MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is hailing House passage of a bill she co-led to update and reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act for five fiscal years with funding at $56 million yearly. This bill would authorize, modernize, and fund the public-private partnership of coastal observation systems collecting data to inform decision-making along our nation’s extensive coasts and in marine waters.

Congresswoman Amata earlier this month in the US Capitol

Congresswoman Aumua Amata was part of the group of six Members of Congress, known as original cosponsors, working together at introduction of this bill, H.R. 2294, in March 2025, which was led by Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS), with Congresswoman Amata (American Samoa), Rep. Bonamici (D-OR), Rep. Weber (R-TX), Rep. Dingell (D-MI), and Rep. Davis (D-IL). Their bipartisan bill has since advanced through the House Natural Resources Committee with legislative hearings and votes, where Amata and several of these Members serve. The bill now requires Senate passage to become law.

“Well-situated ocean observations provide data that can save lives and improve maritime decisions, as well as considerations for fisheries and coastal areas, and strengthen tsunami response and environmental health,” said Congresswoman Amata. “American Samoa and many other communities on the U.S. coast benefit from these ocean monitoring services that help our scientists know our ocean better.”

The bill provides ongoing and future support for critical ocean monitoring efforts that protect coastal communities, fisheries, and maritime industries.

In addition to reauthorizing, the legislation will improve the program’s effectiveness by clarifying the type of data it provides as operational oceanographic information; updating statutory references to reflect current law, including replacing the National Ocean Research Leadership Council with the Ocean Policy Committee; and enhancing the role of the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee to ensure the program is used to its full capacity as an integrated system.

“In American Samoa, we have a buoy that gathers ocean information that is named in honor of our longtime Port Director Chris King,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Data gathered here can help planners elsewhere, and in turn data on the other side of the Pacific can prove beneficial far away through integrated analysis.”

House Passes Natural Resources Bills for Parks and Forests

The House also passed a slate of 12 bills from the Natural Resources Committee, focused on specific protections, reforms, improvements, services, and restoration efforts at national parks and forests. These House-passed bills await Senate passage. 

These include the Save Our Sequoias (SOS) Act, led by Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA). This bipartisan bill builds on efforts in the prior Congress that Amata cosponsored to protect giant sequoias from wildfires, disease, and drought. The updated bill includes reforestation and a multi-year emergency declaration for the threatened area. Nearly 20 percent of giant sequoias were lost to wildfire devastation in just the years 2020-2022. 

Other passed bills support restoration efforts at Grand Canyon National Park, create the Chiricahua National Park in Arizona, authorize the Department of the Interior to carry out priority reforestation projects following disasters, extends the National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Memorial Foundation’s efforts over the next seven years for a memorial to fallen EMS personnel, and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to convey small parcels of federal land for cemeteries through the Small Cemetery Conveyance Act. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT CAUTIONS VIRGIN ISLANDERS AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY CARD SCAMS

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

DORAL, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, Dean of the Florida Delegation, and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain hosted a roundtable last week with working moms, small business owners, and tax professionals to discuss how the Working Families Tax Cuts are delivering real relief for families and workers during the 2026 tax season.

Rep. Díaz-Balart, Chairwoman McClain Highlight Tax Relief as Families See Bigger Refunds During the 2026 Tax Season

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart said, “I was grateful to be joined by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, who has been a strong leader in ensuring Americans across our country understand and benefit from the many tax relief provisions included in the Working Families Tax Cuts.

I was especially pleased to welcome her to Sergio’s restaurant in Doral, in Florida’s 26th Congressional District, where we had the opportunity to hear directly from my constituents — from working parents, entrepreneurs, UBER and DoorDash drivers, and local tax professionals — about how these policies are making a difference during tax season. These hardworking Americans are already seeing the benefits of the tax relief passed last year by House Republicans and signed into law by President Trump. 

I also wanted to thank Carlos Gazitua for his hospitality and leadership and for bringing together such an outstanding group from our community.”

Chairwoman Lisa McClain said, “Across the country, we’re seeing the real people who benefit from these policies – hardworking Americans keeping more of what they earn. In Miami, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart has been a steady leader, fighting to put money back where it belongs: in the pockets of families, small businesses, and workers. It’s been extremely helpful to hear directly from Congressman Diaz-Balart’s constituents about how these tax cuts are helping their businesses grow, their families, thrive, and their communities succeed.”

Watch Rep. Díaz-Balart’s opening remarks here.

