Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Dean of the New York Congressional Delegation, led a letter signed by members of New York’s delegation to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, requesting full funding of the $68.4 billion MTA Capital Plan for 2025–2029 as part of this year’s state budget.
The letter comes as the Trump Administration has moved to rescind federal approval of New York’s congestion pricing plan and has threatened to withhold critical transit funding, actions that could jeopardize vital infrastructure projects across the state.
In their letter, the Members wrote: “By ensuring that the MTA Capital Plan is adequately funded, we can fortify our transit infrastructure, shield New Yorkers from unpredictable actions from the Trump Administration, and make proactive investments to protect the region’s economy from future disruptions.
“The MTA’s Capital Plan is essential for maintaining a modern, resilient, and efficient transit system that meets the needs of all New Yorkers. With the potential loss of federal funding jeopardizing critical transit infrastructure projects, it is crucial that we secure full state funding to mitigate any budget shortfalls and safeguard the transformative improvements outlined in the Capital Plan. The consequences of deferred maintenance are already evident, as over 13,000 equipment failures result in delays annually.
“Fully funding the Capital Plan is not just about keeping trains and buses running. It is a crucial step in preserving our region’s economic stability and ensuring that public funds are spent wisely. The MTA service area is home to nearly 70% of all jobs in New York State, and the transit system plays a vital role in keeping the state’s economy moving. According to a recent report from the Partnership for New York City, the 2025–2029 Capital Plan is projected to generate $106 billion in economic output and more than 70,000 jobs statewide, including nearly 20,000 jobs outside of New York City,” the Members continued.
Representative Nadler was joined on the letter by Reps. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a series of actions at the White House to help the U.S. American coal industry. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee Chair and U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) attended the White House event. Following the event, Rep. Griffith issued the following statement:
“The ‘War on Coal’, launched by the Obama Administration and continued by the Biden Administration, destroyed American jobs and devastated communities whose lifelines depended on coal.
“It is clear that coal is not going away anytime soon. Not only does the United States have the resources to be a leading coal supplier. But we can also make use of coal in a manner which is cleaner than anywhere else in the world.
“I welcome President Trump’s actions to support American coal jobs, boost America’s energy independence and rein in harmful regulations.”
BACKGROUND
In the 118th Congress, Rep. Griffith chaired the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations.
The 119th Congress is Rep. Griffith’s first term as the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee Chair.
Rep. Griffith is Co-Chair of the Congressional Coal Caucus.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)
April 08, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and French Hill (R-Ark.) today introduced the Catch-Up Act to expand eligibility for individuals to make catch-up contributions to the Health Savings Accounts of their spouse.
Under current law, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are limited to the individual, their spouse, and their immediate family. While individuals are permitted to make catch-up contributions to their own respective HSA, married individuals younger than 55 years old are barred from making catch-up contributions to the HSA of their spouse. As a result, millions of Americans are denied the full benefits of investing in an HSA.
The Catch-Up Act will relax this rule to permit families to invest more of their savings into HSAs through catch-up contributions. By allowing all married individuals to make catch-up contributions to their spouse’s HSA, families will have more financial security and freedom to respond to medical costs.
“Health Savings Accounts have expanded access for millions of Americans to the quality healthcare their families deserve. However, existing laws have hamstrung the ability of families to respond to healthcare emergencies with pointless regulations blocking individuals from utilizing their HSA to cover a loved one’s medical expenses. It only makes sense for us to build upon the success of HSAs with a focus on family economics and freedom,” said Rep. Steube. “My bill with Congressman Hill will allow Americans to make catch-up contributions to their spouse’s HSA, ensuring financial security and better healthcare outcomes by expanding freedom.”
“Health savings accounts are a smart way for families to plan for medical expenses, but the current rules do not reflect how real families make decisions and manage daily life. Right now, spouses can use their HSA to pay for each other’s medical care, but they cannot make catch-up contributions to each other’s accounts. It is a ridiculous rule that needs to be changed,” said Rep. Hill. “We need to give Americans the flexibility to plan, save, and make health care decisions that work for their families. That is why I am glad to partner with Representative Steube on this commonsense fix that will make it easier for families to support each other and take control of both their health and their finances.”
Read the bill text here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
As part of National Food Waste Prevention Week, U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) relaunched the bipartisan Congressional Food Recovery Caucus, renewing efforts in Congress to combat food loss and waste nationwide. Originally co-founded by Pingree in 2018, the caucus aims to spotlight commonsense, bipartisan solutions to reduce waste across the food supply chain. The Food Recovery Caucus will continue to educate Members of Congress and staff, support federal efforts to reduce food loss and waste, and uplift successful initiatives from across the country that are rescuing surplus food and fighting hunger.
