Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)
Bacon, Khanna Call on President Trump to Remove the Tariffs on Coffee
Washington, DC — Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02) and Ro Khanna (CA-17), sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging his administration to exempt coffee from reciprocal tariff measures that are driving up costs for American consumers. Reps. Khanna and Bacon also recently introduced the bipartisan “No Coffee Tax Act” to repeal the tariffs on coffee.
“Families across America are feeling the cost of higher coffee prices, which are already up 21 percent, and tariffing a product we can’t grow at a large, commercial scale, only makes it worse. Tariffs are a tax on American consumers, raising the price of everyday goods without creating jobs or bringing production on-shore. Article One of the Constitution makes clear that Congress has the authority to set tariffs, and Congress needs to reclaim its authorities,” said Rep. Bacon.
“The tariffs are hurting coffee drinkers and small business owners across the country. We only produce 1% of the coffee that Americans consume. Tariffs on coffee make no economic sense. I hope the administration will do the right thing and provide relief to the millions who consume coffee every day and the businesses that serve our communities,” said Rep. Khanna.
Two out of three Americans enjoy a cup of coffee every day. But recent tariff measures have forced them to pay 26 percent more for their morning cup of coffee. We respectfully request you exempt coffee from reciprocal tariff measures that are drastically increasing its price.
Coffee does not have a viable large-scale domestic alternative. Though Hawai‘i and Puerto Rico grow small quantities of specialty coffee, domestic production accounts for less than 1 percent of all the coffee consumed by Americans. Tariffs on coffee do not protect domestic businesses and interests—they only raise costs and amount to an additional tax on American consumers. It is not practical to tariff a product that our nation does not meaningfully produce.
In light of these facts, we respectfully request your administration exempt coffee from reciprocal tariff measures that are drastically increasing its price. The administration can do this by adding coffee (both green beans, as well as roasted and ground products) to Annex II of Executive Order 14257. Given that our nation consumes around 400 million cups per day, this action is one modest but meaningful way to help the American people.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference with Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, where he emphasized that while Republicans remain on vacation, Democrats will continue fighting to end the healthcare crisis and the reckless shutdown that Republicans have created.
LEADER JEFFRIES: This is day 22 of the Trump-Republican shutdown of the federal government, and Republicans have shown zero interest or capacity to reopen the government, enact a spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people or address the healthcare crisis that Republicans have created. And the healthcare crisis is growing in intensity and urgency all across the country. We now have visibility into 13 different states, including most recently Florida, Virginia, Maryland and Georgia. And all across those states, millions of Americans are going to experience dramatic increases in their healthcare premiums, copays and deductibles, as is the case with everyday Americans all across the country.
In Florida, by way of example, a 58-year-old in Panama City, Florida, single on the silver plan, currently receives ACA tax credits, pays for health insurance $140.80 a month. Because Republicans have decided to allow the Affordable Care Act tax credits to expire, that same individual who’s currently paying $140.80 per month, their cost will go up to $1,526 per month. Republicans did that because of their refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. In Florida, a 46-year-old with three children in Santa Rosa we now know this family currently on the bronze plan—actually as a result of the tax credits that they receive—does not have to pay any additional amount to receive their health insurance. But if the Affordable Care Act tax credits are allowed to expire, that same family, 46-year-old with three children in Santa Rosa, Florida, will have to pay $2,360 per month. That is north of $25,000 per year. Unaffordable, impossible, unsustainable. And it will result in that family having to go without the ability to see a doctor when their children get sick.
The Republican healthcare crisis grows worse by the day.And yet, Republicans remain on vacation for the fourth consecutive week. Donald Trump is once again preparing to fly out of the country. The East Wing of the White House is being demolished so that Donald Trump can construct a ballroom where he will be celebrated like a king. And, at the same time, Trump is trying to rob taxpayers of $230 million to continue to line his pockets. And yet, Republicans have zero interest, none, in addressing the healthcare crisis that they’ve created, just devastating people all across the country.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Sherman Oaks, CA – Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) issued the following statement to mark ten years since the Southern California Gas Company’s SS-25 well ruptured at the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility on October 23rd, 2015, triggering the largest release of methane and toxic compounds in U.S. history:
“A full decade has passed since the Aliso Canyon gas blowout — yet families in our community continue to bear the consequences of this preventable disaster. The ongoing health and environmental impacts underscore why this dangerous facility must be permanently closed once and for all.
