MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, applauded House passage of bipartisan legislation he championed to keep free AM radio available in new vehicles.

“AM radio is about more than what you listen to on the drive home. For millions of Americans, especially folks in rural communities, it is a trusted source for local news, weather, and critical information during emergencies,” said Rep. Hudson. “I’ve pushed hard to keep AM radio available in our cars, and I’m glad the House has finally passed this bipartisan bill.”

Background

The legislation directs the Department of Transportation to require AM radio access as standard equipment in new passenger vehicles. Consumers would not be charged an additional fee to access AM radio.

AM radio continues to play an important role in emergency communications, particularly in rural areas and during hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and other disasters when cellular and internet service can be disrupted. Firefighters, law enforcement officers, sheriffs, emergency medical organizations, and farmers have backed keeping AM radio available in vehicles because of its role in delivering emergency information.

As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Hudson has continued working with local broadcasters and public safety leaders to preserve access to AM radio for drivers across the country.

Hudson was one of the earliest cosponsors of the legislation and has pushed for its passage throughout the 119th Congress.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation led by U.S. Representatives Richard Hudson (NC-09), Fort Bragg’s Congressman, and Brad Knott (NC-13) to clear the way for construction of a new state veterans home near Fort Bragg.

“Our veterans sacrificed to take care of us, and we have a responsibility to take care of them,” said Rep. Hudson. “After the Fayetteville State Veterans Home closed, 85 veterans were forced to leave their home and relocate across the state, many far away from their families. Today’s passage brings us one step closer to building a new home near Fort Bragg and bringing that care back to our community.”

“Tens of thousands of veterans call North Carolina’s 13th District home, and they’ve earned care worthy of their service,” said Rep. Knott. “Since the Fayetteville veterans’ home closed in 2024, our state’s heroes in central North Carolina have been without a home built for their care. I am proud to work with Congressman Hudson on this bill to advance a new veterans’ home in Harnett County, which will provide quality, long-term care for those who served our country.”

The legislation transfers 20 acres off installation at Fort Bragg to the State of North Carolina, allowing the state to move forward with the permitting and construction process for the new veterans home.

The former Fayetteville State Veterans Home closed in 2024, displacing 85 veterans, including many with dementia and other disabilities. Hudson has worked with members of the North Carolina congressional delegation and the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to advance plans for a replacement facility, and the legislation is a necessary step in that effort.

Hudson spokeon the House floor ahead of passage, urging his colleagues to support the legislation and highlighting the need to restore a veterans home to the Fayetteville and Fort Bragg community.

Hudson and Knott were joined by Reps. David Rouzer (NC-07), Don Davis (NC-01), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Greg Murphy (NC-03), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Addison McDowell (NC-06), Mark Harris (NC-08), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), Alma Adams (NC-12), and Tim Moore (NC-14) in cosponsoring the legislation.

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, shares the news of AT&T’s expanded wireless service to areas of Moore County following his continued push for better cell service across the community.

“Folks in Moore County have been asking for better cell service, and I’m glad we’re continuing to see progress,” said Rep. Hudson. “This new coverage will help families, businesses, and especially our first responders stay connected when it matters most. I appreciate AT&T working with us after our meeting last month, and I’ll keep working with providers to bring better service to more of our community.”

Beginning Thursday, September 10, AT&T customers will benefit from a new roaming agreement that expands wireless coverage into parts of Moore County where AT&T previously did not provide service. The expanded coverage will serve both AT&T customers and FirstNet subscribers, including first responders who rely on FirstNet to stay connected, especially during emergencies.

This comes just weeks after Hudson met with AT&T officials in Moore County to discuss areas where residents, businesses, and visitors experience weak signal, dropped calls, and unreliable service. Hudson also discussed opportunities to improve connectivity for first responders and other AT&T customers.

Hudson’s work with AT&T follows similar efforts with Verizon. In July, he brought Verizon officials to Moore County to see problem areas firsthand, including a small cell site in Aberdeen and a cell tower near Moore County Airport. In August, Verizon activated the site near Moore County Airport, improving service for customers in the surrounding area.

