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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

In case you missed it, new reporting from NPR underscores growing concerns about access to birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing after the Trump Administration moved to withhold critical Title X funding from clinics across the country, including in Kansas.

Title X is the nation’s only federal program dedicated solely to family planning, supporting clinics that provide preventive care to millions of low-income and uninsured patients each year. But this year, the application opened months late, giving grantees just seven days to apply instead of the typical four months. Additionally, the office responsible for reviewing applications is severely understaffed after the Trump Administration fired the entire team last year — and senior officials are already warning they may not be able to process applications in time.

In response, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) joined House Democrats in pressing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to issue a one-year extension for current grantees and prevent further disruptions to care. The lawmakers warn that delays and confusion are already forcing providers to cut services and putting care out of reach for vulnerable communities.

Davids has been a leading advocate for protecting access to affordable health care, including Title X. After President Trump withheld congressionally approved funding from clinics last year, she pushed HHS to restore it immediately. She also introduced the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act to strengthen and protect the program long term.

Read more from NPR: “Reproductive health clinics scramble as Title X funding cliff approaches”

By Selena Simmons-Duffin

“A group of 128 Democratic members of Congress is calling on the federal government to prevent a funding shortfall for reproductive health clinics in two weeks.

[…]

“The role Title X plays in keeping communities healthy is practically invisible, explains Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., one of the House members who helped gather co-signers to the letter. ‘When someone’s going in because they need birth control or cancer screenings or STI testing, everyday people aren’t like, ‘Thank goodness for Title X,’’ she notes.

“Despite the low profile, she says, Title X (as in the number 10) is incredibly important. The program…  helps health centers provide birth control and sexually transmitted infection treatment and testing to people without health insurance. For low-income patients, the services are free. Title X does not pay for abortion care.

[…]

“When HHS missed its deadline of Dec. 31, ‘trepidation, concern, real fear’ grew among recipients, Coleman says. 

[…]

“The applications were ultimately opened on Friday evening, with a deadline of this coming Friday, giving grantees one week to respond with all the requested information instead of the usual three or four months. It’s a timeline that Coleman calls ‘laughable.’

“According to a senior HHS official… the Title X team includes 10 staffers, who will have seven business days to review dozens of grant applications from around the country. If the staff or grantees can’t manage that, the funding might not go out on April 1 as scheduled. Even a short gap can “lead to consequences, things we can’t undo,” including health centers cutting hours, staff, or services, explains Coleman.

[…]

“President Trump proposed defunding Title X in his 2026 budget proposal. His administration also withheld 22 Title X grants for most of 2025 before reversing course in the face of a lawsuit brought by Coleman’s organization. And during the October federal shutdown, the Trump administration fired the entire staff that administers Title X at HHS; those staff members were un-fired as part of the deal to end the shutdown.

[…]

“Title X funding is mentioned in Project 2025, a document OMB Director Russell Vought helped shape when he was at Heritage Action for America, the advocacy and lobbying arm of the Heritage Foundation.

[…]

