MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-1), Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, today introduced a package of bills to strengthen federal regulation of the transport of lithium-ion batteries and equip firefighters with the tools needed to safely mitigate thermal runaway. This is one of Ranking Member Titus’s priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization in the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

In 2024, a fire involving six lithium-ion batteries on Interstate 15 shut down the highway between Barstow and Las Vegas for two days. The Thermal Runaway Reduction Act would update federal regulations for the transportation of lithium-ion batteries and set up a pilot program at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to test strategies for fighting thermal runaway. Congresswoman Titus also introduced a new bill, the Firefighter Lithium Awareness and Readiness Enhancement (FLARE) Act, to unlock federal funding for Fire Departments to purchase the equipment they need to effectively fight thermal runaway.

“The disaster on Interstate 15 was a wake-up call that we need to do more to protect the public from dangerous fires related to the transport of lithium-ion batteries,” Congresswoman Titus said. “An accident such as the one on Interstate 15 can result in ‘thermal runaway,’ when a battery enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state, which makes fires extremely difficult to extinguish.

“As more lithium-ion batteries are transported through our state and across the nation, we need to take additional precautions and ensure that our firefighters have the tools they need to fight thermal runaway,” Congresswoman Titus said. “An accident involving these batteries in highly populated urban areas could have tragic consequences.”

“Lithium batteries have presented new challenges for fire personnel due to the difficulties surrounding fire suppression,” said Clark County Fire Chief Billy Samuels. “In working with Congresswoman Titus, important legislation has been introduced that will put some additional practices in place to ensure these types of batteries are transported safely, as well as that grant dollars are available to fire departments to effectively train to suppress lithium battery fires. We would encourage Congress to pass these bills to protect the safety of the public and we appreciate the Congresswoman’s diligence in addressing this important issue.”

The Thermal Runaway Reduction Act focuses on ways to reduce the potential for thermal runaway during the transportation of lithium-ion batteries by doing the following:

• Requiring impact testing for lithium-ion batteries that account for forces experienced in transportation accidents; and

• Requiring the PHMSA to issue regulations that set a maximum state of charge of 30% for lithium-ion batteries set for ground transportation, similar to what is required for air transportation.

• Creates a new competitive grant program at PHMSA to test methods for combatting thermal runaway.

The Firefighter Lithium Awareness and Readiness Enhancement (FLARE) Act would make projects to combat thermal runaway eligible for FEMA’s Fire Prevention and Safety Grants.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Dingell Secures Federal Grant for Ypsilanti-based Manufacturer following Administration’s Attempts to Revoke Critical Funding

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI-08) urged the Trump Administration to protect health care access for Medicaid recipients as it begins to implement onerous work requirements included in last year’s GOP tax law, dubbed by some as the “Big Ugly Bill”, which made drastic cuts to federal health care funding in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert. F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz. the lawmakers expressed their concerns that the short timeline for implementation as well as the lack of clarity in the law will likely lead to coverage losses of about 5 million people and decreases in Medicaid enrollment. 

“Evidence from the few states that have attempted to implement work requirements demonstrate the policy’s lack of success, including in our home state of Michigan. In 2018, the Governor signed a law implementing work requirements in the state’s Medicaid expansion program. The policy was short-lived, as it was discontinued in 2020 by a federal court ruling. 80,000 individuals were at risk of losing their health care coverage within the first month of implementation, and 100,000 were expected to lose coverage in the first year of implementation,” the lawmakers said. 

“49 percent of beneficiaries were already working, and 10 percent were students or homemakers, suggesting that many of those at risk of losing coverage were already meeting the new requirements, but faced coverage loss as a result of the red tape associated with the policy,” the lawmakers continued.

The congresswomen also called out the false narrative that Americans receiving health care through Medicaid are refusing to work. The claims are often parroted by advocates for burdensome work requirements, and they fail to account for barriers to employment and the fact that receiving health care assistance does not help individuals avoid needing a job to pay for other necessities like rent and childcare. 

“Imposing work requirements on beneficiaries without offering any additional support also fails to acknowledge structural barriers to employment that may have kept them from seeking employment in the first place, such as childcare and transportation. It is a misrepresentation of reality to say that Americans are “refusing to work”. Work requirements will force vulnerable populations into employment despite not addressing the full range of barriers these communities face to employment, potentially putting them in impossible positions,” the lawmakers said.

Additional lawmakers signing onto the letter include U.S. Representatives Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Stephen  Lynch (D-MA-08), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07). 

