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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke on the House Floor, emphasizing that House Republicans have a responsibility to join House Democrats in protecting Americans’ healthcare after he received 218 signatures on his discharge petition to extend the ACA tax credits for three years.

LEADER JEFFRIES: For months now, Democrats have made clear that we have a broken healthcare system that Republicans continue to destroy.They’ve exacerbated our healthcare crisis month after month after month, including with the One Big Ugly Bill, largest cut to Medicaid in American history, ripping healthcare away from 14 million Americans. Hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing all across the country, including in rural America, because of the Republican healthcare crisis. Republicans, Mr. Speaker, continue to attack the National Institute of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the FDA and vaccine availability. Republicans have launched an all-out assault on the healthcare of the American people, and it continues today with this toxic piece of legislation that will rip healthcare away from an additional four million people and jam junk health insurance plans down the throats of the American people.

Democrats are strongly opposed to this legislation, and the American people know Republicans have zero credibility on fighting to protect their healthcare. In this great country of ours, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, it should be the case, we believe, that access to high-quality healthcare should not simply be a privilege, available only to the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. Access to high-quality healthcare should be a right available to every single American, and that’s what House Democrats are continuing to fight hard to achieve.And one of the ways we can make sure that we strive to achieve that principle is to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are scheduled to expire in 15 days. And that means that tens of millions of Americans, working class Americans, middle class Americans, people in urban America, rural America, small town America, suburban America, the heartland of America, Black and brown communities all throughout America, tens of millions of people, Americans of every stripe, in every region, are about to experience their health insurance premiums increase, in some instances by a thousand or two thousand dollars per month. That is unacceptable. And now we have a bipartisan coalition here in the House of Representatives, at least 218 votes, to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years to provide everyday Americans with the certainty that they deserve in terms of being able to afford to go see a doctor when they need one.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans need to bring the Affordable Care Act tax credit extension bill to the Floor today. Under no circumstances should we leave this Capitol this week before voting on an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credit bill that we know will pass, that the votes exist in a bipartisan way to protect the healthcare of everyday Americans. House Democrats have made clear we are in this fight until we win this fight to cancel the cuts, lower the cost, save healthcare and extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Full Floor remarks can be watched here.

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

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson joined Secretary Scott Bessent for a press conference at the Treasury Department to deliver remarks about Trump Accounts – tax free savings accounts for every child born in America. House Republicans passed this transformational provision into law through the Working Families Tax Cuts. Every Democrat in Congress voted against it.

Thanks to Republicans’ landmark legislation, this new, historic savings tool will be available to every American child born over the next three years with a one-time $1,000 seed contribution that grows with the stock market.

“But among all those features, one that I think will have truly lasting effect on the economy and the financial stability of individuals in our country at large is the Trump Account,” Speaker Johnson said. “It is truly going to change the lives of every American.”

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here

Below are Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:

What an exciting day this is. It’s so great to see you all here at Treasury with our extraordinary Secretary. Scott Bessent is a godsend to America. Can I get a round of applause for our Treasury Secretary?

President Trump will have a lot of extraordinary legacy items that history will record. But one of the best choices early on was selecting this gentleman to serve in this position. And he’s put together an extraordinary team.

And the truth be told, we would not have gotten the big beautiful bill, the Working Families Tax Cuts, done as we did without his steady hand of leadership. Anyone who had a question, I drug them over here to Treasury and made him sit through a little class with the Treasury Secretary and he helped get them to yes. So that’s something history will record as well.

We are so excited about this because America needs this. It’s an idea that is long overdue. People have been struggling. You know, when President Trump came in and this Republican Congress took over in January, with the new administration, we inherited a real mess.

We had four years of Bidenomics, and we all know what that did to people’s pocketbooks, to their outlook on the economy, and to their real experience and having to suffer through record high levels of inflation, lower wages, and less opportunity.

So, when we took the reins of power, we were determined to fix all of that. We had to fix virtually every area of public policy, and we got to work on it. And the result was that big beautiful bill, aptly named by the President, also known as the Working Families Tax Cuts, because that’s what we achieved.

We got real economic relief on the way for the American people. Largest tax cut in US history, largest savings of taxpayers’ dollars at the same time, by the way, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, real relief for seniors on social security, all the other big benefits in the bill.

