MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) and Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01) introduced two bills to update the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) program.

The Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvement Act, introduced by Congressman Allen, is a necessary solution in response to the Biden-Harris Administration’s harmful final rule for Fine Particulate Matter, otherwise known as PM 2.5 standards. This legislation would repeal the overly burdensome, economically devastating Biden-Harris PM 2.5 rule and modernize the standard and program for preconstruction permits.  

The Clean Air and Economic Advancement Reform Act (CLEAR Act), introduced by Congressman Carter, would make several changes to the process for establishing and implementing NAAQS, ensuring states have the needed time to comply with realistic standards and are not penalized by the EPA for wildfire mitigation tactics such as prescribed burns. 

“Simply put, the Biden-Harris Administration’s unworkable rule to revise PM 2.5 standards tied the hands of job creators and manufacturers. The Golden Age of America is upon us, and House Republicans are committed to eliminating unnecessary compliance and implementation burdens that harm our states, business communities, and economic development. Both of these bills deliver just that and protect the nearly 27,000 manufacturing workers who call Georgia’s 12th District home,” said Congressman Rick Allen. 

“The CLEAR Act offers a common sense solution for states to improve air quality standards without overly burdensome, unrealistic rules that threaten economic growth without meaningfully contributing to Americans’ wellbeing. By updating our approach to NAAQS, we will take an America First step toward strengthening our manufacturing base and unleashing energy dominance,” said Congressman Buddy Carter. 

“It’s time for Congress to take commonsense actions and ensure the Clean Air Act works as intended while not hampering our ability to bring more manufacturing to the United States or preventing us from building the powerful data centers needed to win the race for AI,” said Chairman Guthrie. “I’m grateful to Congressman Carter and Congressman Allen for their work in introducing these important bills that will help ensure impossible standards don’t stand in the way of American innovation.”

“Updates to the Clean Air Act are long overdue. In our recent Environment Subcommittee hearing, I was proud to voice my support for Congressman Carter’s Clean Air and Economic Advancement Reform Act and Congressman Allen’s Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvement Act. These bills will help modernize the Clean Air Act in a way that appropriately protects the environment without needlessly hindering innovation and economic prosperity,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith, Chairman of the Environment Subcommittee.

“The NAM supports the Clean Air and Economic Advancement Reform Act and the Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvement Act—two important bills that will modernize the outdated and broken NAAQS process, which has too often slowed manufacturing growth without improving environmental outcomes. Advancing this legislation will pave the way for greater manufacturing investment and expansion in the United States, stimulating job creation across the country. Manufacturers commend Representatives Allen and Carter for introducing these bills and for helping restore balance to the regulatory process—supporting manufacturing investment, job creation and infrastructure development while maintaining strong environmental protections. These proposals reflect the kind of smart, practical policymaking manufacturers across the country need to succeed,” said Charles Crain, Managing Vice President of Policy, National Association of Manufacturers.

ORIGINAL COSPONSORS OF BOTH BILLS: Reps. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Bob Latta (OH-05), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Randy Weber (TX-14), and Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

Rep. Estes Applauds Major Announcement from G7 Agreement

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

Know Your Immigration Rights

If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

Reps. Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) introduced the bipartisan Military PFAS Transparency Act to shine a light on PFAS cleanup efforts by the Department of Defense (DoD), and get more answers for over 600 communities across the country that have been contaminated by “forever chemicals.”

“Our government owes the communities and people affected by PFAS clarity and answers,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “The Military PFAS Transparency Act will help Michigan families by requiring regular updates from DoD on their PFAS cleanup efforts, making the process more responsive and accountable. Congressman Bergman has been a terrific partner, and I won’t stop fighting to get communities in Michigan and across the country the answers they deserve.”

“I’m proud to introduce this important bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. McDonald Rivet as we push federal bureaucracies to take real, meaningful action on PFAS cleanup. The problem has been studied extensively—it’s time to act,”said Congressman Bergman. “This bill is about turning analysis into accountability and moving the Pentagon from paperwork to real-world cleanup.”

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” are used in a wide array of products like firefighting foams, food packaging, cosmetics, and fabrics. Their widespread use has contaminated soil, surface water, groundwater, and food across the country. These forever chemicals have also contaminated hundreds of military installations and surrounding communities across the country, including over a dozen in Michigan. Some PFAS can cause harmful health effects and have been linked to health complications, including damage to the immune system and an increased risk of developing certain cancers. 

The Military PFAS Transparency Act would: 

• Require Annual Reporting on DoD PFAS Cleanup Efforts: The bill requires DoD to submit annual reports detailing site-specific funding, progress, and barriers for all interim PFAS remediation and cleanup efforts. This includes timelines, performance metrics, and the status of the actions.
• Establish Better Cleanup Strategies: The bill requires DoD to commit to more efficient cleanup strategies. These strategies will prioritize cleanup based on risk, increase lab testing capacity, and set standards for evaluating cleanup efforts.
• Improve Transparency through a Public Dashboard: The bill requires DoD to create a public online dashboard within one year to display updated PFAS cleanup data, funding, timelines, and community points of contact.

