MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) to reintroduce the Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act. This bipartisan bill would create an “essential health system” designation in federal law to make it easier for hospitals in underserved communities to receive funding, grants, and support from the federal government. 

“Central Valley hospitals play a vital role in caring for our communities, but they can’t do that without the resources they need,” said Congressman Valadao. “The bipartisan Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act helps better identify rural and underserved hospitals that require critical investments, making it easier to direct federal resources where they’re needed most. Ensuring Central Valley families have access to affordable, quality healthcare is my top priority, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance commonsense solutions to meet that goal.”

“The hospitals that care for our most vulnerable neighbors are doing more with less every single day,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “By reintroducing the Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act, we’re reaffirming our commitment to ensuring these hospitals are better positioned to receive the resources they need to keep their doors open and their communities healthy. This bill gives Congress a smarter, fairer way to direct support to the health systems that serve as lifelines in cities and towns across the country.”

Background:

Essential community hospitals are critical components of a city, town, or region’s healthcare network, often serving higher numbers of Medicaid, low-income Medicare, and uninsured patients. To open additional pathways for funding, the Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act would carve out a new designation, “essential health systems,” in federal law and requires a report on each hospital’s percentile ranking on Disproportionate Patient Percentage (DPP) and Uncompensated Care Payment Factor (UCPF). This change could then be used by lawmakers to better target funding, health equity initiatives, and public health resources to support these nonprofit facilities that serve traditionally vulnerable populations.

A hospital qualifies as an essential health system if it meets the following standards:

• It’s a hospital that participates in Medicare’s primary hospital payment program. 
• It’s operated by a government entity or is a private, non-profit hospital.
• It meets at least one of the following criteria:
• Serves a high number of low-income patients: At least 35 percent of the hospital’s patients are low-income, based on Medicaid coverage and Medicare patients with limited incomes.
• Provides a significant amount of unpaid care: The hospital delivers at least 0.05 percent of all unpaid hospital care nationwide, placing it among the hospitals that shoulder the greatest burden of uncompensated care in the country.
• Ranks among the state’s leading safety-net hospitals: The hospital is in the top 16 percent in its state for serving vulnerable patients and providing unpaid care. This ensures hospitals in rural areas or states with smaller Medicaid populations are not excluded.
• Hospitals have maintained the above criteria in two out of the last three years.
• Hospitals retain eligibility for five years after designation.

Under this definition, five hospitals in CA-22 would qualify as essential health systems and become eligible for additional federal support, including Kern Medical Center, Adventist Health Hanford, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Sierra View Medical Center, and Adventist Health Delano.

Read the full bill here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

Refusing to provide this care shows they are choosing to operate as political organizations rather than healthcare institutions.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Argues: Courts Are Place to Resolve Disputes Not Granting Blanket Immunity to Big-Money Donors of Donald Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, 

Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet held a hearing entitled: “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Protecting the U.S. Stone Slab Industry from Lawfare,” a Republican attempt to curry favor with big-money donors of Donald Trump who manufacture artificial stone counter tops, not to protect workers’ health, safety and ability to unionize.

The following are Congressman Johnson’s opening remarks:

Workers across the country are getting sick and dying of an entirely preventable disease. This disease is called silicosis. And it happens when silica dust and other toxic materials are inhaled into the lungs over and over again. Toxic particles are trapped deep inside workers’ lungs, leaving them struggling to breathe. Silicosis has no cure, and it is a death sentence.

Many of us from Georgia hear silicosis, and we think of the men and women who worked in the mines their whole lives. But this silicosis epidemic is caused by working with a material called artificial stone, and it makes workers sick faster and younger. Doctors are seeing patients in their 20s and 30s—men with families and young children—so sick that they require double lung transplants. So sick that they can no longer work and no longer provide for their families. So sick that they slowly suffocate to death.

Artificial stone produces dangerous toxins when cut, and there is no way to use an artificial stone slab without cutting it. Artificial stone has a higher concentration of silica and the particles it produces are smaller, which can evade safety standards on the books for handling products with silica. 

 So why are we having this hearing today? Surely, we must be here to talk about how Congress can protect workers from artificial stone silicosis? No. 

Maybe we’re here to talk about how the workplace safety standards currently in place aren’t doing enough to keep artificial stone workers healthy? Not that either. 

Perhaps we’re here to discuss how we can make it easier for stone fabrication workers to unionize so that they can negotiate better health and safety protections for themselves? Still no.

So, if not to address the problem of workers being poisoned on the job, why did my colleagues across the aisle call this hearing? Apparently, it’s to give a handout to a millionaire friend of Donald Trump.

