MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

New Legislation Would End Presidential Abuse of Clean Air Act Exemption Authority

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

(Washington, DC) — Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is holding a Full Committee Markup of H.R. 3168, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025; H.R. 8437, Geo POWER Act; H.R. 9326, USA Act; and H.R. 8981, SCALE Biology Act.

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren’s (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below:

Thank you, Chairman Babin for holding this markup today. It’s a busy day on the Hill so I hope we can move through the bills and amendments quickly.

The first bill on the roster is the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025. Earthquakes are an unfortunate fact of life in California. Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Hawaii reported that the San Jacinto and San Andreas faults, are at their highest stress level in 1000 years. It’s scary to imagine, but we can prepare and minimize loss of life and infrastructure by implementing the best possible building codes, warning-systems, and post-earthquake responses. This Committee has a role in making that possible. The last time we reauthorized the NEHRP program was in the 115th Congress and it expired in 2023. The Senate passed a comprehensive NEHRP reauthorization months ago, which we could have expediently passed into law. The ANS we are considering today adopts most of the language included in the Senate version with some additional improvements. This legislation will go a long way to protecting both life and property in all areas of the country at risk from earthquakes. I support this bill and the amendment made to it and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

The GEO Power Act continues this committee’s tradition of developing good bipartisan energy legislation aimed at diversifying our clean energy sources and tackling the climate crisis. Yesterday, the House passed the Next Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act in an overwhelming bipartisan vote. Before us today is an important bill that authorizes the next step from what just passed the House – by enabling the scale-up of promising new geothermal technologies into commercially viable solutions. I thank my colleagues, Representatives Begich and Salinas for their leadership on this bill.

Next is the Utilize Standards for All Act. This legislation would address some of the many challenges facing U.S. leadership in international standardization activities. It aims to foster greater US participation in international standards development bodies and to encourage those organizations to conduct their meetings in the United States. While this bill is a good first step, we must remain focused on breaking down the biggest barrier to U.S.-based standards meetings, which is our own government-imposed limitations on visas for foreign technical experts to enter the U.S. for these forums. We also need to ensure we fund these efforts with appropriations. I support my colleague, Representative Webster’s bill, and I hope we can continue to work together to address the full range of challenges to continued U.S. leadership in international standards setting.

The last bill on the roster is Representative McClain-Delaney’s SCALE Biology Act. Several weeks ago, a team of scientists led by Dr. Kate Adamala at the University of Minnesota reported that they had successfully synthesized a cell for the very first time in history. This dazzling feat demonstrates the U.S.’s burgeoning capability in new forms of biotechnology.

The best way to build on this momentous innovation is to elevate our ability to measure the biological inputs that made this possible in the first place, and ensure we can pursue this innovation responsibly, safely, and securely. The SCALE Biology Act does all of this and reinforces U.S. leadership in engineering biology and biomanufacturing. I am very proud of my Democratic colleague’s hard work and commitment to this issue and to the work at NIST.

And with that said, Mr. Chairman, I am excited to get started on today’s markup and yield back the balance of my time. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) issued a statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2715, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act.

Congressman Higgins and Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA) introduced the legislation in April 2025. The bill would authorize the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to destroy imported products that pose significant health risks. Read the bill text here. 

The legislation comes amid reports of toxic, radioactive seafood entering U.S. ports, as well as health risks posed by illegal foreign-made vapes, both of which would be subject to destruction under this bill. Currently, the FDA can destroy dangerous imported medicine and medical devices, but not food, which allows foreign vessels turned away at one port to unload their cargo at another. While originally crafted to address seafood imports, H.R. 2715 would close this loophole across the board, preventing hazardous products of all kinds from entering U.S. markets. 

“The House is prioritizing the health and safety of the American people by ensuring that predatory foreign actors are not offloading harmful products at our ports,” said Rep. Clay Higgins. “Our bill empowers the FDA to destroy contaminated products, a necessary step to ensure radioactive seafood and counterfeit goods are not reaching American consumers. We are protecting the American people and domestic industry.” 