The Military PFAS Transparency Act is endorsed by the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and the Great Lakes Commission. 

“This bipartisan bill is an important step to put impacted communities at the center of Pentagon PFAS cleanups and to encourage real collaboration with people on the ground who best understand what needs to be done,” said Tony Spaniola, Co-Chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network. “The Pentagon’s interim action policy, which was developed by community experts in Oscoda, Michigan, is designed to strategically cut off PFAS exposures and make every federal dollar count.  I commend Representatives McDonald Rivet and Bergman for their critical work to ensure that the policy actually brings results for the people and communities it is supposed to protect.”

“For far too long, people living near military bases exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals have been in the dark in terms of Department of Defense cleanup efforts, which puts our water and our health in danger,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “The Military PFAS Transparency Act will make sure that impacted residents and the general public know the status of the military PFAS remediation, which can help reduce exposure to contamination. Better transparency and improved cleanup strategies will save lives, and so we applaud the bill’s sponsors and urge that Congress enact this critical legislation into law.”

“PFAS pose a grave threat to drinking water and public health – a threat that is felt acutely in the Great Lakes. It is critical, then, that residents of the Great Lakes region and beyond know how their government is responding, in order to improve outcomes for all affected communities,” said Dr. Michael J. Goff, President and CEO of the Northeast-Midwest Institute. “We thank Congresswoman McDonald Rivet and Congressman Bergman for their leadership on this important issue.”

This legislation is also supported by the other co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02).

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) announced the introduction of the Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participant Income Exemption Act, legislation that aims to exempt all payments received by participants in clinical trials from being counted towards their gross income.

Under current law, payments that are not categorized as reimbursements are considered taxable income. This disparity can create a financial burden for participants, particularly those in lower income brackets.

“By exempting these payments from gross income, we can alleviate this burden and make participation in clinical trials more accessible and accommodating to individuals’ lives,” said Rep. Kelly. “This legislation puts the patients first and aims to improve both patient care and patient outcomes.”

“Modern medicine has shown us how crucial clinical trials are to cutting-edge research and development,” said Rep. Houlahan. “However, clinical trials often take a toll on participants’ time and finances, resulting in less economic diversity in these studies and fewer people able to take part in them. I’m proud to introduce the Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participation Act, which will allow payments received by participants in clinical trials to be tax-exempt. This would not only increase access to these trials and diversify those participating but would also allow for better advancements in our medical research as a result of including a more comprehensive patient population.”

Reps. Kelly and Houlahan previously introduced this legislation in the 118th Congress.

BACKGROUND

The Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participant Income Exemption Act aims to:

• Provide greater access to experimental therapies to the least-empowered Americans (those with disabilities, chronic physical illness, low-income populations, low education level, etc.).
• Eliminate the reporting requirements for both the patient/caregiver (the payment recipient) and the 1099 reporting requirement of the payor. This will also protect participants who rely on social welfare programs such as SNAP, WIC, and others from exceeding income requirements.
• Clinical trial participants (the payment recipient) are required to report all clinical-trial-payments received in a calendar year as gross income. The sponsor of the clinical trial (the payor) is required to report payments in equal to or in excess of $600 in a calendar year. 

You can read the full bill here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Last week, U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09), and Val Hoyle (OR-04), and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced The Wall Street Tax Act (H.R. 4035), which would deliver hundreds of billions of dollars back to the American people by making Wall Street pay its fair share. The bill would create a progressive tax aimed at reducing the risky trading practices that threaten our economic stability while generating revenues that can be reinvested towards services for working people. Once fully implemented, the bill is projected to raise $750 billion over 10 years. 

“It’s past time for the wealthiest to pay their fair share, which is why I’m proud to support the Wall Street Tax Act, which targets high-risk trades that create high volatility and instability in the markets,” said Rep. Smith. “I’ll continue to fight for a fairer economy that works for everyone and reflects the values of the communities I serve.”

“While Republicans push another tax break for billionaires that would blow up the deficit, we’re offering a smarter path. The Wall Street Tax Act puts a price on the risky, high-speed trading that benefits Wall Street and leaves working families behind,” said Rep. Hoyle. “This small, targeted tax will raise hundreds of billions from those who can afford it and reinvest it in things that actually help people—like schools, housing, and infrastructure. Working families shouldn’t have to pay for Wall Street’s gambling.”

“Wall Street routinely cashes in on high-risk trades that add no real value to our economy. It’s long past time we curbed this dangerous trading to reduce market volatility and encourage investment that actually helps our economy grow,” said Senator Schatz. “Republicans are racing to enrich billionaires and corporations by ripping regular people off. We’re doing the opposite: raising new revenue from Wall Street to reinvest in our communities.”

“Instead of the proposed heartless cuts to services that help vulnerable communities and everyday people—like Medicaid and nutrition assistance—that Congress is currently debating, there is another route that lawmakers can and must pursue: raising taxes on corporations and the super-rich—including Wall Street high rollers,” said Susan Harley, managing director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division. “The Wall Street Tax Act would generate hundreds of billions of dollars that could be used to expand programs that improve the lives of Americans and it has the simultaneous benefit of reducing harmful high-speed trading that hurts investors and increases risk in our markets.”

