MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

The company’s proposed acquisition of Tegna is presumptively illegal because it would allow Nexstar to exceed national caps on station ownership

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Specialty Crop Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. David Rouzer (NC-07), and Rep. David Valadao (CA-22), joined by 103 Members of Congress, sent a bipartisan letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees urging immediate and equitable relief for specialty crop producers. 

The letter comes in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which allocates $11 billion to row crop producers, and $1 billion is reserved for specialty crops and other commodities, with little clarity on payment structure or timing. 

Specialty crops—including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture products—represent one of the most economically significant and labor-intensive sectors of U.S. agriculture, generating more than $75 billion annually in cash receipts. Yet specialty crop producers continue to face rising costs and market disruptions without receiving proportional relief. 

Between 2020 and 2025, specialty crop growers paid: 

• 25% more for pesticides
• 31% more for fuel
• 37% more for fertilizer
• Nearly 50% more for labor 

These cost increases were not matched by comparable increases in crop prices, placing significant strain on growers across the country. 

In their letter, the Members stress that while USDA has stated that $1 billion will be reserved for specialty crops, details regarding eligibility, payment formulas, and timelines remain unclear. The co-chairs urge the Agriculture Committees to press USDA to ensure these funds are distributed quickly, fairly, and in a manner that reflects the unique structure of specialty crop operations. 

“Specialty crop growers contribute over $75 billion annually to the U.S. economy, yet they continue to face rising input costs, limited access to labor, trade disruptions, and other unprecedented challenges. As USDA rolls out the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, we urge the Agriculture Committees to ensure that the $1 billion set aside for specialty crops is distributed quickly, fairly, and equitably, so growers can continue producing for our nation and remain globally competitive,” said the bipartisan Specialty Crop Caucus Co-Chairs.

“After months of uncertainty, specialty crop growers urgently need clarity and meaningful relief, and we appreciate the Specialty Crop Caucus for elevating this issue and making clear that specialty crops must be included in any relief package for American agriculture,” the co-chairs of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance said. “Specialty crops are both an economic engine and the source of the most nutritious foods in the American diet, but current policies fail to reflect their importance to public health and food security. We strongly support the Caucus’s call for USDA to act swiftly, provide transparency, and build on proven relief models such as the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (MASC) and CFAP-2 to ensure assistance reaches growers quickly and fairly. Specialty crop growers cannot afford further delay, and we urge congressional leadership and the Administration to move immediately to deliver proportional, transparent, and timely relief that reflects the economic significance and unique cost structures of specialty crop agriculture.” 

Previous programs, including the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP-2) and the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program, demonstrated tailored formulas and streamlined delivery systems ensure relief reaches producers efficiently. 

The Members emphasize USDA should build on these proven models as they proceed with implementation of the FBA Program. The Specialty Crop Caucus is calling on congressional leadership and the Administration to prioritize parity, transparency, and urgency, ensuring specialty crop producers receive the support necessary to remain competitive, sustain rural economies, and continue supplying safe, affordable food to consumers nationwide. 

Background: USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Announced December 8, 2025: 

• $12 billion total in assistance
  • $11 billion designated for row crops
  • $1 billion reserved for commodities not covered by the FBA Program; payment timelines and details are still being finalized based on market impacts and economic needs.
• Payments for row crops are expected as early as February 28, 2026

Find the full letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral NIH Clinical Trial Integrity Act to increase the diversity of participants in clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health. This bill is also led by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

“When people are excluded from clinical trials, they are also excluded from treatments for chronic diseases. The data clearly lays out the fact that historically marginalized communities disproportionately suffer from certain illnesses and diseases – but we are excluded from clinical trials,” said Rep. Kelly, Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust. “I’m proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle and in the Senate to ensure better representation in our clinical trials. No one should be left behind in the pursuit of medical breakthroughs.”

“Medical breakthroughs are only as strong as the data behind them—and data that excludes entire communities is incomplete by definition,” said Representative Fitzpatrick. “The NIH Clinical Trial Integrity Act strengthens the integrity of our research by ensuring clinical trials reflect the full diversity of the patients they are meant to serve. This bipartisan, bicameral effort is about inclusion, accountability, and better science—so that lifesaving treatments work for everyone.”

