MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Know Your Immigration Rights

If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

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

Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) reintroduced the bipartisan 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act to increase workforce and entrepreneurship opportunities, especially for students from underserved communities.

“Whether it’s opening a shop on Main Street or starting something new from the ground up, entrepreneurship creates jobs and keeps our communities strong,” said Davids. “But too many young people — especially in underserved areas — don’t have a clear path to get started. This bill helps bridge that gap by giving students the tools, mentorship, and real-world experience they need to launch businesses and support their local economies.”

“Across Bucks and Montgomery counties, some of the strongest pillars of our community are the entrepreneurs and small business owners who saw an opportunity, took a risk, and built something that now creates jobs and serves others,” said Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01). “I have seen how that kind of initiative can change the trajectory of a Main Street, a neighborhood, or a young person’s future. The 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act is about helping more students — especially those too often left outside these opportunities — gain the mentorship, skills, and real-world experience to turn ambition into enterprise and promise into progress. That is how we widen the pathway to entrepreneurship and expand economic opportunity for the long term,”

Entrepreneurship is an engine of economic growth, job creation, and innovation, but American entrepreneurship has steadily declined over the past several decades. New businesses accounted for 38 percent of all businesses in the U.S. in 1982, compared to just 29 percent in 2018.

The bipartisan bill aims to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs by requiring the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop an entrepreneurship curriculum for students in the 21^st century and encouraging mentorship from proven business leaders across the country.

While most existing federal entrepreneurial development and mentorship programs focus on those with already established careers, this bill would help create a pipeline to entrepreneurship by targeting entrepreneurial education toward students from underprivileged and underrepresented backgrounds.

“The Center for American Entrepreneurship proudly endorses the bipartisan 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act from Representatives Sharice Davids and Brian Fitzpatrick,” said John Dearie, President, Center for American Entrepreneurship. “Startups drive innovation, economic growth, and most of the new job creation in America. Strengthening entrepreneurship is essential to our economic future. By connecting students in underserved communities with SCORE mentors through Community Learning Centers, this bill will help equip the next generation of great American entrepreneurs with the skills to succeed. We thank Reps. Davids and Fitzpatrick for their leadership and look forward to swift passage.”

During her time in Congress, Davids has worked across the aisle to support small businesses. As a former member of the House Small Business Committee, she called for strong oversight of pandemic relief programs to prevent fraud and focused on strengthening domestic supply chains to support small- and medium-sized manufacturers. She has also prioritized efforts to reduce excessive paperwork for small businesses and support individual workers, including veterans, women, and people in recovery.

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

Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11) introduced the bipartisan Accountable Produce is Medicine Act, legislation aimed at modernizing the U.S. health care system by incorporating proven nutrition-based interventions to prevent and manage chronic disease. 

“Kansas families know that good health doesn’t start in a doctor’s office — it starts at home, with what’s on the table,” said Davids.“In too many rural and underserved communities, people are managing serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease without reliable access to healthy food. This bipartisan bill I’m leading with Representative Lloyd Smucker helps change that by bringing together doctors, care teams, and local food systems so patients can get the nutrition they need to stay healthier and out of the hospital.”

This legislation would direct the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a new bundled payment model that integrates “produce prescriptions” interventions into care for patients with chronic diseases. Through this “food is medicine” approach, eligible individuals would gain access to nutrition-focused support, including healthy foods, care coordination, and monitoring services, with the goal of improving health outcomes and reducing overall health care costs.

More than 75 percent of adults in the United States live with at least one chronic disease, many of which are diet-related. Research shows that preventive, nutrition-based interventions can play a critical role in addressing this growing epidemic. 

“Diet-related chronic disease is one of our nation’s most pressing health challenges and a main driver of rising health care costs,” said Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11). “Our system can and must do more to prevent disease—not just treat it. I’m grateful for Rep. Davids’ partnership to advance preventive health measures that will improve the lives of Americans, including proven food is medicine interventions, and I look forward to working closely with Secretary Kennedy to make it possible.”

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Organizations supporting the measure include FreshRx Oklahoma, National Produce Prescription Collaborative, Kellyn Foundation, School of Global Health, Hunger Free Kansas, Texas Health Resources, Coalition for Metabolic Health, National Alliance to Impact Social Determinants of Health, Healthcare Partnerships, Mosaic Life Care, the Sunflower Foundation, and the International Fresh Produce Association. 

