MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García led his Progressive Caucus colleagues in a series of speeches to highlight the many ways President Trump’s 2027 Budget Request will make life harder for their constituents, and how he is funding a war of choice over the people’s needs and priorities.

Video of the Congressman’s speech can be found here.

These are excerpts from Congressman García’s speech:

On housing:

“…the President’s Budget Request eliminates 4 billion dollars of affordable housing investments, wiping out programs that help families find housing, stay in their homes, and get back on their feet.

“My district has suffered from severe floods over the last two years, and some of my constituents were displaced from their homes. But as rents rise, Trump wants to cut the programs designed to help keep a roof over their heads.”

On energy:

“The President’s Budget Request also eliminates LIHEAP, a program that helps 5 million families afford their utility bills—leaving them unable to cool their homes in the summer or pay heating bills in the winter.

“When you combine that with the surging price of gas because of Trump’s illegal war with Iran, Trump is making the American people suffer twice.”
 

On nutrition programs:

“And as if this wasn’t bad enough, Trump’s budget proposal also calls for deep cuts to food assistance like SNAP and WIC. These are programs that help mothers and young children afford fruits and vegetables.”

On funding a war of choice:

“So with all these cuts, what is Trump increasing the budget for? One word—war. As he proposes to cut 73 billion for housing, food, education, and health, he is asking for 1.5 trillion for the Pentagon— a record-shattering amount that demonstrates just how detached Trump is from our constituents’ needs and priorities.
 

“Trump started a cruel, illegal, deeply unpopular war that costs billions every day, sent gas prices skyrocketing, and triggered a global fuel crisis.

“This Budget Request would enable him to do more destruction with more money—while lining the pockets of his defense contractor friends. This makes us all less safe.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21) and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), bipartisan co-chairs of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, introduced a resolution recognizing April 19 through April 25, 2026, as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
The resolution recognizes the impact that crime, victimization, and mass violence have on victims, survivors, and communities across the country. It also honors the advocates, service providers, and organizations that work every day to support survivors and uphold their rights.
This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme, “CommUNITY,” highlights the importance of connection in supporting healing, strengthening victim services, and ensuring victims’ rights are protected.
“National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is a time to stand with survivors, honor their strength, and recognize the advocates and organizations working every day to support healing and justice,” said the co-chairs of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus. “This resolution reaffirms our bipartisan commitment to ensuring victims and survivors are treated with dignity, connected to the services and resources they deserve, and supported every step of the way.”
Read the full text HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Washington, DC — Today, Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) introduced the Stop Deadly Denials Act to no longer allow Medicare Advantage plans to require prior authorization for necessary medical items and services. The legislation would ensure patients are able to receive fair affordable coverage without added administrative burdens from prior authorization that frequently block care. 

“It’s time we stop allowing Medicare Advantage to profit off the Medicare name while denying critical coverage,” said Rep. Ro Khanna. “Affordable quality healthcare is a human right. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Rep. Jayapal and stop Medicare Advantage from using prior authorization to delay and deny medically necessary care.”

“Medicare DisAdvantage makes it harder for patients to get the care they need – often leading to delays and denials of care that can be deadly. We’re now seeing the Trump Administration bring this tactic to Traditional Medicare as well, denying Americans care they need, and that they would have received before the implementation of the WISeR model. I’m leading the Stop Deadly Denials Act with Rep. Khanna because we must urgently ensure corporate insurers can’t deny care to those who need it. Patients, doctors, and advocates have been sounding the alarm about denials of care for years: it’s time for Congress to address these serious concerns,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal.

“Since its inception, Medicare Advantage has gamed our health care system to profit off our seniors and people with disabilities,” said Jamie Brown, RN and NNU president. “Nurses applaud Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna for introducing the Stop Deadly Denials Act to put an end to prior authorization in Medicare Advantage. It’s time we take on corporate health insurers who use delaying and denying care to exploit our patients, and we have to stand firm in our commitment to ensure these same tactics are not used in Traditional Medicare. We must protect Medicare in our fight to pass Medicare for All!”

“Prior authorization is a tool used by Big Insurance to delay and deny care, often standing between patients and the care they need. By aligning Medicare Advantage with traditional Medicare, blocking harmful experiments like WISeR, and stopping the use of unaccountable algorithms to override physicians, this legislation will make it harder for Big Insurance to deny care to those who need it.  It also ensures transparency and accountability by requiring full public input before any future models move forward. We thank Congressman Ro Khanna for introducing this vital bill and urge Congress to pass it without delay,” said Rachel Madley, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Health and Democracy.

