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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) announced today that his staff will host a caseworker-in-your-community event for constituents in Chase and Dundy Counties on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. This event is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with one of Smith’s congressional caseworkers, who may be able to assist those with disaster recovery concerns as well as with federal agencies such as the USDA, FEMA, VA, Social Security, Medicare, USCIS, or the IRS.

Smith, who has offices in Grand Island, Scottsbluff, and Nebraska City, will provide a staff member at the following time and location:

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Lied Imperial Library
718 Broadway Street
Imperial, NE 69033
11:00 am – 12:00 pm MT

Dundy County Library
106 E 6th Avenue
Benkelman, NE 69021
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm MT

For additional information, please contact Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900, his Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333, or his Nebraska City office at (402) 874-6050. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) announced today that his staff will host a caseworker-in-your-community event for constituents in Hamilton and Polk Counties on Thursday, April 16, 2026. This event is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with one of Smith’s congressional caseworkers, who may be able to assist those with disaster recovery concerns as well as with federal agencies such as the USDA, FEMA, VA, Social Security, Medicare, USCIS, or the IRS.

Smith, who has offices in Grand Island, Scottsbluff, and Nebraska City, will provide a staff member at the following time and location:

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Alice M. Farr Library
1603 L Street
Aurora, NE 68818
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CT

Stromsburg Public Library
320 Central Street
Stromsburg, NE 68666
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CT

For additional information, please contact Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900, his Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333, or his Nebraska City office at (402) 874-6050. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

MIAMI SPRINGS, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation, presented a $450,000 check to the Village of Virginia Gardens for law enforcement technology upgrades and $500,000 to the City of Miami Springs to upgrade six Sport Utility Vehicles.

Congressman Díaz-Balart said, “Ensuring the safety of our communities starts with giving the brave men and women in blue the resources they need to carry out their mission effectively. I’m proud to deliver this funding to the Village of Virginia Gardens Police Department to support critical technology upgrades, equipping personnel with the modern tools and infrastructure needed to protect and serve. I’m also proud to have secured funding for the City of Miami Springs Police Department for the replacement and modernization of its marked patrol fleet, providing officers with reliable, up-to-date vehicles equipped with the latest public safety technology. Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every single day to keep our neighborhoods safe, and the least we can do is make sure they have the equipment they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently.

I am grateful for the leadership of Village of Virginia Gardens Mayor Spencer Deno IV and Police Chief Ray Hernandez, as well as City of Miami Springs Mayor Walter Fajet and Police Chief Matthew Castillo, for their service to our community. I look forward to continuing to work closely together to deliver for our residents.”

The $450,000 funding for the Village of Virginia Gardens Police Department will be used to upgrade technology infrastructure such as communications systems, surveillance equipment, and data analytic tools to improve officer coordination and efficiency.

The $500,000 funding for the Miami Springs Police Department will be used to upgrade six marked Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) which will make communities safer, help improve visibility for officers, deter crime, and create greater interactions within the community.

These projects received funding through the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, which was approved by Congress and signed by the President on January 23, 2026.

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart represents Florida’s 26th Congressional District and serves as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. He is the Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation and has a longstanding, successful track record of delivering crucial funding to support the safety and improve the quality of life for South Florida.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, DC — Representative Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee (BHUA), pressed Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler for information on the exports of U.S.-made semi-automatic weapons. The letter comes after recent reporting exposed that weapons flowing from the U.S. to Mexico are fueling some of the country’s most violent crimes.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), legal U.S. firearm exports are responsible for almost 20 percent of crime gun traces in Central America and over 37 percent globally outside of North America. Without adequate controls, these legal firearm exports end up in the hands of militia, cartels, and other criminal actors abroad.

“As this Administration attempts to combat cartels and other transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere, it must ensure that the illicit and legal flow of U.S.-made weapons across our borders are not contributing to instability and violence and undercutting the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” wrote the lawmakers.

As Ranking Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, the lawmakers are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA). Under ECRA, the Commerce Department is required to provide the ranking members of the two committees any information obtained pursuant to the law “upon the request of the chairman or ranking minority member” of “a committee or subcommittee of Congress of appropriate jurisdiction.”

