MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Erin Houchin (R-IN-09) introduced the National Fossil Act, bipartisan legislation that would designate the American mastodon (Mammut americanum) as the national fossil mammal and the Tyrannosaurus rex as the national fossil dinosaur of the United States. The American mastodon roamed the region during the Ice Age, making Michigan home to the nation’s densest concentration of mastodon fossils. In 2002, it became the official state fossil. 

“America’s story didn’t begin in 1776. It began thousands and even millions of years earlier, with creatures like the mastodon and T. rex roaming the land we now call home,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “Recognizing them as national symbols is a reminder that discovery is part of who we are as a country. From backyard discoveries to museum exhibits that have inspired generations of kids, this bipartisan effort is a way to celebrate America’s prehistoric past and spark curiosity about science and exploration. And in a moment when we don’t agree on much, I think most Americans can still agree that dinosaurs are pretty cool.”

If enacted, the American mastodon and Tyrannosaurus rex would join the bald eagle, bison, rose, and oak tree as official national symbols of the United States.

“The American mastodon has been recognized as Indiana’s state fossil since 2022,” said Congresswoman Houchin. “As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this bill is a fitting way to recognize an important part of America’s story while encouraging future generations to explore science, geology, and paleontology. The mastodon and Tyrannosaurus rex have captured the imagination of Americans for generations and deserve a place among our nation’s official symbols.”

The American mastodon is the official state fossil of both Indiana and Michigan and has been discovered at sites throughout both states. The Tyrannosaurus rex remains one of the most recognizable dinosaurs in the world and an enduring symbol of American paleontological discovery.

In the 118th Congress, legislation led by Senators Mike Braun and Gary Peters to designate the mastodon as America’s national fossil passed the Senate unanimously. The Dingell-Houchin bill continues that effort while also recognizing the Tyrannosaurus rex as the nation’s official fossil dinosaur. The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL), Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23), Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02), and Tracey Mann (R-KS-01). 

Read the bill text HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt released the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2027 bill for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The FY27 bill was approved by the Committee with a vote of 34 to 28.

“The Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, HHHS, and Education bill prioritizes the core mission of the Appropriations Committee by balancing the need for responsible fiscal stewardship, while maintaining key investments for the people and institutions that strengthen our nation,” said Chairman Robert Aderholt (AL-04). “Following the President’s direction, we have taken a close look at every program funded in this bill and worked to codify the Trump Administration’s efforts to end senseless progressive overreach.”

“This bill advances educational opportunities, restores accountability, and ensures taxpayer dollars are directed towards core functions like biomedical research, biodefense infrastructure, and rural health.”

“I want to thank Chairman Cole and my colleagues for their hard work on these efforts, and I look forward to continuing this process, investing in our people, and preparing our nation for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “America’s strength has always been rooted in the talent, ingenuity, and determination of its people. The Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill focuses on enhancing that foundation. It supports the next generation of medical discoveries, strengthens public health preparedness, upholds educational opportunity, and equips Americans with the skills needed to thrive in a modern economy. It advances access to high-quality care for rural America and reinforces biodefense capabilities. And it includes investments for district-focused projects that support the needs of communities nationwide. At the same time, it restores accountability by streamlining duplicative programs, eliminating waste, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and responsibly. Chairman Aderholt has delivered a bill that recognizes a simple truth: our nation’s greatest resource is its people. By investing in their health, skills, and potential, this legislation helps ensure our country remains strong, competitive, and prepared for the future.”

The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $189.3 billion, which is $5.6 billion (3%) below the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (PA-16), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), and John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), leaders of H.R. 3514, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, released a joint statement after the legislation reached a significant milestone this week of 290 House cosponsors, an overwhelming bipartisan supermajority. 

“We are incredibly pleased to see the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act reach this defining moment in the 119th Congress. This legislation puts patient care and patient outcomes first, and it will greatly modernize and streamline the prior authorization process,” the Members said. “By passing the bipartisan, bicameral Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, we can make it much easier for seniors to receive the care they’re entitled to while also alleviating unnecessary burdens on physicians and hospitals.”

BACKGROUND

Prior authorization is a tool used by health plans to reduce unnecessary care by requiring health care providers to get pre-approval for medical services. But it’s not without fault. The current system often results in unconfirmed faxes of a patient’s medical information or phone calls by clinicians which takes precious time away from delivering quality and timely care.

