MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox Business Network’s Kudlow to call out Democrats’ increasingly dangerous rhetoric, failure to confront rising antisemitism on the left, and continued opposition to commonsense election integrity and border security measures.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview. 
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview:On the radical left’s rhetoric inspiring violence:“We know for sure that the rhetoric from the left, especially their elected leaders, is driving a lot of the violence that you’re seeing. I mean, just look at some of the assassins, the people who tried to assassinate President Trump not once, not twice, three times. They’re regurgitating the very same talking points from some of those Democrat leaders. If you look at some of their language recently from Gavin Newsom, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem on down, it’s like their language is more aggressive. They curse out their own followers. They use, you know, curse language all the time. It’s like they got to talk tough and then they’ve got to threaten people, and then they’ve got to talk about, you know, violent things against their enemy. And all it takes is one unhinged person to hear that. And obviously, we know, you know, when they say ‘Nazi’ and ‘threat to democracy’ and ‘Hitler,’ the comparisons over and over again that they make, those are trigger words to just a few people, and those people then go and try to kill the people they’re talking about. It’s got to stop.”On Democrats refusing to condemn antisemitism:“You’ve seen this growth in antisemitism coming from the left, and it’s over and over again. It’s not called out enough. I’m glad to see that every now and then somebody will. But look, their main candidate in Maine, the lead Democrat candidate for United States Senate in Maine, literally has a Nazi tattoo. And you don’t see anybody backing away their endorsements. All the Democrat leaders have endorsed him, and they haven’t withdrawn the endorsement when that came out. So what does that tell you about where the Democrat Party is? It’s happening over and over again. You know, you look at Hakeem, you look at all of them. It’s like they’re desperate for power. They’re so hungry to grab power. They don’t care what they need to say to enrage their base. The American people are not a people that wake up every day wanting to be angry at everybody, wanting to be fueled by hatred. We’re an optimistic people. We believe in that shining city on the hill Ronald Reagan talked about. And frankly, that’s where we still need to go. And we need to strive for that. And so the politics of hatred and division need to fall by the wayside. I think the better angels will rise up this November.”On Democrats prioritizing open borders:“We’re working to get [reconciliation] in, whether it’s 2.0 or 3.0. I was in a meeting on reconciliation 3.0 today. We want to get the SAVE America [Act]. We passed it through the House. It’s still over in the Senate. Let’s get that done to protect the sanctity of the vote. Voter ID, everybody gets that. You can’t get on a plane, you can’t buy beer without an ID. Why not do that for the vote as well? And then if you look at funding Homeland Security, especially our border security, that’s what this is all about. Every Democrat walked away from that. They showed you they don’t believe in border security. Again, the Democrat Party, this is not your father’s Democrat Party.”

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

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today introduced six Articles of Impeachment against Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts for committing high crimes and misdemeanors by violating the Constitution, disregarding his statutory obligations as Chief Justice, and breaching his oaths of office. Chief Justice Roberts has led the Court to the breaking point, with perceived political bias, arbitrary and unexplained rulings, and continually ruling for the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor and the broader citizenry. 

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“The Supreme Court was once a proud and credible institution.  Even if one disagreed with a position, there was respect for the analysis, thoroughness, and process.  Under Chief Justice Roberts stewardship, it is now understood as biased: with decisions designed to benefit Republicans at the expense of representative government, seemingly contradictory and unexplained orders, and a pattern of ethical breaches that raises questions about the role of the wealthy. As Chief Justice, John Roberts is charged with administering this institution impartially, independently, and with integrity – all requirements built into constitutional structure of our judiciary. I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that while John Roberts remains Chief Justice, correcting this misconduct and ensuring the Justices and the Court itself comply with their legal obligations will be impossible.”

The six articles are summarized below:

Article One – The Chief Justice allowed the Court to become a partisan force, in breach of the constitutional guarantee of a republican form of government, due process, and equal protection of the laws, and the Chief Justice’s obligation to “administer justice without respect to persons” and “faithfully and impartially” discharge his duties.  Time and time again, the Court has violated its own principles with a pattern of interfering in elections on behalf of Republican candidates.  