A copy of the letter can be found HEREand text is below:

 We write to express serious concern with the implementation of the Medicaid Work Requirements enacted in H.R.1, the Republican budget bill. In particular, the short timeline for implementation as well as the lack of clarity in the law will likely lead to coverage losses of about 5 million people and decreases in enrollment, as we have seen in other states where work requirements have been implemented, such as Georgia and Arkansas. The budget law directs states to implement a nationwide 80 hour-per-month work requirement mandate for “able bodied, working age” adults across all state Medicaid programs by December 31, 2026. As we will illustrate throughout this letter, work requirements are associated with a significant degree of negative outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries. We strongly encourage you to take these outcomes into consideration prior to implementation, and to provide guidance for states to avoid these outcomes to the extent possible.

 Evidence from the few states that have attempted to implement work requirements demonstrate the policy’s lack of success, including in our home state of Michigan. In 2018, the Governor signed a law implementing work requirements in the state’s Medicaid expansion program. The policy was short-lived, as it was discontinued in 2020 by a federal court ruling. 80,000 individuals were at risk of losing their health care coverage within the first month of implementation, and 100,000 were expected to lose coverage in the first year of implementation. 49 percent of beneficiaries were already working, and 10 percent were students or homemakers, suggesting that many of those at risk of losing coverage were already meeting the new requirements, but faced coverage loss as a result of the red tape associated with the policy.

 The work requirement provision in the Republican budget law models its policy on Georgia’s program, Pathways to Coverage, which was launched in July of 2023. In Georgia, Pathways to Coverage is a statewide program that expanded Medicaid eligibility to adults aged 19-64 years with low incomes and simultaneously introduced work requirements for newly eligible enrollees–making them the first state to tie expansion to work requirements. They experienced no gains in Medicaid coverage or in employment rates compared with their counterparts in neighboring non-expansion states during the 15 months after Pathways to Coverage. According to data from the state, only 7,500 people in Georgia, as of May, were able to receive Medicaid out of an estimated 345,000 eligible people. When compared with a control state that expanded Medicaid without work requirements, Georgia’s program reduced coverage without increasing employment, suggesting that the red tape associated with work requirements impeded Medicaid enrollment in the state.

 In Arkansas, work requirements decreased Medicaid and Marketplace coverage by 13.2 percentage points among adults aged 30-49 years within six months, while there was no change in employment or engagement in community activities. According to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, more than 18,000 adults in Arkansas lost coverage because of Medicaid work requirements, out of an estimated 100,000 people who were subject to them.

Imposing work requirements on beneficiaries without offering any additional support also fails to acknowledge structural barriers to employment that may have kept them from seeking employment in the first place, such as childcare and transportation. It is a misrepresentation of reality to say that Americans are “refusing to work”. Work requirements will force vulnerable populations into employment despite not addressing the full range of barriers these communities face to employment, potentially putting them in impossible positions.

 The findings in the study, paired with the extremely short turnover for implementation, raise serious concerns about the implementation of work requirements on the national scale. The findings demonstrate that Georgia did not have the intended results over two years, and that is with a longer implementation plan and less frequent compliance verifications than is permitted under the Republican budget law. The Government Accountability Office reported that Georgia’s work requirements program had spent $54.2 million on administrative costs, more than double what it spent on health care.

 According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), the work requirement provisions “raise many operational and implementation questions” on issues such as compliance verification, data matching, exemptions for “medically frail” and “special medical needs,” short-term hardship exemptions, informing individuals of requirements, and noncompliance notices. With HHS not expected to release its implementation guidance until June 2026, states are pressed for time to implement policies that will ultimately require complex systems changes and substantial coordination across sectors in the health care system. Additionally, we urge you to carefully consider the harmful consequences of the new six-month renewal cycle. The shortened timeline is likely to create substantial operational challenges for states and impose significant administrative burdens on beneficiaries, particularly given the very narrow scope of available exemptions, resulting in many eligible individuals losing coverage not because of noncompliance, but because of procedural barriers, paperwork challenges, and other administrative hurdles associated with more frequent renewals.

 As you prepare to implement this provision of the budget law, we urge you to take steps to ensure that this will exact the least harm possible on the Americans who rely on Medicaid that are subject to these requirements. We would like to request your responses to the questions below within one month of receipt of this letter.

