MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Today, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) once again urged leaders at the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory to respond to Ypsilanti Township community concerns directly and decisively regarding the proposed data center project. The new letter to University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso and Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Dr. Thom Mason follows growing concerns from community members that the project will adversely impact their local infrastructure and quality of life. Congresswoman Dingell ended the letter with a series of questions with the goal of gaining greater clarity for Michiganders asking similar questions about the project.

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

Dear President Grasso and Director Mason:

This is another communication to express my continued deep frustration with the lack of transparency, meaningful community engagement, and clear communication surrounding the proposed University of Michigan-Los Alamos data center.

For more than two years, I have repeatedly urged the University of Michigan to work openly and honestly with Ypsilanti Township. The University of Michigan has not been transparent it its work with the community. Instead, residents and government officials continue to be left with more questions than answers about a project that will impact their community, infrastructure, and quality of life.

As you know, frustration, fear, and anger culminated on June 16, 2026, when the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees voted to formally oppose the project, citing its designation as a “Tier 1 High Value Target Risk.” It is unacceptable that the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory continue to move forward while ignoring the serious concerns and questions raised by residents and elected officials.

I previously called on the University to hold a real townhall on this project, where members of the community could publicly ask their questions and receive answers. Instead, the University opted for a one-sided “open house” to give a presentation amplifying this project. Not only did this “open house” fail to answer questions, but it also contributed to increasing anxieties and concerns surrounding the project.

Now, to only exacerbate confusion, I have been told repeatedly by residents of Ypsilanti Township and surrounding communities this facility is involved in producing nuclear weapons and studying defense capabilities. These statements and unanswered questions underscore the consequences of failing to communicate clearly and transparently with the public. I once again urge the University of Michigan and Los Alamos to hold a real public townhall with community dialogue where community concerns are specifically addressed.

My constituents in Ypsilanti Township have the right to be given a full, complete, and accurate understanding of the impacts and work of this project with specific answers to questions on the impacts on local energy demand, water usage, noise pollution, public safety, emergency response capacity, and municipal resources.

Given the significant gravity of these issues, I am asking for specific answers to the following questions by Friday, July 10, 2026. These are questions I hear repeatedly from my constituents and local officials that remain unanswered. I will make the answers to these questions publicly available.

1. Will the University of Michigan-Los Alamos data center be used to produce nuclear weapons?
    
2. Will this data center have the capabilities to produce nuclear weapons?
    
3. How would this data center’s “computational nuclear weapons modeling research” impact the advancement of nuclear military technology?
    
4. Does the primary mission of this data center involve the production of materials needed to activate nuclear weapons?
    
5. Will this data center study nuclear defense capabilities?
    
6. Does the University of Michigan have contracts with the U.S. Department of War, previously known as the U.S. Department of Defense?
    
7. Will this data center store or handle hazardous materials?
    
8. What are the University of Michigan and Los Alamos doing to protect Ypsilanti Township from the effects this data center will have on local energy demand?
    
9. How will the University of Michigan and Los Alamos ensure that Ypsilanti Township residents do not face increased energy costs?
    
10. What are the University of Michigan and Los Alamos doing to protect Ypsilanti Township from the effects this data center would have on local water demand?
     
11. What are the University of Michigan and Los Alamos doing to protect Ypsilanti Township from the noise pollution caused by data centers of this size?
     
12. What are the University of Michigan and Los Alamos doing to address the burden that a data center of this size places on Ypsilanti Township and the project’s tax-exempt status?
     
13. What are the University of Michigan and Los Alamos doing to address the burden this project places on the Ypsilanti Township police and other emergency services and first responders?
     
14. What will the University of Michigan and Los Alamos do to ensure the safety of Ypsilanti Township residents based on the project’s classification as a “Tier 1 High Value Target Risk?”
     
15. If the University of Michigan and Los Alamos move forward with the Willow Run location for this project, what are the plans for the property purchased on Textile Road?
     
16. In a June 2026 article, a representative of the University of Michigan stated that “the University continues to evaluate multiple factors and sites related to the project.” What are the sites the University is considering for this project?
     
17. A December 2024 memo to the Michigan Strategic Fund Board states that “the project will be located on a 20-acre property in Ypsilanti Township.” The Textile Road property purchased for this project is 124 acres. Why has the project expanded since the original planning?
18. Why was Ypsilanti Township selected as the site of this project?
     
19. What benefits will the University of Michigan and Los Alamos provide to the community hosting this data center?
     
20. The project has been referred to as a “economic development magnet.” How would this project attract economic opportunities for Ypsilanti Township? What start-ups or high-tech businesses, potential tenants, and collaborators have expressed interest in Ypsilanti Township because of this project?
     
21. What are the University of Michigan and Los Alamos doing to address the lack of transparency surrounding this project and better communicate with the Ypsilanti Township?

