MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

BILL SET TO RIP HEALTH CARE FROM 17 MILLION PEOPLE, FOOD ASSISTANCE FROM 11 MILLION PEOPLE

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

Washington – Today, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Mike Thompson (CA-04) introduced an amendment with 70 co-sponsors to stop Congressional Republicans’ proposal to spend $1.7 billion to make it easier for people to buy silencers, short-barreled shotguns, and short-barreled rifles. Read the amendment here. 

“Congressional Republicans are bowing to the whim of the gun lobby by proposing we eliminate the $200 tax on silencers and easily concealable short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns,” said Thompson. “We’ve regulated silencers and these guns for over 90 years for a reason. This tax was put in place in 1934 as part of a comprehensive effort to address their illegal use by criminal gangs. 

“Congressional Republicans’ proposal to spend $1.7 billion to flood our communities with these firearms and make it easier for mass shooters and criminals to access these weapons makes our communities less safe. I urge my Republican colleagues to help us take up this amendment and strike down this ill-advised handout to the gun lobby.” 

“Slashing taxes on silencers, short-barreled shotguns and rifles, and similar devices is a $1.7 billion gift to boost gun industry sales that will endanger law enforcement and our communities,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We urge every lawmaker in the House to put public safety ahead of gun industry profits and oppose this disaster of a bill.”

“The House must take up and pass this important amendment. For 100 years, Republicans and Democrats agreed on commonsense safeguards to keep silencers and short-barreled firearms from falling into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, President Trump and today’s extreme Republicans put gun lobby CEO donors ahead of Americans’ safety and are fighting to make it easier for dangerous people to get these weapons. The gun lobby freely admits this is the first step in their plan to remove all safeguards keeping gun silencers away from criminals. Passing this provision would endanger law enforcement and the communities they risk their lives to protect—and Republicans know it,” said Emma Brown, GIFFORDS Executive Director. 

“We know what these weapons do. We’ve lived through the lockdowns, the sirens, the funerals. We’ve seen the aftermath up close. The House has a choice: pass this amendment, or keep rewarding violence with taxpayer dollars. Anyone who votes against it should have to explain that choice to the families left behind after their children are murdered,” said Jackie Corin, Executive Director, March For Our Lives. 

“After the assassination of a public servant in Minnesota and a heinous sniper attack on first responders in Idaho, it is outrageous that Trump’s allies in the Senate have passed a bill that puts countless lives at risk to line the pockets of gun industry executives. Making firearm silencers and other uniquely lethal weapons more accessible will increase violence and enable would-be mass shooters and assassins. Brady vigorously supports Representative Thompson’s amendment to reverse this dangerous provision and safeguard the American public,” said Kris Brown, Brady President. 

“Stripping silencers from the National Firearms Act is not reform—it’s a reckless gift to the gun lobby that will endanger law enforcement, embolden mass shooters, and silence victims before anyone can respond. Silencers are not tools of self-defense—they are tools of assassination. Representative Thompson’s amendment to reverse this dangerous provision from the Republican funding bill is critical. The House must act immediately to keep silencers out of the hands of criminals and domestic terrorists. We cannot allow Donald Trump and his allies to dismantle 90 years of bipartisan safeguards just to appease gun manufacturers and extremist donors. Lives are on the line—and Congress must choose the people over the gun lobby,” said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance. 

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement in response to Congressional Republicans’ decision to change the process by which Congress calculates the cost of their tax bill in order to hide trillions of dollars in spending. Congressional Republicans are using this trick to pretend that extending the President’s 2017 tax bill, which disproportionately benefit his billionaire donors, will be free. In reality, this bill will saddle Americans with trillions more in debt.

“It’s a simple fact that this big, ugly bill is set to add $5 trillion to our national debt. It’s shameful that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are trying to hide that fact.

“Congressional Republicans are using a budgeting gimmick to claim that the cost of extending the President’s 2017 tax bill will be zero dollars. This is as if you paid your mortgage payments for the last few years and then decided you don’t have to budget for home payments going forward. This budgeting theory would bankrupt families and businesses and will certainly bankrupt our country.

