MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV), a member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, introduced legislation with Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Judy Chu (CA-28) to increase access to family planning and reproductive health care services by funding the Title X Family Planning Program. The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act would bolster funding for Title X, the only federal program dedicated to providing family planning services for low-income individuals. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

As of 2020, nearly fifty percent of family planning users in Nevada were uninsured, with roughly the same percentage at or below the Federal Poverty Level. The program has been flat funded for the last eleven years, leading to substantial program cuts at the state level. From 2019 to 2022, Nevada’s five Title X grantees lost a quarter of their funding collectively. The program still lacks sufficient funding to meet the growing nationwide need for family planning care, especially as the Trump Administration freezes millions of dollars of Title X funding, worsening barriers for family planning users.

“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 Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01). “By fully funding family planning services, we can protect women’s rights to access lifesaving preventive care, birth control, and other reproductive health services at a time when these freedoms are under constant attack.”

“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 Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03). “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.”

“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 Rep. 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.”

The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act would:

• Provide $512 million in mandatory funding for Title X services annually for 10 years;
• Deliver $50 million in mandatory funding for clinic construction, renovation, and related infrastructure enhancements annually for 10 years;
• Reinstate regulations prohibiting discrimination of providers who deliver Title X services, and
• Require that pregnancy counseling be nondirective and include information about prenatal care and delivery, infant care, foster care, adoption, and pregnancy termination, unless a patient is uninterested in receiving information about an option.

This legislation has been endorsed by the 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.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, DC – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Richard E. Neal, Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Committee, and Rick Larsen, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, today introduced a privileged resolution to terminate President Trump’s abuse of “emergency” authorities to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. imports.

The Resolution would end Trump’s declared national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), an authority he is using to levy a blanket 10% tariff on all imports, along with additional massive tariffs on dozens of key U.S. trading partners. Under the National Emergencies Act, a privileged resolution to terminate the emergency must be acted upon within 15 calendar days, otherwise, it must be brought for a vote to the House floor.

The resolution is cosponsored by 23 additional Representatives. A PDF of the measure can be found here.

“By implementing these tariffs, Trump has now imposed the largest and most regressive tax in modern history, sent the stock market into its worst plunge since COVID, and is risking a global recession. These tariffs are nothing more than a sales tax on American families, driving up prices on everything from groceries to cars. The average American household will pay $5,000 more per year for everyday necessities, while Trump and Republicans push tax cuts for their MAGA billionaire donors.

“Today we’ve introduced a resolution that will force a vote on the floor of the House to terminate the authorities Trump has abused to unilaterally implement these tariffs. There is no national emergency justification to the President’s trade war. We are not at war with the EU or with allies in the Americas and Africa, with Southeast Asia, with Japan or with Israel, which is facing higher tariffs than adversaries like Iran. This is economic sabotage dressed up as policy.

“Republicans can’t keep ducking the vote on these taxes. It is time they take a vote and show their constituents whether or not they support the ‘economic pain’ President Trump is inflicting on American families,” said the Ranking Members.

Additional cosponsors include: Suzan K. DelBene (WA01), Joaquin Castro (TX20), Greg Stanton (AZ04),  William R. Keating (MA09), Gerald E. Connolly (VA11), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA08), Mikie Sherrill (NJ11), Sean Casten (IL06), Jimmy Panetta (CA19), Sam T. Liccardo (CA16), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL20),  Jim Costa (CA21), George Latimer (NY16), Dina Titus (NV01), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA37), Sarah McBride (DE-at Large), Julie Johnson (TX32), Pramila Jayapal (WA07), Bradley Scott Schneider (IL10), Johnny Olszewski Jr. (MD02), Gabe Amo (RI01), Kweisi Mfume (MD07), Ami Bera (CA06)

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

Amid Mass Firings, Ethics Violations, and Reckless Trade War, Pressley Sounds Alarm on US Trade Rep’s Triple Appointment to Lead Key Watchdog Agencies

