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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), a veteran and member of the House Armed services Committee, introduced the Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act to ensure servicemembers and military families continue to have access to abortion and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments regardless where they are stationed, including states with extreme abortion bans. 

Currently, nearly 50% of service members are stationed in a state with extremely limited or no access to abortion. Congressman Crow’s bill would require the Department of Defense (DoD) to allow service members to take leave and reimburse travel costs to receive reproductive health care treatment. His bill also comes after Secretary Pete Hegseth restricted servicemembers from traveling for abortion care and IVF treatments.

“Restricting access to health care, including fertility treatments and abortion care is wrong and undermines our military’s recruitment, readiness, and retention,” said Congressman Crow. “I’ve introduced this important bill to protect access to abortion and IVF treatments for women in the military.” 

Congresswomen Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) joined Congressman Crow in introducing this legislation.

“We ask our servicewomen to put their lives on the line to protect our country from threats across the globe — they should never have to risk their lives or their health to access abortion care here in the United States. That’s why I am reintroducing my legislation to ensure that our servicewomen have the freedom to choose if and when to start a family, and can travel to  receive reproductive care — whether that’s abortion or IVF. Right now, it’s more important than ever that we take swift action to support those who sign up to serve. Secretary Hegseth has been clear about his belief that women should not be serving in combat — and he took quick action to overturn access to reproductive care for servicewomen shortly after being confirmed. Now, he’s working to undercut our military’s strength by firing our nation’s top military officials — including the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy. This issue is deeply personal to me, having served in the Navy. I will always fight to ensure that our servicewomen and military family members have access to basic reproductive care,” said Rep. Sherrill.

“My home state of Texas has been ground zero for the Republicans’ assault on reproductive freedom,” said Rep. Escobar. “Texas is also home to over a dozen military bases, including Fort Bliss, which I have the honor of representing in Congress. Amidst a challenging recruiting environment, I believe it is more important than ever to ensure Congress protects the rights of our military women and families to access the reproductive care they need, regardless of where they serve. I am proud to co-lead the Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act, which does just that. Members of our military are trusted to protect our freedoms; it is only right we protect theirs.”  

“As two of the very small number of women in Congress who have served in uniform, Rep. Sherrill and I are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder alongside fellow veteran Rep. Crow and our colleague Rep. Escobar to fight against extreme anti-abortion efforts. It’s outrageous that some of my colleagues believe they can make better decisions about a service member’s reproductive care than the service members themselves,” said Rep. Houlahan. “It is our responsibility to protect the health and safety of those serving our nation, and reimbursing expenses incurred while seeking vital reproductive services is part of that responsibility. We must codify this policy to show our all-volunteer force and their families that we respect their service and will do whatever we can to make health care safe and accessible.” 

The legislation is supported by the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproductive Rights, The Guttmacher Institute, Ibis Reproductive Health, Modern Military Association of America, National Council of Jewish Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, and Reproductive Freedom for All.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

Crow, Boebert Work Together to Reduce Bureaucracy, Better Support Servicemembers, Position Colorado as Leader

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) has introduced the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act, new legislation to prevent the loss of Air National Guard fighter squadrons, including the 140th Wing in Colorado. 

The Air National Guard plays a critical role in America’s national security, currently responsible for 94% of homeland air defense missions and 30% of the Air Force’s total fighting force. However, both pilot and maintenance manning are at critically-low levels, and the average age of fighter aircraft is decades old.

The Colorado Air National Guard’s 140th Wing is integral for homeland air defenses and home to some of the most experienced fighter pilots in America. Loss of this critical fighter capacity would significantly impact our ability to deter attacks and acts of aggression. Right now, 25 Air National Guard Fighter Squadrons—including the 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard—do not have a recapitalization plan. 

“Every day the men and women of the Colorado Air National Guard go to work to help protect America’s national security. Colorado’s servicemembers are some of the most experienced pilots in our country, and we cannot afford to lose these units,” said Congressman Crow. “I will continue fighting to protect the 140th Wing and keep their mission operational.”

