MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Trump refused to sign a bill into law that alleviates the housing crisis for millions of Americans. Yesterday, Congress overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which included Congressman Brad Sherman’s (CA-32) bill for disabled veterans, the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA). 

The Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act will remove an unfair barrier for disabled homeless veterans looking to access housing nationwide and particularly at the West LA VA Campus. This legislation would amend the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of annual income to exclude disability payments received by a veteran for eligibility for housing built under the HUD-VASH Program. This bill would remove an unfair barrier for disabled homeless veterans looking to access housing at the West LA VA Campus. 

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act was set to be signed in the Capitol this morning and would have enacted the largest set of bipartisan measures that would help expand access to affordable housing, reduce unnecessary barriers for vulnerable Americans, and make homeownership more accessible and affordable for families across the country.

“The stage was set both physically and metaphorically for the President to sign a historic housing bill for the American people and instead Trump wants to have veterans sleep in the streets just to control California’s elections,” said Congressman Sherman. “Trump must put his ego aside and put the American people first and sign this bill into law.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced a bicameral resolution to recognize the importance of pollinators to ecosystem health and agriculture in the United States.

The resolution designates June 22 through June 28, 2026, as “National Pollinator Week,” to emphasize the vital role native pollinators play in the health of our ecosystems and economies, and highlight the difficulties many pollinator species face, including the iconic western monarch butterfly.

“Pollinators, including the iconic western monarch butterfly, are increasingly threatened by climate change and habitat loss, putting our ecosystems at risk,” said Rep. Panetta. “Pollinator Week recognizes the vital role pollinators play in sustaining the beauty and bounty we are fortunate to enjoy in California’s 19th Congressional District and across our nation. I’m proud to shine a light on the growing challenges our pollinators face and the work needed at every level to rescue, restore, and revitalize these essential species.”

“In celebration of National Pollinator Week, this resolution recognizes that pollinators are critical to maintaining life as we know it. By working together to restore habitat and address the threats pollinators face, we can help iconic species like the Western Monarch recover and flourish in Oregon and across the nation. I will continue working to ensure America’s pollinators have the support they need to thrive,” said Sen. Merkley.

The resolution is endorsed by organizations including the Xerces Society, Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, and the Animal Welfare Institute.

“Pollinators are vital to life on our planet, and we are very happy to support designating June 22 through June 28, 2026, as ‘National Pollinator Week.’ Raising awareness through the National Pollinator Week designation is important to ensure pollinators continue to grace our farms, meadows and cities into the future,” said Scott Hoffman Black, Xerces Society Executive Director.

“Bees, bats, butterflies, and other wildlife play an important role in ensuring we all have food on the table. They pollinate approximately one-third of all food crops. Unfortunately, pollinators are under threat, due to such things as dwindling habitat, disease, and other threats. The Nature Conservancy fully supports resolutions like this one that raise awareness about the importance of pollinators,” said Sarah Murdock, Nature Conservancy Senior Director of U.S. Land and Water Policy.

“Fostering a nationwide culture that values and conserves pollinators is about nurturing a deeper connection to our natural ecosystems and the vital creatures that sustain them. By championing pollinators’ invaluable role in nature and recognizing the dire situation they face, Senator Merkley and Representative Panetta inspire a collective commitment to strengthen efforts to protect native pollinators for generations to come,” said Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón, National Wildlife Federation Senior Scientist.

Full text of the resolution is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Rob Menendez (NJ-08) led 99 lawmakers today in introducing the Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration (LIFT the BAR) Act, which would remove unnecessary barriers and restore eligibility to federal public benefits for lawfully present immigrants. 

Under this legislation, Green Card holders, DACA recipients, and other immigrants with legal status would no longer be subject to five-year waiting periods to access Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, programs in part funded by their tax dollars. In addition, the bill would repeal eligibility restrictions that Republicans passed in their Big Bad Betrayal bill, which deny food assistance and health coverage to people with legal status, including Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, DACA recipients, and others.

