MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced legislation to strengthen oversight of technology service providers that support the financial services industry as advances in artificial intelligence (AI) create new risks for financial institutions and their customers.

The Strengthening Oversight for the Financial Sector Act would give the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) the authority to oversee third-party vendors used by the entities they regulate. This authority, which is available to other federal financial regulators, had been temporarily granted to the NCUA, but has since expired, leaving a dangerous gap in oversight. 

As AI makes it easier to identify and exploit vulnerabilities, reliance on third-party technology vendors could provide an attractive opening for attacks on financial institutions. This bill would close that gap and help protect consumers, financial institutions, and the broader financial system from outside threats.

“As AI makes cyberattacks more sophisticated, it is even more important to ensure that third-party vendors don’t become a weak link in our financial system,” said Rep. Foster. “We have learned the hard way how much damage supply chain vulnerabilities can cause, and third-party vendors are attractive targets. This bill will give regulators the tools they need to better protect Americans’ money and sensitive data as AI-assisted cyber threats grow.”

The authority to oversee third-party vendors has been requested by NCUA and FHFA directors from both political parties. The Government Accountability Office and the Financial Stability Oversight Council have made similar recommendations regarding the need for oversight of third-party vendors’ vulnerabilities to AI risk. 

A version of this legislation passed the House Financial Services Committee in the 117th Congress, but did not receive a floor vote.

A copy of the bill is available here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, today introduced the Protecting Our Widows and Widowers in Retirement (POWR) Act, a bill to improve financial security for widows and widowers by adjusting the way the Social Security Administration calculates insurance benefits for surviving spouses in two-income households.

“The grief of losing a loved one shouldn’t be compounded by the stress of financial hardship,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Sadly, that’s the reality for too many surviving spouses, who can lose half their household income overnight. The POWR Act moves to fix that. After decades of hard work and paying into the system, widows and widowers deserve to keep the benefits they earned together.”

“The nonpartisan Elder Justice Coalition is proud to support the POWR Act,” said Bob Blancato, national coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition. “Social Security is about promoting economic security. The two provisions of the POWR Act aim to remedy shortcomings that prevent widows, widowers and those on SSI from achieving that. We commend Rep. Sánchez for leading this important reform effort.”

According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, women are more likely to suffer a greater financial hit following the loss of a spouse. Despite higher workforce participation rates, women continue to rely more heavily on Social Security than men. The average widow sees a 33% to 50% drop in her benefits after the death of a spouse. 

However, surviving spouses typically need 79% of the couple’s prior combined income just to maintain their standard of living. The POWR Act closes that gap, creating an alternative benefit equal to 75% of a couple’s combined Social Security benefits.

The POWR Act is cosponsored by Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

It is endorsed by the Elder Justice Coalition, Alliance for Retired Americans and National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

The full text of the bill is available HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, during a full Ways & Means Committee hearing, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax, reinforced the need for the United States to establish strategic partnerships to secure critical minerals and other natural resources to combat China. Kelly also emphasized the need to incentivize domestic mining capacity.

“The United States is in a race to secure critical minerals, which are essential for economic competitiveness both for today and for years to come,” said Rep. Kelly. “It is imperative that China not have a monopoly on critical minerals. Strong partnerships with our allies will create a stronger and safer America.”

You can WATCH and DOWNLOAD Rep. Kelly’s statements during today’s hearing here.

BACKGROUND

• China holds dominant control over global production and processing for many minerals, producing 30 of the 44 U.S.-designated critical minerals and accounting for more than 90 percent of global processing of several critical minerals.
• Today, China controls roughly 70 percent of rare earth mining production and 90 percent of processing and refining capacity.
• In December 2024, China implemented export bans on antimony, gallium, and germanium, expanding existing export restrictions that were put in place in December 2023 on certain strategic materials, technologies, and equipment in the “Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Export in China.” Export restrictions only applied to the United States.
• For most critical minerals, the United States has been heavily reliant on foreign sources for its consumption requirements.
• Ongoing global conflicts, illicit trade, and unreliable supplies all amplify the urgency of securing these resources.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

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

U.S. Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Marc Veasey (D-TX), members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, celebrated action taken by the Committee on their bill H.R. 5549, the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act. The Committee favorably reported the bill for full House consideration. This measure seeks to reform federal nuclear licensing processes and improve the overall effectiveness of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 

“Reforms to the costly and cumbersome nuclear licensing process are long overdue,” said Congressman Griffith. “Sending the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act to the House floor reflects growing bipartisan momentum to support nuclear energy plants as a reliable, stable and safe source of power generation. I am proud to lead the charge to repeal this duplicative 1950s requirement.”

