MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is calling on the Trump administration to stop pushing divisive policies that unfairly target Afghan nationals.

In his letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Congressman Crow 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 every legal pathway 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. 

Joining Congressman Crow in his letter are Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-52), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), and Derek Tran (D-CA-45).

“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,” the Representatives said in the letter.

The group continued: “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.” 

Following the tragic shooting that targeted Staff Sgt. Wolfe and Spc. Beckstrom, Congressman Crow wrote that he was “horrified” by the event and that “violence like this is unacceptable.”

Congressman Crow’s letter continues his many efforts to champion Afghan allies who stood alongside U.S. servicemembers deployed to the Middle East. He introduced the HOPE and ALLIES acts to facilitate and expedite the SIV process, as well as the Afghan Allies Protection Act to expand and extend the SIV program. Congressman Crow also founded the Honoring Our Promises Working Group following the announcement of the withdrawal to help expedite SIVs and US Refugee Admissions Programs. During congressional hearings, Crow has highlighted the importance of the SIV program and previously worked to ensure the authorization of 12,000 additional Afghan SIVs in the State Department’s foreign operations funding bill. 

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below: 

December 18, 2025

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.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) joined the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for an announcement to protect America’s children from dangerous sex rejecting procedures. Following the announcement, Congressman Aderholt released the following statement:

“I’ applaud Secretary Kennedy’s leadership and his willingness to take clear, decisive action to protect America’s children. This announcement reflects a growing recognition that when it comes to medical decisions involving minors, especially those with permanent and life-altering consequences, we must proceed with caution, humility, and compassion.”

“Children deserve protection and care that is rooted in sound science, ethical standards, and a long-term understanding of their physical and mental well-being. They also deserve adults who are willing to put their best interests ahead of ideology or pressure.”

“In most states, a child cannot receive something as permanent as a tattoo, even with parental permission, because we understand it requires a certain level of age, judgment, and life experience. Therefore, it is reasonable to ask why we would not apply that same minimum standard of caution to medical interventions that are far more life-altering and, in many cases, irreversible.”

“I have long-believed that our healthcare system should prioritize care that is age-appropriate, medically sound, and focused on treating the whole person. That means supporting children, while also recognizing the limits of what medicine should do, especially when the long-term outcomes are uncertain.”

“I want to commend Secretary Kennedy and HHS for taking these steps and for signaling that the federal government has a role in setting guardrails when vulnerable populations are involved. Protecting children should never be controversial.”

“I look forward to continuing to work with this Administration, my colleagues in Congress, and healthcare professionals to ensure our policies reflect both care and caution, so that every child in America has the chance to grow up healthy, supported, and protected.”

Read more about the HHS announcement here.

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2025, legislation introduced by Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02) and co-led by Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) to strengthen our national security and energy future by unleashing domestic mining production. 

This bill restores regulatory clarity and stability for mining projects by establishing a new category of mill sites to ensure that operators can use federal lands for ancillary activities. 

“Strengthening our domestic mineral supply chain isn’t optional, it’s demanded to ensure we don’t fall further behind China,” said Rep. Mark Amodei. “Western states are sitting on a wealth of resources and a critical opportunity to break our dangerous reliance on foreign adversaries while powering our own economy. The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act restores decades of established precedent, repairs a permitting process undermined by the Rosemont decision, and gives domestic mining operations the certainty they need to compete aggressively and win. I’m glad to see the House pass this bill once again with bipartisan support, and I urge the Senate to act swiftly to get it signed into law. Additionally, I’d like to thank my colleague, Rep. Steven Horsford, for his support on this important Nevada issue.”

“The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act restores regulatory certainty that was lost due to the misguided 2022 Rosemont decision,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman. “The bill reaffirms that mining support activities are an essential part of responsible mineral development. It encourages domestic mineral production at a moment when America’s economy and national security depend on mining more than ever. I would like to thank Representative Amodei for his leadership on this important legislation.”

“The bill I passed in Congress today puts Nevada’s natural resources to work for Nevadans,” Rep. Steven Horsford said. “Streamlining the hardrock mining process will create good jobs and strengthen our energy sector. At the same time, this legislation delivers more resources for the Silver State to clean up past mining-related contaminants in our environment. The result is more jobs, a stronger economy, and an opportunity for a cleaner Nevada moving forward.”

“The bipartisan Mining Regulatory Clarity Act is foundationally important to ensuring the U.S. can use our vast domestic resources to build the mineral supply chains our economic and national security demand,” said Rich Nolan, National Mining Association president and CEO. “China has weaponized its mineral dominance and left no doubt about how untenable our import reliance has become. The urgency to address our minerals challenge has never been greater. This legislation ensures the fundamental ability to conduct responsible mining activities on federal lands. Regulatory certainty, or the lack thereof, will either underpin or undermine efforts to decisively confront our minerals crisis.”

“The Nevada Mining Association supports the passage of the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act,” said Amanda Hilton, Nevada Mining Association president. “This legislation offers clarity and represents an important step toward supporting Nevada’s modern mining industry and strengthening domestic mineral production critical to national security, energy, transportation, and other essential needs.”

