Posts

Posted on

LEADER JEFFRIES ON HOUSE FLOOR AHEAD OF RECONCILIATION VOTE: “REPUBLICAN EXTREMISTS APPARENTLY HAVE MONEY FOR WARS, BUT CAN’T FEED THE POOR”

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.

Posted on

Congressman Cleaver Introduces CHARTS Act to Modernize and Improve Long-Term Care for Seniors

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.

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), introduced the Connecting Health and Records Technology for Seniors (CHARTS) Act, legislation to help long-term and post-acute care providers modernize patient record systems, improve care coordination, and ensure America’s seniors receive safer, more connected healthcare. 

When Congress passed the HITECH Act of 2009, hospitals and physician practices received federal incentives to adopt electronic health records (EHRs). Long-term care providers, including skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and home health agencies, were largely left out. As a result, many facilities caring for older Americans continue to rely on outdated systems that make it more difficult to share patient information, coordinate care between providers, and participate in today’s increasingly data-driven healthcare system.

The legislation comes as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services continues its transition toward value-based care models, where providers are increasingly expected to coordinate care across multiple settings. Yet many long-term care providers remain unable to fully participate because implementing electronic health record systems can cost between $100,000 and $250,000 – a significant financial hurdle for many facilities. 

“Healthcare doesn’t stop when a patient leaves the hospital, and neither should access to their medical records,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Too many seniors experience fragmented care simply because the providers caring for them don’t have the tools to communicate effectively with one another. Whether someone is transitioning from a hospital to a rehabilitation facility, a nursing home, or receiving care at home, their health information should move with them. The CHARTS Act is a commonsense investment that will improve care, reduce unnecessary costs, and give healthcare professionals more time to focus on what matters most: their patients.”

“ADVION thanks Congressman Emanuel Cleaver for introducing this important legislation, which will help ensure skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies have the resources needed to implement and fully leverage electronic health records. As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to advance data standards and expectations for real-time information exchange, providers must be equipped to share critical patient data seamlessly with care teams, payers, families, and CMS. Many nursing facilities and home health agencies have faced financial and operational barriers to adopting or optimizing EHR technology. This grant program represents a meaningful step toward closing that gap—supporting providers in delivering more coordinated, data-driven, and high-quality care to the patients and residents they serve,” said Genice Hornberger, RN, President of the Board of Directors of ADVION, an organization advocating for high-quality, cost-effective care for America’s seniors and our most vulnerable citizens.

The CHARTS Act would establish a competitive pilot grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help long-term and post-acute care providers purchase and implement electronic health record systems. 

Specifically, the CHARTS Act would:

  • Authorize $5 million annually in FY2027 and FY2028 for competitive grants to eligible providers
  • Award grants of up to $500,000 to help providers purchase and implement electronic health record systems
  • Improve communication and real-time information sharing between hospitals, nursing facilities, home health agencies, physicians, and other healthcare providers
  • Support better care coordination, reduce duplicative services, strengthen medication management, and improve clinical decision-making
  • Require HHS to report back to Congress on how the program improves patient outcomes and recommend whether the initiative should be expanded

Full text of the bill here. 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Posted on

Amata Welcomes House Passage of Government Funding Extension and Hearing on Shutdown Reforms  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Headline: Amata Welcomes House Passage of Government Funding Extension and Hearing on Shutdown Reforms  

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming this week’s House passage of a government funding extension bill that would keep the federal government open after the end of the fiscal year September 30. The extension would fund the government across the board until December 4, allowing continuing work on 2027 appropriations. The extension would have to be passed by the U.S. Senate as well. Currently, the House has completed committee work on all 12 appropriations bills, but bicameral passage is not expected before the September 30 deadline. 

Congresswoman Amata with Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole – file photo

Separately, Congresswoman Amata welcomes a House Appropriations Committee hearing, also this week, examining government funding reforms to prevent recurring shutdowns. The hearing is titled, ‘Funding Lapses: Analyzing Shutdown Reform.’ 

