones. Said Calaneet Balas, CEO of the ALS Association. “We thank Senator Murphy and Congressman Schneider for standing with the ALS community and protecting caregivers from being financially punished for caring for their loved ones.”

“This legislation is long overdue, and we thank Rep. Schneider and Sen. Murphy for recognizing the value unpaid caregivers bring to our families, communities, and economy,” said Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Caregivers often sacrifice their financial security to care for loved ones. By recognizing caregiving as work and providing Social Security credits, this bill takes a vital step toward fairness and equity and will help ensure more older Americans get the care they need.”

“Americans, disproportionately women, who drop out of the paid workforce to care for children or other family members are doing essential work. Yet as a result, they not only forego income now, they also are likely to receive lower Social Security benefits. Social Security Works is delighted to endorse the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act, which addresses this injustice by having Social Security explicitly recognize and compensate the invaluable work of caregiving.” – Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works

You can read more about the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP), led Democratic opposition to the Fiscal Year 2027 NSRP funding bill.

“This is a moment for American leadership—and we must rise to meet it,” said Ranking Member Frankel. “Lasting national security is about more than bombs, bullying, or tariffs. It demands smart diplomacy, strong development, and lifesaving humanitarian aid that prevent threats from developing before they ever reach our shores. This funding bill fails that test. 

I look forward to coming together to deliver a bill that reflects the very best of American leadership and truly protects the American people.”

After four years of cuts totaling $14.4 billion, Republicans’ proposed bill cuts $2.7 billion, or six percent, from Fiscal Year 2026 funding levels. 

Specifically, this legislation:

• Cuts $400 million from International Humanitarian Assistance, and rescinds another $1 billion, while the world experiences humanitarian crises on almost every continent;
• Eliminates funding for the United Nations and other multilateral and international financial institutions;
• Jeopardizes global health by reducing funding by $532 million;
• Cuts family planning by $114 million, eliminates funding for UNFPA, and reinstates an expanded Global Gag Rule, hurting women and girls globally;
• Zeroes out funding for the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Inter-American Foundation, and United States African Development Foundation; and 
• Fails to adequately staff the State Department to properly implement and oversee assistance in the United States’ interest.

For Ranking Member Frankel’s full opening remarks in front of the Committee, click here. 

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi is calling on the Trump Administration to immediately restore the LGBTQ+ youth “Press 3” option on the 988 Lifeline after a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and led by Harvard Medical School researchers found the program is saving lives and preventing thousands of youth suicide deaths:

“A new study led by Harvard Medical School researchers shows the 988 Lifeline is saving lives—preventing thousands of youth suicide deaths, including among LGBTQ+ youth. Yet even after Congress provided funding to restore the LGBTQ+ youth crisis line following its elimination under the Trump Administration, it still has not been restarted—leaving lives needlessly at risk. I was proud to work with colleagues from both parties to restore the funding for this life-saving program. The Trump Administration needs to use it to bring these services back online now.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has long worked to protect and strengthen the 988 Lifeline, including through his leadership opposing proposed cuts to 988 services and his introduction of bipartisan legislation to safeguard sustained access to specialized crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

California – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Rep. David Valadao (R-CA-22) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted their request for aid and will make up to $9 million available to fund a clingstone peach tree removal program for California farmers. Following the closure of Del Monte processing facility in Modesto, countless peach growers in the region are facing widespread contract cancellations, no market for their crop, and lack a viable path to mitigate their losses. This assistance from USDA will support affected growers in pulling trees and transitioning to new crops.

“Proud to have helped secure up to $9 million to support peach farmers in Yuba, Sutter, and surrounding regions,” said Thompson. “When a processing facility closes and 55,000 acres of fruit suddenly have nowhere to go — that’s not something a family farm can just absorb. This funding is a critical step in ensuring these important multi-generational businesses can stay afloat. Thank you Senator Schiff and Rep. Valadao, Assemblyman Gallagher, and our local leaders and farmers who helped make this happen.”

“Following our urging to the Trump administration to deliver relief to peach farmers, I am pleased that USDA is unlocking this federal funding. California is the nation’s largest agriculture state and I’m glad Secretary Rollins is engaging with us to support our producers,” said Senator Adam Schiff.

“For generations, Central Valley family farms have relied on Del Monte’s Modesto facility to process their peaches, and its sudden closure left growers with thousands of pounds of fruit and no clear path forward,” said Congressman Valadao. “After working closely with my California colleagues and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I’m proud to have helped secure up to $9 million to support our peach growers and keep local family farms afloat. This investment will give producers the time they need to adjust and plan for the future, and I’m grateful to Congressman Thompson, Senator Schiff, and our local leaders for their partnership.”