This level of uncertainty and confusion regarding a project of this magnitude is unacceptable, and because of this lack of transparency, Ypsilanti Township does not want you as a neighbor. The Ypsilanti Township community deserves transparency, accountability, and engagement from those seeking to operate in their community.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your timely response.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03), along with Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21) and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), led 21 New Democrat Coalition members in demanding answers from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) response to the emergence of New World Screwworm (NWS) and urging the Trump Administration to provide ranchers, farmers, and producers with the tools they need to contain the outbreak.

“Across the livestock sector, producers and industry experts have made clear that they are prepared to work with USDA to eradicate this pest again,” the members wrote. “Right now, in the face of this serious and quickly developing situation, ranchers and farmers want real solutions, not excuses or finger pointing. It is time to take responsibility for events that occur under your leadership and move forward to work to improve the situation.”

Davids and her New Dem colleagues are urging USDA to prioritize transparency, coordination, and science-based response. After years of drought, higher costs, and shrinking cattle herds, ranchers need clear federal guidance and a fast, effective plan to protect livestock and livelihoods. The last thing they need is a new parasite threatening herds and pushing beef prices even higher.

During a previous U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing, Davids questioned Secretary Rollins on the recent detection of New World Screwworm and the threat it faces everyday Kansans. Analysts estimate that even a limited NWS outbreak could cost producers approximately $732 million per year and result in $1.8 billion in total losses. The cattle industry alone represents a $15 billion sector in Kansas.

You can read the full letter here, and below:

Dear Secretary Rollins:

On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed New World Screwworm (NWS) larvae in a calf in Zavala County, Texas, approximately 60 miles from the southern border. In the days since, USDA has confirmed additional cases in Texas and New Mexico. The arrival of NWS is unfortunate and was potentially preventable if certain programs and staff at USDA and across the government had been retained. The reality for ranchers and producers across the southwest is that NWS is here. The administration must now recommit to transparency and proactive communication with stakeholders and the public about the situation, while also taking appropriate steps to ensure that producers in border states are prepared and have the necessary tools to prevent further spread.

Across the livestock sector, producers and industry experts have made clear that they are prepared to work with USDA to eradicate this pest again. While NWS is not a food safety concern, it is vital that we protect animal health and American agriculture. Right now, in the face of this serious and quickly developing situation, ranchers and farmers want real solutions, not excuses or finger pointing. It is time to take responsibility for events that occur under your leadership and move forward to work to improve the situation. In line with that reality Congress requests the following information by July 1st, 2026:

• Resources and staffing. What personnel, equipment, and sterile-fly resources is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) deploying to the ongoing response, including any resources drawn from the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program and the National Veterinary Stockpile? If detections multiply, is current staffing sufficient, and what is the surge plan? Please also provide current specific staffing levels for APHIS by mission area, including the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, APHIS Veterinary Services, and the border inspection workforce, including Tick Riders. Please identify any positions within APHIS that have been eliminated or relocated since January 20th, 2025. Further, please identify any positions that were eliminated and since restored within APHIS since January 20th, 2025. Did any employees who were working on NWS opt into the deferred resignation program? In 2025, the Trump administration cut funding for animal disease monitoring projects funded through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and operated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This included the termination of projects dedicated to monitoring and containment of NWS in Central America. What role did USDA have in the cancellation of FAO grants or funding to other organizations or governments working to contain or surveil NWS?

• Surveillance zones. USDA has announced a 20-kilometer Infested Zone, and your Response Playbook also calls for an Adjacent Surveillance Zone and a Fly Surveillance Area reaching up to 200 kilometers. What zones, surveillance measures, or planning are now in effect for affected counties in Texas and New Mexico? Please include trapping density, inspection requirements, movement certificates, outreach to veterinarians and animal owners, and 14-day trace-back measures. Please also provide data on what samples from the trap network deployed along the border have shown, and what USDA has learned from the location of these detections about any gaps, blind spots, or limits in the existing surveillance network.

• Wildlife surveillance. Wildlife surveillance is often difficult, and white-tailed deer, exotic game, and feral hogs are abundant across the affected region. How is USDA APHIS Wildlife Services coordinating with the Department of the Interior and with state wildlife agencies such as Texas Parks and Wildlife, to conduct wildlife surveillance, manage infested carcasses, and keep wildlife from sustaining the outbreak?

• Human health. What is the joint USDA-HHS plan, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health departments, to monitor and prevent human cases?