“This legislation will protect Louisiana’s health and support our seafood economy. By granting the FDA the necessary authority to destroy food products that fail to meet our strict health and safety standards, we are closing a dangerous loophole that has allowed contaminated seafood to enter our markets,” said Rep. Troy Carter, Sr. “This bill protects consumers from potential health risks and upholds the integrity of our food supply chain, while supporting Louisiana fishermen and seafood processors.”

“No one should be surprised that foreign exporters choose to ship contaminated food to the U.S. market if the worst that can happen is that the product is returned to them by the FDA,” said Blake Price, Executive Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “This loophole in the law has unintentionally incentivized the flooding of our market with foreign shrimp containing banned antibiotics, harmful pathogens, and, most recently, radioactive substances that undercut hard-working U.S. shrimpers.  The American shrimp industry is incredibly grateful for the leadership of Congressmen Clay Higgins and Troy Carter in advancing the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act, common sense, bipartisan legislation that closes the loophole and gives the FDA authority to destroy goods that pose a significant threat to public health.”

Congressman Higgins led debate in favor of H.R. 2715 before it passed by voice. Watch his full remarks 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 Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today questioned witnesses during the committee’s hearing, “25 Years After 9/11: Confronting the Next Generation of Threats,” after President Trump recently refused to rule out deploying the National Guard or ICE to polling places during the 2026 elections. During the hearing, retired Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster reaffirmed that discussing a military role in U.S. elections is “irresponsible” and warned that doing so is “extremely dangerous and damaging” because it threatens to politicize the armed forces.

Krishnamoorthi raised the issue during an exchange with retired Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, who had previously warned before the 2020 election that discussing the military’s role in elections was “irresponsible.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: In September 2020, before the November 2020 election, President Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, suggesting he could invoke the Insurrection Act to involve the military. In response, you told Meet the Press that it was ‘irresponsible’ to discuss the military’s role in the 2020 election. You said that, right? And now, as we approach the 2026 elections, President Trump again is not ruling out sending the National Guard or ICE to polling places. General, I assume it’s again irresponsible to discuss the military’s role in the upcoming 2026 election, right? 

General H.R. McMaster: Yes. I think it’s really important to recognize that our founders, 250 years ago, were most concerned about the military becoming involved in politics, and George Washington set the example during our Revolution. Lately, there has been a tendency to lay out an expectation that the military should be a check on executive authority or should be an arm of the executive authority in activities such as this, which threaten to politicize the military. I think it’s extremely dangerous and damaging to that bold line that has to remain in place between our military and partisan politics. 

Following the exchange, Krishnamoorthi warned that President Trump’s recent comments risk politicizing the military.

“President Trump’s willingness to discuss deploying the military to polling places undermines one of the oldest and most important traditions of our democracy. The American people deserve elections decided by voters—not by intimidation. Our armed forces have earned the trust of the American people by remaining above partisan politics, and we should keep it that way,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said.

Krishnamoorthi also questioned witnesses about the Trump Administration’s decision to condition counterterrorism funding on election-related mandates, pressing them on whether redirecting homeland security resources in that way could leave the nation less prepared to confront evolving threats.

He also pressed witnesses on the growing national security implications of artificial intelligence, including the threat that AI-generated deepfakes and other synthetic media could be exploited by foreign adversaries to manipulate public opinion, undermine confidence in democratic institutions, and threaten national security.

Video of Krishnamoorthi’s questioning is available here.

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming an announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of a $493,002 grant for the American Samoa Department of Health (ASDOH) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen epidemiology, laboratory capacity, and infectious disease surveillance in the territory.

The discretionary continuation award, administered through the CDC’s National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases, continues support for the Department of Health’s epidemiology laboratory and infectious disease surveillance programs. The funding covers the 2026–2027 budget period as part of an ongoing five-year project running through July 2029.

