Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Washington, D.C. – The Co-Chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko, the Chair of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Rep. Brad Schneider, and the Deputy Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Rep. Ilhan Omar, released the following statement in response to the current status of permitting reform negotiations in Congress.
“The members of our respective caucuses hold diverse views of how Congress should improve the energy infrastructure permitting process; however, as leaders of these caucuses, we are unified in our belief that the current actions of the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are blocking us from engaging in good faith, bipartisan permitting reform negotiations.
“Any serious permitting reform package must address – as a threshold matter – the Trump Administration’s active undermining of America’s clean energy industry by using every tool it can find to slow or block projects. The Administration regularly does not follow existing law, including revoking duly issued permits, rescinding previously-awarded grants, and issuing stop work orders on projects well under construction. Over the past 10 months, we have heard outcries over the Administration’s actions from state governments, businesses, and workers responsible for building critical clean energy projects to address growing electricity demand while improving the reliability and affordability of our energy system, but our Republican colleagues in Congress have remained largely silent in the face of the Trump Administration’s abuses.
“Ensuring that clean energy projects are treated fairly and can move forward where appropriate is the prerequisite for serious, practical negotiations on a reform package capable of meeting the nation’s energy needs. Additionally, to be comfortable with any sort of agreement, we need to be able to trust that this Administration is going to follow the law that we write.
“We are prepared to engage in and support good-faith negotiations, but meaningful negotiations require a shared, bipartisan commitment to enabling the deployment of clean energy resources that are currently being targeted by the Trump Administration. The legislation must affirmatively end the scorched-earth attacks on clean energy, restore permitting integrity for projects that have been unfairly targeted, and ensure fairness and neutrality going forward. Without that foundation, permitting reform cannot succeed in the end goal of delivering affordable and reliable energy that Americans expect.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s All In with Chris Hayes, where he reiterated that while Republicans have failed to deliver on their promise to lower costs on day one, Democrats are fighting to bring down the cost of living, fix our broken healthcare system and clean up corruption.
CHRIS HAYES: And joining me now is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Obviously, Congressman, it’s too early to say anything definitively, but what do you think about the run-up to this race, given the intensely unfavorable terrain it’s being contested on for the Democratic Party, and the amount of resources that the Republican Party put into it?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good evening, Chris. Great to be with you. And I think intensely unfavorable terrain would be a very generous description of the hostility that the Democratic candidate faces deep in Trump country in the heart of Tennessee, right? A very red part of America, with Republicans, as you’ve pointed out, having spent millions of dollars to hold on to a seat that Donald Trump just won by 22 points. So the fact that this is even a close race, potentially a single-digit race, whatever the outcome, in and of itself is extraordinary and reinforces the point that Republicans are on the run because they’ve been complete and total failures, and the American people know it. And Democrats are continuing to lean in to the fact that we want to solve real problems for the American people, drive down the high cost of living, deal with the affordability crisis and certainly fix our broken healthcare system.
CHRIS HAYES: I want to ask you about the healthcare system, but since you mentioned affordability, I want to play you what the President said about the word affordability, that it’s a scam, I guess, concocted by Democrats. Take a listen.
VIDEO OF PRESIDENT TRUMP: There’s this fake narrative that the Democrats talk about affordability. They just say the word. It doesn’t mean anything to anybody. You just say it…The word affordability is a Democrat scam.
CHRIS HAYES: I imagine you disagree, but what do you mean by that word when you say it?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, Donald Trump’s whole life is a scam. The Trump administration is a scam, and certainly the so-called House Republican majority is a scam. These people promised that they were going to lower costs on day one, right? They provided the measuring stick. They made that promise to the American people. And of course, costs aren’t going down, costs are going up. The Trump tariffs are creating a crisis in affordability. Thousands of dollars in additional expense for everyday Americans in terms of goods and groceries. We know that housing costs are through the roof, electricity bills are skyrocketing and now, because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatically-increased healthcare costs. And what does that mean? In some cases, $1,000 or $2,000 per month. And as you know, Chris, these are working-class Americans, the average income around $63,000 per year. This will make healthcare unaffordable. People will be unable to see a doctor when they need one.
