MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Today, U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) — alongside Representatives Mike Flood (R-NE-01), Troy Carter (D-LA-02), and Tracey Mann (R-KS-01) — introduced the Securing America’s Fuels (SAF) Act, bipartisan legislation designed to strengthen the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry, create economic opportunities for farmers, and reduce emissions in the transportation sector.

“Investing in sustainable aviation fuel isn’t just good for the environment — it’s good for Kansas farmers, our communities, and our economy,” said Davids. “The SAF Act ensures that clean fuel production incentives are strong and long-term so businesses, farmers, and innovators can plan for the future with confidence. The bipartisan support shows the incredible potential we have to build a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous future for generations to come.”

“America is on the cusp of the next great biofuels revolution,” said Representative Mike Flood (R-NE-01). “The Securing America’s Fuels Act is yet another way Congress can grow our bio economy and encourage innovation that creates great jobs across rural America. Sustainable aviation fuel will help lower emissions while expanding domestic markets for our nation’s farmers, ensuring that our ag economy thrives for generations to come. I want to thank Congresswoman Davids for introducing this much-needed bill and look forward to working together to advance this commonsense, bipartisan bill through Congress.”

The sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry currently relies on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit to make production economically viable. While recent legislation extended the credit for all clean fuels, it eliminated the SAF-specific bonus. To address this challenge, the SAF Act would:

• Reinstate the SAF bonus credit eliminated under the recent federal budget, allowing qualifying SAF producers to receive up to $0.35 or $1.75 per gallon.
• Extend the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit for all clean fuels through 2033, providing long-term stability for the growing clean fuels industry.

SAF is a game-changer for local communities, agriculture, and the transportation industry. Scaling SAF to meet U.S. goals could generate 33,000 construction jobs over five years, sustain 4,500 permanent operations jobs, and support 60,000 jobs in agriculture and logistics by 2030. SAF can also reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent, delivering major environmental benefits while using existing aviation infrastructure.

“Without coordinated action between government and industry, greenhouse gas emissions will continue to increase as more people and goods fly through our skies,” said Representative Troy Carter (D-LA-02). “Sustainable aviation fuel is an exciting, new green fuel that’s creating jobs in Louisiana and driving demand for American agricultural products. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure America is on track to meet the growing demand for cleaner transportation and healthier communities.”

“Sustainable aviation fuel is a worthwhile investment for American agriculture and for American energy dominance,” said Representative Tracey Mann (R-KS-01). “The Securing America’s Fuels Act gives Kansas farmers the certainty they need to plan, invest, and keep supplying fuel to the country and our aviation sector. I will always support legislation that supports rural communities and helps the United States continue to lead the world in producing the fuels of tomorrow.”

Davids co-chairs the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus (CSAC), which works to reduce the aviation industry’s environmental impact and maximize its financial sustainability. By leveraging federal policy, holding forums, and bringing together public and private partners, the caucus plays a key role in the integration of new technologies into the nation’s aviation network.

The bipartisan legislation is endorsed by major industry and agricultural groups, including National Corn Growers Association, SAF Coalition, Airlines for America, Kansas Farm Bureau, Renew Kansas, Kansas Corn, Kansas Soybean Association, Greater New Orleans Inc., Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Soybean Association, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Twelve, Darling Ingredients, Louisiana Farm Bureau Foundation, Advanced Biofuels Association, Global Business Travel Association, and American Sugarcane League.

“The SAF Coalition applauds Reps. Sharice Davids and Mike Flood for their leadership in introducing The Securing America’s Fuels Act,” said Alison Graab, Executive Director, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition. “This legislation continues the broad, bipartisan support for SAF in Congress and recognizes SAF’s unique ability to fuel America’s energy dominance while supporting American farmers. The SAF Coalition urges Congress to pass this legislation so we can grow America’s rural economies, create new markets for our farmers and secure a stronger energy future for our nation.” 

