MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

May 13, 2026

Watch Rep. Levin’s Remarks Here

Washington, D.C.—Today, during a House Appropriations Committee markup, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) introduced an amendment to prevent taxpayer funds from being used by the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Department of the Interior (DOI) to kill offshore wind energy projects and hand over billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to foreign companies. The amendment was rejected by Republicans on the Appropriations Committee.

Recently, the Trump Administration struck deals with three offshore wind companies to cancel four different wind leases: TotalEnergies off of North Carolina and New York, Bluepoint Wind off of New York and New Jersey, and Golden State Wind off of California. These projects would have provided affordable power to over three million homes, but instead the Trump Administration is paying these companies nearly $2 billion of taxpayer funds to stop the energy projects from ever being built.

Rep. Levin’s amendment would have prevented the Trump Administration from striking these shady deals. At a time of skyrocketing energy prices and risks to grid reliability, America should be adding more power to our system, not using taxpayer dollars to pay companies to abandon their energy projects. The Administration’s unchecked actions will ensure that energy prices keep rising and our grid is less reliable.

These deals are a ripoff for the American people both as electricity ratepayers and as federal taxpayers.

Read Rep. Levin’s remarks as prepared for delivery below:

I’d like to draw the Committee’s attention to the alarming use of nearly $2 billion dollars of American taxpayer funds to pay foreign owned companies to keep our constituents’ utility bills sky high.

Across the country right now, as families open their electric bills month after month, they are increasingly facing impossible decisions to pay to keep the lights on or to put food on the table.

Electricity bills have risen 34 percent over the past five years, including more than 6 percent in the past year alone, significantly outpacing inflation.

Today, nearly 80 million Americans are struggling to pay their utility bills month after month.

As electricity demand from data centers and manufacturing rises faster than new power supply can be built, we are increasingly at risk of dual crises of energy affordability and grid reliability.

A decline in grid reliability threatens national security, public health, economic competitiveness, and during heat waves and cold snaps—human lives.

Right now, we need all the energy that we can get on the grid.

And yet, the Administration has decided that instead of deploying more energy, we should provide foreign companies with billions of taxpayer dollars —without any sort of consideration from this Committee—to stop developing projects that would have helped bolster grid reliability and bring down costs.

That’s right, the Administration has circumvented the Appropriations process to pay nearly $2 billion dollars out of the Judgement fund to entice companies to walk away from their offshore wind projects in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and California, and more deals just like this could be coming.

The projects in New York and New Jersey would have powered more than two million homes.

The project in North Carolina would have powered 300,000 homes.

And the project in California would have powered 1.1 million homes.

These cancellations are a massive loss at a moment of unprecedent energy demand growth and will make our grid less reliable.

But don’t just take my word for it, the grid operators themselves in the Northeast, New York, and mid-Atlantic have all said that offshore wind helps them solve the reliability challenges they are facing now.

I want to be clear that these cancellations will also hit many of our constituents right in the pocketbooks.

Since offshore wind has a low operating cost—the wind blows for free after all—it can bid into the electricity market at the low end of the cost curve.

So, when you have offshore wind on the grid, it pushes out the higher cost resources and lowers the system-wide price of electricity.

The result of deploying more offshore wind? Lower costs for our constituents.

The offshore wind projects that have been cancelled won’t just hurt those of us from coastal states like New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, and California.

When you add offshore wind to the system in PJM, it lowers the system-wide price, including in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Tennessee. Any future cancellations in PJM will leave these states facing higher costs and a less reliable grid.

These project cancellations are a bad deal for our constituents as both taxpayers and ratepayers.

And they are a bad deal for all of us as Americans since these buyouts were likely unlawful.

I am deeply concerned by this new playbook the Administration is using to kill off energy projects that it does not like.

Regardless of what your preferred energy sources are, we all should be able to agree that no Administration should have the ability to negotiate backdoor deals with companies to abandon projects that our country needs. If you stand for “all of the above energy” you should be as incensed by these actions as I am.

My amendment would block these payouts for the next fiscal year so that we in Congress and the American people can understand the legal authority under which these deals are being struck and the full impact that these cancellations will have on grid reliability and costs for our constituents.

Thank you and I yield back.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his House Appropriations Committee today approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies funding measure.  