• Sterile fly supply. USDA has activated the Moore Air Base sterile fly dispersal facility in Texas, but the country still depends on a single operating sterile fly production facility in Panama. USDA has projected that Mexico’s Metapa facility will reach 60 to 100 million sterile flies per week once renovated and that the south Texas facility will reach 300 million per week, while estimated need is 400 to 500 million per week. When will the Moore Air Base production facility produce its first fly? What is USDA’s interim plan to bridge the supply gap, and what additional resources or authorities are needed to meet demand? Has USDA validated modular, field-deployable SIT production units? And what is the status of NovoFly, the male-only genetically engineered strain developed by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and now under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review that could roughly double sterile-fly output, including any discussions with Mexican authorities about adopting it to strengthen the shared barrier?3 Given that sterile fly dispersal is critical to stop the spread, and the Moore facility will not be operational for some time, for how long do you expect the current outbreak to persist?

• Interstate movement and coordination with the states. The detections are no longer confined to one county or one state. How is USDA coordinating with the Texas Animal Health Commission, New Mexico authorities, and State Animal Health Officials in the states that receive Texas and New Mexico cattle? What interstate movement and certification requirements now apply, and how will USDA ensure movement controls protect animal health without needlessly disrupting interstate commerce?

• Border and trade. Since the detection of NWS, Canada has issued partial import restrictions on U.S. livestock. Please outline how you are working with trade partners to ensure continuity of trade flows. How are you working with trade partners on regionalization agreements, and please provide assessments for the overall impact on beef and cattle trade.

• Dairy.  Dairy cows produce milk every day that must be moved or dumped, so a quarantine harms a dairy from day one. The FDA has authorized treatments for lactating dairy cattle, including a May 2026 emergency use authorization for doramectin, but milk-discard and withdrawal periods carry real costs for producers. What is the USDA doing to ensure affordable, reliable access to treatments and support any quarantined dairies?

• Economic Impact. Based on the current situation and USDA modeling, what is the expected impact on the Texas and New Mexico economies and the broader cattle sector? In a recent economic analysis, the USDA estimated that a large outbreak in Texas could cost producers $1.8 billion. How does that estimate compare to an estimate for a more contained outbreak? What would a large outbreak in New Mexico or another state cost producers?

The United States eradicated New World Screwworm once before through sustained federal leadership, scientific expertise, coordination with producers and states, and the resources necessary to meet the threat. USDA can succeed again with adequate staffing, reliable sterile-fly capacity, clear timelines, science-based movement protocols, and close coordination with state animal health officials and affected stakeholders. That response is essential to protect the health of the nation’s livestock, safeguard producers’ livelihoods, and drive this pest out again. We stand ready to work with you to ensure the federal response has the resources, coordination, and urgency needed to succeed.

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new federal funding for U.S. communities through the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup grant program. The EPA awarded Giles County a $3,693,800 cleanup grant to support cleanup activities at local brownfield sites owned by the former Leas & McVitty/New River Tannery. 

Congressman Griffith continues to voice his support for the Brownfields Program, which delivers millions of dollars to Southwest Virginia communities to help with potential economic development projects. 

Following the EPA grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Redevelopment of brownfield sites in Virginia’s Ninth District are promising projects that account for economic growth potential. 

“This EPA Brownfields Grant for nearly $3.7 million helps Giles County conduct brownfield site cleanup activities.”

BACKGROUND

In 2025, Congressman Griffith announced that LENOWISCO Planning District Commission received multiple Brownfield-related grants from the EPA. That funding supported community-wide assessments of local brownfields.

Since 2019, other Ninth District communities to receive Brownfields Program funding include Pennington Gap in Lee County, Dublin and Pulaski in Pulaski County, Bluefield in Tazewell County, Martinsville City and Bristol City. Data available here.

Before his July 2025 appointment as Health Subcommittee Chairman, Congressman Griffith chaired the Subcommittee on Environment.

In March of 2025, Congressman Griffith chaired a hearing on the EPA’s Brownfields Program. Scott County Native and LENOWISCO Planning District Commission Executive Director Duane Miller testified to the panel and discussed the Program’s importance to Southwest Virginia communities.

LENOWISCO Planning District Commission serves the Counties of Lee, Wise and Scott and the City of Norton.

The Brownfields Program empowers states, communities and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse brownfields.

A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.

Brownfield Assessment grants provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments and community outreach.

According to the EPA, Assessment Coalition grants are designed for one “lead” eligible entity to partner with two to four eligible entities that do not have the capacity to apply for and manage their own EPA cooperative agreement and otherwise would not have access to Brownfields grant resources.

Congressman Griffith’s e-newsletter on the Program can be found here.

In March 2026, Congressman Griffith’s remarks during a legislative hearing on the EPA Brownfields Program can be found here.

Leas McVitty Inc. was a prominent tannery which opened in 1894 in Giles County due to the abundance of locally available timber which was used in the tanning industry.