CHRIS HAYES: There was some discussion about, after the shutdown resolved, would there be some path forward on extending those subsidies? There’s, I think, about 12 Republican Members who are gonna be in very competitive districts, who all right now are looking at these results in Tennessee. I guarantee you they have them up on their phone, and they’re looking at them right now, talking about, well, we need to. They wrote a letter to Mike Johnson. We gotta extend them. You see there, that’s the latest there, Aftyn Behn up by eight points of 41% in. We’re gonna keep our eyes on that. That seems to have petered now. Like, what is the status of that? Is there any motion on the House side at least to extend these subsidies?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, on the House side, of course, House Democrats have introduced a discharge petition. We now have 213 signatures, which basically means we just need a handful of these House Republicans, these so-called moderate Republicans, who spent months claiming that as soon as the Trump shutdown ended, they were prepared to work together with us to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, but we’ve heard nothing from them over the last several weeks. And it appears that they just talked to talk, but are unwilling to walk the walk. We’re gonna continue to keep the pressure on them because the clock is ticking, and it’s a very real crisis that the American people are gonna face. And as you know, the majority of states that will be most adversely impacted are Republican-run states. We’re talking about states like West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Mississippi and Tennessee, it turns out, that will be impacted if Republicans refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And so, we’ll see some action potentially in the Senate next week. We’re gonna continue to press the case to force an up-or-down vote on a straight three-year extension in the House. And we’re in this fight until we win this fight on behalf of the American people.
CHRIS HAYES: I wanna ask you about the story we were covering in the earlier blocks, the reporting about that second strike on the survivors of an initial strike of a boat in the Caribbean. What do you want to see? The Senate is—has talked about conducting oversight, including Roger Wicker, who’s the Chair of Armed Services there. There’s been a few Republican House Members who’ve expressed their misgivings or concerns. What do you think should be happening in the House?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Chairman Mike Rogers of the Armed Services Committee in the House has jointly indicated with Adam Smith, the once and future Chairman of the Armed Services Committee on the Democratic side, that there will be a investigation into potential illegality as it relates to the strikes that were ordered, that clearly the so-called Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American history, had knowledge of and was a part of. And that investigation is going to reveal some interesting things. It’s clear that Donald Trump and Hegseth are trying to throw the Admiral under the bus. And we’re not going to allow them to get away from that. It’s a cowardly act, and we’re going to follow this investigation as far as it needs to go. And hopefully, our Republican colleagues won’t continue to behave like sycophants and will start acting like a separate and coequal branch of government to serve as a check and balance on an out-of-control Secretary of Defense and an out-of-control executive branch.
CHRIS HAYES: Do you agree with those who have said if the facts as reported, and it seems to me now basically uncontested, about that second strike are true, it is a war crime?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, if the facts appear to be as has been presented, I think there’s no doubt that it’s a war crime. It’s a violation of U.S. law and a violation of international law at the same time, and there have got to be serious consequences for all involved.
CHRIS HAYES: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you for your time tonight.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
WASHINGTON — Tonight, Speaker Johnson hosted the 2025 Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Nevada fourth grader and winner of the Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest, Grady Armstrong, helped light the 53-foot Red Fir, harvested from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and affectionately known as ‘Silver Belle.’
The Speaker was joined by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony, Architect of the Capitol Tom Austin, USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore, and members of the Nevada congressional delegation.
Speaker Johnson delivered the following remarks at the ceremony:
Well, thank you all so much. It is always hard to follow Secretary Brooke Rollins, so thank you for being here — glad that you could make it. And we first, of course, want to thank Chief Schultz and Mr. Austin for making this night possible, as well as the man who did journey across the country to bring this beautiful tree to the Capitol. His name is Michael Porter, and I would ask you to stand, but it’s so dark we can’t even see where you are. But, Michael, thank you for that heroic effort.
Thanks also to the entire Nevada delegation. We’re grateful to you for sharing a piece of your home state for all the nation to enjoy. And right on cue, we have sirens to alert us to all this. For my friends from Nevada, we are shaking — we’re from Louisiana. Some people pronounce it Lose-iana. So we always say Nuh-vada, and now it’s supposed to be Nevada. Just forgive us, forgive us. We’re trying to get it right, okay?
We’re really glad you made it, all of you, and the weather really is beautiful for this evening. I know for all of us, Christmastime is a season of light and hope and renewal. This time invites us to pause and reflect on the many blessings that God has bestowed upon our lives and upon this great nation.
