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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, delivered opening remarks at a hearing on President Donald Trump’s assault on the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program.

Below are Ranking Member Jayapal’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at today’s hearing.

WATCH Subcommittee Ranking Member Jayapal’s opening statement.

Ranking Member Pramila Jayapal
Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement
Hearing on “The Impacts of Temporary Protected Status”
December 17, 2025

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing on an issue that goes to the core of who we are as a country: Temporary Protected Status (or TPS). This program, established by Congress in 1990, provides people who are already in the United States a safe haven when their home countries are devastated by armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary conditions. TPS is built on the simple idea that we as a country should not force people back to deadly and life-threatening conditions. This principle has guided both Republican and Democratic administrations for decades.

But today, the Trump Administration is dismantling this long-standing commitment. They are ending TPS for countries where conditions are still extraordinarily dangerous. Countries like Haiti, Venezuela, and South Sudan, all of which the Department of State currently lists under “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisories, because of the dangerous and unstable conditions there. Let’s be honest about what this means. When TPS is terminated for these countries, we are forcing people to return to real and imminent harm. The actions by Secretary Noem will lead to people’s deaths. That goes against everything this country is supposed to stand for as well as our own laws. I’m sad to see us go down this path. But I can’t say I’m surprised.

This is all part of this administration’s mass deportation agenda, which is wreaking havoc on this country. Heavily armed, masked men are terrorizing communities all across America, under the guise of immigration enforcement. They are snatching people of all immigration statuses on the street and refusing to identify themselves.

And even U.S. citizens have not been spared. There are too many reports of U.S. citizens being wrongfully detained, and oftentimes with violent force. Just last week, a U.S. citizen in Minnesota was tackled by a masked agent running full speed. He was put in a chokehold and dragged into the agent’s vehicle. Despite repeatedly telling the agents that he was a U.S. citizen and that he had proof of citizenship on his phone, he was held for several hours and driven to a facility miles away, before finally being released and told to walk back in the snow.

This comes as Homeland Security Investigations has said in court filings that the Trump Administration does not consider REAL IDs to be reliable proof of lawful status. I’m not sure how any of us are supposed to feel safe from being kidnapped and disappeared off the streets.

And the Trump Administration’s relentless attack on TPS is only making things worse. TPS recipients aren’t outsiders in our communities. They live in our neighborhoods, raise their families here, and help keep local economies running. Nearly 600,000 U.S. citizens – including more than 260,000 U.S. citizen children – live in households with TPS recipients. 

TPS has also allowed hundreds of thousands of people to work legally, often in industries that are already experiencing severe labor shortages. These are folks working in construction, hospitality, food processing, and manufacturing – the kinds of jobs that keep our economy running and that many businesses are struggling to fill. They pay taxes, support local businesses, and contribute billions of dollars to our economy every single year. In all, TPS holders contribute about $21 billion annually to the U.S. economy, and they pay $5.2 billion in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes. They also contribute about $690 million annually to Social Security. 

Many TPS holders have lived in the United States for years, often decades—living in 12- to 18-month renewal increments. As such, they are among the most frequently vetted immigrants in the country. They have followed our laws, paid their taxes, and demonstrated their commitment to this country. Instead of stripping them of their legal status and sending them back to dangerous conditions, we should be providing them with a path to long-term stability.

This is why when Democrats were in the majority, we passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act on a bipartisan basis in the 116th and 117th Congresses. That legislation would have provided a path to citizenship for individuals who currently had or were eligible for TPS.

The Trump Administration loves to claim that it is only going after criminals and the “worst of the worst.” But we know that is a lie. Many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle used to say they love legal immigration, but have been silent as this administration does everything it can to end legal immigration, including decimating TPS and throwing the lawful status of over a million people into limbo.

We should be working toward an immigration system that is modernized, fair, and in line with the needs of our families and economy. Attacking legal immigration is not just morally wrong, it makes absolutely no sense. 

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from our witnesses. I yield back.