“This continued federal investment helps ensure that American Samoa has the resources needed to strengthen public health preparedness, improve laboratory capacity, and enhance our ability to detect and respond to infectious diseases,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Congratulations and thank you especially to Epidemiologist Adam Konrote and the entire American Samoa Department of Health team for their continued good work in securing this important federal support to protect the health of our people.” 

The grant will continue to build the territory’s epidemiology and laboratory capacity by supporting disease surveillance, improving public health data collection and analysis, and strengthening the Department of Health’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.

“Thank you to the leadership of the CDC and the National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases for their support and continued partnership with our health professionals in American Samoa,” concluded Congresswoman Amata.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens introduced a bill to refund Michigan families up to $1700 for skyrocketing prices caused by Trump’s erratic and illegal tariffs.

While the Supreme Court blocked Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs on American allies, individual families haven’t gotten the relief they’re owed. Rep. Stevens is leading the charge to stand up to Trump’s reckless trade wars and bring down costs for Michiganders who have been feeling the squeeze from his policies for the past year.

Here’s what Michiganders are seeing about Rep. Haley Stevens fight to lower costs for Michigan families:

Deadline Detroit: Haley Stevens Introducing Tariff Legislation That Would Result in Rebate Checks For Households

By: Allan Lengel

• Michigan Congress member Haley Stevens is introducing legislation Thursday that would direct the Treasury Department to send rebate checks of up to $1,700 to eligible households to offset the estimated $231 billion Americans paid because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
• While some businesses have received tariff refunds, American families who absorbed higher prices on everything from groceries to manufacturing inputs have received nothing, the release said.
• “Donald Trump’s tariffs have cost Michiganders in every aspect of their lives, from groceries to school supplies to home appliances,” said Stevens, a U.S. Senate candidate, in a statement. “We must lower costs for hardworking families and give them relief from Trump’s out-of-control economy.”

The Briefing with Steve Scully: Rep Haley Stevens (D-MI) on Her Tariff Refund Legislation

With: Steve Scully

• “The bill refunds the estimated tariff revenue collected from these illegal tariffs through direct payments.”
• “The goal is for meaningful relief from higher costs that families have been forced to pay over the last year as a result of Trump’s chaos.”
• “I think this is owed to the American people and to the people of Michigan.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Mamas First Act would expand Medicaid coverage to include prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care provided by doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers

America has highest maternal mortality rate among wealthy nations, with Black, Brown, and indigenous women disproportionately impacted

Bill Text (PDF) | One Pager (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Representatives Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.), and Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) led colleagues in reintroducing the Mamas First Act, legislation that would address the maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid coverage to include prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care provided by doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers. These services have been proven to reduce C-sections, decrease maternal anxiety, and improve communication between pregnant women and their health care providers.

“It is incumbent upon us all to treat mothers with the dignity, respect, and care that they deserve—and that means tackling the maternal morbidity crisis head on, especially for Black communities who feel the disproportionate impact of this crisis,” said Representative Pressley. “Our Mamas First Act would save lives and improve the quality of care by expanding coverage for doula and midwifery care. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation with my colleagues to put an end to the maternal morbidity crisis and protect mothers now.”

“Instead of slashing health care for millions of Americans like Republicans in Congress are hellbent on doing, we should be expanding access to care to protect every momma and baby,” said Senator Warren. “It’s unthinkable that the richest country in the world would also have one of the highest maternal mortality rates. The Mamas First Act will help fix this crisis by improving access to high-quality care and rooting out the deep disparities and systemic racism in our health care system.”

“The Mamas First Act meets a crisis that is costing mothers their lives—especially Black and Indigenous women who walk into delivery rooms carrying risks no family should bear,” said Senator Booker. “By ensuring Medicaid reimburses doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this bill delivers the trusted care that keeps mothers safe and babies alive. Congress must act now.”

