MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

HR 5334 will ‘cut off the oil revenue that’s greasing Russia’s war machine’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Eviction Helpline Act Would Establish National Hotline for Eviction-Related Assistance

Bill Text (PDF) | Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Financial Services Committee passed the Eviction Helpline Act, championed by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07).The Eviction Helpline Act—which would establish a national support hotline—now heads to the House floor.

“Housing is a human right. It is health. It is dignity. It is stability and community. Every single person needs access to a quality home they can actually afford,” said Congresswoman Pressley said. “That’s why this eviction hotline is so important—so that these families know they are not fighting alone and can know their rights as tenants and get help even before an eviction is filed. I’m so proud that our legislation has passed out of committee and we are now one step closer to making this critical resource reality. I’m grateful to Ranking Member Waters and Chairman Hill for their partnership.”

The Eviction Helpline Act would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish and promote a national hotline so that households can receive access to the eviction-related assistance they need and get help even before an eviction is filed.

Bill text can be accessed here. Video of Congresswoman Pressley’s remarks during the Committee’s markup is available here.

Congresswoman Pressley discussed this bill during the Committee’s markup today, citing the eviction crisis in the Massachusetts 7^th Congressional District and across the country.

Transcript: Pressley Bill to Support Renters Passes Out of Committee by a Vote of 47-2
House Financial Services Committee
September 16, 2026

Thank you. My bill, the Eviction Helpline Act, creates a seven-year pilot program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to create and promote a national hotline for people facing eviction.

I want to thank Chairman Hill for including this legislation in today’s markup, and Ranking Member Waters for her continued support and partnership over the years on this priority.

In my district, the Massachusetts Seventh, and throughout the nation, evictions can be destabilizing life events. Evictions impact everyone: children, women, people of color, veterans, and the elderly.

Pregnant women facing low birth weights due to housing instability, children in school at increased risk of illness due to unhealthy living conditions, parents missing work to negotiate with their landlord in the court hallway, and even our elders who are part of the growing gray wave simply because they cannot find an affordable place to live.

Housing is a human right. It is health. It is dignity. It is stability and community. Every single person needs access to a quality home that they can actually afford.

No matter if you are a Republican or Democrat, you likely know someone that struggled with paying rent because a corporation hiked up the cost unfairly. A 2024 Federal Reserve report found that corporate investors increased rates 60% higher than the average rate.

That’s why this eviction hotline is so important—so that these families know they are not fighting alone and can know their rights as tenants and get help even before an eviction is filed.

I serve as Vice-Chair of the Renters Caucus, which I like to think of as the Pathway to Homeownership Caucus. Renting is an essential part of the housing journey for millions of adults throughout the country and my bill, the Eviction Helpline Act, can help tenants achieve their dream of homeownership.

This national hotline serves as a one-stop shop to ensure people know what resources are available to help them, so that an eviction does not become a stain on their future tenant screening reports or credit history.

As the daughter of a tenants’ rights organizer, this bill is near and dear to my heart, and I have been fighting for this type of eviction-related assistance since I was first elected to Congress and introduced the HELP Act to support renters.

This bill, the Eviction Helpline Act, is important for families—whether they are in red or blue states, whether they are white or Black, young or old.

As housing prices continue to climb, renters desperately need a place they can turn to, to know their rights and know what local and federal resources may already be available to them to help.

Thank you again for considering this bill today.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan priority. Please vote yes.

I yield back.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the House of Representatives voted on The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. Congresswoman McCollum voted against the legislation that would hand expanded tariff powers to President Trump. Following the vote, Congresswoman McCollum released the following statement: 

“This bill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. While purporting to be a bill to sanction Russia, this bill is so broad that it passes tariff authority into law that could hit the majority of our trading partners. I refuse to give expanded tariff authority to a president that routinely wages reckless trade wars with our closest allies.

“The U.S. must implement enforceable sanctions against Russia to bring an end to their illegal and devasting war against Ukraine. This bill fails to mandate those penalties for Russia’s aggression. Instead, this legislation only directs the president to put sanctions on Russia if he chooses. I want sanctions on Russia, period, and President Trump already has the power to do so without this bill.

“For a president who says he supports Ukraine, he has inexplicably delayed release the $400 million dollars that Congress appropriated last spring to support Ukraine.  President Trump must immediately release these funds that are so desperately needed to defend Ukraine from Russia’s aggression.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after the House passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. This legislation will hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine and extend sanctions that restrict funding for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.