Issues: Immigration

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) lambasted House Republicans’ health care charade that would drive up premiums and reduce access to quality, affordable health care coverage, and instead called for the immediate consideration of House Democrats’ discharge petition to force a vote on extending the critical Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced Premium Tax Credit (ePTC). Over 540,000 Tampa Bay residents and 4.7 million Floridians rely on the ACA for health coverage.

Transcript:
I rise to oppose this Republican charade and to stand up for my neighbors back home who deserve quality, affordable health coverage. That includes over half a million of my hard-working neighbors across the Tampa Bay area, 4.7 Floridians, or one in five who live in the Sunshine State, who are doing everything right.

They’re entrepreneurs, they’re caregivers, they’re part-time workers and small business owners like Linda Meisner and her husband, whose premium will go from $288 per month to over $3,200 per month next year. They cannot afford $39,000 for their health care. They are terrified that they’re going to lose everything. And David, who is being treated for pancreatic cancer, who is unsure how he will continue treatments and afford everything else.

It is unconscionable that Republicans are ripping away coverage to fund their tax breaks for billionaires and the wealthy and the well-connected. Americans deserve so much better. 

So, defeat this Republican bill and bring the three-year extension, the bipartisan extension, to the floor now.

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

U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee Chairman David Schweikert (R-AZ), Ranking Member Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Vice Chairman Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Senior House Democrat Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued requests to federal agencies for information on their efforts to crack down on overseas scam networks that steal from Americans. 

Last year alone, Americans lost an estimated $10 billion from scams that originate in Southeast Asian compounds and often rely on U.S.-based technologies to identify and target victims. In letters to the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of the Treasury, Department of State, and Federal Trade Commission, the Members of Congress asked the agencies about their coordination across government and engagement with the private sector to disrupt overseas scam networks and protect Americans from scams.

“Online scammers overseas routinely use technology or online platforms owned by American companies to defraud victims in the United States,” wrote Chairman Schweikert, Ranking Member Hassan, Vice Chairman Schmitt, and Senior House Democrat Beyer. “As the Administration acts to thwart bad actors and their corrosive attacks on our nation, whether in response to fentanyl trafficking or criminal cartel organizations, these scam compounds represent a necessary front.”

The bipartisan request to federal agencies follows an alert issued by the four Joint Economic Committee leaders warning consumers about the heightened risk of travel scams during the holiday season.

Read all the letters to federal agencies from the Joint Economic Committee members here, or their letter to the Department of the Treasury below:

Dear Secretary Bessent,

               We are writing to request information about the ways in which the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and U.S. technology companies are engaging to disrupt overseas scam networks and protect Americans from fraud and the foreign adversaries that enflame it, as well as the staff and other resources that the Treasury dedicates to this effort. Last year, overseas scam networks stole an estimated $10 billion from Americans through sophisticated criminal compounds that are based in Southeast Asia and are often staffed through the forced labor of trafficked workers. These scam compounds often rely on U.S.-based technologies—including social media and online dating platforms, artificial intelligence models, peer-to-peer payment applications, and satellite internet services—to identify, target, and defraud victims. New technology has contributed to the proliferation of these overseas compounds in recent years. Still, “U.S. efforts [to expose and deter this growing threat] remain fragmented and under-resourced,” according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC).

               Online scammers overseas routinely use technology or online platforms owned by American companies to defraud victims in the United States. For instance, to begin a scam, criminals frequently initiate contact with potential victims on American-owned social media and online dating platforms. In the first half of 2023, at least half of individuals who reported financial losses from an online romance scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that the scam began on a social media platform. Similarly, a co-owner of one popular peer-to-peer payment application notes that nearly half of the scams that its consumers report originate on social media. In addition, more than half of online dating users believe that they have encountered a scam. Scammers can also lend credibility to their communications through the use of artificial intelligence models developed and owned by American companies. In a February 2025 report, for example, one leading artificial intelligence company noted that scammers in Cambodia had used its technology to generate personalized English-language messages and sustain conversations with users on social media.