“For too long, Republicans have painted immigrants as the boogeyman while they actively pass legislation to undermine healthcare and nutrition assistance for everyone. It’s not immigrants cutting your healthcare, its Republican lawmakers,” said Jayapal. “Today, our legislation works to end Republicans’ xenophobic crusade by reversing the arbitrary barriers that make it harder for lawfully present immigrants to use federal support programs, which they pay into through their tax dollars.”

“Immigrant families in New Jersey and across the country are integral to our communities, our workforce, and our economy, and it’s unacceptable to lock them out of the benefits they help fund,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “I’m proud to join Rep. Jayapal in co-leading this effort to reverse the Trump Administration’s extreme anti-immigrant restrictions and remove arbitrary barriers to assistance that helps immigrants support their communities and families and access the American Dream.”

Republicans’ “Big Bad Betrayal Bill,” H.R. 1, cut nearly $1 trillion from healthcare and $200 billion from nutrition assistance. Under the guise of “protecting” federal programs and to distract from these cuts, Republicans prohibited lawfully present immigrants from receiving certain federal benefits, including Medicaid and SNAP. This created additional restrictions on top of a 1996 law that established an arbitrary five-year waiting period for immigrants with legal status to access critical federal healthcare and nutrition assistance programs. As a result of these xenophobic policies, countless lawfully present immigrants who have been vetted by the federal government and granted legal status cannot receive the support they need, including an estimated 105,000 children. 

The LIFT the BAR Act would change this by:

• Restoring access to federal public benefits for lawfully present immigrants, including people with Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status, DACA recipients, individuals granted Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and other federally authorized non-citizens residing in the United States.
• Restore eligibility for food assistance and health coverage stripped in the Big Bad Betrayal bill;
• Eliminating the five-year bar for Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, and the SSI program.
• Removing arbitrary barriers by ensuring that immigrants with sponsors have access to services based on the income and resources that are actually available to them, removing state authority to impose additional restrictions on qualified immigrants, and restoring flexibility for states and localities to provide benefits to immigrants with their own funds; and
• Restore flexibility for states and localities to provide benefits to immigrants with their own funds.

“All children and their families, regardless of where they were born, deserve access to the supports they need to thrive, including health care and food assistance. The LIFT the BAR Act restores that access for lawfully present immigrants, including those who were wrongfully and cruelly excluded from coverage due to last year’s budget reconciliation bill. We know that children and families–and the communities where they live–flourish when they can meet their basic needs,” said Wendy Chun-Hoon, President and Executive Director for the Center for Law and Social Policy. “CLASP is grateful to Representatives Jayapal and Menendez who are true champions of children and families by ensuring that access to basic needs are more equitable and reach those who need them.”

“Everyone in the United States should be able to put food on the table, visit the doctor, and have a roof over our heads, regardless of immigration status,” said Kica Matos, President of the National Immigration Law Center. “But now, because of intentional government policies and the 2025 reconciliation bill, hundreds of thousands of green card holders, refugees, trafficking survivors, and others have lost access to basic supports and have no pathway to affordable health care. Removing cruel restrictions on public programs would correct an injustice and represent an important step toward ensuring all of us have the freedom to thrive. We thank Reps. Jayapal and Menendez for their leadership in introducing LIFT the BAR Act, and we call on Congress to swiftly pass this commonsense bill.”  

“Americans overwhelmingly want lawfully present immigrants to be able to get the care and help they need. The LIFT the BAR Act delivers what the American people want and reverses a fundamental injustice in health and social services policy,” said Maddie Geschu, Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition Director of Policy and Advocacy. “We thank Rep. Jayapal for her leadership in advancing this important legislation. Last year’s partisan budget bill is already doing damage to families and communities across the country. We urge Congress to act quickly to reverse these dangerous restrictions and restore access to basic needs programs.”

