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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) released the following statement on the passing of Congressman David Scott (D-GA):

I’m saddened by the passing of my colleague, David Scott from Georgia. We worked together during his time as House Ag Chair to support America’s farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers. My thoughts are with his family and his constituents at this time.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA), along with U.S. Representatives Gabe Evans (R-CO), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), and Mike Ezell (R-MS), introduced the bipartisan Commission on Natural Disaster Risk Management and Insurance Act, a bill to create a nonpartisan commission to study natural disaster insurance affordability and report policy recommendations to Congress within two years.

Read the full text of the legislation here.

As economic losses from natural disasters have increased, homeowners’ and business insurance costs have risen. Meanwhile, availability has declined, leading to a growing insurance coverage gap.

“As extreme weather drives insurance costs higher and pushes coverage out of reach for too many families and small businesses, the bipartisan Commission on Natural Disaster Risk Management and Insurance Act will give Congress the clear roadmap we need to strengthen access to affordable, reliable insurance,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The increasing frequency of billion-dollar natural disasters demands that we proactively confront the growing insurance coverage gaps, and this bipartisan effort is an important step toward doing exactly that.”

“Across Colorado, homeowners are facing rising insurance prices as providers are driven out of the state and forced to pull back coverage — leaving behind thousands of families in high-risk natural disasters areas searching for new plans. I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to combat the surge in expensive policies and help protect access to affordable, reliable insurance that Coloradans and Americans deserve,” said Rep. Evans.

“Louisiana families and businesses are facing a crisis of rising homeowners and flood insurance premiums, worsening our housing affordability issues. We’ve seen premiums skyrocket, forcing families to make impossible choices between protecting their homes and paying for groceries, healthcare, or their children’s education. This expert commission will provide Congress with data and recommendations needed to tackle this emergency so that generations of Louisianians can afford to work and live in the place we proudly call home,” said Rep. Carter.

“As communities like those along the Gulf Coast know all too well, natural disasters don’t just threaten lives — they threaten livelihoods,” said Rep. Ezell. “Families and small businesses are facing rising insurance costs and fewer coverage options, creating real financial uncertainty. This bipartisan commission will help us take a closer look at the challenges in our insurance markets and identify practical solutions to ensure Americans can access affordable, reliable coverage when they need it most.”

The Senate Joint Economic Committee reported that roughly 70% of Americans stated that their community experienced an extreme weather event in 2023. Between 2019 and 2023, the average annual cost of billion-dollar disasters in the United States was $120.6 billion, more than double the 44-year inflation-adjusted annual average.

For many Americans whose home or small business is their largest financial asset, growing insurance gaps and reduced coverage pose a vital risk to their financial health. Underinsurance also poses a risk to local governments whose tax bases rely largely on property values.

The Commission on Natural Disaster Risk Management and Insurance Act would represent a step toward protecting homeowners, small businesses, and local governments from the growing insurance gaps.

In developing the report, the commission would be directed to:

• Assess the current state of natural disaster insurance markets in the U.S.
• Identify gaps in coverage and affordability challenges, especially for vulnerable populations and high-risk areas.
• Evaluate the role of the federal government to improve insurance access and reduce costs.

The commission’s membership would include representatives from:

• Insurance industry
• State insurance regulators
• Emergency management experts
• Academic Institutions and researchers in climate and risk management

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) applauded the U.S. Air Force’s decision to preserve the A-10 Thunderbolt II program through 2030, halting more than a decade of efforts to retire the aircraft.

Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink said the decision preserves combat power as the Defense Industrial Base works to increase combat aircraft production. The A-10 continues to provide critical close air support and direct protection to U.S. troops on the ground.

Statement from Congressman Harris:

“We are pleased that the A-10 program is now being extended. The Maryland Guard has extensive experience to bring to the table, and we are in contact with the Office of the Air Force Secretary to urge them to bring A-10s back to Maryland so our airmen can help defend the nation.”