Shutdown funding reforms would require legislative passage, so 2027 appropriations are moving forward under current rules. The House is seeking to prevent a shutdown after September 30, by passing a Continuing Resolution, often called a stopgap, 10 weeks ahead of the end of the fiscal year, allowing the Senate time to consider this legislation or their own version.

“I agree with my good friend House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole that shutdowns should be prevented because they cause chaos and uncertainty,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “Thank you to Chairman Cole for having the right priorities and his leadership in passing all 12 bills out of his committee, this hearing on finding better long-lasting reform solutions, and early efforts to prevent a shutdown after September. American Samoa counts on our federal support.” 

This week, the House passed H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027. The bill requires Seante passage to ensure every U.S. government function can proceed through Dec. 4, 2026. 

###

Posted on

ICYMI: Newhouse Holds Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee Hearing with U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: ICYMI: Newhouse Holds Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee Hearing with U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz

Press Release 
For Immediate Release: July 22, 2026
Contact: Juan Ayala, (202) 713-7750

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) held a hearing to receive an update about the U.S. Forest Service’s priorities regarding wildfire management, disaster recovery, recreation access, and infrastructure.  

Chairman Newhouse discussed the current wildfire season impacting Central Washington, the reorganization of the Forest Service, and the need for better stewardship of our national forest system. With 2026 on track to be one of the worst fire seasons in recent history, more needs to be done to reduce the threats of catastrophic wildfires. 

Newhouse also took a moment to recognize Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson, three firefighters who tragically lost their lives in the Knowles fire in Colorado just a few weeks ago on June 29th. 

Chief Schultz stressed the importance of wildfire safety, preparedness, and responsiveness. He talked about the service’s work across Tribal and local governments to streamline forest management and how he is working to improve effectiveness. Schultz also commented on grazing, reforestation, and accelerated efforts to restore areas impacted by wildfires.  

Click here to watch Chairman Newhouse’s opening statement. 

Click here and here to watch his rounds of questioning.  

Click here to watch the full committee hearing. 

Posted on

Congressman Cohen Says Congress Shouldn’t Give $70 Billion More for a Failed War in Iran While Trump Refuses to Pay Taxes on His Crypto Earnings

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

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) went to the House floor this morning to make a speech condemning the Donald Trump-Pete Hegseth war against Iran and its exorbitant expense.

In his remarks, he said in part:

“Mr. Hegseth said we have spent $37 billion on an unnecessary – he didn’t say ‘unnecessary war’ — but it is an unnecessary and failed war in Iran: $37 billion and we’ve lost 17 soldiers. He says he’s going to ask for another $70 billion to fight this unnecessary and failing war. We resolved…the fact that we can stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon when Barack Obama was president and negotiated a treaty. Right now, we don’t know if they’ve moved the enriched uranium outside the place where it was buried underneath a mountain or not. I suspect they might have. 

“So it’s a failed war. I’ll be willing to vote for a bill that has $70 billion in it when President Trump pays his share by paying his taxes on the $2.2 billion he earned last year mostly in crypto which cost people who bought crypto a billion dollars; that’s what they lost. When Trump pays his share, I’ll pay my share, and vote for it. But I won’t vote for it otherwise. President Trump: Bring your chips to the table.”

See the entire speech here.

# # #

Posted on

Congressman Harris Announces Two Telephone Halls Today

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), will hold two telephone town halls today, reaching 100,000 constituents across Maryland’s First District. Congressman Harris’ office will dial out to constituents throughout Maryland’s First District, from the Eastern Shore to Cecil County, Harford County, and northern Baltimore County.

Important Details: 

Telephone Town Hall 1

Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Time: 5:30-6:30pm

Telephone Town Hall 2

Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Time: 7:00-8:00pm

Questions about the event can be directed to Congressman Harris’ DC office at (202) 225-5311. Constituents who wish to be removed from the call list should contact Congressman Harris’s DC office. 

For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov

Posted on

McCaul Urges Colleagues To Support NDAA Amendment Increasing Veterans' Access to Ibogaine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

Amendment is led by former Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas), with whom McCaul has worked extensively to champion this issue

WASHINGTON – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-Texas) took to the House floor to urge his colleagues to pass an NDAA amendment he has championed alongside its author, Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas), to increase veterans’ access to neuroplastogen treatments like ibogaine.