For years, residents of Porter Ranch and surrounding neighborhoods have lived with uncertainty about their health, their air, and their safety. I have worked tirelessly with local leaders and federal agencies to hold SoCalGas accountable, to secure environmental testing, and to ensure that the community’s voice is heard at every step.
We owe it to the families who were displaced, the children whose schools were closed, and everyone who suffered from this avoidable catastrophe to finally shut down Aliso Canyon and move toward a cleaner, safer energy future for Los Angeles and the nation.”
Background: Congressman Sherman’s home was as close as any residence to the Aliso Canyon blowout. For nearly four months, the northern Los Angeles community of Porter Ranch suffered from the largest methane leak ever recorded in the United States.
More than 7,000 families were forced to evacuate, two local schools were shut down for the remainder of the academic year, and countless residents reported persistent health issues.
Sherman has consistently called for the permanent closure of the Aliso Canyon facility, specifically urging the California Public Utilities Commission to close the Aliso Canyon facility and to reject any plan that would allow for increased storage at the site.
In 2016, Sherman met personally with then-President Barack Obama regarding the Aliso Canyon blowout and received a commitment that the federal government would improve safety regulations for natural gas storage facilities.
Just days after the leak was finally sealed, Congressman Sherman testified before the Congressional committee charged with oversight of natural gas storage facilities, and he urged the passage of legislation that would mandate stronger safety standards for these facilities.
Four months later, Congress unanimously passed theProtecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act, which required the government to establish new federal safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities.
Congressman Sherman is calling on federal regulators to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection of the Aliso Canyon facility to review its compliance with the enhanced safety standards mandated by Congress.
Congressman Sherman repeatedly called for a comprehensive health study on the effects of the Aliso Canyon Gas Leak. UCLA is currently continuing the Aliso Canyon Disaster Health Research Study with funding through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. This study aims to assess both the short- and long-term health impacts of the disaster.
Congressman Sherman continues to call for the permanent closure of the Aliso Canyon storage facility while supporting stronger federal oversight to prevent similar disasters from ever happening again.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
WASHINGTON — Now the second longest shutdown in U.S. history, Democrats are responsible for the consequences they once warned about. Many small businesses are struggling, veterans’ services are disrupted, service members risk missing paychecks, and low-income families are left scrambling for childcare and food.
For years, top Democrat leaders have publicly acknowledged the devastating impacts of government shutdowns for working families and small businesses. Yet now, with the power to end the crisis, they’re doing exactly what they have always condemned — keeping the government closed to make a political point.
While House Republicans passed a clean, responsible continuing resolution to keep the government open, Democrats have voted repeatedly to prolong the pain — prioritizing the demands of their radical base over the needs of everyday Americans.
Business leaders are sounding the alarm as the Democrat Shutdown begins to weigh on the broader economy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce warned that the lapse in funding is now hurting businesses, workers, and growth across every sector. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the shutdown is “starting to cut into muscle,” estimating a $15 billion weekly hit to the economy and urging Senate Democrats to stop blocking a short-term continuing resolution to reopen the government and protect American jobs.
PREDICTION:
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark in 2023:“So let’s take a moment to talk about the people who are truly at the center of this story… It’s the service members who will work without a paycheck. It’s the firefighters that will be furloughed. It’s the early educators who will have to leave their classroom. It’s the moms and parents who will be left scrambling for childcare.”
REALITY:
The National Head Start Association is warning that the shutdown is putting early childhood education for tens of thousands of low-income families at risk. Six programs serving 6,500 children are already operating without federal funding, and by November 1, another 134 programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico — serving nearly 59,000 children — will face the same crisis if the government remains closed.
