MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

April 22, 2026

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) led 30 House Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding the State Department engage with the Israeli government to prevent the forced displacement of Palestinian residents from the village of Khallet al-Sidra in the West Bank and to ensure displaced families can safely return and rebuild their homes.

“U.S. pressure on the Israeli government has proven crucial in protecting Palestinian communities in the past. Some communities facing significant demolition threats have remained in place in part due to sustained international and U.S. diplomatic attention” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge you to use your diplomatic influence to help ensure that residents of Khallet al-Sidra can safely return to their land without fear of violence and that immediate steps are taken to prevent further settler attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. This should include permitting the reconstruction of homes and essential infrastructure destroyed in recent incidents, as well as ensuring that Israeli authorities provide adequate protection to vulnerable communities consistent with their legal obligations.”

Khallet al-Sidra is a small shepherding community that has existed for decades, but in recent months, residents have faced escalating violence and intimidation from Israeli settlers, including arson attacks that have destroyed homes, vehicles, and essential livelihood structures. Reports indicate that these attacks, combined with threats and restricted access to the area, have created conditions that have forced families to flee and prevented them from returning or rebuilding.

This situation reflects a broader pattern of increasing settler violence and displacement across the West Bank. Since October 2023, hundreds of Palestinian communities have faced sustained attacks and pressure, contributing to widespread displacement and raising serious concerns under international humanitarian law. In 2025, the United Nations documented over 1,800 settler attacks affecting approximately 280 communities, and displacement has accelerated further in 2026.

In addition to Reps. Casten and Schakowsky, the letter was signed by Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Becca Balint, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Lloyd Doggett, Dave Min, Jennifer McClellan, Lateefah Simon, Jamie Raskin, Rosa DeLauro, Chris Deluzio, Betty McCollum, Mark Pocan, Al Green, Sylvia Garcia, Nikema Williams, André Carson, Chellie Pingree, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Steve Cohen, Veronica Escobar, Mike Quigley, James McGovern, Mark DeSaulnier, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Joaquin Castro, Derek Tran, and Seth Moulton.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Secretary Rubio:

As Members of Congress who support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, we are writing to urge you to engage with the Israeli government to prevent the forced displacement of Palestinian residents from the Bedouin village of Khallet al-Sidra, located near Mukhmas in the West Bank, and to ensure that residents are permitted to safely return and rebuild their homes following multiple devastating arson attacks by Israeli settlers. Allowing settlers to successfully use violence to displace shepherds from their homes, expand territorial control, and undermine prospects for peace is an unbearable injustice that runs counter to U.S. values and jeopardizes the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Khallet al-Sidra is a small shepherding community that has existed for decades. In recent months, residents have faced escalating violence and intimidation from Israeli settlers, including arson attacks that have destroyed homes, vehicles, and essential livelihood structures. Reports indicate that settlers have explicitly threatened residents, contributing to a coercive environment that has forced families to flee. When residents have attempted to return and rebuild, Israeli authorities have reportedly restricted access to the area and denied reconstruction, leaving families displaced and without recourse.

For decades, the Bedouin families of Khallet al-Sidra have made this land their home. They have bravely tried to remain despite increasing threats and pressure, but cannot continue to do so if the Israeli government continues to enable displacement and violence persists without effective intervention.

This situation reflects a broader and deeply concerning pattern of escalating settler violence and forced displacement across the West Bank. For the past two and a half years, Palestinian communities, especially Bedouin and shepherding communities in Area C, have faced sustained attacks, intimidation, and increasing barriers to remaining on their land. In 2025, the United Nations documented over 1,800 settler attacks that resulted in deaths, injuries, or property damage in approximately 280 communities across the West Bank. The United Nations has also documented the accelerating displacement this violence is causing. As of late March 2026, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that 1,697 Palestinians from 33 communities had already been displaced in 2026 due to settler violence and access restrictions, surpassing the total for all of 2025, and that 38 communities have been emptied since 2023. This sustained pattern contributes to de facto forced displacement and raises serious concerns under international humanitarian law, including obligations related to the protection of civilian populations under occupation.