For example, in the eight days following Callais, Tennessee dismantled its only majority-Black congressional district, splitting Memphis into three pieces. Alabama and South Carolina indicated they would follow suit. The Virginia Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved Democratic redistricting amendment, a case the Court declined to stay, within days.  In contrast, the Court bypassed its rules to enable Louisiana to redraw its map in time for the 2026 elections.  Similarly, on an expedited basis, the Supreme Court vacated lower court injunctions preventing Alabama from redistricting and allowed a new map to take effect eight days before the primary election.  The asymmetrical application of the Purcell principle in a way that benefits Republicans demonstrates either the Chief Justice’s inability to administer the court impartially, or that his gross negligence would prevent him from faithfully discharging his duties.  

The asymmetrical application of the Purcell principle in a way that benefits Republicans demonstrates either the Chief Justice’s inability to administer the court impartially, or that the Chief Justice is so negligent that he was unable to foresee that releasing the Callais decision days after Virginia’s referendum, and then subsequently picking and choosing which states will be redistricted with one line orders, would be perceived as political by the American people, and, in so doing, destroy their confidence in the neutrality and independence of the Court.  

Article Two – Under Chief Justice Roberts’ stewardship, the Court systematically preferred the powerful over the people, undermining the notions of popular sovereignty, representation, and democracy at the heart of a constitutional republic.  Taken together, Chief Justice Roberts led the Court to license a system of political exclusion that could entrench minority rule at the expense of the will of the people – a grave violation, with incalculable damage, to participatory democracy enshrined in our Constitution.  

 Article Three – Chief Justice Roberts violated his oath to “do equal right to the poor and the rich” by endorsing a corrupt campaign finance system that privileges the wealthy at the expense of all other citizens.  

Article Four – Chief Justice Roberts violated the Constitution of the United States and his Judicial Oath by usurping Congress’s legislative role and exempting the President of the United States from criminal liability for illegal conduct.  In placing a single person above the law, Chief Justice Roberts breached his oath to “administer justice without respect to persons.”

Article Five: Chief Justice Roberts’s leadership of the Court is marked by the Court’s arbitrary, unexplained, and inconsistent decisions that violate the Constitutional protections of the parties.  

Article Six: Chief Justice Roberts violated his ethical and statutory obligations by failing to fully report assets on his financial disclosures and refusing to recuse himself from cases that presented perceptions of a conflict of interest.  While on the bench adjudicating some of the most sensitive matters, Jane Sullivan Roberts, the Chief Justice’s spouse, was being paid millions of dollars to recruit attorneys by the very firms litigating before the Court.  This conduct directly violates 28 U.S.C. § 455.  More importantly, it violates the constitutional structure and the parties’ constitutional rights to an independent and impartial magistrate to adjudicate their claims.  

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

(Washington, D.C.)—On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Congressman Al Green introduced a resolution that condemns the hateful comments of Texas congressional candidate Maureen Galindo, advocating the imprisonment and castration of Americans based on their ideologies or associations. A copy of the resolution can be accessed by clicking here.

The resolution affirms that the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of association for all people in the United States. However, it does not protect persons from condemnation of their hate speech. The resolution further acknowledges the historical dangers of targeting individuals for detention because of their beliefs, identities, or associations, and declares that calls to imprison or castrate Americans based on their ideologies or affiliations are contrary to the principles of liberty and justice enshrined in the Constitution.

Congressman Al Green stated, “Ms. Galindo’s comments are especially abhorrent in light of the horrors of the Holocaust, during which millions were imprisoned, persecuted, and murdered. To advocate the imprisonment and castration of persons possibly associated with Jewish identity, because of their ideologies, is offensive to Holocaust survivors, their descendants, and the families of those who suffered religious persecution, as well as all people of good will. Such rhetoric must not be normalized in our politics or our society.  It must be condemned.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Know Your Immigration Rights

If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This week, House Republicans passed two pieces of legislation supporting America’s veterans: the Veterans 2^nd amendment Protection Act – authored by Chairman Mike Bost, and the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act – authored by Rep. Tom Barrett.

“Every member of Congress is keenly aware that American strength and freedom are not free; they’re paid for and secured by the selfless sacrifice of our military personnel and their families,” Speaker Johnson said. “As Memorial Day approaches, this week, House Republicans advanced two pieces of legislation which will safeguard the constitutional rights of American veterans and deliver meaningful relief to Gold Star families. It’s our duty to support the men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom, and I commend Chairman Bost and Rep. Barrett for their leadership in support of America’s veterans.”

