MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore (R-WV) introduced the bipartisan “Know Your Labor Rights Act”, legislation that will ensure American workers are fully informed of their rights in the workplace and equipped to advocate for themselves on the job.

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez (D-WA) is the Democrat co-lead on the legislation, with companion legislation introduced in the Senate by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).

The “Know Your Labor Rights Act” would require that workers’ rights be clearly and prominently displayed in workplaces, addressing a widespread issue where employees are often unaware of their legal protections on the job site—including their right to organize. The bill also includes provisions requiring the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to make these notices publicly accessible online, ensuring both employers and employees can easily obtain accurate information.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters supports the legislation, backing efforts to increase transparency and awareness of labor rights nationwide.

Congressman Moore emphasized that the bill represents a commonsense, bipartisan step toward strengthening the American workforce by ensuring transparency, accountability, and access to critical worker’s rights information.

“American workers deserve to know their rights and have real power on the job. The ‘Know Your Labor Rights Act’ will ensure that labor rights are posted prominently in the workplace and not buried in the fine print. Too often employees are not even aware they have the right to organize. I’m proud to introduce this bill alongside Congresswoman Marie Glusenkemp-Perez, as well as Senators Josh Hawley and Maggie Hassan so every hardworking man and woman knows their rights and can stand up for themselves at work. I will never stop fighting for the rights of the American worker, said Congressman Riley Moore.” 

“American workers have a right to unionize in the workplace and fight for fair wages,” said Senator Hawley. “That’s why I’m introducing legislation to ensure that employees have basic visibility into their fundamental rights.”

“Greedy corporations and corrupt managers in nearly every sector of the economy put in overtime trying to stop working people from organizing,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “But the right to organize is sacred, and American workers should be informed of their legal right to do so. The Know Your Labor Rights Act would help put power back in the hands of working people. It would mandate that employers post information about labor rights in an easily accessible place so that workers remain informed and empowered.”

“Granite State workers are the backbone of our state’s economy, and when workers know their rights, they are better equipped to advocate for themselves and their families,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense step that would require employers to post and maintain notices of employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act in the workplace, giving Granite Staters and workers nationwide the information that they need to fight for their rights, as well as better wages and benefits.”

“As a small business owner and a member of Congress who’s actually clocked into work I know that this information is important. I also know that small businesses are regularly scammed by fraudsters pretending to be federal agencies who charge mom and pop operations hundreds of dollars for free posters. I’m encouraged that this bill makes a step towards ensuring the information is available free on the Department of Labor’s website,” said Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar, Gottheimer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect U.S. National Security on Railways

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced the Keeping China Off the Rails Act. The bipartisan legislation would protect America’s rail network from foreign surveillance and ensure sensitive cargo movements cannot be tracked by our adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Current law prohibits foreign-developed tracking technology on new railcars, however, it does not address this technology on existing cars, even for the transportation of military cargo.

“America’s rail system plays a vital role in our economy and our national defense,” said Moolenaar. “We cannot allow the companies with ties to the Chinese Communist Party access to information that could track sensitive shipments and undermine our national security. Our bipartisan legislation addresses dangerous oversights in existing law and ensures this critical infrastructure is protected.”

“Our railway system is foundational to our country’s commerce, economic stability, and national security,” said Gottheimer. “We have to take commonsense steps to make sure the Chinese Communist Party — or any foreign adversary — can’t track what we’re moving across the country, especially when it involves sensitive or military cargo. This bipartisan bill is about standing up to the CCP, protecting our infrastructure, and keeping our country safe.”

Moolenaar is the Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Under Moolenaar’s leadership, the committee has investigated a variety of efforts by the CCP to spy on the United States through critical infrastructure, and hack sensitive network technology. Gottheimer is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Modern railcars rely on advanced sensors and tracking systems to maintain safety and efficiency; however, the presence of Chinese manufactured technology raises concerns that the CCP could exploit these systems to monitor sensitive U.S. cargo, including materials transported for national defense.

