MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington, D.C. – Co-Chairs of the Congressional Bike Caucus,Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16), announced the introduction of H.R. 9041 the America Bikes Act, comprehensive bipartisan legislation that will bolster cyclist safety, increase access to bikes, and bring bike manufacturing back to the United States. 

“Cycling is good for people and good for our planet. It just makes sense that we’d invest in expanding bike access and road safety so more Americans can benefit from cycling,” said Thompson. “As Co-Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus and an avid cyclist myself, I know that these sensible measures will improve and expand access to safe, healthy transportation for decades to come. I’m honored to work with Rep. Vern Buchanan on this landmark legislation.” 

“Investing in safe, reliable transportation is essential for families, workers and seniors across Florida’s 16th District and communities nationwide,” said Buchanan. “That is why, as co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, I joined Rep. Mike Thompson to introduce the bipartisan America Bikes Act. This legislation delivers stronger investments in bicycle infrastructure and expands access to safer transportation networks.  From neighborhood streets to daily commutes, bicycles remain a simple and effective way for Americans to get around, and this bill will support practical improvements that reduce congestion, improve mobility and keep cyclists safe.”

BACKGROUND

The America Bikes Act is landmark legislation designed to support and expand cycling across the nation by tackling safety, access, and manufacturing challenges all in one bill. This bill includes cycling provisions previously introduced by Reps. Raskin (D-MD-08), Huffman (D-CA-02), and Scholten (D-MI-03).

H.R. 9041, the America Bikes Act:  

Improves Cyclist Safety 

• Expands access to federal funding for local governments to improve roadway safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Helps local, regional, and Tribal governments to fund safety action plans and infrastructure projects aimed at preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries.
• Makes bike safety education a standard part of youth learning nationwide and expands access to funding for on-bicycle education to elementary and secondary school students.

Encourages More People to Bike

• Improves access to programs that help kids safely bike and walk to school. 
• Expands biking and walking infrastructure on federal lands. 
• Reauthorizes federal funding for communities to plan, design, and build walking and biking infrastructure. 
• Expands incentives so more Americans switch to bicycle commuting. 
• Creates a grant program to connect biking and transit stations, including supporting bike parking at transit stations and expansion of bikeshare programs. 

Brings Bike Manufacturing Back to Our Shores

The America Bikes Act is endorsed by leading cyclist and road safety organizations including: The League of American Bicyclists, California Bicycle Coalition, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, PeopleForBikes, Safe Routes Partnership, National Bicycle Dealers Association, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

“With the America Bikes Act, Congressional Bike Caucus Chairs Mike Thompson and Vern Buchanan are celebrating the freedom bicycling brings to people and communities. The League believes life is better for everyone when more people can ride bikes and this bill represents a number of common sense initiatives to ensure our transportation system is safe and accessible to everyone,” said Bill Nesper, Executive Director, League of American Bicyclists.

“Every child deserves the freedom to safely walk, bike, and roll to school and around their community. We applaud the Congressional Bike Caucus for introducing the bipartisan America Bikes Act, which includes language to restore statewide Safe Routes to School coordinators, a proven investment that helps communities make it easier, safer, and more joyful for kids to get where they need to go,” said Marisa Jones, Executive Director, Safe Routes Partnership.

“This bipartisan bill combines effective safety measures and critical reforms to funding programs that together will deliver the safe and practical bicycling routes that Americans demand and need for both daily transportation and healthy recreation,” said Kevin Mills, Vice President of Policy, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. 

“The America Bikes Act is a major step forward for the bike industry and the millions of Americans who want safer, better places to ride,” said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. “By investing in connected bike infrastructure and supporting domestic bicycle manufacturing, this legislation will help more people ride bikes more often, strengthen the U.S. bike economy, create American jobs, and improve the health and safety of communities across the country. We thank Congressman Thompson and Congressman Buchanan for their leadership and commitment to expanding access to bicycling nationwide.”

“This bill is a game-changer for America’s bicycle retailers and the industry as a whole. The reinstatement of the employer-provided bicycle commuting benefit means more Americans will have a real financial incentive to commute by bike, and that translates directly into more customers walking through the doors of local bicycle shops. The suspension of duties on bicycle assembly parts lowers costs for domestic manufacturers, strengthens our supply chain, and helps American businesses compete. When paired with the $500 million annual investment in active transportation infrastructure and the Bicycle Transit Integration Grant Program, this package creates the conditions for a true cycling renaissance in the United States. The NBDA stands fully behind this bill and urges its swift passage,” said Heather Mason, Executive Director, National Bicycle Dealers Association. 

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Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 4th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition.

 

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

Larsen Announces 2026 Congressional App Challenge

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

WASHINGTON —Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) today voiced her support for New York State legislation that would close a loophole exploited by predatory hedge funds to profit from nations and territories in financial distress. The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas and State Senator Liz Krueger, would restore the legal doctrine of champerty, making it illegal to buy debt for the sole purpose of suing to collect on it. She released the following statement: 
 
“For Puerto Ricans, this issue is not theoretical. New York’s legal system has been used by hedge funds seeking outsized profits from Puerto Rico’s debt crisis for years.
 
“To this day, the island has not finalized its bankruptcy; the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s restructuring remains stalled after 12 years of costly litigation. In total, Puerto Ricans have paid a staggering $2 billion for Title III proceedings under PROMESA.
 
“New York must act now to prevent Puerto Rican families from continuing to endure painful austerity, economic instability, and unreliable electric service just so vulture funds can maximize profits. As home to one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in the nation, New York has a unique responsibility to ensure its laws are not being used to profit from the suffering of Puerto Rican communities.
 