“This is flat out irresponsible. This bill will saddle our future generations with debilitating debt in order to give handouts to people who don’t need the help. Everyday Americans will be left with pennies while the wealthy reap all the benefits. Every hardworking American, regardless of party stripe, should be outraged.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Congressman Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), and U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)and Alex Padilla (D-CA), reintroduced legislation aimed at reducing harmful pollution from the global shipping industry. Maritime shipping is a significant source of greenhouse gas pollution around the world and a major contributor to local air pollution in port communities.

 

The bicameral International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act would address pollution from large cargo ships and oil tankers by charging a fee for greenhouse gases and other hazardous air pollutants emitted by these ships. The revenue from collected fees would be used to fund cleaner ships and port equipment, protecting our port communities and fighting climate change, while also revitalizing the U.S. shipping industry.  

“The climate crisis isn’t a distant threat. It’s here, it’s accelerating, and it’s devastating communities across our state and our country,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “We must act quickly to reduce greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollution across our economy. The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act takes decisive action to slash pollution from cargo ships and provide urgently needed investment in clean maritime technology and infrastructure. While the International Maritime Organization made history this spring by approving a global net-zero shipping framework, President Trump tried to derail negotiations and continues to block any action to fight climate change. This bill would ensure the U.S. is leading—not lagging—on climate action. As Trump and his allies double down on climate denial and fossil fuel handouts, we’re fighting back with real solutions that protect public health and the planet.”

 

“Communities near our ports—like those in the San Francisco Bay Area—bear the brunt of pollution from ships that fuel global trade,” said Congressman Mullin. “The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act ensures that the global shipping industry does its part to reduce emissions. The revenue from these pollution fees will help speed the shift to cleaner ships and healthier ports. I’m proud to partner with Congresswoman Matsui to advance this policy that meets the urgency of the climate crisis while protecting the people and places most impacted by maritime emissions.” 

 

“As climate change destroys lives and drives up costs for families, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to avoid the worst consequences for communities, businesses, and the environment,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Encouragingly, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has put forward a global carbon price on shipping emissions. This legislation reinforces that work, further cutting harmful emissions while supporting the maritime innovators that are pioneering clean technologies to protect public health and can help put us on course to climate safety.”

 

“California’s ports are the powerhouse of our country’s economy, moving critical freight and providing good-paying jobs, all while leading the nation’s decarbonizing efforts. But neighboring communities have been forced to shoulder the brunt of global shipping pollution for too long,” said Senator Padilla. “Our legislation would strengthen the sustainability of our shipping industry by reducing emissions in maritime transportation while simultaneously protecting coastal communities. The health of our communities and our planet requires us to be forward-looking and ambitious — we owe future generations nothing less than bold, transformative action.”

The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act would:

• Impose a $150 per ton fee on greenhouse gas pollution emitted by ships carrying cargo destined for the U.S., as well as fees for nitrogen oxides ($6.30/lb.), sulfur dioxide ($18/lb.), and soot (PM2.5) ($38.90/lb.) that ships emit in U.S. waters. The fees would only apply to large foreign-flagged ships with 5,000 gross tonnage or more.
• Provide critical funding to modernize the Jones Act fleet with low-carbon vessels, revitalizing and electrifying U.S. shipbuilding, and addressing and reducing pollutants in America’s port communities, along our coasts, and in our oceans.

   

The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act has been endorsed by EV Maritime, Friends of the Earth, GreenLatinos, Ocean Conservancy, Pacific Environment, San Pedro & Peninsula Homeowners Coalition, Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area Action, and 350 Brooklyn.

“We applaud Senator Whitehouse and Representative Matsui for reintroducing the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act of 2025,” said Antonio Santos, Federal Climate Policy Director, Pacific Environment. “This bill will ensure that the shipping industry pays its fair share in the fight against climate change. It will raise billions of dollars over the next decade, funds that would be reinvested into cleaner ships and port infrastructure, as well as maritime workforce training and development. The bill will curb the shipping industry’s massive pollution problem and help protect port communities that are disproportionately exposed to harmful emissions. Now is the time for the U.S. to show global leadership in the transition to a zero-emission shipping industry, and we call on Congress to pass this important legislation.”

