MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Welcomes Secretary Wright for Visit on Energy Innovation and Hanford Mission

TRI-CITIES – This week, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) hosted U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in the Tri-Cities for visits to Department of Energy projects including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Hanford Site.  

“It was a pleasure showing Secretary Wright how much Central Washington contributes to reliable, affordable, American energy. After several visits to some of our most important energy projects, the Secretary has seen firsthand how our region is leading the nation in both innovation and development,” said Rep Newhouse.  

Newhouse added, “At Hanford, Secretary Wright witnessed how decades of hard work have resulted in the world’s largest vitrification plant and reaffirmed his commitment to the success of the Hanford mission. 

This Administration understands the role our national lab plays in the future of our nation’s energy capabilities, that our Lower Snake River dams are the shining example of hydropower in our vast energy portfolio, and that Hanford is delivering on the government’s commitment to clean up the site.” 

On December 4, Rep. Newhouse and Secretary Wright visited PNNL to hear from leaders and scientists on how the lab is supporting developing energy technologies and commissioned new technology to advance the mission of the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research program. The Secretary explained how our National Labs are “crown jewels” of the scientific community and that PNNL is a world-class institution.

While at PNNL, Secretary Wright discussed President Trumps’ recent Executive Order launching the Genesis Mission, a new national effort to use artificial intelligence to transform how scientific research is conducted and accelerate the speed of scientific discovery. U.S. National Labs will be a key piece of the mission. 

The Secretary also spoke on the importance of the four Lower Snake River dams after visiting the Ice Harbor Dam. He discussed how important our dams are in keeping rates low and ensuring grid reliability, even during high demand. 

Secretary Wright leads a press conference at PNNL on December 4, 2025. (Office of Rep. Dan Newhouse) 

On December 5, Rep. Newhouse and Secretary Wright visited Hanford, where the Secretary saw for the first time the Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, also known as the Vit Plant. 

In October, Bechtel announced the plant had successfully converted the first batch of radioactive and chemical waste into glass through the vitrification process.   

The plant will process and stabilize much of the 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste currently stored in underground tanks at the Hanford site. When fully operational, the plant will process an average of 5,300 gallons of tank waste per day. 

As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water responsible for funding the U.S. Department of Energy, Rep. Newhouse will work closely with Secretary Wright to support PNNL, the Hanford mission, and protect the Lower Snake River dams.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) to introduce the Community Health Access Through Resilient Grid Energy (CHARGE) Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill would help make Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) more resilient by giving them the resources needed to install solar energy and energy storage systems. 

“Federally Qualified Health Centers are a lifeline for families across the Central Valley, and we need to make sure they can stay open—even when emergencies happen,” said Congressman Valadao. “The CHARGE Act creates a new grant program to help FQHCs install reliable energy storage systems so they can keep serving patients without interruption. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Smith on this bipartisan effort to strengthen local healthcare and lower energy costs.”

“Community health centers are the backbone of care in underserved communities. Too many face dangerous gaps in power reliability during extreme weather or emergency situations,” said Congressman Smith. “The CHARGE Act is a smart and forward-looking investment that will help centers stay open, protect patients, and strengthen energy resilience across the country.”

“Community health centers are an essential part of the healthcare delivery system in rural and underserved regions across the country—especially here in the Central Valley. Central Valley Health Network applauds the leadership of Congressman Valadao and Smith in introducing the CHARGE Act of 2025, which will invest in improving healthcare in our communities while promoting renewable energy solutions,” said Jason Vega, Chief Executive Officer, Central Valley Health Network.

“When natural disasters and other grid-straining emergencies hit, solar and energy storage are critical to providing reliable power to those that need it most. We applaud Congressmen Smith and Valadao for championing this legislation which will enhance access to solar and storage for the Federally Qualified Community Health Centers working every day to provide essential care to communities across America,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO, Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA).

