Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)
Hudson Delivers Broadband Win for Rural Communities in NC-09
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09), who chairs the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced today that North Carolina has secured more than $1.5 billionof broadband funding through the Broadband Expansion, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program — a key step toward expanding high-speed internet access in rural communities across the Ninth District and North Carolina.
For years, broadband deployment in rural North Carolina was slowed by overburdensome federal red tape. Under President Trump and Chairman Hudson’s leadership, Congress advanced reforms to streamline connectivity, including the SPEED for BEAD Act, which cut bureaucratic barriers and gave states greater flexibility to move projects forward.
“Broadband dollars don’t connect a single home if they’re trapped in red tape,” said Congressman Richard Hudson. “By removing unnecessary and arbitrary requirements on implementing broadband, we’re making sure the best technology and connectivity can finally reach the rural communities that have waited far too long, so we can close the digital divide once and for all. I’m proud to say that we delivered for North Carolina and over half the nation with more to come.”
“I want to congratulate North Carolina on the approval of its BEAD Final Proposal to achieve universal connectivity for its citizens,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth. “By leveraging a smart mix of technologies tailored to the state’s unique needs—and securing strong private matching that puts real skin in the game—North Carolina delivered more than $1 billion in savings for taxpayers. This thoughtful approach exemplifies what it means to achieve the Benefit of the Bargain.”
North Carolina has one of the largest rural populations in the country, and many communities across NC-09 remain unserved or underserved by broadband. Until recently, BEAD deployment had been stalled nationwide due to lengthy timelines and duplicative federal reviews.
Hudson’s legislation streamlined those processes by establishing clearer timelines for approvals, reducing duplicative environmental and historic preservation reviews for low-impact projects, and restoring technology neutrality to allow providers to deploy the most effective solutions for rural areas.
As a result, broadband projects across North Carolina are now positioned to move forward more quickly, bringing high-speed connectivity to homes, businesses, schools, and emergency services throughout North Carolina.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)
(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the Kansas City Chiefs announced their relocation from Missouri to Kansas.
“When a major corporation leaves the city, it hurts badly but it will heal. When a major league franchise leaves the city, especially when it has become a part of the city’s culture, it damages the heart. The healing of the heart will last a generation, and even then, there might be a leaking valve.
“This is an extraordinarily disappointing outcome for Missourians, Chiefs fans, and taxpayers throughout western Missouri and eastern Kansas. With this announcement, I fear, comes the resumption of the economic border war between Missouri and Kansas, guaranteeing a race to the bottom that will lead to more subsidies for big businesses, paid for by fewer quality services for hardworking families and the communities we love.
“My heart breaks for the generations of Chiefs fans across Missouri who have demonstrated die-hard loyalty to this franchise through the hardest of times and the greatest of moments. They have been, and will continue to be, the greatest fans in sports.
“Kansas City has proven we are a major league destination, and as we move forward, we must do so together. City, County, and State officials must immediately turn their attention toward a coordinated and unified effort to retain the Royals and the benefits they bring to Kansas City and Jackson County. Our citizens deserve nothing less.”
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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) announced the reintroduction of the Gold Star Siblings Educational Benefits Act, legislation that would extend educational benefits to the surviving siblings of fallen or permanently disabled servicemembers and veterans who are unmarried and without children.
“Too often, the educational benefits earned by our fallen or permanently disabled servicemembers go unused simply because they have no surviving spouse or children,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “This bill closes that gap by ensuring surviving siblings, who directly share in the sacrifices military families make, are eligible to receive these benefits. This long-overdue, commonsense change honors the service of our nation’s heroes and the families who make that service possible.”
Background
Under current law, servicemembers and veterans may transfer educational benefits to a spouse or child if they meet one of the following criteria:
Are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability;
Died in the line of duty;
Died as a result of a service-connected disability;
Are missing in action or were captured by a hostile force for more than 90 days;
Were forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign entity for more than 90 days; or
Are hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and are likely to be discharged for that disability.
