MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Homeland Security — voted for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation he also cosponsored in both the 118th and 119th Congress. The SAVE Act would strengthen federal law by requiring proof of American citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

“Americans deserve to know their elections will be safe and secure when they go to the ballot box. The SAVE Act will restore public confidence in our election system by closing loopholes that enable non-citizens to register to vote. It’s appalling that 208 Democrats voted against commonsense legislation, despite the fact it offers six different ways for citizens to verify their identity. Their opposition underscores why we need this bill — to provide a line of defense against any fraudulent effort to bolster Democrats’ voting bloc.”

Background:

Federal law — the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 — states that it is illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, yet the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) does not require states to verify citizenship upon registration. This has led to noncitizen voting in several states, including Massachusetts, Ohio, and Virginia.

The SAVE Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), would amend the NVRA to ensure that only American citizens can vote in federal elections. Specifically, it would:

• Require proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections; and
• Provide states with access to existing federal databases and require them to remove noncitizens from their rolls.

###

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Denounces Republican Bill to Restrict Voting Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Co-Chair of Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, released the following statement after voting against H.R. 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act:

“House Republicans’ so-called SAVE Act is nothing more than a shameful attempt to silence the voices of millions of Americans. This bill will prevent Americans from using their driver’s license or military ID in order to register to vote. It will also eliminate existing voter registration methods, including registering via mail or online. 

“If this bill were to become law, military service members deployed overseas would be forced to return to the U.S. to register to vote. Married women who have changed their surnames would not be allowed to use their birth certificate to prove their citizenship — an apparent reference to his unlawful order revoking birthright citizenship. Twenty-one million eligible voters would need to pay significant fees to obtain documentation needed to cast their ballot.

“Adding unnecessary and expensive barriers to vote will disenfranchise millions of U.S. citizens and disproportionately impact communities of color. To be clear, it is already illegal under federal law for noncitizens to cast a ballot. This legislation is not about safeguarding elections; it is a blatant assault on the constitutional rights of millions of Americans.”

# # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

WASHINGTON – Reps. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Ann Wagner (MO-02), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and Craig Goldman (TX-12), co-chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral Abraham Accords Caucus, introduced a resolution encouraging the U.S. Department of State and civil society to advance the goals of the Abraham Accords through education rooted in peace and tolerance.

The resolution recognizes the critical role that national curricula play in shaping the attitudes of future generations and commends countries like Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia for taking meaningful steps to promote respect and understanding in their educational systems. It urges the State Department to prioritize curriculum reform in bilateral dialogues and encourages continued engagement from civil society and international organizations in the region. The resolution also emphasizes the objectives of the bipartisan Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021.

“The Abraham Accords are not just about diplomacy between governments—they are about building a shared future with stability, security and peace between peoples,” saidRep. Schneider. “The Accords offer the region a chance to break free from the gravity of history, to move beyond conflict and toward connection. That future depends on education rooted in peace, tolerance, and mutual recognition.”

“I am beyond proud of the work the Abraham Accords Caucus has accomplished in Congress, and I look forward to continuing to deepen and expand the relationships between Israel and its Arab neighbors,” said Rep. Wagner. “Violent extremist organizations, many of which are funded and promoted by Iran, must be addressed by fostering a coalition of like-minded nations pursuing peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East. This resolution encourages the State Department to proactively engage with regional countries to build new and stronger relationships that will enhance and entrench the Abraham Accords for years to come.” 

“If we nourish civility and cooperation in schools, children are more likely to grow up in a world that treasures peace and acceptance,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Encouraging and investing in those principles in classrooms throughout Abraham Accords countries is one critical way to do that.  As co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, I’m proud to support these goals which can lead to a positive change throughout the region and lead to a safer world for all our children.” 

“Continuing the important work of the Abraham Accords, this resolution highlights the critical need for educational reform across Middle Eastern nations,” said Rep. Goldman. “If left unaddressed, extreme, antisemitic, and hateful curricula will continue to fuel instability and violence in the region. Both Israel and its neighboring Arab states stand to benefit from fostering mutual respect and tolerance among the next generation of leaders.”

