MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Today U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01), Zach Nunn (IA-03), Young Kim (CA-40), and Angie Craig (MN-02) reintroduced the Congressional Pension Accountability Act, bipartisan legislation to end taxpayer-funded pension benefits for Members of Congress who are expelled — or who resign to avoid accountability — while facing serious ethics violations.

“Members of Congress whose behavior rises to the high bar set for expulsion, particularly those who have been found to have defrauded their constituents and abused the privileges of their office, shouldn’t be able to retire on the taxpayer’s dime,” said Congressman Pappas. “Our government must always be accountable to the people.”

“I first introduced this bill after George Santos was expelled, because Members found unfit to serve are also unfit to receive a taxpayer-funded pension,” said Congressman Nunn. “Since then, we’ve seen members resign in the middle of investigations into serious misconduct, exposing a serious loophole in the current system where resignation is the end of accountability. This bipartisan bill closes both loopholes, restoring accountability and ensuring taxpayers aren’t on the hook for the pensions of politicians who break the public trust.”

The bill comes amid a string of resignations and ethics investigations on Capitol Hill, including cases in which Members facing allegations of serious misconduct have stepped down before disciplinary proceedings could run their course. Under current law, a Member forfeits their congressional pension only after being convicted of certain crimes — a process that can stretch on for years, if it comes at all — meaning Representatives can leave office under an ethics cloud and still collect a taxpayer-funded pension for the rest of their life.  

The Congressional Pension Accountability Act is an update to legislation by the same name Pappas and Nunn introduced in 2023, following the expulsion of former Representative George Santos, to forfeit the taxpayer-funded pension and retirement match for any Member expelled from Congress. The updated bill strengthens and expands that effort.

Specifically, the Congressional Pension Accountability Act would:

• Forfeit a Member’s taxpayer-funded pension not only when they are expelled, but also when they resign after the House or Senate Ethics Committee has formally determined there is substantial reason to believe they committed a serious violation;
• Apply consistently across all federal retirement systems available to Members of Congress, including the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP);
• Preserve the Ethics Committee’s investigative records when a Member resigns while under investigation, so those records remain available if the individual later returns to Congress; and
• Clarify that a presidential pardon or commutation does not restore retirement benefits that were forfeited due to misconduct.

Text of the bill can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04), the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement on Tuesday upon passage of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 11: 

“I voted for this bipartisan continuing resolution to keep the federal government operating through December 11th because Americans deserve certainty that the government services they rely on will be there for them. President Trump’s disastrous tariffs on allies like Canada and his unlawful war in Iran are continuing to drive up costs for the American people. Americans cannot afford a government shutdown on top of President Trump’s failure to address the rising cost of living. Senate Republican leadership has also let Americans down by failing to release and advance any of their Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations bills. The House has done its job and advanced all twelve Appropriations bills through committee. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to complete their Appropriations work and then come to the negotiating table so that we can deliver a bipartisan funding package that truly invests in the needs of the American people.”

View the text of the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON—Today, Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA) introduced the Big Tech Accountability Act to protect Americans’ online privacy and personal autonomy and hold powerful technology corporations accountable for the harms caused by their platforms.

“Big Tech companies have an enormous amount of power over what we see, what we share, and what happens to our personal information—and for too long, the rules governing that power simply haven’t kept pace,” said Congressman McGovern. “These platforms should not get a free pass to exploit people’s private data or design systems that knowingly push dangerous content because outrage and division are good for business. This bill is an effort to put some reasonable guardrails in place, give people more control over their own information, and make sure enormously powerful corporations can be held accountable for the choices they make.”

A handful of Big Tech corporations have enormous influence over how Americans communicate, consume information, and participate in public life. At the same time, their business models rely heavily on collecting and monetizing personal data and using algorithms designed to keep users engaged—often by promoting increasingly inflammatory or sensational content.

The Big Tech Accountability Act provides a framework for addressing both concerns: protecting Americans from the commercial exploitation of their personal information while establishing greater accountability when technology companies actively target and amplify fraudulent disinformation, threats, or criminal violence.

The bill is backed by Free Speech For People, a national nonpartisan nonprofit organization that works to limit the influence of money in politics and protect our democracy.

