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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar Introduces Freight Safety Accountability Legislation

Congressman John Moolenaar introduced the Patrick and Barbara Kowalski Freight Brokers Safety Act. The legislation would improve roadway safety by holding freight industry contractors accountable when they hire trucking companies that have a history of serious safety violations. 

In 2022, Patrick and Barbara Kowalski, two lifelong Michiganders with ties to Michigan’s Second Congressional District, were killed in a trucking crash that involved a company with several Department of Transportation safety violations. Shannon Mertz, Patrick and Barbara’s daughter, sent a letter to Congressman Moolenaar about the tragedy that spurred the legislation. 

“No family should experience the loss the Kowalskis faced. It was a preventable tragedy and this legislation ensures all freight industry contractors take safety seriously,” said Moolenaar. 

“Companies, like the one involved in my parents’ accident, must be held accountable. My family and I are thankful for Congressman Moolenaar’s responsiveness and efforts to prevent another family from experiencing the heartbreak we have felt,” said Shannon Mertz.

The bill text can be found here. Specifically, this bill creates an economic incentive for brokers to prioritize safety by requiring a ten percent surcharge on contracts with trucking companies that have three or more Department of Transportation violations within a five-year period and directs the Secretary of Transportation to use funds generated by this fee to improve roadway safety. Additionally, the bill expands the authority of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to investigate freight brokers and impose operating requirements following fatal crashes. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar Votes to Lower Health Care Costs

Congressman John Moolenaar voted for the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act. This legislation reforms the health care system to lower costs, expand choice, and increase transparency for Michigan families and seniors. 

“Obamacare has forced health care costs through the roof. This legislation will help Michigan families choose the affordable health insurance they want,” said Moolenaar. “Additionally, we are lowering drug costs for Michigan seniors by requiring middlemen to be transparent and honest about their pricing.”

Specifically, the legislation expands association health plans and CHOICE Arrangements to give small businesses and their employees access to more affordable health care options, protects stop-loss insurance for small employers, funds cost-sharing reductions to reduce premiums in the individual market. The bill also requires pharmacy benefit managers to be transparent with employers. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |  CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act: 

“The underlying issue here is this: the Affordable Care Act is not affordable,” said Congressman Cole. “President Obama and the Democrats created a program Americans cannot afford, that works for big insurance companies, instead of patients, and that is filled with waste, fraud, and abuse. Now, as a result, House Republicans are trying to fix what has been broken through the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.”

“In stark contrast with the Left’s irresponsible proposal to extend Covid-era subsidies on top of the subsidies Obamacare already offers, this Republican solution offers a more productive and long-term fix to the healthcare crisis. Through five critical reforms, our legislation will broaden insurance options for employers, workers, and families, which will, in turn, drive down health insurance premium costs by at least 11 percent starting January 1, 2026,” said Congressman Cole.

“At the end of the day, the American people deserve a health care system that puts them and their pocketbooks first – and this legislation does just that. I am proud to have voted in favor of this bill today, and I hope to see it move through the legislative process and be signed into law,” said Congressman Cole.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, DC [12/18/25] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) introduced legislation to help food banks and other emergency food organizations make needed infrastructure updates to better serve their communities.

The Supporting Transportation Organization and Refrigeration Expansion (STORE) Act would update The Emergency Food Assistance Program’s (TEFAP) Infrastructure Grant program to provide additional infrastructure and outreach resources to food banks, soup kitchens, and food pantries serving rural and underserved populations.

“For years food banks have provided a lifeline for individuals, families, and children facing hunger,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I have heard from food banks in NW Oregon that sometimes they have to limit the number of people they can serve because of insufficient storage. I’m introducing the STORE Act to provide emergency food organizations with the resources they need to upgrade infrastructure, including refrigerators and freezers, so they can serve more people.”

“Meeting the infrastructure needs of local food banks is essential to ensuring that members of our community have access to the nutrition they need,” said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. “This legislation strengthens TEFAP by making a much-needed and long-overdue investment in its infrastructure grant program and will be a huge win for our communities’ battle against food insecurity and a win for our farmers.”

To combat hunger and address overdue infrastructure needs, the STORE Act would:

• Update the TEFAP Infrastructure Grants program through Fiscal Year 2030 and increase annual funding by $10 million;
• Include mobile and home delivery options and assessments of outreach activities as allowable activities;
• Align the structure of the TEFAP Infrastructure Grants program with the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Initiative by distributing funds through state TEFAP agencies;
• Direct USDA to issue a report on cold storage needs for all emergency food organizations nationally; and,
• Guarantee that Tribal, remote, and low-income communities are given preference in distributing this funding.