For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – In a new op-ed in the Washington Times, Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) outlined why pipeline cybersecurity must be treated as a national priority in the face of growing cyber threats. Rep. Weber detailed how vulnerabilities in America’s energy infrastructure pose serious risks to economic stability and national security, emphasizing the need for stronger coordination and preparedness to protect the systems that power our country.

In case you missed it…

In the Face of Growing Cyber Threats, Pipeline Security Must be a Priority
Washington Times
Congressman Randy Weber
April 22, 2026

In Ma 2021, Americans received a stark reminder that the infrastructure powering our country is not immune to attack.

A ransomware group known as DarkSide infiltrated the computer systems of the Colonial Pipeline, the largest refined fuel pipeline in the United States. Out of caution, the company shut down operations across its entire system while it worked to contain the breach.

The consequences were felt almost immediately.

Colonial Pipeline operates a 5,500-mile network stretching from Texas to New Jersey, carrying gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to markets across the eastern United States. Every day, the system moves roughly 2.5 million barrels of fuel, supplying nearly 45% of the gasoline and diesel consumed along the East Coas.

When that system stopped moving fuel, even temporarily, the effects rippled across more than 12,000 gas stations and impacted tens of millions of Americans.

Within days of the shutdown, drivers lined up for miles to fill their tanks, and panic-buying spread across several states. The national average gasoline price climbed to levels not seen since 2014, while some states saw increases of more than 20 cents in a single week.

For many Americans, it was the first time they realized just how much their daily lives depend on energy infrastructure that operates quietly in the background.

But what made the Colonial Pipeline attack particularly alarming was not just the disruption itself; it was how it happened.

The attackers never physically touched the pipeline.

Cybercriminals believed to be operating out of Russia gained access to Colonial’s computer network using a compromised password and deployed ransomware designed to lock the company out of its own systems until a ransom payment was made.

In other words, criminals thousands of miles away disrupted one of the most critical energy systems in the United States using nothing more than a laptop and malicious code.

That reality should concern every American. The Colonial Pipeline attack revealed that the systems we depend on every day are no longer threatened solely by physical sabotage or traditional acts of war; They are also vulnerable in cyberspace.

Energy infrastructure has always been vital to the strength of our economy, but the 2021 Colonial Pipeline attack showed just how equally important it is to our national security. Pipelines move the fuel that powers our cars, trucks, airplanes, farms and factories. Refineries turn crude oil into the gasoline and diesel that keep commerce moving. Ports and terminals carry that energy to communities across the country and markets around the world.

The Colonial Pipeline attack revealed what happens when one link in that chain is disrupted. Brief interruptions to a single system can spread quickly across the country. When fuel deliveries slow, transportation costs rise. When prices increase, families feel it at the pump. And when uncertainty spreads across energy markets, the effects are felt throughout the broader economy.

Nearly five years later, the lesson learned from the Colonial Pipeline attack is undeniable: cybersecurity is inseparable from energy and national security.

President Donald Trump’s Cyber Strategy for America recognizes this reality and places securing critical infrastructure at the center of our national cyber posture. One of the strategy’s key priorities is Pillar Four: Secure Critical Infrastructure. This pillar focuses on identifying, prioritizing, and hardening the systems that power our country, including pipelines, energy grids and the digital networks that support them.

That same mission is driving action in Congress.

My Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act, a bipartisan effort with Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., designates the Department of Energy to lead pipeline cybersecurity preparedness and response, strengthen coordination and improve information-sharing, all without adding new regulatory burdens.

Because what we saw in 2021 cannot happen again.

The United States possesses one of the most advanced and productive energy systems in the world. From the energy fields of Texas and the refining complexes along the Gulf Coast to the pipelines that move fuel to communities across the country, this network remains a pillar of American strength.

But if we are going to retain that strength, we must remain vigilant in cyberspace.

The infrastructure that powers America must be protected with the same seriousness we devote to protecting the nation itself.

