MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Stevens: “Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has turned his back on science, on public health, and on the American people – spreading conspiracies and lies, driving up costs, and putting lives at risk” 

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens formally introduced Articles of Impeachment against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), citing his dangerous actions that have endangered public health and gutted lifesaving medical research.

“Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has turned his back on science, on public health, and on the American people – spreading conspiracies and lies, driving up costs, and putting lives at risk,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “Under his watch, families are less safe and less healthy, people are paying more for care, lifesaving research has been gutted, and vaccines have been restricted. He has driven up health care costs while tearing down the scientific institutions that keep Michiganders and families across America safe. His actions are reckless, his leadership is harmful, and his tenure has become a direct threat to our nation’s health and security. Congress cannot and will not stand by while one man dismantles decades of medical progress.”

Rep. Stevens’ impeachment effort is supported by Stand Up for Science, an organization dedicated to defending and advancing America’s scientific ecosystem.

“RFK Jr.’s actions are negligent and will result in harm and loss of life. He must be impeached and removed,” said Colette Delawalla, Founder and CEO of Stand Up for Science. “As a scientist and a mother, I am not willing to go back to a time before robust public health interventions. For the first time in human history, we progressed from 30% of babies not making it to adulthood to over 98% surviving to adulthood because of modern medicine and vaccines. Eliminating effective public health interventions with proven track records and dismantling evidence-based science is not the way to promote health and reduce chronic illness. Stand Up For Science is ready to hold Secretary Kennedy accountable.”

Rep. Stevens, who previously called on Secretary Kennedy to resign, introduced legislation to restore his cancer research cuts, and announced she was drafting articles of impeachment in September, said his repeated abuses of power, disregard for science, and pattern of misinformation have left Congress with no choice but to act. Rep. Stevens’ articles formally impeach Secretary Kennedy for “abuse of authority and undermining of the public health.”

Rep. Stevens’ impeachment articles specifically point to: 

• RFK Jr.’s abdication of duty by cutting funding for lifesaving research, including:
• RFK Jr. severely restricting access to vaccines, spreading absurd conspiracies, and putting lives in danger:
• RFK Jr.’s failure to carry out his statutory duties in administering the FDA and CDC:
  • He fired every member of the CDC’s vaccine expert panel.
  • He has politicized the FDA by calling it a “sock puppet” agency, and oversaw a staffing shortage that has limited the agency’s ability to fulfill its public duties.
  • He suggested eliminating entire FDA departments.
  • He ended public comment for HHS rulemaking, severely limiting the ability for health experts to be involved in HHS policy development, which was widely opposed by major public health advocates and supporters of government transparency. 

The full text of Rep. Stevens’ impeachment articles can be read HERE.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Trump Cuts to Continuum of Care Programs, Section 8 Housing Could Leave Hundreds of Thousands Unhoused, Exacerbate Homelessness

Roundtable | Photos

BOSTON – Yesterday, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance of the House Financial Services Committee (FSC), convened advocates and community partners to sound the alarm on the housing crisis created by Donald Trump and his harmful cuts to Continuum of Care programs and Section 8 housing. These cuts would jeopardize housing stability and critical services for vulnerable individuals and families, and significant delays in the distribution of Section 8 funding has already resulted in uncertainty and hardship for recipients and service providers across the Commonwealth.

Rep. Pressley recently joined her colleagues in demanding the Department of Housing and Urban Development avoid such a detrimental funding gap for Continuum of Care programs, which help many grantees in Boston with life-saving housing assistance, and renewed her calls at a House Financial Services Committee last week.

“Housing is not just a roof over your head—it is dignity, humanity, and security,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “Our federal government has long divested and underinvested in affordable housing, systemically putting housing out of reach for far too many and disproportionately for marginalized communities. Today, with the cost of housing skyrocketing, Donald Trump’s cruel and harmful cuts to essential housing assistance programs like Continuum of Care and Section 8 are exacerbating this housing crisis and could leave more of our most vulnerable families unhoused. We must fight back and affirm safe, affordable, and accessible housing as the fundamental human right that it is.”

Joining Congresswoman Pressley at the convening were: State Senator Lydia Edwards; Anna Rouseau, MetroHousing; Caitlin Golden, Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA); Diane Cohen, Somerville Housing Authority; Lyndia Downie, Pine Street Inn; Gretchen Van Ness, LGBTQ Senior Housing, Inc; and Emily Levine, 2Life.