And tonight offers one of those rare moments where we can gather together and take stock of all those blessings.
Now behind me stands the great state of Nevada’s very first Capitol Christmas Tree, as we’ve all heard. It stands at a proud 53 feet. And even in this dark season, this tree shines bright — not from just one light, but from thousands shining together.
And in much the same way, the strength of our nation is found in the individual, in the small towns and neighborhoods, in places like Elko and Incline Village and Henderson and Virginia City. But all of us know that America, not unlike this tree, is strongest when we stand together as one nation under God, and we can never forget that.
We also know that great trees take generations to grow. Red firs like this one require the right conditions and decades of careful tending to rise to their full majesty. And so too with this great republic of ours.
Like the fir, the work of preserving this grand experiment in self-governance is also generational, and it falls to us to steward and protect it so that our children may inherit all the blessings that we enjoy today.
So next year, as we look ahead, we’ll be celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday, and we want to remember that sacred responsibility and to renew our commitment to this essential task that we have together.
Christmas is a fitting time to do just that — to look beyond our material blessings and to lift our gaze on high, just as the wise men once did on their journey to Bethlehem.
As we approach the end here, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas from our family to yours. And I know that we look forward to this time every year. It is about 20 degrees warmer than it was last year with a brisk wind, so you’re blessed — we all are.
And I now have the privilege of inviting the man of the hour we have heard so much about. He’s far more qualified than I to light this magnificent tree, and I’m going to ask him to join us up here. Grady, will you come up? Grady Armstrong comes here all the way from Virginia City, as you heard.
This is his first trip to Washington, D.C. He’s nine years old. He is a gifted young writer. He won this year’s Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest among the hundreds of participants, as we heard.
I’m also told — and this is not hyperbole, okay — what went into this essay was literal blood, sweat, and tears. Isn’t that true? Grady, I heard you cut your pinky while writing this. So, we want to thank you for your sacrifice, young man, and for your great talent that you’re sharing with us. And I can assure everyone, his painstaking work was well worth our wait.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
Pressley Introduces Amendment to Incorporate Her Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act into Bipartisan Bill Led by Oversight Chair and Ranking Member
WASHINGTON – Today, in a House Oversight Committee markup, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) introduced an amendment to provide back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who were furloughed and missed paychecks during the Republican federal government shutdown. Unlike federal employees, the thousands of federal contract workers—including janitorial, food, and security services workers—have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for their loss of hours and pay during a shutdown.
Congresswoman Pressley’s amendment would incorporate her Fair Pay forFederal Contractors Act into the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act – bipartisan legislation led by Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Chairman James Comer. Pressley introduced the legislation in the 119th Congress in October during the government shutdown and has championed the bill since 2019 alongside Senator Tina Smith (D-MN).
A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks during the markup today is available below, and the video is available here. Text of the Congresswoman’s amendment is available here.
Transcript: Pressley Keeps Fighting to Provide Federal Contract Workers with Backpay After Government Shutdown
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
December 2, 2025
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This is the first time that the House Oversight Committee has convened since the end of the longest government shutdown in history.
And during that shutdown, millions of people across our country felt the consequences of Republican dysfunction, and federal workers were amongst the hardest hit.
But unlike federal employees, the thousands of federal contract workers who keep this government running, including janitorial, food, and security service workers, had no assurances that they would ever see a single dollar of the wages that they lost.
When the government reopened, their back pay did not come.
And again, these are some of the hardest working, lowest paid federal contracted workers.
And these are workers who are overwhelmingly women, immigrants, and people of color, and their bills did not stop.
Rent was still due, childcare was still needed, prescriptions still had to be filled, and groceries put on the table.
We should not have a two-tiered system wherein some workers are deemed worthy of back pay while others are left behind.
That is why, during the shutdown, I reintroduced with bipartisan support the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, legislation to guarantee that contract workers receive back pay after a lapse in appropriations, just as federal employees do.
My amendment today would incorporate this bill into the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act which Ranking Member Garcia and Chairman Comer are leading.
Whistleblower protections are important and paycheck protections are important.
We cannot say we value workers if we do not protect workers, all workers, both their physical safety and their economic security.
Contract workers are a critical part of the federal workforce.
They serve the people with the same dedication and professionalism as any federal employee, and they deserve the same respect.