“By protecting the biggest social media companies from accountability, current federal law allows them to profit with impunity from amplifying threats of violence and disinformation and exploiting personal information,” said Ben Clements, Chairman and Senior Legal Advisor of Free Speech For People. “While this model has made billions for the world’s largest corporations and their owners, it has come at a grave cost to our democracy, to the ability of government to function in the 21st Century, and to the dignity, safety, and privacy of our people. By subjecting the big social media companies to the same accountability that applies to the rest of us, the Big Tech Accountability Act is a long overdue step toward putting people, not corporations and billionaires, first.”

The Big Tech Accountability Act would establish stronger protections for Americans’ personal information and limit the ability of technology companies to exploit that information for profit. It would also create greater accountability when social media companies actively target and amplify fraudulent disinformation, threats, or criminal violence through their algorithms.

Bill text is available here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Rep. Don Beyer, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Mark Warner, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, and Rep. James Walkinshaw today issued the following statement after the Arlington County Police Department opened a formal investigation into the August 11 encounter with ICE agents that resulted in José Mejía Hernandez’ hospitalization and brain injury:

“We strongly support the Arlington County Police Department’s decision to open this investigation, which is essential to establishing how José Mejía Hernandez suffered serious injuries. These included internal bleeding and a brain injury after an encounter with ICE agents. It is unfortunate that the Trump Administration has abandoned its responsibilities to hold federal agents under their command accountable, leaving state and local jurisdictions to do the job the Administration refuses to do to maintain law and order and protect the public. That failure is fueling a pattern of unchecked violence, rights violations, and chaos, in some cases with deadly consequences. If this investigation finds that ICE agents’ misconduct caused Mr. Mejía Hernandez’ injuries or impeded his medical treatment, they must face consequences. We will continue seeking answers about what happened to Mr. Mejía Hernandez in Arlington, and working to ensure he receives access to the medical care and support he needs to recover.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Zach Nunn (IA-03) Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) and Young Kim (R-CA-40) introduced legislation to prevent Members of Congress who engage in misconduct from receiving taxpayer-funded retirement benefits. Their Congressional Pension Accountability Act would close loopholes that currently allow Members of Congress who have committed serious ethics violations to continue receiving a pension. 

Under current law, pension forfeiture is largely limited to Members who were convicted of crimes but does not apply to those who resign after the House Ethics Committee determines they committed an ethics violation. This bill would change that and ensure that the law applies consistently across all federal retirement systems available to Members of Congress, including the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

“It’s past time we start holding Members of Congress accountable for violating their oath of office,” said Rep. Craig. “Minnesota taxpayers shouldn’t be paying disgraced Members of Congress even after they leave office. It’s just common sense. I’m proud to be partnering with Rep. Nunn on a bill that will help clean up Washington and restore trust in our government.”

Since Rep. Craig came to Congress, she has been working to fix a broken Washington and hold Members of Congress accountable. She has repeatedly led legislation to ban Members of Congress from trading stocks and was one of seven Members who launched the End Corruption Now agenda in Congress – a package of six bills that would put power back in the hands of the American people.  

Last year, she reintroduced her NO STOCK Resolution, which would require every sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives to immediately sell their individual stocks and refrain from future stock ownership while in Congress. And earlier this Congress, she reintroduced her Halt Unchecked Member Benefits with Lobbying Elimination (HUMBLE) Act – a broader package of reforms that would prevent Members of Congress from using their position to enrich themselves. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

