MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today at a hearing held by the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ranking Member of the subcommittee, pressed VA leadership on VA’s failure to pay required education benefits on time to over 75,000 veterans and their families and survivors. View Pappas’s remarks here.

Underscoring the lack of communication from VA to veterans, their families, and Congress, Pappas said, “We have not had that – in fact, in all my years on this Committee I have never experienced this level of stonewalling before… VA has issued little to no public acknowledgment for months regarding the seventy-five thousand beneficiaries whose benefits have been delayed. There has been minimal communication for months to schools and beneficiaries themselves. And there has been zero communication with Congress, unless you can count the letter that we received back that didn’t answer our questions at 5:45 yesterday. Three letters that were sent from members of this committee went unanswered for a month and a half.”

Stressing the length of time of four months for VA to share information, he said, “It took four months between this problem being identified and Congress being updated. Four months – during which tens of thousands of beneficiaries were left without any information. There’s just no excuse for such an egregious lack of communication around an issue that affects so many veterans. Any reasonable person would conclude that a deliberate, political decision was made to cut off communications with Congress and veterans to avoid accountability and hide the problem.”

Pappas shared a constituent story, saying, “One of my constituents from Manchester contacted our office and said: ‘Due to an error with the VA benefits system I have not received my education benefits so far this semester. The call-in line that I and the University of New Hampshire veteran center staff use to resolve such issues has been deactivated for the duration of the shutdown, leaving me dead in the water. My wife’s salary has so far covered our rent and food, but we are at risk of losing child care for my son due to non-payment as well as having to miss car payments.’ Financial stress put on him and his family is evident. It is also unacceptable.”

Background:

Pappas has sent multiple letters, with House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (CT) on this issue. Secretary Collins failed to respond to previous letters sent on October 9 and November 14 until yesterday evening, missing multiple deadlines to provide the requested information. VA acknowledged during a December 5 briefing that it never informed Congress of the issue impacting 75,000 beneficiaries, which started in August. VA is aware of the failed distribution of checks that is still affecting the finances of thousands, but deemed it unnecessary to communicate with the veterans, families, and survivors impacted or notify Congress and the public. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act, legislation to assist Americans in alleviating paperwork burdens and making informed enrollment decisions. This includes extending the 2026 Open Enrollment period, restoring auto-reenrollment and the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which were repealed in the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and funding the Navigator Program.

“I’m not letting up in the fight for affordable health care for Granite Staters. We have one month left in open enrollment and individuals are seeing eye-popping premium increases of double or even triple,” said Congressman Pappas. “We have bipartisan legislation ready to go, but Republican leadership continues to refuse to bring it to the floor to stop skyrocketing health care costs. While we keep fighting to get our bill to the floor, my legislation would give families the time, flexibility, and resources to find health insurance coverage that is right for them. I will continue pushing to expand health care access and lower costs at this critical time for New Hampshire families.”

This legislation is endorsed by NAMI, Third Way, and Protect Our Care.

“NAMI NH often hears from Granite Staters with mental illness who struggle to access essential health care for themselves and their families,” said Susan Stearns, Executive Director of NAMI New Hampshire.  “We are grateful to Rep. Pappas for introducing TheProtecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act to help prevent gaps in coverage – and in care – by extending open enrollment & supporting trusted Navigators.”

“Health care decisions shouldn’t be rushed or based on incorrect information, which can limit people’s access to critical mental health services,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at NAMI. “By extending open enrollment, protecting auto-reenrollment, and investing in the trusted Navigator Program, the Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act would help Americans better understand often confusing options and information, potentially avoiding unnecessary gaps in health coverage. NAMI thanks Rep. Pappas for introducing this important legislation, which would benefit many Americans’ access to mental health care.”

“Americans are under constant threat from Republican health care cuts and efforts to weaken the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Congressman Chris Pappas is fighting to restore key policies to ensure Americans have adequate access to health care,” said Darbin Wofford, Deputy Director of Health Care at Third Way. “Third Way applauds his introduction of the Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act, which would ease administrative burdens for those seeking health insurance and maximize access to the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces.” 

