MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement on the third anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing individual states to outlaw abortion services:

“Each day that passes without the federal protections enshrined by Roe v. Wade is an affront to women’s freedom,” Golden said. “Millions of women have lost autonomy over their own bodies, and millions more would be harmed by the extreme anti-choice agenda being driven across the country. I reject those efforts, and will continue to support efforts to restore reproductive freedom to every single American woman.”

Golden has been a champion of reproductive freedom throughout his time in Congress, and is an original cosponsor of two new bills that were reintroduced today. The Women’s Health Protection Act would enshrine abortion rights for patients and providers and create a federal prohibition against medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion, while the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act would outlaw any restrictions on women traveling across state lines to access abortion services. Golden also helped introduce the Right to Contraception Act earlier this year to establish statutory protections for contraceptives.

When the Dobbs decision was released by the Supreme Court, Golden called it a “grave mistake” and added that Congress should codify the Roe and Casey v. Planned Parenthood frameworks into federal statute.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today released the following statement regarding the United States’ bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities on Saturday and Iran’s retaliatory strikes targeting American bases in the Middle East today:

“Iran is governed by a regime that is hostile to the United States and allied with others that seek the destruction of America. They sponsor terrorist organizations that have killed American troops and citizens and are a source of chaos and bloodshed in the region. The IAEA determined the regime had been dangerously close to developing nuclear weapons. Based on what I know so far, I believe the president was right to launch limited strikes to deter that outcome.

“It is important now that the country learns what information helped inform the president’s decision and the timing of these strikes, and that we learn more about whether we were successful in destroying Iran’s nuclear program. I look forward to Congress receiving a full briefing. But what matters most now is what happens next: Just today, Iran launched missiles at American bases in Iraq and Qatar. The top priority for the president and his administration, as well as for Congress, must be to use every tool at our disposal to defend Americans and deter further escalation by Tehran.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Congressman Mike Ezell (R-MS) introduced today the “Industrial Certification for Coast Guard Veterans Act,” which would expand opportunities for U.S. Coast Guard personnel to transition to the dredging sector upon completion of their service.

The bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to produce a report analyzing the transferability of Coast Guard skills to the dredging industry. The report would identify recruitment strategies to connect with retiring Coast Guard personnel, evaluate the potential for credentialing or certification programs, and outline any existing or planned coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“The dredging and maintenance of America’s ports and waterways is critical to our economic and national security,” said Congressman Higgins. “This legislation prioritizes workforce development efforts for the dredging industry in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard. We’re exploring opportunities for retiring Coast Guard personnel to transition their skills into the private sector, all while supporting efforts to maintain our maritime infrastructure.” 

“As Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I’ve seen firsthand the talent and expertise our Coast Guard members bring to the table,” said Congressman Ezell. “The Industrial Certification for Coast Guard Veterans Act will help ensure those skills don’t go to waste after service. By identifying pathways into the dredging sector, this bill supports our veterans, strengthens our maritime workforce, and reinforces our commitment to maintaining vital infrastructure across the country.”

Read the legislation here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

WASHINGTON, DC – Just hours ago, at the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) – the first pediatrician elected to Congress and co-chair of the Congressional Doctors Caucus – blasted Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for lying to Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and the American people about his dismantling of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and his undermining of vaccine efficacy and safety.

“I just want to tell you that for most of us sitting here right now, we believe Senator Cassidy more than we trust you when it comes to vaccinations. It sounds to me like you gave him the answer he needed to hear in order to get his confirmation vote, and then as soon as you were Secretary, you turned around and did whatever you wanted – you fired all 17 members [of ACIP],” said Congresswoman Kim Schrier. “Mr. Secretary, you are now on the record – you lied to Senator Cassidy, you have lied to the American people, you have lied to parents about vaccines for 20 years, and I also want to be clear that I will lay all responsibility for every death from a vaccine-preventable at your feet.”

To watch Congresswoman Schrier’s full remarks, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement after voting in favor of the motion to table an impeachment resolution introduced by Congressman Al Green (D-TX).

“I voted to impeach President Trump twice during his first term. I presided over the second impeachment proceeding during which the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump for attempting a coup and inciting an insurrection on the United States Congress. I believed he was unfit to serve in office then, as I still do now. But impeachment is a serious process. Today’s vote failed to follow that process. If Congress is to consider impeachment proceedings, we must do so methodically, not rush it through using a privileged motion without proper notice.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, gave a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives today to honor Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, as well as Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Click here to watch the one-minute speech. Text of the speech below: 

“Mr. Speaker, nine days ago, Minnesota suffered the unbearable loss of one of our nation’s finest public servants. The targeted assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman casts a long shadow of grief not only over Minnesota, but across our nation. Under her leadership, Speaker Hortman left the State of Minnesota better than she found it. She exemplified our values of hard work, respect, inclusion, and civil engagement.

“As we mourn the loss of Melissa and Mark, I join Minnesotans in praying for Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette as they recover. As Minnesota’s top leader in Human Services, Senator Hoffman shepherded historic investments for the most vulnerable among us: the elderly; those with disabilities, both seen and unseen; and those recovering from addiction.

