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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Raskin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Tackle America’s Mental Health Crisis

Washington – Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02) and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today introduced bipartisan legislation to invest in critically needed initiatives that help Americans experiencing mental health crises. As a rising number of Americans struggle with their mental health, the Stabilization to Prevent (STOP) Suicide Act would provide federal funding to organizations in our communities that are already working to support people in crisis and in recovery.

“People experiencing serious thoughts of suicide often find themselves without support and timely treatment,” said Rep. Bacon. “The STOP Suicide Act will provide an important tool that will help create needed programs to deliver outpatient or telehealth stabilization services. I’m pleased to join Rep. Raskin on this legislation that will help community health centers, rural health clinics, and others create and manage these programs.”

“Tens of millions of Americans have either suffered a mental health crisis or know a close loved one who has,” said Rep. Raskin. “For too many, seeking help can feel frightening or out of reach. Our bipartisan bills will help mental health care providers do their jobs and expand access to care for the many Americans who need it.”

The STOP Suicide Act expands access to evidence-based stabilization care for individuals with serious thoughts of suicide. Stabilization services can help patients reduce or eliminate imminent suicide risk and manage dangerous impulses, keeping them safe while relieving pressure on law enforcement and emergency rooms. This legislation will create a new grant program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand access to effective and timely outpatient and virtual stabilization care and treatment.

“In 2023, 49,316 people died by suicide and 12.8 million adults experienced serious thoughts of suicide in the United States. Research shows that even brief evidence-based suicide interventions can help people manage suicidal thoughts and increase connection to follow-up care,” said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “AFSP is proud to support the Stabilization to Prevent (STOP) Suicide Act, which supports suicide-specific stabilization services for individuals experiencing serious thoughts of suicide, helping people access interventions in the least restrictive setting possible, while relieving pressure on emergency departments and law enforcement. AFSP thanks Representative Raskin and Representative Bacon for their bipartisan leadership in advancing this important legislation.

This legislation is endorsed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the American Psychological Association.

If you need immediate mental-health support at any time of day, dial 988 to be connected to the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Counselors can also be reached by text message or online chat. You may also dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Read the full text of the Stop Suicide Act here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday evening, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) hosted a telephone town hall to talk about his work in Washington and the district and how House Democrats are committed to lowering the cost of living for everyday Americans. 

“It was my pleasure to hear from so many constituents during my telephone town hall. We discussed a wide range of local and national issues affecting families across California’s 36th District. 
 
“I heard from many constituents concerned about the integrity of our upcoming elections. I share those concerns. Democrats are working closely with civil society organizations, nonprofits, civil rights groups, and state attorneys general to prepare legal strategies, coordinate lawyers and election observers, and respond to potential threats. We are also actively opposing the SAVE Act, which would make it much harder for many Americans to vote, especially those without passports or birth certificates, including married women whose legal names no longer match their birth records. 
 
“These are perilous times, and the strength of our democracy depends on the participation and vigilance of the people. Democrats in Congress will continue doing everything possible to defend our democratic institutions. Ultimately it will be the American people who determine the direction of the country by speaking out and participating in the democratic process in the coming months. 
 
“We covered many other issues during the town hall. Forums like these give me the opportunity to hear directly from constituents, and I am always grateful to represent such an engaged and thoughtful community.”

For more opportunities to hear directly from the Congressman, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn (SC-06) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) reintroduced bicameral legislation to modernize America’s voter registration system and protect voting rights. The Voter Empowerment Act (VEA) would expand voter registration and voting access by requiring states to make online voter registration available, establish automatic voter registration systems, permit same-day voter registration, and accept voter registration applications from citizens under the age of 18.

“The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy. While it should be a sacred and affirmed right for every eligible American, unfettered access to the ballot box continues to be under attack across the country, including with the dangerous SAVE America Act that Trump and MAGA Republicans are trying to ram through Congress,” said Congressman Clyburn. “Our democracy is only as strong as our ability to protect it. With President Trump openly boasting that the goal of the SAVE America Act is to guarantee election results regardless of the will of the voters, I urge my colleagues to join me in safeguarding the integrity of our elections.”

“As Republicans across the country seek to pass voter suppression laws that will disenfranchise millions of voters, we must do more to make sure that voting is fair and accessible for all Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Voter Empowerment Act is commonsense legislation to modernize voter registration and protect our elections from interference. I am proud to introduce it alongside my good friend Rep. Clyburn, and I am determined to get it passed.”

