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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) voted against House Republicans’ ‘One Big Ugly Bill’ (H.R. 1).  The legislation includes drastic cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), College Education, Grants and Loans, Veterans Benefits and other programs essential for Mississippians to enjoy a basic quality of life. 

Congressman Thompson releases the following statement:

“From the beginning of my public service, I’ve made one thing clear:  My vote will never hurt people who struggle to make ends meet through no fault of their own.  Additionally, as the richest country in the world, we should not penalize people who have not had the same benefits as others by passing legislation targeted at them.  Donald Trump makes no bones about his dislike for people who don’t travel in his circle.

“The Republican bill cuts Medicaid, slashes SNAP, and forces working families to pay more so the wealthy can get another tax break.  This bill takes food out of children’s mouths, strips health care from our seniors, and puts college further out of reach for young people just trying to get ahead.

“For my district, this means closed hospitals, nursing homes, families struggling to afford groceries, and educational opportunities deferred.  Republicans priorities are very simple: tax cuts for wealthy and nothing for the people who make this country work.

“The people of Mississippi, and this country deserve better.  I will keep fighting to stop the cruelty pushed by Trump and House Republicans, and I will continue working for a government that delivers for working folks.”

WHAT THIS BILL MEANS FOR MISSISSIPPI:

Food Assistance on the Chopping Block

In Mississippi’s Second Congressional District, 139,000 people are at risk of losing some or all of their SNAP benefits.  This bill includes the largest proposed cuts to food assistance in our nation’s history, putting countless families at risk of going hungry.

Health Care Coverage Slashed
The bill cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act.  Over 153,000 Mississippians would lose health care coverage, including seniors, people with disabilities, and working families.

Rural Hospitals in Danger
Across the country, 300 rural hospitals could be forced to close.  In Mississippi, 8 hospitals are at risk of shutting down, including 4 in the Second Congressional District.  These closures would leave many families without access to basic medical care.

Higher Education Out of Reach
The bill eliminates Grad PLUS loans and reduces Pell Grant support.  More than 50,000 students in Mississippi could lose their Pell Grants, including over 20,000 students in the Second District.  That means higher costs and fewer opportunities for those trying to earn a college degree.

Jobs Lost and Bills Raised
Mississippi could lose 22,000 manufacturing and energy jobs under this proposal.  On top of that, families would face an average increase of $540 per year on their energy bills.  Meanwhile, millionaires would receive an average of $80,000 each year in new tax breaks.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)

BOLTON, MS – Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) is pleased to announce that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Tougaloo College a grant totaling $2,245,846.00 for the project titled “Implementation Project: Strengthening the STEM Pathway through a Holistic Multi-layer Approach.” The award, under the direction of Dr. Manliang Feng, will begin on August 1, 2025.

This funding will support a comprehensive institutional effort aimed at increasing the number of students earning undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while also building research capacity in STEM education.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sam Graves (6th District of Missouri)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) released the following statement after voting for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:

“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers historic tax relief for families, seniors and American workers. It cuts wasteful spending, secures the border, and unleashes American energy, while ensuring we have a strong military. As Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m proud that we were able to include major investments in the U.S. Coast Guard to strengthen our border and national security. It will also jumpstart the process of modernizing our nation’s aging air traffic control system and hiring more air traffic controllers to keep the flying public safe. This bill makes good on President Trump’s America First agenda and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lloyd Smucker (PA-16)

WASHINGTON — Reps. Lloyd Smucker and Vern Buchanan, Chair of the Health Subcommittee on Ways and Means, announced that he introduced the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act alongside Dwight Evans (D-Pa.). Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. This bipartisan legislation would enable hospitals to extend successful “Hospital at Home” programs for an additional five years. 

In November 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver to provide hospitals with increased flexibility to care for certain patients from the comfort and convenience of their homes, rather than in a hospital setting. According to the American Hospital Association, this model has been proven to “reduce costs, improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience.” 

“Innovative care models, like delivering acute care through Hospital at Home, provide patients high-quality care at lower costs. Extending this commonsense policy is a clear win for both patients and taxpayers. Hospital systems across my district have successfully used Hospital at Home to care for patients safely and effectively. Congress should come together again to extend these provisions and give more patients the flexibility to receive acute care and recover comfortably in their own homes,” said Rep. Smucker. 