“Global shipping is responsible for 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year, equal to the emissions from 112 billion gallons of gasoline,” said Caroline Bonfield, Ocean Conservancy’s Shipping Emissions U.S. Policy Manager. “This pollution heats our ocean, drives climate change and chokes portside communities with toxic fumes. But the U.S. can chart a new course. The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act would charge a fee to large ships offloading cargo at U.S. ports for their emissions, and use the funds to make critical upgrades here in the U.S., like electrifying ports, modernizing vessels and switching to cleaner fuel. Passing this bill would protect the ocean, reduce climate impacts and create cleaner air for millions of Americans living near ports. It would also make the entire U.S. maritime sector including American ships more efficient and competitive. Ocean Conservancy is grateful for the leadership of Representative Matsui and Senator Whitehouse on this critical issue. For the health of our ocean and our communities, we urge Congress to pass this common sense legislation.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) released the following statement after House Republicans voted to pass H.R. 1, the Big Ugly Bill. The bill will cut nearly a trillion dollars from Medicaid and take health care away from 17 million Americans. 

“Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is a staggering betrayal of the American people. It cruelly rips away health care from 17 million Americans. It takes food off the table of children and our most vulnerable. It’s a disaster for American workers and American families struggling to pay the bills. Bottom line – it’s the biggest transfer of wealth from the working class to the rich in American history,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet – every dollar slashed represents real human suffering. Republicans are forcing Americans with the fewest options to make impossible choices – all to give tax breaks to billionaires.”

“The bill includes nearly a trillion dollars of cuts to Medicaid – leaving children with disabilities, cancer patients, seniors in nursing homes, and working families without the care they depend on. These cuts will shutter rural hospitals and pull ambulances off the streets,” Matsui continued. “And while the Big Ugly Bill is slashing health care and nutrition assistance, it will also drive up energy costs by more than 400 dollars a year per household, kill clean energy jobs, and sabotage clean energy projects across the country. This isn’t just bad policy – it’s an all-out assault on American families. It is cruel. It is reckless. And that’s why I emphatically voted NO.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in FCC v. Consumers’ Research. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund. 

“Reliable, high-speed broadband access is no longer a luxury—it’s a fundamental pillar of modern life. The Universal Service Fund has been a savior for millions of Americans, expanding broadband access for our schools, libraries, rural hospitals, and underserved communities across the nation,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Today, the Supreme Court rightfully upheld the constitutionality of this critical program.”

“Universal service has been the bedrock of U.S. telecommunications policy for decades. It remains as relevant as ever, with artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies supercharging our reliance on connectivity to spur innovation and improve people’s lives,” Matsui continued. “I am committed to ensuring the Universal Service Fund remains resilient for years to come, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the bipartisan USF Working Group to ensure this program is sustainable and meeting Americans’ evolving connectivity needs.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced the Mapping America’s Pharmaceutical Supply (MAPS) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen the federal government’s ability to prepare for and mitigate future drug shortages by identifying vulnerabilities in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

The MAPS Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update its Essential Medicines List and create a map of the pharmaceutical supply chain. The map would include the country of origin, quantity manufactured, and other key information about critical drug products to identify supply chain weaknesses that could lead to shortages or other challenges in a future public health emergency. With this insight, HHS will be better equipped to predict disruptions, identify bottlenecks, and build resilience into the system—ultimately helping to prevent future public health emergencies. 

The bill would also require the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of these supply chains.  The assessment would examine the key ingredients needed to manufacture essential medicines, overreliance on high-risk foreign sources, sole-sourced products, current domestic manufacturing capabilities, cybersecurity threats, and any other gaps that may reduce the federal government’s ability to identify health and national security risks related to our essential medicine supply chains.

“Recent drug shortages have exposed serious gaps in our pharmaceutical supply chain — gaps that put lives at risk,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Right now, we lack full visibility into where and how our essential medicines are made. We don’t know the extent of our reliance on foreign agents for key drug ingredients, or how a natural disaster would impact the drug supply. The MAPS Act is a crucial step to provide us with a comprehensive roadmap. By increasing transparency, we can bolster the weaknesses in our supply chain, better prepare for future public health emergencies and protect the well-being of all Americans.”  