“Trump and Republicans have blown past deadline after deadline as hard-working Granite Staters wait for a fix to their GOP-driven skyrocketing health insurance premiums,” said Protect Our Care New Hampshire’s Jayme Simoes. “Republicans got us into this mess, and if they’re not going to dig us out by ending their disastrous war on health care, the very least they can do is pass Rep. Pappas’s Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act. This bill would be a lifeline for New Hampshire families, giving them additional time and resources to make major decisions about their health and finances as the new year begins.”

The Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act would:

• Extend 2026 Open Enrollment through May 1st, 2026 to provide individuals and families more time to assess Marketplace prices and make an informed decision about health insurance coverage as a result of the chaos and confusion caused by Republican inaction;
• Reinstate auto-reenrollment, which was repealed by the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, to reduce administrative burden for consumers to enroll in ACA coverage;
• Make permanent a Special Enrollment Period for low-income individuals to ensure the ACA plans are available to Americans even when income fluctuates;
• Restore and make mandatory funding of $100 million to the Navigator Program, which helps consumers make informed decisions about their health plans.

Full text is available here.

This legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), and Julie Johnson (TX-32).

Background: 

Last week Pappas was a part of a bipartisan coalition of 38 total House Members that introduced the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act, which includes a year extension of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, new guardrails to prevent “ghost beneficiaries” and crack down on fraud, an extension of open enrollment, and PBM reform. In November Pappas led the call for the Trump administration to extend the ACA open enrollment period and subsequently introduced the Right to Enroll Act, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to extend the enrollment period through May 1, 2026. Pappas supports multiple pieces of  legislation that would prevent extreme increases in health care premiums next year by extending the enhanced premium tax credits that keep health insurance affordable for Granite Staters and small businesses. 

Pappas held a roundtable with leadership from Lamprey Health Care about the burden of these increased costs, during which they shared stories about the impact the lapse will have on their patients, as well as the news that the health center’s annual premium to cover their staff is also expected to increase by 40% next year. Small businesses across New Hampshire are bearing these costs, including a manufacturer Pappas visited that expects to see a 38% increase in its health insurance costs next year due to the lapse of the tax credits.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) introduced the Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act, a bipartisan bill to help communities respond to and recover from extreme weather and natural disasters.

Inspired by the Colorado Resiliency Office that has proven successful in helping communities adapt to changing environmental conditions, the CLEAR Act would establish a competitive grant program to help states, territories, and tribes establish and maintain resiliency offices to develop tools, provide assistance, and implement policies to strengthen resiliency in communities nationwide. The CLEAR Act would authorize $100 million annually for five years.

Representatives Young Kim (R-CA-40), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), and Carol Miller (R-WV-01) joined Congressman Crow in introducing this bipartisan legislation. 

“Extreme weather events continue to impact Colorado and states across the country. I’m proud to introduce the CLEAR Act to provide communities with the tools and resources to respond and rebuild after natural disasters,” said Congressman Crow. “This bipartisan bill bolsters local efforts to prepare for extreme weather and will help strengthen critical infrastructure, protect small businesses, and save taxpayer money.”

“Too many in our community have felt the devastation of wildfires firsthand,” said Congresswoman Kim. “Natural disasters don’t discriminate—they impact us all. I’m proud to work alongside Rep. Crow to help introduce this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that will strengthen local resiliency efforts and give communities the tools they need to prepare for and recover from weather emergencies.”

“Disasters like the flooding in Ruidoso and Salt and South Fork fires are the new normal, and New Mexicans know firsthand how wildfires, drought, and floods can devastate lives in an instant,” said Congressman Vasquez. “As the climate changes and becomes more extreme, our communities need better tools to fight back and protect working families. We must act now to ensure New Mexico is prepared for the future.”

“West Virginia families know all too well the devastation that flooding can bring to our homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The CLEAR Act will give our communities the support they need to better prepare for future disasters and recover more quickly,” said Congresswoman Miller. “By investing in resilience, we can protect lives, safeguard our communities, and ensure that West Virginians are not left to rebuild alone.”

This legislation is endorsed by the American Flood Coalition, Resilience Force, BlueGreen Alliance, and others. 

