MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $132,885 grant. The funding supports research into obesity and insulin sensitivity. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“The scientific community relies on dedicated research efforts to study obesity.

“This HHS grant for more than $132,000 helps Virginia Tech develop clinical research on obesity for the scientific community.”

BACKGROUND

This funding is supported by a Research Scientist Development Award. According to the National Institutes of Health, Research Scientist Development Awards support intensive, supervised career development experiences.

The HHS office responsible for this grant is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement regarding the passing of Robert S. Mueller III, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI):

“I join the nation in mourning the loss of Robert Mueller. He devoted his life to upholding the rule of law. He did so despite facing immense political pressure and numerous personal attacks on his character, which sadly have continued since his passing.
 

“Nearly two decades ago, as FBI Director, he asked for my help in finding a suburban site for a new consolidated headquarters for the FBI so that it could move out of the dilapidated J. Edgar Hoover Building. My commitment to that cause continues, and I hope we can realize his vision for a facility that meets the security and operational needs of  the Bureau.

“I am grateful for his service and for the service of all the brave men and women at the FBI.”

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced a bill today that would prohibit questions on the decennial census related to citizenship, nationality, and immigration status.

“The decennial census determines issues such as congressional apportionment and distribution of federal funding to over 350 programs, and questions about one’s status can lead to less accurate data,” Norton said. “We owe it to all our constituents that these unnecessary and harmful questions never be allowed.”

The American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, already includes a question on citizenship.

Norton’ introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Ensuring Full Participation in the Census Act of 2026

March 24, 2026

Today, I introduce the Ensuring Full Participation in the Census Act of 2026, which would prohibit the U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) from including questions on the decennial census about citizenship, nationality or immigration status.

Prior to the 2020 census, the Department of Justice wrote to the Bureau requesting that it “reinstate on the 2020 census questionnaire a question regarding citizenship.”  From 1970 to 2000, this question was sent to approximately 16 percent of the population in the decennial census through the so-called “longform.”  However, the longform was dropped from the census and replaced with the current American Community Survey (ACS).  The ACS is sent to approximately three million people annually, which allows the Bureau to get the necessary information on citizenship.  Asking questions about citizenship status to every person in the decennial census has not been done in almost 70 years because it would discourage people, largely minorities, who are already undercounted in the census, from participating in the census.  The ACS was created to make the decennial census simpler for people to complete, which facilitates higher participation rates and preserves privacy.

Fortunately, after a protracted legal and political process, the citizenship question was not included on the 2020 census. However, this bill is necessary to ensure it cannot be asked on a future decennial census.  The representative sample provided by the ACS is more than sufficient to determine citizenship statistics in the U.S.  All individuals must be counted in the decennial census to ensure an accurate allocation of federal funds and representation in Congress.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Rep. Titus Welcomes Senate Companion Bill to Curb Prediction Markets Sports Betting

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

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Representative Don Bacon sent a bipartisan letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding answers on the Trump administration’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil.

The lawmakers warned that the move risks undercutting U.S. national security interests by enabling Russia to expand revenue streams used to sustain its war against Ukraine.

A PDF of the letter is here. An excerpt is below.

“…The United States’ existing sanctions targeting Russia’s energy exports have helped curtail the Kremlin’s ability to finance its illegal war of choice against Ukraine. Easing sanctions on Russia at this critical juncture, instead of increasing pressure, risks fueling Russia’s aggression and undermining progress we have made to reduce Russia’s global energy leverage…

“The issuing of these licenses and Russia’s subsequent financial gains come on the heels of Ukraine’s most significant territorial gains in years in their fight to reclaim their sovereign territory from occupying Russian forces. In other words, these licenses have provided Russia with an infusion of cash just when it needs it most to reverse Ukrainian progress, allowing it to take advantage of the global rise in energy costs to further fund its illegal war.

“Not only are these licenses helping fund Russian aggression against Ukraine, but they are doing so while Russia reportedly helps the Iranian regime target U.S. forces in the Middle East. On March 17, the Wall Street Journal further reported that Russian-Iranian cooperation continues to increase – with Russia providing modifications to Shahed drones developed from their own experiences using them against Ukraine and sharing satellite imagery to ‘prolong a war that is benefitting Russia militarily and economically.’”