Watch Chairwoman McClain’s opening remarks here.

During the roundtable, Floridians shared how the Working Families Tax Cuts are delivering tangible benefits for their families, businesses, and communities.

NO TAX ON TIPS

Bob Mitchell, Uber Driver said: “I’ve been doing Uber for 11 years…And I have to say, with the new tax cuts and everything and the savings on tips, it’s been amazing. Just on my IRS, my income tax I got back this year, I’ve saved over 20% more than last year. … What’s so impressive about this whole thing, the bill, it wasn’t like you had touched on before—it doesn’t affect you guys. It doesn’t affect the President…It affects us. The working people, the people who day in and day out go out there. And I can tell you this, people I have picked up since this has all gone into effect, those in the service industry, bartenders and servers, they’ve also said they appreciate so much what the government has done with this bill. And they feel it, they’ve seen a difference, too, on their taxes.” 

Watch his full testimony:

Nikki Trevino, Florida DoorDash Driver said: “In 2020, I had a surgery—a surgery that resulted in a permanent disability. Many traditional jobs aren’t possible for me anymore. Dashing has truly been a godsend, and it’s one of the few types of work I can do because I’m able to choose when I work…I know that being able to keep more of my hard-earned tips is going to make a meaningful impact. Those savings will go directly toward helping my 17-year-old daughter who is preparing to start college, and any parent knows every extra dollar matters. No Tax on Tips recognizes the hard work of people like me—people who earn tips not as a bonus, but as essential income.” 

Watch her full testimony:

Ilenai Rodríguez, Waitress said: “It’s extra savings that comes back to us. Most of our income comes from tips…so not having to pay taxes on those tips means important savings at the end of the year.” 

Watch her full testimony (Spanish):

NO TAX ON OVERTIME

Chief Matthew Castillo, City of Miami Springs Police, said: “Public safety relies heavily on three important factors: one is recruitment, two is morale, and three is retention, which rely heavily as far as my job is concerned. And the No Tax on Overtime provision directly impacts these three aspects. In policing, overtime isn’t really a luxury. Sometimes it’s necessary to keep our community safe. These officers working those extra hours, unfortunately, a lot of their pay disappears due to taxes, and the rate goes up and you get put in a higher tax bracket. This provision actually ensures that our officers are able to take home more of their pay so they could better provide for their families.” 

Watch his full testimony:

Lt. Albert Vargas, City of Miami Springs Police, said: “When it comes to overtime in law enforcement, a lot of times it’s not optional. It’s mandatory. We have manpower shortages and we have a lot of different things going on that the overtime is mandatory…These officers that work this overtime, they’re able to keep some of that money for their family. We think it’s a huge benefit for our department and all the first responders…we appreciate the support that Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart and the House Republicans give us on a daily basis.” 

Stephen G. Bussé, Metro-Dade Firefighter, said: “In our line of work, overtime is not a choice; it is a necessity. No matter what happens when that bell goes off, there needs to be a professional firefighter in that seat running that call and answering the community. Thanks to this federal tax relief for overtime, the extra hours we have been putting in away from our families at the fire or police station are finally being respected. This was actually the first year that I have seen the largest tax refund in my entire career.” 

Watch his full testimony:

CHILD TAX CREDIT EXPANSION, TRUMP ACCOUNTS, STANDARD DEDUCTION

Adriana McLamb, Marketing Director of the Independent Women’s Forum, said: “I feel the effects with a growing boy who I feel every single day I have to buy new-sized diapers, new-sized shoes, and more food. He eats more than the FIU football team, it feels like. Those costs grow as they get older… with more money in my pocket, I’m able to do what I can for my son and my growing family. But it’s not just that portion also; it’s the expansion of 529 and the standard deduction. All of those are really felt as a new mom.” 

Watch her full testimony:

Maria M. Negron-Gonzales, a realtor from Hialeah, Florida, said: “I used that extra money to put [my son] in SAT tutoring… I really want to thank you for thinking of parents, and even a little bit goes a long way. I honestly got more money back.” 

Watch her full testimony:

Carlos Gazitua, CEO of Sergio’s Restaurants, said: “This is going to be our first full year of the tax policy, and we already opened up a restaurant, took the bonus depreciation, and hired over 60 employees this year. We already have plans for the next project that is going to hire another 15 people. We’re spending over $3 million already in six or seven months… the bonus depreciation and business tax deductions give small business owners the confidence to invest. That confidence has a trickle effect; we have to hire more employees, and when we hire more employees, we have to pay more because we have to compete against other small businesses. That’s the way it works in our local economy. The more money that our hardworking servers keep from their taxes and their tips, the more they get to put that money into their families.”

