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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a bill to prohibit permanent fencing from being installed on the grounds of the Supreme Court. Temporary anti-climb fencing was installed in May of 2022 when the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked and remained in place for approximately four months.

“Public property should be open to the public,” Norton said. “The distance between government and the people has grown, with trust in government, including the Supreme Court, low. We should not entrench that distance further by placing intimidating barriers between ourselves as public servants and the people we serve. Permanent fencing would send an un-American message to the nation and the world by transforming our democracy from one that is accessible and of the people to one that is exclusive and fearful of its own citizens. There are more effective, less obtrusive security solutions than archaic fencing. Moreover, the Supreme Court is in a residential neighborhood, and its grounds are widely used by both D.C. residents and visitors.

“While I am not aware of any plans to install permanent fencing at the Supreme Court, temporary security measures often become permanent, and this bill will signal congressional opposition to any such effort.”

Norton has previously also introduced a bill to prohibit the installation of permanent fencing at the U.S. Capitol complex.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the No Fencing at the United States Supreme Court Act

May 26, 2026

Today, I introduce the No Fencing at the United States Supreme Court Act, which would prohibit the installation of permanent fencing at the U.S. Supreme Court.  Since 2021, I have also introduced a bill that would prohibit the installation of permanent fencing at the U.S. Capitol complex. 

After the Supreme Court’s draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was leaked in May 2022, the Supreme Court installed temporary anti-climb fencing around its grounds, which remained in place until late August 2022.  While the Supreme Court has not announced plans to install permanent fencing, temporary security measures often become permanent.

While I understand the importance of protecting the Supreme Court building, Supreme Court Justices and Supreme Court employees, we can and must maintain our commitment to security without sacrificing public access by using the least restrictive means necessary to address security. 

Permanent fencing would send an un-American message to the nation and the world by transforming our democracy from one that is accessible and of the people to one that is exclusive and fearful of its own citizens.  The Supreme Court has long welcomed First Amendment demonstrations without becoming a fortress. 

Public property should be open to the public. The distance between government and the people has grown, with trust in government, including the Supreme Court, at an all-time low.  We should not increase that distance by placing intimidating barriers between public servants and the people they serve.  There are more effective, less obtrusive security solutions than archaic fencing. 

Moreover, the Supreme Court is in a residential neighborhood in the District of Columbia.  The Supreme Court grounds are widely used by both D.C. residents and visitors.  Permanent fencing would block that use. 

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Nick Langworthy (NY-23) lead a letter with 34 bipartisan House members to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging him to strengthen NIH’s policy for determining eligibility to receive federal funding related to acquiring animals for NIH-supported research. This letter was prompted by the case of Ridglan Farms, a commercial beagle breeding facility in Wisconsin that was cited by the state for hundreds of counts of animal welfare violations in September 2025 and subsequently agreed to surrender its state commercial breeding license. Despite this, Ridglan continues to hold a USDA Class A license, which, under current NIH policy, is the sole factor used to determine a facility’s eligibility to supply animals in NIH-funded research.

“We write to express our concerns regarding current policy at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that may unintentionally allow for federal funding to continue to benefit facilities that are engaging in the mistreatment of animals,” the Members wrote. “Building upon work to reduce and ultimately eliminate unnecessary animal testing within federally funded research, including launching a Food and Drug Administration roadmap to phase down mandatory animal testing in April 2025, we urge you to take immediate action to update current policy regarding the use and acquisition of dogs in NIH-supported research.” 

“As you are aware, Ridglan Farms is a large-scale beagle breeding facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, which continues to hold a USDA Class A breeding license despite extensive evidence of animal welfare violations,” the Members continued. “There may be an opportunity to further strengthen NIH’s current policy for determining a facility’s eligibility to benefit from NIH-supported research, particularly by considering additional factors beyond whether a facility holds a USDA Class A license. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) holds the authority to review and update this internal policy and should consider additional factors, including whether a facility has received state-level animal welfare citations or surrendered an equivalent state-level license.”

“As you know, current NIH policy regarding the use and acquisition of dogs in NIH-supported research was last updated in 2013, when the agency ended the practice of using “random-source” dogs in federally funded research,” the Members go on to say. “Since then, researchers have largely turned to USDA Class A dealers, which are larger, commercial animal breeding operations, when determining eligibility for federally funded animal research. Officials at the NIH have indicated that the Class A license is the sole factor taken into account when making such determinations. Considering additional animal welfare information identified through state enforcement actions may help ensure federally funded research continues to meet the highest ethical standards.”

“HHS should consider additional steps to ensure that a USDA Class A license is not the only factor taken into account when determining whether a breeding facility is eligible to receive NIH funding or provide animals to NIH-supported research projects. As the Ridglan Farms case has demonstrated, reviewing these policies may help ensure federally funded research continues to meet the highest ethical and animal welfare standards,” the Members concluded.