PREDICTION:
Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Pete Aguilar in 2023:“House Republicans are leading the country towards a reckless government shutdown that will take food off the table for mothers and children and force our servicemembers to work without pay.”
REALITY:
Across the country, military families are turning to food pantries in record numbers as the Democrat Shutdown drags on and paychecks remain uncertain. Even with temporary funding to cover troop pay, many military households are losing income because spouses who work in federal jobs are also going unpaid. At Stronghold Food Pantry in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, demand has surged by 300%, with a ninefold increase in new applications for assistance nationwide. Founder Monica Bassett called the spike “humbling and heartbreaking,” saying it shows how deeply the shutdown is straining those who already sacrifice the most for the country.
PREDICTION:
Rep. Eric Swalwell in 2024:“We are headed toward a government shutdown, and Republicans know it will hurt people: small business loans delayed, VA offices closed, and federal workers forced to work without pay during the holidays.”
REALITY:
The impact on America’s veterans is growing by the day. While the Department of Veterans Affairs has kept most of its workforce on duty to protect critical care, the Democrat Shutdown has already forced veteran career counseling, transition assistance, and the GI Bill Hotline to close. Regional benefits offices are dark, and essential services like headstone placements and public outreach are on hold — even as VA staff continue serving without pay.
PREDICTION:
Rep. Ayanna Pressley in 2024:“This [government] shutdown, do you know who is going to feel the pain? You know who it hurts? You. everyday people and the most vulnerable — seniors, veterans, working families, hungry kids y’all.”
REALITY:
As the Democrat Shutdown drags on, tens of millions of America’s poorest families are at risk of losing access to food assistance. State agencies warn that if Democrats continue refusing to reopen the government, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits — used by 42 million low-income Americans — will be suspended as soon as November 1, leaving vulnerable parents, children, and seniors without the ability to buy groceries.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Democrats once recognized the harm a shutdown would cause — now they’re causing the harm themselves. As their own warnings become reality, families are paying the price.
Republicans are ready to end the shutdown today. Democrats just have to say yes.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)
October 22, 2025
Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and 26 Members of the California Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding answers on the live artillery fire over Interstate 5 (I-5) during the amphibious assault demonstration held on October 18, 2025, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Shrapnel from the artillery fire hit at least two California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicles and has raised questions about the lack of adequate planning for the demonstration and minimal coordination with state and local officials.
The 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) is an extraordinary milestone. We are incredibly proud of the two and a half centuries of valor, excellence, and devotion of our Marines.
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, an amphibious assault demonstration – which included a variety of aircraft, ships, and amphibious vehicles – was held on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to celebrate this milestone. The demonstration also involved firing artillery from M777 Howitzers at land-based points west of Interstate 5 into impact areas east of the Interstate. Interstate 5 is the primary transportation route that connects Los Angeles and Orange County with San Diego, and it carries approximately 80,000 drivers each day.[1]
Prior to the event, official communications from USMC stated that “all training events will occur on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols. No public highways or transportation routes will be closed.” Additional communication confirmed that a “detailed risk assessment” was conducted before the training event and demonstration.[2] Our understanding is that the artillery demonstration required a deviation from standard safety rules.
Out of an abundance of caution and to minimize public safety risks, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), closed a section of Interstate 5 during the live fire demonstration. Similarly, rail service connecting passengers between Orange County and San Diego County was disrupted for several hours or canceled entirely by federal authorities.[3],[4]
Despite numerous assurances of safety from the White House and Headquarters Marine Corps, initial reports indicate that shrapnel from artillery hit at least two vehicles during the demonstration.[5] As a result, the remainder of the planned artillery demonstration was canceled.
While we are relieved no one was injured, we are deeply concerned by the decision making that led to this incident. CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado – who is also a Marine – added that “it is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway.”[6]
We request responses to the following questions by October 29, 2025:
How did USMC and relevant components prepare for this event? When did USMC and relevant components begin preparing for this event?
