MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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.

###

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.

###

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.

###

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

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

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

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced that federal funds will support communities in Southwest Virginia impacted from Hurricane Helene. The breakdown of grants includes:

• $3.5 million for Giles County to support the repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction and replacement of disaster-damaged homes for low- and moderate-income households
• $3.5 million for Washington County to support the repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction and replacement of disaster-damaged homes for low- and moderate-income households
• $322,712 for Town of Fries (Grayson County) to support the installation of a generator at a local water treatment facility

In response to these grant notices, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“I support using the federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program for Hurricane Helene aid to help communities in Virginia.

“These grants for more than $7.3 million help Giles and Washington Counties as well as the Town of Fries support recovery efforts in the region.”

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program.

FEMA funds are obligated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth will be responsible for providing the funds to the sub-recipients.

In January 2025, Rep. Griffith announced $46.67 million in Helene relief to Virginia from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

In April 2025, Congressman Griffith announced nearly $6 million in Helene relief in a separate grant for Washington County water line repairs.

In January 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $4.2 million in Helene relief for a Wytheville wastewater treatment system.

In February 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $8.6 million in Helene relief for water line repair.

In April 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $1.7 million in Helene relief for bridge repair.

In June 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $2.8 million in Helene relief for road repair.

In July 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $9.3 million in Helene relief for waterline repair and $1.2 million in bridge repairs.

###

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, during a U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), Representative Sharice Davids underscored the critical importance of investing in water infrastructure for Kansas communities facing both flooding and drought conditions.

“Water infrastructure is not abstract for Kansas families — it’s personal,” said Davids. “From severe flooding in eastern Kansas that damages homes and roads to drought conditions in western Kansas that strain agriculture and local water supplies, our communities depend on smart, reliable investments. I’m focused on making sure Kansas has the tools it needs to manage both extremes and protect families, farmers, and local economies.”

WATCH: Davids speaks on protecting Kansas communities from extreme flooding and drought

WRDA is the primary federal legislation that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects, including flood control, levees, dams, navigation systems, and ecosystem restoration. For Kansas, these investments directly impact communities that regularly face weather extremes — helping reduce flood risk, improve water management, and strengthen long-term resilience.

In 2024, Davids’ WRDA request was successfully passed, saving Kansas taxpayers $41 million in water contracts. This update provides significant financial relief for Kansas, benefiting municipalities, industries, and water supply districts relying on these reservoirs. It also ensures a more affordable and reliable water supply for residents and businesses, addressing the challenges of ongoing drought and extreme weather. 

Davids has consistently advocated for flood safety, including securing investments for the national levee safety initiative and advancing solutions to help Kansas communities respond to increasingly extreme weather. In partnership with local governments, she has also helped secure federal funding to address flooding in Princeton and support the Upper Turkey Creek levee project in Merriam.

During the markup, Davids championed an amendment to make U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracting rules more consistent across different types of projects. Right now, similar engineering work is treated differently depending on whether it’s for military construction or civil water projects like flood control and levees. Her amendment would update the rules, so the Corps uses the same approach in both cases, helping them hire the best qualified experts more efficiently and deliver projects more effectively for communities.

“The American Council of Engineering Companies applauds Representative Davids for her leadership on this important issue. Engineering firms in Kansas and across the country provide unique and specialized skills in the delivery of Army Corps’ civil works projects,” said The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). “Rep. Davids’ amendment, which is modeled on NDAA 2024 language that is now law, would fix an outdated policy and provide the Corps with greater flexibility to negotiate contracts with private sector partners to deliver projects to the public.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.) to warn about the growing embrace of communist ideology among a new generation of Democratic candidates, highlight the real-world consequences of communism, and reaffirm House Republicans’ commitment to defending American freedom.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks.
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s remarks:On Rep. Giménez’s firsthand account of life in communist Cuba:“Wow, what a powerful tale that Carlos told. It’s a cautionary tale. It’s a tale of what really happens when people come delivering snake oil sales. ‘Oh, everything’s going to be great, everything’s going to be free.’ Carlos told you, you know, when Castro came in, we’re going to have free and fair elections in six months, and it’s over 60 years and they still haven’t happened. And they won’t happen as long as communists stay in power, because all they care about is power. “And I don’t think anything could explain what we are so concerned about here in America than [Rep.] Carlos Giménez, who has truly lived the American dream. He fled a communist dictatorship, luckily had wonderful parents who cared about him and didn’t want him to have to come up in that kind of environment, they wanted him to have freedom, wanted him to have opportunity. And you can’t get that in a communist state, but you can get it in America. You can get it in America because you have leadership who still cares about freedom. This Republican leadership has fought every single day for those freedoms that make this country the greatest beacon for freedom and democracy in the history of the world.”On radical Democrats’ attempts to chip away at American freedoms:“And there are some now who want to take that away. And they’re getting into power. They want to get the House majority. We are not going to let that happen. You look at some of the candidates that Mamdani has backed that espouse those same communist views that Castro brought to Cuba when it was a free and beautiful place.“And they’re still talking about that in these races, not just in New York, where you literally have a candidate who has such radical extreme communist views that she deleted over 4,000 tweets. How crazy and radical are the things that you’ve tweeted that you have to delete not two or three of them, over 4,000 of them, including things like— sure, she said she wants to— she did wipe her hands on an American flag. She said she wants to not just defund the police, she wants to defund prisons. Now, is she going to take the criminals into her own house? Probably not. She wants them to go into your community. “Mamdani, with a smile, just a week and a half ago, in a record heat wave in New York City, told the citizens of New York to raise their temperature up to 78 degrees on their thermostat. I guess that’s the warmth and collectivism of socialism that he talked about in his campaign, not the kind of warmth people of New York were counting on. But that’s how it starts. It starts where you can’t raise your temperature over 78 degrees, and then they’re going to come check and make sure you’re not raising it over 78 degrees. Then they’ll probably fine you, and then they’ll probably try to put you in jail if you do it. That’s what communism is. That’s what we are raising their red flag over, because we’re not going to let that red flag fly over this United States Capitol. That’s what’s on the ballot this November.”On the choice this November between communism and common sense:“It’s no longer reserved to just the city of New York. They’re trying to spread it all throughout the country. And ultimately, the American people will decide that in November. Are we going to hold on to these great principles of freedom that make America the best place to live, the place that people want to come to? Are we going to allow communists to change it in an unrecognizable fashion, in a way that we’ll never be able to come back from? We cannot let that happen, and the American people will not let that happen. So we’re going to continue doing our work.“We have a lot of work still to do. You’re going to see this week the Budget Committee move the beginnings of Reconciliation 3.0 out of committee, and we’re moving more bills through the floor this week. Another appropriations bill. But at the same time, we are also continuing to raise the alarm that on the other side of this strong House Republican majority fighting for freedom, are now communists who want to change everything and take away those freedoms. “And they espouse hatred of America shamelessly on the heels of our 250th anniversary celebrating our freedom. Where would they choose? And I think it’s a good question for any of y’all to ask them as they talk about all the things they hate about America. Ask them what their ideal country is. I think it’s a very good question to ask. Who’s number one? If this place is so bad that they won’t leave, they have the freedom to leave. They won’t leave. They can. They should if they hate it so much. But if this place is so bad, who is that place they aspire us to be? I think that’s a fair question to ask because it’ll also tell you everything you need to know about them. We’re not going to let that happen.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hoy, los Congresistas Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) y Greg Casar (TX-35) encabezaron una carta dirigida al Presidente Donald Trump, al Secretario del Tesoro Scott Bessent y al Secretario de Estado Marco Rubio, instándolos a levantar las sanciones contra Venezuela y facilitar el acceso a los activos congelados en el extranjero para responder a la crisis humanitaria causada por los devastadores terremotos del 24 de junio.