“American communities shouldn’t have to beg the Trump administration for Congressionally-approved funding they’ve already competed for and won. These abrupt changes do nothing to make housing more affordable and will instead hurt families, veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors of domestic violence who are stably housed thanks to these programs,” said Senator Warren. “I’m with the City of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and other affected communities in fighting back against these illegal funding cuts.”

“The cuts made by the Department of Housing and Urban Development are detrimental to a significant program that keeps people experiencing homelessness safe,” said Senator Lydia Edwards, State Senator for the Third Suffolk District. “These cuts ignore decades of evidence and threaten to destabilize more than 170,000 people nationwide. Massachusetts has fought hard to reduce homelessness, and these changes move us in the wrong direction. I want to thank the advocates, electeds and organizations who joined us today to remind us why funding for the Continuum of Care program is so vital, and I join my colleagues in urging HUD to immediately reconsider.” 

“HUD changes to the Continuum of care program will undo decades of progress in reducing homelessness. By limiting the use of funds for the proven Housing First approach, these changes will force thousands of disabled individuals back onto the streets. While overall funding remains unchanged, the new spending rules, which drastically reduce the funding for permanent housing, will ultimately raise costs by people using more expensive emergency services (shelters, hospitals, jails, and police interactions). And the human cost will increase because it will exacerbate human suffering and shattered lives.” – Rev. Anne M. Rousseau, CFO, Metro Housing Boston

“HUD’s changes to the Continuum of Care program create serious uncertainty for the providers and residents who rely on these critical resources every day. For years, this funding has supported proven approaches that help over 2,000 veterans, seniors, families, and people with disabilities access stable housing in Boston. The new requirements and altered funding structure place that stability at risk and could set back progress Boston has made in preventing homelessness. We are deeply concerned about the impact these shifts may have on our partners’ ability to deliver critical services.” – Daniel Lesser, Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office of Housing at the City of Boston

“Rep. Ayanna Pressley has been a housing champion for many years, and I’m honored to join her at today’s housing roundtable discussion on recent HUD funding cuts impacting the Contiuum of Care and delays in Section 8 funding,” said Diane Cohen, Executive Director for the Somerville Housing Authority in Massachusetts. “As our communities face growing homelessness and housing affordability crises, we need a full toolbox of adequately funded solutions to help families find and keep homes. I join Rep. Pressley in calling for full renewal of all existing Continuum of Care grants, which will help keep nearly 170,000 formerly unhoused people nationwide in their homes. We also need to fully fund the Housing Choice Voucher program – including doubling the Housing Assistance Payment set-aside to account for skyrocketing rents, and continuing to fund the Emergency Housing Voucher accounts, which help the most at-risk families and individuals. These programs are not just numbers on a spreadsheet – they improve lives. Nearly three thousand families served by the Somerville Housing Authority have homes because of these programs, and over thirteen hundred private landlords and community organizations depend on timely payments to continue serving their communities. Affordable housing provides shelter and serves as a vital economic engine in our community, and we must recommit to the programs that help make it possible.”

“The Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA) is grateful for Congresswoman Pressley’s leadership. Right now, nearly 4,000 households statewide – individuals and families with disabilities – are in danger of losing their housing due to a dramatic policy change from the federal government. Thank you to Congresswoman Pressley for bringing together stakeholders to stand up for our communities and protect what we know works: housing solutions to homelessness.” – Caitlin Golden, Chief Policy & Strategy Officer, Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA)

“HUD funding has made the stability and safety of a home a reality for thousands of people in Massachusetts,” said Lyndia Downie, president and executive director of Pine Street Inn. “We are grateful for this support for housing people who have struggled with homelessness for many years. We appreciate the work of Congresswoman Pressley and the Massachusetts delegation for their help in ensuring that housing with support remains a priority for HUD.”

Footage of the roundtable discussion is available here. For photos from the event, click here.

As a Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance of the House Financial Services Committee (FSC), Rep. Pressley has consistently advocated for policies that affirm housing as a human right and center the dignity and humanity of all people.