“Education rooted in peace and tolerance is essential for lasting regional stability,” added Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se. “Textbooks that reflect positive values are not only something today’s children deserve—they craft the open and tolerant societies of the future that we all desire, shaping attitudes and beliefs of future generations. We commend the countries that have taken meaningful steps toward curriculum reform and urge others to follow. IMPACT-se is gratified that our research has helped highlight the critical link between education and normalization. We applaud the Abraham Accords Caucus co-chairs for advancing this important resolution and working toward our shared vision of strengthening the Abraham Accords by ensuring peace and tolerance education for all children.”

The text of the resolution is available here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

Rep. Schneider: Did you expect the so-called Liberation Day to become Liquidation Week?

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

Washington, DC – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Abraham Accords Caucus, hosted His Excellency Nasser Bourita, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco for a closed-door roundtable with members of Congress on Tuesday, April 8. The discussion focused on Morocco’s growing role, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in advancing regional peace, economic integration, and security cooperation, particularly within the framework of the Abraham Accords.

The event was co-hosted by Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-2) and provided Members an opportunity to engage directly with one of the region’s most active and strategic diplomatic leaders.

“The U.S.-Morocco relationship is centuries old and has never been more relevant,” said Rep. Schneider. “From joint military exercises to trilateral cooperation with Israel, Morocco plays a vital role in advancing our shared interests in stability, prosperity, and peace. We were grateful for the chance to have an open and strategic dialogue with Foreign Minister Bourita about the opportunities and challenges facing the region.”

“The Kingdom of Morocco has been a vital partner with the United States in pursuit of peace, stability, and prosperity in Africa and the Middle East,” said Rep. Wagner. “As co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, I have worked to deepen the economic, diplomatic, and security relationships between the United States, Morocco, Israel, and Arab nations in the region as well as address Iran’s efforts to undermine and destabilize the historic normalization agreement.  Today’s roundtable with Foreign Minister Bourita advances those shared interests and I appreciated the Foreign Minister’s vital perspective on our efforts.”

Coming up on 5 years since Morocco established full ties with Israel and the US recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara, Members of Congress and the Foreign Minister discussed the future of the bilateral relationship, as well as the trilateral relationship with Israel.

The roundtable highlighted recent progress in the U.S.-Morocco-Israel trilateral dialogue, which serves as a platform for collaboration on issues such as trade, energy, water, and regional security. Members also discussed the deepening U.S.-Morocco bilateral relationship, which includes robust military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation.

Morocco’s hosting of African Lion, the largest annual joint military exercise on the African continent, was spotlighted as a key example of U.S.-Morocco defense partnership and multilateral coordination in North Africa.

Members also discussed US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara, the evolving international diplomatic context, and the potential consequences for long-term regional stability.

The Abraham Accords Caucus is committed to advancing normalization, supporting U.S. diplomacy, and fostering long-term partnerships that contribute to peace, opportunity, and integration across the Middle East and North Africa.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

Rep. Brad Schneider’s DOGE Accountability and Transparency Act will require the Elon Musk-run entity to provide weekly reports to Congress

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

Rep. Schneider’s full remarks can be watched here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) joined Congressional Dads Caucus Chair Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and fellow Dads Caucus Members Reps. Steven Horsford (NV-04), Shomari C. Figures (AL-07), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), and Derek Tran (CA-45) to call out how Donald Trump’s tariffs will raise prices on working families across the country, especially working parents who are already stretching every dollar. 

The Dads Caucus underscored how these tariffs will make it harder for people to afford basic needs — from groceries, clothes, and shoes to cars and construction materials — while doing nothing to help American workers.

“For families, Trump’s trade war and tariff tax are a five-alarm fire. Parents are already facing huge costs as they raise their kids with the crazy price of childcare and expensive groceries,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10). “Instead of looking seriously at solutions that can help hardworking families not just get by but get ahead, Trump is hitting them with a massive tax. Our Republican colleagues here in the House could put a stop to this today. They could stand up and stop President Trump from unilaterally setting fire to our economy and creating an entirely self-inflicted recession. Speaker Johnson must bring legislation to the floor that restores Congress’s trade authority and puts the people back in the driver’s seat.”