“Our Sacramento Valley peach growers have been left with an impossible choice in the wake of the Del Monte bankruptcy: tear out their trees or absorb devastating losses. While this relief doesn’t make them whole, it gives many growers a path forward and a chance to rebuild. I was proud to work with Congressman Thompson to help deliver this support. In divided times, this is the kind of cooperation we need—real leadership that puts people first,” said California State Assemblyman James Gallagher. 

BACKGROUND

The Del Monte facility processed a substantial share of the state’s canned fruit production, including more than 30 percent of California peaches. With no comparable alternative processing capacity available, producers are facing severe uncertainty and financial hardship. That’s why Rep. Thompson participated in a roundtable with California State Assemblyman James Gallagher and local leaders including Peach Farmer and Sutter County Supervisor Karm Bains and CEO of California Peach Canning Association Rich Hudgins to learn about what support peach farmers in the region needed.

Then, with support from Senator Schiff and Rep. Valadao, Rep. Thompson led a bipartisan group of 38 colleagues to request Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issue assistance to impacted peach farmers. The full text of the letter can be found here.

As the lawmakers requested, USDA’s assistance to farmers will include up to $9 million for the removal of up to 420,000 clingstone peach trees — approximately 3,000 acres — prior to the 2026 harvest season. Based on USDA’s analysis, removing 50,000 tons of peaches from production could save growers roughly $30 million in projected losses. 

In addition to Thompson, Schiff, and Valadao, the letter was signed by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), and Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Vince Fong (R-Calif.-20), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Adam Gray (D-Calif.-13), Josh Harder (D-Calif.-09), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Young Kim (R-Calif.-40), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.-23), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), and George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27).

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington, D.C. – On Monday, Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Tax Policy Subcommittee Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) and Chairman of the Tax Policy Subcommittee Rep. Mike Kelly’s (R-PA-16) IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a X to X vote.

The bill would make commonsense reforms to the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Whistleblower Awards Program. The IRS’ whistleblower program has enabled the agency to collect more than $7.5 billion from individuals and businesses caught dodging taxes.

“Whistleblowers often face uncertainty and long delays. And in some cases, they face real personal and professional risk just for coming forward. We need to be doing everything we can to fix those problems,” said Rep. Thompson. “The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act will support the IRS’s crackdown on tax cheats and protect the brave whistleblowers who are helping to make our tax system more fair. I look forward to continuing my work with Rep. Kelly to get this through the Senate and signed into law.”  

“Today’s vote is a win for the American taxpayer and the American worker,” said Rep. Kelly. “Our commonsense, bipartisan legislation ensures the integrity of our Nation’s tax laws. When individuals come forward to expose wrongdoing by tax cheats and fraudsters, they help ensure our voluntary tax system remains fair for all Americans. Strengthening this program is a smart way to recover unpaid taxes while improving efficiency and accountability across the system.”

BACKGROUND

The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act includes six measures to bolster the successful program, ensure fairness and protect the whistleblowers who come forward. The legislation would:

• Provide for De Novo review in appeals heard by the U.S. Tax Court, allowing for new evidence to be admitted to the record;
• Establish a presumption of anonymity for whistleblowers before the court;
• Provide that interest be paid to awardees if the whistleblower award has not been paid within one year of the IRS collecting all proceeds;
• Bring the tax treatment of attorney’s fees into line with other whistleblower programs; and
• Improve the program’s annual report to Congress to help tax writers identify areas in most need of attention.

The Thompson-Kelly legislation is supported by the National Whistleblower Center.

You can find the bill text here and a section-by-section summary here.
 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 350 to 5 to pass H.R. 227, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Rep. Vince Fong’s (CA-20) bipartisan Clergy Act, a major step forward in giving pastors and clergy members greater retirement security. 

“Faith leaders play a critical role in supporting our communities — offering them the flexibility to opt in to Social Security as they plan for retirement just makes sense. I’m glad to co-lead this bipartisan effort with Rep. Fong and I look forward to continuing our work to pass this into law,” said Rep. Thompson.

“We know our faith leaders are the backbone of our communities, guiding moral and spiritual life across the Central Valley and our entire nation,” said Rep. Fong. “The Clergy Act gives them the freedom to temporarily re-enroll in Social Security if they previously opted out, empowering them to take greater control of their financial future. I’m thrilled this bill passed the House with strong bipartisan support, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation swiftly.”

