MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Joe Wilson (2nd District of South Carolina)

Washington, DC – U.S. Helsinki Co-Chairman Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC), Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN), Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) welcome the House passage of the bipartisan Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence (MEGOBARI) Act. This vital legislation will bolster democratic practices, human rights, and the rule of law in the Republic of Georgia, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to supporting Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and countering the influence of authoritarian regimes, particularly Russia.

     “The passage of the MEGOBARI Act demonstrates American support for the freedom-loving Georgian people and rejection of the illegitimate, America-hating Georgian Dream regime. This tyrannical mafia cabal is selling out Georgia to U.S. adversaries, banning the opposition and cracking down on freedom while making absurd demands of America. The Georgian Dream regime has regularly insulted President Trump and other cherished U.S. officials. The only way forward is free and fair elections and the release of all political prisoners,” said Congressman Wilson.

     “The passage of the MEGOBARI Act sends a strong message to the Georgian people that the U.S. supports them as they fight for their democracy. Corrupt Ivanishvili and his Georgian Nightmare party are cracking down and imprisoning protestors who demand free and fair elections as independent observers call the late October elections fundamentally flawed. The MEGOBARI Act provides help, mandating sanctions on Putin’s pawns and promising a deepened relationship should Georgian democracy and sovereignty be restored,” said Congressman Cohen. 

     “The MEGOBARI Act reinforces our nation’s support for the Georgian people and democratic efforts throughout the Caucasus,” said Congressman Hudson. “This bill is an important counter to Putin and his cronies as they attempt to reassert influence in the region.”

     “I am proud to vote for our bill, the MEGOBARI Act, as it is more crucial now than ever—a lifeline to ensure our allies in Georgia are not crushed by the Ivanishvili regime, as well as their authoritarian allies- Russian, Chinese, and Iranian, etc.  This act will continue to enable the Georgian people to be able to fight for democracy,” said Congressman Veasey. 

The MEGOBARI Act:

• Mandates a comprehensive sanctions review of all Georgian Dream officials. Those found to have engaged in corruption or undermining Georgian sovereignty will be sanctioned.
• Provides for a certification mechanism that mandates a deeper relationship between the United States and Georgia once Georgia’s democracy and sovereignty have been restored.
• Requires a full report of Russian and CCP intelligence assets in Georgia and Russian-CCP cooperation to undermine Georgian democracy and sovereignty.

     The Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence (MEGOBARI) Act is the premier U.S. initiative to counter the Ivanishvili Regime’s attempt to drag Georgia toward the Iranian regime, the Chinese Communist Party, and Russia. The bill is fully negotiated between House and Senate, Democrat and Republican leaders and is expected to move quickly. MEGOBARI means “friend” in Georgian.

     The October elections that led to a shocking victory for Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream party have been declared by international observers as fundamentally flawed. This illegitimate parliament installed an illegitimate puppet president. The legitimate President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, is leading and supporting mass protests calling for free and fair elections. 

     This bill ensures the United States stands strongly with the Georgian people in their decades-long drive for freedom and sovereignty.

     See the bill here.

# # #                                

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced that Beale Air Force Base has been selected as the preferred location for the Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Aircraft Readiness Unit, a major step forward in securing the base’s future role in next-generation defense technology.

“This is a major win for Beale AFB and a vote of confidence in the capabilities of our region,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “These aircraft represent the future of the Air Force—autonomous, highly capable, and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. I worked closely with my colleagues in Congress, state and local leaders, and the Department of Defense to make the case for Beale. I want to thank President Trump, DOD leadership, and the Air Force for recognizing Beale’s strategic importance and moving quickly to make it happen. This new mission not only solidifies Beale’s role in our national defense, but also brings new technology and investment to our region.”