During the shutdown, I met with contract workers who drained their savings and took on debt just to make it through.
The contract worker in my district that was already living paycheck to paycheck, and then one of those paychecks never came.
The custodian who has to choose between paying rent and paying medical bills.
The cafeteria worker in Longworth who prepares food for members of Congress and staff but didn’t have income to feed herself.
A responsible government treats its workers with respect and pays them their back pay, because fair pay isn’t just a matter of fairness.
It’s about stability. It’s about dignity. It’s about justice.
When we destabilize workers—all workers—when we destabilize them, we destabilize the agencies and services that rely on them.
I know what it is to be part of an invisible workforce doing thankless work where people see right through you.
As a former hospitality worker and unpaid congressional intern who worked three jobs, I know what it means to live paycheck to paycheck and the struggle to make ends meet, so this is deeply personal to me.
I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and stand with workers and the people they serve.
And to the federal contract workers who are still recovering from the harms of this shutdown, know this: I see you, I hear you, and I am still fighting for you.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)
Headline: Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Urban Canals
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced theUrban Canal Modernization Actalongside Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Adam Gray (D-CA), and Russ Fulcher (R-ID) to help the Bureau of Reclamation repair urban canals of concern.
“Urban canal maintenance is an issue across the country, but especially in Grant County, Washington,”said Rep. Newhouse.“The Bureau of Reclamation’s canals are in dire need of repairs, and the surrounding communities who rely on them would be at risk if they were to fail. This legislation gives local authorities additional resources to manage these critical pieces of infrastructure while protecting the people and property around canals of concern. I strongly support this bill and thank Rep. Simpson for again leading this important effort.”
Rep. Simpson said,“We must address urban canal repairs to protect Idahoans and Westerners’ way of life. The substantial urban growth around irrigation canals has created challenges and poses a threat to communities nearby. It’s well past time we act on these concerns. The Urban Canal Modernization Act does just that by maintaining safety, expanding accessibility, and providing additional tools to ensure these crucial repairs get completed.”
Rep. Gray said, “While California’s population has more than doubled since the mid-20th century, our water capacity hasn’t expanded to meet the needs of our communities. The federal government must invest in our existing water systems to reduce costs on water users and our farmers. The bipartisan Urban Canal Modernization Act would rebuild crumbling, outdated water infrastructure in the Valley to bring us into the 21st century.”
Rep. Fulcher said,“Urban canals are vital to agricultural, irrigation, and the water needs of our communities. Yet much of this critical infrastructure—some of it more than a century old—is in urgent need of repair. The Urban Canals Modernization Act is a common-sense solution to help address these challenges and ensure our canals in Idaho and across the country get the updates they need. I am proud to be a primary co-sponsor.”
This legislation allows the Bureau of Reclamation to authorize a 35 percent non-reimbursable cost share to help repair and rehabilitate urban canals through areas that would cause significant property damage or possible loss of life if the canal were to fail.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)
WASHINGTON—Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, have introduced a War Powers Resolution to block the Trump administration from engaging in hostilities within or against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.
The introduction of the resolution follows President Trump’s recent social media declaration that the airspace “above and surrounding Venezuela” should be treated as “closed in its entirety.” Administration officials hve not publicly detailed any formal policy or legal basis for such a step, which many legal experts say could be interpreted as a hostile act under international law. The sponsors of the resolution say this escalation—including the significant augmentation of U.S. armed forces assets, personnel, and operations in proximity to Venezuela and statements from U.S. officials regarding planning for ground strikes within Venezuela—shows why Congress must urgently reassert its constitutional role.
“Donald Trump claimed he would put America first—instead he’s trying to drag us into an illegal war in Venezuela,” said Rep.McGovern. “Whatever this is about, it has nothing to do with stopping drugs. Trump just pardoned the former President of Honduras who was convicted of sending cocaine to the U.S. And last year he pardoned a guy who brought fentanyl in from China via the dark web. To me, this appears to be all about creating a pretext for regime change. And I believe Congress has a duty to step in and assert our constitutional authority. No more illegal boat strikes, and no unauthorized war in Venezuela.”
“The Constitution does not permit the executive branch to unilaterally commit an act of war against a sovereign nation that hasn’t attacked the United States,” said Rep. Massie. “Congress has the sole power to declare war against Venezuela. Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution.”