“Biomedical research holds tremendous promise for treating many of the most costly and devastating diseases we face. To ensure that the benefits of cutting-edge medical science reach all Americans, it is important that participants in clinical trials reflect our overall population,” said Senator Collins. “By encouraging long-term planning and improving demographic representation in clinical studies, this bipartisan legislation would help enhance the effectiveness of critical research that is conducted and sponsored by the NIH.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure Americans of all backgrounds have fair and equal access to treatment and care. This needs to begin with fair and equal representation in the earliest stages of health research and testing, including clinical trials,” said Senator Kim. “I hope we can come together to use this legislation as a tool to combat dangerous and persistent health inequities that are putting communities of color and diverse backgrounds at-risk.”

The NIH Clinical Trial Integrity Act will:

•    Require NIH to work with clinical trial sponsors to develop clear and measurable recruitment and retention goals based on disease/condition prevalence as well as a rationale for specified goals and a recruitment plan;
•    Ensure the availability of less burdensome follow-ups during clinical trials (e.g. fewer follow ups, phone participation, weekend hours) to increase participation of underrepresented populations;
•    Launch a public awareness campaign across federal agencies related to research participation opportunities.

The bill has been endorsed by the Association of Black Cardiologists, Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation, Blood Cancer United, Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Psychological Association, National Organizations for Rare Disease (NORD), TOUCH: The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, Doctors for America.

Read the full bill text here.
 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

WASHINGTON – After announcing the WELLS Act, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) continues to take action and demand accountability for her constituent, Mercedes Wells, who was discharged while in active labor. She sent letters to five of the largest health insurance companies, the Office of Inspector General at the health department, and Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.

“Racism in our healthcare system is preventing Black women from receiving the treatment they need and deserve,” said Rep. Kelly. “I’m working on this issue at every angle, from health insurance companies to hospital systems to federal investigations and legislation. We all have a role in improving our healthcare system. I brought the issue of maternal mortality to Congress. I will keep sharing Mercedes’s story, and uplifting the voices of women who have gone unheard, until every mother gets the care she deserves.”

Reps. Kelly, Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and 31 Members of Congress sent a letter demanding investigations into the hospitals that mistreated Wells and Karrie Jones, another Black woman who was delayed care, to the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services. Formal investigations should be launched to determine whether Franciscan Health in Crown Point, Indiana, and Dallas Regional Medical Center violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor (EMTALA) Act of 1986.

“These cases [of Mercedes Wells and Karrie Jones] are not isolated failures; they are part of the ongoing warnings of the Black maternal health crisis, heightened by funding cuts for maternal health and equity,” wrote the Members. “Federal protections like EMTALA mean little without enforcement, transparency, and accountability.”

Read the full letter here.

Reps. Kelly, Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and 49 Members of Congress sent a letter urging Secretary Kennedy to wield his department’s oversight powers to ensure hospitals adhere to patient-safety standards. Hospitals must also comply with civil rights protections of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race.

“These failures in judgment and oversight are unacceptable and raise serious concerns about whether hospitals receiving federal funds are meeting their obligations under federal law, including patient safety standards and nondiscrimination requirements,” wrote the members.

Read the full letter here.

Rep. Kelly also sent letters to the CEOs of major health insurance companies, including Humana, UnitedHealth Group, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and Cigna Group. She is urging health insurance companies to utilize their market position to improve policies and outcomes for patients.

As she writes in her letter, “While your organization is not a direct provider of hospital services, health insurance companies play a pivotal role in shaping hospital standards through contracting requirements, quality metrics, and network adequacy.”

Read the full letters to Jim Rechtin with Humana, Stephen Hemsely with United Health Group, Steve Nelson with Aetna, Kim Keck with Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and David Cordani with Cigna Group.

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

Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) re-introduced the Protecting the Rights of Towns against federal Enforcement contrary to Constitutional Tenets for (PROTECT) Immigration Act, legislation which would end the deputization of local and state police departments to enforce immigration law. The PROTECT Immigration Act would rescind the statutory authority for the federal government’s 287(g) Program, which allows the Department of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law.

