MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Representative Pete Stauber (MN-08) along with Representatives Rudy Yakym (IN-02), Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Julia Brownley (CA-26) introduced the Brake for Kids Act, legislation that will require the Department of Transportation to release a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses. 

“Too many drivers nationwide drive illegally past stopped school buses, endangering children and their caregivers,” said Representative Pete Stauber. “In the most tragic cases, the outcome of these reckless actions can be fatal. We are facing an epidemic of distracted driving, but an alarming number of drivers are also unaware that driving past a stopped school bus is illegal. That’s why it is imperative that the Department of Transportation release a PSA informing American drivers of the dangers passing school busses illegally. We must do everything we can to protect our nation’s most precious commodity: our children.”

“Our community in northern Indiana is all too familiar with the devastating consequences of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses. Just last week, we were mere seconds away from another tragedy,” said Representative Rudy Yakym. “My dear friend and predecessor, Jackie Walorski, took swift action to pass the Stop for School Buses Act of 2021, and I am proud to continue her legacy by co-leading the Brake for Kids Act. By passing this legislation, we can better protect our children, safeguard our communities, and prevent further tragedies.”

“Street safety for our kids should be an issue that everyone can get on board with,” said Representative Seth Moulton. “Last year, in my district, Peabody Public Schools put cameras on their school buses and found over 3,400 instances of vehicles failing to stop. That’s 2.3 illegal passes per bus per day. This legislation helps combat this dangerous behavior and ensure kids don’t get killed when just trying to get to school.”

“As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I worked with Congresswoman Jackie Walorski to include life-saving legislation addressing the dangers posed by drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Representative Julia Brownley. “I am proud to join my colleagues in continuing to build on this progress to better protect children from preventable tragedies.”

“The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) strongly supports the Brake for Kids Act. Private school bus contractors encounter illegal passing of their school buses every day, putting schoolchildren in great danger,” said Curt Macysyn, Executive Director of the National School Transportation Association. “NSTA believes this bill will finally move the needle in the direction of safety for kids embarking and disembarking their school buses. A national public safety messaging campaign including television and radio ads will serve to educate and remind all drivers that it is illegal and dangerous to pass a stopped school bus with its lights flashing and stop arm extended. NSTA thanks Representatives Stauber, Yakym, Moulton and Brownley for their strong leadership on this critical safety issue.” 

BACKGROUND: 

In a 2024 study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, participants were asked for their opinions on the reason most drivers illegally pass a stopped school bus. A little over 24% reported that they didn’t know the law. 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) made the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will undertake 31 deregulatory actions to unleash American energy, invigorate the American auto industry, and lower the cost of living for Americans. 

“President Biden enacted a number of harmful regulations that made it more expensive to purchase a car, heat our homes, operate a business, and manufacture right here in the United States,” said Congressman Pete Stauber. “I am pleased to see this administration take historic action to roll back these burdensome regulations that raised the cost of living for every American family. Promises made, promises kept.”

Of these 31 actions, here are some of the most impactful: 

• Bringing an end to the Biden era “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule, which allowed federal agencies to infringe on the property rights of farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and landowners for far too long.
• Terminating Biden’s electric vehicle mandate, which threatened the American auto industry and consumer choice.
• Reviewing flawed air regulations for steelmaking and other domestic manufacturing sectors, which would have jeopardized the future of taconite mining in Northern Minnesota. 
• Stopping the Biden era “Clean Power Plant 2.0,” which would have shut down domestic power generation, raising costs for Americans and jeopardizing grid reliability.
• Reconsidering the unattainable Particulate Matter air quality standards, which would have shut down domestic manufacturing, including the wood and paper products industry across Northern Minnesota.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) voted to pass H.R. 1968, a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through September and allow the momentum we’ve seen from this Administration to continue. 

Of his vote, Congressman Stauber stated, “By voting to pass this funding bill today, my Republican colleagues and I are keeping the government open for the American people and ensuring that we can continue to enact President Trump’s America-First agenda. I was disappointed to see that most Democrats voted to shut down the government, a decision that would devastate our federal workers, service members, veterans, children, and the elderly. After weeks of claiming to care about federal workers and important programs like Medicaid, they are awfully quick to throw these people and programs aside in a desperate attempt to wrestle power away from the President of the United States. Their vote today should show every American their true intentions. Our Republican Conference will not be deterred by the Democrats’ glaring lack of effort to work together. We will get this funding bill to the President’s desk, which will allow us to deliver the President’s popular agenda for the American people.”