But among all those features, one that I think will have a truly lasting effect on the economy and the financial stability of individuals in our country at large, is the Trump Account. And what we’re here to explain and what the Secretary just, laid out is an extraordinary transformational policy. It is truly going to change the lives of every American.

And when we wrote the big beautiful bill, it was geared for lower- and middle-class earners to give relief to hardworking families. And this is one of the primary drivers of that. Now, I’m not going to give you a long speech. I could, because I’m really excited about this and what it’s going to do for our families, for the economy.

But one thing I really like, I think it’s almost poetic, is that the implementation date happens to fall on July 5th of next year, right after our nation’s 250th birthday.

As the Secretary noted, we are the greatest nation in the history of the world, the most benevolent nation in the history of the world, the most successful, most free, most powerful. And there’s a reason for that. I’ll just leave you with that thought.

America is built on these foundational principles, and among them is the idea of the free market, of individual financial stewardship and responsibility. The idea of capitalism is that everybody gets a shot. If you work hard and you play by the rules and you do your best, you can get to the next rung on that economic ladder.

And now with this, there’s a bit of a turbo boost to that idea. And while we’ve always believed in private property ownership, private ownership, as the Secretary noted, now, there is a platform, a new platform for private ownership.

What an extraordinary concept and what a big thing to celebrate as we celebrate our nation’s super centennial, as the President calls it, next year.

The idea that these principles and these foundational premises that make our great nation will flourish in a whole new way.

So, we’re so excited to be a small part of that. We’re so excited for the exceptional leadership, for the vision of President Trump, to do this. I can’t wait to tell everybody about Form 45-47. If we can only put an exclamation point at the end of the form number, that would have even perfect.

This is big stuff for a big, incredible country. So grateful to be a small part of it. Thank y’all so much for being here. God bless.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

Washington, DC — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement following Senate passage of H.R. 1043, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act,legislation introduced by Congressman Gosar requiring the Secretary of the Interior to convey 3,400 acres of Bureau of Land Management land to La Paz County to help maximize additional renewable energy generation and energy storage capabilities, enhance the County tax base and facilitate transformative economic development:

“I applaud the Senate’s passage of my bipartisan legislation to unlock responsible solar development in La Paz County. H.R. 1043 conveys 3,400 acres of BLM land to strengthen the county’s tax base, create good-paying local jobs, and expand domestic renewable energy and storage capacity—advancing America’s energy independence.

This bill builds on my long-standing work, including the 2019 La Paz County Land Conveyance Act,to establish the county as a regional energy hub. By removing unnecessary federal barriers while preserving environmental stewardship, H.R. 1043 will attract private investment, lower energy costs, and drive lasting economic growth. 

At a time when Americans are demanding affordable energy and economic growth, this legislation does both. I look forward to President Trump signing my legislation into law,” stated Congressman Paul Gosar.

Background:

H.R. 1043 passed in the House of Representatives on July 21, 2025, and passed in the Senate last evening. The 3,400 acres proposed for conveyance in this legislation includes those remaining parcels in the original proposal that were not enacted into law and adds other parcels that are also compatible for clean energy development needed to unlock additional employment opportunities for La Paz County residents. 

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

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, led Members of the Washington state Congressional delegation in a letter to Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, expressing grave concerns with conditions at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, Washington and demanding answers to a long list of questions regarding overcrowding and lack of access to medical services, food, and legal counsel for individuals detained at the facility. The population at NWIPC has ballooned over the past year under the Trump administration’s indiscriminate and cruel mass deportation campaign, nearing—and at times exceeding—the facility’s maximum capacity of 1,575. 

The letter was sent to ICE by: Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10). 

“Our offices have received reports from local service providers and advocates that conditions and access to services at NWIPC have deteriorated in the last year as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has chosen to detain more individuals at the facility,” the Members wrote in their letter. “In June, detained individuals were reportedly transferred to Alaska—far away from their families and legal representatives—because NWIPC reached capacity. None of this is remotely acceptable—you and the entire Trump administration have a basic moral and legal obligation to the people who have been detained and are under your care.”

“It is well established at this point that this administration is not prioritizing detaining violent criminals, but instead is detaining mostly peaceful, law-abiding immigrants with no criminal record who work hard and contribute to our communities,” the lawmakers continued. “With this in mind, we urge ICE to release noncitizens who do not pose a threat to public safety and to ensure necessary staff levels at NWIPC to protect the safety and basic dignity of the people in its custody.” 

