MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Harder chairs the bipartisan Build America Caucus focused on pro-growth policies

WASHINGTON – Today, following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling narrowing environmental reviews of infrastructure projects, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) released the following statement:

“We shouldn’t have to wait years to build common-sense projects like roads, bridges, and clean energy projects that make our communities better and more affordable. It’s clear the NEPA status quo is unnecessarily burdensome with current interpretations worlds apart from congressional intent. The best long-term fix is a bipartisan bill that makes it easier to build the projects we need quickly while respecting environmental concerns.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Above: Harder speaks with a Valley senior at the Lodi Memorial Park & Cemetery ceremony

LODI – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) joined active duty servicemembers, Valley veterans, and dozens of families to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Harder shared remarks about his personal connection to today’s events, the ongoing impact of fallen servicemembers’ sacrifices, and efforts to support past and present members of our armed forces.

California’s 9th Congressional District alone is home to nearly 30,000 veterans, and more than 160,000 active duty servicemembers call California their home. As a fifth-generation resident of the Valley whose grandfathers served in the armed forces, Harder is committed to ensuring servicemembers, veterans, and their families have the resources and support they have earned.

Harder was joined by representatives from local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts, American Legion posts, and local elected officials. 

Above: Harder joins Valley veterans and State Sen. Jerry McNerney at the Park View Cemetery ceremony

Above: Harder at the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium ceremony

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)

BOLTON, MS – Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announces the Military Academy appointments for the Second Congressional District. 

Dylan Michael Wiley has received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, Class of 2029, after being nominated by U.S. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson.

Dylan successfully completed his studies at the Naval Preparatory School (NAPS) in Newport, Rhode Island, where he demonstrated academic excellence and dedication. Throughout his time at NAPS, he excelled in his coursework and made significant contributions to the school community. His positive outlook and unwavering commitment to his future at the Naval Academy reflect his strong aspirations to succeed and lead. Among his many accomplishments, Dylan represented his peers as a NAPS representative. Additionally, he held the role of Supplementary Student Assistant for Physics and served as the NAPS 2nd Company Guide-On. 

Dylan is the son of Nelson and Debra Wiley, Jr. of Raymond, Mississippi, and he looks forward to continuing his educational journey at the United States Naval Academy.

Nicholas McGlorthan, has received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 2029, after being nominated by U.S. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson. 

Nicholas has successfully completed the Air Force Preparatory School in Colorado Springs, CO. At the USFA Prep School, Nicholas further developed his leadership and academic skills. He served as a Character Officer, guiding fellow Cadets in upholding the honor code. He took part in land navigation exercises in the Colorado mountains, marched in parades, and completed college-level courses in trigonometry, chemistry, and writing. He also participated in an aviation course, which included hands-on flight experience. Hiking the Colorado mountains has become one of his favorite pastimes. Nicholas plans to major in Mechanical Engineering at the Air Force Academy and is exploring a future career in drone piloting.

He is the son of Sharron McGlorthan of Jackson, Mississippi, and he looks forward to continuing his educational journey at the United States Air Force Academy.

If you are interested in attending a Military Academy, you may contact Ms. Shander Gund, my academy representative at (662) 741-9003 or via e-mail at shander.gund@mail.house.gov.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Job Corps Caucus, led a letter signed by 199 members of Congress to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging her to continue the Job Corps program.

On May 29, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice that it will begin a phased pause in operations at contractor-operated Job Corps centers across the country. Job Corps is a national program with over 120 centers across the country. Job Corps offers at-risk youth varied academic opportunities and career pathways in business and industry.

In their letter, they highlighted, “Nearly 20,000 young people utilize Job Corps to learn skills for in-demand vocational and technical job training. Job Corps is one of the few national programs that specifically targets the 16-24-year-old population that is neither working, nor in school, and provides them with a direct pathway into employment openings in industries such as manufacturing and shipbuilding. The program also connects these young Americans with apprenticeships, higher education opportunities, or the military.”