 This bill would prevent the loss of air national guard fighter squadrons by replacing aging jets with modern aircraft.

Joining Congressman Crow in introducing this legislation includes Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Jack Bergman (R-MI01), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Andy Harris (R-MD-01), Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), John James (R-MI-10), Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL), and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09).

This legislation builds on Congressman Crow’s long record of supporting Colorado’s National Guard and the U.S. military, including introducing similar legislation last Congress. Congressman Crow serves on the House Armed Services Committee, including as the Ranking Member of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ami Bera (D-CA)

Today, U.S. Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) responded to a newly released U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit report on mail theft — a report he formally requested following widespread complaints from Sacramento County residents about ongoing theft and vandalism of their mail.

The audit uncovered serious deficiencies in how local postal facilities track, secure, and inspect mailboxes, particularly highlighting severe gaps in oversight of arrow key usage. 

“Despite extensive collaborative efforts from my office with USPS and USPIS to address the persistent concerns raised by constituents, the findings of this audit are completely unacceptable,” said Representative Bera. “The audit identified serious systemic issues including missing and unaccounted-for arrow keys, inadequate oversight and a troubling lack of mandatory inspections. The Postal Service must immediately implement the Inspector General’s recommendations to restore public trust and ensure that Sacramento County residents have the secure and reliable mail services they deserve.”

The OIG audit focused on three postal facilities in Sacramento County:

• Sacramento Main Post Office (Royal Oaks Dr)

• Fort Sutter Station (Alhambra Blvd)

• Rancho Cordova Post Office (Progress Ct)

Key Findings Include:

• “The Sacramento Main Post Office, Fort Sutter Station, and Rancho Cordova Main Post Office did not properly track their arrow key inventories.”

• “There is no tracking mechanism in place that distinguishes whether a CBU is postal-owned or privately owned.” 

• “Local management at the Sacramento Main Post Office, Fort Sutter Station, and Rancho Cordova Main Post Office did not perform the annual safety inspections for the condition of blue collection boxes, CBUs, and green relay boxes.”

The report outlines why these failures occurred, their impact on the community, and specific steps for corrective action. The OIG has also issued implementation deadlines and will require proof of compliance.

Congressman Bera’s office will closely monitor the Postal Service’s progress in addressing these critical issues and will continue advocating on behalf of Sacramento County residents to ensure their mail is delivered securely and on time. 

You can find the full audit report here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ami Bera (D-CA)

Rep. Ami Bera’s Office Returns Over $20 Million to Sacramento County Residents

Since taking office in 2013, Representative Bera’s dedicated team of caseworkers have successfully resolved over 32,000 cases for constituents, resulting in the return of over $20,000,000 in federal benefits.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ami Bera (D-CA)

Today, all six Democratic physicians serving in the U.S. House of Representatives formally announced the launch of the Congressional Doctors Caucus.

The caucus is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of Americans, advancing pragmatic health care policy and providing fellow Members with insights on critical health issues.

Members of the caucus include:

• Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) – Internal Medicine
• Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. (NJ-03) – Internal Medicine
• Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) – Pulmonary & Critical Care 
• Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03) – Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) – Emergency Medicine 
• Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) – Pediatrics

“As physicians, we bring firsthand experience with the challenges facing patients and providers every day,” said Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06). “This caucus will harness our collective expertise to advance practical, evidence-based solutions that lower costs, expand access and strengthen care delivery. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure every American has access to quality, affordable care.”

“Medicine is not just a profession; it is a calling—a lifelong commitment to alleviating suffering, saving lives, and advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves,” said Representative Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. (NJ-03). “By launching the Doctors Caucus, we are continuing that commitment. I’m proud to join my fellow Democratic doctors in creating this caucus, where we will fight for patients and providers. Considering the present political landscape, it is more important than ever that we stand together.”