As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Hudson will continue working with AT&T, Verizon, and other providers to improve reliable cell service across Moore County and the Ninth District.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09) announced the 2026 Congressional App Challenge is open to students in North Carolina’s Ninth District.

“North Carolina’s students have the creativity and talent to build the next generation of technology,” said Rep. Hudson. “The Congressional App Challenge gives them an opportunity to turn an idea into something real. I look forward to seeing this year’s submissions, and I encourage every eligible student in our district to participate, whether they are an experienced coder or just getting started.”

The Congressional App Challenge is the official student Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competition of the U.S. House of Representatives. The nationwide competition encourages students to explore coding and computer science through hands-on experience creating their own app.

The competition is open to students who are enrolled in middle or high school and live or attend school in North Carolina’s Ninth District. Students may compete individually or in teams of up to four. At least half of the members of a team must live or attend school in the Ninth District. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of industry professionals from North Carolina’s Ninth District. The winning app will be featured online and may be displayed in the U.S. Capitol.

Students must register and submit their app through CongressionalAppChallenge.us by 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, October 26, 2026. The official rules and requirements for the 2026 Congressional App Challenge are available here.

For additional information, visit hudson.house.gov/services/congressional-app-challenge or contact Rep. Hudson’s Southern Pines District Office at (910) 910-1924.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration (NCA) has awarded the Commonwealth of Virginia a grant of up to $243,467. The funding supports expansion of the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Virginia. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Honoring our veterans is part of the cultural heritage of Virginia’s Ninth District. 

“The Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery does a magnificent job at honoring our revered veteran communities. 

“This NCA grant for as much as $243,467 should help the Cemetery construct new features, including nearly 500 gravesites and irrigation. Also, the funds will allow the addition of a U.S. Space Force service branch emblem.

“I am proud that the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery, by virtue of the good work it does, has put itself in a position to contend for these funds.”

BACKGROUND

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery serves more than 108,000 veterans and their eligible family members in the region.

The installation of survey grid monuments will take place at an existing turfed area. The Space Force service branch emblem will be located at the existing assembly area.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) announced that the U.S. House yesterday approved major legislation to address improvements for the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation system, flood and storm risk management, environment, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure. 

Case’s requests were included in H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. WRDA is developed and passed by Congress every two years. The House approved this Congress’ bill by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 415-9.  

WRDA-authorized federal projects are critical to communities throughout the country to keep them connected and safe and to strengthen the overall U.S. economy.   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) implements these projects in partnership with federal, local and state agencies, non-government organizations and tribal nations. 

Case works with government and community partners well in advance of each WRDA to request authorization of projects key to Hawaii’s safety, security and economy. The four provisions secured by Case in the 2026 WRDA include: 

1. Expanding and upgrading Honolulu Harbor.

Case secured approval for an update on the in-depth study called for in previous measures on critical improvements to Honolulu Harbor which includes Case’s successful push in 2024 to amend the WRDA to reflect the expanded complexity, scope and funding needs for the Harbor, including elements of coastal storm risk management. House approval of the 2026 WRDA will help continue the project and focus its benefits on disaster resilience and enhanced national security from improved utilization of the harbor. 

“As the main port of the State of Hawai‘i, Honolulu Harbor receives and distributes all overseas cargo shipments constituting over 80% of all imports into the state, supports fishing operations and cruise ships and handles federal maritime activity including the U.S. Coast Guard’s 14th District,” said Case. 

“Providing this additional refined and expanded authorization will ensure our critical harbor is designed for resilience and that this literal lifeline for Hawai‘i remains operational in the face of natural disaster and other contingencies.” 

Case said the 2026 WRDA also includes his call for the status of the assessment of the benefits of the project modification on disaster resiliency and enhanced national security from utilization of the harbor by the Department of Defense.

Case secured a complementary provision to conduct a full review of Honolulu Harbor’s critical role in our nation’s defense and security. “With Honolulu Harbor being the main port for the State of Hawai‘i, our national defense presence also depends on this harbor to remain strong and reliable to maintain a steady flow of resources for our military needs and communities,” said Case.