The bill text is available here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a statement after the House Committee on Natural Resources passed the anti-D.C. bill, the Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act (H.R. 5103), which would undermine D.C.’s autonomy by codifying parts of President Trump’s executive order of the same name into law, including creating a so-called “District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission.”  The commission would, amongst other things, drastically increase the enforcement of Federal immigration law in the District and review D.C. laws and policies. 

“In a time where agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement are terrorizing communities across the nation with their extreme tactics, this bill would further enhance these tactics in D.C. by redirecting law enforcement resources on all levels to deport individuals and separate families,” Norton said. “This bill and the executive order that preceded it were born out of flawed data that states that D.C.’s crime rate is at an all-time high, when in reality, violent crime was down 35% in 2024 and overall violent crime in D.C. is at a 30-year low, according to statistics released by the Department of Justice.

“One of the more insulting aspects of this paternalistic bill is that the proposed ‘District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission’ would not even be required to have D.C. officials on it. Let me be clear: Republican members of Congress, who are not accountable to D.C., have no business dictating the local laws of a city where 700,000 people live, work, and have chosen their own leaders through the democratic process. If Republicans truly cared about making D.C. safe and beautiful, then they would fully fund the National Park Service, which maintains over 90% of D.C.’s park land, and has lost a quarter of their staff.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act today to permit the use of marijuana in federally assisted housing, including public housing and Section 8 housing, in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state (including the District of Columbia) where the property is located. Under current federal law, users of drugs that are illegal, including marijuana, are prohibited from being admitted into federally assisted housing. Federal law also allows landlords to evict residents of federally assisted housing for illegal drug use. Adult-use marijuana, medical marijuana or both are currently legal in D.C., New Jersey and 39 other states, and over 90 percent of Americans support legalized medical marijuana.

“Individuals living in federally funded housing should not fear eviction simply for treating their medical conditions or for seeking a substance legal in their state,” Congresswoman Norton said. “Increasingly, Americans are changing their views on marijuana, and it is time that Congress caught up with its own constituents. With so many states improving their laws, this issue should have broad bipartisan appeal because it protects states’ rights.”

“Tenants should not be discriminated against, evicted, or denied federally assisted housing for legally using marijuana or treating a medical condition in states where it is permitted,” said Senator Booker. “The Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act would end these discriminatory practices and ensure tenants are not punished for personal choices made in accordance with state law.”

For the last several years, Congress has prohibited the Department of Justice from using federal funds to prevent jurisdictions from implementing their medical marijuana laws. This bill would similarly allow individuals to use marijuana in federally assisted housing in compliance with the state’s marijuana laws and would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop regulations that restrict smoking marijuana in federally assisted housing in the same manner and to the same locations as HUD restricts smoking tobacco in federally assisted housing.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

Chicago, IL — Congressman Danny K. Davis issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel opinion declaring key Minority Serving Institution (MSI) programs unconstitutional, prompting the Department of Education to halt or curtail their operation:

“Today’s action by the Department of Justice denies both the constitutionality and the necessity of targeted, compensatory efforts designed to expand educational access for Black, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, and other historically marginalized communities.

This decision wipes away formal recognition of the very real and well-documented legacy of racism, slavery, Jim Crow segregation, systemic poverty, and structural barriers that continue to shape educational opportunity in America.

To suggest—by any stretch of the imagination—that the playing field in education is equal is simply false.”

Minority Serving Institutions educate roughly five million students—nearly one-third of all undergraduates in this country. These institutions are not symbolic. They are proven engines of economic mobility. They meet students where they are, support low-income and first-generation students, and strengthen entire communities.

When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Higher Education Act, he made clear that no student should be turned away from college because their family is poor. Today’s actions are deeply at odds with that promise.

Background:
Following the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel opinion, the Department of Education will no longer operate or will significantly curtail several programs, including: Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions; Hispanic-Serving Institutions–STEM; Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions; Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions; Predominantly Black Institutions formula grants; Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program; and Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education programs. Components of TRIO programs, including the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, are also affected.