• In December 2025, Rep. Pressley underscored the need to support grandfamily and kinship households, which are vital to preventing homelessness and keeping families and communities whole.
• In November 2025, on National Housing Day, Rep. Pressley introduced the Appraisal Modernization Act, legislation to promote equity and combat systemic bias in the home appraisal process that has disadvantaged many current and aspiring homeowners—especially homeowners of color.
• In October 2025, Rep. Pressley introduced the Innovation Fund Act to establish a program to reward communities that are taking innovative steps to increase housing supply.
• In May 2025, Rep, Pressley, along with Representatives Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Greg Casar (TX-35), reintroduced the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, legislation to protect the power of tenants, including those with federal vouchers, to organize.
• In June 2024, Rep. Pressley, along with Representatives Maxine Waters (CA-43) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), re-introduced the Tenant Empowerment Act, bold legislation to strengthen HUD tenant protections and provide renters with the tools necessary to improve the quality of their homes.
• In March 2024, Rep. Pressley, along with Mayor Wu, visited Roxbury to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal funding she secured to provide emergency childcare support for families experiencing homelessness in the City of Boston.
• In March 2024, Rep. Pressley, along with Senators Warren and Markey, applauded the final passage of $850,000 in federal community project funding for The Pryde, an affordable housing development for LGBTQ+ seniors in Hyde Park.
• In March 2024, Rep. Pressley urged Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to cut interest rates to boost home affordability and construction of affordable housing.
• In January 2024, Rep. Pressley, during a House Financial Services Committee Hearing, highlighted the growing housing crisis and how appraisal bias and discriminatory tenant screening practices exacerbate the racial wealth and homeownership gaps, especially for Black communities.
• In January 2024, Rep. Pressley celebrated the $2.4 million in federal funding she secured to support the community-led transformation of the Clarendon Hill housing community, an ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse neighborhood in Somerville.
• In December 2023, Rep. Pressley requested the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide data on housing needs for Medicaid beneficiaries and feedback on challenges the agency is having in covering housing support for people requiring home and community-based services (HCBS).
• In July 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), reintroduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act, critical legislation to provide much-needed assistance to those facing eviction amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 
• In June 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib introduced the Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Reentry and Stable Tenancy (Housing FIRST) Act, bold legislation to help people who are formerly incarcerated and those with criminal histories access safe and stable housing.
• In September 2021, Rep. Pressley joined Rep. Bush and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021 to enact an urgently needed nationwide eviction moratorium. 
• On July 2021, ahead of the expiration of the previous CDC eviction moratorium, Reps. Pressley, Bush, Gomez and their progressive colleagues sent a letter renewing their calls for President Biden and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to extend the federal eviction moratorium and prevent the historic and deadly wave of evictions that would occur if the government failed to do so. 
• On July 30, 2021, Rep. Pressley joined House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) in introducing the Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021, legislation to extend the eviction moratorium through the end of the year. 
• In June 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Reps. Gomez and Bush, led over 40 of their colleagues on a letter urging President Biden and CDC Director Walensky to extend and strengthen the moratorium for the duration of the public health crisis. 
• In June 2021, Congresswoman Pressley, along with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), re-introduced the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
• On May 18, 2021, Reps. Bush and Pressley sent a letter to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calling on the CDC to strengthen and extend the federal moratorium on evictions, ensuring families can remain safely in their homes for the duration of the COVID-19 global health emergency.
• On July 28, 2020, Rep. Pressley, Rep. DeLauro and Sen. Harris introduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act to provide much-needed, layered assistance to those facing eviction amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
• On July 24, 2020, in a Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed the unprecedented financial cliff facing millions of renters and homeowners, the economic consequences of millions losing their homes, including the ability to return to work, and why funding for legal representation is so critical.
• On May 11, 2020, Reps. Tlaib, and Joe Neguse (D-CO) urge House and Senate leadership to include $11.5 billion in funding for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) in the next relief package to aid the nation’s homeless population who are experiencing heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• On April 10, 2020, Rep. Pressley urged Congressional leadership to prioritize recurring monthly cash payments to those most at-risk during the COVID-19 crisis. This funding would allow people to cover all their bills, including rent.
• On April 17, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and colleagues introduce the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

