MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

“We should not give one more cent to Trump and Hegseth to start more wars of choice, while our constituents can’t make ends meet.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including provisions won by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to protect American shipbuilding from offshoring and to fund an additional destroyer to be built in Maine at Bath Iron Works (BIW). 

The 2027 NDAA authorizes $1.15 trillion in spending for the Department of Defense and other national security priorities. Golden — a member of the House Armed Services Committee, which drafted the bill — voted in favor of the legislation, which passed the House in a bipartisan 216-212 vote.

“This bill is a win for America’s shipbuilders, including the thousands of workers at Bath Iron Works for whom it will provide job security so they can keep building the world-class destroyers that are the workhorse of America’s surface fleet,” Golden said. “By blocking the Pentagon’s plan to move shipbuilding overseas, we have proven that Congress will act to protect American industry, jobs, innovation and our national security.” 

Golden fought successfully in committee to attach two critical provisions to the final 2027 NDAA:

• Language to block the U.S. Navy’s offshoring plan: In May, the Navy issued a shipbuilding plan that included a proposal to allow American ships, or parts of ships, to be built in overseas yards using foreign labor. Golden pushed back and won language to specify that no funds authorized under the 2027 NDAA may be obligated to enter into a contract for the procurement of a battle force ship to be built in a foreign yard. 
• Language to authorize additional funds to ensure construction of a DDG-51 destroyer at BIW: In previous years, the pentagon has requested authorization to build multiple DDG-51 destroyers, creating demand for ships at both Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi and Bath Iron Works. This year, the president’s budget proposal included only one ship, which was expected to be built at Ingalls. General Dynamics, BIW’s parent company, told HASC that this would have resulted in layoffs in Bath. Ultimately, Golden successfully won inclusion of $1 billion for a second ship, expected to be built in Bath. His language also allowed for incremental funding, which will keep shipbuilders working at BIW. 

In addition to the shipbuilding provisions, Golden also lauded several elements of the 2027 NDAA that will improve quality of life for America’s service members. 

The most immediate individual benefits are a pay raise of 5 to 7 percent for all troops, improved cost-of-living adjustments for troops stationed in high-cost areas, increased paid leave allowances, fertility coverage and junior-reserve dental coverage. 

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

Approximately 4 Million Citizens are Denied Voting Rights in Federal Elections due to Criminal Convictions

Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) reintroduced the Inclusive Democracy Act, legislation that would end felony disenfranchisement in federal elections and guarantee the right to vote for citizens with criminal records. The lawmakers’ bill comes as an estimated 4 million citizens – disproportionately Black and brown citizens – are denied voting rights because of a criminal conviction.

“All Americans should be included in our democracy—but some states deny individuals with a criminal record their sacred right to vote,” said Rep. Pressley. “The Inclusive Democracy Act would ensure the voices of millions of disenfranchised voters—disproportionately Black and brown folks—are heard. While Trump, who also has a criminal record, works to suppress voting rights in this new iteration of Jim Crow, our bill would expand access to the ballot box for all citizens. As someone whose family has been impacted by the mass incarceration crisis, I’m proud to lead this legislation with Senator Welch to uplift every voice and honor every vote.”

“Millions of Americans are denied their right to engage in our democratic process. The Inclusive Democracy Act would be a step forward in restoring the voices of millions of disenfranchised voters,” said Senator Welch. “I’ll continue working to strengthen the Voting Rights Act to ensure everyone can equitably exercise their voting rights.” 

The practice of felony disenfranchisement is biased, counterproductive, and deters eligible voters from civic engagement. By entangling the criminal legal system in our elections, people who are disproportionately affected, especially Black citizens, are unfairly disenfranchised and excluded from representation. Additionally, there are inconsistent systems across 48 states that treat different crimes as felonies and set different standards for disenfranchisement.