 La carta, firmada por 14 miembros del Congreso, destaca la crisis humanitaria en Venezuela y subraya que el régimen de sanciones punitivas del gobierno de EE. UU. está obstaculizando gravemente las labores urgentes de ayuda. “En este momento de crisis, una respuesta sólida coordinada por el Estado, sin las trabas de las sanciones, es esencial para prevenir un colapso humanitario y atender las enormes necesidades de la población civil y de infraestructura que superan la capacidad de las iniciativas no gubernamentales por sí solas. El levantamiento de las sanciones también permitirá a las instituciones estatales coordinar y proporcionar de manera más eficaz atención médica de emergencia, refugio y alimentos, así como retirar escombros y reconstruir carreteras, escuelas y viviendas”, señala la carta.

 Al señalar que estas sanciones “desalientan a los proveedores extranjeros, aumentan los costos de las importaciones, causan disturbios en los mecanismos de pago internacionales, debilitan la capacidad del Estado, generan y empeoran la escasez”, la carta sostiene que han causado una depresión inmensa y sin precedentes en Venezuela, y para que la recuperación y la reconstrucción tengan éxito, las sanciones deben ser levantadas por completo, no simplemente suspendidas. También insta a la Administración Trump a facilitar la restauración de la capacidad de las instituciones venezolanas para acceder, salvaguardar y desplegar sus activos en respuesta a la catástrofe humanitaria que se está desarrollando.

 La carta concluye afirmando que la decisión del presidente Trump de lanzar ataques militares, detener por la fuerza a Nicolás Maduro y proclamar que su Administración “dirige” el país significa que su Administración tiene una responsabilidad adicional en cuanto a la respuesta humanitaria.

 La carta también fue firmada por los Representantes Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Summer Lee (PA-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

Puede leer una traducción al español de la carta aquí.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressmen Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) and Greg Casar (TX-35) led a letter to President Donald Trump, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging them to lift sanctions on Venezuela and facilitate access to frozen assets abroad, to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the devastating June 24 earthquakes.

The letter, which was signed by 14 Members of Congress, highlights the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and emphasizes that the U.S. government’s punishing sanctions regime is severely hampering urgent relief efforts. “In this moment of crisis, a robust state-coordinated response, unhampered by sanctions, is essential for preventing a humanitarian collapse and addressing the vast civilian and infrastructure needs that exceed the capacity of non-governmental approaches alone. The removal of sanctions will also allow state institutions to more effectively coordinate and deliver emergency healthcare, shelter, and food, clear debris, and rebuild roads, schools, and homes,” the letter says.

Noting that these sanctions “discourage foreign suppliers, increase import costs, disrupt international payment mechanisms, weaken state capacity, and generate and exacerbate shortages,” the letter argues they have caused an immense, unprecedented depression in Venezuela, and in order for recovery and reconstruction to succeed, they must be lifted entirely, not merely waived. It also urges the Trump Administration to facilitate the restoration of
Venezuelan institutions’ ability to access, safeguard and deploy their assets in response to the
unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.

The letter concludes by stating that President Trump’s decision to launch military strikes, forcibly detain Nicolas Maduro, and proclaim that his Administration “runs” the country means his Administration bears additional responsibility for the humanitarian response.

The letter was also signed by Representatives Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Summer Lee (PA-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

A copy of the full letter can be found here.

                                              # # #
 

 

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

Lawmakers urge a transparent investigation to ensure public trust in the investigative process