A digital copy of the letter can befound here.

The full list of signers includes: Reps. Pocan, Langworthy, Beyer, Troy Carter, Casten, Deluzio, DeSaulnier, Doggett, Escobar, Fitzpatrick, Hayes, Hoyer, Huffman, Jayapal, Hank Johnson, Kennedy, Khanna, Krishnamoorthi, Malliotakis, McCollum, McGovern, Gwen Moore, Norton, Quigley, Ramirez, Ross, Salinas, Schakowsky, Titus, Tlaib, Tokuda, Wasserman Schultz, and Watson Coleman

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

Washington, D.C. — Last week, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse passed his bipartisan proposal to improve America’s recycling and composting infrastructure through the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The legislation will identify national composting infrastructure challenges and improve recycling data measurement and reporting—enhancing systems that enable the country to reduce waste and support communities.

Rep. Neguse’s Recycling and Composting Accountability Act was incorporated as part of Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-01) Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act during an Environment Subcommittee markup last week, and passed the full Energy and Commerce Committee today.

The bill now advances to the full House of Representatives.

“To build a sustainable future, we must create systems that encourage recycling and waste reduction, and ensure our communities have the resources to reach those goals,” said Congressman Neguse. “I’m incredibly proud to see the Energy and Commerce Committee advance our bill to address gaps in recycling and composting infrastructure to the House Floor for final consideration. This proposal establishes a comprehensive baseline of recycling and composting data, and helps lay the foundation for a healthier environment and a better planet for everyone.”

The legislation to improve the nation’s recycling infrastructure is also included in the Senate’s STEWARD Act, which passed that chamber in December 2025. 

Statements of support and additional information on the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, can be found HERE.

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

Today, U.S. Representatives James P. McGovern (MA-02) and Michael McCaul (TX-10) introduced legislation to strengthen the United States’s commitment to the aspirations of the Tibetan people for human rights and dignity. The ‘‘Assuring the Future of Tibet Act of 2026” would empower the U.S. government to continue its engagement with the Central Tibetan Administration after the 14^th Dalai Lama has passed.

“Congress has a long-standing abiding interest in resolving the dispute between Tibet and China,” said Congressman McGovern. “Sadly, the Dalai Lama won’t be with us forever. We must ensure that the U.S. government has the authority and the tools to continue its advocacy for the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people. Essential to this effort, we must support the Central Tibetan Administration as the legitimate, democratically elected representative of the Tibetan people. 

“Decades after the Dalai Lama and his people fled the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution on a perilous journey to India, the CCP continues to threaten Tibetans’ faith and freedom,” said Congressman McCaul. “As I promised his Holiness when I visited Dharamshala, the United States will always with stand Tibetans in their pursuit of self-determination. I’m proud to support this important bill to permanently cement our commitment to the Tibetan people and guarantee unbreakable ties with their democratic leadership.”

The legislation:

• Makes it U.S. policy to maintain engagement with the Tibetan people directly and through their democratically elected leadership and religious and cultural leaders; 
• States that that the Central Tibetan Administration represents continuity of governance of the Tibetan people as established by the Dalai Lama;
• Supports the Tibetan people’s free exercise of their fundamental and universal human rights under international law, including the right to self-determination; and
• Affirms commitment to a resolution of the dispute between Tibet and China as a matter of strategic interest to the United States.

To carry out its objectives, the legislation directs the U.S. government to:

• Advocate for the Central Tibetan Administration to be given observer status within the United Nations system and in relevant international bodies and groupings;

• Grant officials of the Central Tibetan Administration with appropriate senior levels of engagement and diplomatic courtesies by the U.S. government, possibly to include the extension of diplomatic security and privileges and immunities.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following statement in recognition of National Public Works Week 2026, honoring the public works professionals whose service supports daily life, safety, and community access in American Samoa and across the nation:

“National Public Works Week gives us an opportunity to recognize the men and women whose work is woven into daily life. Their service is seen in the roads our families travel, the drainage systems that help protect our villages during heavy rain, the public facilities our people use, and the repairs and maintenance that keep communities connected.

“In American Samoa, public works is a practical service to our people. Families depend on safe roads to get to school, work, church, medical care, and village events. Emergency responders depend on access when every minute matters. Schools, businesses, churches, and public services all rely on infrastructure that must be maintained, repaired, inspected, and improved over time.

“Much of this work is done before it is noticed, or when conditions are difficult. After heavy rain, flooding, storm impacts, road damage, or urgent repair needs, public works employees and infrastructure teams are often part of the response. Their work may include planning, engineering, equipment operation, road maintenance, drainage work, facility repairs, inspections, cleanup, and coordination with other public agencies.

“This year’s theme, ‘Rooted in Service, Powered by Community,’ is a fitting reminder that public works is local service. These men and women help protect access, safety, cleanliness, and quality of life for the people they serve.