Specifically, the Inclusive Democracy Act would:

• Guarantee the right to vote in Federal elections for citizens who have criminal convictions;
• Require State and Federal entities to notify individuals who are convicted, incarcerated, on probation, or on parole of their right to vote in Federal elections;
• Outline the process for citizens in carceral settings to register to vote by mail, if registration is required by their State;
• Outline the process for citizens in carceral settings to vote by mail, including protecting and prioritizing election mail, curing ballots with mistakes, and casting a provision ballot;
• Ensure citizens in carceral settings have access to information about elections through mechanisms available to them such as the internet, campaigns, and third-party groups;
• Provide guidance to State officials to not prosecute citizens in carceral settings who complete an election ballot that includes an election they are not eligible to vote in; and
• Provide a private right of action to enforce this legislation.

The bill is cosponsored by Emanuel Cleaver, Hank Johnson, Summer Lee, Kweisi Mfume, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilhan Omar, Delia Ramirez, Terri Sewell, Lateefah Simon, Paul Tonko, and Shri Thanedar.

This bill is endorsed by The Sentencing Project; Campaign Legal Center; Chicago Votes; Civil Survival; Community Spring; Dream.Org; Empowering Descendant Communities to Unlock Democracy; Equity and Transformation; EXPO of Wisconsin; FirstFollowers; Gift of Voice; Healing Our Land Inc; Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice; Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments; Just Future Project; Live Free Illinois; More Than Our Crimes; National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys; National Coalition for Prisoner Voting Rights; NCJW Chicago North Shore; Raise The Floor Alliance; SACRED Acts (South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy Acts); Unlock Civics Coalition; Unlock Civics NM; Urban Community Unity Solutions LLC; Vermont Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants.

“At a time when voting rights are under attack, Congress should be expanding—not restricting—access to the ballot. The Inclusive Democracy Act would ensure that millions of Americans impacted by the criminal legal system have a voice in our democracy,” said Nicole D. Porter, Senior Director of Advocacy at The Sentencing Project. “Nationwide one in 22 Black adults is disenfranchised due to a felony conviction—more than three times the rate of other Americans. Restoring voting rights is a matter of racial justice and democratic integrity, ensuring that every citizen has a voice in the decisions that shape their communities and their future.”

“Voting is a human right. But for too long, we have allowed the criminal justice system to strip away this right from millions and disproportionately Black Americans,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of The National Urban League. “The Inclusive Democracy Act takes the foundational step to guarantee federal voting rights for all people, regardless of criminal record. At a time when voting rights–especially for Black Americans–are being threatened, this bill says enough is enough.” 

“As a person who is currently incarcerated, serving 35.8 years, I can not emphasize enough how having the right to vote would speak directly to recognizing our humanity, the need to contribute to our communities, and would restore hope. We are still citizens who care deeply about the issues and the times we are in. Now is the time when every vote must count, and all citizens, regardless of incarceration, should be afforded this fundamental right,” said Charles Longshore, Project Director at WA State Coalition on Second Look.

“Democracy is strongest when it reaches the people our systems have worked hardest to silence. Restoring voting rights in New Mexico taught me that changing the law is only the beginning; true democracy requires implementation, belonging, and the courage to ensure every voice is heard. The Inclusive Democracy Act is the next step toward making voting a right that no prison wall or criminal conviction can erase” said Justin Allen, New Mexico Campaign Coordinator for Dream.org & Director of Unlock Civics NM.

“People often measure us by our worst moment, but communities are transformed by our greatest contributions,” said Justin Rodriguez, Coordinator at Empowering Descendant Communities to Unlock Democracy. “For years, I was affected by policies while excluded from the process, yet since returning home I’ve dedicated my life to service, leadership, and building in my community. This year, I cast my first vote as someone who has organized, served, and led, and I can’t help but wonder how much more profound this moment would be if I had never known marginalization and if I had understood what enfranchisement actually looked like all those years ago. Having a voice in civic life acknowledges not just our mistakes, but all that we still very much can bring and offer to our current democratic state.”

“Justice-impacted people should not simply be the subjects of public policy—they should be partners in creating it. More Than Our Crimes exists to transform lived experience into civic leadership and community power,” said Robert Barton, Executive Director at More Than Our Crimes.

