MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) voted ‘no’ on the Republican “budget for billionaires” that would gut health care for children, seniors and people with disabilities – all for $7 trillion in giveaways to GOP billionaire donors. The Republican scheme to make the richest Americans richer will explode the deficit by heaping trillions of dollars of debt on children and middle-class families.

“Republicans in Congress are intent on saddling middle-class Americans with higher costs and more debt, so their billionaire donors can buy another vacation home or private jet,” said Rep. Castor. “In the Tampa Bay area, the GOP budget would gut Medicaid health care for over 682,000 neighbors, raise health care premiums by $430 on average per year, slash food assistance for 481,000, and jeopardize Pell grants for over 78,000 students.”

The vast majority of health care cuts will be fought out in Castor’s Energy and Commerce Committee, where she will defend her neighbors, their health care, and their wallets. In Castor’s district alone, 148,000 are covered through the Affordable Care Act and are protected from discrimination for preexisting conditions. Under the GOP budget, the average premium would increase by $430 per year on average- a stunning 65% increase.

In addition to deeply harmful health care cuts, the Republican plan threatens nutrition assistance for 179,000 people in FL-14 by slashing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) at a time when families are struggling with high grocery prices and rebuilding their lives after the devastating hurricanes.

Rep. Castor is committed to fighting back against this reckless Billionaires’ Budget and standing up for Florida families.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

The bill helps more children join permanent, loving families by removing income as a barrier to adoption.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement after voting against House Republicans’ extreme budget resolution that will strip access to Medicaid and food assistance while giving tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy:

“Today, I once again voted against Republicans’ outrageous budget resolution that will threaten Medicaid access for nearly two million New Jerseyans — including one in three New Jersey children — eliminate critical food assistance as the price of groceries rise, and strip funding from New Jersey’s public schools.

“At the same time, this budget adds trillions to our national debt by giving massive tax breaks to billionaires like Trump and Musk — paid for by hardworking New Jersey taxpayers. This disastrous bill is neither government efficiency nor fiscal responsibility.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), issued the following statement after meeting with recently released hostages and family members of current hostages:

“As co-chairs of the bipartisan Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus, we met with American Keith Siegel–who after an agonizing 15 months of brutal Hamas captivity–was finally reunited in February with his wife, Aviva, who was also held hostage for more than 50 days. Having met with Aviva several times, we are deeply relieved that she and Keith are finally reunited.

“We also heard from other recently released hostages and their loved ones, including Iair Horn, a dual Argentine-Israeli who was taken from his home on October 7 alongside his brother Eitan, who remains in captivity; Liran Berman, the older brother of Ziv and Gali Berman––27-year-old twins kidnapped from their home by Hamas; and Ilay David, the brother of 24-year-old Evyatar David, who was abducted by Hamas while attending the Supernova Music Festival.

“Our hearts break for the victims of October 7. The firsthand accounts of the horrific conditions endured––including mental torture and sexual and physical violence––are deeply disturbing. No human being should ever suffer such cruelty. We assured them that their loved ones are not forgotten.

“It has now been one year and six months since Hamas terrorists launched the deadliest attack in Israel’s 76-year history, massacring over 1,200 innocent men, women, and children, and kidnapping more than 250 hostages. Today, 59 hostages, including Americans, remain in Hamas captivity.

 “Congress must remain united in unwavering, bipartisan support and solidarity with our ally, Israel, and we must continue efforts to secure the immediate release of the remaining hostages. We will never forget the lives lost, the pain endured, or the families still waiting to be reunited. And we will not stop working for the safe release of all the hostages, and for their captors to be held accountable.”

In addition to the co-chairs of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, the following officials and individuals were present in solidarity during the meeting:

• Alejandro Oxenford, Ambassador of Argentina to the United States
• Dina Siegel Vann, Director of the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs, American Jewish Committee

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), chaired an oversight hearing for the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations on assessing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Key Highlights

“Unfortunately, under the Biden Administration, the PEPFAR program was not immune from the misguided campaign to push controversial ideologies using U.S. taxpayer dollars. I warned in every hearing, markup, and engagement that using funds to promote radical agendas will cost support for programs that I—and many other Republicans—have historically supported. But even more egregious, under the Biden Administration’s watch, the PEPFAR program violated the Helms Amendment and used taxpayer funds to pay for abortions, for the very first time, as far as we know.”