Please describe the process USMC conducted under the “detailed risk assessment.”
Who directed USMC to conduct the artillery demonstration over Interstate 5? Who made the final decision that the live fire demonstration was considered to be safe? When was this decision made?
Who made the final decision that the federal government would not require the closure of Interstate 5?
What caused the round to detonate prematurely? Are there any plans to update safety protocol to prevent future incidents from occurring?
Has any other damage – including damage to property or infrastructure – been reported, beyond damage to the two CHP vehicles?
Was there additional shrapnel found on the Interstate 5, and if so, when exactly was the freeway cleared of said shrapnel?
If the freeway had not been closed to civilian traffic at the time of the incident, how does USMC evaluate that civilian vehicles would have been impacted by it?
Were there any contingency plans in place outlining protocol to respond to this type of incident?
How often has USMC conducted similar live fire demonstrations and trainings over Interstate 5 and the rail corridor?
Was this event funded by Department of Defense annual appropriations? If not, what was the funding source? From which account did the funding come?
How much did this event cost in total? Please include costs for maintenance of all vessels, aircraft, amphibious combat vehicles, landing craft air cushions, light armored vehicles, and hardware used during the demonstration.
Which agency is going to cover the costs associated with the damage to the two impacted vehicles?
The State of California prides itself on its strong relationship between Marines and neighboring communities. Maintaining public safety has been a central pillar of that relationship, which is built on trust and confidence. Our Marines deserve to be celebrated without compromising these ideals.
We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
CC: General Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps
Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (MD) and Jeff Merkley (OR) are leading 10 members of the House and 13 Senators in pressing the Trump Administration on the detention of Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim, a 16-year-old American citizen who has been held in Israel’s custody since February 16, 2025.
The lawmakers begin,“We write with grave concern regarding the detention without trial of Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim. Mohammed is a U.S. citizen from Florida who was reportedly blindfolded, handcuffed, and arrested on February 16th, 2025 when Israeli forces reportedly entered his family home in al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya at 3 a.m. He was detained when he was 15 years old and turned 16 in prison. He has been accused of throwing rocks at Israeli settlers, but no evidence has been publicly provided to support this allegation.”
They continue, “While U.S. embassy officials have been able to conduct visits, Mohammed has been denied all other contact with the outside world and his family has not been able to contact him since his detention. Senators Van Hollen and Merkley met with Mohammed’s family in the West Bank, and Rep. Castor, Rep. Frost, and other members also met with his family separately. His family has received updates from U.S. embassy staff and former detainees who described his alarming weight loss, deteriorating health, and signs of torture as his court hearings continue to be routinely postponed. His family reports that Mohammed has lost nearly a quarter of his body weight and contracted scabies after being detained in Megiddo Prison and now in Ofer Prison.”
“We are concerned about reports of the mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities and prisons, including both of the prisons that have held Mohammed. The mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli prisons was recently corroborated in Israel’s September 7th Supreme Court ruling, which stated the Israeli government has deprived Palestinian detainees of even a minimum subsistence diet and ordered authorities to increase the amount and quality of food served to inmates,” they go on to note.
“As we have been told repeatedly, ‘the Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad.’ We share that view and urge you to fulfill this responsibility by engaging the Israeli government directly to secure the swift release of this American boy. We request a response to this letter by November 3rd, including what efforts you have made on Mohammed’s case,” the lawmakers conclude.
Representatives Castor and Frost and Senators Van Hollen and Merkley were joined in sending the letter by Senators Schatz, Warnock, Sanders, Welch, Schiff, Wyden, Murray, Kaine, Warren, Markey, Luján, Heinrich, and Duckworth and Representatives Dexter, Casar, McGovern, Moore, Tlaib, García, Jayapal, Nadler, Smith, and Ramirez.
The text of the letter is available here and below.
