MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement on the ongoing brutality and criminality of ICE:

“ICE is out of control. Federal immigration agents have killed two more people in just one week: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas and Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine. Both victims were fathers, husbands, hard-working immigrants who were contributing members of their communities. In both cases, ICE has lied about the facts that led to these murders, just like they lied when they killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez and shot Marimar Martinez in Chicago last year. Beyond these and other ICE murders, at least 50 people have died in immigration detention since the beginning of Trump’s second term. Yet, last month Republicans gave DHS $70 billion more for ICE and CBP, effectively funding these agencies through the end of the Trump administration. We cannot continue to fund these rogue, lawless agencies. Republicans need to stop pretending that ICE is an immigration enforcement agency when it’s acting like an immigrant extermination agency. We must hold these agents accountable, dismantle DHS and rebuild the immigration enforcement system from the ground up.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Congressman Greg Casar (D-TX) introduced the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act, new legislation aimed to break up Big Ag, protect farmers, lower food costs, and strengthen the U.S. food system by curbing corporate abuse of seed patents.

The legislation comes as a small number of giant multinational conglomerates exercise increasing control over the seeds that are vital for planting crops and growing food. These companies use sweeping patent claims and threats of litigation to essentially control what farmers plant and force them to buy expensive products—driving up costs for those that grow food and those who buy it at the grocery store.

“Food is one of the most basic promises we make to one another: that the people who grow it can make a decent living, and the families they feed can afford to eat. But right now, that promise has been broken thanks to billionaire Big Ag conglomerates who are ripping off both the farmers at the beginning of the food chain and the hardworking folks at the end of it,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “We have a system right now in this country where corporate giants are pocketing massive profits—ripping off farmers and in turn ripping off families buying food at the grocery store. It’s wrong, and our bill is about starting to change the broken status quo by rebuilding America’s food system from the ground up.”

“Every working American knows that groceries are just too expensive,” said Congressman Greg Casar. “By abusing seed patents, big ag companies are putting family farms out of business and driving up the price of food for everyone else. I’m proud to be working with Rep. McGovern on this new bill, which is a key part of the Progressive Caucus’ New Affordability Agenda.”

“Seeds are a foundational building block of our food system—and farmers need seeds that are publicly available and adapted to organic and sustainable production in their bioregion. Our food system is at dire risk when seed intellectual property ownership resides with corporations motivated solely by their bottom line. Seed-dominating corporations leverage utility patents to restrict access to innovative and adaptable seed varieties and reduce competition. For decades, RAFI has called for reforms to seed intellectual property law that restore grower sovereignty over seeds. By limiting corporate control over seed and plant intellectual property, the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act will empower seed breeders across the food system to add to the collective biodiversity of seed and develop varieties more resilient to weather, pest, and disease pressures,” said Aaron Johnson, Policy Co-Director, Rural Advancement Foundation International.

“The hyperconsolidation and commodification of seeds has eroded farmers’ resilience and diminished the agrobiodiversity of crops cultivated in the US at an alarming rate. Farmers play an important role in seed development by nurturing adaptable seed varieties that can help create a more resilient and affordable food system – yet commodification has recently hindered farmers ability to participate in this essential first component of farming. The Fair Seeds for Farmers Act takes an important step in curtailing corporate abuse of US Patent Law and reaffirms farmers and researchers ability to breed, experiment, propagate, and save seeds without fear of retaliation from large seed companies,” said Nick Rossi, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Policy Specialist.

The Fair Seeds for Farmers Act is part of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’s New Affordability Agenda, a slate of proposals to address the nation’s cost-of-living crisis by making essential goods and services cheaper, putting more money back into families’ pockets, and taking on wealthy special interests that have rigged the economy against working people. Specifically, the legislation would:

• Limit the patentability of seeds to the protections available under the Plant Variety Protection Act and the Plant Patent Act. The change would apply to pending and future patents while leaving existing patents unaffected.
• Prevent corporate seed companies from restricting farmers and researchers from breeding, experimenting with, propagating, or saving seeds, including through burdensome contracts.
• Define key plant-breeding terms under federal law to protect the integrity of intellectual property claims involving seeds and plants.

