MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

Led by Rep. DeGette, House Democrats marched to HHS seeking answers, but were met with silence from the Secretary & his staff

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)

Statement on Appointment as Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Facebook Icon

Google Plus Icon

Instagram Icon

LinkedIn Icon

Twitter Icon

YouTube Icon

Vimeo Icon

Clients Icon

Email icon

Map Icon

Print Icon

Quote Icon

icon_share

Carousel Arrow – Left

Carousel Arrow – Right

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

After visiting with linemen, law enforcement, local first responders, and emergency management in the First District over the weekend, Rep. Bergman took to the House floor today to honor the heroic work being accomplished in the aftermath of the historic ice storm.

In his comments, Rep. Bergman noted, “In the face of these challenges, linemen from Michigan and across the country have worked tirelessly in brutal conditions to restore power.

This past weekend I was able to meet with many of our first responders – police, firefighters, dispatchers, and emergency medical teams – who answered the call, keeping our communities safe and our roads open.

“Their bravery and dedication embody the spirit of resilience and unity that defines Northern Michigan. To all those affected, your determination has not gone unnoticed. My colleagues and I stand ready to support the State’s request for federal assistance.”

You can watch Rep. Bergman’s full speech by clicking here.

Yesterday, Rep. Bergman, joined by Senators Peters and Slotkin, wrote a letter to Governor Whitmer, outlining their readiness to support any requests for federal aid or support that the state may request.

Rep. Bergman further outlined how disaster response typically follows a tiered approach. Initially, state and local agencies are responsible for mobilizing their resources to address the immediate needs of the affected areas.

Michigan has state-level agencies such as emergency management systems and National Guard resources that are first in line to provide support to local communities – these have all been activated.

Once state resources are exhausted or deemed insufficient and an initial damage assessment is completed, the state can then formally request federal assistance which can include financial aid, personnel, and equipment.

Additionally, this week, Rep. Jack Bergman cosponsored a House Resolution recognizing linemen, the profession of linemen, the contributions of the brave men and women who protect public safety, and expressing support for the designation of April 18, 2025, as ‘‘National Lineman Appreciation Day’’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

Today, Rep. Jack Bergman along with Senators Peters and Slotkin sent a letter to Governor Whitmer outlining their readiness to support any requests for federal aid or support that the state may request.

Last week, a historic ice storm hit Northern Michigan and the Eastern Upper Peninsula, resulting in over 100,000 power outages and prompting Governor Whitmer to issue a State of Emergency in 12 counties.

As of today, there are still over 35,000 people without power in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

In part, the legislators wrote:

“Dear Governor Whitmer,

“We write to offer our full support for recovery efforts following the unprecedented ice storm that recently impacted Northern Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula. We commend the dedication of first responders, utility crews, volunteers, and State and local officials who have been working tirelessly to restore power and ensure public safety during this difficult time.

“We understand that the State of Michigan and local governments are actively assessing the widespread damage caused by the storm, including downed power lines, hazardous road conditions, and prolonged power outages that have left many communities vulnerable.

You can read the full letter here.

Background on how the process works:

Disaster response typically follows a tiered approach. Initially, state and local agencies are responsible for mobilizing their resources to address the immediate needs of the affected areas.

Michigan has state-level agencies such as emergency management systems and National Guard resources that are first in line to provide support to local communities – these have all been activated.

Once state resources are exhausted or deemed insufficient and an initial damage assessment is completed, the state can then formally request federal assistance which can include financial aid, personnel, and equipment.

This process ensures that federal resources are deployed efficiently and that the state takes the lead in addressing its own disasters first.

In some cases, the state may not yet have reached the threshold for federal intervention, as they may still be able to manage the response with state and local resources.

The system in its current form allows the federal response to complement state efforts and provide the necessary aid when local and state resources are overwhelmed or unable to meet the task at hand.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

The House Natural Resources Committee today reported favorably out of committee with bipartisan support legislation introduced by Congresswoman Dina Titus to safeguard Southern Nevada’s water security while enhancing environmental conservation efforts.

The Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act would allow a portion of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Horizon Lateral water pipeline project to tunnel underneath Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), increasing water reliability for over a million Southern Nevadans, fortifying the region’s water infrastructure against potential outages, and minimizing disruptions and impacts to the surrounding communities.

The legislation also would expand the Sloan Canyon NCA by 9,290 acres to enhance the preservation of the desert landscapes and habitat unique to Southern Nevada.

Congresswoman Titus stated, “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of the climate crisis with rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. The Horizon Lateral pipeline will protect water access for District One residents and businesses while also preserving more of our state’s unique landscapes and habitat. I look forward to working with House Leadership to bring this critical bill up for consideration expeditiously on the House floor.”

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has affirmed its support for the legislation, emphasizing the significance of ensuring water service reliability for the Las Vegas Valley. “This legislation increases water service reliability for more than one million residents and hundreds of businesses in Southern Nevada, helping ensure the long-term viability of our regional water system while also expanding and protecting environmental resources for our community,” said John Ensminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority

Background:

The proposed underground route beneath Sloan Canyon NCA is estimated to save Southern Nevadans at least $200 million while minimizing disturbances to both residents and the local environment.

Additionally, this route ensures the water delivery system’s redundancy in emergency situations and offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Washington, DC — Today, Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after President Trump announced a 90-day reciprocal tariff pause, reducing rates to 10 percent for trading partners and increasing the tariff rate for China. 

“The president’s announcement is a step forward in the negotiation process. American producers, manufacturers, and service providers are eager to see improved market access for their products, and many of our trading partners have shown a willingness to engage with the administration to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers. This international response stems directly from President Trump’s efforts to drive a hard bargain and level the playing field. I continue to urge the President, his administration, and our trading partners to address these concerns and negotiate enforceable agreements in a timely manner. Through robust, fair trade we will unleash economic growth.”

###

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

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) released a statement in opposition to Trump and Republicans’ budget plan to direct Congress to slash healthcare and prescription benefits for our seniors, veterans, and more, including a minimum of $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid, so that they can afford to give the wealthy tax cuts.

“I would vote ‘no’ a thousand times to stop Trump and Republicans from cutting earned benefit programs, including Medicare and Social Security, that our seniors rely on. Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security are all lifelines for millions of Americans across the country, including hundreds of thousands of families, veterans, and seniors in South Jersey,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “It’s disgusting that Republicans would disrespect our veterans, who have sacrificed so much to defend this nation, by cutting the programs they deserve and were promised. The draconian cuts to Medicaid, a program that millions of seniors and people with disabilities depend on for healthcare and long-term care, are just plain wrong. With this budget plan, Trump and Congressional Republicans are making one thing clear: they don’t care about seniors, veterans, or hardworking American families.”   

### 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Formaldehyde Ban in Hair Relaxing Products Delayed Three Times Since Initial Action Following Pressley-Brown Inquiry

In a Hearing Today, Pressley Underscored Urgent Need for Formaldehyde Ban to Protect Public Health, Advance Racial Justice

Text of Letter (PDF) | Hearing Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), and Shontel Brown (OH-11) sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting answers on the continued delay in implementing a ban on formaldehyde in hair products.

The FDA issued the proposed rule in October 2023 following a March letter from Reps. Pressley and Brown calling for an investigation into the health risks posed by chemical hair straighteners. The agency set an April 2024 implementation timeline but missed its own deadline. Although the proposed rule was added to the OMB Unified Agenda last fall, the target action date of March 2025 has passed with no further progress.

“Since Fall 2024, there has been no further movement or concrete next steps regarding the implementation of the ban” wrote the lawmakers.

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen found in hair relaxers, keratin treatments, and other chemical straighteners. Its use has been linked to cancer, respiratory illness, and adverse reproductive outcomes. The letter notes that women of color are disproportionately at risk.