The members of Congress also noted, “As companies continue to onshore and invest in the men and women of our country, a steady stream of skilled laborers will be required to meet the growing workforce demand. The Job Corps program is uniquely positioned to fill that role and provide these hardworking young Americans with the vocational and technical job training that will set them and our country up for success.”

The Jun. 5 letter to Secretary Chavez-DeRemer can be viewed here.

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier’s M.D. (WA-08) bipartisan bill, the Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act (H.R. 3657), passed through the Energy Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. This bill will support clean, reliable, and affordable energy for Washington state ratepayers by enhancing efficiency and transparency for all parties involved in the hydropower dam relicensing process. Hydropower dams must relicense their dams with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in order to continue operating a facility every 30 to 50 years.  Congresswoman Schrier introduced this bill alongside Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01).

“Over half of the energy produced in Washington State comes from hydropower, making it an essential part of our state’s economy, future, and clean energy goals,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “Chip manufacturing and data center expansion are driving energy demand through the roof, and it’s critical that we meet the moment. By providing transparency on the hydropower dam relicensing process, we can better inform all parties and streamline the process. I’m thrilled to work with both parties on this to bring this closer to the President’s desk.”

“Hydropower is an essential and dependable baseload energy source for the Northwest,” said Congressman Fulcher. “I am proud to support the Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act, H.R. 3657, with my colleague Representative Kim Schrier of Washington. This legislation requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to report annually—rather than every three years—on its progress in getting crucial hydropower facilities relicensed. FERC has not demonstrated its ability to license and relicense facilities in a timely manner to meet the growing demands of the region and support this clean energy. More congressional oversight is needed to increase transparency, address bottlenecks, and help ensure applicants can move through FERC’s process more efficiently.”

According to a DOE report, FERC relicensing activity is set to more than double in the coming decade. On average, relicensing a hydropower facility takes between seven to ten years to complete. This legislation will help maintain resource adequacy in the Pacific Northwest by requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to provide an annual report to Congress on the status of the relicensing process for each application for a renewed hydropower dam license. The bill now moves to the Full Committee of Energy and Commerce for consideration. 

“The Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step toward greater accountability and public trust in how our rivers are managed,” said Thomas O’Keefe, PhD, Director of Policy and Science, American Whitewater. “By requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to provide annual updates on the status of pending hydropower relicensing proceedings, this bill empowers communities, Tribes, resource agencies, and stakeholders with the information they need to ensure that these critical decisions reflect today’s environmental values, energy priorities, and public interests.” 

“I thank Rep. Schrier and the Energy Subcommittee of E&C for advancing this important legislation for the hydropower industry. At a time of rising energy demand, we need to protect as much clean energy as we can,” said Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association. “Hydropower can help ensure Americans’ electricity is reliable and affordable for decades to come, but it’s hampered by a prohibitively long, costly, and disorganized relicensing process that could ultimately take many GW of energy off the grid. This bill is a good first step to ensuring a more transparent regulatory process, and we urge the full House to pass it swiftly.”

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) introduced the Family Vaccine Protection Act to remove politics from the life-saving immunization schedule, stand up to RFK Jr.’s dangerous anti-vaccine actions, and protect children, expectant mothers, and other vulnerable members of the community from vaccine-preventable diseases.

“Our current Secretary of Health and Human Services continues to undermine science and peddle conspiracy theories. This nation’s physicians and public health system have relied upon the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for 61 years to evaluate scientific evidence, ask questions, and ultimately make a determination about whether to recommend a vaccine and for whom. This bill ensures that physicians and other scientific experts are the ones who evaluate those studies and make those decisions, as has always been the case. Recent efforts to undermine the ACIP by pressuring physicians like Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos to parrot RFK Jr. talking points have unfortunately made this bill necessary,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “I will continue to stand up for scientific integrity and fight RFK Jr.’s peddling of conspiracy theories.”