Moolenaar and Gottheimer’s legislation provides a tiered compliance schedule to give the railway industry time to transition from foreign adversary technology while ensuring the United States remains prepared to respond to national security threats.

Legislative text may be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar Questions Health Secretary RFK Jr. on Medical Supply Chain

Last week, Congressman John Moolenaar, questioned Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on concerns regarding supply chains for critical medicines, and medical equipment, as well as efforts in Michigan by rural health providers to protect themselves from cyber threats.

“For far too long, our health industry supply chain, specifically for pharmaceuticals, have been reliant on our adversaries. I appreciate the Trump administration and Secretary Kennedy’s efforts to improve the domestic supply chain for medicine to reduce our dependence on the CCP, and protect American health centers from cyber threats. I remain committed to working with the administration on strengthening health outcomes and ensuring federal health programs are delivering results for patients and families,” said Moolenaar.

Moolenaar’s questioning of Secretary Kennedy can be viewed here. A transcript of his line of questioning is available below.

Congressman John Moolenaar: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. secretary, thank you for being here with us today. I want to follow up with you on a few of the questions that have been raised. First, I appreciate learning about the reshoring effort for API’s and our medicines. And I wonder if you could talk a little bit more about that. Because one of the things we have learned over the last year especially is our dependency on China for rare earth and critical minerals and pharmaceuticals seem to be that same situation and I’m encouraged to hear about this investment, and I wonder if you could talk a little bit more about that?

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: I mean, we are President Trump has made it a priority to re-shore all pharmaceutical production for critical medicine in this country. API’s as you know are the precursor chemicals and compounds that go into building a variety of pharmaceutical drugs. During covid, it was… became clear that we did not have any control, we were not producing… we were virtually producing no API’s. they are all coming from China and India, and mostly from China. So, President Trump has made this a priority, and we have in addition to $325 billion that we’re putting into it, there is also – or million – that we’re putting into it. President Trump is putting billions in from the tariffs, and we have secured agreements during the MFN negotiations with these companies to build billions and billions of dollars of plants right here in the United States. I think, (Eli) Lilly alone is building six new plants, Pfizer is building plants, all the big companies are now building here in the United States. We’re gonna be in a lot more secure position, two or three years from now than we are today.

CJM: Wonderful, does BARDA need any more contracting authorizations to help accelerate domestic production?

SRFKJ: You know, I will have to meet with you. I know we have a slightly expanded power under the last bill. And I need to meet with my staff over there to see if there is something additional that we need. And I appreciate that offer, and we will get back to you.

CJM: Okay, thank you. Also, wanted to follow up with you on some of the unethical practices used by China. Cause one of the concerns with their clinical data is sometimes it may be linked to forced labor or other human rights abuses. So, is there anything HHS can do about those kinds of issues?

SRFKJ: Well, uh, before we came in there were no surprises inspections. And now, we’re doing that and were doing a lot of them. We’re doing surprises inspections over there to make sure that they have their IND to make sure they have their IRB approvals and to make sure that they are conducting this ethically. That they’re not going to minority groups and forcing them to participate in studies where they have no choice over. And that’s something we have seen there in the past.

CJM: Thank you, rural providers are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. they can disrupt care and compromise patient data. Is there anything HHS can do to help these providers strengthen their cyber security before an attack and then also maintain operations after an attack?

SRFKJ: the rural housed – I mean – I think that there are two things I can answer that with the specificity that you deserve. I can say that the rural health transformation fund has a lot of the states have chosen to spend that money on AI and telemedicine. And that has to be very, very heavily armored, against cyberattacks, otherwise you can get patient information. We have had HHS now the best team in its history for cyber security. And we have been able to recruit the top names in Silicon Valley, who are now working in the agency to armor, to fortify our biosecurity capacity and it’s something that is a huge priority for us. As we move to AI and you know they can crack house codes and there is a lot of scary things happening where and we don’t want people stealing patient information.