U.S. pressure on the Israeli government has proven crucial in protecting Palestinian communities in the past. Some communities facing significant demolition threats have remained in place in part due to sustained international and U.S. diplomatic attention. We urge you to use your diplomatic influence to help ensure that residents of Khallet al-Sidra can safely return to their land without fear of violence and that immediate steps are taken to prevent further settler attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. This should include permitting the reconstruction of homes and essential infrastructure destroyed in recent incidents, as well as ensuring that Israeli authorities provide adequate protection to vulnerable communities consistent with their legal obligations.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent humanitarian matter. Protecting vulnerable communities from displacement and violence is critical to upholding shared values and preserving the possibility of a just and lasting peace.

Sincerely,

###

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

U.S. Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and Doris Matsui (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, introduced the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026. This measure requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct a study that identifies potential safety risks and hazardous chemicals used as flame retardants in the interior of motor vehicles. The study will help update federal motor vehicle safety standards and require alternative standards to be evaluated.

“I am proud to continue leading with Congresswoman Matsui to ensure updated federal standards adequately protect American consumers’ health,” said Congressman Griffith. “In this latest effort, our Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026 will deliver a robust and thorough review of current motor vehicle flammability standards and evaluate potential alternatives. Because millions of Americans expect safe vehicles, it is only right for Congress to begin re-evaluating potential toxic chemical harms from motor vehicles.”

“Federal safety standards should protect people, not expose them to unnecessary harm,” saidCongresswoman Matsui. “I’ve fought to remove toxic, ineffective flame retardants from household furniture, but many of those same chemicals are still being used in car seats and other materials inside vehicles because of a decades old fire safety standard. Our bill directs NHTSA to study whether this rule is still effective at preventing deadly fires and what health risks these chemicals may pose, so we can make sure our safety standards are protecting people both from fire and from dangerous chemical exposure.”

“I am proud to support the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Act of 2026, introduced by Representatives Matsui and Griffith. This bipartisan legislation strengthens public safety by directing a comprehensive review of current vehicle flammability standards to ensure they reflect modern materials, technologies, and real-world risks,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee. “As vehicles evolve, our safety standards must keep pace. This study will help identify potential gaps and ensure we are taking every step possible to protect drivers, passengers and first responders – helping save lives and prevent tragedy before it occurs.”

“We often assume that if a car is on the market, it must be safe. But decades-old fire safety standards have led to the use of toxic chemicals in vehicles,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “Drivers, passengers, and pedestrians deserve better, and this legislation would ensure that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fully evaluates and addresses these hazards. It is time to update these outdated rules and put the safety and health of all Americans first.”

Numerous organizations expressed support for the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026:

“Everyone who rides in a car is needlessly exposed to cancer-causing, neurotoxic flame retardant chemicals because of a federal vehicle standard implemented in 1972 without research showing it provided a fire safety benefit. The Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act is an important first step towards updating that outdated standard so our cars can be both healthier and fire-safe.” –Arlene Blum, Executive Director, Green Science Policy Institute

 

“When consumers get into a car, they should be able to trust that the fire safety standards meant to protect them aren’t also putting them at risk through exposure to harmful chemicals. The current federal standard has been on the books for more than 50 years, largely unchanged, even as technology and scientific knowledge has advanced rapidly. Tens of thousands of consumers and a broad coalition of organizations are calling for action, and this bipartisan bill from Reps. Griffith and Matsui would be a vital first step.” – Cooper Lohr, Senior Policy Analyst, Consumer Reports

 

“Fire fighters and the public deserve evidence-based vehicle safety standards. The science indicates that the use of flame retardants in cars creates unnecessary health risks. On behalf of our 365,000 members, I commend Reps. Griffith and Matsui for leading the effort to create vehicle safety standards that actually make cars safer. Congress should pass this legislation and bring us closer to a future free from toxic chemicals.” – Edward A. Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-01) introduced H.R. 8277, legislation to designate copper as an applicable critical mineral and include ore extraction costs under the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit.

Copper is essential to the economic strength and national security of the United States. It is a foundational material for electric infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, defense technologies, and modern industrial production. Arizona is the leading copper-producing state in the nation, accounting for roughly 70 percent of domestic output.

H.R. 8277 would update the tax code to recognize that reality. The bill adds copper to the list of applicable critical minerals under Section 45X and allows ore extraction costs to count under the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit when that ore is refined into a qualifying critical mineral. The legislation is designed to strengthen domestic supply chains, support American mining, and help U.S. producers compete against foreign operations that often operate under weaker labor and environmental standards.