• How will you reduce administrative burden related to reporting work requirements, and ensure that any reporting processes are accessible and easy to navigate for all communities?
• What steps will you take to reduce unnecessary coverage loss of beneficiaries because of new requirements?
  • How will you ensure beneficiaries receive timely, effective communication and sufficient resources regarding the new six-month renewal cycle to prevent avoidable coverage losses?
• Who do you plan to consult with in crafting guidance on which communities/individuals are considered “medically frail” or having “special medical needs”?
  • What steps will you take to ensure that these individuals are in fact exempt from the work requirements and are sufficiently protected against coverage losses?
  • How will you reduce administrative burden for these communities to prove their status that qualifies for exemption?

  • Are you working with or will you work with disabled individuals and their families/caregivers, providers, disability advocacy groups and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that this community is protected?

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your response and hope you will work closely with us to avoid coverage losses as a result of this implementation.

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

CHICAGO — Congressmen Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), member of the Judiciary Committee, and Lou Correa (CA-46), member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, led 86 Members in a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and USCIS Director Joseph Edlow urging DHS to reduce delays in processing DACA renewal requests.

In the letter, the Members note that DACA “has allowed hundreds of thousands of Dreamers to live and work in the only country they have ever known,” and express grave concern about the “sharp increase in processing times for our constituents’ DACA and EAD renewal requests,” even for those who complied fully with renewal guidance by submitting their applications well in advance of their expiration dates.

The Members emphasize that because of USCIS’s processing delays, DACA recipients “are losing their jobs even though their employers want to keep them on, struggling to make ends meet, and facing detention and removal.” These delays are “particularly harmful given that many DACA recipients are employed in critical sectors, including nursing, education, construction, and other essential industries, where interruptions in employment can have significant consequences not only for the individuals and their families, but also for the communities and local economies that rely on their contributions.”

The Members urge DHS and USCIS leaders to “address this urgent situation by expediting processing for DACA recipients,” and ask a series of oversight questions to understand the reason for the delays.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

Members signing this letter include: Alma Adams (NC-12), Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-00), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Ami Bera (CA-06), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Danny Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), John Larson (CT-01), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Sarah McBride (DE-00), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James McGovern (MA-02), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Grace Meng (NY-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Frank Mrvan (IN-01), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott Peters (CA-50), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Derek Tran (CA-45), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Marc Veasey (TX-33), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

Organizations endorsing the letter include: United We Dream, National Immigrant Justice Center, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, The Resurrection Project, Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project, Metropolitan Family Services Legal Aid Society, Southwest Organizing Project, and Brighton Park Neighborhood Council.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

Janesville, WI – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), announced that the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Dominance Financing will award SHINE Chrysalis, LLC in Janesville, WI a $263 million loan to support the construction of a new medical manufacturing facility in Janesville. The facility will use fusion and fission technology to provide a secure domestic supply of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), a medical isotope used in life-saving diagnostic imaging. Once completed, this will be the largest such facility in the world. 

In May and September of 2025, Steil wrote to DOE Secretary Chris Wright regarding SHINE’s innovative work on Mo-99 and the importance of the Chrysalis project.  He emphasized the need for strong public-private partnerships in building domestic manufacturing.

Following the announcement, Steil released the following statement:

“American supply chains ensure healthcare workers and patients have access to the lifesaving tools they need to identify and fight diseases like cancer and heart disease. This critical work to save lives will now be done right here in Janesville,” said Steil. “Thank you, Secretary Wright and the Department of Energy for investing in Wisconsin and congratulations to SHINE on receiving this loan.”

Learn more about DOE’s work on Mo-99 supply chains here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO)—a combat veteran and member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee—spoke at Harvard University’s JFK Jr. Forum about his vision for Building a New American Patriotism. In conversation with Heather Cox Richardson, Congressman Crow discussed what our country can do to come together, protect our democracy, and ensure leaders are accountable to working-class Americans.

“Our President is laboring under the impression that fear is contagious. He wants people to be gripped by that and to bow down. What I know to be true, and I think what we are seeing happening, is that courage is a lot more contagious than fear. It is spreading like wildfire across this country. There is something big happening. Americans are stepping up, they are protecting their friends, protecting their neighbors, mobilizing, organizing, bearing witness, conducting citizen oversight, and doing amazing things. That’s our country. That is New American Patriotism,” said Congressman Crow.

You can watch the full conversation here.

Introductory Remarks from Congressman Crow:

“It’s really an honor to be here. Thank you to Ned Price who I’ve known for many years. Katie O’Dair, Aaron Goldman, Director of the JFK Forum, really grateful for the invitation. 