“Given our concerns, we request that you make the following information available in writing to our committees regarding semi-automatic firearms and associated accessories,” wrote the lawmakers, pressing for key information about the total number of licenses approved for firearm exports, a list of countries to which the exports were approved, a detailed accounting of all prior notifications provided to Congress, and more by April 13, 2026.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

ZELIENOPLE, PA — Today, during a ceremony in Zelienople, Butler County, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) presented $1.2 million in Community Project Funding to the Harmony Fire District for a critical public safety project benefitting the Zelienople and Harmony communities.

Funding for this project will be used to replace aging apparatus and front-line response vehicles, including a rescue engine, to ensure more reliable and efficient emergency response capabilities. The Harmony Fire District serves four municipalities, two of which rank among the top five fastest-growing communities in Pennsylvania. The investment aims to support the district’s ability to meet increasing service demands and enhance safety for both residents and first responders.

“Each year, as we select Community Project Funding, we always seek projects that will deliver the best return in taxpayer investment. This project certainly does that,” said Rep. Kelly. “The Harmony Fire District serves some of the fastest-growing communities in Pennsylvania. This project will help the community not only for today, but for years to come.”

The funding for this project was included in the fiscal year 2026 budget, which was signed into law in November 2025.

BACKGROUND

In 2023, Kelly secured $1.5 million for the construction of the Harmony Fire District. The 10,000 sq. ft. facility allows for response to any fire inside the district within 8 minutes. The relocation of the facility, which will be more centrally located in the Zelienople community, is a critical step in ensuring that the 9,000 residents of the fire district are equally provided services and will ensure that all health/safety/welfare for the residents is retained. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris M.D. (MD-01) sent a letter to Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson urging the state to apply for TSA’s Screening Partnership Program (SPP) following reports of five-hour long wait times at Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI).

The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) allows airports to use private security contractors under federal oversight while maintaining all TSA standards. Airports in the program, including San Francisco International Airport and Kansas City International Airport, have avoided the severe delays seen at many TSA-run checkpoints, even during funding lapses. As TSA works to rebuild its workforce, SPP offers a proven long-term solution to prevent disruptions at BWI.

Statement from Congressman Harris:

“Five-hour security lines at BWI are unacceptable for Marylanders and the millions of travelers who rely on this airport. President Trump’s emergency order to fund TSA agents will ease immediate strain, but restoring full staffing and operations will take time. Airports in the Screening Partnership Program are not experiencing the delays seen at BWI. Maryland should apply now to ensure this does not happen again at BWI.”

Full text of the letter can be viewed here. 

For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger and member of the House Armed Services Committee, is calling on Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers to hold public hearings on Trump’s war of choice with Iran.

In a letter signed by every Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, Crow and his colleagues argued that the Trump Administration’s military action against Iran necessitates that the Department of Defense immediately testify before the Committee in a public setting. There, Administration officials would have to explain their rationale and endgame for the war to the American people.

“We are deeply troubled by the lack of transparency from the Trump Administration and the Department of Defense and its failure to keep the Congress and the American people informed,” Crow and his colleagues wrote. “We remain concerned by the ever-shifting strategic and operational objectives of the conflict and lack of clarity regarding the possible use of U.S. ground forces in the region… Our questions remain unanswered about the costs incurred, including daily operations, lost and damaged equipment, munitions expenditures, and reports that the administration plans to ask Congress for a $200 billion supplemental.”

The Administration’s war with Iran has already resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers and an additional 290 wounded, and it has threatened the domestic and global economy and the stability of the Middle East.

Crow has repeatedly condemned Trump’s illegal war of choice in Iran. As an Army Ranger who grew up in a working-class family and served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow saw firsthand the repercussions of forever wars on servicemembers and hard-working Americans. He voted to reclaim Congressional authority over war with Iran, and he called for Donald Trump and his cronies to end their military adventurism.

Crow has outlined a new vision for American foreign policy that ends forever war and answers to working-class Americans over elites.

 

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

 Today, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) announced she secured $20,323,488 in federal grant funding for the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor to support a wide range of research initiatives, including aging, nursing, neurological disorders, cancer, and more. The funding comes from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was made possible by Congresswoman Dingell’s advocacy. 

“I am proud to have secured this federal funding to bolster the University of Michigan’s leadership in research and innovation.” said Congresswoman Dingell. “These federal grants are a powerful investment in the health, safety, and well-being of our communities, and I will continue working to deliver federal resources to Michigan that secure better treatments and improve patient outcomes.”

