MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) today announced that Marshall County has been awarded a $16.17 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to replace the Swayback Bridge on Hustleville Road. The award is the only BUILD Grant awarded in Alabama this year, making it a significant investment not only for Marshall County but for the entire state. 

The project will replace the existing Swayback Bridge and realign approximately 2,000 feet of Hustleville Road. The new bridge will be approximately 1,000 feet long and 40 feet wide and will include widened shoulders, improved roadway geometry, enhanced safety features, and the relocation and upgrade of a water line beneath the bridge deck. 

“This is tremendous news for Marshall County and for the thousands of residents, school buses, emergency vehicles, farmers, and businesses that depend on the Swayback Bridge every day,” said Congressman Aderholt. “Anyone who has driven this stretch of road understands why this project has been such a priority. Replacing this aging bridge will make travel safer, improve reliability, and strengthen an important transportation corridor for years to come.”

Last year, Congressman Aderholt wrote directly to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urging the Department of Transportation to give strong consideration to Marshall County’s BUILD Grant application.

“I was proud to advocate for this project and appreciate Secretary Duffy and the Department of Transportation for recognizing its importance,” Aderholt continued. “Competitive grants like BUILD are never easy to secure, which makes this award especially meaningful. The fact that Marshall County received Alabama’s only BUILD Grant this year speaks to both the strength of this application and the critical need for this investment.”

Aderholt also commended the Marshall County Commission and local officials for their leadership in developing the project.

“I want to congratulate the Marshall County Commission and Commission Chairman John Young and everyone who worked tirelessly to bring this application together,” Aderholt said. “Their persistence and vision made today’s announcement possible. I look forward to seeing construction begin and to the lasting benefits this project will provide for the people of Marshall County.”

The BUILD Grant program provides competitive federal funding for nationally and regionally significant transportation projects that improve safety, mobility, and economic opportunity. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson as an original co-sponsor of the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act. This bipartisan bill would modernize the H-2A program to better meet the needs of year-round agricultural operations while giving existing unauthorized workers the opportunity to participate in the program, providing much-needed stability for the ag sector.

As the sole dairyman in Congress, Congressman Valadao has been a leading advocate for modernizing the H-2A program and strengthening America’s agricultural workforce. Among his efforts, he has introduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the 118th and 119th Congresses.

“One of the biggest concerns I hear from producers across the Central Valley is the ongoing agricultural labor shortage,” said Congressman Valadao. “While the H-2A program works well for many seasonal operations, it hasn’t kept pace with the needs of year-round industries like dairy. That’s why I’m proud to support the bipartisan Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, which modernizes the program by clarifying that ‘temporary labor’ refers to the length of a farmworker’s contract—not whether the job itself is seasonal. It also creates a pathway for eligible undocumented agricultural workers to earn H-2A status and provide for their families. This bill is a commonsense step that gives producers greater certainty to plan for their workforce, provides long-overdue stability for agricultural workers, and helps strengthen the Central Valley’s food supply for the future.”

Background:

In the 1980s, the H-2A program was created to help address temporary and seasonal agricultural labor needs. The program requires workers to hold temporary visas tied to jobs lasting no more than ten months. While this structure works well for many agricultural sectors with defined planting and harvesting seasons, it creates challenges for dairy producers, whose operations run year-round. As a result, dairy producers often face uncertainty and application denials because their labor needs are viewed as permanent rather than “temporary” or “seasonal.”

The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act would:

• Allow H-2A visas to be used for agricultural jobs that are temporary in nature, while removing the current requirement that jobs must also be seasonal.
• Clarify that “temporary” refers to the length of the employment contract—up to 350 days—rather than whether the work itself is seasonal.
• Expand eligibility for the program to include controlled environment agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, and livestock harvesting.
• Create a pathway for existing unauthorized agricultural workers to participate in the H-2A program if they meet all requirements, including successfully completing a criminal background check.
• Establish an online platform to streamline communication and processing between agricultural employers, workers, and government agencies.
• Provide agricultural producers with the flexibility needed to meet the industry’s year-round workforce demands while maintaining strong, transparent, and enforceable program standards.