This Continuing Resolution also guarantees the following: 

• The largest pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers in 40 years.
• Protects Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Community Health Centers, and investments in the Federal Aviation Administration. 
• Allows ICE to continue deporting criminals.
• Extends the National Flood Insurance program. 
• Provides $6 billion for the toxic exposure fund to assist veterans’ healthcare needs. 

Provides $7.6 billion for the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress: 

“After President Trump’s powerful speech tonight, one thing is clear: the renewal of the American Dream is underway. President Trump has accomplished more in one month in office than most Presidents accomplish in four years, and there were plenty of achievements to celebrate tonight. Whether it’s securing the border, stopping the flow of fentanyl into our country, saving women’s sports, cutting government waste, and restoring peace around the globe – I am grateful for all that the President has done so far to get this country back on track. 

“As the President continues to steer this nation forward, I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can set partisan politics aside and join us in enacting the President’s agenda over the next four years. The American people delivered the President a mandate and we have a historic opportunity ahead of us to make tax cuts permanent and unlock other policies that will make our country stronger than ever before. I am confident that we can get the job done and continue to deliver for the American people.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) announced that Jennifer Hegseth, along with Minnesota hockey legend Phil Verchota, will join him as guests at President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress on Tuesday. 

Phil Verchota is a Duluth-native and member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic Hockey Team. Of his guest, Congressman Stauber stated, “During his Inaugural Address, President Trump said, ‘In America, the impossible is what we do best.’ No one exemplified this more than the young hockey players on the 1980 Olympic team, whose defeat of the dominant Soviet hockey team inspired our nation at a time of great need. As the author of legislation that will award this team with Congressional Gold Medals, I am proud to be joined by Phil Verchota during the President’s address to Congress. I know his presence tomorrow night will serve as a reminder that America’s greatness knows no bounds.”

Stauber is currently pushing his Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act in the House and is very close to securing the number of cosponsors necessary to receive a vote on the House Floor.

Jennifer Hegseth is the wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Of this guest, Congressman Stauber stated, “As a son of Forest Lake, Secretary Hegseth has made Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District incredibly proud through his work to make America’s fighting force stronger than ever before. I am honored to be joined by his wonderful wife tomorrow night during this historic address.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

Congress currently has a unique opportunity, through the reconciliation process, to align both the House and the Senate on an agreed upon budget which will ultimately allow Congress to pass legislation that supports an America First agenda. As Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, there are numerous opportunities to engage in this process. 

Republicans are committed to delivering on their promise to the American people by securing our borders, restoring American energy dominance, and rolling back burdensome regulations, all while saving billions of dollars to be put back into the pockets of hard-working taxpayers. 

Constituents across the Fourth District know firsthand the struggles faced due to increased grocery prices, increased energy bills which induce stress over higher gas prices, and imperiled national security through unprecedented numbers of illegal immigrants crossing our borders and putting our communities in danger. Because of this, Arkansans and Americans alike are demanding change, and House Republicans are ready to step up to the plate to deliver relief that is long overdue.

The budget resolution passed in the House this week creates a necessary blueprint to deliver on the promises House Republicans made to the American people by saving billions of taxpayer dollars, unleashing America’s energy potential, and implementing an America First agenda. Advancing this budget resolution will now allow committees, like the House Natural Resources Committee, to get to work on the nuts and bolts of reconciling the budget, implementing savings across the entirety of the government, and harnessing our biggest revenue generators like domestic energy production. 

By unlocking access to our energy and mineral reserves, actively managing federal forests, streamlining burdensome permitting processes, and repealing wasteful IRA spending, we will deliver a balanced, responsible reconciliation bill that builds the wealth of our nation without bankrupting future generations. Promises made, promises kept – House Republicans will continue to deliver relief to the American people, and it will be exciting to see the reconciliation process majorly contribute to these efforts.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

For many of us in rural parts of the country, agriculture roots run deep. Generations of families have invested their livelihoods tending to crops, raising livestock, and feeding millions through the bounty of their hard-earned harvest. Arkansans are certainly no stranger to this way of life. In the Natural State, we recognize how deeply important the agriculture industry is, not only to our own pocketbooks, but the success and sustainability of our country’s economy. American agriculture is unparalleled in its innovation, growth, and success which is why organizations like FFA, Future Farmers of America, are so important. 