That means strengthening cybersecurity across our energy infrastructure now. Not tomorrow. Today.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

ICYMI: Yesterday, at an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), the first pediatrician elected to Congress and chair of the Democratic Doctors Caucus, blasted Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his refusal to take accountability for growing distrust in vitamin K shots for newborns, and his undermining of vaccine efficacy and safety.

“Vitamin K prevents catastrophic brain bleeds, and now that you’ve made parents distrust doctors and shots, some parents are now refusing the vitamin K shot and other routine care, putting these babies at risk for bleeding out. This has a name, it’s called the ‘RFK Jr. Spillover Effect’: You spread misinformation, you scare parents and confuse them, parents don’t immunize their children or give them other routine care and then the kids get sick and they might even die,” Congresswoman Schrier said. 

She continued: “This is going to be your legacy: The HHS Secretary that caused kids to die. You’re secretary of HHS, your job is to protect us and you are putting kids in danger and I believe you should resign or you should be fired.”

To watch Congresswoman Schrier’s full remarks, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a senior member of the House Oversight Committee, today reintroduced the Baby Food Safety Act of 2026, legislation to establish enforceable limits on toxic heavy metals in infant and toddler food and strengthen testing and transparency requirements for manufacturers. The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), and Ted Lieu (D-CA), as well as Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

“For years, parents have been forced to navigate a marketplace where too many baby foods contain dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, and the federal government has not acted quickly or effectively to fix it,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “Our legislation sets clear, enforceable limits, puts real deadlines on the FDA, and requires rigorous testing and transparency from manufacturers. Parents must be able to trust that the food they’re feeding their children is safe.”

The legislation builds on Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s groundbreaking congressional investigation that uncovered dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals in leading baby food products and helped spur federal action on the issue.

The Baby Food Safety Act would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set limits on dangerous contaminants—including lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic—in baby food, while mandating regular testing, recordkeeping, and accountability across the industry. The legislation improves the FDA’s “Closer to Zero” initiative by establishing enforceable timelines and a structured process to drive continuous reductions in toxic exposure. It also complements state-level laws that require testing and public disclosure of contaminant levels.

Stakeholder Support

“Unleaded Kids strongly supports the Baby Food Safety Act provides a framework for FDA to fulfill its long overdue promise in its Closer to Zero. It establishes a process and deadlines that will drive continuous improvement. It also complements the state laws that require baby food companies to test each lot of each of their products and make the results publicly available. We applaud Congressman Krishnamoorthi for his continued leadership on this important children’s health issue.” — Tom Neltner, National Director of Unleaded Kids

“We know that food companies can reduce toxic metals because they’ve done so before – when FDA has set tough standards. Today, 10,000 babies will start eating solid food, so we have no more time to waste if we want to protect our babies’ brains. Thank goodness Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s leadership. Without laws, we can’t count on the FDA to act.” — Scott Faber, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Environmental Working Group.

“The need to establish public health limits on toxic elements in baby food is long overdue,” said Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy at Consumer Reports. “Parents and caregivers need assurances that the food they feed their babies won’t increase health risks. Consumer Reports commends Rep. Krishnamoorthi for his continued work on this issue.”

The bill is also endorsed by the Environmental Defense Fund.

Baby Food Safety Act Summary

The Baby Food Safety Act of 2026 would:

• Establish enforceable limits on toxic heavy metals—including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury—in infant and toddler food. 

• Require the FDA to set these limits within specific, time-bound deadlines and update them regularly based on the latest science. 

• Mandate routine sampling and testing of baby food products by manufacturers, including finished products. 

• Require manufacturers to maintain records and make testing data available to regulators to ensure compliance. 

• Strengthen FDA enforcement authority and oversight of both domestic and imported baby food products. 

• Support ongoing review and improvement of standards to further reduce toxic exposure over time.