“Electricity powers every step of health care. When Community Health Centers lose power, diabetic patients miss visits, pregnant women miss prenatal care, children forgo vaccinations, and patients needing behavioral health services miss therapy. After Hurricane Helene alone, power outages caused more than 10,000 patient appointment cancellations in one state alone. The bipartisan CHARGE Act, led by US Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA) and David Valadao (R-CA) will help health centers deploy solar energy and battery storage systems so they can continue serving as lifelines for their communities during disasters,” said Ben Money, SVP of Population Health, National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).

“Ensuring clean, reliable, and safe energy technologies isn’t just smart policy—it’s a direct investment in the community health and the well-being of the diverse communities we serve,” said Healthpoint.

“We appreciate Rep. Smith’s work with community health centers to develop this program that advances clean energy goals, helps reduce long-term energy costs, and supports local renewable energy jobs,” said the Washington Association for Community Health.

The CHARGE Act would:

• Establish a new grant program at the Department of Energy (DOE) to help Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) deploy solar energy systems and/or energy storage technologies.

• Authorize $50 million per year to fund installation projects and technical assistance programs nationwide.

• Allow broad participation by state and local governments, nonprofits, and a provider consortia or network that is majority owned or majority controlled by one of more FQHCs.

• Support technical assistance to ensure that FQHCs can design, install, and operate these systems effectively and sustainably.

Background:

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are the backbone of the healthcare system in underserved communities—providing critical care, including preventative healthcare, vaccinations, and chronic disease management to more than 34 million Americans per year. Yet, too many of these centers lack the reliable, affordable, and sustainable power needed to maintain operations during grid disruptions, extreme weather, or emergencies. The CHARGE Act provides a targeted, fiscally responsible solution to ensure community health centers have access to clean, resilient power while reducing long-term energy costs and supporting local renewable energy jobs. This bipartisan proposal promotes energy resilience, community health security, and economic efficiency—all while empowering local stakeholders to determine the best solutions for their communities.

Read the full bill here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Gus Bilirakis unveiled the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). This legislation provides children, teens, and parents with the safeguards and tools needed to better protect against serious online threats to kids’ well-being.

“Children and teens are constantly connected to devices, and their reality is now a blend of virtual and real-world experiences-conditions that have been proven to exacerbate isolation and negative social interactions, such as sexual abuse,” said Representative Gus Bilirakis. “We’ve seen far too many children and teens succumb to tragedy after being exposed to dangers online. After multiple congressional hearings and whistleblower testimonies, there is widespread, bipartisan consensus that Big Tech is failing to mitigate risks, empower parents, and safeguard its youngest users. Our legislation will require them to do so.”

KOSA outlines a comprehensive series of safeguards that Big Tech platforms must implement to protect minors. Specifically, the bill would:

• Define a set of harms to minors that online platforms must create policies, practices, and procedures to prevent and mitigate—including threats of physical violence, sexual exploitation, access to unlawful products for minors (such as narcotic drugs, tobacco, gambling, and alcohol), and financial harm caused by deceptive practices.
• Requiring independent audits to enforce these requirements and hold Big Tech accountable.
• Protect children from stalking and exploitation by directing online platforms to implement appropriate safety controls.
• Provide parents with new tools—including controls for safety settings, time tracking, purchase limits, and addressing compulsive usage. These tools must be enabled by default.
• Create a dedicated reporting mechanism requiring covered platforms to establish a channel for reporting harms to minors and to respond in a timely, substantive manner, taking into account platform size and urgency.
• Establish a Kids Online Safety Council comprised of parents, experts, platform representatives, federal agencies, state attorneys general, and youth voices, to advise on implementation.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and David Valadao (R-Calif) introduced the Community Health Access Through Resilient Grid Energy (CHARGE) Act, bipartisan legislation that creates a new grant program at the Department of Energy to help Federally Qualified Health Centers install solar energy systems and battery storage technologies. These upgrades will ensure that community health centers can maintain operations during grid disruptions, extreme weather events, and other emergencies.

“Community health centers are the backbone of care in underserved communities. Too many face dangerous gaps in power reliability during extreme weather or emergency situations,” said Smith. “The CHARGE Act is a smart and forward-looking investment that will help centers stay open, protect patients, and strengthen energy resilience across the country.”

