MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Valadao, Bonamici, Lead Effort to Provide Greater Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Services

WASHINGTON – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) joined Reps. David Valadao (CA-22), and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to reintroduce the Connections to Health Infrastructure and Emergency Recovery Services (CHIERS) Act. This bipartisan bill would create a grant program to provide transportation for people in need of overdose prevention services, substance use disorder treatment, detoxification, and other related supportive services.

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” said Rep. Bacon. “The CHIERS Act will improve access to developing services that provide individuals with transportation to and from substance use disorder treatments or support services. This program will help thousands of citizens get the help they need, and I’m grateful to work with Rep. Bonamici on this important effort.” 

“In the Central Valley, we’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic,” said Rep. Valadao. “Too often, people seeking treatment in our communities face long travel times, high transportation costs, and difficulty receiving timely care. We should be doing everything we can to make it easier for people suffering from substance use disorder to get the help they need and break the cycle of addiction. I’m proud to help introduce the bipartisan CHIERS Act to remove barriers to treatment and expand access to timely, life-saving care.”

“People shouldn’t be held back from getting the care they need because they do not have a way to get there,” said Rep. Bonamici. “For years people in Portland benefitted from the CHIERS van, which helped transport people in need to sobering centers. I’m working with my bipartisan colleagues to expand on this model and make rides to treatment available to more people across the country who are intoxicated or at risk.”  

The CHIERS Act would:

• Create a grant program with funding that could be used to train staff, purchase vehicles, and contract with ridesharing services to cover transportation.
• Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants to eligible entities, including community health centers; Continuum of Care Program participants; opioid recovery centers; state, Tribal, and local governments; and nonprofit organizations.

Background:

Individuals seeking Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) often must travel long distances to reach care, relying on friends or family members for transportation or forgoing treatment altogether due to cost and accessibility challenges. With only eight substance treatment centers serving the three-county region, many residents struggle to receive timely, life-saving services. Expanding grant support for affordable transportation options can help connect residents to critical treatment services—reducing barriers to recovery and improving public health outcomes.

Read the full bill here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) released the following statement in response to Senate passage of Republican immigration enforcement bill: 

“In the dead of night, Senate Republicans advanced a bill that would hand Donald Trump another $70 billion to expand his mass deportation agenda and supercharge ICE and CBP without accountability or meaningful reform.

“I’ve been inside these detention facilities because I fought to get inside them. After the Trump administration illegally blocked Members of Congress from conducting oversight, I sued them and won in federal court so we could continue carrying out inspections and expose what is happening behind closed doors.

“What I’ve seen and heard has stayed with me. I’ve met with families torn apart by these policies, children separated from their parents, spouses terrified their loved ones will disappear into a detention system, and people being held in dangerous and inhumane conditions. As the son of immigrants, those conversations hit close to home. No one should fear that a trip to work, school, or church could end with their family being ripped apart.

“Instead of reforming a broken system, or investing in lowering the cost of housing, childcare, and healthcare for working families, this bill gives ICE and CBP billions more to expand Trump’s mass deportation operation with even less accountability.

“I will vote no, and I will continue fighting in Congress, in the courts, and on the ground to defend the dignity, safety, and constitutional rights of every person.”

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

“PKD impacts more than half a million Americans, but doesn’t get nearly enough attention. We must pass this legislation to invest in research, improve treatment, and work towards a cure,” said Wasserman Schultz. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to support Americans with polycystic kidney disease and their families.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary passed H.J. Res. 1, which proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of nine justices. Congressman Biggs, the sponsor of the resolution, issued the following statement:

“Our nation’s founders built a system of checks and balances to protect citizens from concentrated power – a central part being the U.S. Supreme Court, whose duty is to defend the rights and freedoms of every American, not to serve as a political tool for any party. The judiciary was designed to be the quiet guardian of liberty, insulated from the passions of the moment. Unfortunately, special interests have been increasing their attacks on the Court, threatening to pack this iconic American institution to ensure favorable outcomes for their causes. The goal is not ethics or protecting rights but gaining power and intimidating the Court.