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

Today, Chicago Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement on Trump’s deployment of ICE agents to O’Hare International Airport, amidst Republican refusals to fund TSA:

“I don’t trust ICE in our airports any more than I did on the streets of Chicago. They do not have the training to perform TSA’s functions, and they are far more likely to cause fear than to reassure travelers of their safety. This decision does nothing to allay flyers’ security concerns or reduce airport waiting times.

“Congressional Democrats have given the President and House Republicans numerous opportunities to fund TSA without restoring ICE funding. As recently as this weekend, they kept turning down the offer. I have cosponsored a bill to fund TSA, FEMA, and other critical agencies within DHS, and last week I signed a discharge petition to force a vote on the House floor. Republicans in Congress just need to decide if they want to serve the American people more than they want to cater to Trump.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a statement ahead of Rules Committee consideration of the anti-D.C. bill, the Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act (H.R. 5103), introduced by Rep. John McGuire (R-VA). The bill would undermine D.C.’s autonomy by codifying parts of President Trump’s executive order of the same name into law. The Rules Committee will consider the bill at 4:00 p.m. and the full House is expected to debate the bill on Wednesday. The live stream of today’s hearing will be available on rules.house.gov. 

McGuire’s bill would establish the “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Commission.” As originally introduced, the Commission included only federal officials as members of the Commission and excluded any representation from the D.C. government, despite the power to make consequential changes affecting the District. The bill has since been amended to allow a representative from the D.C. Mayor’s Office as one of its 10 members.

The Commission’s first two listed responsibilities are aimed at increasing immigration enforcement in D.C. Specifically, the Commission is required to ensure the “maximum enforcement of Federal immigration law within the District of Columbia, including… the redirection of available Federal, State, or local law enforcement resources to apprehend and deport illegal aliens,” and to monitor D.C.’s “sanctuary-city status and compliance with the enforcement of Federal immigration law.” The Commission is also required to facilitate the “deployment of a more robust Federal law enforcement presence” in D.C. and “increase the speed and lower the costs of processing concealed carry” gun permits in D.C.

“This bill seeks to further President Trump’s efforts to control and demonize D.C. and its residents, the majority of whom are Black and Brown,” Norton said. “President Trump has already called for the repeal of D.C. home rule, federalized the D.C. Police, deployed troops and masked federal agents on D.C.’s streets, terrorized immigrants in D.C., demolished the East Wing of the White House and closed the Kennedy Center. This bill will only further embolden him.

“The arrogance of President Trump’s patronizing efforts is evident in his executive order issued in March of 2025 and in the original bill’s exclusion of any representative from the D.C. government from sitting on a Commission which has ‘D.C.’ in its very title. Although the bill now includes one slot for a member from the D.C. Mayor’s Office, designating one out of 10 members to represent the interests of D.C. residents is an insultingly insufficient adjustment. 

“At a time when 60% of Americans disapprove of ICE’s actions terrorizing communities all over the country, it strikes me as politically unwise for Republicans to pass legislation expanding ICE’s ability to terrorize the nation’s capital, where residents are well informed on their rights and where thousands of journalists live, work, and store their cameras. 

“Let me be clear: Republican members of Congress who are not accountable to D.C. have no business dictating the local laws of a city where 700,000 people live permanently and have chosen their own leaders through the democratic process. If Republicans truly cared about making D.C. safe and beautiful, they wouldn’t work to increase the number of deadly firearms in the District; they’d fully fund the National Park Service, which maintains over 90% of D.C.’s parkland and has lost a quarter of its staff since President Trump took office.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

Republican cuts to health care threaten access to affordable care for more than 24,000 people in California’s 33rd Congressional District who are enrolled in Covered California, California’s Affordable Care Act marketplace