In recent years, many states have passed new voting restrictions, from limits on absentee ballots to onerous voter ID requirements. These restrictions were empowered by the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder (2013) overturning preclearance requirements from the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – allowing states to pass restrictive voting legislation without federal oversight. As of late 2024, at least 31 states had passed 114 new restrictive voting laws in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling. 

The reintroduction of the VEA also comes as President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are trying to further restrict voting and voter registration through the SAVE America Act.

The VEA responds to recently proposed federal and state-level restrictions by improving and protecting voter registration for all voters. Specifically, the bill would:

Modernize and streamline voter registration. The bill would require states to provide both same-day and online registration – including the option to update personal information online. States would also be required to automatically register voters whose information passes through another state or federal agency.

Prohibit interference in voter registration. The VEA would prohibit anyone from hindering another person from registering to vote and outlaw voter caging – the practice of removing voters from voter rolls because mail sent to them was returned to sender.

Improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The VEA would require a broad range of improvements to voter registration, polling places, and absentee voting to better accommodate individuals with disabilities. 

Increase and protect access to the ballot box. The bill would establish minimum requirements for early voting access, prevent states from adding extra conditions to absentee voting, and require states to notify individuals when their polling place changes. The bill would also protect the right to vote for convicted criminals (unless actively serving a felony sentence) and allow a sworn written statement or student ID to fulfill state-mandated ID requirements.

Permanently reauthorize the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The VEA would also direct the EAC to provide grants for states to implement activities that advance and secure the right to vote, including the recruiting and training of poll workers.   

The full text of the VEA can be found here.

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

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) are today introducing the Prevent an Unconstitutional War in Cuba Act to block President Trump from using any federal funding to use military force in or against the Republic of Cuba without Congressional authorization.

“Trump has started illegal regime change conflicts in Venezuela and Iran and is now threatening Cuba. These military attacks put our troops in danger, endanger innocent civilians, waste billions of taxpayer dollars, and are not what the American people want,” said Jayapal. “Trump promised to end forever wars — he lied. Congress alone has the power to declare war, something Trump clearly does not respect. He has no plan to improve conditions for the Cuban people or promote democracy, and we must pass this legislation to block him from acting on a whim.”

“Cuba is not for Donald Trump to take, and today we stand firm against the illegal use of the U.S. military to pursue turning Cuba into another playground for Trump’s chaotic adventurism. Such a reckless course would risk American lives, cost taxpayers billions, and, in all likelihood, leave the underlying political and economic conditions unchanged. The United States cannot bomb Cuba out of economic collapse or political repression—lasting change must come through empowering the Cuban people, not doubling down on a failed approach that disproportionately harms them,”said Ranking Member Meeks. 

President Trump and Secretary Rubio are doubling down on a decades-long, failed “maximum pressure” policy on Cuba that has inflicted disproportionate harm on the Cuban people while doing little to foster change on the island. The Trump administration is imposing an oil blockade that has led to the collapse of Cuba’s already fragile energy infrastructure and is only exacerbating suffering on the island. In recent days, Trump stated, “I do believe I’ll have the honor of taking Cuba.”

This legislation would prevent Trump from using taxpayer dollars to introduce military force in Cuba without prior Congressional authorization or in response to an imminent threat or as self-defense.

The full text of the bill can be read here.

The legislation is also sponsored by Gabe Amo (RI-01), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04),  Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Melanie A. Stansbury (NM-01), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Sharice Davids released the following statement after voting in the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to support the ALERT Act, bipartisan legislation she introduced to modernize aviation safety systems, strengthen air traffic controller training, and reduce the risk of future tragedies. The bill is supported by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigates aviation accidents and issues recommendations to prevent future incidents.

“Since last year’s devastating midair collision, I’ve stayed in close contact with the Kansas families who lost loved ones. Their grief is something no one should have to carry — and their courage in pushing for meaningful change has guided this process every step of the way.

“I’m proud to have helped lead the bipartisan ALERT Act and to vote for it today because it reflects their voices and has earned strong support from aviation safety experts. It takes important, evidence-based steps to strengthen training, modernize safety systems, and reduce the risk of future midair collisions.

“No bill can undo the pain these families have experienced. But we have a responsibility to listen, to act, and to make our aviation system safer for everyone — from passengers and crew to military personnel and communities on the ground. This is an important step forward, but it is not final. I also voted to pass reforms proposed by the Senate and I’ll keep working with Kansas families, safety experts, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to strengthen the final product, work through differences, and deliver a solution that improves safety while bringing everyone to the table.”

Background:

On January 29, 2025, Flight 5342 departed Wichita, KS (ICT), bound for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). As the flight approached its destination, it collided midair with a military training helicopter, tragically killing the two pilots, two flight attendants, and 60 passengers on the airplane, along with all three crew members aboard the helicopter.

