MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representative John Garamendi (CA-08) led Representatives Ami Bera (CA-06), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Mike Thompson (CA-04) in condemning Acting Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Scott Cameron’s plan to siphon additional water out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

“I have fought my entire career to defend the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta,” said Rep. Garamendi. “Instead of implementing science-backed methods that safeguard our water supply, Reclamation’s plan prioritizes partisan politics over California’s communities and farmers. Pumping even more water out of the Delta in the middle of worsening droughts isn’t just reckless—it threatens the livelihoods of the people who live and work here, undermines the region’s fragile ecosystems, and jeopardizes the long-term health of our state’s water infrastructure. Californians deserve better than political stunts masquerading as water policy.”

In the letter, the Representatives detailed how Reclamation’s proposal would endanger California’s water supply, disrupt coordinated operations between state and federal agencies, and weaken environmental protections across the region. 

“Management of California’s water supply must not choose between winners and losers. All Californians and the vibrant communities that call the Delta home deserve a water supply plan that priorities solutions over partisan games,” said the Representatives. “Unfortunately, rather than striking a fair balance between Californians, farmers, and wildlife, Action 5 could cause irreparable harm to Delta communities and ecosystems.” 

“The Delta Counties Coalition appreciates the delegation’s efforts to ensure that changes to federal water project operations in the Delta are thoroughly reviewed and coordinated. Our Coalition continues to support efforts to provide reliable water supplies to Californians while also protecting Delta communities and the Delta ecosystem.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Watch my remarks HERE 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today. U.S. Representative John Garamendi (CA-08), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, issued the following statement regarding his NO vote on the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (FY26 NDAA).  

“For years, the House Armed Services Committee has worked to craft a bipartisan bill that ensures strong congressional oversight of the Department of Defense and guarantees that our servicemembers and their families have the resources they need to accomplish their mission.

“Each year, I have worked hard to help make this bill the best it can be, but this year’s bill falls short at a moment when congressional oversight is more important than ever.  

“As the administration deploys American troops to our streets, carries out extrajudicial killings in the middle of the ocean, and uses military aircraft for deportations, Secretary Hegseth and President Trump are eroding our military’s readiness while advancing their authoritarian ambitions. At a moment when this Administration is dangerously close to dragging us into a disastrous and unauthorized war, this bill does not do enough to reinforce Congress’s role as a co-equal branch responsible for matters of war and peace.

“To be clear, the bill contains many provisions I am proud of. As the Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee, I fought for military construction projects that will improve quality-of-life infrastructure—barracks, housing, and Child Development Centers, including one at Travis Air Force Base. I am proud of our work pressing the Department to take sustainment costs seriously, and I commend the committee staff for their tireless efforts to strengthen this legislation.

“Unfortunately, it is not enough. Let’s remember what this administration has done this year: threatened war with our NATO allies; purged senior officers and career military lawyers without cause; deployed the National Guard to U.S. cities over the objections of local leaders; entered a conflict with Iran without congressional authorization; diverted resources from critical military needs to fund immigration enforcement operations—including in our district; and wasted countless taxpayer dollars on unnecessary nuclear capabilities while undermining other modernization priorities.  

“Meanwhile, Congress hasn’t held a public hearing since July and most Americans haven’t seen the videotape of the double-tap strike in Venezuela. And when we have demanded oversight, the Republican majority and Trump’s Pentagon have delayed and obstructed it. This bill’s solution, requiring DoD to report to Congress only after unlawful actions occur, is wholly inadequate.

“Congress can fix this. Sadly, this bill does not rise to the moment. Asking for reports after wrongdoing is not accountability. Giving Hegseth and Trump even more authority and more resources will only embolden their dangerous behavior. It’s time for Congress to do its job.”

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Science Committee Democratic Members sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright condemning the illegal elimination of the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). OCED was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) with the purpose of cultivating the expertise required to provide high-quality, technology-independent management for large, commercially focused energy demonstration projects at DOE. The IIJA explicitly called for the establishment of OCED, and therefore DOE’s elimination of this office is undeniably illegal. Not only that, the dissolution of OCED increases the likelihood of project failures and taxpayer losses related to large-scale energy demonstration projects under DOE’s purview.