“Kentucky has one of the most restrictive voting policies in the country, while also having one of the highest rates of felony convictions. A felony conviction does not erase a person’s citizenship, so it should not permanently deny them one of the most fundamental responsibilities and protections of citizenship, the right to vote,” said Kim George, Community Organizer at Advocacy Based on Lived Experience.

“There’s no democratic or principled reason to bar citizens from voting nor should the right depend on which state someone happens to live in,” said Stephanie Puello, Assistant Professor at University of Miami. “In places like Maine, Vermont, and DC, citizens never lose their voting rights, even while incarcerated. Yet in states like Florida, citizens must complete their full sentence and repay fines and fees to regain their voting rights, and can even be arrested if they register to vote after misunderstanding their eligibility. This bill brings coherence to an arbitrary system that has created a patchwork of second-class citizenship. And evidence shows that formerly incarcerated citizens who vote often recidivate at lower rates, making it a mutual investment and a means of strengthening our communities. If we are committed to meeting the demands of democracy, we must promote civic participation at every level, and the Inclusive Democracy Act represents a meaningful step toward that ideal.”

“At Out for Justice, we know that directly impacted people are not only deserving of dignity—they are leaders, advocates, and changemakers whose lived experiences strengthen our democracy,” said Trina Selden, Executive Director at Out for Justice. “The Inclusive Democracy Act recognizes what we’ve always known: citizenship should not be conditional, and our democracy is strongest when everyone has the opportunity to participate. Restoring the right to vote is about more than casting a ballot—it’s about affirming our humanity, our belonging, and our collective power.”

“At EXPO, we believe redemption and democracy go hand in hand. Every citizen deserves a voice, because stronger communities are built through inclusion—not exclusion,” said Marianne Olson, Co-Executive Director at EXPO of Wisconsin.

“At The Change Up Midnight Coalition, we believe that incarceration or a criminal record should not exclude anyone from participating in the democratic process,” said Marcus Kelley, Founder of The Change Up Midnight Coalition.

“Voting has always been the cornerstone of democracy. Everything that is significant to an individual’s life can be tied to their ability to participate in the democratic process.” said Sheba Williams, Executive Director of Nolef Turns Inc. “There should be consistency across the process for all Americans, regardless of contact with the criminal legal system. Disenfranchisement has been intentional and inequitable for far too long. Voting is a human right that is enshrined in our U.S. Constitution yet it has been used as a tool to control who has power in our country for centuries. It is time every American citizen has their inalienable right to vote honored and accessible, even if they are imperfect people.”

“The Inclusive Democracy Act is a transformative and vital proposal,” said Reggie Thedford, Senior Legal Counsel for Restore Your Vote at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center. “While we have seen some progress in rights restoration, most states still have work to do to eliminate laws that exclude individuals with felony convictions from voting. Campaign Legal Center applauds Congresswoman Pressley for leading the charge on this bill to address that need and promote the freedom to vote for all Americans. We also thank the advocates and organizers, especially those who themselves have had contact with the criminal legal system, who are tirelessly working to eliminate criminal disenfranchisement. Congress must pass this important legislation to move us to a more fair, representative and inclusive democracy.”

Text of the bill can be accessed here. A one-pager on the bill can be accessed here.

The Inclusive Democracy Act is informed by Rep. Pressley’s People’s Justice Guarantee, her comprehensive, decarceration-focused resolution that outlines a framework for a fair, equitable and just legal system.

Rep. Pressley has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to protecting and expanding the sacred right to vote and advance policies that center the dignity and humanity of all people, including those who are currently and formerly incarcerated.

