MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

The deadline is fast approaching for Congress to reauthorize surface transportation legislation, with the current bill expiring on September 30, 2026. Regular, continued reauthorization of our nation’s surface transportation programs is integral to maintaining the safety and integrity of our local infrastructure. Without essential repairs and improvements, our roadways and bridges will continue to take on more wear and tear, leading to major issues down the road.

Serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee and as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, the work we do in both committees goes hand-in-glove for ensuring that our nation can build and move forward with these essential projects. And at the center of it all is the need for permitting reform.

The bipartisan SPEED Act, which I introduced in June, cuts through the red tape of our current federal permitting process, streamlining it to enable America to build again. Through my work on the Natural Resources Committee, I’ve seen how the permitting process places serious restrictions on our ability to produce crucial energy infrastructure, and as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’ve seen firsthand how the permitting process stifles innovation and production as it relates to necessary infrastructure, like the I-49 construction that stretches across the Fourth District. 

Recently, I attended the I-49 Arkansas River Bridge groundbreaking. Tree-clearing and site preparation began in 2022 for this project, but full bridge construction could not proceed for nearly two years while the agency awaited final environmental and Section 404 water-crossing permits, leaving cleared areas idle until those approvals were issued. This is a prime example of permitting delay holding up a project that will eventually bring greater access to jobs, hospitals, and a thriving economy to all of Arkansas and the surrounding states.

Not only is it imperative that we reopen the government and get back to governing through regular order, but we must hit the ground running to tackle permitting reform and work on Surface Transportation Reauthorization that benefits Arkansans and Americans alike. 

As a district that is made up largely of rural communities, connection is key. Without updated road repairs and bridges, our friends and neighbors in these areas will experience greater difficulty accessing health care, shopping for groceries, and reaching other essential services. 

To rectify our bloated bureaucratic budget, T&I Committee Republicans are ready to go back to the basics by placing the focus on our most fundamental infrastructure needs. A commonsense, key element to securing this vision is to continue empowering states to make the best judgment call on their individual needs while limiting bureaucratic overreach and the morass of federal red tape.

For a better future for the Natural State, investing in our roads, bridges, and transportation systems is an investment in our state’s economy and the thousands of Arkansans who rely on this industry for well-paying jobs. Investing in our state’s infrastructure also reduces the headaches of years-long projects and restores reliability for our nation’s transportation industry. 

It’s time for Congress to get back to work and create solutions, not play partisan games that place the burden on American taxpayers. As we get back to business, I look forward to working in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and in Congress to ensure government overreach is streamlined and reigned in, commonsense surface transportation reauthorization legislation is passed, and vital infrastructure projects are completed in a timely manner.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

Serving as the only licensed forester in Congress provides many unique opportunities to work on legislation that brings a commonsense and conservative approach to forest management across the nation. Additionally, it is a great privilege to serve as the Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources. In this committee, the stewardship of our public lands remains a top priority for all its members, and this week, great steps were made to push our committee’s Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) closer to the finish line and the President’s desk to be signed into law.

The House Natural Resources Committee is a legislative workhorse in the 119th Congress, having successfully passed more bills out of the House than any other committee in the lower chamber. This achievement speaks acutely to the fantastic staff and my colleagues on the dais who work tirelessly to create legislation from streamlining the permitting process to working with our 574 federally recognized Indian tribes to improve self-determination policies. But at the heart of nearly every hearing, markup, and bill is the importance of protecting and maintaining our public lands.

From coast to coast, our nation is blessed with incredible, beautiful forests, and it is our duty to be good stewards of these resources so we can pass our blessings to future generations. The Fix Our Forests Act can be the catalyst for better forest management, resulting in the prevention and mitigation of uncontrollable wildfires. As the first bill passed out of the House in the 119th Congress, my committee continues to cheer for its progress while it makes its way through the Senate.

As is standard whenever legislation passes over from one chamber to the other, a group of bipartisan Senators introduced their version of FOFA in April, where it has been awaiting markup in the House Ag Committee, led by Senator Boozman, until this week. It was exciting to sit in on the hearing where various amendments and proposals to the legislation were discussed. One such change is from the House version’s legal claims limit of 120 days to the Senate’s establishment of 150 days. Ultimately, the bill was passed and is now on its way to the Senate floor for a final vote.

While few changes were made, it was encouraging to see that the basic framework we started with in the House remains the same. I am grateful for the work my friend and fellow Arkansan, Senator Boozman, has done in the Senate on behalf of this vital piece of legislation, and for providing the opportunity to have been involved in the discussions on the proposed changes. 

It’s time for better forest management practices on the ground – not only in Arkansas, but across the hundreds of millions of federal forests across the United States. With Senate passage, those who constantly face the dangers of wildfires and communities who rely on the forest products industry to provide for their families will be much better protected, see greater restoration of forest health, and receive much-needed help for protecting the communities located in wildland urban interfaces.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

Dyslexia may be the most common learning disability, but it unfortunately remains misunderstood in many parts of the country. This learning disability should never be a roadblock for students’ success in the classroom; however, the lack of public awareness further hinders early diagnoses, preventing our students from receiving the tools they need to succeed early in their educational journey. Thankfully, great efforts are being made on the state level in Arkansas to ensure our students with learning disabilities can receive the help they need for a better, more inclusive learning environment.

