MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she voted in support of S. 2393 to fund construction and modernization at John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis:

“Over the years I have been a major advocate for our greater St. Louis area veterans and the facilities that care for them. They deserve the very best and I have fought for them every step of the way, from the federal level at the Department of Veterans Affairs and with VA Chair Mike Bost, to the state and local levels to make sure our veterans get world-class treatment. 

“Just last year I toured the facility with Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins to show him firsthand how important the John Cochran Hospital is to our Missouri veterans, and detail exactly what upgrades are needed and why.  I am grateful this ongoing work has led to passage of this legislation to authorize $1.76 billion to build new spaces to provide health care and update existing facilities to better serve veterans in the greater St. Louis region.

“Our veterans answered the call of duty to defend our very freedoms, and we are forever grateful for the sacrifices they have made to defend the United States.  It is our responsibility as Americans to ensure those who have served receive high quality medical care, and this bill will surge critical funding to modernize John Cochran and expand the facilities, including a new bed tower to increase capacity, a dedicated mental health and substance abuse clinic, and other vital infrastructure.”

Click here to read some of Congresswoman’s Wagner’s ongoing advocacy in support of the John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

EEOC’s latest actions further Trump’s agenda, eliminating protections for women and workers of color

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) and Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (Del.) led 10 lawmakers in demanding the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) immediately resume full demographic data collection.

The letter comes amid actions from Republicans and Trump administration officials to implement Project 2025—gutting the EEOC and eliminating protections for vulnerable workers.

Last week, every Republican on the House Appropriations Committee voted down a Democratic amendment to protect the collection of critical demographic data known as EEO-1.

Additionally, last week, the EEOC formally proposed ending the collection of EEO-1, which since 1966, has been used to collect data from certain large employers annually to support EEOC enforcement efforts. In addition to eliminating the EEO-1, the EEOC also seeks to eliminate the collection of data on union membership demographics, data on state and local government employee demographics, and data on public school workforce demographics.

These moves are an attempt to hide data across the private and public sectors, stripping workers of protections by eliminating the tool to identify potential discrimination.

“Demographic data collection is a core function of the EEOC and critical to federal efforts to root out workplace harassment and discrimination,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “This data has been collected annually since 1966, and for the first time in almost six decades, Donald Trump’s hand-picked lackeys are ignoring and emboldening employment discrimination. Failure to collect timely and accurate demographic data is a slap in the face to millions of American workers who rely on the EEOC to fulfill its obligation to protect and support workers.”

“The EEOC’s mission to ‘advance equal opportunity for all’ can only be achieved through demographic data collection that offers a look into the practices of American workplaces,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “The Trump Administration’s attempt to end this effort threatens to upend the progress we’ve made to protect American workers.”

Lawmakers who cosigned the letter include: U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12); Senators Patty Murray (Wash.), Bernie Sanders (Ver.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and Ron Wyden (Ore).

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee and Congressman Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, recently introduced the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act, a bill to prohibit mass terminations at our land management agencies, including the Department of Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 

Since the start of 2025, the Trump administration has eliminated tens of thousands of jobs through the Reduction in Force (RIFs) of federal employees, leaving agencies unable to meet basic obligations due to staffing shortages. With fewer personnel across the board, DOI and USFS are in weakened positions to address threats such as wildfires; complete important construction and maintenance projects; continue programs designed to protect communities, vital watersheds, and wildlife habitats; and more. 

The Public Lands Workforce Stability Act extends the moratorium on layoffs that congressional Democrats were able to put in place after Republicans’ disastrous 43-day government shutdown last year. Specifically, the bill reinstitutes and extends the ban on RIFs covering DOI and USFS until the end of Fiscal Year 2030. 