“Insurers shouldn’t be profiting from denying seniors the care that they need and are entitled to receive. We know that privatized Medicare plans overturn around 80 percent of their denial of care decisions upon appeal, but count on few enrollees filing those appeals. The privatized Medicare plans aggressively and mechanically deny requests for prior authorization because they know they can get away with it. The Stop Deadly Denials Act would finally put a stop to these practices and prevent perverse experiments that threaten to bring further prior authorization into Traditional Medicare,” said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President of Public Citizen. 

The Stop Deadly Denial Act: 

• Eliminates prior authorization for all Medicare Advantage Part A and Part B services unless required in traditional Medicare.
• Blocks WISeR and any substantially similar prior authorization model in Traditional Medicare.
• Prohibits CMMI from testing any prior authorization model that imposes prior authorization for Part A/B services, uses AI or algorithm-driven denials without physician review, or outsources prior authorization determinations outside Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs).
• Requires CMS to use full notice-and-comment rulemaking for all future models starting in 2027. 

Read the full text of the legislation here.

Cosponsors: Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN), Representative Debby Dingell (D-MI), Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) 

The full list of organizations that have endorsed the Stop Deadly Denials Act of 2026 include: National Nurses United (NNU), Centers for Health and Democracy, Public Citizen, Just Care USA, Social Security Works, the Labor Campaign for Single Payer, and Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) will host a reception in honor of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition on Friday, April 24, at the Mary Collins Community Center.

WHAT: 2026 Congressional Art Competition to highlight the artistic talent of high school students from Congressional District 26 

WHO:

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, students, parents, principals, and teachers. 

WHEN:

Friday, April 24^th at 4:00 p.m.

WHERE:

Mary Collins Community Center

15151 NW 82^nd Avenue

Miami Lakes, FL 33016

RSVP:

All interested credentialed media may RSVP to Andrea.Morales@mail.house.gov

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the leading Congressional advocate for decriminalizing marijuana, today welcomed the U.S. Department of Justice decision to loosen restrictions on medical marijuana by rescheduling state-licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III. But he said more needs to be done to remove recreational use of marijuana from Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act in the following statement:

“Today’s DOJ decision is a small step in the right direction but is limited in its application since it doesn’t affect recreational marijuana possession under federal criminal law, nor remove the disproportionately harsh life-altering criminal penalties associated with it. Those include not qualifying for federal nutrition assistance and restrictions on federal housing. As a longtime advocate for removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, I will continue to work to get marijuana reclassified so that the lives upended by misguided federal prosecutions can be avoided.”

Congressman Cohen held a press conference on Monday (4/20) with individuals formerly incarcerated in Federal Prison for marijuana offenses alongside Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), and Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), and advocates for decriminalizing and declassifying cannabis at the federal level. There he reiterated his call for Trump to expedite the descheduling of cannabis. Later, he participated in a policy briefing with men incarcerated for marijuana possession who had their sentences commuted. There are still 3,000 federal prisoners serving time for marijuana offenses, and I am heading up a letter to Trump and his pardons czar Alice Marie Johnson seeking the release of those sentenced for non-violent marijuana offenses – a group less dangerous than the January 6 insurrectionists he pardoned on his first day back in office.

On March 27, Congressman Cohen wrote to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrator Terrance Cole seeking clarity on how and when President Trump’s demand that marijuana be rescheduled was being implemented. See that letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), alongside U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), introduced the bicameral Climate Change Education Act, which would establish a Climate Change Education Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide grants and technical assistance to state and local education agencies, institutions of higher learning, professional associations and academic societies, and youth corps organizations. The legislation would help ensure that graduating students are trained to live, work, and lead in a world increasingly impacted by climate change.

“The climate crisis has left no corner of the globe unscathed, especially not my home state of California,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “From longer wildfire seasons to rising sea levels to increasingly frequent and deadly natural disasters, climate change is already wreaking havoc on our communities, ecosystems, infrastructure, and economy. As this crisis worsens, younger and upcoming generations stand to suffer the most. That is why we must invest in education opportunities that will equip students with a thorough understanding of climate change and the skills needed to curb its effects, safeguard public health, and secure a competitive clean energy economy. Climate literacy is a critical solution to a problem that will disproportionately impact today’s youth, and it is our moral imperative to help them build a climate-resilient future for generations to come.”