Background 

In 2022, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision revoking an approved mine plan of operation for the Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona. The decision limits the Forest Service’s ability to approve support activities necessary for conducting mining operations on federal land, upending over 40 years of regulatory and legal precedent. If allowed to stand, the Rosemont decision will thwart hardrock mining projects across federal lands, further jeopardizing domestic mineral supply chains, energy security, and national security. 

H.R. 1366 is not targeted at any single mining site but instead seeks to restore the longstanding certainty needed for mine operations nationwide. The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act provides needed regulatory clarity by creating a new category of mill sites for activities ancillary to mining that operators can include within the boundaries of an approved plan of operations.

The legislation also creates an “Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund” to support the reclamation program established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Claim maintenance fees will be used to fund a program to inventory, assess, and remediate abandoned hardrock mine lands. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Yesterday, the House Financial Services Committee marked up various affordable housing bills, including three provisions led by Congresswoman Joyce Beatty. These measures passed through committee unanimously as part of H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which will streamline housing development and increase flexibility for local communities. The package now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives.  

H.R. 5913, the Community Investment and Prosperity Act, expands banks’ ability to make community investments that promote public welfare and local economic development by increasing the public welfare investment (PWI) cap. Under current law, national banks and state member banks can invest up to 15% of their capital and surplus in projects that benefit the public good, such as affordable housing, small business lending, and community revitalization. This bill increases that cap to 20%, empowering banks to direct more private capital into projects that strengthen local economies and create opportunities for families and small businesses.

H.R. 6726, the Reforms to Housing Counseling and Financial Literacy Programs Act of 2025, expands foreclosure mitigation counseling, through the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, to borrowers who are 30 days delinquent on their mortgage payments. As co-chair of the Financial Literacy and Wealth Creation Caucus, Congresswoman Beatty has advocated for greater access to housing counseling to ensure that hardworking families and first-time homebuyers have the financial skills they need to understand their mortgage terms, prevent foreclosure, and maintain stable housing.

Several provisions from H.R. 2031, the HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act, were included in an amendment to the housing package that was unanimously adopted by voice vote during the markup. Congresswoman Beatty’s amendment makes key improvements to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) HOME program, which is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income and extremely low-income households. In addition to a number of technical fixes to the HOME statute to ensure that funding is being spent appropriately, the amendment eases compliance for small properties and increases flexibility for nonprofits that create and provide low-income housing.

Read the full bill texts: 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today urged President Donald Trump to reject the Kennedy Center Board’s reported decision to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” calling the move inappropriate, divisive, and disrespectful to history.

“The Kennedy Center was created to honor President John F. Kennedy’s legacy and his belief that art and culture are essential to a vibrant democracy,” said Congressman Cohen. “As someone who lived through the trauma of President Kennedy’s assassination, I find this proposal deeply troubling.

“Renaming the Kennedy Center to include a sitting or former president’s name, particularly one who is still a partisan political figure, undermines the purpose of the institution and shows disrespect to the memory of President Kennedy and the moment in history it represents. This is not about politics. It is about decency.

“The Kennedy Center should remain what it was always meant to be: a living memorial to President Kennedy and a cultural home for all Americans, not a vehicle for personal or political branding.

“The action taken by the Trump-selected Board of Directors is outrageous and must be repealed. The Kennedy Center was named for President John F. Kennedy, a martyred hero and patron of the arts. To slap Trump’s shiny name on the iconic structure is a sacrilege, an insult to his memory and an offense to the American people. What’s next, the Trump Washington Monument? The Trump Lincoln Memorial?”

# # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

President Trump and Secretary Linda McMahon’s Department of Education (ED) formally recognized Grand Canyon University (GCU) as a nonprofit institution of higher education, correcting a years-long misuse of federal authority that unfairly targeted faith-based universities under the rogue Biden-Harris Administration. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:

“This decision is a long-overdue correction and a clear step toward restoring integrity at the Department of Education. Under President Trump’s leadership, federal agencies are once again applying the law as written, not as manipulated to advance partisan agendas. I am thankful for Secretary Linda McMahon’s decisive leadership and commitment to fairness in ensuring GCU was properly recognized as a nonprofit institution.

“The Biden-Harris regime weaponized ED to undermine education freedom by targeting faith-based universities and trade schools through arbitrary and politically-motivated standards. I led the effort in Congress to push back against that abuse of power. Earlier this year, I led a letter to Secretary McMahon urging ED to immediately recognize GCU’s nonprofit status, and I introduced the IHE Nonprofit Clarity Act to ensure institutions recognized as nonprofits by the IRS are treated accordingly by ED.