“Secretary Kennedy is governing by conspiracy theory and putting the health of our children at risk,” said Ranking Member Pallone. “After just a few months in office, he’s already broken the promise he made during his Senate confirmation hearing to not interfere with the lifesaving childhood vaccine schedule. He’s simultaneously presided over the largest measles outbreak in decades while actively undermining vaccination efforts for COVID-19, measles, polio, and the flu—especially for pregnant women and the tiniest infants, two of the highest risk populations. Enough is enough—it’s time to take politics out of medicine and ensure all families have access to affordable life-saving vaccines. Dr. Schrier and I are introducing this legislation to keep Secretary Kennedy’s conspiracy theories out of the doctor’s office and to protect moms and their kids.”

The Family Vaccine Protection Act comes on the heels of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s unilateral withdrawal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. This reckless decision—circumventing science-based approval—begins a slippery slope toward a sicker America where Kennedy alone decides what’s best for American children.

For months, RFK, Jr.’s HHS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have ignored science-based recommendations by the independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In April, ACIP voted unanimously to expand its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine recommendation and to provide a meningococcal vaccine to healthy teens and college-aged kids—but Kennedy ignored these recommendations. These actions are setting a dangerous precedent and jeopardizing access through critical programs like the Vaccines for Children program.

Secretary Kennedy is actively backtracking on his own promise in November 2024 that he wouldn’t “take away anybody’s vaccines” and contradicting his own Food and Drug Administration’s framework. His brazen undermining of ACIP’s independence and persistent spreading of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories threatens decades of public health progress—and will put the lives of pregnant women and unvaccinated infants at risk. 

The Family Vaccine Protection Act protects access to affordable vaccines by: 

• Codifying current practices of a rigorous, science-based system for recommending vaccines:
  • This bill sets a timeline for new vaccine consideration by ACIP and requires that both the CDC Director and HHS Secretary adopt such recommendations if supported by a preponderance of scientific evidence.
• Strengthening the independence of the Advisory Committee:
  • This bill writes the role of ACIP into statute and specifies its structure, its membership selection processes, meeting frequency, and expertise requirements—protecting it from dissolution or undue interference by the HHS Secretary.
• Keeping politics out of medicine by ensuring the Secretary cannot unilaterally make or withdraw vaccine recommendations contrary to the advice of scientific experts:
  • This bill requires the HHS Secretary to adopt the official vaccine decision as set by ACIP—and if the Secretary chooses to depart from an ACIP recommendation, it requires the Secretary to publish the basis for the agency action, including an explanation as to how the action is supported by the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence.
• Establishing guardrails to ensure vaccines remain accessible to all:
  • This bill protects the role of ACIP in making immunization recommendations for the Vaccines for Children Program as well as for the purposes of cost-free coverage of vaccines by health insurance plans—ensuring continued widespread access to life-saving vaccines.

The Family Vaccine Protection Act has received the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Public Health Association, Infectious Disease Society of America, and Vaccinate Your Family.

Read the full bill text HEREand a section-by-section summary HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

Today, June 5^th, 2025, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) hosted a policy briefing on the Property Insurance Crisis in Florida and across the nation. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson brought policy experts to discuss the rising costs of property insurance, its coverage, and the challenges consumers face when dealing with property insurance.

“Everywhere I go in Florida, doesn’t matter what parts folks are from, people are concerned about our property insurance crisis. And with hurricane season just starting, causing a rush through the hearts of South Florida Families, the fear of the rising costs of homeowner’s insurance is real and tangible for folks,” Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said. “That’s why I introduced the Homeowners’ Defense Act and convened a policy briefing, because we need real solutions to this crisis. Property insurance has become too expensive, with limited options and many insurers refusing coverage. It’s time we tackle this issue head-on.”

According to Insurify, Florida’s projected cost of property insurance averages about $11,000 a year.

As part of the 119^th Congress, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson introduced the Homeowners’ Defense Act.  The Act seeks to bolster state efforts in managing natural disaster risks, support insurance market stability, and encourage mitigation and preventive measures to reduce future losses.

Joining Congresswoman Frederica Wilson in this briefing were Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-2), Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-5), and Congressman Jonathan Jackson (IL-1).