The measure would provide $80 billion, a $1.2 billion decrease from the current year, for the U.S. Department of Commerce (including the International Trade Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology), the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and more. 

Rep. Case opposed the overall bill, warning that its sweeping funding cuts “would weaken programs central to Hawaii’s environmental protection, public safety, civil rights enforcement and economic opportunity.”

Now in his eighth year on the House Appropriations Committee, Case said the legislation would also scale back critical federal support for conservation efforts, community services, STEM education and assistance for vulnerable populations across Hawai‘i and the nation. Programs significantly cut or eliminated include: 

·         Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles Protection, which safeguards our Hawaiian monk seals, dolphins, false killer whales and green sea turtles.  

·         Habitat Conservation and Restoration, which helps to restore and maintain crucial ecosystems and watersheds across Hawai‘i .  

·         Marine Debris Program surveys and cleans up derelict fishing nets and ocean plastics from the reef and habitats at Hawaii’s shores.  

·         Marine Mammal Commission, which provide science-based oversight of domestic and international policies and actions of federal agencies with mandates to address human impacts on marine mammals, such as the Hawaiian monk seal and the humpback whale.  

·         Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, the leading federal source of criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, which assists a range of initiatives including law enforcement, prosecution and court, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation and technology improvement, and crime victim and assistance.  

·         Community Relations Service, which offers assistance to communities where disputes, disagreements, or difficulties regarding discriminatory practices based on race, color, or national origin threaten peaceful relations among citizens. 

·         Legal Services Corporation, which provides civil legal aid for low-income Americans.  

·         Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. 

·         Minority University Research Education Project, which focuses on STEM training for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students at our local universities and colleges.  

·         Minority Business Development Agency, which assists with the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises.  

Despite these deficiencies, Case secured ten of his Community Project Funding (CPF) requests that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i, with funding for these projects totaling $7.25 million. His successful CPFs are:

  ·         $772,000 for Loko I’a Restoration in Pu’uloa by the University of Hawai‘i. The Pu’uloa estuary (today commonly referred to as Pearl Harbor) once supported 35 highly productive fishponds. After years of watershed degradation, elevated levels of contaminants have led to unsafe seafood consumption and diminished ecosystem function. This project would support a coordinated effort to restore fishponds in Pu’uloa through remediation planning, restoration of fishpond infrastructure and invasive species management. 

·         $772,000 for the Enhancing Hawai‘i Cargo Security through Advanced High-Energy Cargo Screening Systems Project at the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement. With these funds, the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement would develop advanced high-energy cargo screening systems for Honolulu’s ports.

This targeted investment will enhance the state’s ability to interdict illegal fireworks, weapons, narcotics and other contraband, while also strengthening Hawaii’s first line of defense against invasive species and other biosecurity threats entering through commercial freight pathways.  

·         $772,000 for the Food Analysis Research and Extension Lab at the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. This funding would establish the Food Analysis Research and Extension (FARE) Lab, which will serve as a hub for standardized data necessary to support local farmers and food innovators. The FARE Lab will use national standards to document differences across local species and cultivars that serve as staple foods in the diets of people living in Hawai‘i and the broader Pacific. 

·         $772,000 for the Marine Finfish Hatchery for Stock Enhancement Project at the Hawai‘i State Department for Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. This project would establish the first state-operated marine finfish hatchery on Oahu at the Division of Aquatic Resources Anuenue Fisheries Research Center to support the protection, restoration and sustainable management of reef fish populations.  

·         $772,000 for the Drone as First Responder (DFR) Project at the Honolulu Police Department. This project will use automated drones and intelligent surveillance cameras to improve emergency response. The system will include drone launch stations, secure storage, maintenance areas, and real-time video streaming so drones can arrive at incidents within minutes. 

·         $772,000 for the Waikiki Flood Watch Test Project at the University of Hawai‘i. This project would develop a cyberphysical testbed that would transform how Hawaii predicts and responds to flooding. Unlike traditional systems that rely on rainfall alone, this platform captures the full picture of compound flooding, including sensors, computer models, digital twins and AI alerts to provide faster and sharper predictions of floods in Waikiki. By providing earlier and more actionable guidance to city and state emergency managers, the project strengthens preparedness, reduces risk to businesses and residents and helps safeguard one of Hawaii’s most vital coastal communities, while demonstrating best practices for similarly situated communities nationally. 

