MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced that Rushil Baindla, Imran Mirza, Nikhil Kalburgi, and Riddhish Saravanan of Dublin are the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for California’s 10^th Congressional District. 

Baindla, Mirza, Kalburgi, and Saravanan, all juniors at Emerald High School, created Synapse Match. Inspired by their teacher’s unexpected Parkinson’s diagnosis, the group designed this app to help in identifying early-stage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and related conditions through artificial intelligence. The app uses existing patient data, an audio analysis tool, and motor assessment to predict the likelihood of Parkinson’s disease.

“I am truly impressed by the incredible talent demonstrated at this year’s app challenge,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “We received a record number of submissions this year and I am amazed by the innovation and ingenuity shown by all of our participants. I appreciate that the Congressional App Challenge provides young people with an opportunity to build their skills and show their creativity. Congratulations to Rushil, Imran, Nikhil, and Riddhish!”

Second place was awarded to Adhyayan Veer Singh of San Ramon for his app Scholify, which helps to connect students with scholarship opportunities tailored to their interests, experience, and goals. Third place was awarded to Jayden Wong of Moraga. Jayden created CellLab, an interactive game designed to foster curiosity and excitement in biology education. 

This year’s winning apps were selected by a panel of judges from the STEM and education fields, all of whom live or work in California’s 10^th Congressional District.

The CAC is a public initiative to encourage young people to learn how to code in an effort to inspire creativity and encourage interest in STEM education. In the first seven years of the competition, the CAC has inspired over 40,000 students across all 50 states to code. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) called on the U.S. House of Representatives to take up the Pharmacists Fight Back Act to rein in the abusive practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), the middlemen of drug pricing. The bipartisan legislation is led by Congressman Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) and Congresswoman Diana Harshberger (TN-01).

Congressman Bishop was joined by Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) as well as Nikki Bryant, owner of Adams Family Pharmacy in Preston, Georgia, in speaking at a press conference in support of the legislation.

They were joined by over 50 independent pharmacists and pharmacy owners from across America, including Texas, California, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Michigan, Arkansas, and Virginia, all who have shared their stories about fighting to keep pharmacies from closing. On average, one independent pharmacy closes each day in the United States.

“The largest PBMs today exercise significant power over what drugs are available, at what price, and what pharmacies that patients can use to access their prescribed medications – all with very little accountability or transparency,” said Congressman Bishop during his remarks at the event.

Congressman Bishop added, “The bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Bills that we have introduced will provide fair and predictable reimbursement for pharmacies and fight drug pricing manipulation by providing market-based index pricing. These bills will prevent the PBMs from steering patients towards PBM-owned pharmacies, allowing patients to use the pharmacists of their choice and expanding access to prescription drug care. With the high cost of prescription drugs, it is important that when we can get savings, these are shared with patients and providers, not just pocketed by the middlemen. These bills do that by reforming PBM rebate practices. Finally, these bills have teeth, and they include robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure that the PBMs comply.”

WATCH: Bishop Calls on Congress to Move Legislation to Help Lower Prescription Drug Costs

WATCH: The Full Press Conference Announcing the Pharmacists Fight Back Act

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PHOTO: Congressman Bishop in front of the U.S. Capitol with Nikki Bryant of Preston, Georgia, and pharmacists from across the country to urge the U.S. House to take up prescription drug legislation, the Pharmacists Fight Back Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Today, the Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). The bill received bipartisan support and was approved by a vote of 312-112. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The bill provides critical investments in national defense, supports America’s service members, and enhances global security at the time of growing challenges around the world. 

“This year’s defense bill provides our service members with the tools, resources and respect they deserve, including a well-earned 3.8% pay increase,” said Congressman Bishop. “This bipartisan legislation responsibly strengthens our national security, supports our troops, and invests in the readiness and wellbeing of military families. It ensures the United States remains strong both at home and alongside our allies abroad.”