“Across the country, tens of millions of Americans face food insecurity—yet we’re throwing away perfectly edible food every day,” said Pingree.“Food waste is a moral, economic, and environmental crisis. I’m proud to relaunch the bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus with Congressman Newhouse to bring greater awareness to this issue and advance smart policies to reduce instances of food loss and waste.
“Food security is a real issue for millions of Americans, and the rate in which we waste food in the U.S. continues to climb,” said Newhouse. “I am proud to relaunch the Food Recovery Caucus alongside Rep. Pingree to tackle this issue in Congress and ensure those in need have access to the healthy food our farmers and ranchers work hard to deliver.”
“In the U.S., almost $400B worth of food goes uneaten every year, and reducing this waste has significant benefits for our communities, environment, and the economy,” said Pete Pearson, Steering Committee Member, Zero Food Waste Coalition. “Today’s relaunch of the Food Recovery Caucus demonstrates the strong potential for action on this bi-partisan issue.”
In 2018, Pingree launched Congress’s first-ever Bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus. The 2018 Farm Bill included Pingree’s provisions to create the first full-time food loss and waste liaison at USDA, a composting and food waste reduction pilot program, and the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to reduce on-farm waste.
Click here to learn more about Pingree’s efforts to reduce food waste.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Today, during a House Agriculture Committee hearing, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) called out the Trump Administration and their Republican allies for threatening to slash $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—which more than 40 million Americans rely on for monthly food assistance—in order to pay for a $4.5 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest Americans.
In her remarks, Pingree blasted the proposed plan, highlighting the devastating impact these cuts would have on Maine, where more than 174,000 people—including over 43,000 children—rely on the program each month.
“Look, I may be a Democrat, but in my state, making sure the kids get fed, making sure that our seniors have food, this is just common sense. About a third of the households in my state use SNAP dollars to feed children. There are over 174,000 Mainers who get help from SNAP. This is just to put food on the table. And I think we all know $6 a day per person isn’t much to feed your family,” Pingree said in her remarks. “… The reason we’re talking about the cuts, it’s not ‘fear mongering.’ It’s not ‘smack.’ It’s because in this reconciliation plan, which some of our Republican colleagues have been over in the White House talking about just as this hearing was going on, you can’t cut $230 billion from this committee without cutting some SNAP benefits. That’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re talking about this.”
A transcript of Pingree complete remarks is copied below.
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Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Thank you to you and the ranking member for hosting this hearing. Thank you to everyone on the panel. It’s possible I’m the last speaker. At least I’m close. And I know you’ve put in many hours, and I hope you know how much we appreciate the time that you’re spending with us.
Just to counter a little bit what my colleague from Wisconsin was saying, talking about this hearing as being ‘fear mongering’ and ‘talking smack.’ Look, I may be a Democrat, but in my state, making sure the kids get fed, making sure that our seniors have food, this is just common sense. About a third of the households in my state use SNAP dollars to feed children.
There are over 174,000 Mainers who get help from SNAP. This is just to put food on the table. And I think we all know $6 a day per person isn’t much to feed your family, $2 per person. I just want to say the reason we’re talking about the cuts, it’s not ‘fear mongering’. It’s not ‘smack.’ It’s because in this reconciliation plan, which some of our Republican colleagues have been over in the White House talking about just as this hearing was going on, you can’t cut $230 billion from this committee without cutting some SNAP benefits.
That’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re talking about this. We’ve been through a very long farm bill negotiation. I hope we’re able to bring that to a conclusion at some point. But we’ve been talking about cutting food through the healthy Thrifty Food plan. So we know this is about whether it’s, future opportunities to have enough money to pay for SNAP or current benefits.
This is on the table. It’s a current conversation. That is actually why we’re here. And so many of my colleagues say “waste, fraud and abuse.” “Get rid of the waste, fraud and abuse.” Well, I don’t know how many studies we’ve looked at, how many times we have looked at the waste, fraud and abuse. And we appreciate that that’s a very important thing to cut.
But I just want to talk about one of the things that gets covered as waste, fraud and abuse. This is a store in my district. We’ve gotten floods of calls from one part of my district, from constituents, about a little tiny grocery store at the risk of closing because USDA has revoked their SNAP license.
Now we know how difficult it is to find a grocery store, how many food deserts there are, how many food stores don’t have fresh fruits and vegetables. This store has been around for 33 years. It’s a pillar of the neighborhood. They made a mistake. They accidentally allowed a sale of tissues and dish soap, estimated around $10, which was ineligible for SNAP, as all of you would know.
So they received a $5,700 fine. A $5,700 fine. For a small business owner. They understood the consequences. They arranged a plan, but there was some confusion around the payment, the payment date, they were late on a payment. Their license has now been revoked. As a result, the store isn’t sure if it’s going to be able to remain open.