“Before Heather and I have our discussion, I wanted to take a moment to share two stories with you that really capture the moment, for me, that I think our country is in. Two stories that I was intimately involved in in my life.

“The first was when I was younger and leading a platoon of paratroopers in the invasion of Iraq. I was in my early twenties. I was thrust into this situation of leading a platoon of paratroopers, 50 of them, that came from every part of this country. They were White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, straight, gay, rich, poor, truck drivers from Ohio, surfers from California, ranchers from Texas. They were a group of paratroopers who had never known each other, came from every facet of this country, and we were thrust together to fight, and putting aside the politics of the war, which we can talk about, that was our mission to come together as a team. 

“We had a choice to make: would we focus on those differences, those divisions, or would we come together and become the brothers that we needed to become? We did of course come together. That’s not to say we didn’t have our differences and our fights, but we did find common ground, we served together, we had each other’s backs, and we all came home together. Still to this day, when I think about America, when I think about what we can be, that unfulfilled promise and the challenges we face, I still think about the faces of those paratroopers. 

“Now, fast forward about two decades later, I’m a Member of Congress, and I’m sitting in the House Gallery on January 6, 2021, trapped, surrounded by an insurrectionist mob that was brutally beating the Capitol Police. We had erected barricades to protect ourselves, and we were holding back that mob. And I was thinking to myself, how did we get here? How did I get here 20 years later? Where many of the same veterans that I served with, that I fought with, who had raised their right hand, just like me, that came from rural towns just like I did, be on opposite sides of the same door now one of them trying to harm and kill the other. What happened? 

“And I’ve thought about that question, and I’ve thought about two fundamental stories of America. Both important, oftentimes in conflict with each other. One is the story of individual liberty, the cowboy myth, good and bad, but this strand of individual liberty that has taken various forms in our story. And another one, very important, the idea of community, in coming together. And we can both think of many stories that represent both of those and how they are often intentioned. 

“I believe this moment that we are in, is in part, not wholly, but in part, a function of the radical imbalance now between those stories, and how people have chosen sides in that narrative. 

“So how do we rebalance? How do we reconcile two really important aspects of American society? I believe that it starts, first and foremost, with a call to service.

“Which is why I’m here at the Kennedy School. 

“A President who started his career, and is known above all else, for calling people to service. When Americans work together, when they sweat together, fight together, when they strive together, we have been capable of overcoming our differences and finding common ground and doing great things.

“So part of this New American Patriotism that we must find again in this country, is a national call to service for people to start locally, helping their neighbors, helping their friends, and finding the common humanity. 

“The second part of this, and this is essential, is a new style of leadership. The old style of leadership is largely dead. This idea that leaders are the smartest people in the room, that they have all of the answers, that they are above everybody else, are untouchable, is gone. What we need now is a style of leadership, a servant leadership, that is grounded in service, that is grounded in humility, and instead of having all the answers, first and foremost, is a convener. That is capable of bringing people together from all different backgrounds, and establishing the conditions for conversation for consensus building, and for the community to come together to solve problems. As a group, that’s a very different style.

“So I think with those two things, we can actually spark the notion of the New American Patriotism that will reinvigorate our democracy. We are against the ropes as a country right now. There is no doubt. But there is a path through this that actually will lead to a stronger democracy, a period of democratic enlightenment that can put us in a better place, that actually can fulfill the promise of this country in a way that we have not up until now.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), co-chairs of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, released the following statement after President Trump submitted the annual Presidential Budget Request to Congress, which called for a $1.5 trillion budget to the Pentagon, a 42% increase from last year, while cutting domestic spending by more than 10%:

“Donald Trump’s draconian proposal to boost the Pentagon’s budget beyond the already unthinkable $1 trillion mark, to an even more outrageous $1.5 trillion, could be the most egregious waste of taxpayer dollars we have ever seen. This would be a larger military budget than the next 34 countries combined. At a time when families are paying more to put food on the table, gas in the car, and get the healthcare they deserve, this budget proposal is a giveaway to defense contractors at the expense of the American people.

“Additionally, we cannot justify continuing to increase the Pentagon’s budget when the agency cannot even successfully pass a fiscal audit. The lack of accountability and transparency at the Pentagon is simply unacceptable. No other federal agency is allowed to operate this way. It’s past time to rein in wasteful spending on ineffective weapons programs, stop rewarding wealthy and powerful defense contractors, and restore fiscal discipline to the Pentagon. We will continue to push for the Pentagon to pass an audit before it wastes another dollar of taxpayer money.” 

