MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Chairman of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations, delivered opening remarks while leading debate on the House floor in support for the FY2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill (H.R. 8595).

Read opening remarks here and below:

“Mr. Chair, I am pleased to present the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs appropriations bill to the House for consideration and approval.

“Let me start by noting the untimely passing of our friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham. As Chairman of the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee in the Senate, we worked together closely on our top priority – national security. Senator Graham was a tough negotiator but always an honorable partner. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and staff.

“At the outset, I want to thank Chairman Cole for his invaluable leadership and commitment to ensuring that Congress upholds its responsibility to provide the tools necessary to safeguard our national security, along with his partner in this endeavor, Ranking Member DeLauro. I also want to thank Ranking Member Frankel for her longstanding friendship and valuable contributions during the bill development process. She is tough but always trustworthy. 

“Mr. Chairman, this bill is very straightforward. If you are a friend or an ally of the United States, this bill supports you. But, if you are an adversary or are cozying up to our adversaries, then, frankly, you will not like this bill. This bill is the next step in strengthening our national security while reducing spending. Under Chairman Cole’s leadership, House Republicans have delivered nearly $12 billion in responsible cuts within the purview of this subcommittee since 2023. The FY27 bill continues this work with another $2.7 billion reduction. 

“Yet, our national security priorities are funded at or above prior year levels. The bill maintains $1.8 billion for partners in the Indo-Pacific, including $500 million in military assistance for Taiwan. It provides unwavering support for Israel and fully funds the United States-Israel Memorandum of Understanding by providing $3.3 billion in security assistance. 

“Recognizing the valuable partnerships in the Western Hemisphere, which continue to expand and realign under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rubio, the bill increases support for our friends and allies such as Paraguay, Argentina, and Costa Rica. As part of this effort, the bill increases funds to combat the trafficking of fentanyl, which has devastated every community across America. It also continues strong support for a democratic transition to freedom for the people of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. It supports religious freedom in Nigeria and around the world.

“Last year, the NSRP Subcommittee focused on responsibly transitioning PEPFAR programs to capable partner countries. PEPFAR is a great success story, but most of us agree the program cannot, and should not, go on forever. Working alongside the Administration, countries are now investing significant resources toward their own health, allowing this Committee to reduce funding, while maintaining the same outcomes. Just as critical as what the bill funds is what it does not fund, and how it demands accountability for every dollar.

“The bill prohibits funds to:

• The People’s Republic of China, 
• The Communist Chinese Party, and from being used by other countries to repay debt owed to China. 
• It also prohibits lending to the PRC within the multilateral development banks.

“The bill continues a key provision adopted in the prior year that blocks assistance to anyone that supports, finances, or facilitates the operations of the Cuban military. It prohibits all assistance to the Taliban and puts Americans first by withholding funds from Mexico until water owed to the United States is delivered. Assessed funding for the United Nations is cut by $1.8 billion. No funds are included for the United Nations Regular Budget, and funds are prohibited to organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, which actively contradict U.S. priorities and national security interests.

“The bill helps secure justice for victims of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks, including 50 murdered Americans, by requiring full accountability for UNRWA staff involved. A key measure from last year’s House bill, which was enacted into law in FY26, is maintained, requiring the Secretary of State to consider the UN voting record of countries in determining the allocation of funds. 

“The bill supports full implementation of key executive orders that reflect a clear commitment to:

• a secure border, 
• limited government, 
• free speech and ending censorship;
• ending DEI programs; and more.

“Finally, the bill maintains all long-standing pro-life provisions, prohibits funds to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and upholds the President’s policy on Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance. These measures, alongside enhanced oversight and transparency, ensure American taxpayer dollars do not fund abortions, a policy that Americans overwhelmingly support.

“Before closing, I want to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for their work on this bill. Mr. Chairman, I commend the Speaker for bringing this crucial legislation to the floor. It supports our allies and protects our national security in a smart, efficient, and thoughtful way. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and reserve the balance of my time.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI-11) joined a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding answers on the June 16th death of Airman First Class Keon McDaniel of Grand Rapids. Airman McDaniel died during the influenza outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas following the Department of Defense’s April 2026 decision to make the annual influenza vaccine voluntary for servicemembers.