BACKGROUND 

The Clergy Act would establish a one-time re-enrollment window for clergy members who previously opted out of Social Security, many in their youth, to voluntarily opt back in. Some of our faith leaders opted out decades ago, often due to inaccurate advice or conscientious objection, only to later face significant financial hardship. Under current law, this opt-out is permanent. For clergy who have spent their lives serving their communities and congregations, this legislation restores the freedom to secure basic financial protection in retirement.

The Clergy Act creates a two-year window – covering taxable years beginning January 1, 2028, and January 1, 2029 – for eligible clergy members who previously opted out of Social Security to revoke their exemption and begin contributing. Importantly, this legislation does not modify existing Social Security regulations. Eligible clergy must still meet the standard 10-year contribution requirement to earn full retired-worker benefits, receiving benefits proportional to their contributions. The bill also requires the Internal Revenue System (IRS) and Social Security Administration to submit a plan to Congress outlining their strategy to inform clergy members of their eligibility to re-enroll. Historically, Congress has approved limited re-enrollment windows, including in 1999 under the Ticket to Work Act. 

The Clergy Act is supported by a broad coalition of faith-based and retirement security organizations, including the National Association of Evangelicals, Church Alliance, Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability (ECFA), and GuideStone Financial Resources, and Lancaster Baptist Church.

Now, the bill is ready to be considered by and voted on the Senate floor. Rep. Thompson will continue to work to urge Senate leadership to bring the bill up for a vote. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Headline: King Charles III Speaks to Joint Session of Congress  

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting Tuesday’s speech by King Charles III of the United Kingdom to a Joint Session of Congress, held in the House of Representatives chamber. The event is historic, as the only other English monarch to speak to a Joint Session in the U.S. was in 1991 when Queen Elizabeth II gave an address during the administration of President George H.W. Bush. 

This Joint Session of Congress commemorates the upcoming 250^th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and affirmation of the “special relationship” between the two allied nations. King Charles is in the U.S. for a four-day royal visit that includes a bilateral meeting at the White House with President Trump. With King Charles and Queen Camilla as guests of honor, the White House events included music and a cannon salute, and speeches by the President and King Charles that highlight references to shared history between the two nations and shared roots in the development in systems of justice and democratic government dating back to the Magna Charta. The schedule includes a state dinner and other stops in the United States. Arriving in Congress, he was greeted by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for their walk through the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall. 

“The modern US-UK alliance has been one of the world’s strongest and longest-lasting alliances, especially during and since World War II,” said Congresswoman Amata. “This unique alliance was called a ‘special relationship’ by Winston Churchill and has been known by that phrase ever since. The US-UK alliance is of importance to our region as part of our Pacific partnerships encompassing security, trade and diplomacy including Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Japan, South Korea and many nations. One of those agreements, AUKUS, involves security and technology among Australia, the UK, and the US, and American Samoa’s location is a key part of the U.S. strategic outlook for the South Pacific. I’ve had the humbling opportunity to visit our Veterans’ cemeteries in the U.K. and recognize that the ‘special relationship’ includes the sacrifices of heroes in the cause of freedom.”

“I appreciate that King Charles included the U.S. territories in his welcoming remarks to Congress today,” concluded Aumua Amata. “It is meaningful to the enduring bond between our nations that he included us in his thoughts of the special relationship between all of the United States and its territories and Great Britain. He closed his speech with an eloquent call to ‘the selfless service of our people and of all the peoples of the world.’”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Security, Department of State and Related Programs (NSRP) funding measure.  

The measure would provide $47.3 billion, a $2.7 billion decrease from current enacted levels, for U.S. foreign policy efforts executed by the Department of State, U.S. contributions to the United Nations and its agencies and more.  

“I voted against this measure because while it did fund some critical Hawai‘i, Indo-Pacific and global priorities I requested, the bill as a whole weakens our global leadership when the world most needs our continued full engagement,” said Case.

Case, while opposing the overall funding reductions, welcomed support in the bill for several of his requests including $830 million for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), $1 billion for the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), $87 million for the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), $20 million for the Asia Foundation and significant support for the Philippines including $200 million in Foreign Military Financing and $100 million under National Security Investment Programs.

He also welcomed support for his specific requests related to Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific, especially $16.7 million for the East-West Center in Honolulu, which was proposed to be zeroed out by President Trump in his budget request to Congress. While this funding is a meaningful improvement over a proposed elimination of Congressional support, it still represents a $5.3 million reduction from last fiscal year, underscoring that significant work remains to be done to fully restore support for the Center.