Some of the proposed cuts to non-defense spending to pay for this outrageous increase include: 

• Cut the EPA budget by half

• Cut $10.7 billion for housing

• Cut $8.5 billion for K-12 programs

• Cancel $15 billion for clean energy

• Cut $2.5 billion for clean drinking water

• Eliminate $1.6 billion for youth job training

• Cut $3.5 billion from the Labor Department

• Eliminate $395 million for senior employment

• Eliminate $775 million in food assistance grants

• Eliminate the National Endowment for Democracy

• Cut $5 billion from the National Institutes of Health

• Eliminate the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

• And add trillions of dollars to the national debt over the next decade.

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

NEW ORLEANS, La.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox News’ Fox and Friends to discuss his New Orleans roots, President Trump’s leadership in preventing a nuclear Iran, and Louisiana’s role in unleashing American energy.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview. 
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview:On the success of Operation Epic Fury:“Well, everybody for decades has wanted to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. I mean, they’re proving to the world right now why you don’t want that regime to have a nuclear weapon. Obviously, a lot of the top leaders don’t exist anymore. But the ones that are still around, especially with the IRGC, you know, they’re trying to still wreak havoc on not only the Middle East, all their neighbors. They’re still shooting missiles at their neighbors, tying up the Strait of Hormuz, proving, though, every day why we need to resolve this conflict.“President Trump’s the only president who’s done what, frankly, probably the last five presidents before him have heavily contemplated. How do you stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon? President Trump did it, and the whole world’s a safer place, but America is— look, they chant death to America, Steve. And when they slaughtered over 30,000 of their own people, do you not think they’re going to put some kind of enriched uranium on a warhead? And they’ve got the missile capabilities. They don’t have them anymore because the President, through our great men and women in uniform, have been decimating their launching capabilities, their missile production capabilities, drones. The naval fleet is eviscerated. So there have been a lot of things that are going to reap benefits for the United States, but for the whole world for a long time to come.”On Louisiana’s role in unleashing American energy:“Every year, I take members of Congress out to an oil platform. Been doing this for over 15 years. So we bring a lot of members from all around the country to show them just how you produce in the deep waters of the Gulf of America. And you think about it, we’re going to go to an Occidental platform today. They have eight of them out there. Each one of these is about a $3 billion privately funded asset. Today we’re going to be at a platform that produces 12,000 barrels a day. America is able to produce all of our own energy, Steve, because President Trump said we’re going to have smart American energy policy. So oil, natural gas produced at that facility going into the pipelines that feed America and also our allies around the world so that the Strait of Hormuz, you know, other bad countries like Iran are not a factor in how we get our energy here in America.”On Scalise’s New Orleans roots:“So my family came here, I was born here in the city of New Orleans… you know, everybody loves New Orleans. The culture is unbelievable. The people, the food, my gosh, no better food, music. Got to meet Fats Domino when I was a kid. I mean, you talk about some great history in this place. Of course, Louisiana Purchase in 1803 was signed right over there at the Cabildo, doubled the size of the country. Also, we could get access to the Port of New Orleans for commerce for the nation.“…Right near the Superdome, my grandparents had a little grocery store. A lot of Italians, when they came here, they started little grocery stores, and, you know, they were not far from where the dome is today.“…St. Louis Cathedral, this is where 21 years ago, Jennifer and I, my wife, got married here at the cathedral. A lot of great history with this building. In 1987, Pope John Paul II gave Mass here at the St. Louis Cathedral. Going through a major renovation right now, but a beautiful historic church… a lot of history here tied to this great nation that we’re proud of.”

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

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Haley Stevens, alongside Rep. Frank Mrvan (IN-01), introduced the Revitalization Efforts for Sustainable Transformation and Remediation for Thriving (RESTART) Communities Act of 2026, legislation focused on revitalizing industrial communities across America.

Many communities home to current or former industrial sites often face long-term economic challenges due to the lasting presence of environmental contaminants. These areas often struggle to attract investment, create jobs, and fully recover without federal support.

The RESTART Communities Act directs the Department of Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency to collaborate to support the redevelopment of contaminated sites across the country. The bill federalizes the “RACER Trust” model that has revitalized sites around Michigan, and simplifies federal coordination to empower local communities to create new economic opportunities and protect public health and the environment.

“No one wants to revitalize America’s industrial communities more than the people who call them home, but they often lack the resources and expertise needed to create new opportunities,” said Rep. Haley Stevens. “By transforming shuttered manufacturing sites into hubs of new economic activity, the RESTART Communities Act will lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen local economies across our state.”