Early in my years of public service, I had the privilege of serving as school board president. That, combined with my understanding of education as the husband of a teacher, deepened my comprehension of dyslexia, growing my desire to provide accessible resources for educators who could support students with dyslexia. During my service in the Arkansas legislature, we were proudly able to lay the groundwork for changes in the Natural State.

As co-chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus, I now have the opportunity to work in Congress on behalf of educators, parents, and students with dyslexia to advocate for a more science-based approach to creating a modern understanding around the definition of dyslexia. This week, it was a privilege to introduce a Resolution recognizing October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month in addition to signing on as a cosponsor for the 21st Century Dyslexia Act. This legislation underscores the need for a modern-day, scientific understanding of this learning disability in order to prevent the harm that unidentified dyslexia can inflict on our young students. 

Education policy is always best handled at the state and local level, but the federal government can help with research, bringing focus to an issue, and sharing best practices. Efforts to expand and streamline training and schooling for dyslexia therapists are greatly encouraging to see, as schools across the Natural State face a growing need for trained professionals. The University of Arkansas recently announced its partnership with the Academic Language Therapy Association and the Nelms Dyslexia Center to create a new master’s degree pathway for those looking to pursue a career in academic language therapy. This new avenue allows Arkansans who are pursuing a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) certification to also earn university credit, creating a more affordable and streamlined path for their credentials process.

True change and progress for all learning disabilities will only come from the continued advocacy, awareness, and commitment to resources that lead to a greater understanding of helping individuals succeed in learning, and I extend my deepest thanks to the tireless advocates in Arkansas who lead the charge in this pursuit. While millions of students experience the hurdles of dyslexia, my hope is that we continue to gain a deeper understanding of this learning disability in order to foster a more inclusive, supportive, and modern-day learning environment for all students.

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) issued the following statement in response to the passage of the government funding bill in the House of Representatives:

“The government funding bill passed tonight fails to stop health care premiums from skyrocketing, fails to undo the cruel cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in the Big, Ugly Law, and once again leaves our farmers and ranchers behind by punting on a new Farm Bill that actually meets their needs,” said Thompson.

“I voted NO because I refuse to support a bill that fails the American people. I’ll keep fighting for all Americans, while Congressional Republicans continue to exacerbate the healthcare crisis and enable the President’s ill-advised policies that are increasing costs across the board.”

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

Napa, CA – Sunday, Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04) was joined by special guest Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38) and local Latino leaders from across the North Bay for a panel discussion and networking event in downtown Napa.

The event, entitled “Connecting Latino Voices: Here to Lead” brought together dozens of Latino leaders, elected officials, changemakers, and community members for a discussion on what it takes to be a successful leader, how Latino leaders are giving back to their community, and the challenges facing the Latino community today. Local leaders from Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Lake, and Yolo counties were in attendance.

“Our region is incredibly diverse, with voices from every walk of life. Sadly, sometimes not every voice gets the spotlight it deserves. That’s why I started Connecting Latino Voices, to ensure that our local Latino voices could be heard and their stories be shared. At a time when our Latino community and our immigrant community are facing the worst attacks by our government in decades, events like these that bring our community leaders together are more critical than ever,” said Thompson. 

Rep. Thompson was joined by Rep. Linda Sánchez, Congresswoman for California’s 38th District; Supervisor Belia Ramos, Napa County District 5; Herman G. Hernandez, Executive Director, Los Cien Sonoma County; Deborah Bautista Zavala, Board President, Woodland Joint Unified School District; Jazmin Garcia, Host, NextGen Talks; Leo Callejas, Northern Region Chair, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, board member, Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Business Owner/Founder, DigitalTrack Digital Marketing; and Angela Cuellar-Marroquin, President, Latinos United of Lake County for a panel discussion. Following the panel, audience members were invited to join local leaders for a networking session with members of Rep. Thompson’s Latino Advisory Panel, local elected leaders, business owners, students, and more.

During the panel, special guest Congresswoman Linda Sánchez shared the story of her career. A former labor lawyer, Rep. Sánchez is the daughter of immigrants and grew up in a proud Latino household. She made history as the first Latina to serve on the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Judiciary Committee. In 2016, she became the first woman of color elected to a leadership position in Congress when she was elected to vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus. In 2024, she shattered another glass ceiling, becoming the first Latina and woman of color to serve as a ranking member on a Ways and Means subcommittee. She currently serves as the ranking member of the Trade Subcommittee.

BACKGROUND 

Rep. Thompson’s Connecting Latino Voices event is one part of his programming to support and uplift Latino voices in our community. Rep. Thompson is proud to work with his Latino Advisory Panel to advance policies that help the Latino community in Congress and to stay informed on the issues facing our local Latino community. 

As Latinos and the immigrant community face attacks from the President, Rep. Thompson has continued to fight back against policies that harm our Latino and our immigrant communities, including by monitoring the San Francisco ICE detention facility, hosting “Know Your Rights’ workshops for local business owners to understand the rights of their employees, and co-sponsoring legislation to prevent ICE from wearing masks and from wearing the word “Police” on their uniforms. 