“Federally Qualified Health Centers are a lifeline for families across the Central Valley, and we need to make sure they can stay open—even when emergencies happen,” said Valadao. “The CHARGE Act creates a new grant program to help FQHCs install reliable energy storage systems so they can keep serving patients without interruption. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Smith on this bipartisan effort to strengthen local healthcare and lower energy costs.”
 

Endorsements:

TThe bill is endorsed by the National Association of Community Health Centers, Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), Solar United Neighbors, the Washington Association for Community Health, and HealthPoint.

Original cosponsors include Representatives Ed Case, Kimberlyn King-Hinds, and James Moylan.

“Electricity powers every step of health care. When Community Health Centers lose power, diabetic patients miss visits, pregnant women miss prenatal care, children forgo vaccinations, and patients needing behavioral health services miss therapy. After Hurricane Helene alone, power outages caused more than 10,000 patient appointment cancellations in one state alone. The bipartisan CHARGE Act, led by US Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA) and David Valadao (R-CA) will help health centers deploy solar energy and battery storage systems so they can continue serving as lifelines for their communities during disasters.”
– Ben Money, SVP of Population Health at National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)

 “When natural disasters and other grid-straining emergencies hit, solar and energy storage are critical to providing reliable power to those that need it most. We applaud Congressmen Smith and Valadao for championing this legislation which will enhance access to solar and storage for the Federally Qualified Community Health Centers working every day to provide essential care to communities across America.”
– Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

“Community health centers are an essential part of the healthcare delivery system in rural and underserved regions across the country—especially here in the Central Valley. Central Valley Health Network applauds the leadership of Congressman Valadao and Smith in introducing the CHARGE Act of 2025, which will invest in improving healthcare in our communities while promoting renewable energy solutions.”
– Jason Vega, Chief Executive Officer, Central Valley Health Network

“Ensuring clean, reliable, and safe energy technologies is not only smart policy. It is a direct investment in community health and in the well-being of the diverse communities we serve.”
– HealthPoint

“We appreciate Representative Smith’s work with community health centers to develop this program that advances clean energy goals, helps reduce long-term energy costs, and supports local renewable energy jobs.”
– Washington Association for Community Health

Background:

FQHCs provide primary and preventive care to more than 34 million Americans each year, often in communities that are most vulnerable to outages and disasters. Many centers lack the reliable and affordable backup power systems needed to keep their doors open when power fails. The CHARGE Act offers a targeted and fiscally responsible solution that improves energy resilience, reduces long-term operating costs, and supports local clean energy jobs.

Under the bill, the Department of Energy, through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, would award competitive grants to FQHCs, state and local governments, nonprofits, and qualifying provider networks. Funds may be used for solar installation, battery storage deployment, and technical assistance programs. The bill authorizes 50 million dollars annually from fiscal year 2026 through fiscal year 2030 for these purposes.

The CHARGE Act:

• Creates a new Department of Energy grant program to help FQHCs deploy solar energy systems and energy storage technologies.
• Authorizes 50 million dollars annually from fiscal year 2026 through fiscal year 2030 for installation projects and technical assistance.
• Allows participation from FQHCs, state and local governments, nonprofits, and majority FQHC controlled provider networks.
• Supports technical assistance to ensure that systems are effectively designed, installed, and operated for long-term resilience.

Bill text here. Fact sheet here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) met with California Governor Gavin Newsom to discuss obtaining federal aid for victims of the Palisades and Eaton Fires.

“I’m gratified that the Governor has spent so much time and attention both on the fires in January and in fighting for communities and individuals in the months since then.

First, I should also commend the Biden administration, which in its final days put into motion actions that have already delivered more than $7 billion of federal assistance to the State of California to recover from the fires – $5 billion for debris cleanup being the largest share. For individual fire victims, some 35,000 households have received assistance from FEMA and some 12,500 low-cost SBA loans totaling over $3 billion have been approved. For all Trump’s bluster, he neither added to nor blocked implementation of the steps the Biden administration put into place.

