MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

Espaillat will hold a check presentation Monday, February 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at P.S. 171 Patrick Henry Preparatory located at 19 E. 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais:

“Today, the Supreme Court has dealt a devastating new blow to the Voting Rights Act and against the sacred right to vote.

“The consequences will be felt across the country: fewer voices heard, fewer communities represented and a democracy diminished.

“Congress must urgently pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act before this latest blow becomes fatal.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

“Members of Congress should be equipped with all the necessary resources to make informed financial decisions,” said Rep. Cline. “As faithful stewards of American’s tax dollars, the federal government should be supporting policies that ensure excessive spending isn’t left on autopilot. This legislation is critical to ensuring Congress has the ability and transparency needed to make budget deliberations with a commitment to prioritizing the needs of the American people.”

If enacted, these bills would:

Return Decision Making Back to Congress: Because these assumptions are baked into the baseline by law, CBO currently operates under the conclusion that Congress will continue increasing discretionary spending to match the Biden Administration’s inflationary agenda. That, along with the statutory presumptions that Congress will automatically continue any program over $50 million, use debt to bail out insolvent trust funds, and renew excise taxes at their current clip. 

The responsibility to make these financial decisions is ultimately that of Congress, and CBO should be giving Members resources that help them to make informed decisions rather than having their primary product assume they choose the most expensive option as a starting point.

Remove Spending Biases from the Baseline: Budget negotiations can be a game of ranges. These bills would restore the baseline to reflect current law, so that future negotiations won’t begin at an already inflated starting point.

Realistically Score Legislation: Since the Current Law Baseline is used for scoring, it is important that there are no distortions that automatically price in expensive programs beyond their expiration date. 

Background: CBO incorporates assumptions required by statute into its baseline in a way that deviates from what projections should be under current law. In fact, about 25 percent of spending in the baseline is just assumed:

• Discretionary: $19 trillion in outlays for discretionary appropriations that have not yet been enacted;
• Trust Fund Programs: Assumes $1.8 trillion in outlays for programs funded by trust funds that will be exhausted;
• Mandatory Programs that Expire: $2.7 trillion in outlays for mandatory spending programs that expire under current law;
• Expiring Trust Fund Taxes: Assumes $546 billion in revenues that expire under current law; and
• Net Interest: $4 trillion in resulting interest costs from the aforementioned assumptions.

These bills were drafted with the technical support and expertise of the Economic Policy Innovation Center.

 

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter leads bipartisan effort to support family forest landowners

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), alongside Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Greg Steube (R-FL), Greg Murphy (R-NC), and Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), this week introduced the bipartisan Save America’s Family Forests Act of 2026, a bill to help family forest landowners recover more quickly from natural disasters and keep working forests productive.

Under current law, landowners may deduct only up to $10,000 in reforestation expenses upfront, with the remaining costs recovered over seven years. The Save America’s Family Forests Act of 2026 would modernize this treatment by allowing faster cost recovery following natural disasters, helping ensure timely replanting and continued forest productivity.

This legislation builds on the success of expensing provisions such as bonus depreciation and Section 179 equipment expensing included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Applying these same principles to reforestation helps ensure forest landowners can reinvest quickly and keep working forests productive.

This Save America’s Family Forests Act of 2026 would:

• Fully and immediately expense reforestation costs following a federally declared natural disaster.
• Remove the $10,000 cap and eliminate long recovery periods under the current law.
• Improve access to the capital needed to quickly replant and restore forests.

“Georgia’s family forest landowners are essential to our economy and our way of life,” said Rep. Carter. “It’s the number one state for forestry, supporting rural jobs, strengthening supply chains, and keeping our environment healthy and resilient. Foresters need our support; right now, in my district, wildfires in Brantley County have burned over 20,000 acres. By building on proven expensing policies, this bill ensures they can recover quickly after disasters and continue managing healthy, productive forests.”

“Alabama’s Black Belt and rural communities depend on healthy, working forests for jobs and economic opportunity. As wildfires and severe weather events become more frequent, we must help landowners recover and rebuild. I’m honored to join my colleagues in advancing this bipartisan effort to support family forest landowners,” said Rep. Sewell.

“Floridians are seeing the impact of wildfires right now, with thousands of acres burning across Northeast Florida and nearby communities. Family forest landowners need the ability to recover quickly and keep their land productive,” said Rep. Bean. “I’m proud to join this effort to support Florida’s forestry families and strengthen our natural resources.”

