MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce overwhelmingly passed Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s (D-CA-07) Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act and Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act. Together, the bills advance a simple promise that families deserve stronger health and safety protections in their daily lives, from reducing exposure to harmful chemicals in the cars they drive to improving access to lifesaving treatments when illness strikes. 

“Sacramento families deserve to know that the cars they drive, the products they use and the healthcare systems they rely on are built around their safety and well-being,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “These bipartisan bills are about meeting people where they are, whether that means protecting families from unnecessary toxic chemical exposure in their vehicles or helping patients find a lifesaving stem cell match when they need it most. I’m proud to work with the Committee to pass these bills and bring us one step closer to ensuring better, safer standards, stronger patient access, and real peace of mind for families in Sacramento and across the country.”

Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act

Families should be able to trust that the cars they drive are safe without being exposed to unnecessary toxic chemicals in the process. The Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct a study that identifies potential safety risks from hazardous chemicals used as flame retardants in the interior of motor vehicles. The study will help update federal motor vehicle safety standards to protect Americans from vehicle fires while also preventing exposure to dangerous chemicals.

Congresswoman Matsui previously led the Safer Occupancy Furniture Flammability Act (SOFFA) to modernize household furniture fire safety standards and remove harmful flame retardants that offered little proven safety benefit.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act 

For patients facing blood cancers, sickle cell disease and other life-threatening conditions, finding a stem cell match can mean the difference between life and death. The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the national bone marrow and cord blood programs that help connect patients with lifesaving donors, support transplant research and expand access to treatment. The legislation authorizes the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program for five years at $33 million annually and the National Cord Blood Inventory at $23 million annually for five years.

First passed in 2005, the original legislation established a nationwide integrated bone marrow and cord blood stem cell transplantation program. Stem cells derived from cord blood and bone marrow have been successfully used to treat tens of thousands of patients. 

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

Legislation would honor the Chicago business leader and philanthropist whose partnership with Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee Institute, and Black communities helped educate generations of African American children across the South

WASHINGTON, DC — This month, Representatives James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), and Steve Cohen (D-TN) led the House introduction of the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park Act, legislation to establish a multi-site National Historical Park honoring Julius Rosenwald, the Rosenwald Schools, and one of the most consequential educational and philanthropic partnerships in American history. The bill’s introduction aligns with the anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which the Rosenwald Fund helped fund in its early stages, and with May being Jewish American Heritage Month.

Julius Rosenwald, the son of German-Jewish immigrants, helped build Sears, Roebuck and Company into a retail powerhouse from its base in Chicago. He then used his fortune to expand opportunities for others. During the Jim Crow era, Rosenwald partnered with Booker T. Washington, the Tuskegee Institute, and thousands of Black communities across the South to help build Rosenwald Schools, which educated more than 600,000 African American children and helped narrow the education gap in the South.

The Rosenwald Fund supported institutions and initiatives that shaped American life, including early NAACP legal efforts that helped lead to Brown v. Board of Education, fellowships for African American artists and scholars such as Jacob Lawrence, Marian Anderson, Zora Neale Hurston, and Langston Hughes, and support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In Chicago, Rosenwald’s civic legacy includes support for major institutions such as the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry.

The Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park Act would:

• Establish the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park to commemorate Rosenwald’s life, philanthropy, and partnership with African American communities.

• Preserve representative Rosenwald Schools, including San Domingo School in Maryland, St. George Rosenwald School in South Carolina, and Woodville Rosenwald School in Virginia.

• Create a National Park Service network to connect remaining Rosenwald Schools and related sites nationwide.

• Interpret Rosenwald’s legacy at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site in Alabama.

“It is fitting and proper to honor Julius Rosenwald for his enduring legacy of opportunity, education, and community.  I am proud to support a historic national park that bears the name of this man who has impacted so many lives,” said Congressman James E. Clyburn. “Julius Rosenwald helped establish and develop thousands of schools for Black children across the segregated South in the early 20th century. Documenting and preserving African American’s rich history and enduring struggle for freedom and liberty are essential in our pursuit of a more perfect Union. Rosenwald’s legacy and contributions will tell the story of struggle and perseverance for years to come.”

“Julius Rosenwald’s story is a Chicago story, a civil rights story, a Jewish American story, and an American story,” said Congressman Davis. “From the Sears complex in Chicago to the rural schoolhouses built through the sacrifice and determination of Black communities across the South, this legislation will help ensure that future generations understand how education, philanthropy, interracial cooperation, and community action changed the course of our nation. I am proud to lead this bill to preserve and interpret the legacy of Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools.”

“Julius Rosenwald was a visionary philanthropist whose altruism and philosophy of giving embodied the Jewish concept of tzedakah – social justice and charity to those in need,” said Congressman Steve Cohen. “Decades before Brown v Board of Education overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine, he partnered with African American communities across the South to help build schools for children with limited access to good public education. At one time, one-third of all Black students in the rural South received their education in a Rosenwald School. I am proud to co-lead this bill with Congressmen Davis and Clyburn to preserve Rosenwald’s legacy so that others may learn and be inspired by his story.”