“Our nation is getting sicker and sicker, but programs like ‘Hospital at Home’ allow us to treat patients more efficiently while delivering high-quality care at a lower cost,” said Buchanan. “Home health services are especially crucial for the nearly 200,000 seniors in my district. The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act would ensure that more than 200 hospitals across 34 states, including 23 in Florida, can continue participating in this program and provide quality care to those in need. We must ensure this life-changing model remains available for years to come.” 

A recent report from CMS shows that allowing patients to be treated in a more familiar environment and routine accelerates recovery time, lowers the mortality rate and reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections and falls. This legislation would extend the current hospital-at-home waiver program through 2030, allowing hospitals to continue participating and providing quality care to patients. 

The legislation also requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CMS to conduct a comprehensive study comparing home-based care and inpatient care across several key criteria, including care quality, rates of infection, hospital readmission and levels of satisfaction among patients and their caregivers. Based on the findings of this evaluation, CMS would then be directed to issue formal health and safety regulations to govern the program moving forward. 

“The American healthcare system must evolve to meet the needs of the patients in the 21st century,” said Senator Scott. “Hospital-at-home care provides better outcomes for patients while reducing costs. This legislation ensures that successful programs like this can continue to serve families across South Carolina and the nation.” 

“This legislation is about protecting access to quality health care, lowering costs for patients, and improving the health and well-being of our family and neighbors,” said Senator Warnock. “I will always work to lower costs and increase health care access for Georgians, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort.” 

“The Hospital at Home program has been working for patients of Redeemer Health in the Philadelphia area, and for patients of other health systems across the country. I’m happy to partner with my Ways and Means Committee colleague to continue, improve and expand this program that helps a lot of people,” said Rep. Evans. 

The legislation is supported by the American Hospital Association. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lloyd Smucker (PA-16)

WASHINGTON—Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) voted in favor of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It was approved for final passage in the House by a vote of 218to 214. 

Rep. Smucker released the following statement after voting in favor of the legislation: 

“Congressional Republicans, working with President Trump, have delivered on our promise to extend tax relief for hardworking families and small businesses. The One Big Beautiful Bill puts more money back in families’ pockets, provides tax certainty for small businesses, secures our border, unleashes America’s energy potential, and strengthens our national security — all while producing the greatest savings of any reconciliation legislation in our nation’s history.

This legislation marks real progress in slowing the growth of Washington’s spending and enacts the pro-growth policies needed to create new opportunities and lay the foundation for a stronger economy. By tapping into the promise of greater economic growth, we can strengthen America’s financial future and make it easier for families to plan and build a better life. I remain committed to changing America’s fiscal trajectory so future generations can thrive.”

Background on the One Big Beautiful Bill 

Working Families Receive Permanent Tax Relief, courtesy of the Committee on Ways and Means 

• Makes permanent the lower tax rates and brackets for working families, preventing a tax increase that would have occurred at the end of the year.
• Average family of four in Pennsylvania will see take-home pay increase between $7,700 and $13,100, according to the Council of Economic Advisers.
• No tax on tips, overtime pay, car loan interest, and tax relief for seniors will put more money in Americans’ pockets each year.
• Locks in and further boosts the doubled Child Tax Credit to $2,200 for more than 40 million American families.
• Locks in and further boosts the doubled Standard Deduction, increasing it to $31,500 for families.
• Supports working families and small businesses by expanding access to the child care credit and making permanent the paid leave tax credit. Enhances the Adoption tax credit and indexes it for inflation to help more families experience the joy of adoption and grows the child and dependent care credit as well as Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Puts American families in control of their health care by expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). 

The legislation contains provisions authored by Rep. Smucker, including: 

• Permanent Tax Relief and Certainty for Small Businesses: Provides permanency to the small business tax deduction, known as Section 199A of the tax code. Smucker’s Main Street Tax Certainty Act has broad support among stakeholders in PA-11 and across the nation.
   
• Expanded Support for Individuals with Disabilities Using ABLE Accounts: Smucker’s bipartisan ENABLE Act will allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save and invest in tax-advantaged accounts without jeopardizing their eligibility for essential federal support programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. 
   