·         $772,000 for a Critical Incident Response Apparatus for the Honolulu Police Department. This apparatus is a vital asset that enhances the Honolulu Police Department’s rescue and recovery capabilities across the island of Oahu. Designed as a shield and barricade tool for rapid deployment, CIRA provides critical protection for the public and first responders during emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters, hazardous material incidents, terrorist attacks and other large-scale critical events. 

·         $772,000 for the Hawai‘i Port Resilience and Coastal Erosion Study at the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation. This study would address vulnerabilities from coastal erosion and changing sea conditions impacting Hawaii’s commercial ports by enhancing a digital twin model with wave modeling, vulnerability assessments, drone-based pier inspections and bathymetric surveys to advance resilience planning for Hawaii’s maritime system. 

·         $772,000 for the Applied Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Research Laboratory at the Hawai‘i Pacific University. This project would establish a laboratory to conduct hands-on, applied research focused on securing AI systems, strengthening AI-enabled cyber defense and defending against AI-driven cyberattacks, while developing practical tools, testing environments and implementation guidance tailored to Hawaii’s defense contractors and critical infrastructure operators. 

·         $300,000 for the Security Water Quantity and Quality in the Ala Wai Watershed Project at the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The Ala Wai watershed is currently heavily invaded by Miconia, an invasive plant that increases the propensity for erosion and landslides by limiting understory growth, destabilizing soil and decreasing water absorption. With these funds, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife will manage the invasive plant throughout the Ala Wai watershed by establishing field crews to remove the invasive plant, data management staff and coordinator positions. 

The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here.  

Other provisions which Case requested and were included in the measure to fund the Department of Justice include: 

·         $762.5 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The COPS program provides funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.   

·         $148 million for grants to reduce the sexual assault kit backlog. 

·         $48 million for the Anti-Methamphetamine and Anti-Heroin Task Forces.

“Rising crime, both related and unrelated to gun violence, is of great concern to us all, and must be combatted at all levels of government,” said Case. “State and local law enforcement need increased assistance from our federal government to address crime at the state and local level.” 

“The funding I secured in the bill will help local and state law enforcement to not only investigate and prosecute crime but will also go to prevention and education programs to stop crime before it happens.”  

Case also won support to fund various science initiatives, including:

 ·         $26 million for the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, which enhances the research competitiveness of Hawai‘i by strengthening STEM capacity and capability. 

·         $92.5 million for the Climate Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes program to support the maintenance and needed repairs at the Atmospheric Baseline Observatories, including the Mauna Loa Observatory where the famous Keeling Curve proving rapid climate change was developed.   

·         $33.5 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program.  

·         $6 million for Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas, which supports Papahānaumokuākea and our Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuaries.

·         $56 million for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), which supports our Hawaii’s Pacific Island (Pac) IOOS. PacIOOS provides easily accessible coastal and ocean observing and forecasting to increase ocean safety and protect public and environmental health. 

·         $20 million for the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments program, which provides vital research that allows communities to prepare for and respond to long-term shifts in weather patterns, resource availability and coastal conditions. 

·         $34 million for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, which includes support for education and restoration of coastal and marine habitats in He‘eia. 

·         $80 million for the Sea Grant Program, which supports the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program at the University of Hawaiʻi that promotes healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies and environmental literacy and workforce development.  

Provisions which Case secured to promote commerce in Hawaiʻi include: 

·         $175 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. This public-private partnership has centers in all 50 states, including Hawaiʻi, dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. 

·         $1 million for the Minority Business Development Agency specifically for the Native American Business Development Program that awards grants to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian entities qualified to provide business, financing and technical assistance.    

·         $3.5 million for the Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism position, which Case worked to establish in the Visit America Act to drive a cohesive federal response to the challenges facing the industry. 

This measure is the fifth of the twelve bills to be taken up by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026).  

Despite Case’s opposition, the bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.  

A summary of the CJS and Related Agencies Appropriations bill is available here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Pressley Has Repeatedly Sounded the Alarm on Trump’s Unemployment Crisis, Pushout of Black Women from Workforce, Demanded Action from Federal Reserve

“People are looking for jobs. People want to work, but Trump’s economy won’t let them….Maximizing employment is good for our economy. It’s good for our communities. It’s good for our families.”