“Over the last decade, the Colorado Resiliency Office, most recently housed in the Department of Local Affairs, has been at the forefront, statewide and nationally, of advancing solutions to ensure that our communities can adapt and thrive in the midst of changing conditions. With the frequency and severity of natural disasters increasing risks to lives, property, and livelihoods, it is more crucial than ever to support the work of State Resiliency Offices to reduce risks and build strong communities. We are proud to join Representative Crow by endorsing the CLEAR Act, which will help us expand our impact in Colorado and advance this vital work in other states,” said Anne Miller, Colorado Resiliency Office Director, Department of Local Affairs.

“Supporting state leadership on resilience is essential to protecting communities across the country from the increasing threats of natural hazards. States are key to steering federal investment, driving watershed-scale planning, and providing much needed capacity and technical assistance to local leaders. AFCA is proud to support the bipartisan Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act, as it would strengthen existing state resilience entities, while encouraging more states to take on this vital work. We commend Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Young Kim (R-CA), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), and Carol Miller (R-WV) for leading this important policy that reflects the needs and experiences of state resilience leaders working on complex resilience challenges.” said Julie Seger, Government Relations & Policy Director, American Flood Coalition Action (AFCA).

“The CLEAR Act recognizes that training the resilience workforce is critical to preparing for climate change. We applaud Rep. Crow, and the co-sponsors for helping communities build resilience for the climate disasters that could come any day,” said Saket Soni, Executive Director of Resilience Force.

“Scorching temperatures, natural disasters, and insufficient FEMA resources are making our communities more dangerous to live in,” said Jason Walsh, Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance. “The CLEAR Act will provide critical mitigation support that states need to protect communities and working families. Creating resilience offices today means people have the life saving help they need when it really counts.”

Since 1980, the U.S. has sustained over 400 weather and climate disasters that caused more than $2.9 trillion in damages to working families, small businesses, and local communities. Not only do extreme weather events create economic hardship, but they also affect public health, threaten our homeland security, damage our infrastructure, and negatively impact our farmers. 

Congressman Crow has long led the fight to protect our nation from the worst effects of climate change. He previously introduced the CLEAR Act during the 118th Congress and has also led the Guaranteeing Resilient Installations for Defense (GRID) Act to protect and strengthen military bases nationwide against changing environmental conditions. Crow helped vote into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, which together represent the largest investment in climate resilience in our nation’s history.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

“We intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge research institution with every tool we have.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced bipartisan legislation to protect patients and providers from shady contractors that withhold funding in health care claim reviews. Led with Rep. Young Kim (CA-40), Harder’s Contractors Accountability and Transparency (CAT) Act would ensure strong oversight of our health care institutions while stopping third-party contractors from disrupting access to care or forcing legitimate businesses under a mountain of bureaucracy.

Medicare uses a network of third-party contractors to carry out program integrity audits and claims reviews. These reviews are intended to safeguard taxpayer dollars, but suppliers across the country report that vague documentation requests, inconsistent standards, and long delays in reimbursement have created significant challenges. These problems can disrupt care for Medicare beneficiaries and strain small and mid-sized businesses that depend on predictable cash flow and clear rules to operate. 

“Contractors are supposed to be protecting patients and taxpayers, not creating avoidable obstacles for the legitimate providers our communities depend on,” said Rep. Harder. “The CAT Act makes the audit process clear and predictable for providers, cuts out disruptions to patients, and stops bad actors from messing with our health care. That’s how it’s supposed to work.”

The CAT Act sets clearer performance expectations for Medicare’s auditing contractors, improves communication requirements, and increases transparency throughout the audit process. That ensures a more consistent system that allows suppliers to plan, grow, and invest in their businesses while maintaining strong program integrity. 

“Pacific Medical supports thousands of patients and a large workforce across California and the western United States,” said Mark Weaver, General Counsel for Pacific Medical. “Unpredictable Medicare audits and delayed reimbursements strain our operations, disrupt patient care, and limit our ability to grow and plan for the future. We appreciate Representatives Harder and Kim for their leadership in introducing the CAT Act and for advancing needed reforms that bring greater transparency and accountability to the audit process.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, House Republicans dismissed the House and left Washington for holiday break without scheduling a vote on Rep. Lauren Underwood’s legislation to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for an additional three years. Four Republicans joined Democrats on a discharge petition to force a vote on the legislation on Wednesday, but House Speaker Mike Johnson ignored that bipartisan consensus, and has delayed the vote to January.