Case added: “Strengthening this harbor will allow for enhanced military readiness and resilience and for our communities to be prepared for a national security threat. This provision directs USACE to consider the benefits of project modification for disaster resilience and enhanced national security from utilization of the harbor by the Department of Defense and assists in paving the way for full funding of improvement projects.”  

1. Management of the risks of floods and coastal storms in Waikīkī

The 2026 WRDA includes approval of Case’s requests for federal feasibility studies on the management of the risks triggered by floods and coastal storms risk in the vicinities of the Waikīkī Natatorium War Memorial, Kāimana Beach and Waikīkī Beach.

“As was recently witnessed by the storms that have battered Hawai‘i, we all are facing the real-life evidence every day of the effects of climate change including disastrous flooding, and we must continue our efforts to mitigate catastrophic impacts to the coastline that are major attractions to both our kamaʻāina and visitors to these locales in Waikīkī,” said Case.

1. Expediting studies of projects O‘ahu, Maui and Kauaʻi 

Case also secured approval to complete feasibility studies previously directed for the following projects (such studies being the first step in project authorization):

·        Flood risk management for the Kaiaka-Waiʻalua watershed on O‘ahu;

·        Flood risk and coastal storm risk management for the County of Kauaʻi; and,

·        Flood risk management and ecosystem restoration for the County of Maui

1. Expedite completion of a project on Kauaʻi

The 2026 WRDA also includes Case’s call to expedite completion of a project involving aquatic ecosystem restoration of the wetlands in Waimea on the island of Kauaʻi.

The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.

·        The House Committee on Transportation & infrastructure explanation of the 2026 WRDA is here. 

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Pete Sessions (TX-17) introduced H.R. 10443, the American Procurement Improvement Act (APIA). The APIA would modernize the statutory framework governing AbilityOne, while preserving its core mission of expanding employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. This bipartisan bill is endorsed by a coalition of 50 organizations, unions, disability stakeholders, and advocacy groups.

Created in 1938, AbilityOne has helped deliver critical products and services through federal contracting and provided employment for over 41,000 Americans. To keep pace with today’s workforce, disability policy, and federal procurement environment, it is critical that the program’s governing statute is modernized to preserve its mission of creating job opportunity and career growth for people with disabilities. The bipartisan APIA offers a consensus approach to implementing key changes that would secure an effective, sustainable future for AbilityOne.

“I’m proud to join with Rep. Sessions to introduce this bipartisan, consensus bill to modernize the AbilityOne program,” said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer. “For nearly ninety years, this program has opened up job opportunities for tens of thousands of Americans with disabilities, delivering greater independence and dignity while yielding a strong return on investment for the taxpayers. However, its legal framework hasn’t been substantially updated in over half a century. Our bill modernizes procurement under the program, while making it more accountable. It would also expand eligibility and help more Americans with disabilities get hired, promoted, and grow in their careers. Ultimately, this will benefit employees with disabilities and their families, improve government efficiency, and expand our economy. Sponsoring the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 and helping secure its enactment was one of my proudest achievements in office. Over the years, I have worked alongside many allies on both sides of the aisle to protect and build on that landmark law, including in the area of employment, where so much work is still needed. I look forward to partnering with Rep. Sessions, our cosponsors in both parties, and the broad range of endorsing organizations from across the disability community to try to move this bill through the House before the end of the year. We can and should get this done.”

“AbilityOne has worked for nearly 90 years, connecting federal procurement with real employment for Americans who are blind or have significant disabilities. The law governing it has not kept pace. Last year the unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities was 8.3 percent, more than double the rate for Americans without disabilities, and the share of our neighbors with disabilities who are not in the workforce at all is far higher still. This bipartisan bill preserves the mission while modernizing procurement, clearing the way for career advancement, and strengthening accountability to the taxpayer. In Texas we believe every person is made in the image of God and has something to contribute, and I am proud to lead this effort alongside Congressman Steny Hoyer,” said Congressman Pete Sessions.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Mike Ezell (MS-04), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Derrick Van Orden (WI-03).