Click to watch

Full Remarks:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your great work on this National Defense Authorization Bill. As always, you’ve delivered.

Mr. Speaker, every day our nation loses 17 veterans to suicide. These are men and women who survived combat, but then lost to a quiet and longer war against the invisible wounds that they carried with them.

Since the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, many of them are asking, “Was it worth it?” Well, we’re providing a solution to that problem here today.

And I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Luttrell, for his service as a Navy SEAL, and also for introducing this amendment to increase veterans’ access to ibogaine.

I know personally how much this means to our nation’s heroes, because I’ve talked to them — the Special Operators Association, to people, veterans across this nation who are clamoring for a solution to their problem. And we have one.

They should not have to travel to Mexico to receive this treatment. Countless vets have told me that they were going to give this one shot before they committed suicide. They went down, they experienced ibogaine, and they came back cured.

Stanford University did a study on 30 veterans with TBI and PTSD … [in which] MRI brain scans [demonstrated] that this medicine actually regenerated brain tissue and helped them get over their addiction to opioids and resolve their PTSD and TBI.

This needs to be available in the United States of America now, in clinical trials to our veterans. My home state of Texas passed legislation to provide clinical trials to veterans for ibogaine.

I want to thank my former Governor Rick Perry and Mr. Bryan Hubbard, [CEO of] Americans for Ibogaine, for leading this effort. I want to thank Morgan Luttrell and Marcus, his brother — … we all know his Lone Survivor story. Ibogaine saved their lives. And we’ve heard the testimony from them about the effectiveness of this medicine.

It is time, Mr. Speaker, to make this medicine available to our veterans here in the United States, at our VA clinics across the nation. And this amendment — and I want to thank the chairman for supporting it — will take us to that point where we can now save their lives, where they don’t have to worry about suicide, they don’t have to be on 30 medications, for God’s sake, to treat their addiction, to treat their PTSD, when we know we have a medicine that works. The evidence is there, the data is there, the Stanford study is there, to save their lives.

So I urge my colleagues to vote for this measure. Again, I want to thank all my colleagues, including the chairman, Morgan Luttrell. I want to thank the Energy and Commerce Committee for their work to bring all this to the floor, not only today, but in the future, with future legislation.

And I want to thank the heroes, those who have served this country in harm’s way, those who have put their lives at risk, who are suffering from these diseases today. We owe it to them to pass this legislation. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

Posted on

VIDEO: MI Congresswoman Haley Stevens Blasts RFK Jr. for Cyclosporiasis Outbreak in Michigan

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

“RFK Jr. has proven time and time again that he has no business being in public office.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens released a new video blasting RFK Jr.’s disregard for public health, promotion of conspiracy theories, and negligence in office. 

In the wake of a new parasite outbreak caused by RFK Jr.’s reckless policies, Rep. Stevens called out his failure to the American people. Stevens is making it clear: RFK Jr. must face the consequences for endangering Michigan families. He needs to be impeached.

Watch the video here

Since taking office, RFK Jr. has slashed critical programs, skyrocketed healthcare costs, and allowed diseases to spread across the country.

He has failed Michigan and failed the American people. I’m fighting to get him out now. pic.twitter.com/OuFVHi5eBE

— Rep. Haley Stevens (@RepHaleyStevens) July 21, 2026

 

Key Excerpts:

  • Since RFK Jr.’s first day in office, he has carried out an unprecedented assault on fact-based science, life-saving research, and the public health system that keeps our communities safe.

  • We are seeing measles cases reach a 30-year high. We are seeing healthcare costs skyrocket. And we are seeing critical programs face devastating cuts.

  • And now a new parasite is threatening Michigan’s food supply and making Michiganders sicker than ever. The CDC used to keep track of this stuff and prevent these outbreaks. But as of last year, under RFK Jr., not anymore.

  • RFK Jr. has proven time and time again that he has no business being in public office.

  • He has failed Michigan families, and he has failed the Michigan people. That’s why I’m fighting to impeach him.
     