Dear Secretary Rubio and Ambassador Huckabee,
We write with grave concern regarding the detention without trial of Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim. Mohammed is a U.S. citizen from Florida who was reportedly blindfolded, handcuffed, and arrested on February 16th, 2025 when Israeli forces reportedly entered his family home in al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya at 3 a.m. He was detained when he was 15 years old and turned 16 in prison. He has been accused of throwing rocks at Israeli settlers, but no evidence has been publicly provided to support this allegation. As you know, Palestinians are subject to military law in the West Bank and are tried in military courts where there have been well-documented concerns about Palestinians not receiving fair due process. Mohammed is also the first cousin of Saifullah Kamel Musallet, the 20-year-old U.S. citizen who was reportedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers in July 2025. To date, no one has been arrested concerning his killing.
While U.S. embassy officials have been able to conduct visits, Mohammed has been denied all other contact with the outside world and his family has not been able to contact him since his detention. Senators Van Hollen and Merkley met with Mohammed’s family in the West Bank, and Rep. Castor, Rep. Frost, and other members also met with his family separately. His family has received updates from U.S. embassy staff and former detainees who described his alarming weight loss, deteriorating health, and signs of torture as his court hearings continue to be routinely postponed. His family reports that Mohammed has lost nearly a quarter of his body weight and contracted scabies after being detained in Megiddo Prison and now in Ofer Prison.
We are concerned about reports of the mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities and prisons, including both of the prisons that have held Mohammed. The mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli prisons was recently corroborated in Israel’s September 7th Supreme Court ruling, which stated the Israeli government has deprived Palestinian detainees of even a minimum subsistence diet and ordered authorities to increase the amount and quality of food served to inmates.
In a disturbingly similar case, and underscoring our urgency concerning Mohammed’s continued pre-trial detention, 17-year-old Palestinian Walid Ahmad collapsed and died in Megiddo Prison on March 22nd, 2025 after also being detained for six months without charges or trial for allegedly throwing rocks. Walid’s post-mortem examination indicates that he died from a combination of abuse and mistreatment that led to him collapsing and hitting his head, including extreme malnutrition, torture, scabies, and the denial of medical intervention. It is the responsibility of the U.S. government to ensure that this recent tragedy does not repeat itself with Mohammed.
As we have been told repeatedly, “the Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad.” We share that view and urge you to fulfill this responsibility by engaging the Israeli government directly to secure the swift release of this American boy.
We request a response to this letter by November 3rd, including what efforts you have made on Mohammed’s case.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s The Beat, where he emphasized that Republicans are neglecting their duties to the American people by refusing to address the Republican healthcare crisis and swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.
ARI MELBER: I want to bring in as promised, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Good evening. Your response first to that DOJ story.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the Trump Department of Injustice at this point in time is completely and totally out of control. The Department of Injustice has been weaponized to target Trump critics and adversaries and perceived enemies in ways that undermine the notion of this country as one anchored in the rule of law. And now, of course, as you’ve pointed out, Donald Trump is trying to use the Department of Injustice as part of his ongoing pay-to-play scheme, the largest that we’ve seen in the history of the country, and he’s doing it without any shame, and it remains to be seen whether anyone within the administration is willing to actually stand up to him at this point in time, which is why we need a Congress to actually conduct itself like a separate and co-equal branch of government, as opposed to what we’ve seen under House Republicans, which is just a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda.
ARI MELBER: Would this be a valid use of taxpayer funds, and can Congress do anything about it?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it’s a completely and totally invalid use of taxpayer funds. The irony of it all is that the government is shut down right now. It remains shuttered because Donald Trump and Republicans are unwilling to find the resources necessary to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits and prevent tens of millions of people from experiencing dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles. But he has all the time in the world to engage in another grift to enrich himself for legitimate investigation that occurred under the prior administration. It is definitively illegal. Congress has the power of the purse, and you can’t simply transfer $230 million of taxpayer funds because Donald Trump has directed his sycophants within his administration to do just that. And so I expect that if they were to engage in this type of unlawful action, of course, they will be sued aggressively, immediately and I think Ari, as you pointed out, appropriately so. The statute of limitations on all of this behavior is five years, and so accountability is coming for all of these people who are engaging in real-life criminal activity at the behest of Donald Trump. The Supreme Court may have given him some immunity. It hasn’t given any of these other sycophants immunity.