The APIA is endorsed by: American Association of People with Disabilities, SourceAmerica, National Council of SourceAmerica Employers, CEO Commission for Disability Employment, Alliance for Expanding America’s Workforce,  The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the Arc of the United States, National Organization on Disability, National Down Syndrome Society, National Disability Rights Network, National Federation of the Blind, Melwood Inc., PCSI, Tessera, Didlake, Alula, Peckham, WORK Inc., ORC Industries, ACCSES, Advocations,  Challenge Unlimited, Inc., Employment Source, Global Connections to Employment, Opportunity Center, Inc., PARC, Assets, Inc., ServiceSource, Speak Foundation, Health Hats, Access Ready Inc, Whistleblowers of America, The American Association of Kidney Patients, SEIU, Bender Consulting, Goodwill South Florida, CommunicationFIRST,  ACHIEVE Human Services, Inc., Bobby Dodd Institute, Workability International, Chimes International, Eastern Carolina Vocational Center, Inc., Human Technologies, InspiriTec, PORTCO Inc, PRIDE Industries, Phoenix, Pueblo Diversified Industries, Fedcap Rehabilitation Services, Inc., and Association of People Supporting EmploymentFirst (APSE).

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Bipartisan bill is designed to address the national backlog of untested sexual assault kits

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

Historic Resolution Follows in Footsteps of Civil Rights Leaders Coretta Scott King, Economist Sadie Alexander, and Others

Job Guarantee Would Provide Critical Safety Net, Good-Paying Union Jobs, and Close Income Gap

Resolution Text (PDF) | Resolution Summary (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, with unemployment surging under Donald Trump, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, reintroduced her historic resolution calling for a federal job guarantee. The resolution, which builds on the legacy and work of Black women in the civil rights movement, would help the United States achieve the promise of full employment, establish a more resilient and inclusive economy, and begin to close racial and gender income gaps.

Congresswoman Pressley has consistently called for the Federal Reserve to enforce its dual mandate for maximum employment and address the crisis of Black unemployment, particularly Black women’s unemployment.

“With Black folks being pushed out of the workforce and unemployment rates at their highest since the COVID-19 pandemic, we need a Federal Job Guarantee now more than ever,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “A federal job guarantee is a central and unfulfilled demand of the civil rights movement and I’m proud to stand on the shoulders of civil rights icons like Coretta Scott King and Sadie Alexander to keep pushing for this historic resolution, which would support working families of every background, help America reach full employment, and help achieve long-term economic security for all.”

A federal job guarantee would provide every person with an enforceable legal right to a quality job. Extending beyond a project-based approach, the resolution calls for the creation of federal jobs that meet long-neglected community, physical and human infrastructure needs, such as delivering quality care for children and seniors, building and sustaining 21st century transit systems, strengthening neighborhoods, and protecting the environment. Funded by the federal government and implemented locally in partnership with communities, the program would provide public jobs for all adults seeking employment.

By ensuring everyone has access to a good job with dignified wages, safe working conditions, health care and other benefits—including full worker rights and union protections—a federal job guarantee would set a new standard for quality jobs, pressuring low-wage employers to increase wages and benefits. It would create a pathway to stable employment and begin to close the gaping income and wealth gap for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous workers who continue to face discrimination and are often the “first ones fired, last ones hired” during economic crises. It would also ensure economic inclusion for those experiencing discrimination in the labor market, including people with disabilities, transgender people, caregivers, and people with criminal records or involvement with the criminal legal system. A permanent job guarantee would operate as an automatic stabilizer, maintaining consumer spending and protecting us from prolonged recessions and jobless recoveries — making the economy more resilient as well as more inclusive.

“We applaud Congresswoman Pressley for her steadfast commitment to justice and advancing policies that invest in people. This federal job guarantee resolution recognizes and promotes the infrastructure to put our most productive resources to work for a greener, more just and inclusive economy that works for us all,” said Dr. Darrick Hamilton, Founding Director of the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at The New School.