“When we visited Beale Air Force Base just a couple weeks ago, I met committed California servicemembers working to protect our nation and apply new technologies to the adapting threats we face,” said Senator Schiff. “The Air Force’s selection of Beale for testing of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft puts those same servicemembers at the center of the Air Force’s modernization efforts for our nation’s 21st century defense. As the West Coast remains on the front line for deterring adversaries in the Pacific and the home of the nation’s technological innovation, I’m proud to see Yuba County at the tip of the spear for promoting America’s national security.”

Congressman LaMalfa led the effort alongside Senator Schiff (D-CA) to bring this new mission with newly developed technology to Beale AFB, winning out over competing sites in Nevada and North Dakota. Collaborative Combat Aircraft are part of the next generation of autonomous and fully integrated aircraft that will have broad multi-use capability from intelligence gathering to weapons deployment and much more. This new technology and airframes are part of a fast-evolving modernization of the USAF, and we thank President Trump, DOD, and the Air Force for expediting their placement at Beale.

The Air Force is currently conducting ground tests of the aircraft, with flight testing expected later this year.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced the House passage of his Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the Biden Administration’s listing of the longfin smelt as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Once enacted into law, this resolution will halt the proposed designation of critical habitat for this fish species, as well as ensure California’s water remains available for those who need it most, families and farmers.

“The Biden Administration and activist judges have used this listing as a political tool to block progress on California water policy,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “This listing is based on cherry picked scientific anecdotes and even Stanford’s Center for Water California Recourses Policy and Management questioned the science of the listing. It adds yet another layer of conflicting regulations that dump tens of millions of acre feet of water out to the Pacific Ocean, with farmers receiving only 40% to 50% of their promised federal and state water. Congress isn’t going to stand by while bureaucrats and environmental lawsuits continue to wreck the water system that feeds our farms, our families, and our economy. I’m glad to see the House take a stand and push back with real solutions that help us grow food, provide water, and keep our economy strong.”

This designation, driven by litigation from an environmental group, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the Biden Administration threatens California’s water supply by imposing new restrictions on the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP). This listing resulted in subsequent burdensome requirements imposed on the CVP that will divert even more water to the Pacific Ocean instead of supplying farms and families across the state. Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can review and potentially block such regulations within a specific timeframe, and it drops the usual 60-vote requirement in the Senate for these resolutions.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—This week, the House passed three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to overturn the Biden Administration’s approval of California’s vehicle emissions mandates, including the Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, the Advance Clean Trucks regulation, and the Omnibus Low-NOx Emissions rule. Previously approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these rules allow California to impose aggressive regulations on cars and trucks that drive up costs and restrict consumer choice in California and nationwide.

The three CRAs, co-led by Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), and introduced by Representatives John Joyce (R-PA), John James (R-MI), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) repeal these unrealistic mandates, preventing California from being able to force these costly policies onto the rest of the country.

“Today’s vote is a big win for drivers, businesses, and consumers across the country. California’s extreme emissions mandates would have made cars and trucks more expensive and less available for everyone, not just in our state but nationwide,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “Consumers would see massive increases in costs if they chose a non-electric vehicle, and availability of some models has already been severely restricted in California. By passing these resolutions, the House made it clear that we won’t let one state’s radical agenda dictate what Americans can drive. People deserve the freedom to choose the vehicles that work best for them—not to be forced into unaffordable electric vehicles that may not work for them. I was pleased to see the House stand up for commonsense to protect hardworking families from even higher costs. By passing this Congressional Review Act, California will not be allowed to make this type of rule without a complete change in federal law.”

Background

Under the Clean Air Act, states are generally prohibited from setting their own tailpipe emission standards for cars and trucks. However, California has a unique exemption under Section 209, which allows the state to establish its own emissions regulations if it submits a waiver to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and receives approval. Once granted, these California standards can also be adopted by other states under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act. Currently, about a dozen states follow California’s emissions policies, effectively turning the state’s regulations into a nationwide mandate.