“The grief that Minnesotans have endured in the days since this tragedy has been agonizing. 

“As we come together as a community to heal, may we find comfort in the words of Melissa and Mark’s children: Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after President Trump’s unauthorized bombing of three Iranian Nuclear sites: 

“I am shocked that President Trump made the decision to bomb three nuclear sites in Iran without authorization from Congress. I believe the President’s action to be unconstitutional because Iran did not pose an immediate or direct threat to the United States. The President publicly stated that there was a two-week window for diplomacy. It appears the President had no intention of honoring that public timeline. This decision by President Trump has now put U.S. forces in the region at grave risk of retaliation by Iran and its proxies. At the very least, the President owes an immediate explanation to the American people for why he has taken direct military action against Iran absent Congressional authorization.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rutherford (4th District of Florida)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05), member of the Houe Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the House passage of H.R. 3844 – Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act, 2026:

“President Trump promised the American people that over the next four years we would refocus our fighting force on keeping our country safe, champion our veterans, support military families, and honor our American heroes. I was proud to vote for this year’s MilCon-VA Appropriations bill in the House to deliver on our promises to combat veteran homelessness, protect Second Amendment rights of veterans, eliminate woke policies from our military, invest in critical military infrastructure, and improve military housing.

“As appropriators, we are focused on delivering real results for the American people by eliminating waste, demanding accountability, and funding American priorities to keep our country strong and promote fiscally responsible. This legislation is worthy of the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, our veterans, and their families and should make all Americans proud.”

Included in the bill are Rutherford’s priorities to:

• Fully fund veteran health care programs and benefits

• Provide investment for military construction, specifically in the Indo-Pacific region, and improve military family housing

• Support President Trump’s efforts to combat veteran homelessness

• Protect the Second Amendment rights of our veterans

• Codify President Trump’s Executive Orders by removing DEI and gender affirming care and protecting Hyde Amendment-like language at the VA

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved bipartisan legislation Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced to renew and extend critical landslide prevention programs in the National Landslide Preparedness Act. The legislation was approved unanimously by the committee and now awaits action on the House floor.

The National Landslide Preparedness Act was signed into law in 2021 and has been instrumental in saving lives, protecting communities and property, and improving natural disaster emergency preparedness. The programs and grants in the law expired in September 2024.

“As the changing climate makes landslides more common, it is vital that Congress remain committed to strengthening our ability to alleviate their disastrous effects,” said DelBene. “Today, the House Natural Resources Committee showed its dedication to the communities most at-risk to these natural disasters. By investing in geological research and early warning programs, we can prevent these natural disasters from becoming national tragedies.”

The bill would reauthorize the landslide programs and grants through 2030. DelBene recently spoke before the committee on the importance of extending this legislation to protect communities nationwide.

The legislation is cosponsored in the House by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Emily Randall (WA-04), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10).

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Votes to Fully Fund VA, Veterans Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Related Agencies Appropriations Act by the House of Representatives. 

“Our veterans represent the best of us as Americans. My colleagues and I are keeping our promise to support the brave men and women who have served our country. We owe them a strong VA for health care, mental health services, and resources needed to end veteran homelessness,” said Rep. Newhouse.  

Newhouse continues, “We also make strategic investments into our military infrastructure and provide critical funding to the Indo-Pacific region to counter the growing threat from the Chinese Communist Party.” 

“I thank Subcommittee Chairman Carter and Full Committee Chairman Cole for their leadership as we continue to provide resources for our veterans through the Appropriations Committee.” 

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $152.091 billion, which is nearly $5 billion (3%) above the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. 

The bill includes critical investments in military infrastructure that support readiness and the military families that utilize them. In addition, the bill provides $300 billion for mandatory programs, for a total of $453 billion in overall funding.

Department of Veterans Affairs 

• Provides $452.64 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is $82.6 billion above the FY25 enacted level.
• Fully funds veterans’ medical care at $131.4 billion, which is equal to the FY26 Budget
  Request.
• Fully funds veterans’ benefits and toxic exposures-related needs for FY26. $52.67
  billion for the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF).
• Includes $970 for the Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment
  program, an innovative effort to end veteran homelessness. 

Department of Defense (Military Construction and Family Housing)  

Provides $18 billion for the Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing, which is $480 million above the FY25 enacted level.  

• $75 million above the enacted level for planning and design of future barracks to address 
  barrack deficiencies identified by the Government Accountability Office.
• $110 million above the enacted level for construction improvements in DoD laboratories, 
  supporting United States technological superiority and DoD innovation.
• $75 million above the enacted level for the demolition of excess and obsolete infrastructure, saving taxpayers money and lowering long-term facility maintenance costs at DoD.
• Continues robust prior year funding of the INDOPACOM minor military construction program and increases funding for INDOPACOM planning and design.
• Continues support for the Guard and Reserve with over $1.2 billion for Guard and Reserve facility construction.
• $2 billion for Military Family Housing.
• $75 million above the enacted level for child development centers to improve the quality of life of military families.

See full bill text here. 

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