The popular tax credits will expire on December 31^st, 2025, and millions of families will now go into the holiday season facing skyrocketing health care costs next year.

“Health care is a human right, and for months we have called on Republicans to address this issue and give families peace of mind by making the incredibly popular tax credits from my legislation permanent,” said Rep Underwood. “But they have done nothing, and now millions of families will head into the holiday season filled with uncertainty and anxiety about the future of our health care. This is a crisis that Republicans have created through their own cruelty and neglect. It’s completely unacceptable, and our communities deserve better.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

Over the past several months, the House Natural Resources Committee has been tirelessly at work to introduce, and ultimately pass, a once-in-a-generation piece of legislation called the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. As this is such a notable bill, it has been a great honor to lead the charge in getting this legislation across the finish line that will cut burdensome federal red tape and get America – and Arkansas – building again.

Christmas came early as the House voted this week to pass this piece of legislation that received letters of support from all fifty states.

A bill for every American across every industry, reforming the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process through the SPEED Act will ultimately reduce unnecessary delays and make it easier for local governments to access the resources they need in order to complete economy-stimulating projects in a timely manner.

You may not realize it but permitting touches all aspects of life, from the ability to complete roadways and bridges that can prevent traffic jams all the way to the ability to lower the cost of your monthly electricity bill. This isn’t just legislation for large, federal industries, it’s a bill for you and every other taxpaying Arkansan. 

Passing this bill means improving road conditions for farmers hauling equipment and goods to market. It’s faster completion of bridge repairs and rural road resurfacing projects. Permitting reform means enhanced access to economic opportunity instead of being tied down by delays in permitting that hold back local governments. And it means a more responsive government that can work at the speed our communities need instead of the pace of Washington’s red tape.

The SPEED Act is a commitment to empowering our local leaders, supporting our rural economy, and ensuring that communities across the Fourth District aren’t left waiting for infrastructure that should have been built years ago. It’s been an honor to work on such a vital piece of legislation that will have direct impacts on dinner table issues. I look forward to seeing the SPEED Act move quickly through the Senate so that we can get this bill signed into law.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

In a time where countries like China, Russia, and other bad actors stand at the ready for any opportunity to undermine our nation’s democracy – or democracy across the globe – it is crucial that our nation’s defense stands ready and prepared. This week, the House voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, and it was a privilege to vote for this legislation that was not only a win for our national security but our own Arkansas communities.

Our soldiers are owed a debt of gratitude. And while we will certainly never be able to repay that debt, Congress has the ability to craft legislation that supports our troops and improves their quality of life while they defend democracy.

With a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers, expanding and reauthorizing military bonuses and special pay, increasing Family Separation Allowance, and improving the Basic Allowance for Housing to keep up with the rising cost of rent, Congress is fiscally supporting our troops in ways that are designed to enhance their quality of life so that they can not only take care of their own needs, but the needs of their families and loved ones.

Access to quality health care has long been a desperate need not only for our Veterans, but our active-duty service members. This year’s NDAA works to renovate military hospitals and even build new medical facilities that will provide this needed access to specialty care. Whether it’s bolstering mental health services or lowering the threshold for travel reimbursement for medical appointments from 100 miles to 75 miles, there is no question that this bill has the well-being of our troops in mind.

Our own state was also the recipient of multiple wins that were authorized in the NDAA. Arkansas is proud to stand on the global stage of munitions production, greatly supporting our nation’s readiness capabilities and position as a global defense leader. Supporting organic industrial base sites in the Fourth District, like Pine Bluff Arsenal, through the addition of more production lines and modernization initiatives will only continue to bolster our Pine Bluff community by creating more jobs and economic wins for the surrounding area. 

Additionally, supporting the East Camden community through the evaluation of U.S. stockpiles of critical munitions that are widely produced by major defense contractors not only positively impacts the Camden economy, but keeps Arkansas punching above its weight as it contributes a large portion of our nation’s munitions stockpile.

