MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Calls on Vought to End “Gross Abuse” and Provide Full Accounting of Reallocated Funds

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

‘In our nation’s 250th anniversary year, Philadelphia continues to be at the heart of Black history in the United States’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – Following the Bureau of Reclamation’s 2026 water allocation announcement for Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) and Adam Gray (CA-13) released the following statement:
“We are not happy. With substantial snowpack this winter and multiple recent years of strong precipitation that have helped lift California out of drought, the initial allocation is not justified. The President claimed he could deliver more water and yet that pledge rings hollow today. The Trump Administration’s allocations are offensive to the farmers of the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. This administration needs to move forward immediately with higher allocations and bring more water to the Valley like they promised.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

OLATHE, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited Olathe to see firsthand how a federal grant she helped secure will improve road safety in the city. The $691,000 grant comes from the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, created by the bipartisan infrastructure law — legislation Davids was the only member of the Kansas delegation to support.

 

“Chatting with folks in Olathe and seeing firsthand how this grant will be used reminded me that road safety is about protecting families, cyclists, and pedestrians every day,” said Davids. “Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, this federal investment will fund speed management, roundabouts, and safety audits that give residents peace of mind and make our streets safer for everyone. Investments like this show how thoughtful federal policy can have a real, tangible impact on communities across Kansas’ Third District.”

 

City of Olathe: $691,200

• Funds will be used to develop a citywide Speed Management Plan, a quick-build compact roundabout, and a road safety audit to inform standards and future projects.

Davids previously released a report examining transportation safety in Kansas’ Third District, which found that 21 percent of the state’s pedestrian crash–related deaths in 2020 occurred within the district. The grant highlighted today will help address these safety challenges and improve outcomes.

 

“We know being able to drive throughout Olathe in a safe and timely manner is a top priority for our residents, and it is for us as well,” said John Bacon, Mayor, Olathe. “This grant money will help us protect our residents while also improving the quality of life for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Thank you to our federal partners for your support of Olathe.”

 

The bipartisan infrastructure law, which has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in the last decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is funded through a combination of new revenues and existing savings. To date, more than $3.2 billion has been invested in Kansas through the bipartisan infrastructure law – from expanding statewide rural broadband access, lead pipe replacements in Olathe, safety initiatives in KCK, and long-overdue upgrades to K-68 in Miami County.

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), introduced the bipartisan Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) Support Act of 2026. This bill would strengthen Washington State’s wildfire resiliency and the national reforestation pipeline by formalizing the United States Forest Service’s RNGR program. Congresswoman Schrier is joined in introducing this legislation by Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01).

“As our forests face unprecedented threats brought on by wildfires, drought, and disease, we must take action to strengthen and streamline our national reforestation efforts,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “By codifying the Forest Service’s RNGR program, we can build a robust and effective national reforestation pipeline that supports the long-term health of our forests and public lands and improves our wildfire resilience.” 

“Healthy forests are an irreplaceable piece of our rural communities, our economy, and our environment,” said Congressman Bergman. “That’s why I’m proud to help introduce the RNGR Support Act – a common-sense, bipartisan effort to strengthen America’s reforestation pipeline and expand nursery capacity, including supporting critical facilities like the J.W. Toumey Nursery right here in Michigan’s First District. This legislation will help ensure our states, tribes, and private partners have the resources they need to restore and sustain our forests for generations to come.”

Nationwide, forests face immense danger due to diseases, pests, and climate change. Exacerbated especially by wildfires, the National Forest System faces an extensive reforestation backlog, leaving millions of acres in need. Without proper recovery, ecosystems can be permanently altered, wildlife habitats compromised, and this land can face a heightened risk of catastrophic fire. All these factors culminate in the need to strengthen seed selection, nursery capacity, workforce, and other elements in the reforestation pipeline. 

The RNGR program plays an integral role in addressing increased nursery demand for information regarding the implementation of native species in restoration, reforestation, and conservation projects across the country. While currently underfunded, the existing RNGR program provides crucial information and assistance and, as such, contributes to long-term goals such as sustainability in our nation’s forests, increased timber production, and improved air and water quality. 

The RNGR Support Act would formally authorize the RNGR program and provide it with its own budget line item and funding. Taking this step will solidify the program’s footing and allow it to focus on technical and financial assistance to nurseries, research projects, and provide compelling and accessible online resources.   

The RNGR Support Act would support reforestation efforts and forest health by:  

• Expanding technical assistance and workforce development training to address specialized staff shortages across nursery and seed collection activities. 
• Creating opportunities for State, Tribal, and private nurseries to apply for infrastructure improvement/expansion grants.  
• Allowing RNGR to serve as a convener of nursery, tree improvement, and tree planting interests nationwide, including climate change mitigation, resilience, and adaptation. 
• Establishing dedicated staff for RNGR to expand capacity and impact.  