“Of particular concern is the heightened health risk to Black women, who are more likely to receive or provide formaldehyde-based hair treatments, which has a disparate impact on both workers and their customers,” the lawmakers continued.

The letter follows previous outreach from Reps. Pressley, Velázquez, and Brown in August 2024, when they again urged the FDA to finalize the proposed rule.

In the letter, the lawmakers call on the FDA to finalize the proposed rule and ask for answers to the following questions:

• Given the delay, what steps have been taken since our last inquiry to advance the formaldehyde ban?
• Are there any current or upcoming changes to federal regulations that would impact the finalization of the proposed rule?
• How is the FDA prioritizing this issue relative to other regulatory efforts? Are there specific challenges delaying the finalization of the rule?
• Beyond formaldehyde, does the FDA plan to examine other hazardous chemicals commonly found in personal care products, particularly those disproportionately affecting women and communities of color? If so, what substances are under consideration?

“It is essential to continue to highlight the gravity of formaldehyde exposure, as evidenced by both epidemiological data and laboratory research,” the letter concludes. “Ensuring that regulatory actions align with the best interests of public health remains the goal and we encourage promptly finalizing a proposed rule.”

A copy of the letter is available here.

Congresswoman Pressley has been steadfast in her advocacy for Black women’s health, ending race-based hair discrimination, and introducing policies that affirm the right of Black women to show up in the world as their full, authentic selves.

• Rep. Pressley is a lead co-sponsor of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, legislation with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) that would ban discrimination based on hair textures and hairstyles that are commonly associated with a particular race or national origin.
• In August 2024, Reps. Pressley, Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Shontel Brown (D-OH) sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting an update on delays in implementation of a rule to ban formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair products.
• In June 2024, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02) led their colleagues in re-introducing the Wigs as Durable Medical Equipment Act, legislation to help individuals affected by Alopecia Areata and patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy by allowing medical wigs and other head coverings to be covered under the Medicare program.
• In May 2024, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) introduced the Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act of 2023 to support servicemembers with traction alopecia.
• In April 2024, Rep. Pressley reintroduced the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, a bicameral bill to declare structural racism a public health crisis and confront its public health impacts through two bold new programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rep. Pressley originally introduced the bill in September 2020.
• In 2020, the House passed an amendment introduced by Congresswoman Pressley to provide $5 million dollars for the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to fund research on the causes, impacts, and possible treatments of Alopecia areata.
• In December 2019, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues sent a letter to Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky seeking information on the targeted marketing and sale of the company’s talc-based baby powder and its potential to cause harm, particularly to women, teenage girls, and people of color, due to asbestos contamination. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

Watch Rep. Sherrill’s questioning here

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), former Navy helicopter aircraft commander and Russian policy officer, and member of the House Armed Services Committee, pressed Department of Defense leadership this week on Trump’s dangerous appeasement of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. 

“Right now, Donald Trump is abandoning our ally Ukraine and threatening to remove American troops stationed in Europe while Russian President Vladimir Putin is rebuilding and strengthening his own military. Allowing Russia’s military to grow unchecked will put the lives of American service members in danger, jeopardize America’s global supply chains, and risk America’s partnerships with our democratic allies and partners worldwide,” said Rep. Sherrill. 

Sherrill has been at the forefront of House efforts to support Ukraine since the beginning of Putin’s brutal invasion. She spoke directly with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Kyiv and while representing the United States as part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to the Munich Security Conference. New Jersey is home to one of the largest Ukrainian-American populations in the country and Congresswoman Sherrill continues to work closely with community leaders to support Ukraine. 

Congresswoman Sherrill is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Navy for almost 10 years as a helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer. As a Russian policy officer, she worked on implementing our nuclear treaty obligations and oversaw the relationship between the US Navy and Russian Federation Navy. She now serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the new House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ro Khanna (CA-17), and Val Hoyle (OR-04) are expressing major concerns over the lack of Congressional approval for U.S. military strikes in Yemen. 