The LIFT the BAR is co-sponsored by Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At-Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sean Casten (IL-06), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Grace Meng (NY-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri A. Sewell (AL-07), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

The legislation is also endorsed by over 140 organizations, including AFT; Alianza Nacional de Campesinas; Alliance to End Hunger; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Friends Service Committee; Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC; Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF); ASISTA Immigration Assistance; Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO); Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP); Autistic Self Advocacy Network; Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network; Bend the Arc: Jewish Action; Care in Action; Caring Across Generations; Caring Ambassadors Program; Center for Gender & Refugee Studies; Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Center for Science in the Public Interest; Center for the Study of Social Policy; Children’s Defense Fund; Children’s HealthWatch; Church World Service; Coalition on Human Needs; Common Threads; Community Catalyst; Community Change Action; Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund; Families USA; First Focus Campaign For Children; Food Research & Action Center (FRAC); Freedom Network USA; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR); Health Care For America Now (HCAN); Immigration Equality Action Fund; International Rescue Committee; Justice for Migrant Women; Justice in Aging; Justice in Motion; Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA); League of United Latin American Citizens; MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger; Muslim Advocates; National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum; National Association of Social Workers; National Center for Youth Law; National Council of Jewish Women; National Domestic Workers Alliance; National Education Association; National Health Care for the Homeless Council; National Health Law Program; National Immigration Law Center; National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice; National Low Income Housing Coalition; National Network To End Domestic Violence; National Partnership for New Americans; National WIC Association; Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies; Oxfam America; People Power United; People’s Action Institute; Physicians for Reproductive Health; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Prevention Institute; Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK); Refugee Congress; Reproductive Freedom For All; RESULTS; Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); Stop AAPI Hate; Tahirih Justice Center; The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis; UnidosUS; Union for Reform Judaism; Unitarian Universalist Service Committee; Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice; United Parent Leaders Action Network; We are CASA; Anne Arundel County Food Bank, Inc.; Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition; Asian Counseling and Referral Service; Binational Institute of Human Development; Boston Medical Center Health System; CCWRO; Children’s Defense Fund-Texas; Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC); Church Women United in New York State; Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA); Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights; Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals; County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA); East Bay Sanctuary Covenant; Every Texan; Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project; For All Families Oregon; Glide Foundation; Greater Chicago Food Depository; GROW Initiative GA; Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks!; Healthy Illinois Campaign; Her Justice; Hunger Free Colorado; Hunger Free Vermont; Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Latino Community Fund Georgia (LCF Georgia); Latino Texas Policy Center; Legal Council for Health Justice; Legal Key Partnership for Health and Justice; Majdal: Arab Community Center of San Diego; Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association ; Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition; Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.; Michigan Immigrant Rights Center; Michigan League for Public Policy; Michigan’s Children; Minnesota Parents United ; Mutual Aid Worcester; National Health Law Program; New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning; New York Immigration Coalition; North East Medical Services (NEMS); Northwest Immigrant Rights Project; Nourish California; Oasis Legal Services; Oklahoma Policy Institute; OneAmerica; Our Children Oregon; Parable of the Sower Intentional Community Cooperative ; Parent Engagement Academy ; Praxis Health Empowerment; Public Interest Law Project; Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center; Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County; Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN); Serving at risk families everywhere, Inc.; St. Matthew Trinity Lunchtime Ministry; The Children’s Partnership; The Door; The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health; United African Organization; Voices for Utah Children; Washington State Budget and Policy Center.

Issues: Health Care, Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced that he, along with Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), has submitted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (NDAA) to provide $5 million in federal funding for alpha-gal syndrome research. Alpha-gal syndrome is a life-threatening allergy triggered by tick bites that impacts approximately 500,000 Americans across the United States, including tens of thousands of Missourians.