CJM: And then just one final thing on the glyphosate, you know I represent a district that is rural, strong agricultural. You know you got corn, bean, sugar beets, all benefit from glyphosate. and I think it’s important we talk about some of these products about carcinogenic and certainly depends on, you know, the content and it’s not just sort of a one size fits all. And I appreciate the fact that you recognize our dependency on China and with that. And as we look for alternatives that may be better fitted that it’s not a knee jerk reaction on that. So, thank you.

SRFKJ: you I think that there’s a very, very promising technology to replace intensive pesticide use. Particularly in sugar beet fields. Less so with corn and soy. But laser technology and laser weed killing technology, which is now beginning to proliferate around the country and kind of promises an era of chemical free agriculture.

CJM: Thank you very much. Thank you Mr. Chairman. I yield back.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) reintroduced the Saving Transit Art Resources (STAR) Act, which would reinstate a federal flexibility to allow local transit authorities the ability to incorporate art into federally – funded transit projects. 

“Public art is infrastructure,” said Congresswoman Adams, an artist and former art professor of 40 years. “I’ve seen firsthand how art shapes the way people experience a place—how it invites people in, creates pride, and brings communities together. Public art has been shown to increase ridership, reduce vandalism, and inspire residents and tourists alike.”

“Due to a change in federal law in 2015, transit systems like the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) are no longer able to use Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds to integrate art into stations and park-and-ride lots,” Rep. Adams continued. “The STAR Act would restore this power to local transit authorities to include public art in their infrastructure investments and build more vibrant transit options that are unique to each community.”

“Public art is not just something beautiful to look at, it reflects our shared cultural and societal values. In Honolulu, the unique artwork at each station along the rail line encourages ridership, deters vandalism, and promotes the community’s history,” said Senator Hirono. “The STAR Act would better enable local transit authorities to incorporate art into public transit facilities, enhancing riders’ experiences while inspiring a sense of safety, place, and identity in communities across the country.”

For decades, municipalities across America employed artists to design various transit projects using FTA funding. These costs comprised 1-2 percent of a project’s budget and could be used to support the employment of an artist on a design team if artistic elements were integrated into the design or facility. 

However, since the passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act in 2015, federal law prohibited the use of FTA funds to be used for the integration of art into transit projects. The law also placed limits on local funds from being used alongside FTA dollars, severely limiting transit agencies’ ability to incorporate art in projects even with their own money.

“Transit systems are some of the most visible and widely shared public spaces in our country.” said Erin Harkey, CEO of Americans for the Arts. “The Saving Transit Art Resources Act recognizes that communities should have the freedom to design those spaces in ways that reflect who they are. By restoring local control over the integration of art, this bill reopens the door for creative partnerships, supports working artists, and ensures that our transit systems are not just functional, but welcoming, meaningful, and alive with culture.”

You can view the full text of the STAR Act here.

This bill is endorsed by the Americans for the Arts and Smart Growth America. 

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

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

Headline: House Passes Newhouse/Daines Bill to Build More Hydro, Heads to President's Desk

Press Release
For Immediate Release: April 21, 2026
Contact: Juan Ayala, (202) 713-7750

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse released the following statement after passage of S.1020, known as the Build More Hydro bill, which is the Senate companion to Rep. Newhouse’s H.R. 2072. This legislation passed the House with a vote of 394-14 and heads to President Trump’s desk to become law. 

“Our Nation desperately needs more energy, and I am delighted to see the House advance legislation to the President’s desk that will build more hydroelectric dams. Once signed into law, this legislation will allow for the construction of nearly 40 projects totaling over 2.5 gigawatts of baseload power, improving grid reliability and lowering energy prices. I want to thank Senator Daines for his tireless work in moving this legislation unanimously through the Senate and for his continued efforts to build more hydropower,” said Rep. Newhouse.

“I’m proud to see the Build More Hydro bill pass the House and move one step closer to becoming law. Hydropower is a critical source of reliable, baseload energy that strengthens our grid, supports good-paying jobs, and powers homes and businesses across Montana and the nation. This bipartisan bill helps ensure critical projects can move forward, protects billions in investment, and strengthens America’s energy security. I’ll continue to support an all-of-the-above energy portfolio and fight for ways to increase our domestic energy production. Thank you Rep. Newhouse for shepherding this important bill through the House,” said Senator Steve Daines (R-MT).