• In May 2026, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib reintroduced the Housing FIRST Act, bold legislation to help people who are formerly incarcerated and those with criminal histories access safe and stable housing. It was originally introduced in 2023.
• In December 2025, Rep. Pressley unveiled a new, first-of-its-kind report revealing how Donald Trump’s use of clemency and pardons has neglected many of the most marginalized and impacted communities.
• In April 2024, following a visit to Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Norfolk, Rep. Pressley and Sen. Markey introduced the Declaration of Environmental Rights for Incarcerated People to affirm the human right of nearly two million people currently incarcerated in the United States to a healthy and safe environment and to advocate for protecting and improving their environmental health.
• In February 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Whip Jim Clyburn and Congressman Mondaire Jones called on the Department of Justice to aggressively protect voting rights and fight against disenfranchisement, gerrymandering, voter purges, and other forms of voter suppression, vote dilution, and election subversion.
• Rep. Pressley has repeatedly urged the U.S. Senate to abolish the filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• In December 2021, Rep. Pressley unveiled the FIX Clemency Act, historic legislation to transform our nation’s broken clemency system and address the growing mass incarceration crisis. 
• In March 2021, Rep. Pressley led her colleagues in re-introducing an amendment to lower the federal election voting age from 18-years-old to 16-years-old.
• In March 2020, Rep. Pressley first introduced the Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act, legislation to improve maternal health care and support for pregnant individuals who are incarcerated, as part of the Momnibus legislative package.

• Rep. Pressley has called on the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass meaningful voting rights legislation that would boost voter turnout and expand access to the ballot box.
• As a Boston City Councilor, Rep. Pressley advocated for expanded access to the ballot box, supporting legislation requiring ballots be available in multiple languages, and filing a home rule petition to allow for early voting in Boston’s preliminary and general elections.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) voted against H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027, which passed the House by a vote of [216-212]. Rep. Chu released the following statement:

“This year’s NDAA gives President Trump a $1.15 trillion blank check to continue his illegal, destabilizing, and deeply unpopular war in Iran, while once again asking working families to pay the price. That war has already claimed seventeen American lives, injured nearly 500 more, and diverted hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars away from the urgent needs facing families here at home. 

At a time when Americans are struggling to afford groceries, gas, housing, child care, and health care, House Republicans have chosen to pour another $250 billion into a Pentagon that has failed six consecutive audits instead of investing in the people they were elected to serve. That $250 billion alone could fund SNAP benefits for 110 million people or provide Medicaid coverage for 29 million people. 

Further, Republicans inserted the SAVE America Act into the NDAA, advancing a voter suppression bill that would make it significantly harder for eligible Americans to register to vote. By requiring documents like passports or birth certificates, the legislation would create needless bureaucratic hurdles that threaten to lock millions of eligible voters out of our democracy—particularly married women, working families, young people, people of color, and low-income Americans.

For these reasons, I voted no.”

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

Full video of the hearing can be watched HERE. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) today hosted a shadow hearing on Medicare for All, led by Chair Emerita Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), the lead sponsors of the Medicare for All Act of 2025. During the hearing, CPC Members and witnesses discussed the transformative change that Medicare for All would bring to the U.S. healthcare system. 

“We do not suffer from scarcity in this country; we suffer from greed — the greed of Big Insurance corporations that rake in billions while denying care, and the greed of Big Pharma that jacks up prices, leaving people with impossible choices,” said Jayapal. “Medicare for All is the path to fix the broken healthcare system that has let corporate interests determine who lives and dies. The reality is that Medicare for All is the only solution that guarantees care for everyone in the U.S., brings down costs for working families, and generates savings for the country. I thank everyone who came out for this hearing today to continue building the momentum for this necessary legislation.”

“Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. Millions of American families still face impossible choices between filling a prescription and putting food on the table, or being forced into financial ruin over an unexpected medical diagnosis. I am proud to continue this fight alongside Congresswoman Jayapal,” said Congresswoman Dingell. 

“Passing Medicare for All is one of the top priorities of the Progressive Caucus,” said Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (TX-35). “It is the best way to make sure no American ever has to check their bank account before going to the doctor. I am grateful to Rep. Jayapal and Rep. Dingell for leading this fight and for convening today’s important hearing.”