Congresswoman Stevens was joined by Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), whose district includes Lackland Air Force Base, Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Personnel Subcommittee, Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), and Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI-08). 

“When tragedies like this occur, the American people and the Congress that represents them deserve immediate transparency and accountability,” the Representatives wrote in part. “We urge the Department to ensure that Airman McDaniel’s family receives timely and direct answers to any questions they may have about the circumstances of his death before any additional findings or information are made public. Keon’s family has already made the greatest sacrifice. They deserve to hear the truth directly from the Department, delivered with compassion and respect.”

The outbreak spread to hundreds of other recruits, and the Department has since reinstated the influenza vaccine requirement. 

“While the DoD made the right decision to reinstate the influenza vaccine requirement for new recruits, this outbreak at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland underscores the importance of science- based decision-making guided by medical professionals when making public health decisions affecting our servicemembers. Politicizing the administration of lifesaving vaccines has led to the death of a servicemember, the hospitalization of numerous trainees, and an expensive race to retroactively provide our servicemembers the health care they need and deserve,” the Representatives continued.

The full copy of the letter with the Representatives’ questions can be found here.

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Today, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) introduced the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act, legislation requiring the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a model under which blood transfusions furnished to an individual receiving hospice care are paid separately from the hospice all-inclusive per diem payment under Medicare.

“Patients at the end of life should never have to choose between the comfort of hospice care and the treatments that help them live with dignity. This bill removes financial barriers so more patients can access the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve,” said Congresswoman Dingell.

The CMMI must evaluate the model by comparing patients participating in the model with those outside of the model in relation to specified metrics, such as hospital utilization and days of hospice care before the end of life.

“Blood transfusions are a critical source of comfort and quality of life for many patients receiving hospice care,” said Kate Fry, CEO of America’s Blood Centers. “This bipartisan legislation removes a financial barrier in the hospice benefit that too often forces patients to choose between hospice care and the transfusions they need. We thank Representative Dingell for championing this bill and for her continued leadership on issues that matter to blood donors and patients alike.”

“The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies is proud to support the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act. Every patient deserves access to safe blood transfusions, regardless of where they are in their care journey. This bill removes a significant obstacle for patients relying on the Medicare hospice benefit,” said Debra BenAvram, FASAE, CAE, CEO of AABB.

“We commend Congresswoman Dingell for introducing the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act,” said Robert Negrin, MD, president of the American Society of Hematology. “This bill addresses a longstanding gap in hospice care for patients with blood disorders by helping ensure they have access to critical transfusion support and comprehensive care.”

U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen is leading companion legislation in the Senate.

View the bill text HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Today, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) requested the Trump Administration release delayed funding that supports critical efforts to stop the spread of invasive species across the Great Lakes.

“These funds, which were supposed to be obligated by July 1, 2026, have not been released. These dollars are critical for the State of Michigan and the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) in their fight to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species,” said Congresswoman Dingell.

In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Congresswoman Dingell asked for the immediate release of delayed Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding that supports critical efforts to stop the spread of invasive species across the Great Lakes. The funding delays have already forced Michigan to halt federally funded red swamp crayfish control efforts. Congresswoman Dingell warned that continued delays will threaten the health of the Great Lakes, the region’s economy, and the drinking water relied on by more than 40 million people.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Secretary Burgum:

This letter expresses concern regarding the delay in Fiscal Year 2025 funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). These funds, which were supposed to be obligated by July 1, 2026, have not been released. These dollars are critical for the State of Michigan and the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) in their fight to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species.

Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is awaiting $806,428 for their invasive red swamp crayfish management project. The funding was supposed to be received on May 1, 2026. Since the red swamp crayfish’s initial 2017 invasion in Michigan, the MDNR’s work has been essential for suppressing their populations, mitigating their impacts to native species, habitats, and infrastructure, and advancing robust adaptive management for this invader within the entire Great Lakes region. The state has become a global leader in red swamp crayfish management but relies extensively on federal GLRI support for the program.

The delay in Fiscal Year 2025 GLRI funds has already impacted the MDNR’s ability to conduct red swamp crayfish management and resulted in the MDNR stopping all federally funded invasive crayfish control efforts in May 2026. Any further delays will have severe long-term implications for Michigan’s red swamp crayfish program. The MDNR and their partner Michigan State University will be forced to lay off five full-time staff. This would result in the loss of capacity to conduct red swamp crayfish response, control, monitoring, and research activities in Michigan. In turn, the species would spread unchecked across the Great Lakes region, increasing future control costs, and reducing the feasibility of future management efforts.