Leas McVitty also owned facilities in Pennsylvania and Salem, Virginia.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Latta Pushes for Full Energy and Commerce Committee Consideration of the Ratepayer Protection Act

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s The Briefing with Jen Psaki where he highlighted how Democrats remain laser-focused on the issues of importance to the American people, like lowering costs, fixing our broken healthcare system and cleaning up corruption.

JEN PSAKI: As promised, joining me now is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. I have so much to ask you about, including, of course, the races in New York last night. But before we get to that, you’re the Democratic Leader. It seemed like one of the craziest days on Capitol Hill in some time. And I just have to start by asking you about Trump’s abrupt refusal to sign this strikingly bipartisan housing legislation and his simultaneous demand that Republicans move forward with a voter suppression bill instead. What were you thinking as you watched that all happen this morning?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, listen, Donald Trump has once again made clear that Republicans would rather make it harder to vote than easier to live in an affordable way—in this particular instance, easier to purchase or rent a home that is affordable. And that’s consistent with basically what Donald Trump had been saying to the American people, that he believes the affordability crisis is a hoax, that he loves inflation and that he doesn’t care about the personal financial situation of the American people. And today was really powerful Exhibit A, that he would detonate a bipartisan housing bill. And I’m thankful for the leadership of Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Senator Elizabeth Warren. House Democrats stood squarely behind that leadership in the House, by once-and-future Chairwoman Maxine Waters, to get to a good place, take a meaningful step forward for the American people as part of our effort to continue to do all that we can to drive down the high cost of living. Donald Trump had a chance to try to tout a bipartisan success, and he blew it all up in ways that are extraordinary.

JEN PSAKI: I think he’s a little insecure about his own hold on power. That’s my calculation there. Let’s talk about the primaries in New York last night. I know you’ve spoken about it a little bit. Obviously, there were a diversity of candidates who won in different districts across the state of New York and other places in the country. But there were three races, and we got to talk about those, where you were on a different side than Mayor Mamdani. And he said in the last hour to my colleague Chris Hayes that what we saw last night was a rejection of status quo politics. What do you say to that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I was involved in two of those races, supporting my colleagues, Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, and, of course, I’m deeply appreciative for their service to the country and the Congress. Certainly Dan Goldman and the role that he’s played in trying to hold Donald Trump accountable and Adriano Espaillat, who’s been a champion for immigrant communities, pushing back against ICE, fighting to bring resources back to the people of Harlem, Washington Heights and The Bronx. And I was proud to stand in support of them, and if I had to do it all over again, I’d do exactly the same thing. But we understand, in the House in particular, that primaries are a way of life. The House was intended by the framers to be the institution closest to the American people. We’re proud of that. To constantly try to reflect the hopes, the dreams, the aspirations, the fears, the concerns, the anxieties, the life experiences and the passions of the American people. And that’s why we stand for election every two years. And the reality of serving in the House is that every cycle, there’s often just a handful of incumbents who, for one reason or the other, fall short of reelection. And last night, of course, that happened twice.

JEN PSAKI: There’s been a lot of speculation out there about your relationship with the Mayor, and he was just asked about this on with Chris Hayes. I wanted to play that for you and talk about it with you as well.

RECORDING OF CHRIS HAYES: What are you looking for in your conversation with Leader Jeffries tonight?

RECORDING OF MAYOR MAMDANI: You know, I appreciate the relationship that I have with Leader Jeffries, and it’s one where we’re united in looking to deliver for the people of the city. And as you heard from him, we have disagreements about endorsements. And I think you mentioned a number of those candidates that I was proud to endorse in Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez and Brad Lander. And also, at the end of the day, what we’re looking to do is to deliver to the working people of New York City, and I think last night we heard from New Yorkers a hunger for exactly that kind of work being done here in our city.

JEN PSAKI: Chris said you two are going to speak tonight. I don’t expect you to tell me everything you plan to say or talk about. But broadly speaking, what’s the message going to be? What are you hoping to get out of that phone call?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I think as the Mayor indicated, the Congressional delegation, I won’t speak for them, but certainly we intend to continue to do all that’s necessary to work with our partners in state and city government, including the Mayor, to make life more affordable for the people that we’re privileged to represent and to improve their quality of life. At the end of the day, that’s why we’re all in office. And in a moment like this, we really have to move forward together on the governing side in an all-hands-on-deck fashion because we’re dealing with a level of extremism that Donald Trump and the Republicans are unleashing on the American people that is unprecedented. It’s one of the reasons why, of course, at the end of the day, our focus here in Washington is actually trying to defeat Republicans and to flip back control of the House of Representatives so we can end this national nightmare and continue to move our country toward a more perfect union. That’s not the place that we’re in right now. And so, I look forward to the conversation that will have. I think we’ve both been clear that we’ve agreed to disagree on some of these endorsements. There were two endorsements where we were on the opposite side. I, of course, standing with my colleagues in the New York Congressional Delegation, I’m proud of the fact that several other of my colleagues, of course, decisively won reelection, whether that’s Grace Meng or Ritchie Torres, Yvette Clarke, just to name a few. For whatever the reason, those races didn’t catch a lot of attention. I’m also thankful for the fact that we finally have some resolution. We had at least two strong candidates in New York’s 17th Congressional District currently being rented by Mike Lawler. But Cait Conley emerged. She’s a decorated, courageous, patriotic combat veteran. For whatever the reason, that race hasn’t gotten a lot of attention, even though Mike Lawler right now is shaking in his boots because Cait Conley is going to flip that seat in November and help us deliver a majority in the House of Representatives.