This bill is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Frost (D-FL), Jayapal (D-CA), McGovern (D-MA), Pingree (D-MN), Schakowsky (D-IL), Tlaib (D-MI), Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

The Wall Street Tax Act is currently endorsed by 32 organizations, including:Affordable Homeownership Foundation, AFL-CIO, American Family Voices, American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Financial Reform, Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF), Blue Future, Chicago Political Economy Group, Child Labor Coalition, Citizens for Tax Justice, Coalition on Human Needs, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Consumer Action, Food & Water Watch, Greenpeace USA. Groundwork Collaborative, Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy Medical Mission Sisters(Unit North America), National Consumers League, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Our Revolution, Oxfam America, Public Citizen, Public Justice Center, Responsible Wealth, RootsAction, Take on Wall Street, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, United for a Fair Economy, United Church of Christ, and United Steelworkers International Union (USW).

The Bill

The Wall Street Tax Act will levy a 0.1% tax – phased in over five years–on the sale of stocks, bonds, and derivatives to discourage risky and unproductive trading practices and gives those profits back to the people. The tax would apply to the fair market value of assets. Initial public offerings (IPOs) and short-term debt would be exempted from the tax. 

Background

High frequency trading (HFT) is a type of asset trading that uses supercomputers and specialized algorithms to make large, high-volume trades in a fraction of a second. HFT allows corporations and the ultra-wealthy to benefit from minor fluctuations in stock prices by allowing them to buy and sell in large volumes to make larger profits off of small differences. These practices create undue market volatility, which overwhelmingly hurts everyday investors who are unable to trade as quickly.

In addition, these speculative, high-volume trading practices add little to no real value to the U.S. economy because the gains from them are centralized within the hands of a wealthy few. However, these high stakes games do have a real impact, as their asset prices react to the trades. The volatility these trades can even lead to a “Flash Crash,” where such volatility prompts mass selloffs across the stock market. This volatility can affect the retirements, pensions, and investments of working people.

The Wall Street Tax Act is considered a progressive tax, meaning lower income earners pay a lesser percentage of their income in taxes compared to those with higher incomes. 

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today introduced a War Powers Resolution to order the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran absent a Congressional authorization, while preserving the ability for U.S. Armed Forces to  defend the U.S. and its partners and allies from imminent attack.

“President Trump must not be allowed to start a war with Iran, or any country, without Congressional approval. Yet President Trump ordered strikes on Iran this past weekend without meaningful consultation or Congressional authorization.

“We still don’t know whether these strikes eliminated Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities, and the administration has offered no clear strategy. Instead, the President has posted on social media about regime change, undermining any claim that this was a narrowly tailored operation to eliminate a nuclear threat. Without a coherent strategy for preventing Iran’s program from bouncing back, including through diplomacy, we risk further escalation. No thoughtful deliberation nor careful planning occurred here — and serious actions demand serious debate, not presidential impulse.

“The War Powers Resolution we’ve introduced today orders the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran, while allowing U.S. forces to carry out defensive operations to defend the United States and its partners and allies from imminent attack, including those defending Israel. Again, President Trump must not be allowed to start a war with Iran without Congressional approval.”

A PDF of the Resolution can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah 6th District Wisconsin)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after introducing H.R. 4092, the Protect Railroads Against Illegal Looters (RAIL) Act, legislation safeguarding interstate and foreign freight shipments by clarifying that aliens who are convicted of offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 659, are inadmissible for entry into the United States and are deportable. 

“Transnational criminal theft organizations, particularly those tied to Sinaloa in Mexico, pose serious and growing threats to public safety, national security and economic stability in the southwestern United States.  

These organizations are accused of increased involvement in sophisticated cargo theft and are said to recruit aliens to burglarize high-value consumer goods from freight trains.  These alleged thefts delay shipments and contribute to shortages and price increases. Once stolen, the goods can be resold, funding additional criminal ventures. 

Disruptions especially affect border states like Arizona, which serve as major transit corridors for goods between the U.S. and Mexico. The Protect RAIL Act discourages aliens from stealing goods transported as interstate or foreign shipment of freight, including from railroad cars, motor trucks, aircraft, vessels, or storage facilities while protecting operators from harm.

The great Mohave Desert may still be the Wild West, but aliens, including illegal ones, convicted of stealing goods moving as an interstate shipment should be deemed inadmissible for entry and should be removed from the United States,” stated Congressman Gosar.

 Original Cosponsors: Biggs (AZ), Biggs (SC), Boebert, Brecheen, Burchett, Ciscomani, Crane, Donalds, DesJarlais, Fallon, Fine, Fry, Gill, Guest, Hamadeh, Harrigan, Norman, Ogles, Rulli, Schweikert, Sessions, Van Drew, Weber, Williams (TX)

 

Outside Group Supporters: Federation for American Immigration Reform, Immigration Accountability Project, NumbersUSA