MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA-07) and Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE-03) introduced the PI Post Acute Access Act to expand access to life-saving care for individuals with primary immunodeficiencies (PI). This bipartisan legislation would create a dedicated payment within Medicare for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) to provide intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatments onsite, ultimately preventing dangerous treatment delays, reduce avoidable hospitalizations, and ensure vulnerable patients get the care they need when and where they need it.

“Patients living with primary immunodeficiencies should not have to fight through red tape to get the care they need to stay healthy and safe. For many families, timely access to IVIG treatment can mean the difference between stability and a serious medical crisis,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “I have long worked to protect access to these life-saving therapies, and the PI Post Acute Access Act builds on that commitment by helping ensure Medicare beneficiaries can continue receiving essential treatment in nursing facilities. No one should be left behind simply because of where they are receiving care.”

“Outdated billing measures should not prevent vulnerable patients from receiving lifesaving care when and where they need it,” said Congressman Smith. “I am proud to join Congresswoman Matsui in introducing our bipartisan PI Post Acute Access Act to cut red tape and ensure that PI patients have access to the critical care they need.”

“For Medicare beneficiaries living with primary immunodeficiency, access to life-saving IVIG therapy should never depend on where they receive care,” said Jorey Berry, President & CEO of the Immune Deficiency Foundation. “This bill ensures that patients who need skilled nursing services are not forced to choose between essential care and the medication they need to survive. By creating a targeted payment solution, Congress can protect a vulnerable group and uphold the promise of equitable access for all patients, including those living with a rare condition.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement: 

“The new-and-improved Edgewater Bridge will open to traffic today!” said Rep. Larsen. “The last Edgewater Bridge lasted almost 80 years, and the new bridge will serve drivers and pedestrians for the next 100 years. I am glad to have been able to play a role in making this project happen, and I will keep working to bring federal dollars home to replace aging infrastructure and create local jobs.” 

The Edgewater Bridge was built in 1946, and needed repairs to make it safe and durable for commuters. The project to replace the bridge received more than $28 million in federal funding, including an $850K earmark that Rep. Larsen secured and $25 million in pass-through funding from WSDOT’s Local Bridge Program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Larsen helped negotiate, provided around $13 million of the Local Bridge Program funding. 

Rep. Larsen visited the Edgewater Bridge on January 27^th with Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin. 

Larsen Brings Home Millions for Northwest Washington Infrastructure Projects 
 
Larsen has secured more than $75 million for 55 projects in Northwest Washington state through earmarks in annual spending bills. In last year’s spending bills, Rep. Larsen secured over $13.9 million for 15 projects, including $1.2 million to reconstruct the Port of Edmonds’ North portwalk and seawall and $1 million to relocate Pepin Creek in Lynden. 

Rep. Larsen requested $77 million for 20 local projects in next year’s spending bills. The requests include funds to replace a public dock on Orcas Island, elevate vulnerable sections of one of the only roads into Lummi nation and relocate Whatcom Fire Station #81 out of a FEMA designated floodplain.  

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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 – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Donald Trump signed into law Congressman Pete Stauber’s (MN-08) Congressional Review Act legislation, H.J. Res. 140. With his signature, the Biden administration’s 20-year mining ban in the Superior National Forest is officially overturned.

Congressman Pete Stauber said, “It’s official. The illegal mining ban put in place by former President Biden has been overturned indefinitely, ending a reckless policy that sidelined Minnesota’s miners and undermined our nation’s ability to source our own materials. Never again will any Democrat President be able to unilaterally ban mining in this strategic area of the Superior National Forest. Now, proposed mining projects aimed at unlocking trillions of dollars’ worth of critical minerals can move forward through the proper state and federal environmental review and permitting process.

“President Trump is the most pro-mining President in American history, and I thank him for his support in championing Minnesota’s union miners and workers. As the result of our shared commitment to American mineral dominance, Minnesota’s mighty Iron Range has a strong future ahead. It’s back at the center of a powerful economic comeback with another century’s worth of mining, and I’m proud to have delivered this hard-fought victory for our state and nation.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber joined Duluth Seaway Port Authority Executive Director Kevin Beardsley in announcing that the United States Department of Transportation is awarding the Port of Duluth-Superior $27 million in grant funding through the Port Infrastructure Development Program. These funds will go towards the Duluth Lake Port pier revitalization project.