• Improved Access to Primary Care: The Ways and Means Committee’s proposals include Smucker’s Primary Care Enhancement Act, which would clarify provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to remove barriers for individuals with HSAs from using those funds to access Direct Primary Care, a health care delivery model which provides high-quality care at lower cost for individuals of all ages and incomes across America.

Additional background on key policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill: 

Securing our Border

• Makes significant investments in personnel, resources, and technology to maintain operational control of the border and enforce America’s immigration laws, building on President Trump’s administration’s immediate work to make America safer.

Unleashing American Energy Dominance 

• Acts to ramp up American energy production including by cutting bureaucracy and streamlining permitting processes.
• Ends wasteful spending and ineffective energy programs including those in the “Green New Deal.” 

Achieving Peace Through Strength 

• Invests in America’s arsenal to ensure our selfless servicemen and women continue to be the best equipped fighting force in the world ready to respond to any threat, including targeted investments in improving servicemember quality of life programs.
• Expands naval capabilities, restocks American munitions, supports soldier readiness.
• Defends America through the creation of a Golden Dome missile defense system and continued funding of nuclear deterrence programs. 

Preserving And Protecting Critical Safety Net Programs and Encouraging Personal Accountability

• Preserves critical programs like Medicaid for those truly in need.
• Roots out waste, fraud, and abuse of federal safety net programs to ensure they remain accessible to those in need.
• Asks able-bodied adults without dependents to work, volunteer, pursue education, or attend job training for 20 hours per week to remain eligible.
• Ensures states cannot support illegal immigrants through Medicaid.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lloyd Smucker (PA-16)

WASHINGTON–Reps. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) and Don Davis (NC-01) have introduced the Medicare Patient Choice Act. The legislation evens the playing field for health care providers by correcting a technicality of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which allowed only certain specified health care providers to opt out of the Medicare program. Physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors were excluded from the flexibility to opt out. 

Currently, thousands of providers operate cash-based practices that focus on prevention, wellness, and individualized care—services often outside Medicare’s traditional reimbursement model. When patients at these practices turn 65, those relationships are disrupted. Providers are forced to turn away their patients for covered services, even if the patient is willing and able to pay out-of-pocket. 

“Patients should be in control of their health care, not bureaucrats in Washington. The Medicare Patient Choice Act promotes fair treatment for all types of health care providers. This bill gives flexibility for providers to run their practices as they choose and will ensure patients can continue to access the care of their choice when they enroll in Medicare,” said Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11). 

“Patients and their families, especially in our rural communities, deserve the freedom to choose their healthcare provider, regardless of what services they need,” said Congressman Don Davis. “By creating a level playing field for all medical providers, we will reduce wait times and ensure everyone can make the decisions that are best suited for them.”

Reps. Smucker and Davis’ legislation enjoys broad support among local and national stakeholders. 

“I am excited for Representative Smucker’s willingness to help seniors have access to physical therapy services via the Medicare Patient Choice Act. It should always be a patient’s choice where they receive their physical therapy and this will allow them to stay with a trusted provider regardless of their Medicare enrollment,” said Brian Hartz, President and CEO of HARTZ Physical Therapy in Lititz, PA. 

“At the heart of this legislation is a simple but powerful principle, patients’ freedom to choose who provides their care.  Seniors shouldn’t lose access to the therapist they trust just because they’ve enrolled in Medicare. This bill ensures that continuity of care and patient preference remain central to our healthcare system” says APTA Private Practice President Mike Horsfield. 

“Medicare patients deserve a choice when it comes to how they receive physical therapy services, and physical therapists need the flexibility to meet the needs of the patients they serve,” said APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD. “APTA is grateful to Rep. Smucker for his leadership in sponsoring the Medicare Choice Act, which will provide delivery of care options both for patients and PTs.”

“The American Chiropractic Association believes that all Medicare providers should be able to perform to the fullest extent of their licensure and education and that beneficiaries should have the right to choose their service provider in a system that is fair and balanced across the board.”