ARI MELBER: Right, as you mentioned, and I mentioned that our reporting, because that’s our understanding of it. These are—are pretty clear rules, and attorneys, especially government attorneys, have extra obligations. You mentioned the shutdown. Where do we go from here? Are we to understand that Democrats are not going to give in? And if they don’t give in, then how long are we bracing for a shutdown? And what do you think you’re achieving?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, this is week four of the Trump shutdown, and we’ve been clear that we want to reopen the government. We want to find a bipartisan path forward to enacting a spending agreement, but that spending agreement actually has to make life better for the American people, and at the same time, we have to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis that is crushing people all across the country, including working-class America, rural America, urban America, small town America, the heartland of America and Black and brown communities all throughout the United States of America. It’s a real-time crisis, as Marjorie Taylor Greene herself has acknowledged. And so we’re going to continue to hold the line. I’m thankful for the courage and the principled strength that has been shown by my colleagues on the other side of the Capitol, Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats. We’re in this fight until we win this fight on behalf of the American people.
ARI MELBER: What do you see in the No Kings protests out there, and is it broadly aligned with the Democratic agenda? Do you view it as potentially independent, but concerned about autocracy? And how are you trying to meet that energy?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the protests were peaceful, they were patriotic and they were powerful, and another indication that the American people are not standing for the type of extremism that we have consistently seen be unleashed on the American people by Donald Trump and his administration from day one. All of the promises that they made about doing things like lowering the high cost of living have been broken, and what we’ve seen from this administration is implementation of their toxic Project 2025 agenda, which they lied about all of last year. And it’s extraordinary to see more than 7 million people show up across the country and consistent with the best of what America has to offer in terms of pushing back peacefully but aggressively against an out-of-control administration, which is the case right now. And it will make a difference as we continue to march forward toward accountability. We’ll see some of that accountability two weeks from today, on November 4, in New Jersey, I believe, in Virginia and in terms of Prop 50 in California, where we are working hard to stop Trump from stealing the midterm elections by engaging in this aggressive gerrymandering. And that accountability will continue as we move forward beyond this upcoming election.
ARI MELBER: Leader Jeffries, another difficult topic that weighs on a lot of our leaders are these threats of violence. In this instance, as you well know, there was an individual who had been convicted of storming the Capitol here, and they had threatened you. I have a headline: ‘Pardoned Capitol Rioter Charged With Threatening To Kill Hakeem Jeffries At A New York City Event This Week.’ The complication here—I’ve heard you and others condemn all, of course, political violence—here, you would be a potential target. But should this person be out of federal prison in the first place? That would seem a relevant safety consideration, given that the President did choose to pardon them.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, the real problem that the country confronts—and I’m thankful for local, state and federal law enforcement in terms of identifying the immediacy of this threat and taking decisive action, but the American people across the country are under threat because Donald Trump made the decision to pardon hundreds of violent felons who brutally beat police officers on January 6 and have now been unleashed in communities all across the country. And we’ve seen multiple instances of these January 6 rioters, having engaged in reoffending, having engaged in violent crimes and other things that are jeopardizing the safety of the American people. That’s the big problem that we confront right now, and you know, we just need a handful of Republicans to actually raise their voices and make clear that this is problematic. But of course, they can’t do it. When Donald Trump says jump, they just respond, ‘How high?’
ARI MELBER: I’m jumping around because your time is limited. We are told that with a new Member sworn in, you would get to a vote on the Epstein files. Can you tell us the status of that and what would the American people potentially learn?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva was elected by the people of Arizona four weeks ago today, and it remains the case that Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans have continued to prevent her from being sworn in. Why? We believe it’s because she will be the 218th signature on a discharge petition that will force an up-or-down vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, and that legislation will pass. And House Republicans and Donald Trump clearly want no part of that type of transparency and accountability.
