MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today sent a letter to Senior Official Performing the Duties of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator David Richardson to inquire about the status of Emergency Food and Shelter Program (ESFP) grant funding for awarded entities in the district, particularly First Step Domestic & Sexual Violence Services. 

“As you know, the ESFP supports the work of local service providers to provide shelter, food, and supportive services to community members in need of such support,” Dingell said. “First Step provides comprehensive services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and is a critical provider for constituents in my district and across Michigan.”

“Services permitted under the ESFP grant can make a significant difference for survivors and their families,” Dingell continues. “Organizations like First Step rely on this funding to keep their doors open and provide essential services that support survivors’ journey to safety and healing, and in many cases are lifesaving. In a crisis, even a simple meal goes a long way.”

“This lapse in funding is deeply concerning, and grant recipients deserve clarity and action on the funding they depend on. Without these funds, First Step will be limited in their ability to carry out the full range of programs they provide to support survivors and their families,” Dingell concludes. “I urge you to take measures to ensure that ESFP grant funding is released and provide clarity to grantees on the timeline of receiving this expected funding.”

Read the full text of the letter here.

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

This week, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on KBLA’s Tavis Smiley, where he reiterated that Democrats are committed to protecting healthcare and that Republicans have a responsibility to join them by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

TAVIS SMILEY: It is true that he is the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives. It is true that if Democrats can take over the House in November, he will be the first African American to be Speaker of the US House. But it is also true he’s my fraternity brother. He’s a good Kappa. Please welcome—we are pleased to welcome Hakeem Jeffries to this program. Leader Jeffries, how are you, sir?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Great to be with you. Alpha Chapter in the building. Always appreciate you, Tavis, and also congratulations on the success that Indiana University is having with their football season. An extraordinary season.

TAVIS SMILEY: You are kind to say that. I’m looking forward to going to the Rose Bowl to see them play. They’re coming out my way here in California, so it makes it easy for me. I ain’t got to travel but 15 miles down the road to see them. I know you got a tight schedule, just about five or six minutes here. Let me just ask you to give me and give the audience an update. Here we are near the end of the year, everybody concerned about these healthcare subsidies. What’s happening in real time, Leader Jeffries?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we were very successful yesterday in obtaining the 218 votes needed. All 214 Members of the House Democratic Caucus, plus four House Republicans joined us yesterday morning to trigger an up-or-down vote on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits connected to legislation that I’ve introduced that would extend it in a straightforward way for three years, because we believe that working class Americans, middle class Americans, Black and brown Americans deserve the same level of certainty that Republicans always try to provide to the wealthy, the well-off, the well-connected and their big donors. So right now, we’re waiting on Mike Johnson—demanding that Mike Johnson actually bring that legislation to the Floor today. Connected to the Rules, he can wait as much as seven legislative days, which would take us into early January, but there’s no reason for him to wait, and we’re going to continue to keep the pressure on him so we can get these tax credits extended before they expire at the end of the month.

TAVIS SMILEY: I said this program yesterday that this is so—it’s kind of stuck on stupid. That’s my language. You’re more classy than I am, so you wouldn’t say nothing that like that. But it’s also—they’re stuck on stupid for me because this is going to impact their base. Their base cares about rising healthcare costs as well. Why are they so blind on this?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah. It’s unbelievable. And these people really are blind. They’re burying their heads in the sand, and they’re obsessed with the Affordable Care Act. These people have tried to repeal it now more than 70 different times over the last 15 years, and the American people have only grown in their affection, in terms of the support for the Affordable Care Act, because it impacts everyone, Tavis, as you just indicated. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, people all across the country. In fact,the ten states that would be most adversely impacted if the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire are all states currently run by Republicans.We’re talking about West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, North Dakota and South Dakota, and Florida has millions of people as well who would be adversely impacted if there are changes made that are adverse to the Affordable Care Act. So it’s extraordinary to me, […] this isn’t a partisan fight, it’s a patriotic fight because we’re fighting to make life better for everybody.

TAVIS SMILEY: My colleague, my White House correspondent, Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey is here. Dr. Quartey, your question for the Leader.