JEN PSAKI: She has a huge, huge shot in that race, and we’ll look forward to talking to her too. It wasn’t called by the time we had the show last night. Let me ask you about another issue because elections and the outcomes of them—it was a diverse array of candidates, as you just said, who won last night. You can reflect on where voters are, and maybe you can learn sometimes from where voters are. And one of the other things that Chris and Mayor Mamdani talked about was Israel and the issue of support for Israel. And this was a real issue in these three races where Mayor Mamdani endorsed candidates who did win. As you said, you were involved in two of those races. As you look to the outcome of those races, and you look to the people who are going to be coming and representing those districts, I mean, one of the things he said is that I think that Israel played a major role—he was asked about the Lander-Goldman race—”because New Yorkers have had to watch as tens of billions of our tax dollars have been spent on bombs that not only shred international law, but the lives of civilians.” How have you reflected on the message voters have sent on that particular issue coming out of last night?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, no, you know, that’s a very interesting question and New York City, like many other places, has a variety of different folks who have different views on a whole host of issues, both domestic, of course, which I think the affordability crisis continues to be the highest priority for the American people and our focus will continue to be drive down the high cost of living, make life more affordable, fix our broken healthcare system and, of course, clean up corruption wherever it may be found here in Washington, D.C., particularly as it relates to the Supreme Court and the Trump administration. Now, in terms of the issues related to Israel and the Middle East, I think at least I ca speak to my perspective, which is that I support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. I support the aspirations of the Palestinian people to achieve the dignity, respect, autonomy and self-determination that they appropriately desire. And we need to find a just and lasting peace between Israelis and the Palestinian people, which for me means a real authentic commitment to a two-state solution. A safe and secure Israel living side-by-side with a prosperous Palestinian state designed to achieve dignity and self-determination for the Palestinian people. Now, in terms of the races in New York, what’s interesting is that it certainly was the case that in some of those districts, which tended to be higher-income districts in many parts of New York City, there was an outsized focus on issues connected to the Middle East. In other districts, for instance, in the South Bronx, Ritchie Torres was running against somebody who was heavily critical of Ritchie Torres’ position on Israel, and he won by 50 points. And so, listen, I think at the end of the day, individual congressional districts, the beauty of it all, are made up by a diverse group of people who have a diverse set of perspectives on a wide variety of issues. I think for us as House Democrats, we’re just hopeful that everybody recognizes once we get through this primary season that the enemy is Donald Trump and MAGA extremism, in terms of trying to bring about the type of America that we all desire, where when you work hard and play by the rules, working-class folks can live a comfortable life, an affordable life and a good life. That shouldn’t be too much to ask for in the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world.

Full interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his U.S. House Appropriations Committee today approved its final Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding bill – the Defense Appropriations Act. 

The measure, the twelfth of twelve annual federal funding measures considered by Appropriations, provides funding for federal agencies and programs in the Department of Defense (DoD) and intelligence community, including the military branches of services, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.

Case, who is in his eighth year on Appropriations, serves on its Subcommittee on Defense, which is responsible for developing the bill.  

Case voted against the FY 2027 Defense bill that proposes $1.1 trillion in discretionary spending, $234 billion more than the current fiscal year. Total defense spending would grow to nearly $1.5 trillion annually if combined with the proposed reconciliation, or mandatory spending, bill requested by the Present.

“While the measure funds many critical Hawai‘i and Indo-Pacific priorities I requested, I regrettably had to vote against this version because the proposed increase in total defense spending is not accompanied by any substantial Congressional oversight of such massive new spending levels, and comes as the Congressional majority and President Trump propose steep cuts to domestic programs that support working people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis,” said Case. (Click here to watch Case explain the flawed overall structure for the President’s funding request and the bill.)

Case also stressed that the bill embraced a partisan approach to various aspects of our nation’s security. For example, it fails to include the $400 million for the bipartisan Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, continues funding for a National Guard Reaction Force to be deployed into American cities and fails to provide any checks on the President’s military operations in Iran.