ARI MELBER: Can you say—
LEADER JEFFRIES: They don’t want that information.
ARI MELBER: Can you say, if we’ll learn much? I mean, it’s a tricky one, because you don’t know what they have or are hiding. So do you view it as the right thing to do in theory, or you’re under the view based on what you know that there’s more information there to come out?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it’s either one of two things that are true. Either Donald Trump and the extremists spent years lying to their own base about what was in the Epstein files, fanning the flames of a conspiracy theory that people were being protected, or it is, in fact, the case that the files are very damning in terms of what’s in them. That’s probably more likely than not the scenario that we’ll confront, and that’s why they’re doing everything they can to hide them, including by unlawfully preventing Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva from being sworn in, but we’re going to stay on the case. She is going to get sworn in, and we’re going to see these files released and accountability brought to any of the wrongdoers who are in that file.
ARI MELBER: I know your time is short. I appreciate you coming on The Beat here with a lot going on. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on several topics. Thank you, sir.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Headline: Carter introduces bipartisan bill to lower costs, preserve access to wound care
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Greg Steube (R-FL), and Rich McCormick (R-GA) introduced the Skin Substitute Access and Payment Reform Act, a bill modernizing Medicare’s payment system for skin substitute products, defined as biological materials used to cover and promote the healing of skin wounds.
“Recently, there has been an inappropriate and concerning rise in skin substitute prices and costs. This escalation wastes Medicare resources and hinders access to care for thousands of Americans who rely on these products to successfully heal their diabetic wounds, avoid amputations, and other downstream costs. My bill puts an end to runaway prices and inappropriate prescribing by implementing new program integrity reforms and ensuring that patients in need receive affordable, accessible, and high-quality care,” said Rep. Carter.
“Every Texan deserves access to innovative, effective treatments that can save their limbs and their lives. Too many of our seniors, veterans, and neighbors living with diabetes and other chronic conditions face preventable amputations simply because care is too expensive or out of reach. This bill helps to protect patients’ access to advanced wound care therapies while also ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. By modernizing the system, we can help Texans heal faster and live healthier,” said Rep. Veasey.
“Patients deserve financial security and peace of mind when it comes to their medical bills,” said Rep. Steube. “It is unacceptable that Medicare recipients suffering from chronic wounds must also endure unpredictable pricing for the treatment they need. By updating billing and payment processes and opening up the market for new treatments, this bill puts the interests of patients first. I am grateful to partner with Congressman Carter and Senator Cassidy on this legislation that will have a direct and positive impact on the residents of Southwest Florida.”
“This bill ensures that healthcare providers can make the best decisions for their patients,” said Rep. McCormick. “By maintaining Medicare coverage for skin substitute products, we’re empowering physicians to provide the best course of treatment for those who need this critical care. I’m proud to co-lead this effort with Congressman Buddy Carter to put patients and providers first.”
“I commend Representatives Carter, Veasey, Steube, and McCormick for introducing the Skin Substitute Access and Payment Reform Act (H.R. 5768). This bipartisan legislation represents an important step toward ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries with hard-to-heal wounds retain access to clinically proven advanced skin substitute therapies. By modernizing the Medicare payment methodology while preserving program integrity, H.R. 5768 strikes the right balance between fiscal responsibility, patient access, and clinical innovation. This reform will help stabilize care delivery across hospital outpatient, private physician-office and mobile wound care settings while maintaining incentives for continued scientific advancement in regenerative wound therapies. I strongly support this legislation and applaud Congress for recognizing that protecting access to effective skin substitute products is both cost-effective and life-saving,” said Dr. William H. Tettelbach.
The Skin Substitute Access and Payment Reform Act of 2025 would:
Effective January 1, 2026: set payment limits for all skin substitute products based on historic volume-weighted average prices to end the “race to the top” price escalation and ensure fair and consistent reimbursement.
Recognize the similar clinical effectiveness of various skin substitute products by providing a one-year delay of the national local coverage determination noncoverage proposal to allow companies time to complete standardized clinical trials.