“As a long-practicing gynecologic oncologist, I’ve seen how broken our health care system truly is—and how Republican cuts have made this ongoing crisis even worse. Returning to the pre-Trump status quo will not solve our deep-rooted problems, and neither will reforms that enrich corporate profiteers in return for a sliver of what my patients truly need. Only Medicare for All would cut out profit-hungry investors, eliminate dangerous conflicts of interest, and empower me and my colleagues to provide high-quality, trustworthy care for every single person living in the U.S,” said Dr. Diljeet Singh, President, Physicians for a National Health Program.

“As bedside nurses, we see every day how Americans are suffering needlessly from a for-profit health care system,” said Jamie Brown, RN and NNU President. “The failure to pass visionary policies that center care and health for working people, in order to favor billionaire and corporate profit, is a stain on our country’s morality. Elected officials can do what is both necessary and popular and deliver to their constituents a guaranteed health care system with Medicare for All.”

“As today’s hearing showed, now is the time to fight for Medicare for All. Americans are struggling every day to get the care they need and Republicans in Congress and the White House are making it worse through draconian cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. Medicare for All would finally guarantee that everyone in the U.S. can get the care they need when they need it. We call on all members of Congress to join Reps. Jayapal and Dingell and the rapidly growing movement fighting for the passage of Medicare for All,” said Eagan Kemp, Health Care Policy Advocate, Public Citizen. 

“I came to DC from Chicago to testify in Congress because I’m furious that in the richest country in the history of the world, we have to constantly fight the system for dignified health care that we all deserve. Meanwhile, giant corporations like UnitedHealth Care play life and death games and get rich off our suffering. I’m furious that every day members of the community and people across the country are forced to choose between paying for medicine or buying food,” said Chela Garcia, member-leader and volunteer organizer, the People’s Lobby Education Institute & People’s Action Institute. “Medicare for All is not a radical dream — it is a moral baseline.”

Medicare for All would expand the Medicare program to provide comprehensive health care to every American with no premiums, no co-payments, and no deductibles. It would also expand Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision care, and it would give every American the freedom to choose their doctors without interference from insurance companies. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that Medicare for All would save the American healthcare system $650 billion a year. Researchers at Yale University have also estimated that the legislation would save 68,000 lives a year.

The hearing was also attended by Representatives Alma S. Adams (NC-12), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Judy Chu (CA-28), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Grace Meng (NY-06), Emily Randall (WA-06), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Mark Takano (CA-39), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).

Issues: Health Care

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she voted for H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027:

“Today’s passage of the NDAA is a massive win for Missouri and our national security. The greater St. Louis region is critical to the defense of our nation and to our military strength, and I successfully led initiatives to make sure our Missouri-made programs receive over $12 billion in support. This includes more than $4.9 billion for the new F-47 stealth fighter, $3.6 billion for our F-15s, $1.9 billion for our F/A-18s, $1.3 billion for the MQ-25 drone, and over $360 million for Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Small Diameter Bombs. I was also proud to lead the effort to invest millions of dollars in Mizzou’s MANTIS program, which will support our small businesses and the local defense industrial base in building the F-47. All of these efforts together account for thousands of jobs across our community.

“Our American warfighters put their lives on the line for our freedoms every day, and they deserve to have our full support on the battlefield and here at home.  Today’s NDAA invests in the men and women of our armed forces by modernizing our military, expanding defense production capacity, and providing a crucial pay raise for our troops while improving housing, education, and childcare for military families. I will always stand with and support investments in our military and our state, and this legislation will ensure our adversaries will never gain a competitive edge on the battlefield, in no small part due to our Missouri-made capabilities.”