“As our nation observes Memorial Day next week, it was a privilege to pass two vitally important veterans’ bills out of the House this week. Both the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, as well as the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, will make a real difference in veterans’ lives. The one percent – the men and women who raise their right hand to defend life and liberty for Americans they will never know – are who both these bills are for,” Chairman Bost said. “The first bill, H.R. 6047, raises the VA benefits for severely disabled veterans and their families who live with the visible wounds of military service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, as well as the Gold Star families of our nation’s fallen heroes. These American families would never ask for anything, but our nation owes them a debt that can never fully be repaid. H.R. 6047 takes a step forward to do that for the first time in over 20 years. I want to thank both the Briley and Edmundson families, as well as our veteran service organization community, for their tireless advocacy on this landmark bill,” Chairman Bost continued. “The second bill, H.R. 1041, ends a government overreach that – for far too long – has wrongfully targeted veterans and infringed on the rights granted to every single American citizen by the Constitution. This bill has been a longstanding priority for me both as a veteran, and as a sportsman, and I am proud to see it through. I am disappointed that a number of our Democrat colleagues chose politics over veteran families this week, but the American people should trust that House Republicans will continue to steer the ship and deliver results on the promises we have made to the men and women we proudly serve. I hope the Senate will pass these good bills as soon as possible.”

“Our nation can never fully repay the debt we owe to the heroes and families who have served and sacrificed for our freedom,” Rep. Barrett said. “But passing my bipartisan legislation today is further proof that we will never stop trying. The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act will finally deliver a long-overdue increase in financial support for catastrophically injured veterans and the loved ones of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I worked hard with my colleagues to get this bill done and am proud it includes another one of my bills to help more service members and veterans achieve the American Dream of homeownership. These benefit expansions will help our veterans and military families who have given so much for our nation.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

“We are plagued by an economic crisis that is a direct result of Trump’s reckless financial policies, that are precisely targeting Black communities who already carry the weight of systemic economic harm and now suffer from the daily impact of this affordability crisis—felt from grocery stores to the housing market to the gas pump.”

Pressley Has Repeatedly Sounded the Alarm on Trump’s Unemployment and Affordability Crisis Impacting Black, Minority Workers and Businesses

Video (YouTube) | Photos (Dropbox)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Color Of Change, and advocates held a press conference to sound the alarm on the state of the Black economy and the harmful impact of Trump and Republicans’ agenda on Black communities, including skyrocketing Black unemployment rates and escalating the affordability crisis.

At a time when Black communities are carrying the weight of economic instability, rising costs, and discriminatory financial policy, Rep. Pressley, Color Of Change, and advocates called on Congress to advance policies that protect civil rights, expand opportunity, and make the economy work for Black people and, in doing so, for everyone.

In Congress, Rep. Pressley has repeatedly sounded the alarm on the rising number of Black workers forced out of the workforce in the United States, called on the Federal Reserve to take action, and convened impacted women and economists to renew those calls. Rep. Pressley has also been a vocal advocate to support small businesses, especially during this economic crisis—investing in their ability to thrive, uplifting local economies, and promoting support for minority-owned businesses impacted by systemic inequities through her SPARK Act.

“The state of the Black economy is under attack,” said Rep. Pressley in her remarks. “We are plagued by an economic crisis that is a direct result of Trump’s reckless financial policies, that are precisely targeting Black communities who already carry the weight of systemic economic harm and now suffer from the daily impact of this affordability crisis—felt from grocery stores to the housing market to the gas pump…Trump is shamefully and intentionally pushing out Black workers who carry with them a wealth of knowledge, innovation, and skill to our workforce…This layered discriminatory attack on Black lives deepens the economic inequities burdening Black communities, but the consequences reverberate far beyond us.”

“Black families across this country are being told to believe in an economy they cannot feel,” said Nadine Smith, President and CEO of Color Of Change. “You cannot tell us the economy is strong while our families are choosing between medicine, food, gas, and keeping the lights on. Black families deserve more because all Americans deserve more.  Color Of Change is committed to standing in solidarity with those in the legislature, like Congresswoman Pressley, who are willing to fight for us and, in turn, for our entire country. We will have a multiracial democracy in America, and the only question we have to answer is how soon and how hard it will be, but we will get there.”

Joining Rep. Pressley and Color of Change President & CEO Nadine Smith was Patrice Willoughby, Chief of Policy and Legislative Affairs, NAACP, Tara Murray, Executive Director of the Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy, National Urban League, Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, President, Joint Center, and folks impacted by the economic crisis.