About a fourth of their sales, I think, are SNAP sales and it’s also a critical resource for those communities. So, I know that every source of waste, fraud and abuse isn’t exactly like this. But if we’re going to account for all of these in our total numbers, and we’re going to say that these small grocery stores, we should be putting them out of business? That’s just not reasonable.
Another big concern I have is that we’ve already cut our local food purchase agreements at our food banks. We’re making more cuts to the emergency food assistance, the TEFAP program, putting a strain on our feeding organizations. These are also cuts to farmers. Some of these were contracts with farmers to deliver food to our local food banks, to our school lunch programs.
And now we’re going to cut SNAP benefits? Those are more farmers. Our SNAP sales at farmers markets and farm stands in Maine is about 5 to $600,000 a year. Now, maybe if you’re from California, that doesn’t sound like much, but those are critically important programs for our farmers. We use the Nutrition Incentive program to provide Harvest Bucks. Wonderful way to get more healthy fruits and vegetables.
This increases SNAP total spending at our farmers markets to around $900,000 a year. Every dollar is important here. There are 50 Maine farmers in Maine that accept SNAP, so that continues to add more farms where people can get healthy fruits and vegetables. I’m worried about all these.
I won’t support any cuts in the reconciliation bill or our farm bill that takes away money from low-income households, and they’re not always what we would think of as low income. Many of these are two-earner families. People who go to work, go to work every day, but don’t have enough money to put on the table to make sure they can afford food, particularly with skyrocketing costs.
And now we’re talking about tariffs on our food. So I know I’m getting calls in my office from the people who are already worried about the cost of food, who are struggling at the grocery store and who are already saying, now you’re going to cut my SNAP benefits next? You know, where do I turn? How do I make ends meet?
So, I didn’t get a chance to ask you all a question, but I want you all to know I appreciate you very much. I know you put in a long day, as I said, you bring a lot of valuable information to all of us and provide an important discussion.
And with that, I yield back my time. And I thank the chair and the ranking member.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the Wilson Center, released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to abruptly fire more than 100 employees at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars—a critical foreign-policy think tank:
“The illegal closure of the Wilson Center is the latest public-private partnership to be dismantled by the Trump Administration. Congress created this institution to advance independent thinking and thoughtful debate. President Trump has shuttered a renowned center for scholarly research and a forum for understanding and exploring current public policy challenges. At a time when the President himself is focused on the national and international security implications of Greenland, the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute—the premier Arctic policy institution in the country—is more important than ever.
Unless this action is reversed, our country—and our policymakers—will lose a valuable resource that bridges the world of learning with the world of public affairs.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)
Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has advanced Congressman Bob Latta’s (R-OH5) ROUTERS Act and the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) Reauthorization Act, two bipartisan pieces of legislation that will safeguard and increase American taxpayer access to connectivity.
The ROUTERS ACT would safeguard Americans’ communications networks from foreign-adversary controlled technology, including routers, modems, or devices that combine both. This legislation was previously passed by the House of Representatives in the last Congress.
The NTIA Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the NTIA for the first time in 30 years and improve the management of spectrum as well as update the mission and functions of the agency. This legislation was previously passed by the House of Representatives in the last Congress.
“I’m pleased that the Energy and Commerce Committee has advanced my legislation to protect Americans from cyber threats posed by foreign-adversary controlled technology and to reauthorize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a crucial agency that ensures the security and advancement of the U.S. telecommunications infrastructure,” Latta said. “I urge my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to support both of these important, bipartisan pieces of legislation when they come to the floor for a vote.”
To read the bill text of the ROUTERS Act, click HERE.
To read the bill text of the NTIA Resolution Act, click HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) — a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax policy — released the following statement after the Trump administration’s Internal Revenue Service agreed to share taxpayer information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target immigrants.
“The IRS should never be weaponized to target immigrant families,” said Rep. Gomez. “This backdoor deal with ICE shatters decades of trust and may even violate federal law. Taxpayer data is protected for a reason—using it for immigration enforcement won’t secure the border, but it’ll open the door to government overreach and abuse. I’ll do everything I can in the Ways and Means Committee to stop this. No one should fear that filing their taxes puts their family at risk.”
Under current law, the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 6103) strictly protects the confidentiality of taxpayer information. Historically, the IRS has generally prohibited from sharing tax data with immigration authorities. Any unauthorized disclosure may be a felony offense.
