MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) introduced the Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act (PROTEIN Act), legislation to make a strategic federal investment in protein innovation through boosted support for research, workforce development, and domestic manufacturing capacity.  Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) is introducing companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. 

Global demand for meat is projected to double by 2050, but the United States currently lacks the infrastructure, workforce, and research pipeline to meet that exploding demand for protein sustainably. Senator Schiff’s bill seeks to ensure the United States doesn’t fall behind and makes critical investments in meeting protein demands for the future through improved and expanded innovation. 

“Protein innovation is an emerging but essential pillar of the U.S. bioeconomy that is critical to strengthening food security and addressing the climate crisis,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “While the United States has driven important breakthroughs in this field, countries like China and Canada are outpacing our investments in this cutting-edge technology. As global demand for meat continues to grow, we must diversify our protein sources to strengthen domestic supply chains and expand choices for American consumers. By investing in protein innovation, we can create thousands of high-paying jobs, bolster food security, confront the climate crisis, and reassert U.S. leadership in this rapidly growing industry. The PROTEIN Act does exactly that, making it a win-win-win for our economy, our climate, and our future.” 

“Right now in America, it seems all anyone can talk about is protein, but the exploding demand for it is not something our current food system will be able to meet. Investing in protein innovation, which is already supporting thousands of jobs in California and across the U.S., will help us meet those needs while investing in a climate-friendly food system and positioning the U.S. as a global leader in a growing market that will create new revenue opportunities for American producers,” said Senator Adam Schiff.  

The United States is falling behind in public investment in protein innovation research and development, with other countries dramatically ramping up their investment in this industry. The plant-based food sector alone already supports over 55,000 American jobs, and the broader protein innovation industry could create up to 10 million jobs globally by 2050.  

In the United States, California is the epicenter of protein innovation—home to more than 150 companies focused on plant-based, cultivated, and other alternatives, making up nearly one-third of the entire U.S. sector. The PROTEIN Act also presents an opportunity to create new markets for Californian and American farmers.  

Specifically, the PROTEIN Act would:  

• Establish at least 3 research centers of excellence for alternative protein innovation 
• Create a new USDA research program on protein security focused on biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, and converting underutilized biomass into high-value ingredients 
• Launch a Food Biomanufacturing Grant Program to build and scale domestic production capacity 
• Establish a Bioworkforce Development Grant Program to train workers, fund scholarships, and support regional economic development in this emerging sector 
• Require a National Strategy on Protein Security—a whole-of-government plan coordinating various federal agencies 

This legislation is endorsed by Food Solutions Action and the Good Food Institute.  

“The Good Food Institute commends Senator Schiff and Representative Brownley for their strong commitment to securing a more prosperous and resilient future for food and agriculture. The PROTEIN Act would position America as the global leader in food biomanufacturing for generations to come, building on years of groundbreaking innovation happening in the Golden State and across the heartland,” said Pepin Tuma, Vice President, Good Food Institute.

“The PROTEIN Act takes a proactive, whole-of-government approach to securing America’s food future. By investing in critical infrastructure, expanding domestic production, and increasing consumer choice it positions the U.S. to lead in food innovation for decades to come,” said Mike Ryan, Vice President, Food Solutions Action.

“PBFI applauds Senator Schiff and Representative Brownley for advancing the PROTEIN Act which will maintain the United States’ leadership in food security and innovation. By creating a USDA protein security research program and dedicated protein innovation centers, this bill will generate long-term opportunities for farmers, food workers, and rural communities. Plant-based companies and researchers in particular have been waiting for programs like this to lower the risk of scaling up, build shared infrastructure instead of one-off projects, and move promising ideas from the field to full-scale production here at home,” said Sanah Baig, Executive Director, Plant Based Foods Institute.

“The PROTEIN Act recognizes that the future of protein is a national food security and competitiveness issue. This bill will help close the gap between promising breakthroughs and real-world deployment in U.S. communities. A significant percentage of the alternative protein industry is currently located in the US with the potential to be a huge economic driver for this country. However, growth and commercialization will be dependent on establishing a vibrant research ecosystem solving the industry’s commercialization hurdles, a highly trained workforce, and a network of infrastructure-rich centers for scale up.  For our students, faculty, and the growing US industry, the PROTEIN Act would catalyze this development here at home,” said Professor David Block, University of California-Davis & Center Director, Integrative Center for Alternative Meat and Protein (iCAMP). 