               Once they gain a victim’s trust, overseas scammers then solicit payments through American-owned peer-to-peer payment applications, where transfers are instant and, as the FTC notes, difficult to reverse. Finally, as an official from the U.S. Secret Service testified to Congress, scam compounds in Southeast Asia are increasingly turning to American-owned satellite internet services for the connectivity that often makes these online scams possible.

               Moreover, scam compounds in Southeast Asia reportedly operate with the tacit approval of Chinese state actors as part of a symbiotic relationship built on the exploitation of others. As described in the USCC report on these networks, criminal actors like Chinese crime boss Wan Kuok-Koi (“Broken Tooth”) have reinvented themselves into pro-CCP businesspeople as they rebuild their criminal networks. Broken Tooth operates a multi-billion-dollar scam network in China’s backyard near the Thailand–Myanmar border—reportedly laundering corrupt profits into the failing Chinese real estate sector and spreading CCP propaganda. As discussed above, scams perpetrated by Chinese criminal networks have devastated U.S. citizens. Last year, an 82-year-old Virginia man named Dennis took his own life after losing his life savings to a scam.

               As the Administration acts to thwart bad actors and their corrosive attacks on our nation—whether in response to fentanyl trafficking or criminal cartel organizations—these scam compounds represent a necessary front. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), for instance, has recommended that the Federal Bureau of Investigation lead the development of a government-wide strategy to combat scams that would address the “coordination of federal and business activities.” Industry representatives interviewed for the audit similarly called for what the GAO described as “a multisector approach, to include telecommunications and social media companies, as well as law enforcement to address fraudulently induced payments.” Officials from one of the world’s largest financial institutions also expressed support for public–private partnerships as part of a whole-of-government response. Similarly, the USCC has argued that improved coordination between the U.S. government and technology companies could be part of the solution to this problem. With no additional response, however, “criminal groups will likely continue exploiting platforms and services to target Americans with impunity.”

               To aid the Joint Economic Committee in understanding the Treasury’s current efforts and engagement with U.S. technology companies to combat overseas scam compounds and the actors that enable these scams, please provide responses to the following information requests:

               1. Please identify all U.S. social media, online dating, artificial intelligence, peer-to-peer payment application, and satellite internet service companies with which the Treasury currently engages to disrupt activity from overseas scam compounds, and describe the frequency and nature of each engagement.

               2. What specific tools or data do U.S. technology companies currently provide to the Treasury as part of these engagements?

               3. Please describe any non-confidential coordination between the Treasury, U.S. technology companies, and other federal agencies that led to a federal enforcement action against an overseas scam compound or the foreign actors supporting the compound.

               4. Please provide the Treasury’s total budget and current full-time equivalent staff dedicated to combating activity from overseas scam compounds.

               5. What metrics, if any, does the Treasury use to evaluate the effectiveness of its efforts to combat activity from overseas scam compounds? If the Treasury plans to improve or develop these metrics, please describe how this will be achieved.

               6. What dollar amount did the Treasury help save or return to victims of activity from overseas scam compounds in Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 to date as a result of its efforts to combat these scams?

               7. Please describe the Treasury’s coordination with the following entities to combat activity from overseas scam compounds. For each entity, identify the Treasury offices involved; the scope and frequency of coordination; and any specific initiatives, joint operations, or information-sharing mechanisms:

                  – a. Other U.S. federal agencies;

                  – b. Foreign government or law enforcement agencies; and

                  – c. International government or law enforcement agencies.

               8. If the Treasury plans to improve its current coordination activities related to the issues mentioned above, please describe how this will be achieved.

               9. What additional tools, if any, would help aid the Treasury in combating criminal scamming networks and the foreign actors supporting these networks?

               Please provide your responses as soon as possible, but in no event later than January 21, 2026.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. House of Representatives featured rules debate on several pieces of legislation. Congressman Griffith led the Republican side in rules debate on the following bills:

H.R. 6703, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, funds cost-sharing reduction payments to reduce out-of-pocket health care costs like deductibles and copays. The bill also expands access to Association Health Plans to provide more insurance options. Additionally, the bill requires Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to disclose more information to group health plans. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), average Obamacare premiums would decrease by 11% for an average benchmark plan should this bill become law.