“I was outraged and heartbroken to learn of this shocking betrayal—funds provided to save lives were instead used to end lives. This was despite my efforts as Chairman to push for more training and oversight with respect to enforcement of long-standing provisions in law to protect life.”

“The incoming Trump Administration announced a review of all foreign assistance programs on day one. Let me be clear—given the circumstances and the gross mismanagement of the Biden Administration, a review is necessary. I fully support this Administration doing a thorough scrub of PEPFAR programs. Frankly, it was sorely needed to ensure that bipartisan support can continue.”

“As this committee begins the important work of crafting the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill, this hearing will play an important role in shaping the recommendations ahead of us. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about the successes, challenges, and opportunities as we think about the future of the PEPFAR program.”

“It is my assessment that PEPFAR has, and if implemented correctly, will continue to, make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

Click here to read Chairman Díaz-Balart’s remarks, and the hearing can be watched below.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representatives James P. McGovern (MA-02) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) reintroduced a House resolution urging the United States to return to the negotiating table on nuclear disarmament and to lead a global effort to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons. The resolution, H. Res. 317, reaffirms the United States’ moral and strategic obligation to prevent nuclear war and calls on the United States to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons as a national security imperative.

“Nuclear weapons do not make us safer—they put the entire planet at risk,” said Congressman McGovern. “We are closer to nuclear catastrophe today than at any point since the Cold War. We need bold action to stop a new arms race before it’s too late. This resolution is a call for courage, diplomacy, and common sense.”

“As a Japanese American, my heritage is deeply tied to the devastating impact of nuclear weapons and the atrocities of war. This resolution is about our moral imperative to achieve nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. It is not only a call for peace, but a commitment to ensuring that such tragedies are never repeated. This resolution represents a vital step toward a safer, more just world,” said Congresswoman Tokuda.

The resolution urges the United States to:

• Engage in good-faith negotiations with all nuclear-armed states to halt the buildup of nuclear arsenals and pursue verifiable, time-bound reductions;
• Conclude new arms control agreements with Russia and engage China on nuclear risk reduction;
• Renounce the option of using nuclear weapons first;
• End the Cold War-era “hair trigger alert” posture;
• Rein in the production of new nuclear warheads and delivery systems;
• Preserve the moratorium on nuclear testing;
• Protect radiation-impacted communities and workers through full remediation, compensation, and expanded health care, including an expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA); and
• Plan a just economic transition for workers and communities dependent on the nuclear weapons industry.

The renewed push comes amid growing concerns over a global nuclear arms race, the collapse of key arms control treaties, and rising tensions between major powers. Since the United States and Russia withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, many fear that hard-won progress on arms control is unraveling. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the United States is projected to spend over $750 billion on nuclear weapons over the next decade—diverting critical resources away from health care, education, climate resilience, and more pressing national security needs. The resolution has received massive public support from across the country.

“At a time of increased tensions around the world, we cannot risk letting nuclear threats increase. That is why Council for a Livable World supports Congressman McGovern’s H. Res. 317 to lower nuclear risks and promote diplomacy to work toward a world free from nuclear threats. We urge Members to support this legislation and all efforts to reduce nuclear tensions in favor of foreign and national security that will address the issues we face rather than bring us to the precipice of confrontation and waste billions of taxpayer dollars in the process,” said John Tierney, Executive Director of the Council for a Livable World.

“Through the years, Americans have successfully pressed our leaders to pursue nuclear arms control in order to reduce the nuclear threat. But now, eighty years after the first use of nuclear weapons, the danger of nuclear war and nuclear arms racing is on the rise once again. This timely resolution outlines a practical plan for action to restore U.S. leadership to lead the world back from the nuclear brink and build a safer world for our children and generations to come,” said Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association.

“The McGovern-Tokuda resolution is more than a statement—it’s a detailed, actionable roadmap to nuclear disarmament. It provides a clear strategy for reducing nuclear risks, ending outdated policies, championing justice for impacted communities, and advancing a future free from the threat of nuclear war,” said Denise Duffield, Co-Manager of the Back from the Brink Coalition

“I fully support House Resolution 317. From the beginning of the first arms race, the U.S. and Russia rejected minimal deterrence in favor of nuclear war fighting capabilities even though there are no winners in a nuclear war. Now that we are in a second arms race, the two nuclear superpowers should demonstrate global leadership by honoring the disarmament obligations they promised to in the 1970 Nonproliferation Treaty. H. Res. 317is an important step in that direction. I strongly urge the New Mexican congressional delegation to support it as well,” said the Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe.