By reducing excessive corporate control over seeds, the bill would give farmers greater control over what they grow, protect independent seed companies and public research, and help lower costs at the beginning of the food supply chain.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following statement on the swearing-in of U.S. Senator Darline Graham Nordone of South Carolina:

“Congratulations to Senator Darline Graham Nordone on this historic achievement. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for our state.

“A 2009 graduate of South Carolina State University, Senator Graham Nordone becomes the first woman and the first HBCU graduate to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. This is a testament to the progress our nation continues to make in expanding opportunities for women to serve at the highest levels of public office. 

“I feel certain her historic accomplishment will inspire generations of South Carolinians to believe that no barrier is beyond reach and wish her Godspeed.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today spoke from the House floor, focusing on aspects of the corrupt Trump presidency that he likened to theft from the American people. “We have a man who is out of control as our president, and it scares me tremendously,” he said.

In his remarks, he said in part:

“My friend, Mr. (Joe) Wilson (of South Carolina) made some remarks about how everybody benefitted from the Big Beautiful Bill. What he didn’t tell you was President Trump made a deal with himself when he sued the IRS for a billion dollars for releasing his tax returns along with (those of) thousands and thousands and thousands of other Americans. He settled the case with himself and the man he wants to make Attorney General with a clause, an agreement, that the IRS would not prosecute, or even look at, his tax returns, his family’s tax returns or any businesses they’re involved with. That means the $2.2 billion they made this year off of crypto and other questionable companies will be tax free. That means he’s stealing from you and me – the American public…Our country’s in trouble. We have a man who is out of control as our president, and it scares me tremendously and it should scare you as well.”

See his entire remarks here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced five grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which will provide a total of $3,956,287 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).

The first St. Jude grant, for $665,425, is for research into deciphering the complexities of inflammasome activation following RSV infection under the direction of Dr. Steven M. Varga from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. RSV is one of the leading causes of severe respiratory disease in children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, and there is no currently available vaccine for it. The inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes which are responsible for the activation of inflammatory responses. This project aims to enhance our understanding of how RSV generates inflammatory responses and will impact the evaluation and design of new therapeutic targets for RSV. A second grant, for $1,834,564, is for research into sickle cell disease under the direction of Dr. Shannon McKinney-Freeman from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Sickle cell disease is associated with the development of additional hematological diseases as the patient grows older, however the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of additional diseases isn’t fully understood. This project aims to test a new potential drug therapy for sickle cell disease in cell and non-human disease models and discern whether the body’s own stem cells can return to normal function, and restore function to the bone marrow.

The first of three UTHSC grants is for $687,753 to research the role of genetic factors on nicotine abuse under the direction of Dr. Burt M. Sharp from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The second, for $517,060, is for research into therapeutic targeting of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler under the direction of Dr. Lawrence M. Pfeffer from the National Cancer Institute. Chromatin are the tightly wound packages of DNA in the cell’s nucleus, and the SWI/NSF chromatin remodeler plays a major role in gene transcription in eukaryotic cells. In glioblastoma, the most common primary malignancy of the adult brain, a portion of the SWI/NSF chromatin remodeler enhances the ability for the tumor cells to repopulate and resist treatment with drugs such as temozolomide. This project will evaluate a potential new treatment which targets that portion of the SWI/NSF chromatin remodeler to restore sensitivity to other therapeutic compounds in non-human and cell models.  A third grant, for $251,485, is for biomedical research training under the direction of Dr. Shannon J. Moore. This project aims to promote healthcare-associated job training and learning for fields such as clinical laboratory sciences, to high school students.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“This important investment in medical research conducted in Memphis will reveal critical insights. I congratulate Drs. Varga, Sharp, Pfeffer, McKinney-Freeman and Moore for receiving this funding and thank them for the work they do.”