The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) is awaiting $933,809 for four projects that were to begin January 1, 2026. Instead, the projects — the Regional Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Landing Blitz, the eDNA Inland Lake Pilot Project, the Great Lakes Watercraft Coordinated Data Sharing Pilot, and the next phase of regional coordination of outreach and engagement with the bait industry — are all on hold because funding has not been received. Without this funding, GLC is unable to support their staff working on AIS issues and unable to address priority AIS issues identified by Great Lakes states across the entire region.

The Regional Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz project works with representatives from all eight Great Lakes states to strengthen invasive species prevention efforts through small grant programs. These grants allow volunteers to go out to their local boat ramps to teach boaters and other recreators about the risks of spreading invasive species and the best practices they can take to protect the lakes they love. Over $150,000 goes to local partners to support states with the greatest need for additional boat inspection and outreach efforts. Without this small grant program, states lack the capacity and ability to provide consistent outreach, education, and boat inspections to recreational boaters, increasing the risk of AIS spreading into new waterbodies.

Another way that GLC battles invasive species is through their work to address introductions via bait. Their project to develop and produce a regional baitfish identification guide in collaboration with numerous partners across the Midwest is a critical effort to engage with the baitfish industry on preventative practices to best protect the Great Lakes region. Without the next phase of funding that was expected, GLC is unable to continue their outreach efforts and unable to produce the baitfish guide that was requested by state partners.

One of the largest projects that GLC’s Fiscal Year 2025 GLRI funding supports is the eDNA Inland Lake Pilot Project. This project aimed to set best practices for eDNA surveillance within inland lakes that a national effort could build on to expand to improve the efficiency of early detection and rapid response for aquatic invasive species. Many invasive species are difficult to track early in their invasion, and eDNA technology provides a highly sensitive approach to surveillance but needs more refinement before being rolled out at a larger scale. GLC and their partners on the project have already hired staff through planned awards to Michigan State University and two Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas within Michigan to support the project. These staff began work on the project in good faith, but all work had to be stopped due to the funding delay, and staff will be laid off if the delay continues.

The final project the GLRI funding supports is the Great Lakes Watercraft Coordinated Data Sharing Pilot project. This would allow Great Lakes jurisdictions to share watercraft data with others in the region through a cohesive data collection program. The program would inform regional and national boater movement models, improve understanding of risk, and drive management and prevention actions for invasives. Without data sharing many of these jurisdictions are left on their own and in the dark about the level of risk the bodies of water they are responsible for face from invasive species.

The Great Lakes are a vital asset for the United States. They hold 90 percent of the United States’ supply of fresh surface water and provide drinking water for well over 40 million people. More than 1.5 million jobs are tied to the Great Lakes, which are a key economic engine for the region that generates billions of dollars. Invasive species put all of this at risk, and these decisions will impact the lakes. It is far less expensive to invest in preventative actions and innovative management, like the projects led by MDNR and GLC, than to manage the fall out of unchecked invasive species spread.

Given the significant threats the Great Lakes face from invasive species, we ask the Department of the Interior to immediately release GLRI’s obligated funds for Fiscal Year 2025 to MDNR and GLC so they can resume their vital work to protect the lakes and the communities that depend on them for generations to come.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced two pieces of legislation to help Americans facing opioid use disorder (OUD) access effective treatments: the Expanding Opportunities for Recovery Act and the Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act.

The Expanding Opportunities for Recovery Act would empower the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to give new grants to states, allowing each state to expand its capacity for OUD prevention and treatment where it is most needed.

The Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate and report on outpatient and inpatient treatment availability and scarcity across the country. This information will prove critical as Congress tries to best allocate resources to help Americans struggling with OUD. 

“The opioid epidemic has devastated families and communities in Illinois and across the nation for far too long,” said Foster. “Thanks to the success of federally funded medical research, we now have highly effective treatments available. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to make sure everyone who needs these cutting-edge treatments is able to access them.”