“This $27 million investment marks a major step forward for the Duluth Port,” said Congressman Pete Stauber. “By modernizing critical infrastructure and preparing for future development, these funds will support good-paying jobs and ensure the port remains a key driver of economic growth in the region for years to come. I’m proud to have helped deliver this funding and I thank Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for once again recognizing the importance of the Northland.”

“This MARAD grant represents a major investment in the Port of Duluth-Superior and the region’s supply chain infrastructure,” said Kevin Beardsley, Executive Director, Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “It will be the catalyst in revitalizing a strategic 7.5-acre pier complex in the heart of Duluth’s working waterfront, and positioning it to be a future-ready, vibrant asset for the port, the surrounding region, and the nation as a whole.”
 
“We’re grateful and excited about the positive impact this investment will have throughout our community, and broadly, for our nation’s supply chain,” added Beardsley. 

This funding will support critical infrastructure improvements at the Duluth Lake Port facility, including the reconstruction of 1,150 linear feet of dock wall and the creation of 7.5 acres of new laydown space. This project will also remove out-of-service grain elevators and install utilities to prepare for the redevelopment of the dock.

Stauber sent a letter to Secretary Duffy in July of 2025 requesting this funding for the Duluth Port.

This grant will be matched by $8.4 million in secured state grant and local funding. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Senate passed Congressman Pete Stauber’s (MN-08) Congressional Review Act resolution, H.J. Res. 140, to repeal the Biden administration’s illegal 20-year mining ban on 225,504 acres in Northern Minnesota’s Superior National Forest. It will now head to the President’s desk for signature. 

“A major victory for America and for Minnesota’s families and workers was secured today,” said Congressman Pete Stauber. “Never again can any Democrat President or administration unilaterally ban mining in this vital portion of the Superior National Forest, killing jobs and locking away trillions of dollars of critical minerals essential to our way of life. Mining is our past, our present, and our future – and the future looks bright!

 “Despite the lies and hysterics from the left, my bill doesn’t allow mining in the Boundary Waters or the surrounding buffer zone, nor does it weaken environmental safeguards. It simply returns the decision to established permitting processes, where science, not politics, guides the outcome. I look forward to Minnesota’s miners and workers meeting every state and federal requirement so they can responsibly source the critical minerals, helium, and other natural resources that allow us to compete in the 21^st century. We cannot continue to allow foreign adversaries like China to dominate mineral supply chains that are essential to our economic and national security.”

This resolution does not approve specific projects. It removes the ban, allowing proposed projects to proceed through the strictest state and federal regulatory and permitting processes. 

BACKGROUND: 

 In January 2023, the Department of the Interior, at the direction of former President Joe Biden and former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, issued Public Land Order (PLO) 7917, instituting a 20-year mineral withdrawal covering 225,504 acres in the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota. This mineral withdrawal banned mining and other responsible resource extraction in a strategically significant area of the Duluth Complex, which is the largest untapped copper-nickel deposit in the world, which contains trillions of dollars of mineral wealth and at least a century’s worth of future mining. Under the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act, the Department of the Interior is required to notify Congress of public land orders impacting an excess of 5,000 acres. The Biden Administration failed to properly transmit PLO 7917 to Congress in January 2023. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration corrected this error and properly transmitted PLO 7917 to Congress.

Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Congress has the authority to review and disapprove of federal actions within 60 Senate session days of the action’s submission to Congress. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval addressing a federal action is passed by both chambers and signed by the President, it is nullified and ceases to have effect (or is treated as never having taken effect). Additionally, under the CRA’s substantially similar provision, when a federal action is successfully disapproved of by Congress, the executive branch is prohibited from taking a substantially similar action in the future.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA) helped secure access for local clergy to enter the federal ICE detention facility at the Roybal Federal Building in Downtown Los Angeles on Good Friday, allowing detained individuals to observe one of the holiest days in the Christian faith.