“Global protein demand is rising faster than our current food technologies can sustainably meet, and the science is clear that we need diversified approaches. The PROTEIN Act’s federal investments in biomanufacturing research and infrastructure will help bridge the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and commercial-scale production,” said Galina Hale, Professor of Economics and Coastal Science and Policy, University of California at Santa Cruz.   

“The evidence increasingly shows that sustainable protein diversification will require coordinated public investment in both research infrastructure and scaling pathways. The PROTEIN Act takes a data-driven approach—funding rigorous science at research institutions while building the commercial bridge that’s often missing between promising findings and real-world food systems impact,” said Maya B. Mathur, PhD, Associate Professor, Stanford University.  

“The scientific fundamentals for creating high-quality alternative proteins are well established, but translating these discoveries into commercially viable products at scale requires significant infrastructure investment. The PROTEIN Act’s focus on research centers, biomanufacturing facilities, and dedicated USDA programs will accelerate the development of next-generation plant-based and hybrid foods. This comprehensive federal strategy addresses the critical bottleneck between laboratory innovation and market-ready products that can actually feed people sustainably,” said D. Julian McClements, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Food Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

“The PROTEIN Act invests in the research and workforce development America needs to lead in next-generation agriculture. This legislation will help universities continue our good work by expanding training pipelines, deepening collaboration with farmers and producers, and advancing technologies critical to food security and supply-chain resilience,” said David Kaplan, Distinguished Professor, Biology, Tufts University. 

“The PROTEIN Act’s comprehensive approach—combining Centers of Excellence, demonstration facilities, and workforce development—creates the essential ecosystem for scaling biomanufacturing innovations from promising laboratory concepts to market-ready solutions that can meet global food security challenges. This isn’t just about supporting research; it’s about building the pathways that ensure discoveries actually reach the people who need them,” said Robert Cunningham, Senior Advisor for Strategic Engagement, Wyss Institute at Harvard University. 

“AMPS strongly supports this landmark effort to ensure the United States sustains its strategic leadership in the global bioeconomy and food innovation. Protein diversification is not only essential to modernizing our food system, it is the cornerstone of reducing dependence on foreign markets and securing resilient supply chains. This forward-looking policy lays the foundation for a stronger American economy and lasting food security at home and abroad, positioning the U.S. to lead for decades to come,” said Suzi Gerber, Executive Director, Association for Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Innovation. 

“Passing the PROTEIN Act would help ensure that America continues to lead in agricultural and biotech innovation. Other countries are investing heavily in this space, and we need to keep pace,” said Paul Shapiro, Co-Founder, Fungi Protein Association.

Read the full text of the bill here.

Issues: 119th Congress, Climate Crisis, Economy, Environment

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-22) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), co-chairs of the bipartisan Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Caucus, urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a letter to ensure women are meaningfully included in post-war decision-making, reconstruction, and reconciliation as the United States works with international partners to implement the Israel–Hamas peace agreement.

“The Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017—signed into law by President Trump—recognizes that the full participation of women is essential to lasting security and stability,” the lawmakers wrote. “When women participate in peacebuilding and are afforded tools to succeed, societies are safer, more secure, and more prosperous, and peace is more likely to last. “We look forward to working with you to advance our shared goal of a brighter future for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region.”

The members emphasized that women in both Israeli and Palestinian communities have experienced profound disruptions to their safety, families, and daily lives, making their perspectives critical to effective recovery and rebuilding.

In their letter, Reps. Frankel and Kiggans called on the Department of State to:

• Include women from diverse backgrounds in U.S.-facilitated dialogue on stabilization and recovery;
• Ensure humanitarian and reconstruction efforts reflect women’s priorities, including family reunification, education, infrastructure, and support for children affected by the conflict;
• Encourage international partners to elevate women’s representation in peacebuilding and reconstruction initiatives; and
• Leverage women-led grassroots initiatives, including through funds authorized under the Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA), to support trauma recovery, coexistence programs, and community resilience.

Click here for the full letter.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer, Chairwoman McClain, and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks released a statement after House Republicans today passed the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act – legislation that lowers health care premiums, increases health care access, expands health care choices, and brings greater transparency to America’s health care system. Every House Democrat voted against this legislation, which would lower premiums for all Americans by more than 11% and save taxpayers $30 billion in the process.

“Today, House Republicans voted to lower health care costs for all Americans. Every House Democrat voted against it. After months of empty ‘affordability’ rhetoric and forcing the longest government shutdown in American history, Democrats once again rejected a valuable, common-sense solution to address the unaffordability they created with their own health insurance law – the Unaffordable Care Act.