“Passing the Champerty Fix Bill would send a clear message that New York stands with working families and diaspora communities, not predatory actors exploiting financial distress for private gain.”
 

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

Call on Trump administration to explain if Trump will be held to same standard as all Americans

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

“Congress can lower utility bills by passing legislation that caps excessive corporate profits and overcharges, and speeds up the deployment of low-cost clean energy,” said Wasserman Schultz. “We live in Florida, where sun, wind and water sources for clean, cheap energy are abundant. We did this kind of work in the Inflation Reduction Act. And we need to revive that, because Trump and this Republican Congress simply do not care about Americans’ monthly utility bills.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Davis – On Wednesday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33) hosted a town hall for students on campus at UC Davis. The town hall provided students with a chance to ask questions about the issues that mattered the most to them including affordability, and student loans. 

“The burden of student debt is crushing our young people. Students shouldn’t have to choose between getting an education and being able to afford rent, groceries, or a future,” said Thompson. “I recently introduced the Lowering Student Loans Act to address this directly by capping student loan interest rates at 2 percent. We must make it affordable to get an education and easier to pay off student loans.” 

“Thank you to all the students that attended Wednesday’s event. Our country is facing challenging times and one of the best remedies are rooms full of young people who are engaged, informed, and are ready to hold their leaders accountable.”  

Affordability Issues

Rep. Thompson knows that Californians are paying $1,900 more per year in higher prices because of the President’s trade war, which is why he introduced H.R. 6900 the American Affordability Act. This act would reduce the tax burden on student loan forgiveness and expand education tax credits to cover more years of college and workforce training. It would also lower rent, cut energy bills, make childcare cheaper, make healthcare more accessible, and put more money back into Americans wallets.  

Student Loans 

Rep. Thompson has introduced H.R.7820 the “Lowering Student Loans Act” which would cap student loan interest rates at 2 percent. He has also been a consistent opponent of the Trump Administrations cut to research funding which supports university across the country including UC Davis. Rep. Thompson will continue fighting to improve the lives of students in Davis, California and across the country. 

 

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Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 4th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

“Immigrants make up over 60 percent of our agricultural workforce in California,” said Thompson. “We need to add more immigration judges and border personnel, cut the screening time backlog, and direct asylum seekers to apply before crossing the border.”  

“Thank you to the over fifty community members who attended Tuesday’s event, and the countless more who have written me and called my office, it is important to hear from our community members about the issues impacting them including affordability, protecting our community from ICE and safeguarding our democracy.”

Rep. Thompson’s Immigration Actions:

Rep. Thompson continues to fight to keep our immigration community safe against an administration that demonizes hardworking people who are our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. He worked to get Secretary Noem fired, culminating in her resignation in March 2026. Rep. Thompson has vowed to rein in ICE by refusing to fund DHS, demanding the addition of body cameras, removal of masks, and requiring ICE to acquire judicial warrants. Rep. Thompson strives to achieve comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for DACA recipients.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

The Rocket convenience store in Redlands serves hundreds of customers a day, driving the local economy and providing jobs to people in the Inland Empire

REDLANDS, CA – Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) visited the Rocket store on Lugonia Avenue to learn about the ins and outs of running a convenience store and how rising costs are impacting business. Rising gas prices are putting added financial pressure on drivers and shoppers and hurting convenience stores like Rocket, where food purchases make up a large portion of their profits. 
The visit is part of the National Association of Convenience Stores’ (NACS) In Store program, which gives members of Congress a firsthand look at how convenience stores operate and benefit local communities. You can find photos from the visit above and here.
“It was great to stop by the Rocket convenience store and see firsthand the different ways this store benefits Redlands residents and our entire community,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “Whether you’re grabbing a quick snack, getting a car wash, filling up your gas tank, or using the ATM, convenience stores are an important part of daily life for people in the Inland Empire and help boost our local economy. Yet as gas prices soar thanks to Trump’s war with Iran, people have less money to spend on food and drinks, hurting convenience stores and their customers. I’ll keep fighting back to end this reckless overseas conflict and bring down costs so families and businesses like Rocket can thrive.”
“Convenience stores are essential to everyday life and local economies, and challenges around affordability continue to place increasing strain on our customers, operations, and the communities that depend on us,” said Joe Juliano, President & CEO, United Pacific. “We hope the visit provided Congressman Aguilar with a deeper understanding of convenience store operations and the challenges we face, and that it will help drive stronger support for our industry in Washington, DC.”
“Thank you Congressman Aguilar for visiting with the employees and customers at United Pacific’s Rocket convenience store in Redlands,” said Doug Kantor,  General Counsel and Vice President of Government Relations, National Association of Convenience Stores. “Convenience stores form the backbone of local communities around the nation – giving Americans a place to meet and fuel themselves and their vehicles every day. Congressman Aguilar’s care for the people and businesses in his district was apparent in his visit today and we appreciate his dedication to take the time out of his schedule to be here.”

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

Griffith Announces More Than $1.4 Million in HHS Grants to Virginia Tech

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) announced today that his staff will hold a mobile office hour for constituents in Red Willow County on Monday, June 8, 2026, and Hayes County on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. These office hours are an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with a member of Smith’s staff about federal issues, receive assistance with a federal agency, or take advantage of the services available through his office.

Smith, who has offices in Grand Island, Scottsbluff, and Nebraska City, will provide a staff member at the following time and location:

Monday, June 8, 2026
Red Willow County Courthouse, 3rd Floor
 502 Norris Avenue
 McCook, NE 68920
 10:00 am – 11:00 am CT

Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Hayes County Courthouse
 502 Troth Street
 Hayes Center, NE 69032
 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CT

For more information, please contact Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900, his Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333, or his Nebraska City office at (402) 874-6050.