Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:
“Coasties keep our waterways safe, TSA agents protect the traveling public, CISA experts protect our country from cyber threats, DHS agents fight child and drug trafficking and FEMA staff respond to natural disasters like the December floods in my district and help World Cup host cities like Seattle prepare for the tournament this summer.
“These public servants deserve to get paid for their work immediately. I continue to demand reforms to ensure ICE is held to the same standards as every other state and local law enforcement agency.”
Rep. Larsen is cosponsoring legislation to fully fund FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, TSA and every other agency within DHS except ICE, CBP and the Office of the DHS Secretary. He is the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Rep. Larsen supports negotiating a full-year funding bill for ICE, CBP and the office of the DHS Secretary that creates accountability and oversight of ICE operations and DHS detention facilities.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, D.C.– Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Young Kim and Ami Bera, Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee; and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Ranking Member of the South and Central Asia Subcommittee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in light of the Department’s review of U.S. policy toward Burma. The Members provided findings meant to inform the administration’s review, and bipartisan recommendations to sustain a principled and effective policy toward Burma.
A PDF copy of the full letter can be found here. An excerpt is below.
“As the Trump administration and the Department of State undertake a review of U.S. policy towards Burma, we write to share bipartisan congressional priorities to shape and inform the review. Through bipartisan legislation signed into law – such as the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008, and the Burma Unified Through Rigorous Military Accountability (BURMA) Act of 2022 – Congress has partnered with past administrations to ensure that our Burma policy advances U.S. values and interests. With Burma embroiled in violence five years after the military coup, and nearly a decade since the Rohingya genocide, it is important that the administration adhere to longstanding, bipartisan principles and stand with the Burmese people against the junta’s violence and repression.”
The recommendations from the Ranking Members and Chairwoman Kim include: isolating and delegitimizing the Burmese junta; holding the junta accountable for its violence, human rights abuses and scam centers through sanctions; appointing a senior official to coordinate U.S. Burma policy and engage democratic stakeholders; supporting Rohingya and other refugees in the region through humanitarian assistance; and providing adequate resources to enact these goals.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke on the House Floor against House Republicans’ DHS funding bill that prioritizes ICE brutality over the American people and in support of legislation that pays our TSA agents and reforms Donald Trump’s mass deportation machine.
LEADER JEFFRIES: I rise today in strong opposition to this Republican budget that prioritizes ICE brutality over the American people. We’re now more than 40 days into a Trump-Republican shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Why are we here?Republicans are trying to convince the American people that Democrats should be blamed.
Wait a second. Last time I checked, Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency. And you’ve spent the last 15 months trying to lecture the American people that you have some historic mandate. If, in fact, that is the case, when the government shuts down in its entirety or partially, it’s because Republicans have decided to shut the government down, and, in this particular instance, to prioritize ICE brutality over the American people. There’s legislation that is available for Republicans to bring to the Floor that would pass overwhelmingly to fund the entirety of the Department of Homeland Security, with the exception of ICE and the Trump extreme mass deportation machine, which has unleashed incredible, unspeakable brutality on the American people and on law-abiding immigrant families.
Why have Republicans chosen to prioritize ICE brutality over the American people when—it’s not that complicated—we should be paying TSA agents? Instead, Donald Trump and Republicans have sent ICE agents to airports all across the country. Watch this. ICE agents who are sitting around, standing up, doing nothing to address the airport crisis right now. ICE agents, however, at these very airports, doing nothing, are being paid.
At the same period of time, TSA agents who were doing the work have been forced by Republicans to work without pay for more than 40 days. Why? Republicans have decided that they don’t want to get ICE under control and instead are forcing TSA agents to work without pay, inconveniencing millions of Americans all across the country and causing chaos at airports throughout the land. Unacceptable. Enough is enough.
Republicans can simply bring a bill to the Floor to reopen every other aspect of the Department of Homeland Security, pay [TSA] agents, support FEMA, stand up for the Coast Guard and make sure that this country can continue to function. But instead, as we’ve repeatedly seen, Republicans have decided they’d rather jam your right-wing extreme ideology down the throats of the American people.
We haven’t been complicated in the point that we’ve made to our Republican colleagues about what needs to happen when it comes to ICE. We’re standing on the side of the American people. Yes, we will always support securing the border—today, tomorrow, forever. But at the same period of time, immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, just and humane.
[To Republican Representative Interrupting: If you have something to say to me, you can say it right now. That’s what I thought.]
Immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, it should be just and it should be humane. But instead, you’re unleashing brutality on the American people, using taxpayer dollars, in some instances, to kill American citizens like Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, a nurse who was dedicating his life to be there for veterans who served this country. And we believe that in America, taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalize or kill them. To make life more affordable for the American people.
And here’s the thing. What we’ve put on the table—yes, we believe dramatic changes to ICE should be bold and transformational and meaningful, but there are also common-sense changes vastly supported by the American people. That includes ensuring that judicial warrants are required before masked ICE agents can storm the homes of the American people and rip them out of bed in the middle of the night. There should be independent investigations by state and local authorities so that ICE agents who violently break the law can be held accountable, just like every other American. We believe that ICE agents should be compelled to conduct themselves like every other cop, police officer or law enforcement agency. That’s not what’s happening right now.
We need an end to roving patrols that are violently targeting law-abiding immigrant families and brutalizing the American people. The masks need to come off. Body cameras need to come on. And yes, we also need to protect sensitive locations like houses of worship, hospitals, schools and polling sites. These are common-sense reforms that at the same period of time are bold, meaningful and transformational. They’re designed to accomplish one chief objective: make sure that ICE conducts itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country. Like every other cop, every other police officer and every other state trooper. But that’s not what’s happening in this country right now.
This Republican budget that is before us prioritizes ICE brutality over the American people. And that’s why House Democrats are strongly opposed. And what’s interesting, to make matters worse, because this is all about priorities and choices, and the choices that Republicans have made, the priorities that Republicans are emphasizing, are all hurting the American people. Using taxpayer dollars to brutalize them, and at the same period of time, spending billions of dollars in a reckless war of choice in the Middle East, dropping bombs in the Middle East, but won’t spend a dime to make life more affordable for everyday Americans. What kind of choice is that? That’s where your priorities are, Madam Speaker. It’s extraordinary to me. We think taxpayer dollars should be used to make life better for the American people. And there are a variety of ways to do it.
We should be focused on that because America is too expensive right now. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Costs aren’t going down, they’ve gone up. Housing costs out of control. Health insurance premiums out of control. Grocery bills out of control. Child care costs out of control. Utility bills out of control. America is too expensive and is getting more expensive because of failed Republican policies. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Costs aren’t going down, Madam Speaker, in the United States of America, costs are going up as a direct result of failed Republican policies.
The Trump tariffs have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. Republicans have refused to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And as a result, more than 20 million Americans are experiencing dramatically-increased health insurance premiums making it unaffordable for everyday Americans, working-class Americans and middle-class Americans to go see a doctor when they need one. That’s policy violence that Republicans are inflicting on the American people.
Republicans have launched a reckless war of choice in the Middle East, dropping bombs, spending billions of dollars. But you can’t find a dime to make life more affordable for the American people. What kind of choice is that? And you continue to lean in to your One Big Ugly Bill, which Democrats will continue to expose. Policy violence being inflicted on the American people. In that One Big Ugly Bill, you ripped healthcare away from more than 14 million Americans. That’s what Republicans have done. A trillion dollar cut, largest cut to Medicaid in American history. You’re choosing ICE brutality over the healthcare of the American people.
At the same period of time, in that One Big Ugly Bill—which every single Democrat in the House and the Senate opposed on behalf of the American people—in that One Big Ugly Bill, Republicans cut nutritional assistance by $186 billion, largest cut to SNAP in American history. Republicans literally ripped food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans, and then turned around in that same bill and gave the Department of Homeland Security—watch this—$191 billion, including creating a $75 billion slush fund for ICE to unleash brutality and violence on the American people, to kill, in at least three instances, American citizens and to violently target law-abiding immigrant families. Policy violence that Republicans are inflicting on the America people. And then you present this budget in front of us today that again prioritizes ICE brutality over standing up and making life more affordable for the American people?
These are challenging times that we’re living through here in the United States of America. Republicans unleashing extremism and policy violence each and every day of this presidency. Challenging times in the United States of America, but help is on the way. And we’re seeing that in elections all across the country, including, most recently, in the district where Mar-a-Lago sits. Help is on the way. And so our promise to the American people—we’re gonna fight as hard as we can. We’re gonna show up and stand up and speak up for the American people. We will lower the high cost of living. We will fix our broken healthcare system. We will clean up corruption. We will get ICE under control. We will stop this reckless war of choice in the Middle East. We will end this national nightmare. And, one day soon, we will continue America’s long, necessary and majestic march toward a more perfect union.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), introduced thePermanent Housing Affordability Act, legislation aimed at addressing the ongoing housing affordability crisis and increasing access to home ownership. Companion legislation was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).