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Ahead of the 16-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) held a press conference at a mobile health clinic in San Bernardino to highlight how President Trump is spending billions of taxpayer dollars on his reckless war with Iran rather than bringing down health care costs for Americans here at home. You can watch the full video of the press conference here and find photos from the event above and here.
Sixteen years after the Affordable Care Act expanded health care to millions of Americans, Republican attacks on health care and their refusal to extend the ACA tax credits caused health care premiums to increase for 24,000 residents of California’s 33rd Congressional District and more than 1.7 million Californians statewide. Instead of investing taxpayer money in bringing down the cost of health care, the Trump administration is spending it on this misguided war and is asking for even more taxpayer dollars to fund the war instead of bringing down costs here at home. 
On top of the Republican health care crisis, Trump’s war with Iran has made gas prices across the country skyrocket, with prices in San Bernardino County soaring to nearly $6.00 a gallon. The SAC Health Mobile Clinic travels hundreds of miles to serve thousands of patients in the Inland Empire, and higher fuel costs make it more expensive and difficult for mobile health clinics to operate and provide care to underserved communities. 
“Sixteen years ago, the Affordable Care Act expanded access to quality, affordable health care for millions of Americans,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “Today, Republicans are putting that progress at risk with health care cuts in their Big Ugly Law and by refusing to extend ACA tax credits that kept coverage affordable. Californians already struggle to afford doctors’ visits and groceries because of these policies—and now, Trump’s war with Iran is making gas prices skyrocket nationwide. Even worse, the Trump administration is asking for more of Americans’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars to fund their reckless foreign war after already spending billions, all while refusing to spend a dime to bring down the cost of health care. From the gas pump to the doctor’s office, working families are paying the price for Trump’s disastrous policies and costly foreign war. I’ll keep fighting to lower costs, protect health care and hold Trump accountable so Inland Empire families can thrive.”
“The anniversary of the ACA is a reminder of how many of our community continue to need the compassionate care the SAC Health provides,” said Dr. Michael Robinson, ACMO, SAC Health. “We are grateful for the ongoing support of the ACA as it is essential for the health of our community; it ensures that preventive care remains accessible and that chronic diseases are managed before they become emergencies. It allows us all to work together to care for our fellow human beings. This means that we can continue to focus on high-quality patient care every single day here at SAC Health.”
“When I was unemployed, and my son was sick, we were without any health care coverage,”said Luis Hernandez, SAC Health Patient. “I cannot imagine what I would have done without a safety net that actually worked when we needed it most. Today, my son is healthy because we had resources that afforded us the ability to find a doctor and hospital that could help us.”

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

Convening Marked 16^th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act Signed into Law

Press Conference Video (YouTube) | Photos (Dropbox)

BOSTON – On the 16^th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) held a critical convening with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) and healthcare providers and advocates, faith leaders, and individuals impacted by ACA cuts about how Republicans are ripping away healthcare while pouring money into war and ICE kidnappings.

“Republicans’ manufactured healthcare crisis is making people sicker, poorer, and less safe. Meanwhile Republicans are pouring money in to a war and funding the rogue ICE agents attacking our neighbors,” said Rep. Pressley. “Sixteen years ago, the Affordable Care Act was enacted to address barriers to healthcare and helped people access essential healthcare coverage—and Republicans are rolling back these gains every day by gutting essential programs like Medicaid and forcing families to choose between refilling medications and paying rent. While Trump can somehow find $2 billion a day for war, we’re demanding that he and Republicans put people over profit and support life-saving healthcare. It was an honor to be joined by healthcare providers and advocates, faith and community leaders, and impacted individuals here in the Massachusetts 7^th. We will continue using every tool we have to fight for our neighbors’ health and dignity.”

“In Washington, you can either choose to make policy progress or inflict policy violence. And what Donald Trump and Republicans have been doing is inflicting policy violence on the American people. They have cut healthcare for tens of millions of Americans and can’t seem to find a dime to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Instead, they used that money to give a $75 billion slush fund to fund Donald Trump’s mass deportation machine and are spending billions of dollars a day to drop bombs in a reckless war of choice in the Middle East,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). “House Democrats believe that in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, not a single person should go without access to high-quality healthcare. We will continue to emphasize healthcare, not warfare, and make clear for the American people our commitment to push back aggressively against the toxic policy choices that Republicans continue to impose.”

Joining Rep. Pressley and Leader Jeffries at the convening were Rev Willie Bodrick of Twelfth Baptist Church, Rev Mariama White Hammond, Dr. Guy Fish of Codman Health Center, Michael Curry of MA League of Community Health Centers, Dr. Ellana Stintson at Mass General Brigham, Dr. Thea James at Boston Medical Center, John Barros, Cabo Verde community leader and former Chief Equity Officer for Boston, Carolyn Villers, Executive Director of Mass Senior Action and an elder impacted by ACA cuts.