The ALERT Act, split between civilian air travel and military aircraft safety, is informed by recommendations from the NTSB and addresses concerns about airspace congestion, communication failures, outdated collision-avoidance systems, and coordination between civilian and military aircraft. 

Specifically, the ALERT Act would:

• Upgrade Aircraft Collision Warning Systems
  • Direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to evaluate and implement improvements to advanced collision-avoidance technology on commercial aircraft.
  • Establish a timeline for deploying updated systems that provide earlier and clearer warnings to pilots.
• Strengthen Air Traffic Controller Training
  • Create expert working groups to modernize controller training standards.
  • Improve risk assessment tools to help controllers identify hazards in real time.
  • Increase transparency if safety recommendations are not adopted.
• Improve Airspace Communication
  • Study technology that detects “blocked transmissions,” which occur when radio messages overlap and critical information is lost.
  • Provide Congress with cost and implementation recommendations.
• Review Airspace Congestion and Airport Capacity
  • Require the FAA to assess safe arrival and departure rates at congested airports.
  • Review aircraft spacing requirements in complex airspace environments.
• Enhance Military Aviation Safety
  • Require closer coordination between the Department of Defense and the FAA on collision-avoidance systems.
  • Strengthen helicopter safety management systems, particularly in shared civilian-military airspace.
• And more

Davids also previously voted to support the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act – a bipartisan bill aimed at improving aviation safety standards. Although it failed to pass the U.S. House, it is supported by the victims’ families and safety professionals. 

Following the tragic collision, Davids has taken several additional steps to improve aviation safety and honor the lives lost:

• Met with the victims’ families in Wichita and pledged to be a voice for transparency and reform in the investigation.
• Pressed FAA and NTSB experts in a U.S. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on air traffic controller shortages and safety protocols.
• Toured the Olathe Air Traffic Control Center to highlight critical staffing needs and renew her call for increased investments in aviation safety infrastructure.
• Responded to initial NTSB recommendations with a commitment to act on any legislative fixes needed to keep passengers and crew safe.
• Pledged to act on recommendations from an initial NTSB investigative hearing on the tragic midair collision.
• Honored the one-year anniversary by submitting a statement into the Congressional Record pledging continued action to prevent future tragedies.

Davids serves on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has long championed bipartisan efforts to support innovation and strengthen aviation safety standards, including by helping pass into law a bipartisan FAA reauthorization.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) announced that his office will host remote office hours in DeKalb, Fayette, and Lamar Counties in April. The events will be led by Constituent Services Representatives and are open to all residents needing assistance with federal agencies or services.

Remote office hours provide constituents with a convenient opportunity to meet one-on-one with a representative from Congressman Aderholt’s office to discuss issues such as Social Security, veterans’ benefits, passports, immigration, and other federal matters. Please note, the Congressman cannot help with state government issues.

Event Details:

Fayette County Remote Office Hours
Date: April 1, 2026
Location: Fayette County Courthouse
113 Temple Ave. N
Fayette, AL 35555

Lamar County Remote Office Hours
Date: April 2, 2026
Location: Vernon City Hall
44425 AL-17
Vernon, AL 35592

DeKalb County Remote Office Hours
Date: April 6, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Fort Payne City Hall
100 Alabama Ave. NW
Fort Payne, AL 35967

Appointments are encouraged to ensure timely assistance. To schedule a meeting, constituents should call 256-546-0201 (DeKalb) or 202-221-2310 (Fayette and Lamar).

Congressman Aderholt remains committed to making constituent services accessible across Alabama’s Fourth District and encourages residents to take advantage of these remote office hours.

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

“As we innovate, we should not exploit and leave communities behind, and we should not let Trump continue to make money and put our economy at risk by changing or not enforcing the laws created to protect consumers.”

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, in a Financial Services Committee hearing on tokens and digital assets, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) discussed the need for strong digital finance regulations that protect consumers, not harm them or allow the wealthy and well-connected like Donald Trump to enrich themselves at the expense of everyday working people.

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s exchange with witnesses today is available below, and the video is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Ben Cline (R-VA) introduced the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act, bipartisan legislation which requires that Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings take place where the principal place of business or principal assets of the corporation are located.

“Corporations currently have the ability to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and then potentially choose courts that have issued lenient rulings to hear their cases,” said Rep. Lofgren (CA-18). “Bankruptcies should be adjudicated locally in a court familiar with all the affected stakeholders, not in some court all the way across the country. Our bipartisan Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act is commonsense legislation that will prevent corporations from venue shopping and tipping the scales of justice.”