Supporting organizations include the American Farm Bureau Federation, California Farm Bureau, National Milk Producers Federation, Western Growers, AmericanHort, International Fresh Produce Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, USA Farmers, National Council of Agricultural Employers, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, American Business Immigration Council, National Potato Council, Northwest Horticultural Council, US Apple, American Peanut Shellers Association, American Soybean Association, Livestock Marketing Association, Meat Institute, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Chicken Council, National Cotton Council, National Pecan Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Sorghum Producers, National Turkey Federation, National Watermelon Association, U.S. Peanut Federation, U.S. Rice Producers Association, USA Rice, Vidalia Onion Business Council, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Florida Peanut Federation, Georgia Blueberry Commission, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Midwest Council on Agriculture, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, and Washington Red Raspberry Commission.

Read the full bill here.

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

“Five years ago, an unimaginable but entirely preventable tragedy rocked our South Florida community with the collapse of Surfside’s Champlain Towers, claiming 98 innocent lives. While the cause was finally identified after years of investigations, action is still needed to stop this from happening again,” said Wasserman Schultz. “My bipartisan Making Condos Safer and Affordable Act ensures condominium associations can afford to make pressing repairs and keep residents safe.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

July 01, 2026 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) today introduced the Helping Undergraduate Students Thrive with Long-Term Earnings (HUSTLE) Act, bipartisan legislation that would create first-of-its-kind tax-advantaged investment accounts allowing college athletes to grow their name, image, and likeness (NIL) earnings without federal income tax liability and build lasting financial security. This bill is led in the Senate by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). 
“College athletes in Florida and across the country are generating real income from their NIL rights, many for the first time in their lives, but earning income and knowing how to make it last are two very different things,” said Rep. Greg Steube. “The HUSTLE Act gives student-athletes a real pathway to invest those earnings, plan for life after athletics, and build long-term financial stability. This is about making sure the opportunity they worked for actually follows them beyond the field or court.”
“The NIL era has changed college sports, and federal law needs to catch up. With college athletes now earning over $1 billion every year, more must be done to ensure they are set up for future success,” said Rep. Brendan Boyle. “This bipartisan legislation will enable athletes to save for their futures if they so choose and prevent dishonest agents from cheating student-athletes out of their hard-earned money.”
“College athletes are now earning billions of dollars from their name, image, and likeness—and rightly so. We must empower these students to safeguard their financial future and protect themselves against rogue agents,” said Senator Marsha Blackburn. “The HUSTLE Act would allow college athletes to invest their earnings in a tax-advantaged account that grows over time and strengthens financial education.”
“As result of sweeping changes to college sports, this year, student-athletes will receive approximately $1 billion in direct financial benefits from their universities, as well scholarship guarantees and greater support for their mental health and wellbeing.” said Tim Buckley, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at NCAA. “The NCAA fully supports providing athletes with more resources to achieve long term financial success.”
“The Southeastern Conference is grateful for the continued engagement of lawmakers in addressing the evolving needs of student-athletes,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “The HUSTLE Act represents a constructive approach by establishing tax-advantaged NIL investment accounts that encourage financial education, long-term savings, and responsible management of earnings. We appreciate Congress’s sustained bipartisan commitment to developing national, consistent standards that support student-athletes and enhance their opportunities in this rapidly changing environment.”“At Florida State, we are committed to preparing our student-athletes for success not only in competition, but throughout their lives. As the collegiate athletics landscape continues to evolve, that responsibility extends beyond the field of play to include financial literacy, long-term planning and providing the resources necessary to help student-athletes make informed decisions about their futures,” saidVP and Director of Athletics Michael Alford, Florida State University. “We appreciate Representative Steube’s leadership on the HUSTLE Act and support legislation that encourages financial education, promotes responsible stewardship of NIL earnings, and creates opportunities for student-athletes to build lasting financial security. Empowering young people with the tools to invest in their futures is consistent with our mission to develop graduates who are prepared to thrive long after their playing careers have ended.”
“We have always been committed to providing Gator student-athletes with the resources and support they need to succeed at the University of Florida and long after their time in Gainesville. As college athletics continues to evolve, that commitment increasingly includes additional financial education, responsible planning and preparing student-athletes to maximize the opportunities available to them. We support the HUSTLE Act and appreciate Representative Steube’s leadership in advancing legislation that promotes transparency, establishes greater accountability for sports agents and encourages student-athletes to build long-term financial security through saving and investing. These are important steps that can help position student-athletes for success both during their collegiate careers and well into the future,” said Florida Athletics.
Background: Name, image, and likeness opportunities have transformed college athletics since the Supreme Court affirmed in 2021 that student-athletes have the right to profit from their NIL. The market has grown rapidly, as NIL deals generated more than $1.2 billion in the 2023-2024 academic year. Projections exceed $2.5 billion by 2025-2026 as revenue sharing takes hold. In a 2022 NCAA survey of over 9,800 athletes, 49% indicated a need for educational resources specifically on tax and financial literacy. In the same study, only 9% of student-athletes had ever met with a financial counselor.
While many student-athletes now earn substantial compensation through endorsements, appearances, social media content, and licensing agreements, they face unique financial planning challenges that the traditional investment products were not designed for.
The HUSTLE Act would establish tax-advantaged NIL Investment Accounts, allowing eligible student-athletes to contribute qualifying NIL earnings into dedicated accounts designed to encourage long-term savings, investing, and financial literacy. Qualified contributions are excluded from taxable income up to the annual gift-tax exclusion limit, and funds may be distributed as long-term capital gains upon graduation or rolled over into an individual retirement account (IRA). Funds may be withdrawn before graduation without penalty for career transition, education, or medical expenses.
The legislation would also allow up to $35,000 in unused NIL account funds to roll over into an IRA or other retirement vehicle once an athlete has been out of college sports for at least one year and would require trustees to provide educational materials on investing, financial planning, and long-term financial security to all participating student-athletes. The U.S. Department of the Treasury would be directed to issue regulations ensuring proper reporting, contribution tracking, and defined qualified expenses.
The full text of the bill is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After reading recent reporting indicating that the Trump Administration plans to install permanent fencing around Lafayette Square, the public park in front of the White House, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced her intention to introduce a bill to prohibit permanent fencing at the park.