“It is worth remembering why Congress created OCED, for it was not a random or careless decision,” the Members wrote in their letter. “In the years preceding OCED’s creation, Congress witnessed the existing technology offices within DOE repeatedly struggle to manage large-scale energy demonstration projects, particularly projects related to nuclear technologies and carbon capture and storage technologies. The track records of these offices in managing large demonstration projects were extremely poor.”

“When the Department of Energy (DOE) eliminated OCED in its reorganization, it did more than jeopardize multi-billion dollar demonstration programs and risk long-term setbacks in the deployment of innovative energy technologies that are crucial for the nation’s energy future,” the Members continued. “DOE broke the law – brazenly, shamelessly broke the law – and violated the separation of powers that stands at the heart of our constitutional system. Every day that this defiance continues is a travesty. The only way for DOE to stop offending our constitutional order is to reverse course immediately, reconstitute OCED, and restore the rightful authorities that were assigned to it by Congress.”

The letter was signed by Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR).

The letter can be found here. 

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today, on International Migrants Day, reintroduced the Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement (GRACE) Act, legislation that would ensure a U.S. President cannot set a Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions—the annual refugee admissions goal—below 125,000 refugees. As the Trump administration’s ramps up its racist and xenophobic attacks on refugees, this legislation would seek to reestablish the United States’ commitment to welcoming refugees. Protecting those fleeing persecution is a fundamental American value. The GRACE Act takes a necessary step toward upholding this value.

Upon taking office earlier this year, President Trump signed an Executive Order suspending the entry of refugees under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), stranding thousands of highly vetted refugees abroad. In October, the Trump administration announced that it would set the Fiscal Year 2026 refugee admissions cap at 7,500 refugees—the lowest ceiling in the history of the refugee program since Congress established the program in 1980. President Trump has destroyed the USRAP’s historic mission and eroded the United States’ moral standing in the world.

“The Trump administration has been destroying America’s lifesaving refugee program,” said Rep. Lofgren, a former immigration lawyer and senior member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. “Slamming the door on those fleeing persecution is a betrayal of American values, and it comes at a time when refugee numbers are increasing significantly due to instability around the globe. The GRACE Act upholds our country’s commitments and grants safety and opportunity to those whose lives have been uprooted, many of whom are children.”

“The Trump administration’s racist and xenophobic attacks on refugees have made it more critical to recommit our country to its promises of safety for those seeking refuge. The GRACE Actreaffirms a simple truth: the United States is strongest when we lead with our values,” said Senator Markey. “As a country founded by immigrants fleeing religious persecution, the United States has always been a guiding light for those walking in the darkest tunnels. We must recommit to this fundamental American principle and embrace those who fear persecution abroad.”

The GRACE Act is cosponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Henry C. (“Hank”) Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The GRACE Act would prevent U.S. Presidents from gutting the USRAP. Specifically, the GRACE Act would:

• Automatically set the annual level of refugee admissions at 125,000 if the President fails to issue a determination before the beginning of each fiscal year;
• Ensure that each officer responsible for refugee admissions or resettlement treats the presidential determination as a goal;
• Encourage the President to consider the report of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) on global resettlement needs when setting the presidential determination and determining regional allocations; and
• Mandate quarterly reports to Congress with specific oversight requirements.

Several refugee advocates and stakeholder organizations expressed their support for the GRACE Act. 

“The reintroduction of the GRACE Act is a necessary step toward restoring accountability, humanity, and the rule of law to the U.S. refugee resettlement program,” said John Slocum, Executive Director of Refugee Council USA. “At every turn, the Trump administration has betrayed our nation’s promise as a beacon of refuge for the persecuted, dismantling America’s ability to respond to global humanitarian crises, and discriminating against refugees who are most at risk and left stranded abroad. The GRACE Act would set a minimum refugee admissions goal that no administration could go below – and strengthen Congress’s oversight role to hold this administration – and future administrations – accountable to operate the refugee program in good faith. This legislation reaffirms a simple but essential truth: welcoming refugees is not optional; it is a legal and humanitarian obligation as much as it is a reflection of who we are as a nation.”