“I am beyond proud to have passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, legislation that I co-led in the House of Representatives. Vladimir Putin is a brutal dictator, and his hopeless plot to rebuild the Soviet Union must come to an end. I will always stand against Putin’s evil regime, and I will continue working with my colleagues to cripple his power and bring an end to the largest land war in Europe since World War II. Far too many lives have been lost, and this bill will enact historic financial punishment on those who support Putin and his war. This legislation also extends sweeping sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has targeted and killed Americans for over 47 years. Passage of this landmark sanctions bill is a fitting honor to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, and I look forward to the President implementing these measures.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) forced a vote on an amendment during a Ways & Means Committee markup that would require the Trump administration to release yet-unseen information about the WISeR program. The program pays private companies to use AI to delay and deny care to seniors in Washington and five other states.

Since the program began in January, patients have been left in severe pain and unable to access the care prescribed by their doctors. In June, DelBene announced that Virtix, the company administering WISeR in Washington, was ordered to submit a corrective action plan for delays in reviewing claims after a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) audit of its performance. Neither document has been released to Congress or the public.

The amendment would force CMS to release any audits or corrective action plans for WISeR-participating companies within 3 months. It would also direct the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to analyze the impacts of Medicare Advantage plans’ red tape on patients and providers. Ways & Means Republicans rejected the amendment by an 18-19 vote.

“It’s clear why the administration is doing everything they can to conceal these documents. The more that Americans learn about WISeR, the more outraged they get at the Trump administration for jeopardizing their care and trying to privatize Medicare,” said DelBene.

This effort was informed by a bombshell report released by the Electronic Frontier Foundation that revealed widespread delays and denials of care, operational chaos, and reports of patient harm. The report contains nearly 1,000 pages of documentation, including contracts with participating companies, internal reports, and health care providers’ complaints about the program, that were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and lawsuit. It also sheds light on the CMS’ plan to expand WISeR to cancer treatments and other types of care.

DelBene introduced legislation last November to repeal WISeR and has led multiple other legislative efforts to stop the program.

Watch DelBene’s remarks here. The text of the amendment can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

For the past 605 days, Donald Trump has unilaterally implemented an onslaught of failed, inflationary policies that have blown up our economy, leaving the Federal Reserve with no choice but to raise interest rates for the first time in three years. Make no mistake. Donald Trump owns this rate hike and is to blame for the mortgages and credit card rates that will rise as a result. 

Republicans promised to lower costs and stop endless wars. Instead, Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice in Iran has caused the largest global energy crisis in history. Americans are paying an extra half-billion dollars a day for gas, diesel has never been more expensive and electricity bills are through the roof. At the same time, his on-again, off-again tariffs are causing the price of groceries and everyday essentials to skyrocket.

In the twenty months since Donald Trump took office, the average family has spent $4,200 more just to get by, inflation is far higher and the Fed is raising rates to clean up his mess. ENOUGH.

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced the Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act, legislation that would prevent the Trump Administration from prematurely ending the Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration and keep monthly premiums down for seniors enrolled in standalone Medicare prescription drug plans. The legislation follows the Trump Administration’s announcement that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would terminate the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration at the end of 2026.

“Every trip to the grocery store and every monthly bill is increasingly painful for my older neighbors. The added strain of higher prescription drug costs is the last thing they need, so I will fight to reverse a recent HHS scheme to increase Medicare prescription drug costs for seniors and people with disabilities,” said Rep. Castor. “The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act will reverse the HHS scheme, keep premiums down and provide greater certainty on health care costs. Seniors worked hard for their earned Medicare benefits, and I am fighting to keep those benefits affordable and dependable.”

“For seniors living on fixed incomes, every dollar matters. At a time when seniors are already struggling to keep up with the rising cost of groceries, housing, health care, and everyday necessities, the Trump Administration should be doing everything it can to lower costs, not ending a program that is helping seniors afford their prescription drugs,” said Rep. Sewell. “Ending the Part D Premium Stabilization Program could mean higher premiums and greater financial strain for millions of seniors. The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act will help ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have the stability and certainty they deserve.”

CMS established the demonstration in 2025 after changes to the Medicare Part D benefit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to help stabilize premiums for beneficiaries enrolled in standalone prescription drug plans.

The IRA made several changes to Medicare prescription drug coverage, including establishing a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs beginning in 2025. As the redesigned benefit shifted more prescription drug costs to Part D plans, the Premium Stabilization Demonstration was created to help mitigate premium increases and provide greater stability during the transition.

According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the demonstration saved seniors an average of $312 in 2026. Ending the demonstration could expose beneficiaries to higher premiums beginning in 2027.