“Florida’s property insurance crisis is pushing families to make impossible choices. I’ve heard from Central Floridians that they are forgoing coverage altogether because they can’t afford both healthcare and property insurance. It’s a shame that the property insurance crisis has put folks in this position,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10). “And it’s leading to a dangerous situation as climate change creates even more devastating hurricane seasons. We need urgent, collective action from policymakers and industry leaders before this makes worse the ongoing housing crisis.”

“The escalating cost of homeowners insurance is not just a coastal issue; it’s hitting families hard right here in Chicago and the First District. We’ve seen premiums jump by as much as 50% in Illinois in just a few short years. Many of my constituents, particularly those in historic neighborhoods with older homes, are facing a double whammy: skyrocketing rates and, in some cases, the inability to find coverage at all,” Congressman Jonathan Jackson said (IL-1). “We need to explore all avenues – from federal support for mitigation and reinsurance, like ideas in H.R. 827, to robust state oversight – to ensure that insurance remains accessible and affordable, and that homeowners are treated fairly.”

“I was proud to join my friend Congresswoman Frederica Wilson today to confront one of the most pressing challenges facing homeowners across the country – skyrocketing property insurance costs. This is hitting working families in every corner of America, especially Louisiana, and it’s squeezing them out of homeownership. The briefing made one thing clear: as natural disasters become more prevalent, property and casualty insurance rates will continue to rise and impact more communities. We have more storms in more places that have historically never had this before. There will continue to be a strain on communities as people will be dropped from insurance coverage after sustaining damages. This is unacceptable. Property insurance should be fair, accessible, and affordable for everyone,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).

Congresswoman Nikema Williams said (GA-5), “Climate change’s impact on the insurance market is something I’ve experienced firsthand. After a hailstorm damaged my roof and those of my neighbors, I filed a claim—only to be labeled high-risk and dropped by my insurer. This is part of a growing trend of insurance companies pulling out of markets they consider too risky due to climate change. For families already struggling to get by, losing home insurance could mean losing the chance to build equity and generational wealth. If we leave this issue unaddressed—or worse, pretend it doesn’t exist—we put all homeowners at serious risk.”

The panel included Doug Heller from the Consumer Federation of America, Robert Gordon from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, and Baird Webel and Diane Horn from the Congressional Research Service. Alice Hill, the David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relation, moderated the event.

Vice Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Commission, Kionne McGhee, said “The crushing weight of mortgages, taxes, and insurance is already wiping out generational wealth. And with the high cost of property insurance, folks are struggling to even protect their families. Some insurance companies can raise rates and still stay within the law–decisions made behind closed doors with no regard for the people affected. For families with no savings, higher payments don’t mean just cutting back—it means choosing between skipping meals just to keep their homes. We need to address this property insurance crisis head-on for the sake of the families of Miami-Dade County and across the nation.”

Douglas Heller, Director of Insurance at the Consumer Federation of America said, “Over the past several years, Americans have experienced an unprecedented increase in the cost of homeowners insurance and an equally unprecedented decrease in its availability. This is not only causing acute financial pain for millions of families, it is making homeownership less sustainable and less attainable. In order to address this crisis, as climate change increases risk across the country, we need to invest in loss mitigation and resilience, and we also need to demand better oversight and more scrutiny of the insurance companies that we rely on to protect our homes.”

Robert Gordon, APCIA’s senior vice president of policy, research, and international  said, “APCIA commends Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Darren Soto, and Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Vice Chair Kionne McGhee for their interest in addressing factors impacting the cost of living, including housing and homeowners insurance.  The growing demographic shifts and property values to high-climate-risk areas, inflation in the cost to repair and replace property, climate change, legal system abuse, delayed regulatory approval of rate filings, and mandated coverages have collectively resulted in escalating insurance losses.  Insurance is a passthrough of those costs. While homeowners insurance is a relatively small percent of the overall cost of homeownership, APCIA is committed to working with housing groups and regulators on long-term solutions to improve the availability and affordability of insurance. APCIA is also committed to working with members of Congress on commonsense mitigation and resiliency solutions that will better protect consumers and slow the rate of increase in property losses.” 