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement in response to the Senate’s funding bill:  

“The Senate’s bill is a bad deal for the American people,” said Thompson. “This bill fails to prevent Americans’ health care premiums from skyrocketing and it fails to reverse the President and Congressional Republicans’ devastating cuts to Medicaid. It also kicks the can down the road for our farmers, failing to deliver a Farm Bill 2.0 that serves our ag community’s needs. I cannot support this bill that fails the American people.

“Once again, I continue to call on Speaker Johnson to bring his party back to Washington to negotiate a bipartisan path forward that lowers costs and protects health care for hardworking Americans.” 

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

LEGISLATION WILL REINSTATE THOMPSON’S TAX CREDITS THAT BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS INTO THE U.S. ECONOMY.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Robert Wittman (VA-01) introduced a resolution designating the week of October 11-18, 2025, as National Wildlife Refuge Week.

The resolution celebrates the diversity of ecosystems and wildlife found in our national wildlife refuges and the many recreational activities that they support, including hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. Since President Theodore Roosevelt created the first U.S. national wildlife refuge in 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System has served a critical role in wildlife conservation. The national wildlife refuges have been strong drivers of economic growth for local communities across the country, generating billions of dollars each year. 

“America’s national wildlife refuges are among our greatest conservation success stories,” said Thompson. “They safeguard habitat, protect endangered species, and give people from all walks of life the chance to experience the natural beauty of our country. National Wildlife Refuge Week is a celebration of that legacy and a reminder that protecting these lands for future generations is a responsibility we all share.”

“The First District of Virginia is home to unique and special ecosystems. As a former state health official who conducted field research in the Chesapeake Bay, I am aware of the ecological challenges facing Virginia waters, wetlands, and refuges and I know the importance of taking care of our environment for future generations. Providing for the protection and security of these resources is absolutely vital,” said Wittman. “This resolution reiterates my support for our nation’s refuges.” 

Today, the national wildlife refuge system includes 573 refuges, 38 wetland management districts, and 5 marine national monuments spanning more than 850 million acres across all 50 states and U.S. territories. National wildlife refuges receive 71 million annual visitors, generating $3.2 billion for local economies and supporting over 41,000 jobs.

A longtime outdoorsman and conservationist himself, Thompson has helped conserve nearly 5 million acres of North American wetlands and uplands through his legislative work and his work with the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. 

In addition to Reps. Thompson and Wittman, the resolution’s original cosponsors include Representatives Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

Senators Coons and Kennedy have introduced a companion resolution in the Senate.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

“For 54 days, House Republicans refused to come to the table—let alone vote. And today, they jammed through a continuing resolution that ignores the reality facing millions of Americans: without extending the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits, health care costs will spike, coverage will be lost, and families will be left with impossible choices.

“This crisis wasn’t inevitable, it was manufactured by Republicans’ indifference. Instead of negotiating to lower costs, they chose a bill that leaves people staring at higher premiums, fewer plan options, and mounting uncertainty about whether they can stay covered. Rising health care costs don’t just hit those whose premiums go up—they ripple across every community through reduced access to care. They shrink provider networks and cause clinic cutbacks, longer wait times, and delayed treatments that make people sicker and care more expensive. 

“Foundationally this is about whether families can afford groceries, rent, child care—and still see a doctor when they need one. It’s about whether Americans have the ability to live healthy lives. This bill undermines our health care system and raises the cost of living for families, that’s why I voted NO.

“Democrats are still fighting. We will continue to take action to deliver relief and protect affordable coverage. The American people deserve stability and security. They deserve leadership that puts them first. And I will never yield to Republican cruelty, chaos, and indifference.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) released the following statement after Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced she would not seek another term in the House of Representatives. 

“Nancy Pelosi is the most consequential and effective speaker in American history. She is an extraordinarily gifted legislator and a fierce defender of our democracy. But to me, she is first and foremost a true, dear friend, someone I have learned from and laughed with countless times. She is an inspiration to us all. 

“Nancy shattered every barrier placed in front of her—not for the sake of breaking history, but to change the future for the better. Time and again, she stepped into uncharted territory and turned it into a path for others to rise behind her. That’s who Nancy is—she sees the possibilities long before anyone else does, dives headfirst into solving the toughest problems, and inspires that same boldness in everyone around her. From delivering and protecting affordable health care, to rebuilding our infrastructure and confronting the climate crisis head-on, she has delivered real progress for families in every corner of this country. 

“To really know Nancy is to see the heart behind the headlines. She brings compassion, a remarkable ability to connect with people, and keen instincts to every room she enters. When the stakes are highest, she never wavers. She leads with distinctive grace, determination, and brilliance no matter the moment. 

“Her work has strengthened our democracy, expanded opportunity, and gave a voice to millions who had been overlooked or unheard. Nancy Pelosi has made America fairer, stronger, and more just. And she is not done. In the year ahead, she will continue fighting the Trump Administration’s reckless agenda and standing up for the American people. Thank you, Nancy, for everything you have done and everything you will continue to do.”

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