Congressman Mrvan stated, “In Northwest Indiana and in manufacturing regions across the country, we must ensure communities have the full and efficient support of the federal government for remediation programs.  I am proud to join Rep. Stevens in supporting this necessary initiative to promote streamlined processes and success for revitalizing local economies.”

“Too many communities in Michigan and across the country are dealing with legacy pollution from contaminated sites left behind by industry, and we need more tools for remediation and cleanup. We appreciate Congresswoman Stevens’ leadership with the introduction of the RESTART Communities Act, which will make sure that as many resources as possible can go toward remediation and revitalization of contaminated vacant sites,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “Local communities need all levels of government to be working together to better protect health, and the collaboration created by the RESTART Communities Act will help prevent the public’s exposure to pollution, attract reinvestment for new businesses, and ensure that taxpayer resources are used effectively in the cleanup Process.”

“In creating a framework to accelerate the cleanup and redevelopment of impacted properties through interagency collaboration and sharing of resources, the RESTART Communities Act offers important tools to return these properties to productive use. Many of the successes RACER Trust has achieved to date resulted from a high degree of interagency coordination and close collaboration between RACER and the public sector at all levels,” said Elliott P. Laws, Administrative Trustee, RACER Trust. “Representative Stevens was a key figure in the creation of RACER Trust in 2011 and has been a steadfast supporter of our mission ever since. The application of our mandate has resulted in tens of thousands of new jobs and significant reductions in risks to human health and the environment in communities across the Midwest and Eastern United States. We urge Congress to pass the RESTART Communities Act.”

The RESTART Communities Act would:

• Strengthen coordination between the Department of Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency to support the cleanup and redevelopment of old industrial sites.

• Expand access to federal funding and technical assistance for local communities.

• Develop and share best practices for site cleanup and redevelopment.

• Invest in workforce training and job creation tied to site cleanup and redevelopment.

• Improve data sharing and transparency to track progress and outcomes.

By pairing environmental cleanup with economic development, the legislation will help transform contaminated sites into productive assets, creating jobs and new opportunities, ultimately RESTARTing our communities and giving them a new chance at prosperity.

The legislation is endorsed by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, RACER Trust, Oakland County, the Detroit Regional Chamber, and Mayor of Pontiac Mike McGuinness.

The bill is also endorsed by United Wholesale Mortgage, a Pontiac-based business that operates on a successfully redeveloped RACER Trust site.

 

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

PASADENA, CA — On Saturday, April 4, 2026, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) hosted the annual Congressional Women of the Year Awards Ceremony to honor local women in the San Gabriel Valley who have contributed to their neighborhoods and communities through service, organizing, or leadership. The award, now in its 16^th year, is given to women nominated by people in their own cities and communities.

“The annual Women of the Year Awards Ceremony is among the highlights of my year,” said Rep. Chu. “The honorees have stood out in our communities because of their commitment to giving back to the San Gabriel Valley. Every single honoree has been selected through an exhaustive process that begins with a nomination from their neighbors, friends, or family—the people in their communities who know them best and see their service up close. We received a flood of nominations from cities across the 28^th congressional district of California, and the winners stood out not only because of their passion and drive, but because of the admiration from their neighbors and fellow citizens. I’m so proud of these role models and am honored to be recognizing them.” 

The 2026 honorees are: 

Altadena – Joy Chen

• Joy Chen serves as Executive Director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network (EFSN), the nation’s largest survivor-led recovery hub, which connects more than 10,000 survivors and allies impacted by the Eaton, Palisades, and Malibu fires. Under her leadership, EFSN advances a coordinated, community-driven approach to recovery, working to remove systemic barriers and expand equitable access to critical resources for all survivors. A former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, Joy led economic and workforce development initiatives in one of the most diverse cities in the world, with a focus on increasing access to opportunity for communities historically underrepresented in capital and decision-making. Following her public service, she worked at Heidrick & Struggles, where she recruited Fortune 500 CEOs and board directors on a global scale. An influential thought leader and author, Joy’s writing on leadership and personal agency has reached millions internationally and led to two bestselling books focused on empowering women in their careers and lives. Today, she is a prominent national voice on disaster recovery, insurance accountability, and community-led rebuilding, advocating for more resilient and inclusive recovery systems. 