“I will continue to fight to ensure we take care of our military families as well as our servicemembers who protect our country across the world and here at home,” added Congressman Bishop, who also serves as the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Military Family Caucus.

The FY26 NDAA authorizes $890 billion for the Department of Defense and related national security programs, reflecting months of bipartisan work in the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The bill includes the most significant overhaul of the defense acquisition system in a generation, major investments in science and technology, and key quality-of-life improvements for service members and Defense Department civilian employees. 

Georgia’s Second Congressional District is home to some of the nation’s most important military installations, including Fort Benning, Robins Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. The 3.8% military pay increase will directly benefit thousands of service members and families across the Second Congressional District, strengthening local communities and bolstering military readiness.

The bill also supports improvements to housing, childcare, education, mental health services, and military health care, all vital to Georgia’s military families and the missions of the state’s military installations. This past August, Congressman Bishop hosted the 2025 Military Family Summit at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center next to Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. Many of these topics were addressed during the day-long symposium.

Earlier this year, Congressman Bishop co-led the introduction of legislation to improve military housing as well as promote family stability by helping make moves in the line of duty less frequent and more efficient by working with the Republican co-chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans of Virginia.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

Washington, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. This legislation authorizes $900.6 billion for our nation’s national defense in order to build a ready, capable, lethal fighting force to deter our adversaries and protect our country. After voting in favor of the bill, Congressman Cole released the following statement: 

“Peace through strength. This is a concept that has long been the foundation of American foreign policy. Furthermore, during this time when we are constantly facing threats from state sponsors of terror, foreign terrorist organizations, and other adversaries, peace through strength is a strategy we must continue to apply,” said Congressman Cole.

“Last night, I cast my vote to do just that. The Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA will revitalize the defense industrial base and defense acquisition system to ensure our warfighters are equipped with the latest technology and investment vehicles, restore lethality and warrior ethos to our military, secure America’s borders, strengthen strategic deterrence, improve servicemember quality of life, build the overmatch we need to deter the Chinese, and more – all while saving the taxpayers nearly $20 billion through cuts to woke DEI policies at the Department of War,” said Congressman Cole.

“The United States House of Representatives has now made it crystal clear: our brave men and women in uniform are prepared and will not allow terrorists or our adversaries to win,” said Congressman Cole.

Oklahoma Wins in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act:

• Prohibits the availability of funds for contract termination or production line shutdown for the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft.
• Prohibits E-3 retirement without a plan submitted to defense committees ensuring no capability gaps or until E-7s are procured.
• $9.3 million in design funds for Fort Sill’s Automated-Aided Instruction Building.
• $15 million for Bomber Agile Common Hangar at Tinker Air Force Base.
• $54 million for a Child Development Center at Tinker Air Force Base.
• $10 million for E-7 Squad Operations Center at Tinker Air Force Base.

Other Wins in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act:

• Secures a 3.8 percent pay raise for our troops.
• Fully funds the Golden Dome, F-47, submarines, and warships.
• Revitalizes the defense industrial base by growing manufacturing jobs in America.
• Supports Department of Homeland Security border security efforts.
• Promotes energy independence and new nuclear power technology.
• Ends Left-wing ideology, wokeism, and DEI in the military and DoW.
• Advances efforts to revitalize American shipbuilding.
• Prepares our military for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Sharice Davids (D-KS), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today announced the introduction of the Training Aspiring Leaders Emerging Now to Serve (TALENTS) Act, to codify and strengthen the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) Program—one of the federal government’s premier leadership development initiatives.

 

Since 1977, the PMF Program has served as a cornerstone of federal workforce development, placing a highly accomplished cohort of emerging leaders into government agencies each year. The program has been a vital pipeline to strengthen public service and elevate the next generation of civil service leaders. However, in February, President Trump terminated the program through executive order after more than four decades of existence.