During the Committee’s debate over the bill, Case also spoke in strong opposition to recent actions by the Secretary of Defense to fire qualified military leaders and undermine military promotion boards that have become political rather than merit based, which has disproportionally targeted women and minorities. He explained that two recent military leaders that served in Hawai‘i were harmed by these purges – General Charles “CQ” Brown (former head of Pacific Air Forces and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs) and Admiral Stephen Barnett (former Head of Navy Region Hawai‘i).

Case warned of the negative message sent throughout the current and future officer corps and enlisted ranks and implications for recruitment, retention and merit-based service and advancement, asking rhetorically what the 75% of Hawai‘i that are minorities would consider their opportunities in the military to be. (See Case’s speech here.) 

Case also warned about the dangers of approving further funding for the Golden Dome missile defense program when the Department of Defense has failed to provide an overall plan and detailed information on the program and proposed spending which even at conservative estimates would cost over $1 trillion. (See Case’s speech here).

Despite his opposition to the bill, Case highlighted programs and provisions that he requested and secured in the Defense funding measure that are especially critical to Hawai‘i, including: 

·        Protecting the special contracting preference for Native Hawaiian businesses. 

·         $10 million for Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility long-term environmental monitoring, additional scientific studies and targeted remediation efforts to facilitate the permanent closure of the site. 

·         $10 million of additional funding for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program, which help address shared environmental concerns affecting the military and local communities in Hawai‘i.

·         $10 million to advance Indo-Pacific-focused advance manufacturing efforts in Hawai‘i.

·         $10 million of additional funding for Regional Centers for Security Studies, to include the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI-APCSS) in Honolulu.

·         $44 million to continue efforts to replace O‘ahu’s outdated air surveillance radar, which is needed to defend Hawai‘i from missile attacks. 

·        $309 million for the Navy’s Environmental Restoration program plus an additional $239 million for the cleanup of Formerly Used Defense Sites. These funds will help accelerate efforts to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) contamination and remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai‘i and throughout the nation. 

·        Funding for two Virginia-class fast attack submarines, which are critical to protecting the Indo-Pacific and are maintained at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.  

·         $160 million for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which maintains critical scientific laboratories at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

·         $264 million for the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, which helps defend Hawai‘i from ballistic missile threats.  

·        $202 million for the National Guard Youth Challenge Program to help at-risk youth improve life skills, academic achievement and employment potential – an increase of $100 million. These funds will help support Hawaii’s Youth Challenge Academy.  

·        $50 million for Impact Aid and $20 million for Impact Aid for children with disabilities, which help Hawaii’s public schools by partially reimbursing the cost of educating military children.  

·        Blocked efforts to change the command and control structure of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. There have long been efforts within the department to “streamline” control of forces under one command structure, which would limit the ability of Navy forces in Hawai‘i to respond quickly to changing threats in the Indo-Pacific region.  

Case requested and supported other programs and provisions in the measure that are especially critical to the broader Indo-Pacific, including: 

  ·        $18 million for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative (APRI) Program, managed by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. APRI supports a wide range of exercises, humanitarian assistance, programs and training symposiums that help expand U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific. The initiative is an important tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region.  

·        Continued support for providing humanitarian and other assistance by U.S. military Civic Action Teams in the Freely Associated States.  

·        $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative to increase Taiwan’s defense, readiness and deterrence capabilities. 

·        Carveout allowing Hawai‘i-based military hospitals to treat civilian patients from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Guam. 

General military-related programs and provisions supported by Case related to the DoD overall include:  

·        Providing a military pay raise of 7% for all military personnel ranked E-5 and below, 6% for E-6 to O-4, and 5% for O-4 and above. 

·        $917 million for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). The CDMRP fills research gaps by funding high impact, high risk and high gain projects that other agencies may not venture to fund.  

·        $15 million for the Military and Family Life Counseling Program, which provides counseling services to service members and their families to support operational readiness and resilience. 

A summary of the Defense Appropriations bill is available here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks in support of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)’s amendment to provide $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to support Ukraine’s military and national security forces in its war against Russia during the House Appropriations Full Committee Markup of the FY 2027 Defense bill. Below are a video and transcript of his remarks:

Click here to watch a video of his remarks.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank the gentlelady from Ohio, both for offering this amendment and for her extraordinary leadership and faithfulness in this cause. Helping the people of Ukraine defend their nation against Putin’s tyranny is a central battle in a global fight between democracy and despotism. That’s the issue here. It is not simply $400 million; it is whether or not America is going to continue to stay strong in the fight against despotism. America has a critical role to play in that fight, and this is something the House recognized recently on a bipartisan basis with passage of the Ukraine Support Act. 

