MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans passed President Trump’s budget bill. The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives:

In a statement, Congressman Crow said:

“In all my time in Congress, this is one of the worst bills I’ve ever seen. 

“The bill is a massive wealth transfer from the working class to the rich. It would kick millions off their health care, take away food assistance for millions, and add trillions to the national deficit.

“I cannot support this Republican bill that takes health care and food assistance from working people to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. This bill is bad for Colorado and America.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, June 26, Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a former Army Ranger and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, honored World War II Army Rangers with the Congressional Gold Medal—the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress.

Congressman Crow authored and passed bipartisan legislation, the United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, to bestow this award on our nation’s heroes. Congressman Crow’s legislation was signed into law in 2022. Two WWII Rangers attended the ceremony to receive the award in-person.

“These Rangers represent the best of us. During World War II, the Army formed six all-volunteer Ranger Battalions and one provisional battalion. Some of the most important battles of the war relied on their skill, sacrifice, and unending courage. They fought throughout Europe, including D-Day landings at Omaha Beach, and liberated 500 prisoners from a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines. It’s a great honor to award the Congressional Gold to those who confronted fascism face-to-face and won,” said Congressman Crow.

The Rangers attending the ceremony were Sergeant. Joseph J. Drake and Private First Class. John Wardell. Other notable speakers in attendance were Speaker Mike Johnson, Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary Douglas Collins, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Joni Ernst, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and General John D. Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Crow introduced the House version of the bill, the United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, on a bipartisan basis with 319 co-sponsors. The Senate version of the bill was introduced by Senator Joni Ernst. Congressman Crow’s bill was endorsed by organizations including: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Descendants of World War II Rangers, U.S. Army Ranger Association, Association of the United States Army, Arnold Community Council, 75th Ranger Regiment Association, The National Ranger Association, The Darby Project, and Valor Studios.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) issued the following statement after President Trump bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities and Iran launched retaliatory strikes against a U.S. military base in Qatar:

In a statement, Congressman Crow said:

“I strongly condemn Iran’s attack against American servicemembers in the Middle East. The Iranian government sponsors terrorism, seeks to harm Americans, and works to undermine U.S. interests. Thankfully, Iran’s missiles were intercepted and no American servicemembers were injured in this attack. 

“This attack on American troops is the direct consequence of President Trump’s decision to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. The President exceeded his authority when he conducted military strikes on Iran without congressional approval. The Constitution is clear–only Congress can authorize the use of military force unless there is an imminent risk to Americans or U.S. facilities. As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I have not seen any evidence that Iran posed an imminent risk to Americans or U.S. facilities.

“Before coming to Congress, I served as an Army Ranger and paratrooper. I did three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was a part of the decades-long wars in the Middle East that claimed thousands of American lives, cost trillions of dollars, and diminished U.S. credibility around the world. America cannot repeat our past mistakes. When elites in Washington make decisions, it’s young men and women from where I grew up who get sent to fight. The last thing I want to see is another generation of Americans pulled into another Middle East conflict.

“The American people deserve an open and honest debate about the path forward. Congress must reclaim its power over the decision to send young men and women into conflict.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

 

In a letter to Dr. Troy E. Meink, Secretary of the Air Force, the lawmakers requested upgrades to the aircraft currently stationed at the 302nd Airlift Wing. 

Lafayette, CO — As Colorado braces for peak wildfire season, Congressmen Joe Neguse (CO-02) and Jeff Crank (CO-05) teamed up in a bipartisan effort to strengthen the state’s aerial firefighting capabilities. More specifically, the lawmakers penned a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force requesting eight upgraded C-130J aircrafts for the 302nd Airlift Wing (AW) at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. 

C-130Js are fitted with a firefighting unit that can assist in the rapid deployment of thousands of gallons of water or fire retardant. This makes them uniquely capable of suppressing flames and curbing the spread of wildfires over large ranges. 