“The Trump administration just spent months terrorizing immigrants in the Chicagoland area. Their actions led to domestic violence victims fleeing a courthouse rather than receive restraining orders against their abusers, all out of fear that ICE or local law enforcement would detain and deport them,” said Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05). “I met with immigrants and their neighbors who are afraid to call for help or report crimes in their neighborhoods because of Trump’s deliberate erosion of trust between communities and local police. And now the Trump administration is running ads targeting local police and offering $50,000 signing bonuses to pull critical law enforcement away from day-to-day policing in order to arrest and detain hardworking immigrants with no criminal records. We must bring an end to the 287(g) program and cut off one of the avenues this administration has exploited to intimidate immigrant communities.”

“Allowing local law enforcement to be deputized to kidnap and disappear immigrants undercuts the trust that local police rely on to maintain public safety in our communities,” said Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). “Immigrants and their U.S. citizen loved ones stop reporting crimes out of fear of being kidnapped and deported. Local police are spread thin enforcing federal civil immigration law. We know that Trump is not targeting criminals, he is targeting our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and pillars of our community. This lawlessness must end immediately.”

“I’m proud to co-lead this legislation with Congressman Quigley to restore trust, safety, and integrity to our immigration system. For too long, the 287(g) program has drained local resources, fueled racial profiling, and made communities less safe — and it’s time we end it. The PROTECT Immigration Act makes clear that immigration enforcement belongs with trained federal authorities, guaranteeing that local law enforcement can focus exclusively on keeping our communities safe. This bill would take a step toward restoring trust between local communities and police departments so every family can live with dignity and without fear,” said Representative Sarah McBride (DE-At Large).

“The Trump Administration’s attempt to expand the 287(g) Program is a direct assault on civil rights and the Constitution,” said Representative Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “Having served in local law enforcement for more than 20 years, I know policing should protect and support our communities, not divide it, and deputizing local officers into immigration enforcers only erodes public trust, undermines public safety, and deepens fear. We need laws in place that restore fairness and uphold justice. That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the PROTECT Immigration Act, which will reverse this harmful program and take an important step toward repairing the flaws in our broken immigration system.”

“In just one year, the Trump administration has massively expanded the 287(g) program and distorted it in ways Congress never intended, exploiting local law enforcement resources for its dystopian mass deportation agenda,” said Naureen Shah, director of policy and government affairs for the ACLU’s Equality Division. “Enlisting local law enforcement for mass deportations isn’t just a waste of taxpayer dollars – it terrorizes our communities, undermines public safety and fuels racial profiling. We thank Congressman Quigley for his leadership and urge our members of Congress to pass the PROTECT Immigration Act without delay.”

“The rapid expansion of the 287(g) program under the Trump administration represents yet another way that mass deportation undermines public safety for all Americans. When local police serve as a force multiplier for ICE, people become more afraid to report crime and less trusting of local police officers.  Local law enforcement agencies should prioritize real public safety concerns in their communities rather than waste limited manpower making traffic stops that turn into detention and deportation for long-standing community members who pose no threat. The PROTECT Act takes the overdue step of repealing a program that is unnecessary for effective enforcement of immigration laws, but continues to have a harmful track record for public safety,” said Nayna Gupta, Policy Director at the American Immigration Council.

Quigley has championed the PROTECT Immigration Act since 2017.

The PROTECT Immigration Act would:

• Repeal the statutory authority for the 287(g) Program; and
• Clarify that state and local law enforcement lack “inherent authority” to arrest people for suspected immigration offenses.

The legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (Del.-DC), Sarah Jacobs (CA-51), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Henry “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Contact: Luis Botello Faz

Watch the Congressman’s remarks here

Today, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, spoke out against the Republican-created health care crisis. After previously rejecting Rep. Doggett’s amendment to maintain the tax credits that help millions of families afford ACA plans, Republicans shut down the government for weeks, and waited all year to eventually offer a bill that replaces ObamaCare with NothingCare.