 

“Without the Presidential Management Fellows Program, I likely would not have ended up in federal service,” said Congresswoman Stansbury. “The PMF Program has long served as a pipeline for the next generation of federal leaders, bringing highly qualified talent from across the country to serve our nation. I am proud to colead this legislation to restore and build upon this program at a time when we need America’s best and brightest to address the challenges we face.”

 

“Programs like the Presidential Management Fellows are how we bring the next generation of talented public servants into government,” said Rep. Davids (D-KS). “It also gives federal agencies a pool of highly qualified, pre-vetted candidates, saving them time and resources in hiring. Gutting this pipeline doesn’t make government work better for everyday Americans — it makes it weaker and harder to navigate. This bill keeps that pipeline intact so we can continue bringing top talent into public service, and I’m glad to support it.” 

 

“Creating more pathways for post-graduate students to enter into public service will benefit our country for generations to come,” said Rep. Bonamici (D-OR). “The late President Carter created the Presidential Management Fellowship Program more than four decades ago to encourage and support talented young professionals from all walks of life who want to pursue a career in public service. I enthusiastically join Congresswoman Stansbury and our Senate counterparts on this legislation to put the PMF program into law so these opportunities continue for future generations.”

 

The companion legislation is led in the Senate by Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

 

“I’m a proud alumnus of the PMF program. I’ve seen the impact it can have on young people who just want to give back to their community,” said Senator Kim. “Creating these pathways to serve is bigger than politics, it helps ensure the next generation is working to build a better future for us all, and that’s why we need this program codified into the law. I’m grateful to see this effort now in the House thanks to Representatives Stansbury, Bonamici, and Davids so we can have a bicameral push to get this done.”

 

The legislation is endorsed by the Partnership for Public Service, The Volcker Alliance, and the Presidential Management Alumni Association (PMAA).

 

“For almost fifty years, the PMF was the government’s premier early-career on ramp program, launching the careers of thousands of our most decorated public servants,” said Sara Mogulescu, President, The Volcker Alliance. “Its cancellation earlier this year undermines our nation’s proud legacy of service and chokes off a key source of skilled professionals that agencies need to meet their commitments to Americans. The TALENTS Act is an important step toward restoring the PMF program and investing in the next generation of government leaders.” 

 

“Congresswoman Stansbury’s initiative restarts a professional development program for future public service leaders to prepare to address the nation’s daunting public management challenges that are headed our way. This forward looking legislation will effectively reestablish the American tradition to select future public service leaders based on merit and experience to a professional calling inspired by motivation to serve the nation’s citizens as the primary aspiration,” said Former NASA Administrator and Secretary of the Navy Sean O’Keefe. O’Keefe was a member of the 1978 inaugural class of the Presidential Management Intern Program, and has since retired from federal service after several public management experiences.  

 

“Our country faces significant challenges, and our federal government will need the talents of future federal leaders to solve them,” said The Partnership for Public Service. “The Partnership for Public Service applauds the introduction of the TALENTS Act and thanks Rep. Melanie Stansbury for championing a path to service for the next generation of federal workers.”

 

The PMF Program has long been a flagship leadership development initiative, placing a cohort of a few hundred individuals into government agencies each year following a competitive and rigorous selection process. At the end of their two-year fellowship, many Fellows go on to become high-ranking federal officials. The TALENTS Act would codify the regulations that structured the PMF Program for over four decades, prevent it from being eliminated by presidential executive orders, make targeted improvements to the program, and strengthen Congress’s role in supporting and protecting it.

 

The TALENTS Act would place the PMF Program into statute to prevent its elimination by executive action, reinforce congressional oversight, and implement targeted improvements to ensure the federal government continues to attract and retain top public service talent.

 

The bill text can be found here.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – Today the Democratic members of Oregon’s congressional delegation—Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)— demanded urgent answers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about any plans to expand ICE’s footprint in Oregon.