I’m always proud to support good, commonsense bills that bolster our nation’s defense, support our troops, and create wins for the Fourth District of Arkansas. This week’s passage of NDAA for Fiscal Year 2026 certainly met those goals, and I look forward to continuing to work to deliver America-first legislation.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

View the Designed 2025 End of Year Update HERE!

As 2025 comes to a close, here’s a look back at what my team and I have done…

Delivering for Constituents

Supporting Fourth District residents like you is the cornerstone of all that we do at Team Thompson. Since the start of this year, my staff and I have worked with federal agencies to return $19,942,459.62 to residents of our district and helped 2,215 constituents receive assistance from the federal government. 

My team and I have responded to over 214,498 letters, emails, and phone calls from community members and scheduled 329 White House and Capitol tours for constituents. 

I’m pleased to report that my team and I have reached more constituents than ever before through town halls and community events this year. I hosted over 20 town halls, reaching more than 20,000 people in our community in-person and online to answer your questions about my work for our community. 

My team and I were pleased to expand our regular office hours this year, too, to reach people where they live throughout our district and to provide an easy way for community members to speak one-on-one with a member of my staff about any challenges or concerns they face. If you’d like to be notified when my team hosts office hours in your area, sign up for my e-newsletter. 

If you or someone you know needs help with passports and visas, veterans benefits, IRS issues, agricultural issues, small business assistance, immigration, Medicare and Medicaid, or if you are facing any other problem navigating the federal government, my team is ready to help. Click here or call me at one of my offices to get started:

Napa: (707) 226-9898

Santa Rosa: (707) 542-7182

Woodland: (530) 753-3501

Washington: (202) 225-3311

It’s my honor to serve you, and my team and I are prepared to help in any way we can to ensure you get the support you need. 

Hear from some constituents we helped this year:

I want to say THANK YOU for all the assistance [Rep. Thompson] provided in helping to resolve my issue with the FAA. I had an accident in October of 2024 and because of that accident, I was unable to retain my pilot privileges until I could get it reinstated. I am a flight instructor and this is how I make my living and support my family. With [Rep. Thompson’s] help and guidance, I was able to get my pilot privileges reinstated. It is my belief that without the assistance of your office, this process would have been significantly delayed.

–

Tim from Lake County

 

The IRS was mistakenly demanding thousands of dollars from me; for a year I couldn’t get them to admit their error. At my wit’s end, I called Mike Thompson’s office. [His staff] listened, collected all my information and began advocating for me. His persistence and skill made all the difference; finally got resolution and vindication. Many, many thanks for this invaluable service!

–

Christina from Napa County

 

My Social Security benefit was incorrectly reduced, and for over a year I couldn’t get a response from the Social Security Administration. My wife urged me to reach out to Congressman Mike Thompson’s office, and I met his staff during office hours in Dixon. Within a week, SSA corrected my benefit and sent $5,000 in back pay. I’m truly grateful for the Congressman and his dedicated staff—they made a real difference.

–

Mahdi from Solano County

 

I am a Navy veteran suffering the health effects of radiation exposure while on active duty. I had fought with the VA bureaucracy for sixteen years for compensation and had my claim denied on my third and final appeal. I had lost all hope. That’s when Congressman Thompson stepped in. Through his tireless efforts this injustice was reversed and I was granted 100% service-connected disability and compensation. I can now focus my energy and attention on my health instead of reams of fruitless paperwork. Thank you Congressman Thompson.

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Paul from Sonoma County

 

I am a U.S. citizen, and I applied for my parents’ immigration. After waiting for more than a year without any updates, I wrote to [Congressman Thompson] for help. His team responded to my email quickly and contacted USCIS on my behalf. In less than a month, USCIS approved my parents’ cases. I am truly grateful to the staff for helping me with the difficulties I encountered.

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Dan from Yolo County

Legislative Update

As we close out the first session of the 119^th Congress, I’m proud to report that I have introduced or co-sponsored 216 bills. This includes my legislation to:

• Lower The Cost of Living: Dignity should not be a luxury. As families in our community are squeezed by higher prices thanks to the President’s tariff war, I’m leading a comprehensive bill designed to make it easier to afford a house, make rent, care for your kids and elderly family members, afford college, and have health care.