“Families are waking up with less money in their retirement savings, higher prices at the grocery store, and less confidence in the economy because of Trump. And Congressional Republicans are supporting his catastrophic economic agenda,” said Dads Caucus Chair Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34). “Trump’s tariffs are an added sales tax on working parents, and they’re driving up the cost of everyday essentials and making life harder for families. That’s why my fellow Dads Caucus members and I are calling on Congressional Republicans to do their jobs and join us in reining in Trump’s dumb tariffs.”

“A tariff is a tax, and Donald Trump owns these erratic taxes,” said Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04). “In Las Vegas, we’re already grappling with high prices and a housing crisis. We desperately need more houses, but tariffs on steel and aluminum – both of which come from Mexico and Canada – are working against us. I’m proud to stand with my Dads Caucus colleagues to oppose Trump’s blanket tariffs because every dad – and every parent – deserves better when it comes to the country we leave our children.”

“President Trump’s tariffs will continue to devastate small local businesses and raise prices on families that are already reeling from the high costs of groceries, household goods, and prescription drugs,” said Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10). “These tariffs will be a self-imposed recession and a blow to the budgets of American families everywhere. I ask my Republican colleagues to stand with working families and reject the President’s actions.”

“President Trump’s tariffs are just another example of the fact that this administration seems to have only one tool in its toolbox – a sledge hammer. Instead of fixing our schools, they dismantle the Department of Education. Instead of delivering better health care, they cut funding for Medicaid. And now – instead of investing in American industry, they impose reckless tariffs that will slow production and raise prices. The facts are very clear. These reckless tariffs mean that Americans will face higher prices, fewer jobs, and a world that is less safe,” said Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45).

The Congressional Dads Caucus was founded after the 118th Congress Speaker vote to provide a forum for members of Congress to push legislation that supports working families. Since then, the caucus has gained momentum as a leading voice for policy solutions that help families thrive and make America more affordable—including creating a national paid leave program, increasing access to affordable child care, expanding the Child Tax Credit, and ensuring working parents have the resources they need to provide for their families.

Learn more about the Dads Caucus here.

###

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives voted to advance a budget that instructs Congress to make massive cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and other programs Americans rely on, while adding $14 Trillion in new debt over the decade. Congresswoman McCollum (MN-04) joined all Democrats and two Republicans in voting no on the measure. 

Following the vote, Congresswoman Betty McCollum released the following statement:

“House Republicans are advancing an agenda that serves the wealthiest Americans at the expense of our nation’s working families. The Republican budget is a framework that instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut Medicaid by as much as $880 billion and cut SNAP by as much as $230 billion, yet it fails to save any money. The reality is that by giving away massive tax cuts for giant corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk, their budget burdens Americans with trillions of dollars in new debt.

“President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ fails to do anything to address the high cost of living or fix the economic mess created by the President’s trade war.”

Congresswoman McCollum emphasized that this budget is virtually the same as the original budget passed by the House of Representatives in February. Just like the first budget, the budget passed today by House Republicans would harm Minnesotans on Medicaid.

“Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans—about one quarter of our state—are covered by Medicaid. A cut of this magnitude would have severe consequences on health care access for the families, seniors, people with disabilities, and especially children who rely on this coverage. That includes 172,000 of my constituents here in the Fourth District, 90,000 of whom are children on CHIP. The health and well-being of our communities are under attack by this Republican majority.

“Here in the Fourth District, 54,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. SNAP Programs are particularly important to children as well as many seniors on a fixed income. I will continue to oppose all Republican efforts to take away food, healthcare, and basic government services that Minnesotans rely on.”

###

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

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, joined House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA), Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Development Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to press Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to immediately reverse his decision to abruptly end the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase Program (VASP)—a VA program that helped veterans experiencing severe financial hardship avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. 

“On April 3, 2025, you abruptly announced the closure of the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase Program (VASP), leaving tens of thousands of veterans at risk for foreclosure…We write today to urge you to immediately reverse this decision, and avoid foreclosing on veterans who simply wish to keep paying their mortgage and keep their home,” wrote the lawmakers in a letter to VA Secretary Collins. “…VA is taking a misstep that will push thousands of veterans into foreclosure. This is cruel, wrong, and runs counter to the benefits earned by veterans as led by the VA Loan Guaranty office – which always seeks to use foreclosure as an absolute last resort.”

Earlier this week, Pappas spoke out forcefully against the end of the VASP program during a House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity markup. 