“Rep. Davids says easy and affordable access to birth control and STI testing are basic services that patients have come to expect. When it comes to the Title X funding issues, she says, ‘I think the more people hear about this, the more, frankly, outraged we’re going to see people being about this.’”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) to highlight the real consequences of Democrats’ Department of Homeland Security shutdown — from unpaid TSA agents to airport chaos and heightened security risks. Leader Scalise underscored that House Republicans remain focused on restoring DHS operations and protecting American families.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks.
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s remarks:On airport chaos as TSA workers go without pay:“You’re also going to see the Democrats start trying to shift blame as the final results of what they’ve done to shut down the Department of Homeland Security become evident to all Americans. Anybody who flies on a plane now knows what the Democrats have done with the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. At my home airport in New Orleans, you had lines wrapped around the airport all the way into the parking garage – people waiting over 3 hours and missing flights because Democrats want to have yet another tantrum. It’s not the first time that they’ve tried to spark chaos in the country. As the Whip said, it’s the second shutdown they’ve had in just 6 months because Democrats don’t want to govern.“Democrats are not capable of governing. They just want chaos in America. And it’s hurting real Americans all across this nation. Obviously, it starts with those workers that aren’t getting paid that have to show up. And we see it at the airports with TSA agents. Over 100,000 employees at the Department of Homeland Security are working without pay because Democrats don’t care about people.” On Democrats reviving their “Defund the Police” agenda:“This week, you’re going to hear [Democrats] talking about a discharge petition. Let me tell you what that is. It’s yet another attempt by Democrats to defund the police. It’s a defund the police discharge. That’s what it is. Why? Because go back to the Summer of Love. You know, when people were burning down cities, Democrats’ crazy idea was to defund the police. They tried it. The American people recognized it for what it is, one of the dumbest political ideas maybe in the history of American politics. But the Democrats aren’t done with it. Now that you’re in another moment of Democrat-created chaos, what is their answer? To defund law enforcement again. That’s what their petition does. The American people aren’t going to be fooled by it.”On the heightened security threat under the Democrat DHS shutdown:“We have a Department of Homeland Security. It was created in the wake of 9/11. Democrats are operating like it’s September 10th, before 9/11 happened. They want to repeat those mistakes by shutting that critical department down at a heightened level of security. We’ve seen the terrorist attacks here on our homeland. We know what’s going on. And yet Democrats have voted to shut that department down because they don’t care about American people. They don’t care about families.“People are missing flights. People are going without pay while working. Hundreds of them have quit. TSA workers that just said, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I’ve got a family to feed. I’ve got to go get a stable job.’ And working for the federal government under Democrats’ crazy radical chaos is just not a place where they can be. They’re real victims in the Democrats’ dangerous game… We’ve got real work to do, and American people are counting on us to get the job done.”

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee questioned U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Michael G. Sullivan during the House Committee on Appropriations Budget Hearing for the Capitol Police. Below are a video and transcript of the interaction:
 

Click here to watch a video of the questioning.

HOYER: “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to join the Ranking Member in his comments with reference to the civility and courtesy that we ought to extend to one another in this committee, in other subcommittees, and in the full committee. That was not done in the last hearing, and I regret that. And let’s hope [that] we have better consideration of one another going forward. Chief, I’m sorry that we’re going in and out, we have the director of NIH in front of the Labor, Health [and Human Services] Committee.

“I want to pursue what may have already been talked about. But first of all, I didn’t hear the answer, but I am concerned about the overtime pay that is not considered for retirement purposes. And that, as I understand, is relatively unique to the Capitol Police. Is that accurate?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “It depends on the organization. I have done [it] in different ways and different organizations that I’ve been a part of, and it’s something that we’ve had conversations about internally.”

HOYER: “When I say regularly, we have other federal police officers who have overtime that do have it computed for the purposes of their retirement. Is that accurate from your knowledge?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “That is accurate. I’ve seen it done in different ways where it’s a percentage of overtime, you know, of up and beyond what your base salary is, and I’ve seen other ones that – it’s completely taken into account.”

HOYER: “The fact that we don’t have it, does it have an impact on our ability to recruit and retain?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “Certainly, I would always advocate for more benefits for the men and women of the Capitol Police.”

HOYER: “And currently, also, ICE, and perhaps Border Patrol as well, is offering 50 or 60 or $70,000 in bonuses, for new recruits. Is that accurate?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “I don’t know the exact numbers, but I know it’s significant.”

HOYER: “Do we have any such ability to provide such bonus money for recruits?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “While we – no, at this point we do not have bonus money for recruits. However, we do have tuition loan repayment up to $80,000, which I think is a significant driver as I’ve talked to the new recruits as they’ve come in.”

HOYER: “That’s good. And to the extent that we don’t have the bonus money, is that adversely affecting your ability to recruit and retain?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “Particularly retain is where I see the challenge is, you know, there’s nothing keeping folks here. And over the last, I would say, 3 to 4 months, I’ve seen a number of members, young members, leave for these other organizations.”

HOYER: “Your testimony and obviously the information we have indicates that the threats to Members to the Capitol itself and to other personnel within the Capitol have substantially increased.”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “That’s correct.”

HOYER: “Resulting in a need to increase our FTEs and complement of personnel. Is that accurate?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “That’s accurate.”