Currently, these benefits may only be transferred to a surviving spouse or child, leaving them unused when a servicemember or veteran is unmarried or has no children. The Gold Star Siblings Educational Benefits Act would correct this oversight by extending eligibility to surviving siblings.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) announced the reintroduction of the Supporting Military Families Exposed to Toxic Substances Act, legislation to extend U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits to eligible military and veteran family members exposed to toxic substances. Specifically, the bill would provide VA health care to family members and other individuals who lived or worked at certain military facilities and have been diagnosed with a presumptive service-connected disability resulting from toxic exposure.
“The impacts of toxic exposure are far-reaching, and for too long, our nation’s veterans have borne the long-term health consequences alone,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “While veterans are entitled to VA health care benefits, their family members – who were often exposed to the same harmful substances while living on military installations – are left without access to care.”
“The families who live on military sites alongside their loved ones face similar risks, yet their health needs have been overlooked for far too long,” Brownley continued. “This legislation closes a longstanding gap by extending VA health care benefits to military family members who were exposed to toxic substances while residing on military facilities. Caring for military families is consistent with the VA’s mission to care for those who have served, and for their families, caregivers, and survivors – and it is past time we ensure these families receive the health care they need.”
Background
Currently, veterans are awarded health care benefits when they have a presumptive service-connected disability. Disabilities are deemed presumptively service-connected when a veteran has a specific enumerated disability and is presumed to have been exposed to a toxic condition due to the location where the veteran served. For example, Hodgkin’s disease is presumptively service-connected if a veteran served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, because the veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange.
There are more than 20 presumptive service-connected disabilities recognized by the VA. However, individuals who lived or worked alongside veterans at these same locations – including spouses and family members – are not eligible for benefits, even when they develop the same conditions.
The Supporting Military Families Exposed to Toxic Substances Act would address this inequity by extending VA health care eligibility to family members and other individuals who meet specific criteria: they must be diagnosed with an enumerated presumptive service-connected disability; have been present at a location and during a time period recognized by the VA for presumptive exposure; and demonstrate that their condition did not result from another cause. Individuals would also be required to exhaust any claims against third parties before qualifying for VA health care. This framework mirrors the approach used in the Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012(Public Law No: 112-154).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Yesterday, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) used the cover of the holiday season to issue an internal memorandum reinstating a near-total ban on abortions and abortion counseling, ripping away access to healthcare from thousands of veterans. This cruel and dangerous move will harm veterans and damages trust in the very system that is supposed to protect them and serve their healthcare needs. Rather than waiting to finalize a proposed regulation on abortion care, VA took this action after receiving a December 18, 2025, Department of Justice legal opinion. This legally suspect policy decision reverses previous steps taken by VA under the Biden administration to ensure veterans received full access to a range of reproductive healthcare.
In the wake of the Dobbs decision, VA under the Biden administration immediately took regulatory action to preserve veterans’ access to necessary healthcare, publishing a rule that provided veterans access to abortion care in instances of rape, incest, and threat to life or health. VA also lifted a longstanding gag rule—allowing VA providers to discuss abortion with patients who were experiencing unwanted or high-risk pregnancies and pregnancy complications. Because veterans are more likely to experience complicated or high-risk pregnancies due to their service, this regulation was critical to ensuring their health and safety.
However, in August of this year, the Trump administration took its first steps to undo this progress, threatening veterans’ reproductive freedom and access to comprehensive healthcare. VA proposed a rule to reinstate a near-total ban on abortions and abortion counseling, with no exceptions in the case of rape, incest, or threat to health. This reversal will mean veterans have less access to abortion care than individuals covered by every other federal healthcare program, all of which at least cover this essential care in instances of rape, incest, and threat to life.
Democratic members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs are calling on the Trump administration to reverse this cruel decision and preserve veterans’ access to a full range of reproductive healthcare, including abortion and abortion counseling, through the VA.
