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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42)

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) introduced the Fireworks for Freedom Act, H.R. 8593, legislation that will ensure every community across America can celebrate our nation’s 250^th anniversary with firework displays if they so choose. The bill is being introduced in response to radical state environmental agencies, like the California Coastal Commission, which recently denied a permit for a fireworks display in Long Beach, California, scheduled for July 4^th. The bill would waive certain state and federal environmental laws and regulations that have been used to deny permits for fireworks displays while preserving local authority. The bill has received the support of the National Fireworks Association and American Pyrotechnics Association.

“Americans celebrate Independence Day by eating hot dogs, apple pie, and watching fireworks – and I’m not going to let left-wing lunatics stop that,” said Rep. Calvert. “As we celebrate the 250^th anniversary of our nation’s founding, we should be planning bigger and better fireworks shows, not canceling them. The 4^th of July is a day to celebrate our liberties and freedom. Once again, those liberties are under attack in California. I can’t think of a better way to renew our commitment to freedom than by having Congress pass the Fireworks for Freedom Act to ensure Americans can enjoy America 250 with a bang!”

“The National Fireworks Association (NFA), representing more than 800 small businesses, supports Congressman Ken Calvert’s Fireworks for Freedom Act,” said National Fireworks Association President Stacy Schneitter Blake. “Fireworks have been part of our nation’s celebrations since 1777, and as America approaches its 250th anniversary, this bill helps ensure communities can safely take part in that tradition. It responsibly removes unnecessary barriers to hosting displays while preserving federal safety standards and local control. We appreciate Congressman Calvert’s leadership in supporting a safe and meaningful America250 celebration.” 

“Fireworks have been part of America’s Independence celebrations since 1777, and the Fireworks for Freedom Act will help ensure communities nationwide can fully take part in the 250th anniversary. By easing certain federal and state restrictions while preserving safety and local control, this bill strikes the right balance,” said Julie L. Heckman, Executive Director of the American Pyrotechnics Association.

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Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Warner, Kaine, and Scott Applaud $16 Million in Funding for Portsmouth Agricultural Export Facility

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (VA -03), today celebrated more than $16 million in Department of Transportation funding for the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission’s agricultural export facility to add storage silos, advanced conveyance systems, and improved rail access. 

“The Portsmouth agricultural export facility is vital to both regional and international supply chains, providing critical storage and handling capacity to export whole grain and feed from U.S. farms overseas,” said the lawmakers. “This funding will allow the facility to expand operations, meet growing export demand, provide cost effective access to global markets, and further cement the global competitiveness of Virginia agriculture and American farmers.”

This funding was awarded through the Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, a competitive discretionary grant program administered by the Maritime Administration. This project is a collaboration between the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission and The DeLong Co., Inc. Last year, Sen. Warner wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in support of the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission’s grant application.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced the Language Access Board Act of 2026 with Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of CAPAC, and Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52). This bill would establish an independent board of community leaders and federal agency officials to research, develop, implement, and enforce language access standards across the federal government. Senator Padilla will be leading the Senate companion. 

In 2025, President Trump declared English the official language of the United States by signing Executive Order (EO) 14224, revoking a 25-year-old mandate, renewed under Republican and Democratic administrations, that required federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide critical language access services to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The Trump Administration’s Department of Justice also issued guidance minimizing multilingual services and redirecting resources towards English-language education and assimilation. 

This decision is already making it harder for the 25.7 million individuals with LEP in the United States to access basic services. In 2025, HUD announced its going “English-only”, the IRS began considering rollbacks to multilingual taxpayer services, the SBA removed non-English webpages from its website, and LEP.gov was removed. 

The Language Access Board Act of 2026 will help ensure that all Americans have access to the services and resources their tax dollars pay for, without barriers based on English proficiency. The bill would:

• Establish an independent Board of community experts and federal agency officials to enforce language access guidance and regulations across federal agencies and departments.
• Require the Board to establish, maintain, and provide technical assistance and training on language access standards for public-facing resources and materials for federally conducted programs.
• Ensure individual complaints related to federal agencies’ or departments’ failure to adhere to language access requirements are processed and investigated.
• Conduct a study on existing language access laws and best practices that help individuals with limited English proficiency access federal resources and programs.

“Being able to access federal services, regardless of the language you speak, is a civil right,” said Rep. Judy Chu, Chair Emerita of CAPAC. “Millions of Americans, especially in our immigrant communities, depend on translation support to apply for a loan, enroll in Medicare, or even access disaster relief resources. Trump’s English-only policies are a direct attack on immigrant families and an attempt to shut people out of the very services their tax dollars fund. I am proud to lead the Language Access Board Act to fight back against these hateful policies, ensure impacted communities have a seat at the table, and guarantee that language access protections are enforced.”