“Due to the lack of research and monitoring systems, it is difficult to know for certain the exact number of Americans living with alpha-gal syndrome—but we know the number is rising and its impact is devastating to thousands of Missourians across our state,” said Congressman Cleaver. “As the alpha-gal syndrome community continues to grow, Congress owes it to these Americans to invest in life-saving research that will help discover new treatments and improve the lives of those dealing with the condition. I’m proud to lead the effort to provide dedicated federal funding for alpha-gal syndrome research, and I’m hopeful my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will support it.”

“Alpha-gal syndrome is a life-altering, tick-acquired allergy that changes the foods you can safely eat and the medications and medical procedures that are safe for you. For service members, a diagnosis can be disqualifying and career-ending, making it a direct threat to military readiness. More than half of all service members are stationed within the range of the lone star tick, which causes most cases of the disease, and studies show they are developing it in the course of their duties,” said Sharon Forsyth, Executive Director of Alpha-gal Alliance Action Fund. “Despite this burden, research into treatment and prevention has received only limited federal support. Representative Cleaver’s amendment addresses this need directly, directing $5,000,000 to alpha-gal syndrome research within the Combat and Operational Medicine Program without increasing overall spending. The Alpha-gal Alliance Action Fund commends Representative Cleaver for his leadership and urges Congress to support this amendment.”

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergy and tickborne disease delivered primarily by the Lone Star Tick. When the tick bites, it can transfer alpha-gal into a person’s blood, triggering an allergic reaction. Symptoms, which can range from mild to life-threatening, often occur when individuals eat red meat or are exposed to other products made from mammals. There is no known cure for alpha-gal syndrome.

Official text of Rep. Cleaver’s amendment is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Amid ongoing labor shortages, the Congressman co-led legislation to meet rural housing needs in South Texas 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-New Jersey) and Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) lead 43 members in urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to maintain existing vessel speed protections for North Atlantic right whales while continuing to develop and deploy new technologies that can help reduce vessel strike risk.

“We appreciate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) ongoing efforts to prioritize developing additional tools to reduce vessel strike risk, including exploring emerging communication, monitoring, and detection technologies, as outlined in the recent Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. We support continued investment in and testing of these innovative technologies, including public-private partnerships such as cooperative research. Expanding real-time awareness of marine mammals and navigation hazards, improving data integration, and strengthening compliance tools will be important components of a comprehensive, modern approach “to protecting North Atlantic right whales and improving mariner safety at sea,” wrote the members.

Their letter comes as NOAA seeks public comment on potential changes to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule, including whether technology-based strike avoidance measures could supplement or replace existing seasonal speed restrictions.

“At the same time, speed reduction is currently the best practice for reducing vessel strike mortality. Seasonal speed restrictions of 10 knots or less in areas of high vessel strike risk remain the most effective and reliable measure available to reduce the risk of fatal collisions or injuries that contribute to reduced reproductive capability,” the members continued.

In the letter, the Democratic lawmakers argue that emerging technologies—including acoustic monitoring systems, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and real-time whale detection tools—can improve mariner awareness and help protect endangered whales, but should serve as complements to, not replacements for, the existing 10-knot vessel speed restrictions that have been in place since 2008.

Seasonal Management Areas require reduced speeds for vessels 65 feet or longer to reduce the likelihood and lethality of collisions with whales. The Mid-Atlantic North Atlantic right whale Seasonal Management Area protects whales and boaters off New Jersey’s coast, while Right Whale Slow Zones provide an additional layer of protection encouraging boaters to slow down in areas in which right whales have been visually or acoustically detected. The current Right Whale Slow Zone in effect southeast of Atlantic City, highlights lawmakers’ point that “[d]etection and dissemination technologies should continue to be developed as additional tools in the conservation toolbox—capable of enhancing situational awareness, informing dynamic management, and improving compliance—but not as replacements for the baseline speed protections that are keeping the North Atlantic right whale from extinction and that we know work for mariners.” Protecting these critically endangered species requires a comprehensive, science-based approach.

