MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today announced that her guest for President Trump’s Address to Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 will be Jay “Smitty” Smith, a United States Navy veteran who was recently terminated from the IRS’s Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) when the Trump administration began laying off IRS workers last month, right at the start of tax season. 

“After taking office on January 20, Donald Trump handed the keys to our federal government to Elon Musk and unleashed a wave of chaos, upending people’s lives and livelihoods and disrupting critical government services which Americans depend upon,” said Rep. Scanlon. “As Trump comes to address a Joint Session of Congress, we expect him to cloak his radical plans in populist platitudes, as he pushes corporate giveaways and tax cuts for billionaires, while decimating Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and critical programs that American families count on. We have already seen the negative impact of Trump funding freezes and illegal firings on VA services, including its crisis hotline, and on veterans who make up a disproportionate share of the federal workforce. While Trump and Republicans back Elon Musk and their billionaire buddies, I will always have the backs of constituents and dedicated public servants like Jay ‘Smitty’ Smith, who represent the very best of our country.”

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that works to ensure every taxpayer is treated fairly and understands their rights. TAS employees provide free assistance to taxpayers — helping to resolve issues with the IRS tied to financial hardship and problems resulting from the agency’s processes, systems, or procedures. TAS also makes recommendations regarding systemic changes at the IRS or in federal tax laws that could reduce challenges for American taxpayers. 

In his role at TAS, Smitty advocated for taxpayers with extenuating circumstances that impacted their tax liabilities, ability to pay, or ability to resolve complaints. He also worked to improve language access within TAS in order to provide taxpayer services to those with limited English proficiency. In addition, Smitty coordinated community outreach events — often in partnership with congressional offices, Low-Income Tax Clinics, and other community stakeholders — where TAS staff provided real-time personalized assistance to taxpayers in need.

“Leaders aren’t defined by titles; those who lead are defined by the real-life tools they use like mentorship and team building,” said Jay “Smitty” Smith. “Leaders understand that their teams are in fact their professional family, and when there is no sense of unity, there is no team.”

Smitty served for decades in the Navy, expanding his responsibilities throughout his military career. He began as a Radioman, then served as an Information Systems Technician, and went on to be part of various teams in Combat Systems and Damage Control. After retiring from the Navy, Smitty continued to support the U.S. military as an Integrated Logistics Support Technician for Noblis, MSD (formerly McKean Defense). While working full-time as a contractor, Smitty earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and his Master of Business Administration (MBA), before joining the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Smitty was employed at the TAS office in Philadelphia from April 2024 until February 20, 2025. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) commended U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Purdue who stated, in response to committee questioning by Johnson, that USDA was considering new Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) labeling standards for beef.

Currently, beef that is not raised or slaughtered in the United States can still be labeled “Product of the USA.” At this week’s hearing before the House Agriculture Committee, Secretary Purdue said USDA is exploring a new “Slaughtered and Processed in the USA” label. Beef products processed and packaged outside of the United States would not be eligible for the new label.

“Our current labeling standards aren’t honest with consumers, and Americans deserve better,” said Johnson. “The approach described by Secretary Purdue this week is a much fairer and more accurate way to label beef. I look forward to following USDA’s efforts toward greater transparency.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved $7.8 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to assist the response to COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus:

“The U.S. must continue to act swiftly to combat the Coronavirus,” said Johnson. “America needs a vaccine and treatments, and our clinics need test kits. This emergency funding will allow the U.S. continue to prepare expediently. I’m thankful Congress put politics aside to deal with this public health crisis.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

Disclaimer: The information below reflects CDC guidlines from March 2020. Visit CDC.gov for updated guidelines.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today issued a public service announcement video following a congressional briefing from Vice President Pence on COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus.

Click here to watch the full video.

Johnson’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):

“In the last few weeks we have all heard a lot about the Coronavirus and the United States response to that illness.

“Let’s remember the vast majority of cases have been in Asia and China specifically.

“We have seen some cases in the United States, but the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has been clear there’s no reason to panic.

“For imstance, if you’re healthy there would be no reason to wear a medical mask like this.

“In fact, we want to save valuable medical supplies like this for people who are sick.

“According to the CDC, there are four things that you can do to keep yourself healthy in the coming weeks and months, and I want to share them with you.

“First off, avoid close contact with people who are sick. Sometimes just taking one step back can make all the difference.

“Secondly, cover your cough or sneeze into your elbow pit that’s very safe. Now if you’re going to do that into a tissue immediately throw that tissue away.

“Thirdly, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surface areas, like so.

“Finally, you want to wash your hands often with soap and water especially after using the restroom, but hopefully that was a given.

“Twenty seconds is generally recommended – you can do that by just singing the Happy Birthday song to yourself softly.

“To stay informed, visit the CDC’s coronavirus page – that’s the best place to go.