Here is what they are saying:

“Hunger Free Kansas commends Representative Davids and her colleagues for this bipartisan effort to scale proven solutions that improve health outcomes while reducing costs. Through the Blueprint for a Hunger-Free Kansas, we are advancing Food is Medicine as a strategy at the intersection of health, agriculture, and community. Kansas is positioned to be a nationwide leader in Food is Medicine, and we are proud to support the Accountable Produce is Medicine Act of 2026.” — Erika Debrick Kelly, Executive Director of Hunger Free Kansas

“The National Produce Prescription Collaborative (NPPC) commends Reps. Smucker and Davids for their introduction of the Accountable Produce is Medicine Act which builds on what we already know: prescribing fruits and vegetables at the point of care improves health outcomes and leads to lower healthcare costs. With its focus on regenerative agriculture, this important legislation addresses rising chronic illness in the United States while also strengthening connections to local farms. Rep. Smucker has been a champion for this work for some time, pushing to modernize Medicare Advantage guidance so that food-based interventions are recognized as “primarily health related” supplemental benefits. We are deeply grateful for his longstanding commitment to integrating healthy food into healthcare for Americans.” — NPPC Coalition Director Sam Hoeffler 

“Too often, we treat the consequences of chronic disease while overlooking the root causes. One of the most powerful foundations of good health is optimal nutrition. Empowering the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test bundled ‘food is medicine’ models can improve outcomes, enhance quality of life, and reduce costs. This is a practical, evidence-based step toward a more effective healthcare system that prioritizes whole-person health.”  — Meagan L. Grega, MD, FACLM,  Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer, Kellyn Foundation

“Representatives Lloyd Smucker and Sharice Davids are trailblazing a new path for health care by introducing an accountable bundled payment model for food is medicine. This historic first for Medicare would align incentives and payments while empowering patients with the tools to advance wellbeing and tackle preventable chronic diseases through nutritious food that is locally grown. Healthcare is truly local, and it starts with the healthy food our local farmers and ranchers provide for communities across the country.” — Winjie Miao, President, Texas Health Resources

“The Coalition for Metabolic Health strongly supports the bipartisan Accountable Produce is Medicine Act of 2026 and its focus on integrating nutrition into care for chronic disease, and encourages its implementation to reflect the full range of nutrient-dense foods and evidence-based dietary approaches. As food is medicine models are implemented, it is essential they reflect current nutrition science and allow for individualized, clinically appropriate approaches. Nutrition interventions should include a broad range of whole, minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods, including fruits and vegetables; dairy; and animal and plant protein sources (including eggs, poultry, seafood, meat, beans, peas, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy), to support diverse patient needs and cultural preferences. A growing body of evidence—including recommendations reflected in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030—supports therapeutic carbohydrate reduction, including low-carbohydrate and ketogenic interventions, as effective tools for improving ‘metabolic health and reducing health care costs, particularly for conditions like diabetes, obesity, and related comorbidities.’ We encourage the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to ensure flexibility for clinicians and to evaluate outcomes across different dietary approaches. This will help maximize the model’s impact on improving health outcomes and reducing costs. We applaud Representatives Smucker and Davids for their leadership.” — Coalition for Metabolic Health 

“NASDOH applauds the introduction of the Accountable Produce is Medicine Act, which would require the CMS Innovation Center to test a bundled payment model that includes nutrition-focused interventions—such as produce prescriptions and nutrition counseling—in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP programs. The CMS Innovation Center has an important role in testing and implementing innovative payment and service delivery models to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. For this reason, it is critical that these value-based care efforts incorporate efforts to address the root causes of health, including nutrition.” — National Alliance to Impact Social Determinants of Health

“We’re grateful to Representatives Smucker and Davids for their continued leadership on commonsense solutions that better align our health care system with real outcomes. This legislation reinforces a simple truth: what people eat directly shapes their health, and fruits and vegetables must be central to the solution. Produce prescriptions are a proven, effective way to help prevent and manage chronic disease, and scaling these approaches is critical to improving the health of more Americans.” — Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association

“At Morrissey Market, we’ve built a national network of regional suppliers to deliver medically tailored groceries to patients managing chronic disease — because we believe locally grown food and clinical nutrition intervention go hand in hand. The Accountable Produce is Medicine Act gets this right, prioritizing local and regional producers while creating the federal infrastructure to scale food is medicine programs through Medicare and Medicaid. We applaud Rep. Smucker’s leadership and are proud to support this legislation.” — Emily Roach, VP Healthcare Partnerships, Morrissey Market

“Our mission at Mosaic Life Care is to put the needs of the patient first by empowering a culture where caregivers bring their best, ensuring a healthier future for generations to come. The Food Is Medicine program reflects that commitment in a real way. We know that access to healthy food can be a barrier to better health. When patients are struggling to manage chronic conditions or recover from illness without reliable nutrition, clinical care alone isn’t enough. By addressing food insecurity as part of care, we are meeting patients where they are while investing in the long‑term health of our region.” — CEO Mike Poore, Mosaic Life Care, St. Joseph, Missouri 

“As a statewide health foundation in Kansas with an interest in whole person care and systems change, the Sunflower Foundation has been investing in Food is Medicine implementation and evaluation for nearly five years. To take Food is Medicine from the “innovation” state to widespread best practice, the health care system needs multiple payment pathways that reflect the varied ways in which people seek, receive, and pay for care. Taking FIM to scale should also consider the existing assets and future potential of local farmers, growers, grocers, and other food businesses that require new markets and avenues for growth and are passionate about improving the health of their communities. This legislation marks a solid start to this important work by addressing two critical elements: payment pathways and local food sourcing.” — Brandon Skidmore, CEO & President, Sunflower Foundation 

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 – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

“You have abused your office, you have gutted America’s public health, you should be ashamed.”

Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens called on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign or face impeachment, standing up for science and accountability during a House Committee hearing.

Here’s what Michiganders are seeing and reading about Rep. Haley Stevens’ work to protect public health, defend science-based policy, and hold officials accountable:

WDET: Detroit Evening Report: US Rep. Haley Stevens calls for RFK Jr.’s impeachment again

By: Hernz Laguerre  

• Rep. Haley Stevens continued her call for articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a house committee meeting on Friday.
• During a contentious set of questions, Stevens says that the secretary abused his office and gutted America’s health.
• She said she did it for Michigan. “I had a moment to push for accountability for Michiganders whose healthcare and safety is on the line with conspiracy theories running rampant. I wanted to push today for the transparency and accountability Michiganders deserve. That’s who I take my cues from.”

Deadline Detroit: Video: U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens — RFK Jr. ‘Has Failed the American People’

By: Allan Lengel 

• Michigan Democratic U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens attacked Robert Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, during a committee hearing Friday and afterward told Deadline Detroit: “He has failed the American people.”
• In an interview with Deadline Detroit after the hearing, Stevens said she has called for Kennedy to resign. If he doesn’t, she said, she will continue to push for articles of impeachment to remove him.

Spectrum News: Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens files articles of im­peachment against RFK Jr.

By: Craig Huber 

• “Secretary Kennedy is driving up costs, endangering lives, undermining public health, betraying public trust and threatening Michigan families and our world-class research institutions. These are violations of his oath of office. We are in a public health emergency. It is time to protect science, protect lives and hold him accountable,”
• Stevens has called for Kennedy’s removal before, in September saying she intended to file impeachment articles against him.
• “Enough is enough. We cannot allow public officials to weaponize misinformation while cutting the very research that saves lives. It is time, today, to impeach RFJ, Jr. This is about protecting the health and safety of Michigan families, every American. I will always stand up for science, truth and the health of every family,” 

WJR

•  “But we know that Michiganders, the American people, have been shut out. That there has been very little accountability, health care cuts, attacks on scientific research, ballooning cases, outbreaks of measles and other diseases that we thought we have come close to eradicating, and so I had to take the five minutes, the five minutes that I got, for accountability and to showcase that we have to have scientific integrity. We have to follow the scientific method. Instead, we are getting conspiracy theories and a self-serving agenda, you know. It was met with a pompous response, which was deeply frustrating. And people in Michigan need to know who’s fighting for them, and that’s me. I’m fighting for them every single day because their health care, their lives are on the line due to these conspiracy theories that are running a multi-billion dollar health agency here in the United States of America.”
• “But what we have seen this entire administration, and particularly under RFK Jr.’s leadership, has been abuses of power at the expense of Michiganders health and safety. It is an outrage. Look, RFK Jr. might not have to respond to families who are in tears, who are being pushed to a breaking point because of cuts to clinical trials, to cancer research. He might not have to answer to Michiganders who are working on pediatric cancer research, but I am doing that, and so of course, you know, I’m going to use, you know, the will and the exercising of our democracy in a congressional hearing to push for accountability.”
• “Well, what we’ve seen is a total disregard for science, a total disregard for generations of vaccine research, of disease research, of epidemiology, firing an entire vaccine panel to put in his hand picked people. That’s not working for the people of Michigan. I’ve got young parents who have newborns and young children, and they are frightened. They are frustrated. I have Republican doctors coming up to me and thanking me for leading the effort to take on the Impeachment of RFK Jr. I don’t do so lightly, all right, but when I see things that I have been a part of, that I oversee in the Congress, and as a defender of Michiganders health and safety. We can’t allow quackery to Trump science. If you got questions, if you want better scientific research, then do it with scientific research, not conspiracy theory. And that’s what we’re getting from RFK Jr., and unfortunately, the President of the United States.”

TWEET: “Stevens: In September, your handpicked vaccine panel voted against recommending the combined measles vaccine for children under four.

Sec. Kennedy: It was dangerous…”

TWEET: “Stevens to RFK Jr: “To top it off, Mr Secretary, I got a copy of HR-944. You know what it is? It’s your impeachment articles, sir. You have abused your office, you have gutted America’s public health! You should be ashamed.””