“At a time when Republicans are attacking science, slashing health care, and putting politics over patients, Democratic physicians must be organized to fight back,” said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) “The Congressional Doctors Caucus will be vigilant and active to do all we can to ensure healthcare policy is patient-centered and science-based. We will push back against dangerous misinformation and stand up for every American’s right to have meaningful access to high-quality, affordable health care.” 

“We are seeing health care, evidence-based science, and lifesaving research come under attack more than ever before by the Trump-Vance Administration and their Republican majority in Congress. As doctors, we will always stand up for the health and well-being of all Americans,” said Representative Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03). “I am proud to join this group of Democratic doctors to fight every day to protect and expand access to the lifesaving care that Americans need and deserve.”

“I am excited to launch the Doctors Caucus that will fight for quality, affordable health care for American families,” said Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25). “As doctors we understand the pain and suffering that people endure for not having access to care. We will work to ensure that every American has the health care they need.”

“As Republicans in Congress slash Medicaid, condone the questioning of proven safety and efficacy of vaccinations, and endanger our public health by knee-capping key agencies and medical research, I’m proud to join my fellow Democratic Doctors in creating this Doc Caucus,” said Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08). “Together, we will stand up for patients, providers, innovation, science, and common sense improvements that enhance health care and bring down costs.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ami Bera (D-CA)

Today, U.S. Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) released a statement opposing the Senate’s vote to invoke cloture on the GOP’s partisan continuing resolution (CR). 

Earlier today, Rep. Bera joined more than 60 House Democrats in a letter urging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to reject the CR proposed by Republican leadership. 

“I was proud to stand with House Democrats earlier this week to vote NO on the partisan, one-sided Republican CR—a bill crafted without any Democratic input that threatens housing assistance for thousands of families, underfunds disaster relief, cuts funding for education and law enforcement and creates uncertainty for Social Security and veterans’ health care—all while failing to provide oversight of Elon Musk’s unchecked authority over critical agencies that keep our communities safe and healthy.

“Let’s be clear: this CR was a Republican bill from the start. Republican leadership knew that they didn’t have 60 votes to pass the bill on their own in the Senate–– and they needed to work with Democrats to craft a full-year appropriations bill. Rather than holding Republicans accountable for their reckless governance, Leader Schumer handed them a lifeline—validating their partisan strategy instead of using this moment as a point of leverage to demand accountability. 

“The American people sent us here to govern and stand up for our communities, not to cave to Republican gamesmanship.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ami Bera (D-CA)

Today, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), joined the other Democratic doctors in the House of Representatives—Herb Conaway Jr. (NJ-03), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), and Kim Schrier (WA-08)—in releasing the following statement after Congressional Republicans passed a continuing resolution that did not include a fix for the physician fee schedule cuts that went into effect at the beginning of the year:

“The Trump Administration and Republican leadership has once again turned its back on physicians and patients across the country. As Democratic physicians in Congress, we are disappointed to see that the GOP’s partisan funding bill failed to address physician fee schedule cuts that went into effect on January 1, 2025. 

“Despite bipartisan support for a deal that averted these cuts in December, Republican leadership caved to Elon Musk and killed the deal. Now the Republican majority has excluded any physician payment relief for the second time, and patients will pay the price. These reimbursement cuts will only worsen the physician workforce shortage, increase consolidation in the health care industry, close rural practices, and further drive up costs for seniors. 

“We won’t stop working to provide a bipartisan fix to this issue, and we remain deeply concerned about the continued attacks we’re seeing on health care, with House Republicans attempting to slash Medicaid funding by $880 billion and posing a devastating threat to the health care coverage that 80 million Americans across the country rely on.