“I thank our public works employees, road crews, equipment operators, engineers, maintenance workers, sanitation workers, inspectors, and all who contribute to this important work. Your service strengthens American Samoa in ways that are visible, necessary, and deeply appreciated. May God bless and protect you as you continue serving our communities.”

National Public Works Week was observed May 17–23, 2026. The annual recognition, organized by the American Public Works Association, honors public works professionals who help plan, build, operate, repair, and maintain infrastructure and public services that support transportation, sanitation, public safety, emergency readiness, and community life.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following statement in recognition of National EMS Week 2026, honoring Emergency Medical Services professionals in American Samoa and across the nation:

“Thank you to our Emergency Medical Services professionals, EMTs, paramedics, ambulance crews, dispatchers, firefighters, and first responders. When a medical emergency happens, you are often the first help to arrive and the first reassurance a family receives. Your work saves lives, brings comfort in difficult moments, and helps protect our villages and families.

“EMS Week is an opportunity to recognize the men and women who answer emergency calls, provide urgent care, stabilize patients, and help make sure people can reach the medical attention they need. In American Samoa, where distance, weather, roads, and limited resources can make emergency response especially challenging, your service is deeply important to our people.

“This year’s EMS Week theme, ‘Improving Outcomes, Together,’ reminds us that emergency medical care is a team effort. EMS professionals work closely with hospitals, health care workers, public safety officials, firefighters, law enforcement, families, and the wider community. I appreciate each person who plays a role in this lifesaving work.

“May God bless and guide our EMS professionals and all who serve on the front lines of emergency response. Thank you for your dedication, courage, and compassion.”

EMS Week is observed each year to recognize the vital role of Emergency Medical Services in responding to illness, injury, accidents, and other urgent situations. EMS professionals provide care before patients reach the hospital and are an essential part of public health, emergency management, and public safety.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting a $3,252,225 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the American Samoa Department of Health for continued health center services.

Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. 

The grant is awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Health Center Program. This funding supports health care services that local families rely on, including primary care, preventive care, and other community-based health services.

“Congratulations to  Dr. Saipale Fuimaono, Project Director Abigail Poyer, and everyone at the American Samoa Department of Health upon this important grant,” said Congresswoman Amata. “This funding helps support the front-line health services our people rely on, especially in a remote island community where access to care is so important. Our families need dependable health services close to home, and these federal resources help strengthen that care for our people. Thank you to HHS, HRSA, and all those locally who work to meet federal requirements and keep these important health resources flowing to American Samoa.”

The grant award is listed as a competing continuation for health services, with a grant budget period of June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027. The project is titled Pacific Basin, with the American Samoa Department of Health listed as the grantee.

Health centers play an important role in helping communities receive routine care, preventive services, and other basic health support. For American Samoa, where distance and limited access to specialized care can create additional challenges, continued support for local health services is especially important.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

“Reducing water pollution and other detrimental effects of toxic mining disposal is commonsense,” said Rep. Beyer. “The provisions included in my bill to safeguard our waters and lands from toxic waste are necessary to protect our critical and fragile ecosystems, as well as the health and livelihood of nearby citizens and communities who depend on clean water.”

“Congress acted in 1977 to eliminate the scourge of abandoned mines from coal communities. Now, nearly 50 years later, Congress needs to respond to the coal industry’s pattern of avoiding its reclamation responsibilities,” said Appalachian Voices Government Affairs Specialist Kevin Zedack. “Introducing these three bills is an important step to protect the health, safety and economies of coal communities across the country as the Trump administration attempts to artificially increase demand for coal.”

The CLEAN UP Mines Act would require timely reclamation by setting enforceable deadlines for reclamation milestones and improve inspections and monitoring protocols for surface water and ground water during mining and reclamation.

The CLEAN UP Mines Act is being introduced as a part of a larger package, including Congressman Chris DeLuzio’s Bond Improvement and Reclamation Assurance Act and Congresswoman Summer Lee’s Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act, to reclaim abandoned coal mines throughout the Appalachian region.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This month, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty successfully advocated for over $12 million in Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding requests to support critical infrastructure improvements, workforce development, public safety, scientific research, youth services, and community revitalization projects across Central Ohio.

“Strengthening Central Ohio is my daily commitment,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “Community Project Funding is a direct investment in my district. These projects will strengthen infrastructure, support cutting-edge research, enhance public safety, and improve the quality of life for hardworking families. Bringing more resources to Ohio is a fight I will always be in.” 