Watch his full testimony:

Andrei Stern, Owner at SuViche Hospitality, said: “In our experience, it has really helped our team with retention. It has helped our team have more money in their pockets, which means they have more money to spend in local businesses and grow the economy. It has also let them have more time with their families. We have had team members who used to have multiple jobs, and because of the savings they have from no tax on tips and no tax on overtime, they can now have one job and spend more time at home.” 

Watch his full testimony:

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)

Washington, D.C. (March 17, 2026) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement highlighting the successful return of $74 million in casework relief for 11th District constituents since 2023:

“Serving the people of Georgia’s 11th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives is a tremendous honor, and a large part of that service is assisting constituents with issues they have with federal agencies. When Georgians call our District Office while trying to deal with agencies such as the IRS, Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, State Department, and others, my office is able to cut through much of the red tape and deliver results that help solve issues on behalf of the Georgians I have the privilege to represent.

“I am very grateful to my excellent staff who are dedicated to assisting the people of the 11th Congressional District; and, just since 2023 that has led to over $74 million in compensation for seniors, veterans, families, and businesses. My office continues to offer these services to our constituents; so if you have an issue, please feel free to reach out to our exceptional team.”

Casework Totals Last year (2025)
– Dollars returned to constituents: $12,270,978.00
– Total Federal Case Inquiries: 1,327

Casework Totals (since 2023)
– Over 5,000 cases
– Total dollars returned to constituents: $74,233,016.00
– Returned from IRS, Treasury, Veterans Administration, Taxpayer Advocate Service, and Social Security Administration

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

In his opening statement at today’s House Ways and Means Trade subcommittee hearing, Chairman Adrian Smith (NE-03) underscored the importance of strong American leadership at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to rebalance global trade, expand market access for American exports, and push back against unfair practices by trading partners.

During his remarks, Chairman Smith signaled that while the WTO remains valuable, it requires significant reform to overcome gridlock and deliver meaningful reform that supports America’s workers, businesses, and emerging industries. 

Click the image above to watch a video of Chairman Smith’s opening remarks
Click here to download audio
Click here to download video

Chairman Smith’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

We meet at an important time for international trade. Next week, the world’s economies will meet in Cameroon for the World Trade Organization’s 14th Ministerial Conference, which will frequently be referred to today as “MC14”.

Today’s hearing reflects Congress’ support for strong U.S. leadership to advance our interests at the WTO. I also believe there is significant support in Congress for the Trump Administration’s top priorities for proposed outcomes at MC14 and look forward to discussing these priorities today.

The Trump Administration has taken on a significant challenge in seeking to rebalance global trade through increasing market access for U.S. exports, removing unfair tariff and nontariff barriers imposed by our trading partners, and encouraging new investment and production in the United States. For years, the United States has pushed for our trading partners at the WTO to work with us to resolve these issues but has continuously faced significant headwinds.

But I believe the tide is shifting under the leadership of this Administration. We stand at a critical juncture with respect to the relevance of the WTO in U.S. trade policy. We should not concede core American priorities nor accept complacency. At the same time, I believe the WTO still has a critical role to play in our global trade relationships. I hope this hearing provides an opportunity for members of this committee to have a constructive discussion on how the WTO can meet the needs of a new generation of global trade policy, delivering positive outcomes for American farmers, workers, and businesses.

Certainly, not all of the United States’ concerns with the WTO can be resolved in Cameroon, and we should be realistic about potential outcomes. During this Trade Subcommittee’s hearing two years ago ahead of the last Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, I stressed the importance of showing strong U.S. leadership at the WTO, something the Biden Administration seemed intent on ceding.

As I think most of my colleagues here would acknowledge, given the WTO’s requirement for consensus-based decisions, real negotiated outcomes are time and time again undermined by a handful of spoiler countries. This undermines progress at the WTO, and most importantly, does not allow us to address long-standing priorities, such as a stronger agriculture agreement, or developing standards for emerging industries.

Significant reform therefore is required at the WTO for the sake of its long-term durability and relevance in the global trading system. Even so, I believe that the WTO still can provide value to the United States and American industries, including at the upcoming Ministerial Conference. I am grateful for the Trump Administration’s clear position on issues like the moratorium on the imposition of customs duties on electronic transmissions and am hopeful we can finally agree to a permanent moratorium in Cameroon. This would benefit American businesses of all sizes and in many sectors, and it also would prevent trading partners from leveraging this issue towards other ends in the future.