Congressman Davis has long championed policies that expand access to education and confront structural inequality as essential to economic mobility and a healthy democracy.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

D.C. — Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) today issued a strong condemnation following the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, and the tragic shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

The attack in Australia, which occurred during a Hanukkah celebration, resulted in the loss of at least 15 lives and left dozens more injured.¹Hours earlier, a separate mass shooting at Brown University shook the academic community, highlighting the ongoing crisis of gun violence in our educational institutions.

“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the senseless violence that occurred this past weekend,” said Congressman Davis. “The targeting of Jewish families in Australia as they gathered to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah is a chilling reminder of the persistent and dangerous threat of antisemitism worldwide. Hatred and bigotry have no place in a global society, and we must stand united against those who seek to divide us through terror.”

Congressman Davis, a lifelong champion of civil rights and human dignity, emphasized that these events underscore a disturbing rise in hate-based violence.

“My heart goes out to the victims, their families, and the students at Brown University who have been forced to endure the trauma of gun violence. Whether it is in our houses of worship, on our beaches, or on our college campuses, no one should have to live in fear. I join my colleagues and people of conscience everywhere in rejecting antisemitism, racism, and all forms of intolerance. We must double our efforts to protect the vulnerable and hold those who perpetrate such acts accountable.”

Congressman Davis remains committed to legislative efforts that strengthen civil rights protections and address the root causes of violence both at home and abroad. He calls for a thorough investigation into these incidents and urges continued international cooperation to combat the scourge of hate.

About Congressman Danny K. Davis

Congressman Danny K. Davis represents the 7th Congressional District of Illinois and is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. He has long been recognized as a national leader in welfare policy, civil rights, and social justice.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

BROADVIEW, IL — Today, following a federal court ruling blocking the Trump administration’s restrictions on congressional access to immigration detention facilities, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) conducted an oversight visit at the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility after months of being unlawfully denied entry. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb temporarily paused ICE and Department of Homeland Security policies requiring Members of Congress to provide seven days’ notice before visiting immigration detention facilities—restrictions the court found likely exceeded DHS’s statutory authority and interfered with Congress’s constitutional oversight responsibilities.

“For months, the Trump Administration blocked lawful congressional oversight into conditions inside immigration detention facilities, including here in Broadview, while carrying out increasingly militarized immigration raids that sow fear in our communities,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “Congress has both the legal authority and the obligation to conduct real-time oversight. My visit follows a clear court ruling reaffirming that authority, and I will continue using every tool available to force the Trump Administration to follow the law, respect due process, and treat people in custody with dignity the American people demand.”

The Broadview facility has been a repeated flashpoint for denied congressional access. On October 8 and again on October 13, Congressman Krishnamoorthi was turned away from the facility despite citing his statutory authority to conduct oversight. Earlier this year, on June 17, he was denied entry to a South Loop ICE facility alongside Congressman Jonathan Jackson, where ICE officials contacted local law enforcement to remove the Members of Congress from the premises.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), a cosponsor of H.R. 4776, the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, released the following statement after the House passed the comprehensive permitting reform package that streamlines the broken NEPA process this Thursday:

“In Northern Minnesota, our broken permitting system is preventing important mining projects like Twin Metals, NewRange, and Talon Metals from getting online, and forcing basic road, transportation, and water infrastructure projects to face massive delays and costs. The SPEED Act takes politics out of permitting and gets America building again. I was proud to lead on this legislation with Chairman Westerman and Representative Golden.

“The SPEED Act does not weaken foundational environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, or Endangered Species Act. It simply streamlines the NEPA process and closes loopholes that have been exploited from day one to stop good projects through endless litigation and red tape.”

“I urge my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation and deliver real permitting reform for the American people.”

Background: The SPEED Act (H.R. 4776), led by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), is bipartisan legislation that restores the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to its original intent by addressing statutory flaws causing lengthy permitting delays and frivolous litigation. The outdated NEPA process averages 4.5 years of review, generates thousands of pages of analysis, and costs taxpayers an estimated $3.7 trillion through endless lawsuits. By streamlining environmental reviews, promoting early stakeholder engagement, limiting abusive litigation with a 150-day filing deadline, and establishing predictable timelines, the SPEED Act simplifies procedures, clarifies NEPA’s scope, protects shovel-ready projects, and empowers critical infrastructure, energy, and mining projects—boosting American jobs, reducing dependence on foreign adversaries like China, and lowering costs for families while maintaining the strictest environmental standards in the world.

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