“Between 1912 and 1932 Julius Rosenwald partnered first with Booker T Washington and then with African-American communities in 15 southern states to build nearly 5,000 schools for their children who previously had little or no access to education.  The two men had one dream, and the communities through their hope, faith, courage, determination, and resilience made that dream a reality. Over 600,000 students attended the schools and were given the opportunity to lead a better life. And they did! This is a remarkable story of how people of different backgrounds and cultures worked together to make our country a better place. It needs to be told in a new National Historical Park,” said Dorothy Canter, President, Campaign to Create Julius Rosenwald & Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park

The legislation builds on Rep. Davis’s and Rep. Cohen’s enacted Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act, which required the National Park Service to conduct a Special Resource Study of sites associated with Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools.  In the Senate, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) champions companion legislation.  The bill is supported by more than 200 nonprofit organizations, including national parks, civil rights, African American, Jewish, historic preservation, cultural, educational, museum, synagogue, church, and Rosenwald School preservation organizations.

A summary of the legislation, including supporting organizations, is available HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Houston, TX) — On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“Friends, click here to see President Trump’s comments about my election. Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. President, but you will hear from me again. I have more than enough time left in Congress to continue calling out your corruption. Sincerely, your unbought, unbossed, unafraid, unelected, liberated democrat – Al Green, The People’s Congressman.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

Legislation Would Honor the Chicago Business Leader and Philanthropist Whose Partnership with Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee Institute, and Black Communities Helped Educate Generations of African American Children across the South.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Seth Moulton (MA-06) introduced the American High Speed Rail Act, which would invest $200 billion over five years to build a world-class high-speed passenger rail system.

This legislation lays out a comprehensive foundation for America’s rail resurgence and would put the United States on par with nations in Europe and Asia that have long led the world in modern rail travel. It standardizes definitions for high-speed rail (186+ mph) and higher-speed rail (110-186 mph), establishes robust public-private partnership frameworks to maximize federal investment, and targets grants to projects that deliver equity, resilience, sustainability, and economic development for the communities they serve. 

The bill also expands transit-oriented development incentives to grow affordable housing and spur commercial development around new rail hubs. It also streamlines project delivery by eliminating expenditure timelines, modernizing labor protections, and directing the U.S. Department of Transportation to fast-track performance-based safety regulations for advanced technologies already proven in global markets. 

“This legislation marks a transformative step toward creating a more connected, sustainable, and prosperous future for all Americans,” said DelBene. “By investing in a national high-speed rail network, we are not only alleviating strain on our highways and airports and creating safer communities, but we are also strengthening productivity and lowering carbon emissions. An expanded high-speed rail system would have an incredible value in the Pacific Northwest, connecting key population centers from Vancouver to Portland and beyond.”

“America deserves the same world-class high-speed rail system that other countries across the globe have had now for decades,” said Moulton. “This isn’t just about improving convenience, it’s about creating smart, business-driven investment that will create millions of good-paying jobs, connect communities big and small, fight climate change, and ensure America leads the way in the infrastructure of the future.”

The text of the legislation can be found here. 

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

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Dina Titus’s Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act, H.R. 972, was signed into law this week, increasing Southern Nevada’s water security while enhancing environmental conservation. 

“This is a critical step in ensuring our water future,” Congresswoman Titus (NV-01) said. “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of the climate crisis with rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. Our precious water supply must be protected. The Horizon Lateral pipeline strikes an important balance. It will protect and enhance water access for Southern Nevada residents and businesses while preserving more of the unique habitat and cultural history of Sloan Canyon.” 

The Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act will allow a portion of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Horizon Lateral water pipeline project to tunnel beneath the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), increasing water reliability for over a million Southern Nevadans, fortifying the region’s water infrastructure against potential outages, and minimizing disruptions and impacts to the surrounding communities from water infrastructure projects.

The legislation will also expand the 48,438-acre Sloan Canyon NCA by 9,290 acres to enhance the preservation of the desert landscapes and habitat unique to Southern Nevada. The Sloan Canyon NCA contains the Sloan Petroglyph Site, which includes thousands of petroglyphs created by native cultures.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has affirmed its support for the legislation, emphasizing the significance of ensuring water service reliability for the Las Vegas Valley.

“This legislation increases water service reliability for more than one million residents and hundreds of businesses in Southern Nevada, helping ensure the long-term viability of our regional water system while also expanding and protecting environmental resources for our community,” said John Ensminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Background:

The proposed underground route beneath Sloan Canyon NCA is estimated to save Southern Nevadans at least $200 million while minimizing disturbances to both residents and the local environment.

Additionally, this route ensures the water delivery system’s redundancy in emergency situations and offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.

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

WASHINGTON – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, helped pass the Build America 250 Act. This legislation includes several highway and hazardous materials provisions championed by Congresswoman Titus. 