The VASP program was created as a “last-resort” option for VA to use for eligible veterans and their family members following the expiration of pandemic programs coupled with rising interest rates, which increased the risk of default for thousands of veterans. Currently, VASP is the only program of last-resort that exists for veterans facing immediate foreclosure, which has helped over 17,000 veterans since the program launched in 2024. By not accepting any new veterans into the program after May 1, 2025, VA risks putting 80,000 veterans onto the streets and out of their homes.

The lawmakers continued, “Furthermore, with the rising costs of housing and overall inflation, VA must ask itself: Is it more cost effective to allow veterans to lose their homes or help them? VA leaders, veterans service organizations, and housing organizations have all recently shared with Congress their concerns about ending VASP too soon…While past policies have assumed that veterans have been financially irresponsible for assuming mortgages they can’t afford, today’s financial and housing market puts veterans at risk of losing their homes in a much more vulnerable situation.”

The lawmakers concluded: “Until better policy solutions are in place that provide for stronger underwriting, ending the VASP program abruptly will only harm veterans and their families. Congress, VA, and other stakeholders must work together and offer practical, cost-effective solutions that better serve veterans. Our veterans earned their home loan guarantee benefit, and they deserve a viable option to get back on track with payments and keep their homes.”

Read the full letter here. 

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

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced he is once again cosponsoring the bipartisan, bicameral Invest to Protect Act, reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05),John Rutherford (FL-05), and Steven Horsford (NV-04) this week. This critical legislation would make targeted investments in small and midsize departments with fewer than 175 sworn police officers, providing vital funds for recruitment, retention, training, and officer support.

During the 117th Congress, the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act overwhelmingly passed the House with 360 votes. Other versions of the legislation have also passed the Senate. Despite broad support, a final agreed-upon bill has not yet fully passed out of Congress. This reintroduction renews the effort to deliver critical support to law enforcement officers serving communities across the country.

“New Hampshire’s local law enforcement does critical work to keep our communities and our families safe, and this bipartisan legislation will ensure they have the resources and training needed to do their jobs,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “By making increased funding available to our local departments, this legislation will improve recruitment, retention, mental health support for officers and ensure they have the support to keep our communities safe. Whether they are keeping deadly fentanyl and other illegal drugs off our streets, protecting individuals from violent crime, or acting as first responders to physical and mental health emergencies, our local police departments do lifesaving work each and every day, and this legislation will help support their work and keep Granite Staters safe.”

The bipartisan, bicameral Invest to Protect Act of 2025 would:

• Invest in officer safety, de-escalation, and domestic violence response training, allowing officers to receive critical training that will make them more effective at their jobs;
• Create grants for small departments to recruit new officers to bolster their departments;
• Provide retention bonuses to keep existing officers as a part of their communities;
• Fund officers’ tuition for graduate studies in mental health, public health, and social work up to $10,000; and
• Allow departments to provide mental health resources for their officers.

The critical need to support small and midsized police departments: 

• The vast majority of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. are smaller than 200 full-time sworn officers.
• More than 94% of local U.S. police departments have fewer than 100 sworn officers.
• Small law enforcement agencies protect and serve our communities with strained resources and growing needs for additional support, training, and funding. 

Read the full bill text here.

The bipartisan Invest to Protect Act is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Troopers Coalition,the National Sheriffs’ Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA).

“The Fraternal Order of Police applauds the recent reintroduction of the ‘Invest to Protect Act’ in the House. This crucial piece of legislation would establish a program within the U.S. Department of Justice to provide grants to small departments for their training, recruitment and retention, college tuition, and social services like therapy and treatment. Year after year, this bill has remained a priority of the FOP. We owe it to our smaller departments to better equip them with the tools they need to carry out their duties to the best of their ability as they work tirelessly to protect our communities. We appreciate the leadership of Representatives Gottheimer and Rutherford to introduce this bill in the House. We look forward to working closely with Congress to ensure this gets across the finish line,” said the Fraternal Order of Police. 

“On behalf of the National Tactical Officers Association and its over 40,000 members nationwide, I am proud to support the Invest to Protect Act,” said Thor Eells, Executive Director of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA). “This bipartisan legislation is a needed step in providing critical training and equipment to smaller and rural police departments to help ensure the health, security, and safety of both law enforcement and the citizenry that they are sworn to protect.”