MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

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

MIAMI LAKES, FL– Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation, presented $973,000 in federal funding for the Town of Miami Lakes Big Cypress drainage improvements project.

Congressman Diaz-Balart said, “Floridians know all too well the damage flooding can cause, from torn up streets and sidewalks to dangerous, impassable roadways. That’s why I’m thrilled to deliver nearly $1 million in federal funding to the Town of Miami Lakes to reconstruct the drainage system, near the corner of Miami Lakeway South and Big Cypress Drive, an area that experiences frequent flooding.

Flooding along this roadway can comprise emergency evacuation and response times, as it connect residents to a critical evacuation route. The reconstruction of the drainage system will double the capacity of the existing system, helping to prevent flooding, eliminate dangerous standing water, and improve public safety.

 I’m grateful to Mayor Josh Dieguez and Town Manager Edward Pidermann for their leadership and for working closely with me to address the needs of the community.”

This project received funding through the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2026, which was approved by Congress and signed into law by the President on February 3, 2026.

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart represents Florida’s 26th Congressional District and serves as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. He is the Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation and has a longstanding, successful track record of delivering crucial funding for infrastructure, transit, and roadway improvements.

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

MIAMI, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation, presented $6,000,000 in federal funding to the Florida Department of Transportation for the planning and design to alleviate traffic congestion on and off I-75 around NW 170^th Street and NW 154^th Street.

Congressman Diaz-Balart said, “I’m proud to once again be delivering a significant amount of federal funding to alleviate traffic congestion in South Florida, reduce commute times, and improve public safety along the I-75 in Miami-Dade County. This project will redesign access points at NW 170^th and NW 154^th to ease congestion and improve safety along one of the most heavily traveled stretches of I-75, with the aim of enabling residents to enter and exit I-75 more smoothly, specifically between NW 138^th St and Miami Gardens Drive.

I’m grateful to my partners at the state and local level, including Miami-Dade County Commissioner Rene Garcia, Florida Department of Transportation District 6 Secretary Daniel Iglesias, and Director of Miami-Dade Transit and Public Works Stacey Miller, who are always working with me to address our community needs.”

This project received funding through the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2026, which was approved by Congress and signed into law by the President on February 3, 2026.

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart represents Florida’s 26th Congressional District and serves as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. He is the Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation and has a longstanding, successful track record of delivering crucial funding to alleviate traffic congestion in South Florida, focusing on infrastructure, transit, and roadway improvements.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) released the following statement on his ongoing efforts to demand performance and accountability from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

“The Army Corps is hoarding tens of billions of dollars that have been appropriated and allocated but remain unspent. The current model feeds study after study, while projects get delayed, construction costs increase, and navigation benefits and flood protection go undelivered. It’s a broken model, and I’m committed to forcing change,” said Congressman Higgins.

In October of 2025, Congressman Higgins delivered a white paper to the White House and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), outlining proposed reforms to the USACE’s civil works mission. Congressman Higgins cites the Vermilion River, Morganza to the Gulf, and Southwest Coastal Louisiana projects as examples of USACE’s bureaucratic delays limiting construction. Read the full white paper here.

The white paper reads, “In the region I represent, the USACE is holding approximately $725 million in previously appropriated funds – some of which were initiated by Congress more than four years ago. Despite construction having been authorized long ago, these projects are being held up by USACE’s insistence on additional studies and environmental review.”

“These delays are injurious to our nation – perpetuating cost overruns, preventing important mitigation work, and jeopardizing economic benefits from proper maintenance of our water resources,” the proposal continues. “President Trump should use existing authorities to waive regulatory burdens and empower non-federal sponsors on USACE projects. I believe we can use executive authorities to unleash the largest construction endeavor in our nation’s history, rivaling that of the Works Progress Administration, without any new spending.”

Congressman Higgins added, “My office has engaged the Army Corps and the administration directly to seek significant reforms. However, the Corps’ Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork initiative, announced in February, falls short.”