“We cannot fully confront the existential threat of climate change without a thorough understanding of the impact it will have on our lives and the steps we must take to combat it. Students learning these lessons today will be on the frontlines of the fight to save our planet. With this legislation, we will ensure our students and teachers are equipped with the knowledge and support they need to help us address this challenge today and in the future,” said Congresswoman Dingell.

“Young people today are inheriting a hotter and more dangerous planet, and they deserve to have the knowledge and technical skills necessary to solve and survive the climate crisis,” said Senator Markey. “The Climate Change Education Act is an investment in students, teachers, and a sustainable future. As extreme weather, rising seas, and climate-fueled health risks are increasingly obvious in our day-to-day lives, this bill would empower students with information and support the next generation of scientific champions. I thank Congresswomen Dingell and Brownley for this partnership on legislation that builds power and a better future.”

The Climate Change Education Act would support climate literacy by authorizing $50 million per year between fiscal years 2027 and 2032 for grants and cooperative agreements between NOAA and education entities. The bill stipulates that 40 percent of the funds for higher education institutions and youth corps organizations would be directed to environmental justice communities.

Read the full bill text here.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Climate Crisis, Education, Environment

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), a senior member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) to introduce the Transit Workforce Development Act, a bill to expand workforce training and strengthen the pipeline of skilled workers needed to support the nation’s public transportation systems.  

The bill amends federal transit law to allow a greater portion of existing bus and bus facility grants to be used for workforce development, including training programs, registered apprenticeships, and labor-management partnerships.  

Public transportation agencies across the country are confronting significant workforce shortages, compounded by rapid technological changes such as the transition to zero-emission buses. These advancements require new technical skills, including expertise in high-voltage systems, electronic diagnostics, and advanced safety procedures. However, current training programs remain limited and underfunded.  

“Today’s transit buses are way different under the hood compared to twenty or even ten years ago. Battery electric buses require a different set of skills to not only repair and maintain, but to operate. Our Union has been a leader in developing transit workforce development programs to train our members with the skills and knowledge to have successful careers in public transit,” said John Costa, President of Amalgamated Transit Union International. “We commend Representative Wilson and the other 19 Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for introducing the Transit Workforce Development Act.  It is long overdue!”     

“Public transit is a service that so many working families rely on, and it is crucial that we are investing in the workforce training needed to keep these systems safe and reliable as transit vehicle technology advances,” said Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. “TTD strongly supports the Transit Workforce Development Act because it will help to solve some of the current challenges facing transit systems, and promote job quality, retention, and recruitment in the industry.”    

The Transit Workforce Development Act addresses these challenges by:  

• Increasing the workforce development set-aside from 5 percent to 10 percent under the Low or No Emission Bus Program 

• Allowing up to 10 percent of bus and bus facility grant funds to be used for workforce training 

• Expanding training eligibility across all federal bus programs under 49 U.S.C. §5339 

• Supporting registered apprenticeships and labor-management training partnerships  

The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  

Cosponsors of the bill also include Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), and Dina Titus (NV-01).  

Read the full bill text here.  

Read the bill summary here.  

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Issues: 119th Congress, Transportation and Infrastructure

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA-07) and Representatives August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Mark Alford (R-MO-04), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Craig Goldman (R-TX-12) reintroduced the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act, legislation to permanently authorize the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model and give every state the option to implement this proven approach into their behavioral health care systems.

Despite increased demands for behavioral health services, too many patients still face long waits, limited providers, and serious gaps in care. CCBHCs help close those gaps by delivering a full range of community-based services including 24/7 crisis care, outpatient mental health and substance use treatments, screening and diagnosis, and coordination with hospitals, law enforcement, and veterans’ organizations.

“Across the country, families are struggling to find timely, affordable mental health and substance use care,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “We cannot keep asking communities to do more with fewer resources while the need for care continues to grow. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics have a strong record of expanding access, improving crisis response, and connecting patients to the care they need. This legislation would build on that success by helping more people get treatment no matter where they live.”

 “The need for more access to mental health care services is rising, yet for far too many Americans, high-quality, affordable care remains out of reach when they need it most,” said Congressman Pfluger. “We cannot afford to ignore this growing crisis. It is our responsibility to act with urgency and purpose. That’s why I am proud to co-lead the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act, which establishes a durable payment structure for CCBHCs under Medicare and codifies the Medicaid payment system these clinics depend on to keep their doors open for people who need care.”

