MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi’s (D-IL) bipartisan Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act, legislation aimed at tearing down unnecessary barriers that prevent qualified workers from competing for federal contracting opportunities and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used more effectively.

“The House’s unanimous passage of my legislation is a major step toward tearing down the ‘paper ceiling’ that has kept too many hardworking Americans from fully participating in our economy,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “By focusing on demonstrated skills rather than outdated degree requirements, this bipartisan bill expands opportunity, strengthens our federal workforce, and helps ensure federal contracts deliver the best value for Illinois taxpayers.”

The Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act requires federal agencies to justify any minimum education or experience requirements included in contract solicitations, helping ensure that contractors are evaluated based on their ability to perform the work rather than credentials that may not reflect real-world competence. By encouraging skills-based evaluation, the legislation aims to increase competition, reduce unnecessary barriers, and open doors for qualified workers across the country.

The legislation aims to expand opportunities for workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) — individuals who have developed expertise through apprenticeships, military service, community college programs, or on-the-job experience rather than traditional four-year degrees. The bill builds on broader federal efforts to expand skills-based hiring, strengthen workforce pathways, and promote economic mobility.

The full bill text is available here.

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

Woodland, CA – Wednesday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) was joined by Rep. John Garamendi (CA-08), House Committee on Agriculture member, Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21) for a roundtable meeting with local farmers, ranchers, processors, and ag leaders to discuss the ag community’s needs and how Congress can help deliver for them. 

“Agriculture is not just an industry in California — our ag community is the backbone of our economy and the heart of our communities.” said Thompson. “Right now, our ag community needs support. Tariffs are hammering farmers, ranchers, and processors. Not to mention the regulatory burdens, water issues, and infrastructure needs that urgently need to be addressed. Thank you to Rep. Costa, Rep. Garamendi, and every ag community member who showed up to discuss with us their needs and how Congress can help. It’s past time Congress pass a Farm Bill 2.0 that feeds our communities and meets the tremendous needs of our agriculture community.”

“Great to join Rep. Mike Thompson, Rep. John Garamendi, and leaders of our agricultural community for this critical conversation. Farmers, ranchers, and dairymen and women are paying the price for this administration’s irresponsible agricultural trade policies and Congress must intervene to make things right and ensure our agricultural community can thrive. Thanks to everyone who joined us to make your voices heard,” said Congressman Costa.

“Proud to stand with a true leader of California farmers, Congressman Mike Thompson. I thank him for holding this roundtable, and I also thank Congressman Jim Costa and everyone else who participated in this incredibly important discussion about the immense pressures on the agriculture industry due to Donald Trump’s harmful policies, unnecessary tariffs, and cuts to food assistance. California is America’s garden basket, and I’m proud to stand with Rep. Mike Thompson, who has always championed commonsense policies that give California farmers a solid foundation for success,” said Rep. Garamendi.

The representatives were joined by over 50 guests, including members of the California Farm Bureau, Sacramento Farm Bureau, Napa Farm Bureau, Yolo Farm Bureau, Solano Farm Bureau, Colusa Farm Bureau, and Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau and ag researchers from UC Davis, almond farmers, grape growers, peach growers, cattle ranchers, ag finance professionals, and others in the ag community.

BACKGROUND

California lost 400 farms in 2025 as growers, ranchers, producers, and processors faced rising operational costs and a shortage of workers largely caused by the President’s policies on immigration and his international trade war. These challenges come at a time when the ag community is already facing challenges accessing water and navigating regulations.

A long-time representative of rural ag communities and founder and co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus, Rep. Thompson recently introduced the Specialty Crop & Wine Producer Tariff Relief Act, legislation to provide direct support to specialty crop growers and wine producers facing economic losses from tariffs.

Read more about his work for the ag community here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to reintroduce the Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act (Specialty CROP Act). This bipartisan, bicameral bill makes key improvements to the annual U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Report to identify major trade barriers so specialty crop growers can boost sales in foreign markets. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate.