“As we move forward with the FY27 appropriations process, I will not be using our limited number of community funding projects to send additional dollars to the Corps. They have a failing record of performance, and my office will continue to demand accountability. We’re seeking reforms that empower non-federal project sponsors and prioritize construction using previously appropriated funds,” concluded Congressman Higgins.

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

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has announced that it will provide free, confidential black lung screenings to coal miners in Virginia. As part of the NIOSH Coal Worker’s Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP), all coal miners are welcome and encouraged to participate. The NIOSH mobile unit will provide screening services from 8 am-3 pm on Tuesday, April 7, at Stone Mountain Health Services in Vansant, Virginia. 

In response to this news, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“I am glad that the NIOSH Coal Worker’s Health Surveillance Program will come provide free black lung screenings to coal miners in Southwest Virginia! 

“Coal is a fixture in Southwest Virginia. Coal miners in our region have served the energy and steel needs of American communities for decades. Accordingly, it is appropriate for the government to support them for their service to our country with this opportunity. 

“I thank Stone Mountain Health Services for their efforts to treat black lung, and I encourage all willing coal miners to visit the NIOSH mobile unit on April 7.”

BACKGROUND

Congressman Griffith serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. 

In a previous Health Subcommittee hearing with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Congressman Griffith expressed his support for working with the Trump Administration to help fight black lung disease. 

More information related to the NIOSH Coal Worker’s Health Surveillance Program can be found here.

Stone Mountain Health Services is located at 1060 Anchorage Cir, Vansant, Virginia 24656.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Washington, D.C. – Following the FBI briefing on the Hezbollah-inspired attack on Temple Israel, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens released the following statement: 

“The man who attacked a synagogue in West Bloomfield had one goal—to murder Jewish Americans in our community. New reports from the FBI say that this attack was motivated by Hezbollah’s hateful and extremist ideology, underscoring the urgent need to protect our houses of worship from antisemitic violence. No American should have to fear being attacked while practicing their faith.

“I appreciate the FBI’s prompt and thorough involvement in investigating the antisemitic terrorist attack on Temple Israel. It is critical that this investigation be conducted with the urgency, transparency, and seriousness it deserves, and that it is done in coordination with Oakland County law enforcement. I will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to support this investigation, keep Michigan communities safe, and rebuild Temple Israel.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This afternoon, Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune released a joint statement announcing a path forward to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security – including CBP and ICE – and end the record-long Democrat shutdown.

“We appreciate and share the President’s determination to once and for all bring an end to the Democrat DHS shutdown.

“In the coming days, Republicans in the Senate and House will be following through on the President’s directive by fully funding the entire Department of Homeland Security on two parallel tracks: through the appropriations process and through the reconciliation process.

“We appreciate that Senator Graham and the Senate Budget Committee have already initiated the process of developing a budget resolution that will ensure border security and immigration enforcement will be funded for the balance of the Trump Administration and insulated from future attempts by the Democrats to defund those agencies.

“We operated under a belief that while our country is in the midst of an international armed conflict, Democrats might finally come to their senses and understand that defunding our homeland security agencies is beyond reckless and very dangerous. While we hoped they would accept the 60-day CR to fund the Department entirely so that bipartisan negotiations could continue, it is now abundantly clear that Democrats place allegiance to their radical left-wing base above all else — including their own power of the purse — which means open borders and protecting criminal illegal aliens. That is not acceptable to Republicans in Congress, nor is it to the American people. We cannot allow Democrats to any longer put the safety of the American public at risk through their open border policies, so we are taking that off the table.

