MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Today, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) joined Representative Judy Chu (CA-28) and Dina Titus (NV-01) and Senators Tina Smith (MN), Patty Murray (WA), and Elizabeth Warren (MA) in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act, legislation that would safeguard and increase funding for Title X — the nation’s only federal program dedicated to providing comprehensive family planning and preventive health services.

For more than 50 years, Title X has provided critical health care services, including birth control, cancer screenings, and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Title X clinics serve 4 million people annually, and in 2023 alone, more than 1.5 million visits to Planned Parenthood health centers were made possible by the program. But that care is under threat, as the Trump Administration continues its attacks on this critical program.

“In Kansas and across the country, people are being turned away from the only places they can afford to get basic, lifesaving reproductive care — all because the Trump Administration is playing politics with their health,” said Davids. “This bill protects trusted providers and ensures access to cancer screenings, birth control, and STI testing, no matter your income, where you live, or how you vote.”

The need for the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act comes as the Trump Administration has recently frozen millions of dollars in already-appropriated Title X funding, impacting 16 organizations across several states. Planned Parenthood affiliates have lost access to as much as $3 million annually — resources they rely on to serve tens of thousands of patients each year. According to the Guttmacher Institute, the freeze could impact access to care for up to 1.25 million people, many of whom are low-income, people of color, or live in medically underserved communities.

“The Trump Administration is denying women across Nevada and the U.S. the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies and their families’ futures,” said Representative Dina Titus (NV-01). “By fully funding family planning services, we can protect their rights to access lifesaving preventive care, birth control, and other reproductive health services at a time when these freedoms are under constant attack.”

“While the Trump-Musk administration freezes Title X funding around the country, threatening family planning and health screenings for hundreds of thousands of women, Democrats are fighting back with the bicameral introduction of the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act,” said Representative Judy Chu (CA-28). “Trump and Congressional Republicans may not care about providing American women the freedom to plan their futures, but we do. And we are backing it up with this legislation to guarantee stable funding for Title X, improve health clinics’ infrastructure, and protect their access to comprehensive, affordable reproductive health care.”

“We are at a time when Americans’ reproductive freedoms are under attack from extremist Republicans – which makes the Title X Family Planning Program more important than ever,” said Senator Tina Smith (MN). “Title X funding provides American women with access to critical reproductive health services. I invite my Republican colleagues who claim to champion family planning services to join us in supporting this commonsense legislation that will protect women’s access to life-saving services and birth control, pregnancy counseling, infertility services, and more.”

The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act would:

1. Guarantee stable, annual funding for Title X, preventing repeated Republican-led efforts to eliminate the program.
   • The bill would provide $512 million annually for 10 years, addressing the current funding shortfall and ensuring access to essential services.
   • It also allocates $50 million in mandatory funding for clinic construction, renovations, and infrastructure improvements.
2. Protect providers like Planned Parenthood from being excluded, as seen under the Trump Administration’s so-called “domestic gag rule.”
   • The bill would reinstate regulations prohibiting discrimination against providers who offer Title X services, ensuring continuity of care for patients.
3. Ensure access to comprehensive, affordable reproductive health care for all patients, regardless of income, race, immigration status, or gender.
   • This includes information and services related to prenatal care, delivery, infant care, foster care, adoption, and pregnancy termination — unless a patient opts out of receiving information on certain options.

Last week, Davids led more than 160 House Democrats in urging U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to immediately restore all appropriated Title X funding. The letter also called for an urgent meeting with impacted providers to ensure that care is not disrupted.

“The Trump administration is trying to strip health care access from people nationwide, and now they’re attacking Title X — the nation’s only federal program dedicated to providing affordable sexual and reproductive health care,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Sadly, we already know what happens when health care providers, including Planned Parenthood health centers, lose Title X funding. People across the country suffer, cancers go undetected, access to birth control is severely reduced, and the nation’s STI crisis worsens. Thank you to Senators Smith, Murray, and Warren, and Representatives Davids, Chu, and Titus for reintroducing this critical bill to protect continued investment in the Title X family planning program. The withholding of Title X funds from Planned Parenthood health centers cannot stand.”