HOYER: “Lastly, let me ask you a question with reference to the plaque that has been the issue of a lot of controversy, God knows why. The men and women of the Capitol Police were confronted with overwhelming force and showed extraordinary courage in the face of the overwhelming force that confronted them. And since that time, we’ve had very substantial rationalization that that was a Democratic effort, that there were rioters and insurrectionists were performing. Some 1,500 of them who attacked police and, frankly, led to the death of a number of law enforcement officers were pardoned. What impact did that have on the morale of your force?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “Certainly, that was a challenging time for this organization. I can tell you that we don’t do this job for plaques or recognition. However, the men and women that do this work, appreciate the recognition of the hard work that we do every day to keep every Member safe. Any time you don’t give recognition as the Chief of Police, it’s important for me to recognize the hard work that they do every single day –”

HOYER: “Chief, my time is about to be up. I appreciate the observation about the plaque. What about the pardon?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “All of those things affected this organization and the morale of the men and women that do this work.”

HOYER: “Thank you, Chief. Thank you for your service and thank you to the men and women of your department for their service and their courage.”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “Thank you.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sam Graves (6th District of Missouri)

WASHINGTON, DC – The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06), will take up Dalilah’s Law this week, a measure to strengthen Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requirements in the United States, ensure commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers are properly trained and meet safety standards, require CMV drivers to be able to read and understand the English language, and prevent unqualified and illegal immigrants that could pose a significant safety hazard from obtaining a CDL through lax enforcement by states. The legislation was introduced by Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC).

Dalilah’s Law is named in honor of Dalilah Coleman, the 5-year-old girl who was struck and severely injured by an illegal alien driving a semi-truck. Dalilah was a guest of President Trump at this year’s State of the Union address, where the President called for Congress to pass such a law to block illegal and unqualified immigrants from obtaining a CDL in the United States. The accident that caused Dalilah’s injury is only one example of recent incidents caused by drivers who were not qualified to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle and should not have been given CDLs.

“Let me be clear – this is a safety issue. If you can’t speak and read English, or if you’re not properly trained to drive a semi down our highways, you’ve got no business holding a CDL in the United States. Furthermore, we need to strengthen the laws related to issuing CDLs and ensure that states are following and enforcing those laws and requirements,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO).  “Dalilah’s Law is a commonsense piece of legislation that achieves those goals and strongly supports the efforts of the Trump Administration to make our roads safer. I want to commend Chairman Rouzer for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to moving this bill through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee later this week, and then quickly through the House of Representatives.”

“Commercial driver’s license standards are in place for a reason: to ensure that only those qualified to drive a truck are allowed to do so.  Dalilah’s story is the heartbreaking consequence of what happens when those standards are both insufficient and breached,” said Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC), the lead sponsor of the legislation. “Unqualified, illegal foreign drivers behind the wheel of an 80-ton rig put the public in danger. President Trump called on Congress to end this systematic abuse, and Dalilah’s Law answers the call. I look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and Chairman 

Graves to get this bill to the President’s desk to prevent tragedies like Dalilah’s from happening again.”     

H.R. 5688 was first introduced by Chairman Rouzer on October 3, 2025, as the Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act, to end the issuance of CDLs to illegal immigrants who lack the English proficiency, road-rule knowledge, and safety skills needed to safely operate CMVs. The bill parallels efforts by President Trump and Transportation Secretary Duffy to crack down on this safety crisis that was fueled by the open border policies of the Biden Administration, and it codifies many of the Administration’s actions to ensure safety on the nation’s roads. The legislation also includes a provision from Rep. Dave Taylor’s (R-OH) Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act requiring English Language Proficiency for all CDL holders.

The updated bill text of H.R. 5688, now known as Dalilah’s Law, improves safety and CDL policies by:

• Ensuring all CDL holders understand English, roads signs, and law enforcement officers;
• Placing drivers who fail to meet the Law’s requirements and safety standards out-of-service;
• Requiring states to verify that they are not issuing CDLs to illegal immigrants;
• Significantly increasing penalties for states failing to comply with the Law, by withholding of Federal funds;
• Banning shady foreign dispatch services and brokers, who have fueled a surge in freight fraud and cargo theft; and
• Cracking down on “CDL mills” to ensure drivers entering the industry are receiving adequate training.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will mark up Dalilah’s Law at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.  

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

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the H–1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation along with Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09). This legislation will exempt physicians and other health care workers from the new $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions. It also prohibits new H-1B fees from being imposed on health care workers that exceed the existing fees under the U.S. Code.

With workforce shortages continuing to strain hospitals and health systems across the country, the lawmakers introduced this legislation to ensure physicians and other medical professionals can continue serving patients in communities that rely on them. 