Clear Conflicts of Interest Threaten to Further Harm Federal Workers

Text of Letter (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38), House Oversight Ranking Member Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), and Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08) sent a letter to United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer, who was recently appointed as Acting Special Counsel of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), a key watchdog agency charged with protecting federal workers, and Acting Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), the agency responsible for Executive Branch ethics programs. Citing the conflicts of interest among these three appointments, Congresswoman Pressley and her colleagues questioned how Greer will be able to oversee Trump’s trade war while also holding multiple roles—and calls on him to resign from his roles as Acting Special Counsel and Acting Director.

Congresswoman Pressley has led efforts in Congress to protect federal workers, and her letter comes as the Musk-Trump Administration continue their unjust and unlawful terminations of federal workers across the country and accumulation of numerous ethics complaints.

“Since President Trump has launched a global trade war, it is critical that you remain focused on mitigating the economic turmoil that has already began. Taking on at least two other jobs is misguided and a disservice to the public who expect a competent and effective USTR, OSC, and OGE. We urge you to immediately relinquish your roles as Acting Special Counsel, Acting Director, and any other positions,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer.

In their letter, the lawmakers questioned the ability of Ambassador Greer to fulfill the massive responsibilities of each role, as well as the unethical conflicts of interest that the triple role present. The lawmakers emphasize that as USTR, Ambassador Greer should remain focused on mitigating the economic turmoil that has already begun. While in his OSC role, Greer would also be responsible for protecting more than 2.2 million federal workers in the civil service from discrimination, political coercion, and retaliation for exposing wrongdoing. In addition, in his OGE role, Greer would lead ethics programs in more than 140 agencies in the Executive Branch. However, since OSC’s and OGE’s jurisdictions include oversight of USTR, where cases of wrongful termination, ethics complaints, and whistleblower reprisals may arise, these responsibilities are impossible to carry out impartially.

“Given these concerns, we do not have confidence in your ability to impartially or effectively fulfill the demanding responsibilities of each office,” the lawmakers continued. “We urge you to immediately resign as Acting Special Counsel and Acting Director. Anything less fails to meet the ethical and professional standards required to preserve the independence and effectiveness of both offices.”

The lawmakers requested Ambassador Greer provide the following information by April 16, 2025:

• In addition to your positions as USTR, Acting Special Counsel, and Acting Director, what other roles do you hold in the Trump Administration?
• In the course of a normal day, how many hours are you spending working on USTR matters compared to OSC matters and OGE matters?
• Have you recused yourself from any OSC or OGE investigations involving the Office of the United States Trade Representative? If not, why not? If so, who is responsible for handling those complaints?
• Were ethics officials at any of the agencies consulted before you assumed multiple roles? If so, please provide a copy of any guidance or recommendations you received.
• Has any information regarding OSC or OGE complaints related to DOGE been shared with DOGE staff?

A copy of the letter is available here.

In February, Rep. Pressley led 85 lawmakers in writing to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) urging OSC to ensure all unfairly fired civil servants are immediately rehired and protected from greater abuse, and she has applauded numerous court rulings mandating their reinstatement.

In March, Rep. Pressley led her colleagues in the Massachusetts congressional delegation in a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sharply criticizing and demanding answers about the impact of the Musk-Trump Administration’s mass firings of federal workers in Massachusetts.

Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading voice in Congress speaking out against Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s unprecedented assault on our democracy and federal agencies, and she has been a steadfast advocate for protecting the essential services that federal workers and agencies provide.