A copy of the Expanding Opportunities for Recovery Act is available here, and a copy of the Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act is available here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

Comprehensive Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) Reform Legislation Will Keep Patients Healthy, Preserve Competition, and Deliver Affordability

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

Washington, DC – On Saturday, July 11, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644) became law. This package of bills increases housing supply, reduces government regulation, cuts red tape for building and lending, and addresses high housing costs. It includes the Accelerating Home Building Act (H.R. 5907), a bill co-led by Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) and Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05).

“Red tape and bureaucratic delays have put homeownership out of reach for many Wisconsin families,” said Steil. “The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a step forward to increase housing supply and reduce burdensome regulations to help make housing more affordable. I appreciate the strong bipartisan support to move this bill forward and help make life more affordable for working families.”

CLICK HERE to read the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

CLICK HERE for a one pager on the bill.

Background:

Housing costs continue to rise due to a lack of supply, workforce shortages, and costly government regulations. These costs have put homeownership out of reach for many families. 

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act boosts housing supply by modernizing standards, cutting red tape to reduce the cost of manufactured homes by approximately $3,000.  It updates federal permitting to ensure that projects without environmental impacts do not need to undergo additional environmental reviews. 

This is the first meaningful housing reform package to pass Congress in over 30 years.

The bill passed the House on Tuesday, June 23rd, on a bipartisan vote of 358-32 and the Senate on Monday, June 22nd, on a vote of 85-5.

Steil’s Accelerating Home Building Act creates a grant program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help towns and cities implement pattern zoning, a process for architects and local governments to develop “pattern books” full of pre-approved, standardized plans and designs for use in their communities. This process tackles housing affordability by reducing red tape, lowering design costs, streamlining zoning approvals, and accelerating construction timelines.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

Legislation Would Provide Care for Underserved Patients; CBO: Will Save Nation $6B

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar, Huffman Introduce Legislation to Improve, Modernize Rural Health Care

This week, Congressman John Moolenaar and Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) introduced the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act. The legislation would allow rural hospitals to use Medicare funding to hire physician anesthesiologists. Under current law, hospitals are only permitted to use Medicare funding to hire certified anesthesiologist assistants or nurse anesthetists. 

“Rural Michigan residents deserve to have access to the highest quality health care available. That is why we must modernize Medicare’s regulations and allow rural hospitals to recruit and pay physician anesthesiologists. Our commonsense, bipartisan legislation makes a small change to existing law to let these hospitals effectively use the funds already available to them and ensure Americans in rural communities can receive the anesthesia services they need, when they need them,” said Moolenaar. 

“Rural hospitals and health centers, like the many throughout my district, serve communities that would otherwise have no access to essential health care. But their remote locations present many unique challenges – including building and sustaining a strong workforce,” saidRep. Huffman. “Our bill would remove barriers for anesthesiologists to participate in rural incentive programs that are a critical tool for rural medical facilities to attract and retain the staff they need to care for our communities.” 

The text of the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act can be found here.  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on July 14, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), introduced the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Pilot Program Act. 

FACT programs are specialized community-based mental health programs that help people with serious mental illness who have been involved with the criminal justice system get the urgent psychiatric care they need, successfully re-enter their communities, and reduce the risk of being incarcerated again.

This program model uses a dedicated team that provides around the clock care for clients. The team includes mental health professionals, specialists in psychiatry, substance abuse treatment, employment and housing services, forensic peer support, and a criminal justice system partner.

The FACT Pilot Program Act would establish a 5-year pilot grant program that provides funding for existing FACT programs to expand and increase capacity to serve more clients. 

This initiative is in direct response to the increased rates of serious mental illness for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, with two in five people who are incarcerated having a history of mental illness.  

“Many people with a serious mental health condition leave the criminal justice system with no psychiatric support, no job, and no housing. They are being set up to fail,” said Congresswoman Adams. “FACT programs have been shown to improve mental health outcomes and reduce repeat offenses. If we want to reduce crime rates and address the mental health crisis, expanding this program should be a national priority.”

This bill would also fund a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) study to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program and provide recommendations for improvement at the end of the five years. The study would also create a framework to help states and localities, especially rural communities, develop and implement FACT programs.  

In 2025, North Carolina invested $9.5 million into FACT teams in high-needs areas across the state. Currently, this funding supports only five county programs, limiting the number of clients who can be served. Additional investment is needed to ensure that FACT programs throughout the state can meet the growing demand for services.

You can read the full text of the bill here.