• On March 23, 2020, Reps. Pressley and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced the Public Health Emergency Shelter Act of 2020, legislation to provide critical funding to states and local governments responding to the needs of families and individuals experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. This legislation was included and passed through the HEROES Act and H.R. 7301, the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020.
• On March 19, 2020, Rep. Pressley, along with progressive lawmakers and organizations, introduced the Housing is a Human Right Act to authorize more than $200 billion in federal spending over 10 years for crucial housing infrastructure and reduce homelessness.
• On March 18, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Katie Porter (D-CA) and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote to HUD calling for a moratorium on evicting renters during the coronavirus pandemic.
• In July 2019, Rep. Pressley announced legislation that would prohibit the use of biometric recognition technology in most public and assisted housing units funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), protecting tenants from biased surveillance technology. 
• In November 2019, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Tlaib wrote to HUD blasting the agency for ignoring low-income tenants seeking to save their homes.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

Congressman French Hill said, “People with disabilities deserve a fair shot at meaningful work, but the current SSDI system makes it harder for them to find a job. The HIRE Act gives employers an incentive to hire SSDI beneficiaries and provides those who want to work with the opportunity to enter the workforce. Our bill is a commonsense and practical solution that will help employers hire qualified workers and help people build purpose, community, and economic independence.”

Congressman Mike Carey said, “Earlier this year, I joined my Ways and Means colleagues in a hearing to understand the benefits of employment for individuals with disabilities and explore how we can make it easier for them to find employment. Today, I’m proud to join this bipartisan legislation that helps offer career paths for individuals with disabilities and supports the employers that make it possible.”

Congresswoman Sharice Davids said, “All Kansans deserve the chance to build a stable, fulfilling life, including folks with disabilities. This bipartisan effort helps open more doors to meaningful employment and strengthens our workforce and communities in the process.”

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell said, “Individuals with disabilities deserve equal access to opportunity in every area of life, especially in job and career opportunities. Expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include SSDI recipients will help strengthen our workforce and enable more Americans with disabilities to pursue meaningful employment.”

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis said, “I join my colleagues in introducing the Helping Individuals Rejoin Employment (HIRE) Act. Our bipartisan legislation will extend the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for five years to help individuals, including veterans and individuals with disabilities, rejoin the workforce. This program incentivizes businesses to hire individuals who have consistently faced barriers to employment. Since 2021, this program has assisted over 100,000 individuals in New York, per year, in rejoining the workforce.” 

SourceAmerica supports the HIRE Act, writing, “This bill will ensure the availability of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Passage of the HIRE Act will incentivize businesses and nonprofit employers to hire more people with disabilities, including veterans, who continue to be an underutilized part of the American workforce.”

Jim Allsup, CEO of Allsup Employment Services, said, “When the Ticket to Work Program was created to help SSDI beneficiaries return to work and move toward financial independence, one critical element was overlooked—engaging employers. The HIRE Act helps close that gap by bringing businesses into the process and encouraging them to hire former workers seeking a path back to self-sufficiency.”

Background

The Helping Individuals Rejoin Employment (HIRE) Act supports individuals with disabilities who want to work by adding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients to the list of eligible targeted groups that qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).

WOTC is an existing federal tax credit available to employers who hire American job seekers who have consistently faced barriers to employment, if the individual is in a WOTC-targeted group. These targeted groups already include:

• Veterans
• Formerly incarcerated individuals
• Those experiencing long-term unemployment
• Supplemental Security Income recipients

With WOTC currently set to expire on January 1, 2026, this legislation would extend the program for five years and add SSDI beneficiaries to the list of eligible groups.

The HIRE Act incentivizes employers to hire WOTC-eligible workers by subsidizing a portion of an eligible employee’s wages during the first year of work.

This helps offset perceived risks associated with hiring workers who may need additional support or who have been out of the labor market for long periods, which is common among SSDI beneficiaries.

In turn, Americans with disabilities gain more opportunities to work, receive support to succeed, and are afforded the chance to build fuller, more secure lives.

For more details on the benefits of the HIRE Act, click HERE. Or you can read the bill’s full text HERE. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Thomas Massie (4th District of Kentucky)

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Washington, D.C.– Today, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced HR 6508, the NATO Act, to remove the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

“NATO is a Cold War relic. We should withdraw from NATO and use that money to defend our own country, not socialist countries,” said Rep. Thomas Massie. “NATO was created to counter the Soviet Union, which collapsed over thirty years ago. Since then, U.S. participation has cost taxpayers trillions of dollars and continues to risk U.S. involvement in foreign wars. Our Constitution did not authorize permanent foreign entanglements, something our Founding Fathers explicitly warned us against. America should not be the world’s security blanket—especially when wealthy countries refuse to pay for their own defense.”