“My office has remained in near-constant contact with Secretary McMahon’s ED to press for a lawful resolution. This action is a meaningful step toward restoring the rule of law and ensuring that federal agencies serve the American people, not partisan agendas.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced the Putting Patients First Healthcare Freedom Act, a robust legislative package that organizes the most impactful conservative healthcare reforms into one actionable blueprint. The bill brings together proven legislative proposals from across the Republican Conference and President Trump’s priorities and consolidates them into a single, Floor-ready plan to lower premiums, restore competition, empower families, and protect life.

The Putting Patients First Healthcare Freedom Act integrates widely-supported reforms that are already drafted, vetted, and in many cases ready for committee or Floor consideration. The legislation is structured around three major titles:

Title I—Putting Patients Over Insurance Companies

• Redirects federal support to families instead of insurance companies, expanding HSAs, strengthening transparency, protecting Health Care Sharing Ministries, and requiring up-front pricing

Title II—Codifying President Trump’s Healthcare Freedom Agenda

• Expands affordable options outside of rigid Obamacare mandates for impactful market-driven reforms, including Association Health Plans, ICHRAs/Choice Arrangements, self-insurance protections, expanded catastrophic plans, long-term short-term coverage, small-business flexibility, and a new alternative market with lower premiums and guaranteed coverage

Title III—Ending Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Gender Transition Procedures

• Permanently codifies Hyde-style protections, closes Obamacare loopholes, and bars federal dollars from funding transgender surgeries

“The American people are being strangled by a broken healthcare system, and it is long past time for Republicans to confront it with real reform centered around freedom, affordability, and real choice,” said Congressman Biggs.

“Republicans already have the ideas, the policy work, and the legislation. My bill simply consolidates everything into a coherent, comprehensive plan that can move immediately, demonstrating the urgency to address these issues.

“Republicans are ready to lead. America is watching. It’s time to move.”

Cosponsors of the bill include: Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN).

The full bill may be read here.

Breitbart News covered the legislation here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Congressman Biggs delivered a comprehensive healthcare framework to House Leadership, calling forimmediate action on long-overdue conservative reform. The letter lays out a clear, detailed blueprint built on freedom, affordability, and patient choice, while rejecting the failed policies, inflated subsidies, and insurance-company carve-outs that have defined the failed Unaffordable Care Act.

Congressman Biggs’s framework highlights concrete, ready-to-implement policies that are already drafted, vetted, and in many cases prepared for floor action:

• Rep. Greg Steube’s ACCESS Act (H.R. 1157) redirects federal support to families instead of insurance companies and expands competition across state lines.
• Sen. Rick Scott’s More Affordable Care Act strengthens price transparency and delivers patient-controlled funding to lower premiums.
• Rep. Andy Biggs’s own Health Savings Accounts for All Act expands and modernizes HSAs by lifting limits and allowing funds to cover a broader range of expenses.
• OBBBA HSA Expansion (Section 71307) enhances HSA eligibility and flexibility, including for premiums and prescriptions.
• Rep. Eric Burlison’s MAHA Accounts Proposal sends federal dollars directly to policyholders to let families pick any insurance product they want.
• Rep. Tim Walberg’s Association Health Plans Act (H.R. 2528) allows small businesses to band together for more affordable group coverage.
• Rep. Kevin Hern’s Choice Arrangement Act (H.R. 5463) strengthens ICHRAs to give workers portable, tax-advantaged dollars for the plan of their choice.
• Rep. Andy Biggs own Health Coverage Choice Act (H.R. 90) codifies Trump’s 2018 rule allowing long-term, flexible coverage for up to ten years.
• Rep. Bob Onder’s Self-Insurance Protection Act (H.R. 2571) protects small employers’ access to stop-loss insurance to keep self-insured premiums affordable.
• Rep. Chip Roy’s Direct Medical Care Freedom Act (H.R. 1140) allows patients to use tax-advantaged dollars for direct primary care arrangements.
• Rep. Gary Palmer’s New Health Options Act (H.R. 1776) creates an alternative market outside Obamacare with guaranteed coverage for preexisting conditions at lower cost.
• Rep. Chris Smith’s No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7) codifies and strengthens Hyde Amendment protections to block federal funds from financing abortion.
• Rep. Morgan Griffith’s Program Integrity and Anti-Fraud Reforms cracks down on fraud by strengthening income verification, ending silver loading, and codifying Trump-era integrity rules.
• Rep. Andy Harris’s Cash-Pay Patient Protections prevents discrimination against cash-paying patients to protect price competition.

“It’s past time to reject the failing status quo and lead with bold solutions,” said Congressman Biggs.

“The House must lead with clarity and conviction. These reforms are ready, they’re proven, and they should be on the floor immediately. If Republicans draw a clear line today, we can finally rebuild a health care system anchored in conservative principles and return control to patients rather than bureaucrats or insurance companies.

“Republicans are overflowing with solutions; we have the ideas, the legislation, and the mandate from the American people. What we lack is urgency. It’s time to show the country the depth of our ideas and the strength of our vision. Now is the moment to act.”

Cosigners of the letter include: Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), and Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ).

The letter may be read here.

Breitbart News covered the letter here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

President Trump Signs FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act Into Law

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)