“The recent, unjustified attacks on the Title X program have detrimental real-life consequences across the country,” said Clare Coleman, President & CEO, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association. “Withholding Title X funds for a quarter of all grantees in the Title X network has impacted 870 health clinics and more than 850,000 patients. The impact is vast and disproportionately affects low-income individuals, rural communities, people of color. I applaud Rep. Sharice Davids and Senator Tina Smith for introducing this legislation and look forward to a future where Title X family planning providers are fully funded and able to serve every patient in their community who needs high-quality reproductive health care.”

“The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act secures sustainable, consistent funding for Title X that would help patients by helping to stabilize the provider network, prevent service disruptions, and uphold its commitment to person-centered care — care that respects and responds to an individual’s preferences, needs, and values,” said Kelly Baden, Vice President of Public Policy, Guttmacher Institute. “Guttmacher data shows that restrictions appearing to target one type of reproductive health care have ripple effects on all aspects of reproductive care, including abortion and contraception. Attacks on Title X from the Trump Administration are devastating to the thousands of people who rely on those health centers every day as their trusted provider of contraception and other affordable care.  Congress must support Title X as a vital program ensuring access to reproductive health care and addressing longstanding health disparities in care. We thank Rep. Davids for her leadership in championing this critical legislation.”

The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act is endorsed by a wide coalition of public health and reproductive rights organizations, including Guttmacher Institute, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Women’s Law Center, National Council of Jewish Women, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, Reproductive Freedom for All, and Upstream USA.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today voted against a resolution to weaken overdraft fee regulations on large banks and credit unions. 

In December 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule that required financial institutions with more than $10 billion to institute greater transparency policies regarding overdraft fees, or to cap such a fee at $5. Today’s resolution sought to repeal the rule. 

“There should be rules against lenders who use unreasonable overdraft fees to make money off families,” Golden said. “CFPB was right to crack down on the most predatory practices, and rolling back these changes will only benefit the executives trying to make a bigger profit off working Americans.” 

Financial institutions charge customers overdraft fees when there is not enough money in their checking account to cover a transaction. In return for temporarily paying the difference rather than simply declining the charge, the lender charges customers a fee — roughly $35 on average. 

These fees stack for each overdrafted charge, which can quickly dwarf the amount of money that an account was actually short. Limited disclosure laws can also leave customers unaware of their lender’s overdraft program until fees have already been charged. Overdraft fees are a significant revenue generator for financial institutions, totaling more than $5.8 billion in 2023 alone.

CFPB’s recent rule requires large financial institutions to follow transparency laws similar to those for credit cards before being allowed to charge current overdraft fee rates. For lenders uninterested in complying, the rule also allows them to simply cap overdraft fees at $5 instead.

The resolution to overturn this rule was submitted under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to override administrative rulemaking with a majority in both chambers and the president’s signature. Having passed the House and Senate, it now heads to the president’s desk.

Golden also voted against a separate resolution to limit federal oversight of nonbank digital payment systems such as Apple Wallet, Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo.

 

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

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), a proud member of the America 250 Semiquincentennial Commission, is calling on individuals, schools, churches, and communities across Alabama to participate in a special nationwide commemoration, “Two Lights of Tomorrow,” on Friday, April 18, marking the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s midnight ride.

“April 18 marks a defining moment in American history—the night Paul Revere rode through the streets of Massachusetts to warn that freedom was at risk,” said Congressman Aderholt. “This year, we have an opportunity to honor that spirit of courage and citizenship here in Alabama, just as 38 other states across the country will be doing.”

As part of this historic observance, homes, schools, churches, businesses, and public buildings are encouraged to display two lights—a symbolic call to action for today’s Americans to become more engaged, thoughtful citizens. Just as two lanterns lit the path for Revere and the Minutemen, these two lights on April 18 will shine as a modern beacon of unity and renewal.

Governor Kay Ivey, by proclamation on March 6, has officially called on the state of Alabama to take part in this national movement. A promotional video produced by American Village in Montevallo is being used across the nation to encourage participation, and national media outlets are expected to highlight the event through video and photos of local celebrations.

“This year, April 18 is also Good Friday—the day we remember the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ, who gave His life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins,” Aderholt added. “As we honor a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, it is deeply meaningful that we also reflect on the foundation of our faith—the hope and redemption we have through Christ’s death and resurrection. It is a powerful reminder that true freedom—both spiritual and civic—comes at a great cost.”

Congressman Aderholt encourages all Alabamians to share photos or videos of their participation using the hashtag #TwoLightsForTomorrow.