“Agriculture and aviation are crucial to Kansas’ economy and Kansas Farm Bureau appreciates Rep. Sharice Davids’ leadership in introducing the Securing America’s Fuels Act alongside Rep. Tracey Mann. Incentivizing the use of domestic crops to produce sustainable fuels creates a new market for Kansas farmers while lowering the carbon emissions of the aviation industry,” said Joe Newland, President, Kansas Farm Bureau.

“The development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) holds great promise for Nebraska biofuels producers as well as Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers,” said Mark McHargue, President, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation. “We appreciate the leadership of Nebraska Congressman Mike Flood in offering this legislation that provides incentives that will help get this emerging industry off the ground. Nebraska Farm Bureau stands ready to work to get this legislation approved and help Nebraska become the SAF epicenter of the country.”

“It is crucial that Congress finds ways to support farmers with good domestic policy, at this time when international trade negotiations have left farmers in difficult market conditions,” said Richard Fotenot, President, Louisiana Farm Bureau. “Congressional policy changes can also provide relief to American consumers. The SAF Act does both. It creates consistency in domestic aviation fuel markets in a sustainable manner important to consumers. We are grateful to Congressman Carter and his colleagues for continuing to find ways to support these efforts through ideas like the SAF Act.”

“SAF may offer a great opportunity for sugarcane farmers,” said Jack Pettus, VP of Government Relations, American Sugar Cane League. “Our mills use bagasse, the fibrous byproduct of recovering sugar from the sugarcane plant, to power their operations during harvest season. Our farmers have been growing and delivering this renewable fuel for over a century and we are anxious to find new uses for the excess biofuel (bagasse) that we currently produce. The American Sugar Cane League appreciates this bipartisan effort to identify and encourage demand for domestic renewable energy feedstocks in markets like aviation fuels.”

“The Advanced Biofuels Association strongly supports this bipartisan effort to strengthen sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producers and improve the overall availability of renewable fuels for America’s airline industry,” said Michael McAdams, President, Advanced Biofuels Association. “This type of legislation is essential in the United States’ effort to achieve its energy dominance policy agenda.”

“Delta applauds Reps. Flood, Davids, Mann, and Carter for their leadership in introducing the Securing America’s Fuels Act, which will ensure 45Z reaches its full potential and provides the critical investment certainty necessary to bring additional SAF production facilities online to meet our industry’s unprecedented demand for cost-competitive, homegrown fuels,” said Cherie Wilson, Vice President, Government Affairs – Sustainability, Delta Air Lines.

“U.S. airlines are grateful to Representatives Flood, Davids, Carter, and Mann for introducing legislation that would restore and extend the full 45Z tax credit,” said Airlines for America. “This will stimulate private sector investment in SAF while also bolstering American energy dominance. This credit is a win-win for both the aviation and agriculture industries, supporting U.S. job growth across the country.”

“The Clean Fuel Production Credit is an extremely valuable economic support policy for the rural economy, and we are pleased to see Kansas taking the lead in extending and expanding it,” said Kaleb Little, Kansas Soybean Association CEO. “We thank Representative Davids and Representative Mann for co-sponsoring this bi-partisan legislation. Biomass-based diesel production supports approximately 10 percent of the value of every bushel of soybeans grown in the United States, or an additional $149 million for Kansas farmers in 2024. Farmers and fuel producers have made tremendous investments to build a biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industry that can help meet America’s energy needs.”

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

Today, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) responded to President Donald Trump’s announcement of a relief package for farmers facing economic hardship caused by the administration’s reckless tariffs. Davids welcomed the step as overdue recognition of the urgent needs she raised with the President last month, while underscoring that Kansas farmers need long-term trade certainty — not temporary fixes.

“After hearing directly from Kansas farmers and ranchers about the economic challenges caused by the administration’s self-inflicted trade war, I urged the President to take immediate action. I welcome today’s announcement,” said Davids. “While relief can help farmers stay afloat today, it cannot replace the stable trade relationships they rely on. Our farmers deserve long-term certainty — not whiplash from economic policies that put their livelihoods at risk. I’m pushing for responsible solutions that restore market access, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure our producers can keep doing what they do best: feeding Kansas, the country, and the world.”