• On March 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming Trump’s executive order to end collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
• On March 21, 2025, Rep. Pressley led Massachusetts lawmakers in a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sharply criticizing and demanding answers about the impact of the Musk-Trump Administration’s mass firings of federal workers in Massachusetts.
• On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley spoke out against the U.S. Department of Education’s mass layoffs of over 1,300 workers, which effectively guts the agency.
• On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley voted against Republicans’ shameful government budget bill, which would harm vulnerable families and provide a blank check for Elon Musk and Donald Trump to continue their unprecedented assault on our democracy. She later issued a statement condemning its final passage in the Senate.
• On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined 13 of her colleagues on a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding answers and the immediate release of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, whose illegal abduction is an attack on his constitutional right to free speech and due process.
• On March 4, 2025, Rep. Pressley walked out of the House chamber in protest during Donald Trump’s presidential joint address to Congress.
• On March 4, 2025, Rep. Pressley welcomed Claire Bergstresser, an Everett constituent, dedicated public servant, AFGE union member, and former HUD worker who was unjustly terminated as part of Musk and Trump’s assault on federal agencies as her guest to the presidential joint address to Congress.
• On February 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley led 85 lawmakers in a letter urging the Office of Special Counsel to immediate reinstate and expand protections for all unfairly fired federal workers.
• On February 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined over 200 Democrats in filing an amicus brief defending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau before a U.S. District Court.
• On February 26, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed what true government efficiency looks like and denounced Elon Musk and Donald Trump for utilizing DOGE to gut the essential services that keep people safe, fed, and housed.
• On February 25, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley condemned Elon Musk’s abuse of government efficiency through the fraudulent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
• On February 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she railed against Republicans’ cruel budget resolution that would slash Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion.
• On February 20, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On February 13, 2025, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley emphasized the critical role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in safeguarding consumers and sharply criticized Donald Trump and Elon Musk for halting the critical work of the agency.
• On February 10, 2025, Rep. Pressley rallied with Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Member Maxine Waters, and advocates to protest Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s unlawful takeover of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• On February 11, 2025, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley criticized the Trump-Musk administration for halting the critical work of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) with crypto scams on the rise.
• On February 10, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming the Trump Administration’s harmful cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to support hospitals, universities, and research institutions conducting lifesaving research.
• On February 10, 2025, as Trump and Musk threaten to dismantle the essential work of the U.S. Department of Education, Rep.  Pressley delivered a powerful floor speech to affirm the role of public education in American democracy.
• On February 6, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley delivered a powerful rebuke of Republicans’ efforts to gut diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and eliminate essential services for vulnerable communities.
• On February 5, 2025, Rep. Pressley rallied outside the U.S. Department of Treasury to protest Elon Musk’s unlawful assault on federal agencies and our democracy.
• On January 30, 2025, Rep. Pressley slammed Donald Trump for blaming the tragic plane crash at Reagan National Airport, which killed over 60 people, including some families from Massachusetts, on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• In January 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming Trump’s illegal freeze on federal grants and loans and its harmful impact on vulnerable communities.
• On January 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned floor speech condemning Republicans’ cruel anti-abortion bill that criminalizes providers and denies families care.
• On January 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues to reintroduce the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, a bill to repeal an outdated law that has been used to target innocent immigrants without due process rights.
• On January 22, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s harmful executive actions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

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

WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), alongside top House Democrats, introduced legislation that will end President Trump’s abuse of “emergency” trade authorities, which he is using to impose sweeping tariffs that are crashing the economy and increasing costs by almost $4,000 for New Jersey families.

The legislation would end Trump’s declared national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), an authority he is using to levy a blanket 10% tariff on all imports, along with additional massive tariffs on dozens of key U.S. allies such as the European Union, Japan, and Taiwan. The IEEPA is designed to allow presidents to impose financial sanctions on hostile foreign powers that pose a direct and immediate threat to the United States, not impose tariffs on critical U.S. allies without congressional oversight.

“Trump’s tariffs are the largest tax hike on New Jersey families since the 1960s — and they are already putting pressure on families’ budgets, jeopardizing retirement savings for hardworking Americans, and driving our economy towards a recession. Trump does not care, because he and billionaires like Elon Musk are able to line their own pockets with tax cuts paid for by hardworking New Jersey families. I’m fighting back — by reasserting Congress’s tariff authority, which will rein in Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency on a whim in order to implement his massive tax hike on the American people,” said Rep. Sherrill. 