DR. NII-QUARTELAI QUARTEY: Leader Jeffries, can you dial us in to what’s the strategy in the Senate? So if you’re successful in the House and if the four Republicans join the Democratic Caucus, what assurance do you have it’s going to pass the finish line in the Senate?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, you know, Abraham Lincoln once said that public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed. We’ll have renewed momentum if we can move the legislation out of the Republican-controlled House over the objection of Donald Trump and over the objection of the Deputy Speaker, Mike Johnson, right, because Donald Trump says he’s both the President and the Speaker. And we’re able to go around them in order to do what’s right for the American people. That will intensify the pressure on the Senate. Now, we also know in the Senate, though the bill initially did not hit the 60-vote threshold, that the three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits did secure the support of at least four different Republicans, and that bill has more support than any other bill in the Senate chamber. So we think there’ll be renewed momentum and opportunity. We’ll work closely with our Senate Democratic colleagues. But what’s important, of course, is to jumpstart the effort again by getting it out of the House of Representatives.

TAVIS SMILEY: Leader Jeffries, I know you got a full schedule. My final question. What’s your gut tell you about what’s about to happen?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, I think that Johnson is going to try to delay this as much as possible, but many of his traditional conservative Members who have now partnered with us don’t want to leave town without getting this done. And so, we’ve made clear that, listen, we should stay here until the Affordable Care Act tax credits are extended. And if the House adjourns, it falls squarely on the Republicans, and there are many up on the other side of the aisle who don’t wanna take that heat. So, you know, the next couple of days will be interesting. But we’re going to keep the pressure on, and ultimately, I believe, even if this waits until early January, we are going to successfully get this bill out of the House. It will have bipartisan support, and that will increase the pressure on the Senate, and then retroactively, we’ll have to deal with, perhaps, reopening the open enrollment period so we can restore the health insurance to people and make it more affordable, having gotten the tax credits restored.

TAVIS SMILEY: It’s been fun, but I know my good Kappa brother has got to run. Hakeem Jeffries, I love you, and I appreciate you. Thank you for your time, sir.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Love you. Appreciate you, brother.

TAVIS SMILEY: Alright, good to have you on the program.

Full interview can be listened to here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

LOS ANGELES, CA — After successfully suing the Trump administration and winning a federal court ruling restoring Congress’ right to conduct unannounced inspections, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) today carried out an oversight inspection of the Roybal Allard Federal Detention Facility (B-18) in Downtown Los Angeles. 

Rep. Gomez was a plaintiff in the lawsuit that blocked ICE from unlawfully denying Members of Congress access to detention facilities. The decisive court ruling forced the administration to reverse its illegal policy and allowed Rep. Gomez to enter the facility after being denied access three separate times earlier this year. 

“I fought the Trump administration in federal court and won in order to gain access to ICE’s B-18 detention facility in Downtown Los Angeles to carry out my oversight responsibilities,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “What I saw confirms violations of basic standards and the law: people held for up to 72 hours in a facility designed for short-term processing, with no working kitchen, no on-site medical staff, and food limited to chips, cookies, and frozen burritos. For nearly a year, this administration has unlawfully shut out congressional oversight while detentions surged, concealing unsafe conditions inside. As a U.S. Representative, I will continue using every oversight tool available until DHS restores transparency and follows the law.” 

Today’s inspection marks the first time Rep. Gomez has been permitted to conduct an unannounced visit to the facility since the ruling. The court’s decision restored a critical oversight tool necessary to identify unsafe, overcrowded, or inhumane conditions inside immigration detention facilities. 

Rep. Gomez will continue conducting inspections and demanding accountability to ensure DHS and ICE comply with the law and protect basic standards of care. 

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

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) introduced the Military Care Access, Reporting, and Evaluation (Military CARE) Act, bipartisan legislation to modernize how TRICARE beneficiaries report and resolve health care access challenges at military treatment facilities.

The Military CARE Act addresses access-to-care gaps by creating a secure, standardized digital platform for TRICARE beneficiaries to submit and monitor care issues, requiring real-time notifications to patient advocates, directing the Defense Health Agency to analyze complaint trends each quarter, and mandating annual reports to Congress that outline challenges and corrective actions.

“Our military families deserve timely care and a clear path to raise concerns when the system falls short. The Military CARE Act gives service members and their families a direct line to report care access issues and track their resolution, while ensuring Congress has the data needed to identify and fix systemic problems across the military health system,” Rep. Bacon said. “I’m pleased to co-lead this vital effort with Rep. Horsford to strengthen access to care for the families who sacrifice so much in service to our nation.”