Stevens to RFK Jr: "To top it off, Mr Secretary, I got a copy of HR-944. You know what it is? It's your impeachment articles, sir. You have abused your office, you have gutted America's public health! You should be ashamed." pic.twitter.com/2lwcHI5AhD
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 17, 2026
 

TWEET: “Wow Rep.Haley Stevens of Michigan totally slams RFK Jr and lets him know what a danger he’s been to this Country and that he needs to be impeached or removed immediately!”

Wow Rep.Haley Steven’s of Michigan totally slams RFK Jr and lets him know what a danger he’s been to this Country and that he needs to be impeached or removed immediately! pic.twitter.com/VVAjatDjBT
— Suzie rizzio (@Suzierizzo1) April 20, 2026
 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) led 101 members of Congress in a letter to President Trump raising serious concerns about his executive order that would effectively limit vote-by-mail. The order, signed on March 29, directs the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Social Security Administration and state governments, to compile lists of U.S. citizens eligible to vote in each state and requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to deliver ballots only to voters whose names appear on those lists.

The members wrote, “Oversight of the Postal Service lies with the Postal Board of Governors, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and Congress – not the President of the United States. As such, we demand that you rescind Executive Order 14399 immediately and instead focus on expanding access to mail-in voting, rather than using the Postal Service to suppress Americans’ right to vote.”

In addition, the lawmakers raised concerns about the feasibility of the order and the negative consequences it could have for postal employees, as well as the timeliness of already slow mail delivery.

They continued, “This mandate places the Postal Service and its dedicated workforce – who already work tirelessly to ensure daily mail delivery – in the untenable position of cross-referencing tens of millions of ballots within a remarkably narrow timeframe leading up to an election. This would cause extreme delays of all types of mail, including election ballots, medicine, bills, and paychecks, negatively impacting the lives and livelihoods of Americans who rely on the Postal Service while also disenfranchising millions.”

The full text of the letter is HERE and below: 

President Trump,

We write to express our deep concerns regarding the legality and operational challenges surrounding Executive Order 14399, entitled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” that you signed on March 31, 2026.

The independence of the U.S. Postal Service (Postal Service) is codified in statute by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which removed the Postal Service from the President’s Cabinet and put it under the purview of an independent Board of Governors. Executive Order 14399 directly undermines that law and poses a significant threat to the millions of citizens who depend on mail-in ballots to participate in the democratic process of voting. Furthermore, it establishes a dangerous precedent for political interference in the operations of the United States Postal Service. Oversight of the Postal Service lies with the Postal Board of Governors, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and Congress – not the President of the United States. As such, we demand that you rescind Executive Order 14399 immediately and instead focus on expanding access to mail-in voting, rather than using the Postal Service to suppress Americans’ right to vote.

For more than a century, the Postal Service has been tasked with delivering mail-in ballots for Americans who are unable to vote in person. This includes active duty servicemen and women, sick and disabled Americans, and those who must travel for work. In 2024, the Postal Service delivered more than 48 million ballots, accounting for nearly 31 percent of all American voters in the 2024 general election. Among these ballots, over 99 percent were delivered on-time by the Postal Service–a testament to the hard work and dedication of the over 600,000 Postal Service employees across the country. To put simply, voting by mail is a safe and effective way to cast a ballot and has been for over a century. Your executive order serves as a radical attempt to suppress millions of Americans from being able to vote. 

It is exceedingly clear that this order is unconstitutional. Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution clearly states that the “manner” of holding elections for Senators and Representatives is determined by the states or Congress. The Constitution and multiple court rulings put it in stark terms: the President does not have the authority to issue an executive order that attempts to undermine the ability of states to run their own elections.

In addition to its illegality, this executive order is unworkable. This executive order seeks to utilize the Postal Service to selectively and arbitrarily withdraw specific ballots from the mail stream. Under this order, Postal Service employees would be instructed to crosscheck and potentially remove election mail that is already in circulation based on lists provided to the Postal Service by the Department of Homeland Security and state governments. Specifically, in Section 3(iii) of the order, the Postal Service is directed to “not transmit mail-in or absentee ballots from any individual unless those individuals have been enrolled on a State-specific list.” This mandate places the Postal Service and its dedicated workforce–who already work tirelessly to ensure daily mail delivery–in the untenable position of cross-referencing tens of millions of ballots within a remarkably narrow timeframe leading up to an election. This would cause extreme delays of all types of mail, including election ballots, medicine, bills, and paychecks, negatively impacting the lives and livelihoods of Americans who rely on the Postal Service while also disenfranchising millions.

We demand your written commitment that you will refrain from any future actions to undermine the Postal Service’s critical role as an independent agency of the federal government, and that you rescind this illegal and reckless executive order.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Mike Kelly (PA-16) introduced the Concurrent Care for Comfort Act, bipartisan legislation that would help improve care for patients with kidney failure.