“The Trump Administration has created an economic crisis that is hitting Black communities hardest. While Black workers face a 7.3% unemployment rate – far above the national average – forcing families to choose between paying medical bills, paying for gas, or putting food on the table. Meanwhile, the President says he doesn’t even think about Americans’ financial situation. Instead, he sets up a $1.7 billion reparations fund for his friends and the January 6th insurrectionists who attacked our Capitol. This is not only corrupt, it is shameful. We’re calling on Congress to advance policies that protect Americans’ rights, expand opportunity, and make the economy work for Black communities – and, in doing so, for everyone.” – Patrice Willoughby, NAACP Chief of Policy and Legislative Affairs

“The National Urban League declared a state of emergency facing Black America in our most recent State of Black America report. What we are hearing from communities across the country only confirms the urgency of that warning. Families are working harder, paying more, and falling further behind. Rising unemployment, threats to healthcare and food assistance, attacks on the federal workforce, and the rollback of programs that expand opportunity are direct attacks on Black economic advancement and Black futures. Congress must reject an agenda that deepens inequality and instead invest in jobs, housing, entrepreneurship, and pathways to economic mobility that strength Black communities and the nation as a whole.” – Tara Murray, Executive Director of the Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy at the National Urban League

“Black communities are bearing a disproportionate share of the burden as the affordability crisis worsens,” said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. “High-end tax cuts, limited investment in anti-poverty programs, increased reliance on regressive state and local taxes, and policy choices that favor wealth accumulation at the top are deepening this Black affordability crisis and widening the wealth divide. Black unemployment reached 7.3 percent this month, the highest across all races, and if seen nationally, that rate would indicate a recession. Congress must act now to advocate and create policies that lower costs, increase economic opportunity, and build an economy that delivers for Black families.” 

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks during the press conference is available below. The video is available here and photos are available here.

Transcript: Pressley, Color of Change, Advocates Slam Trump’s Attacks on the Black Economy, Impacts on Black Employment, Affordability Crisis

U.S Capitol

May 20, 2026

Alright, well, good afternoon. Thank you all for joining us today. Truly, it’s an honor to partner with Color of Change in this essential fight for Black communities, for Black families, for Black futures—families who are bearing the burden of our nation’s economic and affordability crisis.

I’m so grateful for the incredible leadership and the partnership of the NAACP, the National Urban League, and Joint Center, and to my sister colleagues, whose efforts are invaluable in our work to defend Black lives.

The state of the Black economy is under attack. We are plagued by an economic crisis that is a direct result of Trump’s reckless financial policies, that are precisely targeting Black communities who already carry the weight of systemic economic harm and now suffer from the daily impact of this affordability crisis—felt from grocery stores to the housing market to the gas pump.

While the national unemployment rate is already 4.3%, for Black workers it is an even higher 7.3%. That is a crisis.

Trump’s attacks on workers’ rights, the federal workforce, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility are costing us Black jobs—which we know he never cared about.

Trump is shamefully and intentionally pushing out Black workers who carry with them a wealth of knowledge, innovation, and skill to our workforce.

I met with Black women in my district, the Massachusetts Seventh, who have been harmed by and witnesses to this pushout crisis and economic instability.

In that room, there was no shortage of degrees, there was no shortage of expertise, there was no shortage of experience—and yet many of these Black women shared their challenges navigating sudden career stops, economic insecurity, and the harmful impact on them and their families’ lives, and livelihoods.

Black women who own small businesses spoke of struggling to keep their doors open due to affordability challenges under Trump’s tariffs and a rising inability to pay their staff, often deepening the unemployment crisis even further.

We heard from Teresa, who worked at a major hospital in my district to ensure that Black immigrant, disabled, and LGBTQ+ patients did not fall through the cracks of a complex health system. Her position was eliminated because of Republican cuts to NIH and Medicaid funding, and with that funding elimination, her livelihood and the health and wellness of her patients stopped.

This layered discriminatory attack on Black lives deepens the economic inequities burdening Black communities, but the consequences reverberate far beyond us. And this harm is coming for everyone.

And that is exactly why it is up to Congress to advance policies that protect civil rights, expand opportunities for all, and make the economy work for Black communities, and in doing so for everyone. Like addressing the push out of Black women from the workforce, like investing in minority-owned small businesses, like lowering the cost of housing, and so much more.

And it’s up to all of us to actively resist, reject and condemn this agenda of anti-Blackness on steroids and to fight for Black families, for Black workers, for Black joy, for Black progress, for Black futures.