“Copper is not optional in a modern economy,” said Rep. Schweikert. “It is essential to our industrial base, our energy systems, and our national security. If Washington is serious about domestic production and serious about supply-chain resilience, then copper needs to be treated like the strategic mineral it is. Arizona miners should not be forced to compete against foreign operations with looser labor rules, weaker environmental standards, and a tax code here at home that still treats copper like an afterthought.”

The bill also includes guardrails to prevent double counting of costs and limits eligibility for foreign ore, except in narrow cases where the ore is not extracted in the United States in commercial quantities and is not sourced from a foreign country of concern.

Schweikert’s legislation reflects a broader push to align federal policy with the materials America actually depends on. As demand for copper continues to grow across energy, technology, and defense sectors, the United States cannot afford to leave a resource this important outside its critical-minerals framework.

More information on the bill can be found here.

Back to News

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, Representative Sharice Davids demanded answers from the National Weather Service (NWS) following tornadoes that struck Kansas’ Third District. Davids raised serious concerns about potential breakdowns in forecasting and warning systems that may have put Kansans at risk during last week’s storms. Despite no reported fatalities, she emphasized that gaps in preparedness and response could lead to devastating consequences in the future.

“The fact that Kansans avoided catastrophic loss in this instance does not excuse these breakdowns — it underscores how close we came, and what could happen if these failures continue,” wrote Davids. “These irresponsible decisions at the NWS have direct, real-world consequences for the safety of communities across Kansas and the country. Kansans should not have to wonder whether the systems designed to protect them are fully operational when severe weather strikes.”

Davids’ demand follows reporting that multiple NWS offices in the region may not have conducted standard morning weather balloon launches on the day of the storms — a key tool used to assess atmospheric conditions and inform severe weather forecasts. Additionally, the Storm Prediction Center did not identify a tornado threat in a timely manner, and tornado watches were issued later than is typical. 

Davids underscored that missing data and staffing shortages can directly impact forecasting accuracy, reducing warning times and increasing risk to communities in the path of severe weather.

This is not the first time Davids has raised concerns about staffing and operational capacity at the NWS. Last year, she pressed the administration for answers on workforce shortages and the agency’s ability to maintain around-the-clock operations. After receiving no response for nearly ten months, Davids is now renewing her call for accountability following the recent storms.

In her letter, Davids requested a detailed response within 30 days on:

• Whether weather balloon launches were missing and why.
• Whether any missed data contributed to delays in issuing tornado watches.
• Current staffing vacancies across key NWS offices in the region.
• Overall staffing levels and hiring needs across the National Weather Service.
• And more.

A full copy of Davids’ letter can be found here or below:

Dear Secretary Lutnick, Administrator Jacobs, and Director Graham, 

I write following recent severe weather and EF-2 tornadoes with peak winds of 125 miles per hour that hit my home community, Kansas’ Third District. While I am grateful there were no fatalities, that outcome should not obscure a more serious reality: Kansans were put at risk by failures in forecasting and warning systems that are meant to protect them. 

In a state like Kansas, timely and accurate weather data is not optional — it is lifesaving. 

Nearly a year ago, I raised concerns about staffing shortages and operational disruptions at the National Weather Service (NWS) following actions taken by this administration. I asked how you would maintain 24/7 operations, ensure consistent weather balloon launches, and preserve forecasting accuracy. After ten months, my office has received no response. Now, we are seeing the consequences. 

Reporting indicates that on the morning of these storms, multiple NWS offices in the region did not conduct standard 7:00 a.m. weather balloon launches — a critical input for forecasting severe weather. Just hours before tornadoes touched down, the Storm Prediction Center identified no tornado threat in northeast Kansas. And the tornado watch for impacted areas was issued far later than normal — within an hour of touchdown. 

Weather balloon data is essential to understanding atmospheric conditions in real time. When that data is missing — whether due to staffing shortages or operational decisions — forecasting accuracy suffers. When forecasting accuracy suffers, warning times shrink. And when warning times shrink, families are put in danger. 

The fact that Kansans avoided catastrophic loss in this instance does not excuse these breakdowns — it underscores how close we came, and what could happen if these failures continue. 

These irresponsible decisions at the NWS have direct, real-world consequences for the safety of communities across Kansas and the country. Kansans should not have to wonder whether the systems designed to protect them are fully operational when severe weather strikes. 