The work should not end in Cameroon – moving forward, members should focus their efforts on putting forward concrete proposals for reform at the WTO rather than endless scoping exercises that lead to vague and ambiguous negotiating objectives unlikely to result in real outcomes. I remain optimistic that strong U.S. leadership at the WTO, with support and oversight from U.S. Congress, can deliver. I urge all our trading partners to engage constructively with the U.S. delegation to achieve practical and mutually beneficial outcomes at MC14.

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

In case you missed it, new reporting from NPR underscores growing concerns about access to birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing after the Trump Administration moved to withhold critical Title X funding from clinics across the country, including in Kansas.

Title X is the nation’s only federal program dedicated solely to family planning, supporting clinics that provide preventive care to millions of low-income and uninsured patients each year. But this year, the application opened months late, giving grantees just seven days to apply instead of the typical four months. Additionally, the office responsible for reviewing applications is severely understaffed after the Trump Administration fired the entire team last year — and senior officials are already warning they may not be able to process applications in time.

In response, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) joined House Democrats in pressing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to issue a one-year extension for current grantees and prevent further disruptions to care. The lawmakers warn that delays and confusion are already forcing providers to cut services and putting care out of reach for vulnerable communities.

Davids has been a leading advocate for protecting access to affordable health care, including Title X. After President Trump withheld congressionally approved funding from clinics last year, she pushed HHS to restore it immediately. She also introduced the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act to strengthen and protect the program long term.

Read more from NPR: “Reproductive health clinics scramble as Title X funding cliff approaches”

By Selena Simmons-Duffin

“A group of 128 Democratic members of Congress is calling on the federal government to prevent a funding shortfall for reproductive health clinics in two weeks.

[…]

“The role Title X plays in keeping communities healthy is practically invisible, explains Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., one of the House members who helped gather co-signers to the letter. ‘When someone’s going in because they need birth control or cancer screenings or STI testing, everyday people aren’t like, ‘Thank goodness for Title X,’’ she notes.

“Despite the low profile, she says, Title X (as in the number 10) is incredibly important. The program…  helps health centers provide birth control and sexually transmitted infection treatment and testing to people without health insurance. For low-income patients, the services are free. Title X does not pay for abortion care.

[…]

“When HHS missed its deadline of Dec. 31, ‘trepidation, concern, real fear’ grew among recipients, Coleman says. 

[…]

“The applications were ultimately opened on Friday evening, with a deadline of this coming Friday, giving grantees one week to respond with all the requested information instead of the usual three or four months. It’s a timeline that Coleman calls ‘laughable.’

“According to a senior HHS official… the Title X team includes 10 staffers, who will have seven business days to review dozens of grant applications from around the country. If the staff or grantees can’t manage that, the funding might not go out on April 1 as scheduled. Even a short gap can “lead to consequences, things we can’t undo,” including health centers cutting hours, staff, or services, explains Coleman.

[…]

“President Trump proposed defunding Title X in his 2026 budget proposal. His administration also withheld 22 Title X grants for most of 2025 before reversing course in the face of a lawsuit brought by Coleman’s organization. And during the October federal shutdown, the Trump administration fired the entire staff that administers Title X at HHS; those staff members were un-fired as part of the deal to end the shutdown.

[…]

“Title X funding is mentioned in Project 2025, a document OMB Director Russell Vought helped shape when he was at Heritage Action for America, the advocacy and lobbying arm of the Heritage Foundation.

[…]

“Rep. Davids says easy and affordable access to birth control and STI testing are basic services that patients have come to expect. When it comes to the Title X funding issues, she says, ‘I think the more people hear about this, the more, frankly, outraged we’re going to see people being about this.’”