It was a great honor to be a member of the Fountain Lake High School FFA local chapter and later serve as the Arkansas State FFA President. During this time, I learned important lessons through wonderful instructors like Mr. Albert McCoin, who ensured his students gained as much as they possibly could through classroom teachings, technical education, and leadership opportunities. Mr. McCoin also taught us, through his own example, just how valuable it is to be a hard worker and a dedicated leader. And his personal challenge to participate in public speaking and leadership opportunities would later factor into my service as the Representative of the Fourth District of Arkansas, something for which I will always be grateful. From learning how to tie a tie to what cutlery to use first in a formal dinner, FFA taught us important life lessons, not just in the agriculture industry, but to set us up for success in any of our career paths.

The timing of National FFA Week is not just a random week that was selected on the calendar, it was intentionally chosen in 1948 to fall upon President George Washington’s birthday in honor and recognition of our first President’s contributions to our nation’s agriculture industry. President Washington didn’t see himself first as a great leader, general, or even president. He saw himself first as a farmer. His life was dedicated to learning more about farming, creating a better agriculture industry to bolster the country’s output of crops and livestock, and developing more successful farming methods. This is an excellent reminder for us that our nation was built upon the backs of farmers. Washington’s dedication to farming remains a great influence on how FFA members conduct their own affairs and upon which the organization sets its values.

“Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve” is the motto adopted by the FFA in 1952 which has held firm today, over 70 years later. There is no better reminder just how important it is to continue learning, developing, and serving. As the demand for the earth’s bounty increases and technology advances in agriculture and forestry, there is a strong need for a technically educated workforce with hands-on experience.  There’s no more important time for strong vocational and technical education programs at the high school level than today.  My hope is that these programs grow stronger and that the students whose lives are enriched by the FFA organization would take part in every opportunity presented to them, develop their skills and knowledge to the best of their ability, and boldly press forward with a heart for service toward their communities. This week, may we all be grateful to FFA for their dedicated service in cultivating excellent leaders for our nation and the future of farming and agriculture. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

In today’s world, access to information and connection to others can be most easily found in a small rectangular device in our back pockets. Gone are the days when you had to go to the library to research an issue or find an answer to a question in a book. We no longer have phone booths or even landlines when trying to reach someone by phone. With the internet and phone combined in our back pockets, access to information and others has never been easier than it is today.

Ironically enough, as our technology advances and we find new, innovative ways for our cell phones to provide us with immediate access to the world, we are losing vital skills as it relates to critical thinking, attention spans, and communication. Cell phones were ultimately created to connect but have instead created more disconnection. Because of cell phone use among young people, distraction in the classroom has never been more concerning. Social media platforms have been intentionally created to become addictive, and even with teachers standing at the front of the classroom, they’re now competing for attention from students, and test scores have become the unfortunate collateral damage.

According to The Nation’s Report Card, test scores in schools across the country have been steeply declining since 2012, presumably in direct correlation to students’ cell phone use. And what’s worse, this cell phone use, even outside of the classroom, seems to also have dire impacts on the mental well-being of our young people. Many students will even tell you they feel less anxious when they put their phones away. As research is being conducted in scholarly settings about this epidemic, there is a large gap in data on the real-time effects of cell phone use in classrooms and its impact on the learning and mental health of students.

That’s why, this week, I proudly introduced the Focus on Learning Act, a bicameral bill that has received immense bipartisan support directly aimed at ensuring students are equipped to excel in the classroom, distraction-free. This bill instructs the U.S. Surgeon General to study the effects of cell phone use in schools and the impact on students’ mental health and academic performance. The legislation also implements a nationwide pilot program that provides students with secure containers to store their cell phones during school hours. Our young people are our future, and we are responsible for raising them to be successful, strong individuals. 

Numerous states, Arkansas included, have already paved the way for progress through various initiatives that will curb cell phone use among students. Distraction and disconnection among young people have never been higher, and I applaud the efforts by Governor Sanders and the Arkansas Legislature who are implementing similar policies at the state level and Senator Tom Cotton as he introduced this bill in the Senate last week. Once again, Arkansas continues to create the blueprint for better legislation for our students and school systems, and I look forward to seeing the positive effects in years to come.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

America is blessed with an abundance of fuel to produce reliable, diversified, and accessible energy, but the consumption demands are creating supply challenges. It is senseless on many levels to throttle instead of grow energy supply as we have seen in the past. American energy supports thousands of jobs, is essential for economic prosperity, and bolsters our national security.