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, during a House Financial Services Committee Markup, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) vehemently opposed Republican legislation that would strip the Federal Reserve’s mandate for maximum employment, emphasizing the Fed’s essential role in ensuring economic health, community well-being, and personal dignity in work especially under Trump’s unemployment crisis.

“The Federal Reserve’s mandate for maximum employment is essential to ensuring jobs are available and people are employed—and removing it would devastate our economy and communities,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “While Republicans continue advancing harmful, anti-worker policies, I’ll keep fighting for the dignity of work.”

During debate, Rep. Pressley combatted Republicans’ anti-worker legislation through four amendments affirming the importance of the Fed’s mandate for maximum employment. Rep. Pressley’s amendments would:

• Preserve the Fed’s mandate to continue pursuing maximum employment. Video of Rep. Pressley discussing this amendment is available here.
• Ensure the Department of Labor regularly shares employment data each month, broken down by race, ethnicity, gender, and geography, as mandated by her BLS Act. Video of Rep. Pressley discussing this amendment is available here.
• Rename Republicans’ bill the “Ignore High Employment Act” to reflect what it would actually do. Video of Rep. Pressley discussing this amendment is available here.
• Require the Fed to conduct a study on the likely impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption on employment and ensure no worker is left behind. Video of Rep. Pressley discussing this amendment is available here.

In Congress, Rep. Pressley has repeatedly sounded the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States, called on the Federal Reserve to take action, and convened impacted women and economists to renew those calls.

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s opening remarks during debate on the legislation is available below, and the video is available here.

Transcript: Pressley Slams Republican Bill that Ignores Unemployment Crisis, Strips Federal Reserve’s Essential Mandate to Maximize Employment

U.S. House of Representatives

May 13, 2026 

Like Ranking Member Waters and my Democratic colleagues, I vigorously oppose this legislation to strip the mandate from maximum employment from the mission of the Federal Reserve. 

I mean, I never thought that my Republican colleagues would need a lesson on the importance of gainful employment and having a job. Even Ronald Reagan said that he believed the best social program is a job. And yet, here we are. 

The best way to support working families is to keep them working, plain and simple.

Maximizing employment is good for our economy. It’s good for our communities. It’s good for our families. And to deny that truth is to deny reality. 

So I’m confident that the American people will see through these baseless talking points and agree with Democrats that everyone should be able to get a job, to work a job, and to earn a living. 

Work is, is pride. It’s dignity. It’s essential to survive, to thrive, to provide, even to dream.

I’ve been working, I’ve been employed since I was thirteen, fourteen years old. Many young people pursue jobs, whether it’s being a bagger at a grocery store or work in retail, not just for enrichment or for exposure, but because it is essential. I was working at the age of fourteen to contribute to my household income.

Or what of young adults, recent graduates from college or a trade school, who want to save for a house or maybe even start a business one day? 

Or, you know, as a mother, I think about what it means to be able to see the light behind my child’s eyes when I can provide them with a vacation or some gift that they’ve been begging for.

And for our elders, increasingly so, under Trump’s administration and economy, retirement is farther and farther out of reach, and many of our elders have no choice but to work in order to pay for life saving medication, to keep a roof over their heads. 

So all this to say that having a job is not a statistic. It is essential. It is dignity. 

The dignity of work is transformational. That’s what the Fed’s mandate for maximum employment is about. 

This mission was not created in a vacuum. It dates back to the Great Depression in recognition that people should be able to earn a living, provide for themselves and their family. There was nearly unanimous support by Republicans and Democrats for maximum employment when the mandate passed Congress. 

The Federal Reserve Board of Governors is the only independent agency that works on improving employment. Some argue that this is the role of the Department of Labor, but in Trump’s America, the Labor Department is a joke. We don’t even have a Secretary of Labor right now. 

So the Fed’s mandate is essential, and always has been.

During the Great Recession of 2008—massive job loss—the Fed stepped in to maximize employment. During the COVID-19 pandemic and record layoffs, the Fed once again pursued its mandate of maximum employment. And in this moment, we need the Fed to do more, not less. 

For months, I’ve been sounding the alarm about the current unemployment crisis. The unemployment rate has increased to 4.3% due to Trump’s reckless policies like firing government workers, attacking small businesses. 

And when you analyze the data, Black unemployment specifically is at 7.3%. These are the worst rates we’ve seen since the pandemic. 

