MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Governor Wes Moore to tour the progress being made on the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild with Members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation and other congressional leaders to highlight the critical importance of the bridge both to the state and to the entire nation. They were joined by Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Chair of the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee U.S. Representative Steve Womack (AR-03), as well as U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), U.S. Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), and Former U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD).

“From day one, Team Maryland has worked together closely to ensure that the Key Bridge is rebuilt as safely, quickly, and cost-effectively as possible,” said Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-05). “I thank Governor Moore and my colleagues for their efforts to ensure proper Congressional oversight for this critical project for Maryland and the nation.”

“The Francis Scott Key Bridge was a vital economic engine and our commitment to rebuilding it is crucial to the continued prosperity of our nation,” said Governor Moore. “Together with our federal and regional partners, we will rebuild this bridge as quickly, safely, and cost efficiently as possible to ensure that this vital corridor bounces back stronger for generations to come.”

“I am grateful to Governor Moore and his administration for their transparency about the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and for inviting me to tour the site in-person today,” said Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). “As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I look forward to continuing to partner with Governor Moore and the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure that congressional funding is used effectively to reopen this critical pathway for people and goods across the region.”

“Proper oversight of the American taxpayer dollars being used to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” said Chair of the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee U.S. Representative Steve Womack (AR-03). “This bridge is a vital artery for the movement of people and goods, and its success unlocks the full potential of commerce along our Eastern seaboard. As Chair of the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, I am committed to working with President Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore to ensure this project receives the necessary resources for a safe and efficient rebuild that will prevent a future catastrophe.”

“We’ve always known Team Maryland will fight to rebuild our Francis Scott Key Bridge, and we won’t rest until it’s done. We won’t rest because we’re doing it for all of Maryland: the six Marylanders that lost their lives that day, the brave Marylanders that dove into the frigid water during the rescue operation, and the strong Marylanders whose businesses and livelihoods were impacted by the collapse,” said U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD). “We’re also doing it for our regional and national economy and everyone who depends upon the Port of Baltimore, which supports our national agriculture and auto industries among many others. It is so exciting to see construction actively underway today. This project highlights what strong federal partnership can accomplish as we remain focused on ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly while delivering a safe, sustainable bridge.”

“The rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge represents what can be accomplished when leaders at every level of government come together with a shared purpose,” said U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume (MD-07). “I am thankful for Governor Moore’s partnership and the unwavering commitment of our federal delegation to restore this critical transportation corridor as safely and as quickly as possible. This project is about restoring economic opportunity, strengthening our supply chain, and reaffirming our commitment to the workers, families, businesses, and communities that depend on the Port of Baltimore. Together, we are delivering on our promise to rebuild stronger than before.”

“Today’s tour underscored what we’ve known from the beginning: rebuilding the Key Bridge is not just a Maryland priority — it’s a national and bipartisan imperative,” said U.S. Representative Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). “We have to keep the momentum going and do everything possible to rebuild it as quickly, safely and cost-effectively as we can.”

“The progress being made on the Francis Scott Key Bridge is a testament to what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local partners work together,” said U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey (MD-04). “As Congress continues to support this effort, we have a responsibility to work with Governor Moore to ensure taxpayer dollars are invested wisely and that this project moves forward safely, efficiently, and without delay. I look forward to continuing our partnership to rebuild this bridge and restore the critical connection that supports Maryland families, businesses, the Port of Baltimore, and our nation’s economy.”

“Thanks to Governor Moore’s leadership, Maryland is working around the clock to rebuild the Key Bridge,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. “We appreciated the opportunity to show our congressional partners the significant progress our teams are making as we continue to work together on this nationally significant project.”

“It was a pleasure to show our federal partners the ongoing construction of the bridge as we serve as good stewards of both federal funding and the settlement secured by the State through Attorney General Anthony Brown,” said Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Bruce Gartner. “The tour highlighted the tremendous scale of work underway across the Key Bridge Rebuild project, and our crews are making strong progress as we work to safely and efficiently reconnect our communities.”