Background:

Despite the administration’s new announcement, Kansas farmers and ranchers are facing deep economic strain from reckless tariff policies, which contributed to an estimated $27 billion in lost farm exports during the first Trump Administration. Rising input costs, high interest rates, and growing farm bankruptcies have only made things worse.

In her letter to the President last month, Davids emphasized that, while short-term support may now be necessary, Kansas producers consistently say they prefer “trade, not aid.” She renewed her call for the administration to work with Congress and agriculture stakeholders to rebuild trade stability, restore lost export markets, and address the long-term damage caused by the administration’s tariff policies.

Davids’ letter outlined three key requirements for any tariff relief program:

• Learn from past failures: The 2018–2019 ad hoc relief programs were riddled with inefficiencies and inequities, as documented by multiple Government Accountability Office reports. Any new plan must incorporate those lessons to avoid repeating those mistakes.
• Protect taxpayer dollars: Relief must include strong guardrails, transparency, and robust federal oversight to ensure funds are used appropriately and reach producers who truly need them.
• Support small and mid-sized farms: Assistance should be fair and equitable, not skewed toward the largest operations at the expense of family farms that form the backbone of Kansas agriculture.

Davids pledged to continue pressing for comprehensive solutions that address both immediate needs and the long-term health of rural communities.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen and expand the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields program, which helps communities clean up contaminated or abandoned sites and turn them into new housing, businesses, and public spaces.

 

“Kansas communities have seen how cleaning up contaminated sites can spark new economic growth and improve quality of life,” said Davids. “This bipartisan effort brings more resources to local leaders working to turn unused, polluted land into new housing, green space, and business opportunities. I’m proud to partner across the aisle with Rep. Fitzpatrick to build on a program that delivers real results.”

 

By reauthorizing the EPA’s Brownfields program, the bipartisan legislation would:

• Increase the maximum cleanup award from $500,000 to $1 million;
• Increase total program funding from $200 million to $250 million per year; and
• Maintain State Response Program funding at $50 million per year — totaling $1.5 billion over five years, consistent with bipartisan infrastructure law funding levels.

 

“Across the country, communities are working to reclaim former industrial sites and turn them into places that support jobs, housing, and opportunity,” said Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01). “The EPA’s Brownfields program has been central to that progress. This reauthorization strengthens and modernizes the program — updating grant levels, reducing cost barriers, and making these tools accessible to the communities working hardest to redevelop. It’s a smart investment in safer land, stronger economies, and the future of our towns.”

 

The EPA Brownfields program has a proven record of success, leveraging an average of $20 in additional public and private investment for every federal dollar spent and supporting redevelopment projects that strengthen local economies. A version of this bipartisan proposal is expected to be included in a U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee markup later this year.

 

Kansas has already seen major benefits from the program, including $2.5 million awarded in September 2025, $4 million in May 2025, and $1.5 million in May 2024. These investments also help boost local economies — creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and increasing property values for families living nearby.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Aviation Chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) released a statement following the fifth session of the bipartisan Air Traffic Control (ATC)/National Airspace System (NAS) Modernization Working Group:

“Today’s session brought together leaders from the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), advanced air mobility (AAM), and emerging aviation technology sectors. New entrants are continuing to shape how people and goods move across the country, and the discussion focused on airspace integration, traffic management, and safety as these industries grow.

“The productive dialogue during these working group sessions is providing critical insight as we work to modernize our air traffic control and national airspace systems to support the technology that will drive the next generation of air travel. We look forward to hosting additional sessions to give more aviation stakeholders the opportunity to share their perspectives.”  

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

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced that President Donald Trump signed her bipartisan bill into law, aimed at addressing the impact of substance use on America’s workforce. The legislation would reauthorize the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act, which supports individuals recovering from substance use disorder, ensuring they can reenter the workforce and maintain gainful employment.