“Just type CDC and Coronavirus into your browser. That’s going to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information.

“Stay healthy everybody and thanks for listening.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address safety concerns following the USDA decision to lift a ban on Brazilian beef into the U.S. The U.S. suspended imports in 2017 following several public health concerns.

“Consumers purchase beef without reservation. That confidence is vital to sustain domestic beef demand,” said Johnson. “While we must honor trade agreements based on sound-science, I feel compelled to question Brazil’s ability to maintain the food safety standards equivalent to USDA FSIS that ensure consumer confidence at the meat case.”

Full text of the letter below:

The Honorable Mindy M. Brashears

Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20250

Dear Deputy Under Secretary Brashears:

As you know, South Dakota ranchers pride themselves on their product and the consumer confidence in the safety of beef in the meat case. Further, cattlemen in South Dakota know they produce a high-quality beef product that can compete in any foreign or domestic market. However, consumers must be confident that any fresh beef purchased in the U.S. is safe to eat. As such, producers welcomed Secretary Perdue’s June 22, 2017, announcement that U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) would be halting imports of fresh beef from Brazil to the U.S.

In the announcement, USDA noted that although 100% of the imported beef from Brazil was inspected, their rejection rate was substantially higher than the rest of the world. In the same announcement, USDA also cited public health concerns, sanitary conditions, and animal health issues as problematic factors that influenced USDA’s decision to halt Brazilian beef imports. Consumers purchase beef without reservation. That confidence is vital to sustain domestic beef demand.

While we must honor trade agreements based on sound-science, I feel compelled to question Brazil’s ability to maintain the food safety standards equivalent to USDA FSIS that ensure consumer confidence at the meat case. Additionally, I am concerned about the long-term enforcement and oversight of their processes. I respectfully request answers to the following questions about the decision to lift the Brazilian beef ban:

• As you know, industry views foreign fresh beef as a risk to accidental introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), as well as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). How did FSIS coordinate with the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to consider the health of the domestic cattle industry with respect to this decision?
• Following USDA FSIS’s on-site audit of the US-Brazil equivalency agreement, what commitments has Brazil made to improve its food safety inspection protocols and how will USDA FSIS conduct rigorous oversight of Brazil’s beef exports?
• Does USDA FSIS plan to inspect 100% of Brazil’s beef imports? If so, for how long?
• If Brazil fails to uphold its commitments to maintain food safety, what mechanisms, if any, does USDA FSIS possess to quickly halt imports to ensure consumer safety in the U.S.?

I appreciate your commitment to providing U.S. consumers the safest and most abundant food supply in the world and appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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

Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) in calling on President Biden to help reopen recently idled oil refineries. This would increase refinery capacity temporarily and lower the cost of gas without sacrificing long-term clean energy production goals. In addition to pushing this immediate action, Davids hasrepeatedlyurged the President and Congressional leadership to move forward on long-term energy and inflation solutions, including fixing our supply chains, making more goods in America, and investing in our clean energy economy.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), domestic refining capacity is down to 17.9 million barrels per day, almost as low as it was in 2010. At the same time, global refining capacity has declined by 3 million barrels per day, even as demand has returned to pre-pandemic levels. This shortage of oil refining capacity is the result of an unprecedented wave of refinery closures as demand for fuel plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic—but many refineries could come back online quickly with the right assistance.

Davids and her colleagues urged the President to take action in a new resolution, stating: “in order to ensure sufficient refining capacity to reduce fuel prices and prevent fuel shortages in the near term, the President should use authorities granted him by the Defense Production Act of 1950 to provide targeted technical and financial assistance to restart certain idled refineries for a limited time.” The resolution’s focus on a short-term increase in capacity is to address the current price spike facing consumers while also avoiding long-term impacts on the climate, noting that “restarting idled American oil refineries for a limited time could reduce gas prices and cool inflationary pressures without endangering our climate goals.”

The full text of the resolution is available here.

Davids has been focused on lowering costs for Kansans, including gas prices:

• Last week, she successfully pushed the IRS to increase a tax break for small business owners and self-employed folks who rely on a vehicle for their business. Watch on KMBC.
• She voted to crack down on price gouging by oil and gas companies, who have made record profits this year, despite rising gas prices.
• She introduced legislation to suspend the federal gas tax through the end of the year, saving Kansans 18 cents per gallon at a time when gas prices are reaching new highs. Watch her video on the bill, which includes guardrails to make sure savings are passed on to consumers.
• After voting for bipartisan sanctions against Russian oil, she called on President Biden to take immediate action to protect American consumers from uncertainty and rising prices, including by temporarily suspending the federal gas tax.
• Following Davids’ calls to take action on rising gas prices last fall, President Biden released 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He has now authorized the largest release in history: 1 million barrels a day for six months.
• Davids remains committed to long-term energy and inflation solutions, releasing an inflation action plan last week with the New Democrat Coalition that’s been called Congress’s “best inflation plan yet.”