“Home ownership has become unaffordable and unattainable for millions of Americans, especially for young people here in Washington State,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “Throughout this district, constituents tell me that, especially at a time when prices for groceries, gas, and healthcare are skyrocketing, they can’t fathom saving enough to purchase a home. This legislation bolsters an important tool in the toolkit to stand against Wall Street interests and help families achieve home ownership.”
The average age for purchasing a first home is now40. For many families, home ownership is simply out of reach. Research shows that a typical homebuyer in 2024 would need to spend about 45 percent more of their income on mortgage payments than in 2019. A sharp increase in home purchases by institutional investors – including private equity firms and Wall Street investors – has also contributed significantly to rising home costs.
This bill would address the housing affordability crisis by supporting entities like nonprofits, states, and local governments that sell homes to qualifying homebuyers at an affordable price. These homeowners then agree to a resale formula in order to keep those homes affordable in perpetuity for future buyers. These projects allow homeowners to build meaningful wealth while still allowing subsequent homebuyers to afford a home. They also ensure that public investments are impactful and long-lasting, and stay with the housing unit for generations. This model also helps keep housing out of the hands of institutional investors by reserving housing inventory strictly for affordability purposes. To read more about this legislation, clickhere.
“For too many Americans, the idea of owning a home is a pipe dream – unaffordable and out of reach,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “Through an innovative concept called shared equity ownership, my Permanent Housing Affordability Act will break down barriers to accessible homeownership, putting more families on the path toward generational wealth. As I’ve said before, it’s time for the federal government to get off the sidelines and help make housing more affordable, accessible, and attainable for all. I’m proud to have written this bill to bring us one step closer to accomplishing that goal.”
“Grounded Solutions Network congratulates Senator Blunt Rochester and Representative Schrier on their introduction of the Permanent Housing Affordability Act,” said Doug Ryan, vice president of housing policy at Grounded Solutions Network. “This bill, which would advance the development of shared equity homeownership, would make homeownership possible for families across the country who are now priced out. Shared equity homeownership is a proven tool, one that uses funds efficiently, and ensures future generations of families can own homes. We have a worsening homeownership crisis. The Permanent Housing Affordability Act will help our nonprofit members and local leaders develop affordable homes that meet their communities’ needs.”
“Community land trusts across Washington State see every day that permanently affordable homeownership requires more than one tool—it takes access to land, flexible capital, and long-term stewardship working together,” said Kathleen Hosfeld at Washington State Community Land Trust Coalition. “The Permanent Housing Affordability Act reflects this reality. By investing in the full ecosystem needed to create and preserve affordable homes, it expands the supply of homeownership opportunities while ensuring those homes remain within reach for future generations. This is the kind of federal partnership that allows our work to scale and serve communities more effectively over time.”
Endorsements: Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties, Washington State Community Land Trust Coalition, Washington Affordable Cooperative Housing Network, Grounded Solutions Network, National Housing Conference, American Planning Association, NeighborGood Partners, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc., The WRK Group, Delaware National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), National NeighborWorks Association, Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), Incremental Development Alliance, National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST), Wilmington Land Bank, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, Habitat for Humanity of Central Delaware, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, Virginia Statewide Community Land Trust, and North Carolina Community Land Trust Coalition.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)
Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22), alongside Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-3), and Nikema Williams (GA-5), introduced a House resolution recognizing March 26, 2026, as Equal Pay Day—the date marking how far into the new year women must work to earn what men earned in 2025 alone.
The resolution raises awareness of the persistent gender wage gap and its impact on women and families, while reaffirming Congress’s commitment to equal pay for equal work.
“Equal pay is not just about fairness—it’s about economic security and opportunity,” said Rep. Frankel. “For generations, women have been paid less for the same work, concentrated in lower-paying jobs, and pushed out of the workforce by a lack of affordable child care. And for the second year in a row, the pay gap for full-time, year-round women workers has widened. This disparity limits women’s ability to save for retirement and reduces their Social Security and pension benefits, contributing to higher rates of poverty among older women. It’s long past time for Congress to take meaningful action to support equal pay and narrowing the gender wage gap.”