The Biden administration approved several controversial waivers requested by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), allowing the state to impose extreme emissions rules that impact car and truck costs and availability across the country. These include:

• Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC2) – Approved in December 2024, this regulation mandates that 35% of new car sales be zero-emission by 2026, increasing to 100% by 2035. At least 12 states have already adopted ACC2. Failure to meet this goal means a maximum penalty of $25,000 per non-compliant vehicle sold to consumers.
• Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) – Approved in March 2023, this regulation forces truck manufacturers and retailers to meet strict zero-emission quotas by 2035, including 55% of Class 2B-3 truck sales, 75% of Class 4-8 straight truck sales, and 40% of truck tractor sales. At least 11 states have adopted ACT.
• Omnibus Low-NOx Emissions Rule – Approved in December 2024, this regulation imposes aggressive emissions reductions on medium- and heavy-duty truck and other engines, requiring NOx emissions to be cut by 75% below current standards for Model Year 2024-2026 compared to 2010 levels and particulate matter emissions to be cut by 50%.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – As Congress begins the appropriations process to determine funding levels for federal programs, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services, are leading dozens of lawmakers in a call to protect federal funding for rural housing programs under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In a letter to House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Sanford Bishop (D-GA), the lawmakers are calling on Congress to provide robust funding to the Rural Development Voucher Program, Housing Rehabilitation and Preservation, and the Section 521 Rental Assistance Program.

“Rural America is home to nearly 70 million people, or 20% of the U.S. population, who like the rest of the country are struggling with an aging housing stock, undersupply challenges, rising rents, and worsening homelessness,” the lawmakers wrote. “Federally funded housing programs through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are often some of the only sources of affordable housing solutions in rural areas. Unfortunately, it has been reported that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Trump Administration have plans to significantly cut staffing within the agency by at least 30%.”

“However, as Democrats and Republicans alike have pointed out over the years, USDA’s role in addressing the unique housing needs of rural America cannot be overstated,” the lawmakers continued. “To address the growing housing needs in rural America, we urge you to consider the funding and programmatic requests for USDA’s Rural Housing Service (RHS), as outlined in this letter.”

Specific funding and policy requests supported by the lawmakers include:

• Providing Robust Funding and Targeted Reforms to the Rural Development Voucher Program (RDVP), including language that supports full funding for Rural Development Voucher renewals in FY 2026 and extends eligibility for RDVP to Section 514 and 515 properties when mortgage loans for those properties mature.
• Providing Robust Funding for Housing Rehabilitation and Preservation, including a request to maintain USDA’s Rural Housing Service’s continued authority to decouple Section 521 RA from Section 515 loans to support the rehabilitation and preservation of affordable multifamily housing in rural communities. Additionally, the lawmakers request that Congress provide $200 million for the Section 515 program, $75 million for the Section 514 program, $35 million for the Section 516 Farm Labor Housing Grant program, and $1 billion for the Multifamily Preservation & Revitalization Demonstration Program to invest in the rehabilitation of aging rural properties.
• Fully Fund the Section 521 Rental Assistance Program, including the renewal of assistance to all cost-burdened low-income families who currently rely on this assistance to remain stably housed.

The official letter from Cleaver, Waters, and other lawmakers is available here.

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

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

“Transparency and Responsibility in Upholding Standards in the Judiciary Act (TRUST Act)” Ensures Misconduct By Federal Judges Investigated Even If They Resign, Retire

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, introduced the Transparency and Responsibility in Upholding Standards in the Judiciary Act (TRUST Act). The legislation ensures that pending misconduct complaints will still be fully investigated even if a federal judge resigns, retires, or passes away while under investigation.

All federal judges – other than Supreme Court justices – can face misconduct investigations if a formal complaint is filed. However, a loophole allows judges to resign or retire to halt an ongoing investigation. As a result, alleged misconduct often goes unexamined, and judges accused of wronging still retire with full pensions if they meet age and service requirements.

“They say sunlight is the best disinfectant,” said Ranking Member Johnson. “To root out misconduct, we need sunlight on both the perpetrators and the systems that allowed the misconduct to continue. Judges and courts should not be allowed to sweep bad behavior under the rug. This is a necessary first step in ensuring that our courts are places of integrity and safe for judiciary employees.”