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

Davids continues her work to lower costs for Kansans, even while working from home

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

Representative Sharice Davids released the following statement after the House Natural Resources Committee advanced her bipartisan bill, H.R. 5444 the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act, through markup:

“I would not be here today if not for the resilience of my ancestors and those who came before me—including my grandparents, who are survivors of federal Indian Boarding Schools. I am glad that my colleagues recognize the importance of investigating what happened to our relatives and working towards a brighter path for the next seven generations. I will continue working across the aisle to gather bipartisan support for this important legislation.”

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

Amid reports that the White House is considering a federal gas tax holiday, Representative Sharice Davids renewed her call for immediate relief at the gas pump. In addition to pushing this immediate action, she hasrepeatedlyurged the President and Congressional leadership to move forward on long-term energy and inflation solutions, including fixing our supply chains, making more goods in America, and investing in our clean energy economy.

“We are clearly in extraordinary circumstances, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the lingering impacts of the pandemic continue to drive prices up at the pump. In Congress, I’m working on long-term solutions—but the time is now for immediate relief,” said Davids. “I urge the President to suspend the federal gas tax and give Kansans extra breathing room in their budgets.”

Davids has been focused on lowering costs for Kansans, including gas prices:

• Last week, she successfully pushed the IRS to increase a tax break for small business owners and self-employed folks who rely on a vehicle for their business. Watch on KMBC.
• She voted to crack down on price gouging by oil and gas companies, who have made record profits this year, despite rising gas prices.
• She introduced legislation to suspend the federal gas tax through the end of the year, saving Kansans 18 cents per gallon at a time when gas prices are reaching new highs. Watch her video on the bill, which includes guardrails to make sure savings are passed on to consumers.
• After voting for bipartisan sanctions against Russian oil, she called on President Biden to take immediate action to protect American consumers from uncertainty and rising prices, including by temporarily suspending the federal gas tax.
• Following Davids’ calls to take action on rising gas prices last fall, President Biden released 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He has now authorized the largest release in history: 1 million barrels a day for six months.
• Davids remains committed to long-term energy and inflation solutions, releasing an inflation action plan last week with the New Democrat Coalition that’s been called Congress’s “best inflation plan yet.”

For more information on Davids’ work to lower costs and reduce inflation, and for resources to find lower prices on gas, groceries, housing and more, visit davids.house.gov/lowercosts.

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

Today, after voting for bipartisan legislation that averts a government shutdown, Representative Sharice Davids released the following statement calling for further bipartisan cooperation to keep the government open in the long term.

“This bipartisan legislation averts a costly government shutdown that would have drastic consequences on Kansas families, small business owners, and our entire economy. I am encouraged that congressional leaders from both parties and chambers are coming together to find a commonsense solution that keeps our government open for the long term and protects Kansans’ ability to support their families. Bipartisanship is the only way forward and I’m committed to working with anyone to safeguard Kansans’ jobs, health, and financial security.”

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives also passed legislation to extend the deadline to fully reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, a main priority for Davids. She is working to help pass bipartisan legislation that improves customer protections and accessibility while flying, increases America’s aviation safety standards, and strengthens domestic aviation workforce and manufacturing.

Background:

Following today’s passage of the continuing resolution (CR), U.S. House of Representative appropriators will negotiate six individual appropriation bills by March 8, followed by an additional six before March 22. Congressional leadership has affirmed that all 12 bills will adhere to the bipartisan spending limits agreed upon by Republicans and Democrats in both June 2023 and January 2024.

Davids continues to push for a bipartisan agreement to keep the government open past the new deadlines set in today’s legislation. A shutdown would have serious impacts on Kansas families and the overall U.S. economy. Americans would face disruptions to important benefits, service members would not be compensated, many small businesses would have to alter their operations, and federal workers would be furloughed and go unpaid. Specifically:

• It’s estimated the five-week partial government shutdown in 2018-2019 reduced economic output by $11 billion in the following two quarters and the 2013 full government shutdown reduced GDP growth by $20 billion.
• Kansans receiving Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits would experience service delays, including disruptions to verifying benefits and the issuance of new cards.
• There are currently 19,977 federal workers in Kansas who may be furloughed. A bipartisan report found that the last three government shutdowns led to the equivalent of 56,940 years in lost productivity from federal workers.
• Small businesses may encounter delays in receiving loans from the federal government. Moody’s Analytics estimated that the 2018-2019 shutdown delayed more than $2 billion in loans to small businesses.
• The distribution of important food assistance programs, including SNAP, could be disrupted, leaving some Kansan — including women, children, and the elderly — without nutritious food.
• Travelers could face longer lines at airport security checkpoints and flight delays during a shutdown, which would also delay passport processing times even further.