“Extreme weather conditions, drought, and unprecedented fire risk, coupled with staffing shortages across the Interior Department and Forest Service, have placed our public lands and the civil servants that protect them in a dangerous position — the consequences of which are real and immediate,” said Congressman Neguse. “The Public Lands Workforce Stability Act halts these attacks on our hard-working public servants and safeguards this workforce’s ability to manage critical programs that safeguard natural resources, protect communities, fight wildfires, and more. It is imperative that we have a fully staffed workforce to care for our most treasured public lands.” 

“The Forest Service and National Park Service have both lost nearly a quarter of their staff since Donald Trump took office. At a time when our public lands and nearby communities are struggling with a water, climate, and wildfire crises, we cannot afford to lose any more expertise. I’m proud to join Representative Neguse in this effort to stop the Trump administration’s efforts to hollow out our public land management agencies. This bill reasserts Congress’ role in overseeing these agencies, their programming, and their staff,” said Ranking Member Huffman. 

President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) hit Colorado’s public lands workforce harder than any other state, with Colorado ranking 1st nationally in total public land agency job losses. Across federal land management agencies, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service, employment of Colorado residents dropped by more than 1,700 in 2025 — a 26% reduction in the public lands workforce.

The bill is endorsed by the Conservation Lands Foundation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, Trust for Public Land, and the Association of National Park Rangers.

Statements of support and additional information on the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act, can be found HERE. 

Congressman Neguse has been leading efforts to block the Trump administration’s attacks on the federal workforce responsible for fighting wildfires, managing public lands, protecting water, advancing clean energy, and honoring tribal obligations. In August 2025, he joined top Democrats from the Natural Resources Committee in introducing an initial series of bills that would put a stop to the abuse of RIFs to carry out mass firings at DOI and USFS. He also proposed landmark legislation that would direct the administration to rehire National Park Service (NPS) and USFS staffers wrongfully terminated as part of Trump’s DOGE initiative. 

In October 2025, Rep. Neguse led his colleagues in a letter demanding the administration immediately cease using the Republican shutdown as a pretext to fire thousands more federal employees.  

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

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $642,345 grant. The funding supports research into Alzheimer’s disease. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of Americans and puts a strain on many families.

“This HHS grant for more than $642,000 helps Virginia Tech provide more detailed research and analysis of this debilitating illness.”

BACKGROUND

According to a journal in the National Library of Medicine, Alzheimer’s disease could impact as many as 13.8 million people by 2060.

The awarding office of this grant is the HHS National Institute on Aging.

As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued the following statement upon the death of former Representative Barney Frank:

For more than three decades in the House of Representatives, Congressman Barney Frank was a trailblazing advocate and legendary leader for the people he was privileged to represent in Massachusetts. The first Member of Congress to come out while in office, Barney broke barriers for the LGBTQ+ community and helped push us closer to making true America’s promise of liberty, justice and equality for all. 

During his time as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Frank led the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the key legislative response to the 2008 crisis that enacted into law sweeping reforms to the financial system. Beyond this historic, namesake legislation, Chairman Frank championed significant civil rights, environmental and affordable housing policy.

We are a better Caucus and country because of Barney Frank’s relentless leadership and candor. Though we are blessed with many memorable quips to remember him by, the House Democratic Caucus family will miss Barney deeply and mourn with his loved ones during this difficult time. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) called on the Inspector General of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to conduct much-needed oversight regarding the long-term delays and lack of transparency in repairing and restoring the Brookdale and Almaden Valley Post Offices. The Brookdale Office has been closed since December 2024 and the Almaden Valley Office since July 2025 as a result of separate fires, and Rep. Panetta called for accountability and an independent review over these ongoing USPS delays.

“Given both the extended disruption of postal services and the continued absence of a clear path forward, independent review from the Office of Inspector General is warranted to ensure accountability from USPS and access to essential mail services for my constituents,” wrote Rep. Panetta.