“Addiction has torn through families across Kansas, and those in recovery deserve a fair shot at rebuilding their lives,” said Davids. “I want to thank President Trump for signing this bipartisan bill — together, we’re giving people the support they need to get back to work, stay healthy, and live independently. This is about second chances and restoring stability for families, and I’m proud to champion it.”

The CAREER Act assists individuals recovering from substance use disorders by helping them access stable, transitional housing and offering essential support to reenter the workforce and sustain employment. This legislation strengthens two successful programs, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support Grant Program and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Recovery Housing Program.

The bill, originally introduced alongside RepresentativeAndy Barr (R-KY-06) and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), was signed into law as part of the bipartisan Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization (SUPPORT) Act.

To ensure a safer and healthier community, Davids has made it a priority to address the opioid and fentanyl epidemic head-on. She hosted multiple summits with law enforcement, health care workers, and education professionals on combating the fentanyl epidemic and has taken a number of legislative actions based on the specific needs of the Kansas Third District, including:

• Securing a nearly $16 million grant to help law enforcement seize illicit drugs like fentanyl, reduce violent crime associated with drug trafficking, and improve data collection.
• Voting to permanently place all fentanyl-related substances into a Schedule I class, labeling the drug as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use.
• Joining a bipartisan group of lawmakers to request funding for new handheld mass spectrometry trace-level chemical detection devices at domestic ports.
• Urging the FDA to take up expert recommendations and make Narcan, a common naloxone nasal spray, available without a prescription — which they did earlier this year.
• Helping pass a bipartisan bill to create a public awareness campaign about synthetic opioids. This came after meeting with Libby Davis, a Johnson County resident whose son passed away after taking a counterfeit pill that was unknowingly laced with fentanyl.
• Pushing for expanded federal grant opportunities so law enforcement and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) can easily acquire life-saving naloxone kits.
• Visiting the Port of Long Beach to see how the port uses state-of-the-art technologies to prevent harmful substances — like fentanyl — from entering the country illegally.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after President Trump announced an economic assistance package for American farm producers:

“I appreciate the Trump Administration for taking important action to protect farm country,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “American agriculture is faced with skyrocketing input prices and rising labor costs and is in much need of assistance. This year we achieved monumental successes for farming via H.R 1. We increased the Death Tax exemption so that family farms can stay in families. We achieved wins in the Farm Bill like crop insurance reforms and updated reference prices. Importantly, passage of the Secure Rural Schools act is on the horizon as well. However, there is still much work to be done, and I am actively working with the Trump Administration and the House Agriculture Committee to make sure all the farm commodities we have here in Northern California are supported as well. Food security is national security, and I commend the Administration for the release of this farm aid package.”

Last week, Congressman LaMalfa introduced bipartisan legislation with Reps. Thompson (D-CA), Newhouse (R-WA), Salinas (D-OR), and Panetta (D-CA): the Specialty Crop & Wine Producer Tariff Relief Act. The bill provides direct support to specialty crop growers and wine producers facing economic losses from trade relations and serves as a blueprint for supporting all of farm country, not just the crops covered in today’s announcement. Rep. LaMalfa is committed to working with the Trump Administration and Secretary Rollins to find a way to include specialty crops in future packages. Countless specialty crops have been affected by trade relations, and they need to be considered in any path forward.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) and Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO), alongside their colleagues Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) Ron Wyden (D-OR), are leading a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in sending a letter to House leadership requesting urgent reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Self Determination Act. The bill, which unanimously passed in the Senate in June, would reauthorize the program through Fiscal Year 2026 and provide lapsed payments for 2024 and 2025.

Funding for the SRS program lapsed in September of 2023, with the last authorized payments distributed to counties in early 2024.

“. . . Counties and school districts across 41 states have seen a 63 percent cut in funding.  This $177 million loss is devastating for rural communities, leading to school closures, delayed road and bridge maintenance and reduced public safety services.  These are not abstract policy debates; they are tangible consequences for local governments and the communities that steward untaxed federal lands,” the letter reads. 

View the full text of the letter here.