“Specialty crops are a cornerstone of California agriculture—especially in the Central Valley—but while our state is a top exporter, our growers have unfortunately faced many challenges over the last few years,” said Congressman Valadao. “Many of our California-grown specialty crops rely on customers overseas, but due to unfair trade practices, burdensome labeling standards, and blockades in foreign markets, it makes it difficult to stay competitive. Our specialty crop producers deserve to compete on a level playing field in the global marketplace, and this bipartisan bill would take necessary steps to identify and combat unreasonable trade barriers more effectively.”

“The specialty crops are a vital part of Oregon’s economy,” said Congresswoman Bonamici.  “Unfortunately tariffs, market uncertainty, and other global factors have hit specialty crop growers hard.  I’m pleased to introduce the Specialty CROP Act to improve the USDA’s existing specialty crops trade report to better improve the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops exports.”

“Specialty crop production is central to Idaho’s economy and our identity as a state,” said Senator Crapo. “Idaho farmers can outgrow the world, but high tariffs and burdensome labeling requirements imposed by foreign nations threaten our rural communities and keep agricultural producers from accessing global markets. Detailed and up-to-date information from USDA and USTR will help specialty crop growers navigate foreign markets and inform congressional and presidential efforts to address trade barriers and expand export opportunities.”

“The world is hungry for grown-in-the-U.S. blueberries, potatoes, wine and other produce. But all too often our farmers and producers are stymied by unreasonable blockades in foreign markets,” said Senator Wyden. “Our bipartisan bill will help rural Americans by identifying unfair foreign trade barriers and creating specific plans to cut through that red tape.”  

The Specialty CROP Act would:

• Improve the annual U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Report to:
• Explicitly require participation and engagement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
• Highlight specific trade barriers that limit the export competitiveness of specialty crops in specific markets, including tariff and non-tariff barriers.
• Include an assessment of whether each trade barrier is subject to a U.S. FTA or international agreement.
• Include specific information with respect to actions taken, or expected to be taken, by the U.S. government to address or resolve each trade barrier.
• Require a request for comment from both the public and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.
• Require the report be made public, while allowing for a classified annex to protect U.S. national security and economic strategy.
• Continue to define “specialty crop” as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.”

Read the bill here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

Carbajal Statement Following the 2026 State of the Union Address

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

PHOTO: The 2025 Congressional Art Competition Winning Artwork on Display Alongside Other Winning Artwork from Georgia’s Congressional Delegation

ALBANY, Ga. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) invites high school students from Georgia’s Second Congressional District to participate in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition.

“I am happy to announce that my office is now accepting entries for this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” said Congressman Bishop. “This annual competition is an excellent opportunity to highlight artistic talent throughout the district. I look forward to seeing the creativity of our gifted 2nd Congressional District high schoolers and recognizing them for their hard work!”

Participants will be invited to attend a reception at the Albany Museum of Art, located at 311 Meadowlark Dr., Albany, GA 31707, where submissions will be on display and a winner will be announced.

This is the 45th anniversary of the annual competition which is sponsored by the Congressional Institute. The winner will have their artwork on display for one year in the Capitol complex in the passageway between the Cannon House Office Building and the U.S. Capitol.

All artwork must be submitted to Congressman Bishop’s office at 323 Pine Avenue, Suite 400 in Albany, Georgia, by Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 5:00pm ET.

For more information about the Congressional Art Competition and to view the official rules, please visit: https://www.house.gov/educators-and-students/congressional-art-competition.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata responded to President Trump’s State of the Union address, which she attended, and highlighted the economic and national security message, along with applauding the U.S. military heroes that were recognized during the speech.   

President Trump honored heroic Veterans during the 2026 State of the Union (House Creative Services photo)

During the State of the Union, President Trump awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration for valor, to 100-year-old U.S. Navy Captain E. Royce Williams, whose long-classified role in the Korean War is one of the longest sustained aerial combats in Navy history, and to U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, helicopter pilot in the Venezuela operation who continued his duties while wounded. He also awarded the Purple Heart to Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and posthumously to Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, members of the West Virginia National Guard, ambushed last year on patrol in Washington, D.C. The President also honored Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Ruskan, who was awarded the Legion of Merit, and specially recognized in the audience a decorated veteran, Buddy Taggart, also turning 100 years old soon, who helped liberate a major internment camp in the Philippines in World War II.