“This is more than just a moment to look back—it’s a moment to look forward. By lighting these two lights, we’re not just remembering the past—we’re recommitting ourselves to a brighter future for this nation.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Headline: Amata Welcomes House Passage of Bipartisan Veterans Bills, and Peace Officers Memorial Service Resolution

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), is welcoming House passage of a slate of bipartisan Veterans bills from the Committee, and letting American Samoa’s veterans know about these efforts, which are now sent to the Senate for consideration.

“We have made a commitment to our Veterans as a nation, and continue to push for improvements in the access and delivery of services to all who served,” said Congresswoman Amata. “We want consistency, care, and competence in our national services to Veterans through laws, oversight, and ongoing reform efforts at the VA.”

The Deliver for Veterans Act, H.R. 877, passed unanimously, is sponsored by Congressman James Moylan (Guam), with Congresswoman Aumua Amata (American Samoa), Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (CNMI), and Congressman Ed Case (Hawaii) as original cosponsors. This bill would cover the delivery costs, including the islands, for major equipment for disabled veterans such as a specially equipped automobile. 

The Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act, H.R. 1039, passed 412-0, requires the VA to make communications with Veterans clearer and more user friendly. Sponsor Congressman Tom Barrett, R-Michigan, said in a House speech, “Our veterans served the United States military, with honor. They shouldn’t need a lawyer or specially trained advocate to explain a claims letter to them.”

The Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act, H.R. 586, passed by a vote of 411-0, requiring the VA to conduct an epidemiological study, create a report on the prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) in veterans who served in the Vietnam theater, and submit this information to Congress. 

The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025, H.R. 970, requires the VA to review every five years and report on the maximum coverage available under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance programs, taking into account the average percentage by which the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased over that five years. 

In other action, the House unanimously passed necessary legislation authorizing the use of U.S. Capitol grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service in May. The concurrent resolution authorizes the National Fraternal Order of Police to sponsor two public events on Capitol grounds: the 44th Annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service, and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Co-Chair of House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), along with Co-Chairs Reps. Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, along with Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, led a bicameral letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin calling out his wholesale assault on the central mission of the agency he was appointed to lead. They were joined by Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, bringing the total to 180 Members of Congress calling on Administrator Zeldin to halt his egregious attacks.

“In just two months as EPA Administrator, you have demonstrated a complete disregard for the central mission of the agency you were appointed to lead. Instead of protecting the environment – as the agency name directs – you are protecting the special interests of big polluters,” wrote the 180 Members. “We urge you to halt your egregious attacks on the public health and well-being of the American people.”

They pointed out that, as a result of the Trump EPA repealing and gutting critical environmental and public health protections, communities and families will pay higher health costs and be exposed to more mercury and air toxics from coal-fired power plants and more polluted wastewater from oil and gas producers. 

“While countries around the world are clamoring for cleaner, cheaper, and more innovative technologies, you are actively hamstringing America’s homegrown clean energy industry, which has already injected $422 billion and 400,000 jobs into our economy in just the past two and a half years,” the lawmakers wrote to Administrator Zeldin. “This is anything but unleashing American energy. At the same time, instead of lowering costs for American families, your actions will result in the opposite. Americans’ medical expenses will increase because your Polluters First agenda will allow particulate matter and other hazardous air pollution to go unchecked.”

Their letter explained that for every $1 the country spends to reduce air pollution, it is estimated to yield $30 in economic benefits in return. Yet, the Trump EPA is choosing to unleash more air pollutants that are linked to Alzheimer’s, miscarriages, and childhood asthma, as well as other public health concerns.

“Your actions will needlessly increase American families’ exposure to the pollution that can make them sick and stick them with the bill for their care,” concluded Members.

The full letter can be found here.

Background

On March 12, Administrator Zeldin announced the “biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history,” which included rolling back 31 environmental rules and regulations. This list of actions directly threatens Americans’ health and fundamental right to clean air and water by:

• Rolling back National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter – some of the most dangerous air pollution known to directly cause asthma and other health issues;
• Gutting EPA rules that prevent hazardous metals like mercury and arsenic from ending up in our water supply;
• Reconsidering national emissions standards for cancer-causing hazardous air pollutants, including ethylene oxide;
• Ending the “Good Neighbor” rule, which simply acknowledged that pollution does not respect state lines and that downwind states should not be burdened by their neighbors’ pollution;
• Repealing power plant emissions standards, allowing existing gas and coal-fired power plants to pump unlimited climate pollution into our air; and
• Revoking the landmark “Endangerment Finding” that simply states climate-changing pollutants are dangerous to human health, and which serves as the foundation for climate pollution to be regulated under the Clean Air Act.