After clergy were denied entry on Ash Wednesday, Rep. Gomez’s office engaged ICE officials, elevated formal requests, and continued pushing for access in the days leading up to Good Friday. As a result, four clergy members were permitted to enter the facility, where they led a prayer service, administered communion, and provided pastoral care to detained individuals.

The visit comes as Rep. Gomez has been actively conducting oversight of the facility, including areas known as B-17 and B-18, where detainees are often held after being taken into custody before transfer or removal proceedings. Rep. Gomez has raised concerns about access, transparency, and conditions inside the facility.

“I’ve spent months conducting oversight at this detention facility and pushing back on ICE’s efforts to hide what’s happening inside. When local clergy were denied entry on Ash Wednesday, my office kept pushing until ICE finally allowed them in on Good Friday,” said Rep. Gomez. “Those inside were able to pray, receive communion, and observe one of the holiest days in the Christian faith. I’m going to keep pushing for access and transparency inside these detention facilities, and make sure the people inside are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

During the Good Friday visit, clergy prayed with detained individuals, blessed them with holy water, anointed them with holy oil, and offered communion. For many, it was a rare opportunity to participate in a religious observance while in custody.

Rep. Gomez will continue conducting oversight and advocating for transparency and humane treatment inside detention facilities.

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

Today, Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-WI) introduced the Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act to stop federal agencies from violating the Constitution by awarding contracts based on recipients’ race or sex. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced the Senate companion of the bill.

“Companies in my district have lost out on contracts despite offering higher quality products at a lower cost to the taxpayer. That’s not just unfair, it’s wasteful,” said Congressman Glenn Grothman. “I was proud to introduce the Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act because preferences in government contracting based on race or sex are fundamentally unfair, costly, and out of step with what most Americans believe. Contracts should be awarded based on merit, not race or gender, as the Constitution guarantees equal protection for all. For too long, federal contracting has relied on race- and sex-based mandates that drive up costs and undermine confidence in the system. Our bill restores accountability, reduces waste, and ensures contracts are awarded based on merit.”

“Unconstitutional discrimination disguised as ‘DEI’ has infected our federal government,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Awarding government contracts based on race and sex is, simply put, racist and sexist. These policies defy our founding values and waste taxpayer dollars on subpar projects. My bill will end discrimination in government contracting to restore merit-based partnerships, ensuring contractors, businesses, and workers are evaluated not by the color of their skin or gender, but their ability to serve the American people.”

“For decades, Pacific Legal Foundation has fought to ensure that government treats every American equally under the law. Pacific Legal Foundation applauds Senator Mike Lee and Representative Glenn Grothman for introducing The Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act which would end the consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex in federal contracting decisions. After the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, the legal foundation for these unjust preferences has crumbled. Congress should finish the job.” — Glenn Roper, Senior Attorney in Equality & Opportunity, Pacific Legal Foundation

“Race- and sex-based contracting costs taxpayers billions of dollars, endangers the security of our troops, and inhibits the construction and repair of our nation’s infrastructure. Senator Lee and Congressman Grothman’s bill takes the important step of ending these unconstitutional practices and returning federal contracting to more merit-based principles, in which Americans, regardless of race or sex, are treated equally.” – Judge Glock, Director of Research and Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute

“Since the Supreme Court found racial preferences in college admissions to be unconstitutional, there has been a swirling debate in legal and policy circles about what this means outside the educational space. The equal-protection logic of Harvard v. SFFA inextricably applies to the employment space, which is why we’ve seen a spate of lawsuits and corporations reevaluating their DEI policies. One of the least headline-grabbing areas where identity-based preferences make their pernicious presence felt is in government contracting, which requires federal legislation to fix. The Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act is exactly what’s needed to reform this often byzantine space and ensure that taxpayers aren’t funding contracts based on identity-based spoils.” – Ilya Shapiro, Director of Constitutional Studies and Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute

“It’s time to end race- and gender-based preferences in government contracting. This bill from Senator Lee and Congressman Grothman will help dismantle the ideology of left-wing identity politics and replace it with the principle of colorblind, equal treatment under the law.” – Chris Rufo, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute

Background Information

Since the 1970s, the federal government has expanded an ever-growing web of DEI requirements,  mandates, and quotas for government contracts. Federal agencies are currently obligated to grant a certain number of government contracts to companies based on the race, ethnicity, or sex of company owners or employees. This system intentionally awards work based on immutable characteristics rather than ability to execute a job effectively. These practices are incompatible with the Constitution and frequently result in incomplete projects that exceed projected budgets, wasting taxpayer dollars.

On March 26, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order 14398 to address DEI discrimination by federal contractors. This move was part of a larger effort by the Administration and congressional Republicans to end DEI practices throughout the country. Legislation is necessary to codify this initiative.

Senator Lee’s Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act underscores a shift away from unjust DEI hiring and contracting practices and towards a system that prioritizes fairness, efficiency and equal treatment under the law. As America begins to celebrate its 250th anniversary, this legislation is a timely emphasis on our founding principle that “all men are created equal.”

The Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act:

• Eliminates existing quotas, mandates, and programs that provide government contracting opportunities to companies based on the race and/or sex of the company’s owner;
• Eliminates certain federal DEI programs like the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and the Minority Business Development Act of 2021;
• Repeals DEI preferences for Department of Transportation grants;
• Eliminates discriminatory federal reporting requirements on small businesses;
• Requires federal agencies to rescind any rules or regulations requiring agencies to provide preference to contractors based on their race or sex, and;
• Prevents federal agencies from reissuing similar rules and regulations in the future.
• Retains support for small businesses generally and does not prohibit federal agencies from prioritizing rural or veteran-owned businesses when issuing government contracts.

Read exclusive coverage by Breitbart News here.

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U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) proudly serves the people of Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD), and U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) were joined by Representatives  Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (aMD-02) in pressing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz on the justification for and expected impact of the Administration’s proposed closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station. This local USFS office leads forestry-related projects that benefit the local Baltimore community and conducts important forestry and urban ecology research that informs land use decision-making throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station is also a key partner in the Chesapeake Bay Program. In their letter, the lawmakers stressed that shuttering this longstanding field station will abruptly end decades of carefully cultivated partnerships and result in the loss of region-specific expertise that cannot be replicated elsewhere – assets that underpin vital initiatives for the health of our environment and economy in Maryland and across the country. The lawmakers asked for answers to a series of questions on the proposed closure, including whether a cost-benefit analysis was conducted, plans for continuing the field station’s work, and the expected impact on USFS employees.

“We are writing to express serious concerns about the proposed closure of the United States Forest Service (USFS) Baltimore Urban Field Station. This field station is essential to maintaining the important USFS work that has been taking place in Baltimore for nearly 30 years – work that benefits communities and forests in Maryland and across the entire country. Closing the Baltimore Urban Field Station is unnecessary and misguided; it will stymie highly effective and productive forestry and urban ecology work that Congress has directed the Forest Service to pursue,” the lawmakers began.

“The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station has operated from the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County since 1998, which has allowed the field station to develop important academic and Baltimore-area community partnerships. This longstanding Baltimore location has enabled the place-based relationships and collaborations that underpin the impactful, high-quality work that this field station has produced,” they continued.

The USFS Baltimore Field Station’s proven record of successful research, partnerships, and projects demonstrates its incredible value to the American people. Agency and program office relocations invariably result in the loss of talented staff, institutional knowledge, and partnerships, undermining the agency’s mission, performance, and effectiveness; this is exactly what happened when the Trump administration relocated the Bureau of Land Management, the Economic Research Service, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in 2019,” the lawmakers wrote, going on to list numerous examples of the work that the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station does to inform Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts, provide workforce development opportunities, and more.

“For nearly 30 years, the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station has generated exceptional applied research with an impact reaching far beyond Baltimore city limits. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station has shown itself to be an incredible asset to the community, region, and to the nation. It should not be closed,” they concluded.