• Stop Rising Energy Bills: I wrote the renewable energy bill that created over $211 million in investments in our district. After the President slashed these investments, I’m once again fighting alongside climate advocates, labor leaders, and local elected officials to reinstate these investments to lower your energy bills and create good paying jobs here at home. 

• Tackle The Home Insurance Crisis: Property insurance has quickly become one of the single biggest issues in our community. People can’t get covered: either the available options are completely unaffordable, or there are no options available at all. That’s why I lead a bipartisan bill to help homeowners and business owners mitigate disaster risks on their property. This will help incentivize insurers back into the market and bring rates back into more affordable territory.

• Expand Health Care Access: Since my days in the California State Senate, I’ve been a big believer in telehealth’s ability to save money, time, and lives. That’s why Congress passed my legislation to extend telehealth access for seniors on Medicare. Now, I’m working to make telehealth coverage permanent. 

• Promote Mental Health Research: Investing in brain research is key to addressing the root causes of mental health conditions, not just managing the symptoms. That’s why I’m working to pass my bipartisan bill to incentivize private companies with financial resources to collaborate with academic or nonprofit research institutions on neurological and mental health research to tackle the root causes of mental health conditions.

• Ensure Fire Prevention and Readiness: Our community knows firsthand the impact breathing wildfire smoke can have on our health. As wildfire smoke and extreme heat become more and more common, my Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act will help experts better research the impact of wildfire smoke on our communities and provide communities the resources they need to keep Americans safe. 

• Keep Our Community Safe: As Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in Congress, I’m leading the charge to pass sensible policies that keep our communities safe. That includes driving policies like expanded background checks for firearm purchases.  

In 2026, I look forward to continuing my work to pass sensible legislation that will deliver for our district and improve your quality of life, and I remain committed to working with anyone who will help get these priorities signed into law.

Delivering Long-Awaited Relief to Wildfire Victims

As many of you know too well, federally declared wildfires in 2015, 2017, and 2018 devastated entire communities across our district and across the state of California. 

While the courts eventually created a path to compensation, victims were subjected to unfair taxes on their settlement money. That’s why I worked across the aisle to draft and pass legislation providing tax relief to victims of federally declared disasters who face taxes on settlement money. The relief applies retroactively to qualified victims. 

Last year, President Biden signed into law my bill delivering tax relief to wildfire victims. This year, I’m happy to report that I worked with the IRS to ensure this relief was rolled out immediately to qualified survivors. 

While no fire victim can ever be made truly whole, this law is now providing needed and deserved relief to thousands in our community and across our country. 

Connecting With More People Than Ever

Over the past year, we ramped up our digital presence in a big way to ensure our community’s voice is heard nationwide. Across all social media platforms, we’ve shared more than 6,500 posts that have been viewed more than 18 million times. We’ve added over 25,000 new followers to our online community in just one year. And each of you participating aren’t just watching — you are asking smart questions, sharing ideas, and pushing for sensible policies out of Washington. If you aren’t already part of our online community, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn. 

A Look Ahead To 2026

My priorities next year will remain the same: delivering for our district and helping every American live a healthy and successful life. I am committed to working with anyone in Congress to fight for our democracy and to advance the issues that matter to our district.

I am honored to represent California’s Fourth District in Congress and look forward to continuing to serve our community in 2026. 

I wish you and your family a happy, peaceful, and prosperous new year.

Sincerely,

Mike Thompson

Member of Congress

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Congressmen Jason Crow (CO-06), Scott Peters (CA-52), Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Derek Tran (CA-45) led a group of 61 total lawmakers calling on the Trump administration to stop pushing divisive policies that unfairly target Afghan nationals.

In their letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers noted that the Trump administration’s policies will “scapegoat all Afghans and entire nationalities” and put at risk vulnerable Afghans who stood alongside the United States and seek a life free of the Taliban’s repression, discrimination, and violence.