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

July 14, 2026 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the Birthright Citizenship Limits for Aliens and Illegal Migrants (CLAIM) Act, legislation to clarify federal law governing birthright citizenship after President Donald Trump called on Congress to act and Justice Brett Kavanaugh emphasized that Congress, not the courts, is responsible for addressing the issue through legislation. This bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.). “For too long, Congress has ignored its responsibility to address the abuse of our nation’s birthright citizenship laws. President Trump has called on Congress to act, and Justice Kavanaugh made clear that this is a question for the legislative branch, not the courts,” said Rep. Greg Steube. “The Birthright CLAIM Actanswers that call by restoring common-sense limits on birthright citizenship, protecting taxpayers from abuse, closing dangerous loopholes in our immigration laws, and ensuring that American citizenship remains a privilege reserved for those who owe allegiance to the United States.” The Birthright CLAIM Act answers those calls by establishing clear statutory standards governing citizenship at birth, closing loopholes that have encouraged abuse of the nation’s immigration system, and reaffirming Congress’s constitutional role in setting federal immigration policy. One of the clearest examples of why Congress must act is the growing practice of birth tourism, in which foreign nationals travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth so their children can obtain U.S. citizenship. Federal investigations have uncovered criminal birth tourism operations that coached clients to deceive immigration officials and obtain taxpayer-funded medical care. A Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee investigation documented cases in which birth tourists paid only a small fraction of their hospital bills, leaving taxpayers to cover tens of thousands of dollars through public healthcare programs. The Birthright CLAIM Act would clarify that a person born in the United States is not automatically granted citizenship when neither parent is a U.S. citizen or national and at least one parent is either unlawfully present in the country or present only on a temporary visa. The bill would also require a DNA paternity verification before citizenship may be granted when a child is born to a mother who is unlawfully present and citizenship is claimed solely through the father. The cost of testing would be borne by the parents or legal guardians, not American taxpayers. In addition, the legislation would strengthen residency requirements for children born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent by increasing the amount of time the U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States before citizenship can be transmitted. The full text of the Birthright CLAIM Act is available here. 
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Headline: Amata Welcomes More Than $800,000 in DOJ Grants for Public Safety, Mental Health, and Juvenile Justice   

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming an announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that American Samoa has been awarded three grants totaling $803,015 to strengthen public safety, expand behavioral health services, and support juvenile justice initiatives in the territory.

Congresswoman Amata and Dr Celestine Faumuina-Nix

The federal awards, administered through the DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs, include $484,329 through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, $219,844 through the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Formula Program, and $99,842 through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Title II Formula Grants Program.

“These federal grants will strengthen public safety while also investing in prevention, rehabilitation, and community well-being throughout American Samoa,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Congratulations and thank you to both Dr. Celestine Faumuina-Nix and the entire American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency for their continued success in qualifying for competitive or formula-based federal resources. I appreciate the U.S. Department of Justice’s continued partnership and commitment to our islands.”

The Justice Assistance Grant provides initial, flexible funding to strengthen American Samoa’s criminal justice system, supporting law enforcement, border security, prosecution, indigent defense, and other essential public safety priorities. 

The Byrne State Crisis Intervention grant, providing initial funds in a three-year project with congressional authority based on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, will help expand community-based mental health services and improve coordination among healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community partners to better serve individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. 

The Title II Formula Grant, an initial grant in a four-year project, will support rehabilitation-focused programs for youth in detention, including mentorship initiatives and other efforts designed to improve outcomes for justice-involved juveniles.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I) marked up and passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA) today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated the committee passage of several provisions she got included that are beneficial for D.C., all of which were maintained during the markup. 

“There’s an urgent need to protect D.C.’s drinking water and infrastructure from critical vulnerabilities, and I’m pleased that the T&I Committee voted to maintain the important provisions I got included addressing those issues in today’s markup,” Norton said. “Significantly, the bill addresses the recent failure of the Potomac Interceptor by authorizing an additional $200 million for water and wastewater infrastructure, a critical step to repair and fortify the Interceptor to prevent future failures.

“Furthermore, our nation’s capital cannot remain the only major metropolitan area in the country wholly dependent on a single source of drinking water. Authorizing the second phase of the study I got included in WRDA in 2022 to find a secondary source of drinking water is an important stride towards securing the long-term safety of D.C. residents and continuity of federal government operations in the event of a disaster.

“Finally, I’m pleased to have secured a provision shifting the cost burden entirely to the federal government for the Federal Triangle flood study. Previously, local D.C. would have been responsible for paying for 50% of the study to find solutions for flooding in this area, which is federal property.”

The bill expands existing WRDA funding eligibility for the Potomac Interceptor and increases the funding levels for water and wastewater infrastructure by $200 million, a critical victory for the National Capital Region after a failure in the Potomac Interceptor pipeline in January resulted in nearly 250 million gallons of sewage spilling into the Potomac River. 