“Every American should be able to access federal services and programs in a language they can understand. Yet President Trump is determined to make life harder for millions of immigrants by declaring English as the official language of the United States and rolling back multilingual resources,” said Rep. Grace Meng, Chair of CAPAC. “CAPAC will not stand for this. The Language Access Board Act of 2026 will help combat these discriminatory policies and protect translation services for individuals with limited English proficiency, including millions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.”

“For decades, federal language access services have helped millions of people file taxes, get emergency alerts, apply for loans, and access health care. Trump’s decision to designate English as our country’s official language and attempt to scrap these critical services is absolutely wrong,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “No one should be locked out of federal programs because of the language they speak. This legislation is critical to keeping in place the services our communities rely on, without barriers based on English proficiency.”

“This Administration’s effort to illegally and unilaterally declare English the national language of the United States is fundamentally un-American and will disenfranchise tens of millions of hardworking citizens and immigrants with limited English proficiency,” said Senator Padilla. “Access to critical government programs and services must never be dependent on your ability to speak a language. The Language Access Board Act would ensure language accessibility standards across federal agencies and federally administered programs to serve all Americans.”

Asian Americans have among the highest language access needs of any racial group, with 32 percent having LEP. Twelve percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders also have significant language access needs, and nearly 40 percent of Spanish-language speakers report speaking English “less than very well,” according to the most recent U.S. Census. 

This bill builds upon Congressmember Chu’s longstanding commitment to ensuring language accessibility, beginning with her work as a City Councilmember fighting against an ugly “English-only” movement in her hometown of Monterey Park. In 2025, Rep. Chu led more than 50 House Democrats in multiple oversight letters to the Administration opposing the implementation of EO 14224. Earlier this month, Reps. Chu, Meng, Espaillat, and Sen. Padilla introduced a resolution recognizing April as “National Language Access Month”, to bring attention to the millions of individuals in the U.S. with LEP and the importance of language access services.

The bill is also cosponsored by Reps. Dan Goldman, Frederica Wilson, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ted Lieu, Rashida Tlaib, Al Green, Darren Soto, Tim Kennedy, and Lou Correa.

The Language Access Board Act of 2026 is endorsed by the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA); National Immigration Law Center (NILC); UnidosUS; National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA); National CAPACD; Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO); Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC; OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates; NAKASEC TX; Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC); Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation; Colorado Interpreters and Translators; Jeenius,inc; Many Languages One Voice; South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA); AREAA; Hmong National Development, Inc; Hmong American Partnership; Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC); Chinatown Service Center; Pacific Asian Counseling Services; National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA); Ethnic Communities Opioid Response Network – Missouri (ECORN-MO); Learning Lab for Resiliency; Coalition for Sign Language Equity in Technology (CoSET S.A.F.E AI); Deaf Equality; Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum; Californians Together; Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning; MasterWord Services, Inc.; Japanese American Citizens League; Association of Language Companies; Kathleen Diamond & Co; ChineseinUS; The Sikh Coalition; American Association of Interpreters and Translators in Education (AAITE); Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters; and Simplify Language.

“AANHPI communities often face substantial obstacles to obtaining meaningful language access. Our community is diverse, spanning across 50 ethnicities with more than 100 languages and dialects, and language access services should reflect that. When language access services fall short, individuals and families are unable to obtain vital services. Ensuring culturally appropriate resources in people’s primary languages is necessary for meaningful participation in key programs. We applaud Representative Chu’s introduction of the Language Access Board Act to establish an independent board that will lean on the experience and expertise of community leaders to inform and determine critical language access guidance and regulations.” said Jo Ann Paanio, Policy Director, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA).

Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA said, “The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is grateful for the leadership of Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Juan Vargas, and the sponsors of the Language Access Board Act of 2026.  This bill, along with the Language Access for All Act of 2026, are important steps to ensuring that every federal agency meet the needs of individuals with limited English proficiency.  Language access is particularly important for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, where most are immigrants. Nearly 32% of the community is limited English proficient and speaks over 100 different languages. NAPABA has long championed linguistic access for AANHPI communities in the legal system. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors and stakeholders to ensure that every individual can access critical, federally funded services.”

Click here to see the full bill text. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2026

Statement from Congressman Danny K. Davis on U.S. Supreme Court Decision Undermining Voting Rights

Washington, DC — Congressman Danny K. Davis issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision impacting voter protections and congressional redistricting:

“The Supreme Court’s decision issued today is a serious blow to the principle that every American—regardless of race, background, or zip code—deserves equal protection under the law when it comes to voting rights.