“The ongoing and escalating assault on the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court must stop. That is why I have introduced this constitutional amendment to fix the number of justices at nine. This action will protect the Court’s legitimacy, preserve the checks and balances that safeguard our cherished freedoms, and ensure every American’s rights remain secure – no matter who holds political power. I’m grateful for my colleagues’ support of this amendment, and I look forward to its passage on the U.S. House floor.”

Read the resolution here. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Applauds House Passage of Agriculture Appropriations Bill, Secures Key Healthcare Funding for Central Washington 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon House passage of H.R. 8646, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2027.This legislation passed by a vote of 213-210.  

“House Republicans are delivering for our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and producers,” said Rep. Newhouse.

Newhouse continued, “By investing in agricultural research, loan programs for rural communities, and promotional efforts for specialty crops, we will help rural communities weather these hard times. But while we strengthen our domestic programs, we also provide key support for international food aid programs to help lift developing nations out of poverty and provide export markets for our farmers here at home. We are protecting American farmland from our adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, by keeping the Secretary of Agriculture on CFIUS. I urge the Senate to act quickly so we can provide some certainty to the agriculture industry.”

Background

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $26.27 billion, which is $380 million (1.4%) below the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level. 
The act prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our nation’s food and drug supply; support America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; and ensure low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs. The legislation is fiscally responsible and refocuses programs on their core mission while putting the health, safety, and prosperity of American producers and consumers first.

This bill also cuts spending and saves taxpayer dollars by reining in harmful Biden-era regulations, reducing salaries and expenses to account for staffing reductions, and shrinks grant programs that housed canceled grants. Regarding investments in agriculture research, this bill funds rural development loan programs and animal and plant health programs, and provides funds to ensure the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices. This bill includes no funds for climate hubs or climate corps. 

Rep. Newhouse’s floor remarks can be found here.

Rep. Newhouse secured the following funding for projects in Central Washington. 

Adams County Public Hospital District No.3 d/b/a Othello Community Hospital

Amount: $1,863,900

Description: The Rural Labor and Delivery Capacity Expansion Project will increase the capacity of Othello Community Hospital to provide top-rate care for our families here locally where more than 400 babies are delivered annually. The project includes features that improve access to care, health and wellness outcomes, and hospital infrastructure. This project integrates critical technology directly into the labor and delivery suites. There will be dedicated triage beds, vital monitors, NICU systems, newborn warming stations, and diagnostic imaging machines for the obstetric unit. To address access, the project will also provide a new ambulance so that families do not have to worry about how they will get to the hospital when events – like precipitous labor – occur without planning. This project will dramatically expand the family birth care to meet the growing need for services at Othello Community Hospital, a rural hospital with a high volume of labor and delivery.

Public Hospital District No. 4 of Grant County d/b/a McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

Amount: $2,104,604

Description: Phase 1 of Grant County Public Hospital District McKay Healthcare’s senior living expansion will add 16 assisted living units and 16 memory care units, along with a community wellness center featuring meeting spaces, a salon, art classroom, fitness area, and landscaped outdoor spaces. This first-of-its-kind continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Central Washington allows seniors to age-in-place safely, transitioning from independent living to assisted living or memory care, and ultimately to skilled nursing if needed. This project addresses a critical gap in rural senior healthcare services in Grant County by expanding access to assisted living and memory care. Currently, comparable services are limited in the region, forcing many families to travel long distances to obtain care. The project will allow seniors to remain in their communities while receiving appropriate care, improve continuity with local healthcare providers.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Don Bacon (NE-02) to reintroduce the Connections to Health Infrastructure and Emergency Recovery Services (CHIERS) Act. This bipartisan bill would create a grant program to provide transportation for people in need of overdose prevention services, substance use disorder treatment, detoxification, and other related supportive services.

Congressman Valadao was an original co-sponsor of this legislation in the 118th Congress.