Rep. Panetta emphasized that the property owner of the Brookdale Post Office only started basic permitting steps and did not show up for the required site inspection. Essential repairs and soft-demolition still do not seem to be underway almost a year and a half after a fire critically impacted both the residential and commercial areas. Moreover, USPS has provided only limited transparency and unclear answers to Rep. Panetta’s repeated inquiries, as the reopening of the Brookdale Post Office has been delayed past the promised May 1 reopening date.

He also stressed that relocating Brookdale mail services to the Boulder Creek Post Office is not a sustainable solution, especially given Brookdale’s mountainous nature, limited infrastructure, lack of USPS home delivery, and particular challenges for community members with mobility difficulties.

“The impact of this closure has not only been a facilities issue, but a human one. In response to the fire, postal retail services for Brookdale residents were relocated to the nearby Boulder Creek Post Office,” continued Rep. Panetta. “… Travel out of town simply to collect basic mail is unsustainable for many of these constituents, particularly those with limited mobility. I have repeatedly reached out to USPS leadership to request updates and offer solutions, including seeking clarity on the status of repairs, next steps with the property owner, anticipated timelines, and the possibility of relocating the Brookdale Post Office within the community if progress at the existing site continues to stall. Despite this repeated engagement, meaningful progress has been limited, and responses have frequently lacked specificity or actionable information.”

Rep. Panetta further pushed back on USPS’s extended silence and delays regarding the reopening of the Almaden Valley Post Office, as USPS recently informed his office that the facility is not slated to reopen until spring of 2027, restricting easy access to mail services for many people in South San Jose.

“Assuming this schedule is maintained, it will mean my constituents will be expected to wait nearly two years for restored service at a postal-owned facility in a major metropolitan area,” added Rep. Panetta. “In the meantime, I consistently hear from constituents forced to go out of their way to access postal services at a nearby location, a burden that is felt acutely by those with limited transportation options, the elderly, and the disabled. As with Brookdale, updates and explanations regarding Almaden Valley have been few and far between.”

Specifically, Rep. Panetta requested that the Inspector General:

• Conduct a review of the U.S. Postal Service’s management, communication, and decision‑making processes regarding the Brookdale Post Office since the December 2024 fire;
• Review the internal process for establishing a repair timeline for the Almaden Valley Post Office;
• Assess whether delays have resulted from internal USPS actions or, in the case of Brookdale, in coordination issues with the Brookdale property owner;
• Evaluate the adequacy of USPS’s interim service plans for Almaden Valley and Brookdale residents, including accessibility, transportation burdens, and the feasibility of restoring local service through temporary or alternate facilities; and
• Determine whether systemic oversight or intervention is needed to ensure timely restoration of service and improved responsiveness in California District 2.

After the Almaden Valley Post Office fire last July, Rep. Panetta wrote to Postmaster General David Steiner requesting the prompt repair and reopening of the facility, a clear timeline for these repairs, and an update on the continuation of mail services for impacted constituents.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Inspector General:

I write to request your oversight of postal operations within California District 2, with particular attention to the ongoing delays, limited transparency, and lack of measurable progress surrounding the repair and restoration of the Brookdale and Almaden Valley Post Offices following separate fires that occurred in December 2024 and July 2025, respectively. Given both the extended disruption of postal services and the continued absence of a clear path forward, independent review from the Office of Inspector General is warranted to ensure accountability from USPS and access to essential mail services for my constituents.

The December 2024 fire at the Brookdale Post Office caused significant structural damage to the Brookdale postal facility, rendering both residential and commercial areas unusable. County records indicate the property owner, who is not based in the area, initiated only basic permitting steps before subsequently failing to appear for required site inspection. Nearly 18 months after the fire, the damaged space has not undergone necessary repairs and basic soft-demolition does not appear to have begun.

The impact of this closure has not only been a facilities issue, but a human one. In response to the fire, postal retail services for Brookdale residents were relocated to the nearby Boulder Creek Post Office. While this may have served as a short-term solution, the arrangement imposes a substantial burden on my constituents, particularly as Brookdale is a mountain town with limited infrastructure and public services. The community does not receive USPS home delivery and relies on the local post office for access to mail. Travel out of town simply to collect basic mail is unsustainable for many of these constituents, particularly those with limited mobility.