“House Republicans are taking meaningful action to fix what Democrats broke. For too long, Democrats have forced hardworking American taxpayers to bail out big health insurance companies for hundreds of billions of dollars. Meanwhile, Americans are left paying for increasingly expensive care with fewer choices, lower quality, and worse health outcomes. They broke America’s health care system and with today’s vote, Democrats have abandoned a critical opportunity to fix their own failed law.

“The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act puts patients first. It does exactly what its title promises and more: lowers premium costs, expands access to affordable, quality care, gives every American more options and flexibility to choose coverage that is best for their needs, and brings greater transparency to the health care system. It delivers twice the cost reduction of the Democrats’ temporary, COVID-era enhanced subsidies and brings those costs down for ALL Americans – not just some. House Republicans are working to fix what is broken, restore integrity in our nation’s health care system, and lower the cost of health care for every citizen.”

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act:

Lowers Premiums for all Americans

• Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency: Requires PBMs to provide employers with detailed data on prescription drug spending, rebates, spread pricing, and formulary decisions—empowering plans and workers with the transparency they deserve.

• Appropriates Cost Sharing Reduction Payments: Provides necessary funding for CSR payments beginning in 2027, lowering premiums and stabilizing the individual market while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Relief would be better directed towards low-income enrollees that need them.

Improves Health Care Options for America’s Workers

• Association Health Plans: Expands access to Association Health Plans by allowing employers—including self-employed workers—to band together across industries to purchase affordable, high-quality coverage.

• Access to Stop-Loss Insurance: Ensures small and mid-sized employers can protect themselves from catastrophic claims by clarifying that stop-loss insurance is not “health insurance coverage.” This would allow small businesses to offer their employees more tailored, affordable care.

• CHOICE Arrangements: Codifies and strengthens 2019 rules allowing employers to offer defined contributions for employees to purchase their own coverage—renamed as CHOICE arrangements—and permits employees to pay premiums pre-tax.

Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Today, Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) released the following statement regarding his votes in favor of two Democratic War Powers resolutions related to the Trump Administration’s lethal strikes on boats in the Caribbean: 

“M. Speaker, prior to the Trump Administration, the United States followed a policy of interdiction to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Over the past decade, that approach led to a steady decline in Venezuela’s role as a major drug transit route. It relied on stopping vessels, inspecting cargo, and arresting suspects where evidence existed. This Administration has shamefully abandoned that lawful and effective approach in favor of bombing boats and committing extrajudicial killings at sea. There is no operational reason for abandoning interdiction, which worked, respected the rule of law, and avoided the use of lethal force where arrest and prosecution were possible. 

“After decades of forever wars, the American people are sick and tired of being dragged into needless armed conflicts. Despite that, President Trump escalated his reckless campaign against Venezuela even further last night, pushing the nation closer to a war the American people do not want. 

“For weeks, the Administration has carried out lethal strikes on small boats in Venezuelan waters, killing dozens of people without any authorization from Congress. These killings occurred without due process and without any explanation for why the vessels could not have been stopped, inspected, and the individuals on board arrested and prosecuted. Most disturbing of all, the Administration carried out a so-called “double-tap” strike, deliberately targeting wounded survivors after an initial attack. That conduct is indefensible and inconsistent with the rule of law and the values the United States claims to uphold. 

“The President is also asking the American people to accept a justification that does not withstand scrutiny. The Administration claims these killings are about stopping drugs, but there is no credible evidence that Venezuela is a significant source of fentanyl entering the United States. The fentanyl crisis is driven overwhelmingly by synthetic opioids manufactured elsewhere and smuggled through established land routes, not by small boats off the Venezuelan coast. And Trump’s professed concern about drug trafficking rings hollow when he issued a pardon to the former president of Honduras after a U.S. jury convicted him of running a violent drug-trafficking conspiracy to move massive quantities of cocaine toward the United States. If Trump were serious about stopping drugs and not using counternarcotics as a pretext for military escalation and regime change, he would not be letting convicted traffickers walk free while eyeing Venezuela’s vast oil resources. 

“To this day, the Administration has not provided Congress with a public legal justification for these killings, nor has it explained the legal authority it claims to rely on. Congress and the American people deserve to see the legal rationale for the use of lethal force carried out in their name. 