In the letter, the Members raise concern over the lack of medical care for individuals detained at NWIPC and other ICE facilities, writing: “We are deeply concerned that the facility does not have sufficient medical staff and dedicated space to adequately provide medical care to the increased number of detained noncitizens. Additionally, we are incredibly concerned about challenges detainees face in accessing behavioral health care and other specialty care.”

The lawmakers’ letter also draws attention to reports from advocates that at least three pregnant women detained at NWIPC over the past year have been unable to receive appropriate medical care. Advocates also shared that at least one pregnant woman was shackled during transportation, which violates agency policy and raises concerns that medical information, such as whether a woman is pregnant, is not being properly documented by the facility.

The Members continued by raising concerns over the inadequate provision of meals at NWIPC and difficulty that detained individuals have in accessing legal counsel, writing: “Attorneys have faced significant delays to meet with their clients, making adequate legal counsel more difficult. This has become especially challenging when immigration courts advance noncitizens’ hearings by months without sufficient warning. At times, attorneys have had to wait at the facility for up to 6 hours to see their clients.”

The letter concludes by requesting answers to a list of questions by January 16^th regarding capacity and staffing levels at NWIPC, the provision of food and medical care, access to legal counsel, treatment of pregnant women, and recent facility visits. “Please understand that we are paying close attention to the conditions at NWIPC—and your management of this facility,” the Members wrote. “We urge you to promptly review these concerns and take immediate steps to improve conditions and practices at NWIPC to comply with existing standards and laws and ensure that people in immigration detention are being treated with basic dignity and respect. Violations of the law or any abuse of human rights will not go unnoticed or unchallenged.”

Members of Washington state’s Congressional delegation have been conducting oversight of NWIPC throughout this year, despite the Trump administration’s efforts to block Congressional oversight of federal immigration detention facilities. After a protracted legal battle over Washington state’s ability to enforce health and safety standards at NWIPC, a federal appeals court ruled in August that the state should be allowed to enforce such standards at the detention center, and that failure to comply could result in fines of up to $10,000 per violation. 

The lawmakers’ full letter to ICE is available HERE and below:

Dear Acting Director Lyons:  

We are writing to share our grave concerns with conditions at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, Washington and to request information about access to medical services, food, and legal counsel for detained noncitizens at the facility. Our offices have received reports from local service providers and advocates that conditions and access to services at NWIPC have deteriorated in the last year as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has chosen to detain more individuals at the facility. In June, detained individuals were reportedly transferred to Alaska—far away from their families and legal representatives—because NWIPC reached capacity. 

None of this is remotely acceptable—you and the entire Trump administration have a basic moral and legal obligation to the people who have been detained and are under your care. 

You must ensure the facility complies with the 2011 Performance-Based National Detention Standards as revised in 2016 (PBNDS 2011) to keep detained noncitizens safe and healthy while protecting the rights they are entitled to under law. 

It is well established at this point that this administration is not prioritizing detaining violent criminals, but instead is detaining mostly peaceful, law-abiding immigrants with no criminal record who work hard and contribute to our communities. With this in mind, we urge ICE to release noncitizens who do not pose a threat to public safety and to ensure necessary staff levels at NWIPC to protect the safety and basic dignity of the people in its custody. 

Medical Care 

The federal government has a moral and legal obligation to protect the health of individuals in its custody. We have had long-standing concerns about access to medical services in ICE detention facilities. In recent years, several members of the Washington Congressional delegation requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of the quality and accessibility of medical services for individuals in ICE custody. At times this year, NWIPC has exceeded 1,500 individuals in custody, nearing the facility’s maximum capacity of 1,575 individuals. We are deeply concerned that the facility does not have sufficient medical staff and dedicated space to adequately provide medical care to the increased number of detained noncitizens.

Additionally, we are incredibly concerned about challenges detainees face in accessing behavioral health care and other specialty care. During an August 2025 site visit, facility staff indicated the facility employed only four behavioral health staffers. There were reports of at least two suicide attempts at NWIPC in April. It is plainly inadequate to have four behavioral health staff serving the 1,500 detainees under the facility’s care, especially given the fact that serious behavioral health issues frequently emerge under the severe stress of detention. We are also alarmed by reports from advocates with access to the facility that at least three detained pregnant women at NWIPC have been unable to receive appropriate medical care, even after they request specialty prenatal care appointments. Regular exams such as ultrasounds are necessary to monitor development and ensure a healthy pregnancy. Advocates also shared that at least one pregnant woman was shackled during transportation, which violates agency policy and raises concerns that medical information, such as whether a woman is pregnant, is not being properly documented by the facility.