The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act would require CMS to:

• Continue the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration through calendar year 2029;
• Continue the demonstration in subsequent years if terminating it would result in higher premiums for Medicare beneficiaries; and
• Issue guidance for calendar year 2027 within 30 days of enactment to provide seniors and Part D plans with greater certainty ahead of the upcoming plan year.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming closure for 11 U.S. Nationals in Whittier, Alaska, who had been facing changes regarding past votes in a local election in Alaska. Alaska prosecutors decided to drop the charges against them, after nearly three years of legal defense resulting from their votes.

“I’m relieved for our people in Alaska and glad to hear their case is over,” said Congresswoman Amata.

Amata had publicly called for forgiveness and restoration for the defendants, stating at the time, “I hope the wonderful people of Alaska, where I’ve visited many times, will be forgiving of this mistake by the local U.S. nationals in their community. Rather, I hope that this can become an educational moment, that the Lord can ‘work together for good’ by preventing future problems through public awareness, while restoring our people in Alaska with compassion.”

Legislatively, Amata has introduced the American Samoa Statutory Nationality and Citizenship Act (H.R. 6158) to help individual U.S. nationals more readily transfer into U.S. citizenship as a personal choice, while not affecting American Samoa’s current status, which for over 126 years has protected the family land and chiefly (matai) systems within the traditional fa’a Samoa (Samoan way). 

This week in Washington, Amata had a meeting with a key lawmaker to highlight the merits of her bill and build a foundation for future passage. “It’s a thorny issue to explain in DC, but we’re building a groundwork, and I’m optimistic,” Amata said. Her bill would protect both collective self-determination for American Samoa and the individual rights of U.S. nationals, by improving access to elective United States citizenship for individuals born in American Samoa as U.S. nationals.

In January, Aumua Amata had put out an awareness PSA reminding U.S. Nationals never to vote in other jurisdictions, no matter how long they had lived there, unless they had personally become citizens before voting. Amata closed with a similar reminder. 

“U.S. Nationals can only vote in American Samoa, not the rest of the United States. If you want to vote elsewhere, you must pursue and complete citizenship first. It’s especially important to make sure your recent graduates who are U.S. nationals know this clearly when they turn 18 and possibly relocate for college, jobs, or military,” Aumua Amata concluded. “It’s our way to obey the law where we live, so be mindful of these facts, unless a state or jurisdiction were to ever expressly provide that U.S. nationals also may vote in elections in that specific state or locality.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Congresswoman Titus today introduced the Public Lands Accountability Act to ensure the public has a say in the federal permitting process for data centers on public lands and environmental effects are thoroughly evaluated.

“Data centers are proliferating in Nevada and other states having large expanses of federal land,” Congresswoman Titus said. “We need to make sure the public’s voice is heard and that the effects on the environment, water resources and the electric grid are thoroughly assessed and made public.”

A data center has been proposed in Boulder City, Nevada, and would be the first data center in the nation built on BLM land.

“How this project is handled will have immense consequences for data center development in Nevada and beyond,” Congresswoman Titus said, noting there are currently 76 data center projects in Nevada in place or being proposed. “The public should be involved and the environment should be protected.”

Congresswoman Titus’s legislation prevents a federal agency from amending any existing right-of-way permits on BLM land to allow the construction of a data center without going through a new environmental permitting process. As part of the environmental permitting process for proposed data centers on BLM land, the bill requires that the BLM consider the impact of the project on regional water supply. It also requires a data center developer to submit a workforce plan detailing how many local jobs the project will create and whether these jobs will pay prevailing wages.

The bill explicitly prohibits data center projects on public lands from being eligible for categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Permitting Act (NEPA) process, closing potential loopholes that could allow the federal administration to skirt environmental review. The Trump administration is aggressively pushing for the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers through executive actions.

On June 26, 2026, BLM’s Las Vegas Field Office quietly approved an application to amend an existing Right-of-Way (ROW) grant held by Townsite Solar 2, LLC. The original ROW grant authorized Townsite Solar 2, LLC to construct a 19 MW solar photovoltaic power generating facility with battery storage on an 80-acre parcel. The revised ROW grant that BLM approved allows Townsite Solar 2 to construct and operate a data center on the BLM parcel. BLM approved the application for the data center project without conducting a new environmental review or gathering community input, despite the fact the project scope had significantly changed.

Boulder City residents raised concerns about the potential impact of the project on dwindling water resources, extreme heat, and grid resilience, among other environmental concerns and filed an appeal with the BLM. On Sept. 1, 2026, Administrative Judge David Gunter granted a stay halting the data enter development, saying in his ruling, “Appellants have made a persuasive showing that BLM violated NEPA and acted arbitrarily or capriciously when it determined that the data center project is ‘substantially the same’ as the solar plant project for purposes of its NEPA analysis.”