“Colorado, and states across the West, have experienced devastating wildfires in recent years and continue to face increased drought conditions and wildfire risk. It is in our nation’s best interest to ensure our communities are well-equipped to respond when disaster strikes. Without adequate tools, including the C-130Js, our country is at a disadvantage to manage these wildfires–threatening the safety of our communities. It is with that in mind that we urge the Department of Air Force to upgrade the 302nd AW with eight C-130Js,” wrote Representatives Neguse and Crank 

Read their full letter HERE and below. 

Congressman Neguse, founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, has prioritized efforts to coordinate better wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery nationwide. Recently, he teamed up with a coalition of Western lawmakers to introduce a number of policy proposals that would implement a holistic approach to combating the wildfire crisis.

July 1, 2025

The Honorable Troy E. Meink

Secretary of the Air Force

Department of the Air Force

1670 Air Force Pentagon

Washington, D.C. 20330-1670

Dear Secretary Meink:

We write to request your consideration and assistance with upgrading and designating eight C-130Js to the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) 302nd Airlift Wing (AW) at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The 302nd AW has been among the only aerial firefighting AFRC Wings since 1993, including one of the four wings using the U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems, and is responsible for operating an aeromedical evacuation mission. It is imperative that the U.S. Air Force equip the 302nd AW with eight upgraded C-130Js in order to carry out their tactical airlift and airdrop mission and aerial firefighting mission.

The 302nd AW is on track to be the only remaining Department of Defense aerial firefighting wing still equipped with older C-130Hs. As wildfires continue to impact communities across the nation, maintaining an upgraded air fleet for the 302nd AW is imperative. Full capabilities for the AW and the 1,400 Reserve Citizen Airmen serving at Peterson Space Force Base are among our biggest assets to aerial firefighting and national security.

Colorado, and states across the West, have experienced devastating wildfires in recent years and continue to face increased drought conditions and wildfire risk. It is in our nation’s best interest to ensure our communities are well-equipped to respond when disaster strikes. Without adequate tools, including the C-130Js, our country is at a disadvantage to manage these wildfires–threatening the safety of our communities. It is with that in mind that we urge the Department of Air Force to upgrade the 302nd AW with eight C-130Js.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter, and we look forward to continuing to work together to maintain the necessary infrastructure and capabilities to respond adequately to the nation’s security needs, including wildfires.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02) and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) introduced the Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025, legislation that would impose a lifetime ban on former Members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. The legislation also strengthens lobbying transparency laws, including significantly increasing penalties for violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Act. Reps. Neguse and Ocasio-Cortez have previously partnered on efforts to enact legislation to prohibit Members of Congress from trading stocks.

“The American people deserve far better from their government and elected leaders — and that includes an end to the corruption that has become pervasive in Washington D.C. It is why I’ve led an effort for years to ban stock trading by Members of Congress, and why I’m proud to join my colleague Rep. Ocasio-Cortez in introducing the Revolving Door Act — common-sense legislation that would ban former Members of Congress from becoming lobbyists after they leave elected office. We must clean up government for future generations and ensure our government is serving the American people, not special interests, which is exactly what our legislation is designed to do,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. 

“The revolving door of public service to lobbying is a major reason why everyday Americans struggle to trust our institutions. It erodes the faith and integrity of our lawmaking and cuts against the principle that our service here puts Americans first ahead of our own careers and ambitions. Lobbying by members of Congress should be banned, and I am happy to support Rep. Neguse’s bill,” said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025 would: 

• Impose a lifetime ban on former Members of Congress from engaging in any lobbying activities aimed at influencing Congress after they leave office;
• Prohibit senior congressional staff from lobbying Congress for six years following their departure from service; 
• Require the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate to create and maintain a public database website called lobbyists.gov;
• Create a six-year restriction on hiring lobbyists or foreign agents into congressional offices if they had substantial prior lobbying contact with the office in question; 
• Increase civil penalties for violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Act from $200,000 to $500,000.

Read the bill text HERE. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

In letters to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik and Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers, lawmakers urge the rejection of proposed funding cuts and facility closures at NOAA. 