This ruling threatens to further erode critical safeguards that protect voters, particularly Black communities and other minority groups, and opens the door to unfair congressional redistricting that dilutes the voices of the many in favor of the few.

At a time when our nation should be strengthening access to the ballot, this decision moves us backward. It deepens divisions, undermines confidence in our democratic institutions, and risks making hard-won civil rights protections meaningless.

I stand in strong disagreement with this ruling and join the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, and civil rights advocates across the country in calling for immediate action. Congress must act to restore and strengthen voting rights protections and ensure that every voice is heard and every vote counts.

Our democracy depends on it.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

  WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement upon passage of the bipartisan Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, also known as the Farm Bill, out of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“As the sole dairy farmer in Congress and a new member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I was proud to vote in favor of the Farm Bill,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bipartisan bill delivers real wins for the Central Valley, including addressing rising production costs and expanding technical assistance for dairy producers, while also improving crop insurance and disaster assistance for our specialty crop growers. It also invests in rural infrastructure and wildfire prevention to better protect our communities and natural resources. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill across the finish line to provide the certainty our farmers, ranchers, and producers are counting on.”

Key wins for the Central Valley include:

• Directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to examine rising dairy production costs and identify ways to better incorporate those costs into price coverage and insurance formulas, ensuring support reflects current economic realities for dairy producers.
• Increasing Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (DBII) funding for California to ensure the state receives equitable resources compared to other regions. This funding supports technical assistance, marketing, and business development for dairy farmers.
• Expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Dairy Nutrition Incentives to include yogurt and a broader selection of cheese, improving access to nutritious dairy options for families.
• Expanding eligibility for specialty crops under the Tree Assistance Program (TAP), helping growers replant and rehabilitate trees impacted by natural disasters. 
• Prioritizing efforts to combat Citrus Greening by strengthening coordination and research at USDA and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). 
• Expanding crop insurance access for specialty crop growers by directing USDA’s Risk Management Agency to work more closely with producers to improve coverage options. 
• Reauthorizing USDA Rural Development water infrastructure programs that support clean drinking water, wastewater systems, solid waste disposal, and stormwater management in rural communities. 
• Directing the U.S. Forest Service to partner with large landowners on wildfire prevention efforts to better protect communities and natural resources.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming House passage of the Senate-passed Department of Homeland Security funding bill, because it ends the 75-day partial government shutdown, and sends the bill with bipartisan support to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law, which ensures the next payday for thousands of DHS employees. 

The bill finishes the last of the fiscal year 2026 funding bills, months after final passage of the other 11 appropriations efforts. The longstanding disagreements over the last funding bill centered on immigration policy and funding for border security. The final bill leaves out the funds related to immigration enforcement, which has current funding from prior legislation, but fully funds the rest of the Department’s extensive responsibilities: U.S. Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Secret Service, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security (CISA). 

“It was extremely important to appropriate funds for Homeland Security, and I’m pleased to see this standoff is over, paychecks are secured, and all normal services can be restored,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “These vital services have been under strain. The Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA needed regular funding, and the hardworking public servants in these jobs deserve dependable paychecks.”

Amata concluded, “The Appropriations Committee has been releasing the first looks at the slate of 2027 funding bills, and Congress needed to clear the decks and be able to give the next round of appropriations the focus it deserves.” 

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

Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Resolution to Ban Representatives and their Staff from Participating in Prediction Markets

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today introduced the PFAS Cleanup Act, a bill that would require manufacturers of PFAS chemicals to help fund the cleanup of contamination from these forever chemicals in our nation’s water supply.

The bill would establish a 45 percent tax on the manufacturing of PFAS, with the revenue used to fund a tax credit of up to 25 percent for public and private water agencies to remove PFAS contamination from their water supplies.

“PFAS contamination is a serious public health issue affecting communities throughout Southern California and across the country,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “The companies that manufacture these chemicals should help pay to clean them up. My bill ensures that the cost of addressing this public health problem does not fall entirely on taxpayers and the water agencies.”

PFAS contamination is a growing public health crisis. These chemicals have been linked to cancer, child developmental issues, fertility problems, and other serious health concerns.

In California, PFAS have been detected in water systems serving nearly 26 million people, according to a recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The problem disproportionally impacts disadvantaged communities, where up to 9 million people are exposed to forever chemicals in their water. 

However, that number is expected to rise, as California expands monitoring of drinking water sources for PFAS near landfills, airports, oil and gas facilities, and other potential contamination sites.

The PFAS Cleanup Act has been endorsed by the NRDC, the Environmental Working Group and the Waterkeepers Alliance.

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