“Physicians and patients need immediate relief and long-term, sustainable reform to Medicare reimbursement. They deserve better than empty promises and another failed deal. We stand ready to work with our colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to substantively address this issue and provide meaningful relief to physicians and the patients they care for.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) joined Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) and fellow members of the California delegation in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reverse its decision to not conduct soil testing in areas impacted by the wildfires. Testing the soil for toxic contaminants helps to ensure the safety of residents returning to their communities following the fires. Representatives Lieu, Friedman (CA-30), Barragán (CA-44), Brownley (CA-26), Garcia (CA-42), Rivas (CA-43), Sherman (CA-32), and Whitesides (CA-27) urged FEMA to take measures to ensure that wildfire survivors are not returning to unsafe and toxic environments.

In the letter, the Members write:

Dear Acting Administrator Hamilton,

Thank you for your continued work to support wildfire recovery and clean up throughout greater Los Angeles. As of February 26, FEMA has approved over $78 million in assistance to eligible Los Angeles County residents impacted by the wildfires.1 FEMA’s continued partnership and coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has been critical in recovery efforts.

Additionally, we are grateful for the work of the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (AQMD) expanded air monitoring efforts in the Eaton and Palisades Fire areas.2 As debris removal may cause hazardous dust and ash to become airborne, robust monitoring for airborne toxins is critical to protecting public health. We urge FEMA to partner with local agencies to conduct additional, comprehensive, region-wide monitoring for airborne toxins that may be disturbed by debris removal or transfer.

While we believe the ongoing efforts to monitor hazards are crucial steps forward, we write to express serious concern with FEMA’s recent decision to not conduct soil testing in fire affected areas following cleanup.3 Follow up soil sampling has been standard procedure after nearly every major wildfire in California for the past two decades. This decision also contradicts the steps taken by FEMA following the devastating fire in Lahaina, where FEMA conducted additional soil testing for toxic contaminants.

Comprehensive soil testing is essential to ensuring the safety of wildfire survivors returning home. During the cleanup of the 2018 Camp fire, which tragically destroyed the town of Paradise in Northern California, soil testing was conducted on nearly 12,500 properties. Of these, more than 4,000 properties still had toxic chemicals in the soil, including lead and arsenic. The residents of greater Los Angeles should be informed of any potential toxins in the soil as they navigate the complicated recovery process. Wildfire survivors deserve to return to safe, toxin-free properties. In order to ensure the health and safety of the residents of the greater Los Angeles area, we are requesting responses to the following questions:

1. What steps has FEMA taken in previous wildfires, like those in Paradise and Lahaina, to ensure the soil is free from toxic contaminants?
2. How can FEMA confirm that removal of 6 inches of topsoil, without further testing, is sufficient to ensure that unsafe levels of toxic chemicals are removed?
3. Has FEMA conducted any preliminary soil testing in fire-impacted areas in the greater Los Angeles area?
4. What factors were considered in FEMA’s decision to not conduct additional soil sampling in the areas impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires? How does this decision compare to previous action taken in California following major wildfires?
5. Did FEMA participate in conversations with local public health agencies before deciding to not conduct additional soil testing?
6. Without FEMA’s assistance, what options do wildfire survivors have to ensure the soil surrounding their properties do not contain deadly contaminants? What is the average cost of this testing?
7. What are the requirements for state, local and individual property owners to be reimbursed for soil testing costs? How does FEMA determine whether results are clearly attributed to fires?

These wildfires have cause heartbreaking loss for thousands of people, and we urgently request a

comprehensive response from FEMA to the above questions. Thank you for your consideration

of this request and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after Congressman Raúl Grijalva passed away. 

“I join our entire caucus in mourning the loss of a Democratic titan, Raúl Grijalva. A lifelong champion of progressive values, Congressman Grijalva served his community and our country for decades and was an influential leader and a valuable voice among House Democrats. In his roles on the House Natural Resources Committee, including his tenure as Committee Chair, Congressman Grijalva used his influence to advance causes that put environmental justice front and center. He fought to hold oil companies accountable for spills, to act aggressively on climate change and to expand our country’s land conservation efforts, among many other important causes. I join his family, friends, colleagues and constituents in mourning this tremendous loss.”

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