Establish program integrity provisions to crack down on fraudulent and abusive provider prescribing:
Effective January 1, 2026, identify the 3% of “outlier” providers that are generating most of the costs of skin substitutes and begin immediate prepayment review and prior authorization until they achieve approval rates of over 90%.
Identify providers for potential Medicare exclusion if they cannot achieve a claim approval rate above 25% in a 6-month period.
Each year, more than 10.5 million Medicare beneficiaries seek treatment for advanced chronic wounds. Among these patients, older adults living with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to foot ulcers, such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs), which can lead to devasting complications, including amputations. A lower limb is amputated every 20 seconds – and 85% of these amputations are preceded by a foot ulcer. The 5-year mortality rate following a major amputation exceeds 50%, higher than that of breast cancer and all other cancers and second to only lung cancer. Fortunately, regenerative human cell and tissue products (typically derived from placental material from live births) – as well as animal-derived and synthetic skin substitutes – have shown to function similarly to a patient’s own skin and significantly accelerate wound healing.
Despite their strong clinical foundation, Medicare expenditures for skin substitutes administered in the home and physician office have increased dramatically – from approximately $500 million in 2020 to $6.5 billion in 2024. While some of this growth reflects increased utilization in non-hospital care settings, a major driver of this spending escalation is a flawed reimbursement system that incentivizes the use of higher-priced products. This dynamic is further exacerbated by clearly abusive practices by a small number of providers. Indeed, the top 100 billing providers generated nearly two-thirds of the cost in 2023 ($3.8B) on only 5-6 percent of patients, and similarly 2024 shows that same small outlier group generated nearly half the costs in the sector.
Congress must act to put an end to fraud, waste and abuse in this sector while simultaneously ensuring patient access to necessary skin substitute products.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
Democrat Leader Openly Admits Democrats are Intentionally Inflicting Pain on Working American Families for “Leverage”
“Families are going to suffer… but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”
Washington, October 22, 2025
WASHINGTON — Katherine Clark – the #2 Democrat in the House – openly admitted that Democrats are intentionally inflicting “suffering” on hardworking American families for “leverage” purposes in their Democrat Shutdown. Remember, Democrats are using the federal government and American families as ransom to secure $1.5 trillion in new spending, taxpayer-funded health care for illegal aliens, and hundreds of millions of dollars for left-wing news outlets.
As Speaker Johnson has said since Democrats shamefully shut down the government more than 3 weeks ago, “Democrats are perfectly happy to do all this damage while they play political stunts.” The #2 Democrat in the House just confirmed it.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, celebrated the inclusion of their pipeline safety priorities in the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025.
The PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 reauthorizes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the agency responsible for regulating pipeline safety, and includes key provisions championed by Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) through their Pipeline Accountability Act. These provisions will establish an Office of Public Engagement, strengthen carbon dioxide pipeline safety, direct studies and reporting on hydrogen blending in pipeline transportation, increase civil penalties for companies that violate safety laws, and reauthorize the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program.
“We are pleased the pipeline safety reauthorization bill includes our provisions to increase transparency, support public engagement, and protect public safety. Devastating and deadly pipeline disasters, like the 2018 gas explosions in the Merrimack Valley, show why we need a watchdog, not a lapdog, when it comes to pipeline safety regulations,” said the lawmakers. “Companies that put the public at risk need to be held accountable, and our communities and first responders should be given the tools they need to stay safe. Safety regulations must be able to address new substances flowing through our pipes, like carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Thanks to these provisions, our homes, our communities, and our environment will be safer as we continue to work to end our dependence on polluting fuels.”
Trahan and Markey introduced the Pipeline Accountability Act in August, a comprehensive legislative package to modernize pipeline safety standards, enhance public engagement, improve responsiveness to disasters, and address the environmental and climate impacts of pipeline incidents.
Devastating accidents, like the 2018 gas explosions in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Valley and the 2020 carbon dioxide pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi, highlight a clear and urgent need. It is critical to implement stronger safety measures, greater transparency, and more accountability.