And more.

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

Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) recently questioned U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at a recent House Ways and Means Committee. During his line of questioning, Rep. Panetta called out the faulty economic data behind the Trump Administration’s chaotic tariff policies. 

During the hearing, President Trump announced on social media that the Administration would place a 90-day pause on new tariffs on most nations, while raiding tariffs on China to 125 percent.  U.S. Trade Representative Greer said he was not informed about this new trade policy.

“It is the largest self-inflicted wound to our economy in history, a self-inflicted wound that if it stays in place, it could constitute the largest tax increase on working families in more than 40 years, costing households more than $3,800,” said Rep. Panetta.  “I know that the president is saying, ‘we’re getting screwed,’ but the fact is, Trump is screwing us with these incoherent and inchoate tariffs.  In the short term and in the long term, domestically and internationally, and for our economy and for our national security, they are making us weaker.”

Rep. Panetta questions the Administration’s top trade representative.
Click play on the above video or click HERE to watch his remarks.

A transcript of Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s remarks during the Ways and Means Committee hearing is below:

“Before this week, talked to a lot of my colleagues about you.  They actually said a lot of good things about you. You had a good reputation until this week, I have to say, because I actually wanted to work with you on solutions when it comes to free trade agreements.  I think we still can once we get past this, and I hope that’s the case, but unfortunately, you’re defending a policy here from President Trump that’s absolutely incoherent.

“It’s a self-imposed tariff regime of ten times the amount of tariffs that were in place before this president took office.  It is the largest self-inflicted wound to our economy in history, a self-inflicted wound that if it stays in place, it could constitute the largest tax increase on working families in more than 40 years, costing households more than $3,800.

“Per year, a self-inflicted wound that prompted one of the largest three day moves on the markets since World War II, and it’s a self-inflicted wound that’s leading investors to expect a severe economic slowdown. Eight years ago, this president talked about American carnage.  Little did we know that he would create economic carnage that is spreading something similar across the entire global economy.

“Now the reason for these tariffs is based on a national emergency that we have trade deficits according to him and you.  Unfortunately, the president’s thinking about trade is reflected in this policy. This weekend, after the markets tanked, after a small businesses fretted and after the president played golf all weekend, the president said, I consider any trade deficit a loss.

“That type of scorecard thinking combined with the president’s 40-year fetish for tariffs.  That has put this policy in place and put us in the global economy in this position.  Now, I know the president is painting all trade deficits as bad, but they are a product of larger macroeconomic factors relating to a number of things as you know well, savings, investments, cultural demographics, and so on.

“But the President is acting completely irrational when it comes to trade deficits.  He believes that trade deficits are subsidies paid by Americans to other countries.  His scorecard ignores our trade surpluses and services to the tune of $250 billion annually.  He is oblivious to the relationship of trade deficits to foreign investment in America in that when we send dollars abroad for goods and services, most of those dollars ultimately come back to America, and he refuses to grasp that tariffs are taxes paid by American importers and Americans, not foreigners.

“A perfect example of this unreasonableness is our reasonable trade deficit with Canada.  The reason we have a trade deficit with Canada is because starting with FDR, we entered into an agreement that would sell US oil at well below market prices.  We entered into and maintain that deal because we may and we maintain the trade deficit with Canada so that we can buy cheap oil, which is a huge benefit for America.

“And if we took that oil out of our trade relationship, guess what?  We’d have a trade surplus.  Yet Trump says we’re getting ripped off even though we are actually getting the benefit of that sweetheart deal.  Now, absolutely, sometimes a trade deficit is a loss.  Foreign trade barriers are a problem that includes tariffs and non-tariff barriers, but there are ways to remedy these things.

“Free trade agreements don’t require a tariff policy that cripples our economy.  Yet due to the President’s fetish for tariffs and superficial thinking on trade deficits, the president has imposed a trade policy that makes the global baseline of 10% with countries that have trade surpluses like Singapore, Australia, Netherlands.