“The $100,000 H1-B filing fee adds insult to injury to hospitals, especially in rural areas. The fee will have a detrimental impact on their ability to recruit qualified health care professionals to some of the nation’s most underserved areas. The bipartisan legislation we are introducing today, however, will ensure that all physicians and health professionals are exempted from this fee so that they can continue to serve without fear or financial hardship” said Congressman Bishop.

“As detailed in President Trump’s proclamation putting this fee in place, it is certainly in the national interest to exempt healthcare workers. Hospitals, community health centers, and other critical facilities are facing serious workforce shortages that threaten access to care. And they can’t pay a $100,000 price tag on new immigrant workers. Without the clarification provided in this bill, the physicians and the wider healthcare workforce would effectively be shut out of the H-1B program, furthering workforce shortages and limiting care options. Communities in the Hudson Valley and across the country depend on healthcare workers, and this legislation makes sure they can continue delivering critical care,” said Congressman Lawler. 

“As they are in so many areas across our society and economy, immigrant Americans remain indispensable assets to keeping our hospitals and health systems running steadily, efficiently, and effectively. The bipartisan willingness to ensure migrant health care workers are exempted from the $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions stands as a testament to the widely accepted value and necessity of these workers in one of this country’s most vital, yet vulnerable sectors. I am proud to co-lead this effort to prevent dangerous workforce shortages from impacting the health and well-being of Americans, as well as to ensure that those who are willing to contribute their expertise and talents to our nation can continue to do so at the times when we most need them,” said Congresswoman Clarke.

“Healthcare access starts with having enough doctors and medical professionals to serve our communities. As our nation faces a growing physician shortage, we must ensure that steep fees do not stand in the way of hospitals bringing in the medical talent American patients depend on. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, removing a financial barrier so providers can recruit the physicians they need and ensure families in Florida and across America receive the timely, high-quality healthcare they deserve,” said Congresswoman Salazar. 

The U.S. healthcare industry relies on the H-1B visa program to recruit physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, particularly in rural and underserved communities facing workforce shortages. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly 87 million Americans live in areas federally designated as lacking enough medical professionals to meet community health care needs.

The H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act exempts health care workers, defined under the Affordable Care Act, from the $100,000 fee required for certain H-1B visa petitions under the September 2025 Presidential Proclamation and prohibits additional fees beyond those already established under existing immigration law for these workers.

Endorsing organizations include the American Association of Medical Colleges, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment, Greater New York Hospital Association, Healthcare Association of New York State, and Physicians for American Healthcare Access.

“Patients across the country are feeling the effects of the growing physician shortage. Medicare patients and people in rural and underserved areas already struggle to get the care they need. In many such communities, international medical graduates play an important role in providing care and ensuring patients can see a doctor when they need one. The AMA supports this legislation to ensure the new $100,000 fee does not make it harder to recruit highly skilled physicians. We thank Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY), for introducing this bipartisan bill. The AMA urges Congress to act quickly to protect patients’ access to care,” said Bobby Mukkamala, MD, President, American Medical Association.

“International medical graduates are essential to health care delivery in communities that would otherwise struggle to access a doctor. The $100,000 H-1B fee could undermine the physician pipeline to the places that need it most, including rural communities, underserved areas, and safety-net hospitals. Physicians for American Healthcare Access (PAHA) applauds Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY) for this bipartisan legislation, and we urge Congress to pass the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act to safeguard patients’ access to care,” said Dr. Ram Alur, President, Physicians for Americans Healthcare Access.

“The $100,000 H-1B filing fee on health care entities poses a serious challenge to provider recruitment at a time when demand for physicians and other health care professionals continues to grow. Hospitals, health systems, and practices across the country rely on international physicians and health care professionals to meet patient needs. This fee could slow recruitment efforts and make it harder for employers to bring on the providers their communities depend on,” said Carey Goryl, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR). AAPPR supports the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act and applauds Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY) for their bipartisan leadership on this issue,” said Carey Goryl, CEO, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment.

“The AHA commends Representatives Lawler, Bishop, Salazar, and Clarke for introducing bipartisan legislation that would help maintain patient access to care in communities nationwide. Specifically, this important bill will maintain critical staffing for areas of the country where there are well-documented shortages of health care workers,” said Stacey Hughes, Executive Vice President of the American Hospital Association. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Congresswomen Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Carol Miller (WV-01), and Kim Schrier, MD (WA-08) introduced legislation to provide more support to living organ donors and address the increasingly high costs of donation. The Expanding Support for Living Donors Act would remove financial barriers that prevent many people from donating life-saving organs.