Washington, DC— Following the release of the White House’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02) led a coalition of 23 lawmakers urging both the Department of Commerce and their colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee to reject devastating proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by the Trump administration. The budget proposal would decimate funding for NOAA’s critical programs, including the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), and terminate several Weather Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes, including several in Colorado’s Second Congressional District.   

In their letter, the lawmakers condemned the proposed budget cuts to NOAA and underscored the importance of the agency and its Cooperative Institutes. Colorado is home to several of NOAA’s Climate Laboratories, including the Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL), the Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), and the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML), all located in Boulder, CO. 

Colorado is also the only state in the nation home to two Cooperative Institutes, the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, which are academic and non-profit research centers that have provided invaluable support to NOAA’s mission and work in drought, wildfire, and space weather since 1967. The lawmakers denounced the proposed cuts in their letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Subcommittee Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Meng, as well as any plans to terminate funding for these institutions, making clear the damage to our nation would be irreversible, and emphasizing the important work that is ongoing at both CIRES and CIRA.  

“CIs are home to experienced researchers and long-standing data collection programs with major impacts on human societies. If these sweeping cuts are made, the damage will be irreversible. Even short-term interruptions in their research could threaten the safety and economies of the communities that CIs serve across the nation. These cuts would primarily leave tornado and weather research and ocean observation to be reprogrammed to other offices, effectively moving weather research and development under the National Weather Service, while getting rid of most of the people and infrastructure that do this critical work.” 

They continued: “The value NOAA and its programs, like OAR, provide to our communities cannot be overstated. OAR operates research laboratories across the country providing the foundation for understanding and predicting changes in Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and inland waters. This work improves weather and climate forecasts, provides early warnings for natural disasters, and enhances our understanding of Earth’s systems. The work our scientists and civil servants do at NOAA is essential to U.S. national security and economic prosperity, as well as the personal safety and daily lives of Americans. Any attempt to gut these essential programs would have devastating effects on Americans.” 

 

Read their full letter HERE and below: 

July 8, 2025

The Honorable Howard Lutnick 

Secretary

U.S. Department of Commerce 

1401 Constitution Ave. NW 

Washington, DC 20230

 

The Honorable Laura Grimm

Acting Administrator

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

1401 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20230
 

Dear Secretary Lutnick and Acting Administrator Grimm,

We write to implore you to reject the proposed funding cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as laid out in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. NOAA’s programs provide essential services to all Americans, and gutting its programs and research would be gravely irresponsible.

In NOAA’s FY26 Congressional Justification document, the agency lays out plans to effectively eliminate NOAA’s Operations, Research, and Facilities for FY26. This includes a decrease in 216 employees and complete termination of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Climate Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes. 

This document also proposes closing down several NOAA facilities across the United States that are in our respective districts. This includes the Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL; the Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) in College Park, MD, Idaho Falls, ID, and Oak Ridge, TN, Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL) in Boulder, CO; the Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, CO; the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Princeton, NJ; , as well as a nation-wide network of soil moisture sensors; the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) in Boulder, CO, Utqiaġvik, AK; Mauna Loa, HI; Hilo, HI; Big Island, HI; American Samoa, and the South Pole; and the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) in Seattle. Shutting down these facilities would be devastating for our communities.

These cuts would also affect Cooperative Institutes (CIs), which are academic and non-profit research institutions that support NOAA’s goals, containing 80 universities and institutions across 33 states. CIs are home to experienced researchers and long-standing data collection programs with major impacts on human societies. If these sweeping cuts are made, the damage will be irreversible. Even short-term interruptions in their research could threaten the safety and economies of the communities that CIs serve across the nation.

These cuts would primarily leave tornado and weather research and ocean observation to be reprogrammed to other offices, effectively moving weather research and development under the National Weather Service, while getting rid of most of the people and infrastructure that do this critical work. You cannot simply shuffle a handful of programs across NOAA offices while terminating an entire line office responsible for providing the research base for the agency and expect continued success; to maintain American excellence in this work requires continuity of OAR’s core functions as well as its skilled workforce, including at the labs and CIs.