“Too often, we fail to recognize domestic drug manufacturing for what it truly is—a national security issue,” said Congressman Crenshaw. “Every time we rely on foreign nations, especially our adversaries, for essential medicines or their ingredients, we hand them dangerous leverage over us. This bill is a critical step forward: it gives us the tools to map our pharmaceutical supply chains, identify vulnerabilities, and better prepare for threats before they arise.”

According to the Association of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), ongoing and active drug shortages continue to be dangerously high, with 270 drugs currently in shortage. Despite progress from the FDA in preventing and mitigating drug shortages, these efforts are largely reactive. Shortage prevention efforts could be more effective if they were proactive and targeted to the most vulnerable and essential drugs.  

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) – the key ingredients that give a drug their intended effect – are largely manufactured overseas in China or India. The MAPS Act would establish a supply chain map including the origin of each drug, the location of the facilities used to manufacture them, and associated inspections and risks, such as recalls and import alerts.

Endorsing organizations include: California Hospital Association, Texas Hospital Association, Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Angels for Change, CivicaRx, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), Phlow and Vizient.

“ASHP strongly supports the MAPS Act. By requiring the Department of Health and Human services to coordinate with other agencies and the private sector to map the pharmaceutical supply chain, threats to the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain can be identified and addressed before they place patients at risk,” saidTom Kraus, Vice President of ASHP Government Relations.  

“ASCO applauds the introduction of the MAPS Act, in the House of Representatives. This legislation aims to improve stakeholder visibility into the supply of critical prescription drugs in this country and ultimately used to mitigate the harms patients face amid drug shortages,” saidLynn M. Schuchter, MD, FASCO, Board Chair of the Association for Clinical Oncology. “We applaud Representatives Matsui and Crenshaw for their bipartisan dedication to improving access to cancer drug treatments and other critical medications.”

“Prolonged and persistent drug shortages over the past two decades are jeopardizing Americans’ access to critical treatments and increasing our vulnerability to disruptions from natural disasters, pandemics, and geopolitical instability,” said Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Pharmacopeia. “Building meaningful and lasting resilience across this complex supply chain requires comprehensive reform. The MAPS Act will improve our ability to leverage tools, like USP’s Medicine Supply Map, to detect risks, anticipate shortages, and safeguard national security. As we seek further insight on the sourcing of key starting materials and API for producing our most vulnerable medicines, these collaborations are critical for understanding our vulnerabilities, as well as unlocking innovative solutions, like advanced manufacturing and scalable synthesis technologies.”  

“Angels for Change proudly supports the MAPS Act—a vital step toward ending drug shortages and protecting patients,” saidLaura Bray, Founder and Chief Change Maker of Angels for Change. “This bipartisan legislation will strengthen transparency and coordination across the entire drug supply chain, helping to detect and prevent disruptions before they impact care. Building the reliable supply chain patients deserve will require collaboration across government and industry. We applaud Representatives Matsui and Crenshaw for their leadership in prioritizing the safeguarding of Essential Medicines that will benefit all US patients.”  

Full text of the bill is available HERE. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

Washington, D.C. – The Co-Chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force Reps. Doris Matsui (CA), Don Beyer (VA), and Maxine Dexter (OR) sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum in response to DOI’s Regulatory Reform Request for Information (RFI) published on May 20, which aims to undermine public land management on behalf of polluting industries.

“In carrying out its duties, the Department is guided by multiple statutes and a well-developed suite of regulations promulgated over many decades. While we can appreciate the goal of establishing a more efficient regulatory program at DOI and agree wholeheartedly with the importance of effective stewardship of our public lands and resources, it appears the true intent of the RFI is the ‘deconstruction of the overbearing and burdensome administrative state.’ This goal is contrary to existing law, Congressional intent, and the continued exercise of the DOI’s many responsibilities,” the Task Force wrote.

