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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is co-leading a resolution celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Republic of Fiji, and reaffirming commitment to this strategically important partnership.

Introduced this week, the resolution is co-led by Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (AS), Rep. Ed Case (D-HI), and Rep. James Moylan (R-GU). 

Amata (approximately 1983) at Government House at Maugaoali’i with Fiji’s first Prime Minister and later President H.E. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara

“Malo lava to Fiji from my beautiful home islands to yours, as our nations celebrate 55 years of official relations, and the resulting friendships among many people working between our two countries,” said Representative Aumua Amata. “My father, Uifa’atali Governor Peter T. Coleman, was good friends with one of Fiji’s leading early statesmen, the late H.E. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who was Chief Minister at the time of Fiji’s independence, then Fiji’s first Prime Minister when the U.S. and Fiji established relations in 1971, and later President. I also worked with Congressman Case and our colleagues on the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act that codified diplomacy among our countries, an important partnership. I’ve been to Fiji’s welcoming shores, and our nations have a bright mutual future for a secure, prosperous Pacific region.”

The United States and Fiji share deep and enduring people-to-people ties, including welcome and respected residents of American Samoa. More than 50,000 Americans trace their roots to Fiji, and Rep. Bera highlights those strong connections in Sacramento County, home to the nation’s largest population of Fijian immigrants.

The two nations formally established diplomatic relations on July 22, 1971. Since then, the relationship has strengthened through military training, maritime law enforcement, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, infrastructure investment, economic development, and educational and cultural exchanges.

Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata and Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka

“For 55 years, the United States and Fiji have built a strong partnership rooted in mutual respect, shared values, and enduring people-to-people ties,” said Representative Bera. “This partnership is especially meaningful in Sacramento County, which is home to the largest Fijian immigrant community in our nation. Fiji is a valued security partner and regional leader, and our continued cooperation is essential to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity throughout the Pacific. This bipartisan resolution makes clear that the United States will remain a strong, reliable, and active partner with Fiji for years to come.”

“We celebrate and honor the strong relationship between our two great countries, which predates the establishment of diplomatic relations dating way back to the ‘ohana (family) of Pacific Islanders,” said Representative Case. “As the proud representative of the state with the highest percentage of Fijian Americans in our country, a proud part of our own Pacific Islander community, I also celebrate the deep historical and cultural connections between my state and Fiji, which were on full display in Honolulu two years ago during the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, a showcase of traditional arts, dances, languages and customary practices first held in Suva, Fiji, in 1972. Ours is an ongoing relationship built on shared values, mutual respect and assistance, and mutual security, including currently with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces participation again in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the largest international maritime exercise underway in Hawai’i. Vinaka vaka-levu!”

“It is with great joy that I join my colleagues in celebrating 55 wonderful years of friendship between the United States and Fiji. Our strong partnership is grounded in our cultural ties, mutual respect, and pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Representative Moylan. “As associate members of the Pacific Island Forum, Guam also commends Fiji’s commitment to regional solidarity, mutual security and economic resilience. We look forward to deepening our collaboration on sustainable development, marine resource conservation, and natural disaster preparedness. I look forward to the many more years of friendship between our two nations.”

Fiji is the second-most-populous Pacific Islands country and is home to one of the region’s largest economies. The country has played a significant role in promoting regional security, supporting United Nations peacekeeping operations, responding to humanitarian disasters, and advancing cooperation on sustainable fisheries, maritime security, economic development, and climate resilience.

The resolution underscores the importance of sustained U.S. engagement with our longstanding partners in the Pacific and strengthening relationships built on trust, mutual respect, and shared values.

Specifically, the resolution:

• Celebrates 55 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Fiji;
• Commends Fiji’s return to democratic governance and urges that its next general election remain free and fair;
• Supports the full implementation and strengthening of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, including deeper cooperation with Fiji on fisheries and marine resource conservation, environmental resilience, global health, trade, development, and people-to-people ties; and
• Recognizes Fiji’s contributions to multinational security forces and multilateral institutions, including United Nations peacekeeping operations and the Pacific Islands Forum.

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming notice from the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) that two American Samoa nonprofit organizations have been awarded federal grants totaling $900,000 to strengthen services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The federal awards include $500,000 for Intersections, Inc. and $400,000 for Empowering Pacific Island Communities, Inc., through the OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Enhance Community-based Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program. Both grants begin August 1, 2026, and continue through July 31, 2029.

“These are important, needful programs that provide support and hope for survivors while strengthening our communities,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Congratulations and thank you to Melody Soi of Intersections, Inc., Kathryn McCutchan of Empowering Pacific Island Communities, and everyone involved in earning these competitive federal grants and the services they provide. I appreciate your dedication to serving the people of American Samoa and helping those facing difficult circumstances.”