Rep. Doggett also reacted to some Republicans joining Leader Jeffries’ discharge petition to maintain the ACA credits for three more years:

“This last-minute effort by four Republicans to insulate themselves from public outrage may provide them some political cover, but it will do nothing for the struggling families who now face soaring health premiums.  After signing our Democratic petition to maintain essential support for the Affordable Care Act, they once again voted against our motion to provide immediate relief by taking up the petition today.” 

Watch the Congressman’s remarks here. 

Rep. Doggett’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

In a bill that they call ‘big’ and ‘beautiful,’ Republicans have approved the biggest reduction in access to health care in American history. They rejected my amendment in committee to maintain the tax credits that make the Affordable Care Act truly affordable. Now, after shutting down the government for weeks, delaying further weeks, they offer this sorry bill, this loser, wrapped up in a bow for Christmas. 

To Andrew and his family down in Austin, this phony bill means zero relief on premiums. Premiums that are going to spike for his family by nearly $2,000 per month. Nothing for Russell, a prostate cancer survivor just two years away from Medicare, wondering how he will afford the screenings and any necessary care.

And for a mother in Austin who contacted me about the stop-loss provision that is reinforced in this bill, it means the possibility that after her three-year-old child was diagnosed with cancer, they will lose all their coverage. These are real-life stories from my neighbors who have been forgotten by Republicans in their rush to provide more tax benefits for their billionaire buddies. They forget the struggles of so many working Americans. 

Republicans have made over 70 attempts to destroy the Affordable Care Act, which they all opposed. They peddled junk insurance policies that would deny essential consumer protection benefits under the Affordable Care Act. They could even make matters worse with one provision in this bill that will allow the reinstituting of pre-existing conditions that were used to bar coverage for so many people before the Affordable Care Act. 

This is their commitment to deny health care, to provide no relief on premiums that are soaring. 

In short, it means replacing ObamaCare with NothingCare. I yield back.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON — Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN-08) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted last night to confirm Mitch Graves to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors.

“I applaud the U.S. Senate’s vote today confirming Mitch Graves to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)’s Board of Directors. President Trump made an outstanding choice nominating Mitch Graves for the TVA Board of Directors.

With his experience leading as Chairman and President of the Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLG&W) Board, Mitch has a deep and profound understanding of how energy policy and infrastructure impact our communities.

Mitch’s executive leadership as the CEO of the West Cancer Center will be big benefit to the TVA Board as it makes critical and crucial decisions for the Mid-South. Mitch Graves will also bring a high level of expertise to the TVA Board of Directors. His confirmation is a win for Memphis, a win for West Tennessee, and a win for the entire TVA region. Thank you to Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator Bill Hagerty for their support of this important nomination.”
 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman David Kustoff introduced legislation to revoke the tax-exempt status of any non-profit organization that provides material support to terrorist groups. Senator John Cornyn (TX) introduced the Senate companion bill.

“Our tax laws should never be used to subsidize or shield organizations that help terrorists,”said Rep. David Kustoff.“There should be zero ambiguity and tolerance for non-profits that fund terrorists. This legislation ensures that groups providing material support to terrorist organizations lose their tax-exempt status and are held accountable. We must use every tool available to cut off support for terrorism and protect our national security.”

“I’m introducing legislation to strip CAIR of its tax-exempt status because no organization who bankrolls terrorists should get a tax break, period,”said Senator Cornyn. “CAIR is a radical group of terrorist sympathizers with a long history of undermining American values and trying to unconstitutionally impose Sharia Law on Texas, which is why I stand behind Governor Abbott’s decision to designate it as a foreign terrorist organization. I also call on President Trump to do so at the federal level to ensure this breeding ground for anti-American hate is starved of funding and forced to close its doors once and for all.”

Background:

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations that provide material support to terrorist groups. It defines a terrorist-supporting organization as one that provides more than a de minimis level of support to a designated terrorist organization within a three-year period.