“It feels like just yesterday that we enacted the most significant infrastructure investment in our nation’s history through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus. “I am proud to help pass this bipartisan package to build on that progress that includes my provisions to help prevent thermal runaway accidents, make our busses more resilient in the face of extreme heat, protect our children in school zones, keep children out of emergency rooms from e-bike and e-scooter accidents, increase funding for critical infrastructure projects across Southern Nevada, and keep animals and drivers out of harm’s way.” 

Highways and Hazardous Materials Provisions Championed by Congresswoman Titus include:

• Thermal Runaway Reduction Act (H.R.7928): helps communities prepare for and respond to lithium-ion battery fires by creating a $2 million/year grant program at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to test effective strategies to extinguish thermal runaway. These provisions also modernize the federal regulations for the commercial transportation of lithium-ion batteries.
• BUFFER Act (H.R.5216): eliminates the Federal Transit Administration’s arbitrary spare bus ratio cap, helping buses run on time even during extreme heat waves.
• Protect Our Students Act (H.R.3265): makes safety improvements in school zones eligible for federal highway safety funding. 
• MOVE Act (H.R.6702): helps families make more informed decisions about e-bikes and e-scooters, keeping children out of the emergency room.
• Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act (H.R.2992): helps prevent roadside vehicle crashes and work zone crashes. 
• Modal Parity in Permitting Act (H.R.8315): aligns the permitting process for transit and rail projects with the permitting process for highway projects. 
• Protecting Horses (H.R.1661): prevents the transport of equines for slaughter for human consumption. 
• Wildlife Crossings Program: makes the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program permanent.

Rail Provisions Championed by Congresswoman Titus include: 

Congresswoman Titus, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, also secured comprehensive rail safety provisions to finally implement the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendations on the causes of the derailment in East Palestine in 2023. 

This includes the Railway Safety Act, which was enacted through a bipartisan amendment introduced by Congresswoman Titus. Among other provisions, it would phase out the use of DOT-111 tank cars, the type of car that was punctured and caused a hazardous fire after the derailment, strengthen the standards for wayside detectors, and codify the two-person crew rule. 

The package also includes Congresswoman Titus’s Secure Tracks Act, legislation that requires visual track inspections be conducted by a human track inspector at least twice a week. These provisions also require railroads to use Automated Track Inspection (ATI) technology at regular intervals to supplement and support visual track inspections.

“Trains carrying hazardous materials run right through my District in the heart of Las Vegas,” said Congresswoman Titus. “The railway safety provisions I secured in the BUILD America 250 Act will prevent future derailments like the one in East Palestine and keep communities safe across the United States. I am proud to have championed multiple bipartisan amendments that were adopted to put the safety of our communities first.” 

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

WASHINGTON —Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a War Powers Resolution to terminate unauthorized U.S. military action against Cuba. 
  
The resolution follows months of escalation by the Trump administration, including an oil blockade, repeated threats by the President to “take” Cuba, and last week’s indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro as a potential to justify illegal U.S. military action in Cuba.
 
“Donald Trump’s belligerent foreign policy is creating new wars and conflicts across the world. As our country is already embroiled in a new war with Iran, the President has now set his sights on regime change in Cuba,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “This administration is rushing toward another disastrous war, putting countless American and foreign lives at risk. Congress must reassert its constitutional authority if the President continues down this illegal path.”
 
“The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are hellbent on starting another war, this time with Cuba, to distract from the President’s failure in Iran, weak economy, and mass deportation of 500,000 Cubans legally in the United States,” said Ranking Member Meeks. “If Donald Trump and Marco Rubio are serious about a new relationship with the Cuban people, they would reverse 65 years of failed U.S. policy toward Cuba, end the oil blockade and the humanitarian crisis it caused, and work with Congress to modify the draconian and outdated U.S. sanctions that disproportionately harm the Cuban people.”
 
The resolution is cosponsored by Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX).
 
Full text of the resolution is available here.
  

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

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Free Clinic of the New River Valley, Inc., based in Christiansburg, Virginia, a grant of $1,095,625. The funding supports operations of local health centers. In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“The Community Health Center of the New River Valley provides health care services for local communities.

“This HHS grant for more than $1 million helps this community health care center promote health care access for New River Valley communities.”

BACKGROUND

The Community Health Center of the New River Valley administers services at locations in Christiansburg, Pearisburg and Dublin.

The awarding office of this grant is the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee. 

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

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Bland County Medical Clinic, Inc., based in Bastian, Virginia, a grant of $900,172. The funding supports operations of local health centers. In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Bland County Medical Clinic provides health care services for local communities.

“This HHS grant for more than $900,000 helps this community health care center promote health care access for Bland County and parts of Tazewell County.”

BACKGROUND

Bland County Medical Clinic, Inc. administers services at locations in the communities of Bastian and Bland. 

The awarding office of this grant is the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee. 

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