 

St. Louis NDAA Initiatives

1.         $4.9 for F-47 stealth fighter

2.         $3.6 billion for F-15 Eagle

3.         $1.9 billion for F/A 18 Super Hornets

4.         $1.3 billion for MQ-25 drones

5.         $227 million for Joint Direct Attack Munitions

6.         $135 million for Small Diameter Bombs

7.         $5 million for Mizzou F-47 defense industrial base program

• Rep. Wagner led the appropriations request that secured $5 million for Mizzou’s Manufacturing Advancement for Novel Technology Innovation and Sustainment (MANTIS) program that will expand the existing network of Missouri-based manufacturers to help local businesses work together and with Boeing to create a resilient Missouri supply chain for the production of the F-47.  MANTIS will be executed at Missouri S&T’s Protoplex, which houses more than fifty state-of-the art advanced manufacturing systems, allowing local businesses to develop and mature emerging manufacturing technologies necessary to support the F-47. MANTIS will also provide modern, hands-on training to ensure local businesses have a skilled workforce capable of reinforcing Missouri’s stellar defense industrial base.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), co-chairs of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, released the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“Today, we voted NO on the National Defense Authorization Act because Congress cannot continue to write blank checks for endless wars. While millions of Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities, Congress is choosing to authorize over $1 trillion for the Pentagon, once again funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to defense contractors instead of investing in the needs of working people. The American people are sick and tired of funding atrocities abroad and want this war with Iran to end. Yet year after year, the Pentagon fails its audit with virtually no accountability, while Congress continues to increase military spending. We should be investing in affordable housing, healthcare, education, and good-paying jobs—not bankrolling defense contractors.

“This bill also includes provisions that continue to fund and partner with Israel to develop weapons to further their campaign of terror. At a time when Americans are demanding an end to funding Netanyahu’s genocidal regime, Congress should not be quietly deepening our military entanglement.

“For all of these reasons, we voted NO on this reckless defense bill.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Following a weekend of dangerously poor air quality across the Washington region, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), joined by Representatives Don Beyer (VA-08), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) introduced the bipartisan Federal Facilities Indoor Air Quality Assessment Act to identify and address air quality and ventilation problems across federal buildings.

Recently, wildfire smoke pushed the region into Code Purple conditions, meaning the air was considered very unhealthy for everyone.

“Last week’s dangerous air quality was a stark reminder that clean indoor air is essential to protecting public health,” said Congressman Walkinshaw. “Federal employees should never have to risk their health by showing up to work, yet the General Services Administration’s own watchdog has identified persistent ventilation problems in federal buildings. Our bipartisan bill will uncover these deficiencies and require agencies to develop concrete plans to fix them.”

“Too many of our federal buildings have aging ventilation and systems that may no longer meet modern standards. We know that indoor air quality impacts the health and productivity of our workforce and as outside threats like wildfire smoke and other climate-driven impacts become more common and further threaten indoor air quality, we have a responsibility to protect the health and well-being of the public servants who keep our government running,” said Congressman Beyer. “Our bill would provide the comprehensive information needed to identify deficiencies in air quality and ventilation standards, guide necessary improvements, and help ensure our federal workforce can breathe clean, healthy air in the workplace.”

“The federal government should lead by example when it comes to protecting the health and safety of its workforce,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “The men and women who serve the American people should never be placed at risk by preventable failures in the buildings where they work. This bipartisan bill will identify those failures, demand corrective action, and ensure our federal facilities meet the standard our public servants deserve.”

“In recent weeks, communities across the Northeast have experienced the public health harms that stem from unsafe air quality,” said Congressman Tonko. “We know that poor air quality can lead to negative health impacts in both the short and long term. But for too many Americans, poor ventilation and filtration in our buildings mean that even spending time indoors does not offer adequate protection. Our government must do more to address indoor air quality, and we can start by improving ventilation and filtration in federal facilities across the nation. That’s why I’m proud to support the Federal Facilities Indoor Air Quality Assessment Act, a bipartisan bill that will help our government lead by example and ensure that our hardworking federal employees have a safe, healthy environment in which to work on behalf of the American people.”

“Federal employees should never have to wonder whether the air in their own workplace is safe to breathe,” Congresswoman Norton said. “I’m proud to join Congressman Walkinshaw and this bipartisan coalition in cosponsoring the Federal Facilities Indoor Air Quality Assessment Act. GAO’s review will finally give us the data we need to hold GSA and federal agencies accountable for the ventilation problems their own watchdog has already flagged. This is a commonsense, bipartisan step, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.”