Every day, 13 Americans die waiting for an organ transplant. There are more than 100,000 people on the transplant waitlist, and every eight minutes, another person is added. A transplant provides a new lease on life, but our current system is insufficient to meet the needs of patients.

While the rate of deceased donations has improved in recent years following Congressional action, the rate of living donations has flatlined over the past two decades. This is largely due to the high out-of-pocket costs of donating, which can exceed $10,000. Travel expenses, child care, and lost wages from missing work are all major costs that donors can incur in the process. The existing federal donor reimbursement program only provides up to $6,000 for donation-related expenses, which is often not enough, and income restrictions disqualify many people from accessing these benefits.

“Donors give the gift of life to their fellow Americans, but too often they’re held back by high personal out-of-pocket costs. No one should have to choose between saving a life and paying their bills. This legislation would remove unnecessary financial barriers that contribute to the transplant list growing every year. By making donations more accessible, we can help more patients receive the life‑saving transplants they need,” said DelBene.

“Becoming a living organ donor is an extraordinary act of generosity, but for many Americans the financial costs tied to donation remain a serious barrier. No one who steps forward to save a life should be left worrying about lost wages or out-of-pocket expenses. This is why I was so happy to partner with Congresswoman Suzan DelBene to reintroduce the Expanding Support for Living Donors Act, which strengthens and modernizes the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program by extending it through 2037. This way we can expand eligibility and increase reimbursement amounts beginning in fiscal year 2027. By updating this program to reflect today’s economic realities, we can better support donors and help ensure more patients receive the life-saving transplants they need,” said Miller.

“As a doctor, I have seen firsthand the life-changing impact that organ donations have and know that these donations add years to recipients’ lives, giving them a new lease on life and precious, additional time spent with their family and loved ones,” said Schrier. “Unfortunately, living donors often face burdensome financial barriers when trying to donate, such as travel costs and lost wages. These barriers can be the only obstacle standing between patients and the lifesaving care that they need. That’s why I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation to help address this issue and increase access by expanding financial assistance to living donors.”

The bill would:

• Reauthorize the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program through 2037.
• Increase the maximum reimbursement amount to $10,000 and peg it to inflation.
• Double the income eligibility to about $100,000 a year.
• Require an annual report on the program.

The legislation has been updated to reflect that the Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act, introduced by DelBene and Jay Obernolte (CA-23), was signed into law earlier this year. The law allows more donors to qualify for wage, travel, and caregiver reimbursement when donating.

The bill is supported by the following patient advocacy and medical groups: National Kidney Foundation, American Society of Nephrology, Nonprofit Kidney Care Alliance, American Kidney Fund, Waitlist Zero, Centers for Dialysis Care, Central Florida Kidney Centers, Independent Dialysis Foundation, Northwest Kidney Centers, Puget Sound Kidney Centers, Renal Physicians Association, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Liver Foundation, American Nephrology Nurses Association, Dialysis Patient Citizens, Ardelyx, Washington State Hospital Association, American Diabetes Association, DaVita, Fresenius, American Medical Association, and The Rogosin Institute.

“Giving a life-saving organ as a living donor is one of the greatest possible gifts. The American Society of Nephrology believes that living donation should be a cost-neutral act and commends the introduction of the Expanding Support for Living Donors Act,” said Samir M. Parikh, MD, FASN, President, American Society of Nephrology. “This bipartisan bill breaks down barriers to living organ donation by covering more out-of-pocket costs incurred during the living donation process for most Americans, enshrining our nation’s commitment to those who give the gift of life.”

“In the United States, twelve people die every day waiting for a kidney transplant,” said Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. “Living donors make an extraordinary and selfless choice to save lives, and they should never face financial barriers because of that generosity. Strengthening the National Living Donor Assistance Center will help remove those barriers and ensure more patients have a chance to receive the life-saving transplant they need.”

“The American Kidney Fund is proud to support the Expanding Support for Living Donors Act, which would increase the number of living donors eligible for important federal programs,” said LaVarne Burton, President and CEO, American Kidney Fund. “There are many Americans moved to donate a kidney that may hesitate because they can’t afford time off, dependent care, transportation or lodging. By improving access to federal support, this legislation would ultimately help ensure more people on the kidney transplant waiting list receive the life-saving transplant they need.” 