“The Trump administration’s dangerous decision to roll back VA’s already limited abortion access is clearly driven by politics, not patient care,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health. “Denying women veterans access to essential reproductive care leaves doctors constrained from acting in their patients’ best interests, and patients at risk of preventable and health-threatening complications. Veterans’ access to health care should not shift with each administration, and women veterans should never be treated as collateral damage in political fights. To stop political interference in critical, life-saving medical care, I introduced the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act to safeguard women veterans’ access to reproductive health services. My Democratic colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that the VA delivers consistent, comprehensive care to all veterans — based on medical need, not political ideology.”
Brownley’s House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs colleagues also voiced their staunch opposition to the final rule.
“As a country, we made a solemn promise to honor veterans’ service and ensure they receive the healthcare they have earned. Veterans should be able to trust that promise and know they can walk into a VA medical center and receive the care they need,” said Ranking Member Takano.“Instead of trusting veterans to make the healthcare decisions that are best for them, VA is allowing political opinion to supplant its duty to veterans. Instead of allowing veterans to discuss all their healthcare options openly and honestly with their providers, VA has decided that the government should be in charge of making healthcare decisions, even in matters of life and death. And instead of fulfilling its duty to provide needed healthcare to veterans, VA has refused to acknowledge the unique and complex healthcare needs of veterans who are more likely to have complex health conditions that can increase the risks associated with pregnancy. Veterans fought for our rights. Now it’s our responsibility to fight for theirs.”
“You can’t thank a veteran for putting her body on the line for this country, then turn around and take away her right to control it. There is nothing patriotic about denying our nation’s heroes the care they deserve and the ability to determine their own futures,” said Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03).
“These actions are appalling. Women veterans put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms – now the Trump Administration is taking these very freedoms away,” said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-03). “Veterans step up to serve on the promise that we will take care of them when they come home – and that care should include the full reproductive services that women need to stay healthy. As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will fight back against this dangerous ban.”
“The Trump administration is taking away health care from veterans and their families who have served our country. They’re blocking access for veterans without even providing exceptions for rape or incest, interfering in deeply personal medical decisions,” said Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01). “VA is the only place some veterans can obtain counseling and reproductive care, so I will continue to do everything I can to fight this ban because extreme politicians should stay out of other people’s health care.”
“For years, our brave women in uniform put their lives on the line to defend the freedoms of every single American, but now the VA is refusing to do the same for them,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20). “VA’s new abortion ban is an attack on a woman’s fundamental right to bodily autonomy. But make no mistake – we will win this fight – in congress, in the courts, and in our communities.”
“We are seeing yet another heartless decision by the Trump administration to rip away healthcare from the American people, and this time from those who have put their lives on the line for our country. Our veterans deserve full access to timely, comprehensive medical care that allows them to live dignified lives. This abortion ban and any rollback of veterans’ healthcare undermines the mission of the VA, and House Democrats will not stand by and let this administration deny our veterans the care and respect they’ve earned through their service,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26).
“The Trump Administration is choosing to put veterans’ lives at risk by restricting their access to essential health care. It is dangerous, and it is wrong. This is a betrayal of the promise we make to veterans that we will care for them after they put their lives on the line for us. As an American and as a physician who has cared for patients at the VA, I am outraged. I urge the Trump Administration and VA leadership to immediately reverse this harmful decision and uphold their commitment to veterans,” said Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03), an OBGYN for more than 20 years.
“As a physician, I trained at the VA, where a sign at the entrance read: ‘The price of freedom is visible here.’ Our veterans sacrificed everything for this country, and in return, we promised them the best care possible. Denying veterans access to abortion is a profound betrayal of that promise. On the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I will fight relentlessly to reverse this ban and ensure veterans receive the full spectrum of reproductive freedom,” said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)
Washington, D.C.– Congressman Riley M. Moore today praised the release of Sunday Jackson, a Nigerian farmer who was sentenced to death after killing a Fulani Islamic radical in self-defense following an attack on his home, following a pardon issued by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
For months, Congressman Riley M. Moore has publicly called for Jackson’s release, raising the case for his release duringCongressional hearings, in media interviews, and in private meetings with senior Nigerian officials including meetingsin Washington D.C. and during his Congressional Delegation visitto Nigeria.