“President Trump has undermined our alliances in the Western Hemisphere, openly interfered in elections, conducted illegal strikes on boats in the Caribbean, and threatened foreign military intervention. He has put our country at the brink of a war with Venezuela without a debate or vote in the Congress,” said Rep. Castro. “This resolution will ensure that every member of the House is on the record about sending service members to a war that Americans do not want.”
The Trump administration has not requested authorization for use of military force against Venezuela, and still has not provided a credible justification for the unauthorized military strikes it has carried out on vessels in the region, actions that have resulted in the extrajudicial killing of dozens of people. Nor has the administration shown why these boats could not have been interdicted and investigated, or why the individuals on board could not have been brought to justice rather than targeted and killed without due process.
Introduced pursuant to the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the measure is privileged and should receive consideration in the House.McGovern, Massie and Castro stressed that their goal is to force a debate and a vote before any further escalation.
Additional cosponsors include Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today requested detailed updates from CoreCivic on medical staffing levels, access-to-care protocols, and measures to ensure timely medication access at the Farmville Detention Center. The request follows an August 8, 2025 oversight visit that highlighted a significant need for increased medical staffing amid prolonged delays in access to care and medication, emphasizing ongoing concerns over the facility’s troubling pattern of substandard medical and safety standards. CoreCivic, which assumed operations of the Farmville facility from Abyon LLC in June 2025, had indicated plans to invest in upgrades, including a transition to electronic health records.
In a letter addressed to President and Chief Operating Officer at CoreCivic, Beyer wrote:
“Dear Mr. Swindle:
I am writing to follow up on my oversight visit to Farmville Detention Center on August 8, 2025 to ensure that the facility has increased medical personnel on staff and has updated protocols to allow for immediate access to medical staff.
When I visited in August, CoreCivic had recently taken over the Farmville Detention Center contract from Abyon LLC and had expressed plans in both news reporting and to me about investing in upgrades to the facility. At the time of the visit, it was clear that the medical staff were overwhelmed, could not relay to us the amount of medical staff that were employed by the facility, and that requests for medical attention were not met in a timely fashion, with some detainees waiting days for simple requests like medication for a headache (at which point such request would likely be moot). I understood that the facility was changing electronic health records and pharmacies as a result of the contract change, but the circumstances we witnessed could not simply be explained away by those stresses, and it was evident that the facility needed increased personnel and updated standards to meet the humanitarian standards required by law.
Farmville Detention Center has a history of failing to meet medical standards. In January 2021, a DHS audit of the Detention Center found various standards at the facility were not met, including access to emergency medical and mental health services. That was found again to be a standard that was unmet in a September 2023 audit. Due to the systemic nature of the issue when Farmville was under the management of Immigration Centers of America, I wrote to ICE after Abyon LLC took over the contract in March of 2024 to inquire about what improvements were being made in the new contract. Specifically, I inquired about what improvements were being made to health and safety standards so that issues like medical neglect would not continue and access to emergency medical and mental health services would improve.
I was therefore concerned to hear that these issues were still apparent upon my visit in August. My team and I had to personally intervene in a medication access case, which despite repeated phone and email communications, was only resolved after my in-person visit and confirmation with the detainee that it had not been resolved, despite communication to me otherwise.
Now that sufficient time has passed for any natural hiccups in a contract switch over to be addressed, I am writing to request an update on the staffing at the facility and protocols on access to medical care. Specifically, I request the following information:
How many medical staff were employed by Abyon LLC as of May 2025? How many medical staff are currently employed by CoreCivic as of November 2025? Please indicate the number and their professional title.
Are there plans to hire more medical personnel? Please elaborate in detail and include hiring timelines.
What protocols are in place to ensure that detainees can meet with a medical provider or receive access to their medication in a time-sensitive manner? Please describe the current protocol, and if there have been any changes since my oversight visit. If yes, indicate what they were.
Please indicate if there have been any updates to mental health access protocols specifically. Please describe the current protocol, and if there have been any changes since my oversight visit. If yes, indicate what they were.
As you know, Congress passed legislation in July that provided $170 billion for immigration and border enforcement, including funding specifically allocated for detention and deportation operations. Therefore, CoreCivic should have sufficient access to resources to make upgrades and hire the staff needed to ensure the facility can meet the requisite medical and safety standards.