Currently, Americans living with kidney failure are not allowed to continue their dialysis treatment under Medicare if they choose to enter hospice care. This legislation would allow patients to continue a limited number of dialysis treatments upon entering hospice. This will allow patients to be with their family symptom-free. The Concurrent Care for Comfort Act would clarify the policy for coverage under the Medicare program for palliative dialysis services. The legislation also clarifies separate payment for such palliative dialysis services, furnished by renal dialysis facilities and providers of services to certain individuals electing hospice care.

“At the end-of-life, patients with kidney failure often have to choose between hospice care or continuing dialysis, making them half as likely to receive hospice care than patients with other end-stage diagnoses,” said DelBene. “Hospice care is meant to provide comfort and dignity for people nearing the end of life, but for patients in kidney failure this decision is much more complicated. Our bipartisan bill addresses this issue and ensures patients have access to therapies that improve comfort at the end of life.”

“The Concurrent Care for Comfort Act gives patients greater choice and accessibility to care while they receive their critical dialysis treatments,” said Kelly. “It’s a practical solution for both[RS1]  patients in what is often one of the most trying times of their life.”

“Medicare patients with ESRD deserve a choice in all aspects of their care, including end-of-life”, said Monica Massaro, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Kidney Care Alliance (NKCA). “NKCA is grateful to Representatives Kelly and DelBene for their leadership in sponsoring the Concurrent Care for Comfort Act, which will provide a dignified end-of-life experience for patients and their families.”

“Puget Sound Kidney Centers commends Representatives Kelly and DelBene for their leadership in introducing The Concurrent Care for Comfort Act,” said Tom DeBord, President & CEO of Puget Sound Kidney Centers. “We urge Congress to pass this important legislation to ensure dialysis patients have the choice to elect hospice with the knowledge that dialysis treatment, not “maintenance dialysis,” will be available as needed to address symptom management and provide comfort as they approach the end of life.”

“Currently, people receiving dialysis care, despite a strong clinical need for hospice, have limited access because they must make the excruciating decision to stop dialysis before they can receive hospice services. In Western Pennsylvania, we have piloted a concurrent hospice and dialysis program for eight years offering more individuals the opportunity to pass away in comfort with their family compared to most Medicare beneficiaries on dialysis. We applaud Rep. Kelly’s leadership on this important issue to allow all individuals on dialysis to make the choice that’s right for them,” said Doug Johnson, MD, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board, Dialysis Clinic Inc.

The text of the legislation can be found here

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced his fiscal year (FY) 2027 Community Project Funding requests for projects benefitting communities across Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District.

Rep. Kelly’s 20 funding requests cover all six counties in the district. The House Appropriations Committee will review these requests during budget negotiations in the months ahead. A final decision on the projects is expected to be announced later this year.

“As we review projects each year, we are always looking for those that provide the greatest return on investment for taxpayer dollars. These projects certainly do just that,” said Rep. Kelly. “I believe it’s important for everyone to remember: this isn’t Washington’s money. These are your tax dollars at work in your community.”

Below are the projects requested by Rep. Kelly, categorized by county:

BUTLER COUNTY

Project: Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company Engine Replacement
Recipient: Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company
Address of Recipient: 180 Main Street, PO Box 242, Connoquenessing, PA 16027.
Amount: $1,325,000
Benefits: The project supports the replacement of the Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company fire engine. The current first due engine and first due rescue vehicle are 30 and 15 years old respectively, which exceeds National Fire Protection Association standards for service life and safety. Replacing these two aging vehicles with a single fully equipped combination fire rescue engine saves money and ensures faster response times with a full crew of firefighters and rescue technicians. Furthermore, deploying a modern vehicle that meets current standards is essential for the safety of volunteer fire personnel.

Project: Brush/Utility Truck
Recipient: The Harrisville Volunteer Fire Company
Address of Recipient: 313 East Mercer Street Harrisville, PA 16038
Amount: $300,000
Benefits: This project supports the Harrisville Volunteer Fire Company in acquiring a new brush/utility truck. The current vehicle’s mechanical issues have compromised its reliability. This acquisition will provide the community with a dependable resource and improve response times, decreasing the reliance on neighboring fire companies.

Project: Groundwater Treatment Improvements
Recipient: Chicora Borough
Address of Recipient: 111 Water Street, Chicora Borough, Pennsylvania, 16205
Amount: $1,232,000
Benefits: This project will replace the existing water filtration system and associated equipment in Chicora Borough. The current water filtration system is antiquated and requires upgrades to maintain compliance with safe drinking water regulations.