“Lafayette Square belongs to the people, not to the president. This bill is about keeping faith in the idea that democracy works best in the open, where the First Amendment protects citizens’ rights to assemble, speak, and be seen and heard by their government,” Norton said. “While I understand the importance of protecting the White House, it’s already surrounded by a 13-foot-high fence. We can and must maintain our commitment to security without sacrificing public access by using the least restrictive means necessary to address security concerns. Just as I oppose permanent fencing at the Capitol and the Supreme Court, I oppose turning Lafayette Square into another restricted zone separated from the public by intimidating barriers.

“Public property should be open to the public. We should not leave citizens peering at their democracy from behind permanent fences.”

Norton has long advocated for using the least restrictive means necessary for securing public property, introducing a bill with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to prohibit permanent fencing at the Capitol and a separate bill to prohibit permanent fencing at the Supreme Court. She also introduced a bill to authorize a 21-member commission, with the president designating nine members and the House and Senate leadership each designating six members, to investigate and offer recommendations on the balance between public access to and security in federal buildings and other federal property.

Lafayette Square has long been one of the country’s most visible stages for civic participation, hosting civil rights and anti-war demonstrations and vigils. Protecting the square’s historical position as a place for the public is essential to maintaining open and accessible democracy.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Tuesday led a bicameral letter, joined by 53 of their colleagues, urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to add microplastics to the agency’s recently published Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6). The lawmakers argue that EPA should begin monitoring microplastics in America’s drinking water, citing a growing body of research linking the emerging contaminant to serious adverse health effects.