The NATO Act:

– Requires the President to formally notify NATO of U.S. withdrawal under Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

– Concludes that NATO’s original Cold War purpose no longer aligns with current U.S. national security interests.

– Finds that European NATO members have adequate economic and military capacity to provide for their own defense. 

– Prevents use of U.S. taxpayer funds for NATO’s common budgets, including its civil budget, military budget, and the Security Investment Program.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced companion legislation, S.2174, in the United States Senate.

The text of the NATO Act is available at this link.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) to reintroduce the bipartisan, bicameral Partnering Aspiring Teachers with High-Need Schools (PATHS) to Tutor Act. This bill would increase access to one-on-one and small group tutoring for students in underserved communities and expand opportunities for future teachers by placing teacher-candidates in tutoring roles. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.

“A good education is the key to future opportunity, and it’s important the next generation can accomplish their goals,” Congressman Valadao,  “The PATHS to Tutor Act is a bipartisan, bicameral fix that tackles both challenges at once—making sure our students get the support they need, while giving future teachers real experience in the classroom to help them prepare for their career in education.” 

“We need to make it easier, not harder, for qualified future teachers to start their professional careers and help more students get the targeted help they need,” said Congresswoman Lee. “The PATHS to Tutor Act is a win-win for our education system — strengthening opportunities for future teachers and supporting all students, regardless of their needs or what zip code they live in.” 

“Sadly, far too many students in Texas do not receive the educational tools they need to succeed,” said Senator Cornyn. “The PATHS to Tutor Act will expand access to small group tutoring in high-need areas while simultaneously reducing economic burdens on our teachers by allowing this tutoring to count toward national service and their TEACH grant service requirement. Texas students deserve every resource we can give them to achieve on a level playing field, and this legislation will give them just that.”

“Across New Jersey and the nation, far too many students in underserved communities are falling behind academically because they lack access to meaningful support,” said Senator Booker. “The PATHS to Tutor Act expands access to high-quality one-on-one and small-group tutoring while strengthening the teacher preparation pipeline by engaging nearly 600,000 aspiring teachers nationwide. This bipartisan legislation narrows the educational opportunity gap and provides both students and future educators with the tools needed for success.”

“The bipartisan PATHS to Tutor Act gives local leaders the tools they need to expand evidence-based tutoring that boosts student learning while preparing the next generation of teachers. It’s a common-sense step that puts students first, supports teachers, and helps every community chart a path toward better outcomes,” said Valerie Sakimura, Executive Director, Deans for Impact (DFI).

“The PATHS to Tutor Act recognizes what we see every day: when aspiring teachers are given real opportunities to serve students, they discover their purpose—and communities thrive. This legislation not only delivers the high-quality tutoring our young people deserve, it helps build a well-prepared educator workforce rooted in service and commitment. It’s a powerful investment in our students, our schools, and the future we want to create together,” said Kathlene Campbell, CEO, National Center for Teacher Residencies.

“The PATHS to Tutor Act is an evidence-based investment in both students and the teaching workforce. By connecting tutoring to educator preparation, it strengthens learning recovery and the teacher pipeline — helping every child receive the support they deserve. AACTE proudly supports this effort because it elevates the essential role of teacher candidates as both learners and leaders in ensuring every child has access to high-quality, individualized instruction,” said Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D., President and CEO, AACTE.

“The PATHS to Tutor Act bipartisan introduction today by Senator Booker and Senator Cornyn, Representative Lee, and Representative Valadao is a critical investment in our students’ success and in America’s communities. High-impact tutoring does more than just accelerate academic outcomes; it builds the meaningful connections with caring adults that students need to feel seen and valued. This relational approach is one of our most effective strategies for combating chronic absenteeism and ensuring every learner has the consistent support system necessary to flourish both academically and socially,” said Erin Mote, CEO, InnovateEDU.

Supporting organizations include: Deans for Impact (DFI), National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR), American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE), Teach Plus, National Center for Grow Your Own (NCGYO), TNTP, Communities in Schools, Education Trust, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA), National Rural Education Association (NREA), National Association of Schools Boards of Education (NASBE), National Rural Education Advocacy Consortium (NREAC), New Leaders, Teach for America, Teaching Matters, Committee for Children, CASEL, National Black Child Development Institute, Consortium on Reaching Excellence in Education, NIET, InnovateEDU, Saga, Alliance for Catholic Education, New Jersey Tutoring Corps, Virginia Learns, EduTutorVA, Clark County School District, and the North Carolina Education Corps.