Food 

The Seattle Times recently reported on the inadequate provision of meals at NWIPC as the detained population has increased. Advocates who speak with detainees have shared that meals are provided late and, in some cases, detainees did not receive three meals per day. Detainees have made complaints about food and sanitation for many years, and we urge the facility to be responsive to the nutritional needs of individuals in its custody. Legal service providers with access to the facility have also shared that detainees waiting for video teleconferencing (VTC) hearings may miss meals. We urge the facility to ensure that all detained noncitizens, including those awaiting hearings or visits, are provided a minimum of three meals per day, as required by national detention standards (PBNDS 2011). 

Access to Legal Counsel

Access to legal resources for noncitizens in immigration detention supports their ability to understand their rights and navigate immigration court, preventing backlogs in the immigration court system. Detained noncitizens at NWIPC face several concerning barriers to accessing legal counsel. Attorneys have faced significant delays to meet with their clients, making adequate legal counsel more difficult. This has become especially challenging when immigration courts advance noncitizens’ hearings by months without sufficient warning. At times, attorneys have had to wait at the facility for up to 6 hours to see their clients. This August, two of the seven attorney visitation rooms were being used as Virtual Attorney Visitation rooms (VAVs) and two were being used for video teleconferencing (VTC) hearings, leaving only three rooms available for attorneys to meet with their clients in person. We have also heard from advocates with access to the facility that, at times, only one visitation room was available and interviews for facility staff were being conducted in these attorney visitation rooms. 

In the Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress provided $10,000,000 for ICE to improve legal resources for noncitizen detainees, including to expand video attorney visitation. During an August 2025 site visit, NWIPC staff indicated that the facility recently implemented a new scheduling system to reserve attorney visitation rooms. We ask that the facility work with attorneys to resolve any issues that arise with the new system expeditiously so as not to delay access to legal counsel. We urge you to improve access to legal counsel by ensuring attorney visitation rooms remain available for attorneys to meet with their clients. 

Given these concerns, we request answers to the following questions by January 16, 2026: 

1. What is the maximum capacity of NWIPC, as determined by the fire marshal? As of November 1, 2025, how many individuals were detained at the facility?  

1. How many staff were employed by NWIPC on January 20, 2025? Of this cohort, how many were trained and certified medical services providers who routinely provided direct medical services? 

1. As of November 1, 2025, how many staff were employed by NWIPC? Of this cohort, how many were trained and certified medical services providers who routinely provide direct medical services? 

2. As of November 1, 2025, how many pregnant women were detained at NWIPC? How often have these women requested, and how often have they received, prenatal care appointments with a specialist? 

3. How many days in the last six months has the facility not provided three meals each day to every noncitizen in its custody?

1. Why did the facility not provide three meals each day to every noncitizen? 
2. For each day, for how many noncitizens were three meals not provided?

4. What is the current status of the Legal Orientation Program (LOP) at NWIPC? Are noncitizens able to access LOP daily? What are the hours of availability each day? Outside of hours, are there any other restrictions on daily LOP access, and if so, what are they and why are they in place?

5. How many attorney visitation rooms are currently available for in-person attorney meetings? How many attorney visitation rooms are currently available for virtual attorney meetings? 
6. In the last six months, have the attorney visitation rooms been used for a purpose other than attorney-client meetings (in-person or virtual) or video teleconferencing (VTC) hearings? 

6. When were the most recent facility visits by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General, DHS Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO), the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and ICE oversight personnel (whether the Office of Professional Responsibility or otherwise)? What, if any, recommendations were made after each visit? What progress has been made to implement such recommendations?

7. OIDO issued a report in November 2024 following an inspection of NWIPC. While 11 of the recommendations have been addressed, one remains outstanding. What progress has been made on implementing the remaining recommendation?   

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Please understand that we are paying close attention to the conditions at NWIPC—and your management of this facility. 

We urge you to promptly review these concerns and take immediate steps to improve conditions and practices at NWIPC to comply with existing standards and laws and ensure that people in immigration detention are being treated with basic dignity and respect. 