“We write to request a full and detailed description of any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon. Recent public job postings in the Portland and Newport areas suggest that planning is well underway to contract for a new or expanded detention facility, but no formal notice has been provided to local or state leaders, or to Oregon’s congressional delegation,” wrote the Oregon delegation to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. “We strongly and unequivocally reject the need for any new detention capacity and urge you to honor the public’s right to be informed and review your plans before any contracts are signed or facilities are opened. Oregonians deserve far better from the Trump administration than this shabby track record of absolute secrecy and total disdain for their communities’ viewpoints.”

The lawmakers raised serious concerns about increased ICE detentions of U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike, regardless of criminal history, and illegally denying due process.

They emphasized, “The information we require is critical to support Congress’s responsibility to protect detainees’ bedrock human and legal rights. As witnessed in the disastrous setup of Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades, hastily assembled detention centers invite horrific abuse and fail to effectively support efforts to detain dangerous criminals who pose a genuine threat to community safety. One recent report from Amnesty International found that people detained in Alligator Alcatraz are living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. These conditions include overflowing toilets, limited access to showers, exposure to insects without protection, lights on 24-hours-a-day, and lack of privacy – including cameras above the toilets.  This record of abuse demands deep skepticism and scrutiny of any plan to open detention facilities in Oregon.”

 

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,

We write to request a full and detailed description of any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon. Recent public job postings in the Portland and Newport areas suggest that planning is well underway to contract for a new or expanded detention facility, but no formal notice has been provided to local or state leaders, or to Oregon’s congressional delegation. We strongly and unequivocally reject the need for any new detention capacity and urge you to honor the public’s right to be informed and review your plans before any contracts are signed or facilities are opened. Oregonians deserve far better from the Trump administration than this shabby track record of absolute secrecy and total disdain for their communities’ viewpoints. 

ICE has been increasingly using dragnet practices to detain groups of people with little attention to citizenship or criminal history. Despite near constant claims and reassurances that ICE is pursuing dangerous criminal noncitizens, a recent review of immigration detentions in Oregon from January through October 2025 shows that less than 10 percent of those arrested had been convicted of a violent crime.  In Oregon and nationally, the vast majority of people arrested have never been convicted of any crime whatsoever.  In addition to not prioritizing public threats, ICE has been detaining U.S. citizens in record numbers. One recent report found more than 170 detentions of U.S. citizens in the first nine months of 2025. 

The information we require is critical to support Congress’s responsibility to protect detainees’ bedrock human and legal rights. As witnessed in the disastrous setup of Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades, hastily assembled detention centers invite horrific abuse and fail to effectively support efforts to detain dangerous criminals who pose a genuine threat to community safety. One recent report from Amnesty International found that people detained in Alligator Alcatraz are living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. These conditions include overflowing toilets, limited access to showers, exposure to insects without protection, lights on 24-hours-a-day, and lack of privacy – including cameras above the toilets.  This record of abuse demands deep skepticism and scrutiny of any plan to open detention facilities in Oregon.

Another significant concern requiring your attention is access to counsel. Oregonians in ICE detention are often moved from one location to another in a manner that effectively denies timely access to legal counsel. Recent legal filings from Oregon nonprofits show that current detention sites in Oregon do not have sufficient space for lawyers to physically meet with their clients. Denying due process to detained individuals in this fashion is a moral stain that demands immediate action, and must not be replicated in any new detention site under consideration.

We reiterate our steadfast opposition to any new or expanded ICE detention facilities in Oregon. Please submit a written response detailing any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon as soon as possible, and not later than Friday December 19, 2025. 

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, DC [12/12/25] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation to modernize the Federal Work Study Program.

The Opportunities for Success Act, HR 6606, would update and improve the Federal Work Study Program by expanding access to employment opportunities aligned with students’ career goals. It would also increase program funding and provide a long-overdue update to the Federal Work Study formula so funding goes to students with the greatest need. 