“History teaches that unlawful uses of force cannot be excused by secrecy or by claims of simply following orders. Responsibility does not vanish up and down the chain of command when the law is violated. As international tribunals have long made clear, including at Nuremberg, individuals are responsible for war crimes and unlawful killings even when acting under superior orders. That principle must apply here as well. A future Administration committed to the rule of law will have a responsibility to investigate these actions fully and hold accountable those responsible for unlawful killings carried out in the name of the United States. 

“The Constitution is clear: the power to authorize war belongs to Congress, and Congress alone. No President gets a blank check to wage war by decree. That is why today, I proudly voted for two War Powers resolutions to block further escalation and reassert Congress’s constitutional authority. It is unfortunate that Democrats had to force these votes under the War Powers Resolution just to ensure Congress carries out its duties, despite Speaker Johnson’s best efforts to keep them off the House floor and avoid accountability. 

“The American people do not want another needless war, and I refuse to let our service members be put in harm’s way for an escalation that Congress never approved.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced legislation that would allow for revenue generated from speed camera enforcement on roads within the National Park System, such as the George Washington Memorial Parkway, to be reinvested for safety improvements, road maintenance, and related infrastructure needs in the parks where violations occur.

“Speeding is a persistent and dangerous problem along the George Washington Memorial Parkway – and on Parkways across the country – that threatens drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “This bill enables revenue from speed camera enforcement to be reinvested within our national parks to fund safety improvements, critical maintenance, and educational efforts without diverting resources from these treasured public lands. It is smart, responsible policy that keeps Americans safe and strengthens the national parks and major transportation corridors they use every day.”

Text of the Parkway Safety and Reinvestment Act is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued the following statement:

Throughout this year, Donald Trump has repeatedly obstructed Members of Congress from carrying out oversight of abuses in our immigration system. Today’s decision preserves the ability of Congress to assert our constitutional responsibility to serve as a check-and-balance on an out-of-control administration that has continued to illegally weaponize immigration enforcement. This is a critical victory for the rule of law made possible because of a groundbreaking lawsuit brought forward by Democratic Members of the House of Representatives. 

House Democrats will never be silenced or intimidated.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) voted in favor of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, legislation that will lower health care costs, expand health care access, and provide more affordable, quality care.

“The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act will lower health care costs across the board,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), a member of the Ways & Means Health Subcommittee. “Republicans are focused on real, sustainable solutions to drive down out-of-control health care prices – all while saving taxpayer money. Meanwhile, Democrats would add hundreds of billions of dollars to our national debt while avoiding the root causes of skyrocketing health care coverage. Republicans are working to lower the burdensome costs of health care for all Americans not only for the next year, but for years to come.”

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act would save $35 billion in taxpayer money over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation.

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act does the following:

Lowers Premium Costs Through Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments

• Lowers premium costs by 11 percent and reduces out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays.
• Appropriates cost-sharing reduction payments to stabilize the broken system and individual market.
• Every House Republican voted in support of this same provision in the House-passed version of the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. House Democrats voted against it, and Senate Democrats killed it.
• In 2017, 196 House Democrats – many remain current members – signed a letter in support of exactly what this provision accomplishes.
   

Brings PBM Transparency and Removes Hidden Costs of Prescription Drugs

• Provides employers and employees with the PBM transparency they deserve to help lower premium costs and improve access to prescription medications.
• Requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to provide employers with clear, detailed reporting on prescription drug spending, including rebates, pricing, and formulary decisions.
   

Allows Small Business Owners and Independent Workers to Form Association Health Plans

• Expands access to Association Health Plans (AHPs) by allowing small employers and self-employed workers to band together across industries to access to more options to purchase more affordable, higher quality plans.
• Strengthens bargaining power for small business owners and independent workers by giving them access to group rates, more provider networks, and alternatives to costly small-group or individual marketplace plans.
• Restores and codifies a 2018 executive order by President Trump—rescinded by the Biden Administration—that the Congressional Budget Office estimated would enroll 3.7 million Americans in Association Health Plans and extend coverage to 400,000 previously uninsured individuals.

Provides More Choices for Employees to Customize Their Health Care Plans
 

• Codifies and strengthens a 2019 final rule by President Trump that allows employees to use tax-free money from their employer to purchase the health care plan of their own choice.
• CHOICE Arrangements (formerly ICHRAs) give workers more flexible options with transferable, tax-advantaged dollars to purchase the coverage that works best for them and pay premiums with pre-tax dollars.