Read the full letter here and below:

Dear Administrator Jacobs:

We write to you today to express our strong support for the continued implementation and enforcement of the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule (VSR) for vessels 65 feet and longer.

We appreciate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) ongoing efforts to prioritize developing additional tools to reduce vessel strike risk, including exploring emerging communication, monitoring, and detection technologies, as outlined in the recent Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. We support continued investment in and testing of these innovative technologies, including public-private partnerships such as cooperative research. Expanding real-time awareness of marine mammals and navigation hazards, improving data integration, and strengthening compliance tools will be important components of a comprehensive, modern approach to protecting North Atlantic right whales and improving mariner safety at sea.

At the same time, speed reduction is currently the best practice for reducing vessel strike mortality. Seasonal speed restrictions of 10 knots or less in areas of high vessel strike risk remain the most effective and reliable measure available to reduce the risk of fatal collisions or injuries that contribute to reduced reproductive capability.^[1]

A recent NOAA-commissioned analysis conducted by MITRE further underscores this point.^[2]Many technologies highlighted in the report remain in early or intermediate stages of development. It is important that the systems reviewed demonstrate efficacy in operational environments capable of supporting real-time individual vessel strike avoidance. In order to ensure reliability, these systems must overcome limitations, including dependence on whale behavior and environmental conditions, as well as detection range constraints that can reduce reliability in real-world settings.

Widespread deployment of vessel-based detection systems requires time and investment to design, test, install, and maintain across diverse fleets operating in U.S. waters. There are several outstanding questions regarding who would bear these costs, how such systems would be standardized, and how compliance would be monitored and enforced. These implementation challenges are particularly complex in the context of international shipping, where vessels operating under foreign flags would be subject to additional legal, regulatory, and logistical considerations. Any proposal from NOAA to alter device carriage requirements for U.S. vessels must be coordinated with Congress and the U.S. Coast Guard and must include consultation with the military and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

The VSR provides a clear, predictable, and operationally workable framework for effectively reducing the risk of vessel strikes. By establishing science-based seasonal management areas, the VSR allows operators of vessels 65 feet and longer to plan and incorporate speed adjustments into voyage planning. Maritime stakeholders have long emphasized that predictable, planned slowdowns are preferable for voyage planning rather than unplanned operational disruptions, and the structure of the rule reflects that reality.

Importantly, the rule also includes built-in safety provisions, allowing vessels to deviate from speed requirements as necessary to maintain safe maneuvering and to address medical emergencies. Economic analyses have found no meaningful impact on port activity or overall maritime commerce, similarly underscoring that the rule is both effective and practical to implement.

One novel technology that we hope NOAA will continue to support is the shore-to-ship Automated Information System (AIS). This new maritime technology supports mariner compliance with the VSR through real-time communication, helps mariners head off potential enforcement before it happens through enhanced awareness, and helps bend the learning curve on the rule’s requirements for both foreign and American vessel classes with lower rates of compliance. Shore-to-ship AIS does not require changes to carriage requirements, can be used for both conservation and safety-at-sea purposes, and its widespread use has already been approved by both the Coast Guard and the FCC. 

Detection and dissemination technologies should continue to be developed as additional tools in the conservation toolbox—capable of enhancing situational awareness, informing dynamic management, and improving compliance—but not as replacements for the baseline speed protections that are keeping the North Atlantic right whale from extinction and that we know work for mariners.

Efforts to modernize whale protection strategies should build upon the scientifically proven effectiveness of speed reduction. We therefore respectfully urge NOAA to maintain the strength and integrity of the 2008 North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule, including the seasonal and dynamic management areas, as the agency continues to evaluate, research, and advance new technologies. We stand ready to work with NOAA to support a comprehensive, science-based approach that incorporates both established protections and emerging innovations to ensure the survival and recovery of the North Atlantic right whale.