Black workers are the canaries in the coal mine. What happens to our community first, happens to everyone next. So folks should take heed. 

People are looking for jobs. People want to work, but Trump’s economy won’t let them.

Just last week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced the jobs numbers and said something that Republicans need to hear. There is little hiring going on, and for many Americans, it doesn’t feel like a good labor market. 

So the solution to the current unemployment problem is not to tell the Fed to abandon the goal of maximum employment. The solution is to empower the Fed to do even more. Recent graduates deserve more. 

Having a job and earning a paycheck is a beautiful and essential thing. 

So I just want to say this to folks at home, in the midst of all of this, these anti-worker policies against paid leave, child care, supporting tariffs, suppressing wages.

To those who keep applying to jobs but still aren’t hearing back,

To those who are wondering how they’re going to pay their bills without a paycheck,

To those who are doing everything right but the economy is all wrong, 

To those who know and appreciate the dignity of work, I see you. I’m fighting for you.

And that is why I oppose this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

In September 2025, Congresswoman Pressley wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sounding the alarm on the rising unemployment rate for Black women in the United States and demanding the Fed take immediate action to uphold its mandate of maximum employment for all. The Congresswoman’s letter came amid the Trump Administration’s mass federal workforce layoffs and anti-DEI policies disproportionately impacting Black women and as Donald Trump attempted to seize control of the Fed by illegally firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. A copy of the Congresswoman’s letter is available here.

In December 2025, Rep. Pressley and Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette Clarke followed up to Rep. Pressley’s demands and wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell demanding a briefing for members of the Congressional Black Caucus on how the Federal Reserve is responding to this growing crisis. 

In March 2026, Reps. Pressley and Summer Lee (PA-12) introduced the Better Labor Statistics Act, or the BLS Act, legislation that would codify the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ mandate to report unemployment data publicly, online, and at the first Friday of each month to ensure transparency and accuracy in unemployment data collection. The BLS Act would also codify the publication of unemployment data broken down by race and ethnicity, gender, geography, and industry.

In December 2025, Rep. Pressley, along with Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women & Girls, Congresswomen Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), led 19 of their colleagues demanding the Department of Labor (DOL) take immediate action to address the rising unemployment crisis among Black women that has taken shape since the start of the second Trump Administration.

In November 2025, Rep. Pressley convened Black women, economists, civil rights leaders, and community members for an urgent discussion about the unemployment crisis facing Black women and its impact in Massachusetts and beyond.

In September 2025, Congresswoman Pressley convened a press conference with a coalition of Black women activists and civil rights leaders to continue sounding the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03), co-chair of the Biofuels Caucus, released the following statement after his Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support:  
 
“Today’s House passage of my Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act marks a historic win for America’s consumers, farmers, and energy independence. For over a decade, I have championed nationwide, year-round E15 to end years of patchwork regulations and expand much-needed market access for Nebraska’s biofuels producers. While I am grateful for the bipartisan support of my colleagues today, I know there is still more work to do. I urge the Senate to take up this bill and send it to President Trump’s desk so he can sign it into law and make nationwide, year-round E15 a reality once and for all.” 
 
Background: 
Smith has championed year-round E15 since 2015, when he first introduced a bill to allow year-round E15 during the 114th Congress. Over the past decade, Smith has been leading the charge to bring agriculture, biofuel, and petroleum stakeholders together in order to deliver regulatory relief and certainty.  
 
In 2025, he introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 to break down the remaining barriers and unlock the full potential of nationwide year-round E15, further advancing America’s energy independence. In the U.S. Senate, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced companion legislation.  
 
After falling short in January, Smith led the charge to secure the House passage of nationwide, year-round E15, and will continue to work with his colleagues in the Senate to send his legislation to President Trump’s desk, where he will sign it into law.  
 
In addition to Smith, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act was championed by U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Mike Flood (R-NE), Mike Bost (R-IL), Max Miller (R-OH), Mary Miller (R-IL), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Ron Estes (R-KS), Darin LaHood (R- IL), Blake Moore (R-UT), Derrick Van Orden (R- WI), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Mark Alford (R-MO), Dave Taylor (R-OH), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Don Bacon (R-NE), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), Michael Guest (R-MS), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI), and Don Davis (D-NC). 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Congressman Baird Votes to Support Indiana Farmers and Make E-15 Available Year-Round

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today announced he would vote in favor of a ‘clean’ war powers resolution to remove the United States from hostilities against Iran. 