“Countries we have free trade agreements are getting tariffs at 10%.  Countries that are free trade countries are getting tariff at 10%.  It does not make sense.

“If other countries eliminate their tariffs and we eliminate ours, that’s just deal making. And we don’t raise revenue and businesses don’t relocate to the us. If it’s a permanent revenues source and you want to relocate to the us, then going to have these tariffs permanently and there are not going to be any deals.

“So, what is clear is that you can’t have it both ways.  Additionally, tariffs undermine our national security as we’re seeing in the Indo-Pacific region.  Look, I know the president wants to bring back the rust belt.  I get that.  But a big part of that is political.  It’s nostalgia.  And nostalgia, as they say, is the rust of memory.

“We are not victims here.  Our economy is the envy of the world, partly because it was our choice to invest in other countries over saving.  It was our choice to have bilateral trade deficits.  This is not some unexpected crisis here.  This is no extraordinary or unusual threat.  This is because we chose to invest in other countries where labor is cheaper and therefore products are cheaper.

“And as we know it’s okay for working families to want to pay low prices for products in this country.  I know that the president is saying, ‘we’re getting screwed,’ but the fact is, is that Trump is screwing us with these incoherent tariffs.  That in the short term and in the long term, domestically and internationally, and for our economy and for our national security, they are making us weaker.”

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

Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), a veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve, was awarded the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest honor the Navy can bestow upon a civilian.  The award recognizes Rep. Panetta’s steadfast support of the United States Navy and Marine Corps during his tenure in Congress and his commitment to ensuring that service members have the resources, training, and readiness necessary to protect the nation’s interests.

Rep. Panetta served in the U.S. Navy, Reserve Component, as an Intelligence Officer.  In 2007, Rep. Panetta was mobilized to active duty and deployed with a special operations task force to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  Based on his meritorious service in a combat zone, then Lieutenant Panetta and was awarded the Bronze Star. 

Upon returning home, Rep. Panetta continued his advocacy for our men and women who served in uniform by working with homeless veterans at the Veterans Transition Center, and leading the effort to establish the first Veterans Treatment Court in Monterey County, as well as the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery on the former Fort Ord.

As the U.S. Representative for California’s 19^th Congressional District, Rep. Panetta works hard to support and bolster the 17 defense installations, including five naval installations, in his district.  Those installations include the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Support Activity Monterey, Fleet Meteorology Center, Naval Research Lab, Coast Guard Station Monterey.  The installations of California’s 19^th Congressional District boast more than 15,000 military personnel and their families and help boost the local economy by $2.6 billion each year.

“Our nation must always serve those who serve us and the military families who shoulder immense sacrifices,” said Rep. Panetta.  “California’s 19^th Congressional District has long boasted a strong military tradition and presence, which I am proud to carry on and support as a veteran in Congress advocating for the quality of life and support needed by our men and women in uniform.  I’m honored to receive this recognition from the U.S. Navy and look forward to the work ahead to bolster our military, national security, and all of those committed to serving our nation.” 

In Congress, as well as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Panetta has led bipartisan efforts to strengthen military readiness, enhance servicemember benefits, tackle military hunger, address subpar housing for military families, and advance the Navy and Marine Corps’ operational capabilities. 

In the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Rep. Panetta secured funding for the new Naval Innovation Center in Monterey, established a pilot program to send noncommissioned officers from the Army and Navy to the Naval Postgraduate School, and directed a regenerative grazing pilot program and Navy and Marine Corps installations, among other key quality of life provisions.

Through previous NDAAs, Rep. Panetta has had several bills signed into law including; the Smart Act which opened new advanced degree opportunities at NPS for enlisted servicemembers, Military Hunger Prevention Act which created a Basic Needs Allowance for military servicemembers with incomes below the poverty line, DLI Act which allowed the Defense Language Institute to confer Bachelor degrees to graduates, Better Military Housing Act which created a tenant bill of rights for residents of privatized military housing, and more.

In 2024, Rep. Panetta also authored and passed into law legislation to honor Everett Alvarez, Jr. who grew up on the Central Coast of California and demonstrated immense courage and resilience as our nation’s second longest serving prisoner of war, with the Congressional Gold Medal.  The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress, reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to American history and culture. 

The Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award is presented to individuals who have provided exceptionally distinguished service that significantly impacts the Department of the Navy as a whole. 