My constituents deserve clear answers and immediate action to ensure this does not happen again. Therefore, I respectfully ask you to provide answers to the following questions within 30 days of receipt: 

• Did stations in and around Kansas not launch morning weather balloons on April 13, 2026? If so, what was the reason for these missing launches?
• Did this lack of weather balloon launches contribute to a delayed tornado watch in northeast Kansas? If not, what do you attribute this delay to?
• Is the NWS implementing permanent changes to twice-a-day weather balloon launches? If so, how are you justifying this change in schedule?
• How often does the NWS launch supplemental midday weather balloons? Does the NWS have the resources and partnerships with relevant university programs to increase these supplemental launches?
• What current staff vacancies exist at the following NWS Weather Forecast Offices: Pleasant Hill, Topeka, Wichita, Springfield, Dodge City, Goodland, and Hastings?
• What is the current staffing level of the overall NWS? How many meteorology and forecasting positions is the Service looking to fill? How does the number of meteorologists and forecasters at the NWS compare today to April 20, 2024? 

Kansans rely on the National Weather Service to provide timely, accurate warnings that save lives. The gaps we saw in this storm cannot become the new normal. I look forward to your prompt response. 

Sincerely,

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren’s (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below:

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

Yesterday, the Committee on Education and Workforce advanced H.R. 8210, the Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026. This legislation makes needed improvements to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)—focused on improving outcomes for workers, strengthening our economy, and ensuring accountability for taxpayer dollars.

Included in H.R. 8210 are provisions from Congressman Allen’s Startup Act and Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act that reduce barriers to employment, expand opportunity, and better align our workforce system with how people actually learn and work.

Prior to the full committee advancing the Stronger Workforce for America Act, Congressman Allen delivered the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, in support of the bill:

“A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 seeks to strengthen and increase connections to work for our nation’s most vulnerable, and I’m proud that provisions from my bill, the Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act, are included in this package, as well as language around entrepreneurial skills development.

“My bills are built on simple but important beliefs: that learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom, and our workforce system should recognize the full range of skills individuals already have.

“Too often, qualified workers are overlooked because they lack a formal degree, even when they have years of relevant experience from work, military service, or other training. These provisions help fix that by improving how the workforce system identifies and validates prior learning and existing skills.

“They strengthen collaboration between workforce boards, employers, and education providers to ensure assessments reflect the skills that are in demand in today’s economy. The bill also integrates these assessments into local workforce services so job seekers can receive credit or credentials for the skills they already possess.

“This allows workers to move more quickly into employment or advance in their careers without having to start from scratch. At the same time, it supports employers by making it easier to identify qualified candidates and move toward skills-based hiring rather than relying solely on degree requirements.

“These reforms help reduce barriers to employment, expand opportunity, and better align our workforce system with how people actually learn and work. I’m happy to see my bill language reflected in this reauthorization effort, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield back.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — On April 21, residents from across the San Fernando Valley and parts of the Westside of Los Angeles joined Congressman Brad Sherman’s (CA-32) fifth Telephone Town Hall of the year to discuss pressing national and local issues, including the ongoing U.S. war with Iran, rising economic uncertainty, and growing alarm over President Donald Trump’s conduct and fitness for office.

“I appreciate everyone who continues to join our Town Halls, ask thoughtful questions, and stay engaged during one of the most consequential periods our country has faced in years,” said Congressman Sherman. “At a moment when the United States is engaged in a dangerously escalating military conflict abroad, families are worried about rising costs at home, and serious questions are being raised about the stability and future of our democracy, these Town Hall events become even more critical, as they provide an important opportunity to hear directly from constituents, answer their concerns, provide them with accurate updates and ensure their voices are represented in Washington.”

During the event, Congressman Sherman — a senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa — provided updates on the rapidly developing war involving Iran and ongoing U.S. military operations in the region. He emphasized Congress’s constitutional responsibility over matters of war and peace and renewed his call for greater transparency and oversight regarding decisions that could further escalate the conflict.

Sherman also addressed mounting concerns regarding President Trump’s erratic behavior, inflammatory rhetoric, and policy decisions that many believe have endangered both national security and democratic institutions. He discussed his support for efforts to clarify and strengthen procedures under the 25th Amendment to ensure that the nation has workable constitutional safeguards when a President is unable to faithfully discharge the duties of the office.

In addition, Sherman spoke about the economic strain facing working families, including higher gas prices, market instability, and broader cost-of-living pressures affecting communities throughout the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. He reiterated his call for policies that put American consumers first and shield households from the economic fallout of international conflict.