Press conference footage is available here and photos from the event are available here.

Rep. Pressley has been a champion for essential health care coverage and the extension of ACA tax credits. Additionally, as immigrant communities have been under siege by the Trump administration, Rep. Pressley has been a leading voice in pushing back and defending our immigrant neighbors. Rep. Pressley has also condemned Trump’s endless war on Iran, demanding an end to the attacks and killing of U.S. servicemembers and innocent civilians.

• In January 2026, Rep. Pressley applauded Democrats forcing House passage of legislation to extend life-saving Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and protect healthcare for millions. On the House floor, Rep. Pressley implored Republicans to save healthcare for families across the country, including her constituent Deborah, whose family’s monthly payments would double should the ACA tax credits expire.
• In December 2025, in a powerful floor speech, Rep. Pressley condemned Trump and Republicans’ attacks on healthcare and abortion access, and demanded Speaker Johnson bring a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies to the House floor immediately.
• In November 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she assailed the Republican spending bill, which would cause healthcare costs to skyrocket and force families to choose between healthcare and food. Congresswoman Pressley vowed to keep fighting to save healthcare for communities in the Massachusetts 7^th and across the country.
• In November 2025, Rep. Pressley slammed Republicans for harming families across America by shutting down the government, unlawfully cutting food assistance, and jacking up healthcare costs. Congresswoman Pressley also questioned witnesses about the harmful, misleading stereotypes pushed by Republicans about who relies on federal programs like the Affordable Care Act, SNAP, and Medicaid.
• In October 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning Republicans after they chose to shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to protect families and save healthcare for millions.
• Just days into last fall’s government shutdown, Rep. Pressley held an emergency convening in Boston to highlight the harm of the shutdown to MA-07 constituents – federal workers, patients, advocates, and more.
• Just hours before the Republicans shut down the government, Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates, colleagues, and impacted folks to demand Republicans protect healthcare and keep the government open
• Congresswoman Pressley stood in solidarity with workers and families who would be impacted by the government shutdown.
• Rep. Pressley also joined an all-day event with House Democrats to hold the line against Trump and Republicans’ efforts to rip away healthcare from millions of Americans.

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined Rep. Ayanna Pressley for a roundtable and press conference on the Healthcare Not Warfare Day of Action, where they discussed the harmful impacts of prioritizing entering a war of choice in the Middle East over ensuring healthcare is affordable for all Americans.

LEADER JEFFRIES: We gather on the 16th anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, life-sustaining, life-changing and life-saving legislation. That’s the type of thing that we in Congress should be doing to make life better for the American people. Unfortunately, Republicans, led by President Trump and those Republicans in the House and the Senate, have chosen not to make policy progress but to inflict policy violence on the American people in areas like healthcare and access to healthy food.

In the One Big Ugly Bill, Republicans enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, literally ripping healthcare away from more than 14 million Americans, including our elders. And in that same toxic bill, Republicans enacted the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history, a $186 billion cut to SNAP, ripping food away from children, from veterans and from hungry seniors in order to give massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors and, at the same period of time, create a $75 billion slush fund to unleash masked and untrained, violent ICE agents to brutalize and kill American citizens, like Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, or violently target law-abiding immigrants families. That’s policy violence and a priority choice that Republicans have made. And now, on top of the One Big Ugly Bill, Republican extremists have chosen to plunge this country into a reckless war of choice and spend billions of dollars to drop bombs in the Middle East without any justification that has been articulated to the American people while cutting healthcare and being unwilling to find a dime to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

We’re here to make clear, and this roundtable will further equip us as we go back to Washington to emphasize healthcare, not warfare, and to make clear to the American people the types of toxic policy choices that Republicans have chosen to make and our commitment as Democrats to push back aggressively against it. In closing, we believe as Democrats that in this great country of ours, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, access to high-quality healthcare, to primary care, to services at community-based health centers, can’t simply be a privilege available only to the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. Access to high-quality and affordable healthcare should be a right that is available to everyone, which is why we will continue to emphasize healthcare, not warfare.

Full press availability can be watched here.

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