“The USDA Forest Service Reforestation, Nursery, and Genetic Resources Program (RNGR) represents a key but under-resourced program for providing technical training, coordination, and support to state, private, and tribal nursery efforts,” said George Geissler, Washington State Forester. “The RNGR Support Act will provide additional funding and resources for the RNGR Program while creating opportunities for state, private and tribal nurseries to apply for infrastructure improvements to help these nurseries across the country produce enough seedlings to adequately address the nation’s reforestation needs, while ensuring the seed and seedling supplies are genetically suited to meet the needs of a changing climate.” 

“Post-wildfire areas make up the vast majority of today’s reforestation need. Without timely intervention, these areas are at a heightened risk of conversion and repeated high-severity fire, threatening watersheds, wildlife, and communities. It’s time to scale the full restoration pipeline, not just the planting—from seed collection to seedling cultivation, site prep, and everything in between,” said Rebecca Turner, Chief Policy and Partnerships Officer at American Forests. “The RNGR Support Act strengthens a critical piece of the pipeline by lifting up and leveraging state, Tribal, and private nurseries and increasing coordination across boundaries. American Forests commend Reps. Schrier and Bergman for championing this issue and for their commitment to the long-term health of our nation’s forests.”

“The Puget Sound Partnership is grateful to Congresswoman Schrier for introducing this important legislation,” said Larry Epstein, Puget Sound Partnership Deputy Director. “To recover Puget Sound, we need to dramatically scale up restoration and reforestation efforts, but right now, limited availability of native species can slow that work. This bill will help alleviate those bottlenecks, empower our state agency and tribal partners, and create jobs that will build the restoration workforce of the future.”

The RNGR Support Act of 2026 is endorsed by the Puget Sound Partnership, National Association of State Foresters, American Forests, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, American Forest Foundation, National Association of Forest Service Retirees, National Alliance of Forest Owners, Carbon 180, and American Chestnut Foundation.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

The U.S. Senate today passed with bipartisan support legislation introduced by Congresswoman Dina Titus to safeguard Southern Nevada’s water security while enhancing environmental conservation efforts.

“Senate passage of this legislation was a critical step in ensuring our water future,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of the climate crisis with rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. Our precious water supply must be protected. The Horizon Lateral pipeline strikes an important balance. It will protect and enhance water access for Southern Nevada residents and businesses while preserving more of the unique habitat and cultural history of Sloan Canyon. I urge President Trump to sign this critical legislation as soon as possible.” 

The Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act would allow a portion of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Horizon Lateral water pipeline project to tunnel beneath the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), increasing water reliability for over a million Southern Nevadans, fortifying the region’s water infrastructure against potential outages, and minimizing disruptions and impacts to the surrounding communities from water infrastructure projects.

The legislation also would expand the 48,438-acre Sloan Canyon NCA by 9,290 acres to enhance the preservation of the desert landscapes and habitat unique to Southern Nevada. The Sloan Canyon NCA contains the Sloan Petroglyph Site, which includes thousands of petroglyphs created by native cultures.

The legislation was approved by the House late last year and now will be sent to President Trump for his signature.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has affirmed its support for the legislation, emphasizing the significance of ensuring water service reliability for the Las Vegas Valley. “This legislation increases water service reliability for more than one million residents and hundreds of businesses in Southern Nevada, helping ensure the long-term viability of our regional water system while also expanding and protecting environmental resources for our community,” said John Ensminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Background:

The proposed underground route beneath Sloan Canyon NCA is estimated to save Southern Nevadans at least $200 million while minimizing disturbances to both residents and the local environment.

Additionally, this route ensures the water delivery system’s redundancy in emergency situations and offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.

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

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin raising serious concerns about the agency’s proposal to weaken or repeal key “Accidental Release Prevention” safeguards under the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program (RMP). In the letter, Congressman Krishnamoorthi warned that the proposed changes could increase the risk of catastrophic chemical accidents and undermine protections for workers, first responders, and communities living near hazardous facilities.

In the letter, Congressman Krishnamoorthi wrote, “I write to express my deep concern regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to significantly weaken or even repeal key portions of‘Accidental Release Prevention’ regulations for facilities subject to the Risk Management Program.” He emphasized that Congress created the program “with a clear directive: prevent catastrophic chemical accidents and protect workers, first responders, and surrounding communities,” and warned that the proposal would “roll back progress and reverse common-sense protections.”

Citing federal data showing nearly 100 reportable chemical accidents annually at covered facilities between 2016 and 2020, Congressman Krishnamoorthi highlighted the stakes of weakening safety requirements, noting that these incidents resulted in worker fatalities, thousands of injuries, and billions of dollars in property damage. He underscored that the 2024 rule strengthened emergency coordination, safer technology assessments, and public access to hazard information, and warned that eliminating these safeguards would expose communities to heightened risks.