“Counties applaud Senators Crapo and Wyden and Representatives LaMalfa and Neguse for leading this bipartisan push to reauthorize Secure Rural Schools,” said National Association of Counties (NACo) Executive Director Matthew Chase. “With unanimous Senate support and strong bipartisan support in the House, the path forward should be clear: SRS keeps schools operating, roads maintained and public safety services funded in communities that manage vast federal lands, and must be reauthorized now. Given that more than 700 rural counties have been awaiting these payments since the program lapsed at the end of FY 2023, we urge House leadership to act expeditiously by including SRS reauthorization in any end-of-year package.”

“Every public school student in this country should have opportunities and resources that are not determined by their ZIP code,” said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association. “Our students deserve access to a wide range of learning experiences that prepare them for the real world. Today, one in five public school students attends a rural public school. Rural students and the communities that support them need sustained investment. That is why we applaud the bipartisan, bicameral call for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act and send it to the President for signature. Our nation’s rural students need this support to reach their full potential. We are grateful to Senators Crapo and Wyden and Representatives LaMalfa and Neguse for their steadfast commitment to rural communities, their families, and their students through their leadership on this important measure.”

Background on the SRS program: 

• The first SRS program was authorized in 2000 with enactment of the SRS and Community Self-Determination Act.
• This legislation specifically assists counties containing tracts of federally owned forest land that are tax-exempt.
• The program provides payments to county governments in areas where those forests are located because counties do not receive tax revenue from federal land; the payments come through timber receipts and other revenue generating activities within U.S. national forests.
• Since the program was not reauthorized, county payments reverted to 1908 timber sharing law, which represents about an 80 percent cut for some counties.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Geneva, IL — Today, Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) fulfilled his pledge and donated the salary he received during the government shutdown to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. During the Republican shutdowns in 2013 and 2019, Rep. Foster also donated his pay to the food bank. 

“Even before the government shutdown, increasing grocery costs and Republican cuts to SNAP have left too many families in Illinois struggling to put food on the table. During the shutdown, Trump did everything he could to avoid fully funding SNAP and leave families without their food assistance. Now, Trump’s USDA is threatening to withhold SNAP funding from Democratic-led states if they don’t hand over SNAP recipients’ personal information.

“While uncertainty over SNAP funding still remains, I’m happy to support the Northern Illinois Food Bank. They have been an invaluable resource to those in our community struggling with hunger and food insecurity, and I’m committed to doing everything I can in Congress to support their work by pushing back against SNAP cuts and fighting for a more affordable future,” said Rep. Foster.

Earlier this year, Republicans passed a budget bill that put 360,000 people in Illinois at risk of losing their SNAP benefits—the largest cut to food assistance in U.S. history.