The grant to Intersections, Inc. will support culturally specific services for victims of violence by providing faith leaders with training and resources to better identify and assist victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The grant to Empowering Pacific Island Communities, Inc. will provide culturally specific case management and behavioral health services for survivors, improving access to support and resources for individuals facing barriers to traditional services.

“Thank you to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and the leadership of the Office on Violence Against Women for continuing to invest in programs that protect and support survivors in American Samoa,” concluded Congresswoman Amata.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) hosted an Education and Workforce Committee field hearing in Augusta, Georgia titled “Building an AI-Ready America: How AI Is Creating Opportunities Across America’s Workforce.”

The hearing was the eighth in a series examining artificial intelligence and was attended by U.S. Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Lucy McBath (D-GA). The members questioned a panel of four witnesses at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center-Hull McKnight Building on the impacts of AI in the workforce.

Following the hearing, Congressman Allen issued the statement below:

“There was no better place to hold today’s field hearing on AI in the workplace than Augusta, Georgia. AI has the potential to be a powerful engine of economic growth. Across the country, including here in the 12th District, AI is enhancing workers’ knowledge, skills, and productivity while also automating routine tasks and improving efficiency across various industries. Today’s witnesses were proof—each providing unique perspectives, valuable insight, and firsthand knowledge on utilizing AI in the agriculture, healthcare, and biotechnology sectors. I am grateful to my colleagues Joe Wilson and Lucy McBath for participating in this hearing, leadership from Augusta University and the Georgia Cyber Center for their hospitality, and our witnesses for their participation. If the United States intends to win the AI race, we must continue these critical discussions and ensure this technology remains a tool that serves Americans.”

The full hearing can be viewed here.
Congressman Allen’s opening statement can be read here.
Congressman Allen’s questions to witnesses can be viewed here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

Full Text of Bill (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth reintroduced bicameral legislation to reduce housing accessibility barriers and improve mobility for people with disabilities. The Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act would require all newly constructed single-family homes, townhouses and multi-level dwelling units built with federal funding include at least one accessible (or “zero step”) entrance into the home, doorways wide enough for a wheelchair on the main level and one wheelchair accessible bathroom, as well as light switches and thermostats at reachable heights from a wheelchair. 

“The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helped expand opportunity for millions of Americans, but our work is far from over,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I am proud to once again join Senator Duckworth in introducing the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act to ensure federally assisted homes are built with accessibility in mind from the start. This commonsense legislation will help more people live safely and independently because everyone deserves a home where they can age in place with dignity.”

“Over 15 percent of households are home to someone with a physical disability but only six percent of all homes actually meet accessibility standards—that’s unacceptable,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth. “Veterans, seniors and people with disabilities deserve to be able to move around their own homes and visit friends and family without worrying about architectural barriers, and I’m proud to work alongside Congresswoman Schakowsky to help make homes and communities more accessible for everyone.”

The Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act would require all newly built federally funded single-family homes, townhouses, modular homes and multi-level dwelling units incorporate “visitability” principles: at least one zero step entrance; doorways wide enough for a wheelchair on main level; one wheelchair accessible bathroom; and light switches and thermostats at reachable heights. According to findings in HUD’s 2019 American Housing Survey, 23.1 million households—or about one in five—are home to at least one individual with accessibility needs, and 9.2 million of those households require stairs to access the home and do not have ramps or lifts of some type. As our population continues to age rapidly, it is important to address our insufficient supply of visitable homes. Remodeling a home to include accessibility features costs more than $4,000 on average, which is significantly more expensive than the cost of incorporating these features in the initial construction process.

Schakowsky and Duckworth first introduced identical House and Senate legislation in the 116th Congress. The bill is named after Eleanor Smith, a leader in the thirty-year movement to ensure that all new homes are visitable by mobility-impaired individuals. Smith has successfully secured accessibility requirements in local building codes across the country, however federal accessibility requirements are still nonexistent for privately-owned homes.