President Trump’s Executive Orders are first steps toward renewing American energy dominance and were officially signed by Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, this week. Energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters, together with our robust private lands energy economy, can meet our nation’s growing energy needs for transportation, heat, power, and electricity.

Additionally, creating jobs through producing and processing critical minerals will not only contribute to our energy production, but create room for hundreds of American jobs – boosting the U.S. economy and supporting families across the country. A lot of our country’s minerals are found right here in the Fourth District of Arkansas, and I look forward to seeing how our community and Fourth District family will undoubtedly benefit from these initiatives.

Policies to withdraw vital energy production projects should have never happened in the first place. President Trump and his administration are changing course, and we watch in anticipation as our nation’s energy production is on the precipice of being unleashed and communities can begin to thrive. Secretary Burgum said it best: “We are committed to working collaboratively to unlock America’s full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of America’s natural resources and innovation.” 

House Republicans remain committed to working alongside the President to ensure his efforts toward American energy dominance are complimented with Congressional action. This week, House Republicans voted to pass The Protecting American Energy Production Act. This bill prevents future presidents from nationally banning fracking without first receiving approval from Congress. Encouragingly, the bill received bipartisan support as it easily passed the House. As Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, it was one of hopefully many energy bills I will manage and speak in favor of on the House Floor.

Hydraulic fracturing has become a staple in the oil and gas industry, propelling the United States to energy superpower status,by providing 64% of American crude oil and 78% of our natural gas. This surge in supply directly contributes to lower prices for consumers, stimulates economic growth, and creates more job opportunities – all things that my constituents and Americans across the country need.  A ban on hydraulic fracturing is ultimately a barrier between hardworking Americans and economic prosperity, and House Republicans are dedicated to ensuring that these opportunities will never be taken away from them again. 

Whether banning drilling and fracking projects on federal land or withdrawing mineral leases, these decisions cause immediate as well as delayed effects because energy and mining projects across the country are in various stages of development that can take years and even decades from the project start to production. Inconsistent policy creates uncertainty and cuts off our energy industry at the knees, which sets back our country’s energy production potential. This bill will protect American energy from future administrations looking to hinder energy production. This is a strong first step to address the energy crisis, and House Republicans are committed to advancing more legislation to unleash American energy as we continue to work alongside the President to restore American energy dominance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

For four years, the American people have been in last place. Under the previous administration, Americans felt increasing financial burdens, economic woes, and safety concerns at every turn. Countless constituents across the Fourth District called our offices in Washington D.C. and Arkansas to express their deep concerns with how they were going to keep their families safe, warm, and fed. So, in November, when it was time for the American people to cast their vote, they voted for prosperity, for relief, and for solutions. Within the first week of President Trump’s second administration, he has held true to his promises of putting Americans first.

In recent travels to the southern border, it was clear that our nation is facing an unprecedented national security crisis. Increased drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal border crossings just miles away from American homes, families, and children has exacerbated the need for an administration to protect the American people from dangerous individuals who threaten the safety of our citizens, not just in border states, but across the entire country. In November, the American people voted for a president who decided to face the border crisis directly and put the safety of the American people first. President Trump’s numerous Executive Orders during his first week in office did just that – declaring a national emergency at the southern border, authorizing continued wall construction, ending the “catch and release” program, and designating drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, among additional efforts that will bolster our national security.

While the President made extensive steps to secure our nation’s borders, House and Senate Republicans were hard at work keeping our promises to the American people as well. Recently, the House and Senate passed the Laken Riley Act, which was then sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law this week. Last year, a young nursing student with a bright future was senselessly and tragically murdered by an illegal immigrant who took advantage of the soft border policies under the previous administration. 

Unfortunately, we hear similar stories far too often. Just a few months ago, our Fourth District lost a friend, daughter, and devoted public servant at the hands of an illegal immigrant, reminding us that this issue is just as close to home as the unfortunate incident in Georgia. Under the Republican controlled House, Senate, and White House, we are ensuring that our borders are secure, Americans are protected, and no more families will ever have to grieve a senseless loss like this again.

While there is certainly a long road ahead of us, House Republicans remain dedicated to working with the new administration to create a better America for all Americans instead of creating a border security crisis that puts every American at risk. It’s time for common sense to enter back into the equation as we tackle these issues. The American people made their choice in November, and in the first few weeks, the Republican-led Congress and President Trump established bipartisan law to change course in keeping Americans safe, but there is still much work left to be done.