In their letter, the lawmakers note that emerging research has found microplastics throughout the human body and associated them with lung disease, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, impaired kidney and liver function, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. They argue that adding microplastics to UCMR 6 would provide critical transparency regarding exposure, inform future health-protective standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and help ensure the federal government meets its responsibility to protect the health and safety of the American people.

The lawmakers write:
“As plastic production continues to expand rapidly, microplastics pose a potential threat to public health in the United States. Emerging research demonstrates that microplastics are now pervasive in the human body and are associated with serious adverse health effects. Concentrations of microplastics in human brain tissue have been reported to increase by nearly 50 percent between 2016 and 2024.”

Later in the letter, they write:

“Accordingly, we urge the EPA to add microplastics to UCMR 6 and to design a robust, nationwide monitoring program for microplastics in drinking water. Doing so will provide critical transparency regarding exposure, inform future health-protective standards under SDWA, and help ensure that the federal government meets its responsibility to protect the health and safety of the American people.”

The letter also highlights growing bipartisan congressional interest in better understanding how microplastics affect Americans’ health, pointing to the recently introduced bipartisan, bicameral Microplastics Safety Act and ARPA-H’s STOMP program to develop technologies to measure and remove microplastics from the body. The lawmakers argue EPA has a critical role to play as the primary agency regulating drinking water.

The full text of the letter is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Warren Davidson (OH-08), John Garamendi (CA-08), and Seth Moulton (MA-06) are introducing the bipartisan Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act to end the requirement that military services send Congress funding wish lists outside the appropriations process. This irresponsible requirement forces military commands to ask for additional spending — even if the President’s Budget Request meets their needs — for projects the President, Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have deemed non-essential for the United States’ national security strategy.

“The Pentagon has never passed an audit and is requesting an unprecedented $1.5 trillion for their FY27 budget,” said Jayapal. “If the Pentagon required the items on their wish list, they would have been reflected in this already enormous budget request. Our Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act is a bipartisan solution to combat this wasteful and inefficient spending.”

“Our military should have the resources needed to defend the country, but every dollar should support a clear national security need,” said Rep. Davidson. “Requiring commands to submit unfunded priorities lists encourages unnecessary spending outside the regular budget process. This bipartisan bill ends that mandate while fully preserving the ability of military leaders to bring real funding gaps directly to Congress.”

“Bloated defense spending has been a serious problem for far too long. Requiring unfunded priorities only encourages the Pentagon to seek additional funding outside the normal budget process, often at the expense of readiness and sound fiscal discipline,” said Rep. Garamendi. “The Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act is an important step toward reducing inefficient spending while prioritizing investments that strengthen our military readiness and national security. This bipartisan, commonsense bill will eliminate unnecessary bloat while reinforcing Congress’s constitutional responsibility to provide meaningful oversight.”

“Congress has a responsibility to ask tough questions instead of rubber-stamping increased defense spending,” said Moulton. “The Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act is about bringing accountability and rigorous oversight to defense spending so that we can build a military that’s prepared for tomorrow’s threats while only prioritizing investments that help our military and don’t divert taxpayer dollars away from addressing other pressing issues affecting Americans here at home.”

While the military has long provided unfunded priorities lists, they became a required submission in the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). For FY26, the list totaled $53.7 billion. These lists often include expensive and wasteful requests that have been deemed by defense leaders as low priority. 

This legislation is endorsed by R Street Institute and Public Citizen. 

Issues: Foreign Affairs & National Security, Government Reform & Ethics

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (CA-08), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Warren Davidson (OH-08), and Seth Moulton (MA-06) are introducing the bipartisan Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act to end the requirement that military services send Congress funding wish lists outside the appropriations process. This irresponsible requirement forces military commands to ask for additional spending — even if the President’s Budget Request meets their needs — for projects the President, Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have deemed non-essential for the United States’ national security strategy.

“Bloated defense spending has been a serious problem for far too long. Requiring unfunded priorities only encourages the Pentagon to seek additional funding outside the normal budget process, often at the expense of readiness and sound fiscal discipline,” said Rep. Garamendi. “The Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act is an important step toward reducing inefficient spending while prioritizing investments that strengthen our military readiness and national security. This bipartisan, commonsense bill will eliminate unnecessary bloat while reinforcing Congress’s constitutional responsibility to provide meaningful oversight.”