Sunday Jackson’s release is a positive development in the relationship between the Nigerian government and the United States which demonstrates a willingness by President Bola Tinubu and his government to work in coordination and cooperation with the United States to address the persecution of Christians.
Congressman Riley M. Moore released the following statement:
“Sunday Jackson is free! After more than a decade in prison serving a death sentence for defending himself, Sunday Jackson has been pardoned. Sunday is a Christian farmer who, like countless of other Christians in Nigeria, was brutally attacked by an Islamic radical. Sunday fought back in self-defense, killing his attacker. I have been advocating for Sunday’s release both in public and in private meetings, including during my recent Congressional Delegation visit to Nigeria.
There is much more to do, but I continue to see positive steps that my concerns and the concerns of President Trump are being taken seriously by the Nigerian government. I want to thank President Tinubu for his administration’s willingness to engage in continued constructive discussions with the U.S. Government on establishing a strategic security framework between our two countries to tackle the multifaceted security challenges facing Nigeria. The Nigerian government at the Federal and State level must ensure Sunday’s safety during and following his release.
Our Lord came to set the captives free, and now Sunday will be able to celebrate Christmas with his family. Thanks be to God!”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)
December 23, 2025
Today, Representative Joaquin Castro, Ranking Member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Representative Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding documents and information regarding reports that the administration terminated U.S. law enforcement agreements as part of a quid pro quo with El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, to enable third-country removals to the notorious CECOT prison.
“…Since our prior requests for information, it has been reported you personally spoke with President Bukele on March 13, 2025. In this discussion, you reportedly promised that the United States would terminate its informant arrangements with certain high-ranking members of MS-13 in U.S. custody who had been cooperating with law-enforcement so that the men could be turned over to El Salvador, preventing them from testifying in federal courts. In exchange, President Bukele would receive and detain Venezuelan nationals and other deportees from the United States. This quid pro quo was arranged in spite of the reported objection of officials from the Department of Justice, who warned that terminating the informant agreements risked undermining years of work and U.S. law-enforcement agencies’ ability to engage informants in the future…
“We remain deeply concerned that you would prioritize protecting President Bukele’s reputation over delivering justice for American victims of MS-13 crimes by agreeing to give up informants under U.S. protection whose knowledge and testimony is integral to ongoing federal investigations into MS-13 leadership, operations, and ties with President Bukele’s administration. Multiple credible reports have alleged that the Bukele government engaged in direct negotiations with MS-13 leadership between 2019 and 2021 to secure reductions in homicide rates and support for Bukele’s political party in exchange for prison privileges, political protection, or promises to stall gang leader extraditions. One of these leaders, César López Larios, who was facing serious charges including conspiracy to finance terrorism and support narco-terrorism, was deported to El Salvador two days after your reported March 13 conversation with Bukele.”
A PDF of the full letter can be found here.
This letter follows up on a letter Castro and Meeks sent in April requesting documents related to the bilateral deal struck with El Salvador. Contrary to the law, the State Department has refused to provide details on the bilateral agreement.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)
December 23, 2025
The Icon for Heart Angel, the Winner of Rep. Levin’s Congressional App Challenge
Oceanside, CA— Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) announced Catherine Wang as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for California’s 49th Congressional District. The local high school student created Heart Angel, an innovative CPR training and emergency response app designed to guide users through performing life-saving techniques. Catherine was inspired to create this app by her deeply personal recognition of the impact that proper CPR timing and technique have on saving lives.
“I was blown away by all the App Challenge submissions we received. Our district is home to so many bright and talented students creating the apps of the future,” said Rep. Levin. “Congratulations to Catherine on winning this year’s challenge. Her app goes beyond a traditional CPR learning tool by identifying the nearest AED and alerting first responders and nearby CPR-certified volunteers, helping ensure the public is better prepared to respond during an emergency.”
The second-place winner is Breez, an app created by Advaith Akella, Kiran Musson, and Revanth Akella. Breez allows users to report beach trash in three simple steps.
The third-place winner is an app created by Arya Balenga and Tyler Kim called Save & Serve. Save & Serve helps limit food waste by providing users with recipes that utilize their soon-to-expire ingredients.