The text of the legislation can be found here

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01) joined House and Senate colleagues in a letter asking President Trump to prioritize gaining market access for U.S. fresh potatoes during Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s upcoming visit to the United States. 

“U.S. potato growers produce the best potatoes in the world. International trade and foreign export markets are critical to the U.S. potato industry,” wrote the legislators.   

About 20 percent of American-grown potatoes are exported around the world, contributing nearly $4.8 billion in economic growth and supporting nearly 34,000 jobs in the United States. Ending Japan’s restrictions on U.S. fresh potatoes would result in an estimated $150 million a year in new American exports, benefitting farming communities in states across the country.  

“With low commodity prices and increased input costs this year, the potato sector, and specialty crops more broadly, are facing a major economic crisis.  Japan represents a massive market with significant export opportunities for American potato growers,” continued the legislators. “Securing this long-delayed market access petition and unlocking the critical Japanese export market would make a meaningful difference for potato growers in our states and across the country.” 

Read the full letter here.

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

Napa, CA – On Saturday, March 7, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry recognized the 2026 Student Leadership Council graduates at an end-of-year graduation ceremony held at the Napa County Health & Human Services Agency. Rep. Thompson and Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry spoke to the class and presented graduating students with certificates marking their achievement serving on the Council. Among the 95 graduates were 8 outstanding students from Lake County, 33 from Napa County, 4 from Solano County, 30 from Sonoma County and 20 from Yolo County.

“I’m inspired by the passion and drive of the students graduating from Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry’s and my 2025–2026 Student Leadership Council. This year’s students brought incredible energy and ideas to the table—from tackling the climate crisis to gun violence prevention to protecting our democracy. It was an honor to recognize them at this ceremony and hear their thoughtful perspectives firsthand. To our 2026 graduating student leaders: Congratulations! I can’t wait to see all you accomplish for our community and our country,” said Thompson.

“I am incredibly proud of the collaboration with Congressman Thompson to give our future leaders an opportunity to experience the inner workings of government and learn how to become successful community members. Congratulations to all the students who are completing the 2025–2026 program. I hope it has broadened their horizons and sparked their curiosity, inspiring them to dedicate their lives to improving their communities,” said Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry.

Rep. Thompson and Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry’s Student Leadership Council is an exciting program that allows local students to work directly with their elected officials and staff to develop leadership skills, learn how government works, and engage with our community. The Student Leadership Council has grown into a network of 318 alumni since it was started by Thompson. The Council is open to all high school students who live in California’s Fourth Congressional District or California’s Fourth Assembly District. Selected students meet several times a month over the course of a semester.

Learn more about the Student Leadership Council here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

March 13, 2026

Washington, D.C. — Today, Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Dave Min (CA-47), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) introduced the Safe Standards for Personal E-Bike and E-Moto Device Specifications Act (Safe SPEEDS Act) to establish a comprehensive federal regulatory standard for e-bikes and other electric micromobility products. This bill will strengthen consumer protections, improve accountability in the e-micromobility market, and support local efforts to reduce crashes and injuries.

“Without clear federal standards, the rapid growth of unregulated e-bikes is creating real safety risks for pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists, and especially children,” said Representative Huffman. “The Safe SPEEDS Act closes a decades-long gap in consumer protection by giving the CPSC the tools to set real safety standards, improve data collection, and help local communities respond to this growing challenge. Everyone who shares our roads, sidewalks, and trails across the North Coast deserves to feel safe.”

“E-bikes are an affordable, convenient, and popular mode of transportation in my district and across the nation,” said Representative Min. “However, the lack of oversight regarding e-bikes pose serious safety risks to our children and our communities. This bill will ensure federal e-bike standards are clearly defined while also empowering local governments to enhance their safety programs, keeping our communities safe while in transit.”

“Electric bikes are becoming a popular and convenient way for people to get around, but safety standards and consumer information have not kept up with their rapid growth. The Safe SPEEDS Act will create clear national classifications and labeling requirements so riders and families know exactly what they’re buying and how they should be used,” said Representative Lawler.

“E-bikes are quickly becoming a more common sight in communities across the country, offering convenience and new opportunities for riders of all ages. As this technology continues to evolve, our safety standards must evolve with it. The Safe SPEEDS Act establishes clear federal classifications, strengthens transparency for consumers and families, and improves the data communities rely on to better understand crash trends and prevent injuries. This is a smart, common-sense framework that ensures innovation continues responsibly while helping keep riders and communities safe,” said Representative Fitzpatrick.