H.R. 498, the Do No Harm in Medicaid Act, prohibits the use federal Medicaid dollars to fund gender transition procedures for people under the age of 18. 

H.R. 3492, the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, prohibits genital, bodily mutilation and chemical castration for a minor which is generally anyone under the age of 18 years. The bill preserves this care if there is legitimate need for certain procedures.

Congressman Griffith’s opening remarks on Republican plans to make health care more affordable:

“…This bill lowers premiums for Americans, creates more insurance options, brings greater transparency and cuts red tape. 

“Unlike our Democrat friends’ plan, our Republican plan actually lowers premiums by double-digits, roughly 11%, according to the data.

“All the Democrats want to do is throw billions more dollars towards insurance companies. 

“Instead of attempting to lower the premiums of the individuals who are on the insurance plan the Democrats created, which should be called the Unaffordable Care Act, the Democrats have cried wolf that Republicans are responsible for premiums being unaffordable.

“But let’s get the facts straight.

“Every single Democrat voted in support of the so-called Affordable Care Act. They claimed people’s premiums would be lowered, patients would have more choice, and if you like your doctor, you can keep him or her.

“However, just the opposite has happened.

“Their so-called Affordable Care Act has caused premiums to skyrocket.

“Because of this, Democrats are too afraid to own up to the fact that their health plan has failed to actually lower premiums…”

To conclude a nearly 12-minute speech, Congressman Griffith emphasized:

“…Today you will hear, Mr. Speaker, you will hear my friends and colleagues on the other side, the Democrats, tell you this plan is not meaningful, and that the only way to help individuals is to throw more money at big insurance.

“Throwing more money at the insurance companies, Mr. Speaker, is not the answer.”

Congressman Griffith’s full opening remarks on the rule providing for these three bills can be found here.

During one exchange, Congressman Griffith highlighted the cost-sharing reduction plans in the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.

Votes on these three bills are expected later this week.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, criticized the Republican health care plan being considered on the House floor and called for an immediate vote on bipartisan legislation to prevent health care premiums from surging for 20 million Americans.

“Nothing in this Republican health care plan will stop Americans’ health care premiums from skyrocketing,” Congresswoman Trahan said on the House floor. “When this bill fails to become law, and it will fail, 20 million Americans will see their premiums surge on January 1. Many will not even be able to afford hundreds or even thousands more each month, and they will lose their health coverage altogether.”

CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s full remarks on the House floor. A transcript is embedded below.

Despite repeated claims from House Republicans that their health care “plan” would lower costs and protect coverage, an independent analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that H.R. 6703 would do little to prevent premium increases for 20 million Americans beginning in January, while causing an additional 100,000 people to lose their health coverage. This comes on top of the 15 million Americans projected to lose coverage as a result of Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” which cut $1 billion from Medicaid, the single largest cut to Americans’ health care in history.

Shortly before debate began, four House Republicans signed onto a Democratic led petition to force a vote on bipartisan legislation to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for three years. The legislation would protect coverage for 20 million Americans, including 328,000 Massachusetts residents. Without extending the tax credits, many families will be priced out of coverage. According to the Massachusetts Health Connector, more than 10,000 people in the Commonwealth dropped their health plans during this year’s open enrollment after seeing projected premium increases without the tax credits.

“This is a partisan exercise that does nothing to address the crisis before us. That’s why, moments ago, four Republicans signed onto the bipartisan legislation to end this crisis and protect Americans’ health care, giving it the signatures necessary to be considered on the House floor,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “The American people expect us to act with urgency, decisiveness, and transparency. Mr. Speaker, cancel this vote, call up the bipartisan bill to save Americans’ health care before you take another vacation.”

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Congresswoman Lori Trahan
Remarks As Delivered
House Floor Debate on H.R. 6703
December 17, 2025

Mr. Speaker, this vote is a waste of time.

Nothing in this Republican health care plan will stop Americans’ health care premiums from skyrocketing. When this bill fails to become law, and it will fail, 20 million Americans will see their premiums surge on January 1. Many will not even be able to afford hundreds or even thousands more each month, and they will lose their health coverage altogether.