###

 

Posted on

WAYS AND MEANS REPUBLICANS BLOCK SCHNEIDER-LED AMENDMENT TO INCREASE PENALITIES FOR POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN TAX AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

The law already prohibits the President, Vice President, White House staff and certain agency heads from directly or indirectly requesting that the IRS conduct or terminate an audit or investigation of any particular taxpayer. Schneider’s amendment would have simply increased the penalties to match those imposed on any other individual convicted of illegally accessing or leaking taxpayer data.  
 

Last week, the Wall Street Journalreported that Kenneth Kies, an assistant Treasury secretary and acting chief counsel of the Internal Revenue Service was ousted after warning the White House was at risk of violating Section 7217.  
 

Despite repeated evidence that this administration is weaponizing the IRS and ordering illegal audits of political enemies, the Ways and Means Republicans voted to block Schneider’s amendment. 
 

View Rep. Schneider’s full remarks here.

“I hope my colleagues on this committee will vote to stand up to the blatant corruption in this White House and oppose political interference and IRS corruption,” said Schneider. “It is the duty of this committee to provide oversight to the IRS and to the Treasury, and to ensure the integrity of our tax system. Every taxpayer should be able to feel confident that the IRS is not being used as a political tool or will not be used against them. This administration is eroding public trust in our tax system, and this committee cannot continue to ignore the blatant corruption. If this administration is illegally directing the IRS to audit the President’s political enemies, the American people deserve to know, and the officials responsible should be brought to justice.” 
 

View a transcript of Rep. Schneider’s remarks below. 
 

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, Mr. Chairman, as we consider adding restrictions on allowable contributions and adding penalties for tax exempt organizations for illegal political contributions in this underlying bill, I think it’s important that this committee ensure the penalties on violations of the law prohibiting political interference from within, including from within the administration, match the severity of the crime as well.  
 

“I hope my colleagues on this committee will vote to stand up to the blatant corruption in this White House and oppose political interference [and] IRS corruption. In fact, I assume everyone has seen that the acting Chief Counsel of the IRS and the Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy has been ousted from the department after warning the White House that their attempts to request or influence IRS audits is in violation of Section 7217 of the Internal Revenue Code. The acting Chief Counsel for the IRS warned the White House that its request[s] for IRS audits were blatantly illegal and was forced out of the department for speaking up after warning the White House that their actions were violating federal law. This official was fired. That does not tell me that this administration wants to or intends to obey the law. It tells me that the administration has every intent to fill the position with someone who will do the President’s bidding, whether or not it is legal. 
 
“Section 7217 is extremely clear. It is unlawful for the President, the Vice President, or any employees of the executive office of the President or Vice President, and all cabinet level officials, with the single exception of the Attorney General, to ‘request, directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer.’ Section 7217 also states that anyone who receives such a request must report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Anyone who makes a request that is prohibited under this section, or anyone who receives such a request and fails to report it to the Inspector General can be punished for up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. It’s worth repeating — the President cannot legally direct the IRS to audit or investigate any taxpayer, and there’s a reason that this law is on the books. President Nixon tried to weaponize the IRS to go after his enemies, and in the aftermath, Congress, this body, acted in a bipartisan way to pass Section 7217 to limit potential political interference in IRS operations.  
 

“It is the duty of this committee to provide oversight to the IRS and to the Treasury, and to ensure the integrity of our tax system. Every taxpayer should be able to feel confident that the IRS is not being used as a political tool or will not be used against them, and every single member of this committee should be outraged by the reporting of the firing and dismissal, given the warnings. Last Congress, following the leak of taxpayer information by an IRS contractor, [Charles] Littlejohn, my Republican colleagues on this committee proposed a bill to increase the maximum penalty for the illegal disclosure of taxpayer data, the Taxpayer Data Protection Act. During our consideration of that bill, Chairman Smith said, ‘increasing the maximum fine and imprisonment period for unauthorized disclosure of taxpayer information will help deter individuals from violating the trust of American taxpayers.’ Surely, the same should be true for violations of the law prohibiting political interference by the White House into IRS operations. 
 