E-bikes experienced explosive growth accompanied by doubling injury rates every year from 2017 to 2022, with children and young teens experiencing the highest rates of serious crashes and hospitalizations. Despite this data, federal consumer standards for e-bikes have remained largely unchanged since 2002, lacking clear e-bike class distinctions and disclosures on product information and crash data. Together, this results in a flooded market with minimal oversight, creating enormous public safety risks.

The Safe SPEEDS Act Would:

• Direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to develop a final consumer product safety standard defining clear and consistent classifications, labeling requirements, and minimum age recommendations for e-bikes, e-motos, and other off-road electric products.
• Require the CPSC to conduct and publish periodic studies on crashes, injuries, and fatalities associated with e-bikes and e-motos disaggregated by class.
• Establish a grant program and training module to help local governments, law enforcement agencies, and EMS standardize crash incident reporting, enhance data collection, and conduct public education on safety risks from e-bikes and e-motos.

This bill is endorsed by PeopleForBikes, League of American Bicyclists, National Bicycle Dealers Association, Consumer Reports, Safe Routes Partnership, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

“PeopleForBikes is pleased to enthusiastically endorse the Safe SPEEDS Act, which will direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to gather and analyze data about incidents involving the many e-mobility products under its jurisdiction,” said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. “The bill also directs the CPSC to adopt clear classification, age guidelines and labeling requirements for these devices, including consideration of the three recognized classes of low-speed electric bicycles. This legislation marks an important step towards understanding and mitigating the hazards posed by e-motos: higher speed electric motorized vehicles that are sold as electric dirt bikes, but often end up being inappropriately used on public roads by young riders.”

“The League of American Bicyclists celebrates biking in all of the diverse forms it takes and e-bikes have become a common and essential type of bike for many people,” said Ken McLeod, Policy Director of League of American Bicyclists. “While states have been active in defining e-bike classes that allow responsible regulation, the federal government has not yet stepped up in its role as a regulator to define what is an e-bike, and what is not, based on speed and motor capacity. The Safe SPEEDS Act would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to conduct research, propose national e-bike classes, and help communities integrate those classes into their traffic safety efforts. The League applauds Representative David Min for introducing this bill and we are optimistic its passage would help states implement responsible regulation for this growing and transformative mobility option, and reduce confusion for consumers, law enforcement, and emergency responders around e-bike safety.”

“The NBDA strongly supports Congressman Dave Min’s leadership on this critical e-bike safety legislation,” said Heather Mason, Executive Director of National Bicycle Dealers Association. “Establishing a clear, uniform federal standard for the classification and labeling of low-speed electric bicycles is long overdue and essential for protecting consumers, retailers, and the broader public. Specialty Bicycle Retailers see firsthand how confusion around e-bike classes, speed capabilities, and intended use can create real safety risks. This bill brings much-needed clarity by reinforcing consistent definitions, permanent labeling, and evidence-based recommendations grounded in data and stakeholder input. We appreciate Congressman Min’s thoughtful approach, one that balances innovation, consumer access, and safety, while supporting responsible manufacturers and retailers who are committed to compliance and education. This legislation represents an important step toward safer streets, better-informed riders, and a more accountable electric bicycle marketplace.”

“We’re seeing an e-bike crisis unfold across the state, and frankly, we need much stronger laws to fix it,” said Larry Agran, Mayor of the City of Irvine. “We have to protect our pedestrians and riders—young and old alike—from the real dangers out there. This legislation is a common-sense move to establish clear safety standards so families can make better choices. Irvine is proud to back this effort, and we thank Representative Min for leading the charge on e-bike safety for our state and the country.”

“The Safe SPEEDS Act will bring much needed clarity and consistency to the e-bike marketplace, a growing safety concern for families across the country,” said Mary Sackett, District 1 Supervisor of the Marin County Board of Supervisors. “Federal consumer product safety standards for e-bikes and e-motos are currently nonexistent, resulting in confusion and the inadvertent purchasing of e-motos for young riders. Funding for EMS data collection will also help other jurisdictions understand — like Marin has — the real safety risk that e-bikes pose. Marin County is proud to be a national leader in youth e-bike safety, and our experience shows how urgently this federal leadership is needed.”

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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