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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Calls on State House Speaker to Reissue Press Passes for Independent Journalists

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), alongside Rep. Michael Baumgartner (WA-05), sent a letter to Washington State House of Representatives Speaker Laurie Jinkins urging the reversal of her decision to deny press passes for independent journalists Ari Hoffman, Brandi Kruse, and Jonathan Choe. 

“Our Founding Fathers designed a system of governance that allowed any citizen to publicly question our government. The First Amendment exists to prevent discrimination and punishment of the press for the views, thoughts, or words in their coverage. The job of the press is to agitate, investigate, and scrutinize our leaders and institutions, which distinguishes democracy from dictatorship,” the Members wrote.

They added, “We request that the House of Representatives immediately reverse this decision, issue press passes to these journalists, restore their ability to take part in the democratic process, and hold their government accountable.” 

These three independent journalists were denied press passes to the House this legislative session, but Brandi Kruse was granted a pass for the Senate. 

Brandi Kruse appealed her denial with Washington State House of Representatives Chief Clerk Bernard Dean, and her appeal was denied.

Read the full letter here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that bipartisan legislation he authored to better empower patients with up-to-date information on healthcare providers covered by their insurance plans, was signed into law as part of the most recent government funding package. The Requiring Enhanced and Accurate Lists (REAL) Health Providers Act requires Medicare Advantage insurance plans to update their provider directories annually starting in 2028.

Provider directories are supposed to help patients find doctors and specialists in their networks. But too often, insurers allow these directories to become outdated, creating so-called “ghost networks” of providers who are listed, but no longer practicing, not accepting patients, or not being in-network. These errors can force patients into delays, denials, or unexpected bills.

A recent review of provider directories revealed that one in three listed providers had inaccurate or non-working numbers, and over 80% of listed mental health providers were either unreachable, not accepting new patients, or not actually in-network. These gaps hit seniors, people with disabilities, and those with mental health needs especially hard¹.

“Many constituents came to me over the past few years expressing their understandable frustration with wasting time chasing providers who are listed in their network directories, but actually don’t exist,” said Rep. Panetta. “With that information, I wrote a straightforward bill that directly fixes the problem by reducing and tightening up these Ghost Networks.  I also found that many of my Congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle have been hearing the same issue from their constituents all across the nation. This bipartisan law requires Medicare Advantage plans to now regularly update their directories and give patients accurate information. I believe that this law is an example of my work to listen to constituents, be their voice through this type of legislation, and work with Democrats and Republicans, including the President, to get this bill signed into law to help make people’s lives a little bit easier, which is needed especially these days.”

The Requiring Enhanced and Accurate Lists (REAL) Health Providers Act is co-led by Reps. Greg Murphy (NC-03), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and John Joyce (PA-13).

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Amodei announced the inclusion of $34.85 million in appropriations for the continued development and expansion of the ShakeAlert West Coast earthquake early warning system, with language specifically directing the United States Geological Survey to initiate the expansion of the program into Nevada. 

This funding was secured in H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, which was signed into law by the President on January 23, 2026. 

“While neighboring states already have the tools and technology to warn residents of potential earthquakes, Nevada has lagged behind,” said Rep. Mark Amodei. “This funding will equip our state’s experts with the resources they need to implement a proven system that keeps Nevadans safe and communities prepared for seismic activity. I appreciate the University of Nevada for their leadership and advocacy on this issue, and it was an honor to work alongside them to secure the funding that will bring ShakeAlert to Nevada.” 

“We thank Representative Amodei for his leadership in advocating for this funding to advance research and create much needed infrastructure for earthquake emergency response in Nevada,” said Brian Sandoval, President, University of Nevada. 

“The possibility of ShakeAlert expanding to serve Nevada is really exciting,” said Christie Rowe, Director of Nevada Seismological Laboratory. “We will help the USGS develop a plan that fits Nevada’s people, industries, and infrastructure to offer the best warning system possible. We are so grateful for the support from Nevada’s congressional delegation that resulted in this critical step toward earthquake early warning for Nevada.” 

“The ShakeAlert system was designed in such a way that it could be expanded to other U.S. regions with high earthquake risk,” said Robert de Groot, Coordinator for Communication, Education, Outreach, and Technical Engagement for the ShakeAlert Program. “Possibilities could include the populated areas across high-risk regions of Nevada, Alaska, Utah, the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the Puerto Rico region, and elsewhere. Development of a technical implementation plan would be the first step in a multi-step process for ShakeAlert rollout to parts of Nevada.” 

Background 

ShakeAlert works by detecting the fastest seismic waves close to an earthquake as soon as it starts. Computer algorithms compare the signals from several seismic stations and confirm that a large earthquake has occurred and trigger an alert. For areas farther away from the source of the earthquake, the alert arrives via cell phones and WEA Alerts before damaging seismic waves reach that location. 

The precious seconds of warning allow people to Drop, Cover and Hold to protect themselves, and allow trains, water supply systems, emergency services, manufacturing, schools, and health care facilities to put emergency measures in place or stop delicate procedures just before shaking begins.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) introduced a bill today to create a stamp commemorating civil rights leader Bayard Rustin. Norton said the timing of the bill’s introduction is significant, coming during Black History Month. 

“Bayard Rustin, whose leadership deserves special recognition by our country, was a central figure in the civil rights movement,” Norton said. “I worked for him when he served as the principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Rustin demonstrated how his lifelong commitment to nonviolence could be put into action, orchestrating the largest demonstration in U.S. history at the time in the nation’s capital. My bill would create a commemorative stamp in his honor, a fitting tribute to one of the chief architects of the American civil rights movement during Black History Month.”

“Bayard Rustin was one of the great architects of the civil rights movement, a brilliant strategist whose commitment to nonviolence helped shape the course of American history,” Torres said. “As the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, he turned moral conviction into collective action and brought hundreds of thousands together in the fight for justice. Honoring his legacy with a commemorative stamp is a meaningful way to recognize a trailblazer whose courage, intellect, and vision helped move our nation closer to its ideals.”

Born March 17, 1912, Bayard Rustin became one of the most important leaders in the 20th century civil rights movement. Rustin learned the values of nonviolence and peacekeeping from his grandparents’ Quaker faith at a young age, and he would continue to build these values into his life as a civil rights movement leader. Rustin was an advisor in Martin Luther King Jr.’s inner circle as King advocated pacifism and nonviolence for achieving equal treatment for African Americans. Rustin executed aggressive but peaceful action in the civil rights movement and throughout his life as an activist.

His most important role was as the chief organizer of the historic 1963 March on Washington, the largest demonstration ever organized at the time, in which a quarter of a million people turned out to demand civil rights for African Americans.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro

Washington, D.C. – Co-Chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus, Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK-04) and Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), reintroduced H.R. 7325, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2025, to formally investigate, document, and report on the histories of Indian boarding schools, the policies of Indian boarding schools, and the long-term effects of those schools and policies on Native American peoples. 

Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and the longest-serving Native American in the United States House of Representatives, and Davids, a member of the Wisconsin Ho-Chunk Nation and one of the first two Native women ever elected to Congress, are dedicated to offering answers and healing for survivors of these Indian boarding schools, the descendants of those survivors, and the entire Tribal communities of those survivors.

After reintroducing the legislation, the members of Congress released the following statements:

“For years, Indian boarding schools forcibly removed Native children from their families, stripped them of their heritage, and, in many cases, took their lives. Yet, for far too long, little has been known about these Indian boarding schools, and these stories have been kept in the shadows. This silence cannot go on. We must bring light to this dark chapter in our nation’s history – and this bill is critical to doing that,” said Congressman Cole, Member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. “I would like to thank my Co-Chair, Congresswoman Davids, for her collaboration on this legislation, as we work to hopefully bring Tribal communities one step closer to the answers they deserve.”

“I would not be here without the resilience of my ancestors and those who came before me – including my grandparents, who survived federal Indian boarding schools. Their experiences are not distant history; they shape our families and communities today. Establishing a Truth and Healing Commission would bring survivors, experts, federal partners, and Tribal leaders together to fully understand what happened to our relatives and to take meaningful steps toward a more honest and hopeful future for the next seven generations,” said Congresswoman Sharice Davids, Member of the Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin and Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Background:

From 1819 through the 1970s, the United States government implemented policies establishing Indian boarding schools across the nation. The purpose of these schools was to assimilate Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children by forcibly removing them from their families, communities, and cultural beliefs.

In total, there were more than 526 government-funded and church-run Indian boarding schools, and, by 1926, nearly 86 percent of Indian school-age children were forcibly attending these schools. Yet, little is known about what happened at these boarding schools or what happened to the Native children who attended them.

In Oklahoma alone, there were 76 federal boarding schools, making up about 19 percent of the total amount of boarding schools that existed. Federal boarding schools in Oklahoma were often overflowed due to intentionally mixing more than 30 different tribes in attempts to unsettle relations and prevent the speaking of common languages.

In Kansas, there were 14 federal boarding schools, including the Shawnee Indian Manual Labor School in Fairway in Kansas’ Third District, which is now preserved as the Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site. According to the Kansas State Historical Society, this school operated from 1838 to 1862 and enrolled nearly 200 children at it largest.

H.R. 7325 will establish a commission to formally investigate, document, and report on the histories of Indian boarding schools, Indian boarding school policies, and the long-term effect of those schools and policies on Native American peoples. The commission will develop recommendations for federal efforts based on the findings, as well as offer answers and healing for survivors, the descendants of survivors, and the communities of survivors.

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

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Nick Begich (AK-AL) are urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prioritize the health and well-being of air traffic controllers as they work to reach full staffing at all U.S. airports.

“Nationwide, controllers ensure the safe and efficient movement of roughly 45,000 daily flights serving nearly 3 million passengers and cargo operations 24 hours per day, every day of the year,” wrote the Members. “For too long, controllers have struggled to use the paid time off that they earned and have experienced scheduling practices that rely too much on overtime to overcome staffing shortages. These talented professionals have dedicated their lives to aviation safety, and the FAA must prioritize their health and safety as they work to reach full staffing.”

In the last decade, the number of certified air traffic controllers has decreased by 6 percent, even as there has been a 10 percent increase in the number of flights relying on their guidance.

The 2024 FAA Reauthorization law included many provisions aimed at growing the air traffic controller workforce and reducing their strain and fatigue. In the meantime, as the FAA implements these provisions, the vast majority of air traffic control facilities remain critically understaffed.

“In order to maintain the safest, most efficient aviation system in the world, it is vital that the FAA prioritize the health and well-being of air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals,” the Members continued.

The full text of the letter can be read here.

The letter was also signed by Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Herbert Conaway (NJ-03), Angie Craig (MN-02), Madeline Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Dwight Evans (PA-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús G. “Chuy”  García (IL-04), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Nick LaLota (NY-01), Greg Landsman (OH-01), John Larson (CT-01), Summer Lee (PA-12), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Seth Moulton (MA-06), James Moylan (GU-AL), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Thomas Suozzi (NY-03), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

Issues: Jobs, Labor, & the Economy, Public Safety & Criminal Justice

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) secured $850,000 in federal Community Project Funding in Fiscal Year 2026 to repair and replace the deteriorating retaining wall along Upper Prospect Road in Atlantic Highlands, a critical infrastructure project aimed at improving roadway safety and maintaining reliable access for residents and emergency services.

 

“This funding allows Atlantic Highlands to address a serious safety issue before it becomes an emergency,” said Pallone. “Repairing the Upper Prospect Road retaining wall protects drivers, preserves access for residents and first responders, and ensures this roadway remains safe and reliable for the community.”

 

The Upper Prospect Road retaining wall supports a key roadway serving a residential neighborhood and is essential to maintaining safe vehicular passage. Recent inspections have identified significant structural deterioration across multiple sections of the wall, raising concerns about potential failure if repairs are not made. A collapse could disrupt traffic, limit access for emergency responders, and isolate nearby homes.

 

“The Borough of Atlantic Highlands is grateful for the assistance Congressman Frank Pallone has always provided in securing federal funds. It is integral to the long-term safety and sustainability of the municipality that its infrastructure is maintained and repaired when needed. The overall municipality will benefit from these improvements to the Upper Prospect Road retaining wall. We are thankful to have a congressman who always looks out for the interests of the constituents in New Jersey’s 6thcongressional district, which includes our beautiful and historic borough of Atlantic Highlands,” Mayor Lori Hohenleitner.

 

The project will replace the failing sections of the retaining wall to stabilize the roadway and reduce the risk of future damage. The improvements are intended to protect public safety and support the long-term resilience of local infrastructure.

 

The Upper Prospect Road retaining wall project was requested by Pallone through the Fiscal Year 2026 federal appropriations process, which allows members of the U.S. House to direct Community Project Funding toward high-priority local infrastructure needs.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), introduced the Know Before You Drive Act, a bill aimed at improving road safety and saving lives by ensuring that car manufacturers accurately explain and represent the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) limitations in their vehicles. 

“Advanced Driver Assistance Systems features such as collision warnings, driving control assistance, and blind-spot monitoring are becoming very common in new vehicles and can be incredible safety tools if used appropriately. However, these tools that are meant to keep us safe can actually cause significant danger when manufacturers misrepresent their capabilities, and drivers don’t clearly understand their limitations,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “My bill will improve safety on our roadways by preventing manufacturers from making false and misleading claims about a car’s driver assistance systems and will require them to provide understandable explanations of what these systems are capable of and what responsibilities drivers need to maintain.”

The Know Before You Drive Act prohibits car manufacturers from making any representations that a partial driving automation system can function as an automated driving system or has capabilities beyond what the system or feature can perform. This legislation also requires manufacturers and dealers to provide a notice to customers at the time of sale, detailing the partial driving automation system, its capabilities and limitations, and the subtasks the driver is still expected to perform. Subtasks include object event detection and response, supervising a partial driving automation system, and responding to the system’s request to intervene or performance-relevant system failures.

Congresswoman Schrier recently spoke on this legislation during a Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade subcommittee hearing last month. To view Congresswoman Schrier’s remarks, click here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — With tax filing season underway, 91% of Americans are finding it easier than ever to file their taxes thanks to President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts.

This year, Americans are spending less time on paperwork and keeping more of their hard-earned money.

SIMPLER TAX FILING IN 2026

• Largest tax refunds in history projected this season
• 210 million hours saved collectively on tax preparation
• $13 billion in compliance costs reduced
• Over $10,000 more in annual take-home pay for working families

PERMANENTLY EXPANDED STANDARD DEDUCTION

The Working Families Tax Cuts permanently locked in and enhanced the doubled standard deduction, simplifying filing for more than 90 percent of taxpayers.

New standard deduction levels:

• $15,750 for single or married filing separately filers
• $31,500 for married couples filing jointly
• $23,625 for head of household filers

REDUCING PAPERWORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND WORKERS

• The Working Families Tax Cuts cut unnecessary IRS paperwork and simplify reporting requirements:
• Increased the income reporting threshold to $2,000 before small businesses must send certain tax forms
• Restored the 1099-K reporting threshold to $20,000 and 200 transactions
  • Reverses Democrats’ $600 single-transaction requirement for third-party payment platforms like Venmo
• Reduced paperwork requirements for independent contractors and farmers
• Eliminated extra reporting burdens on small and occasional payments
• Made compliance simpler for gig workers and small business owners

Less paperwork. Less hassle.

PROTECTING TAX RELIEF IN DEMOCRAT-RUN JURISDICTIONS

Congressional Democrats voted against the tax cuts that are now putting more money in Americans’ pockets — and Democrat leaders in Washington, D.C. and blue states around the country are attempting to block those same provisions from taking effect locally.

This week, the House passed a joint resolution overturning the D.C. Council’s recent action to block tax relief and restoring the full benefits of the Working Families Tax Cut for workers and businesses in the District of Columbia.

The D.C. council sought to prevent implementation of:

• No tax on tipped wages
• No tax on overtime wages
• Increased standard deduction
• Key business tax relief provisions

This action by House Republicans ensures workers in the nation’s capital receive the same tax relief as families across the country.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Pushes for more action on Mexico’s water debt and New World Screwworm prevention efforts