FY27 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Projects

• $2,250,000 for the Franklin Park Conservatory North Star Master Plan Phase 1 Infrastructure Project
• $1,000,000 for the City of Whitehall Sidewalk Connectivity Project
• $850,000 for the demolition of the former Downtown Jail Building at Front and Mound Streets
• $850,000 for the Whitehall Workforce Innovation Hub
• $550,000 for Transit Stop Infrastructure Improvements supporting Columbus City Schools access
• $500,000 for the City of Columbus Department of Public Safety Fire Engine Acquisition
• $500,000 for arterial street rehabilitation along East Broad Street from Outerbelt Street to Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road
• $500,000 for the City of Gahanna Creekside Plaza Renovation and Flood Mitigation Project
• $448,000 for Columbus State Community College Workforce Training Equipment Installation
• $250,000 for the Havens Corners Road and Waggoner Road Roundabout Project
• $250,000 for Morse Road Corridor Improvements between U.S. Route 62 and Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road

FY27 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Projects

• $746,868 for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund project for the City of Bexley

FY27 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Projects

• $772,000 for Ohio State University Biomechanical Skeletal Fatigue Research
• $772,000 for Ohio State University’s Ohio Statewide GPS-Alternative Infrastructure Research Initiative
• $772,000 for the Ohio Quantum Link Initiative (OQLI) at Ohio State University
• $772,000 for Law Enforcement Radio Communications Equipment
• $350,000 for the Huckleberry House Teen Crisis Program and Shelter
• $350,000 for the Youth Intervention in Central Ohio Initiative

These funding requests were submitted as part of the annual appropriations process for FY27. Two more requests under the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill are pending approval by the Appropriations Committee. All funding requests will be finalized and officially made available after the appropriations bills are passed by Congress and signed into law by the president.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced a resolution recognizing the 1885 Rock Springs Chinese Massacre, one of the deadliest acts of anti-Chinese violence in United States history. 

On September 2, 1885 in Rock Springs, Wyoming, a mob of more than 200 white miners and townspeople attacked Rock Springs’ Chinese community, murdering at least 28 Chinese miners and burning the town’s Chinatown to the ground. These Chinese immigrants were brought to the United States to work under harsh and exploitative conditions in Union Pacific Coal Company mines, where they were paid less than white workers, excluded from labor unions, and subjected to rampant anti-Chinese discrimination fueled by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the first federal law to ban immigration based on race and nationality.

“The Rock Springs Chinese Massacre is one of the most horrific and shameful acts of anti-Asian violence in our nation’s history,” said Rep. Chu. “Chinese immigrant workers helped build America’s railroads, mining industries, and critical infrastructure, yet they were exploited, dehumanized, and treated as scapegoats for America’s economic problems. In Rock Springs, an argument erupted into a violent massacre when white workers brutally beat, bludgeoned, and murdered dozens of Chinese workers simply because of their identity, destroying an entire community and forcing survivors to flee for their lives. None of the perpetrators were held accountable. In fact, many celebrated the violence. That is why I am proud to lead this resolution to preserve the truth of what happened in Rock Springs, honor the victims and survivors, and ensure future generations understand this painful chapter of our history so that hatred like this is never repeated.

The resolution also honors the contributions of Chinese immigrant laborers whose work helped build the United States despite enduring exploitation, discrimination, and violence. Additionally, the resolution condemns efforts to erase or distort the history of the massacre, supports educational efforts related to the Rock Springs Massacre and the broader history of anti-Asian discrimination in the United States, and recognizes Congress’s responsibility to confront and learn from this history.

“The Rock Springs Chinese Massacre of 1885 is one of the most violent and least acknowledged chapters in Asian American history,” said Huy Pham, Executive Director of Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation (APIAHiP). “APIAHiP commends Representative Chu for this resolution, which does not just memorialize the victims but calls for the documentation, interpretation, and preservation of the site itself. Recognizing what happened in Rock Springs is inseparable from preserving the places where it happened, and this resolution takes both seriously.” 

“This resolution is important at many levels. Two stand out: It demonstrates that our nation is strong enough to acknowledge wrongs and, at a second level, we understand that building our future together, we must know our history,” said Ted Gong, Founder and Board Chairman of the 1882 Foundation.

“This resolution recognizes the dark history of anti-Chinese sentiment in the U.S., which included discriminatory laws, expulsions, and racial violence,” said Laura W. Ng, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Grinnell College and Co-Principal Investigator of the Wyoming Chinatowns Archaeology Project. “Acknowledging instances of anti-Chinese violence across the United States such as the 1885 Rock Springs Chinese Massacre contributes to much-needed nationwide education on why a violent mob attacked the Chinese community in Rock Springs, and demonstrates the importance of archaeological research on the Rock Springs Chinatown.”

The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Meng, Khanna, Velázquez, Tlaib, Simon, and Holmes Norton.

The resolution is endorsed by Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation (APIAHiP), the 1882 Foundation, Stop AAPI Hate, and was worked on alongside Professors Laura Ng and Dudley Gardner from the Wyoming Chinatowns Archaeology Project.

The full text of the resolution is available here.