I have repeatedly reached out to USPS leadership to request updates and offer solutions, including seeking clarity on the status of repairs, next steps with the property owner, anticipated timelines, and the possibility of relocating the Brookdale Post Office within the community if progress at the existing site continues to stall. Despite this repeated engagement, meaningful progress has been limited, and responses have frequently lacked specificity or actionable information. I have also repeatedly urged the USPS to consider the visible lack of progress and new permitting for the site. Despite the many warning signs that repairs were not occurring during this time, the USPS repeatedly deflected questions about the reopening date, referring to the May 1, 2026 reopening promised by the property owner.

In the case of Almaden Valley, after months of silence and lack of repairs, the USPS updated my office this year that it does not plan to reopen this USPS-owned facility until the spring of 2027. Assuming this schedule is maintained, it will mean my constituents will be expected to wait nearly two years for restored service at a postal-owned facility in a major metropolitan area. In the meantime, I consistently hear from constituents forced to go out of their way to access postal services at a nearby location, a burden that is felt acutely by those with limited transportation options, the elderly, and the disabled. As with Brookdale, updates and explanations regarding Almaden Valley have been few and far between.

Faced with this situation, I ask that you:

• Conduct a review of the U.S. Postal Service’s management, communication, and decision‑making processes regarding the Brookdale Post Office since the December 2024 fire;
• Review the internal process for establishing a repair timeline for the Almaden Valley Post Office;
• Assess whether delays have resulted from internal USPS actions or, in the case of Brookdale, in coordination issues with the Brookdale property owner;
• Evaluate the adequacy of USPS’s interim service plans for Almaden Valley and Brookdale residents, including accessibility, transportation burdens, and the feasibility of restoring local service through temporary or alternate facilities;
• Determine whether systemic oversight or intervention is needed to ensure timely restoration of service and improved responsiveness in California District 2.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Restoring dependable postal operations is vital for my constituents, and oversight from your office would help ensure that these longstanding issues receive the scrutiny and urgency they deserve.

Sincerely,

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement in response to the hate crime targeting the Islamic Center of San Diego:
 
“I unequivocally condemn the terror attack targeting the Islamic Center of San Diego. This was an act of anti-Muslim hate, and we must call it exactly that.

“But condemnation alone isn’t enough. We must be honest about the environment in which this violence is occurring. Recent congressional hearings have portrayed Muslim Americans — their mosques, schools, and civic organizations — as part of a foreign threat network. Witnesses with documented ties to anti-Muslim hate movements have been given a congressional platform to dehumanize an entire faith community. These are not legitimate oversight hearings. They are taxpayer-funded platforms for fearmongering.

“Words have consequences. In our democracy, we can disagree — but we must do so with honesty and respect, not fear and hate. Every American, no matter their faith, deserves to feel safe. We must stand up for Muslim Americans and all communities that are being targeted.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced that he has joined a bipartisan call for stronger oversight of Missouri River Management. In a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers delivered last week, Congressman Cleaver joined Reps. Bob Onder (R-MO) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA), along with 34 other lawmakers, in calling for the creation of an Inland Navigation Construction Organization (INCO) within the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters to coordinate inland waterway infrastructure projects at the federal level.

The proposed INCO would strengthen transparency, establish clear accountability across all levels of project management, and improve the coordination of planning, strategy, and execution for critical inland waterway infrastructure projects. By creating a centralized system of oversight, and checks and balances, the INCO would help ensure federal investments are managed more efficiently and effectively.