The Northern Illinois Food Bank is a non-profit organization focused on providing food to those in need across northern Illinois.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Ruthless Podcast to discuss President Trump and House Republicans’ aggressive agenda to lower prices for hardworking Americans through historic tax cuts, bringing investment into America, unleashing American energy, and permitting reform. Leader Scalise also previewed House Committees’ work on health care legislation to lower premiums and provide families with more options.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview. 
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview:On President Trump’s historic leadership:“They hate [President Trump] so much, and they hate his success. That’s, I think, what they’re jealous of, that he’s been so successful. When Joe Biden, the autopen, Joe Biden didn’t even know what he was doing because there was an autopen doing so much of it. But this guy doesn’t sleep. He’ll call me at seven in the morning on a Sunday. You hear from him at 11 o’clock at night. President Trump has been the funnest guy to work with. But I’ll tell you, he’s engaged… he understands what’s going on in all of the different areas.“He is our best salesman. He’s our best closer because he cares about getting this country back on track, and he knows the details, too. He can get in the weeds with you if you want, but he also loves the country, and you see that passion every day. It’s sad that people hate him for that. The fact that he’s getting done what he said. He ran on very specific things: I mean, I’m going to secure the border. No tax on tips. It’s all done. All done in his first three months. If somebody hates him for that, what do they hate America? I mean, this guy is delivering for America on the things that he was elected by 77 million people to do.”On House Republicans’ efforts to lower prices: “We’re working to deliver for the American people. I mean, obviously, we’ve done some big things already. There’s more we want to do. I know the buzzword today is affordability, but it’s really, do you have more money in your pocket today? Do you feel better about how things are going in the country today than a year ago and three, four years ago when Joe Biden was there? That’s ultimately the question next year. I sure know what I feel because I see what we’re doing, and I’ve already seen how it’s making an impact.“We’ve seen tens of billions of dollars per state come in in new investment. Per state. You’re talking about hundreds of billions, if not over a trillion dollars in new manufacturing plants being announced in America since Donald Trump took office, and this Congress came in and set better rules of the game. We set better tax policy, by the way. Not giving new tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires, saying nobody’s taxes will go up.“No tax on tips. Average pay, by the way, $32,000 a year. Elon Musk is not working for tips. But the single mom may be working two shifts at the diner, that is going to be $1,500 more in her pocket by the end of this year. It’s retroactive to January, but a lot of people won’t really see it until they file their returns in April of next year. They’re going to get a lot of money back, by the way. No tax on overtime. Who’s that? Again, not millionaires and billionaires… Every Democrat, by the way, voted to raise your taxes 30%. There’s a real contrast going into next year: What America do we want versus Democrats?“We’re bringing a permitting reform bill. By the way, we’ve worked really hard to make it bipartisan, but you’re going to see in the next few weeks a bipartisan permitting reform bill. That will not only allow us to build more things in America, but it’ll allow us to lower costs. Why does it cost so much money for things? If you want to build a road, a bridge, a pipeline from Pennsylvania, where they can actually frack and produce oil and natural gas, into New York, where they don’t allow it, so you have to bring it in on a tanker from a foreign country. How nuts is that policy? But imagine if you could have permitting reform, and then all of a sudden, you can not only build things, but build them in two years instead of 10 years because people aren’t abusing the Endangered Species Act, and there’s some mouse nobody’s ever heard of.“How about we actually allow people to build stuff and care about the endangered American worker and bring them back? I think more people would rather bring them back. We’re working on bills to do all of those things. That lowers costs. It brings more jobs to America, but it also lowers costs.”On House Republicans’ health care agenda: “There’s some real exciting things coming. But for anybody that really went through the scars of Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, they named it, by the way. Anybody want to make the argument that it’s affordable? That’s one of the big lies; it’s like the Inflation Reduction Act. The Democrats love naming things the opposite of what they are. Inflation Reduction Act jacked up inflation. Democrats did the Affordable Care Act. What happened? 80% premium increases on families since that bill became law. No Republican voted for it because we knew, number one, it would jack up costs for families, higher health care costs. It also destroyed the doctor-patient relationship. We have more doctors in Congress now because a lot of them had to leave the practice of medicine because it didn’t work. What we want to do is not spend hundreds of billions of dollars to insurance companies, by the way, which is the Democrats’ plan. They want to prop up insurance companies, mask the high cost of the Unaffordable Care Act, and by the way, you still will pay higher premiums. We want to lower premiums and give families options.