The bill behind today’s hearing would give blanket immunity to artificial stone manufacturers and suppliers, preventing injured workers from seeking justice in court. It would dismiss the hundreds of cases pending against these manufacturers. And Congress would make a multi-millionaire CEO’s problems go away, while the workers who cut, grind, polish, and install his product struggle to make ends meet.

For those of you who are saying someone else is to blame — that employers are the real villains: Our courts determine liability all the time. People petition the court, have their grievances heard, a judge and jury consider the evidence, and a judgement is rendered. Manufacturers are asking for a different scenario. One where the deep pockets go to Congress, Congress makes a snap judgement, and the big businesses never have to go to court again. 

That’s not how our justice system is supposed to work, and I condemn the blatant misuse of this Committee to shield corporations at the expense of the American worker. 

I am not here to give artificial stone manufacturers a bailout today. I am here today for Mitchell Boulware [BOWL-ware], a Georgia resident who owned and worked at a stone fabrication shop for over two decades. Mitch and his son Jacob—who started working in the shop as a teenager—have both been diagnosed with silicosis. Because of shortness of breath and constant fatigue, Mitch is no longer able to work. Workers like Mitch and Jacob have every right to go to the courts and ask for justice from those who caused them harm. And it is unconscionable to propose that we take that right away from them. 

So, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for calling this hearing. Not because I support this bill. But because this hearing has provided the opportunity to tell the stories of workers like Mitch and Jacob. Workers who deserve our attention and our respect are dying. And they deserve the opportunity, like everyone else working in this country, to bring their case to court. 

To watch his opening remarks, click HERE. 

To watch the entire hearing, click HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

WASHINGTON DC – Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) announced that she has nominated 17 Michigan students for placement at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

“One of my most meaningful duties as a Member of Congress is nominating students from Michigan’s 11th District to our nation’s prestigious service academies,” said Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11). “To serve in our military is the most honorable deed any American can perform, and I am so grateful to be able to assist these inspiring students in their pursuit of service. I am rooting for them throughout the rest of their application processes, and can’t wait to see what their futures hold.”

Students seeking an appointment to a service academy must first obtain a nomination from a nominating source – most commonly through their Members of Congress. Now that these students have been nominated, they must await acceptance of admission by the academy to which they have applied.

Students interested in learning about the service academy process, including how to earn a nomination from Congresswoman Stevens, may visit our website here.

The nominees, along with their hometowns and high school or university, are listed below:

United States Air Force Academy

• Colin Bibbs – Royal Oak High School, Royal Oak
• Gage Pouget – Hazel Park High School, Hazel Park
• Charles Shane – Home school, Waterford
• Jack Sobotka – Troy High School, Troy

United States Military Academy 

• Nash Albertie – Seaholm High School, Birmingham
• Eugene Kim – International Academy Okma, Troy
• Nika Ladosenszky – St. Mary’s Prep, West Bloomfield
• Tristan Oatman – St. Mary’s Prep, West Bloomfield
• Jeanne Park – Troy High School, Troy
• Rebecca Turner – Seaholm High School, Birmingham
• Jake Yono – St. Mary’s Prep, Bloomfield Hills

United States Naval Academy 

• Hugh Aaron – Detroit Country Day, Bloomfield Hills
• Morgan Black – Berkley High School, Berkley
• Levi Citron – International Academy Okma, Huntington Woods
• Colin Duffany – Lakeland High School, White Lake
• Conor Field – Roeper High School/Wayne State University, Bloomfield Hills
• Nika Ladosenszky – St. Mary’s Prep, West Bloomfield
• Tristan Oatman – St. Mary’s Prep, West Bloomfield
• Gage Pouget – Hazel Park High School, Hazel Park 
• Charles Shane – Home school, Waterford
• Giavanna Tanguay – St. Mary’s Prep, West Bloomfield
• Jake Yono – St. Mary’s Prep, Bloomfield Hills

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, DC -Yesterday, the Chairs of the House Monopoly Busters Caucus and Chairs of the Labor Caucus pressed the Surface Transportation Board (STB) about the proposed merger of Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific. The Monopoly Busters Caucus Chairs Reps. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Angie Craig (MN-02) and Labor Caucus Chairs Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Donald Norcross (NJ-01) cited serious concerns over the deal’s potential to devastate rail workers and compromise public safety. 

In a letter to the rail regulator, the Chairs lay out a series of questions about the merger’s impact on rail workers, safety protocols, and market competition that must be addressed before the Board moves forward with any approval. 

“Rail workers have borne the brunt of decades of industry consolidation and cost-cutting priorities that put corporate profits above worker and public safety,” the Chairs wrote. “A merger of this magnitude would affect the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers, and it is critical that the STB fully account for these impacts.”