The Francis Scott Key Bridge was a vital economic and transportation artery for the region, connecting thousands of Maryland commuters and commercial vehicles daily. Its critical function supported the Port of Baltimore, which generates an annual economic impact of more than $70 billion and links more than 273,000 jobs to its activities.

Immediately following the collapse of the bridge, state, local, and federal partners worked tirelessly to advance recovery operations. In only 78 days, the Unified Command removed more than 50,000 tons of debris from the Patapsco River to restore the Fort McHenry Federal Channel, welcoming back global shipping businesses and cruises and getting Marylanders back to work.

The recovery mission included the distribution of more than $42 million in emergency funding from State agencies to keep impacted businesses open and support affected workers in surrounding communities. The rapid response to the crisis—driven by more than 1,500 people from federal, state, and local agencies—allowed the rebuilding to start quickly, while jumpstarting the Port of Baltimore’s recovery.

Pre-construction activities for the rebuild began in January 2025, including detailed engineering tests that provided vital data points to inform design and construction decisions. The project’s test pile program—a critical process to ensure a sound foundation design—began in the fall of 2025 and reached completion ahead of schedule last month. January of this year marked the beginning of platform construction, which will allow supplies, construction personnel, and equipment to reach the pier sites more efficiently to accelerate the construction process.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after hearing of the passing of a former member of Congress from Pennsylvania, Tim Murphy:

“I am incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of my former congressional classmate and friend, Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania. Tim was a man who truly dedicated his life to serving others, leaving behind a legacy defined by his unwavering commitment to our great nation.

“Tim served his state in the Pennsylvania State Senate and then went on to represent his community in the United States House of Representatives. During his time in Washington, he was an active and productive member of our Conference, serving his constituents with dedication and passion.

“In 2009, while representing Pennsylvania’s 18^th Congressional District in Congress, he decided to expand his service by joining and earning a commission in the United States military. He was a passionate advocate for those living with PTSD, providing support to countless service members and veterans. All of this proves one thing to be true: Tim Murphy was a long-time public servant. He served our nation through both the legislative branch and the military, touching countless lives along the way, and his service will not be forgotten.

“My thoughts, prayers, and condolences are with his family, his friends, and all of those who had the pleasure of working with and knowing Tim Murphy. May he rest in peace,” said Congressman Cole.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomed official notice of $5,509,857 for American Samoa’s Head Start program, a major grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and their Administration for Children and Families.

Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata and Director Maefau Dr. Mary Lauagaia Taufete’e

“I would like to thank Program Director of Early Childhood Education Fonofili Muaava, along with everyone who works with our bright young children or ensuring our territory meets federal requirements for this very helpful support,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Education is among our most important permanent priorities, along with health care, and through ASDOE we can see to it that each generation has more opportunity and access to quality education than the one before. Thank you also to all of our hardworking teachers of all our students of any age, and Education Director Maefau Dr. Mary Lauagaia Taufete’e.”

Since establishing Head Start, Congress continues to appropriate funds yearly for the program. The vision of Head Start is to help children succeed in school, as well as in life and careers, by focusing on children under 5 years old and their early reading and math skills. 

This federal funding helps the American Samoa Department of Education cultivate programs for early K-12 education, consistent with the program’s priority to assist lower income communities.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Today, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell and four of her House colleagues expressed concerns to the Trump Administration over the growing number of invasive species in the Great Lakes. In a letter sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the lawmakers said the agency may be putting the entire Great Lakes ecosystem at risk by exempting existing “Lakers,” a specialized class of large commercial cargo ships or bulk carriers that operate within the Great Lakes, from its rule requiring cargo ships to install ballast water-treatment systems that remove or kill invasive species.

Congresswoman Dingell was joined in the oversight effort by U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), and Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13).

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

This letter expresses concern regarding the growing number of invasive species establishing themselves across the Great Lakes. We are concerned that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may be putting the entire Great Lakes ecosystem at risk by exempting existing Lakers from its rule requiring ballast water management systems on cargo vessels.