“Continued funding for our East-West Center and other world-leading institutions in Hawai‘i supports our country’s standing in an area widely seen as the most dynamic and critical on earth. As strategic competition intensifies and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific grow ever more important, this bill also secures key investments to strengthen regional stability, deepen our alliances and ensure the United States remains a leading and reliable presence in the region.”

Other bill provisions requested by Case, who continues as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus that advocated collectively for Pacific programs, include:

·      $1.8 billion for the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which promotes peace, prosperity and democracy in the region.

·      $175 million in assistance for the Pacific Islands region, the same as FY 2026 enacted levels.

·      $2.5 million for partnering with Pacific Island nations and regional organizations to build capacity to oversee coastal fisheries management, combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and address transnational organized crime.

·      $3 million for the Advancing Port Enhancement and Customs Security Program in the Pacific Islands.  

·      Funding for the Pacific Islands Forum’s Pacific Resilience Facility, a Pacific-led and member-owned financial institution designed to support Pacific Islands nations facing climate change and disaster risks.

·      Funding for commitments made by Deputy Secretary Landau to Pacific Island nations in his February 2026 trip, including to support subsea cable branching units for Tonga and Samoa, containing life-threatening disease outbreaks in Fiji, Foreign Military Financing for Fiji and the migration of Tongan government data assets to trusted cloud infrastructure.

·      Report language directing the DFC and USTDA to prioritize the Pacific Islands in financing for projects.

·      Report language supporting the Peace Corps’ expansion in the Pacific.

·      Language requiring a report on ways to strengthen U.S. trade and investment with the Pacific Islands.  

·      Funding for unexploded ordinance removal in the Pacific Islands, including Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

The report also included a provision that Case had requested repeatedly in previous years that the State Department better utilize faith-based organizations in aid implementation which is particularly effective in regions like the Pacific Islands where such organizations play a significant role in civil societ

“As we continue to focus on the growing influence of the PRC in the Indo-Pacific, our national security interests must also include diplomatic engagement and assistance to promote peace and diplomacy in the region,” said Case. “Ultimately, I had to vote against this measure since it falls short of doing just that.” 

The bill funds several foreign policy programs supported by Case at unacceptably low levels. Among them are: 

·      $310.2 million for contributions to international organizations, a decrease of $1.1 billion from FY 2026. 

·      $489.5 million to support international peacekeeping activities, a decrease of $741 million from FY 2026. 

·      $5 billion for International Humanitarian Assistance, a decrease of $400 million from FY 2026.

·      $235 million for Security Sector Programs (previously known as Peacekeeping Operations), a decrease of $100.5 million from FY 2026. 

·      $647 million for educational and cultural exchange programs, which include the Fulbright programs and other exchange programs that benefit Hawaii’s education institutions, a decrease of $20 million from FY 2026. 

·      $410.5 million for the Peace Corps, the same as FY 2026 but a $20 million cut from FY 2025. 

The bill also completely zeroes out funding for the U.S. Institute for Peace and International Organizations and Programs, the account that funds U.S. contributions to critical multilateral development organizations like UNICEF, UN Women and UN Development Program. It rescinds an additional $1 billion for humanitarian assistance and includes harmful partisan policy riders that endanger women’s health by prohibiting funding to the UN Population Fund, fail to address the climate crisis by prohibiting funding to implement the Paris Agreement and codify the expanded Global Gag Rules that will further hinder U.S. foreign assistance efforts.

The measure is the third of the twelve bills to be taken up by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026). 

The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration. 

A summary of the FY 2027 NSRP bill is available here.

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

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD), and U.S. Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) released the following statement on the termination of the contract for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore:

“The Key Bridge was a gateway to the Port of Baltimore and a vital artery for commerce in the Mid-Atlantic. Its collapse impacted not only our region but our entire nation. Replacing the Key Bridge is an economic imperative, which is why Federal Team Maryland fought to deliver a 100 percent federal cost match for the reconstruction – giving our state the certainty it needed to move forward. This is a critical infrastructure project requiring significant resources, and responsible stewardship of those resources is essential. As a matter of national significance, it must move forward efficiently so we are encouraged that the early stages of reconstruction work will continue while the state seeks a more cost-effective contract. We will continue to do all we can to support the construction of a stronger and safer bridge over the Patapsco.”