The letter highlights the history of intense consolidation in the rail industry, noting that since the 1980s, the number of Class I freight railroads has plummeted from 33 to just six, while total rail employment has fallen from 500,000 to fewer than 200,000. The Chairs also pointed to the catastrophic February 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, as a stark reminder of the safety failures that can happen under existing operational practices and consolidated corporate power. 

The Chairs are demanding that the STB require the rail companies to provide verified responses to questions regarding: 

• Accountability for Past Deals: A full audit of whether Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific actually fulfilled the labor and safety commitments they made during previous acquisitions and mergers; 
• Workforce Impact: Provide current staffing levels and specific projections for job losses or changes to unionized craft positions over the next five years; 
• Safety Integration: Detailed plans on how the companies will merge two complex networks without compromising track maintenance, hazardous-materials training, or worker safety; and 
• Protection of Bargaining Power: Analysis of how reducing the number of major employers from six down to five will impact wage growth and collective-bargaining leverage for rail unions. 

The lawmakers have asked STB Chair Patrick Fuchs to make these responses available to the public and to Congress at least 60 days prior to any final decision on whether the merger is in the public interest. 

The full letter can be found here. 

Issues: Housing, Transportation, & Infrastructure, Science, Technology, & Antitrust

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Griffith Statement on Governor Youngkin Tenure

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Mike Carey (R-OH), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) introduced the Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act, a bill to clarify that children enrolled in Medicaid who have a suspected rare disease or genetic disorder can access genomic sequencing, a diagnostic tool that has quickly become the standard of care, to help get answers more quickly.

The Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act was inspired by Project Baby Bear, led by Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego from 2018 to 2020. The study found that the use of these rapid diagnostic tests to help patients get treated more quickly can save lives and thousands of dollars in unnecessary health care costs per patient. Project Baby Bear’s success prompted other states to follow suit and begin their own pilot programs: Project Baby Manatee in Florida, Project Baby Deer in Michigan, and Project Baby Badger in Wisconsin.

“San Diego is home to groundbreaking scientific innovations, especially in genomics, which helps diagnose and treat some of the world’s most pressing diseases,” said Rep. Peters. “It’s hard enough for parents and families to face an unknown medical future for a young child and they should have access to every available diagnostic tool. Medicaid coverage for whole genome sequencing will allow doctors to better target treatments and improve children’s lives. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to turn innovation into real results for patients.”

“The Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act takes an important step toward improving outcomes for children facing rare, complex, and often undiagnosed medical conditions,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “For too many families, the search for answers can take years-often involving countless tests, ongoing uncertainty, and significant emotional and financial strain. This legislation clarifies access to advanced genomic sequencing and research tools that can lead to earlier diagnoses, more targeted treatments, and better care for children with rare diseases. This legislation also continues important momentum started by several states, including my home state of Florida, which passed the groundbreaking Sunshine Genetics Act last year.”

“Too many families spend years searching for answers while their child’s condition worsens,” said Rep. Veasey. “The Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act requires Medicaid to cover whole genome and whole exome sequencing to ensure children and their families can receive accurate and timely diagnoses. This bill is about empowering families with the hope, clarity, and tools necessary to take charge of their child’s health.”

“For families of children with rare and undiagnosed conditions, there are often more questions than answers. Genetic and genomic testing gives physicians the tools to properly diagnose and treat sooner. The Genomic Answers for Children’s Act removes barriers so more children can access this life-changing diagnostic technology and begin receiving the treatment they need,” said Rep. Balderson

“I’m proud to co-lead the Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act because far too many children with rare diseases wait years for a diagnosis. With millions of kids affected by conditions that are often genetic and hard to identify, this bill helps families get answers sooner so children can receive the right care at the right time. Earlier clarity can make all the difference for a child’s health and a family’s peace of mind,” said Rep. Mullin.

“The Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act would improve outcomes for some of our medically fragile individuals,” Rep. Carey said. “This legislation takes steps to ensure that children all across the country have access to diagnostics that can help families and their physicians understand the root causes of their health conditions, which will in turn allow them to receive more timely and appropriate treatments. I’m proud to support this legislation because all Americans deserve the chance to live to the fullest potential, regardless of their underlying health disorders.”

“I’m proud to support the Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act, which will allow more children across our nation to access this powerful tool, providing them and their families with the more accurate diagnosis they need and deserve,” said Rep. Salazar. “Genomic sequencing is revolutionizing the way we approach healthcare. In my district, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital uses it as a core component of its Pharmacogenomics Program.”

“Every family with a critically ill child suffering from an acute condition of unknown origin deserves a swift diagnosis,” said Patrick Frias, MD, Co-President & CEO of Rady Children’s Health. “The Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine has been at the forefront of eliminating the diagnostic odyssey for neonatal and pediatric rare diseases. We are profoundly thankful to Rep. Scott Peters for his unwavering dedication to ensuring that all patients have access to this transformative diagnostic tool.”

