MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) in introducing the Developing Oversight for Nutrition through the Official Regulation of Milk Act or the DONOR Milk Act, legislation that would better protect the nation’s supply of donor human milk – a lifesaving resource for premature and medically fragile newborns. The legislation is introduced in honor of World Donor Milk Day, which is May 19.

Hundreds of lawsuits in the United States now allege that preterm infant formula could be associated with a higher risk of a serious gastrointestinal illness, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). More must be done to make donor human milk safer and more accessible.

Donor human milk is the gold standard for premature and critically ill infants when a mother’s own milk is unavailable. One factor that is proven to reduce the development of NEC in premature and medically fragile newborns infants is the use of human milk. However, there must be proper federal oversight and requirements to ensure the stability of this Critical Food, as well as better coverage for it.

“New Hampshire families deserve to know that what they feed their babies is safe and of good quality,” said Congressman Pappas. “This bipartisan legislation would establish needed oversight of donor milk to ensure the safety of the supply for families and their infants. I will continue to support efforts that strengthen the health and well-being of babies, kids, and families in New Hampshire and across the country.”

“We must ensure the food we feed our babies is high quality and safe,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “The donor milk industry is growing, and the DONOR Milk Act treats this growing industry with the seriousness it deserves – as a Critical Food vital to lifting up the next generation. This bipartisan legislation would put commonsense safeguards in place to protect newborns, and I am proud to it alongside my colleagues and with the support of milk banks across the country.” 

“Premature babies and newborns in critical condition deserve the safest, highest-quality nutrition possible, and right now our federal oversight hasn’t kept pace with the growing demand for donor human milk,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “The DONOR Milk Act closes that gap, ensuring that when a family is fighting for their baby’s life, the safety of their nutrition is one less thing they have to worry about.”

“Donor milk is one of the most powerful tools we have in ensuring optimal  health for premature infants,” said Scott Elster, CEO of Prolacta Bioscience. “But for too long, we have lacked a consistent set of safety standards to ensure the donor milk fed to our most vulnerable babies meets the quality required to remain contaminant free and support growth these babies need to thrive. The DONOR Milk Act will change that – and it will help make our babies healthier and stronger as a result. We are immensely grateful to Representatives DeLauro, Trahan, Van Drew, Pappas, and Dean for their leadership on this critical legislation and all of their efforts to establish safety standards for the fragile babies who need it most.”  

“Donor milk is a safe, evidence-based intervention that protects premature and low birth weight infants,” said Lindsay Groff, Executive Director of Human Milk Banking Association of North America. “The DONOR Milk Act would strengthen regulatory clarity for donor milk while providing critical support for nonprofit milk banks. We appreciate the sponsors’ focus on ensuring medically vulnerable infants can receive this care.

The DONOR Milk Act would:

• Designate donor human milk as a Critical food.
  • Which would require milks banks to notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) of a discontinuance or interruption that is likely to lead to a disruption of supply not later than 5 days after such an incident occurs.
  • Which would also require each manufacture of a Critical Food to create a Risk Management Plan that:
    • Identifies/evaluate the risks of making more than one Critical Food at a facility.
    • Mechanisms by which a manufacturer would mitigate the impacts of a supply disruption.
• Subject donor milk banks to annual inspections by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Include an authorization of appropriations (up to $8 million) to assist non-profit milk banks comply with the legislation to not affect or harm supply.

Text of the legislation is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Rio Vista – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04)’s presented a $1,034,487 check to the City of Rio Vista to build a new fire station and emergency operations center. 

“Proud to have secured $1,034,487 for a new fire station and emergency operations center,” said Thompson. “Our community is safer when we invest in the best equipment, talent, and resources to respond to emergencies quickly. Proud to have secured over $1 million for this new emergency operations center in Rio Vista. Thank you to the local leaders who helped identify the need for this support.”

The funding for this project is part of the $14,351,487 secured this year by Thompson for community projects in our district. Rep. Thompson has secured funding for three community projects in Solano County this year, and secured funding for 15 projects total in the Fourth District in 2026.

Background on Community Funding Projects 

Each year, Members of Congress may direct federal funding to a limited number of community projects through the appropriations process. These projects are reviewed by the House Appropriations Committee and must meet strict transparency and accountability requirements before being included in federal appropriations legislation. 