The PATHS to Tutor Act:

• Places teacher-candidates into tutoring roles, strengthening the pipeline of future teachers while ensuring students in underserved communities receive targeted academic support.
• Expands access to high-quality tutoring through a $500 million competitive grant program disbursed by local partnerships of educator-preparation programs, K-12 schools, and community organizations.
• Reduces the economic burden on aspiring teachers by allowing successful completion of a tutoring placement to qualify for national service educational awards granted by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

Background:

More than 600,000 individuals are enrolled in teacher-preparation programs nationwide—an untapped resource that can provide students with critical academic and social-emotional support. By engaging these future educators in high-impact tutoring, we can help students get back on track while also strengthening the pipeline of qualified teachers prepared to lead classrooms in the years ahead.

Read the full text of the bill here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, where he reiterated that Democrats are committed to lowering the high cost of living across the country, starting with protecting Americans’ healthcare by extending the ACA tax credits.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump had the unmitigated gall yesterday to rate the economy an A+ five times over. Working class Americans, everyday Americans, hardworking American taxpayers are struggling in the Trump economy to live paycheck to paycheck. Can’t thrive, can barely survive. Cost of living is completely and totally out of control. Donald Trump and Republicans have done nothing to lower the high cost of living. Costs haven’t gone down, costs are going up. Housing costs, out of control. Electricity costs, out of control. Child care costs, out of control. Grocery costs, out of control. And healthcare costs, out of control. And about to get worse. Because Donald Trump and Republicans refuse to do anything to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. The Trump-Republican economy is not an A+. Everyday Americans are not confused about that. And if there’s any debate as to the success or failure of this economy related to how it may be graded, the only question is whether the American people would give it a D for disaster or an F for failure. That’s it. Nothing else.

Now, House Democrats are going to continue to focus on driving down the high cost of living, fixing our broken healthcare system and actually making life better for the American people. And we can start by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Time has run out. Democrats have been pressing our Republican colleagues for months to deal with the healthcare crisis that they have created. And in a matter of just a few weeks, tens of millions of Americans who live in every single state across this country are about to experience dramatically-increased healthcare costs. In some instances, premiums are going to increase by a thousand or two thousand dollars per month. How is that acceptable in the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world? That because of congressional inaction, people are going to go bankrupt medically, or will be unable to see a doctor when they need one, when their families need one or when their children need one.

House Democrats are going to continue to press our case. 214 Democrats. Every single House Democrat supports legislation to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits and has signed a discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote. All we need are four House Republicans. Just four. There are 219. All we need are four to join us. Keep your word to the American people that you are not gonna let the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire.

Full press conference can be watched here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, where he emphasized that while Donald Trump and Republicans are fighting each other and driving up costs, Democrats are fighting to lower the high cost of living, fix our broken healthcare system and clean up corruption.

LEADER JEFFRIES: House Republicans went on an eight-week, taxpayer-funded vacation while shutting the government down and hurting the American people. During that taxpayer-funded vacation, House Republicans didn’t do a single thing to make life better for the American people. We’ve been back now in session legislatively for two weeks, and yet they still have not produced a bill to drive down the high cost of living, to address the Republican healthcare crisis or to make life better for everyday Americans. It’s clear to us that House Republicans have no intention to do anything other than continue to drive down right-wing extremism through the throats of the American people. House Republicans promised, along with Donald Trump, that they were going to lower costs on day one. Costs aren’t going down in the United States of America. Costs are going up. Housing costs through the roof. Electricity bills through the roof. Grocery costs through the roof.

And now, as a result of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of people are on the verge of experiencing dramatically-increased healthcare costs that will either push them into medical bankruptcy or prevent them from being able to go see a doctor when they need one. And yet, we still see nothing from the Republican Party as it relates to addressing the healthcare crisis that they’ve created because they’re too busy fighting each other and spending time trying to find different ways to reward their billionaire donors. The American people deserve better. You deserve better. And House Democrats are going to continue to fight to lower the high cost of living, to fix our broken healthcare system and to clean up corruption so we can deliver a country that actually works for working class Americans.

Full press conference can be watched here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Congressman Baird Statement on Trump Administration’s Farmer Bridge Assistance Program