This is a partisan exercise that does nothing to address the crisis before us. That’s why, moments ago, four Republicans signed onto the bipartisan legislation to end this crisis and protect Americans’ health care, giving it the signatures necessary to be considered on the House floor.

The American people expect us to act with urgency, decisiveness, and transparency. Mr. Speaker, cancel this vote, call up the bipartisan bill to save Americans’ health care before you take another vacation.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE-02) introduced the Improving Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnostics for Warfighters Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of advanced diagnostic technologies to significantly improve how traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are identified and assessed among servicemembers during training and in combat environments.

“Too many servicemembers are returning home with traumatic brain injuries that go undiagnosed or untreated because our diagnostic tools have not kept pace with the realities of modern warfare,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure our troops have access to faster, more accurate point of injury diagnostics so they can get the right care at the right time, protect their long term health, and maintain mission readiness.”

“Our servicemembers face intense physical demands in both training and combat, and we owe them the best tools available to detect injuries early,” said Congressman Bacon. “Our bipartisan bill helps close critical gaps in TBI diagnostics at the point of injury, improving readiness and long-term outcomes. I’m pleased to join Congresswoman Trahan to advance better data and faster diagnosis, leading to better care for those who serve.”

Since 2000, more than 500,000 servicemembers have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury as a result of explosions, falls, and other incidents. Despite the scope of the problem, a recent U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) report found persistent gaps in the identification and treatment of TBI, suggesting the true number of servicemembers affected may be far higher.

The Improving Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnostics for Warfighters Act would establish a pilot program within the Department of Defense to support the development and use of point of injury TBI diagnostic devices in operational settings. The program would:

Evaluate and support the research, development, testing, and production of innovative TBI diagnostic devices, including helping transition promising technologies from prototyping to deployment.

Assess whether covered diagnostic tools can accurately distinguish mild TBI from moderate or severe TBI and be effectively integrated with existing diagnostic methods.

Examine how improved diagnostic technologies can enhance military readiness and reduce the long-term medical burden of TBI through more accurate and timely assessment of acute exposure.

A copy of the bipartisan legislation introduced today can be accessed HERE.

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

WASHINGTON — This week, House Republicans are advancing the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act — a targeted package of reforms designed to lower premium costs for all Americans, expand access to affordable coverage, and increase transparency to drive down prices across the health care system.

While Democrats continue to push for additional COVID-era subsidies that funnel taxpayer dollars to large health insurance companies to hide the cost of Obamacare, this legislation delivers proven, measurable solutions for all Americans – not just some.

KEY REFORMS THAT LOWER COSTS AND EXPAND ACCESS

Lowers Premium Costs Through Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments

• Lowers premiums by at least 11%
• Stabilizes the individual market by appropriating CSR payments.
• Reduces out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and copays.
• Reflects a policy previously supported by 196 House Democrats in 2017.

Brings Transparency and Reduces Hidden Drug Costs

• Requires pharmacy benefit managers to report:

• Drug spending
• Rebates
• Pricing

• Gives employers and employees visibility into cost drivers that raise premiums.

Expands Association Health Plans for Small Businesses and Independent Workers

• Restores the executive order by President Trump, which would: 
• Enroll 3.7 million Americans.
• Cover 400,000 previously uninsured individuals.

Expands Coverage Choices and Strengthens Employer Flexibility

• Allows employees to use tax-free employer contributions to purchase the health plan that works best for them.
• Provides workers with flexible, portable coverage options.
• Protects small employers’ ability to offer affordable, customizable benefit plans.

THE UNAFFORDABLE CARE ACT MARKETPLACE: RISING COSTS AND STRUCTURAL FAILURES

Premiums Have Risen Nearly Twice as Fast as Employer Coverage

Surging Premiums Are Driving Higher Federal Subsidy Costs

The Cost of Extending the COVID-Biden-Era Subsidy Boost is Substantial

Zero-Claim Enrollment Has Surged — While Insurers Collect Billions

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) introduced the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act of 2025, commonsense legislation to establish the first voluntary federal standard for environmental claims on packaging and put an end to misleading “green” labels that confuse consumers and undermine real recycling efforts.