Project: Bed Innovation and Safety Project
Recipient: Butler Memorial Hospital
Address of Recipient: One Hospital Way, Butler, PA, 16001
Amount: $2,500,000.00
Benefits: This project upgrades hospital equipment to improve patient care, reduce complications, and lower overall healthcare costs. By improving patient outcomes and reducing preventable adverse events, the project can lower avoidable healthcare costs borne by public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. It also strengthens local access to care, supports emergency preparedness, and sustains a major regional employer and economic anchor. Investing in safe, modern hospital infrastructure protects community health, enhances operational efficiency, and delivers measurable value to taxpayers by preventing more costly problems in the future.

Project: Route 19 Waterline Replacement Project
Recipient: Cranberry Township
Address of Recipient: 2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, PA, 16066
Amount: $2,521,535.00
Benefits: This project replaces aging, failure-prone infrastructure along a key commercial corridor, ensuring reliable water service for residents and businesses. By completing a previously funded multi-phase effort, it helps prevent costly emergency repairs, protects public health and safety, and supports continued economic activity.

Project: US 422 Shawood Pipe – MPMS #83611
Recipient: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation – District 10
Address of Recipient: 2550 Oakland Ave Route 286 South, Indiana, PA, 15701
Amount: $7,000,000.00
Benefits: The project involves major highway construction at the US 422/I-79 interchange to fix critical infrastructure issues. It will replace a collapsed drainage pipe and improve slope stability in areas with unstable soil. The work is planned over two construction seasons and will move forward through an approved contractor to improve safety and long-term roadway reliability.

CRAWFORD COUNTY

Project: Allegheny Lab for Innovation & Creativity @ Bessemer
Recipient: Allegheny College 
Address of Recipient: 764 Bessemer St. Meadville, PA 16335
Amount: $982,000
Benefits: The proposed Allegheny Lab for Innovation & Creativity @ Bessemer would provide hands-on, industry-aligned training using modern equipment that reflects real-world production environments. Every dollar invested in technical workforce development generates long-term economic returns through higher wages, increased tax revenue, and reduced reliance on public assistance. Furthermore, skilled workers attract and retain employers, creating a multiplier effect across the regional economy.

Project: Fellows’ Club Volunteer Fire Department & Ambulance Service
Recipient: Fellows Club Fire Department
Address of Recipient: 1015 Strawberry Alley PO Box 355, Conneautville, PA 16406
Amount: $850,000
Benefits: This project replaces a 35-year-old pumper with a pumper tanker that is able to enhance public safety and fire response in areas both with and without a municipal water supply.

ERIE COUNTY

Project: Mercyhurst University Police Academy 
Recipient: Mercyhurst University Municipal Police Academy
Address of Recipient: 501 East 38th St. Erie, PA 16546 
Amount: $1,000,000
Benefits: This project represents an investment in public safety and law enforcement efficiency, directly benefiting both officers and the communities they serve. By providing advanced tools, such as high-performance driving simulators and virtual reality technology, the program will enhance officer preparedness, improve response times, and promote safer policing practices. Additionally, the driving simulator may be made available to community organizations for safety training, increasing public awareness and engagement regarding road safety.

Project: Corry Regional Public Safety Building
Recipient: City of Corry
Address of Recipient: 100 South Center Street, Corry, PA 17407.
Amount: $2,000,000
Benefits: This project will construct and equip a consolidated Corry Regional Public Safety Building to house the City of Corry Police Department and Fire Department, modernize 19th-century facilities, and strengthen emergency response and regional resilience to serve urgent community need.

Project: Belle Valley Fire House
Recipient: Millcreek Township Fire Department
Address of Recipient: 3608 West 26th Street, Erie, PA, 16506
Amount: $7,000,000.00
Benefits: This project will replace an outdated fire station that can no longer meet the needs of the township. A new Belle Valley Fire Station will improve response times, better support personnel, and protect critical equipment, ensuring reliable emergency services for a growing population of over 54,000 residents. Ultimately, it will strengthen public safety by allowing first responders to operate more effectively and be closer to emergencies when every second counts.

Project: Port Authority Continued Demolition of Multiple Structures at Erie, PA Coke Site
Recipient: Erie Western PA Port Authority
Address of Recipient: 1 Holland Street, Erie, PA, 16507
Amount: $2,000,000.00
Benefits: This project will clean up and redevelop 100 acres of polluted Lake Erie waterfront that is currently abandoned. It will turn the area into space for homes, businesses, and expanded port operations to support trade. Funding will help start a long-term effort that is expected to boost jobs, economic activity, and tax revenue.

Project: Union City Borough Police Department & Administration City Building – Phase 3
Recipient: Borough of Union City
Address of Recipient: 13 South Main Street, Union City, PA, 16438
Amount: $375,000.00
Benefits: The project completes a phased, already-initiated rehabilitation plan, of the Union City Borough Police Department & Administration City Building. This project enhances an existing public asset and strengthens downtown operations and long-term municipal efficiency. Union City is a small rural municipality with limited fiscal capacity and completing this coordinated rehabilitation strategy protects prior investments and ensures that the City Building remains a fully accessible and operational center of local government for decades to come.

