MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) announced today that his staff will hold a mobile office hour for constituents in Harlan County on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. This office hour is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with a member of Smith’s staff about federal issues, receive assistance with a federal agency, or take advantage of the services available through his office.

Smith, who has offices in Grand Island, Scottsbluff, and Nebraska City, will provide a staff member at the following time and location:
 

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Harlan County Courthouse
706 2nd Street
Alma, NE 68920
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CT

For additional information, please contact Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900, his Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333, or his Nebraska City office at (402) 874-6050. 

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming a second notice of funding in the past few days from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this time $324,917, once again reimbursing American Samoa for costs during COVID response. Thank you to the Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM), which is the primary department in working with FEMA year-round, along with the Department of Health (ASDOH) and LBJ Tropical Medical Center, which provided the services that are being reimbursed.

“Although my first priority with grant notices is to inform our people of funding, it’s always an added pleasure in those times when I know specifically who to thank for local work. There are efforts made in our Territory that are necessary to qualify for federal requirements for a grant, or to provide the services to our people when implementing the funding, and it very often involves someone behind the scenes, not listed on the official notification,” said Congresswoman Amata. “For instance, in these FEMA reimbursements, this would include work on this grant by ASG personnel, including ODAPM, as well as the services that were provided throughout COVID by LBJ and our health professionals. Thank you to everyone who does their part in keeping needed funds flowing to our islands.”

This grant reimburses Emergency Measures to Support Healthcare Facilities as a result of Covid-19 Pandemic. The funding is authorized by Congress under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is congratulating the 75 graduates of the American Samoa Community College (ASCC). The college held its 84^th Commencement Ceremony on Friday in the Taeaoafua Gymnasium at Kanana Fou. Amata is thanking President Dr. Rosevonne Pato, and those taking part in officiating, including Pastor Francis Lolesio, and keynote speaker Agriculture Director Daniel Elisara Helsham, an ASCC alumnus, who also holds a Bachelor’s from Chaminade University, Honolulu, and a Master’s from Texas Tech University.  

Amata Congratulating Graduates
See more pictures here

“I am delighted to be able to attend ASCC Commencement in honor of our graduates and their proud families. Congratulations to each graduate on this wonderful accomplishment, as you now have an education that lasts a lifetime and will serve your future well. Congratulations also to each parent, family member, and mentor in guiding any of these lives. Thank you to President Dr. Rosevonne Pato, and all the faculty and staff of the college for your roles in providing an education for these graduates and the rest of our current and future students. We appreciate all the planners and staff ensuring the commencement went well, and especially keynote speaker Director Helsham, and Pastor Lolesio. Their words and examples are excellent guidelines for these departing graduates. To each graduate, you earned your applause at the commencement, and we are all cheering you on in your next steps. We know your Samoan values, including family, faith and prayer will be a strong foundation for your continued growth ahead.” 

For 2026, Congresswoman Amata secured $3 million for ASCC, specified by Congress through the yearly ASG Operations Fund out of the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA). This fund receives $29 million for American Samoa in 2026 through Interior Appropriations, and Amata has repeated her request in Congress for 2027, and testified to the Appropriations Committee for this priority in March. At Amata’s requests, Congress has boosted the annual amount American Samoa receives for this fund seven times for over $6.3 million growth since fiscal year 2018, which allows $3.3 million for other functions while supporting the college with the amount designated for ASCC. 

Also in March, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act, H.R. 6472, a bipartisan bill Amata is co-leading, and a policy she has helped champion in previous Congresses, that would guarantee in-state University tuition rates for territory students, including ASCC and high school graduates, choosing to pursue four-year degrees within the United States. The U.S. Senate must also pass this bill for it to become law.

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, who is Vice Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), is welcoming Committee passage this past week of another slate of 16 Veterans’ bills, including several she cosponsors. 

Vice Chairman Amata is original cosponsor of the bipartisan U.S. Vets of the FAS Act, H.R. 6652; cosponsor of the RECOVER Act, H.R. 2283, led by HVAC Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL); and cosponsor of the Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act, H.R. 6444. The next step for these bills is full House consideration.

The U.S. Vets of the FAS Act fulfills U.S. commitments to U.S. Veterans in the Freely Associated States (FAS) with telehealth and mail order pharmacy services. Congresswoman Amata led passage of the COFA legislation in 2024, the last Congress, serving as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee’s Indo-Pacific Task Force on that effort. The bipartisan bill is the cooperative effort of the three Pacific territories and the Hawaii House delegation.

The RECOVER Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program providing grants to established non-profit mental health-care providers for culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care for veterans.

The Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act creates a task force of experts to focus on research regarding sleep therapy, blast-related gut health, mobile diagnostics, vestibular dysfunction and balance impairment, autonomic nervous system dysregulation, cumulative mild traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation and glial activation, and other findings, as well as monitor Veterans’ declines in vision, hearing or other function, and provide recommendations and reports to Congress and the VA to improve services and care. 

“These bills are important ways to keep our commitment to our Veterans and honor their sacrifice,” said Vice Chairman Amata. “The bills I cosponsor focus on providing VA services in the Pacific, mental health research and improvements, and blast-related care and findings. I’m broadly supportive of this group of Veterans’ legislation, and many of these bills have bipartisan backing.”

This past week’s HVAC-passed Veterans’ bills:

H.R.2283 – The RECOVER Act

H.R.6652 – The U.S. Vets of the FAS Act

H.R.6444 – The Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act

H.R.6993 – The BEACON Act of 2026

H.R.7083 – The CRUISE Act 

H.R.7103 – The Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act

H.R.5634 – The Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2026

H.R. 7950 – The VA Congressional Accountability Act

H.R. 7683 – The VA Fiscal Management and Modernization Act

H.R. 8052 – The VIP Act (Veterans Infection Prevention)

H.R. 6698 – The Board of Veterans Appeals Annual Report Transparency Act

H.R. 7260 – The National Cemetery Administration Annual Report Act of 2026

H.R.3159 – The Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act

H.R. 5436 – The End Transcript Withholding for Veterans Act

H.R.5999 – The Veteran Opioid Emergency Treatment Act

H.R. 5723 – The Fraud Reduction and Uncovering Deception (FRAUD) in VA Disability Exams Act.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Lafayette, CO — Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse issued the following statement on Tina Peters’ commuted sentence:

“Tina Peters broke the law and was convicted by a jury of her peers. I disagree with the commutation of her sentence, and believe the judicial process should have proceeded as provided for under Colorado law.”

“As an attorney, member of Congress, and former impeachment prosecutor, I believe the rule of law is sacrosanct, and I’ll continue to fight to protect the rule of law, free and fair elections, and our democratic republic — always.”

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

Oftentimes, Washington overcomplicates simple issues that can be met with fiscally responsible, long-term solutions that lower costs and provide real results for real Americans. When it comes to health care policy, partisan talking points end up creating an impasse that sacrifices solutions for soundbites that can be used on social media.

The work we do as Members of Congress shouldn’t be about how many views we can get online; it should be about how we can work together to deliver real, tangible wins for the American people by restoring broken systems that no longer function the way they were intended.

Since being elected to Congress, I came to Washington ready to craft commonsense, conservative legislation. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the Fair Care Act, legislation that combines over 75 bipartisan proposals that expand insurance and health care options, protect those with preexisting conditions, lower costs, and increase the number of insured Americans.

It is time to create an accessible, functioning health care system. Americans are paying $5 trillion annually for health care plans that barely even work. And with an industry that consumes 18% (and rising) of our GDP, we cannot afford to let partisan politics stand in the way of common sense and quality care.

Here’s how the Fair Care Act works:

It modernizes Health Savings Accounts.

Most Americans end up losing hundreds of dollars annually in unused FSA funds due to use-it-or-lose-it rules. The Fair Care Act merges these health care accounts into one simple Health Savings Account (HSA) to eliminate waste. That means that anyone with Medicare, Medicaid, employer plans, or individual plans would qualify.

With this modernization, your pre-tax money could be used for prescription costs, doctor visits, premiums, and more. And with more flexibility, employees would have the freedom to use their HSA funds to buy their own insurance, detaching health insurance from employment.

Preexisting conditions are known to send rates into the stratosphere. But the Fair Care Act fixes that and even provides greater options for short-term coverage if you can’t commit to something more long-term. And with the ability for small businesses or individuals to join together for group discounts and rates, Americans have more say in the plans they pay into.

It promotes price transparency and competition.

Rising health care costs are ultimately the result of the consolidation and vertical integration – or monopolies – within the hospital, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries. The Fair Care Act tackles these monopolies to create a more competitive market that ultimately drives down the cost of drugs and health care services.

It creates reforms to Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicare and Medicaid must function in the way they were intended to prevent waste and abuse of a system that is no longer functioning in the way it was intended. The Fair Care Act reforms Medicaid by offering greater help for those who may not qualify for the program but still struggle to afford insurance and allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and compare insurance plans so senior citizens can get tailored care instead of getting stuck in a one-size-fits-all system.

For rural areas across the Fourth District, we rely heavily on telehealth to act as a lifeline when emergency care is too far away. The Fair Care Act makes COVID-era telehealth expansions permanent so rural residents can have more reliable access to primary care and emergency services.

I truly believe it is possible to come to a bipartisan agreement on a long-lasting health care bill that lowers costs and provides all Americans with the opportunity to have access to quality health care.  By taking politics out of the equation, the Fair Care Act is a step in the right direction, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come to a solution that focuses on the patients’ needs over Washington’s political agenda.