“Large corporations should not be able to manipulate the bankruptcy system to their advantage while workers, small businesses, and local communities are left behind. Venue shopping erodes trust in the process and shuts out the very people most affected by these decisions. Requiring Chapter 11 cases to be filed where a company is primarily located is a commonsense step to ensure greater transparency, fairness, and accountability for everyone involved,” said Rep. Cline (VA-06).

The text of the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act can be found here.

The bill has the support of the Commercial Law League of America, the Boston Bar Association, the Maryland-D.C. Creditors Bar Association, the Business Law Section of the Florida State Bar, and the Business Law Section of the California Lawyers Association.

“California is home to more large companies than virtually any other state, yet current bankruptcy venue rules allow those companies to drag their employees, vendors, and small creditors into courtrooms in Delaware or New York,” said Christopher Hughes and Soyeun Choi, Co-Chairs of the Business Law Section of the California Lawyers Association. “California businesses and the workers and communities that depend on them have paid a real price under bankruptcy venue rules that prioritize the preferences of corporate debtors and their counsel over the needs of local stakeholders.  The CLA Business Law Section strongly supports this reform, which would restore meaningful access to justice for the stakeholders who need it most.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren’s (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below:

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Sara Jacobs (D-CA) today introduced the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act, landmark bipartisan legislation to establish transparency requirements for how artificial intelligence (AI) foundation models are built, trained, and deployed. 

Foundation models are trained on vast and diverse datasets and power many of our generative AI tools, including chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok. Despite the growing influence of these tools, information about what data these models are trained on or how these models have been trained and tested is generally not available to the public. These models can produce inaccurate, imprecise, or biased responses due to limitations/biases in the model’s training data or how the model was trained. This can have adverse real-world impacts when models are used in high-impact areas including health-related AI inferences, loan granting, federal grant approval, housing approval, or law enforcement. 

The AI Foundation Model Transparency Act would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Secretary of Commerce, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) — to set standards for what information high-impact foundation models must provide to the FTC and what information they must make available to the public. Information identified for increased transparency would include a sufficiently detailed summary of training data used, how the model is trained, and whether user data is collected during use. 

The information provided in this bill would both be useful for consumer protection, and for artists and creators who otherwise have very limited insight into training data — addressing widespread concerns about AI from businesses and individuals alike.

“Artificial intelligence foundation models commonly described as a ‘black box’ do not inherently give consumers the tools to understand why a model gives a particular response. Giving users more information about the model—how it was built and what background information it bases its results on—would greatly increase transparency,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “This bill would help users determine if they should trust the model they are using for certain applications, and help identify limitations on data, potential biases, or misleading results. When a model’s bias could lead to harmful results like rejections for housing or loan applications, or faulty medical decisions, the importance of this reform becomes clear and very significant.”

“This is about accountability and getting ahead of a rapidly evolving technology before it outpaces common-sense guardrails,” said Rep. Mike Lawler. “As the general public interacts with AI every day, whether they realize it or not, Americans deserve to know how these systems are built, what data is being used, and where the risks are. Transparency is the foundation for trust, and if we’re going to lead on innovation here in the United States, we also have to lead on protecting consumers, safeguarding our national security, and making sure this technology is used responsibly.”

“Trust will decide the global AI race – separating the countries and developers that earn it from those that don’t. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act, which will help build trust in AI by requiring clear, upfront information about how foundation models are trained, tested, and operated,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs. “Transparency is the first step toward detecting and addressing potential harms, assigning responsibility, and building confidence in systems that are rapidly shaping our lives as well as our economy and national security.” 

The AI Foundation Model Transparency Act would:

• Direct the FTC, in consultation with NIST, the Secretary of Commerce, and OSTP, to set transparency requirements for foundation model deployers by asking them to make certain information publicly available to consumers;
• Direct companies to provide consumers and the FTC with information on the model’s training data sources, model training mechanisms and capabilities, and whether user data is collected in inference; and
• Protect small deployers and researchers, while seeking responsible transparency practices from our highest-impact foundation models.

The legislation has been endorsed by Americans for Responsible Innovation, SAG-AFTRA, and Mental Health America. 

Text of the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act is available here. 

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) serves as co-Chair of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus. He was one of a handful of members selected to serve on the bipartisan Task Force On Artificial Intelligence, convened by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker Mike Johnson. He is the author of the GUARDRAILS Act and a lead cosponsor of the CREATE AI Act, the Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act, and the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act.

Beyer previously served for eight years on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and is currently attending George Mason University as a part time student pursuing a master’s degree in machine learning, in part to help inform his work on AI in Congress.