“This amendment does not add any funding to this bill. It simply carves out $400 million from funds already appropriated herein and sets it aside specifically for [the] Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This is money well spent. This is money that will send a message. This is money that will reaffirm America’s continuing willingness to defend democracy. The Ukrainian military is making steady progress because of its growing technological edge, particularly in drone warfare. You already [know] about that. Our military is watching and learning so we can adopt those new technologies and tactics to strengthen our own capabilities. Spending $400 million to help Ukraine defeat Russia’s invasion is a much better bargain than spending $80 billion on a war in Iran. I hope the Senate will move swiftly on the Ukraine Support Act, and then we can come together to send the president’s legislation that includes funding for this program as well. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, two thirds of this committee [have] voted 12 times to support Ukrainian funding. 16 of the majority’s Members have supported it 100% of the time. Of those 12 votes, we only had one time when the majority of Republicans did not vote to support Ukraine – and that was [if] three votes changed on the Republican side, it would have been a majority of the Republicans. It was an extraordinary bipartisan statement – we were unanimous on our side – extraordinary statement of support for democracy, for freedom against the breaking of international law. And because we are an exceptional nation, we are the symbolic nation. We are the nation who says, ‘If we support you, you’re going to do well.’ And that is why our silence, essentially, for the last 24 months – actually [since] April of 2024 – is so deafening and so demoralizing for our Ukrainian friends and sends such a bad message to Putin of inaction.

“$400 million in a $1 trillion – $72 billion bill. But it will make a difference psychologically as well as militarily, because that $400 million will provide weapons that the Ukrainians badly need to meet the Russian threats of their bombing of Kyiv on a regular basis. 100% of the time, 16 of you have voted for Ukraine. I hope you do so one more time, because as the gentleman from Texas said, what America says matters. What America votes for matters. What this House does matters. As a result, I would hope that we could get a bipartisan vote on this piece of legislation. $400 million. During the course – I have 23 seconds – during the course of the amendment that we had on the Floor of the Ukraine Support Act, Member after Member rose and said, ‘You only have $300 million. We authorized $400 million. You’re cutting it $100 million.’ How ironic it would be for that debate to be that we cut $100 million when we can’t add the $400 million, which your side spoke about as us cutting, and therefore a reason not to support the Ukraine Support Act. This $400 million is exactly what has been authorized by the Defense Authorization Committee. We should take their advice, move on this, [and] send a message that America continues to be the defender of freedom and the opponent of despotism.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered opening remarks at the House Appropriations Full Committee Markup of the FY 2027 Defense bill. Below are a video and transcript of his remarks:
 

Click here to watch a video of his remarks.

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in concern about this bill. And yes, I will oppose the bill as it’s currently written. I listened to my dear friend Mr. Ellzey. Mr. Ellzey and I have become dear friends. I have extraordinary respect for him, and I agreed with what he had to say up to a point. First of all, let me associate myself with the remarks of our Ranking Member about process. There is no 302(b). This bill could be any figure. I could offer $1 trillion in addition to this bill, and nobody could respond, the Chairman couldn’t respond, ‘Oh, this is beyond the 302(b).’ There is no 302(b). There is no budget, there is no concept of what the tradeoffs are in this bill. That is its procedural weakness. There is no ‘pay for’ for this bill because there is no 302(b), so we don’t know how much will need to be paid for [it]. So, that we are all speaking about a $1 trillion bill, and who’s going to pay for it? My children, your children, our grandchildren. 

“But we say this is critically important to put on the table to make our country secure. I think there’s nobody, probably, other than Hal Rogers in this committee who served longer and supported more defense bills than I have. I was a very strong supporter of the Reagan bill, though. The MX missile approval and the deployment of the Pershing missiles that the Russians thought we couldn’t get done politically in Europe, that accomplishment, in my opinion, led to Gorbachev’s being able to convince his military industrial complex, ‘You need to go Glasnost and Perestroika, because we cannot compete with the Americans.’ So, I believe that investing in our defense is important. But I think even more important than that is our performance with respect to defense. It is my belief – and I will discuss this further when the amendment on Ukraine is offered – that our failure of the West in 2014 to respond to the Russian stealing of Crimea is the mother of this war that we now have in Ukraine, because it said to Putin, ‘We’re not going to respond to your criminal act.’ Now, a President that I supported was President of the United States at that point in time. The Congress nor the President responded in a vigorous way that would say, ‘No, sir, you cannot do that.’ 