“In following this two-track approach, the Republican Congress will fully reopen the Department, make sure all federal workers are paid, and specifically fund immigration enforcement and border security for the next three years so that those law-enforcement activities can continue uninhibited. In return, Democrats will once again demonstrate to the American people their support for open borders and keeping criminal illegal immigrants in America.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

OTTAWA, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited Heartland Community Health Center’s Healthy Futures mobile dental program at Ottawa High School, which provides dental exams and cleanings to local students. Recent Medicaid cuts, which Davids voted against, are threatening the financial stability of Heartland and other federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), raising the risk that some clinics could be forced to scale back services or even close due to the loss of a major source of revenue.

“Community health centers like Heartland are where people of all backgrounds and incomes go when they need care — whether it’s a kid getting a dental exam, a parent managing a chronic condition, or someone reaching out for mental health support,” said Davids. “When Medicaid is cut, it means fewer appointments, fewer providers, and clinics closing their doors altogether. If centers like Heartland are forced to scale back or shut down, families in these communities will have to travel farther, wait longer, or go without care entirely. That’s the real impact, and it’s why I’m fighting to protect access to care across Kansas.”

Last year, Davids voted against an extreme, partisan budget law, which included the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history. The law stripped health coverage from 92,937 Kansans, put six rural hospitals at risk of closure, restricted reproductive health care, and increased Affordable Care Act premiums by an average of $708 per year for families in Kansas’ Third District.

FQHCs, which mainly serve low-income families, depend heavily on Medicaid reimbursements to sustain their operations. When fewer people are covered by Medicaid, these clinics lose a major source of funding while still caring for uninsured patients. Davids warned that because of extreme Medicaid cuts, clinics like Heartland may be forced to reduce services, limit patient care, or struggle to recruit and retain providers — ultimately pushing more patients to seek care in already strained emergency rooms.

“Heartland’s Healthy Futures program reduces barriers to care by taking comprehensive dental services out to schools,” said Julie Branstrom, Chief Executive Officer, Heartland Community Health Center. “This is particularly important in rural communities where families may encounter additional barriers like transportation or a lack of dental providers. Cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States and can negatively impact children’s quality of life, school performance and overall health. School-based programs Like Healthy Futures help to bridge gaps for underserved populations, ensuring that all children have access to necessary dental care. We are grateful for Rep. Davids’ support of Federally Qualified Health Centers who serve the whole of their communities, regardless of someone’s ability to pay.”

Hospitals across Kansas are also projected to lose more than $78 million annually because of these cuts. Facilities like the University of Kansas Hospital, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, and AdventHealth Shawnee Mission are expected to face some of the steepest financial losses. Because Medicaid currently covers one-fifth of hospital spending, reductions in coverage will significantly increase uncompensated care — placing additional strain not only on hospitals but also on community health centers.

Heartland Community Health Center provides primary care, mental health services, dental care, and pediatric services to residents across Douglas County and surrounding communities. Programs like Healthy Futures help ensure that children can receive essential care regardless of their family’s income or insurance status. During her visit, Davids met with providers and staff to discuss the critical role community health centers play in delivering care to low-income Kansans — and the serious risks posed by recent Medicaid cuts.

Throughout her time in Congress, Davids has championed policies to make health care more affordable and accessible. She voted to cap insulin costs at $35 per month for Medicare recipients, extend tax credits that help families afford insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors. She also supported giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices — saving 74,000 Kansans up to 79 percent — and led efforts to ban surprise medical billing and increase transparency from insurers to help patients avoid costly out-of-network care.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomed official notice of a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for American Samoa Department of Health at LBJ Tropical Medical Center providing HIV Care through $16,800 in national training and technical assistance. 

Pictured with RFK jr and his wife

“More important than the grant amount is the assurance that an essential health service is available as needed at our LBJ Tropical Medical Center,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you to Faafouina Sagaga for the work securing this grant so these services are ready, and thank you to all our doctors and nurses for the medical services our people rely on throughout the year. Congratulations to Governor Pulaali’i, Lt. Governor Pulu, Health Director Dr. Saipale Fuimaono and our Department of Health.”

HHS is led by Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., and these health funds are through the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), led by Administrator Thomas Engels.

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