“In the Central Valley, we’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic,” said Congressman Valadao. “Too often, people seeking treatment in our communities face long travel times, high transportation costs, and difficulty receiving timely care. We should be doing everything we can to make it easier for people suffering from substance use disorder to get the help they need and break the cycle of addiction. I’m proud to help introduce the bipartisan CHIERS Act to remove barriers to treatment and expand access to timely, life-saving care.”

“People shouldn’t be held back from getting the care they need because they do not have a way to get there,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “For years people in Portland benefitted from the CHIERS van, which helped transport people in need to sobering centers. I’m working with my bipartisan colleagues to expand on this model and make rides to treatment available to more people across the country who are intoxicated or at risk.”  

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” said Rep. Bacon. “The CHIERS Act will improve access to developing services that provide individuals with transportation to and from substance use disorder treatments or support services. This program will help thousands of citizens get the help they need, and I’m grateful to work with Rep. Bonamici on this important effort.” 

The CHIERS Act would:

• Create a grant program with funding that could be used to train staff, purchase vehicles, and contract with ridesharing services to cover transportation.
• Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants to eligible entities, including community health centers; Continuum of Care Program participants; opioid recovery centers; state, Tribal, and local governments; and nonprofit organizations.

Background:

Communities across Kings, Kern, and Tulare Counties continue to face significant barriers to accessing treatment for opioid use disorder, particularly in rural and low-income areas where treatment centers are limited and transportation options are scarce. Individuals seeking Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) often must travel long distances to reach care, relying on friends or family members for transportation or forgoing treatment altogether due to cost and accessibility challenges. With only eight substance treatment centers serving the three-county region, many residents struggle to receive timely, life-saving services. Expanding grant support for affordable transportation options can help connect residents to critical treatment services—reducing barriers to recovery and improving public health outcomes.

Read the full bill here.

###

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

In recognition of the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) honored Ohio fallen hero First Lieutenant Edward D. Brown, who was laid to rest at the Normandy American Cemetery in France.

Last month, Congressman Latta led a bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to France to evaluate the country’s spent nuclear fuel recycling industry and broader nuclear energy capabilities. While in France, the delegation also traveled to Normandy to pay tribute to the brave Americans who fought to liberate Europe during World War II. At the Normandy American Cemetery, members participated in a flag-lowering ceremony and honored the sacrifice of First Lieutenant Edward D. Brown of Ohio, and the other 9,000+ American military personnel buried there.

First Lieutenant Edward D. Brown was born on July 18, 1916, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He joined the National Guard on March 5, 1941, and in 1942 was assigned to the 106th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. The Squadron sailed for France on June 29, 1944, shortly after the Allied landings in Normandy. The unit entered combat on July 2, 1944, supporting operations to eliminate German forces isolated during the Allied advance across the Normandy Peninsula.

The Squadron later conducted offensive screening operations through Normandy and into Brittany. On July 5, 1944, Lieutenant Brown was wounded when an enemy shell made a direct hit on an armored car near which he was standing with a superior officer. He succumbed to his wounds on July 7, 1944, near La Haye-du-Puits, France. First Lieutenant Edward D. Brown rests today at the Normandy American Cemetery, where his sacrifice—and the sacrifices of thousands of other American service members—continue to be remembered and honored.

“As we mark the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, we remember the courage and sacrifice of the brave Americans who fought to defend freedom. It was a privilege to honor First Lieutenant Edward D. Brown, an Ohioan who gave his life in service to our country. We must never forget the sacrifices made by the Greatest Generation and those who rest at Normandy,” said Latta.  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

House Armed Services Committee also voted to include Golden’s amendment to increase funding for destroyer production at Bath Iron Works

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

Washington, D.C. – HR 5437, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act, has passed the House Judiciary Committee.

Congressman McClintock’s remarks delivered at the hearing in support of the legislation: 
 

Opening Statement 
HR 5437 (McClintock) – Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act
Video Link
June 3, 2026
 

Mr. Chairman:

This legislation addresses a fundamental question of fairness in our civil justice system: who should be held responsible when workplace safety laws are violated?  Who is liable when an otherwise safe product is misused?  The party that responsibly, safely and legally manufactured that product or the party that dangerously, recklessly and illegally mis-used that product and injured workers as a result?