One such resolution, H.Con.Res.86, sponsored by Congressman Gregory Meeks (NY-05), will become eligible for a floor vote as early as next week. 

“I have said since the start of this conflict that the War Powers Act of 1973 grants the president only 60 days to conduct military operations without an explicit authorization from Congress,” Golden said. “President Trump, like all his predecessors, has refused to recognize the limitations of the War Powers Act, but to me the law is clear. His window for unilateral military engagement has closed. Hostilities, including the use of the U.S. fleet to impose a blockade of Iranian ports, cannot legally continue unless the president seeks, and wins, Congressional approval.”

H.Con.Res.86 will be the first clean war powers resolution eligible for a vote since the 60-day deadline for the president to seek Congressional authorization was surpassed on May 1. Golden has opposed prior resolutions in recognition that the administration had, to that point, met its obligations under the War Powers Act. 

Golden also announced that he will oppose a separate resolution, offered by Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), that has been widely reported to be coming to the floor for a vote this week. That measure, H.Con.Res.75, was originally submitted on March 4 and would have reduced the deadline for Congressional authorization from 60 days to 30 days. This resolution was rendered moot one day after the 30-day deadline it sought to impose on the president.

“I supported this resolution when it was introduced, but unfortunately its proposed 30-day deadline lacks any real meaning now that we are more than 70 days into this conflict,” Golden said. “It no longer passes the straight-face test. I look forward to voting for a clean, relevant resolution as soon as possible.”

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

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) joined Congressman Seth Magaziner (RI-02) in leading 54 of their colleagues in demanding answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the Department of Defense’s halt of its review process for wind energy projects, which has led to an effective halt on all wind development.  

In the letter, the members cite reports that Department of Defense (DoD) reviews for wind energy projects have inexplicably halted at all stages of the approval process, delaying the construction of affordable, reliable domestic energy projects.  

The lawmakers requested answers as well as immediate corrective action for the delays. They also requested a briefing from the DoD to better understand the basis for the delays and the impact they could have on energy costs, domestic energy production, and ongoing development projects.

These delays come as Americans face rising energy costs and increased demand for affordable, reliable energy.

The letter is signed by Gabe Amo (RI-01), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sean Casten (IL-06), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Sharice L. Davids (KS-03), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Valerie P. Foushee (NC-04), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jim Himes (CT-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), William R. Keating (MA-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Dave Min (CA-47), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Scott H. Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), Deborah K. Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), and Marc A. Veasey (TX-33).

You can read the full text of the letter HERE and below.  

Dear Secretary Hegseth and Assistant Secretary Marks:

We write to express our deep concerns that the Department of Defense’s (Department’s) process for wind energy projects has effectively resulted in a de facto moratorium on new development. Developers report that the process has stalled at all stages of the Department’s review process, including initial determinations of whether there is a presumed risk, mitigation negotiations for projects determined to present such a risk, execution of mitigation agreements, countersignature by the Assistant Secretary on final agreements, and the issuance and transmittal of those determinations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Delaying the construction of new energy projects threatens both American energy independence and national security, and it is critical for mitigation agreements to be completed in an efficient manner.

Because all land-based wind energy projects are referred by the FAA to the Department—and the FAA will not issue a final determination absent a transmittal back from the Department—these breakdowns effectively halt all new projects. Developers cannot proceed to construction without an FAA determination of no hazard, as doing so creates unacceptable liability risk. The continued functioning of this process is essential to safeguarding national and energy security by enabling wind energy Development.

Congress directed the Department to create a Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse (SCH) to evaluate the impacts of proposed energy projects, including wind, on military operations and readiness. The expectation was that any identified risks would be addressed through mitigation—not by halting projects outright unless mitigation is not possible, which has occurred only in exceedingly rare instances. Historically, this process functioned in a routine, expedited, and predictable manner. Many projects quickly determined to present ‘no hazard,’ and where potential impacts were identified, developers worked with the Department to implement mitigation measures, typically through standardized agreements. These agreements were then transmitted to the FAA to inform its determination regarding construction in the national airspace, enabling the safe and efficient development of wind energy.