“Equal Pay Day marks how far into the current year a woman must work to catch up to what her male counterpart earned in the previous year,” said Rep. DeLauro. “Six decades after passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women working full-time or part-time still earn 76 cents for every dollar earned by men. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, this is unacceptable. While Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, the wage gap is costing nearly $1.7 trillion annually. Equal pay for equal work is a simple concept – men and women in the same job deserve the same pay. It is time we make it real for the millions of American women who are being unfairly undervalued in the workplace. Let’s enact the Paycheck Fairness Act and empower working women by giving them the tools to ensure their contributions to the workplace are properly respected and reflected in their pay.”
“It’s been 62 years since we passed the Equal Pay Act. And we still don’t have equal pay?! It keeps getting worse because there isn’t a mechanism to fight this discrimination. Every member of the DWC is a proud cosponsor of Rep. DeLauro’s Paycheck Fairness Act so women can challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable,” said Rep. Leger Fernández. “We are fighting for legislation to guarantee wage transparency so women know when they’re being paid less for the same work. We are fighting for paid leave for all so that no woman has to choose between their paycheck and caring for their loved ones. This is not just a matter of fairness—it’s a matter of dignity. We believe in a world where you can balance your work and your family without losing the job that sustains you.”
“For the second year in a row, the gender pay gap has widened, hitting Black women and women of color the hardest. Equal pay is more than a women’s issue; it is a matter of economic justice and racial justice,” said Rep. Williams. “When women are paid less for the same work, families suffer, communities struggle, and our economy falls short. I’m proud to co-lead this resolution to reaffirm our commitment to closing the gender wage gap and fully realizing the promise of the Equal Pay Act of 1963.”
The resolution was introduced with 138 original cosponsors. It is supported by many advocacy groups, including the National Partnership for Women & Families, National Organization for Women, MomsRising, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Equal Pay Today Coalition, Equal Rights Advocates, Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), Justice for Migrant Women, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), American Association of University Women (AAUW), A Better Balance, Golden State Opportunity, PowHer New York, and Women Employed.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro202-225-6165
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act, which would reopen the Department of Homeland Security, allowing it to return to its mission of protecting our homeland and paying the personnel entrusted with doing so:
“Every additional day Democrat leadership allows their shutdown to continue represents more lost paychecks, more airport delays for travelers, more risks to the homeland, and weakened readiness across our national security operations. Where the other side fails, House Republicans step up and make it clear whose priorities we represent – the American people’s,” said Congressman Cole.
“The Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act reflects a simple choice: do you want to defend national security or defund it? I voted for our TSA, Secret Service, Coast Guard, cybersecurity experts, FEMA, and all DHS personnel who don’t get to walk away from their duties. Senate Democrats can act now to resolve this. All they have to do is vote ‘yes’ and bring this shutdown to an end. This should not be a partisan issue, as it is about responsibility, safety, and delivering stability for the American people,” said Congressman Cole.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)
WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi released the following statement on the passing of Bernie Bluestein, a World War II “Ghost Army” veteran and longtime community leader, while highlighting his ongoing efforts to rename a Palatine post office in Bluestein’s honor:
“Bernie Bluestein lived a life defined by courage, creativity, and service, from his role in the World War II Ghost Army to decades of impact on our community. He embodied the very best of America and the quiet heroism that helped secure our freedom. I am proud to honor his memory through my legislation to rename the Palatine post office in his honor and urge its swift consideration in the House. My thoughts are with his family, and may his memory be a blessing.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)
Washington, D.C. — Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, joined over 20 colleagues in demanding answers from the Trump Administration on deteriorating Forest Service trail conditions due to insufficient maintenance by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which has threatened visitor safety and outdoor recreation access for millions of Americans.
“We write with serious concern that, despite your stated intent to prioritize outdoor access and improve visitor experiences, the USFS trail maintenance operations have been hamstrung by layoffs, hiring restrictions, budget cuts and other policies that make it harder for staff to do their jobs and meet agency objectives,” the letter states.
“The USFS manages over 164,000 miles of trails, more than any other land management agency. Americans cherish the USFS trail network, which serves 84 million visitors annually. Public lands recreation contributes $128 billion to our national economy. Despite the clear value of trails and the agency’s stated focus on outdoor access, conditions on the ground are deteriorating.”