Violations of the law or any abuse of human rights will not go unnoticed or unchallenged.

Sincerely,  

Issues: Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: ENDORSEMENT ALERT: GOP Doctors Caucus supports Carter bill to reduce prescription drug costs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The GOP Doctors Caucus this week announced its endorsement of Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter’s (R-GA) bipartisan bill, the PBM Reform Act, which will reduce the cost of lifesaving drugs for patients by protecting patients and pharmacies from the harmful and anticompetitive business practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

“Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are middlemen that drive up the cost of lifesaving drugs for patients,” said GOP Doctors Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. & Rep. John Joyce, M.D. “Reform is long overdue to rein in the abuse of PBMs, which prioritize profits over patients through shady practices such as pushing high-cost drugs, limiting consumer access, monopolizing the market, and reimbursing pharmacies at unacceptable rates. This legislation will make much-needed reforms to put patients first.”

“It’s time to bust up the PBM monopoly, which has been stealing hope and health from patients for decades. As a pharmacist, I’ve seen how PBMs abuse patients firsthand, and I believe that the cure to this infectious disease is transparency, competition, and accountability, which is exactly what our bipartisan package provides,” said Rep. Carter. “I thank the GOP Doctors Caucus, of which I’m a proud member, for its endorsement today and urge House floor consideration of this critical bill.”

The PBM Reform Act will: 

• Ban “spread pricing” in Medicaid and move to a transparent system that ensures pharmacies are fairly and adequately reimbursed for serving Medicaid beneficiaries.

• Establish new requirements for PBMs under Medicare Part D, including a policy to delink PBM compensation from the cost of medications and increase transparency. 

• Promote transparency for both employers and patients in their prescription drug plans, with semi-annual reporting on drug spending, rebates, and formulary determinations.

• Require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to define and enforce “reasonable and relevant” contract terms in Medicare Part D pharmacy contracts and enforce oversight on reported violations.

Read full bill text here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter-led bill reducing unnecessary animal testing passes Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today celebrated passage of the Senate companion to his bipartisan bill, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0.

This bill will require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fully implement the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, signed into law in 2022, ensuring that safe and effective treatments are developed for patients using advanced and innovative non-animal testing methods.

The bill now heads to the House for consideration. 

“It is inhumane to rely solely on animal testing of medical products when other, harmless methods exist that are more predictive of human outcomes. The FDA Modernization Act 2.0, and today’s vote by the Senate, have paved the way for modernizing the FDA’s testing methods. This bill will accelerate innovation and get safer, more effective drugs to market quickly by cutting unnecessary red tape,” said Rep. Carter. “There is no reason for the House to delay its vote on this necessary, bipartisan bill that strengthens recent actions by the Trump administration.” 

Original co-sponsors of the House bill include: Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), and Troy Carter (D-LA). 

The Senate bill is led by: U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rand Paul (R-KY), Angus King (I-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Kennedy (R-LA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Roger Marshall (R-KS). 

Read full bill text here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

Read Bill Text

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13) and Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-6) introduced the Bridge the Summer Nutrition Act, a bill to protect children from hunger, strengthen states’ fiscal stability, and fight back against the President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ attacks on our nation’s nutrition program.

The Bridge to Summer Nutrition Act directly responds to the damage caused by the Big Ugly Bill, the Republican reconciliation bill that slashed $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and dramatically increased the financial burden placed on states. Under the Big Ugly Bill, states are now required to cover 75% of SNAP administrative costs and part of SNAP benefits costs while continuing to pay 50% of Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) administrative costs. This is a sharp increase that has caused uncertainty as to whether states can continue participating in crucial child nutrition programs.

“In Georgia, more than 1.1 million children would automatically be enrolled in Summer EBT if Governor Brian Kemp opts the state into the program,” said Congressman David Scott. “Unfortunately, he has repeatedly ignored Georgia Democrats’ calls for him to participate in the program. At the same time, Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration continue their attacks on safety net programs, discouraging states from participating in nutrition programs and walking away from hungry children. This bill chooses the opposite by lowering state costs, expanding access, and making sure kids don’t pay the price for partisan ideology.”