That process has effectively ceased functioning. Developers report that mitigation discussions are not being scheduled or are being canceled without rescheduling; draft mitigation agreements are no longer being issued even after successful negotiations; and executed agreements are not being countersigned or transmitted to FAA. Even where projects pose no identified risk and determinations would typically be routine administrative clearances by the Department in the FAA system, there are reports that such determinations are not being provided to the FAA.

Taken together, these actions have effectively brought the entire Departmental review process for wind energy projects, and other energy infrastructure like transmission towers, to a standstill. Nearly 200 projects are currently stalled in the Department’s review pipeline, including at least 35 that are just waiting on a Department countersignature on a fully negotiated mitigation agreement, at least 30 that have successfully completed verbal mitigation negotiations with career uniformed personnel in the affected service but are waiting on the Department to send the draft agreement, and the balance of which are impacted by the cancellation of mitigation response team meetings and the failure to process any Department clearances in the FAA system. As a result, the Department’s process is not only affecting projects requiring mitigation, but also preventing advancement of the many projects that present no risk to military operations and readiness.

Bringing these projects online would enhance American energy independence and support national security through helping to meet rising energy demand, which would lower energy costs for consumers while supporting grid reliability. American Clean Power Association (ACP), a trade organization of energy developers, estimates that preventing the construction of new wind energy would cost the U.S. electricity system an additional $361 billion over the next 25 years. These stalled projects represent at least 30 gigawatts of wind energy capacity at risk, approximately $54 billion in capital investment, and roughly 150,000 jobs. At a time when energy prices are rising, we need to be working across the federal government to ensure we are building energy generation efficiently and safely. We urge the Department to join us in this effort and complete the mitigation agreements.

While we recognize that the Department’s review of potential impacts on military operations and readiness is an important and complex responsibility, the current situation represents an unexplained and significant departure from longstanding practice. We request a prompt classified briefing to understand the basis for these developments, including any new policies, guidance, or review frameworks contributing to this outcome, as well as the steps and timeline for restoring the review process. Given the breadth and impact of these disruptions, timely clarification and corrective action are critical.

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

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office’s new $1.2 Trillion price tag for Trump’s Golden Dome:

“In a time when families across the country are struggling to afford healthcare, gas, food, and housing after Trump and Republicans passed massive cuts to nearly every public service program that helps with these costs, Trump is now set to spend $1.2 trillion on his egomaniacal Golden Dome project, seven times the administration’s initial estimate of $175 billion.

“A $1.2 trillion price tag is outrageous in itself, but it gets even worse when you read the report and see that this exorbitant cost is only a rough estimate. There are few details, no real objectives, and it’s missing key plans. There is a real possibility that $1.2 trillion is the floor, not the ceiling, for a program that won’t make America any safer.

“Just like his golden ballroom or golden luxury jet, Trump’s desire to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to slap his faux-gold branding onto the country’s missile defense system should anger every American who has had their healthcare or food benefits cut to help pay for it.

“What Americans deserve now are answers. I demand that the Trump Administration explain to the American people why even more of their hard-earned money is being poured into a system that will not be able to protect us and into the pockets of defense contractors instead of bringing down costs.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered opening remarks at the House Appropriations Full Committee Markup of the Commerce, Justice, and Science FY 2027 bill. Below are a video and transcript of his remarks:
 

Click here to watch a video of his remarks.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. First, let me say the Chairman says regularly, and correctly, that this is the first step. That’s the good news. The good news is it’s not the last step, and the good news is this bill will change very substantially before it is sent to the President if in fact, it is. And I want to thank the Ranking Member of our subcommittee, Ms. Meng, for her outstanding work. I want to thank Mr. Rogers for his leadership in so many critical areas, particularly dealing with drug abuse in our country that cost the lives of so many. Like most of the appropriations bills before this committee, this one shortchanges, though, critical national priorities, limiting the positive impact the federal government can have and should have on improving the lives of Americans. We’ll hear a lot today about the effects of President Trump’s illegal tariffs on our working families, and how this bill makes dangerous cuts to the agencies that could help alleviate their pain.