“We can all come together to honor our nation’s brave patriots,” said Congresswoman Amata. “I appreciated the President honoring these deserving Veterans and Service Members for their heroism, service and sacrifice, and highlighting our inspiring Olympic champions as well.”

“American Samoa can be at our best when the U.S. is strong, when the national economy is positioned to improve, and fuel costs are in check, and those were some of the themes of the speech. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and start the big 2027 appropriations legislation, the next yearly National Defense bill, and urgently restore funds to the Department of Homeland Security so our U.S. Coast Guard, FEMA and TSA are back at full operations and staffing,” she continued. “These yearly bills in Congress are where we make sure our highway funds, healthcare, schools, nutrition, and other support are secured. That work starts in House committees and subcommittees, and I’m blessed to have some seniority.”

“In Washington, I highlight our local needs and priorities in the context of current events with China and the Pacific region, which opens the door to talk about our Port, our hospital and clinics, a future air traffic tower, a Coast Guard cutter home ported in Pago Pago Harbor, or other developments,” Amata concluded. “It helps to have good channels of communication to all the leaders in Washington, and I keep those lines open.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Larsen Opens Submissions for Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding Requests

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, Assistant Leader Joe Neguse and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene held a press conference to highlight Democrats’ continued commitment to fighting for an affordable America and pushing back against the extremism of Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar, and thank you, Vice Chair Lieu, for your leadership and for bringing us together at the 2026 Issues Conference. We gather, of course, in the immediate aftermath of the so-called State of the Union address that took place last night. That was a disgraceful performance. Donald Trump hit a new low. He didn’t communicate anything meaningful to the American people. There was no substance in that speech, but a lot of snake oil. No vision for the future of the country, but a lot of vitriol. There were no policy prescriptions designed to make life better for everyday Americans, but it was full of partisanship. That State of the Union speech by Donald Trump was a disgrace. And now that we’re on the other side of it, it’s going to be a sprint to November 3rd. House Democrats are on the verge of a takeover. The break’s over for these MAGA extremists. It’s over. Because the American people know that Donald Trump and House Republicans have failed the American people. They failed on the economy. They failed on healthcare. They failed on immigration enforcement. They failed to make life better for everyday Americans, breaking every single promise that they made, including, most significantly, that they were gonna lower costs on day one. Costs haven’t gone down, as Vice Chair Lieu explained, costs have gone up. Out of control. Far too many people struggling here in America to live paycheck to paycheck, cannot thrive and can barely survive.

And so we’re here at this issues conference to talk amongst each other and with outside stakeholders and experts about a bold, meaningful, transformational path forward to address the Republican affordability crisis here in America and make life better for working-class Americans, for middle-class Americans and for everyday Americans who we’re committed to fighting for each and every day to drive down the high cost of living, to fix our broken healthcare system and to deliver an immigration enforcement approach that is fair, just and meaningful, that doesn’t target—violently—American citizens or law-abiding immigrant families, but targets violent felons who are here unlawfully. We believe that the best is yet to come in this country, but it won’t be delivered by Donald Trump and Republican sycophants in the House and in the Senate. It will come when Democrats take back control of the House, laying a foundation to end this national nightmare in the United States of America and continue our country’s march toward a more perfect union.

Full press availability can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03) and Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH-10), introduced a bipartisan resolution to honor the life and legacy of Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams-Earley, an Ohioan who became the first Black officer in the U.S. Army’s Women’s Army Corps (WAC). The resolution encourages the U.S. Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp in honor of Adams-Earley, who led the “Six Triple Eight,” also known as the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion — the only all-Black WAC battalion deployed overseas during the Second World War. 

“It is a privilege to present this resolution honoring my lifelong friend and mentor, Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams-Earley, a trailblazer who became the first Black woman officer in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC), later known as the Women’s Army Corps (WAC),” said Congresswoman Beatty. “As the highest-ranking Black woman officer at the time, Lieutenant Colonel Adams-Earley helped lay the foundation for a more integrated U.S. military, opening doors for generations of Black women to serve. Her unwavering patriotism and dedication to our nation, and to young Ohioans, make her profoundly worthy of this recognition.”

“Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley broke barriers with quiet strength and unmistakable excellence—becoming the first Black officer in the Women’s Army Corps and leading the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion overseas to deliver results under extraordinary pressure,” said Congressman Mike Turner. “Upon retiring from the military, Lieutenant Charity Adams-Earley moved to Dayton and became an important voice in the Miami Valley, creating the Black Leadership Development Program in 1982, which seeks to educate and train African Americans to be community leaders. A commemorative stamp would be a fitting, lasting tribute to her service and leadership, and a simple reminder—passed hand to hand—of what courage and competence look like in the service of our country and community.”

Lieutenant Colonel Adams-Earley is also remembered for her activism throughout Ohio, devoting her life to education and youth mentoring after being discharged from the Army. She has been recognized by the National Postal Museum, National Women’s History Museum, Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, the Smithsonian Institution, the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame, and many others, for her pioneering military service and work expanding opportunities for Black Americans. In the 117th Congress, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to members of the ‘Six Triple Eight’ – the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – including, posthumously, their commander, Adams-Earley. In 2024, the Dayton VA Medical Center renamed its women’s clinic the “Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams-Earley Women’s Clinic.” 

The resolution text is available here. 

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, joined Senate and House colleagues in demanding Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins immediately rescind the Trump administration’s new interim final rule that would change how veteran disability ratings are evaluated. This rule would lower disability ratings and compensation awards for disabled veterans who rely on medications to manage their health conditions by not taking into account the true severity of their disabilities. 

“We write to request the immediate rescission of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) interim final rule entitled ‘Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication’ (RIN: 2900-AS49),” wrote lawmakers in a letter to VA Secretary Collins. “Though halting enforcement of the rule was a necessary acknowledgment of the widespread concern about its implications, the change made by the interim final rule is current law and remains in the Code of Federal Regulations. Without a complete and permanent rescission, veterans across the country will have to confront the unnecessary dilemma of continuing life-improving treatment for their conditions even though it could lead to a reduction in the benefits they have earned and desperately need.”

While VA Secretary Collins temporarily halted implementation of the rule last week following backlash from veterans and Veterans Service Organizations, he has not outright rescinded the rule—leaving veterans’ benefits at risk of being lowered. More than 18,000 public comments have been submitted opposing the rule, which was issued without advance notice to or consultation with veterans or Congress. Congressman Pappas and his colleagues stressed the harm the rule could cause by forcing veterans to make an “impossible choice” of following their prescribed treatment plan or risk losing their benefits.

The lawmakers continued raising alarm over this rule and the Administration’s secret process of publishing it: “This rule is a short-sighted and ill-timed reaction to the Ingram v. Collins decision. The appeal of that case is still ongoing, and VA’s attempt to circumvent the judicial process by publishing this rule is troubling…We agree with the court’s precedential holding in Ingram and believe VA must discount the beneficial impact of medication when rating disability compensation claims. Veterans and Veteran Service Organizations have also made it clear that veterans should not be penalized for complying with treatment. Veteran Service Organizations have made their voices heard in the wake of this rule, but have repeatedly not been included in the conversations leading up to VA policy changes. This is a troubling trend, as it signals a desire to cut veteran voices out of the system designed to provide for them.”

The lawmakers demanded urgent answers, including a description of the steps VA has taken to suspend implementation of the rule; a timeline for the rule’s rescission or replacement; action VA is planning regarding its appeal of the Ingram v. Collins decision; and information regarding what conditions and diagnoses are meant to be targeted by this rule and the estimated number of veterans who will be impacted. They also formally requested VA and the National Archives and Records Administration preserve all stored communication regarding matters related to the development and issuance of this rule.

Last week VA published an interim final rule to change how veteran disability ratings are evaluated without an appropriate public comment period. This new rule reverses the previous standard established in 2025 by the Ingram v. Collins court case, which required VA to discount the impact of medication when evaluating the severity of claims for certain disabilities. Instead, the rule directs examiners to rate veterans’ disabilities as they present and to disregard the impact of medication. This would require VA to issue lower disability ratings despite evidence showing veterans meet the requirements for higher ratings.

The full text of the letter is available HERE.