The American Association of Interior Designers, Autism Society, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, Independence First, National Council on Independent Living, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Arc of the United States, National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Kelsey and Justice in Aging all support the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

July 24, 2026 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON–U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today joined Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Texas) and Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) to introduce the Stop EU Overreach Act, legislation that directs the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to launch a Section 301 investigation into European Union (EU) sustainability mandates with extraterritorial reach that could impose more than $1 trillion in compliance costs on American businesses. The bill’s current cosponsors include Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), and Buddy Carter (R-Ga.). The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council endorsed the legislation. 
“American companies should answer to American law, not to bureaucrats in Brussels,” said Rep. Steube. “The EU is trying to export its regulatory agenda onto our farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses through the back door, and it’s going to cost them billions of dollars they don’t have to spend. I’m leading this fight to put American businesses first.” 
“The EU’s extreme, green energy mandates don’t just threaten to impose over a trillion dollars in compliance costs on American businesses; they’re also a clear challenge to America’s sovereignty,” said Rep. Goldman. “I’m incredibly appreciative of Congressman Steube’s leadership on this issue and his support for the Stop EU Overreach Act. Together, we’ll work to defend American businesses and workers from the EU’s costly regulations.” 
The Stop EU Overreach Act would direct the USTR to determine whether the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory trade practice burdening U.S. commerce. If the USTR makes an affirmative determination, the bill requires the USTR to consider appropriate Section 301 remedies and report its findings to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees. 
A Hudson Institute study found that the CS3D alone could impose between $637 billion and $1.093 trillion in initial compliance costs on U.S. businesses, with recurring annual costs of up to $43 billion when implicit costs are included, a burden comparable to what U.S. firms currently pay across all domestic environmental and financial regulation combined. House Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Judiciary Committee chairmen cited the study in a June 25, 2026, letter opposing the EU’s regulatory crackdown on American companies. 

The full text of the Stop EU Overreach Act is available here. 
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

July 23, 2026 | Press Releases
WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) was named the National Taxpayers Union’s (NTU) Taxpayer Defender of the Month for his leadership in protecting American taxpayers from being forced to bail out fiscally irresponsible state and local governments. Rep. Steube also received NTU’s 2025 Taxpayers’ Friend Award for his voting record in support of limited government and free markets.Rep. Steube was named Taxpayer Defender of the Month for sponsoring the Government Bailout Prevention Act. The legislation would prevent the federal government, including the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve, from using taxpayer dollars to buy or guarantee the debt of state and local governments that have defaulted, declared bankruptcy, or are at risk of defaulting.“I’m grateful to receive the National Taxpayers Union’s 2025 Taxpayers’ Friend Award and to be named the organization’s Taxpayer Defender of the Month in my efforts to stop taxpayer-funded bailouts and advance legislation that protects hardworking Americans,” Rep. Steube said. “The federal government doesn’t have a taxpayer problem; it has a spending problem. As our national debt approaches $40 trillion, I’ll continue fighting to rein in reckless congressional spending.”“We are proud to select Representative Steube as our Taxpayer Defender of the Month. Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bail out fiscally irresponsible jurisdictions that spend beyond their means,” NTU Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold said.Each year, NTU Rates Congress evaluates every Member of Congress based on their votes affecting taxes, spending, debt, and major regulations, providing a comprehensive view of their fiscal policies.In recognition of outstanding leadership in protecting taxpayers and advancing fiscal responsibility, the National Taxpayers Union presents its Taxpayer Defender of the Month award.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) co-led a letter to U.S. House leadership, urging the inclusion of funds in the recently introduced emergency funding package to address the increasingly dire condition of the Colorado River Basin. The requested funding would support water infrastructure investments, upgrades, and long-term planning for this vital resource’s future. Congressman Biggs partnered on the letter with Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01).

As reported, water levels on the Colorado River are declining due to prolonged drought and increasing aridity. This deteriorating situation is serious for the one in 10 Americans who rely on this source for drinking water, and for the millions across the nation who consume winter produce grown from its water. The Colorado River helps provide power for 2.5 million people and supports critical national security industries in the Western United States.

“For desert dwellers, nothing is more important than protecting and cultivating our water resources,”said Congressman Biggs.“That’s why I’m again working across the aisle with my colleagues to ensure Congress takes the natural threats to the Colorado River Basin seriously. The Colorado River situation is not just an issue for Arizona and the West; it’s an issue that affects the entire country because of the national industries that depend on this water source. I hope that House leadership and appropriators will heed our request and include the necessary funding to prevent this crisis from getting worse and needlessly harming vulnerable Americans.”

In the letter, the Members of Congress pointed to a similar situation in 2022, when federal funds supported drought mitigation efforts for Lakes Powell and Mead. They highlight that the water crisis in the West would be much worse without the commitment then to insert those funds.

Joining Biggs and Titus on the letter were U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury, Elijah Crane, Gabe Vasquez, Greg Stanton, J. Luis Correa, Yassamin Ansari, Jim Costa, Adelita Grijalva, Abraham Hamadeh, and Paul Gosar.