“But I want to take a few moments first and make sure the committee fully understands the impact of cuts to science research at NASA in this bill. Very frankly, the extraordinary progress that we have made in the space program has led to extraordinary innovation and inventions and better technical abilities for not only America, but for the entire world. The crew that took Artemis around the moon inspired us just as the ‘first step for mankind’ did when we first landed on the moon. These people inspired the people of this nation and billions around the world who look each night at the moon and dream of where humanity might go over generations to come. As their capsule slipped behind the waning moon beyond the reach of Earth’s communications, its four occupants were hard at work. They spent their time on the far side of the moon, observing landscapes never before seen by human eyes, capturing more than 12,000 photographs and high-definition videos and transmitting more than 480GB of lunar data back to the Earth. Before they even splashed down in the Pacific, NASA scientists – including many at Goddard Space Flight Center in the district of Mr. Ivey – were already sifting through this data and using it to develop a better understanding of the moon.

“Mr. Chairman, it was the scientists at NASA Goddard who developed the communication system used on the Artemis Orion spacecraft and the data transfer system that sent its findings back to Earth. Now, that was for that mission. But the ramifications of the research and what we learned are for the entire world and for creating jobs here in America. Goddard also produced the James Webb Telescope, which is sending us back jaw dropping images of the universe back to the very – almost beginning of time. This is part of America’s unique contribution to advancing human knowledge and exploration. The cost of cutting this funding will be far greater than $1.3 billion. It will come with costs to what our nation represents and to what we as human beings, the latest in a chain of explorers over the generations, are trying to achieve during this time on Earth.

“Just as I hope, we will reconsider the dangerous cuts this bill makes to other science and research agencies like NOAA, NIST, and the National Science Foundation, and the number of programs that every Member of this committee that has spoken in reference [to] that help Americans at a time of tough economic stress for them. Our science programs do not only send humans to the moon, but they make a difference for our economy here on Earth. They mean the world to millions in our country who use scientific discoveries and research every day, even without knowing it. For NOAA in particular, whose National Center for Weather and Climate Prediction predicts the funding – excuse me, predicts dangerous storms [and] other catastrophes that we are subject to by natural disasters. At the same time, this bill also removes critical tools for law enforcement. It’s so interesting that we are cutting crime fighting, we’re [going] after tax evaders, and we are cutting other regulatory agencies at a time when we talk about making sure people follow the rules. People follow the rules because the referee is on the field. You take the referee off the field, not so much. This bill slashes economic development assistance, particularly for rural communities, which is sorely needed to make the painful impacts of the Trump tariffs and rising gas prices from the President’s war of choice, referred to by the gentlelady from New Jersey.

“So, Mr. Chairman, I believe that we must do better in this bill. The good news, ladies and gentlemen, I want to congratulate Chairman Rogers. As he did last year, essentially, he and the committee rejected the draconian cuts proposed by the Administration. And while this bill is not as good as I would like it, it is better than [what] the Administration proposed by far. And I have great confidence that Mr. Rogers, the Chairman of this committee, and the Ranking Member, Ms. Meng, will reach, as the gentleman from Texas said, a bill that can and hopefully will receive bipartisan support. But at this point in time, Mr. Chairman, I’m going to oppose this bill because I think the cuts in it undermine America’s competitiveness and undermine America’s future. I yield back.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Bill Keating (MA-09), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Don Bacon (NE-02), and Kevin Kiley (CA-03) released a joint statement after their bipartisan discharge petition for H.R. 2913 – the Ukraine Support Act – received the final signature needed to compel a vote on the House Floor:

“With today’s 218th signature on our discharge petition, the Ukraine Support Act will soon come to the House Floor for a vote. We are glad the House will finally be moving forward with robust legislation to support the people of Ukraine as they fight to defend their nation and its sovereignty. Few have demonstrated as much courage and perseverance in our modern history as the people of Ukraine.  In their battle for democracy, self-determination, and the preservation of their territorial integrity, they deserve our help and our material support. The Ukraine Support Act can deliver that assistance, as well as to impose additional sanctions on Russia to hold it accountable for its brutal war. We look forward to seeing the House pass this bill quickly and encourage the Senate to take it up without delay. The brave men and women of Ukraine are waiting.”

The legislation, which was introduced on April 15, 2025, would impose numerous sanctions and other economic measures to place additional pressure on Russia to cease its war of aggression against Ukraine. It also includes further vital provisions to sustain security assistance to Ukraine for its defense, generate resources for post-war reconstruction, and override presidential actions to terminate existing sanctions without cause. A section by section of the legislation can be found here. A PDF of the bill can be found here.