“Military families serve our nation and sacrifice so much for it, and they deserve a health care system that serves them just as well,” Rep. Horsford said. “Too many families struggle to get timely appointments or clear information, and they’re left without a reliable way to raise concerns or track whether problems are fixed. This bipartisan bill gives military families a real voice, gives providers the tools to respond quickly, and gives Congress the oversight needed to ensure servicemembers and their loved ones are never left behind.When we support our families, we strengthen the entire force.”

“Access to timely, reliable health care is both a personal issue and a readiness issue.  Too often, military families hit administrative roadblocks or long delays with no clear way to raise concerns or track whether problems are being fixed,” Rep. Houlahan said. “The Military CARE Act brings transparency and accountability to the system by giving TRICARE beneficiaries a straightforward way to report access issues and ensures those concerns reach patient advocates and senior leaders. This bipartisan, commonsense bill helps Congress identify systemic gaps and ensures our military health system works for the people it’s meant to serve.”

“Today, America’s servicemembers, veterans, and military families are forced to fight endless red tape and navigate a confusing and deeply frustrating system to get the healthcare they have earned,” Rep. Goodlander said. “That’s not right. Our commonsense bipartisan bill will cut senseless red tape, restore basic accountability, and return the power back where it belongs: with patients. This bill is about ensuring accountability, strengthening readiness, and keeping the sacred promise we make to those who serve our country.”

“Without reliable data and transparency, access-to-care problems in the military health system remain unseen and unresolved,” Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, USAF (Ret), President and CEO, Military Officers Association of America said. “The Military CARE Act ensures beneficiary experiences are captured, tracked, and reported – giving leaders and Congress the visibility needed to identify systemic issues and drive meaningful, lasting improvements for military families. MOAA is grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Reps. Horsford, Kiggans, Bacon, and Houlahan in advancing this critical reform and MOAA priority.”

The bipartisan Military Care Act, co-led by Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02) Steven Horsford (NV-04), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) also includes the following original cosponsors: Reps. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), and James Moylan (GU-AL).

The legislation is endorsed by Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), Air and Space Forces Association (AFA), Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Services (COA), Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Gold Star Spouses of America, Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV), Military Chaplains Association (MCA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), National Military Family Association (NMFA), Naval Enlisted Reserve Association (NERA), Reserve Organization of America (ROA), Secure Families Initiative, Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), SPARTA, The Enlisted Association (TREA), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), TRICARE for Kids Coalition (TFK), U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA), USCG Chief Petty Officers Association (CPOA), and Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)

Read the full text of the Military CARE Act here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

EAGAN, MN – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced that her office has returned more than $3.2 million to constituents across Minnesota’s Second District this year.

Since coming to Congress in 2019, Rep. Craig and her casework team have worked to help constituents resolve issues with federal agencies and access the refunds and benefits they deserve. Through these efforts, Rep. Craig has returned $8.77 million to residents of Minnesota’s Second District and resolved over 2,700 individual issues with federal agencies. In 2025 alone, Rep. Craig’s constituent services team successfully closed 878 cases

“Working through issues with federal agencies can be confusing and frustrating, and as a result too many Minnesotans choose to forgo the refunds, benefits and payments they are rightfully owed,” said Rep. Craig. “To combat this, my office has spent countless hours cutting through red tape and advocating on behalf of constituents. I’m thrilled to announce that this year we’ve successfully put over $3.2 million back into the pockets of hardworking Minnesotans.”

If residents of Minnesota’s Second Congressional District are having trouble with a federal agency, they should visit Rep. Craig’s website at https://craig.house.gov/casework.  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

In letter to DHS Secretary and USCIS Director, Rep. Craig condemns Administration for targeting immigrants from 19 countries named in President’s June travel ban

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement on her vote against the Republican-led Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.

“My Republican colleagues had ample opportunity to address the health care crisis in this country when they repeatedly rejected calls to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire this month. Now they’re trying to save face by putting forward an unserious bill that fails to extend the ACA tax credits and lower health care premiums for tens of thousands of Minnesotans.

“Unsurprisingly, Republicans’ legislation also takes aim at a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions by banning ACA plans that cover abortion – targeting safe-haven states like Minnesota that require their plans to cover reproductive care.

“At the end of the day, this sad excuse of a bill is a half-hearted attempt to address the health care affordability crisis President Trump and Republicans in Congress created.

“I look forward to my Republican colleagues having to go on the record next year on extending the ACA tax credits. Every American deserves to know where their Representative stands on making their health care more affordable. I can only hope they’ll do the right thing by ALL Americans.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today celebrated the House’s passage of his bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. The bill, which he first introduced with Republican House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) in July, would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to accelerate federal approval of energy development and other construction projects.