“Proper coordination is critical to efficient and effective management of taxpayer dollars,” said Congressman Cleaver. “By establishing an organization within the Army Corps of Engineers with the sole responsibility of overseeing federal investments dedicated to our nation’s inland waterway system, we can ensure projects move forward in a timely manner and without wasteful spending. I am proud to join colleagues in this bipartisan push to establish the Inland Navigation Construction Organization, which will benefit communities across the Show Me State.”

“America’s inland waterways are one of our greatest natural advantages over our competitors, and they’re currently managed through a patchwork of disconnected regional structures, with limited centralized oversight and little long-term strategic coordination. Actions taken upstream on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers have significant downstream consequences for communities in Missouri’s Third District, yet no single entity is responsible for evaluating inland navigation projects as a whole or ensuring that these federal projects are being run effectively,” said Congressman Onder. “Establishing INCO would strengthen accountability and help ensure taxpayer dollars are invested efficiently to support the long-term reliability, competitiveness, and resilience of America’s inland waterways.”

“Western Pennsylvania’s inland waterways helped power the Industrial Revolution and remain critical to our regional economy today, supporting manufacturing, energy, and good-paying jobs across our Commonwealth,” said Congressman Deluzio. “That’s why I support establishing an Inland Navigation Construction Organization within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen oversight of federal infrastructure investments and ensure America’s inland waterway system remains competitive for generations to come.”

“In the St. Louis region, our river is a huge deal– serving as an opportunity for regional growth,” said Congressman Wesley Bell (D-MO). “Only three major inland navigation projects have been finished over the past almost three decades. We can do better. I’m proud to support this bipartisan letter because Missouri’s First District, and all of the other areas impacted, deserve to have more accountability and resources put into the management and development of inland waterways. By fixing the Army Corps of Engineers’ project delivery model, we can expand work opportunities in the region and promote economic development.”

“Missouri’s inland waterways are vital to our economy, but delays and fragmented management have slowed critical improvements for too long. I support creating an Inland Navigation Construction Organization within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve coordination, accountability, and deliver these projects more efficiently,” said Congressman Mark Alford (R-MO).

The inland waterway system is a cornerstone of the American economy, moving hundreds of millions of tons of commerce annually and supporting agriculture, energy production, manufacturing, and exports across the country. However, aging locks and dams continue to create bottlenecks that increase transportation costs, disrupt supply chains, and weaken America’s global competitiveness. Modernizing this infrastructure is capital-intensive, spans multiple states and decades, and requires consistent, long-term oversight from a structure that does not currently exist in adequate form.

Despite years of sustained policy changes and congressional appropriations, the inland waterway modernization program has produced troubling results. Only three major inland navigation projects have been completed in the past 28 years, while numerous ongoing projects have experienced significant cost overruns and schedule delays, in some cases extending a decade or more beyond original projections.

Inland waterways are national infrastructure assets that require national-level coordination. The time has come to treat the inland waterway modernization program as what it is: a single, interconnected national program that demands unified leadership and strategic oversight.

Importantly, the INCO would not remove project delivery authority from USACE Districts or Divisions, limit Congress’s authority over appropriations, or require new statutory authority for USACE implementation. Instead, it would reorganize and strengthen coordination of existing responsibilities to improve accountability, efficiency, and long-term program management.

The official letter from lawmakers is available here.

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is holding an Full Committee markup of H.R. 8748, Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026, H.R. 8790, Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, and H.R. 7129, Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act.

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

Good morning. Chairman Babin, thank you for holding today’s markup. I would like to commend the Chairman for his continued commitment to bipartisanship. I enthusiastically support all three bills before us today. I am also happy to see the first Democratic Member led bill on the docket since June of last year. However, I remain concerned about how few Democratic Member led bills have been brought up before the Committee when we are now nearly three-quarters of the way through the 119th Congress. This is only the fourth Democratic Member led bill we are considering this Congress. We have not enjoyed the same degree of reciprocity that has been the norm in this Committee. Also concerning for me is how many Democratic proposals have languished without feedback or cosponsors when Democratic staff and Members have worked diligently and collaboratively all Congress to get to good, bipartisan agreement on most of the proposals that Republican members have sent our way for consideration. By my staff’s estimate, at least 7 draft bills have languished for a month or longer, some of them all Congress, including my own bills. Many other bipartisan bills have been introduced but not scheduled for markup. I hope you can understand our frustration. With that said, I will move on to the bills before us now. 