The Congressional App Challenge was launched in 2015 as an effort to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, and to encourage students to learn coding and computer science skills. Students in participating congressional districts compete against their peers by creating original software applications. Winning apps are featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website, the Congressional App Challenge’s website, and are also displayed in an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol Building.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the Kennedy Center, Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), and Congressman Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) are leading more than 70 of their colleagues in Congress in calling on President Trump to reverse the illegal renaming effort and remove his name from the building immediately. The Kennedy Center is a national cultural institution and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy established by Congress, “and no board vote nor social media post has the legal authority to change the name without an act of Congress,” the members wrote.
They also cited firsthand accounts from ex-officio members of the board, like Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who were muted on the call and not given the opportunity to voice their opposition to the name change. “This decision was not reached by consensus and is a clear case of censorship,” they said.
“For more than 50 years, the Kennedy Center has stood, as intended by Congress, as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, who was a fierce champion of the arts and of free expression,” they wrote. “In contrast, your administration’s takeover earlier this year has already deeply damaged the Center’s reputation, leading to tanking ticket sales and cancelled performances. Audiences are being driven away and the livelihoods of the artists and workers who make the Center great are in danger.”
“We strongly condemn the Administration’s insistence on sullying President Kennedy’s legacy by further politicizing the Center,” the Members said. “We’ll be working to block this disgraceful renaming effort at every possible opportunity and restore the Kennedy Center’s rightful place as our nation’s cultural center without the burden of vanity projects or political influence.”
Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Congress passed a joint resolution renaming the National Cultural Center, established in 1958 by President Eisenhauer, after President Kennedy. The resolution designated the building as a living memorial to JFK and stated it would be “the sole national monument to his memory within the city of Washington.”
The Kennedy Center statute explicitly states, “the Board shall assure that after December 2, 1983, no additional memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
In May, Pingree voiced concern over Republicans’ budget reconciliation proposal for the Kennedy Center–which is nearly six times more than the annual funding appropriated through the Subcommittee. Pingree, who is co-chair of the bipartisan Arts Caucus, also brought attention to House Republicans’ attempt to slip in a provision to the Subcommittee’s appropriations bill to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump.
Larsen is Ranking Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, which has oversight of the Kennedy Center building, and is an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees appointed by Congress. Stanton is Ranking Member of the T&I Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), the top Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, applauded U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) announcement of nearly $1 billion in Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant funding for projects aimed at improving road safety for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists.
“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Everett and Mukilteo will get the resources they need to improve the safety of streets and roads and save lives,” Larsen said. “SS4A funding stops preventable tragedies and supports efforts to keep people safe and the economy moving. I look forward to continued partnerships with local communities to improve transportation safety in Northwest Washington.”
Snohomish County Projects Awarded SS4A Grants
The SS4A program, which invests $5 billion over five years in regional, local and Tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries, was established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Two projects in Washington’s Second Congressional District were awarded grants totaling $1.5 million in this round of grant announcements:
– $1.2 million for the City of Everett to update an Active Transportation Plan, prepare an Evergreen Way corridor safety and operations plan, and pilot Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
– $300,000 for the City of Mukilteo to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.
Washington state was awarded a total of more than $9.9 million for 15 projects. In Snohomish County, in addition to the Everett and Mukilteo awards, Mill Creek was awarded $1.8 million.
What WA-02 Leaders Are Saying
“I want to thank Rep. Larsen for being a champion and tireless advocate for Everett. This funding will advance our Vision Zero Everett work – helping us take meaningful steps toward safer streets and a better connected community. Strong partnerships between local and federal leaders allow us to make lasting, meaningful improvements that make a difference: protecting lives, improving quality of life and driving economic growth,” said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin.
“Mukilteo is committed to creating a community where residents feel safe traveling throughout the city. This funding allows us to work closely with the community to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan that reflects local needs and improves safety for all roadway users. The plan is the first step toward establishing a prioritized list of projects, which will position the City to pursue future grant funding to implement safety improvements,” said Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine.