MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Scott Franklin (FL-18) reintroduced their bipartisan Land Grant Research Prioritization Act, H.R. 7734, which would help give land grant universities dedicated access to existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant funding to enhance artificial intelligence (AI), mechanization and other research.

“We rely on America’s farmers to produce the safest, most abundant, and affordable food, fiber, and materials. Yet they face many challenges such as supply chain resiliency, workforce capacity, input costs, coping with invasive species and pests, as well as the fallout of climate change. We must ensure that we are on the cutting edge of technology that can assist our farmers and producers,” said Rep. Bishop, Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. “For over a century, land-grant institutions – like Fort Valley State University – have been at the forefront of research, development, and extension which has allowed U.S. agriculture to thrive. I am pleased to work with Congressman Franklin through this legislation to harness the power of our 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions to explore how mechanized harvesting and artificial intelligence can help improve U.S. agriculture.”

“Labor shortages, inflation, supply chain disruption, invasive diseases and extreme weather have created significant challenges for American agricultural producers,” Rep. Franklin said. “AI and other important research into mechanization, invasive species and aquaculture are promising solutions to keep growers economically competitive. At a time when growers in Florida and around the country need support, our bipartisan Land Grant Research Prioritization Act is a timely fix to boost US-grown food production and keep growers on the cutting edge. I thank Ranking Member Bishop for joining me in this important effort.”

“Authorization for USDA to fund research into agricultural applications for artificial intelligence is essential to the future of American farms. The land-grant universities engaged in first-rate science cannot deliver it at the speed necessary to keep us globally competitive without USDA support. Funding for AI-guided agricultural science will drive the innovation that keeps America globally competitive and not reliant upon other nations for its food supply,” said Dr. J. Scott Angle, Senior Vice President of Agriculture and Natural Resources, UF/IFAS.

“As the world’s population grows, it’s critical that agriculture is able to embrace new technologies that strengthen how we produce food, fiber, and fuel. This effort ensures that innovation remains central in research, particularly as emerging tools, including advanced data systems and advanced breeding approaches, create new opportunities to solve complex challenges. Expanding our focus on developing and evaluating these technologies ensures that producers have practical, science-based solutions they can trust.,” said Dr. Nick Place, Dean of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).

“I am extremely pleased to learn that the Land-Grant Research Prioritization Act will be under consideration. The triad of agricultural research, Cooperative Extension, and stellar academics remains central to sustaining farm profitability while strengthening our nation’s global competitiveness in food production. In this regard, land-grant institutions serve as the vanguards of agricultural innovation and are indispensable to our food security and broader national security interests,” said Dr. Keith M. Howard, Vice President for Land Grant Affairs as well as Dean and Director of 1890 Research and Extension Programs sat Fort Valley State University. “This much-needed legislation, which supports research at land-grant colleges and universities, will provide critical funding to advance novel and transformational applications of generative AI in areas such as integrated pest management and aquaculture. Strategic investments of this nature will accelerate data-driven decision-making, enhance production efficiency, and improve environmental stewardship—ensuring that producers are equipped with cutting-edge tools to meet growing domestic and global demand.”

“Advancements in mechanization to make our farms and workforces more efficient are sorely needed to level the playing field for U.S. growers. Our land grant universities are uniquely positioned to foster development of these technologies and help bring these advancements to our growers,” said Chris Butts, V.P. of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.

Specifically, this legislation updates USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture research priorities to allow land grant institutions to apply for competitive grants to support farm mechanization and agricultural artificial intelligence applications, invasive species and aquaculture research initiatives. The pair’s bill will allow land grant institutions to continue to innovate and pioneer solutions to the challenges facing our nation’s agricultural producers.

Read the text of H.R. 7734, the Land Grant Research Prioritization Act, on Congress.gov.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

The Direct File Act would reverse Trump administration decision to cancel Direct File, building on widely successful pilot

If fully implemented, Direct File is projected to save families up to $23 billion annually in fees, time, and tax credits

Bill One-Pager (PDF) | Bill Text (PDF)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Coons (D-De.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Reps. Brad Sherman (CA-32), Don Beyer (VA-08), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), and Mark Pocan (WI-02) in leading over 160 lawmakers in introducing the Direct File Act, new legislation that would reverse the Trump administration’s decision to end the highly-successful Direct File program — which allowed taxpayers to file their taxes online, for free, and directly with the government — and make the program permanent.

“Direct File worked. It saved everyday taxpayers over $5.5 million in tax preparation fees and it saved them time. But Trump and Republicans killed it, because making the tax filing process simple and free doesn’t benefit their billionaire donors and the giant tax prep companies that profit off of confusion and fees. That’s why I joined Representative Brad Sherman and Senator Elizabeth Warren to introduce the Direct File Act of 2026, which would restore and permanently codify the IRS’s free, government-run online tax filing program so more Americans can file their taxes quickly and at no cost. I am committed to ensuring we bring Direct File back and stop Trump from rigging the system against the people it’s intended to serve,” said Representative Chu.

The average American taxpayer spends eight hours and $160 each year filing their taxes with tax prep companies. In 2024, the IRS launched Direct File to save families time and money. 94% of users described their experience as “excellent” or “above average,” and more than 70% of taxpayers said they would use Direct File if they were eligible. If fully implemented, Direct File was projected to save families up to $23 billion annually in fees, time, and tax credits.

Despite Direct File’s success, the Trump Administration ended the program after extensive lobbying efforts by tax prep companies. This decision contradicts recommendations from the independent Government Accountability Office and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, ultimately raising costs for Americans and making the tax filing experience even more burdensome.

In addition to directing the IRS to establish and operate a free online tax preparation and filing program, the Direct File Act would: 

• Prohibit the IRS from entering into agreements that restrict its ability to provide free online tax preparation or filing services.
• Direct the IRS to publish an annual report on use levels, patterns of usage, and ways to improve access to Direct File.
• Direct the IRS to enable seamless integration between state tax filing systems and Direct File, including through information sharing and a new grant program for states.
• Reduce tax fraud by getting third-party income information to the IRS earlier in the tax season, allowing the agency to verify this information before issuing refunds.

 “It’s a no-brainer: Americans should be able to file their taxes easily and for free. Donald Trump canceled Direct File after giant tax prep companies spent millions lobbying to protect their profits,” said Senator Warren. “We’re fighting to lower costs for families by bringing Direct File back and making it the law of the land.”

“Americans shouldn’t have to waste valuable time or hard-earned money just to file their taxes,” said Representative Sherman. “The Direct File Act expands on the successful 2024 pilot and offers a straightforward, no-cost filing option that will make the process simpler and more affordable for working families.”

“Direct File helped hundreds of thousands of American taxpayers file their taxes quickly, easily, and for free – so of course President Trump and Republicans killed it. This year, those Americans will have to go back to expensive tax preparation services owned by President Trump’s donors. This legislation would bring back Direct File, because tax season is already hard enough without having to pay a company to pay your taxes,” said Senator Coons.

“Trump and the Republicans shut down the IRS Direct File program because they’re bought and paid for by the tax software industry and don’t have a problem with middle-class taxpayers getting ripped off every spring,” said Senator Wyden. “This bill is a promise that Democrats are going to restore Direct File the next time we’re in charge of the IRS, and in the meantime, it’s a shame that the Trump administration is a threat to any public service that saves Americans time, hassle and money.”

“The senseless destruction of the IRS’ popular Direct File program last year was just another example of the Trump Administration going out of its way to make life more difficult for the American people,” said Representative Beyer. “The program allowed hundreds of thousands of Americans to file their taxes easily and for free directly with the IRS instead of being forced to go through middlemen. This legislation would codify this important program and prioritize ordinary Americans already struggling with high costs of living ahead of special interests.” 

“The federal government requires Americans to pay their taxes, thus it ought to provide them a free and easy way to do so. That’s why I helped lead Democrats’ efforts to establish Direct File through the Inflation Reduction Act: to save Americans time and money. That logic is lost on the Trump Administration. Trump may not care about lowering Americans’ costs, but Democrats still do,” said Representative Hoyer. “We will keep fighting to bring back Direct File and to expand it nationwide.”

“Direct File is a popular program that allows Americans to file their taxes for free, cutting out the middleman. But big tax-prep companies like TurboTax and H&R Block pushed the Trump administration to kill it,” said Representative Pocan. “It’s time to bring back Direct File permanently nationwide, saving taxpayers time and money.”

“A free, direct e-filing tax return system is a fundamental taxpayer right,” said Nina Olson, Executive Director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights and former National Taxpayer Advocate. “Just as the government designs and printed paper tax forms for years, so should it design and maintain a user-friendly electronic filing option for individual taxpayers.”

“Americans across the country are struggling with high costs and having trouble making ends meet, so it’s especially frustrating that we no longer have the option to use the free Direct File online filing software developed by the IRS,” said Susan Harley, managing director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division. “The Direct File Act would put back in place this commonsense cost saving option for filers and once and for all ensure that corporations aren’t allowed to keep their stranglehold on tax filing. Public Citizen and our partners applaud Senator Warren, Representative Sherman, and their colleagues for their leadership on this critical issue.”

In total, 40 Senators cosponsored the legislation, including: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)

120 Members of the House of Representatives cosponsored the bill as well, including: Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr. (D-Calif.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Herb Conaway (D-N.J.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), Cleo Fields (D-La.), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Al Green (D-Texas), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Josh Harder (D-Calif.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), George Latimer (D-N.Y.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), John Mannion (D-N.Y.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Sarah McBride (D-Del.), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Emily Randall (D-Wash.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.), David Scott (D-Ga.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Eugene Vindman (D-Va.), James Walkinshaw (D-Va.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.). 

The bill is endorsed by 115 unions, advocacy groups, and national organizations, including: Public Citizen, Americans for Tax Fairness, Economic Security Project Action, Groundwork Collaborative, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Communications Workers of America, Americans for Financial Reform, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Main Street Alliance, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, P Street, Patriotic Millionaires, Institute for Policy Studies – Program on Inequality, MoveOn, UnidosUS, 20/20 Vision, Advancing CT Together, Alliance for Retired Americans, Allons Babies, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Arkansas Asset Builders, Brazilian Worker Center Inc, California Alliance of Caregivers, CASH Campaign of Maryland, Catalyst Miami, Center for New Revenue, Center for the Study of Social Policy, Children’s HealthWatch, Church Women United in New York State, Coalition on Human Needs, Color Of Change, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Community Change Action, Connecticut Voices for Children, Consumer Action, Courage California, Demand Progress, Elevate Idaho Families, End Child Poverty CA powered by GRACE, Fair Share America, Faith in Minnesota, Financial Empowerment Network, Futures Without Violence, Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc., Golden State Opportunity, Grow Brooklyn, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks!, Housing Action Illinois, Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, In the Public Interest, Income Movement, Indivisible Georgia Coalition, ISAIAH (MN), Jobs with Justice, LIFT Inc, LIFT-DC, Maine Center for Economic Policy, Maine Equal Justice, MakingChange, Inc, Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY), Maryland Center on Economic Policy, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Meals4Families, Minnesota Budget Project, Mothers Outreach Network, My Money Story, National Association of Social Workers, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles, National Organization for Women, National Rural Social Work Caucus, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Mexico Voices for Children, Northern Santa Barbara County United Way, Northwest Progressive Institute, Oregon Center for Public Policy, Oxfam America, Prepare + Prosper, Prosperity Indiana, Public Good Law Center, RAISE Texas, Responsible Wealth, RESULTS, RESULTS DC/MD, RESULTS.org-Massachusetts, Rise Up WV, RootsAction, San Diego for Every Child, SiX Action, Social Work Grand Challenge to Reduce Extreme Economic Inequality, State Innovation Exchange, Strong Economy For All Coalition, The Arc of the United States, Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hidalgo County Texas, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, United for a Fair Economy, United for Respect, United Way of Frederick County, United Ways of the Pacific Northwest, Upper West Side Action Group, Vesta Prosperity, Voices for Progress, Washington Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition, Washington State Budget and Policy Center, Women Employed, and Young Invincibles.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. The enrollment period is open now through April 17, 2026.

“The Trump Administration is putting American farmers first,” said Congressman Baird. “I thank President Trump and Secretary Rollins for their work to prioritize the farm economy and provide this critical economic relief for our farmers. I encourage every Hoosier eligible to apply and take advantage of this program, especially as we begin the planting season. I will continue to work with this administration to ensure our farmers flourish, have access to new markets, and lead the world in agricultural production and exports.”

The FBA program provides $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop producers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. The following commodities are eligible for FBA: barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame, and sunflower.

Farmers and producers may complete their applications online or submit to their county Farm Service Agency office.

For more information from the USDA on the FBA program, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) introduced the Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act (H.R. 7529) to help foster youth transition to adulthood by resolving legal issues affecting housing, education, employment entry, and family conditions. 

As the top Democrat and Republican on the Subcommittee with jurisdiction over child welfare, Reps. Davis and LaHood have heard from foster youth and advocates about ways to improve the John H. Chafee Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood program, which provides $143 million a year in flexible funding to states, territories, and Indian tribal entities to support older foster youth as they exit care.  Leading advocacy organizations have highlighted that foster youth can experience legal needs that often are acute and time-sensitive, threatening a young person’s housing, educational goals, income, and family stability at a time when they have the least support.  For example, in 2020, the National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council listed quality legal representation as one of its four Youth & Alumni Priorities to help older foster youth.  Similarly, since launching its Virtual Support Services program in 2021, Think of Us reports that 18 percent of all requests from transition-age youth relate to legal services.  A few of the most common categories of legal need include: housing stability and eviction defense; guardianship and custody, especially for youth informally caring for siblings or relatives; and access to vital records. 

The Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act would improve access to legal representation and counseling to help foster youth transition to adulthood by resolving legal issues affecting housing, education, employment entry, and family conditions.  Specifically, the bill would amend the Chafee Program to require States to consider legal issues affecting youth as part of case planning and to provide States with the option to use funds to support access to legal representation and counseling. 

“Foster youth face numerous challenges as they exit care,” said Rep. Davis.  “I proudly join with Chairman LaHood to help older youth transition to adulthood by improving access to legal representation and counseling. I am grateful to the current and former youth who have used their lived experience to share how legal assistance could help young people secure stable housing, resolve guardianship and custody issues, remove barriers to employment, and pursue educational opportunities to thrive.”

“Youth aging out of foster care are one of the most vulnerable populations in our country,” said Rep. LaHood. “One of my top priorities as Chairman of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee is to ensure every child has a chance to thrive and a pathway to success. I thank Ranking Member Davis for his leadership in introducing the bipartisan Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act to build on our Subcommittee’s work to modernize the Chafee Foster Care Program. It is critical that we continue our work to expand access to education, housing, and employment opportunities to help foster youth successfully transition into adulthood.” 

The Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act is supported by numerous foster youth, child welfare, and legal advocates, including:  Brightpoint; Child Welfare League of America; Children’s Advocacy Institute; Foster Care Alumni of America; FosterClub; Juvenile Law Center; National Foster Youth Institute; Think of Us; Youth Law Center; and Youth Villages. 

 

Brightpoint

“Ultimately, this bill is about believing in young people and not giving up hope on them, nor allowing them to give up hope on themselves. We applaud Reps. Davis and LaHood for working together on this important bill that ensures a brighter future for our youth aging out of foster care.” Mike Shaver, president and CEO of Brightpoint, which has served Illinois children and families for more than 142 years

Child Welfare League of America

“Young adults transitioning from foster care to adulthood often face obstacles and barriers to establishing independence and security. It is incumbent upon the agencies and organizations serving these young people to help them access resources and navigate the relevant systems, including the legal system. The Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act will give child welfare agencies additional flexibility to help youth in foster care address pressing legal concerns, allowing them to build a steady foundation for their future. CWLA applauds Chairman LaHood and Ranking Member Davis for their introduction of this important legislation.” Linda S. Spears, President and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)

FosterClub

“Foster youth face unique legal barriers that can derail their journey to adulthood. This bill ensures Chafee funds can be used to quickly resolve those challenges so young people can stay on track. We’re grateful to Representative Davis for listening to young people as his ‘North Star’.” Celeste Bodner, Executive Director of FosterClub, the national network for youth in foster care 

Think of Us

“Through our Virtual Support Services program, Think of Us has worked with thousands of transition-age foster youth across the country — and legal assistance consistently ranks among their most pressing needs. Young people come to us facing eviction proceedings, benefit denials, and guardianship filings with no one to help them navigate these systems. These barriers do not disappear when a young person leaves foster care. They follow them into housing applications, job interviews, and college enrollment.  Access to legal representation should be part of how we prepare young people for adulthood, not something they have to fight for on their own. We are proud to support this legislation, and we are grateful to Representatives LaHood and Davis for their commitment to listening to young people and advocating on their behalf.” Sixto Cancel, CEO, Think of Us 

 

The legislative text of the bill is available HERE.

A summary of the bill is available HERE. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Today, Reps. Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Greg Casar (TX-35), Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, and San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem opposing a proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility on the East Side of San Antonio and urging DHS to engage with the community before moving forward.

In the letter, the group cautions that advancing a facility of this scale without meaningful consultation wastes taxpayer dollars and undermines public trust. They emphasize that neither the San Antonio congressional delegation nor local government leaders were consulted before ICE moved ahead with the proposal. They warn that the lack of communication and transparency raises significant questions about infrastructure capacity—including water, sewage, and electricity usage—emergency preparedness, public safety, and long-term impacts on surrounding neighborhoods.

“I strongly oppose ICE moving forward with this facility,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Based on what ICE has shared so far, the plan could include roughly 1,500 beds, but we still don’t have clear answers about the timeline or the impact on San Antonio. As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, I don’t believe this is a responsible use of taxpayer dollars.”

“The Trump Administration and ICE are invading our communities to carry out their mass deportation campaign. Their latest move to purchase warehouses and convert them into mass detention centers was done without consultation with local leaders or members of Congress. San Antonians and people across the country are rightfully rejecting their plans to turn community spaces into prisons,” said Congressman Castro.

“Innocent children are being locked up in ICE detention centers in dangerous and inhumane conditions. We should be shutting these facilities down, not building more,” said Congressman Casar. “San Antonio families deserve safety and dignity—not an expansion of Trump’s deportation machine in our own community.”

“I oppose the ICE detention facility in Bexar County.  I want to meet Secretary Noem and let her know directly why we oppose the detention facility,” said Judge Sakai. “Our community has questions and concerns.  ICE needs to be accountable to our community.”

“Federal courts have repeatedly slapped down the Trump Administration when it oversteps the limits of federal law. As Military City USA, we have a special responsibility to demand the courts step in again and stop the Navy’s WEXMAC contract from being twisted to create a domestic ICE detention project at an eye-popping price above its appraised value and far outside its lawful purpose,” said Commissioner Calvert.

“The lack of transparency and communication around current and proposed ICE activities in San Antonio is unacceptable,” said Mayor Jones. “Our community deserves answers, and until then, I continue to call on Congressional leaders not to support funding for the proposed ICE facility in our community. I look forward to engaging with DHS Secretary Noem to ensure we’re balancing public safety and public transparency.”

The letter formally requests an in-person meeting with DHS that includes members of the San Antonio congressional delegation and local elected officials. The signatories also seek detailed information on the scope of the proposed facility, projected capacity, staffing levels, emergency response coordination, and whether ICE intends to expand its administrative presence in San Antonio.

The letter also requests a formal response from DHS by Feb. 27 and urges the department to pause further action until local concerns are fully addressed.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), co-led the introduction of the Sustaining Rural Healthcare Act alongside Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04), Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), and Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02). The bipartisan bill expands access to care and provides a financial lifeline for struggling hospitals in rural communities by designating rural hospitals that serve underserved communities as “Critical in Character”.

This comes after the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) services instituted an updated mapping framework, causing some rural hospitals to lose eligibility for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation, despite the physical location of the facility being unchanged. The bill ensures continued designation of certain Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), when loss of status would reduce local healthcare access. It also adds a discretionary authority to temporarily designate certain rural hospitals providing service to underserved populations as “Critical Access in Character,” enabling them to receive CAH-level Medicare reimbursement for up to 3 years to preserve access to healthcare for our rural communities.

Read the text of the legislation here.

“Border communities like ours in South Texas rely on rural hospitals to deliver care close to home,” said Rep. Cuellar. “In many of these areas, the nearest alternative may be miles away, and when a hospital is forced to scale back services or risks closure, families feel the impact immediately. Our bill provides rural hospitals with the stability they need to keep essential health care services accessible for our communities. It also strengthens technical assistance efforts to help these facilities improve operations and long‑term financial stability. I’m proud to co‑lead this bipartisan effort to support the providers who keep rural Texas strong, healthy, and cared for.”

“We aren’t just talking about supporting Missouri’s rural hospitals, we’re taking action,” said Congressman Alford. “This vital legislation will sustain our rural hospitals like Bates County Memorial, preventing closures and ensuring continued access to emergency care for communities like those in the Fourth District. After visiting almost every rural hospital in the Fourth District, I’ve seen first-hand how these facilities are often the only places families can turn to when they need care. We’re proud to introduce the Sustaining Rural Healthcare Act and double down on our efforts to support rural health care providers.”

“Rural America continues to face challenges when it comes to delivering healthcare services,” Rep. Thompson said. “By expanding and providing increased flexibility for at-risk rural hospitals, we can help ensure our communities continue to have robust access to world-class care.”

“For Hawaiʻi’s neighbor islands, rural hospitals are lifelines, but outdated federal rules are keeping critical resources and designations out of reach,” said Rep. Tokuda. “Current Critical Access Hospital criteria disqualify facilities serving some of our most isolated and high-need populations. This bill stabilizes rural hospitals so they can keep their doors open and continue delivering critical access care to the communities that depend on them. We’re ensuring rural hospitals have the support and flexibility to provide high-quality care close to home, where patients belong.”

Background:

CAH Designation

• Allows hospitals to receive cost-based Medicare reimbursement, which improves financial viability for small, isolated facilities.
• Prevents closures to ensure rural communities can access to emergency and acute care, while allowing operational flexibility, such as operating swing beds, to meet community needs.
• Makes hospitals eligible to receive funding through their respective state’s Rural Health Transformation Program allotment.

The Sustaining Rural Healthcare Act

This bill intends to provide financial relief to our rural hospitals and increase access to health care for patients in rural communities by:

• Ensuring continued Critical Access Hospital designation for those already designated
• Allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) discretionary authority to designate facilities as In Character Critical Access Hospitals for up to 3 years if they meet certain criteria, including:

• Facilities in a designated rural area;
• Facilities facing healthcare staffing shortages;
• Facilities serving a medically underserved population;
• Facilities providing inpatient and outpatient services to a high proportion of Medicare beneficiaries; and
• Facilities facing significant risk of partial or full closure of services.
• Directing HHS to issue guidance on eligibility standards, documentation requirements, and renewal conditions
• Directing HHS to establish monitoring and reporting requirements for “In Character” CAH facilities to ensure performance, patient access, and financial stability improvements during the in-character designation
• Directing HHS to collaborate with U.S. Department of Agriculture in making available technical assistance free of charge to the in-character designated facilities to help strengthen financial and operational status during the designation period

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Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. is a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Sonoma, CA – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced that he has helped secure $2,496,686.63 in federal grant funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the Sonoma Ecology Center to advance their floodplain restoration project in Sonoma Creek. This investment will support work at three high-priority restoration sites in Glen Ellen to help reduce flood risk for local communities while restoring critical habitat for steelhead and other threatened species.

“Sonoma Creek is one of the Bay Area’s most important waterways,” said Thompson. “This project will help protect the steelhead and other wildlife that depend on the creek, and it will also better protect nearby homes and key infrastructure from worsening floods. Thank you to the Sonoma Ecology Center for the incredible work they’re doing to protect our community and environment. I’ve long worked to restore our natural landscapes and safeguard our communities from flood risk. This project does both, and I’m proud to have helped secure this important funding for Sonoma Valley.”

“We are so grateful to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for funding our restoration planning at three priority sites on Sonoma Creek,” said Richard Dale, Executive Director of the Sonoma Ecology Center. “This funding will help us advance projects to protect habitat for threatened and endangered species like steelhead, while also helping to address erosion and flooding. This project is one of only four projects in California funded through this competitive nation-wide grant program, and we appreciate Congressman Thompson’s support helping us bring these resources to Sonoma Valley.”

Intensifying winter rainstorms have accelerated erosion and flooding along Sonoma Creek, threatening nearby homes, infrastructure, and ecosystem health. This funding will allow the Sonoma Ecology Center to move forward on restoration activities, improving overall habitat and waterway resilience.

The nearly $2.5 million in funding will support efforts to:

• Advance detailed designs for floodplain restoration at three priority locations along Sonoma Creek
• Reduce community flood and erosion risks heightened by severe winter storms
• Restore and enhance habitat for steelhead trout and other sensitive species
• Improve long-term watershed resilience in Sonoma Valley

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced his support of Amtrak’s announcement of a revised long-distance fleet replacement strategy that prioritizes fleet standardization, broadens competition among potential carbuilders, reduces program risk, and accelerates the replacement of its aging passenger cars. Under this plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.

This proposal would support Amtrak’s station in Erie, Pennsylvania along the Lake Shore Limited line connecting New York City and Boston to Chicago. Last month, Rep. Kelly wrote a letter of support for Amtrak’s project.

“The Erie Amtrak station serves as a great halfway point on the Lake Shore Limited line, connecting New York City and Chicago, along with other major cities along the way. This new fleet will serve passengers not only from Northwest Pennsylvania, but across the Great Lakes and Northeast corridors. It’s a valuable addition to Amtrak’s service into and out of Erie,” said Rep. Kelly. 

Amtrak’s announcement, which came Thursday, reflects extensive analysis of the challenges associated with operating a hybrid fleet. It also incorporates industry feedback received during the previous request for proposals on new bi-level trains, along with findings from a joint Amtrak-Federal Railroad Administration review that identified the most effective path forward.

“This new approach will deliver a more consistent and accessible customer experience across the Amtrak network while maintaining our commitment to introduce the first new long-distance cars in the early 2030s,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “Thanks to support from FRA Administrator David Fink and the entire Federal Railroad Administration team, Amtrak’s long-distance fleet replacement is moving forward more effectively and efficiently than originally planned.”

“With these new cars, Amtrak will finally replace its aging fleet and provide American travelers with the world class rail service they deserve, helping usher in Secretary Duffy’s vision for a new Golden Age of travel,” said U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Steve Bradbury. “These new cars won’t just benefit American train passengers, but workers too by supporting good paying domestic manufacturing jobs.”

“The FRA stands ready to work with Amtrak on behalf of President Trump and Transportation Secretary Duffy to update Amtrak’s aging passenger rail fleet with modern American made cars,” said FRA Administrator David Fink.

“These cars have carried the country for more than 40 years. It’s long-past time to replace them. Issuing this new Request for Proposals is about not only reliability for passengers but about continuing the steady rebuilding of America’s passenger-rail manufacturing base that we’ve seen with the Airo fleet and the NextGen Acela. When we maintain that momentum, we don’t just buy trains: we rebuild capability and set the stage for creating the world-class service all of us want and that American passengers deserve,” said Rail Passengers Association President & CEO Jim Mathews.

BACKGROUND

Amtrak will soon issue a formal request for suppliers to bid on the new long-distance fleet replacement contract and cancel the bi-level procurement. Once a selection is made, Amtrak will work closely with the selected car builder to finalize the delivery schedule to replace our long-distance aging fleet.

Many of Amtrak’s current long-distance railcars were delivered more than 40 years ago. Amtrak will continue to evaluate the condition of the existing fleet, assess remaining service life, and determine any life extension measures necessary to ensure safe and reliable operations until the new long-distance fleet enters service.

Procurement of new long-distance passenger cars represents one piece of Amtrak’s broader systemwide fleet modernization program. Amtrak continues to receive new high-powered ALC-42 locomotives for long-distance service, with 79 of 125 units delivered to date. New NextGen Acela trains launched last fall on America’s only high-speed rail corridor, and the new Airo fleet will begin service on Amtrak Cascades in 2026, followed by the Northeast Regional and other short- and mid-distance routes in the coming years.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced he will hold a telephone town hall regarding the new tax filing season on Thursday, March 5. Rep. Kelly will be joined by officials from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, also known as the Taxpayer Advocate Service, who will help to answer constituents’ questions.

“As Pennsylvanians file their taxes this year, they are learning more about all the benefits included in the new Working Families Tax Cuts law, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. Our upcoming town hall will help everyone across Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District file their taxes effectively and efficiently,” said Rep. Kelly.

DETAILS

Who: U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, officials from the IRS and Office of the Taxpayer Advocate
What: Live, toll-free telephone town hall
When: Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 6:00p.m. ET
Pinless Participant Dial-In: 855-531-1063
Livestream:Facebook.com/MikeKellyPA

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

Last night, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s The 11th Hour, where he highlighted the failure of Donald Trump and Republicans to lower costs and keep their promises and reiterated Democrats’ commitments to protecting the American people.

CATHERINE RAMPELL: Leader Jeffries, thank you so much for joining me this evening.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Great to be with you.

CATHERINE RAMPELL: So, Leader Jeffries, this was a record-breaking speech—nearly two hours as you know—and Trump dedicated less than three minutes in all of that to affordability. So many people out there said that they voted for him because of the economy, yet they are unhappy. At the same time, they aren’t exactly optimistic that Democrats can solve their issues. So how is the party going to show voters that they are able to do that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, first of all, the best thing that I can say about the speech is that it’s over. And you’re absolutely correct. In addition to him lying throughout the entire duration of his remarks, he dedicated less than three minutes to dealing with the affordability crisis now. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one, and of course he’s failed. Costs haven’t gone down in the United States of America. Costs have gone up across the board on housing, on healthcare, on child care, groceries and electricity bills—all skyrocketing. Our effort will be to make clear to the American people that our top focus as Democrats is going to be to drive down the high cost of living. And we’ve seen Democrats successfully be able to make that case in places like New Jersey and New York and Virginia, as a matter of fact up and down the ballot across the country, which is the reason why Democrats have been winning elections for 14 consecutive months. And we’re going to continue to keep our foot on the gas pedal.

CATHERINE RAMPELL: So I want to ask you about at least one new proposal that seems to have come out of the State of the Union address on affordability. The President mentioned a ratepayer protection pledge, which, for those watching, basically means that tech companies will build or buy their own electricity supplies for data centers. Do you support this particular idea, and if not what are Democrats’ specific plans for dealing with voters’ concerns about data centers and rising electricity costs?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, those concerns are very real, very important. What we’ve seen is that electricity bills have increased, I think, north of 13% under Donald Trump’s presidency when this guy promised to cut them in half. Of course, that’s another broken promise that he’s made to the American people. Now, part of the problem that we confront is that in the Republican One Big Ugly Bill—where they, of course, cut Medicaid by the largest amount in American history, cut SNAP by the large amount in American history—they also detonated the progress that we’ve made on the clean energy economy by eliminating tax credits for renewable energy like wind and solar. That’s had the impact of lessening the electricity supply at a time when the demand, as you’ve indicated, has gone up in part, of course, because of what’s happening with these data centers. And so we have to increase the supply to make sure that we don’t see an environment where the demand is so greatly exceeding what’s available that bills are going to increase significantly. By the same period of time, I think it is important to make sure that companies are actually paying for the increased electricity that they are utilizing, as opposed to having communities all across the country bear that burden. And it’s something that we need to look into in terms of the best way to accomplish it. The President suggests that there’s been an agreement but, of course, we’ve seen documentation of that. We’ve seen no proof. We’ve seen no evidence that actually it’s enforceable, and I think that will be one of the most appropriate next steps.

CATHERINE RAMPELL: Leader Jeffries, as you mentioned, some Democrats across the country have won elections by focusing on affordability, including by promising to cap electricity price increases, including in, I believe, Virginia and New Jersey. Do you support that idea? Do you think more Democrats should adopt that proposal?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, well, I think, you know, one of the things that’s interesting, and we have had that conversation as recently as yesterday in terms of the different ways in which we can cap electricity prices for the American people. Of course it’s a concept that we support. The question is, from the federal level, what is the best way to get that accomplished when we know utilities are regulated at the state level? It’s one of the reasons why, of course, now Governor Mikie Sherrill was able to both make that pledge and then on her first day in office keep that promise. So there are a variety of different things that we’re going to contemplate in terms of how we can incentivize states to partner with us in the federal government to get these electricity bills under control, we know that have gotten worse under the presidency of Donald Trump and failed Republican policies, particularly as it relates to their unprecedented attack on renewable energy.

CATHERINE RAMPELL: I want to turn now to elections. The Washington Post reports that pro-Trump activists who say that they are coordinating with the White House are circulating a draft executive order claiming that China interfered in the 2020 election as a basis to now declare a national emergency. This could grant extraordinary power to the current President over elections. How can Democrats challenge this?

LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s a great question. First of all, there’s zero evidence that the Chinese Communist Party interfered in the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump needs to get over the fact that he lost, and he lost decisively to former Vice President Joe Biden, who of course, as a result of the 2020 election, became the President of this country. Now, Donald Trump, all of the overreach that we’ve seen from this guy always comes down to the same approach in emergency authority. But we’ve repeatedly defeated him when he’s claimed this emergency authority, most recently, of course, at the Supreme Court as it relates to his alleged emergency authority to impose tariffs that have raised costs on the American people by thousands of dollars per year. That’s been struck down. He does not have the emergency authority to do that and to get around Congress. We also won a victory before the Supreme Court in December where Donald Trump was claiming the emergency authority to federalize the National Guard as part of his effort to try to intimidate voters. That ability and that power was struck down. And if he tries to go this route with an unlawful or unconstitutional executive order, we’re gonna get it struck down as well. And at the same period of time, make sure that the so-called Save America Act, which is basically voter suppression legislation, does not see the light of day and never emerges from Congress to get to his desk for a presidential signature.

CATHERINE RAMPELL: Finally, I want to, of course, talk to you about Iran. You released a statement today saying that it would be unconstitutional without consultation with and authorization from Congress for the President to use military force against Iran. So what happens then if he does strike without getting authorization? I mean, after all, he already bombed nuclear sites last summer without approval, and there were no consequences then. So how would this be any different?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, unfortunately, the absence of consequences, at least in terms of Congress, is due to the fact that Republicans in the House and the Senate, who are temporarily in the majority, continue to behave like reckless rubber stamps for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda. And they’ve become subservient to the President as opposed to functioning like a separate and co-equal branch of government. Here, we’re going to try to move this authorization for the use of military force legislation in advance of him trying to do anything and just find a handful of Republicans to join us so we can actually get this resolution over the finish line. The American people are with us. We know that the American people don’t want another failed forever foreign war, particularly in the Middle East, when we know the outcome is likely to be disastrous, as certainly was the case in terms of what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan. And so we’re going to press this next week. And we’ll have a handful of Republicans I believe—of course like Thomas Massie, who’s a cosponsor of the resolution—to join us. We’ll just need a few, and Congress can act to reclaim our authority with respect to the power to declare war.

CATHERINE RAMPELL: So to clarify, if the President goes ahead and strikes Iran without congressional authorization, would that be an impeachable offense? You said it’s unconstitutional.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, but I think what we’ve got to do right now, of course, is to do everything we can to prevent that from happening. It would be reckless. It would be dangerous. It would be harmful to America’s national security interests, which is why we’re committed, led by Ro Khanna and Greg Meeks and Jim Himes and Adam Smith and other Members of Congress in the House Democratic Caucus to do what’s necessary to get this resolution over the finish line next week.

CATHERINE RAMPELL: Leader Jeffries, thanks so much for your time tonight.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you. 

Full interview can be watched here.

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