“Workers in the U.S. are experiencing unprecedented times: an affordability crisis compounded by record long-term unemployment, disproportionate job losses for Black women, and increasing structural barriers especially impacting younger, older, and immigrant workers. Huge swaths of the American workforce are also not being paid a living wage, especially those in jobs that have been historically undervalued such as care and domestic work,” said Elyse Shaw, Director of Education, Labor and Worker Justice at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). “We applaud Congresswoman Pressley for introducing the Federal Jobs Guarantee resolution, which calls for proactive policies that address the systemic and discriminatory barriers limiting many workers’ access to quality jobs and careers as well as robust worker protections for all.”

A copy of the resolution can be found here and a summary is here.

Rep. Pressley first introduced the historic resolution in February 2021. Following introduction. Pressley questioned Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in a House Financial Services Committee hearing about the need for a federal job guarantee to help the United States achieve full employment. In September 2021, she published an op-ed in The Nation outlining the civil rights history of the Federal Job Guarantee and discussed the urgent need to establish one.

Rep. Pressley has repeatedly sounded the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States, called on the Federal Reserve to take action, and convened impacted women and economists to renew those calls. The Federal Reserve responded to the Congresswoman’s letter in October, and Rep. Pressley pushed for further action demanding a briefing for members of the Congressional Black Caucus on how the Fed is responding to this crisis.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – The Ways and Means Committee yesterday unanimously passed the bipartisan Concentrating on High-Value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act, a bill introduced by Representatives Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) that would promote early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

The CHANGE Act directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify cognitive impairment detection tools to help clinicians more effectively detect, refer and diagnose Alzheimer’s and related dementias in their earliest stages when intervention can be most impactful.

The bill was included as part of the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, a bipartisan, comprehensive bill to improve the early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

“This is deeply personal for me. I lost both of my parents to Alzheimer’s, and I know firsthand how much earlier detection could have meant for our family,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Advancing this bill out of committee brings us one step closer to giving other families that chance. I’m grateful to my Ways and Means colleagues for passing our bipartisan bill and will keep fighting to get it signed into law.”

“Alzheimer’s impacts millions of Americans, and we must do everything we can to support the search for a cure. This bipartisan bill provides help to patients and clinicians through expanded early detection support and improved data collection,” said Congressman LaHood. “The CHANGE Act, coupled with the ASAP Act, will strengthen existing tools to help streamline and broaden the ability for earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other forms dementia. I thank Congresswoman Sánchez for her collaboration on this critical legislation and my Ways and Means colleagues for advancing this bill as we work to find ways to support patients, their families, and caregivers.”

“Alzheimer’s touches millions of families, and identifying the disease early can make a meaningful difference for patients and their loved ones,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “The CHANGE Act brings us closer to giving healthcare providers the tools to recognize the warning signs sooner and connect families with the care and support they need. I’m proud this bipartisan legislation is moving forward so more families can have more time, better care, and greater hope.”

“Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that has touched my family personally, so I understand the tremendous toll it takes not only on patients, but also on the loved ones who care for them,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “As promising new treatments continue to emerge, early detection and diagnosis are more important than ever. The bipartisan CHANGE Act will help ensure patients and their doctors have better tools to identify cognitive decline earlier, when interventions may have the greatest impact. I am pleased to see this important legislation advance out of Committee as part of a broader package, bringing us another step closer to improving care, preserving quality of life, and ultimately finding a cure for this terrible disease.”

An estimated 13.8 million Americans aged 65 and older are projected to develop Alzheimer’s by 2060. The CHANGE Act would provide critical support for caregivers and accelerate progress toward effective disease-modifying treatments.

Alzheimer’s disease is the fifth-leading cause of death in America, and it is estimated that Black Americans are twice as likely and Latinos are 1.5 times as likely to develop the disease.

The CHANGE Act is endorsed by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, American Academy of Neurology, Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, Alliance for Aging Research, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Gerontological Society of America, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Latinos Against Alzheimer’s and USAging.

Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) previously introduced companion legislation to the CHANGE Act in the Senate.

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