LAWRENCE COUNTY

Project: Wilmington Area Agricultural Workforce Innovation Center
Recipient: Wilmington Area School District
Address of Recipient: 300 Wood Street, New Wilmington, PA 16142
Amount: $1,500,000
Benefits: This project funds the construction of Agricultural Education barn and year-round multimodal school farm. The Agricultural Education Barn, a planned multimillion-dollar facility designed to integrate traditional farming with modern, high-tech agricultural laboratories. The facility will provide students with hands-on experience in high-demand fields.

MERCER COUNTY

Project: Mercer County Cooperative Extension & Emergency Center Renovations
Recipient: Mercer County
Address of Recipient: 125 S. Diamond Street, Suite 103 Mercer, PA 16137
Amount: $ 551,081
Benefits: This project modernizes the Penn State Extension Mercer County office and invests in public safety, transforming the facility into a resilient emergency operations center and backup courthouse. By installing a backup generator, fire alarm systems, and security cameras, the project ensures the continuity of judicial and emergency services for a rural community vulnerable to infrastructure gaps. Beyond safety, these taxpayer-funded upgrades revitalize economic and youth development by restoring a modernized kitchen for agricultural training and providing ADA-compliant spaces for 4-H programs. Ultimately, these energy-efficient renovations create a secure, high-tech hub for civic engagement, reducing long-term operating costs while ensuring all residents have equitable access to essential county services.

Project: Sharon Regional Health System Medical Imaging Modernization Project
Recipient: Sharon Regional Medical Center
Address of Recipient: 740 East State Street, Sharon, PA, 16146
Amount: $1,355,000.00
Benefits: The project would be used for procurement of a CT Machine to be installed at Sharon Regional Medical Center (SRMC) flagship hospital. This project supports high-quality cardiac imaging, helping SRMC keep patients in the community for timely diagnosis and treatment rather than delaying care or shifting cases to more distant facilities – reducing transportation and transfer-related costs for families and the healthcare system.

Project: From the Founding to the Future: Connecting Grove City Parks/Recreation Opportunities through Facility, Street and Trail Improvements
Recipient: Borough of Grove City
Address of Recipient: 123 West Main Street Grove City, PA 16127
Amount: $2,734,248.00
Benefits: The project is an investment in public infrastructure throughout Grove City and the surrounding Mercer County region. The project will modernize aging roadway, park, and trail infrastructure while creating safe, ADA-accessible connections between Cunningham Mill Park and Hunter Farm Park. The project will expand access to public parks, support youth sports programming, and improve transportation safety for residents.

Project: Lincoln Avenue Corridor Infrastructure Modernization Project
Recipient: Borough Of Grove City
Address of Recipient: 123 W. Main Street Grove City, PA 16127
Amount: $3,100,000.00
Benefits: The project addresses essential public infrastructure needs in the Lincoln Avenue corridor, which serves one of the district’s major manufacturers and provides a key connection to regional freight routes. Improving the roadway, sidewalks, and truck turning movements ensures safer and more efficient transportation for residents, employees, and commercial carriers. The project also upgrades the stormwater system to eliminate chronic flooding that damages public infrastructure, disrupts access, and increases long-term maintenance costs.

Project: Shenango Valley Multipurpose Community Center Rehabilitation Project
Recipient: City of Hermitage
Address of Recipient: 800 N. Hermitage Road Hermitage, PA 16148
Amount: $2,100,000.00
Benefits: This project repurposes a National Guard Armory building that is being decommissioned and reserves it for community use. The project addresses an existing gap related to indoor recreation and community space by rehabilitating the existing building. The building is ideally located to serve the youth, seniors, and other adults living in the Shenango Valley.

VENANGO COUNTY

Project: Venango County Public Safety Radio
Recipient: County of Venango
Address of Recipient: 1174 Elk St, Franklin, PA 16323
Amount: $4,000,000
Benefits: The project would establish an improved radio system that reduces operational risk, increases public safety, and provides a durable asset that maximizes the value of taxpayer dollars. Taxpayers benefit through safer communities, reduced duplication of services, and more efficient use of public safety resources.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced that he has filed a discharge petition for the Faster Labor Contracts Act. The bill will speed up the process of finalizing a first contract between a newly certified union and the employer.  

“The right of workers to form a union and collectively bargain is crucial to improving wages, hours, working conditions, and so much more. I know because I’ve lived it,” said Congressman Donald Norcross, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus. “Right now, employers can delay negotiations on first contracts for years. The Faster Labor Contracts Act will force employers to act in good faith and come to the negotiating table quickly. This is a bill that’s supported by members from both parties on the left, right, and center. Since Speaker Johnson won’t bring this bipartisan bill to the floor for a vote, we’re left with no choice but to file a discharge petition.”