In 2016, Chief Judge José Antonio Fusté of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico resigned after a law clerk reported his alleged sexual harassment, stopping any investigation. Similarly,  Ninth Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski resigned in 2017 amid allegations that he subjected female law clerks to inappropriate sexual behavior, similarly halting an inquiry.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

“The Legal Accountability Project (LAP) has long advocated for Congress to close the troubling loophole that allows judges to step down to evade accountability,” said President and Founder Aliza Shatzman. “Particularly in light of former Minnesota bankruptcy judge Kesha Tanabe’s recent resignation, likely to evade discipline, we applaud Rep. Johnson’s efforts to introduce the TRUST Act, a common-sense fix that will foster greater trust among judiciary employees, lawyers, and the public in the courts. Given how rarely judicial law clerks are empowered to file misconduct complaints against judges, the judiciary should do everything in its power to fully investigate each complaint, even if the judge leaves the bench. LAP is grateful for Rep. Johnson’s leadership, and we urge all members of Congress to support the TRUST Act.”

“After the Judge Kozinski scandal, it was clear the judiciary needed to examine the circumstances that allowed such rank misconduct to continue for so long,” said Fix the Court Executive Director Gabe Roth. “Though a new comment was added to the rules governing complaints saying the judiciary ‘may […] take action on potential institutional issues’ after a resignation, that hasn’t been good enough. Rep. Johnson’s bill would ensure that post-resignation court officials have the statutory imperative to review both the complaint itself and the conditions that may have fostered impropriety, with an eye toward taking proactive steps to improve courthouse protocols and protect judiciary employees. It’s a needed improvement, and I applaud Rep. Johnson’s work.”

“The proper functioning of our courts depends on an accountable judiciary,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “But currently, if a judge who commits misconduct leaves office, the judiciary’s investigation of that misconduct stops. Rep. Johnson’s bill closes this loophole, ensuring that the judiciary’s thorough investigation and review continues after a judge’s departure. A judge’s resignation does not absolve past misconduct, nor does it prevent such misconduct from recurring. The judiciary must investigate potential breaches of the public trust, and we urge Congress to pass this important legislation to require it to do just that.”

“When a federal judge is accused of serious misconduct, including sexual harassment, they should be held accountable. But right now, there’s a loophole that lets them off the hook. If they resign or retire, the investigation ends, no matter how serious the allegations,” said Alison Gill, Director of Nominations & Democracy at the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund. “The TRUST Act would finally close that loophole by making sure complaints are fully investigated, even if a judge steps down or passes away. We’re grateful to Representative Johnson for championing this crucial bill to help promote accountability and integrity in our courts.”

“Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund is proud to endorse the TRUST Act to strengthen protections for judicial workers and to hold the system and individuals accountable for misconduct,” said Legal Director Azaleea Carlea. “As civil servants, federal judicial workers deserve the opportunity to fully seek justice and closure for workplace violations.  Judges must also be held accountable for the very behavior they are tasked with reprimanding even after they step down from the bench. This bill is a historic step in the right direction to support women and their ability to perform their duties in a safe and supportive environment, which in turn advances a more equitable workplace for all.”

Text of bill HERE.

Cosponsors: Eleanor Holmes Norton [DC00], Jasmine Crockett [TX30], Yvette D. Clarke [NY09], Valerie P. Foushee [NC04, Lloyd Doggett [TX37], Deborah K. Ross [NC02], Rashida Tlaib [MI12], Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [NY14], Madeleine Dean [PA04].

The TRUST Act is endorsed by Legal Momentum, People’s Parity Project, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and The Legal Accountability Project.

###
 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) issued the following statement after the Financial Services Committee passed a Budget Reconciliation bill that defunds the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and slashes vital federal services. 