Background on Rio Vista Fire Station Community Service Building 

The Rio Vista fire station and emergency operations center project will improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by funding a new sustainable, secure, strategically located and fully interoperable fire station and Emergency Operations Center. It will provide a fully capable facility to support command, control, and coordination of multi-agency responses to major disasters or emergencies.

 

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Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 4th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington, D.C. – Co-Chairs of the Congressional Bike Caucus,Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16), announced the introduction of H.R. 9041 the America Bikes Act, comprehensive bipartisan legislation that will bolster cyclist safety, increase access to bikes, and bring bike manufacturing back to the United States. 

“Cycling is good for people and good for our planet. It just makes sense that we’d invest in expanding bike access and road safety so more Americans can benefit from cycling,” said Thompson. “As Co-Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus and an avid cyclist myself, I know that these sensible measures will improve and expand access to safe, healthy transportation for decades to come. I’m honored to work with Rep. Vern Buchanan on this landmark legislation.” 

“Investing in safe, reliable transportation is essential for families, workers and seniors across Florida’s 16th District and communities nationwide,” said Buchanan. “That is why, as co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, I joined Rep. Mike Thompson to introduce the bipartisan America Bikes Act. This legislation delivers stronger investments in bicycle infrastructure and expands access to safer transportation networks.  From neighborhood streets to daily commutes, bicycles remain a simple and effective way for Americans to get around, and this bill will support practical improvements that reduce congestion, improve mobility and keep cyclists safe.”

BACKGROUND

The America Bikes Act is landmark legislation designed to support and expand cycling across the nation by tackling safety, access, and manufacturing challenges all in one bill. This bill includes cycling provisions previously introduced by Reps. Raskin (D-MD-08), Huffman (D-CA-02), and Scholten (D-MI-03).

H.R. 9041, the America Bikes Act:  

Improves Cyclist Safety 

• Expands access to federal funding for local governments to improve roadway safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Helps local, regional, and Tribal governments to fund safety action plans and infrastructure projects aimed at preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries.
• Makes bike safety education a standard part of youth learning nationwide and expands access to funding for on-bicycle education to elementary and secondary school students.

Encourages More People to Bike

• Improves access to programs that help kids safely bike and walk to school. 
• Expands biking and walking infrastructure on federal lands. 
• Reauthorizes federal funding for communities to plan, design, and build walking and biking infrastructure. 
• Expands incentives so more Americans switch to bicycle commuting. 
• Creates a grant program to connect biking and transit stations, including supporting bike parking at transit stations and expansion of bikeshare programs. 

Brings Bike Manufacturing Back to Our Shores

The America Bikes Act is endorsed by leading cyclist and road safety organizations including: The League of American Bicyclists, California Bicycle Coalition, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, PeopleForBikes, Safe Routes Partnership, National Bicycle Dealers Association, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

“With the America Bikes Act, Congressional Bike Caucus Chairs Mike Thompson and Vern Buchanan are celebrating the freedom bicycling brings to people and communities. The League believes life is better for everyone when more people can ride bikes and this bill represents a number of common sense initiatives to ensure our transportation system is safe and accessible to everyone,” said Bill Nesper, Executive Director, League of American Bicyclists.

“Every child deserves the freedom to safely walk, bike, and roll to school and around their community. We applaud the Congressional Bike Caucus for introducing the bipartisan America Bikes Act, which includes language to restore statewide Safe Routes to School coordinators, a proven investment that helps communities make it easier, safer, and more joyful for kids to get where they need to go,” said Marisa Jones, Executive Director, Safe Routes Partnership.

“This bipartisan bill combines effective safety measures and critical reforms to funding programs that together will deliver the safe and practical bicycling routes that Americans demand and need for both daily transportation and healthy recreation,” said Kevin Mills, Vice President of Policy, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. 

“The America Bikes Act is a major step forward for the bike industry and the millions of Americans who want safer, better places to ride,” said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. “By investing in connected bike infrastructure and supporting domestic bicycle manufacturing, this legislation will help more people ride bikes more often, strengthen the U.S. bike economy, create American jobs, and improve the health and safety of communities across the country. We thank Congressman Thompson and Congressman Buchanan for their leadership and commitment to expanding access to bicycling nationwide.”