The text of the legislation is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

April 22, 2026

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) led 30 House Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding the State Department engage with the Israeli government to prevent the forced displacement of Palestinian residents from the village of Khallet al-Sidra in the West Bank and to ensure displaced families can safely return and rebuild their homes.

“U.S. pressure on the Israeli government has proven crucial in protecting Palestinian communities in the past. Some communities facing significant demolition threats have remained in place in part due to sustained international and U.S. diplomatic attention” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge you to use your diplomatic influence to help ensure that residents of Khallet al-Sidra can safely return to their land without fear of violence and that immediate steps are taken to prevent further settler attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. This should include permitting the reconstruction of homes and essential infrastructure destroyed in recent incidents, as well as ensuring that Israeli authorities provide adequate protection to vulnerable communities consistent with their legal obligations.”

Khallet al-Sidra is a small shepherding community that has existed for decades, but in recent months, residents have faced escalating violence and intimidation from Israeli settlers, including arson attacks that have destroyed homes, vehicles, and essential livelihood structures. Reports indicate that these attacks, combined with threats and restricted access to the area, have created conditions that have forced families to flee and prevented them from returning or rebuilding.

This situation reflects a broader pattern of increasing settler violence and displacement across the West Bank. Since October 2023, hundreds of Palestinian communities have faced sustained attacks and pressure, contributing to widespread displacement and raising serious concerns under international humanitarian law. In 2025, the United Nations documented over 1,800 settler attacks affecting approximately 280 communities, and displacement has accelerated further in 2026.

In addition to Reps. Casten and Schakowsky, the letter was signed by Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Becca Balint, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Lloyd Doggett, Dave Min, Jennifer McClellan, Lateefah Simon, Jamie Raskin, Rosa DeLauro, Chris Deluzio, Betty McCollum, Mark Pocan, Al Green, Sylvia Garcia, Nikema Williams, André Carson, Chellie Pingree, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Steve Cohen, Veronica Escobar, Mike Quigley, James McGovern, Mark DeSaulnier, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Joaquin Castro, Derek Tran, and Seth Moulton.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Secretary Rubio:

As Members of Congress who support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, we are writing to urge you to engage with the Israeli government to prevent the forced displacement of Palestinian residents from the Bedouin village of Khallet al-Sidra, located near Mukhmas in the West Bank, and to ensure that residents are permitted to safely return and rebuild their homes following multiple devastating arson attacks by Israeli settlers. Allowing settlers to successfully use violence to displace shepherds from their homes, expand territorial control, and undermine prospects for peace is an unbearable injustice that runs counter to U.S. values and jeopardizes the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Khallet al-Sidra is a small shepherding community that has existed for decades. In recent months, residents have faced escalating violence and intimidation from Israeli settlers, including arson attacks that have destroyed homes, vehicles, and essential livelihood structures. Reports indicate that settlers have explicitly threatened residents, contributing to a coercive environment that has forced families to flee. When residents have attempted to return and rebuild, Israeli authorities have reportedly restricted access to the area and denied reconstruction, leaving families displaced and without recourse.

For decades, the Bedouin families of Khallet al-Sidra have made this land their home. They have bravely tried to remain despite increasing threats and pressure, but cannot continue to do so if the Israeli government continues to enable displacement and violence persists without effective intervention.

This situation reflects a broader and deeply concerning pattern of escalating settler violence and forced displacement across the West Bank. For the past two and a half years, Palestinian communities, especially Bedouin and shepherding communities in Area C, have faced sustained attacks, intimidation, and increasing barriers to remaining on their land. In 2025, the United Nations documented over 1,800 settler attacks that resulted in deaths, injuries, or property damage in approximately 280 communities across the West Bank. The United Nations has also documented the accelerating displacement this violence is causing. As of late March 2026, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that 1,697 Palestinians from 33 communities had already been displaced in 2026 due to settler violence and access restrictions, surpassing the total for all of 2025, and that 38 communities have been emptied since 2023. This sustained pattern contributes to de facto forced displacement and raises serious concerns under international humanitarian law, including obligations related to the protection of civilian populations under occupation.