“For decades the Federal Work Study program has helped thousands of students afford higher education, but the program is overdue for updates to better reach those who need it most,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Additionally, this legislation will provide more students with work experience that is relevant to their interests and field of study. I benefited from Work Study when I was in college and know how it can help students throughout their careers. I’m pleased to introduce the Opportunities for Success Act to improve this program and open doors of opportunity for more students.”

The Opportunities for Success Act will:

• Invest in low-income students and increase the five-year budget for FWS to $2.5 billion.
• Reform the FWS anddistribution formula to allocate FWS funds based on the total Pell Grant funding an institution receives relative to other participating institutions, in addition to their share of total undergraduate and graduate student need across all institutions.
• Direct FWS to low-income students by rewarding institutions that enroll and graduate high numbers of students with Pell Grants.
• Promote career readiness by increasing funding for Job Location and Development programs and mandating that institutions prioritize placing low-income students and FWS students in work-based learning positions.
• Improve access to career-related work experience by allowing students to earn FWS wages during periods of non-enrollment and requiring institutions to use at least 7 percent of FWS funds for work-based learning opportunities.
• Create pathways from college to career by creating a $30 million work-based pilot program to help connect low-income students to high-quality internships.
• Enhance student success by directing the Department of Education to survey FWS and inform Congress on areas of further program improvements.

The full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Mississippi’s U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, along with U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), led over 140 bipartisan lawmakers to sound the alarm over a proposed framework by the U.S. Department of Education to declassify nursing degrees as “professional” and undermining the entire future of the nursing workforce.

Their letter follows a recently released proposed framework from the Education Department’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee that omits post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree,” meaning they would be classified as a “graduate degree.” If this framework is adopted during the upcoming rulemaking, the proposed definition threatens more debt for post-baccalaureate nursing students, as student loans are currently capped for new borrowers at $20,500 annually and $100,000 in the aggregate for “graduate” programs and $50,000 annually and $200,000 in the aggregate for “professional” programs.

“At a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs,” the bipartisan group of over 140 lawmakers wrote to the Education Department. “According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), fifty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries received a primary care service from an NP or physician associate (PA), and sixty-six percent of rural Medicare patients received a primary care service from an NP or PA. Consequently, we believe that post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be included in the department’s definition of a ‘professional degree.’”

“Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes, with a recent study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity showing that nursing was one of the top three master’s degrees for return on investment. As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees,” the lawmakers stressed.

As leaders of the Senate and House Nursing Caucuses, Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, and Bonamici have long championed legislation to support the more than 5 million registered nurses across the United States and address the challenges facing the nursing workforce. Merkley is the husband of a nurse, and Kiggans is one of three nurses currently serving in Congress.

The bipartisan letter is supported by over 65 organizations including, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Nurses Association; American College of Nurse-Midwives; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and the National League of Nursing. A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here.

                                                              

In addition to Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, and Bonamici, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Donald Beyer (D-VA-08), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02), Robert Bresnahan (R-PA-08), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), André Carson (D-IN-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA-31), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), J. Luis Correa (D-CA-46), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Donald Davis (D-NC-01), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Christopher Deluzio (D-PA-17), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Cleo Fields (D-LA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Valerie Foushee (D-NC-04), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), David Joyce (R-OH-14), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), George Latimer (D-NY-16), Michael Lawler (R-NY-17), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI-08), James McGovern (D-MA-02), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Joseph Morelle (D-NY-25), Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03), James Moylan (R-GU-AL), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY-03), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-02), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), George Whitesides (D-CA-27), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

Full text of their bipartisan letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Under Secretary Kent:  

We write regarding the Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee’s ongoing rulemaking to implement the student financial aid provisions under Public Law 119–21. As Members of Congress who have championed legislation to strengthen the nursing workforce, we write with concerns over the RISE Committee’s decision to omit post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree” in its recently released proposed framework.  