“In a tumultuous year for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, we must remember that the Trump administration’s restrictive policies—though agonizing and dehumanizing—do not represent who we are as a people. Today’s reintroduction of the GRACE Act is a vital step towards accountability, the restoration of a compassionate resettlement program that responds to global needs, and stronger protections against future attacks,” said Erol Kekic, Chief Strategy Officer at Church World Service. “The GRACE Act would establish essential safeguards, including a minimum annual refugee admissions target, to ensure presidents cannot undermine the refugee program and abandon our commitment to welcome. Its passage would help return the U.S. role on the international stage to one of leadership, not xenophobia. We thank Senator Markey and Representative Lofgren for their leadership in reintroducing the GRACE Act and urge their colleagues in Congress to support its passage.”

“The International Rescue Committee is grateful to Sen. Markey and Rep. Lofgren for their continued leadership to ensure that America’s resettlement goals reflect global humanitarian needs generated by historic levels of displacement,” said Hans Van de Weerd, Senior Vice President of Resettlement, Asylum and Integration, International Rescue Committee. “The re-introduction of the GRACE Act comes at a pivotal moment with over 117 million forcibly displaced people and 36 million refugees worldwide. It is more important than ever to re-affirm America’s longstanding bipartisan commitment to a resettlement program that protects the world’s most vulnerable refugees regardless of their country of origin.”

“At this time of global displacement and unprecedented resettlement needs, we are deeply grateful for Senator Markey and Congresswoman Lofgren and all cosponsors’ leadership in reintroducing the GRACE Act. This legislation is more needed than ever to ensure that the United States lives up to its promise of being a safe haven to those in dire need of protection. We know that as a country we can, and more importantly, we must, meet the essential standards set in this legislation to once again lead on the world stage in providing safety to refugees in need of resettlement,” said Robyn Barnard, Senior Director of Refugee and Immigrant Rights at Human Rights First.

“Refugees aren’t just fleeing persecution, torture and inhumane treatment, they are a lifeblood of the United States economy and help make America a more free, safe and secure nation. Senator Markey’s GRACE Act will ensure no President can put partisan politics over human rights and our national interests by recommitting America to its tradition of welcoming refugees through a rational, predictable and democratic process. We commend the Senator and his co-sponsors for authoring this important legislation and hope Congress acts on it swiftly,” said Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition.

The GRACE Act is endorsed by Refugee Council USA, Church World Service, Human Rights First, National Partnership for New Americans, Advocates for Human Rights, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Refugee Congress, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, African Human Rights Coalition, Witness at the Border, Sojourners, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, MIRA Coalition, Climate Refugees, Refugees International, AfghanEvac, HIAS, the Workers Circle, Refugee Advocacy Lab, Friends Committee on National Legislation, International Refugee Assistance Project, International Institute of New England, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, National Immigration Law Center, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, American Humanist Association, International Rescue Committee, Coalition on Human Needs, Catholic Charities of Boston, Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts, Ascentria Care Alliance, Amnesty International USA, American Civil Liberties Union, SIREN, and United Stateless.

You can read the bill text here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee,  introduced the Fair Competition for Small Business Act of 2025, legislation to protect small businesses from anti-competitive pricing practices that favor large retailers. U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, introduced the Senate Companion.

Independent grocers are the backbone of communities across the country, providing jobs, access to food, and stability in both rural and urban neighborhoods. According to the National Grocers Association, they support over 1.1 million jobs and generate over $41 billion in wages annually. Yet large retail chains use their market power to secure discounts and favorable payment terms from suppliers that smaller grocers lack the leverage to negotiate. As a result, independent grocers are often charged higher prices for the same products—costs that are passed on to consumers—making it nearly impossible for them to compete with large retailers and jeopardizing their ability to remain in business.

Although the Robinson-Patman Act prohibits suppliers from charging competing buyers different prices, federal regulators have historically failed to enforce the law, leaving small businesses to fend for themselves against large retailers. The law currently allows state attorneys general to enforce it, but their authority is limited to seeking injunctive relief; they cannot obtain monetary damages on behalf of affected businesses. This flaw limits states’ ability to fully protect small businesses when the federal government fails to enforce the law because they cannot recover losses from discriminatory pricing.