The legislation also authorizes the second phase of the Washington Metropolitan Area secondary drinking water supply study which Norton got included in the 2022 WRDA. Currently D.C. is wholly dependent on the Potomac River for its drinking water, and natural or man-made events could render the river unusable for drinking. The federally-owned and operated Washington Aqueduct produces drinking water from the river for D.C. and parts of Virginia. However, the aqueduct maintains only a single day of backup water supply. Many other highly populated metropolitan areas like New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have a second source of drinking water, and many are in the planning stages for a third source.

Today’s committee-passed version of WRDA also authorizes a study on flood mitigation in the Federal Triangle area of D.C. and shifts the cost from 50% to 100% federally-funded. Previously, local D.C. would have been responsible for half of the cost of the study. With heavy rain projected to become more frequent due to climate change, the Federal Triangle area is increasingly susceptible to flooding. In June 2006, an intense storm produced flooding in the area, which caused power outages and major disruptions to federal and D.C. operations, forcing closures of local businesses, public transportation hubs and federal buildings. Smaller but still significant storms in the area in 2018, 2019 and 2020 resulted in closures of Constitution Avenue, power and transportation disruptions, and flooding of buildings.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the Trump Administration’s proposal to erect new fences at the ends of Pennsylvania Avenue NW outside the White House, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to prohibit new fencing from being installed at the White House, Lafayette Square, the Ellipse, and the Eisenhower and Treasury buildings.

“While I understand the importance of protecting the White House, which is already surrounded by a 13-foot fence, we can and must maintain our commitment to security without sacrificing public access. The openness of areas around the White House isn’t a vulnerability to be fenced off; it’s a visible expression of how our democracy strives to operate when we’re at our best,” Norton said. “We shouldn’t widen the distance between citizens and government by placing additional intimidating barriers between public servants and the people they serve, especially when such barriers are unnecessary.

“Security isn’t only about reducing risk. It’s about safeguarding the freedoms and values that define our country, for ourselves and those who come after us. A nation confident in its ideals doesn’t wall off the institutions that carry them out from public view. Rather, it puts them in full view and remains open to the people it serves.”

Norton has long advocated for using the least restrictive means necessary to secure public property, introducing one bill to prohibit permanent fencing at the Capitol, another bill to prohibit permanent fencing at the Supreme Court, and a third bill to prohibit permanent fencing specifically around Lafayette Square. She also introduced a bill to authorize a 21-member commission, with the president designating nine members and the House and Senate leadership each designating six members, to investigate and offer recommendations on the balance between public access to and security in federal buildings and other federal property.

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the No New Fencing At the White House Act
July 14, 2026

Today, I introduce the No New Fencing At the White House Act, which would prohibit the installation of new permanent fencing at the White House complex, including Lafayette Square and the Ellipse. This bill would help ensure that one of our nation’s most important public spaces remains open and accessible to the public.  The Trump administration has proposed installing permanent fencing at the ends of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House and around Lafayette Square.

While I understand the importance of protecting the White House, which is already surrounded by a 13-foot-high fence, we can and must maintain our commitment to security without sacrificing public access by using the least restrictive means necessary to address security.

The White House complex has long served as a place where Americans can peacefully assemble.  The openness of areas around the White House is a strength of our democracy, not a security weakness that needs to be fenced off.  More fencing around this public space would send the wrong message to the nation and the world by continuing to transform our democracy from one that is accessible and of the people to one that is exclusive and fearful of its own citizens.

Fencing is an incredibly imprecise security tool. It is more likely to keep out District of Columbia residents, tourists and peaceful demonstrators than those determined to do harm.  The areas around the White House complex are used every day by D.C. residents and tourists from across the country and around the world.

The distance between government and the people has grown, with trust in government at an all-time low.  We should not increase that distance by placing intimidating barriers between public servants and the people they serve, especially when such barriers are unnecessary.

Security is not only about reducing risk.  It is also about safeguarding the freedoms and values that anchor our country, not only for ourselves but for future generations. Public property should be open to the public.  Americans should not be peering at their democracy from behind fences.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Griffith Announces $700,000 ARC Grant for SWVA Waterline Project