Nurses are central to our health care system. They comprise the largest health care workforce in the United States, with more than 5 million registered nurses nationwide. Nurses provide high-quality care to patients in all communities, including rural and urban areas, yet we are in the midst of a nursing workforce crisis in this country. According to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study, more than 138,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022 due to stress, burnout, and retirement. This study also outlined predictions that by 2029, almost 40 percent of nurses intend to leave the workforce. Given this trend, we have a strong interest in bolstering the nursing workforce and supporting legislation that will make it easier for nurses to enter the field. 

The RISE Committee’s proposed definition will make it more difficult for nurses to join the health care workforce because post-baccalaureate nursing degrees are excluded from the list of health care degrees in the definition of a “professional degree.” This list includes Pharmacy (PharmD), Dentistry (DDS or DMD), Medicine (MD), and Clinical Psychology (PsyD or PhD), but it omits post-baccalaureate nursing degrees such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and a PhD in nursing. However, the proposed definition describes a professional degree as a degree that “signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree.” The definition also states that a professional degree “generally requires professional licensure to begin practice.” Post-baccalaureate nursing degrees satisfy these criteria, as all registered nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination to enter the profession. Similarly, all Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) must have a graduate degree, such as an MSN or a DNP, and require national certification and state licensure to practice. 

Post-baccalaureate nursing students also have a demonstrated need to access the higher borrowing limits for professional degrees set in Public Law 119–21. The law states that students earning professional degrees may borrow up to $50,000 annually and $200,000 aggregate, in contrast to students earning graduate degrees, whose borrowing limits are capped at $20,500 annually and $100,000 aggregate. The current graduate level loan cap would not meet the need of most Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) programs, which can cost over $200,000, thereby restricting the pipeline of CRNAs and further limiting an anesthesia workforce that is suffering from shortages across all provider types. CRNA programs have shown to be a critical return on investment, with default rates near zero percent, and a workforce that overwhelmingly provides anesthesia to rural and underserved communities where higher cost physicians do not practice. 

In addition, many post-baccalaureate nursing programs hit the annual limit of $20,500, including some programs that may be under the aggregate limit. For instance, many nurse practitioner and other APRN academic programs operate year-round across three full-time semesters, as opposed to the traditional two-semester academic calendar, and thus cost more than $20,500 per year. Classifying these programs as graduate programs would result in these students having to take out additional student loans to cover the remainder of their tuition, which will limit the ability for students to complete their advanced degree. 

At a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs. According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), fifty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries received a primary care service from an NP or physician associate (PA), and sixty-six percent of rural Medicare patients received a primary care service from an NP or PA. Consequently, we believe that post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be included in the department’s definition of a “professional degree.”

Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes, with a recent study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity showing that nursing was one of the top three master’s degrees for return on investment. As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we hope to work with you to improve and expand the nursing workforce across the country. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, DC [12/9/25] –Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced bipartisan legislation to spur innovation in teaching and learning techniques.

The New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act of 2025 would improve student learning by creating a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) to promote informed-risk, high-reward education research. The new national center would focus on developing and disseminating effective practices and tools to improve students’ academic performance and close longstanding achievement gaps. The NCADE would be the fifth center under the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and follow a successful model similar to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). 

“Strengthening education is the best way to improve lives and sustain the economy,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Technology is evolving rapidly and there are many ways it can help students learn and close opportunity gaps. The NEED Act will empower researchers to develop new educational strategies and technologies that are based in science.”

“To prepare every student to thrive in a rapidly changing world, we must pursue innovation with both ambition and accountability,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. “The NEED Act builds a smarter bridge between research and the classroom—accelerating evidence-based breakthroughs, strengthening data transparency, and empowering educators with tools that deliver real results. This bipartisan effort is about stronger outcomes for students, greater opportunity for families, and a more competitive workforce for America.”