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Rep. Pressley has been a leading voice fighting for Black workers, as well as a vocal advocate for small businesses—investing in their ability to thrive, uplifting local economies, and promoting support for minority-owned businesses impacted by systemic inequities through her SPARK Act.

In September 2025, Congresswoman Pressley wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sounding the alarm on the rising unemployment rate for Black women in the United States and demanding the Fed take immediate action to uphold its mandate of maximum employment for all. The Congresswoman’s letter came amid the Trump Administration’s mass federal workforce layoffs and anti-DEI policies disproportionately impacting Black women and as Donald Trump attempted to seize control of the Fed by illegally firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. A copy of the Congresswoman’s letter is available here.

In December 2025, Rep. Pressley and Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette Clarke followed up to Rep. Pressley’s demands and wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell demanding a briefing for members of the Congressional Black Caucus on how the Federal Reserve is responding to this growing crisis. 

In May 2026, Rep. Pressley vehemently opposed Republican legislation that would strip the Federal Reserve’s mandate for maximum employment, emphasizing the Fed’s essential role in ensuring economic health, community well-being, and personal dignity in work especially under Trump’s unemployment crisis.

In March 2026, Reps. Pressley and Summer Lee (PA-12) introduced the Better Labor Statistics Act, or the BLS Act, legislation that would codify the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ mandate to report unemployment data publicly, online, and at the first Friday of each month to ensure transparency and accuracy in unemployment data collection. The BLS Act would also codify the publication of unemployment data broken down by race and ethnicity, gender, geography, and industry.

In December 2025, Rep. Pressley, along with Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women & Girls, Congresswomen Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), led 19 of their colleagues demanding the Department of Labor (DOL) take immediate action to address the rising unemployment crisis among Black women that has taken shape since the start of the second Trump Administration.

In November 2025, Rep. Pressley convened Black women, economists, civil rights leaders, and community members for an urgent discussion about the unemployment crisis facing Black women and its impact in Massachusetts and beyond.

In September 2025, Congresswoman Pressley convened a press conference with a coalition of Black women activists and civil rights leaders to continue sounding the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States.

In May 2026, Rep. Pressley discussed the affordability crisis facing minority-owned small businesses and warned of the harmful impact the Trump Administration’s proposed rollbacks to bank capital requirements would have on underserved communities.

In response to the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Pressley led the Saving Our Street (SOS) Act, legislation that provides federal support to microbusinesses throughout America during the COVID-19 crisis.

In July 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senator Markey led the entire MA congressional delegation in writing to Susan M. Collins, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, requesting additional information on the impact of tariffs on small businesses, including crosstabulations showing the expected and realized impacts of tariffs on small businesses broken down by industry, importer status, and firm size.

In 2024, Rep. Pressley secured $1,000,000 in federal community project funding for the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA). The funding aimed to help BECMA’s efforts to support small Black-owned businesses and Black entrepreneurs through technical assistance and other tools and services.

In 2023, Rep, Pressley secured $400,000 in federal community project funding for Amplify LatinX’s ALX Small Business Program. The federal dollars supported bilingual, culturally relevant, and intensive strategic business coaching to Latinx small businesses, and invested in the economic stability and vitality of the Latinx community – one of the fastest growing communities across the Commonwealth and one that was disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

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

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:

“The President’s efforts to cover up his illegal business practices and make himself immune from future IRS audits will fail. No one is above the law. The President will pay the taxes he legally owes.” 

This week, the President announced a settlement with the Department of Justice to end an investigation into his tax returns. The terms of the settlement will remove up to $100 million in potential IRS penalties against the President and will bar the IRS from future investigations into the President, his family members and his businesses.  

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

Larsen Fights Against Trump’s Corrupt Slush Fund

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

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) led four of her House colleagues in a bipartisan effort expressing their concerns to Defense Health Agency Director Vice Admiral Darin K. Via regarding reports the agency may be pausing or discontinuing the Health Care Survey of DoD Beneficiaries (HCSDB), a longstanding tool used to assess access to care, patient experience, and performance across the Military Health System.

The lawmakers urged DHA to ensure continuity in data collection and analysis, warning that gaps could hinder oversight, reduce transparency, and impact efforts to improve care for TRICARE beneficiaries and military families.

In addition to Congresswoman Dingell, the letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Mark Alford (R-MO-04), Patrick Ryan (D-NY-18), Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02).