NEW ORLEANS, La.—Last night, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox News Channel’s Hannity to discuss Democrats’ full embrace of socialism and the contrast between House Republicans’ commonsense policies and Democrats’ radical agenda.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview.
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview: On Democrats embracing socialism: “If you watch those votes you just talked about, Kellyanne, 96% of House Democrats said socialism’s okay. And by the way, in that same resolution, they said illegals voting in our federal elections is okay. 96% of Democrats, that’s what they would do if they got control of the House. If conservatives stayed at home, that’s what happens. 99%, as you mentioned, said let’s pack the Supreme Court. And then you look at Hakeem Jeffries. He’s lost control of his party. The socialists have taken over and it’s happening everywhere. I mean, you’ve got Mamdani candidates beating Hakeem’s candidates in a lot of these primaries. And Hakeem’s candidates are far-left liberals, by the way. You literally could find— you could find a spotted owl in D.C., Kellyanne, before you could find a Blue Dog. There are no Blue Dog Democrats left. It’s liberals versus socialists and the socialists have taken over the Democrat Party now.”On Republicans’ commonsense policies and Democrats’ crazy agenda: “We’ve cut taxes. We put more money in the pockets of families. We’re working to make life more affordable. And we’re not done. We’re not where we want to be because we had a big mess to mop up. But by the way, all those indicators are coming down. Inflation’s coming down. Interest rates are coming down. You know, everybody was talking about egg prices when Joe Biden was in office. They were over $3 a dozen. Today, they’re less than $2 a dozen. 
“But at the end of the day, families want to see us continue working to get those things done. They don’t want socialists who have said they will raise your taxes, they will open the borders. They want to defund not just the police, they want to defund prisons. That’s not where America wants to go, but that is on the ballot. And if people stay at home, the far-left socialists will get their way on those crazy items. We can’t let that happen to this country.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Today’s visit with the Postmaster General is the result of Rep. Wagner’s letter to the House Oversight Committee requesting an investigation of major mail delivery problems in the St. Louis region

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), and Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced the No Pardon Paydays Act. 

Trump has handed out blanket pardons to January 6th insurrectionists and those who padded his pockets – including those who engaged in acts of violence. Many of the January 6th insurrectionists who received pardons have since committed new crimes. 

The No Pardon Paydays Act would prevent corruption in the pardon process by requiring the Pardon Attorney to submit a review to Congress of any criminal history of the pardon recipient. It would also prohibit pardon recipients from making high dollar contributions to political committees associated with the President who granted the pardon. 

“Time and time again, trump uses pardons as favors for his pals and donors. This blatant corruption is dangerous to our democracy and our communities,” said Congressman Lieu. “I am pleased to partner with Rep. Subramanyam on the No Pardon Paydays Act, which would mitigate the perverse practice of paying for Presidential pardons. You should not be able to buy your way out of justice, no matter how much money you donate to the President.” 

“This administration is the most corrupt in modern American history. Every American is paying the price while this administration lines their pockets and dishes out favors to their friends. We refuse to stand by and watch this unfold. There must be consequences for this corruption while we work to restore the American people’s trust,” 
said Congressman Subramanyam. 

“Donald Trump has repeatedly abused the presidential pardon power to give get out of jail free cards to violent, convicted felons who assaulted Capitol Police officers on January 6th, and benefit close political allies and the members of his inner circle. This cannot stand. That’s why I’m proud to join Rep. Subramanyam’s effort to put a commonsense check on presidential pardons, ensuring regardless of who’s in the White House, the power is used fairly and responsibly,” said Congressman Neguse. 

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following for Labor Day 2026:

“Labor Day is a federal holiday in honor of you and all your work in your jobs, where you faithfully serve your families, and in doing so, make our communities better, and keep our economy moving. Your job is important! Labor Day is a nationwide thank you for your entire year of dedication and efforts, as well as a well-deserved day of rest and relaxation with family or friends. Our local economy is influenced by the larger U.S. economy and decisions in Washington that can affect our small businesses, our fishing, or the costs of the imports we need, policies that impact family budgets. I will keep focused to ensure that American Samoa is treated fairly in legislation. May God bless your diligence, your health, your families and faith in the year ahead. Happy Labor Day!”

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Psalm 128:2

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might… Ecclesiastes 9:10  

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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 Health and Human Services (HHS) for the American Samoa Department of Health (ASDOH) of $87,718 through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a discretionary preventive health and health services block grant for one year.

The award is through CDC’s National Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce.

“Thank you to Jasmay Willis for the efforts that went into this grant,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “We appreciate all our medical professionals here in our islands. Health care is always a major priority, and every federal dollar helps our health system.”

ASDOH is led by Director Dr. Saipale Fuimaono. CDC is led by Director Dr. Erica Schwartz, as part of HHS under Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr.

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