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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.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) to discuss House Republicans moving forward on the budget resolution in order to unleash President Trump’s agenda to cut spending and unleash American growth. Leader Scalise stressed the importance of moving forward with the reconciliation process to ensure tax cut permanency so families and businesses have the certainty they need to plan for the future.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
On Republicans and President Trump rallying around one agenda:“This is a really important week, not just in the House, but for the ability for Congress to join with President Trump and deliver on that agenda that we all ran on. We all know what President Trump said at his rallies, talking about getting America back on track, securing the border, locking in tax rates, no tax on tips, producing more energy in America, getting rules and regulations under control. All of those things are in this one big, beautiful that we have been focused on for more than a year in the House. But President Trump is not the only one that ran on all of those objectives. We did, too. House Republicans ran on those same things. We need to follow through now and get the job done. Nobody said it would be easy. Wasn’t easy to get the budget passed a few weeks ago. Some, in fact, not necessarily saying anybody in this room, but some said the bill might not pass. And yet we passed the bill without a vote to spare because we know our margins are narrow. But our commitment is firm on getting this done because, as the Whip said, failure is not an option.”On House Republicans moving forward on budget resolution without delay:“So today is no different where we are than where we were the same week that we passed the budget over a month ago. There are members that have questions – that’s not a surprise. On any big bill we’ve dealt with, going back to 2017, when we did the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, there were members who had questions, and our job is to continue answering those questions while moving the ball forward. But it’s critical that we advance this agenda, that we don’t delay, because passing the budget doesn’t end the process. It starts the reconciliation process. We can’t even begin reconciliation until the budget is done. If some people think we could just wait for the Senate to catch up to the House, we could talk all day about the fact that they’re not against what we’re trying to do. They just haven’t gotten to that point. The months of meetings and negotiations that we’ve had in the House, the back and forth with CBO that we have done, which, by the way, has yielded some really big improvements in the CBO scoring. Some of it is just coming in from the initial scoring from the CBO because we disagreed with their numbers, but we didn’t just yell and scream. We went back to them, and we’re now getting CBO to give us better numbers on the savings that we’ll achieve from things like work requirements and some of the other reforms that we all agree upon. But we cannot delay.”On the need for Congress to stabilize the tax code and advance Trump’s agenda:“The country can’t afford for us to delay a month or longer to wait on the Senate getting where we are. We’ve got to continue to move forward. The bill that we have before us allows us to do that. It allows us to achieve all the savings that we laid out in the House bill. It allows us to achieve all the border security we laid out. It allows us to achieve all the things we want to do to stabilize the tax code. But think about this, because people are watching the markets, and that’s understandable. There is trillions of dollars on the sidelines, and I’ve heard this from so many people in different industries all across the country, trillions of dollars that are not looking at tariffs, that are looking to see what Congress does on the tax code. And they’re not going to make those investments until they see a stabilized tax code that doesn’t expire at the end of this year, but in fact, gets renewed for 10 years, ideally, permanently, to lock in tax rates so you don’t have a massive tax hike on the country.“We need to remove that uncertainty. The President can’t do that. Congress needs to do that, House and Senate combined. So the President is all in. You saw his Truth Social post yesterday. We’re all in as well. And yes, members will continue to raise questions. We’re going to continue working through that process, but we can’t stop the advancement of our agenda. Democrats don’t want this economy to turn around, but we do. We ran on it. We’re committed to it.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) appeared on Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria to discuss the need to quickly pass the amended budget resolution framework to start the process of working with the Senate to implement President Trump’s agenda by cutting wasteful spending, growing the economy by cutting taxes and unleashing American energy, and securing the border. Leader Scalise also highlighted how this budget bill works in tandem with President Trump as he works towards fair trade and has foreign countries in line to negotiate with the United States.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview. 