Projects receiving funding include:

1. $3,824,37 for Pharmacology Physiology and Biological Chemistry Research
2. $2,382,662 for Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolic Research                                       
3. $2,063,918 for Cancer Research                                            
4. $4,278,492 for Clinical Research Related to Neurological Disorders                                 
5. $613,304 for Biological Research Related to Deafness and Communicative Disorders
6. $42,632 for Allergy Immunology and Transplantation Research                                        
7. $312,000 for Oral Diseases and Disorders Research                                     
8. $99,747 for Senior International Fellowship Awards Program                                            
9. $666,732 for Nursing Research                                              
10. $1,369,591 for National Center for Sleep Disorders Research                                            
11. $2,881,291 for Human Genome Research                                         
12. $1,732,842 for Aging Research                                              
13. $32,130 for Research for Mothers and Children                                            
14. $43,588 for Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs

A full list of projects receiving grant funding can be found HERE.

HHS is the largest grant-making agency in the United States. Most HHS grants are provided directly to states, territories, tribes, and educational and community organizations, then distributed to eligible individuals and organizations. For more information on HHS grants, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Joe Wilson (2nd District of South Carolina)

Washington, DC – Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) introduced the bipartisan ‘Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026’ to enhance the U.S. government’s international engagement as it relates to the security, installation, maintenance, and repair of subsea fiber-optic cables. The bill calls for increased U.S. government engagement in certain international bodies related to subsea cables and calls for additional investments in Department of State resources to advance U.S. interests on subsea cables. 

“Russia and China are attacking our critical infrastructure. Using sabotage, terrorism, and other underhanded tactics, they seek to weaken us below the threshold of all-out war. We must ensure we have the tools to counter this shadow warfare—this legislation provides that. I am grateful to partner with Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Barrasso, and Ranking Member Meeks to advance this legislation,” said Rep. Wilson.

“Subsea cables underpin all modern civilian and military infrastructure. The United States and our allies and partners must be prepared to deter and combat attacks by Russia and China on this crucial technology. Stopping subsea cable sabotage is vital to our national security, and this bill puts the economic weight of the U.S. government behind these efforts. I am proud to partner with Rep. Wilson and our bipartisan Senate colleagues on this important legislation,” said Rep. Meeks. 

Key provisions of the bill:

• Calls for increased diplomatic efforts with U.S. allies and partners to address the security, maintenance and repair of subsea fiber-optic cables, including by requiring the Department of State to hire at least two dedicated, full-time staff to advance these efforts;
• Strengthens U.S. government engagement in international bodies such as the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) to advance U.S. interests;
• Requires the President to impose sanctions against foreign individuals who have intentionally damaged subsea fiber-optic cables;
• Requires the President to establish an interagency committee to coordinate efforts related to subsea fiber-optic cables and mandates a federal strategy to work with industry partners, streamline permitting and to prepare for malicious threats and;
• Requires federal agencies to develop procedures to ensure the timely communication of threat information with private subsea cable operators and owners to improve their situational awareness and prepare protective measures.

The full text of the bill is available here.  

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2026, which would require all health insurers to directly reimburse a divorced parent who pays for reimbursable out-of-pocket medical expenses. In a divorce, one parent typically is court-ordered to provide health insurance for a child, but the other parent may pay for reimbursable out-of-pocket medical expenses. Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, group health insurers are required to directly reimburse the parent who pays for reimbursable out-of-pocket medical expenses. However, other health insurers are not required to do so. This issue was raised by one of Norton’s constituents.

“Families facing divorce are experiencing significant hardship,” Norton said. “My bill would ensure that children are getting necessary medical care while easing administrative burdens on families.”

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2026

March 30, 2026

Today, I introduce the Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2026.  This bill would require all health insurers to directly reimburse a custodial parent for any out-of-pocket medical expenses for a child incurred by such parent if a court directs a non-custodial parent (including a stepparent) to provide health insurance for the child.

In a divorce, one parent is typically court-ordered to provide health insurance for a child.  However, the other parent may pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses for the child that are reimbursable by the insurer.  Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, group health insurers are required to directly reimburse a parent who pays for reimbursable out-of-pocket medical expenses when the other parent has been court-ordered to provide health insurance for a child.  However, other health insurers are not required to do so. This bill would require all health insurers to do so.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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