“After catastrophic wildfires and other natural disasters, forest landowners face unnecessary delays in reforesting due to outdated tax policy,” said Rep. Thompson. “The Save America’s Family Forests Act provides the certainty landowners need to reinvest quickly, restore forest cover, and keep these landscapes healthy. Proud to serve as a co-lead of this bipartisan legislation to strengthen our natural resources.” 

“In Florida, our family forests face constant threats from hurricanes and severe flooding that can wipe out years of timber production overnight. When disaster strikes, family forest landowners need tax relief when replanting costs hit, not years later,” said Rep. Steube. “That’s why I’m co-leading the Save America’s Family Forests Act. This bill extends proven expensing policies to family forests in the wake of natural disasters so can recover faster, supply affordable timber, and support rural economies.” 

“North Carolina’s family forest landowners face growing risks from storms and natural disasters, especially after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, and they need commonsense tax policy that supports recovery,” said Rep. Murphy. “The Save America’s Family Forests Act helps keep working forests productive and in family hands by accelerating reforestation investment when it matters most, while also supporting efforts to expand domestic timber production and strengthen our rural economies.”

“Rural communities across America need champions who understand what’s at stake. This legislation gives forest landowners the tools to act fast, protect their investment, and keep their land productive for generations to come,” said Rep. Moran. “America’s timber industry needs parity when it comes to relief and recovery from natural disasters. This bill ensures the tax code is working for them, not against.” 

“Georgia’s forestry sector is one of the strongest in the nation, driven by family forest landowners who are committed to keeping their land productive. After a natural disaster, the ability to quickly recover and replant is critical not only for landowners, but for the entire forest products supply chain. This legislation builds on proven expensing policies to provide the certainty needed for timely reinvestment,” said Tim Lowrimore, President, CEO, Georgia Forestry Association. “We thank Congressman Buddy Carter and Senator Raphael Warnock for their leadership in advancing solutions that keep Georgia’s working forests healthy and productive.”

“Georgia’s agricultural community, including timber producers, has faced major losses from Hurricanes Michael and Helene. These disasters highlight the vulnerability of our working lands and the need for policies that enable faster recovery. The Save America’s Family Forests Act offers a practical solution, by allowing full and immediate expensing of reforestation costs,” said Tom McCall, President, Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. “This bill enables farmers, timber producers, and forest landowners to reinvest without delay, strengthen rural economies, and keep working forests productive for future generations.”

“Family forest landowners play a vital role in keeping America’s working forests healthy, resilient, and productive, but recovering from natural disasters can create significant financial challenges. The Save America’s Family Forests Act provides a commonsense solution by allowing landowners to reinvest more quickly in reforestation when it matters most,” said Scott Jones, CEO, Forest Landowners Association. “By building on proven expensing policies, this legislation will help ensure our forests remain a strong foundation for rural economies, domestic timber production, and long-term environmental stewardship.”

“America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners care deeply for the land they’ve been entrusted with. When natural disasters strike, recovery is not just about rebuilding, it’s about continued improvement to ensure sustainability. We appreciate members of Congress who have worked in a bipartisan manner to create the Save America’s Family Forests Act,” said Dr. John Newton, VP of Public Policy, American Farm Bureau Federation. “It builds on proven policies to give forest landowners the flexibility they need to replant and recover without unnecessary delay.”

“Private working forests play a vital role providing wildlife habitat and access for sportsmen and women, but as recent natural disasters have shown, recovery costs can impede forest restoration,” said John Culclasure, Director of Forest Policy, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “We thank the bill sponsors for introducing the Save America’s Family Forests Act to modernize federal tax policy to help landowners keep forests working sustainably for wildlife, rural communities, and opportunities for hunters and anglers.”

Read bill text here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued a statement following His Majesty King Charles III’s Joint Address to Congress: 

“It was a great honor to serve on the escort committee for His Majesty King Charles III’s joint address to Congress. I commend the King’s impassioned call for a renewed commitment to NATO, sustained support for Ukraine, and the deepening of the shared history and special relationship that binds our nations. I hope it serves as a reminder that the United States is better off when we stand alongside friends, and that going it alone or pushing partners away only undermines the interests of the American people we represent.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Latta Welcomes His Majesty, King Charles III, to Washington, D.C. to Celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial

Congressman Latta Serves as the Co-Chairman of the British-American Parliamentary Group

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Latta Named to Escort Committee for His Majesty King Charles III’s Address to Joint Meeting of Congress

Congressman Latta Serves as the Co-Chairman of the British-American Parliamentary Group

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

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) reintroduced the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act which would provide up to five years of credits credit for caregivers who spend at least 80 hours per month providing care to a dependent relative. By allowing caregivers to earn Social Security Credits while they are out of the workforce, this legislation recognizes the essential value of caregiving and helps protect Americans’ long-term financial security.

“The cost of a care facility or in-home nurse is simply out of reach for many American families caring for a relative in need. Too often, families must risk their own financial security when doing what we all would do – providing essential care for spouses, parents, grandparents, or children,” said Schneider. “The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would help ensure that people who step away from the workforce to care for loved ones aren’t penalized in retirement.”

According to a joint report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, sixty-three million American adults – representing almost one quarter of all adults in the US – provide care to adults or children with a medical condition or disability. Tens of millions of Americans leave the workforce entirely or reduce their hours significantly to care for loved ones at some point in their career. The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would give retirement credit to unpaid caregivers providing care to a dependent relative under the age of 12 or to a chronically dependent individual. 

“Caregivers shouldn’t lose out on Social Security benefits because they step away from the workforce to care for a loved one. Caregiving is work, and it’s time we start treating it that way. This legislation would make clear that the selfless decision to care for a family member no longer jeopardizes if and when you can retire,” said Murphy.

“Caregiving for an aging parent, relative with a disability, or ailing loved one is a full-time job,” said Gillibrand. “Individuals who leave the workforce to care for their loved ones should receive compensation for that critical work. This commonsense bill would ensure eligible caregivers receive essential Social Security benefits in retirement, helping them to continue to provide for themselves and their families after leaving their jobs. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I am committed to getting this legislation passed.”

“Every day, spouses, partners, and loved ones give up their own jobs, savings, and retirement security to care for someone living with ALS. Even children are often called upon to be caregivers. The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act helps address these issues by allowing caregivers to earn social security credits while they are out of the workforce caring for their loved ones. Said Calaneet Balas, CEO of the ALS Association. “We thank Senator Murphy and Congressman Schneider for standing with the ALS community and protecting caregivers from being financially punished for caring for their loved ones.”

“This legislation is long overdue, and we thank Rep. Schneider and Sen. Murphy for recognizing the value unpaid caregivers bring to our families, communities, and economy,” said Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Caregivers often sacrifice their financial security to care for loved ones. By recognizing caregiving as work and providing Social Security credits, this bill takes a vital step toward fairness and equity and will help ensure more older Americans get the care they need.”

“Americans, disproportionately women, who drop out of the paid workforce to care for children or other family members are doing essential work. Yet as a result, they not only forego income now, they also are likely to receive lower Social Security benefits. Social Security Works is delighted to endorse the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act, which addresses this injustice by having Social Security explicitly recognize and compensate the invaluable work of caregiving.” – Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works

You can read more about the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP), led Democratic opposition to the Fiscal Year 2027 NSRP funding bill.

“This is a moment for American leadership—and we must rise to meet it,” said Ranking Member Frankel. “Lasting national security is about more than bombs, bullying, or tariffs. It demands smart diplomacy, strong development, and lifesaving humanitarian aid that prevent threats from developing before they ever reach our shores. This funding bill fails that test. 

I look forward to coming together to deliver a bill that reflects the very best of American leadership and truly protects the American people.”

After four years of cuts totaling $14.4 billion, Republicans’ proposed bill cuts $2.7 billion, or six percent, from Fiscal Year 2026 funding levels. 

Specifically, this legislation:

• Cuts $400 million from International Humanitarian Assistance, and rescinds another $1 billion, while the world experiences humanitarian crises on almost every continent;
• Eliminates funding for the United Nations and other multilateral and international financial institutions;
• Jeopardizes global health by reducing funding by $532 million;
• Cuts family planning by $114 million, eliminates funding for UNFPA, and reinstates an expanded Global Gag Rule, hurting women and girls globally;
• Zeroes out funding for the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Inter-American Foundation, and United States African Development Foundation; and 
• Fails to adequately staff the State Department to properly implement and oversee assistance in the United States’ interest.

For Ranking Member Frankel’s full opening remarks in front of the Committee, click here. 

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