“Children living in Georgia and the other 12 states that refuse to participate in federal nutrition programs are at risk of going hungry during the summer break,” said Rep. Lucy McBath. “For years, Georgia Democrats have encouraged Governor Kemp to reverse his decision to opt out of the Summer EBT program that automatically provides an additional $120 dollars in nutrition benefits per child to families in need. There is no reason why any child should wonder where their next meal is going to come from when their state leaders are turning down federal dollars.”

“Over the last two years, 21 million children across 37 states have benefited from Summer EBT, said Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). This proven program ensures children have access to the nutrition they need to thrive, and return to school ready to learn, while generating local economic activity. The Bridge to Summer Nutrition Act helps to recognize states that are actively working to decrease childhood hunger and incentivizes all states to opt in to the Summer EBT program. This bill is a win-win for families and for our communities. FRAC urges Members of Congress to co-sponsor this bill.”

“The Bridge to Summer Nutrition Act of 2025 is a smart, practical step forward in strengthening access to nutrition for children when school is out,” said Ashanti Lewis, Director of Federal Government Relations at FoodCorps. “By increasing federal support for state administrative costs, this bill helps states operate Summer EBT more efficiently and reach more families who rely on these benefits. At FoodCorps, we see firsthand how consistent access to healthy food supports learning, well-being, and long-term health. We applaud Representative David Scott for introducing legislation that reduces barriers, improves implementation, and helps ensure no child falls through the cracks during the summer months.”

“Feeding hungry kids over the summer while boosting local food retailers is the ultimate win-win,” said Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America. “We laud Congressman Scott for leading on this vital issue.”

Summer EBT is a Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides $40 per month, per child during the summer months–$120 total–for children in households that qualify for SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and other safety net programs as well as children who receive free or reduced-price school meals. However, states must opt into Summer EBT. Currently, 13 states, including Georgia, do not participate, preventing over 10 million children from accessing the program, including 1.1 million children in Georgia.

Specifically, the Bridge to Summer Nutrition Act of 2025 would:

·         Incentivize state participation in Summer EBT by reducing a state’s administrative cost-share for both SNAP and Summer EBT to 10% for any fiscal year in which the states opt into the program.

·         Maintain current cost-share requirements for nonparticipating states, keeping SNAP administrative costs at 75% for states that choose not to participate in Summer EBT.

·         Reduce overall state spending on nutrition program administration, allowing states to reprioritize millions of dollars to other state programs.

·         Strengthen continuity of nutrition assistance during summer months when school meals are unavailable, ensuring children do not lose access to food when school is out.

List of Endorsing Organizations: Coalition on Human Needs, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), FoodCorps, Hunger Free America, the National Education Association (NEA), NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, and Share Our Strength.

Full text of the bill can be accessed HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced Rubi Johnson, a student at Elton High School, as the overall winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Louisiana’s 3rd District.

Rubi’s project, “Help Out,” is a game that teaches personal responsibility in a fun and engaging way. Players complete challenges inspired by everyday responsibilities such as cleaning, cooking, or homework. Watch the student demonstrate her app here.

“Congratulations to Rubi Johnson,” said Congressman Higgins. “It’s rewarding to see her use her skills to help other students learn the value of personal responsibility. Rubi is helping to make that happen, and I’m proud to see her dedication.”

About the Congressional App Challenge

The U.S. House of Representatives launched the Congressional App Challenge in 2015 to help encourage middle school and high school students to learn to code and inspire them to pursue careers in computer science. The Challenge is a nationwide initiative that allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application or “app” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices. Student teams divided by congressional district compete against each other, and the winning apps are showcased at the U.S. Capitol each year.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), today reintroduced their Stopping Grinch Bots Act, legislation which cracks down on cyber Grinches using bot technology to buy up entire inventories of popular goods only to resell them at exorbitant prices. These third-party sellers use bots to bypass security measures and manipulate online sales systems to buy toys, leading to some toys being almost impossible to buy online or in stores at retail prices.

Based on data from cybersecurity firm Imperva in its 2024 Bad Bot Report, bot-related hits on retail sites hit a record high last year, with almost 50 percent of internet traffic coming from non-human sources. These bots are also becoming increasingly sophisticated, using residential IP addresses and even AI to slip past security tools like CAPTCHAs, making this legislation more vital than ever.