“Across this nation, 40 percent of moms depend on Medicaid when they give birth. Instead of gutting Medicaid, we need to strengthen it so we can save lives. The Mamas First Act would provide mothers with access to evidence-based supportive care that can lead to healthier outcomes for them and their babies,” said Representative Moore. “At a time when stark disparities in maternal mortality continue to hit our communities hard, I am thrilled to have such incredible colleagues and advocates supporting the Mamas First Act and the ongoing fight to save lives.”

“The quality of care a pregnant woman receives should not depend on the color of her skin, where she lives, or her income. Each childbirth is different, and women and their doctors should be empowered to decide what care is best. By providing access to adequate and proper maternal services, including doulas and midwives, we will help end the maternal mortality crisis in our country and ensure our children start their lives out healthy and strong,” said Representative Dingell.

“Support from care workers like doulas and midwives can make the difference between a positive and healthy pregnancy outcome, and a devastating one. Every mom should be able to access this critically important care,” said Representative Lauren Underwood. “As Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I’m proud to join my colleagues and introduce the Mamas First Act, a bold step to address our country’s maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid coverage to include doula, midwife, and lactation care. Together, we can, and must, take decisive action to save lives and end disparities.”

“Every mother deserves the care and support needed for a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery,” said Representative Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “That is why I am proud to support the reintroduction of the Mamas First Act. Research shows that doula and midwife care can improve maternal health outcomes and reduce pregnancy-related complications. Yet the United States continues to face an unacceptable maternal mortality crisis, and Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than women of other racial and ethnic groups. Moms can’t wait, and neither should Congress. We must expand access to high-quality maternal care and ensure every mother has the opportunity to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy.”

The Mamas First Act would:

• Amend the Social Security Act to allow doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid. 
• Improve access to care before, during, and after delivery for underserved and under-resourced communities.
• Increase the focus on culturally competent and patient-centered care to facilitate better health outcomes.

The bill is cosponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).

The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Al Green (D-Texas), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.).

This bill is endorsed by Ujima, The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community, the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, the National Health Law Program, HealthConnect One, BMMA Inc. (Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Incorporated), Futures Without Violence, Every Mother Counts, the American Association of Birth Centers, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Birth Center Equity, Families USA, and the What to Expect Project.

“The Mamas First Act will help address our country’s devastating maternal health crisis, which is causing vast, disproportionate harm to Black and Indigenous mothers and newborns, by ensuring that Medicaid reimburses doulas, midwives, and other birthing care workers for the vitally important care they provide,” said Esta Soler, president and founder of Futures Without Violence. “We thank Senator Warren and Representative Moore for championing this legislation, which will ensure these critical providers can continue providing quality care to the millions of people who rely on Medicaid for coverage. We urge leaders in both the House and Senate to prioritize its passage.”

“The Mamas First Act recognizes a simple but important truth: better support leads to better outcomes for mothers and babies,” said Anthony Wright, Executive Director of Families USA. “By expanding access to trusted community-based providers, including doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this legislation will help ensure that more families receive the high-quality, culturally congruent care they deserve during a time of immense change, vulnerability and excitement. Families USA is proud to endorse it.”

As a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Congresswoman Pressley has been a longtime champion of maternal health and reproductive justice.

• Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pressley has convened roundtable meetings with maternal health advocates and practitioners in the Massachusetts 7^th Congressional District.
• In May 2026, Rep. Pressley, alongside Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation to help people with disabilities—who face discrimination and extra barriers when seeking care—get better access to reproductive health care and the informed care they need to control their own reproductive lives.
• In May 2025, Rep. Pressley, alongside Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-03), and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), reintroduced legislation to address rising maternal mortality rates by increasing access to comprehensive care for pregnant women on Medicaid. The Harnessing Effective and Appropriate Long-Term Health for Moms on Medicaid (HEALTH for MOM) Act would support state-led efforts to coordinate maternity care through maternal health homes.
• In May 2024, Rep. Pressley (MA-07) and Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Patty Murray (D-WA), in partnership with disability justice and reproductive justice advocates, unveiled a bicameral resolution calling for equitable access to reproductive and sexual healthcare for people with disabilities, and designating a day in May as “Disability Reproductive Equity Day.”
• In May 2024, Rep. Pressley announced the re-introduction of the Mamas First Act, legislation that directly and meaningfully addresses the maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid to include doula and midwifery care.
• In May 2024, Rep. Pressley marked Mother’s Day with a powerful speech on the House floor in which she called for meaningful policy change to better support mothers and caregivers, including maternal health justice, affordable childcare, universal paid leave, reproductive freedom, home and community-based services, and more.
• In May 2023, Congresswoman Pressley and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) introduced a resolution recognizing the role doulas play in providing culturally competent maternal health care, addressing racial inequities, and supporting healthier outcomes for mothers and their babies.
• In December 2022, the House passed Congresswoman Pressley’s amendment to strengthen maternal health care for people who are incarcerated.
• In September 2022, Rep. Pressley hosted HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra for a convening on their work to address the Black maternal health crisis and the criminalization of abortion care following the Dobbs decision.
• In November 2021, at a briefing held by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR), Congresswoman Pressley delivered testimony on the growing racial disparities in maternal health and the urgent need to combat the Black maternal mortality crisis. Her full testimony at the briefing is available here.
• In May 2021, she introduced the Healthy MOMMIES Act, to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for pregnant people and expand coverage to include culturally competent and community based doula care.
• In March 2020, she first introduced the Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act, legislation to improve maternal health care and support for pregnant individuals who are incarcerated, as part of the Momnibus legislative package. 
• In 2019, she introduced The People’s Justice Guarantee ─ a comprehensive framework to transform the American criminal legal system into one that guarantees justice for all.  She also introduced the Healthy MOMMIES Act with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to expand Medicaid coverage for new moms from 60-days postpartum to one year.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks, as prepared for delivery, before today’s House Oversight & Government Reform Committee Democrats shadow hearing on President Trump’s wasteful spending that has altered, damaged, or destroyed federal landmarks. 

“D.C. is not a tear-down property for President Trump to renovate as he pleases,” Norton said. “Even if his projects were all completed at the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency, he should not skip the necessary research and planning or bypass legally required approval processes. 

“The consequences are on full display at East Potomac Gold Course, where 35,000 cubic yards of contaminated debris from the demolition of the East Wing have been dumped. Testing at the site has identified elevated levels of hazardous contaminants, including arsenic, lead, and mercury, yet the public continues to wait for a clear plan to remove the debris and remediate the site. The administration must immediately find an appropriate location for its disposal.

“D.C. residents deserve a say in what happens to their city, and they deserve better than expensive, poorly researched, legally dubious alterations to our national landmarks dictated by the president’s whims. I’ll continue to demand accountability and oversight until this administration treats our nation’s capital and its monuments with the respect they’re owed.”

Norton’s remarks follow, as prepared for delivery. 

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Oversight Shadow Hearing

July 21, 2026

I strongly oppose President Trump’s attempt to remake the District of Columbia in his image, including his militarization of D.C.’s streets, seizure of the Kennedy Center, demolition of the East Wing, installation of permanent fencing at Lafayette Park, transformation of West Potomac Park into a statue garden and construction of an arch.

I also oppose his redevelopment of East Potomac Park.  While the golf course needs investment, it must remain affordable and accessible for all golfers.  Furthermore, federal law requires the park “to be forever held and used as a park for the recreation and pleasure of the people.”  The park, which is beloved by residents of the national capital region and visitors, must remain available for public recreation, including walking and running, biking, picnicking and fishing.  The administration must also immediately remove the more than 35,000 cubic yards of toxic debris it dumped at the site following demolition on the East Wing.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“This push to muzzle silent protest is a gross violation of our Constitution, FIU’s own rules and sets a dangerous precedent,” said Wasserman Schultz. “I’m hopeful that by rescinding these forced-confession punishments FIU can restore its reputation for rigorous speech and debate.”