“We are proud to endorse the bipartisan Federal Facilities Indoor Air Quality Assessment Act, innovative and long overdue legislation introduced by Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) and three longtime champions for safe and healthy indoor air quality, Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Don Beyer (D-VA). While many public officials are speaking out now due to the hazardous smoke covering many states in our nation, these four Members of Congress have advocated for assessing HVAC deficiencies and remediating indoor air quality dangers for many years at the local, state and federal levels, especially in schools, military facilities and all types of public buildings. Our firms are the leaders in the installation of IAQ mechanical systems in existing buildings and facilities and in new public facility construction projects. These highly skilled construction corporations and their skilled workforce know well that countless thousands of public employees and the millions of our citizens who visit public buildings nationwide will benefit from such a valuable federal effort. The Federal Facilities Indoor Air Quality Assessment Act is a vital legislative effort to assess the federal building portfolio and then move quickly to better protect the health and well-being of America’s public employees,” said Stan Kolbe, Executive Director for Government and Political Affairs, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA).

“Over the last couple weeks, as hazardous air covered huge parts of the country, Americans have been reminded just how critical it is to make sure our buildings have clean, healthy air indoors,” said the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART). “That’s why it’s so important for Congress to get behind the Federal Facilities Indoor Air Quality Assessment Act. This bill would implement a comprehensive review of indoor air quality conditions across all federal buildings, protecting the safety of millions of people and putting SMART members to work ensuring indoor air quality in those buildings. This legislation just makes sense — for SMART sheet metal workers, government employees and Americans nationwide. We thank Rep. Walkinshaw for introducing this act, and we urge every pro-worker member of Congress to add their support.”

“Federal employees deserve workplaces that are safe, healthy, and equipped to support their well-being. Too many federal workers spend their days in buildings with aging infrastructure and ventilation systems that may not provide the indoor air quality they need to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Everett Kelly, National President, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). “We commend Representative Walkinshaw for introducing this important legislation directing the Government Accountability Office to evaluate indoor air quality across federal buildings. This commonsense step will help identify where improvements are needed, strengthen workplace health and safety, and ensure the federal government is making informed investments in the facilities where public servants work every day. AFGE is proud to support this effort to protect the health of the federal workforce.”

“Ensuring that federal buildings provide healthy indoor environments is essential to protecting occupant health and supporting productivity,” said Sarah E. Maston, P.E., BCxP, LEED AP BD+C, President, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). “A comprehensive review of indoor air quality across the federal building portfolio will provide valuable information about how these facilities perform against nationally recognized indoor air quality standards and where improvements may be needed. This legislation demonstrates a commitment to improving the spaces where millions of federal employees and visitors live, work, and conduct business.”

The legislation directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive review of indoor air quality, ventilation, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system performance across federal buildings and facilities. The review would examine:

• Whether federal buildings meet applicable air quality, ventilation, and HVAC standards;
• How agencies monitor, test, and document indoor air quality;
• The frequency and causes of air quality deficiencies;
• Whether agencies effectively identify and correct indoor air hazards; and
• The qualifications and certifications of workers performing HVAC installation, maintenance, and remediation.

GAO would report its findings and recommendations to Congress within 12 months. Agencies found to have material indoor air quality deficiencies would then have six months to submit corrective action plans.

The bill is endorsed by the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

Read the full bill text here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke on the House Floor in opposition to the Republican budget resolution, where he emphasized that House Democrats are committed to using taxpayer dollars to meet the needs of the American people over increasing funding for Operation Epic Failure in the Middle East.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this America Last Republican budget that will provide billions of additional dollars to Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East, which has been a complete and total disaster for the American people. Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice in Iran has skyrocketed gas prices on everyday Americans who are already suffering from the failed Republican economy and drowning in its poor management.