Clearly, California should receive more on top of the basic package of benefits that fire victims have already been approved for, and Governor Newsom and I are working to secure a supplemental appropriations bill for additional federal aid especially directed to fire victims who lost their homes and were not adequately insured. I support the Governor’s supplemental request to Congress, particularly the portion of the request that seeks $9.9 billion to fund grants to those with uninsured losses. Such grants are handled through the Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.

Things in Washington have been moving more slowly than they should. It is past time for Congress to pass a supplemental appropriation to help the victims of the largest fire, in terms of economic cost, in the history of America.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Grandfamily Housing Act Would Help Grandparents Raising Children Access Safe, Affordable, Age-Appropriate Housing

Pressley Also Renewed Calls for HUD to Avoid a Funding Gap for Continuum of Care Programs, Which Help Grantees in Boston Provide Life-Saving Housing Assistance

WASHINGTON – Today, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Task Force on Aging and Families, underscored the need to support grandfamily and kinship households, which are vital to preventing homelessness and keeping families and communities whole. Rep. Pressley called for passage of her Grandfamily Housing Act, which would help grandparents raising their grandchildren access safe, affordable and appropriate housing, as well as her Innovation Fund Act to improve housing supply, the Eviction Helpline Act to create a national support hotline, and the Appraisal Modernization Act, which would allow homeowners to seek a second appraisal when they suspect their home’s value is underrepresented.

Last month, amid the Trump administration’s cuts to critical housing programs, Rep. Pressley joined Ranking Member Waters (CA-43) in urging the Department of Housing and Urban Development to avoid a gap in funding the Continuum of Care programs, of which many grantees in Boston rely on to provide life-saving housing assistance.

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks is available below, and the video is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

In New Letter to Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Pressley Calls for Investments in Public Transit, Including Fare-Free Transit Programs, ADA Compliance, Safety Improvements, in Upcoming Surface Transportation Bill

Letter Text (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Future of Transportation Caucus, led 14 colleagues in sending a letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen urging they prioritize affordability, accessibility, and sustainability in crafting the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill—including by investing in fare-free transit. These priorities reflect the mission of the Future of Transportation Caucus, which reimagines America’s transportation systems to center equity, access, and sustainability.

Congresswoman Pressley is the lead House sponsor of the Freedom to Move Act, legislation to support state and local efforts to establish public transportation as a public good through fare-free services.

“In a moment when there is greater reliance on public transit, your leadership is critical to safeguard significant progress that improves our nation’s transportation infrastructure,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter. “For the future of transportation, we encourage the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to prioritize affordability, accessibility, and sustainability.”

In her letter, Rep. Pressley called for meaningful investments in fare-free transit programs—as piloted in the Massachusetts 7^th—to increase ridership and reduce financial barriers to mobility, in paratransit services to ensure people with disabilities can access public transit, and in infrastructure updates to protect the safety of passengers.

“Fare-free transit is not just a popular policy idea, it is a proven tool for saving taxpayers money, reducing traffic congestion, and expanding access to opportunity. These benefits are especially important when we consider the unequal burden of transportation costs across income levels,” the lawmakers continued.

“Although the White House’s budget proposal called for deep cuts to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities, we must authorize funding in paratransit services to allow people with disabilities access to work, school, healthcare, and other destinations,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “Investing in accessibility provides localities and states with the necessary funding to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and ensure riders with disabilities access to our public transit system.”

“Many of our Congressional Districts have experienced deadly public transit accidents, including instances of train malfunctions and onboard fires that underscore the need for renewed attention to safety and system upkeep. Furthermore, outdated systems contribute significantly to harmful emissions, highlighting the urgency of transitioning to cleaner, more efficient technologies. Hence, we request the Committee make investments that will help future generations benefit from our public transit infrastructure,” the lawmakers continued.

Joining Congresswoman Pressley in sending the letter are Representatives Mark Takano, Chuy Garcia, LaMonica McIver, Hank Johnson, Delia Ramirez, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cleo Fields, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rashida Tlaib, Dan Goldman, Pramila Jayapal, Lateefah Simon, Ilhan Omar, and André Carson.