“Existing regulations protect human health and the environment from harmful practices and polluting from bad actors. Eliminating them means that companies could fail to clean up oil spills in waterways that are sources of drinking water, neglect to install equipment that prevents air pollution, and destroy the scenic landscapes where we hike, fish, and play. Our children deserve to inherit a safe and habitable planet where they can breathe clean air and drink clean water.”

Read the full letter here.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted against H.R. 1, a budget reconciliation bill authored by United States House and Senate Republicans that will gut billions of dollars from healthcare, food, and other programs as well as add trillions of dollars to the federal budget deficit to pay for tax breaks that overwhelmingly benefit billionaires.

“I opposed this bill in May when it was first debated by the U.S. House of Representatives and now it comes back to us from the U.S. Senate in even worse shape. The bill explodes the federal budget deficit and will lead to more uninsured Americans as well as the closure of hospitals, especially in rural and underserved areas in Middle and Southwest Georgia and across the country,” said Congressman Bishop. “The bill attacks Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. It makes it harder for the most vulnerable to put food on the table. We need to fight fraud, waste, and abuse – not use those words as political cover for billionaire tax giveaways and ballooning the country’s budget deficit.”

H.R. 1 was initially considered in the U.S. House of Representatives and approved on May 22, despite bipartisan opposition to the bill. Congressman Bishop voted against the bill at that time. It was then sent to the U.S. Senate where many of the House bill’s provisions were found to violate Senate rules.

The Senate-amended version of the bill kicks 17 million people off their health care and causes premiums, deductibles, and copays to soar for millions more. Among the health care provisions in H.R. 1:

• It cuts more than $1 trillion from health care, including the largest Medicaid cut ever.
• It will cause a $500 billion cut to Medicare.
• It will make healthcare more expensive and less affordable for people not on Medicare and Medicaid due to greater distances and increased strain on the healthcare system due to hospital closures, staff reductions, loss of services, and increased reliance on emergency rooms for basic healthcare.

H.R. 1 also cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by 20 percent. It forces states to cover more of SNAP’s cost, which likely will lead to dozens of states eliminating SNAP entirely. New red tape requirements will cause 5 million people to lose food assistance and put tens of millions of kids at risk of losing school breakfast and lunch. This bill also provides unnecessary exceptions for Alaska, which places additional, disproportionate burdens on states like Georgia.

H.R. 1 makes devastating cuts to energy programs that will reduce American energy independence and innovation, cause families to pay an average of $400 more per year nationwide, and puts seniors and low-income people at risk of losing assistance to pay their energy bills.

Additionally, these cuts threaten more than 840,000 energy sector jobs in just the next five years and an additional 790,000 jobs over the next 10 years, including jobs lost in the electric vehicle industry which Georgia Democrats and Republicans have fought to create and make the state an industry leader.

Finally, H.R. 1 adds $4 trillion to the national debt to support tax breaks for the wealthiest 1%. The poorest 20% of American families, however, will see their taxes increase over the lifespan of the bill while their healthcare, food, and energy costs rise.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) condemned U.S. House Republicans for jamming through the Big, Ugly Bill to meet an arbitrary deadline. Due to the $1 trillion cuts to Medicaid, 17 million Americans will lose their healthcare, including nearly half a million in Illinois and almost 40,000 in the Second District.

“House Republicans did the unconscionable: they passed the Big, Ugly Bill that would steal people’s healthcare, rob food out of children’s mouths, cut clean energy jobs, and flood our streets with dangerous weapons like gun silencers. After one call from President Trump, so-called hardline conservatives folded like cowards, voting to raise the deficit by $3.4 trillion. While House Republicans bent the knee to President Trump, every House Democrat stood up for the American people to vote no in one resounding voice.

“If people do not have healthcare, they will die. That’s not hyperbolic – that’s fact. The Big, Ugly Bill rips healthcare away from 17 million people and closes hospitals, all the while exacerbating public health crises like maternal mortality and gun violence. President Trump promised not to touch Medicaid – but he lied, and House Republicans were complicit in his scam. Shame on House Republicans, and shame on President Trump for betraying the American people.”