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

Dear Vice Admiral Via:

This letter expresses concern regarding the Defense Health Agency’s (DHA) changes to the Health Care Survey of DoD beneficiaries (HCSDB). The HCSDB is important because it provides critical, standardized feedback from beneficiaries on their health care experiences, helping to identify gaps in access, quality, and satisfaction among patients in the Military Health System. We understand that the DHA may be considering discontinuing or pausing this survey without clear plans to replace it. Suspending this survey risks losing access to important information that helps us give the best care to TRICARE beneficiaries, who are deserving of no less. 

The HCDBS is an annual, large-scale survey that targets roughly 300,000 TRICARE beneficiaries. For more than 30 years, the HCSDB has provided Congress and the Department of Defense (DOD) with critical insights into access to care, patient experience, and overall Military Health System performance. This data has been an important tool for understanding beneficiary behavior, identifying barriers to care, and informing efforts to improve access and support to military family readiness. The HCSDB has also informed Department-level decisions regarding Military Treatment Facility capacity and restructuring, including considerations related to downsizing and realignment. The survey data and associated analysis is also directly relevant to the DOD’s efforts to improve utilization of Military Treatment Facilities and advance care reattraction goals. Understanding why beneficiaries choose purchased care over Direct Care is critical to managing costs and improving access within the Military Health System.

While encounter-based tools such as the TRICARE Patient Experience Survey (TPEX) provide valuable insights into individual care interactions, they do not currently serve as a direct

replacement for the broader population-level analysis and longitudinal trend data provided through the HCSDB. Any future consolidation or transition effort should be implemented through a clearly defined strategy that avoids gaps in data continuity and oversight capability.

The most recent survey cycle includes a significant volume of beneficiary responses related to barriers to Direct Care that, if left unanalyzed due to a lapse in survey actions, would represent a missed opportunity to inform ongoing policy and operational decisions. To ensure continuity of oversight and program evaluation, we strongly urge DHA to maintain ongoing data collection and analysis through an interim task order or equivalent mechanism until a replacement or alternate plan is established.

Maintaining continuity in HCSDB survey actions is essential to preserving transparency in TRICARE performance matters, since it provides vital insight that helps ensure we can continue delivering the best quality healthcare and services available, and also ensures the Department can continue to meet congressional expectations for oversight and reporting. We urge you to take steps to ensure there are no gaps in data collection and analysis given the ramifications for Military Health System providers and beneficiaries.

Thank you for your attention to this issue. We look forward to your response.

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

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and John Moolenaar (R-MI-04) introduced bipartisan legislation to reform and improve dam and hydropower safety operations. Dingell and Moolenaar originally pushed for legislative action after the breach of the Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam failures in Michigan caused extensive damage throughout the region’s downstream communities, destroying homes, businesses, roads, and bridges.

The lawmakers’ legislation, the National Dam and Hydropower Safety Improvements Act, would enhance dam and hydropower safety operation requirements nationwide and aims to modernize existing infrastructure through the development of new best practices and improved communications between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and states.

“Michigan experienced a catastrophic and avoidable infrastructure collapse with the breach of the Edenville and Sanford dams, causing extensive damage to the downstream communities. It drowned homes, businesses, and entire communities,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “This disaster was avoidable, and yet aging dam infrastructure across the state continues to pose a serious threat to safety, so it is critical Congress act to prevent another tragedy like this.”

“This bipartisan legislation addresses failures in existing law and will help ensure compliance with the safety regulations that are needed to protect the American people,” said Congressman Moolenaar. “We know in Michigan that the failures of federal bureaucrats, state officials, and a negligent dam owner led to devastating consequences, and we must update the laws to prevent that from happening again.”

The National Dam and Hydropower Safety Improvements Act would:

• Mandate dam and project works meet the FERC’s dam safety requirements and require the licensee to manage, operate, and maintain the dam and project works consistent with dam safety requirements.
• Require FERC to issue a new license only if the Commission determines the dam and other project works meet the Commission’s dam safety requirements and that the operating conditions of the license are consistent with those requirements.
• Require FERC to establish procedures for evaluating the financial health of prospective hydropower licensees.
• Require FERC to convene a technical conference with state representatives to examine best practices for dam safety.

In May 2020, the Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam both failed and flooded Midland area communities after heavy rains. Dam operator Boyce Hydro had a long history of dam safety and compliance problems that likely resulted in the failure. In response, Congressmembers Dingell and Fred Upton sent letters to FERC regarding its oversight. They also pressed the state of Michigan for facts on the dam breach, how the state evaluated the dam in the time since, and additional information on the regulatory and legal actions the state took following the revocation of the license.