“Today, we have a bill that has $1 trillion plus in it. We have spent, apparently, somewhere in the neighborhood of $79 billion over the last four months for an effort in Iran. The failure to respond effectively to Crimea’s theft and the extraordinary chaos and ineffective action that we’ve taken – which I call, ‘The art of the sellout.’ There’s no deal. A deal implies both sides are going to do something. But very frankly, I would call your attention to an article in The Washington Post by Max Boot [from] three days ago on the extraordinary failure of this Administration, and of the Secretary of Defense, and the DNI and, frankly, the Secretary of State, who seems to be like Pontius Pilate, washing his hands of this effort in Iran because he thinks it is so abysmally a failure. We remove a naval blockade, we waive export Iran’s crude oil sanctions, we release $24 billion in frozen funds, we facilitate $300 billion for [reconstructing] economic development in the Islamic Republic of Iran, we terminate all types of sanctions, and we allow – after 60 days – for Iran to charge fees in international waters for passage. What kind of message does that send to Russia? What kind of message does that send to China? What kind of message does that send to Iran? Iran thinks, probably, at this point in time, they’ve won. And yet we are about to invest in that leadership $1 trillion plus. A failed leadership. This Secretary of Defense calls 800 of the top-ranking officers – flag officers in the world to come to the Pentagon for a meeting. Does he have anything substantively to say? He did not.

“Mr. Chairman, I’m going to vote against this bill, but I’m going to argue that we certainly need to spend money. We need to spend money on industrialization, we need to spend money on acquisition, and we need to spend money on personnel. But I would add – and thank you for your time – I would add that underfunding the civilians who are so critically important to our defense effort in the Pentagon and in other agencies and government is a very bad mistake, which we have avoided in the past by having some degree of equality between civilians and the military; both critically important to our national security. I yield back the balance of my time. I’ll have more to say later.”

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

“Republicans choke on scripture while they pass legislation that is both sloppy and fatal, and nothing Christian about it, denying women the right to essential abortion care.”

“I come before you today to offer a stark and damning picture, not to dissuade us from the work ahead, but to call us to action.”

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) led a press conference with House Democratic Leadership to mark the fourth anniversary of the devastating Supreme Court Dobbs decision and offer her vision of seeing true reproductive justice realized and essential reproductive healthcare protected and expanded. In her remarks, Rep. Pressley made plain how Republicans’ denial of life-saving abortion care has stolen the lives of many women and left their families traumatized.

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks is available below and the video is available here.

Congresswoman Pressley joined impacted individuals and abortion storytellers last night to initiate a powerful day of action, offering a message of resilient community support and a commitment to ensure abortion care is treated as the fundamental human right it is. Video is available here.

In her time serving in Congress, Rep. Pressley has fought persistently to protect and advance reproductive justice and ensure fundamental life-saving reproductive health care for all.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42)

Today, the House Appropriations Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2027 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill was drafted by Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41), who serves as the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

“The passage of our annual defense appropriations bill fulfills our commitment to keep America safe and ensure the U.S. military remains the strongest fighting force in the world,” said Rep. Calvert. “Recent conflicts have highlighted the pressing need to acquire and produce the munitions, weapons, and technology our troops require to meet the moment in both modern and future warfare. The increased funding provided in this bill aims to achieve that urgent goal in addition to building off the defense innovation programs I have prioritized as Chairman. The Defense Innovation Unit, APFIT, and Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network (CRMN) are prioritized in the FY27 bill to get our warfighters access to game-changing technologies, weapons, and the tools they need to win on the battlefield. I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Tom Cole and support from members of our Committee in advancing this bill.”

Key Takeaways

Enhances America’s strategic military advantage by: 

• Providing $836 million to procure, for the first time, new-entrant low-cost munition systems and providing multiyear procurement authority.
• Providing over $7.5 billion for hypersonic weapons and test infrastructure.
• Providing over $2.9 billion for Defense Production Act (DPA), Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS).
• Accelerating delivery of capability to the warfighter through over $1.7 billion for Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT).
• Transforming autonomous and counter-small, unmanned aircraft system initiatives with $1 billion for the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) and $1.4 billion for the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401).

Strengthens support for service members and military families by: 

• Supporting President Trump’s priority of a military pay raise of 7% for all military personnel ranked E-5 and below, 6% for E-6 to O-4, and 5% for O-4 and above.
• Providing an additional $15 million for the Military and Family Life Counseling Program, which provides counseling services to service members and their families to support operational readiness and resilience.

Disrupts transnational drug trafficking by:  

• Providing $1.2 billion for counter-drug programs.
• Increasing funding for the National Guard Counter-Drug Program.
• Providing $464.8 million for United States Southern Command, which supports enhanced detection and monitoring, theater-wide operations, improved command and control, and increased force protection to pursue drug cartels and terrorist networks. 
• Transferring Mexico from United States Northern Command’s jurisdiction to United States Southern Command for better coordination and prioritization.

Optimizes the Department of Defense and improves transparency by: 

• Supporting business modernization efforts, including $250 million to accelerate the transition to a modern, secure, and audit-ready financial management environment.
• Digitizing acquisition processes through $72.5 million for Acquisition Visibility.  
• Protecting and preserving competition and readiness by mandating a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA).  
• Modernizing requirements and resourcing by including $140.1 million for the Mission Engineering and Integration Activity and $92.7 million for Acquisition Integration and Interoperability. 

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