Please provide a response to my questions in this letter no later than December 16, 2025. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Representative Burgess Owens (R-UT-04) introduced the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act to authorize $50 million in funding each year to improve transportation infrastructure in the cities hosting next year’s—and future—Olympic and World Cup games.
“USMNT’s success on the field is inevitable, and this bipartisan bill makes sure the United States succeeds off the field, too,” Rep. Larsen said. “The World Cup needs world-class infrastructure to ensure teams and their fans can safely travel to and from every game. That’s why we’re unlocking millions of dollars in funding for host cities—like Seattle in my home state—to improve their transportation infrastructure before the opening whistle.”
“As the host of the 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, Utah knows how to welcome the world, and we’re gearing up to do it again in 2034,” Rep. Owens said. “I’m proud to be Utah’s top advocate on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and to co-lead this effort to give host cities across America the dependable federal partner they need while preparing to host major international sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup. This support strengthens transportation planning, boosts local collaboration, and ensures the United States is ready to shine on the global stage.”
Legislation Background
Funds authorized by this legislation can be used to help host cities prepare their transit routes, roads, sidewalks and other transportation infrastructure for multiday international sporting events, including the FIFA Women’s and Men’s World Cups, the Olympics, Paralympics and Special Olympics. Hosting a single World Cup match can cost cities roughly $100 to $200 million. Under this legislation, cities would be eligible for up to $10 million per event per year. To learn more, click here.
This legislation is a House companion to the identically named bill introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Jerry Moran (R-KS).
World Cup Background
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Seventy-eight games will be played in the United States across 11 host cities: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. For the 2022 World Cup, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) estimated its television viewership at 2.7 billion people.
This Friday, December 5th, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will host the FIFA 2026 World Cup Final Draw in Washington, D.C.
For more information about the 2026 World Cup, click here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Headline: E&C holds hearing on Carter’s bill protecting kids’ online safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) today held a Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee hearing entitled “Legislative Solutions to Protect Children and Teens Online,” which included Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter’s (R-GA) bipartisan bill, Sammy’s Law.
Sammy’s Law is a bill safeguarding children online by informing parents about dangerous interactions on social media. The bill, which gives parents the choice to use third-party safety software to protect their children from harmful situations on social media, is named after Sammy Chapman, who, at the age of 16, was approached by a drug dealer on Snapchat and was unknowingly a victim of fentanyl poisoning.
“Our children are being victimized by bad actors on social media,” said Rep. Carter. “As a father and a grandfather, my heart aches for Sammy’s parents and any others who have lost a child too soon. No parent should have to endure that pain. I believe Sammy’s Law is essential to addressing this silent epidemic that is in homes across America, as it would offer effective barriers against drug abuse, human trafficking, mental health crises, eating disorders, and other harmful situations before they endanger our children. I thank the Energy and Commerce Committee for holding this hearing today and urge continued bipartisan support for this critical, life-saving legislation.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)
Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5), Senator Pete Ricketts (NE-R), Senator Jacky Rosen (IL-D), and Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-2) announced that they will co-chair the relaunch of the bipartisan, bicameral Wi-Fi Caucus. Initially founded in 2018, the Wi-Fi Caucus is dedicated to assisting Members of Congress in better understanding how Wi-Fi benefits the American public, consumers, economy, and the larger geopolitical standing of the United States.
“Wi-Fi is the backbone of how Americans connect today, whether they are accessing the Internet, working remotely, or managing smart devices at home or in their businesses. As this technology continues to shape our daily lives, Congress must have a clear understanding of its role in our modern economy. I look forward to the Wi-Fi Caucus working to inform our efforts in Congress to keep consumers connected and our country competitive,”said Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5).
“Supporting American technologies is the best way to combat Communist China. We must strengthen domestic access to Wi-Fi to promote innovation and avoid reliance on foreign networks. The Wi-Fi Caucus will focus on smart spectrum policy that strengthens security and hardens data privacy for all Americans,” said Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE).
“Affordable, reliable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury; it’s a critical tool that connects communities, supports businesses, and makes education and health care accessible,”said Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV).“That’s why my colleagues and I are launching the first ever bipartisan, bicameral Wi-Fi Caucus to increase connectivity and innovation through high speed, wireless internet. The Wi-Fi Caucus will highlight the importance of investing in American broadband technology, which will enhance security, boost our digital economy, and ensure that all Americans can benefit from this technology.”