As the son of immigrants, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) has been a strong advocate for immigrant families. He’s a proud supporter of the Dream and Promise Act of 2025, which would provide a clear path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients. He has called on the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately halt efforts to misuse confidential taxpayer data for immigration enforcement. He is also leading the effort demanding answers from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after the agency abruptly froze funding for the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program, jeopardizing critical services that help lawful permanent residents become U.S. citizens.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, secured full committee passage of the Youth Poisoning Protection Act, her bipartisan legislation to ban the consumer sale of products containing high concentrations of sodium nitrite, a meat-curing chemical that can be lethal when ingested. The legislation was introduced earlier this year alongside Congressmen Joe Neguse (CO-02) and Mike Carey (OH-15) as well as U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Curtis (R-UT), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH).
“I introduced the bipartisan Youth Poisoning Protection Act to address an alarming and growing public health crisis: the promotion and use of Sodium Nitrite, a dangerous and toxic chemical, as a method for suicide,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “It is a simple, effective step forward in saving lives, and I believe we have a shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us.”
CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s remarks during the Committee’s consideration of the legislation. A transcript is embedded below.
A 2021 New York Times investigation into an online suicide forum found that sodium nitrite was being popularized and encouraged as an easily accessible method to die by suicide. The forum, which is disguised as a safe place to discuss suicidal ideation, hosts threads where anonymous users provide detailed instructions and real-time guidance on how to die by suicide using sodium nitrite. A 2021 toxicology publication based on data from the National Poison Data System (NPDS), one of the data sources used by the CDC, points to a rise in self-poisonings using sodium nitrite in the United States since 2017.
There is no known recreational use for highly concentrated amounts of sodium nitrite, but at the time of the Times’ investigation, highly concentrated amounts of the poison were widely available on multiple e-commerce platforms, including with free two-day shipping on Amazon. Following outcry from lawmakers and victims’ families, Amazon and a number of other online marketplaces began removing sodium nitrite listings. In May 2023, a Canadian citizen was arrested and charged for shipping packages containing lethal amounts of sodium nitrite to over 40 countries, including 272 sales to individuals in the United Kingdom, of whom at least 88 people died.
The Youth Poisoning Protection Act bans the sale of consumer products with a concentration of sodium nitrite greater than 10 percent. The legislation now moves to the House floor for consideration.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, feeling at risk of suicide, or experiencing a state of distress, it is crucial to find help immediately. There are many resources available, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline which provides free, confidential support 24/7, and the Crisis Text Line which offers free crisis counseling 24/7. Dial 988 or text HOME to 741741 to connect with these services.
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Congresswoman Lori Trahan
Remarks As Delivered
House Energy and Commerce Committee Markup
April 8, 2025
Thank you. I introduced the bipartisan Youth Poisoning Protection Act to address an alarming and growing public health crisis: the promotion and use of Sodium Nitrite, a dangerous and toxic chemical, as a method for suicide.
Three years ago, the New York Times brought to light a disturbing trend: an online suicide assistance forum – hidden in the dark corners of the internet – are actively encouraging individuals to take their own lives. These forums have been instrumental in the rise of suicides using Sodium Nitrite, a chemical that, in its safe, low-concentration form, is often used to cure meat and fish. However, in high concentrations, Sodium Nitrite becomes highly toxic – at levels comparable to cyanide.
If the story ended there, it would still be tragic, but sadly, it gets even worse.
While anonymous users of these online forums tout Sodium Nitrite as a painless way to end one’s life, survivors of this method share a different, haunting reality. They describe excruciating experiences – nausea, vomiting, severe stomach pain, and heart palpitations – as the poison deprives the body of vital oxygen.
When my office became aware of the growing availability of this substance as a suicide method, we acted immediately. Many websites we contacted took swift action to remove listings for Sodium Nitrite or restrict sales to businesses with legitimate, proven uses for it. But despite these efforts, there are still bad actors out there – websites designed specifically to sell this poison as part of a “suicide kit,” preying on individuals in their darkest moments.
Unfortunately, there are currently no federal laws that can effectively stop these dangerous transactions. The Youth Poisoning Protection Act changes that. This legislation would prohibit the sale of Sodium Nitrite to consumers in concentrations higher than 10 percent – the threshold established by independent experts for safe use.
This bill is not aimed at affecting legitimate business operations. Some businesses – like those that cure meat or fish in large quantities – require high-concentrated Sodium Nitrite as part of their process. This bill will not disrupt those operations. Its sole focus is on preventing the direct sale of highly concentrated Sodium Nitrite to consumers, specifically, stopping the bad actors who are exploiting vulnerable individuals by promoting this deadly chemical for suicide.
This is a straightforward solution with the potential to save countless lives. I urge all members of this Committee to join us in supporting this essential bipartisan legislation that was advanced through this committee and passed overwhelmingly on the House floor last year. It is a simple, effective step forward in saving lives, and I believe we have a shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
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