“Everyone should have the information they need to make informed decisions about their own education and workforce pathways, support individuals navigating these pathways, and create policies that might help others navigate smoother pathways,” said Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, president and CEO, Data Quality Campaign. “Data Quality Campaign applauds the efforts of Rep. Bonamici and Rep. Fitzpatrick to reimagine statewide longitudinal data systems as tools for providing better support, transparency, and high-quality data to individuals navigating their journeys through education and the workforce.”

“Teachers across the country are constantly looking for ways to innovate given the ever evolving demands they face in their classrooms,” said Kira Orange Jones, CEO of Teach Plus. “The NEED Act bolsters those efforts as it improves the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems to gather accurate data that will inform the field of the challenges we see in classrooms and identify opportunities to advance innovative practices to better serve our students. We applaud the efforts of Rep. Bonamici and Rep. Fitzpatrick to bring forth meaningful investments that innovate and advance teaching and learning.”

The NEED Act would also modernize Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) and help states better track the progress and outcomes of students through K-12 and into the workforce.

The legislation is endorsed by:  AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Accelerate – The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning, AERDF (Advanced Education Research and Development Fund), All4Ed, Alliance for Learning Innovation, America Forward, American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association Services, Applied Learning Insights, Beyond100K, Buck Institute Education/PBLWorks, CAST, Committee for Children, Common Cents Education Consulting, Consortium for State Education Support, Dan Lips (Senior Fellow, Foundation for American Innovation), Data Quality Campaign, Digital Promise Global, EDGE Partners, The Education Trust, Education Knowledge Broker Network, Education Reform Now Advocacy, Education Reimagined, Educators for Excellence, EdVenture Lab, ExcelinEd in Action, Federation of American Scientists, Foundation for Deeper Learning, FullScale, High Tech High Graduate School of Education, InnovateEDU, Institute for Educational Leadership, jeffweldLLC, John Bailey (Former White House Domestic Policy Advisor), KB Stack Consulting LLC, Knowledge Alliance, Kumar Garg (Renaissance Philanthropy), Laura Holian (Research Director, AnLar) and Kristin Gagnier (Senior Research Scientist, AnLar), Learner-Centered Collaborative, LearnerStudio, The Learning Agency, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Learning Heroes, LearningForge LLC, Mark Schneider (Former Director of the Institute of Education Sciences), National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Council on Teacher Quality, National Girls Collaborative, National Parents Union, New Classrooms, New Leaders, reDesign, Reinvention Lab at Teach For America, Results for America, SETDA, SRI, Teach For America, Teach Plus, Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), The Study Group, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, TNTP, Transcend, the University of Oregon, and Zarek Drozda (Executive Director, Data Science 4 Everyone).

A summary of the legislation can be found here, and the full text of the legislation can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

AURORA — Today, Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) joined city officials and library leaders to celebrate the expansion of Martin Luther King Jr. Library, a project made possible thanks to federal resources secured by Crow.

The renovation, which fully doubles the library’s available space, was made possible through a $2.5 million investment secured by Congressman Crow. With this renovation, Martin Luther King Jr. Library is able to build out its physical footprint, adopt new technology, and expand youth programming, continuing to connect the Aurora community with public space and critical resources like computers and employment support.

“By bringing home federal investments for Colorado, we’re expanding opportunities for our community. This investment isn’t just about a building—it’s about ensuring every family in Aurora has public spaces to learn, stay connected, and access the critical resources they deserve,” said Congressman Crow.

“This expansion will revitalize the way the community can access free resources,” said Ginger White Brunetti, Director of Library and Cultural Services at Aurora Public Library. “The space is vibrant and encourages learning and creativity while providing a welcoming space for everyone. I’m excited to see what the community can create here and am grateful to Congressman Crow for fighting to make it happen.”

Throughout his time in Congress, Congressman Crow has fought to connect Coloradans with critical community resources. This year alone, he has successfully helped local residents reclaim more than $30 million from the federal government. Since his first term, Congressman Crow has brought more than $643 million back to his community. 

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