On the urgent need to pass the budget resolution for hardworking families: “The bill that we worked incredibly hard on in the House laid out a lot of specifics on how far we’re going to go on spending reductions. President Trump is right there with us. You saw, as you pointed out, in his Truth Social yesterday. We’re going to still make those savings. The Senate is far behind us right now. You look at their resolution, it didn’t go into near the detail. I think that’s what some members, including myself, had issue with. But at the end of the day, all the things we want to achieve in the House product can still be achieved.“The bottom line is we’ve got to move this process forward, Maria. We can’t wait two more months for the Senate to get where we are. The market sure can’t wait. The economy can’t wait. Families don’t want to wait for the relief they’re going to get, the certainty they’re going to get on locking in tax rates. President Trump needs the money for border security. I was talking to Tom Homan last week. They need more money for deportations. You saw the Supreme Court this morning said they can move forward with deporting these gang members, hardened gang members. But we’ve got to get this bill done. I know everybody’s got their questions. It’s more to make sure we’re going to follow through on the spending reductions, and we will. President Trump’s committed to that. He said it yesterday again in his tweet.”On the timeline of passing President Trump’s agenda:“Maria, like any big bill we work on, there’s still a lot of conversations we’re going to have today. I was in a meeting last night with the Speaker and some members that had some other questions. We went through it, and they’re in a good place now, but we have other members that will still have questions today. We’re going to answer all of those, and let’s then go and move the bill forward. The plan is to move it tomorrow. I think the President is going to be talking to some people as well. We’ve got dinner with the President tonight, and he’s going to be talking about that as well as other things about how important it is to move the Trump agenda. So much of that, as you ran that comment from the Speaker on Fox last night, all of that is in this one big, beautiful bill. It’s not just locking in the tax rates; it’s border security, it’s energy production for America, some defense spending to keep up with China, trying to get some regulatory relief, locking in DOGE savings, all that in this bill. I think you’ll see economic growth like we haven’t seen, job creation, wage growth for families once we get this bill moved by the summer to the President’s desk.”On President Trump’s steps to fair trade: “No, I don’t [want Congress to get involved in President Trump’s decision-making on tariffs], Maria. Look, this is a healthy debate. Let everybody have it. But President Trump said in the State of the Union, go back and watch the tape. He said, look, trust me on this, there will be some short-term pain, but long-term, we’re going to get fair trade. Countries are going to have to stop ripping us off. I think everybody in America gets that. Even the people that are concerned about the effects on today’s market or even on today’s prices, they recognize China cheats, manipulates currency, all of those things. But other countries are taking advantage of us, too, that are friendly countries. Why are we letting that happen for decades and decades? If we can get zero tariffs by everybody, look at what you talked about a little while ago with Europe. They have a VAT tax, which is in essence, like a tariff on American products. We don’t do that to them. Why don’t they treat us the same way? Remove barriers to trade, allow American companies to sell their products into foreign nations, friend or foe, just as easy as it is for them to sell their products here. If you get to fair trade, and that’s the end result of this, I think everybody will look back and go, this was a good thing. Look, that’s why there’s a line out the door, as Scott Bessent mentioned, of countries wanting to get new trade deals with the United States.”On unlocking economic growth:“Look, I’ve been urging my colleagues in the House to move on this bill as quickly as possible for a lot of reasons. One is to get the economy booming. There is a lot of pent-up, and you probably talk to people like I do that say there’s trillions of dollars sitting on the sidelines waiting to see if there’s going to be tax certainty. Because if there’s a four-and-a-half trillion dollar tax hike, meaning if Congress does nothing, that’s the taxes that go up on every American. Nobody would be immune from it, and it would crush the economy. We need to get this tax bill in place to give not only certainty to the economy, but to bring that investment back in and get real economic growth.”On unleashing American energy:“I hear from people all the time that want American energy, oil and natural gas, especially natural gas. We could have contracts for decades. That’s why Trump lifted the ban that Biden had on LNG exports. We are going to continue to produce more energy, and that’s in this one big, beautiful bill.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

April 10, 2025 | Press Releases

SARASOTA — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today previewed the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition, also known as the Artistic Discovery competition, to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.
“Every year, Suncoast students have the opportunity to showcase their art with the chance of seeing their masterpiece on display in the U.S. Capitol,” said Rep. Steube. “Within Florida’s 17th District, we are fortunate to have a wealth of exceptionally talented high school artists. I look forward to showcasing their creativity and imagination again with the annual art competition.”
Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Winners are recognized both in the district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winner also has the honor of displaying their winning piece for one year at the U.S. Capitol for representatives, staff, and visitors from all over the country to see.
The Office of Congressman Greg Steube will accept artwork submissions from high school students in Florida’s 17th District through April 17, 2025.
For more information regarding guidelines for submissions and rules of the contest, please visit Rep. Steube’s website and the Congressional Institute’s website.