Constituents raised a wide range of concerns, including the risk of a broader Middle East war, threats to democratic norms, immigration policy, rising household expenses, Social Security and Medicare protections, and the need for accountability in Washington. Sherman addressed questions directly, underscoring his commitment to transparency, constitutional checks and balances, and keeping residents informed during a fast-moving and uncertain time.

Participants also had the opportunity to respond to interactive survey prompts about the issues most important to them.

The results of the survey questions are as follows:

---

Should Congress pass a law requiring nationwide independent nonpartisan redistricting commissions in all 50 states?

1) Yes: 78%

2) No: 5%

3) Unsure: 17%

---

In the long run, do you believe the current U.S. military action against Iran will make Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon:

1) More likely: 45%

2) About as likely as before: 33%

3) Less likely: 10%

4) Unsure: 12%

---

What impact do you believe Donald Trump’s economic policies have had on the U.S. economy?

1) A mostly positive impact: 21%

2) No real impact: 11%

3) A mostly negative impact: 61%

4) Not sure/unsure: 7%

---

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche warning against any potential clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell and demanding a full, renewed investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking network.

In the letter, Krishnamoorthi condemns reports that the Department of Justice may be engaging with efforts to secure a pardon for Maxwell:

“I am writing to express my disgust at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) reported willingness to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell. Last week, David Oscar Markus, Maxwell’s attorney, said, ‘There’s a good chance and for good reason that [Maxwell] would get a pardon.’ It is unacceptable that DOJ would be engaging at all with such an outrageous request.”

He then details the Department’s mishandling of the Epstein files and its broader failure to deliver accountability:

“During your tenure as Deputy Attorney General, you oversaw DOJ’s release of the Epstein files—a rollout widely described as botched. On top of this disregard for justice, earlier this month you said, ‘[the Epstein files] should not be a part of anything going forward,’ despite only two arrests made by the DOJ. The Department withheld more than 2.5 million records, applied overly broad redactions, and exposed victims’ names and personal information, undermining confidence in the Department’s ability to deliver justice in one of the most high-profile criminal investigations in recent memory.”

Krishnamoorthi also highlights that, despite extensive evidence, the Department has failed to pursue the full scope of the case:

“Even with access to testimony and documentation detailing the abuse of more than 1,000 women and children, the Department has brought no charges beyond those against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.”

The letter further raises concerns about the Department’s handling of the case, including its interactions with Maxwell and broader investigative decisions.

Krishnamoorthi concludes by calling for immediate action and a clear rejection of any pardon:

“You must immediately reopen and fully resource the Department’s investigation into the sex-trafficking operation led by Jeffrey Epstein and pursue all credible leads. You must also publicly, and repeatedly, refuse to engage with Ghislaine Maxwell on any presidential pardons that would excuse her from serving out her full sentence. Survivors deserve answers, and those responsible must be held accountable. This is not a question of politics—it is a matter of justice.”

The letter is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar Secures Funding for Selfridge in FY27 Appropriations Bill

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar voted to advance legislation to provide federal funding levels for the Department of Veterans Affairs and for military construction. The bill includes $162 million in funding Moolenaar helped secure for Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. This funding would be utilized to extend taxiways and complete construction necessary to prepare the base to host a new mission of 21 F-15EX Eagle fighter jets. President Donald Trump announced the new mission to when he visited the base last year. 

“Selfridge is a critical asset to our national security and a major contributor to Michigan’s economy. President Trump rightly recognizes its role in our keeping our country safe and committed a new fighter mission to the base last year. However, there is work to be done to update the base to fit the needs of the new F-15EX fighters. As the only House appropriator from our state, I will always work with my Michigan colleagues to bring critical funding like this to the state to improve our economy and keep our country safe,” said Moolenaar. 

Selfridge hosts units from every component of the U.S. military, and provides the Air Force access to the largest military airspace complex east of the Mississippi River, the National All-Domain Warfighting Center. Selfridge contributes approximately $850 million in economic impact to the State of Michigan, supporting roughly 5,000 military and civilian support personnel.  

The F-15EX jets are expected to be delivered to Selfridge in 2028. The funding levels passed by the Appropriations Committee today will provide the base the resources needed to complete construction for the delivery of the aircraft. Moolenaar is the only member of the House Appropriations Committee from Michigan. 

The FY27 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill was passed by the committee with unanimous support in a vote of 58 to 0.