The Fair Competition for Small Business Act protects small businesses and addresses this legal gap by amending the Clayton Act to explicitly authorize state attorney generals to bring civil actions for damages when violating the Robinson-Patman Act, strengthening accountability and deterring anti-competitive practices. This will allow state attorney generals to pursue monetary damages against retailers that engage in unlawful price discrimination, giving states the same enforcement authority they already have under other federal antitrust laws.

By enabling state attorney generals to seek monetary damages for violations of the Robinson-Patman Act, the legislation gives small businesses a clear legal path to recover past losses and prevent future harms, ensuring fairer competition in the marketplace.

“For far too long, large retailers have been able to use their market power to demand price concessions from suppliers that smaller retailers are unable to secure, thereby threatening the ability of smaller retailers to remain viable, reducing competition, and increasing prices for consumers,” said Congresswoman Waters. “The Fair Competition for Small Business Act would permit state attorneys general to seek monetary damages on behalf of their constituents for these discriminatory practices and give them a vital tool to promote marketplace competition, fairness, and affordability.”

“Small businesses drive our economy, and it is essential that they are not forced to close their doors due to illegal pricing practices that larger retailers continue to exploit,” said Senator Booker. “By strengthening the Robinson-Patman Act, state attorneys general would be empowered to hold these retailers accountable, ensuring that small businesses can compete, and succeed, on a level playing field.” 

“Increasing enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act is an essential part of reviving Main Streets across the nation,” said Morgan Harper, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the American Economic Liberties Project. “For too long, dominant power buyers have used their size and scale to secure unfair prices and terms that shut out smaller businesses and distort market competition in their own favor. The Fair Competition for Small Businesses Act will restore a vital pathway for enforcement by allowing state attorneys general to pursue Robinson-Patman Act damages cases on behalf of their communities. Congress should move quickly to pass it.”

“State Attorneys General are essential partners in enforcing federal and state antitrust laws, but it’s equally essential they have the tools necessary to address anti-competitive behavior. NGA supports this common-sense measure to strengthen AG enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act,” said Chris Jones from National Grocers Association.

“Senator Booker’s Fair Competition for Small Business Act increases the power of the State Attorney Generals in the fight to hold powerful suppliers and retailers accountable for discriminatory pricing practices that have squeezed farmers and small businesses out of the marketplace. Revitalizing Robinson-Patman enforcement will help level the playing field, ensuring farmers a fair marketplace to sell into,” said Joe Maxwell, Farm Action Fund’s President.

“Leveling the playing field through enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act should be a top priority for all policymakers concerned with the survival of Main Street small businesses,” said Ron Knox, Senior Researcher & Policy Advocate at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. The newly unsealed FTC complaint against PepsiCo shows how megacorporations drive up costs across the economy at the expense of smaller competitors and American consumers. “We applaud Ranking Member Booker and Representative Waters’ leadership on the Fair Competition for Small Business Act.”

“Our small business coalition has long advocated for federal policymakers to take on the rampant price discrimination in our economy,” said Small Business Rising coalition spokesperson Lauren Gellatly. “By providing state-level antitrust enforcers greater tools to address price discrimination, the Fair Competition for Small Business Act is a simple and effective remedy to foster fair competition and enforce existing antitrust law.” 

“55% of our Lowcountry small business member survey respondents reported in June of 2025 that they are somewhat or significantly impacted by their corporate competitors’ access to superior pricing and terms for products and services,” said Jordan Amaker, Director of Advocacy, Lowcountry Local First. “The under-enforcement of existing antitrust laws, specifically the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA), is just one more tilt of the playing field in favor of big business and billionaires. These tilts too often become the final nail in the coffin for so many neighborhood-serving, community-rooted businesses. Between the uncertainty and skyrocketing costs of the tariff and trade policies and the unchecked monopolistic power of mega-corporations, our local grocers and retailers are being crushed at every turn. Our small businesses don’t have time to stand up for themselves on these issues, so we rely on the dedication of leaders like Sen. Booker and Rep. Waters to fight for fair practices and keep our small businesses in place.” 