“AMAC Action is proud to support the Medicare Patient Choice Act. By allowing physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors to legally opt out of Medicare while still treating beneficiaries on a private-pay basis, this bill empowers seniors to maintain long-standing relationships with the providers they trust. For too long, outdated regulations have forced seniors to abandon those relationships or navigate an inflexible system. This legislation fixes that by offering more choice, more flexibility, and more respect for seniors’ right to direct their own care.”

“The American Occupational Therapy Association welcomes the introduction of the Medicare Patient Choice Act. This legislation takes a significant step forward in strengthening autonomy for beneficiaries, occupational therapy practitioners (OTP), and other key healthcare professionals. By modernizing the outdated Medicare policy that currently does not allow OTPs, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors to opt-out of Medicare, this bill supports more flexible, innovative care models that better reflect the evolving needs of Medicare beneficiaries” says Katie Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of the American Occupational Therapy Association

“The Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) commends Representative Smucker for his leadership in advancing the Medicare Patient Choice Act,” said Stephanie Czuhajewski, MPH, CAE, ADA’s executive director. “We urge Congress to pass this important legislation to deliver greater choice and flexibility for Medicare beneficiaries, to support the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care, and to create a cost savings for the Medicare system.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

Bill contains McCaul’s provision to reimburse border states for costs incurred under the Biden administration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — and Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.) introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Russia’s abduction and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children and calling for their return before a peace agreement is finalized.  

“Since the beginning of Putin’s war of aggression, Russia has abducted at least 19,500 Ukrainian children from their homeland — with some estimates putting the true number as high as 200,000,” said Chair Emeritus McCaul. “These children have been stripped of their national identity, adopted into Russian families, or indoctrinated as soldiers for the Kremlin. As a father, I can’t imagine the pain their families have experienced. Russia’s mass-scale child abduction is nothing short of evil; the United States must demonstrate moral leadership by demanding every child be returned to his or her family in Ukraine before true peace can be achieved.”

“Putin is a war criminal and, under his watch, the Russian military has cruelly abducted and illegally deported tens of thousands of Ukrainian children from their homeland. These atrocities are not isolated incidents; they are the direct result of Putin’s war of choice. The United States has a responsibility to condemn these unconscionable acts by Russia and to demand the immediate return of each and every one of the children Russia has taken,” said Ranking Member Meeks.

Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the resolution in the Senate.

Background:

Ukrainian authorities have received at least 19,546 confirmed reports of unlawful deportations and forced transfers of Ukrainian children to Russia, Belarus, or Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. The abductions aim to erase the children’s Ukrainian names, language, and identity. As of April 16, Ukraine and its partners have only managed to return 1,274 abducted children.

The State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report found Russia recruits or uses child soldiers, has a state-sponsored policy or pattern of human trafficking and is among the worst hubs for human trafficking in the world.

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security Committees — joined Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face The Nation” to discuss the latest on Iran, the One Big Beautiful Bill, and President Trump’s efforts to secure our border.

Click to watch

Excerpts from the interview:

On his support for the One Big Beautiful Bill: 

“What I’m voting for is a border security measure, $80 billion, [including] $12 billion to reimburse states like mine. I’m voting for $150 billion that will go to our Department of Defense — at a time when what we saw with Iran [this] is desperately needed. The world is on fire: Eastern Europe and Indo-Pacific. Then the tax cuts. I mean, if we don’t extend these tax cuts, it’ll be the largest tax increase in American history. For those three reasons, I’m a yes.”

On the significance of President Trump’s limited strike in Iran:

“The world in the Middle East is safer today than it was seven days ago, a week ago. That is highlighted by the fact that the proxies didn’t light up — Russia didn’t come to their aid, [and] China basically ran back for cover. Iran is on its own and psychologically is very damaged. The deterrence is real. The damage was real. This was a masterful military operation, the likes of which I haven’t seen since my father’s war, World War II.”

On President Trump’s border security efforts:

“… [F]ifteen to 20 million people came in under the Biden administration, and [the Trump administration is] trying to get some sanity involved in the United States. I think deterrence is the key here. And Margaret, it is working. You know, the apprehension rate at the border — and Texas is the biggest one — has gone down to almost zero. I mean, the border is just about secure. Catch-and-release is over, and the threats are going away.”

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