The value NOAA and its programs, like OAR, provide to our communities cannot be overstated. OAR operates research laboratories across the country providing the foundation for understanding and predicting changes in Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and inland waters. This work improves weather and climate forecasts, provides early warnings for natural disasters, and enhances our understanding of Earth’s systems. The work our scientists and civil servants do at NOAA is essential to U.S. national security and economic prosperity, as well as the personal safety and daily lives of Americans. Any attempt to gut these essential programs would have devastating effects on Americans. As such, we urge you to reject these proposed funding cuts and facility closures at NOAA.

Sincerely,

 

Read their full letter HERE and below: 

July 8, 2025

 

The Honorable Hal Rogers 

Chairman

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Committee on Appropriations

H-310 The Capitol Washington, DC 20515

 

The Honorable Grace Meng

Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science,

and Related Agencies

Committee on Appropriations

H-310 The Capitol, Washington, DC 20515

 

Dear Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Meng,

As you continue crafting the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, we write to implore you to reject the proposed funding cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as laid out in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. NOAA’s programs provide essential services to all Americans, and gutting its programs and research would be gravely irresponsible.

In NOAA’s FY26 Congressional Justification document, the agency lays out plans to effectively eliminate NOAA’s Operations, Research, and Facilities for FY26. This includes a decrease in 216 employees and complete termination of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Climate Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes. 

This document also proposes closing down several NOAA facilities across the United States that are in our respective districts. This includes the Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL) in Boulder, CO; the Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, CO; the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Princeton, NJ; Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL; the Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) in College Park, MD, Idaho Falls, ID, and Oak Ridge, TN, as well as a nation-wide network of soil moisture sensors; the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) in Boulder, CO, Utqiaġvik, AK; Mauna Loa, HI; Hilo, HI; Big Island, HI; American Samoa, and the South Pole; and the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) in Seattle. Shutting down these facilities would be devastating for our communities.

These cuts would also affect Cooperative Institutes (CIs), which are academic and non-profit research institutions that support NOAA’s goals, containing 80 universities and institutions across 33 states. CIs are home to experienced researchers and long-standing data collection programs with major impacts on human societies. If these sweeping cuts are made, the damage will be irreversible. Even short-term interruptions in their research could threaten the safety and economies of the communities that CIs serve across the nation.

These cuts would primarily leave tornado and weather research and ocean observation to be reprogrammed to other offices, effectively moving weather research and development under the National Weather Service, while getting rid of most of the people and infrastructure that do this critical work. You cannot simply shuffle a handful of programs across NOAA offices while terminating an entire line office responsible for providing the research base for the agency and expect continued success; to maintain American excellence in this work requires continuity of OAR’s core functions as well as its skilled workforce, including at the labs and CIs.

The value NOAA and its programs, like OAR, provide to our communities cannot be overstated. OAR operates research laboratories across the country providing the foundation for understanding and predicting changes in Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and inland waters. This work improves weather and climate forecasts, provides early warnings for natural disasters, and enhances our understanding of Earth’s systems. The work our scientists and civil servants do at NOAA is essential to U.S. national security and economic prosperity, as well as the personal safety and daily lives of Americans. Any attempt to gut these essential programs would have devastating effects on Americans. As such, we urge you to reject these proposed funding cuts and facility closures at NOAA, and to instead fully fund NOAA in the FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

$18 million for hiring teachers, STEM education, and after-school programs locked up

Clock running out with first day of school just weeks away

STOCKTON – Today, in response to unacceptable education funding freezes just weeks away from the first day of school, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) demanded the immediate release of these funds to ensure Valley students heading into the new school year aren’t affected. More than $18 million in federal funding promised to San Joaquin County is currently locked up.

Here’s what’s on Washington’s chopping block:

• Funding for homework assistance and after-school clubs.
• Investments in STEM education and digital learning services.
• Hiring and training more teachers — one local school district has a 100+ shortage.

“Make no mistake — this is an attack on our kids and their futures, and I’m furious that Washington is trying to pull the rug out from under our schools just weeks away from the first day of school,” said Rep. Harder. “Working families deserve to know that their tax dollars are going to invest in our schools, not sit locked up in the hands of politicians. I’m calling on Washington to immediately reverse this mindless decision before it’s too late.”