Prior authorization continues to be the #1 administrative burden identified by health care providers, and three out of four Medicare Advantage enrollees are subject to unnecessary delays due to prior authorization. In recent years, the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raised concerns after an audit revealed that Medicare Advantage plans ultimately approved 75% of requests that were originally denied. More recently, HHS OIG released a report finding that MA plans incorrectly denied beneficiaries’ access to services even though they met Medicare coverage rules

Health plans, health care providers, and patients agree that the prior authorization process must be improved to better serve patients and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens for clinicians. In fact, leading health care organizations released a consensus statement to address some of the most pressing concerns associated with prior authorization.

More than 35 million American seniors are enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Establish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.
• Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use.
• Clarify HHS’ authority to establish timeframes for e-prior authorization requests including   expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other prior authorization requests.
• Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.
• Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-PA process.
• Previously, Rep. Kelly led similar legislation in the 118th Congress. The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act unanimously passed the House in the 117th Congress and was cosponsored by a majority of members in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The bill text can be found here and a section-by-section can be found here.

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Democratic leaders for a press conference ahead of the 14th anniversary of DACA, where he emphasized that while Donald Trump said his immigration enforcement efforts would target violent felons, they have instead come after families, children and Dreamers.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning, everyone. And thank you, Adriano, for your friendship, for your partnership, for your leadership, for bringing us all together in support of these incredible DACA recipients who are here with us and in support of the DACA program here in the United States of America. I want to thank all of my colleagues in government. Of course, Whip Katherine Clark, my good friend Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, who’s been a leader and a champion on this issue and, of course, Adelita Grijalva, one of our newest Members, who’s off to a phenomenal start and so appreciative for her presence and her forceful leadership.

Donald Trump promised that his immigration enforcement efforts were going to target the worst of the worst and violent felons. That’s not what’s happening. Donald Trump’s mass deportation machine has targeted children, law-abiding immigrant families, mothers, fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers, husbands, wives, Dreamers and DACA recipients in a manner that’s entirely inconsistent with America’s status as a nation of immigrants. It’s one of the most important ingredients of American exceptionalism and our success. DACA recipients and Dreamers are as American as motherhood, baseball and apple pie. They are incredibly hardworking, patriotic members of their community, who have contributed in so many different ways. And it’s imperative that the DACA program be continued and supported and embraced because it’s good for America, which is why the American people support our Dreamers and support DACA recipients and support an extension of this program.

Here in America, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, people have come from all over the world to contribute to who we are as a nation, now approaching our 250th birthday. That’s what DACA recipients represent. That’s what the young people behind me represent, the best of America—law-abiding immigrants who were brought here as children, who don’t know the country from which they were originally born because they are part of the fabric of this country here in America. And we will continue to support them today, tomorrow, always and forever. And when we take back control of the House of Representatives, one of our priorities will continue to be, under the leadership of Chairman Adriano Espaillat and Representative Sylvia Garcia, passing into law the Dream and Promise Act.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Angel Families to celebrate the passage of the Secure America Act. Leader Scalise highlighted the fact that every House Democrat voted against funding the ICE agents, Border Patrol agents, and law enforcement officers who secure America’s border and keep communities safe.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
Leader Scalise’s remarks:“Today, Democrats proved once again with their voices and with their votes that they want open borders and that they are willing to vote to defund the police. We’ve seen time and time again, whether it was the defund the police movement years ago in local communities and now here at the federal level, when we had to fight for months during a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security to properly fund the agency, and especially the law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep our communities safe and enforce our immigration laws, keeping violent criminals out of our communities.“When I spoke on the House floor earlier today for the bill, I mentioned, sadly, the many, many victims who have been murdered by people who came here illegally that our Border Patrol agents are trying to stop from coming into our country and trying to find and get out of our country so they can’t kill more Americans. And yet every Democrat voted no because they want to defund those very law enforcement officers. It’s disgraceful, but it’s telling to the American people who want safe communities and deserve safe streets.
“We’ve worked closely with this president to provide safety in communities to the point where now we have the lowest murder rate in over 100 years. And yet there’s still violent criminals out there. There’s still terrorists who are trying to commit attacks here on our homeland. That’s why we need a fully funded Department of Homeland Security. And Democrats time and time again voted to shut the entire agency down, leading to TSA lines. Let’s not forget that. Leading to turmoil for millions of American families. And they don’t care. They don’t care about those families because all they want to do is continue to fight up here anything President Trump does, including trying to secure the border.“If President Trump says he’s going to secure the border, then they deem that something they will fight against, and they want an open border. Well, that’s not where America is. I know we’ve got families up here who have truly felt the impact of this violence of some of these horrible people that have come into our country and committed some of the most violent crimes. We keep them all in our prayers. We continue to not only pray for them but work and vote to ensure that our Department of Homeland Security has the tools to keep our country safe so this never happens again.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08) released the following statement after voting against the Republican-led funding bill that gives ICE and CBP a blank check and  fails to put guardrails in place that will curb their lawlessness or permanently block Trump’s $1 billion ballroom and $1.8 billion slush fund: 