“This holiday shopping season, Americans across the country are scouring stores, sites, and shelves for the perfect gift for their kids and loved ones,” Congressman Tonko said. “With prices already surging, the last thing parents, families, and small businesses need is cyber bot technology seizing the most popular items to sell them at outrageous costs. That’s where our Stopping Grinch Bots Act comes in. Our bill levels the playing field to prevent scalpers from sucking hardworking parents dry this holiday season. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this bill and help ensure Americans can spend their time this holiday season with their loved ones, not competing against Grinches.”

“Grinch bots are squeezing holiday shoppers—automatically snapping up online inventory to resell popular products at predatory prices,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said. “Our measure blocks these bullying bots and gives parents a fair chance to buy gifts for loved ones at reasonable prices. By putting an end to bots’ holiday hijinks, our commonsense legislation will protect consumers, families, and small businesses from the cyber Grinches trying to steal Christmas.”

Bots are software programs that can automatically spot and snap up inventory on sale online. In a matter of seconds, third-party vendors can purchase hundreds of items, squeezing out parents and children. In 2016, Tonko, Blumenthal, and Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer’s (D-NY) Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act) was signed into law to ban “ticket bots” that intentionally bypass security measures on online ticketing websites to unfairly outprice individual fans. This new legislation would apply the mechanism of the BOTS Act to e-commerce sites to ban bots bypassing security measures on online retail sites.

A fact-sheet of the bill can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

December 17, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 23 House Democrats in a letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Acting Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) William Wiatrowski, criticizing President Trump’s politically-motivated attacks on government statistics and urging BLS to protect the credibility, quality, and independence of U.S. economic data.

“We are concerned that recent developments, in addition to persistent data collection challenges and budgetary shortfalls, could affect access to information critical for understanding and responding to this Administration’s failed economic policies,” the lawmakers wrote. “BLS, an independent agency within the U.S. Department of Labor, plays an important role by publishing statistics that provide a complete and factual picture of the rapidly changing U.S. economy. Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Federal Reserve (Fed) all rely on timely, accurate, and granular economic data to make informed decisions that impact every corner of the country.”

The Trump Administration has taken multiple steps to cast doubt on the jobs and inflation data released by BLS, including by firing BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer over the release of weak job numbers that were reflective of the harmful impact of the Administration’s tariff and immigration policies. Furthermore, due to the government shutdown, certain information will be permanently missing from the October 2025 Jobs Report, presenting a partial blind spot for policymakers, the private sector, and the general public on the state of the U.S. economy.

The lawmakers further urged BLS to work to improve the quality of its data.

“BLS can take steps to modernize its existing systems and data collection practices…BLS can invest in innovation, incorporate digitized information into its statistical programs, and consider the use of large language models (LLMs) to make it easier for people to report their industries, occupations, and activities,” the lawmakers continued. “We urge the Administration to grant BLS leadership flexibility to spend congressionally-appropriated funds in ways that prioritize these upgrades, partnerships, and its ability to hire, retain, and train talent.”

In addition to Rep Casten, the letter was signed by Reps. Joyce Beatty, Janelle Bynum, Emanuel Cleaver, Cleo Fields, Bill Foster, Sylvia Garcia, Vicente Gonzalez, Josh Gottheimer, Al Green, Jim Himes, Sam Liccardo, Stephen Lynch, Dave Min, Gregory Meeks, Brittany Pettersen, Ayanna Pressley, David Scott, Brad Sherman, Rashida Tlaib, Ritchie Torres, Juan Vargas, Nydia Velázquez, and Nikema Williams.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Acting Commissioner Wiatrowski:

We write to seek information about the quality and quantity of core economic data prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which could be at risk following the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and given President Trump’s unfounded attacks on the integrity of federal statistical agencies. We are concerned that recent developments, in addition to persistent data collection challenges and budgetary shortfalls, could affect access to information critical for understanding and responding to this Administration’s failed economic policies.

BLS, an independent agency within the U.S. Department of Labor, plays an important role by publishing statistics that provide a complete and factual picture of the rapidly changing U.S. economy. Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Federal Reserve (Fed) all rely on timely, accurate, and granular economic data to make informed decisions that impact every corner of the country. Specifically, the Fed utilizes BLS data daily to monitor inflation measures, examine job growth trends, and analyze the U.S. economy. The Fed leans on this data when setting interest rates and taking other actions consistent with its dual mandate. In addition, the private sector relies on BLS data to make investment, hiring, and pay decisions and as a benchmark for their own data. Lastly, in order to maintain a robust U.S. Treasury market and the U.S. dollar as the world’s primary reserve currency, it is essential that the rest of the world views U.S. economic statistics as intellectually robust and free from political influence.