In his letter, Harder urged Washington to:

• Immediately release the $18 million promised to San Joaquin County.
• Restore funding for hiring teachers and providing education programs.
• Prioritizekids’ education and career futures.

Read the full letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Rips health care away from nearly 50,000 San Joaquin County residents, lays off 3,000 health care workers 

Finances trillions in handouts for billionaires like Elon Musk

WASHINGTON – Today, following the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the largest health care cut in American history, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09), who voted no, released the following statement condemning the bill:

“I’m heartbroken for our community. This bill is cruel beyond words. It rips health care away from 50,000 people in San Joaquin County, shutters clinics, lays off thousands of health care workers, and sends premiums through the roof – all so billionaires like Elon Musk can get another handout. 

“Thousands of working families will lose access to in-home care for aging parents. They’ll be forced to skip doctor’s appointments for their kids. They won’t be able to afford an emergency room visit if there’s an accident. This isn’t just politics, this is life and death.

“Our families were already stretched thin – now they’re being kicked off their health care so the rich can get even richer. I’m heartbroken. I’m furious. I voted no, and I’ll do everything in my power to fight back against this heartless betrayal.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

New report: U.S. drug overdose deaths on the rise again

Nearly 200,000 fentanyl pills seized in the Valley since September, enough to kill 26 million people

WASHINGTON – Today, on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced two bipartisan bills to crack down on fentanyl drug dealers and expand overdose training for first responders. The Disrupt Fentanyl Pill Production Act, led with Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), helps local law enforcement track down drug dealers manufacturing counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, and the Safer Response Act, led with Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17), funds a grant training program to expand overdose training to local first responders.

Valley communities are on the front lines of the drug epidemic:

“This is about stopping criminals who are poisoning our families,” said Rep. Harder. “Fentanyl is flooding into our communities and we have to do something about it. These bipartisan bills give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on traffickers and make sure more people are trained to save lives when every second counts. This is life or death – we need to pass these bills.”

Stopping drug dealers with the Disrupt Fentanyl Pill Production Act:

• Tracking down dealers by requiring traceable serial numbers on all machines used to mass-produce counterfeit pills.
• Tougher penalties for dealers caught with pill press machines.
• Better coordination between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

“For the safety of our communities, it’s imperative that we give law enforcement the ability to trace these illicit pill presses moving across borders. This legislation will allow officers to better understand the criminal supply chain,” said Rep. Crenshaw. “Serializing pill presses will also give them better tools to effectively catch and prosecute cartels who use this equipment to disguise deadly drugs and exploit our children for profit.”

Preventing overdose deaths with the Safer Response Act:

• New training for local first responders to address and reverse overdoses.
• Outreach coordination teams to bridge gaps between public and private medical and emergency response partnerships.

“Over 80,000 lives were lost last year to overdoses and opioids like fentanyl continue to proliferate in our communities,” said Rep. Lawler. “I’m proud to co-lead the reintroduction of the Safer Response Act with Congressman Josh Harder to equip our first responders with the training and tools necessary to fight the opioid epidemic and save lives.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Administration budget proposal includes 53% cut to construction project funding

1,100 miles of levees need repairs along the Delta 
 

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) demanded a reversal of proposed cuts to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) flood protection projects, including the San Joaquin River Basin Project in Stockton. The Administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) is 53% lower than previously enacted levels, and excludes funding for vital flood prevention projects in the Valley and across California.

Proposed cuts come at a crisis moment in Valley flood mitigation:

“Yanking flood protection funding at the last-minute makes no sense and puts our Valley communities at risk,” said Rep. Harder. “We face flood threats every year because of aging infrastructure and we worked across the aisle to finally get the flood protection we need. Now, Washington is trying to steal back funding for our levees, and I refuse to let them get away with it.”

In his letter Harder urged Washington to:

• Reject the 53% cuts to USACE projects.
• Fully fund USACE flood risk mitigation efforts.
• Protect projects like the San Joaquin River Basin project.

Read the full letter here.

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