“Washington families want lower costs and safer communities. They do not want to see billions more of their taxpayer dollars go toward funding ICE and CBP – at a time when these agencies have already been fully funded – with zero commonsense reforms that would stop them from terrorizing American citizens and innocent immigrants, and demand that they conduct themselves like local law enforcement agencies. 

“This funding bill also fails to permanently block President Trump’s White House ballroom construction project and his corrupt $1.8 billion slush fund to funnel taxpayer dollars to dangerous January 6th felons. Republicans refuse to stand up to Trump and put the needs of the American people first. 

“That is why I voted no on this bill. Washingtonians deserve better. I’ll keep fighting for reforms that deliver much-needed accountability and prioritize the safety and security of all Americans.”

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

Democrats opposed Republicans’ $70 billion bill, which increases the deficit and fails to do anything to bring down Americans’ cost of living

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore announced that two of his Community Project Funding requests for West Virginia’s Second Congressional District were approved by the House Appropriations Committee as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The legislation passed during Committee markup and will now advance to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

Congressman Riley M. Moore released the following statement:

“These Community Project Funding requests represent strategic investments in healthcare delivery that are critical to communities across West Virginia’s Second District. I fought to secure funding for projects that will strengthen our communities, expand access to quality healthcare, improve technological capabilities for Grafton City Hospital, and enhance quality of life for all West Virginians. While these projects must still be approved by the full House and signed into law, I am pleased to see them advance through the Appropriations Committee, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for these important investments.”

Major Labor, Health and Human Services Investments Advancing for West Virginia:

• $1,500,000 for Grant Memorial Hospital. The WVU Medicine Grant Memorial Hospital Outpatient Healthcare Hub Project will renovate a vacant building to create a centralized facility offering Rapid Care, Pediatrics, Primary Care, Women’s Health, Radiology, and Laboratory Services under one roof. The project will expand access to healthcare for rural residents, improve patient convenience and care coordination, and increase clinical capacity across the region. In addition to strengthening healthcare services, the project will create approximately 30 new jobs and support economic growth in a community facing significant workforce challenges.
• $1,500,000 for Grafton City Hospital. The Grafton City Hospital Technology Infrastructure Modernization Project will upgrade critical network, cybersecurity, and communications systems that support patient care across the hospital and its affiliated clinics. The project will replace aging technology with modern, secure infrastructure, reducing service disruptions, improving communication between providers and patients, and strengthening protections for sensitive healthcare data. These investments will enhance the reliability and safety of patient care today while creating the technological foundation needed to support future innovations, including advanced digital health and AI-driven healthcare tools.

The legislation was approved by the House Appropriations Committee today and will now advance to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

In addition to securing $3 million in Community Project Funding for West Virginia’s Second Congressional District, Congressman Moore also secured $575 million for rural health priorities, which he successfully fought for during the appropriations process. 

These investments will strengthen rural hospitals and healthcare providers, expand access to quality medical care in underserved communities, support the recruitment and training of healthcare professionals, enhance telehealth and innovative care delivery systems, and improve health outcomes for rural Americans. Together, these funding priorities help ensure that families across West Virginia have greater access to reliable, high-quality healthcare while reinforcing the long-term stability of the state’s rural healthcare infrastructure.

Major rural health wins for West Virginia:

• $12,800,000 for Black Lung Clinics. This funding supports clinics treating respiratory and pulmonary diseases affecting miners and other workers with occupational lung disease.
• $30,000,000 for the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program. This funding supports at-risk rural hospitals seeking to expand service lines and improve financial viability.
• $13,500,000 for Rural EMS Training. The committee included report language and funding to train and recruit staff, provide education, and purchase equipment for rural EMS.

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

WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Donald Norcross’ (NJ-01) Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA) in a bipartisan 220-193 vote. The bill, which would be the single biggest advancement in workers’ rights in nearly a century, came to the floor after Norcross successfully forced a vote over the objections of House Republican leadership.