“This bill is a game-changer for America’s bicycle retailers and the industry as a whole. The reinstatement of the employer-provided bicycle commuting benefit means more Americans will have a real financial incentive to commute by bike, and that translates directly into more customers walking through the doors of local bicycle shops. The suspension of duties on bicycle assembly parts lowers costs for domestic manufacturers, strengthens our supply chain, and helps American businesses compete. When paired with the $500 million annual investment in active transportation infrastructure and the Bicycle Transit Integration Grant Program, this package creates the conditions for a true cycling renaissance in the United States. The NBDA stands fully behind this bill and urges its swift passage,” said Heather Mason, Executive Director, National Bicycle Dealers Association. 

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Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 4th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition.

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Larsen Announces 2026 Congressional App Challenge

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

WASHINGTON —Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) today voiced her support for New York State legislation that would close a loophole exploited by predatory hedge funds to profit from nations and territories in financial distress. The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas and State Senator Liz Krueger, would restore the legal doctrine of champerty, making it illegal to buy debt for the sole purpose of suing to collect on it. She released the following statement: 
 
“For Puerto Ricans, this issue is not theoretical. New York’s legal system has been used by hedge funds seeking outsized profits from Puerto Rico’s debt crisis for years.
 
“To this day, the island has not finalized its bankruptcy; the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s restructuring remains stalled after 12 years of costly litigation. In total, Puerto Ricans have paid a staggering $2 billion for Title III proceedings under PROMESA.
 
“New York must act now to prevent Puerto Rican families from continuing to endure painful austerity, economic instability, and unreliable electric service just so vulture funds can maximize profits. As home to one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in the nation, New York has a unique responsibility to ensure its laws are not being used to profit from the suffering of Puerto Rican communities.
 
“Passing the Champerty Fix Bill would send a clear message that New York stands with working families and diaspora communities, not predatory actors exploiting financial distress for private gain.”
 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

Call on Trump administration to explain if Trump will be held to same standard as all Americans

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“Congress can lower utility bills by passing legislation that caps excessive corporate profits and overcharges, and speeds up the deployment of low-cost clean energy,” said Wasserman Schultz. “We live in Florida, where sun, wind and water sources for clean, cheap energy are abundant. We did this kind of work in the Inflation Reduction Act. And we need to revive that, because Trump and this Republican Congress simply do not care about Americans’ monthly utility bills.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Davis – On Wednesday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33) hosted a town hall for students on campus at UC Davis. The town hall provided students with a chance to ask questions about the issues that mattered the most to them including affordability, and student loans. 

“The burden of student debt is crushing our young people. Students shouldn’t have to choose between getting an education and being able to afford rent, groceries, or a future,” said Thompson. “I recently introduced the Lowering Student Loans Act to address this directly by capping student loan interest rates at 2 percent. We must make it affordable to get an education and easier to pay off student loans.” 

“Thank you to all the students that attended Wednesday’s event. Our country is facing challenging times and one of the best remedies are rooms full of young people who are engaged, informed, and are ready to hold their leaders accountable.”  

Affordability Issues

Rep. Thompson knows that Californians are paying $1,900 more per year in higher prices because of the President’s trade war, which is why he introduced H.R. 6900 the American Affordability Act. This act would reduce the tax burden on student loan forgiveness and expand education tax credits to cover more years of college and workforce training. It would also lower rent, cut energy bills, make childcare cheaper, make healthcare more accessible, and put more money back into Americans wallets.  

Student Loans 

Rep. Thompson has introduced H.R.7820 the “Lowering Student Loans Act” which would cap student loan interest rates at 2 percent. He has also been a consistent opponent of the Trump Administrations cut to research funding which supports university across the country including UC Davis. Rep. Thompson will continue fighting to improve the lives of students in Davis, California and across the country. 

 

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Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 4th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

“Immigrants make up over 60 percent of our agricultural workforce in California,” said Thompson. “We need to add more immigration judges and border personnel, cut the screening time backlog, and direct asylum seekers to apply before crossing the border.”  

“Thank you to the over fifty community members who attended Tuesday’s event, and the countless more who have written me and called my office, it is important to hear from our community members about the issues impacting them including affordability, protecting our community from ICE and safeguarding our democracy.”

Rep. Thompson’s Immigration Actions:

Rep. Thompson continues to fight to keep our immigration community safe against an administration that demonizes hardworking people who are our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. He worked to get Secretary Noem fired, culminating in her resignation in March 2026. Rep. Thompson has vowed to rein in ICE by refusing to fund DHS, demanding the addition of body cameras, removal of masks, and requiring ICE to acquire judicial warrants. Rep. Thompson strives to achieve comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for DACA recipients.