Protects Small Business from Costly Regulatory Overreach

• Prevents unnecessary, costly state regulatory overreach that conflicts with federal law (ERISA) and clarifies that reinsurance is not traditional health insurance.
• Allows stop-loss insurance to protect against big, unexpected claims and clarifies it is not traditional health insurance so small businesses can offer flexible, affordable plans to their employees.
• Ensures self-insurance remains an affordable and accessible option to small businesses so they can provide quality health care benefits to employees that might otherwise be out of reach for them to offer.

In addition to lowering premiums, The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act more broadly addresses rising health insurance costs and health care costs. 

Since 2000, the price of medical care, including services provided as well as insurance, drugs, and medical equipment, has increased by 121.3%. In contrast, prices for all consumer goods and services rose by 86.1% in the same period, according to a 2024 Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation report.

The Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) were a COVID-19 pandemic-era policy scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2025, according to legislation included in the American Rescue Plan Act and Inflation Reduction Act passed by congressional Democrats and signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today announced introduction of his Promoting Regional Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity and Economic Resilience in the Pacific (PROSPER) Act to strengthen the U.S. Pacific Islands economic partnership.

“The Pacific Islands, spread across the vast Pacific Ocean, are key partners in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthening mutual economic, security and cultural ties across countries sharing mutual values and goals,” said Case, a founding co-chair of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus.

“It is in our mutual best interests that we develop, maintain and grow our relationships across all levels, of which economic advancement is especially important.” 

Case continued: “Recognizing this, successive administrations have committed to deepening U.S. engagement in the region, including through trade and investment. Most recently, the 2025 National Security Strategy asserts that ‘the Indo-Pacific is already and will continue to be among the next century’s key economic and geopolitical battlegrounds,’ reaffirms our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and prioritizes winning the economic competition over the long term in the region.

“Additionally, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2025 Annual Report to Congress recommended that we strengthen economic assistance to Pacific Island countries to support U.S. national security interests and the priorities of partner countries.

“However, our economic toolkit for achieving our goals in the Pacific Islands needs to be strengthened. Many Pacific Island countries enjoyed preferential treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) when it was authorized, but the program lapsed in 2020. Some of the Pacific Islands’ top exports to the U.S., including tuna, cane sugar, ginger and taro, would be eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP but for this lapse.”

Case noted that the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the leading multinational organization for the Pacific Islands region, has prioritized the region’s need to build trade capacity and infrastructure and has specifically advocated for preferential trade agreements given its lack of competitiveness due to its small national markets, isolation from the global market, high cost of operating and land and labor constraints. The PIF has encouraged the U.S. to extend duty-free treatment under the GSP beyond preferences for Least Developed Beneficiary Developing Countries.

Acting on the PIF’s expressed desire, Case’s bill (H.R. 6619) extends duty-free treatment to certain goods imported from eligible Pacific Islands countries in the same manner afforded to least-developed beneficiary developing countries under GSP.

It also directs the President to develop a plan for negotiating free trade agreements with Pacific Island countries and create a dedicated trade facilitation and capacity building program for the Pacific Islands, all of which will promote inclusive economic development, create sustainable job opportunities and improve standards of living in the region.

Additionally, if enacted, the bill would serve U.S. national security interests in the region. 

“Implementing such a program would come at a low cost to the U.S. while delivering a high strategic return, especially given the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) increased focus on expanding its influence in the region, said Case. 

“My bill, PROSPER in the Pacific, would provide a visible alternative to the PRC by emphasizing economic partnership over debt-trap diplomacy, all while encouraging private-sector-led development, market-based economies and mutual goodwill between our countries.”

Attachments:

• Case remarks on his bill are here.
• U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2025 Annual Report to Congress is here.
• 2025 National Security Strategy is here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

(Washington, DC) – Today, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Research and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Haley Stevens (D-MI) and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acting Under Secretary Craig Burkhardt demanding an explanation for the termination of SMART USA Institute, a semiconductor research and development program authorized by Congress through the CHIPS and Science Act.

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“At a time of heightened competition between the United States and our adversaries on semiconductor innovation, speed and commitment to U.S. investments are critical. As such, we question the Department’s recent decisions to halt or delay semiconductor research and development (R&D) programs and awards authorized by Congress, and break existing obligations to industry and academia,” said the Ranking Members. “NIST has a reputation as a neutral and steadfast partner that can work with any industry and academic organization. This reputation is very much at risk. Few companies would willingly seek partnership with an organization that cancels its obligations on a whim.”

The letter can be found here.