Because there are no deadlines for an employer to agree to a contract with a new union, it takes an average of 458 days for that first contract to be finalized. Likewise, roughly a third of workers are forced to wait more than three years for a contract after voting to unionize. The FLCA would speed up that process by giving both parties options to seek third party remediation after set periods of time – including the choice to have a three-person arbitration panel render a first contract.

“The biggest loophole in labor law is how the richest executives in human history can simply run out the clock on their workers’ first union contract – denying their employees their fundamental collective bargaining rights. That dirty tactic is selfish, it’s immoral, and today’s vote also puts it one step closer to being a relic of history,” Norcross said. “Unions represent workers of all political stripes, and today’s resounding bipartisan vote should clearly demonstrate the collective power of workers’ voices. Solidarity forever, and it’s time to get this bill over the finish line.”

Before passage of the FLCA this evening, Norcross needed to win the majority support of the House this afternoon to force a vote on the bill through the use of a discharge petition. This process was necessary since House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to bring the FLCA to the floor, despite the bill having enough bipartisan support to pass. Historically, only a small fraction of discharge petitions have achieved majority support; Norcross’ coalition of 218 supporters included 211 Democrats and 7 Republicans.

“Once again, House Democrats are governing in the minority as if we’re in the majority and successfully forced a vote on legislation to make life better for the American people. The Faster Labor Contracts Act has passed the House of Representatives, strengthening worker protections and compelling employers to come to the table,” 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. I thank Congressman Norcross for his leadership and for standing up for working families across the country.”

“The Faster Labor Contracts Act is the most consequential labor bill to come before Congress in decades. Its bipartisan passage out of the House of Representatives is a significant milestone for millions of American workers,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “The 1.3-million member Teamsters Union has worked tirelessly to build a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who are committed to improving the lives of working people. Millions of workers at Amazon and other major companies who are fed up with being overworked, underpaid, and undervalued are organizing their unions today in record numbers. We can no longer tolerate a broken system that allows corporations to corruptly drag out negotiations and shirk their legal obligations to bargain fair first union contracts. The FLCA has a real shot to right generations of wrongs and level the playing field for workers. The Teamsters are eager for the Senate to take up this urgent legislation and ensure it lands on the President’s desk.”

“For the second time this Congress a bill to restore or strengthen collective bargaining rights has been forced to the House floor by a working majority and passed with a bipartisan vote. The reason is simple: The country is hungry for pro-worker labor law reform,” said Jody Calemine, Advocacy Director of the AFL-CIO. “This bill is an important first step toward passing the PRO Act. It underscores a basic truth: it’s better in a union. More collective bargaining means higher wages, more access to affordable health care, a secure retirement, and a way for working people to take control over their lives and finally get ahead. Let working people organize and exercise their bargaining power, and the economy will start working for them, not just the billionaires.”

The FLCA is endorsed by more than twenty unions and advocates for workers’ rights. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has introduced companion bipartisan legislation in the Senate.

Norcross, the only union electrician serving in Congress, is a co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus and a lifelong champion for workers’ rights. Last week he successfully passed out of the Armed Services Committee a provision in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act to overturn President Trump’s executive order stripping Defense Department employees’ collective bargaining rights – a measure he also passed out of the House last year. He was also an original cosponsor of the House-passed Protecting America’s Workforce Act, and has previously helped pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act in the House.

Full text of Norcross’ bill can be found here, while a one-pager can be found here. His floor remarks on House floor can be found here while a transcript of his speech as prepared can be found here.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) released the following statement on the House passage of a purely partisan Republican reconciliation bill that would give Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) an additional $70 billion in federal funding.

“Today, I voted against the Republican Majority’s reconciliation bill that would provide an additional $70 billion to ICE and CBP. Unfortunately, the purely partisan bill did not contain any commonsensical law enforcement reforms to rein in these two agencies and protect our communities. Last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act already funded ICE and CBP with an unprecedented $140 billion, which led to rushed, barely vetted recruits and improperly trained agents being pushed into our communities. As ICE and CBP target immigrants well beyond gang members and felons, they continue to create chaos and confusion in many of our communities. I support a strong and secure border, but I will not support giving a blank check to agencies that fail to uphold and implement basic principles and standards of law enforcement. Although this partisan bill passed out of the House of Representatives and heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law, I will continue to push back on this Administration’s mass deportation policy. At the same time, I will continue my work in Congress on immigration reform legislation so that Congress can create an immigration system that reflects our constitutional values, protects vulnerable, law-abiding immigrants, enhances our economy, and provides safety to American communities.”

Rep. Panetta speaks on the House Floor against additional funding for ICE and CBP.

To watch the video, click HERE or on the above photo.

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