Due to disruptions from the Republican-manufactured government shutdown, BLS confirmed that it will not publish the unemployment rate for October, marking the first omission in 77 years. This data gap leaves policymakers, businesses, homeowners, and the general public in the dark on the current state of the labor market and broader economy.

Furthermore, the level of participation in BLS’ voluntary surveys has declined in recent years, partly due to difficulties reaching people and businesses via phone or in-person visits to collect this data. For example, response rates for BLS’ employment establishment survey, which collects data from businesses and is a key component of the agency’s monthly jobs report, averaged around 60% between 2009 and 2019, but have since declined to less than 45%. Furthermore, response rates for two BLS surveys of retail businesses and households, which form the basis for calculating the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key indicator of inflation for consumer prices, have dropped significantly since 2014. Some have also attributed declining survey rates to an eroding trust in institutions and government. President Trump’s baseless removal of Commissioner Erika McEntarfer further threatens to undermine the credibility of federal economic statistics, according to two former BLS commissioners appointed by presidents of both parties. More broadly, this trend means that incoming data may have become less accurate and subject to larger revisions, which can make it more difficult for policymakers to assess current economic conditions, according to Fed researchers.

Under this Administration, declining response rates, increased data collection costs, and budget concerns have forced difficult decisions regarding survey sample sizes and the metrics that are gathered. In May, BLS announced that it will stop calculating and publishing 350 indexes, including those related to specific industries, that contribute to the Producer Price Index (PPI), a key indicator of inflation for producers of consumer goods. Then, in July, BLS announced that it had stopped gathering CPI data in three metro areas and reduced the sample size by 15% in the 72 other surveyed areas because current resources are insufficient. We are concerned that BLS is losing granularity in its inflation measures, which could make it more difficult to assess tariff-driven price increases across the country.

To address these issues, BLS can take steps to modernize its existing systems and data collection practices. For example, the Census Bureau, in collaboration with BLS, is currently testing the use of online self-response data collection for the Current Population Survey (CPS), which serves as the primary source of labor statistics. BLS can also directly focus on hard-to-reach cases in its surveys, which could help improve response rates and reduce bias. In addition, BLS can invest in innovation, incorporate digitized information into its statistical programs, and consider the use of large language models (LLMs) to make it easier for people to report their industries, occupations, and activities. Lastly, a bipartisan group of around 90 economists have suggested that BLS deepen its partnerships with the private sector and evaluate how private sector and administrative data can complement public statistics, while still preserving data integrity and privacy. We urge the Administration to grant BLS leadership flexibility to spend congressionally-appropriated funds in ways that prioritize these upgrades, partnerships, and its ability to hire, retain, and train talent.

We recognize the importance of ensuring the nonpartisan integrity of BLS. We have the shared goal of ensuring that U.S. economic data is accurate, credible, and—like the U.S. economy itself—remains the best in the world. To that end, we request that you respond to the following questions by no later than January 6, 2026.

1. When will the BLS publish the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for October?

2. Due to President Trump’s attacks, BLS has lost 12 of its 35 senior leaders in recent months. How does the Labor Department plan to address this loss of critical expertise and institutional knowledge?

3. At current budgetary levels, does BLS expect to scale back any existing programs over the next few months? Are any BLS programs being considered for elimination? If so, please list the affected programs.

4. Please provide an update on the timeline for the modernization of the Current Population Survey (CPS). Has BLS experienced any challenges in implementing these efforts?

5. Is BLS considering increasing or expanding existing programs by blending survey data with administrative data, including by leveraging information-sharing agreements with other state or federal agencies?

   1. Are there any statutory limitations to improving coordination with other federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)?

6. In 2022, BLS replaced the collection of new-vehicle prices with transaction data from private sector sources, though it took two years for staff to ensure it provided a reliable measure and to implement the change. Is BLS considering the use of private sector data for any other metrics?

   1. If so, please provide information related to the specific BLS programs that would use these private sector data. How is BLS ensuring that BLS products remain accurate and nationally representative after incorporating private sector data?

   2. Are there limitations on how economic data available from private sources can be adapted by BLS?

7. Is BLS taking steps to leverage automation and digitalization technologies to potentially improve how economic data are produced and shared?

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.