The bill excludes lawful humanitarian aid approved by the Office of Foreign Assets Control or the State Department, with the concurrence of the Attorney General. It establishes a Treasury-led designation process that includes written notice, an opportunity to cure or contest the designation, administrative review through the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, and judicial review in federal district court, ensuring due process while protecting national security.

Read the full bill text here.
 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Amodei issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, a targeted health care plan designed for Americans, not insurance companies.  

The bill reduces health insurance premiums and expands coverage options by increasing transparency in prescription drug pricing, stabilizing the individual market, and giving employers and workers greater flexibility and choice in obtaining health insurance. 

While our work to rein in rising health care costs, which have been exacerbated by a deeply flawed system, is far from over, this marks a step in the right direction. This week, House Republicans advanced a long-term strategy to shift the focus of health care back to serving patients instead of insurance companies. 

This legislation sets a path forward to promote real affordability by lowering premium costs and expanding choices for workers, families, and small businesses: 

Funding Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs) 

• Appropriates cost-sharing reduction payments which will lower premium costs by 11% and reduce out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays for low-to-moderate income people. 
• While CSRs are designed to assist people in silver plans who fall between 100% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, reimbursing insurers for these reduced out-of-pocket costs will help lower premiums across the entire market. 
• Approximately 40,000 Nevadans would qualify for cost-sharing reductions. 
• Appropriating the CSRs is expected to lower ACA plan premiums in Nevada by $716 annually.   
• In 2017, 196 House Democrats, many of whom remain current members, signed a letter in support of exactly what this provision accomplishes. 

Promotes Transparency and Reduces Hidden Drug Costs 

• For reference, a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) is a company that manages prescription drug benefits for health insurers and employers by setting drug coverage rules and negotiating prices with drug manufacturers and pharmacies. 
• Requires PBMs, to provide employers with detailed reports on drug costs, rebates, formulary decisions, and spread pricing.  
• Provides employers and employees with the PBM transparency they deserve to help negotiate better prices and improve access to prescription medications. 

Expands Access to Plans for Small Businesses and Independent Workers 

• Lets small businesses and self-employed workers team up to expand choices and lower premiums by up to 30 percent. 
• Establishes association health plans (AHPs) as single, large employers for purposes of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).  
• Allows employers to offer individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs).   
• Protects the ability for small businesses to purchase stop-loss insurance—a way for job creators to manage the cost of unexpected serious medical claims. 
• Restores President Trump’s 2018 executive order, rescinded under the Biden Administration, that the Congressional Budget Office estimated would enroll 3.7 million Americans in Association Health Plans and extend coverage to 400,000 previously uninsured individuals. 

Obamacare was sold to the American people on the premise that it would lower costs, expand access and choice, and better support the people it was created to help. But today, hospitals are struggling to stay open, premiums rise year after year, patient options have dwindled, and fraud has infiltrated the system, allowing big insurance to come out on top while Americans are left behind.  

So, for those who think Republicans are doing nothing, I would humbly beg to differ. More information on health care from us after the holidays.  

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, today issued a statement following the successful lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s illegal attempt to unilaterally shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC program):

“Disaster preparedness shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and this court order means the Trump Administration can’t shut down a program designed to keep New Jersey communities safe. This is great news for Highlands, which had a $12 million award taken away by President Trump. I’m going to keep pushing to make sure this Administration follows the law and delivers every dime. Our state is on the front line every hurricane season, and we know that every dollar invested in disaster preparedness saves property and lives. Trump is hellbent on abolishing FEMA and illegally gutting vital disaster assistance programs, and this lawsuit confirms that the power to legislate lies with Congress—and not a power-hungry president.”

The BRIC program is the core of FEMA’s disaster mitigation efforts and has invested approximately $4.5 billion in funding nationwide and $180 million in New Jersey for projects such as evacuation shelters, grid strengthening, wastewater management infrastructure, road fortification, and flood walls.

After the Trump Administration moved to unilaterally cancel funding for the program, attorneys general from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit to block the Administration’s actions, arguing they were in direct violation of the Appropriations and Spending Clauses, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Separation of Powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution. The judge’s decision prevents FEMA from unilaterally terminating the BRIC program and mandates the immediate restoration of these funds.