Text of the letter, including the questions posed to Deputy Secretary Vaden and Chief Schultz, can be viewed here and below.

Dear Deputy Secretary Vaden and Chief Schultz,

We are writing to express serious concerns about the proposed closure of the United States Forest Service (USFS) Baltimore Urban Field Station. This field station is essential to maintaining the important USFS work that has been taking place in Baltimore for nearly 30 years – work that benefits communities and forests in Maryland and across the entire country. Closing the Baltimore Urban Field Station is unnecessary and misguided; it will stymie highly effective and productive forestry and urban ecology work that Congress has directed the Forest Service to pursue.

The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station has operated from the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County since 1998, which has allowed the field station to develop important academic and Baltimore-area community partnerships. This longstanding Baltimore location has enabled the place-based relationships and collaborations that underpin the impactful, high-quality work that this field station has produced, including:

Inventing high-resolution landcover mapping which has become the basis for urban and community forest management plans in the U.S. and internationally, is used to assess fire risk in woodland-urban interface areas, and serves as a key data source for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed model that informs Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration work.

• Developing and maintaining the longest running rural-suburban-urban watershed study in the world, which has transformed scientific understanding of human-settled watersheds and profoundly influenced policy and planning for the Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration.
• Pioneering research that is critical to improving the quality of life in cities such as long-term research on social-ecological systems and research on the role of trees, forests, and nature to promote public health and safety.
• Leading the Forest Service’s Wildland Urban Interface program to understand and develop policies, plans, and practices to reduce vulnerabilities to forest fires and improve human health, security, and livelihoods.
• Creating urban and community wood utilization programs that foster a sustainable market for urban wood at local, regional, and national scales, creating new wood products that generate jobs and economic value in urban communities.

The USFS Baltimore Field Station’s proven record of successful research, partnerships, and projects demonstrates its incredible value to the American people. Agency and program office relocations invariably result in the loss of talented staff, institutional knowledge, and partnerships, undermining the agency’s mission, performance, and effectiveness; this is exactly what happened when the Trump administration relocated the Bureau of Land Management, the Economic Research Service, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in 2019.

Closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station jeopardizes many highly important initiatives and undermines key partnerships in the region. As a core collaborator in Chesapeake Bay Program work, the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station provides essential forestry-related ecosystem services estimates and expert guidance on forestry issues in the watershed – data that state and federal partners rely on to guide Bay restoration spending decisions. The field station also leads the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership, acting as a convener to bring together federal, state, and local agencies to streamline efforts to support community-led restoration and urban revitalization efforts in the Baltimore and Patapsco River watersheds. Another important Baltimore-based project that the Baltimore Urban Field Station supports is the Stillmeadow Church and Peace Park, which hosts a job training program that delivers professional skill building and training in innovative forest restoration techniques to Baltimore youth. And the Baltimore Urban Field Station leads a number of Baltimore-based research projects that require USFS to have an on-the-ground presence, including: experimental research on forests impacted by invasive threats like the Emerald Ash Borer and Beech Leaf Disease to better understand how to help forests recover, and studies on forest patch distribution and fragmentation across the Baltimore region to inform land management practices.

Please answer the following questions by April 28, 2026:

1. Has USDA conducted a cost-benefit analysis to understand the economic impact of closing the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station?
   1. If so, what were the findings?
   2. If not, what evidence is USDA using to justify this proposed closure?
2. Will the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station’s partnership and place-based work continue, including the initiatives described in this letter, if the field station is closed?
   1. If so, please explain in detail how this will happen.
   2. In not, how does USDA justify the termination of this important work?
3. Will any of the Baltimore-based USFS employees be terminated?
4. Will any of the Baltimore-based USFS employees be relocated?
   1. If so, where will these staff be transferred?
   2. If not, where will their duty station be if the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station is closed?
5. Will Baltimore-based USFS employees be offered the opportunity to transition to remote work status?

For nearly 30 years, the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station has generated exceptional applied research with an impact reaching far beyond Baltimore city limits. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station has shown itself to be an incredible asset to the community, region, and to the nation. It should not be closed.