1.     P.B. Conn & G.K. Silber, Vessel speed restrictions reduce risk of collision-related mortality for North Atlantic right whales (D. P. C. Peters, 2013). ↑

2.     Casey Corrado Kirsch et al., Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) for North Atlantic Right Whale Detection and Vessel Strike Risk Reduction (NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service 2025). ↑

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

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

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) introduced a bill to improve the financial security of people with disabilities by updating and modernizing savings limits for Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts, helping individuals build financial security without risking access to critical benefits, which is important as individuals with disabilities and their families face exacerbated costs.

The Stephen Wira ABLE Act was inspired by a Michigan constituent after their family contacted Congresswoman Dingell’s office to share concerns that the outdated savings cap limits families’ ability to better prepare for their future.

“For too many families who have a loved one with a disability, saving for the future can mean worrying about jeopardizing federal benefits that are essential to daily life,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “ABLE accounts have helped individuals with disabilities achieve greater financial independence, but the savings limit has not kept pace with inflation. This legislation fixes that so people can save for their future and build greater financial security.”

“On behalf of ABLE-eligible individuals and their families, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the diligent efforts of Debbie Dingell and her office in advocating for a segment of our society that depends on strong and effective representation. The establishment of the ABLE Program has provided individuals with disabilities greater opportunities to pursue financial independence while maintaining access to essential support and services,” said Mark Wira, father of Stephen Wira. “By permitting savings protections to be adjusted for inflation, Congress can help restore the original intent of the ABLE program—to ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities can build and preserve financial resources without jeopardizing their security. These improvements help safeguard the financial well-being of ABLE account holders and provide greater peace of mind to individuals and families who rely on the program. We are grateful for Congresswoman Dingell’s leadership and commitment to policies that promote dignity, opportunity, and economic security for Americans with disabilities.”

ABLE accounts allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save for disability-related expenses, including housing, transportation, healthcare, and other essential needs. Under current law, people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits can only save up to $100,000 in an ABLE account. If they save more than that, they risk losing their monthly benefit check. That threshold was established when ABLE accounts were created in 2014 and has never been adjusted for inflation.

Congresswoman Dingell’s legislation would increase the current cap from $100,000 to $150,000 and provide annual inflation adjustments moving forward.

By updating the ABLE account limit and taking inflation into account, the bill ensures that the program continues to reflect economic realities and supports long-term financial stability for people with disabilities and their families.

Bill text can be found HERE.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) took to the House floor to spotlight the ongoing public health emergency caused by the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire in Boyle Heights and called for accountability, environmental testing, and continued support for impacted communities.

WATCH: Rep. Gomez’s House Floor Remarks on the Boyle Heights Warehouse Fire

Since the fire began, smoke and hazardous fumes have spread beyond Boyle Heights and into neighborhoods across Los Angeles, forcing residents to remain indoors and raising concerns about long-term health impacts

“Families in Boyle Heights and across Los Angeles are living through a public health emergency,” said Rep. Gomez. “They can’t go outside, they can’t open their windows, and they’re worried about the air they’re breathing. Our community deserves answers, accountability, and every resource necessary to recover from this disaster.”

During his remarks, Gomez highlighted the disproportionate environmental burdens often placed on working-class communities and communities of color and emphasized that emergency response efforts must extend beyond extinguishing the fire.

“Firefighters have worked around the clock to contain this fire, but the response cannot stop there,” Gomez said. “We need comprehensive air quality testing, soil testing, and ongoing health monitoring to understand the full impact on residents and workers.”

Rep. Gomez has been in contact with federal, state, and local officials regarding the fire and has urged the EPA and FEMA to stand ready to provide assistance if requested. He has also called for a full investigation into the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“For too long, communities like Boyle Heights have been asked to live with the consequences of industrial pollution while corporations avoid accountability,” Gomez continued.

“I will keep pushing to ensure every affected family gets the answers, accountability, and resources they deserve.”

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