Altadena – Gayle Nicholls-Ali

• Gayle Nicholls-Ali is a dedicated arts educator, photographer, and advocate for Career Technical Education (CTE) and Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA). For more than two decades, she has inspired students through photography, graphic arts, and computer science at La Cañada High School and the Armory Center for the Arts, while also serving over ten years as an adjunct professor at Pacific Oaks College. Since 2014, she has advised the Girls Who Code STEAM Innovation Camp, empowering young women in technology and leadership. Gayle has played a key role in shaping California’s Arts, Entertainment, and Design standards, reflecting her commitment to equitable arts education. She has received numerous honors, including the Crystal Apple Award, Teacher of the Year, and national and state leadership awards in arts education. A Teacher Leader with the Connected Arts Network, she supports educators nationwide and serves in leadership roles across multiple arts organizations. Following the Eaton Fire, she founded Altadena Photographers and now leads community-based storytelling initiatives, fostering healing, connection, and creative expression. 

Arcadia – Diana Sanchez

• Diana Sanchez is a strategic leader and dedicated volunteer who has proudly called Arcadia home for 14 years. She believes a strong community is built through active involvement, a commitment recognized with the March 2025 Downtown Arcadia Local Hero Award. Inspired by her early enjoyment of local events, Diana now serves as Secretary of the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association Board and Lead Volunteer for its signature events, helping bring beloved traditions like the Holiday Fair and Halloween Haunting to life. Her dedication extends to local schools, where she has been an active PTA member for over a decade. As a mother of three, she currently serves as both the Executive Vice President of Membership for the Holly Avenue PTA and the Food Drive Chair for the Arcadia Council PTA. Professionally, Diana is an accomplished leader in Customer Success and Operations and was named a 2025 Top 100 CS Strategist. She currently holds a leadership role at Quorum Software and previously spent 17 years at Solver, Inc. Diana is also passionate about mentoring others, guiding individuals seeking career growth and new opportunities. 

La Cañada Flintridge – Suzanne Goldberg

• Suzanne Goldberg was born and raised in South Vietnam and immigrated to the United States in 1969 at age 21 in pursuit of higher education and the ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy. She graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, built a career, and raised three children while working full time. After retiring in 2015, Suzanne became an active and passionate civic leader. She joined the Cañada Crescenta Democratic Club in 2016 and now serves as Vice President, while also contributing to the leadership team of San Gabriel Foothills Indivisible. She has played key roles in voter outreach, including efforts supporting California’s 2021 gubernatorial recall election and other statewide initiatives, while helping expand civic participation in her community. A dedicated advocate for immigrant rights, Suzanne has supported refugee resettlement efforts, including sponsoring Afghan families through Operation Allies Welcome. She also leads voter engagement initiatives, including national postcard campaigns. In 2024, she was honored as Democrat of the Year for her Assembly District. Suzanne remains deeply committed to community service, civic engagement, and inspiring future generations. 

Monterey Park – Cindy Kuo

• Cindy Kuo, who will celebrate her 85th birthday this year, has led a life guided by compassion, generosity, and quiet leadership. She is the founder of the MP Prajna Buddhist Mission, through which she has dedicated decades to humanitarian service inspired by principles of wisdom and loving-kindness. Cindy’s work has focused on uplifting children and families in Southeast Asia, raising funds to build schools, provide food, and expand access to education in underserved communities. She frequently traveled to rural areas to personally deliver supplies and support those in need. Her commitment to alleviating hunger extends locally as well, as demonstrated by her significant contributions to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Born in Taiwan, Cindy immigrated to the United States in 1980 and later settled in Monterey Park, where she remains actively engaged in community service. For her lifelong dedication, she received the Hope Charity Myanmar Foundation Lifetime Award. Married to Dr. Edward C. Wong, she is a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who continues to inspire through her kindness, humility, and service. 

Pasadena – Vannia De La Cuba

• Vannia De La Cuba is a public servant with more than 30 years of experience in civic engagement, public policy, and community building in Pasadena and the surrounding region. She currently serves as Deputy to Pasadena Mayor Victor M. Gordo, where she supports citywide and regional initiatives that connect residents, community organizations, and government partners to local and regional resources. Known for her ability to build trust and advance collaborative solutions, she has helped shape policies that support families, strengthen neighborhoods, expand early childhood development and youth education opportunities, and promote affordable housing. Her recent leadership has also included coordinating community response efforts such as the Eaton Fire Collaborative and supporting immigrant families during times of uncertainty. Vannia previously served 17 years as a Field Representative in Pasadena’s 5th District and began her career working in immigrant rights, violence prevention, and family services organizations. She is a graduate of Pasadena Unified School District schools and the University of Southern California and serves on multiple local boards and committees focused on education, health, and community well-being. In 2023, she was recognized as a Woman of Distinction for her leadership and service. Above all, Vannia is a proud mother of three sons—Daniel, Gabo, and Andres—and finds joy in spending time with her family, including her rescued pittie, Moya. 