The SPEED Act passed 221-196. It is endorsed by more than 300 local, state, and national organizations, including the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast. The City of Bangor previously submitted a letter of support to the House Natural Resources Committee to describe the bill’s benefits to airport operations at Bangor International Airport.

“The simplest way to make energy, housing, and other essentials more affordable is to make it possible to actually produce enough of it at a reasonable cost. America’s broken permitting system is standing in the way,” Golden said. “The SPEED Act has united workers, businesses, and political forces who usually oppose each other because scarcity hurts everyone, and these reforms represent the lowest hanging fruit in a permitting reform debate that’s been happening for years. I’m grateful to Chairman Westerman for his good-faith partnership throughout this process, and today’s vote sends a clear message to the Senate: The window is finally open to fix our permitting process, so let’s meet the moment.”

The legislation includes a Golden amendment that would block the executive branch from revoking energy permits after approval. Both Presidents Trump and Biden have embraced this tactic to block projects they disapprove of — even those in the final stages of completion. His amendment followed feedback from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, which helped boost the bill’s bipartisan support.

Golden has previously spoken at length about the need to fix America’s broken permitting system, including during the bill’s initial hearing in September.

Full text of the legislation can be found here, and an analysis of the bill — as well as a recent history of permitting reform — from the Bipartisan Policy Center can be found here. 

BACKGROUND:

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.

While well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.

This litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years. 

According to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project’s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.

The SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. The bill will shorten permitting timelines and reduce the frequency of frivolous litigation. This legislation will simplify the analysis required in NEPA documents, thereby easing the burden on agencies. The bill will also clarify when NEPA is triggered by clarifying the definition of “Major Federal Action.” Lastly, the bill will establish judicial review limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims, a new standard of review and the elimination of procedural moves that stop projects from moving forward.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced the nominations of six North State students as candidates to United States Service Academies. The U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marines Academy each require a Congressional nomination in order to attend. The admissions process is highly competitive, and students compete nationwide for service academy appointments.

“Congratulations to our six outstanding service academy nominees for their hard work and commitment to serving our nation,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “These young people epitomize the best of what our nation has to offer, and I am confident they will excel as future leaders in our armed forces. It’s an honor to nominate them, and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish. A special thanks to the review committee for their careful consideration of these prospective candidates.”

Congressman LaMalfa’s nominees were recommended by a committee of local North State leaders and veterans from various branches of the military. The committee recommended a slate of nominees after interviewing and carefully considering the academic and leadership backgrounds of each student. Having been nominated, students must now compete with other nominees for an appointment to the academies. Academy officials will begin announcing appointments in January.

Congressman LaMalfa’s nominees for the service academies are:

Adrianna Crawford, Plumas Lake

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Samantha Johnson, Redding

U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Nolan McLaughlin, Chico

U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Paul Rogan, Cottonwood

U.S. Naval Academy

Carter Schmid, Paradise

U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Mia Wallace, Redding

U.S. Naval Academy

Any student with a strong desire to serve our nation as an officer in the United States Armed Forces is invited to contact Congressman LaMalfa in the spring of their junior year. Please visit his website www.lamalfa.house.gov for his nomination application and instructions. You may also call his Chico District office and speak with his U.S. Service Academy Advisor at (530)343-1000.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) applauded House passage of H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, legislation that delists the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act.

“Gray wolves are an apex predator being inflicted upon the people and the wildlife of Northeast California and the West,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “There are wolves that are encroaching on elementary schools in Siskiyou County. This is not a little red riding hood story. This is not a made-up deal. This is very real, and they’re coming closer and closer to town. Even as wolf populations continue to expand, outdated federal protections under the Endangered Species Act have stripped away the tools needed to manage them. The ESA was meant to help species recover, not keep them permanently listed long after recovery goals are met. The gray wolf is a clear example of how the law has drifted from its original purpose, and it’s time to delist them. Rural Californians are tired of being victimized by these federal and state regulations.”

Congressman LaMalfa has raised repeated concerns about increasing wolf attacks on livestock and wolves encroaching into areas where people live and work. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act directs the Department of Interior to reinstate the 2020 ruling to delist the gray wolf and prohibits the rule from being subject to judicial review.

To view Congressman LaMalfa’s remarks on delisting the gray wolf, click here.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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