Highlighting the local impact, Congressman Krishnamoorthi pointed to more than 6,000 hazardous material incidents reported in Illinois between 2020 and 2025 and noted that hundreds of thousands of residents live in chemical vulnerability zones near highly toxic substances such as hydrofluoric acid, benzene, and chlorine. He wrote that “the patients, children, and seniors living in these impacted areas rely on the EPA to prevent these incidents from happening in the first place,” stressing that the agency’s proposal could disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi also raised concerns that the proposed rollback follows other recent EPA actions that may weaken environmental and public health protections, writing that “these actions raise serious concerns that the agency is retreating from its core mission to protect human health and the environment.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi requested that the EPA provide responses by March 13, 2026, to the following questions:

1. How does the proposed rollback align with Congress’s directive in the Clean Air Act to prevent accidental releases of hazardous substances?
2. How many RMP facilities has the EPA identified in Illinois that would be affected by the EPA’s change in regulation?
3. What evidence demonstrates that eliminating safer technology assessments will not increase the likelihood or severity of catastrophic chemical incidents?
4. How will nearby residents and first responders obtain timely and actionable hazard information if facilities are no longer required to provide it online or readily?
5. What analysis has EPA conducted regarding the impact of these rollbacks on underserved and rural communities?
6. How does EPA reconcile its current proposal with its statutory obligation to protect public health?

Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s letter is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA) introduced the Standardized Calculation of Operational Polluting Emissions (SCOPE) Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish voluntary guidance for companies to disclose their indirect Scope 3 emissions, ensuring greater and uniform transparency for the public and consumers about a company’s environmental footprint. By directing the EPA to provide clear and specific guidance for Scope 3 emissions from direct emitter companies, this bill would help companies adhere to one set of standardized methodologies for calculating and disclosing their indirect emissions instead of having every company use a different system. 

“By creating a uniform framework for companies on how to calculate and report indirect greenhouse gas emissions along their supply chain, our legislation would empower companies and the American public with clear, comparable information about the environmental footprint of the products and services they rely on,” said Congressman Beyer. “This information will help companies and consumers understand the full scope of sustainability of these supply chains.” 

“Communities in California and across the country are already feeling the impacts of climate change, and Americans deserve transparent information about corporations’ greenhouse gas emissions. I’m proud to co-lead the SCOPE Act, which would make it easier for companies to report on their environmental footprint – an important step toward increasing corporate accountability,” said Congressman Mullin. 

U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) leads companion legislation in the Senate.

“As the Trump administration rolls back regulations on greenhouse gas emissions and climate goals, we must work to redouble our efforts to safeguard longstanding environmental protections. Our legislation will direct the EPA to provide across-the-board guidance to companies so we have full transparency on the environmental impact of their operations,” said Senator Schiff.  

The bill is endorsed by Environment America, Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), League Of Conservation Voters (LCV), and Environment California. 

“Many companies have made commitments to protecting clean air and a livable climate, but tracking progress can be challenging,” said Lisa Frank, Executive Director of Environment America. “The SCOPE Act would help ensure progress towards a healthier environment by giving businesses, consumers and the public easily comparable information on emissions, so that we can better prevent and clean up pollution.”  

“It’s more important than ever to have a clear picture of companies’ Scope 3 emissions, and Sierra Club strongly supports Senator Schiff, Representative Beyer, and Representative Mullin’s SCOPE Act. We cannot make progress on the climate crisis if we don’t have an accurate accounting of our emissions. The SCOPE Act is critical for transparency across all industries as we work to protect our communities from the impacts of the climate crisis,” said Patrick Drupp, Director of Climate Policy of Sierra Club. 

“At a time when the Trump administration is turning its back on the calculations and impacts of pollution, this bill takes an important step toward ensuring transparency around the climate impacts of corporate supply chains. It shines a spotlight on the need for companies to provide consistent, comparable and reliable data regarding their largest greenhouse gas emissions sources,” said Sam Goodstein, Managing Director of Federal Affairs of NRDC. 

“Corporate action on climate change remains a critical lever to drive U.S. innovation, economic competitiveness, and resilience. Senator Schiff, Rep. Beyer, and Rep. Mullin’s SCOPE Act recognizes the importance of getting a full picture of companies’ greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions reporting provides valuable information for markets and the public. At the same time, it helps American companies spot ways to mitigate risk, seize market opportunities and drive efficiency across supply chains and business activities,” said Joanna Slaney, Vice President for Political and Government Affairs of EDF. 

Full text of the Standardized Calculation of Operational Polluting Emissions (SCOPE) Act is available here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District