“Safe and reliable access to nuclear energy is vital to meeting electricity demand while lowering prices for hardworking families,” said Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie. “The Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act works to achieve both goals by cutting through unnecessary red tape and helping to bring new nuclear reactors online. Under current law, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is forced to hold a hearing on a license application even when there are no objections. This bipartisan legislation ends that mandatory requirement while continuing to ensure the licensing process works for our communities. Thank you to Congressman Griffith for his work to help make electricity more affordable.”

“I’m proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisles in supporting this bipartisan legislation to cut unnecessary red tape and bring nuclear power to the grid more efficiently and affordably,” said Congressman Veasey. “Nuclear power is one of the keys to meeting rising energy demand without more carbon emissions, and the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act sets us in the right direction. This commonsense measure cuts delays in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing of new nuclear power plants, without sacrificing safety or public input. It will save taxpayers millions of dollars, speed up approval, and help bring down energy bills for families across the country.”

 

BACKGROUND

In the 118^th Congress, Congressman Griffith introduced H.R. 6464, the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act

The bill amends the Atomic Energy Act by dropping the requirement for the NRC to hold a public hearing at the end of the licensing process if the license is not contested by an affected party.

Uncontested licensing hearings result in hours of preparation for the NRC staff, greatly inflate the application fees for the NRC staff’s preparation time and unnecessarily delay the approval of applications.

Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Chris Coons (D-DE) carry the Senate companion, S. 1757.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Congresswoman Analilia Mejia joined Congressman Rob Menendez, clergy members, local elected officials, former detainees and families impacted by the Trump administration’s mass deportation machine for a press availability following a roundtable discussion about the deplorable and inhumane conditions at ICE detention facilities like Delaney Hall.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the people of this community, this state and throughout our country. Instead, taxpayer dollars are being used by ICE and Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine to brutalize and kill American citizens and law-abiding immigrant families. Donald Trump lied to the American people. He said that immigration enforcement in this country was going to target the worst of the worst. That’s not what has been happening. Immigration enforcement, ICE’s violent, out-of-control and unhinged behavior are targeting people who are paying taxes, people who are homeowners, people who are raising families in this community and all across our country. ICE’s violent behavior is targeting business owners, job creators, people who are contributing to the local economy, to the state economy and to the country’s economy.

Donald Trump lied to the American people, he’s hurting the American people and the behavior that ICE is engaging in is inconsistent with our values and what America should represent. Immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, just and humane. That’s not what’s happening, as was so powerfully communicated by family after family after family here today.

ICE detention centers, including Delaney Hall, which I’ve visited, are engaging in un-American behavior that includes the lack of adequate medical treatment to people who are oftentimes experiencing severe illness, including individuals who are being held in these detention facilities, women who are pregnant not getting the care that they need. We’ve consistently learned, including during the roundtable today, about the rancid food that is being provided to individuals who are being detained, to the unsanitary living conditions and to the indecency by which many individuals, including at Delaney Hall, are treating the individuals who have been rounded up, often violently, by ICE agents who’ve been unleashed throughout this country as part of Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine.

The activity that we’ve continued to learn about is unacceptable, unconscionable and un-American, which is why dramatic change is necessary in this country with respect to the manner in which immigration enforcement is taking place. We do need comprehensive immigration reform along the lines of what Margarita has courageously talked about. And where we know there’s no ability by these immigration officials or private companies to behave in a manner consistent with American values—and that certainly is the case at Delaney Hall—that Delaney Hall needs to be shut down. And that will remain a high priority for us until it takes place.

So I thank the families who we heard from for your courage, for your bravery, for your resilience. We will get this situation turned around, and we will make sure that there’s justice for your loved ones who have been killed or died in custody. Three deaths at Delaney Hall. Completely and totally unacceptable. Fifty-five deaths in ICE custody since the beginning of Donald Trump’s time in office over the last 17 months or so. That means one death in ICE custody every six days. That is not America, and that’s why we’re committed to turning the situation around.

Full remarks can be watched here.

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

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today questioned expert witnesses on intelligence and national security issues about why the Trump administration lifted export controls to allow the Chinese Communist Party to purchase high-performance but sensitive H200 GPU computer chips that can be used to strengthen the Chinese military to the detriment of the United States.

The Congressman noted that everyone who has testified before the committee has recognized the decision was a dangerous mistake, including the witnesses today.

In his remarks, the Congressman said in part:

“It all comes down to that decision. I think it’s pretty obvious who made the decision to give them chips: President Trump. Is that not correct?…All the experts we’ve had, and everybody, says ‘don’t do it. Big mistake. We’re giving away our country’s future.’ He’s more worried about the Kennedy Center’s naming and the ballroom and the golf course.” 

See his line of questioning here.

The witnesses at today’s hearing were:

• Mr. Frank Cilluffo – Director of the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University;
• Mr. David Feith – Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute; and 
• Dr. Seth Jones – President of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

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