“Our country is facing a mental health crisis and it’s time Congress did something about it,” said Congresswoman Craig. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this critical legislation that would provide communities with the comprehensive mental health and substance use resources they desperately need. On behalf of every Minnesotan who has struggled with their mental health, I’ll keep working until we get this bill signed into law.”

“Mental health care shouldn’t be out of reach for any American, especially our seniors,” said Congressman Alford. “This bipartisan bill builds on a model that’s already working in Missouri, expanding access, improving accountability, and delivering real results. I’m proud to cosponsor legislation that puts patients first and strengthens mental health care across the country.” 

“Breaking down barriers and expanding access to mental health and addiction services saves lives,” said Congressman Tonko. “Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers are a proven part of our healthcare system. I’m proud to join my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan legislation that strengthens behavioral health services and gives our communities the support they need.”

“We do not need to guess what works in mental health and addiction care—we are already seeing it in PA-1 and across the nation,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics have proven that timely, coordinated, community-based care can stabilize individuals in crisis, connect them to treatment, and support long-term recovery. The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act takes that proven model and gives it the durability it deserves by establishing a formal funding structure and allowing Medicare coverage for the services these clinics provide. That means stronger access to care, greater stability for providers, and a more responsive behavioral health system for the individuals and families counting on it.” 

“Mental health resources are vital for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, and in many cases, they prevent larger health crises down the line. The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act invests in a proven program and expands it to deliver more care to Americans in need,” said Congressman Goldman. “I’m proud to co-sponsor this bipartisan effort led by two great Texans, Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. August Pfluger, and Rep. Doris Matsui. I’m grateful to all my colleagues for their work on this important issue.”

The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act would:

• Permanently authorize a Medicaid payment system for the CCBHC model.
• Establish a definition of services & prospective payment system for CCBHCs under Medicare, ensuring that CCBHCs can also provide behavioral health care for our seniors.
• Establish a new accreditation process for CCBHCs and a technical assistance program at HHS to encourage program integrity and quality of care.
• Authorize expansion grants for certified or potential CCBHCs to expand the ability of clinics to provide comprehensive care.
• Authorize a new data infrastructure system for CCBHC data reporting.

Endorsement statements from various health organizations can be found HERE.

Congresswoman Matsui has long led congressional efforts to expand access to community based mental health care. In 2014, she authored and passed the bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health Act, which established the CCBHC Medicaid demonstration and expansion grant program.

In 2022, Congresswoman Matsui’s Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act of 2021 was signed into law as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, authorizing nationwide expansion of the CCBHC pilot. Most recently, Congresswoman Matsui introduced legislation creating a permanent definition of CCBHC services in Medicaid statute, which was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, delivered the following remarks at a hearing on the posture of U.S. Military Readiness for FY27. 

“I think that we can all agree that the declining readiness trends are unacceptable,” Rep. Bergman said. “These trends have been years in the making and are causing aircraft to be cannibalized and ground vehicles to sit idle…The sad fact is that we have allowed our military readiness to decline across the board because we are more focused on procuring shiny objects than on holistically managing the day-to-day maintenance necessary to sustain our military.”

Rep Bergman’s Statement as Prepared for Delivery:

I’d like to welcome everyone to today’s hearing.

I particularly want to thank all our esteemed witnesses for accepting our invitation to discuss the plight of our military readiness.
 
I think that we can all agree that the declining readiness trends are unacceptable. 

These trends have been years in the making and are causing aircraft to be cannibalized and ground vehicles to sit idle. 

While I look forward to our witnesses’ thoughts, I would like to offer a few ideas as to what we in Congress need to do to make our military more lethal and effective in the near term. 
 
First of all, we need to do the hard work and focus on sustaining the existing fleet.

The sad fact is that we have allowed our military readiness to decline across the board because we are more focused on procuring shiny objects than on holistically managing the day-to-day maintenance necessary to sustain our military.
 
Secondly, the overall topline requested by the administration in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request is unprecedented, but absolutely essential to address the plight of our military forces. 

For too long, our military has relied on a legacy force structure that has not been maintained to the readiness levels required. 

One need not look further than the Joint Strike Fighter program and the readiness levels provided by this exquisite platform.