The Congressional Research Service has published multiple reports on the Property Insurance Crisis, including “Homeowners Insurance and California Wildfires,” “Natural Disasters and the Homeowners Insurance Market,” and ‘“Hearing on “The Factors Influencing the High Cost of Insurance for Consumers”’

For photos and B-Roll of the event, click here.

For the livestream of the event, click here.

This event was held in Rayburn House Office Building; Room 2075.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the reported ICE arrests in San Francisco:
 
“It is stupid that ICE is now arresting families and children for obeying the law. The detained immigrants were diligently cooperating with law enforcement and complying with the law by reporting to their regularly scheduled check-in with ICE. These families were following their normal routine – and if the purpose of ICE is to ensure immigration laws and processes are enforced and followed, these arrests run counter to that mission and are inconsistent with it.

“The traumatic impact these detainments will have on these families – including a three-year-old child – who are being detained for obeying the law is outrageous and unforgivable. This menacing conduct will instill fear in immigrants who have scheduled future check-ins with ICE officials and their trepidation may deter them from pursuing lawful pathways. Clearly ICE does not place a value on our responsibility to the wellbeing of families.

“For a long time, there have been concerns about the behavior of ICE and how they are penalizing people who obey the law. The arrests in San Francisco are a manifestation of a broader pattern of ICE’s ineffective renegade behavior. Oversight and reform of ICE is needed now more than ever.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) released the following statement after a federal judge temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Labor from moving forward with its plan to suspend operations at contractor-operated Job Corps Centers, including the one located in Laredo:

“The federal court’s decision is the right one. The Department of Labor’s plan to shut down contractor-operated Job Corps Centers – including Laredo’s – will cause irreparable harm to students, staff, and South Texas communities. Sending young people home in the middle of their training is just plain wrong.

“Of the nearly 200 students currently participating at the Laredo Job Corps Center, 154 live on campus. For many of them, this is their only stable housing. We cannot force kids out of their student housing at the start of the summer. It’s wrong and it should never have been considered in the first place.

“Congress created Job Corps, and Congress funded it with nearly $1.8 billion in FY2024 and continued funding through FY2025. The Department does not have the authority to dismantle this life-changing program without Congressional input.

“I proudly joined a bipartisan letter urging the Department of Labor to reverse course and protect these centers. Job Corps provides critical career training for over 20,000 young Americans, including hundreds in Laredo, many of whom are gaining skills in high-demand fields like welding, electrical, culinary arts, protective services, certified nursing assistance, facilities maintenance, accounting, and much more. For many, this program is the difference between hardship and opportunity.

“I will continue fighting to ensure Laredo’s Job Corps Center remains open and fully funded. We must strengthen programs that give our youth a shot at success and help meet our nation’s growing workforce needs.”

The Laredo Job Corps Center has the capacity to serve 220 students and employs nearly 200 staff. It offers pathways to in-demand careers, high school equivalency programs, English language instruction, and internship opportunities. The Department’s original decision threatened not only the futures of those students but also the economic stability of hundreds of families in South Texas.

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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
Jueves, 5 de Junio de 2025 

El Congresista Cuellar Aplaude la Decisión Judicial que Detiene el Cierre de Job Corps

Washington, D.C. – Hoy, el Congresista de los Estados Unidos Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) publicó la siguiente declaración después de que un juez federal bloqueó temporalmente al Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos de seguir adelante con su plan de suspender las operaciones en los Centros Job Corps operados por contratistas, incluyendo el que se encuentra en Laredo:

“La decisión del tribunal federal es la correcta. El plan del Departamento de Trabajo de cerrar los centros Job Corps operados por contratistas -incluido el de Laredo- causará un daño irreparable a los estudiantes, al personal y a las comunidades del sur de Texas. Enviar a los jóvenes a casa en medio de su entrenamiento es simplemente incorrecto.