“The United Methodist Church has long called for the abolition of nuclear weapons. The existence of nuclear weapons is antithetical to our faith, which calls on us to practice responsible stewardship. This resolution is a moral imperative, urging us to prioritize peace and the well-being of our communities over weapons of war,” said Bishop Julius Trimble, General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church.

“Nuclear weapons are one of the greatest risks humanity faces. They endanger every person’s health, every nation’s security, and the very survival of our planet. As an organization of healthcare professionals, we know there is no cure for the devastation caused by these weapons. That’s why Physicians for Social Responsibility supports this resolution that seeks to prevent nuclear war and abolish nuclear weapons,” said Brian Campbell, PhD, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility

A full list of supportive statements is available here

“Either we end nuclear weapons—or they will end us,” McGovern added. “This is not just a policy debate. It’s a question of existence.”

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 10, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on the passing of the Republican-led SAVE Act:

“I am disturbed that Republicans are bending the knee to Donald Trump by passing this extreme anti-voting bill that disenfranchises voters and will collectively cost Americans billions. Every time we get to the finish line, Republicans move the line even further to support their agenda. Now, a driver’s license or a state-issued identification card isn’t enough. Republicans want voters to present a passport, birth certificate, and military service papers just to vote. This draconian legislation targets election officials, married women, students, military voters, and rural, minority, and low-income voters – putting them at risk of not being able to exercise their civic duty due to the unnecessary cost and requirements this bill will inflict on voters. I am appalled at their obsessive attempt to impede on citizen’s voting rights – disenfranchising and excluding millions of Americans under the guise of preventing non-citizens from voting. 

“I’m calling this sham for what it is. This is modern-day Jim Crow and voter suppression. Trump and spineless Congressional Republicans want to take us back.”

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

Headline: Newhouse Statement on Passage of House Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on passage of the House budget resolution to unlock the reconciliation process in Congress. 

“Passing the budget resolution unlocks the next step in the reconciliation process allowing Congress to reduce federal spending, lower inflation, and advance a conservative agenda to get our country back on track. It will be no easy task, but Republicans must stay unified to deliver for the American people.” 

The legislation passed the House with a vote of 216-214.  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax and John Larson (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Social Security Subcommittee, reintroduced the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act. This bipartisan legislation creates a new tax incentive to build and preserve more than 500,000 affordable, single-family homes for homeownership over ten years in under-resourced communities.

“The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act will allow homeowners and developers to not only affordably restore beautiful homes, but also to build and create more affordable housing in communities that need it the most. For the families whose dreams of homeownership feel unattainable, this bill could make those dreams closer to reality,” said Rep. Kelly. “I am proud to join my colleagues in leading the bipartisan Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which will create stronger homes, stronger families, and stronger neighborhoods.”

“I am proud to join my colleague, Rep. Mike Kelly, to introduce a bipartisan solution to bring down costs and increase the supply of affordable housing,” said Rep. Larson. “The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act will tackle our housing crisis by incentivizing the construction of new homes and the revitalization of vacant homes in need of repair. We will continue to work together to spur the development of good, quality housing in the Northeast and across the country, and make homeownership a reality for more of our nation’s families.”

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act gained strong backing in the 118th Congress, with 111 House cosponsors, including 17 members of the House Ways & Means Committee. The Senate version of the bill had 16 cosponsors last Congress, and a companion Senate bill is anticipated to be reintroduced later this month by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Mark Warner (D-VA).

House original co-sponsors include Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Carol Miller (R-WV), Mike Carey (R-OH), David Kustoff (R-TN), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).

BACKGROUND

Under this legislation:

• Tax credits would be awarded to project sponsors through statewide competitions administered by state housing finance agencies.
• Sponsors, which could include developers, lenders, or local governments, would use the credits to raise capital for their projects, and investors would claim the credits against their federal income taxes.
• The credits can only be claimed for homes developed or rehabilitated in eligible low-income
  communities, and only after the homes are sold and occupied by lower or middle-income families.

The Neighborhood Homes Coalition estimates that the legislation would support a substantial economic impact over the next 10 years. The 500,000 homes that would be developed or rehabbed would:

• Spur $125 billion in total development activity.
• Support 861,000 jobs in construction and construction-related industries.
• Create $56 billion in wages and salaries.
• Produce $26 billion in federal and $12 billion in state and local tax revenues and fees.

You can read the full bill text here.