Read the full text of the resolution here.

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

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

WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, delivered opening remarks at the subcommittee hearing on Donald Trump’s reckless and lawless immigration enforcement, which is undermining local law enforcement and threatening public safety.

Below are Ranking Member Jayapal’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the subcommittee hearing.

WATCH Ranking Member Jayapal’s opening statement.

Ranking Member Pramila Jayapal

Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement

Hearing on “Sanctuary Jurisdictions: Magnet for Migrants,

Cover for Criminals”

April 9, 2025

Ever since President Trump came into office, my colleagues have been happy to sit back and let him run roughshod over our laws. President Trump, Tom Homan, and Stephen Miller led you to believe that this was about criminal immigrants who threaten public safety, despite the fact that research clearly shows that immigrants commit fewer crimes than Americans. They led you to believe that they were FOR the immigrants who did things legally, those folks had nothing to worry about. They even led you to believe that somehow getting rid of immigrants would be good for American jobs, for bringing down costs for the American public, and that this was all about caring about YOU versus them.

Well, as people’s 401K accounts plummet with Trump’s crazy and chaotic economic policies and as costs of everything Americans need to buy keep going up instead of down, the effects of Trump’s unconstitutional and unlawful actions against ALL immigrants are causing fear and havoc in communities across the country.

Let me be clear: Trump has targeted immigrants who are here lawfully—suspending refugee admissions—a program once hailed by both parties and the faith community everywhere as the cornerstone of humanitarian assistance. They are revoking the very programs that created legal pathways for immigrants to enter that effectively brought down numbers at the border.

In revoking student visas and green cards of legal permanent residents, many of whom are married to U.S. citizens, they are going after every single immigrant, fabricating stories about these immigrants being “criminals,” even deporting them to other countries in violation of judicial orders.

All of this leads us to ask once again, as the 4th circuit said earlier this week in the case of a Maryland father who was “mistakenly” deported to a Salvadorean prison by the Trump administration, “If due process is of no moment, what is stopping the Government from removing and refusing to return a lawful permanent resident or even a natural born citizen?”

This obsession to weaponize every part of the U.S. government against immigrants is hurting Americans. It’s taking away critical resources for crime prevention, counterterrorism, drug interdiction, and other law enforcement at the Department of Justice and Homeland Security Investigations and terrorizing all immigrants and their US citizen family members, including those with no criminal background and with legal status.

Now, they want to coerce state and local law enforcement to help them round up immigrants by threatening to cut off their transportation and law enforcement funds if they do not comply—even though multiple courts have held that this is illegal and numerous research studies and law enforcement officials have confirmed that keeping the longstanding distinction between federal immigration and local law enforcement actually helps keep communities safer.

In 2019, my home state of Washington passed the Keep Washington Working Act with bipartisan support. It is a commonsense law to ensure that local policy remains focused on public safety rather than enforcing federal immigration law.

We know that when local police act as immigration agents, immigrant communities and their families are less likely to come forward to report a crime when they are a witness or even a victim. It destroys the trust police rely on to preserve public safety in communities. Courts have ruled multiple times that states have the right to enact laws like the Keep Washington Working Act.

And despite what you might hear today the law does allow information sharing with the federal government when necessary for an ongoing criminal investigation, or pursuant to a court order or judicial warrant.

As the Trump administration continues to bully and intimidate the country to bend the knee, we won’t be intimidated. I fully support Attorney General Nick Brown’s efforts to ensure that everyone in our state follows our laws.

The Major Cities Chiefs Association has repeatedly reaffirmed that, across the country, if law enforcement officers are viewed by members of the immigrant community as colluding or working with immigration law enforcement officers, this would “result in increased crime against immigrants in the broader community, create a class of silent victims and eliminate the potential for assistance from immigrants in solving crimes or preventing future terroristic acts.”