“Now more than ever before, access to reliable internet is a necessity for Americans of all backgrounds for their education, health care, jobs, and essential public services. Bridging the digital divide is critical to ensure every community can fully participate in today’s economy and democratic society. As policymakers, we have an obligation to ensure every citizen has access to reliable, equitable, and affordable high-speed internet – and close the digital divide once and for all. By relaunching the Wi-Fi Caucus, we take a crucial step towards bipartisan policy solutions that ensure digital equality and access to the internet for all of our constituents,”said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-2).
In addition to the co-chairs, relevant groups and organizations have applauded the formation of this new, bipartisan, bicameral caucus.
“WifiForward applauds the establishment of a bipartisan, bicameral Wi-Fi Caucus and thanks co-chairs Sen. Pete Ricketts, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Rep. Bob Latta, and Rep. Troy Carter for their leadership on an American innovation success story that impacts every single American, regardless of party, district, or state,”said Mary Brown, Executive Director, WifiForward.“We thank all the members for being champions of Wi-Fi and their commitment to uplifting its uniquely American success story. WifiForward looks forward to working with the Caucus on critical priorities, like unleashing more unlicensed spectrum, to expand fast, affordable connectivity for all Americans.”
“Robust, reliable Wi-Fi is the backbone of America’s digital economy and everyday life,”said Gary Shapiro, CEO and Vice Chair, Consumer Technology Association (CTA). “We thank Senators Pete Ricketts and Jacky Rosen, and Representatives Bob Latta and Troy Carter, for relaunching the bipartisan Wi-Fi Caucus and reaffirming their commitment to connecting every community. CTA looks forward to engaging with the Caucus to unlock additional unlicensed spectrum to support Wi-Fi driven innovation.”
“Wi-Fi Alliance applauds the bipartisan leadership of Senators Pete Ricketts and Jacky Rosen and Representatives Bob Latta and Troy Carter for reestablishing the Wi-Fi Caucus to advance policies that sustain U.S. leadership in wireless innovation,” said Kevin Robinson, President and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance. “Wi-Fi is the primary way Americans connect to the internet, delivering hundreds of billions of dollars in annual economic value. Ensuring continued access to vital unlicensed spectrum, including the full 6 GHz band, and other innovation-enabling policies will empower Wi-Fi to meet the nation’s growing connectivity needs and extend digital opportunity to every community.”
“Congratulations to the co-leaders of the Wi-Fi Caucus. This caucus will play an essential role in helping Members of Congress and their staff understand the dynamic and rapidly evolving technologies that underpin the success of Wi-Fi. Since our founding, the WBA has been dedicated to resolving business challenges and fostering collaboration among service providers, enterprises, and cities so they can deliver outstanding and secure Wi-Fi experiences and fully realize the commercial opportunities emerging across the ecosystem. Through convening industry stakeholders and publishing technical reports and standards throughout the year, we work to advance innovation and best practices across the sectors. We look forward to working with the Wi-Fi Caucus to share insights, support its educational mission, and highlight the WBA’s role in driving progress for the entire wireless community,”said Tiago Rodrigues, President and CEO at the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA).
“Wi-Fi is the workhorse of the internet, carrying the majority of internet traffic — including nearly 90% of mobile data — and powering consumers and businesses in countless ways. Its impact on American ingenuity and innovation is massive, fueling broad-based economic growth and generating more than $2.1 trillion in value between 2025 and 2027. The creation of the bipartisan Congressional Wi-Fi Caucus recognizes Wi-Fi’s essential role in connecting lives, advancing this home-grown technology, and driving the growth of our digital economy. We thank Caucus co-chairs Senators Ricketts and Rosen and Representatives Latta and Carter for their leadership in promoting America’s Wi-Fi interests,”said Hon. Cory Gardner, President & CEO, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association.
“WISPA has long supported the advancement, maintenance, and growth of Wi-Fi and unlicensed spectrum by Congress. The recently launched Wi-Fi Caucus provides an excellent bipartisan forum for open and informed dialogue. We look forward to working with House Chairs Latta and Carter and Senate Chairs Ricketts and Rosen on this critical issue for our members and industry,”said WISPA President and CEO David Zumwalt.