“The Pentagon has never passed an audit and is requesting an unprecedented $1.5 trillion for their FY27 budget,” said Rep. Jayapal. “If the Pentagon required the items on their wish list, they would have been reflected in this already enormous budget request. Our Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act is a bipartisan solution to combat this wasteful and inefficient spending.”

“Our military should have the resources needed to defend the country, but every dollar should support a clear national security need,” said Rep. Davidson. “Requiring commands to submit unfunded priorities lists encourages unnecessary spending outside the regular budget process. This bipartisan bill ends that mandate while fully preserving the ability of military leaders to bring real funding gaps directly to Congress.”

“Congress has a responsibility to ask tough questions instead of rubber-stamping increased defense spending,” said Rep. Moulton. “The Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act is about bringing accountability and rigorous oversight to defense spending so that we can build a military that’s prepared for tomorrow’s threats while only prioritizing investments that help our military and don’t divert taxpayer dollars away from addressing other pressing issues affecting Americans here at home.”

While the military has long provided unfunded priorities lists, they became a required submission in the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). For FY26, the list totaled $53.7 billion. These lists often include expensive and wasteful requests that have been deemed by defense leaders as low priority.  

This legislation is endorsed by R Street Institute and Public Citizen.  

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

As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Representative Sharice Davids is inviting Kansans in the Third District to share what America means to them through a short video submission as part of her America 250 initiative.

Kansans of all ages can submit their videos HERE.

“Every community has a story to tell, and I want to make sure Kansans are part of how we mark this moment in our nation’s history,” said Davids. “I’m looking forward to hearing from people across the Third District about what they love about this country, what patriotism means to them, and what they hope for the next 250 years.”

Participants are invited to submit a short video response addressing one of the following prompts:

1. What do you love about America? 
2. What does patriotism mean to you? 
3. What is your hope for this country for the next 250 years? 
4. What would you like your fellow Americans to know? 
5. How are you celebrating America250? 

Video Submission Guidelines:

• Videos must be filmed horizontally (landscape mode) 
• Participants should begin by introducing themselves 
• Videos must be 1 minute or less and may be edited for final use 
• Accepted formats: .mp4 or .mov 
• All participants must sign an appearance release form to be featured; participants under 18 must have parent or guardian permission 
• Release forms should be returned via email to DavidsPress@mail.house.gov or by mail to 9200 Indian Creek Parkway, Suite 562, Overland Park, KS 66210 
• Submissions must be made using the official form to be considered 
• Only submissions from residents of Kansas’ Third Congressional District (KS-03) will be accepted 
• Submissions must be original work; videos suspected of plagiarism or artificial intelligence generation will not be accepted 
• Deadline for submission is July 10, 2026 

Davids recently completed her America 250 Week, where she toured the Kansas City VA Medical Center, hosted a discussion on the cultural and historical significance of the American bison, the national mammal of the United States, and visited John Brown Park in Osawatomie. 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to reports detailing financial ties between President Trump’s family and federally backed critical minerals projects, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens released the following statement:

“Michiganders need a real critical minerals strategy to lower costs and secure our supply chains, not a backdoor scheme to funnel tax dollars to Trump’s billionaire friends.

“Reports that companies tied to President Trump’s family could profit from taxpayer-backed critical minerals deals raise serious questions about whose interests this administration is serving. Our industrial policy should strengthen our national security and create good-paying manufacturing jobs, not just reward politically connected insiders.

“Michigan workers deserve a government that puts them first, not billionaire self-interest.”

Congresswoman Stevens has long championed strengthening America’s critical mineral supply chains through transparent, worker-focused industrial policy. She introduced the Unearth America’s Future Act to expand domestic production and processing of critical minerals, reduce dependence on China, strengthen Michigan manufacturing, and create good-paying jobs at home. Stevens has consistently argued that critical minerals policy should be driven by national security and economic competitiveness, not personal financial interests or political theater.  

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