Read the letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-01) took to the House floor this week to walk through new borrowing data compiled by the Joint Economic Committee and warn that interest costs are on track to become the single largest expense of the federal government.

Citing the Committee’s Daily Debt tracker, which pulls figures directly from the Treasury’s management system every workday, Schweikert reported the United States has borrowed $2.948 trillion over the last 12 months, an average of $93,763 every second. Borrowing for the current fiscal year has already reached $2.022 trillion against original projections of roughly $1.7 trillion, with the year now heading toward $2.3 trillion.

“Anyone want to take a guess how many days it takes us to borrow another trillion dollars? 123 days. Every 123 days we’re ticking off another trillion dollars,” Schweikert said.

Total U.S. debt now stands at $39.66 trillion and is expected to cross $40 trillion by the end of the summer work period. Last year the federal government spent $1.43 for every dollar it collected in taxes. This fiscal year that figure is running closer to $1.47.

Schweikert laid out the hierarchy of federal spending: Social Security first, interest second, Medicare third, Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies fourth and national defense fifth. Gross interest, which includes interest owed back to the Social Security and Medicare trust funds, will approach $1.28 trillion this year and is projected to surpass Social Security as the government’s largest expense by 2037. Under baseline policy, more than 30 cents of every tax dollar collected will go to interest within nine budget years.

The remarks focused on what Schweikert calls interest fragility, the outsized damage small rate increases inflict on a government carrying nearly $40 trillion in debt. With 30-year Treasury yields approaching their longest stretch above 5 percent since 2007, he noted that a sustained 60 basis point increase adds roughly $2 trillion in interest costs over ten years. Joint Economic Committee analysis also finds federal borrowing has pushed mortgage rates about one point higher than they would otherwise be, making the government a direct contributor to America’s affordability crisis.

“We’re going to bring down this republic, and it’s not going to be some mob coming over the border. It’s going to be our own fiscal insanity,” Schweikert said. He pointed to recent modeling discussions with the Penn Wharton Budget Model suggesting that under current policy the United States could hit a debt spiral within 12 to 14 years, a point at which the government can no longer sell bonds. Greece, Spain and Italy can each sell a ten year bond at a lower rate than the United States today.

Schweikert also highlighted the consequences of inaction on entitlements. The Medicare trust fund is projected to run dry in six years and two months, triggering a 12 percent cut to hospital reimbursements, while Medicare spending doubles from $1 trillion to $2 trillion over the same window. In roughly 26 months, the majority of all federal spending will go to Americans 65 and up.

During his remarks, Schweikert publicly held House leadership to a commitment made to his team to convene committee chairs and Joint Economic Committee economists on a package of legislation his office has developed over the past year to cut spending and borrowing without removing services, including reforms targeting the hundreds of billions of dollars in misaligned payments identified in MedPAC reports and an estimated $350 billion over ten years in duplicative medical scans.

“There’s ways we’re not going to pay it off, but we can stabilize it,” Schweikert said. “The bond market will live in facts, and eventually it’s going to kick us in the head unless we can do some tough things to convince it we’re creditworthy.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to the latest round of tariffs, which the Trump administration claims are to combat forced labor:

“President Trump isn’t serious about combating forced labor. He’s trying to make an end-run around the Supreme Court and Congress to reimpose his illegal tariffs. 

“If he was serious, he would not be applying the same tariff rate to China, one of the worst forced labor abusers in the world, as he does to countries like Australia. Then again, unlike China, Australia doesn’t manufacture any Trump corporation products.

“This is the same administration that gutted funding to combat forced labor through cuts to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs and rolled back worker protections here at home, while encouraging companies to profit off some of the world’s worst forced labor abusers through his proposed U.S.-China Board of Trade.

“We need to take forced labor seriously. But that includes addressing our problems here at home, including by taking on the export of goods made with American prison labor. Slapping more tariffs on every country that upsets the president isn’t the way to do it.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

Watch Rep. Gomez’s video here

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) voted for the fifth time in favor of a War Powers Resolution to end President Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran. The vote came just days after four American servicemembers were killed in Iranian strikes, with the resolution passing the House with unanimous Democratic support and four Republican votes.

“I just left the house floor where I voted to end Trump’s reckless war with Iran, a war that never should have been started in the first place. Just this week four service members have been killed by Iranian strikes,” said Rep. Gomez. “Now we have families that are struggling and suffering because they lost their loved ones, but we also have families who are struggling and suffering because Trump’s war is driving up the cost of living in this country. That’s why I voted once again to end this war through a war powers resolution.”

Rep. Gomez has consistently opposed President Trump’s unauthorized military actions against Iran and has repeatedly voted to reassert Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war.