“The Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act would meaningfully expand access to actionable diagnostic testing services for our youngest patients with serious disease,” said Susan Van Meter, President, ACLA. “Clinical laboratories play a central role in delivering high-quality genomic testing, providing the sequencing, analysis, and interpretation that help clinicians reach accurate diagnoses and guide care. By clearly recognizing whole genome and whole exome sequencing, uniquely suited for diagnosing rare diseases, as covered Medicaid services, promoting awareness, and requiring CMS to evaluate access and outcomes, this legislation would help ensure children can receive medically necessary testing without delay and benefit from earlier diagnoses, more targeted treatments, and improved health outcomes.”

“We support this bill so that the type of insurance a child has isn’t a barrier to accessing potentially life-saving genetic testing,” said Bob Fasinski, Board Member, Avery’s Hope.

“Early genomic diagnosis is essential. Without it, we miss critical windows when disease-modifying therapies can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Access to sequencing isn’t a luxury — it’s the foundation of effective rare disease care,” said Cat Lutz, Vice President Rare Disease Translational Center and Professor, The Jackson Laboratory.

“Michigan Rare Coalition urges lawmakers to support, The Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act, requiring comprehensive Medicaid coverage of medically necessary genomic sequencing for critically ill, undiagnosed infants and children, recognizing that timely access to these tests can mean the difference between life and death for some of our most vulnerable little ones. Genomic sequencing can accurately identify an underlying rare or genetic condition when standard-of-care testing has failed. By standardizing access and coverage, Medicaid can reduce the downstream costs often associated with a delayed diagnosis, hospitalizations, and invasive testing. Access to a Diagnosis = Better Health Outcomes + Reduced Long Term Costs,” said Leslie Baldwin, Co-Founder, President and CEO, MI Rare Alliance.

Background:

More than 30 million Americans live with a rare disease, and over half are children. For many families, the search for a diagnosis—often called the “diagnostic odyssey”—can take 4 to 8 years, involve multiple misdiagnoses, numerous tests that do not yield the needed answers, and cost thousands of dollars in additional health care expenses. Whole genome sequencing and whole exome sequencing can dramatically shorten this process and provide patients with answers in days or weeks to improve health outcomes and reduce costs.

The legislation clarifies that genomic sequencing is covered under Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit for eligible children in both inpatient and outpatient settings and directs states to implement an inpatient diagnosis-related group add-on payment to support access in hospital settings. Studies show that genomic sequencing is not only clinically effective, but also cost-efficient in certain cases, and major medical organizations recommend its use for pediatric patients with suspected rare diseases or undiagnosed conditions.

This bill is endorsed by: Rady Children’s Hospital, Aimed Alliance, Ambry Genetics, American Clinical Laboratory Association, Avery’s Hope, Baylor Genetics, The Bonnell Foundation, Born a Hero Research Foundation, Bronson Children’s Hospital, Child Neurology Foundation, Children’s Minnesota, COMBINEDBrain, CureLGMD2i, Firefly Fund, National Association of Genetic Counselors, Genome Medical, Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Alliance, Histiocytosis Association, The Jackson Laboratory, KIF1A.org, MI Rare Alliance, Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MI AAP), Michigan Hospital Association, NW Rare Disease Coalition, PWSA|USA, Rare Rising, Undiagnosed Diseases Network Foundation.

Read the full bill text here, a one-pager here, and a section-by-section here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

• $158 million for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), a priority advanced by Rep. Peters. IBWC is the federal agency that must tackle the cross-border sewage crisis. The funding is for border regions like Southern California. 

• Increases funding for Election Security Grants by $30 million, also led by Rep. Peters, fortifying our democracy and electoral process against interference. 

• $1 billion for the Small Business Administration, with a $13 million increase for Entrepreneurial Development Programs, reflecting Rep. Peters’ push to support entrepreneurs and local job creators in San Diego and across the country. 

• Protects investments in low-income communities by providing $324 million to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), such as LISC San Diego, ACCION San Diego, Mission Driven Finance, CDC Small Business Finance, and several other local nonprofits, while rejecting Trump’s efforts to eliminate program initiatives. 

• Bolsters the SBA’s HUBZone Program to support small businesses in historically underutilized business zones, including several in San Diego, and expand access to federal contracting opportunities. 

• Affirms U.S. world leadership at the United Nations and other international institutions by fully meeting our treaty dues.  

• Supports global health by providing $9.4 billion for Global Health Programs, including $5.8 billion to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to support HIV/AIDS programs worldwide.