Following the shooting of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and tragic death of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, the Trump administration moved to close nearly all legal pathways Afghan nationals have to resettle in the United States. Included within that change is the suspension of the longstanding Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which is open to those who fought alongside American forces in Afghanistan. Their decision is among other deeply troubling actions taken by this Administration like terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, indefinitely pausing all refugee resettlement, including Afghanistan in a blanket travel ban in June, and eliminating a travel ban exception for Afghan SIV holders effective January 1, 2026

“The horrific actions of one individual should not be used to vilify every individual from Afghanistan who legally seeks to live in the United States. Afghans who enter the country with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), with humanitarian parole, through the refugee resettlement process, or who claim asylum, are subject to a thorough vetting process that can take months to years,” wrote the lawmakers. 

“Exploiting this tragedy to sow division and inflame fear will not make America safer,” the lawmakers continued. “Abandoning those who made the courageous choice to stand beside us signals to those we may need as allies in the future that we cannot be trusted to honor our commitments. That is a mistake we cannot afford.” 

We have seen the fallout of these actions directly in the Sacramento region.  In the direct aftermath of President Trump and Secretary Noem’s intensified xenophobic rhetoric about immigrant communities, NorCal Resist and members of the Afghan Community reported multiple Afghan asylum applicants were targeted and detained by ICE. On December 5, Congresswoman Matsui, alongside partners from NorCal Resist and CAIR-SVCC, went to the John E. Moss Federal building in downtown Sacramento to condemn the Trump Administration’s actions and push back. 

Congresswoman Matsui and her staff have worked diligently in assisting constituents with Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications. Earlier this year she led a letter with 42 lawmakers expressing serious concern over the significant and harmful impact of Trump’s executive orders to halt refugee processing and admissions and upend the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for our Afghan allies. Additionally in 2021, the Congresswoman introduced the Afghan and Iraqi Allies Resettlement Improvement Act. This bill would allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to include SIVs as part of its annual survey of refugees, as well as direct the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of State to create programs to employ SIVs. 

A copy of the letter is HERE and below. 

Dear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem: 

We write with concern regarding the Trump administration’s response to the horrific shooting of two members of the National Guard on November 26, 2025.

We share our condolences with the loved ones of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and pray for Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe’s continued recovery. There is no acceptable justification for the use of violence. We wholeheartedly condemn the shooter’s actions and expect that he will be held accountable for his actions to the fullest extent of the law.

The horrific actions of one individual should not be used to vilify every individual from Afghanistan who legally seeks to live in the United States. Afghans who enter the country with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), with humanitarian parole, through the refugee resettlement process, or who claim asylum, are subject to a thorough vetting process that can take months to years. Many Afghans continue to face persecution from the Taliban, live in dangerous conditions, or are separated from loved ones as they wait for this process to be completed. Individuals are already vetted through numerous interagency databases including through the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Counterterrorism Center.

The decision to immediately cease processing all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals, including those eligible for SIVs, risks the lives of Afghan allies who fought and served alongside American servicemembers. This decision follows actions by the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, to indefinitely pause all refugee resettlement including Afghans under Priority-1 and Priority-2 categories, to include Afghanistan as one of an original 19 countries on a travel ban, and to seek to deport individuals legally in the country through humanitarian parole programs. Closing every avenue for Afghan nationals – including those who directly supported our mission and troops on the ground in Afghanistan – to seek safety in the United States is wrong.

The administration has further paused all asylum decisions for asylum seekers in the United States, announced it would review immigration applications granted for people from countries included on the travel ban list, including Afghanistan, since January 2021, eliminated a travel ban exception for Afghan SIV holders, and publicly floated calls for “denaturalization” or “remigration.” Once again, this administration has embraced a sledgehammer rather than a scalpel. Collective blame is dangerous, reactionary, and short-sighted.

Exploiting this tragedy to sow division and inflame fear will not make America safer. Abandoning those who made the courageous choice to stand beside us signals to those we may need as allies in the future that we cannot be trusted to honor our commitments. That is a mistake we cannot afford.

We made a promise to our Afghan allies who bravely stood alongside us during 20 years of war and to those who legally seek a life free of the Taliban’s repression, discrimination, and violence. The administration’s response will put those most vulnerable at greater risk, and we urge you to rescind policies that scapegoat all Afghans and entire nationalities for one man’s actions.

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