The letter concluded: “Over the last year, we have lost skilled workers, critical staff roles and vast amounts of local knowledge. At current staffing levels and with existing challenges, USFS has concluded that ‘many [ranger] districts are unable to conduct basic trail maintenance. Front-country trails are being prioritized; backcountry trails are being abandoned. Deferred maintenance is exponentially compounding.’ Given that USFS has acknowledged these issues internally, it is imperative that our constituents understand how you plan to address the deterioration in outdoor access and better maintain trails this year.”
Rep. Neguse and his colleagues also demanded that USFS leadership answer specific questions on the agency’s plan to address the deterioration in outdoor access and better maintain trails ahead of the upcoming summer season.
The lawmakers gave USFS until March 31, 2026, to respond to the following:
How will the USFS address the issues in the report before the summer field season?
How will the USFS restore sufficient staffing to prevent the proliferation of “unpassable trails, unsafe bridges and negative environmental impacts” as detailed in this report?
We understand the USFS has recently authorized national forests to hire a limited number of seasonal temporary recreation positions, commonly referred to by the agency as 1039s. Hiring seasonal recreation staff is a positive step compared to 2025 when forests could not hire temporary seasonal trail crews and wilderness rangers, but the USFS is still limiting overall hiring. Is the agency planning to continue limiting the number of seasonal staff who can be hired regardless of the funding source for these positions?
If a national forest has outside grants, local funding and other non-appropriated dollars available, how does the public benefit from restricting national forests’ use of those resources to hire seasonal staff and implement on-the-ground projects?
The Trail Program Status Report notes that the USFS currently limits the seasons for Permanent Seasonal Employee (PSE) positions even when those staff are externally funded or responding to natural disasters. Does the USFS plan to increase flexibility around PSE positions in FY26 to better utilize its existing workforce to address the problems detailed in this report?
How does the USFS plan to address challenges with grant and agreements capacity so that partners and volunteers can better support agency priorities?
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Washington, D.C.—Today, Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Co-Founder & Co-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families, filed brand new legislation to establish comprehensive mandatory minimum nurse staffing standards in nursing homes.
For decades, researchers have clearly established a link between higher staffing levels and improvements in the safety and quality of care delivered to nursing home residents. Yet, Trump outrageously repealed minimum staffing rules at the behest of nursing home executives whodonated to his campaign. Meanwhile, his draconian immigration policies and ICE abuses areharming the care workforce, and his “Big Beautiful Bill” enacted the largest health care cut in U.S. history—cuts expected to trigger nursing home closures.
The Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act will establish statutory, mandatory, minimum nurse staffing standards with strong enforceable penalties. The bill text can be foundhereand a bill summary can be foundhere.
“Once again, the corrupt Trump regime has sold off the best interests of Americans to the highest bidder—repealing modest rules after nursing home executives donated to the Trump campaign,” said Congressman Doggett. “This legislation provides the accountability these executives, often backed by private equity, have dodged for too long. Vulnerable nursing home residents with complex needs, and the compassionate nursing staff caring for them, deserve comprehensive, enforceable staffing standards to ensure their safety, health, and dignity.”
“Every person in the United States deserves to age with dignity and have access to high-quality long-term care. Yet for too long, our nation has failed to establish a sustainable, comprehensive long-term care policy,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “This critical legislation would require nursing homes to provide a minimum of 4.1 hours of direct care per resident each day and ensure a registered nurse is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Study after study shows that stronger staffing standards lead to better patient outcomes and higher-quality care. It is past time that we act on the evidence, hold facilities accountable, and ensure every resident receives the person-centered care they deserve.”
“Care workers have been sounding the alarm for decades about the dangers of understaffed nursing homes—both for the health and safety of these critical workers and the seniors whose lives are in their hands,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “The Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act sets minimum standards on staffing to ensure that safety and care never takes a back seat to corporate profits. We commend Rep. Doggett for his leadership on decent staffing standards that will protect America’s workers and save lives.”
“Chronic short staffing has plagued our nation’s nursing homes for decades, with 1.3 million Americans living in understaffed facilities on any given day. Nursing home workers are stretched too thin and receive poverty wages to care for our parents and grandparents.,” said SEIU Vice President Leslie Frane. “As the nation’s largest healthcare union, SEIU members demand that Congress stand with us and the people we care for by passing the Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act. All of us deserve to age with dignity and receive high-quality care, but until we fix the dangerous gaps in our long-term care system, we are failing families across the country.”