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 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) to highlight the real consequences of Democrats’ Department of Homeland Security shutdown — from unpaid TSA agents to airport chaos and heightened security risks. Leader Scalise underscored that House Republicans remain focused on restoring DHS operations and protecting American families.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks.
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s remarks:On airport chaos as TSA workers go without pay:“You’re also going to see the Democrats start trying to shift blame as the final results of what they’ve done to shut down the Department of Homeland Security become evident to all Americans. Anybody who flies on a plane now knows what the Democrats have done with the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. At my home airport in New Orleans, you had lines wrapped around the airport all the way into the parking garage – people waiting over 3 hours and missing flights because Democrats want to have yet another tantrum. It’s not the first time that they’ve tried to spark chaos in the country. As the Whip said, it’s the second shutdown they’ve had in just 6 months because Democrats don’t want to govern.“Democrats are not capable of governing. They just want chaos in America. And it’s hurting real Americans all across this nation. Obviously, it starts with those workers that aren’t getting paid that have to show up. And we see it at the airports with TSA agents. Over 100,000 employees at the Department of Homeland Security are working without pay because Democrats don’t care about people.” On Democrats reviving their “Defund the Police” agenda:“This week, you’re going to hear [Democrats] talking about a discharge petition. Let me tell you what that is. It’s yet another attempt by Democrats to defund the police. It’s a defund the police discharge. That’s what it is. Why? Because go back to the Summer of Love. You know, when people were burning down cities, Democrats’ crazy idea was to defund the police. They tried it. The American people recognized it for what it is, one of the dumbest political ideas maybe in the history of American politics. But the Democrats aren’t done with it. Now that you’re in another moment of Democrat-created chaos, what is their answer? To defund law enforcement again. That’s what their petition does. The American people aren’t going to be fooled by it.”On the heightened security threat under the Democrat DHS shutdown:“We have a Department of Homeland Security. It was created in the wake of 9/11. Democrats are operating like it’s September 10th, before 9/11 happened. They want to repeat those mistakes by shutting that critical department down at a heightened level of security. We’ve seen the terrorist attacks here on our homeland. We know what’s going on. And yet Democrats have voted to shut that department down because they don’t care about American people. They don’t care about families.“People are missing flights. People are going without pay while working. Hundreds of them have quit. TSA workers that just said, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I’ve got a family to feed. I’ve got to go get a stable job.’ And working for the federal government under Democrats’ crazy radical chaos is just not a place where they can be. They’re real victims in the Democrats’ dangerous game… We’ve got real work to do, and American people are counting on us to get the job done.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee questioned U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Michael G. Sullivan during the House Committee on Appropriations Budget Hearing for the Capitol Police. Below are a video and transcript of the interaction:
 

Click here to watch a video of the questioning.

HOYER: “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to join the Ranking Member in his comments with reference to the civility and courtesy that we ought to extend to one another in this committee, in other subcommittees, and in the full committee. That was not done in the last hearing, and I regret that. And let’s hope [that] we have better consideration of one another going forward. Chief, I’m sorry that we’re going in and out, we have the director of NIH in front of the Labor, Health [and Human Services] Committee.

“I want to pursue what may have already been talked about. But first of all, I didn’t hear the answer, but I am concerned about the overtime pay that is not considered for retirement purposes. And that, as I understand, is relatively unique to the Capitol Police. Is that accurate?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “It depends on the organization. I have done [it] in different ways and different organizations that I’ve been a part of, and it’s something that we’ve had conversations about internally.”

HOYER: “When I say regularly, we have other federal police officers who have overtime that do have it computed for the purposes of their retirement. Is that accurate from your knowledge?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “That is accurate. I’ve seen it done in different ways where it’s a percentage of overtime, you know, of up and beyond what your base salary is, and I’ve seen other ones that – it’s completely taken into account.”

HOYER: “The fact that we don’t have it, does it have an impact on our ability to recruit and retain?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “Certainly, I would always advocate for more benefits for the men and women of the Capitol Police.”

HOYER: “And currently, also, ICE, and perhaps Border Patrol as well, is offering 50 or 60 or $70,000 in bonuses, for new recruits. Is that accurate?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “I don’t know the exact numbers, but I know it’s significant.”

HOYER: “Do we have any such ability to provide such bonus money for recruits?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “While we – no, at this point we do not have bonus money for recruits. However, we do have tuition loan repayment up to $80,000, which I think is a significant driver as I’ve talked to the new recruits as they’ve come in.”

HOYER: “That’s good. And to the extent that we don’t have the bonus money, is that adversely affecting your ability to recruit and retain?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “Particularly retain is where I see the challenge is, you know, there’s nothing keeping folks here. And over the last, I would say, 3 to 4 months, I’ve seen a number of members, young members, leave for these other organizations.”

HOYER: “Your testimony and obviously the information we have indicates that the threats to Members to the Capitol itself and to other personnel within the Capitol have substantially increased.”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “That’s correct.”