Pasadena – Christy Zamani 

• Christy Zamani is the Executive Director of Day One and a community leader with more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience across nonprofit and public-sector organizations. Since 2007, she has led Day One with a focus on public health, youth leadership, and equitable systems change, overseeing significant organizational growth, including tripling the budget and expanding services across multiple locations. Under her leadership, the organization has created lasting pathways for youth advancement, with many former participants now serving in staff roles, including director and senior leadership positions. A graduate and former Student Body President of California State University, Long Beach, Christy brings both strategic vision and hands-on expertise in public policy, community health, and youth development. In addition to her long-standing prevention and public health work, Christy has played a key role in supporting fire recovery efforts following the Eaton Fire, helping coordinate community response and long-term recovery initiatives focused on equitable access to housing, resources, and sustained support for displaced and vulnerable residents. Christy is deeply committed to empowering underserved communities, amplifying youth voices, and advancing public health. Her work centers on strengthening systems and policies that promote health, resilience, and opportunity, particularly for those most impacted by systemic inequities and crisis events. 

San Marino – Hon. Gretchen Shepherd Romey

• Gretchen Shepherd Romey recently concluded her second term as Mayor of the City of San Marino and has served on the San Marino City Council since 2017. Her priorities include maintaining the highest level of public safety, preserving San Marino’s historic neighborhoods and mature tree canopy, and strengthening good governance through transparency and accountability. Born in Michigan and raised in Los Angeles, Gretchen is the daughter of a public school teacher and a proud graduate of LAUSD schools. She earned her B.A. with Honors in Russian Studies from the University of Michigan in just three years, then went on to UC Berkeley School of Law, where she co-founded the East Bay Community Law Center and later served as President of the Moot Court Board. After a federal clerkship in San Diego, she practiced law in Los Angeles, representing clients in litigation and entertainment law. Gretchen has served on numerous nonprofit and civic boards, including CASA of Los Angeles and the Huntington Library. She currently serves as a Director of the Metropolitan Water District, where she focuses on water reliability, infrastructure, and long-term regional resilience. She is married to Michael Romey and is the proud mother of two children, Morgan and Turner.

South Pasadena – Hon. Janet Braun

• Janet Braun is a South Pasadena City Councilmember, elected in 2022 and serving as Mayor in 2025, after previously serving on the Planning and Public Safety Commissions, both as Chair. She has also been active in civic leadership and women’s organizations, including Women Involved in South Pasadena Political Advocacy and Women in Leadership Vital Voices, and supported voter protection and turnout efforts during the 2016 presidential election. With more than 30 years of experience in corporate law and business operations, Janet began her legal career at O’Melveny & Myers before holding senior roles at Santa Fe International, NeXstar Pharmaceuticals, and HBT Labs, where she served as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel and helped lead the company’s successful sale. A graduate of Ohio State University with degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering and Law, she has received recognition for leadership and innovation and serves on multiple university advisory boards. Deeply committed to youth development, Janet has been a longtime leader in AYSO soccer and Scouting America and has served on the boards of Huntington Hospital and several local institutions. She is a proud mother of three children—two Eagle Scouts and a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient. 

Temple City – Samantha Yu Chang

• Samantha Yu is a distinguished property and casualty insurance leader with more than 25 years of experience specializing in construction, high-tech manufacturing facilities, and complex commercial risk management. As President and CEO of Hoya Insurance Agency, based in the San Gabriel Valley, she leads a respected firm serving domestic and international clients. The agency is certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council. In recognition of her leadership and community impact, Ms. Yu was named Citizen of the Year in 2024 by the Chinese American Elected Officials Association. Beyond insurance, she is a seasoned media professional with over 30 years of experience, having hosted a long-running AM 1300 radio program helping immigrants navigate American society, as well as a daily television news program on Sino TV. Her public service includes appointment by former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon to the California Podiatric Medical Board. She also serves on several boards, including the California Asian Insurance and Financial Professionals Association and the Taiwan Center, and previously led the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women Southern California Chapter. An MBA graduate of Kansas Wesleyan University, she built her company from the ground up and remains a dedicated advocate for opportunity, community empowerment, and service. She is also a proud wife and mother of two daughters.