Posts

Posted on

WATCH: Carter delivers remarks as House passes Mystic Alerts Act

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

Headline: WATCH: Carter delivers remarks as House passes Mystic Alerts Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today spoke in support of the Mystic Alerts Act, a bipartisan bill to modernize America’s emergency alert systems and strengthen public safety communications, especially for rural communities.

This bill will strengthen the emergency alerting framework by directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish standards and requirements that allow alerts to be delivered via satellite connectivity, ensuring redundancy when traditional networks are down.

Watch Rep. Carter’s floor remarks here.

 Rep. Carter speaks on the Mystic Alerts Act

“Public safety is one of Congress’s most serious responsibilities, and this bill addresses a clear and urgent gap in our emergency communications system.

Like Congressman Pfluger, my family was directly impacted by the Camp Mystic flooding in Texas. 

As we all know, I had two granddaughters who were there. They lost one of their cousins, Janie Hunt.

That tragedy showed in the clearest possible terms how fast conditions can deteriorate and how devastating the consequences can be when warnings do not reach people in time.

This legislation will help modernize our emergency alerting framework, strengthen resilience, and improve our ability to save lives during floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters.

It also honors the victims of the Camp Mystic flood by ensuring that we will not simply mourn tragedy but learn from it and act.

I commend Congressman Pfluger for his leadership and for bringing forward a practical, bipartisan solution.”

###

Posted on

Congressman Riley M. Moore Leads Letter Urging DHS to End OPT Program, Protect American Workers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin raising serious concerns about the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program and related work authorization pathways for foreign students, including STEM-OPT and Curricular Practical Training (CPT). The letter calls on DHS to take decisive action to restore integrity to the student visa system and prioritize job opportunities for American workers by ending the OPT and STEM-OPT programs.

In the letter, Congressman Moore detailed the rapid expansion of these programs, which now allow hundreds of thousands of foreign students to work in the United States outside of statutory visa caps established by Congress. These programs, created through regulatory action rather than legislation, have evolved into de facto guest-worker pipelines that disadvantage American graduates entering an already challenging job market.

Congressman Moore also raised concerns about reported abuses of the CPT program, including so-called “Day 1 CPT” arrangements in which foreign students work full-time while completing minimal academic requirements. These practices, he notes, undermine the intent of the F-1 student visa program and create unfair competition for U.S. workers.

The letter urges DHS to eliminate the OPT and STEM-OPT programs, pause new work authorizations under these pathways, and conduct a comprehensive rulemaking review. It also calls for increased oversight of institutions with unusually high CPT participation rates to ensure compliance with academic standards.

Congressman Riley M. Moore released the following statement:

“Our immigration system should exist for one reason: to benefit the American people. Big corporations pushed for the OPT, STEM-OPT, and CPT programs to import foreign workers and undercut American graduates. These programs were never authorized by Congress. That means DHS has both the authority and the responsibility to end these abuses, restore integrity to the student visa system, and put American workers first.”

###

Posted on

Reps. David Scott, Miller-Meeks, Williams, and Crenshaw Lead Bipartisan Introduction of Endometriosis Awareness Month Resolution

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

WASHINTON – Today, Representatives David Scott (GA-13), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) introduced a bipartisan measure to increase education, awareness, and recognition of Endometriosis—a painful chronic condition impacting as many as 10 percent of women.

“We know that the effects of endometriosis go well beyond those with the condition to include significant others, parents, extended family members, and close friends.” said Rep. David Scott (GA-13). “Lack of public awareness and educational research have contributed to delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis for millions of women living with the disease. While we continue the fight for a cure, our bipartisan resolution reaffirms the importance of seeking access to early diagnosis and effective treatments. Forging strong partnerships between researchers, academic institutions, and medical providers involved in research can help identify effective methods of endometriosis prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, as well as prevent increased infertility for women living with endometriosis.”

The Endometriosis Awareness Month Resolution expresses support for the designation of March 2026 as Endometriosis Awareness Month and recognizes the need for early detection and treatment, increased education for health care providers, and continued research for more effective treatment for women suffering from the disease.

Endometriosis impacts 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the United States and an estimated 200 million women worldwide. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that up to 50 percent of women with endometriosis experience infertility. Symptoms are often so severe that women stay home from work and miss time with friends and family. Despite its prevalence, federal endometriosis research equates to just $1.10 per year for each diagnosed woman.

The text of the resolution can be found HERE. 

###

Posted on

WATCH: Ranking Member Pingree Blasts Burgum for Sabotaging Renewable Energy as Gas Prices Soar

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

WATCH: Ranking Member Pingree Blasts Burgum for Sabotaging Renewable Energy as Gas Prices Soar

Washington, April 20, 2026

Today, during the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) condemned the Trump Administration’s aggressive campaign against renewable energy as gas prices soar. In her opening remarks, Pingree outlined the Administration’s clear pattern of propping up Big Oil and sabotaging renewable energy projects, while also failing to uphold the Department’s mission to protect and manage our natural resources, to uphold our trust and treaty obligations, and to follow the science. 

Click here to watch Pingree’s full opening remarks; tune into the hearing live here.

“All of these dirty deals are to benefit industry. And it’s at the expense of the American people. Americans are now paying an average of $4.04 for a gallon of gas. According to Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, gas prices could peak at $4.36 a gallon, costing the average household $740 more for gas this year,” Pingree said. “So it makes no sense to me why this administration would be actively sabotaging renewable energy, which we know is the cheaper and more affordable energy option for families. Honestly, it just makes me very angry. This administration’s policies are causing an affordability crisis and there seems to be a lack of focus on what the Department’s mission actually is.”

 

The fiscal year 2027 budget requests $15 billion for the Department of the Interior:

  • Renewable Energy: cuts $45 million from the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and eliminates renewable energy funding which includes onshore and offshore wind energy.
  • Bureau of Land Management: cuts $480 million and slashes funding for Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat Management by $139 million, which includes funding for sage grouse and threatened and endangered species.
  • US Fish and Wildlife (FWS): cuts $526 million, decreasing the National Wildlife Refuge System by 20 percent, eliminates grant programs managed by States, Tribes, and other nations, and moves NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service into FWS ($125 million transfer).
  • National Park Service: cuts $1.06 billion
    • Operation of the National Park System: cuts $760 million or 26 percent. The skinny budget suggests they may change the funding formula to defund or drastically cut support for smaller or less visited park units.
    • National Recreation and Preservation: cuts $86 million or 93 percent
    • Historic Preservation Fund: cuts $170 million, or a 94 percent cut, and eliminates everything except funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
    • Construction: cuts $40 million, or a 45 percent cut. 
  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): cuts $526 million, a 37 percent reduction that eliminates ecosystems, and dramatically cuts funding for core science and natural hazards.
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs: cuts $378 million, including the elimination of the Indian Guaranteed Loan program and the Indian Land Consolidation program, and a 34 percent reduction in funds that support self-governance and directly fund tribal operations.
  • Bureau of Indian Education:  cuts $436 million, a 32 percent reduction; some eliminations include funding for Tribal Colleges and Universities, Replacement School Construction, and Early Child and Family Development.

Wildland Fire: Transfers all U.S. Forest Service Wildland Fire Management functions to DOI.

+++

Pingree’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
Secretary Burgum, I appreciate you being here today. Unfortunately, after a year of observing this Administration and its impact on our country, I have some deep concerns.  

The Department of the Interior is supposed to protect and manage our natural resources, to uphold our trust and treaty obligations, and to follow the science. 

Instead, from my observation, this administration is bending the Department’s mission to serve the interests of oil and gas companies. 

This administration’s policies are allowing unfettered consumption of natural resources. 

We have seen that clearly in the Gulf of Mexico, where last month, the administration convened the so-called “god squad” and approved an extraordinary exemption from the Endangered Species Act protections for offshore drilling. 

That decision was alarming on its own. 

It was even more disturbing because it came from an administration that seems determined to weaken every safeguard that stands in the way of industry profits. 

Speaking of critical safeguards—16 years ago to this day, the Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 workers and devastated the Gulf with the largest and most destructive oil spill in America’s history. 

In wake of that disaster, investigations found that employees had inappropriately close ties to the oil and gas companies and the agency was then broken up because the oversight model had failed so badly. 

Yet this budget proposes reviving that disgraced structure—potentially returning us to the days of corruption and a model that jeopardized worker safety and the environment. 

The administration has also taken dramatic steps to block renewable energy development—eliminating competition for the oil and gas industry and reducing the amount of energy produced at a time when our country’s overall energy needs are growing. 

Shortly after taking the office, the White House moved quickly to halt offshore wind development and took steps to “rein in” solar and wind projects. Why? Why kneecap industries that create jobs, expand our energy supply, and help address the climate crisis? Because this administration’s energy policy is based on political grievance, ideological hostility, and, of course, propping up Big Oil and Gas. Plus, we know Trump has a strange vendetta against windmills.

When the courts vacated the President’s wind moratorium and stopped the President from blocking five current leases, the administration took the unprecedented step of spending nearly $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to coerce a private company into abandoning offshore wind projects. And now we know the administration’s public justification for that deal does not hold up. Newly disclosed settlement terms show the company was not required to make any new investment in American oil and gas production at all. Instead, it could simply claim credit for spending it was already planning to make, including on fossil fuel projects that had already moved forward.

To make this dirty deal even more stunning, this waste of the taxpayers’ money is being used to reward a company for abandoning clean energy, while helping prop up more oil and gas development at the very moment families are getting hammered by high energy costs. Americans are struggling with high utility bills and higher gas prices, yet this administration chose to spend nearly a billion dollars not to build affordable energy, but to kill it.  

All of these dirty deals are to benefit industry. And it’s at the expense of the American people. 

Americans are now paying an average of $4.04 for a gallon of gas. 

According to Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, gas prices could peak at $4.36 a gallon, costing the average household $740 more for gas this year.

So it makes no sense to me why this administration would be actively sabotaging renewable energy, which we know is the cheaper and more affordable energy option for families. Honestly, it just makes me very angry.

This administration’s policies are causing an affordability crisis and there seems to be a lack of focus on what the Department’s mission actually is.

It seems to me that the White House has you distracted with duties unrelated to being Secretary of the Interior.

For example, what does bringing back a case of gold from Venezuela have to do with DOI’s mission?

Meanwhile, our national parks are falling apart. Staff are stretched thin and the budget proposes to further gut them with a 32% cut.


Science should be at the core of all of the Department’s management decisions, but this budget eviscerates the US Geological Survey, a vital research agency—cutting its budget by 66%. 

And, the budget abandons our trust and treaty obligations to Native Americans, slashing the Bureau of Indian Affairs by 27% and Indian Education by 32%. 

It has been appalling to watch this administration decimate the staff at the Department and it certainly looks as if it is trying to deliver the final blow with this budget. 

This Department is on a dangerous course, and this budget would only make the damage worse. 

As Ranking Member of this subcommittee, I will do everything in my power to oppose these reckless cuts and fight the administration’s destructive policies. 

I hope you will put politics aside, listen to the serious concerns being raised here today, and take immediate steps to pull this Department back onto a safer and more responsible course.

Thank you again for being here this afternoon. 

I yield back.

###

Posted on

Larsen Encourages Constituents to Get Their Money Back from Trump’s Illegal Tariffs

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:

“I am glad that Northwest Washington businesses that paid Trump’s illegal tariffs can begin to claim refunds today.

“The tariffs have damaged businesses and driven up costs for hard-working families. These refunds force the Trump administration to return the dollars it stole from local businesses.

“I will keep fighting to make sure local Northwest Washington businesses can take back the money that belongs to them as this process moves forward.”

Today, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) launched a refund system for businesses that paid Trump-imposed tariffs. The Supreme Court struck down Trump’s tariffs on February 20th, setting into motion the return of more than $166 billion that the Administration had collected in unconstitutional tariff revenue.

Businesses can access CBP’s tariff refund portal here.

Larsen Fights Against Trump’s Tariffs

Rep. Larsen is a member of the New Democrat Coalition Trade and Tariffs Task Force and has been a leader in opposing the Trump administration’s tariffs. So far this year, he has visited over a dozen businesses, trade roundtables and community organizations to hear about how Trump’s tariffs have impacted them. Rep. Larsen recently visited Goodwinds Composites, Northwest Yarns & Mercantile, TerraVen and EDCO Metal Fabricators, local businesses that have felt the economic impact of Trump’s tariffs.

In February, the House of Representatives voted on a resolution that Larsen co-led to terminate President Trump’s abuse of “emergency” authorities to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada. The resolution passed the House 219-211 with bipartisan support. Larsen also applauded the Supreme Court’s decision to slap down Trump’s tariffs. 

Last September, Larsen advocated for provisions in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would study the impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs on military readiness and small businesses essential to the defense industrial base after he heard from companies that had to move work out of the U.S. because of uncertainty over tariffs. 

Larsen has consistently pushed back against President Trump’s trade war with Canada and inflammatory statements against Canadian sovereignty. In March 2025, he co-led resolutions that would end President Trump’s authority to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico after the Trump administration placed a 25% tariff on imports from both countries. After the Senate failed to strike down tariffs on Canada last October, he released a statement slamming President Trump’s pointless trade war and how his tariffs have driven up costs for people in Northwest Washington. 

###

Posted on

Pappas, McClain Delaney Lead Call for DHS to Keep the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Open Ahead of Annual Remembrance

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06) led a call urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure the United States Fire Administration campus in Emmitsburg, MD–home to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial–remains fully open and accessible to families and the public during its annual memorial weekend on May 2-3, 2026. 

This year, 204 firefighters from 43 states who died in the line of duty will be honored at the site during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, including New Hampshire Fire Captain Scott Brown of Northwood Fire who passed in August 2025. Their names will be etched in bronze at the memorial, which was constructed in 1981 and designated by Congress in 1990 as a National Memorial. Due to the current funding lapse, access to the campus and memorial is uncertain. The lawmakers are calling on DHS to ensure the site remains fully open and accessible throughout the commemoration. 

“The firefighters we recognize this year died in service to others. Their families now carry that legacy forward. They should not be faced with additional uncertainty when traveling to the one place established to honor their loved ones on behalf of an entire grateful nation,” the lawmakers wrote. 

“[T]his is far more than a logistical concern,” the lawmakers stated. “It represents an irreplaceable moment of remembrance for their families, friends, and colleagues–many of whom may never again have the opportunity to gather at the Memorial where their loved one is permanently honored.” 

Read the letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Mullin, 

Congress established the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation with a clear and solemn mission: to honor America’s fallen firefighters at the national level and to stand with the families they leave behind. This year, that mission faces an unexpected challenge. 

Due to the current funding lapse affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), access to the United States Fire Administration (USFA) campus—home to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial—is uncertain. In times of funding disruption, even places of profound national significance can be impacted. 

As negotiations over Fiscal Year 2026 funding for DHS continue, we respectfully urge you to take all necessary actions to ensure that the USFA campus and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial remain open and fully accessible to the families attending this year’s National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 2–3, 2026, and for all years in the future. 

For the 204 firefighters being honored this year, representing 43 states, this is far more than a logistical concern. It represents an irreplaceable moment of remembrance for their families, friends, and colleagues—many of whom may never again have the opportunity to gather at the Memorial where their loved one is permanently honored. 

When Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, it did so with clear intent: that those who gave their lives in service would be recognized not only by their local communities, but by the nation as a whole. The Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland, stands as the enduring expression of that promise—a place where names are etched in bronze, where families find solace, and where the country pauses to honor sacrifice. 

The firefighters we recognize this year died in service to others. Their families now carry that legacy forward. They should not be faced with additional uncertainty when traveling to the one place established to honor their loved ones on behalf of an entire grateful nation. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and for your continued support of our nation’s fire service and Fire Hero Families. 

Sincerely,

Posted on

Pappas, Mann Introduce Bipartisan Distracted Driving Awareness Month Resolution

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congressman Tracey Mann (KS-01), members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate April 2026 as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Each year, over 3,000 people are killed in crashes involving distracted driving.

“Distracted driving kills over 3,000 people every year, and injures more than 300,000. These losses are preventable, and it’s up to all of us to make sure everyone traveling on our roads makes it to their destination safely,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “I’m proud to partner with Representative Mann to mark Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and our resolution is a reminder that when we get behind the wheel, the only thing that deserves our full attention is the road.”

“Distracted driving is one of the most preventable dangers on our roads, yet it continues to take thousands of lives every year,” said Congressman Mann. “In the Big First District, with almost 84,000 miles of roadway, car travel is a part of our daily life. This resolution recognizes the work of law enforcement and transportation leaders while making clear that more must be done to keep drivers focused and families safe. Every time someone picks up their phone behind the wheel or becomes inattentive, they are putting lives at risk. This month and every month, we must recommit to keeping our eyes on the road and protecting our communities.”

Click here for the text of the resolution.

This resolution is supported by Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), LifeSaver Mobile, MADD, National Safety Council, Safety and Advocacy for Empowerment (SAFE), and stopdistractions.org. 

“Whether it’s a phone in hand or alcohol in the system, distraction behind the wheel leads to the same tragic outcome: preventable crashes,” said Brandy Nannini, board member of SAFE (Safety and Advocacy for Empowerment). “This Distracted Driving Awareness Month is a timely call to action for policymakers and motorists alike to eradicate all forms of dangerous distraction, including those caused by alcohol impairment.”

“Distracted driving is one of the most persistent and preventable threats on our roadways, taking an average of nine lives each day in 2024,” said Lorraine Martin, CEO of the National Safety Council. “This month, and every month, NSC calls on all drivers to just drive — by making distraction-free driving the norm, not the exception.” 

“GHSA commends Congressman Mann for recognizing April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month and for shining a much-needed spotlight on one of the most pervasive and preventable threats on our roads,” said Jonathan Adkins, CEO of GHSA. “Distracted driving claims thousands of lives each year and forever changes countless families. This resolution reinforces an urgent need to change driver behavior, strengthen education and enforcement, and remind every road user that attention behind the wheel saves lives.”

“Distracted driving remains one of the most preventable causes of roadway fatalities in the United States,” said Ted Chen, Co-Founder & CEO of LifeSaver Mobile. “As Congress recognizes Distracted Driving Awareness Month, LifeSaver Mobile supports practical, technology-driven solutions that help drivers stay focused and save lives, even as constant mobile notifications increasingly compete for drivers’ attention behind the wheel.”

Posted on

Congressman Biggs Votes to Again Restore DHS Funding

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

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) voted on a continuing resolution to restore funding to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for sixty days. The vote marked the fourth time the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a funding package for DHS.

Congressman Biggs issued the following statement: 

“In the middle of last night, the U.S. Senate cowered to Minority Leader Chuck Schumer by passing a woefully inadequate resolution to restore funding to parts of DHS, which effectively defunded Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This package inexplicably withheld funding for operations combating child and sex trafficking, and it lacked funding for CBP agents and thousands of ICE staff.

“While I could take the easy way out and vote to fund most of DHS and hope everything turns out alright, that’s not what I came to Washington, D.C. to do. I will not allow my friends in CBP and ICE to wonder where their future payments might be, while the Members of Congress playing these political games receive theirs. These men and women on the front lines of our border and immigration enforcement deserve much more commitment and backing from their elected representatives. That is why I have voted for the fourth time to fund DHS- all of it. As part of the solution, President Trump has made sure TSA agents will be paid until the Democrats come to their senses and join us in fully funding DHS.

“The House has done its job. Now, the Senate must return to fulfill its responsibility.”

###

Posted on

Dingell, Simon, Pettersen Introduce Resolution Marking Care Workers Recognition Month

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Today, the Democratic Women’s Caucus Caregiving Task Force co-chairs Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07) introduced a resolution establishing April as Care Workers Recognition Month to honor the roles and contributions of care workers. 

“Caregiving is a core part of our economy,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “But we have a caregiving crisis in this country with millions on waiting lists to get the care they need, and an increasing number of people unable to afford it. And those who work as caregivers are not being paid fairly for their critical role. That is why it is important to recognize and honor care workers and the crucial work they do, because caregiving makes all other work is possible. When your loved ones are cared for, you can focus on the job that has to be done.”

“Care workers are the backbone of our nation, our economy, and our future. For FAR too long, they have been under recognized, undervalued, underpaid, underappreciated — the list goes on. That’s why my fellow Democratic Women’s Caucus Caregiving Task Force Co-Chairs and I are joining together to introduce a Congressional resolution that recognizes April as Care Worker Month,” said Congresswoman Simon. “This is just a first step towards recognizing the importance of care workers and building a new world that properly values, gives dignity to, and adequately supports and protects care workers.”

“Our caregivers do some of the most important but underappreciated work in our country – everything from cooking meals, to providing early childhood enrichment programs, administering medications, paying bills, and driving loved ones to frequent medical appointments. But that care can take a toll. That is why I am joining my colleagues to introduce this resolution recognizing Care Worker Month, because recognition is a small first step we can take to make sure they get the appreciation they deserve. Recognition alone doesn’t pay the bills or lower costs — we have to keep working to ensure every caregiver can access the resources and the real support they need,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. 

In December, Dingell, Simon, and Petterson launched the Democratic Women’s Caucus Caregiving Task Force to address problems in the caregiving economy and protect and strengthen America’s care economy by advancing policies that uplift caregivers, those they care for, and their families.  

Dingell has long been a leader in Congress on expanding access to care for the elderly and the disability community, supporting the caregiving workforce, and investing in the care economy. She introduced the Better Care Better Jobs Act and HCBS Access Act to enhance federal funding for home care, strengthen the caregiving workforce, improve quality of life for patients, provide respite for family caregivers, and create good-paying jobs. 

View the full text of the Care Worker Recognition Month resolution HERE.

Posted on

Dingell, Obernolte Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve ICU Capacity and Patient Outcomes

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) introduced bipartisan legislation to reduce delays in care, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen coordination between hospitals by requiring real-time reporting of intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability. 

The Improving Care Utilization Through Bed Exchange and Data Sharing Act of 2026, or ICU Bed Act of 2026 modernizes how hospitals share critical capacity data and coordinate patient care across regions, ensuring that no available ICU bed goes unseen when a patient is in need. 

“Better communication leads to better care, and that is why I am proud to champion this bipartisan legislation to improve patient outcomes,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “If you need to go to the ICU, you want to know if there will be a bed waiting for you when life and death can be a matter of minutes or miles. Every person has a role to play in supporting their own health, but this legislation ensures hospitals are playing their part by strengthening communications regarding their ICU capacity.”

“Patients shouldn’t face delays in critical care because hospitals can’t see available ICU beds just miles away,” said Congressman. Obernolte. “We saw during COVID what happens when hospitals are operating in the dark. In rural communities especially, where hospitals are often many miles apart, coordination can mean the difference between life and death. This bill improves transparency, strengthens coordination, and helps ensure every patient gets timely, life-saving care.” 

At the height of the pandemic, hospitals across the country were pushed to their limits. In many cases, families and doctors were left calling hospital after hospital, searching for an available ICU bed while precious time slipped away. In some regions, facilities were completely overwhelmed, while others just miles away still had capacity but no reliable way to share that information in real time. 

Hospitals continue to face challenges managing ICU capacity during periods of high demand, whether from public health emergencies or seasonal surges. Without real-time visibility into available beds, critically ill patients can experience life threatening delays, and hospitals are left relying on outdated or manual processes to coordinate transfers. 

Specifically, the legislation requires the Department of Health & Human Services to build a platform that:

  • Requires hospitals participating in Medicare to report ICU bed availability in real time

  • Establishes regional data sharing systems so hospitals can view capacity across nearby facilities

  • Requires hospitals to develop coordinated strategies to facilitate timely patient transfers when facilities approach or reach capacity

This issue is especially urgent in rural communities, where long distances and limited resources can make access to care even more difficult. By improving coordination and transparency, this legislation helps ensure that patients, no matter where they live, can access the critical care they need when they need it most.