“So today, I’m offering an amendment to increase the maximum penalty for violations of Section 7217 to $250,000 and increase the maximum term of imprisonment to ten years — the same levels that this committee passed with overwhelming bipartisan support under the Chairman’s Taxpayer Data Protection Act. This administration is eroding public trust in our tax system, and this committee cannot continue to ignore the blatant corruption. If this administration is illegally directing the IRS to audit the President’s political enemies, the American people deserve to know, and the officials responsible should be brought to justice. I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back.” 
 

View the text of the amendment here. 

Posted on

Rep. Angie Craig Introduces Comprehensive Regulatory Framework for Hemp

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

Minnesota’s hemp industry supports 3,400 jobs,132 licensed growers, 96 processors and over 2,000 retailers

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee Angie Craig (D-MN-02) introduced legislation alongside Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-06) to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for hemp and hemp-derived THC products, ensuring hemp remains safe and available for Minnesota’s farmers, processors, brewers, retailers and consumers.

Rep. Craig’s Lawful Hemp Protection Act comes after House Republicans effectively repealed a 2018 law that allowed Minnesota and other states to legally produce hemp and sell hemp-derived products, such as hemp beverages and textiles. Since 2018, the hemp industry has grown into a roughly $300 million a year industry and provided a new income stream for local farmers, brewers and small businesses. As of 2023, the Minnesota hemp industry supported over 3,400 jobs. The state is home to 132 licensed grow operations, 96 processors and over 2,000 retailers. If Congress does not act by November 12, 2026, Minnesota’s legal hemp industry will effectively be shut down.

“Minnesota became the model for responsible hemp regulation when it established a regulatory framework that complied with federal law and enabled local farmers and businesses to thrive,” said Rep. Craig. “My commonsense legislation will give regulatory clarity to Minnesota farmers, brewers and small business owners and provide an alternative to short-sighted federal policies that threaten Minnesota jobs and consumer choice. I am proud to have worked with Rep. Barr on a solution that protects our farmers and small businesses while also keeping our kids and communities safe.”

“Kentucky farmers helped build America’s hemp industry and they deserve certainty,” said Rep. Andy Barr. “The Lawful Hemp Protection Act protects Kentucky agriculture, safeguards consumers, and establishes a commonsense regulatory framework that allows this important industry to continue to grow while ensuring products are safe and kept out of the hands of children. Kentucky has demonstrated that hemp can be successfully regulated while supporting farmers and protecting consumers. This legislation builds on that success by creating a national framework that rewards responsible producers, eliminates bad actors and ensures consumers have confidence in the products they purchase.”

“We are dangerously close to one of Minnesota’s most promising small business industries being shut down,” said Bob Galligan, director of government and industry relations for the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild. “Minnesotans proved that responsible regulation can lift businesses, strengthen economies and protect consumers. We now need Congress to do its job. We’re grateful for Rep. Craig for her continuous support and for now forging a path that reflects what our state has already shown: prohibition doesn’t work, but thoughtful, practical regulation does.”

“The entire Minnesota hemp industry thanks both Reps. Angie Craig and Andy Barr for their leadership in bringing sensible regulation to this industry that is so important to so many,” said Kyle Markinovich, the founder and CEO of Northern Diversified Solutions in Burnsville, MN. “The farmers, brands, distributors, retailers, patients, and consumers are so grateful this amazing success story will continue to grow and thrive. As Minnesotans, we are particularly grateful to Rep. Craig who continues to serve hemp farmers and businesses so well in the Congress.”

“Reps. Andy Barr and Angie Craig deserve tremendous credit for stepping forward with a serious, science-based and bipartisan solution at exactly the moment the hemp industry needs it most,” said Jonathan Miller, general counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. “Their leadership on the Lawful Hemp Protection Act reflects a clear-eyed recognition that prohibition is the wrong path, and that American farmers, small businesses, manufacturers, retailers and consumers deserve a workable federal framework built on responsible regulation. We are grateful for their willingness to engage stakeholders across the industry throughout the drafting process, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and their colleagues in Congress to advance a long-term federal solution.”

###