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

Arkansas has long been a powerful contributor to national security and a driver for economic success. Our state strengthens American energy and national security by providing critical minerals, manufacturing, and trade access by routes like the MKARNS and the vast network of railways responsible for moving tons of goods in and out of the Natural State.

To build on this great impact, it was a privilege to launch the Gulf South Business Caucus last week. Members of Congress from the five Gulf South states (Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) responsible for contributing trillions of dollars to GDP annually, joined to create a bipartisan congressional caucus that will work to champion opportunity and long-term success for the region.

The Gulf South region is an economic powerhouse and integral to America’s energy production, manufacturing, and workforce demand. With the production of so much of our nation’s crude oil and natural gas, the Gulf South inherently plays an equally great role in infrastructure, innovation, and manufacturing.

We’ve all heard the saying, “build it, and they will come.” By building essential energy infrastructure, the region has developed into a hub for domestic and international investment.

With an increase in global competition, we must act to set the Gulf South region up for success as it attracts global investment and aligns its regional priorities with grid reliability and trade policy that is beneficial to local communities.

When the Gulf South region wins, America wins. My colleagues and I are committed to empowering this region’s local workers, communities, and employers through bipartisan, multi-state collaboration around our shared economic interests of the region to ensure it keeps its competitive edge for manufacturing and energy production for years to come.

It is a great honor to serve as chairman of this caucus, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues and state neighbors to champion pro-growth policies and regional development that achieve this goal. 

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

For generations, agriculture has shaped Arkansas history and established a proud legacy that still lasts today. With Arkansas consistently ranking third in cotton production nationally, it’s important that the legislation crafted in Congress reflect my commitment to supporting our row crop farmers, and the agriculture industry, across the state of Arkansas.

This week I was proud to become an official cosponsor of the Buying American Cotton Act of 2026. Cotton growers (and the ag industry as a whole) across the Fourth District are continuously facing high input costs and low market prices. This bill aims to provide a market-driven, direct economic benefit to our Arkansas cotton producers and strengthen long-term demand for cotton grown statewide. The bill creates a tax credit to incentivize U.S. manufacturing entities to utilize home-grown cotton and sell their goods to domestic buyers. This credit is based on several factors, including proof of U.S. origin, the volume of U.S. cotton in the product, and the location of manufacturing.

With global competition threatening the survival of our own domestic producers, placing strain on our rural communities, and creating supply chain issues, it’s important that we create a level playing field. Many of my friends and colleagues across the Arkansas delegation agree that Arkansas farmers are the best of the best and efficient enough to win every time if they’re provided with a level playing field.

Arkansas farmers and ranchers need to see Congress move the ball forward and provide their families with the protection and relief they need during these hard times. Legislation like the Buying American Cotton Act of 2026 is certainly a step in that direction.

Without the farming industry, our land would not be cultivated, our natural resources would not be stewarded well, and everything we find comfort in, from clothes to food to warmth, would no longer be a regular part of our daily lives.

Arkansas farmers are strong and resilient. They will continue to raise the bar for farmers and industry stakeholders across the country, but Congress must also act to create the level playing field needed to properly compete. I will continue supporting legislation in congress that works to support, agriculture, our state’s leading industry, and the men and women who dedicate their livelihoods to such a time-honored legacy.

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

Working in Congress to represent my friends and neighbors across the Fourth District, it is essential that we work closely with local and state entities to ensure that the legislation that is advocated for – and passed – in Washington addresses issues that meet the needs of Arkansans. That’s why it’s always a privilege to welcome the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce to Washington D.C. every year for their annual visit.

The dedicated state chamber representatives who journeyed to our nation’s capital this week share my interest in bettering our communities and laying a firm foundation for future generations to build their success upon.

Whether it’s hearing more about the needs of our cattle, livestock, and row crop farmers or learning more about what our communities need for more reliable infrastructure and economic growth, each of these needs have direct and deep impacts for the Fourth District.

These visits also help serve as a great reminder that the work we do in Congress matters. Oftentimes a spotlight is placed on the division and discord in Washington. But every single day, Members of Congress are showing up, ready to work together to enact good, commonsense policy. It may not always be legislation that piques everyone’s interest or is especially glamorous to discuss, but it’s legislation that builds a framework for a better future.

With all four Arkansas congressmen – and both Senators – holding a gavel, our state swings well above its weight in the House of Representatives. Because of this, across multiple House committees, a lot of the legislation produced has direct impacts on the Natural State. And when we welcome groups like the Arkansas State Chamber to town, not only do we get the opportunity to build better relationships, but we get the opportunity to put what we’ve learned to work and truly make a difference not only for Arkansas, but for America.