The Major Cities Chiefs Association also explained that cooperation with the immigrant community is a crucial part of solving crime and preventing further criminal activity within the entire community, including ensuring protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Instead of trashing the rights of every American and destroying communities and our economy, this subcommittee should be holding hearings on why Mahmoud Khalil remains detained, simply for expressing pro-Palestinian views that Trump doesn’t like. Or why Alfredo Juarez, a longtime labor leader, has been detained in my state apparently simply for organizing farmworkers for fair wages. Or why a local roofing company just had a raid where 37 immigrants who are longtime residents and building affordable housing for our communities were picked up and jailed. Or why the Administration refuses to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US to reunite with his US citizen wife and three children, even after admitting to mistakenly deporting him to a Salvadorean gulag.

Let’s have a hearing on the disappearing and kidnapping of people across this country, instead of hurting public safety by undermining policies of local jurisdictions.

Issues: Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative John R Carter (R-TX-31)

Representative John Carter (TX-31) introduced H.R. 2360, the Driving Forward Act, in the House this week. The bill aims to end a burdensome regulation that requires prospective bus drivers to pass an under-the-hood mechanics test to get behind the wheel.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reintroduced the Bolstering Research and Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen research and treatment development for brain tumors and to improve the accessibility of brain tumor health care. U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), John Barrasso (R-WY) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), as well as Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08) and John Joyce (R-PA-13) joined Trahan and Blumenthal in introducing the bicameral legislation.
“Too many families across our communities have faced the devastating reality of a brain tumor diagnosis. With more than a million Americans currently battling malignant brain tumors, we must act with urgency and purpose,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The bipartisan BRAIN Act will accelerate life-saving research, drive innovation in treatment, and expand support for survivors – offering hope to patients and their loved ones.”
Today, more than one million people in the United States are living with a primary brain tumor. Another 94,000 more will likely be diagnosed in 2025, in addition to hundreds of thousands of Americans diagnosed with metastatic brain cancer. Despite major improvements made in the treatment of other cancers in recent years, incidence and survival rates for malignant brain tumors have remained stagnant for 45 years, with a five-year relative survival rate of only 35.7%.
“Our son Will was a remarkable and driven young man—accomplishing so much, including earning two master’s degrees while undergoing treatment for a brain tumor,” said Arlene Gluck, a Concord, Massachusetts resident. “Sadly, there is still no cure for brain tumors. That’s why we’re thankful to Representative Lori Trahan for sponsoring the BRAIN Act, which supports innovative, collaborative research and enhanced survivorship care among its key initiatives. We remain hopeful that our advocacy will help bring meaningful change for those who face this devastating disease in the future.”
“Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation promotes research and development for brain cancer treatment to help Americans suffering from this viscous form of cancer,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Stagnant incidence and survival rates that have persisted for decades make it all the more clear—we must redouble our efforts to defeat brain tumors once and for all.”
“A brain tumor diagnosis is devastating news for too many American families, and the federal government needs to step up to help find a cure and better diagnostics and treatment. The BRAIN Act is about saving lives, changing lives, and improving health outcomes. It would help fast-track scientific discovery and breakthroughs by improving access to clinical trials for patients and advancing innovative new treatments. It would also make it easier for researchers to access biospecimens for new research on brain tumors and fund more clinical trials for the most aggressive, hard-to-treat brain tumors,” said Senator Reed. “This bipartisan bill would also establish new programs and research for brain tumor survivors to improve quality of life and ensure appropriate follow up care over the long term.”
“After losing my wife, Bobbi, to glioblastoma, I know firsthand how tragic a brain tumor diagnosis can be for patients and their families. Raising awareness and supporting efforts to find a cure is a personal priority for me,” said Senator Barrasso. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to advance treatments and support research to find a cure for these deadly diagnoses.”
“For me, the fight against cancer is personal. When my late wife Jean was courageously battling cancer a few years ago, we were already seeing encouraging progress in the development of new treatments for many cancers,” said Senator Rounds. “I firmly believe we are years, not decades, away from seeing cures to many of the most deadly cancers. The BRAIN Act will allow us to continue capitalizing on the progress we have made so far by implementing programs and funding that will advance research and treatments for brain tumors. I am glad to be joining a bipartisan group of my colleagues on this legislation.”
“As a pediatrician, I know brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer related deaths in children. That’s why we need the BRAIN Act signed into law – to invest in brain cancer research, provide new treatment options and hope for families, and ensure transparency in this public health investment.” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. 
“The BRAIN Act marks a major leap forward in the fight against brain tumors and rare cancers,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “For too long, patients and families have faced these devastating diagnoses with limited options. This bipartisan bill drives innovation, strengthens collaboration, and ensures greater transparency and support for those affected. By investing in research and accelerating progress, the BRAIN Act brings us closer to breakthroughs—and ultimately, a cure.”
“Thousands of Americans are diagnosed with fatal brain tumors every year, yet there are very few treatments available,” said Congressman John Joyce, M.D. “Like so many throughout the country, I have experienced firsthand the pain these brain tumors can cause for families and patients alike, and as a physician, I understand how critical medical innovations are to give patients hope and to save American lives. I am proud to join the BRAIN Act, which will encourage further advancements in the treatment of cancerous brain tumors, giving hope to so many patients.”
In order to reduce mortality rates and make meaningful progress against brain tumors, better-funded and collaborative research is needed. The BRAIN Act takes a comprehensive, complementary approach to meet this need and further advance research for these aggressive, hard-to-treat cancers.
Specifically, the BRAIN Act:

Increases transparency of federally-funded biobank collections so that researchers are aware of others who possess samples that might be shared to enable important research.
Sufficiently resources the National Cancer Institute’s Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network, so that it can realize its promise of vetting treatments and completing innovative early-phase clinical trials. 
Enables team science to advance immunotherapy research (CAR-T) engineered to attack brain cancer cells.
Directs the Centers for Disease Control to conduct a public education campaign around the importance of clinical trials and biomarker testing in cancer treatment.
Augments and expands funding to develop innovative systems of care models for brain tumor survivors.
Directs FDA to issue guidance to ensure brain tumor and other rare and recalcitrant cancer patient access to clinical trials evaluating treatments for other diseases.

“This is a landmark bill for the brain tumor community,” said David Arons, President & Chief Executive Officer of the National Brain Tumor Society. “As far as we know, the BRAIN Act represents the first piece of legislation introduced in Congress specifically designed to target policy solutions at the many barriers impeding progress for brain and other rare and difficult-to-treat cancers. We thank Senators Blumenthal, Barrasso, Reed, and Rounds, as well as Representatives Trahan, Fitzpatrick, Schrier, and Joyce, for realizing the major unmet needs of this community and championing policies that support brain tumor patients, survivors, families, and the research poised for breakthroughs ahead.”
“In my 12-year career as a practicing neuro-oncologist and clinical researcher, I’ve seen first-hand the devastating toll that brain tumors take on patients and families,” said Nicholas Blondin, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine. “I’ve also witnessed transformative changes in the way we treat other cancers, such as breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma. Unfortunately, we have not experienced the same level of progress in the tools and treatment options for patients with malignant brain tumors. More concerted policies to adequately fund cutting-edge research, paired with initiatives to raise awareness about the advances that are currently happening in diagnostics and clinical trials, are essential. New models for addressing the challenges patients face in their brain tumor journey will greatly benefit efforts in the field of neuro-oncology to catch up to the progress we have seen in treating other cancers.”
A section by section for the BRAIN Act is available HERE and a one-page summary of the bill is available HERE.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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