U.S. pressure on the Israeli government has proven crucial in protecting Palestinian communities in the past. Some communities facing significant demolition threats have remained in place in part due to sustained international and U.S. diplomatic attention. We urge you to use your diplomatic influence to help ensure that residents of Khallet al-Sidra can safely return to their land without fear of violence and that immediate steps are taken to prevent further settler attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. This should include permitting the reconstruction of homes and essential infrastructure destroyed in recent incidents, as well as ensuring that Israeli authorities provide adequate protection to vulnerable communities consistent with their legal obligations.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent humanitarian matter. Protecting vulnerable communities from displacement and violence is critical to upholding shared values and preserving the possibility of a just and lasting peace.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

U.S. Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and Doris Matsui (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, introduced the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026. This measure requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct a study that identifies potential safety risks and hazardous chemicals used as flame retardants in the interior of motor vehicles. The study will help update federal motor vehicle safety standards and require alternative standards to be evaluated.

“I am proud to continue leading with Congresswoman Matsui to ensure updated federal standards adequately protect American consumers’ health,” said Congressman Griffith. “In this latest effort, our Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026 will deliver a robust and thorough review of current motor vehicle flammability standards and evaluate potential alternatives. Because millions of Americans expect safe vehicles, it is only right for Congress to begin re-evaluating potential toxic chemical harms from motor vehicles.”

“Federal safety standards should protect people, not expose them to unnecessary harm,” saidCongresswoman Matsui. “I’ve fought to remove toxic, ineffective flame retardants from household furniture, but many of those same chemicals are still being used in car seats and other materials inside vehicles because of a decades old fire safety standard. Our bill directs NHTSA to study whether this rule is still effective at preventing deadly fires and what health risks these chemicals may pose, so we can make sure our safety standards are protecting people both from fire and from dangerous chemical exposure.”

“I am proud to support the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Act of 2026, introduced by Representatives Matsui and Griffith. This bipartisan legislation strengthens public safety by directing a comprehensive review of current vehicle flammability standards to ensure they reflect modern materials, technologies, and real-world risks,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee. “As vehicles evolve, our safety standards must keep pace. This study will help identify potential gaps and ensure we are taking every step possible to protect drivers, passengers and first responders – helping save lives and prevent tragedy before it occurs.”

“We often assume that if a car is on the market, it must be safe. But decades-old fire safety standards have led to the use of toxic chemicals in vehicles,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “Drivers, passengers, and pedestrians deserve better, and this legislation would ensure that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fully evaluates and addresses these hazards. It is time to update these outdated rules and put the safety and health of all Americans first.”

Numerous organizations expressed support for the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026:

“Everyone who rides in a car is needlessly exposed to cancer-causing, neurotoxic flame retardant chemicals because of a federal vehicle standard implemented in 1972 without research showing it provided a fire safety benefit. The Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act is an important first step towards updating that outdated standard so our cars can be both healthier and fire-safe.” –Arlene Blum, Executive Director, Green Science Policy Institute

 

“When consumers get into a car, they should be able to trust that the fire safety standards meant to protect them aren’t also putting them at risk through exposure to harmful chemicals. The current federal standard has been on the books for more than 50 years, largely unchanged, even as technology and scientific knowledge has advanced rapidly. Tens of thousands of consumers and a broad coalition of organizations are calling for action, and this bipartisan bill from Reps. Griffith and Matsui would be a vital first step.” – Cooper Lohr, Senior Policy Analyst, Consumer Reports

 

“Fire fighters and the public deserve evidence-based vehicle safety standards. The science indicates that the use of flame retardants in cars creates unnecessary health risks. On behalf of our 365,000 members, I commend Reps. Griffith and Matsui for leading the effort to create vehicle safety standards that actually make cars safer. Congress should pass this legislation and bring us closer to a future free from toxic chemicals.” – Edward A. Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters

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