The text of the letter is available here.

Rep. Pressley has long championed legislation and efforts to increase access to free, safe, reliable, and accessible public transit systems will help improve community livability and mobility, increase connectivity to critical services, and address many of our nation’s most severe inequities.

In August 2025, Rep. Pressley, alongside Sen. Markey and Mayor Michelle Wu, celebrated successful fare-free transit programs announced their continued efforts to implement fare-free public transportation in Boston and across the Commonwealth.

To advance these efforts at the federal level, Rep. Pressley and Sen. Markey reintroduced the Freedom to Move Act in July 2025, legislation to enact fare-free transit. Rep. Pressley and Sen. Markey originally introduced the Freedom to Move Act in June 2020.

Following the bill’s introduction, Senator Markey, Congresswoman Pressley, and then-Councilor Michelle Wu published an op-ed that discussed the bill and the need to fund public transportation as a public good.

In July 2020, the House of Representatives passed the Moving Forward Act that included a fare-free pilot program modeled after the two lawmakers’ Freedom to Move Act.

In August 2021, Rep. Pressley and Senator Markey called on the MBTA to make the entire T fare-free for the duration of the Orange Line’s shutdown.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

TAMPA, Fla. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) announced 16 Tampa Bay area students who received nominations for admission into America’s prestigious service academies: Air Force Academy (USAFA), Naval Academy (USNA), Military Academy (USMA) and the Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). The outstanding student leaders hail from more than ten local high schools in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.

“These talented students are America’s future leaders. Their interest in serving our country is a point of pride for our patriotic Tampa Bay community,” said Rep. Castor. “I’m grateful for the service of my Nomination Committee, which thoroughly reviews every application and interviews interested students. I am confident that this year’s nominees will represent the Tampa Bay Area and our nation well.”

Photos of the nominees can be found here.

Receiving a nomination to one of our nation’s service academies is an essential step towards receiving an appointment to the academies. Nominations are earned based on each student’s interview with Castor’s Nomination Committee, their academic record, participation in extracurricular activities and demonstrated leadership qualities. Because of the stringent application requirements, many students begin preparing for the application process as early as their first year of high school.

Under federal law, all U.S. military academies, except the Coast Guard Academy, require either a service-connected nomination or a congressional nomination (from a member of Congress in either the U.S. House or Senate or the Vice President of the United States). Parents and students interested in the nomination process can work with their school guidance counselors. You can learn more here: Service Academy Nominations | U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (house.gov).

Castor will announce official appointments at a later date after being notified of appointments by the academies. 

Today’s announcement is the conclusion of Castor’s 2025 competitive nomination process. The nominees who receive an appointment from a U.S. military academy will attend their respective academies in the 2026-2027 school year.

U.S. Rep. Castor granted her nomination to the following students for one or more of the U.S. military academies:

Malik K. Robinson, Northeast High School – USAFA

Katelynn R. McEntee, Walter L. Sickles High School – USMA and USAFA (not pictured)

Kaylee M. DeLory, Walter L. Sickles High School – USAFA

Nicholas C. Zamprogno, Robinson High School IB Program – USAFA and USNA

Konrad J. Paradies, Steinbrenner High School – USAFA

William D. Baker, H.B. Plant High School – USAFA and USNA

Simon Smith, Walter L. Sickles High School – USAFA, USMMA, USNA

Cade C. Holland, Jesuit High School – USAFA and USNA

Robert K. Bossowski, Jesuit High School – USNA

John D. Williams, Salisbury School – USMA and USNA

Jesse D. Cogburn, Jesuit High School – USNA

Roman A. Neske, H.B. Plant High School – USNA

Sawyer J. Burns, Dr. Earl J Lennard High School – USNA and USMMA

Elijah R. Chames, US Military Academy Prep School – USMA

Decker W. Deady, Berkeley Preparatory School – USNA

Asher Koontz, Jesuit High School – USNA