“We’re bringing a number of bills to the floor in the next few weeks… I was meeting with the Doctors Caucus. I met with every different group, along with the three chairmen of the committees of Jurisdiction. Energy and Commerce has been working on a lot of really big things. Ways and Means Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee. They’ve all been working on different pieces to do things like association health plans… There’s no competition in health insurance. Really no transparency either. Imagine bringing those elements in. Even look at the Obamacare tax credits that everybody talks about, not the ones that are expiring. How about the ones that still exist? You’re trapped, only looking at an Affordable Care Act plan that you cannot afford. How about if you made that flexible and said, hey, we’re going to roll that into a health savings account, and then you can go shop it around and buy a better plan. You want to stay in Obamacare? That’s your choice. I think a lot of people would love to get out of it, but they’re trapped right now. Imagine if you said that money, taxpayer money, can now be flexible to go anywhere, and everybody’s going to compete for your business and want you to move to a lower cost plan for you and your family, maybe a lower deductible. How about we allow those things to happen? We’ve got bills to do that.“Other things on lowering prescription drug costs. We’re going to be bringing bills to the floor in the next few weeks to do exactly that. We’ve been putting that together for a few weeks. Again, doing a lot of things, walking and chewing gum. A lot of committees are working on all of these issues. You’re going to see these votes. I love to see where Democrats are going to be on those votes, by the way. Lowering health care costs and giving families options. Is that what they’re going to vote for? Are they going to just vote to bail out the big insurance companies and continue to trap you on a plan you don’t like?”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Congressman Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) to discuss House Republicans’ work to safeguard small businesses from regulations and burdensome costs, protect our education system from Communist China, and lower premiums for hardworking families. Leader Scalise also condemned the horrific attack against the National Guardsmen in our nation’s capital.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s remarks:On the senseless act of violence against National Guardsmen in DC:“Our country was shocked the day before Thanksgiving to see just a senseless, violent act of this tragedy, attack on our National Guardsmen here in DC, the West Virginia National Guardsmen that were both attacked for just doing their jobs and keeping DC safe. I, too, want to extend my prayers and sympathy to Sarah Beckstrom’s family for the horrible loss of her life and just senseless, senseless loss of life for such a young girl with great promise. Then, of course, Andrew Wolfe, who is still at the hospital fighting for his life from the gunshot wounds that he suffered. We keep him in our prayers, his family as well, and pray that he is able to recover and come back. I know the people of West Virginia share that, the people of America share those prayers.”On protecting small businesses from Biden’s failed policies and schools from Communist China:“This week, we have a number of bills we’re bringing to the floor to continue to address some of the problems that were created by the Biden Administration that drove up inflation, that drove up higher costs. We saw so many ridiculous rules and regulations that added costs to the products we buy, our small businesses that were under attack. And so, this week, we’re bringing a number of bills to reduce those regulatory attacks on small businesses, giving small businesses relief also gives families relief in terms of lower costs.“We’re going to bring more bills that came out of the Education [& Workforce] Committee to take on what is happening in our universities, in our schools, where the Chinese Communist Party tries to move Confucius Institutes into our schools, teaching our children, trying to put Communist ideas into our children in our schools. And so we’re going to continue to have more transparency and prohibit that kind of money coming in from China to our schools.”On establishing a national framework for college sports:“Over the years, you’ve seen lawsuits erode the ability for the NCAA to even police college athletics to the point where now it’s the Wild Wild West. There are no rules in place, no structure. You have people that can play until they’re 26 years old in college athletics. You don’t have any protections for a lot of the student-athletes. And so, we first restore the ability for policing through the NCAA. Congress won’t be doing the regulations. It will be the NCAA having the ability to police college athletics again. We also protect women’s sports. We protect Olympic sports by ensuring that you have an equal number of women’s sports to men’s sports, that you have a minimum number of sports, so that a lot of the Olympic sports that are so important to our country as we see the Olympics coming up here again. In many cases, our Olympians come from the college ranks, and so we protect that, too. Again, just putting structure in place for what is right now a Wild Wild West atmosphere.”On lowering premiums and giving choices to hardworking families:“We’re going to continue to work on health care proposals to ensure that families have choices and lower premiums. That’s what Republicans care about. Democrats have never cared about that since they passed the Affordable Care Act and all the broken promises and lies that went with it. ‘If you like what you have, you can keep it.’ Probably the most broken promise in all of politics, where millions of families lost the good health care plans that they liked because of the Affordable Care Act. Of course, there’s nothing affordable about the Affordable Care Act. All we’ve seen is increased costs, 80% premium increases. Democrats are just concerned about bailing out insurance companies who get record profits while families see higher premiums because of that failed law. What we want to do is give families options, lower premiums for families. Again, we’ve brought some bills to the floor already. We’re going to keep bringing bills to the floor to do those two things, to lower premiums for families and give them options so that they can get what’s best for their families.”