Now, Donald Trump has made several promises to the American people upon his return to the White House, all of which, it appears to me, he’s failed to keep.Donald Trump promised to lower the high cost of living on day one, but costs in America haven’t gone down. Costs have gone up, in part as a result of the reckless Trump tariffs that have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. Donald Trump promised to ‘love and cherish Medicaid,’ but instead turned around and, as a result of the Republicans’ One Big Ugly Bill, cut Medicaid by a trillion dollars, costing more than 14 million Americans access to health insurance and causing hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers, particularly in rural America, to close. Donald Trump promised the American people that ICE enforcement would be focused on the worst of the worst and would only target violent felons. That’s not what has happened. Donald Trump and his violent mass deportation machine are spending billions of dollars for ICE to brutalize and kill American citizens or to violently target law-abiding immigrants, as we just saw in Maine and in Houston.

Donald Trump, of course, promised that he was elected not to start endless wars in the Middle East, but to stop them, and then turned around and has gotten us involved in a potentially endless war in Iran. A reckless war of choice that has made life more expensive for the American people while making us less safe, with Iran being stronger now, having a stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz. A stronger Iran now than they were before Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice. So I stand in strong opposition to this America Last reckless Republican budget, this effort to waste tens of billions of dollars more on Operation Epic Failure in the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, we express our heartfelt condolences to the additional family members of those soldiers and members of the armed forces who have lost their lives needlessly in the Middle East. And we all have a responsibility to continue to stand with them in their time of mourning and their time of great need, but simultaneously to make sure that no additional heroic, patriotic, brave American servicemen or women need to die overseas in Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice. So we stand in strong opposition to this America Last budget.

One of the most important things, as Members of Congress, who are solemnly given by the Framers of the Constitution the responsibility to determine issues of war and peace, one of the most important things that we can do is stand against this reckless war of choice in the Middle East, so no more service members have to be sent home dead to their families who have been left behind.What we should be doing in this Congress is actually using our taxpayer dollars to make life more affordable for the American people. And that’s our commitment as House Democrats. 

Unfortunately, Donald Trump and our Republican colleagues don’t share that commitment. That’s not a hypothetical. It’s not hype. It’s not hyperbole. Look at their own words. Donald Trump, of course, who has said because we’re fighting wars, we can’t prioritize things like daycare, Medicaid or Medicare. That’s exactly what’s happening right now. Republicans, in their One Big Ugly Bill, enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, ripping healthcare away from more than 14 million Americans all across the country—in rural America, urban America, small-town America, the heartland of America, Black and Brown America.

No one has been untouched by the Republican assault on healthcare.And why is this happening? So that Donald Trump can fund this reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle East. And the reality is—his own words—he doesn’t give a damn about the economic well-being of the American people. How do we know that? Donald Trump, in his own words, said, ‘The affordability crisis is a hoax.’ Donald Trump, in his own words, said, ‘I don’t think about the personal financial situation of the American people.’ Donald Trump, in his own words, said, ‘I love the inflation.’ And so we don’t have to wonder why things aren’t going well for everyday Americans in the United States right now. It’s because, in my humble opinion, President Trump and Republicans in this House continue to act indifferent to the economic well-being of the American people and to actively do things that are hurting everyday Americans financially, like this reckless and costly war of choice, which is why we stand aggressively against it.

On issue after issue, throughout this Congress, Republicans have adopted extreme policies to make life worse for everyday Americans, to actively hurt the American people. The Trump tariffs actively hurting the American people, raising costs, including on farm country, by thousands of dollars per year. The refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits raising health insurance premiums on everyday Americans, more than 20 million people across this country, some by as much as $1,000 in additional expense per month.

People are suffocating, drowning in this Trump economy. Donald Trump and Republicans in the One Big Ugly Bill enacted the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history, a $186 billion cut, at the same time that they’re funding this reckless and costly war of choice. Republicans have literally ripped food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans to sustain the Trump war machine. Republican extremists apparently have money for wars, but can’t feed the poor. But our message to the American people is don’t lose faith. Help is on the way.Regime change is coming to the House of Representatives in November, so keep ya head up.

Full Floor remarks can be watched here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

The CHARTS Act would establish a pilot grant program to help nursing homes and home health providers adopt electronic health records, improving patient care and reducing costly medical errors.