The first bill up is the Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026, sponsored by Representatives Fong and Sykes. This bill authorizes surface transportation research, development, and demonstration programs at the Department of Transportation and represents the Science Committee’s contribution to the larger surface transportation reauthorization being led by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Specifically, the bill makes important updates to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, University Transportation Centers, the technology and innovation deployment program, and the cooperative rail research program. I also want to note that this bill will direct research into headlight brightness, an issue I think we can all agree is worth looking into. There are a number of thoughtful and intelligent amendments on the roster that I plan to support. Before I move on, I would like to direct a special thanks to a former tech fellow with the Democratic staff, Kevin Li, who put a lot of time and effort into this bill. I would also like to note that the research into the reuse of asphalt is a win-win-win—a win for the private sector that can more affordably pay with reused asphalt, a win for the environment because the reuse of asphalt prevents dumping, as well as a win for localities who can spend less money. Having research as to its viability will help everyone have certainty moving forward. 

The next bill on the roster is an expansion of one we originally considered last Congress; it is the Next-Generation Geothermal Research & Development Act sponsored by Representatives Harrigan and Salinas. The purpose of this bill is to unlock geothermal energy resources from geographic restraints and supercharge its potential output. Advances in enhanced geothermal, closed-loop geothermal, and geothermal systems operating in supercritical conditions could result in geothermal technologies being deployable virtually anywhere in the United States – producing an estimated 90 gigawatts of electricity. As compared with the current 16 gigawatts worldwide, the possibilities are remarkable and the opportunity is undeniable. The United States is facing twin crises of affordability and climate change; the proliferation of carbon-free geothermal energy could be employed to ameliorate the situation, instead of blindly exacerbating it which seems to be the prerogative of the current Administration. I thank Representatives Harrigan and Salinas for their collaborative effort on this important bill. 

Our last bill is the Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act, sponsored by Representatives Bonamici and Begich. Hydropower is one of the oldest forms of renewable energy and it still accounts for approximately 27% of total U.S. renewable electricity generation. In addition to providing carbon-free electricity, hydropower plays a critical role in providing low-cost energy, maintaining grid reliability, and supporting energy storage. However, much of the nation’s hydropower infrastructure is aging, and emerging technologies such as marine energy and pumped storage remain underdeveloped despite their significant potential to strengthen energy resilience and reliability. This bill provides updated guidance for DOE’s research, development, demonstration, and commercialization programs in hydropower, marine energy, and pumped storage technologies. I want to thank the sponsors for their leadership on this important bill. 

With that I thank the Chairman, and I yield back.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, issued the following statement commemorating Cuban Independence Day: 

“Today, we mark 124 years since Cuba gained its independence after centuries of subordination as a colony oppressed under Spanish rule. Tragically, just a few short decades after winning their independence, the Cuban people were once again subordinated to tyranny—this time under the oppressive Castro regime. 

Over the past six decades, Cuban heroes have continued to demand freedom and basic human rights. We cannot forget martyrs such as Pedro Luis Boitel, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia, Laura Pollan, Oswaldo Paya, and Harold Cepero perished in the struggle. And today, courageous J11 activists, some who were minors when arrested, as well as San Isidro artists Maykel Castillo “El Osorbo” and Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, continue to languish in prison simply for demanding basic liberties. 

The path to Cuba’s independence was neither quick nor easy. We know that the Cuban people will be free and it will be because of the brave pro-democracy activists who continue to defending human life, dignity, human rights, and freedom until they once again achieve full independence from tyranny.”

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