“In the wealthiest country in the world, if you work hard and play by the rules, you should have the opportunity to live the good life. No one has done more to defend this American dream than our nation’s unions and organized labor,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “At a time when the right to organize is under assault, it is unacceptable that when hardworking Americans come together to form a workplace union, employers can stifle that progress by refusing to bargain. The discharge petition on the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which will soon get the 218 signatures necessary to force a vote on the Floor of the House of Representatives, strengthens worker protections and compels employers to come to the table. I thank Congressman Norcross for his leadership and for standing up for working families across the country.”

“For many workers, the hard part doesn’t end when they vote to form a union— it begins there.  Reaching a first contract can take months, even years.  In some cases, it never happens at all.  Workers sit through endless delays, shifting proposals, and stalled negotiations, all while trying to balance their jobs, their families, and their livelihoods.  When workers choose to organize, they are choosing a voice—but without a first contract, that voice can be effectively silenced.” said Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce. “Dragging out fair negotiations is a second chance for corporations to break up a union.  The Faster Labor Contracts Act brings accountability to this process.  It sets reasonable timelines and ensures that both sides engage in serious, good-faith negotiations.  It helps prevent delay tactics and keeps the focus where it belongs—on reaching an agreement that works for everyone. Ensuring workers can quickly and efficiently reach a first contract is also one of the many important provisions of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act).  I support the Faster Labor Contracts Act because it similarly advances the rights of working people, and I thank Mr. Norcross for his leadership on this issue.”

“In America today, workers are forced to wait 458 days on average before obtaining a first union contract. This is unfair, it’s un-American, and it must be fixed,” Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said. “This bill needs to move, and it needs to move fast, because working people in this country have been waiting long enough.”

According to Bloomberg Law, it takes an average of 458 days for unions and employers to agree on a first contract. This bipartisan legislation will ensure that when workers vote to form a union, employers are not allowed to drag out negotiations on first contracts.

 

The Faster Labor Contracts Act would amend Section 8(d) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), to require that:

• Employers begin negotiating with a newly certified union within 10 days of receiving a written request. 
• If no agreement is reached after 90 days of negotiation, either party can request mediation from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). 
• If mediation fails after 30 days, or additional periods agreed upon by both parties, the dispute will be referred to a binding 3-person arbitration panel to secure an initial contract.  
• That initial contract is binding for 2 years unless both parties agree to amend it.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced this bill in the Senate.

Read the full text of the legislation here.

Read the one-pager here.

Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) and Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) were joined by the following members in introducing the Faster Labor Contracts Act: Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-08), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), Jared Golden (D-ME-02), Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26), Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03), Riley Moore (R-WV-02), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Michael Rulli (R-OH-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Chris Smith (R-NJ-04), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02).

The bill is endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), American Compass, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division–International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, International Union of Operating Engineers, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.), National Education Association (NEA), National Employment Law Project, Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM), Transport Workers Union (TWU), United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), United Steelworkers (USW), Utility Workers Union of America.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the Veterans Legal Support Act, which would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide funding to law school clinical programs that provide pro bono legal services to veterans, including assistance with disability claims and foreclosures. Currently, there are more than 20 law schools nationwide that have clinics focusing on the legal needs of veterans, including the William & Mary Law School Veterans Benefit Clinic, which was the first recipient of a “best practice” certification from the VA. Allowing the VA to provide funding to these clinics would allow other law schools, like the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law, to start their own VA-certified clinics.

“Countless veterans are currently stuck in limbo, waiting for the VA to process their claims. The clinical programs at certain law schools provide these veterans with the free, expert legal assistance they need to navigate a complex system and secure their hard-earned benefits. This bill builds on the proven success of existing law school clinics across the country, ensuring we sustain and expand the vital legal resources our veterans deserve.”

Norton’s introductory statement follows:

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

On the Introduction of the Veterans Legal Support Act of 2026

April 21, 2026

Today, I introduce the Veterans Legal Support Act of 2026, which would allow the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide support to law school clinical programs that provide pro bono legal and support services to veterans, including assistance with disability claims and foreclosures.  There are at least 22 law schools that have clinics devoted to veterans’ legal needs, including the William & Mary Law School Veterans Benefits Clinic, which was the first recipient of a “best practice” certification from the VA. There are many other law schools, such as the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law, that are interested in starting their own VA-certified clinics.  More needs to be done to sustain and increase the number of these programs.

I was a tenured professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and continued to teach a seminar there after being elected to Congress.  I saw the expert assistance that clinical programs provide their clients. 

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, a concrete measure that would assist our veterans, who put their lives on the line for this country.

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