Background 

Rep. Newhouse introduced the “Build More Hydro” bill as companion legislation alongside Senator Daines’ S. 1020, in 2025.

On July 9, 2025, S.1020 passed the Senate by unanimous consent.

The Build More Hydro bill would extend commence construction deadlines for critical hydropower projects nationwide and increase American energy production. 

Since the introduction of S.1020, approximately 100MW of hydropower has been put on hold with an additional 36MW forced into limbo by the end of the year because of congressional inaction. Hydropower supplies baseload electricity to over 30 million homes, provides 96% of utility-scale energy storage, and remains vital to flood control, water storage, irrigation, and grid reliability services. 

The Build More Hydro bill was supported by the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, Northwest RiverPartners, Inland Ports and Navigation Group, Port of Lewiston, Tri-City Development Council, Northwest Public Power Association, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, The National Association of Wheat Growers, The National Hydropower Association, Rye Development, and The American Public Power Association.

See full bill text, here. 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives has voted to pass Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s (D-CA-07)Emergency Reporting Act and Kari’s Law Reporting Act. These bills would ensure that Americans can count on strong, effective, and modern 9-1-1 systems when disaster strikes.

“The House just passed two of my bipartisan bills to strengthen our emergency communications systems and improve public safety,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “I am proud to lead this legislation because in an emergency, Americans must be able to trust that a call to 9-1-1 will go through. The Emergency Reporting Act will help us better understand and address communications failures during disasters, while the Kari’s Law Reporting Act will help ensure existing 9-1-1 protections are being followed as intended. Together, these bills mark an important step toward a stronger, more reliable emergency response system that can better protect our communities and save lives.”

Emergency Reporting Act

With wildfire seasons growing longer and more severe in California and across the country, resilient and reliable communication networks are essential to protecting communities, helping families stay connected, and giving first responders the tools they need to act swiftly. The Emergency Reporting Act would strengthen 9-1-1 networks by requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue reports following major natural disasters on the extent to which people were unable to reach 9-1-1, and to develop recommendations to improve outage reporting, resiliency, and coordination with state and local officials. The bill also directs the FCC to review unreported outages and develop recommendations for mobile carriers to better notify 9-1-1 centers of disruptions, ensuring that first responders are not left in the dark during life-threatening events.

Kari’s Law Reporting Act

The Kari’s Law Reporting Act would build on the 2018 Kari’s Law by requiring the FCC to report on the extent to which multi-line telephone system (MLTS) manufacturers and vendors have complied with the requirement that callers be able to reach 9-1-1 directly without dialing additional digits. Kari’s Law was enacted after the tragic murder of Kari Hunt in 2013, when her daughter’s repeated attempts to call 9-1-1 from a hotel phone failed because the system required dialing “9” before any call.

Full text of the Emergency Reporting Act is available HERE.

Full text of the Kari’s Law Reporting Act is available HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 3419, the Telehealth Network and Telehealth Resource Centers Grant Program Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan bill was introduced by Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13) and would provide investment in rural healthcare by reauthorizing the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs through Fiscal Year 2030.

“In the Central Valley, access to telehealth can mean the difference between early treatment and a serious medical emergency,” said Congressman Valadao. “With a shortage of doctors, long wait times, and clinics often miles away, too many families are struggling to get the care they need. This bipartisan bill ensures continued funding to expand telehealth services and is a practical way to improve access, reduce delays, and bring care closer to home. I’m thankful to Chairman Guthrie for helping move this bill through the House and look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get it signed into law.”

Congressman Valadao spoke in support of his legislation during debate on the House Floor. Watch his full remarks here or read as prepared below:

Mr. Speaker,

I rise to urge support for my bill, the Telehealth Network and Telehealth Resource Centers Grant Program Reauthorization Act. 

In the Central Valley and rural communities across the nation, telehealth is a lifeline.