HOYER: “Resulting in a need to increase our FTEs and complement of personnel. Is that accurate?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “That’s accurate.”

HOYER: “Lastly, let me ask you a question with reference to the plaque that has been the issue of a lot of controversy, God knows why. The men and women of the Capitol Police were confronted with overwhelming force and showed extraordinary courage in the face of the overwhelming force that confronted them. And since that time, we’ve had very substantial rationalization that that was a Democratic effort, that there were rioters and insurrectionists were performing. Some 1,500 of them who attacked police and, frankly, led to the death of a number of law enforcement officers were pardoned. What impact did that have on the morale of your force?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “Certainly, that was a challenging time for this organization. I can tell you that we don’t do this job for plaques or recognition. However, the men and women that do this work, appreciate the recognition of the hard work that we do every day to keep every Member safe. Any time you don’t give recognition as the Chief of Police, it’s important for me to recognize the hard work that they do every single day –”

HOYER: “Chief, my time is about to be up. I appreciate the observation about the plaque. What about the pardon?”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “All of those things affected this organization and the morale of the men and women that do this work.”

HOYER: “Thank you, Chief. Thank you for your service and thank you to the men and women of your department for their service and their courage.”

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN: “Thank you.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sam Graves (6th District of Missouri)

WASHINGTON, DC – The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06), will take up Dalilah’s Law this week, a measure to strengthen Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requirements in the United States, ensure commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers are properly trained and meet safety standards, require CMV drivers to be able to read and understand the English language, and prevent unqualified and illegal immigrants that could pose a significant safety hazard from obtaining a CDL through lax enforcement by states. The legislation was introduced by Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC).

Dalilah’s Law is named in honor of Dalilah Coleman, the 5-year-old girl who was struck and severely injured by an illegal alien driving a semi-truck. Dalilah was a guest of President Trump at this year’s State of the Union address, where the President called for Congress to pass such a law to block illegal and unqualified immigrants from obtaining a CDL in the United States. The accident that caused Dalilah’s injury is only one example of recent incidents caused by drivers who were not qualified to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle and should not have been given CDLs.

“Let me be clear – this is a safety issue. If you can’t speak and read English, or if you’re not properly trained to drive a semi down our highways, you’ve got no business holding a CDL in the United States. Furthermore, we need to strengthen the laws related to issuing CDLs and ensure that states are following and enforcing those laws and requirements,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO).  “Dalilah’s Law is a commonsense piece of legislation that achieves those goals and strongly supports the efforts of the Trump Administration to make our roads safer. I want to commend Chairman Rouzer for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to moving this bill through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee later this week, and then quickly through the House of Representatives.”

“Commercial driver’s license standards are in place for a reason: to ensure that only those qualified to drive a truck are allowed to do so.  Dalilah’s story is the heartbreaking consequence of what happens when those standards are both insufficient and breached,” said Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC), the lead sponsor of the legislation. “Unqualified, illegal foreign drivers behind the wheel of an 80-ton rig put the public in danger. President Trump called on Congress to end this systematic abuse, and Dalilah’s Law answers the call. I look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and Chairman 

Graves to get this bill to the President’s desk to prevent tragedies like Dalilah’s from happening again.”     

H.R. 5688 was first introduced by Chairman Rouzer on October 3, 2025, as the Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act, to end the issuance of CDLs to illegal immigrants who lack the English proficiency, road-rule knowledge, and safety skills needed to safely operate CMVs. The bill parallels efforts by President Trump and Transportation Secretary Duffy to crack down on this safety crisis that was fueled by the open border policies of the Biden Administration, and it codifies many of the Administration’s actions to ensure safety on the nation’s roads. The legislation also includes a provision from Rep. Dave Taylor’s (R-OH) Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act requiring English Language Proficiency for all CDL holders.

The updated bill text of H.R. 5688, now known as Dalilah’s Law, improves safety and CDL policies by:

• Ensuring all CDL holders understand English, roads signs, and law enforcement officers;
• Placing drivers who fail to meet the Law’s requirements and safety standards out-of-service;
• Requiring states to verify that they are not issuing CDLs to illegal immigrants;
• Significantly increasing penalties for states failing to comply with the Law, by withholding of Federal funds;
• Banning shady foreign dispatch services and brokers, who have fueled a surge in freight fraud and cargo theft; and
• Cracking down on “CDL mills” to ensure drivers entering the industry are receiving adequate training.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will mark up Dalilah’s Law at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.  

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