In April 2026, bloody red shrimp were determined to have officially established themselves in Lake Superior. This was the last Great Lake to be free from invasive shrimp. The bloody red shrimp, native to Europe and Asia, were first introduced to the lower Great Lakes over twenty years ago through ballast water discharge. While the shrimp themselves are small they, like all invasive species, can have an outsize and unpredictable impact on their ecosystem. The Great Lakes region will have to manage the changes resulting from their establishment for generations. Red bloody shrimp are not the first invasive species to spread through ballast water and, with the current EPA rule exemption in place, they will probably not be the last. 

EPA’s rule to require ballast water management systems for ocean-going vessels and new Lakers should be lauded and is an important step towards preventing the continued transfer of invasive species. However, the Lakers that are exempted from the rule account for 92% of the U.S. fleet.   Ballast water management systems kill living organisms before discharging the ballast water to prevent invasive species spread and Lakers can be retrofitted to support these systems, as Canada has proven with their Laker fleet. Exempting the existing Lakers from the rule leaves the Great Lakes unprotected. 

The Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system in the world, holding nearly 21 percent of the world’s fresh water supply and 90 percent of the United States’ fresh water supply. They are a key economic engine for the region that generates billions of dollars. Invasive species put all of this at risk, and we ask the EPA to keep this in mind. It is far less expensive to invest in preventative actions than to manage the fall out of continued invasive species establishments, particularly when it is unknown what risk each new invasive species will pose to the Great Lakes.  

The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2018 marked a historic step forward in combating invasive species in ballast water. We encourage the EPA to apply their rule equally to all cargo vessels, requiring ballast water treatment systems to be implemented no matter when a ship was built or how long it operates, and to maintain its commitment to safeguarding the Great Lakes from invasive species.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

Case Statement On The Death Of First Lieutenant Tyler Feehan Of Hawaii

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)

WASHINGTON–– The National Retail Federation has named Representative Chuck Fleischmann as a “Hero of Main Street” for his support of the retail industry through legislation and his leadership in Congress. 

“The Volunteer State is proud to support millions of retail jobs that strengthen our economy and create opportunities for families across Tennessee. I have always been committed to advancing this vital industry by investing in workforce development and training programs. These efforts have helped Tennesseans secure good jobs, build rewarding careers, and provide for their loved ones. As the retail sector continues to evolve, I will remain dedicated to supporting initiatives that help our workforce thrive and keep Tennessee moving forward,” Fleischmann said.

The National Retail Federation stands as the world’s largest retail trade association, championing the people, brands, policies, and ideas that keep retail strong. Most retailers are small businesses, over 98 percent employ fewer than 50 people, making them the backbone of our communities and economy.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF CLAUDETTE “ADJOA” HINDS

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Legislation protects the Boca Chica Beach name and would bring greater transparency to the federal renaming process.

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

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Hurricane Helene-related grants to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The funding breakdown of the grants is as follows:

• $715,795 for Bluefield University to lead interior and exterior site repairs 
• $429,270 for Virginia Department of Transportation to repair damaged guard rails and culverts in Tazewell County 
• $143,118 for Town of Richlands to deliver improved access route to local community

In response to these grant notices, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Many communities in Tazewell County were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Helene damages resulted in needed repairs for Bluefield University and improvements to local road infrastructure.

“These grants for nearly $1.3 million help with recovery efforts in Tazewell County.”

BACKGROUND

FEMA funds are obligated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth will be responsible for providing the funds to the sub-recipients.

In January 2025, Rep. Griffith announced $46.67 million in Helene relief to Virginia from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

In April 2025, Congressman Griffith announced nearly $6 million in Helene relief in a separate grant for Washington County water line repairs.

In January 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $4.2 million in Helene relief for a Wytheville wastewater treatment system.

In February 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $8.6 million in Helene relief for water line repair.

In April 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $1.7 million in Helene relief for bridge repair.

In June 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $2.8 million in Helene relief for road repair.

In July 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $9.3 million in Helene relief for waterline repair and $1.2 million in bridge repairs.

In July 2026, Congressman Griffith celebrated more than $7.3 million in federal funding for Helene relief projects in Southwest Virginia.

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