“De los casi 200 estudiantes que participan actualmente en el Centro Job Corps de Laredo, 154 viven en el campus. Para muchos de ellos, ésta es su única vivienda estable. No podemos obligar a los jóvenes a abandonar su vivienda estudiantil al principio del verano. Es un error y nunca debería haberse considerado en primer lugar.

“El Congreso creó Job Corps, y el Congreso lo financió con casi 1.800 miles de millones de dólares en el año fiscal 2024 y continuó financiándolo hasta el año fiscal 2025. El Departamento no tiene autoridad para desmantelar este programa que cambia vidas sin la participación del Congreso.

“Con orgullo me uní a una carta bipartidista instando al Departamento de Trabajo a revertir el curso y proteger estos centros. Job Corps proporciona formación profesional crítica a más de 20.000 jóvenes estadounidenses, incluidos cientos en Laredo, muchos de los cuales están obteniendo habilidades en campos de alta demanda como soldadura, electricidad, artes culinarias, servicios de protección, asistencia de enfermería certificada, mantenimiento de instalaciones, contabilidad y mucho más. Para muchos, este programa es la diferencia entre la penuria y la oportunidad.

“Seguiré luchando para asegurar que el Centro Job Corps de Laredo siga abierto y totalmente financiado. Debemos fortalecer los programas que dan a nuestros jóvenes una oportunidad de éxito y ayudan a satisfacer las crecientes necesidades de mano de obra de nuestra nación.”

El Centro Job Corps de Laredo tiene capacidad para atender a 220 estudiantes y emplea a casi 200 trabajadores. Ofrece vías para acceder a profesiones demandadas, programas de equivalencia de enseñanza secundaria, cursos de inglés y oportunidades de prácticas. La decisión original del Departamento amenazaba no sólo el futuro de esos estudiantes, sino también la estabilidad económica de cientos de familias del sur de Texas.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)

Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswomen Carol Miller (R-WV) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), reintroduced the Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act (PEAKS) Act. The PEAKS Act would ensure Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas receive fair compensation for ambulatory services and modify distance requirements.  

“Everyone, regardless of where they live, should have access to quality and affordable health care. My home state of West Virginia has more Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas than any other state in the country, and I know how hard it can be for those who live in rural, mountainous regions to receive treatment in a timely manner. The Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act (PEAKS Act) is life-saving legislation that will ensure Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas are compensated fairly for the ambulatory services they provide to patients and positively impact rural communities across the nation. It’s imperative that all patients, especially those that live in unforgiving terrain, can access emergency medical care,” said Rep. Carol Miller.

“All Americans deserve quality access to health services, even if they reside in areas that are difficult to access. To protect the wellbeing of our rural residents, we must ensure that these hospitals have enough funding to continue providing their life-saving services. The Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites (PEAKS) Act allows us to do so, by broadening the requirements to become a Critical Access Hospital and by providing fair compensation for their emergency transportation services. The American public should be able to rely on its ambulances,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren.

“As residents of the Mountain State, we are proud of our beautiful peaks, however, we are also aware of the transportation challenges—especially for ambulances—that exist due to our mountainous topography. I’m proud to introduce the PEAKS Act to address this challenge and ensure even our most rural residents can depend on ambulance services, as well as ensure our critical access hospitals are able to provide the best care possible,” said Senator Capito.

“We commend Congresswoman Miller for her leadership in introducing the PEAKS Act, which addresses the financial and operational challenges rural hospitals in West Virginia and across the country face every day. Her continued commitment to supporting access to care in underserved communities is deeply appreciated by our hospitals, providers, and the patients they serve. The PEAKS Act is a strong step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of rural healthcare, and we’re proud to support this important effort,” said Jim Kaufman, President and CEO, West Virginia Hospital Association

Click HERE for bill text. 

Background: 

• Critical Access Hospitals are hospitals that serve residents in rural areas.
• The PEAKS Act would allow for Critical Access Hospitals located in mountainous areas to be reimbursed for their emergency medical transportation services.
• The Act would also make certain that Critical Access Hospitals would not lose their designation despite any new hospital that is built within 15 miles. 

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