“Today, I voted no on the Budget Reconciliation bill in the Financial Services Committee. This measure makes dramatic funding cuts to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), eliminates oversight of the auditors that review the books of Trump’s billionaire friends, and ends funding for energy efficient and climate resilient upgrades to America’s housing supply.

“The CFPB is responsible for protecting consumers in both red and blue districts on everything from surprise overdraft fees to banning excessive credit card late fees.

“Congress created the CFPB after the financial crisis to make sure that greed and corruption never again devastate families the way it did in 2008. Protecting the American people from bad actors like Trump and his billionaire buddies who want to scam hardworking families to make a profit. 

“Since the agency’s inception, it has returned more than $21 billion back to servicemembers, veterans, students, and working families who’ve been ripped off. Sadly, by voting for today’s bill, my Republicans colleagues are telling their constituents loud and clear that they care more about protecting their friends on Wall Street than the people who voted to send them here.” 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concern over the State Department’s decision to designate gangs in Haiti as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) without even a concept of a plan for Haiti. The Members expressed their alarm that absent a clear and comprehensive plan to defeat those gangs and their enablers, this designation will unintentionally exacerbate the suffering of innocent Haitians and help gangs consolidate further control. The letter demands answers from the Secretary regarding the administration’s rationale for the designation absent an actual strategy to address the urgent needs of the Haitian people. 

The full text of the letter can be found below. A PDF copy can be found here.

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write to express our grave concern with the State Department’s stated intent to designate gangs in Haiti as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) without first having a comprehensive strategy to support Haitian authorities’ ability to counter the gangs. We call on you to develop an actual strategy that addresses the urgent needs of the Haitian people, support for stabilizing the security situation, and policies that support greater economic opportunity, including the HOPE/HELP trade preference agreement for Haitians. While we support efforts to target the financial support of violent gangs wreaking havoc on innocent Haitians, we are concerned that an FTO designation, absent a clear, comprehensive U.S. strategy to defeat the gangs and their enablers, is counterproductive and will only exacerbate Haitians’ suffering. 

An FTO designation imposes broad legal and financial sanctions that deter non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies from operating due to fear of legal exposure—even when their work is purely humanitarian in nature. Humanitarian aid serves as an essential bulwark against the gangs and their control of local economic activity in Haiti, and an FTO designation risks creating a chilling effect on the delivery of this much needed assistance. The gangs exploit the security vacuum they helped create, recruiting young men and children with false promises of protection and pay. If an FTO designation undermines aid delivery across 85% of Port-au-Prince or in Haiti’s Artibonite department, it’s the Haitian people—not the gangs—who will be punished. As reports of cholera and scabies in Haiti are on the rise, and with your cutting of funds to programs like the Improved Health Service Delivery project, which provided health services for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, nutrition, HIV, tuberculosis, and water, sanitation and hygiene to over 3 million people, including 20,000 living with HIVAIDS, further cuts to humanitarian assistance will have devastating results.

We also believe the Department can make better use of sanctions authorities to levy targeted sanctions against individuals facilitating and benefitting from gang-fueled instability in Haiti. On August 20th, 2024, the Treasury Department sanctioned former President Michel Martelly for perpetuating the ongoing crisis in Haiti. If the State Department seeks more authorities to sanction enablers of Haiti’s crisis, we want to work with you to pass H.R. 2643, the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill we have introduced that would levy sanctions on Haitian political and economic elites financing, arming, and benefitting from ongoing violence and the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. This legislation would enable a concerted effort against the gangs while keeping intact humanitarian assistance to Haitians enduring gang violence and instability. Prioritizing an FTO designation before taking full advantage of the other tools available to address the gang violence—like the use of additional unilateral or coordinated sanctions—or developing a strategy to make the Multilateral Support Mission effective is shortsighted. We remain concerned over the situation in Haiti and support a strong—and smart—U.S. response.

So, we urge you to reconsider any designation that would prove counterproductive in countering the gangs and further increase the suffering of innocent Haitians. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)