The Fair Competition for Small Business Act of 2025 is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-2), Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), Cleo Fields (LA-6), Hank Johnson (GA-4), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rebecca Balint (VT), Andre Carson (IN-7), Dwight Evans (PA-3). 

To read the full text of the bill, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, issued the following statement after voting earlier this week in favor of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which would begin the process of reforming the “Unaffordable” Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and stripping the perverse incentives that act as bailouts for big insurance companies and that drive up healthcare costs for the everyday American.

 “As my record shows, I have always been in support of creating a better, more affordable healthcare system for all Americans. Unfortunately, the Democrat plan to permanently extend COVID-era subsidies as it stands, without reforms, would cost the American taxpayer $350 billion over 10 years while continuing to raise premiums.

Obamacare has been disastrous since its inception and has cost taxpayers billions of dollars, raising premiums by 80%, limiting choices, creating loopholes that insurers can exploit, and leaving taxpayers stuck covering the bill.

The implementation of the COVID-era subsidies created the opportunity for massive waste, fraud, and abuse, as evidenced by a GAO report that cited 58,000 enrollees matching Social Security death records, with 7,000 of them reported dead before enrollment began. In other terms, that equates to $94 million in taxpayer money sent to health insurers on behalf of deceased people. This is just one of numerous examples of wasteful spending.

The bill House Republicans passed is meant to fix those problems, not by spending more taxpayer money, but by making the system less susceptible to fraud and more transparent, competitive, and flexible.

Americans deserve to see the doctors they choose at a price they can afford. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in delivering real solutions.”

What the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act Does:

Lowers monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs for everyone by 11%

• It keeps insurance premiums from spiking and helps lower deductibles and copays by implementing cost-sharing reduction payments
• Why it matters: Without this, insurers pass the costs directly to you, the taxpayer, by increasing premiums

Exposes hidden costs from prescription drug middlemen

• It forces drug middlemen to be honest about where your money is going.
• What’s the problem now? Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) negotiate drug prices behind closed doors and keep rebates for themselves – often raising prices for patients and employers. They buy the drug at the real price, sell it at a higher price, and keep the difference.
• What this bill does:
• Requires PBMs to show employers exactly how much drugs cost
• Shows where rebates or reimbursements go
• Exposes hidden markups
• Why it matters? More transparency = lower drug prices and lower premiums

 Helps small businesses and self-employed/independent workers to get cheaper insurance

• It lets small businesses and self-employed workers band together to buy insurance like big companies do.
• Why that helps: Big companies get cheaper rates because they buy insurance in bulk.
• This bill lets small businesses, gig workers, and independent contractors do the same thing. Gig workers are most affected by expiration (Uber drivers, photographers, etc.)
• Result: more affordable plans, more doctors to choose from, better coverage.

Lets everyday Americans choose the health plan that works best for them

• Instead of your boss picking one plan, you get the money and choose your own plan.
• How it works:
• Employers give workers tax-free money
• Workers use it to buy the plan they want
• You can keep your plan if you change jobs
• Why it matters: more freedom, more control, and coverage that fits your life – not your employer’s.

Protects small businesses from excessive red tape

• It stops unnecessary regulations that drive up costs for small businesses
• What that means:
• Small businesses can protect themselves from massive medical claims
• They can offer health benefits without drowning in paperwork
• Insurance stays affordable instead of being regulated out of reach
• Why it matters:
• When small businesses can afford coverage, more workers get insured, and small businesses can compete

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

JEFFERSON, LA. — Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced Arav Gandhi from the Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies in Metairie, La., as the 2025 Congressional App Challenge winner for Louisiana’s First Congressional District. “As a former computer programmer, I’m proud to see students of Louisiana’s First Congressional District take a creative interest in technology and put their skills to the test to solve real-world challenges. Congratulations to our 2025 Congressional App Challenge winner, Arav Gandhi, for his hard work and commitment to helping others with his gambling addiction recovery app, AIR Poker,” said Leader Scalise. Gandhi created AIR Poker, an app designed to help individuals manage gambling addictions by reimagining the card game as a tool for recovery to help manage emotional regulation and offer a responsible play habit. The winning app was selected by a panel of judges that evaluated student app submissions across Louisiana’s First Congressional District.