“The U.S. Constitution is clear: Congress holds the sole power to authorize offensive military action,” wrote the Members. “While we share concerns about maritime security in the Red Sea, we call on your

Administration to immediately cease unauthorized use of military force and instead seek specific statutory authorization from Congress before involving the U.S. in an unconstitutional conflict in the Middle East, which risks endangering U.S. military personnel in the region and escalating into a regime-change war.”

Section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 states that the President can only introduce U.S. forces into hostilities after a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization from Congress, or in a national emergency when the U.S. is under attack. Presently, no congressional authorization of military force exists for the recent hostilities carried out in Yemen, nor is there a declared national emergency. Senior Trump Administration officials even commented, in a non-secure Signal chat, that these strikes could have waited “a few weeks or a month,” making clear there was ample time to consult with Congress and obtain the necessary authorization before initiating these attacks.

“Congress must have the opportunity to engage in a robust debate on the rationale for offensive force and vote on its merits before U.S. servicemembers are placed in harm’s way and additional taxpayer dollars are spent on yet another Middle East war,” continued the Members. “No president has the constitutional authority to bypass Congress on matters of war.”

The Administration should be aware of its lack of authority in this matter, as the War Powers Resolution was used in 2019 to compel them to suspend midair refueling for Saudi airstrikes over Yemen. 

“President Trump’s reckless strikes in Yemen are illegal, counterproductive and dangerous,” said Cavan Kharrazian, Senior Policy Advisor for Demand Progress. “We’re grateful to Representatives Jayapal, Khanna and Hoyle for once again leading the charge to reassert Congress’s war powers—just as they did during the Biden administration. What is clear: Trump must come to Congress for a debate and vote before engaging in further hostilities. This unauthorized military action is killing civilians, costing nearly $1 billion in taxpayer money, emboldening the Houthis and is threatening to create a ground war in a country already shattered by conflict and humanitarian crisis. Upholding congressional authority over matters of war is not a partisan issue; it’s a constitutional imperative and one of the most critical checks on executive power.”

“Presidents have spent decades undermining Congress’s constitutional authority to declare or otherwise authorize wars, but with President Trump’s authoritarian approach to governance, the stakes are higher than ever,” said Jon Rainwater, Executive Director of Peace Action. “We applaud the members of Congress who signed this critical letter. Their leadership is essential in reining in this open-ended military adventure in Yemen, which is exacerbating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Congress must step up and reassert its oversight over the use of U.S. military before the president engages in even more reckless military adventurism abroad — or potentially even repression at home.”

“The U.S. airstrikes on Yemen are making a humanitarian crisis worse,” said Isaac Evans-Frantz, Director of Action Corps. “Congress never authorized these attacks, and members of Congress should use their power to stop them.”

“The U.S. bombing of Yemen contributes to the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the loss of innocent lives, and the deepening of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises—all without congressional authorization,” said Aisha Jumaan, President, Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation. “I urge Congress to support the War Powers Resolution to end any unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen. It is time for the United States to support accountability, prioritize diplomacy, and play a constructive role in ending the suffering of the Yemeni people.”

The full text of the letter can be read here. 

The letter has been signed by Becca Balint (VT-AL), Donald S. Beyer (VA-08), Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

It is also endorsed by Action Corps, American Friends Service Committee, Antiwar.com, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, Brooklyn For Peace, Center for International Policy Advocacy, DAWN, Demand Progress, Emgage Action, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Health Advocacy International, Historians for Peace and Democracy, Just Foreign Policy, L.I. Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, Massachusetts Peace Action, MPower Change Action Fund, National Iranian American Council, NorCal Sabeel, North Country Peace Group, Peace Action, Peace Action New York State, Peace, Justice, Sustainability, NOW!, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, The Libertarian Institute, United for Peace and Justice, WESPAC Foundation, Inc., Western New York Peace Center, Win Without War, Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, and Yemeni Alliance Committee.

Issues: Foreign Affairs & National Security