“Care providers and staff at nursing homes are doing everything they can to ensure our loved ones are living with dignity, but across the country, these essential workers are stretched thin, often working long hours, nights and weekends for low pay,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “Instead of supporting them, the Trump administration is actively rolling back safe staffing standards for nursing homes, undermining efforts to improve life-sustaining care. The Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act, led by Reps. Schakowsky and Doggett, would help ensure safe staffing at nursing homes by establishing clear, enforceable requirements — including 24/7 registered nurse coverage and minimum hours of care per resident. We urge Congress to pass it.”
“National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care strongly supports the Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act and is extremely grateful to Representatives Doggett and Schakowsky for introducing this legislation. It is irrefutable that nursing homes with higher staffing levels have better health outcomes and quality of life for residents,” said National Consumer Voice Public Policy Director Sam Brooks. “Understaffing has plagued nursing homes for decades and is the primary driver of poor health outcomes in nursing homes. The Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act relies on decades of research to establish a minimum staffing standard that will help ensure residents receive high-quality care and live in safe homes.”
“Many nursing home problems, including falls, bed sores, malnutrition, and infections, are the direct result of nursing homes cutting corners and not having enough staff on duty,” said Eric Carlson, Directing Attorney at Justice in Aging. “The Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act will do what it says – save lives – by requiring nursing homes to maintain safe staffing levels for nurses and nurse aides. Nursing homes receive tens of billions of federal dollars annually, and it’s about time that residents receive the care that they deserve.”
“Having adequate staffing in nursing homes improves patients’ health and saves lives. Having sufficient staff to ensure resident wellbeing shouldn’t be controversial, but the reality is that the health and safety of residents is imperiled every day in far too many facilities. Whether it is because a company wants to cut corners or private equity is trying to extract maximum profit, the risks of insufficient staff are just too high to be left to the whim of nursing home owners,” said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President of Public Citizen. “The Safe Staffing Saves Live Act is commonsense and an important step toward reforming our broken health care system.”
Additional Background:
Following the first COVID-19 outbreak in the United States at a nursing facility in Washington, Rep. Doggettconvened a hearingin the Ways & Means Health Subcommittee concerning the safety and quality of care in nursing homes. He subsequentlyled Ways & Means Democratsin oversight efforts concerning the accuracy of nursing home data. He laterled effortspressing for reinstatement of nurse aide training requirements.
In 2023, Reps. Doggett and Schakowskyled over 100 colleaguesin urging the Biden Administration to use its authority under the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 to establish staffing standards. Heeding their call, CMS eventually finalized modest regulations, which Trump subsequently repealed. The Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act establishes mandatory, statutory, minimum nurse staffing standards and additional enforceable penalties that go beyond the previous rulemaking. With an increasingly aging population with complex medical needs, it is essential that nursing homes have sufficient nurse staffing.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah 6th District Wisconsin)
Today, Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-WI) introduced the House companion to Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) Competition and Openness in Markets to Promote Efficiency, Transparency, and Enhanced Affordability (COMPETE) Act, legislation to expand access to affordable health insurance options for families and small businesses.
The legislation would restore and expand access to Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance (STLDI) plans, allowing them to be offered for up to 12 months with guaranteed renewal options. These reforms aim to provide Americans with more flexibility and lower-cost alternatives to plans created under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
“For years, families and small businesses have faced rising health insurance costs driven by federal mandates under Obamacare,”Grothman said.“The COMPETE Act restores commonsense flexibility by allowing Americans and employers to choose coverage that fits their needs and their budgets. By expanding access to short-term plans with guaranteed renewals, we can lower premiums, increase competition, and create more health care options for small businesses that are struggling to keep up with rising costs.”
“Obamacare reduced health insurance options and caused premiums to skyrocket. This legislation will promote more competition, provide consumers with more choices, and allow Americans to choose the healthcare coverage that fits their needs and budgets. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation expeditiously.” – Senator Ted Cruz
Background Information
Rising health insurance costs have placed a growing burden on families and small business owners, with many Americans struggling to afford coverage that meets their needs. Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance (STLDI) plans exist outside the Affordable Care Act marketplace and provide more flexible, lower-cost options with faster access to coverage.
The COMPETE Act maintains the 2018 Trump Administration definition of STLDI plans and builds on it by allowing insurance companies to offer plans with renewal guarantees without requiring additional underwriting. Under the legislation, insurers would be permitted to:
Offer Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance plans for up to 12 months
Provide plans with guaranteed renewal options without additional underwriting
Supporting organizations for the legislation include The National Federation of Independent Business and The Foundation for Government Accountability.
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U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) proudly serves the people of Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.