The answer should be self-evident to any fair and reasonable person. 

Stone slabs are used for kitchen and bathroom countertops in millions of American homes.  Stone slab manufacture produces $30 billion a year for our economy, and employs 100,000 American workers who depend upon it to feed their families.  When these stone slabs leave the factory, they are entirely safe as long as they are then fabricated according to health and safety laws.

These products are then shipped to fabricators to be cut to fit your kitchen.  The manufacturers have no control over the fabricators – fabricators are completely unrelated and independent businesses.  Those fabricators are required by law to use safe processes to cut these slabs to assure that harmful silica particles aren’t released into the air.  If inhaled, these particles can cause debilitating and permanent lung damage – a condition called silicosis.

OSHA has established detailed standards governing exposure to respirable crystalline silica.  Employers are required to implement engineering controls, provide protective equipment, conduct monitoring, and train workers. States such as California have adopted additional requirements. 

Most fabricators abide by the law and employ these practices to protect their workers.  Unfortunately, there are some sweat shops that ignore health, safety, labor and immigration laws to undercut their competition. Instead of obeying the law and using state of the art equipment to prevent silica dust, they simply have their workers dry-cut these slabs, releasing silica particles that injure their workers.

So who is responsible for these injuries?  The manufacturer who obeyed all the laws, who safely manufactured the slab, and had no control over the fabrication process once their product left their factory — or the fabricator who broke all the applicable safety and labor laws and ordered their workers to expose themselves to injury.   According to some unscrupulous trial lawyers, it’s the innocent manufacturer who should be held liable. 

We are now seeing crippling lawsuits that ignore the guilty fabricators and instead sue the manufacturers – because that’s where the money is.  This doesn’t protect workers – indeed, it imperils a new class of workers – every one of those 100,000 Americans employed in safe manufacture of this product.

And that is because this litigation threatens to shut down American stone slab manufacturers. 

Some say, “Good,” or as the socialist mayor of Seattle recently giggled, “Bye.”

One hundred thousand American workers lose their jobs.  $30 billion of the American economy vanishes.   But at least we protect the workers in the unscrupulous fabrication shops, right?  But we don’t of course.  Stone slab manufacture will simply shift to foreign suppliers who are beyond the reach of this litigation and the fabricators will remain.

If you truly care about the workers, you would protect the innocent and hold the guilty responsible for violating health and safety laws.  That’s what this bill does.

It preserves workers’ rights to seek relief from those who caused their injuries, while preventing abusive litigation against parties who neither created the hazard nor controlled the workplace. It says that manufacturers and sellers of stone slab products cannot be sued for injuries arising from fabrication activities conducted beyond their control by another party.  It does not eliminate workplace safety laws.  It does not shield employers who violate OSHA requirements.  It does not prevent workers from seeking remedies against those responsible for unsafe working conditions.  It simply prevents liability from being imposed on parties that neither controlled nor caused the alleged harm.

At its core, this legislation reaffirms a principle that should unite all of us regardless of party: liability should be based on responsibility.  Those who cause harm should be held accountable.  Those who don’t should not. 

# # #

Statement Video Link

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

WASHINGTON DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw (VA-11), co-chairs of the Federal Workforce Caucus, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s executive order reclassifying about 8,000 federal workers into the Schedule Policy/Career category, effectively tripling the number of at-will federal employees and opening the door for the Administration to carry out more politically-motivated firings without recourse for the employees to appeal. 

“Americans across our country rely on the critical services that the nonpartisan, highly skilled federal workforce provides. Instead of supporting these workers, Donald Trump continues to attack them. The merit-based federal workforce is a cornerstone of our government, and this corrupt policy only undermines the quality of services delivered to the American people in favor of political cronyism. We will continue fighting back in support of our civil servants and the crucial work they do on behalf of the American people.”