For many families I represent, getting to a doctor isn’t easy. It can mean hours on the road, time off work, or waiting too long for an appointment. 

When health care is delayed, small problems can turn into something much more serious. This bipartisan bill helps close that gap.

H.R. 3419 reauthorizes critical telehealth programs through Fiscal Year 2030 so patients in underserved areas can connect with doctors, specialists, and mental health providers without having to travel long distances or wait weeks to be seen. 

We’ve already seen this work in the Central Valley, with thousands of telehealth visits helping people get care for things like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. 

These resources are incredibly important for rural and underserved communities and help make hospitals stronger, improve access to specialists, and provide more support for recruiting and retaining health care professionals in the communities that need them most.

I want to thank Chairman Guthrie and his staff at the Committee on Energy & Commerce for their work on this important bill, as well as my co-lead, Rep. Adam Gray.

Together, we can ensure no one is left behind—no matter what zip code they live in.

Thank you, and I yield back.

Background:

Originally enacted in 1944, the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) provides the foundation for the nation’s public health programs and workforce. Over the years, it has been a critical tool in addressing America’s evolving health care needs—particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to quality care remains a challenge.

Through key provisions supporting community health centers, workforce development programs, and telehealth expansion, the PHSA has helped bring vital services to millions of Americans living in rural areas. Reauthorizing the telehealth network and telehealth resource grant programs ensures continued investment in initiatives that recruit and retain health professionals in rural communities, strengthens rural hospitals and clinics, and closes the geographic gaps in receiving quality care.

Read the full text of the bill here.

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

Longtime Champions for Food Safety Renew Effort to Make Food Labels More Consumer Friendly

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Tran Celebrate Bipartisan Small Business Legislation Signed into Law

Washington – U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02) and Derek Tran (CA-45) are celebrating their bipartisan legislation to continue intellectual property protections for small businesses being signed into law. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Foreign Interference Safeguard Act will extend small businesses’ due diligence programs that identify and mitigate the risk of intellectual property theft by foreign entities like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It was signed into law on April 13 as part of the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act. 

The SBIR Foreign Interference Safeguard Act will reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Due Diligence programs for five years. This extension gives agencies more time to strengthen their programs, assess risks, and collect additional data for Congress to determine the best security strategies for small businesses. 

“Protecting American innovation from foreign adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party remains one of our most critical national security challenges,” said Rep. Bacon. “After the CCP hacked into my own email accounts, I know firsthand how aggressive these operations can be. That’s why I’m pleased to see our SBIR Foreign Interference Safeguard Act signed into law. This legislation strengthens due diligence programs and helps prevent adversaries from exploiting SBIR-funded technologies. I’m grateful to work with Rep. Tran on this bipartisan effort.”

“Small businesses are at the forefront of American innovation. Congress must ensure that these groundbreaking technologies are protected and best positioned to benefit American consumers,” said Rep. Tran. “I’m so proud to have passed this common-sense, bipartisan legislation to extend the SBIR Due Diligence Program and give our agencies the resources they need to safeguard American technologies from malign actors like the Chinese Communist Party. This legislation will strengthen our national security, ensuring that Orange County’s small businesses can continue driving innovation for generations to come.”

The SBIR program provides funding to small businesses developing innovative technologies, fast-tracking these life-changing technologies so that they can reach consumers more quickly. Because of the sensitivity of many of these innovations, foreign malign actors like the CCP exploit cybersecurity gaps and other vulnerabilities to steal technology and slow the progress of American innovation. The Due Diligence Program helps small businesses guard against such exploitation. 

The Due Diligence Program was established in the SBIR/STTR Extension Act of 2022 to require agencies to assess security risks for all small businesses applying for SBIR or STTR grants – specifically risks regarding cybersecurity, intellectual property, and foreign ownership. Agencies set up these systems throughout 2023, and they have only been in full effect for one solicitation cycle thus far. By extending the program, small businesses can continue to receive critical support for innovative technologies while mitigating the risk of intellectual property theft. 

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