Across the country, a patchwork of state regulations has resulted in unverified claims like “recyclable,” “compostable,” and “reusable” to appear on packaging, often without any connection to real-world recycling or composting systems. This confusion has made it harder for consumers to know what can actually be recycled and has weakened legitimate environmental initiatives.

The PACK Act addresses this problem by promoting science-backed, industry-driven standards for environmental labeling. Under the legislation, companies may only make environmental claims if those claims are scientifically verified and recognized by existing recycling or composting programs, ensuring honesty and transparency without imposing new mandates.

“Americans want to do the right thing, but misleading labels make that harder,” said Rep. Weber. “The PACK Act cuts through that confusion. It’s pro-environment, pro-business, and rooted in common sense, all while holding companies accountable and giving consumers clear, honest information they can trust.”

Industry leaders praised the legislation’s approach.

“AMERIPEN applauds Rep. Randy Weber for introducing the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act and supports the PACK Act’s creation of a federal framework for recyclable, compostable, and reusable claims for consumer packaging under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC),” said Lynn Dyer, President of AMERIPEN. “This new framework will address concerns with the patchwork of state regulations and its negative effect on interstate commerce and consumer awareness regarding management of consumer packaging. AMERIPEN will continue to support Congressman Weber as he moves this critical legislation through the House of Representatives.”

“The Plastics Industry Association thanks Congressman Weber for introducing the PACK Act,” said Matt Seaholm, PLASTICS President and CEO. “Plastic packaging is essential to modern life—protecting products, keeping food fresh, and ensuring medical supplies arrive safely—yet companies and consumers are currently navigating a complex landscape of rules around recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging claims. This growing patchwork not only creates regulatory uncertainty but also has the potential to increase costs and contribute to broader affordability concerns.”

“The PACK Act would establish a clear national framework under the FTC, reducing uncertainty and supporting businesses operating across state lines. As an industry that employs more than one million Americans, we appreciate Congressman Weber’s leadership on this important issue that strengthens U.S. manufacturing and consumer confidence.”

“We welcome the introduction of the PACK Act for creating a single, national framework for packaging claims,” said Peter DePasquale, Vice President, Government Affairs, Keurig Dr Pepper. “By setting clear, national standards and certifications through credible third parties, this legislation helps ensure consumers receive accurate information while giving companies the consistency they need to innovate and accelerate investment in sustainable packaging solutions nationwide.”

Background:

Packaging and labeling standards in the United States are increasingly influenced by state-level regulations, particularly those adopted in California. Because of the size of California’s market, standards set by the state can have national implications for manufacturers, supply chains, and consumers, even when companies operate primarily outside of California.

This dynamic has raised concerns about regulatory consistency and the impact of state-specific requirements on interstate commerce.

Read the full bill text here.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – ICYMI: Congresswoman Haley Stevens delivered passionate remarks on the House floor in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack against Jewish people in Sydney, Australia, on December 14. 

A full transcript of Rep. Stevens’ remarks is below:

Thank you, Mdm. Speaker.

Over the weekend, the world watched in horror as Jews celebrating the start of Hanukkah were murdered on the shores of Sydney, Australia.

It’s dizzying, it’s unfathomable, and devastatingly, it’s become more common in our world today. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in Australia, the United States, or Israel: the killing of Jewish people for practicing their faith is unconscionable, and it must stop.

Today, we mourn the 15 lives lost at Bondi Beach. We grieve with their families and their loved ones, and we share the pain felt by the entire Jewish community around the world. Hanukkah is a celebration of light—a proof point that even in dark times, Jewish communities can find the joy.

However, these are not easy days.

With freedom and lives on the line, we need change. We need the violence to stop.

As Co-Chair of the Anti-Semitism Task Force, I will always speak out and use my voice to uproot antisemitism wherever it festers.

To the Jewish community in Michigan and beyond: I see you, I hear you, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that you get to live, worship, and celebrate safely and freely.

Thank you, and I yield back.

 

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